Book Review: Read and Gone (Haunted Library Mysteries) by Allison Brook

Read and Gone is the second book in the Haunted Library Mysteries series by Allison Brook. I do recommend reading the series in order, to get the backstory of the characters and set up, but I think newcomers could catch on fairly quickly.

A devoted dad is as precious as diamonds, but Carrie Singleton wouldn't know since her dad Jim's been on the lam most of her life. In an unusual family reunion, she finds Jim breaking into her cottage in the middle of the night. The fun really starts when he begs her to help him recover his half of a seven-million-dollar gem heist he pulled off with the local jeweler, Benton Parr. When she refuses, Jim takes off again. Carrie finds her father again behind bars for the recent murder of Benton Parr. Who made the connection? Unbeknownst to her, Carrie's boyfriend Dylan, an insurance investigator, has been searching for the gems. Determined to find the jewels herself, she starts examining every facet of Parr's life. She turns up a treasure trove of suspects, one of whom bashes her on the head as she's searching the victim's country cabin. Retreating to the quiet confines of the library where she works, Carrie watches as Smokey Joe, the resident cat, paws at a hole in the wall. Is he after the library's ghost Evelyn, or something shinier?

Read and Gone is a solid continuation to this series. I enjoyed that Carrie and the secondary characters continue to grow, and that I am still learning new things about them even though they feel like old friends. The addition of her father and the mystery and murder that follow in his wake was well done. I found the mystery to be multi layered and well handled, and even with the amount of suspects and twists I never felt like there was so much going on that I could not keep track of it all. I will admit that I had my suspicions about who might be involved in the big reveal, and I was mostly right. However, I really enjoyed the journey to get to those answers. While I enjoyed Jim, Carrie's dad, and his role in the action and felt that the emotional rollercoaster Carrie was dealing with were well written, I have to admit that I got frustrated with her on occasion. She seems a little quick to cut people out, and them gets upset when they take her at her word. However, as annoyed as I was I felt both sides were completely realistic and in character for them. It felt like giving advice to a friend who then ignores your coaching and does something completely different, normal but still bothersome. 

Read and Gone is an engaging read with plenty of twists and turns to keep mystery readers happy and enough character development and emotion to keep everyone turning those pages.

Book Review: The Great Rhino Rescue: Saving the Southern White Rhinos by Sandra Markle

The Great Rhino Rescue: Saving the Southern White Rhinos by Sandra Markle is a children's non fiction book. Southern white rhinos need to be rescued, again. In the late 1800s, these rhinos were believed to be extinct. Fortunately, a few were discovered and African governments stepped in to protect them. But now these rhinos are in danger from something else: the demand for their horns. In 2008 a rumor began spreading that rhino horn can cure cancer, and poachers began targeting these incredible animals for their horns. This book explores how African governments, local communities, and volunteer organizations are working together to save the Southern white rhinos once again.

The Great Rhino Rescue: Saving the Southern White Rhinos is an important book, not just because it shows the dangers white rhinos have, and are currently facing- and how people are trying to help. It also shows how delicate the balance of nature is, and how quickly a change in people's beliefs and behavior can impact the world. THe story of the White Rhino is sad, with moments of hope dashed by the greed and beliefs of humans. However, the number of people working to counteract the damage people are causing, and the danger they pose, leaves me hopeful. Like with so much of the world landscape now, it is in the efforts of people trying to do the right thing and make things better that just might save us all. As always, Markle offers readers hope for the future and some valuable information in the end pages, including sources for further reading and research.

The Great Rhino Rescue: Saving the Southern White Rhinos is another well researched and written book about endangered animals, and how people are trying to help. I highly recommend exploring Markle's animal non fiction and adding this book to the collection. 

Book Review: My Heart Fills With Happiness / Ni Sâkaskineh Mîyawâten Niteh Ohcih by Monique Gray Smith, Julie Flett

My Heart Fills With Happiness / Ni Sâkaskineh Mîyawâten Niteh Ohcih, is a lovely board book written by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Julie Flett. What fills your heart with happiness?The sun on your face. The smell of warm bannock baking in the oven. Holding the hand of someone you love. This book offers all readers a reminder  to reflect on and cherish the moments in life that bring us joy. Monique Gray Smith wrote My Heart Fills with Happiness to support the wellness of Indigenous children and families, and to encourage young children to reflect on what makes them happy. 

My Heart Fills With Happiness / Ni Sâkaskineh Mîyawâten Niteh Ohcih is a sweet book with fabulous intentions. I like seeing the dual languages, and the clear and open questions about what might make readers happy. I think seeing how many simple things can make everyone happy can help readers of all ages stop to enjoy the simple things a little more, but all see how much alike we are underneath it all. Language, heritage, faith, and ability might make us all different but we can all find happiness in sunshine, fresh baked treats, and the people we love. Two ideas that are important, sweet, and well done with the simple text and lovely illustrations. 

Book Review: Sloth at the Zoom by Helaine Becker, Orbie

Sloth at the Zoom is a picturebook written by Helaine Becker and illustrated by Orbie.  One day, a sloth accidentally gets delivered to the Zoom! She was supposed to be dropped off at the Zzzzzoo, a much more laid-back, slow-paced place. She had been looking forward to long, languorous naps while the sun gently warmed her belly. But at the Zoom, the zebras gallop so fast they leave their stripes in puddles. The monkeys climb so fast they forget to stop at the treetops. And the parrots fly so fast their tails draw rainbows across the sky. When the sloth tries to make friends, nobody has any time--until the sloth meets a creature who's a little more her speed, and everyone stops to notice. 

Sloth at the Zoom is a fun picturebook about slowing down. No one at the Zoom is willing to slow down to make friends with the sloth. Her slow pace seems silly to the busy animals zooming around. I like that the sloth never gives up, but keeps trying to convince others to slow down and take tea with her, or simply to take a moment and chat. It is only when the sloth ad a snail connect, and take some time to enjoy each other's company that anyone else seems to notice. However, once they stop and join in the quiet moment they all seem to relax and enjoy it. I like that the story shows very different creatures slowing down to enjoy some time together, and that they can all use some down time. The illustrations are great, capturing the speed of the fast animals as well as the humor used to exaggerate that speed.

Sloth at the Zoom was fun and cute, and I am a sucker for a sloth. It was good, and I enjoyed it, but it did not wow me. I think something about the ending fell flat for me, but I cannot put my finger on what I wanted to be different. 

Book Review: The Undercover Duke (1797 Club) by Jess Michaels

The Undercover Duke is the sixth book in the 1797 Club series by Jess Michaels. I have not read all of the books in this series, and have found that there is some connections with characters to make reading as a series rewarding- but each can stand up well on its own.

Lucas Vincent may be the Duke of Willowby but he’s never acted as such. He’s been too busy working for the War Department as a spy. But years of dangerous work has finally caught up to him and he was involved in a violent attack that nearly killed him. Forced home, his angry, aggressive desire to get back in the field and find out to who betrayed him is keeping him from healing. Diana Oakford was raised by a physician who served the King’s War Department and she knows better than most the dangers that job entails. She was also trained in healing, so when she’s asked to come and assist with Lucas’s recovery she has a hard time refusing. Once they’re alone together an unexpected connection begins to grow between these two people who have fought their emotions all their lives and more begins to heal than just Lucas’s broken body. But just when they start to believe they could find some kind of happiness, the past rears its ugly head and Lucas will have to choose between the life he once led and the woman who has changed his world.

The Undercover Duke is a story that offers good characters and some serious complications. Lucas is a spy that has been seriously injured, and has some underlying emotional wounds. Diana has her own grief to deal with, and is willing to help because of who asked and the connection of both men to her father. I liked watching the pair get to know each other, and become partners in more than one way. I found the emotional struggles they share, and the barriers that they need to break down to trust each other well done. I will admit that I had a good idea about who the danger was, and some of the details, well before the climax. I was not thrilled with how it all unfolded,. but it worked in the story. I did enjoy the banter between Lucas and Diana, and the inclusion of some characters from previous books. I like the support and friendship they offer, and thought that they might have played a bigger role than they did. I did enjoy the read, but it did not live up to the expectations I had for the author.

The Undercover Duke is a good, but not great, addition to the series. 

Early Book Review: The Night the Forest Came to Town by Charles Ghigna, Annie Wilkinson

The Night the Forest Came to Town is a picturebook written by Charles Ghigna and illustrated by Annie Wilkinson. It is currently scheduled for release on October 9 2018. From dusk to dawn a forest creeps into a town where the grown-ups are too distracted to notice. But the children do. They see greenery take root in the lifeless cracks of dull sidewalks. They see an eagle build her nest atop a forgotten fountain and saplings start to sprout in dark corners. A gray-drab city defined by concrete and steel, vibrations and notifications, transforms into a living garden where apartment buildings overflow with window boxes full of flowers, birds sing songs through day and night and children laugh and tend to their gardens. Watch as nature reclaims this town.

The Night the Forest Came to Town is a book told in rhyme and filled with whimsical pictures about nature returning to a city environment overnight. I liked the idea of the book, and found the artwork to be lovely. I think the idea of nature returning to a city to be a lovely idea, and one that we should be working toward in sensible ways. I think showing young readers, and their adults, how easily nature could find its place in our cities and how much it can enrich our lives is a great thing. I do think that it was a little too perfect, and a little too sweet, but sometimes we need that. I think that those holding a physical addition of the book will enjoy it, particularly the art, even more than I did. Reading the Kindle version from Netgalley did not really to the book justice, and I have a firm belief that the final version will be even more beautiful to look at. 

Book Review: Better Living Through Origami: 20 Creative Paper Projects for a Beautiful Home by Nellianna van den Baard, Kenneth Veenenbos

Better Living Through Origami: 20 Creative Paper Projects for a Beautiful Home by Nellianna van den Baard and Kenneth Veenenbos invites readers to take papercraft to a new creative level. Learn how to create 20 items of functional home decor using simple, origami inspired paper folding and manipulation techniques, and then show off your DIY creations at the heart of your home. There are step-by-step illustrations to guide readers through the projects, which include beautiful lampshades, creative wall art ideas, an ingenious clock, pretty garlands and decorations, unique vases, candle holders, plant holders, decorative bowls and more. Using readily available paper and card stock, readers can create some stunning designer accents for your home for a fraction of the cost of store-bought versions.

Better Living Through Origami is a craft and decorating book that is different from anything I have tried before. Oh, I have tried origami before- and never really excelled at it. However, I have never tried to include paper crafts into my home decorating. I like that there is a detailed explanation about the tools and materials readers will need to attempt the projects, and the detailed information about the terminology and techniques. Although I think the techniques and link to downloadable templates could have been moved towards the front of the book, before the first project so that readers could use that information to practice before finding a project they love, only to discover they will need to drastically increase their skill level before attempting it. I do like that the projects are labeled with their difficulty levels, to mitigate that sort of frustration.  Since I do have kids and cats, some of the ideas and designs simply would not survive my house. Others just do not fit with my style and tastes, but I could picture them fitting wonderfully in other people's homes or offices.  I did like some of the lamp shades and well decorations, and could admire the craftsmanship and skill that went into not just making these items, but designing and testing them in order to sell, and to share. I think the instructions are understandable, but I could not try them for myself since I did not have access to the diagrams, just the instructions and images of the finished projects. 

Better Living Through Origami is a well organized and written book. The digital copy I received via Netgalley did not include the diagrams, although did contain a link to downloadable templates. Without the diagrams to attempt some of the designs I cannot give it a higher rating, because I can not test the accuracy of the diagrams and their ease of use when combined with the instructions and templates. 

Book Review: Lulu is a Rhinoceros by Jason Flom, Allison Flom, Sophie Corrigan

Lulu is a Rhinoceros is a picturebook written by Jason Flom and Allison Flom and illustrated by Sophie Corrigan. Everyone thinks Lulu is a bulldog, but she knows that can't be true, because Lulu is a Rhinoceros. That is what she sees staring back at her when she looks in the mirror. But sometimes, being yourself can be a difficult road to walk. And just when all hope seems lost, Lulu finds a small friend that makes a big difference in her life when she realizes that the courage to be herself has been inside of her all along.

Lulu is a Rhinoceros is a story about a bulldog that feels like a rhino. Lulu has fur, rather than the gray skin she thinks she should, so everyone thinks she is a dog. She hunts for something that will help others see her as the rhino she is- a horn! She has quite the adventure, and in the end finds a friend that helps her feel like her true self. I love the feel of the story and the illustrations are charming and sweet. I enjoyed the read and think animal lovers will enjoy the read. One of my favorite things about about this book is that part of the proceeds will be donated to the African Wildlife Foundation to help protect Africa's endangered wildlife.

Book Review: Ready to Ride by Sébastien Pelon

Ready to Ride is a picturebook written and illustrated by Sébastien Pelon. A little boy is told to play outside by his mum and bumps into an imaginary friend with whom he goes for a bike ride. At first he finds it difficult to keep up, but with the imaginary friend’s help he takes off the bike’s training wheels and learns to ride. 

Ready to Ride is a fun story with smooth, charming illustrations. The boy's efforts to learn to ride is well done ad sweet. The story is certainly light-hearted, but still manages to encourage kids to keep trying and practicing, showing them that putting in some effort is the only way to learn and get better. I enjoyed the read, but must admit that there were some formatting issues with my digital galley, which I know will not effect readers in the final copy. That made it slightly more challenging to read- however it was worth the effort and I found the book to be enjoyable and sweet.

Early Book Review: Marriage Lessons (Off Guard) by Katie Allen

Marriage Lessons is the third book in the Off Guard series by Katie Allen, and is currently scheduled for release on October 15 2018. Each book does stand up on its own, with only brief mentions of the characters from the previous books. However, the books are all great, so I still recommend reading them all.

Falling for your boss—no matter how fast he makes your pulse race—is such a cliché. But it’s one Annabelle Shay can’t seem to avoid. Gallery owner Louis Dumont is stupid hot. Plus, he’s sweet, sensitive and a brilliant artist. But he’s also oblivious. Which is good because Annabelle loves her job too much to risk it. Louis hasn’t been with a woman since he was wounded in Afghanistan, remaining guarded about his body and his heart. But Annabelle is different. She keeps him grounded. Which is why protecting her—first pretending to be her husband to ward off unwanted attention, then inviting her to move in after her landlord kicks her out—feels so natural, even if it invites rampant temptation. Try as Annabelle might, there are some desires you simply can’t shake. Louis repeatedly joke-asking her to marry him isn’t helping, especially when their unbearable attraction upgrades them to roomies with benefits. But Louis is still keeping pieces of his past to himself, leaving Annabelle to wonder if he’ll ever truly be vulnerable with her—or if she stands to lose everything.

Marriage Lessons is a contemporary romance that hit all the right chords with me. Annabelle and Louis have chemistry from the very beginning- but work together and are friends but neither seems willing to take the risk. It is only after Annabelle faces unwanted attention at the gym, she needs a place to live, and she is attacked in the gallery they finally have to think about the attraction and where it might go. I thought Annabelle was a great character- she is strong, smart, and quirky. I liked Louis a lot, he is funny and thoughtful, with a humorous fear of ladies hunting him. I thought a little bravery- and conversation about how they felt might have wrapped things up a little quicker but I really enjoyed the ride. I liked the danger and suspense portion of the story- although I have a vague suspicion about the who and what before hand. I really wanted to get inside Louis's head, I wanted to know what he was thinking and how he felt- much like Annabelle wanted to. However, I was completely engaged with the characters and was left wanting more insight into the characters, and maybe a follow up to the series where all the characters get together and interact (maybe a weeding?). I just love the personalities in the entire series and want to see them all again.

Marriage Lessons is another wonderful book from Allen. The characters drew me in and never let me go, and I can not wait to read more.