Book Review: Cuddly Crochet Critters 26 Animal Patterns by Megan Kreiner

Cuddly Crochet Critters: 26 Animal Patterns by Megan Kreiner introduces 26 soft, huggable, pillow-like animals that are easy projects for beginners and will be loved by children and adults of all ages. Fashioned from super-bulky, machine-washable, chenille-style yarn, the stuffed animals can be completed in just a few hours. These cuddly critters make great pillows for a child's nap time, homey accessories for a dorm room, comfy companions for travel, and great gifts, too! Based on the popular Japanese "tsum tsum" style, each project starts with a standard body shape and requires just some basic crochet stitches. As an added bonus, there are 12 additional "critter combinations" to make! Mix and match pattern pieces to create a koala, a zebra, a narwhal, and more. 

Cuddly Crochet Critters offers readers clear and accessible patterns and instructions for reasonably large crochet stuffed animals. I like the idea of the blanket yarn used in these patterns- it makes for faster work and larger projects, and less hand cramps than smaller works. With this in mind- I liked that the book offers tips and tricks for working with the special yarn, but I think they could have gone one step further and made the stitch instructions in the front of the book with the yarn readers would be using. This is done in the project instructions- but not the stitch tutorials in the very beginning. Having worked with both I have to say that there is a big difference in working in such different weights and it will take some getting used to for those that have never worked with it before. With all that said- the patterns are well written, and I think they will offer readers plenty guidance to complete these projects along with room further customization as they continue to create. The book offers a good starting point and clear instructions, but it is not something I can see adding to my permanent collection- rather I would borrow it from a library and return for the next happy crafter.

Cuddly Crochet Critters is a good introduction for fairly quick working amigurumi. 

Book Review: Monstrous: The Lore, Gore, and Science behind Your Favorite Monsters by Carlyn Beccia

Monstrous: The Lore, Gore, and Science behind Your Favorite Monsters by Carlyn Beccia is a children's non fiction book. Could Dr. Frankenstein's machine ever animate a body? Why should vampires drink from veins and not arteries? What body parts are best for zombies to eat? (It's not brains.) This fascinating encyclopedia of monsters delves into the history and science behind eight legendary creatures, from Bigfoot and the kraken to zombies and more. Find out each monster's origin story and the real-world history that informed it, and then explore the science of each creature in fun and surprising ways. Tips and infographics—including monster anatomy, how to survive a vampire attack, and real-life giant creatures of the deep sea—make this a highly visual and fun-to-browse book.

Monstrous is well organized and written. The book offers a historic and scientific background to some of the legends of monsters, magic, and more. The text is well written. It is very informative, with bits of humor throughout. Even when the subject gets a little dense or shares what I would consider fairly well known information, the text never feels unaccessible or condescending. I enjoyed that even while I knew a great deal of the information- as I am a fan or folklore and mythology- there were some new things to learn as well as some deep enjoyment in seeing some of my more esoteric knowledge confirmed or expanded on. I also greatly enjoyed the artwork in the illustrations and the the styles for the backgrounds and infographics. It was on point and helped reinforce the information, keep the reader's interest, and entertain. The combination of fact and fun was pretty much perfect. The author even took the time to mention when science has been wrong, I think this is important to remind all readers because it shows that there is always more to learn and more research that can be done. I was very happy to see a bibliography, glossary, and index in the endpages. Too often I see these things neglected or poorly done in children's non fiction- expecting them to ignore it or not notice. In this book the list of sources and citations was very well done and could result in interested readers doing further reading, investigating, and research on their own. This encouragement always makes me happy. 

Monstrous is a well written book that offers the tools of science, history, and a little humor to explain the truth about creatures like vampire, zombie, and more. Good for monster fans, and for giving fact based information that could ease the fears of some that are non so fond of monsters. I just pre ordered this to share with my kids.

Book Review: Wrangling His Best Friend's Sister (Beckett Brothers) by Leslie North

Wrangling His Best Friend's Sister is the first book in the Beckett Brothers series by Leslie North.  Ava Pearson needs a job—yesterday. After her husband's death, her life in the city became impossible, and a crisis with her young son caused her to lose her job as a reporter. Now Ava is living in her childhood home again, without prospects, but not without hope. If she can just get enough money to tide her over while she pitches an article to an even better big-city paper, Ava feels she can get back on track. The only problem is…what jobs are available in her one-horse town? Branson Beckett is successful by most measures of the word. He's the owner of a profitable ranch on the brink of expansion and is now looking for a few good ranch hands to help him out. However, he wasn't thinking of his best friend's little sister when it came to hard labor. No, he'd thought of her in other hard situations, but they usually involved the dark of night and his great big bed. Dreams that had no place in reality. But Ava is convincing. She needs to get out of her parents' house, and Branson needs her help interviewing his ranch hands. It's a win-win. He'll fix his personnel problem, and she'll write an article about it. As personnel issues lead to personal pleasure between them, Ava's big city dream drifts away, replaced by visions of a family in the country. In the end, Branson will have to face tough truths about himself, his ranch, and his relationship. And if he fails to see the light, he's going to lose the love of his life. 

Wrangling His Best Friend's Sister is a multi trope romance. There are bits of the cowboy, single parent, small town, and friend's sibling tropes but they all seem to blend together nicely without any one of them feeling overplayed or less than organic in the story. I liked Ava- she is a strong and practical woman who puts her son first but is not ready to stop doing what she loves, what she is good at. I am a little less enamored of Bran. He is a nice guy, determined to do the right thing and run his ranch the way his father would have. However, the biggest conflict in the book is the same reason I wanted to kick him. He is emotionally stunted and walled off. Yes, many heroes in romance start off this way or act this way because of trauma- but apparently he has been like this for years. Alright, fine, I can understand it to a certain degree- but I get so bothered by a story in which it is only the realization that they love a woman- or the possibility of losing them- that 'fixes' the guy. There were enough other things in the story that could have triggered the realization. However, that is a personal peeve of mine, and might not be as frustrating to other readers, especially since that was my biggest issue with the book. It made it hard for me to connect with Bran's character though. I did like the secondary characters- which made the book more entertaining to read.

Wrangling His Best Friend's Sister is a good contemporary romance, with many well written elements. However I just did not become fully invested in the story. 

Book Review: I've Got You, Babe (Must Love Babies) by Lynnette Austin

I've Got You, Babe is the second book in the Must Love Babies series by Lynnette Austin. I did read the first book in the series, but each book can easily be read as a stand alone.

Former Marine Tucker Wylder wants nothing more than to work with his brothers in their vintage car restoration business and be left alone with his nightmares and regrets. The last thing he needs is to take on someone else’s troubles. Then Elisa Danvers and her young daughter arrive in Misty Bottoms, Georgia. Elisa has reached the end of the line—flat broke, engine trouble, sick in body and spirit. Tucker steps up to the rescue and finds himself reluctantly taking care of a feisty preschooler and her independent mother, who doesn’t seem to want his help. And Tucker isn’t sure he’s ready for the way precocious little Daisy and headstrong, beautiful Elisa herself capture first his bachelor household and finally his carefully guarded heart.

I've Got You, Babe is a sweet contemporary romance with a great deal of heart. Tucker is dealing with survivor's guilt and other after effects of his time in the military. He is trying to hold it all together for his family but everything is weighing on him more than he can admit. Elisa has been struggling all her life, more than ever since losing her job threw one more curveball her way. I love her fierce independence and willingness to do whatever it takes to take care of her daughter. When the chaos of Elisa's life collides with Tucker's forced order the result is thawing and growing trust on both sides. I loves the slow, sweet burm between the two- and how important actual communication and trust is in the story. My heart melted every time Tucker showed his softer side toward Daisy. I also liked the way his emotional wounds and struggles were handled- I thought his internalizing of it and reluctance to share were very realistic. Tucker and Elisa faced huge hurdle on their own, and together. I loved the secondary characters and the way everything was handled for all of their issues. I will admit though that my interest started to waiver after the half way mark in the book, and I cannot put my finger on why. I still wanted to know how everything comes together and how Tucker and Elisa get their happy ending but it was a lot easier to put the book down to cook dinner or go to bed after a certain point. I still enjoyed the read, and I am still glad I read it, but I was not fully engaged through the entire read.

I've Got You, Babe is a sweet romance and I think fans of the author will certainly want to read it. I fully plan on continuing to read the author's work.

Early Book Review: The House at the End of the Road by Kari Rust

The House at the End of the Road by Kari Rust is a picturebook currently scheduled for release on September 17 2019. One summer, while exploring the town during their annual stay at Grandma’s house, two siblings and their cousin come across a creepy old house. The kids poke around, one of them causing mischief and tossing rocks at the window, until they glimpse a ghost through the glass! Later, Grandma reveals the house doesn’t belong to a ghost—just old Mr. Peterson.  After visiting again with better intentions, the kids discover Mr. Peterson’s great sense of humor and that his house is full of fascinating things: old toys, photographs, even a film projector. They become regular visitors, until one day, Mr. Peterson is gone: he has left for a retirement home, and his house sits empty. Using odds, ends, and gifts he gave them, the kids create mementos of Mr. Peterson’s home to give back to him. 

The House at the End of the Road is a picturebook that will appeal to older readers as well as the younger set because of the topic and the graphic novel elements and feel. I thought the story was very realistic, and is something I could see happening very easily. I liked how the kid's behavior is as flawed as you might find in any kid. Making mistakes, but almost as quickly making amends and finding out how they were wrong. I like that the cousin was afraid of owning up to his mistakes, as even adults are at times, but still did the right thing- eventually. I think the full story arc teaches young readers, and adults, important lessons in taking the time to look past the appearance and taking the time to know people. Forging a friendship across generational lines, and not just learning about each other but taking steps to help and care for each other was very well written. I loved the art style, and think it added a great deal of atmosphere and emotion to the story. 

The House at the End of the Road is a wonderful story that I hope inspires readers off all ages to reach out and make new friends  across generational lines (safely of course) and to take a bit more time to look beyond the rumors and appearance to discover the truth. I hope it will also encourage readers to explore graphic novels further.

Book Review: Fast (Burns Brothers) by Gillian Archer

Fast by Gillian Archer is the second book in the Burns Brother world. I did not read the first book, but this book can be read as a stand alone.

Family means everything to this tattooed bad boy--good thing since he's about to start his own. I wanted her the first time I laid eyes on her. But what starts as a fun time, quickly gets serious when the stick turns pink a month later. My life is already chaos with my recently paroled father popping up and the usual drama at the family business building custom motorcycles. Plus our reality show just got picked up for a full season. But it really hits the fan when I discover that the new woman in my life is the daughter of the President of the West Coast Kings, the baddest motorcycle club in Sacramento--and our biggest client. Think he'll like being called Grandpa? Life just got hella complicated.

Fast is a contemporary romance that deals with some hard issues, but felt sweet and heartwarming.  Ryan is an alphamallow- all hard edges and tattoos on the outside but a softy at his core. On the surface Hope is sweetness and confidence, but she has a core of steel.  The compassion and care for others is something they shared, and something I loved to see expressed by each of them so differently. They each have huge father and family issues, but I loved the way they found comfort together and worked things out. The surprise baby was done very well- I liked how honest and realistic the complications of that were handled. The switching perspectives helped keep track of the worries and fears they each had, and the circumstances that made things more complicated. The heat is on high, but so is the danger and the sweet. I liked how well balanced the different elements were, and there were a few times that characters surprised me and took an unexpected path. I was never bored, and am looking forward to going back to read the first book and continuing to follow this series.

Fast has a nearly perfect balance of danger, sweet, and heat. It is a must read for fans of the author.

Early Book Review: First Time Embroidery and Cross-Stitch: The Absolute Beginner’s Guide by Linda Wyszynski

First Time Embroidery and Cross-Stitch: The Absolute Beginner’s Guide by Linda Wyszynski is currently scheduled for release on September 3 2019. This beginner’s guide teaches everything you need to know about a variety of hand stitching techniques. It is filled with detailed descriptions of materials and tools, the easy step-by-step instructions for classic embroidery, crewel, and cross-stitch will have you creating and embellishing projects like jewelry, journal covers, pillows, fashions, and more with confidence.

First Time Embroidery and Cross-Stitch was a wonderful reminder for me, because I used to do a great deal of needle work but had switched most of my crafting time to crochet- mainly because I can read on my kindle when crocheting and that does not usually work out so well when working with a sharp needle. This has inspired me to get back to it and maybe get through some audio books or my Netflix queue instead of my reading pile once and awhile. I liked getting the refresher course on tools and supplies, and think that newcomers to the craft will get a good understanding of the options- but they might be a little overwhelmed. There are so many options out there that I had never even considered and details I was unaware of that I was eager to try something new, but all that information at once might be too much for someone that has yet to thread their first needle. Beginners might just want to take it in small pieces or read what they are interested in at the moment. I found all of the writing to be very accessible and clear, both in the supply descriptions and the instructions. The pictures and diagrams were helpful and were well placed for optimum usefulness. The handful of designs included were simple and well explained- a nice starter set for beginners. I now how a few personalized pattern ideas running through my head.

First Time Embroidery and Cross-Stitch is a nice stitch guide and a good resource for beginners. I would have liked a few more patterns and a little less about supplies that a beginner is not likely to need, however it offers exactly what the title suggests.

Early Book Review: Ice: Chilling Stories from a Disappearing World from DK Publishing

Ice: Chilling Stories from a Disappearing World from DK Publishing was written by Laura Buller, Andrea Mills, and John Woodward. It is currently scheduled for release on September 3 2019. This comprehensive book can teach readers about early humans and how they survived in one of the most hostile environments on Earth, the tragic and treacherous journeys of early polar explorers, how icy landscapes develop and change, and meet the animals who make these frozen lands their home. Detailed annotations explore the place of ice on our planet and how we and other animals survive and interact with it. Using captivating CGIs, illustrations, and photography, this book will take readers on an epic journey from the ice age to modern day, exploring how icy worlds are created, how creatures live in these harsh environments and the impact of climate change. This makes it a the perfect companion for any reader who wants to discover frozen worlds and the creatures that make them their home.

Ice: Chilling Stories from a Disappearing World captured my attention with the image on the front cover and never let go. As someone that thought they had a good grasp on most habitats and some of the science involved in the coldest regions on our planet, I need to say that I learned quite a lot from this book. There is so much more to ice, in all its forms, than most of us could ever know. I found the text to be very well organized and researched with absolutely stunning images through out. There is a great deal of information here, and not all of it very optimistic,  making this a book that I think can be taken in smaller bites and returned too many times to refresh or reread the most relevant bits for current research or interests. I think even the youngest readers can appreciate the images in the book, while older readers (including adults) will be able to learn much from this resource. 

Ice: Chilling Stories from a Disappearing World is exactly what you would expect from the title and publisher. It is a well done non fiction book well suited for all libraries and personal collections, and visually stunning. 

Early Book Review: Texts from Mittens: The Friends and Family Edition by Angie Bailey

Texts from Mittens: The Friends and Family Edition by Angie Bailey is currently scheduled for release on September 3 2019. This book follow along with Mittens as he enjoys hilarious, snark-filled text volleys with his cast of quirky friends and family: Earl (the “filthy hound”), Stumpy (the best friend), Drunky Patty (the usually tipsy next-door neighbor), Grandma (giver of treats), and Fiona (Mitty’s girlfriend). It is based on Angie Bailey’s virally popular blog.

Texts from Mittens is a cute collection of texts that imagine what a cat might text to his friends and family. I have never seen Bailey's blog, so this whole thing was new to me, although I have seen various twitter and facebook accounts that post from the imagned mindset of the pet. I found the texts to be entertaining and, as a cat servent myself, sometimes relatable. I never really laughed out loud or did more than smile as to the antics of Mittens and crew. However, I did find it amusing and a entertaining distraction in the midst of a heat wave.

Texts from Mittens is a good book to flip through and entertain yourself with for awhile.  

Early Book Review: Buried in the Stacks (Haunted Library Mystery) by Allison Brook

Buried in the Stacks is the third book in the Haunted Library Mystery series by Allison Brook. It is currently scheduled for release on September 10 2019. I do recommend reading this series in order to make some of the relationships and tensions better understood. However, I think a dedicated newcomer could still catch on pretty quickly.

Librarian Carrie Singleton is building a haven, or at least trying to, but one of her neighbors is misbehaving. Can resident spirit Evelyn help Carrie catch the culprit who made her a ghost? In winter, the Haunted Library is a refuge for homeless townspeople. When a group purchases a vacant house to establish a daytime haven for the homeless, Carrie offers the library as a meeting place for the Haven House committee, but quickly learns that it may be used for illegal activities. As the new Sunshine Delegate, Carrie heads to the hospital to visit her cantankerous colleague, Dorothy, who had fallen outside the local supermarket. She tells Carrie that her husband tried to kill her--and that he murdered her Aunt Evelyn, the library's resident ghost, six years earlier. When Dorothy is murdered--run off the road as soon as she returns to work. Evelyn implores Carrie to find her niece's killer, but that's no easy task: Dorothy had made a hobby of blackmailing her neighbors and colleagues. Carrie, Evelyn, and Smoky Joe the cat are on the case, but are the library cards stacked against them?

Buried in the Stacks is a good mystery with a nice pacing. I liked that the mystery and Carrie's character development received almost equal attention through the story. Carrie is still finding her place, and figuring out not just who she is, but who she wants to be and what she wants for the future. The mystery of who killed Dorothy and the possible nefarious purpose behind Haven House are woven nicely into Carrie's desire to help others and appease her own curiosity. I enjoyed getting to know more of the residents of her small town, and unraveling the multi layered mystery. As a Connecticut native, and someone that has worked in libraries for about 20 years now, I am sometimes distracted and a bit amazed at how freely Carrie spends money. A small town in Connecticut is expensive to live in, and even with her job and cheap rent I sometimes find myself side tracked with the logistics. However, that is my personal hang up and not something that will bother most people. 

Buried in the Stacks is another solid mystery with some character development and hints toward future developments. It was an enjoyable cozy mystery.