Book Review: Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee is a space opera about thirteen-year-old Min, who comes from a long line of fox spirits. To keep the family safe, Min's mother insists that none of them use any fox-magic, such as Charm or shape-shifting. They must appear human at all times. Min feels hemmed in by the household rules and resents the endless chores, the cousins who crowd her, and the aunties who judge her. She would like nothing more than to escape Jinju, her neglected, dust-ridden, and impoverished planet. She's counting the days until she can follow her older brother, Jun, into the Space Forces and see more of the Thousand Worlds. When word arrives that Jun is suspected of leaving his post to go in search of the Dragon Pearl, Min knows that something is wrong. Jun would never desert his battle cruiser, even for a mystical object rumored to have tremendous power. She decides to run away to find him and clear his name. Min's quest will have her meeting gamblers, pirates, and vengeful ghosts. It will involve deception, lies, and sabotage. She will be forced to use more fox-magic than ever before, and to rely on all of her cleverness and bravery. The outcome may not be what she had hoped, but it has the potential to exceed her wildest dreams.

Dragon Pearl is so much more than I expected. It is a coming of age adventure full of science fiction, mythology, and more. I loved Min's character- she has her faults but is willing to admit them (at least to herself). While in most cases she is reactive to the world around her, she also takes steps in a proactive way when she can. I liked the collection of characters and that no one is fully what they seem- there is good, bad, and mistaken inside every character. I really loved the amount of fantasy and mythology that is woven through an adventure travelling between planets. Ghosts, goblins, dragons, other supernatural characters on spaceships and being people with flaws and the urge to help themselves and/or others made even the most unexpected character real. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way, and lots of personal character growth for Min. I simply loved the read and am sad only in the fact that I finished the book, and that it took me so long to start reading it!

Dragon Pearl hits all the right notes of science fiction and fantasy for me. The characters and adventure blew me away and I cannot wait to see what Min and Jun get up to next.

Book Review: Grow in the Dark: How to Choose and Care for Low-Light Houseplants by Lisa Eldred Steinkopf

Grow in the Dark: How to Choose and Care for Low-Light Houseplants by Lisa Eldred Steinkopf puts the spotlight on 50 of the best houseplants you can grow in your dim or dark apartment. Having a south-facing window doesn’t always guarantee you the best light to grow plants—especially if your window faces an alley or a tree-lined street. What’s the point of growing an urban jungle if tall buildings are blocking all your sunshine? This compact guide, designed to look as good on your shelf as it is useful, will help you learn how to make the most of your light so you can reap the physical and emotional benefits of living with plants. Detailed profiles include tips on watering your plants just right, properly potting them, and troubleshooting pests and diseases. You’ll also learn which plants are safe to keep around your pets.

Grow in the Dark is an informative read for those looking to keep their house plants alive, and to figure out what plants will best survive in your available spaces. The information is well organized and laid out in accessible segments with some labeled images to break up the amount of text. I found the information to be well researched and useful, but lacking the conversational tone or humor that I tend to enjoy woven through such reference material to make the read slightly less dense. This is more a point of personal preference that ban issue, I am sure there are those that prefer this straightforward style. I think this book is a good reference for readers to have handy when planning their plant purchasing and placement, or for interior designers to reference when planning to add plant life to a space. However, I think it is a better purchase for a library or professional that might regularly need the information than for a personal library. 

Early Book Review: Attracted to the Earl (Imperfect Lords) by Bronwen Evans

Attracted to the Earl  is the third book in the Imperfect Lords series by Bronwen Evans. While it is part of a series with reoccurring characters it can be read as a stand alone. It is currently scheduled for release on May 28 2019.

The Earl of Argyle has died suddenly, leaving his brother Guy Neville at a complete loss. The dull-witted second son, as his father used to call him, Guy is now responsible for the estate and his brother’s seat in the House of Lords. Shamed by an inability to read or write, his distress is multiplied by a cousin willing to do anything to take his estate and an inquiry from a dyed-in-the-wool bluestocking who wishes to use the Argyle library and study a rare plant on the estate. Guy’s first instinct is to decline her request—until he catches a glimpse of Miss Abigail Pinehurst. Abigail cares for only one thing: plants. She is unconcerned about how she looks, what she wears, or the impression she makes on men. An orphan who turned to books for solace in a miserly, cruel institution, she now makes her living illustrating the greenery she adores. Lord Argyle, in fact, with his uncanny memory and chiseled features, is the first man to capture her attention—a ridiculous distraction since he is so far above her station and she has so many secrets to hide. But her unreasonable heart has a mind of its own.

Attracted to the Earl  is a book that caught my eye mainly because of Guy's predicament. Unable to read, but not stupid, he ha to navigate a world that has very little empathy or room for weakness. I love that good people and family are the cornerstone of Guy's success, both on and off the battlefield. He is a good man that doubts himself but still works hard to provide for and protect others. Abigail has worked hard, and fought hard to get where she is. Like Guy, she will do just about anything to protect those she cares for, and I was impressed with her ability to widen that circle as the story continues. When you have seen the evil people can possess trusting new people can be hard, and Abigail's judge of character and effort to be better really stands out. Watching two love stories unfold amid so many secrets, and danger, was engaging and I enjoyed the read. There were moments that everything felt too easy, too simple, but then again Guy and Abigail had several real discussions so there were less misunderstandings and communications than in most romance.

Attracted to the Earl  is a good historical romance. The characters were solid and the danger will played. Fans of the author will want to pick it up, and I think many others will enjoy it for a weekend read as well.

Early Book Review: Smooth Moves (Movin' On) by Marie Harte

Smooth Moves is the second book in the Movin' On series by Marie Harte. It is not necessary to have read the previous book to enjoy this book, but I highly recommend it, and not just because Harte is currently one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. This book is currently scheduled for release on May 28 2019.

Former Marine Cash Griffith is a brawny beacon for trouble, always finishing a fight that someone else starts. Working at his family's moving company, he does his best to keep a low profile, but he can't help but tangle with the newest employee, Jordan Fleming. When Jordan joins Vets on the Go! she has her hands full with her new job and her rebellious teenage brother, not to mention going toe to toe with the obnoxious, arrogant, incredibly hot Marine at work. Soon their battles turn to camaraderie, and one kiss leads to a connection neither of them expected. But when dark secrets come to light, will their bond break or strengthen into a happily-ever-after they desperately desire?

Smooth Moves is an example of great characters writing and development. I thought Cash and Jordan (and her brother Rafi) all have issues and grow as they face their issues through out the book. None of them hide behind their troubles, although they do sometimes try to hide that it exists from each other. I found the honesty in which some serious issues are dealt with to be refreshing and heartening. I found the conversations between characters and the interactions to be realistic and highly entertaining. I seriously had a goofy grin on my face for the majority of the read, particularly during some of the pranks and conversations between Jordan and Cash. I like that Rafi's issues are talked about and some of the stigma that some might feel in his place, and how easy it is for generally good kids to make bad choices, is handled with such heart. I wish every kid in his position had a Jordan backing him up. I simply love Harte's voice and character development in this book (and in all of hers that I have read thus far). I highly recommend adding her to the must read for anyone that likes realistic, contemporary romance.

Smooth Moves is another fantastic read by Harte with equal parts humor, heat, and heat. I found myself ginning like a fool through a good portion of the read and cannot wait for more!

Book Review: Mera: Tidebreaker by Danielle Paige, Stephen Byrne

Mera: Tidebreaker is a graphic novel written by Danielle Paige and illustrated by Stephen Byrn. Mera is teenage royalty, heir to the throne of Xebel, the other not-so-lost colony under the sea. But Mera is destined to wear a different crown, that of Atlantis. When the inhabitants of Xebel plot to overthrow their homeland of Atlantis, Mera is sent to kill the heir to the throne, Arthur Curry. As the unrest between their colonies grows, Mera and Arthur unexpectedly fall in love...will Arthur Curry be the king at Mera's side in Atlantis, or will he die under her blade?

Mera: Tidebreaker is a young adult graphic novel, but sometimes feels like it is slanted for a younger audience. Mera is the expected princess that wants more that what she sees ahead of her, she wants to make a difference, so she breaks the rules and breaks away. Things do not go as planned, because they never do. Some of this worked for me, I enjoyed the artwork and thought the colors and style were perfect for this particular story. However, some of the scenes ended abruptly and parts of the relationship buildng of the story just did not flow for me. Perhaps it is because I am so far from the target audience, but I read a good deal of middle grade and young adult materials so I am not sure if that is the problem. I was kind of hoping to get a better understanding of some of these characters, since I am behind on my DC universe lore, and in some ways I did that, but it did not really help me like them any more.

Mera: Tidebreaker was a mixed bag for me. I think there is certainly an audience for it and the art is very well done, but I think I was expecting more.

Book Review: Death Comes to Dogwood Manor (Missy DuBois) by Sandra Bretting

Death Comes to Dogwood Manor is the fourth book in the Missy DuBois Mystery Series by Sandra Bretting. I have not read the previous books, and while those that have will get more of the character and community dynamics I think I was able to catch on pretty quickly to fully enjoy the read. 

While driving to her hat shop, Crowning Glory, Missy accidentally sideswipes a car parked in front of Dogwood Manor, an antebellum mansion being converted into a high-end hotel by the much-reviled property developer Herbert Solomon. Of course, the car is his Rolls Royce. But Solomon is too busy berating his contractor and interior designer to worry about a little fender bender. When Missy returns to check out the mansion’s chapel where her latest client will be married, she finds the developer dead on his property. After an autopsy finds poison in his body, Missy’s shop is then flooded right before it’s supposed to be featured in an article about wedding-veil trends. Now before everything becomes sheer disaster, she’ll have to train her sights on finding a killer.

Death Comes to Dogwood Manor is part of a cozy mystery series that I had somehow missed thus far. I really enjoyed the characters, and thought the connections between the characters and the town itself were very well constructed, with plenty of hints for new readers and reminders for returning readers who everyone is- without feeling buried in introductions or explanations. I think that the mystery was set up well, and explored with plenty of twists and secondary issues to keep the characters and readers on their toes. I loved that I was kept guessing about the culprit so long, and that  I was actually surprised in how some of it played out. I do admit that there were a few loose ends that I wish had been tied up, none of them had direct involvement to the murder so they were not overly important, but little things like that stick in my head.I do not know that they will even register with anyone else.

Death Comes to Dogwood Manor is a solid mystery with a few good twists and turns, and interesting characters. I will be looking into reading more from the author.

Book Review: Deceased and Desist (Tallie Graver Mystery) by Misty Simon

Deceased and Desist is the third book in the Tallie Graver Mystery series by Misty Simon. I have not read the previous books, and I found that I could still follow and enjoy the story. However, I will admit that there were moments that I wished I had more context for character and relationship dynamics. 

Most housecleaners don’t do windows, but Tallie Graver loves leaving a pane of glass streak-free and sparkling. After a dirty divorce from a filthy-rich jerk, she's started her own cleaning business to make ends meet. On her latest job, prepping a renovated bed and breakfast for a grand re-opening, she's standing outside on a ladder, wiping off a grimy pane, when she spies a man on a bed through the glass. But the B&B isn't open for business yet—and the man's not sleeping. Her family owns the Graver Funeral Home, so Tallie knows a corpse when she sees one. The victim is a shady building inspector with a reputation for handing out passing grades for a greased palm. With the local police resistant, Tallie launches her own investigation, before she gets a rep as a town crank. But it's going to take more than a squirt bottle and a squeegee to clean up this mess. With the help of her gal pal Gina, Tallie searches for a killer's motive. But she'd better be careful, or it'll be curtains for this window cleaner.

Deceased and Desist is a well paced mystery with plenty of twists and turn. I liked Tallie's character and her willingness to admit her mistakes but still standing up for herself and working toward her own happiness. I thought the investigation that Tallie and Gina undergo was well done and I liked the family and community connections that they used, even if I was not always aware of all the players.  There was so many important facts and shady dealings that I admit to being surprised to some of the revelations- and liked that there were several layers of mystery and character development going on. I enjoyed that fact that Tallie and her family seem to be evolving in realistic ways, and that while the mystery was fully solved and all the loose threads tied up, there were enough relationship and character questions pending that I felt like the story was resolved, but I want to keep on reading about their lives. It is a good balance that does not always happen in small town based series.

Deceased and Desist is a solid mystery with a good plot and quirky characters. I am going to try to find the time to read the previous books, and then keep going with this series.

Book Review: Corner to Corner Crochet: 15 Contemporary C2C Projects by Jess Coppom

Corner to Corner Crochet: 15 Contemporary C2C Projects by Jess Coppom is a good introduction to 

corner to corner crochet--also known as C2C crochet. This style can be a good way to create colorful, graphic designs without having to learn complex colorwork techniques. Using basic crochet stitches you can create stunning, contemporary designs for home decor items and accessories. This is a collection of 15 modern projects all made using the C2C technique. Choose from patterns for six different afghans or blankets including a monochrome chunky throw and a beautiful Mexican style blanket. Other projects include pillows, a bathroom rug and some stunning items to wear such as a poncho, shawl and cowl.

Corner to Corner Crochet: 15 Contemporary C2C Projects was the perfect reading choice for me this weekend. I have been looking to start a new afghan, and frogged the last couple I started just because I did not really like the look or feel of them after I got a few inches in. I have always been in awe of those that take the time for serious color work in their crochet, but have never been willing to take that leap. I think with this book I am about to make that jump, because complex color work and color grams make so much more sense and seem much more accessible with the c2c technique than in more traditional stitches. The tips and tricks to help organize the colors and keep things untangled and working smoothly were wonderful and well worded. I think newer crocheters will be able to follow the instructions fairly well, and more experienced crafters will still find new and useful bits of information and inspiration to keep their minds and hooks moving along.

Book Review: Thread Herrings (Mainely Needlepoint Mystery) by Lea Wait

Thread Herrings is the seventh book in the Mainely Needlepoint Mystery series by Lea Wait. While I have enjoyed reading previous books in the series, and think it gives readers a better understanding of the characters and their relationships, I do think new comers will be able to enjoy the read as well.

Tagging along to an estate sale with her fellow Needlepointer, antiques shop owner Sarah Byrne, Angie Curtis impulsively bids on a tattered embroidery of a coat of arms. When she gets her prize back home to Haven Harbor, she discovers a document from 1757 behind the framed needlework—a claim for a child from a foundling hospital. Intrigued, Angie is determined to find the common thread between the child and the coat of arms. Accepting her reporter friend Clem Walker's invitation to talk about her find on the local TV news, Angie makes an appeal to anyone who might have information. Instead, both women receive death threats. When Clem is found shot to death in a parking lot, Angie fears her own life may be in jeopardy. She has to unravel this historical mystery—or she may be the next one.

Thread Herrings is a good mystery. I like the characters and the way they interact and offer up little details about themselves in the course of the story. I like how Angie is always looking to do the right thing, and while she does not always put her personal safety first she is starting to take note of how her risks effect those around her. I liked the lay out of clues and how Angie manages to discover so much while trying to lay low and stay safe. The mystery was good, but I have to say that I was expecting one more big twist. I kept waiting for everything to be turned on its head and someone or something to be not what it seemed. I felt like the mystery was solved in Angie's head a little too soon, with very little room for other possibilities to keep the reader guessing.

Thread Herrings is an engaging and entertaining read. I think that those following the series will definitely want to pick this up to continue to series, but this is not the book to capture new readers. It was good, but I wanted something more by the time I reached the end.

Early Book Review: Untitled by Timothy Young

Untitled by Timothy Young is a picturebook currently scheduled for release on May 28 2019. A coatimundi and a capybara (or is it a porcupine?) take the lead in this silly story with a twist ending. Tim Young lets his characters tell the story with scenes readers will likely recognize and brainstorming ideas for Tim's next book. Will we see these characters again? 

Untitled is a cute and unique book that focuses on two characters talking about the story they are in, and why nothing is happening. The discuss things that might make a good story, and things they would like to do. There are illustrations and bits that relate to well known books, and mention of a possible sequel. I thought it was cute and fun, and I liked the illustration style. I enjoyed the read, but was not really  wowed by it. It is worth a read, and I think many young readers will be charmed by it.