Early Book Review: Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister (Volume 1) by Marcey Naito

Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister (Volume 1) by Marcey Naito is a manga style graphic novel currently scheduled for release on October 17 2023. Uryu Kamihate has had a rough start to life, but plans to forget it all by achieving his dream -- matriculating into medical school. But when he arrives at his new foster home, a working shrine, his dream of a quiet place to study goes up in smoke. Not only will he be living with three beautiful, lively Amagami sisters -- but he learns that he must marry one of them and take over the shrine!

Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister is a fun story. It is very well drawn, and I think the artwork and the story work together well. I had a few moments when reading that I was confused. I have watched a decent amount of anime and read a good deal of manga, and I had trouble figuring out what direction this story was going to go in- and honestly I still do not know. I thought the basics of the characters are all developed and there, same with several layers of set up. There are a lot of ways this story can go. It can get in to the spiritual aspects of shrines and beliefs, into Uryu finding his own path and succeeding, or a very complicated romance with one or three girls. In fact the story had all of these elements in it, and it could take all, one, or none of these paths. I enjoyed the book while reading, and this it will be interesting to see what happens next.

Book Review: The Cutting Edge (St. Pete Slashers) by Lisa Daily

The Cutting Edge by Lisa Daily is the first book in the St. Pete Slashers series. Logan Rivers is a star pro hockey player for the St. Pete Slashers -- and he's in a slump. He hasn’t scored in 3 games and it’s starting to freak him out. Enter Olympic figure skater Coco, who strikes a deal with an assistant coach to be Logan's lucky charm to pay off her training expenses. Sparks fly and everything is looking up for both of them. She’s almost got her debt paid off and the Slashers are on a winning streak. There's only one problem: she doesn’t know how to tell Logan she’s been lying to him the whole time. If she can just keep her secret until the playoffs are over.

The Cutting Edge started off strong and I thought it had a lot of potential. I liked Coco and her friends and could appreciate Logan's character. I loved his daughter, although I felt like more could have been done with her character. I liked the characters, thought the set up was neat, but once they added the 'conflict' I started to lose interest and some of the shine started to wear off for me. There were some moments that felt really out of character for both Coco and Logan, and about half way though the story I started to lose interested in how things were going to come together. I was looking for more information on how Coco's sick neighbor was doing, and the lives of the secondary characters more than our main players. 

The Cutting Edge started off great and had a lot of potential. I still think I'll give the next book in the series a try.

Early Book Review: My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine is currently scheduled for release on August 29 2023. Cassie Greenberg loves being an artist, but it’s a tough way to make a living. On the brink of eviction, she’s desperate when she finds a too-good-to-be-true apartment in a beautiful Chicago neighborhood. Cassie knows there has to be a catch—only someone with a secret to hide would rent out a room for that price. Of course, her new roommate Frederick J. Fitzwilliam is far from normal. He sleeps all day, is out at night on business, and talks like he walked out of a regency romance novel. He also leaves Cassie heart-melting notes around the apartment, cares about her art, and asks about her day. And he doesn’t look half bad shirtless, on the rare occasions they’re both home and awake. But when Cassie finds bags of blood in the fridge that definitely weren’t there earlier, Frederick has to come clean. Cassie’s sexy new roommate is a vampire. And he has a proposition for her.

My Roommate Is a Vampire is an engaging story that had a nice balance of character development, fun, and secondary characters I want to get to know even better. I liked both Cassie and Frederick as characters, and I liked the secondary characters as well. I loved the interactions as Cassie and Frederick get to know each other, and figure out living together, and their lives in general. However, I do feel like although there are hint to the past and the issues that family cause, I feel like none of it was really unpacked. There could have been a bit more depth to Cassie if we knew more about her, and that would have given the story more impact as she finds her way and made readers a little more invested in her success and happiness. With so much of Frederick a mystery for the first half of the book, for obvious reason, I felt like we almost understand him more because his secret are so much more a part of him and the title rather tells us what those secrets are from the very beginning. While I enjoyed the read, and going along for the ride, I honestly hope the author follows this book up with a book for Reginald- since he was my favorite character in this book. 

My Roommate Is a Vampire is an entertaining romance. I think I will be looking for more from this author to see if the stories of the secondary characters continue. 

Book Review: A Sweet Spot For Love (Rock Falls) by Aliyah Burke

A Sweet Spot For Love is the second book in the Rock Falls series by Aliyah Burke. I did not read the first book in the series, and was able to fully enjoy the read. Although, I think returning readers will find the returning characters and advanced knowledge of the main characters make the read more enjoyable. 

Former pro baseball player Linc Conner knows exactly where his head’s at. Most of the time, he’s completely focused on running his community center and focusing on the kids. But when it comes to single mom Emma Henricksen, Linc can’t see straight. She’s driven, resourceful—not to mention that smart, extra-kissable mouth—and when she’s near, he gets lost in a fog of lust. But he needs her help to convince an investor they’re engaged. Emma’s too busy raising her gifted little girl to have a sex life that’s not battery-operated. Still, how could she resist being engaged to a guy who’s the sexual equivalent of her favorite dessert topped with whipped cream and a cherry, even if it’s just pretend? Emma knows all too well that if something seems too good—or too tempting—to be true, it definitely is. Now it’s a game of pretend with a whole lot of chemistry between the guy who’s used to playing the field—and the woman who opted out of the game long ago. All that’s missing is a curveball. 

A Sweet Spot For Love is a cute and fun romance with some great characters. I did enjoy getting to know Linc and Emma, and I thought Greer and the circle of friends were wonderful additions to the story. I liked the center they are both working hard for, and the small town vibes. There was a lot that really worked for me. The slow burn as the faked dating, the cute moments with Greer, the support systems and friendship, and more. I appreciated getting both points of view, and how   However, I felt like the romance side was a little off. I felt like the slow burn switch flipped to something else in a weird moment and that rather threw me off. Also, some of the choices and actions seemed a bit out of character for both of them and there were side stories that could have been skipped entirely while others got left behind when they could have made a good addition to the story overall. I also felt like some of the resolution was off a bit as well. I really wanted to love this read. I did enjoy it, but it did not live up to my hopes or expectations for the book. 

Book Review: Nevermore Bookstore (Townsend Harbor) by Kerrigan Byrne, Cynthia St. Aubin

Nevermore Bookstore is the first book in the Townsend Harbor series by Kerrigan Byrne and Cynthia St. Aubin. Cadence "Cady" Bloomquist knows two things for sure: First, shelving books at her shop, Nevermore Bookstore, totally counts as cardio. Second, staying late every Thursday night to take a certain mysterious customer's order is not the same as waiting by the phone for some man. Until her calls with the man who identifies himself only as "Fox" become the highlight of her week. Which leaves her to wonder, if his jagged velvet voice can kindle her fire over the phone, what sort of alchemy might it inspire if they met in person?  There's nothing Roman Fawkes wants more than the brilliant, beautiful bookstore owner, but as a reclusive survivalist, he knows it can never happen. Secreted in his mountain hideaway high above sleepy little Townsend Harbor, his solitary existence shields him-and those around him-from the pain of his past. Until one of their weekly calls is interrupted by a break-in, and Fawkes is powerless to protect the woman who has become his one link to the world. Orchestrating a trap for the fool who dared harm her, Fawkes finds himself not just ensnared, but beguiled by her. Now so close to Cady, he discovers she's fallen for "Fox", and yet he's unable to reveal her heart's desire is closer than she thinks. Can Fawkes resist the temptation to get between Cady's covers, knowing they'll never have a happily ever after?

Nevermore Bookstore was a confusing read for me. First, I rather expected it to verge on paranormal- it has none of that just in case you are looking for a cozy paranormal romance. Secondly, even though this book was definitely a unique story line, somehow it felt very familiar. I checked several times to make sure it wasn't a reprint or re-edit of something I have read before but I could find nothing even though there were moments that were very de ja vu for me. And third, I was greatly disappointed that there was no talk of safe sex, no condoms, no anything of that nature and that really bothered me. Now, I did love the secondary characters, and I thought some of the story was well written. I liked that there was more than just the romance to the story, but those threads of the story all kind of feel underdeveloped and like they could have been so much more than what they got to be. I felt like there was a great deal of potential, from authors that I have enjoyed in the past, and it just missed the mark.

Nevermore Bookstore is an interesting read that fans of the authors might want to check out.

Early Book Review: Crock Pot Essentials: 101 Recipes to Make with Your Slow Cooker by Anne Schaeffer

Crock Pot Essentials: 101 Recipes to Make with Your Slow Cooker by Anne Schaeffer is currently scheduled for release on August 1 2023. There’s nothing better than coming home after a long day at work, and dinner is already done! This book features 101 slow cooker recipes that are easy to make, take minimal effort, and can either feed a couple or a big crowd. This collection of crock pot recipes includes ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. From breakfast burritos and blueberry cobbler to jambalaya, beef stew, barbecued ribs, and so more, 

Crock Pot Essentials caught my eye because I use my crock pot almost every Thursday. With two picky eaters in the house, my rotation of meals feels pretty boring to me, so I am always looking to try a new recipe or spice combination to liven things up while still getting everyone to eat. I appreciated that vegetarian and other dietary notes were made for applicable recipes and there were some substitution suggestions included. I also liked the serving suggestions, like some sandwiches recipes following the soup recipes they would pair with nicely. . One note- if you have made the switch to metric measurements you will have some converting to do, since all the recipes are in imperial measurements. I did find some recipes in the book, particularly for pot luck meals and lazy days at home, that I might try. I did also find a few things that I might use to add a new twist or flavor to things I already make. This is a solid collection for those that might be new to using their crock pot- but for long time users this is a book I would check out from the library rather than adding to your cookbook collection. 

AudioBook Review: Witches in the Kitchen by Danielle Garrett, Narrated by Amanda Ronconi

Witches in the Kitchen by Danielle Garrett, narrated by Amanda Ronconi, is the series starter for a paranormal series with a dash of romance. A picture-perfect seaside town filled with humans who don't know about their witchy neighbors. Up until a week ago, my only knowledge of magic came from the movies. Unfortunately, it didn't stay that way. A bout of insomnia leads to witnessing a scene that belongs in a vampire flick-only, the fangs looked way more realistic. One second, I was running for my life, and the next, I found myself choking on a hairball in the back of an SUV. That's right, a hairball. See, my body's been hiding a pretty big secret, and I'm some kind of witch. One that turns into a cat when under duress. Apparently, my choices are fight, flight, or fur. Overnight, I find myself thrust into a world of magic and mayhem beyond my most wild sleep-deprived delirium. Until the murderous vampire is captured, I'm placed into some kind of witch-ness protection program, and sent to live in a house full of actual monsters. What's the worst that could happen? Hey, at least running for my life will help me squeeze in my cardio.

Witches in the Kitchen is a series starter, but this is third series set in the same town, and I think the sixth in the same world. I have not read any of the previous books, and since Blair is new to the world of magic most of the big stuff was explained and I felt like I knew enough to still enjoy the read. However, I think returning readers will enjoy seeing characters from the prior series and get a kick out of some of the cameos. With this being a series starter, and so much needing to be explained to newcomers, I did feel like the pacing was a little slow, and honestly I kept expecting a character or two from the pre magic moments in the book to pop up and make an appearance in the magical half. I also rather expected a twist or two that did not happen, although there was one I did not expect.  I did like the fact that the romance did not overwhelm the mystery and other aspects of the book. I thought the premise and execution was well done and enjoyable enough that I think I will go back and start at the beginning of the first series and see if the first couple books make me happy. I think I would have enjoyed this book more with a little more of the background knowledge from the other books.  I found that Ronconi did a wonderful job with the narration, and the tones and inflections used brought Blair to life. 

Witches in the Kitchen is a fun read that nicely balances romance with mystery and magical world building. 

Book Review: Falling Hard for the Royal Guard by Megan Clawson

Falling Hard for the Royal Guard by Megan Clawson is a contemporary Romance. From her bedroom in the Tower of London, twenty-six-year-old Maggie has always dreamed of her own fairy-tale ending. Yet this is twenty-first century London, so instead of knights, she has Tinder, and instead of white horses, she has catfish. And with her last relationship ending in spectacular fashion, she swears off men for good. And then a chance encounter with Royal Guard Freddie forces Maggie to admit that she isn’t ready to give up on love just yet. But how do you catch the attention of someone who is trained to ignore all distractions? Can she snare that true love’s first kiss, or is she royally screwed?

Falling Hard for the Royal Guard is a romance with a great premise, a setting I was thrilled to learn more about, and some great characters. I enjoyed Maggie as a character, and the secondary characters in the book are fantastic- in fact I would love a book just about the folk that live (or could live) in the Tower of London. I liked learning about the history, and the reality of what people there might deal with on any given day. I thought the people and the interactions were very well done, with plenty of realistic angst. I did think that Freddie could have gotten a bit deeper, and I would have liked the see some of the story through his eyes or from his perspective. However, my disappointment in the book was because for awhile I was not sure what direction the story was going to take. Was there going to be a mystery storyline, there were definitely moments when I thought there was going to be a theft or something that was going to need solving. There were also several moments when I thought the haunted history of the location was going to play a role in the larger plot line somehow. I just felt like there was a little too much going on, or a few too many pathways the story could take. Frankly, I think any of the paths could have been fantastic, but if none of that was as important as it seemed at the time I could have stood for a few less distractions and just getting a better look at Freddie's character instead. I did enjoy the read, but I thought the storytelling could have been a bit more streamlined. 

Falling Hard for the Royal Guard is a solid debut, and I will give the author another read. 

Book Review: Faking It With the Grump (Second Chance Café) by Kate O’Keeffe

Faking It With the Grump is the first book in the Second Chance Café series by Kate O’Keeffe. He’s grumpy, boring, and thinks it’s okay to wear a suit and tie to a small town bar full of lumberjacks. But when I kiss him? Let’s just say I wasn’t expecting THAT. It's one thing to be dumped by the huge Hollywood star you thought you were going to marry. It’s quite another to move back to the small town you're both from. As a booby prize for being shown the door by Dex Ryder, everyone is trying to set me up with their son, their nephew, or their long-lost cousin’s gardener. I’m not going to put up with their patronizing sympathy anymore. So, when I spot new-guy-in-town Christopher Young, I set out to make him mine. Or you know, pretend to make him mine. I’m still in a horrible funk over Dex, and Christopher is an uptight grump. Not exactly my type. The fact that despite appearances, he’s gorgeous and doing weird things to my blood pressure doesn't mean a thing.

Faking It With the Grump is a fun ride. I enjoyed the characters and the set up of the small town that will be the setting for the series. I thought Harper was a likable and realistic character. She is smart and funny, but is generally too accommodating for her own good. Christopher has been operating under strict control for a long time, and while his seems very smart and observant, he occasionally seemed to be a little lost and clueless. It was sometimes an endearing dichotomy- but sometimes just had me shaking my head. I think I liked the secondary characters and town a bit more than I liked this particular romance. I saw the stumbling blocks a mile away, and while some worked out just fine and I enjoyed the ride- there was one that really frustrated me, and it seemed to me like Christopher never really understood the problem. I did like the final resolution and found the story as a whole to be entertaining and enjoyable, that one thread of the story bothered me enough that I did not love the book as completely as I expected to. 

Faking It With the Grump is a solid opposites attract romance with the promise of more stories to come. 

Book Review: How to Grill Our Love, Volume 1 by Shiori Hanatsuka

How to Grill Our Love, Volume 1, by Shiori Hanatsuka is a manga style graphic novel. Dating can be tough when you nerd out over barbecue. Kenta, a practical pitmaster, looks for a grill-friend in Chihiro, an aloof and faultless business babe…or is she? Scared of being rejected for who they really are, the two of them find comfort in food and each other…and all is well until Kenta must transfer away. With their developing relationship at steak, Chihiro proposes they tie the knot and they marry for better or wurst. Winging a long-distance marriage is one thing, but here’s the rub—they barely know each other! It’s a rare marriage where all the awkwardness of dating meets a sizzling passion for grilling!

How to Grill Our Love is a fun and enjoyable read. I liked the story- and getting some recipes along the way. I liked the set up and I thought it was a very cute read. My only complaint is that at the end of the book I had a pretty good understanding of Kenta as a character and I really liked him. However, I have no more of an understanding of Chihiro than Kenta does. I understand doing a slow reveal, but I think her personality is completely left of the page, and while it might get explored in later volumes I am not sure that everyone will stick around to figure out who she is. I did enjoy the read, and I liked it overall, I just wish I knew more about Chihiro when the first volume ended. 

Early Book Review: indiscernible elements: Calcium by Korynn Newville

indiscernible elements: Calcium by Korynn Newville is currently scheduled for release on May 30 2023. This book explores the path a molecule can take through various stages of life and death - from the perspective of Calcium itself. Through the use of detailed illustrations, poetry, and dialogue, author Korynn Newville creates a discussion around how humans can change the way they create the built environment to be more conscious of the wondrous systems at work in nature. If the same Calcium in a femur bone can be used in concrete to build a cathedral, a house, a sidewalk or can be recycled by a nearby plant or tree, how can humans purposefully help that process along? What would Calcium design if it had the choice? What would Calcium say if it could tell you its story.

indiscernible elements: Calcium is a book that I think will play better on paper than on a screen. I thought it was an intriguing idea, and results in a very interesting and unique book. The blend of notes, science, and poetry was well balanced and provides readers exactly what the description promises. I think it will speak to readers that really enjoy poetry and looking at things in our world from a different perspective. Since I was reading this book on a screen, that did not allow for zooming in and getting a better look at the details, I do have to say that the white on black notes and details were sometimes hard for me to see well enough to actually enjoy rather than squinting and puzzling out the words or intent. Also, while I do enjoy and appreciate poetry I think this was just a little more esoteric than I typically chose for my pleasure reading. 

Early Book Review: The Genius Kid's Guide to Mythical Creatures by Sara Novak

The Genius Kid's Guide to Mythical Creatures by Sara Novak is currently scheduled for release on May 2 2023. From beautiful mermaids and gentle unicorns to fire-breathing dragons and bloodthirsty vampires, mysterious beings and magical beasts appear in stories told all around the world. The Genius Kid’s Guide to Mythical Creatures highlights 20 of these legendary beings, detailing each creature’s appearance and behavior, as well as where and how legends about it began. The text also explores how the stories have changed and developed over time. Readers learn everything they need to know about their favorite myths and monsters, as well as plenty of fun trivia to impress their friends.

The Genius Kid's Guide to Mythical Creatures offers readers some basic information about cryptids and creatures of legend. The information was all in line with what I have read and seen elsewhere- so I think readers that have already done some reading on the subject will not find much that is new to them, but those that have not broached the topic yet will get a good foundation on the creatures covered. I was more than a little disappointed that most, if not all, of the images were from shutterstock. I would have liked to see more effort put into that aspect of the book.  I did appreciate the endmatter, the glossary and resource list at the end were a nice addition to the book. Although, I was expecting some kind of quiz in here somewhere, but perhaps they were in the sections of the galley that had some formatting issues, which I fully expect to be fixed prior to the publication. 

Book Review: Crack the Spine (The Wayward Series) by Wade Lewellyn-Hughes

Crack the Spine is the first book in The Wayward Series by Wade Lewellyn-Hughes. Fulfilling bounties on the supernatural requires a balance between safety and profit. Kendall Blake and the Wayward Investigations team walk this line with one goal in mind: to create a haven for runaway LGBTQ+ youth living on the streets of New Orleans, easy food for the darkness seldom discussed outside of fairy tales. But real estate is anything but cheap and selling the feu follet they catch in the swamps isn’t bringing in the cash they need. Enter Frankie Singh. Her childhood friend has gone missing in what appears to be a very sophisticated abduction. The fact it began with a murder in Portland has already skewed the balance beyond Wayward Investigations’ threshold. But they needed the money. Unraveling the mystery of what happened to her friend forces them deeper into the shadows and puts their own magical abilities to the test. Even tough-as-nails Kendall wonders if they made a mistake in trying to find her once she is staring down her gun into the glowing eyes of an incubus. 

Crack the Spine is a solid urban fantasy, but I have to admit that I had one problem with it. While it is the first in a series it felt like there was something leading up to this point, or that there should have been. I searched a bit, and while there are other books by the author I could find nothing that struck me as offering the answers of how the group in Wayward Investigations came together and formed their found family style bonds. However, I did like the major players and the story itself. I thought there were some great moments, and a couple I had to go back and re read because I was not sure if I missed something. I like the world that was created here, and the efforts of Kendall and her friends. There are plenty of mysteries and questions left in my mind at the end of this book, and I will read the next to see if I get those answered, and some more back story. 

Crack the Spine is a good urban fantasy, and I liked many aspects of the read. I believe I will give the second book a try when it comes out and decide after that read if I want to stick with the series.

Early Book Review: Reynard's Tale: A Story of Love and Mischief by Ben Hatke

Reynard's Tale: A Story of Love and Mischief by Ben Hatke is currently scheduled for release on April 18 2023. Inspired by the 12th century tales of the indomitable trickster fox Reynard, this offbeat tribute to the archetypal rogue has a satisfyingly old-fashioned feeling to it. Although this Reynard adventure is entirely the creation of modern fairytale master Ben Hatke (Mighty Jack), it fits seamlessly into the body of Reynard tales still beloved in Europe to this day.

Reynard's Tale is not quite what I expected from Hatke. I have adored everything from the author previously, so I could not turn down a change at this book. This book is aimed much more at adults than the middle grade and teen audience that I typically recommend their graphic novels to. As a reader with some folklore knowledge of Reynard I think that it will make much more sense to readers that have at least some knowledge of Reynard's trickster reputation than those that might be coming into the story fresh. The format is a little different than I expected. I was expecting a more typical graphic novel format, but this book is set in in alternating pages of text and illustration, this is not a bad, it just was not what I had thought I would see.  As expected, I fully enjoyed Hatke's art style. There are hidden bits of information and clues in every page, and I think the back and white artworks lends itself to this story and format perfectly.

Reynard's Tale is an interesting exploration of a folklore character. It is not quite what I expected, but is definitely unique and will be a favorite for some. 

Early Book Review: The Everything Low-Cholesterol Cookbook: 200 Heart-Healthy Recipes for Reducing Cholesterol and Losing Weight by Laura Livesey

The Everything Low-Cholesterol Cookbook: 200 Heart-Healthy Recipes for Reducing Cholesterol and Losing Weight by Laura Livesey is currently scheduled for release on March 28 2023. Keep your cholesterol levels in check and reduce your risk for developing heart disease and other chronic conditions with these 200 healthy and satisfying low-cholesterol recipes. Is your health care professional concerned about your high blood cholesterol levels? Do you worry that excess weight could have a detrimental effect on your health? Or are you simply looking for a healthier lifestyle? Changing your diet can be an effective way to lose weight and reduce your cholesterol level. This cookbook is your introduction to the benefits of a heart-healthy diet. Learn about cholesterol and its role in heart disease, how lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of heart disease and other chronic conditions, and how losing excess weight can improve your health. Each recipe is low in sugar but high in flavor, so you don’t have to sacrifice delicious foods to be healthy!

The Everything Low-Cholesterol Cookbook is exactly what the title promises. It offers readers suggestions on changing how you eat, because the order you eat the food on your plate and when you eat different food can have a big impact, as well as what to eat. The encouragement and note that being health and making this changes for yourself is a process and not a zero sum game, doing your best and taking things at a pace that fits your needs and life will make the change in habits easier to stick with. I thought the recipes were well varied and written, with a healthy something that will appeal to most everyone. Each recipe includes the nutrients per serving if the recipe is made as printed. I am big on substitutions and changing things up once I have done a recipe once or twice, so this will not hold true long for me, but it is good to have a starting point. To be honest, there are not many of these recipes that I will be adding to my repertoire. I cook for a family of four (with one picky kid eater and one picky adult eater), and while there are some I can get by with, there are not a whole lot that would be eaten. There are a couple meals I will try for the family, and a few more I might try out just for myself on the weekend.  Also, there are several ingredients that are just not regularly in my house (like kelp noodles and bee pollen) but that all  might be less problematic for others. I think the book is well written and provides exactly what it promises- but it is just not practical for my household.

Book Review: Mr. Nanny (The Nannies) by Sam Crescent

Mr. Nanny is the tenth book in The Nannies series by Sam Crescent. It stood up fine on its own, but returning readers are likely to have some advanced knowledge of Caleb and his friends. 

Annie Wells needs help. When she's suddenly given a baby to care for, she doesn’t have a clue what to do. She needs someone who knows how to help. Annie turns to Caleb Nanny, hoping he can teach her how to take care of the baby that is now her responsibility. One look is all it takes for Caleb to know that Annie is a sweet, young woman. She looks so distraught, so he takes pity on her. He agrees to help and it has nothing to do with how sexy her ass looks—or maybe it does. He can't fight his attraction for her. What started out as a pity job, soon turns into more, and when Caleb tells her that he loves her, he knows he’s gone too far. But what will happen when Annie attempts to give him the memory of a lifetime? Will he reject her, or will he finally fall for the woman that loves him with her whole heart, and never wants to let him go?

Mr. Nanny is an okay story, but I felt like there was a great deal of wasted potential. I liked the little I learned about Caleb and Annie, but I felt like we could have learned much more about Annie and baby Tara, and how things turned out they way they did for the pair. Readers do get a bit of a glimpse at Caleb and his issues, but I feel like there could have been more about the actual romance between the two. The outline was there, but it felt like so many details that could have made the story more engaging and real were left out. Things just felt a little flat all around, which is a shame since I thought it was going to check all my boxes for favorite, quick romance reads.

Mr. Nanny is a quick weekend read.

Audiobook Review: Make a Wish (Spark House) by Helena Hunting, Narrated by Jason Clarke; Stella Bloom

Make a Wish by Helena Hunting is the third book in the Spark House series and is narrated by Jason Clarke and Stella Bloom. I did not read the previous books, but was able to enjoy the story fully despite that. Returning readers will have a better grasp on the main character's sisters and some backstory. 

Ever have a defining life moment you wish you could do over? Harley Spark has one. The time she almost kissed the widowed father of the toddler she nannied for. It was so bad they moved across the state and she never saw them again. Fast forward seven years and she’s totally over it. At least she thinks she is. Until Gavin Rhodes and his adorable now nine-year-old daughter, Peyton, reappear at a princess-themed birthday party hosted by Spark House, Harley’s family’s event hotel. Despite trying to avoid the awkwardness of the situation, she can’t help but notice how unbearably sexy he looks in a tutu. Add to that a spontaneous hives breakout, and it’s clear she’s not even remotely over the mortification of her egregious error all those years ago. Except Gavin seems oblivious to her inner turmoil. So much so that he suggests they get together for lunch. For Peyton’s sake, of course. It’s the perfect opportunity to heal old wounds. Or it could just reopen them. This is one of those times Harley wishes she could see the future.

Make a Wish is a solid romance with a single parent, a kind of second chance romance, a smart kid, and plenty of emotion. Lets start with the narration, because honestly that can make or break an audiobook. I greatly enjoyed the dual narrators and think that Jason Clarke and Stella Bloom did a great job bringing these characters- and all of those emotions- to life. They did well conveying grief and stress as needed in the story, and I think I would have been less invested in the story if I had read it instead of listening to it. In the story itself I liked the characters, and think the struggles they faced were very realistic and well portrayed. Harley is dealing with huge changes at work and in her roles and dynamic there with no concrete solutions in sight, adding in the relationship with Gavin and Peyton made everything even more high stakes. Gavin is still struggling with loss, grief, and facing his own emotions making things harder for everyone, but especially himself. I thought the trauma and grief was handled very well, and it felt real as I was listening. As did Harley's frustration and uncertainty about work. I have to say that the biggest downfall of the book for me was Harley herself. I completely understand and commiserate with where she stands and how she rarely asserts herself- but aside for one moment in the book she is almost too perfect, too understanding, too empathetic and it bothered me. She never seemed to even have negative thoughts about people seemed a bit off to me, and she just seemed too perfect to be real. However, I am still glad I read the book, and it was overall an enjoyable read. 

Make a Wish is a good romance, and fans of the author and series will not want to miss it. 

Book Review: 100 Disasters That Shaped World History by Joanne Mattern

100 Disasters That Shaped World History by Joanne Mattern is a children's nonfiction book. From the Great Fire of London to the Challenger explosion, earthquakes, crashes, floods, and accidents have been major turning points throughout history. In 100 Disasters That Shaped World History, young readers will be introduced to some of the most notorious disasters known to mankind, discovering how these fateful events unfolded-and how they changed the world as we know it.

100 Disasters That Shaped World History is a book that covers a wide range of disasters, including some I would not have never thought to include, like the MGM fire and a molasses flood. The impact of these crisis are covered- such as how laws and regulations followed and how people's behavior did (or did not) adjusted afterwards. This many incidents is a great deal of ground to cover, so some are cover in much more depth than others, but this is an interesting and informative read. I thought the illustrations were less than stellar, but they are credited to the publishing group rather than an individual so that is not terribly surprising. I did like the trivia and project suggestions at the end, but that could have been made even better with some suggested resources for further reading as well. This is an interesting and engaging read for young readers that like history and learning about things that have gone wrong in the past. 

Book Review: The Late, Great Endlings: Stories of the Last Survivors by Deborah Kerbel, Aimée van Drimmelen

The Late, Great Endlings: Stories of the Last Survivors by Deborah Kerbel and Aimée van Drimmelen pays homage to some of the more well-known endlings of the past century with rhyming stanzas that accompany watercolor illustrations and factual descriptions of each animal, along with the circumstances that led to their species' extinction. Together, these portraits of animals, like the passenger pigeon, the Pinta Island tortoise and the Tasmanian tiger, are a poignant symbol of a world irreversibly altered by human development, habitat loss and climate change. Readers are invited to reflect on the interconnectedness of all life forms on our planet with an additional look at animals that are at risk of becoming extinct in our lifetime. Concluding on a hopeful note, the final page offers suggestions for what kids can do to change the course of this mass species extinction crisis.

The Late, Great Endlings is a sad but interesting read about the last days of several endlings (the last member of a species). I liked learning the information shared, and I think the artwork does a good job of capturing the lives of the featured creatures. I also like that the book ended on a reasonably hopeful note. While reminding readers that we could very well see more species go extinct in our lifetimes, there are ways to mitigate our individual impacts and help make positive changes in the world around us to help slow or stop that decline. To be perfectly honest, the only part of this book I could have done without was the poetry. It seemed a little trite and unnecessary for the most part, and did little to add to the feel and purpose of the read. 

Book Review: The Princess Bride: The Official Cookbook by Jenn Fujikawa

The Princess Bride: The Official Cookbook by Jenn Fujikawa features more than 50 recipes for dishes seen in, and inspired by, the film, including: Buttercup Buttermilk Scones, Hash You Wish, Farm Boy Breakfast, Six-Fingered Sandwiches, Chips of Insanity, MLT, The Grandson’s Soup and Sandwich, Vizzini’s Sicilian Meatballs, Fezzik’s Stew. The Spaniard’s Paella, Bread Pirate Roberts, Twu Wove’s Kiss Cookies, Iocane Powder Punch, and Inigo Montoya’s Taste of Revenge. Perfect for fans, families, and Brute Squads, this cookbook is a way for home cooks to plate up the adventure, comedy, and romance of everyone’s favorite film.

The Princess Bride: The Official Cookbook is a fun novelty cookbook. It has some good recipes with punny titles. I liked the movie quotes, pictures, and information that was included in the text as well. Most of the recipes are ones you can find elsewhere- with a title change. However, I did like that they were labeled, both in the table of contents and at the start of the recipe, for if they were gluten free, vegetarian, or vegan and sometimes included suggested modifications to make it vegetarian if it was not in the recipe. If you prefer metric measurements, here you are out of luck and will need to do some conversions since it is all in imperial units. 

The Princess Bride: The Official Cookbook is exactly what it promises- a cookbook for fans of the movie that might want to put together a pun filled meal (or series of meals) to share.