Book Review: Tap: A Love Story by Tracy Ewens

Tap: A Love Story by Tracy Ewens is a stand alone romance by Ewens. The books do build on each other and make for a more satisfying read when read together, but they stand beautifully together or alone. I greatly enjoyed the books I have read, and am going to go back and read some of the ones I have missed.

Cade McNaughton is the last man standing. His brothers have all found love. Despite his recent oh-so-revealing Instagram nightmare and his family’s subsequent disappointment, Cade is ready to fall for a woman who cares more about the last book he read and less about his body. But amid the buzz and banter of tending Foghorn Brewery’s bar, Cade is not exactly settle-down material. All that’s about to change, starting with buzzing off his fauxhawk and sporting a cardigan that has everyone talking. Sistine Branch has more bills than money, yet she’s fine eating barbecue chips for dinner if it means keeping her knitting shop open. But when her lights go out and the electrician puts a ten-thousand-dollar price tag on renovations, Sistine’s back is against an old and crumbling wall. For the past two years, she’s relied solely on herself, which makes selling out to the one woman from her past who can ruin everything the worst decision ever. Cade and Sistine are backgammon and end-of-the-bar friends. One rejection, a literal fall into Cade’s arms, and a dinner date with farm animals has them enmeshed in feelings neither thought possible. But, it only takes one lie, a literal fall from grace, and a date with the she-devil to unravel everything they’ve come to know. If they want a real shot, they’ll need to start from the beginning and realize that love is often a tangled mess, sometimes a funny T-shirt, but never perfect.

Tap: A Love Story is a contemporary romance with fun characters and fans of the love story books from Ewens will recognize most of the characters and enjoy seeing the continuation of the previous stories in the background of Cade and Sistine's story. I like both characters, and how they are both a little quirky and fun, while still being good hearted and sweet. The uses of social media and animals was very well done, although I think it might date the books a little in the long run, after Instagram runs it course, but maybe I am wrong there. I did think that Sistine's big secret was not as big of a deal as she thought it was- and that if she had just come out about it in the beginning it would not have even been an issue- and that it was a bigger problem even at that point that I thought it should have been. However, I did think the characters and complications that come with them were fantastic. I am hoping to see more about Sistine's family in future books by Ewens and plan on reading more in the future.

Tap: A Love Story is a delightful romance with quirky characters that made me smile. THere was only one aspect of the book I did not love, but the rest was on point and I think readers will enjoy the read as much as I did.

Early Book Review:Chilly da Vinci by Jarrett Rutland

Chilly da Vinci by Jarrett Rutland is a picturebook that is currently scheduled for release on December 4 2018. While others do “penguin” things, Chilly da Vinci is a self-declared inventor penguin. He builds machines that don’t work as intended, at least not yet! Can his inventing solve the problem, that he just might have caused. 

Chilly da Vinci is a cute picturebook. I love the artwork, the penguins are very cute and the yellow/brown paper hinting at Leonardo da Vinci's sketches add a great touch. Chilly's efforts and persistence is another great aspect of the story. His first invention, and second, and third, all cause trouble instead of meeting Chilly's hopes for them. I think showing the invention processes and how much Chilly needed to be himself while not liking how others often treated him because of it is important for readers of all ages to understand. I thought the story could have been a little more involved, or more focused on one or two of the inventions. I liked the illustrations, the animals were cute and the use of yellowish brown paper for the inventions was a nice touch. I liked the perseverance and effort of Chilly, and the discussion about being yourself and empathy that this book might inspire. I just never really got invented in the story, it felt like something was missing. Not that I know what was lacking, if I did I would be making the big bucks, or at least bucks, for all this book reading. 

Book Review: Shelved Under Murder (Blue Ridge Library) by Victoria Gilbert

Shelved Under Murder is the second book in the Blue Ridge Library series by Victoria Gilbert. I do recommend reading this series in order, to understand exactly who everyone is and how they are connected. I have read the previous book, and enjoyed it, however it did still take me a few pages to get back into this setting and remember the characters- mainly because I am also reading another librarian mystery series.

October in Taylorsford, Virginia means it’s leaf peeping season, with bright colorful foliage and a delightful fresh crew of tourists attending the annual Heritage Festival which celebrates local history and arts and crafts. Library director Amy Webber, though, is slightly dreading having to spend two days running a yard sale fundraiser for her library. But during these preparations, when she and her assistant Sunny stumble across a dead body, Amy finds a real reason to be worried. The body belonged to a renowned artist who was murdered with her own pallet knife. A search of the artist’s studio uncovers a cache of forged paintings, and when the sheriff’s chief deputy Brad Tucker realizes Amy is skilled in art history research, she’s recruited to aid the investigation. It doesn’t seem to be an easy task, but when the state’s art expert uncovers a possible connection between Amy’s deceased uncle and the murder case, Amy must champion her Aunt Lydia to clear her late husband’s name. That’s when another killing shakes the quiet town, and danger sweeps in like an autumn wind. Now, with her swoon-inducing neighbor Richard Muir, Amy must scour their resources to once again close the books on murder.

Shelved Under Murder is an entertaining read, and the balance of emotion, sleuthing, and danger was well done. It started slow for me, but only because I wa trying to recapture the thread of the series, mostly because of the number of cozy mysteries I read, particularly those about librarians and other book related themes. However, once I was back in the groove I was fully invested in Amy's story, her relationships, and the mystery of the murdered artist. I like that the murder lead to more complicated revelations and mysteries that personally effect Amy's world, and that the stories of town residents and their relations to each other continued evolving and growing even as the mystery unfolded. I also liked that we got to know more about the past, and were able to see Amy and Richard become closer and understand each other. The danger and complications involved in the murder was very well done, there are multiple levels to the crime and I really enjoyed the depth and twists involved. I feel like the story as a little deeper and more dense than most cozy style mysteries, but I just worked out well and felt right as I was reading.

Shelved Under Murder is a fun and fast ride with plenty of twists and turns.  While I had suspicions as to the final twists, and was right, I still enjoyed the ride and am still planning on continuing with the series.

Book Review: The Magician's Secret by Zachary Hyman, Joev Bluhm

The Magician's Secret is a picturebook written by Zachary Hyman and illustrated by Joe Bluhm. Charlie loves when Grandpa comes to babysit because he always brings his magical imagination. Grandpa was a magician who knows the most amazing tricks; he can pull a rabbit from a hat and make a coin disappear. But what Charlie loves most are his wonderful adventure stories, and they all begin with something his grandfather has saved in his Magic Story Chest. An hourglass is a reminder of how he defended the treasure in King Tut's tomb from raiders. A long white scarf inspires the story about Grandpa's dogfight with the notorious Red Baron, the great First World War fighter pilot. A coconut shell heralds the story about his encounter with a nasty Tyrannosaurus Rex. Charlie's parents, though, aren't too sure they like Grandpa's stories and warn Charlie that they're just "tall tales." What is Charlie to believe? How can his grandpa convince him that all you need to do is believe and a dream can be turned into something real?

The Magician's Secret is a wonderful story about intergenerational relationships, and the power of imagination. Charlie's grandfather tells him fantastic stories, and he love the bond they share. However, his mother worries that he is taking the stories too seriously when they could not have really happened, and tells him that they are all pretend. When I love that Charlie feels safe enough with his grandfather for clarification, too often connections with adults can have barriers that prevent this kind of honesty and openness. Grampa assures him that while he might not have actually lived the adventures, that does not mean the stories are not real. They come from dreams, from imagination, from exploring. I love tat this encourages Charlie to dream big, to read, to explore, and most importantly to have his own adventures and stories to tell. 

As lovely as the story is, and its message, I also loved the artwork. The illustrations have their own story to tell, and are crisp and lovely to look at in their own right. The book was a delight to read and I hope it becomes a favorite.

Book Review: Saddle Up by A.M. Arthur

Saddle Up is a contemporary romance by A.M. Arthur This is the first book I have read from the author, and it is a stand alone. However, there is a good amount of secondary characters with depth and relationships that I feel like have, or should have, their own stories. I fully expect there are previously published books with these characters that are just waiting for me to read them. 

Reyes Caldero keeps his past buried deep and his emotions buried deeper. But what he doesn’t say he always makes up for with his actions. When the hot chef he once saved from an abusive ex turns up at Clean Slate Ranch, the quiet cowboy is happy to act on their sizzling chemistry, even if he’s not ready to share his secrets—or his heart. Miles Arlington needs to get the hell out of San Francisco, and heading north for a job near Clean Slate Ranch seems like just the thing. It doesn’t hurt that his secret crush slash onetime rescuer happens to work at the ranch. Miles has never been one for the outdoors, but the superhot Reyes has him ready to saddle up. Reyes is happy to keep things casual, even though his heart has other ideas. And when Miles is forced to confront his past again, Reyes and Miles will have to put all their trust in each other if they want any chance at building a future together.

Saddle Up is a romance that tackles issues of abuse, stalking, and horrible mistakes from the past. I though Miles and his struggles to escape a bad situation is very well written, and the details about his emotional struggles and how he changes and grows during the process felt right. Reyes has his own demons to fight, and I found his handling of it to be realistic and understandable, even when he might not have made the right choice. I loved the pair together, with Reyes so aware and caring towards Miles- andhid worries about his nature and past. I thought all of the characters, both our main players and the secondary characters, were extremely well fleshed out and they all felt very real to me. The danger and drama, not to mention the family issues, added a good amount of crisis to push things along without being too much or crossing the line into melodramatic. The only thing that did not feel real to me is something that I find in so many books of all genres- why is every so beautiful? I need to find some of these towns and ranches, even though I am happily taken I would love a chance to sit around and watch all these stunning people for a weekend.

Saddle Up is a great romance with characters facing huge personal battles, and working their way toward happiness and love. I found Reyes and Miles to be a delightful couple, and I cannot wait to explore other books from the author.

Book Review: Check Out the Library Weenies: and Other Warped and Creepy Tales by David Lubar

Check Out the Library Weenies: and Other Warped and Creepy Tales is the ninth short story collection by David Lubar. There are thirty stories for middle grade readers with a mix of spooky and silly in each tale in the collection.  What I love about collections like this is that if one of the stories does not make you happy, it will be over soon or you can just skip ahead to the next tale. Each story of short, so it is the perfect book for those with short attention spans or reading times as well as anyone that enjoys stories with a dark twist, but that ever get too scary. One of the best parts of the collection is that Lubar shared some of his inspirations for the stories with readers. 

Check Out the Library Weenies: and Other Warped and Creepy Tales is the perfect read for middle grade or older readers that like scary stories. There are vampires, werewolves, magic, suspicious pets, zombies, scientists, and more. There is a good amount of bodily humor, and none of the stories are too scary for some of the more sensitive readers. I like that the stories and dark and creepy, with unexpected twists, but never nightmare inducing. There is humor and a generally entertaining, non-threatening vibe to the read. Those that like the Schwartz scary stories books will enjoy these as well. The only down-side to this series is that the covers are a little goofier and younger that the content of the books. While it might encourage readers that are intimidated by books, it might also discourage those that consider the books to young or silly for them because of the cover.

Book Review: Cat Lady Embroidery: 380 Ways to Stitch a Cat by Applemints

Cat Lady Embroidery: 380 Ways to Stitch a Cat by Applemints was originally published in Japanese in 2016, this is its first publication in English. Fat, striped, cheshire, or grumpy, this books offers more than 300 embroidery stitch patterns for cat lovers. Each set of patterns offers a range of ideas in different styles, shapes, genres from simple to more complex. Original designs and clear instructions make this book a must have for any embroidery enthusiasts library. 

Cat Lady Embroidery: 380 Ways to Stitch a Cat offers readers exactly what the title suggests. There are cat faces, cat butts, cats sleeping, cats in action, cats sharing their thoughts, cats in floral motifs, holiday cats, and more. The full size templates and stitch guides are precise, although there is room for customization. I think embroidery fans that also happen to love cats, or want to add cats to their skill set, will want to add this to their collection. The use of a grumpy cat look alike made me curious about copyright or trademark rights, and some text did not work as well after being translated. I am not sure that I would recommend this for beginners, but those with a basic grasp of embroidery terms and skills will be happy with the book. 

Book Review: Hotel Fantastic by Thomas Gibault

Hotel Fantastic is a picturebook written and illustrated by Thomas Gibault. Whether you're a robot needing to recharge or a giant looking for extra legroom, the suites in this hotel are designed to cater to each guest's needs. Feeling hungry? Dine at the hotel's world-famous restaurant among princesses and pirates. Need a workout? A fully equipped gym and rooftop swimming pool serve beings of all shapes and sizes. And rest assured that your safety and security are a top priority --- an elite strike team is always at the ready. Pay no attention to the rumors you may have heard --- there's certainly no horrible creature threatening to attack the hotel at any moment.

Hotel Fantastic is a brightly illustrated ad fun picturebook. The majority of the story is detailing the wonders of the grand Hotel Fantastic. The crazy creatures that stay there, work there, and their activities are imaginative and well done. I enjoyed the descriptions and artwork depicting the pool, security team, and infirmary the most- they were amusing and unique. I like that clues to what the lurking evil is, and how it is not all that evil but will certainly bring the story to an end, can be found throughout the story.  I like that the ending is a little bit of a twist, but not completely unexpected if readers pay attention to the clues, and think about the uniqueness of the amenities. Most of all, I like that the young boy telling the tale is not rude, mean, or in anyway shamed or embarrassed for playing with something that might go against gender stereotypes. That made me very happy and made me the story as a whole even more.

Book Review: Luck of the Bride (Cavensham Heiresses) by Janna MacGregor

Luck of the Bride is the third book in the Cavensham Heiresses series by Janna MacGregor. I have not read the previous books in the series, but was able to fully enjoy the read. While I think that those that have been following the series will have a better understanding of some of the characters and relationships, this book does stand up perfectly well on its own.

March Lawson is an orphan who, for the past eight years, has struggled to raise her siblings on a meager allowance. Most women March’s age would be picking out ball gowns for the upcoming season. But March’s focus is not on finding a husband. First, she must devote her energies to just one man: the coldhearted skinflint who refuses to release her inheritance. Michael Cavensham, the Marquess of McCalpin, is not a heartless man. When he learns that Miss Lawson has been forging his name to procure funds, he can’t bring himself to have her arrested—not when the bold-faced embezzler is so enchantingly beautiful. Instead, McCalpin agrees to visit her home to assess the situation more closely. March has no choice but to accept. But how can she manage the handsome trustee who controls her purse strings—when he tugs at her heart strings as well?

Luck of the Bride is a historical romance that takes one hardworking and intelligent woman, determined to protect her siblings and one stubborn but basically good hearted man and tosses them together. For the most part, I really liked March, her hard work and loyalty to her family was well done and admirable- and even when she did less than ethical things it was for good reason. Her self doubt is realistic and understandable- and I could completely understand where she was coming from in that respect- but some of her wishy washy moments with Michael left me less than impressed. Micheal is haunted by his difficulties with numbers, and has a hard time trusting. His brother and champion William is even less trusting, and I think the pair feed off each other and while realistic that just made me want to kick the pair. I did like how Michael really did love and want to protect March, and how determined he was to have her understand how beautiful she was. However, I have to admit that while his lack of trust was kind of understandable, it really bothered me how quickly he believed the worst of March- and how quickly she forgave him when it was time for the HEA. It just left me a little disheartened and cold rather than happy for them. 

Luck of the Bride was hit and miss for me. I liked the premise and most of the characters, but little things disappointed me throughout and left me less engaged than I wanted to be. It was an entertaining read, but I think it fell short of what it could have been.

Book Review: Midnight Reynolds and the Spectral Transformer by Catherine Holt

Midnight Reynolds and the Spectral Transformer by Catherine Holt is the first book in a new middle grade series. When twelve year-old misfit Midnight Reynolds takes a job helping out eccentric Miss Appleby in the mansion down the street, she never imagined her work would involve battling ghosts. But as it turns out, Midnight and her new employer have quite a bit in common—they were both born on Halloween and have the power to see spirits of the dead. But when Midnight learns more about the history of her town, she starts to wonder if she’s fighting on the right side.

Midnight Reynolds and the Spectral Transformer is a wonderful middle grade novel. I will admit that it started a little slow for me, but once I got a good understanding of the characters, and Midnight's insecurities, I was fully engaged in the read. Midnight is tired of feeling different and wants to fit in more than just about anything. Unfortunately the popular girls that she wants to fit in are far from perfect. In her strides to appear cool she needs money, which leads her to working for Miss Appleby and embarking on a new adventure. I like Midnight's determination, even though she is not always working toward the best or healthiest goal. I really enjoyed Midnight's journey and how much she grew as a friend, daughter, and person in general. She found her place, her special skill set, and her bravery and learned how to use all of them for good. There were moments that had me cringinging, mainly because the middle school drama was right on point with what I remember, and what I worry about in the future for my kids. I really enjoyed the read and am disappointed in myself for letting it languish in my TBR pile for as long as I did. I have already gotten my hands on the sequel, and plan to get to that one much quicker.

Midnight Reynolds and the Spectral Transformer is a highly entertaining and relatable adventure. While readers might not have the ability to see ghostly energy, but at some point we have all felt like an outside or have been in search for our own special niche or place.