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: A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko Jackson

A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko Jackson is a contemporary romance. Xavier Reynolds is doing less than stellar. He just got dumped, was passed over for a prestigious fellowship, and to top it all off he's right back home in Harper's Cove, Maine (population: 9,000). The last thing he wants to do is to work as a prep chef in the kitchen of the hip new restaurant in town, The Wharf. Especially since the hot, single-father chef who owns it can’t delegate to save his life. Logan O’Hare doesn’t understand Xavier or why every word out of his mouth is dipped in sarcasm. Unfortunately, he has no choice but to hire him—he needs more help in the kitchen and his tween daughter, Anne, can only mince so many onions. It might be a recipe for disaster, but Logan doesn’t have many options besides Xavier. Stuck between a stove and a hot place, Logan and Xavier discover an unexpected connection. But when the heat between them threatens to top the Scoville scale, they’ll have to decide if they can make their relationship work or if life has seasoned them too differently.

A Dash of Salt and Pepper is a romance with nuanced characters and a great sense of humor. I really enjoyed getting to know Xavier and Logan, and the secondary characters that brought a lot of heart to the story. I thought he back and forth between our couple was highly entertaining and I was very engaged in Xavier's personal growth as well as the romance. I loved the small town aspects and how no character was all good or bad, they were just real characters with plenty of grey- just like the people you run into every day. I loved the friendships and relationships between the main characters and secondary characters- and those those in the background have with each other. The only thing that I really did not like in the story was the ending. Of course there is a happy ending- I would not really label this a romance with out at least a happy for now. I saw two ore three ways for this to play out, but the chosen conclusion just fell flat for me, and I think even the same ending timed a bit differently in the action of the story would have worked better for me, but it just did not work for me. The book is still very much worth the read, and my disappointment is totally a matter of personal preference and other readers (including you) might very well disagree. 

A Dash of Salt and Pepper is a solid contemporary romance with all the feels. 

Book Review: Sweep of the Heart (Innkeeper Chronicles) by Ilona Andrews, Narrated by Nora Sofyan

Sweep of the Heart is the sixth installment of the Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews, and was originally released as a few novella series. The audiobook is narrated by Nora Sofyan. Life is busier than ever for Innkeeper, Dina DeMille and Sean Evans. But it’s about to get even more chaotic when Sean's werewolf mentor is kidnapped. To find him, they must host an intergalactic spouse-search for one of the most powerful rulers in the Galaxy. Dina is never one to back down from a challenge. That is, if she can manage her temperamental Red Cleaver chef; the consequences of her favorite Galactic ex-tyrant's dark history; the tangled politics of an interstellar nation, and oh, yes, keep the wedding candidates from a dozen alien species from killing each other. Not to mention the Costco lady. They say love is a battlefield; but Dina and Sean are determined to limit the casualties!

Sweep of the Heart is a must read (or listen) for fans of the series. There is plenty of action and danger, great growth and display of character for Dina and Sean as well as the secondary characters. I really enjoyed getting to see some visits from characters that I remember from the Edge series, and those that have made prior appearances in the Innkeeper world. I feel like I got a great deal out of this audiobook, but that readers that are new to the series would be very lost. There are some great summaries and catch up moments if readers mist a related book, but someone with no prior foray into this series would not fully appreciate the amount of information, humor, and winks to other books that fans and returning readers that will enjoy. I have to admit to laughing in my car as I was listening to this, and I was inspired to go back and download other books by the author that I had somehow missed.

Early Book Review: Bea Wolf by Zach Weinersmith, Gilles Roussel

Bea Wolf, written by Zach Weinersmith and illustrated by Gilles Roussel, is a  modern middle-grade graphic novel retelling of Beowulf currently scheduled for release on February 21 2023. The story features a gang of troublemaking kids who must defend their tree house from a fun-hating adult who can instantly turn children into grown-ups. Somewhere in a generic suburb stands Treeheart, a kid-forged sanctuary where generations of tireless tykes have spent their youths making merry, spilling soda, and staving off the shadow of adulthood. One day, these brave warriors find their fun cut short by their nefarious neighbor Grindle, who can no longer tolerate the sounds of mirth seeping into his joyless adult life. As the guardian of gloom lays siege to Treeheart, scores of kids suddenly find themselves transformed into pimply teenagers and sullen adults! The survivors of the onslaught cry out for a savior—a warrior whose will is unbreakable and whose appetite for mischief is unbounded. They call for Bea Wolf.

Bea Wolf is a well written and highly entertaining graphic novel, that does a great interpretation of the Beowulf tale for children, and adults alike. I think the choses about what to keep, and how to keep the story all ages, were thoughtfully made and resulted in a poetic and engaging story. I also really enjoyed the art style, and thought it was not only very well done but perfect for the story and characters. The shading and detail work were phenomenal. As a reformed english major, one that focus on works in middle and old english, this retelling entertained me and almost made we want to go back and reread the copies of Beowulf that I have in my collection. Almost. I absolutely love that at the end of the book the author takes the time to include information on the story and how it came to be so well known today, and a bit about old english as well. I love when authors include these bits of context and information. 

Bea Wolf is a highly entertaining and accessible take on the Beowulf story, and I think it will be enjoyed by readers from a wide variety of ages and interests. 

Book Review: Eye Candy by Jessica Lemmon

Eye Candy by Jessica Lemmon is a contemporary romance and the start of a series. Every morning, a gorgeous mystery man jogs by Jacqueline Butler’s office window, tempting her to break her “no dating” rule. She’s good with ogling him from afar, but her best friend-slash-colleague Vince Carson suggests she do more than stare—he wants her to ask the runner out. Vince knows his best friend Jackie better than she knows herself, and the last thing she needs is a date with a pompous, swole jackass. But Vince can’t exactly ask her out himself. Encouraging her to pursue a guy who is all muscle and no substance will not only get Jackie off the bench, but will also open her eyes to the fact that Vince is the right man for her. Vince takes Jackie on practice dates, promising to help her hone her skills, but can’t resist edging the fake romance into reality. After a ridiculously epic kiss, Jackie sees a sexier side of Vince, and suddenly anything is possible.

Eye Candy is and contemporary romance that has some friends to lovers, some co worker romance, and a slew of interesting characters that have me looking forward to the next book from the author. I liked getting to know Jackie and Vince, and while many times the friends to lovers things falls short for me- it worked really well here. They were really good friends to each other, not just one (or both) biding their time until they could make a move. They each honestly wanted what was best for the other- and that is what made it work and feel sweet rather than creepy- which can happen. I greatly enjoyed the secondary characters, and thought they were a wonderful support system for our couple, and made things even better. I will say that my only complaint is that I felt like the conclusion left to many real life problems up in the air, and that bothered me a lot when I finished the read. I am hoping that the next book (Arm Candy) answers some of those questions for me while also giving Davis and Grace their story- which i am eager to read. 

Eye Candy is a entertaining and engaging read. I will be reading the next book by the author. 

Book Review: Lucky Penny by Ananth Hirsh, Yuko Ota

Lucky Penny by Ananth Hirsh is a graphic novel.  If Penny Brighton didn't have bad luck, she'd have no luck at all. She lost her job and apartment on the same day, and with no other options, she started crashing at her best friend Helen’s storage unit. As a last resort, Penny snags a job at the laundromat, which is managed by Helen’s surly twelve-year-old brother. Things couldn’t get much worse, but that doesn’t keep the ever-buoyant Penny down. After all, she’s been sensing boyfriend potential with the cute receptionist at the community center who’s been sneaking her in so she can use the shower. Maybe things are looking up! But if Penny knows one thing for certain, it’s that luck has never been her strong suit. How long can this last?

Lucky Penny is a graphic novel aimed mainly at the young and new adult set, of which I am neither, but I still greatly enjoyed this read. I liked the artwork, I enjoyed the line and color work and thought it did a great job of capturing and enchasing the storyline. While I have never been quite as down as my luck as Penny is at the start of this book, I think everyone has had a moment that they felt that the world was crashing around them and can relate to Penny on some level. Penny's changes between acting like everything is going to be fine and self consciousness is also something that many readers will be able to relate to. I loved the romance storyline, and thought the story as a whole was very engaging and entertaining to read. On the other hand, I have to admit that there were moments that I was a bot confused, whether what was happening on the page was real or part of Penny's imagination or her personally vision exaggerating the truth.  Regardless, I enjoyed the read and was really glad I requested this title via Netgalley. 

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: Glitterland by Alexis Hall

Glitterland by Alexis Hall is a contemporary romance. Once the golden boy of the English literary scene, now a clinically depressed writer of pulp crime fiction, Ash Winters has given up on hope, happiness, and—most of all—himself. He lives his life between the cycles of his illness, haunted by the ghosts of other people's expectations. Then a chance encounter throws him into the path of Essex-born Darian Taylor. Flashy and loud, radiant and full of life, Darian couldn't be more different...and yet he makes Ash laugh, reminding him of what it's like to step beyond the boundaries of his anxiety. But Ash has been living in his own shadow for so long that he can no longer see a way out. Can a man who doesn't trust himself ever trust in happiness? And how can someone who doesn't believe in happiness ever fight for his own?

Glitterland grabbed my attention and emotions and refused to let me do anything else until I finished the book. I thought the description and explanation of how Ash felt and what he was going through felt very honest and was told with respect and caring for those that might have gone through something similar or know someone who has. The honest look at his thoughts, and not only how he felt but how it affected those around him all felt very real. The push and pull of Ash's mental state, his friendships, and how he thought others thought about him was so raw and real to me that I felt like I really knew him. I felt like most of the characters that had a part to play in this story were very well developed, and I would love to revisit many of them. I really enjoyed Darian as a character, and his group of family and friends as well. This is yet another fantastic read from Hall, and I cannot wait to see what might come next.

Glitterland is a heartfelt romance with an honest exploration of mental health.

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.

Book Review: Chaos Song (Magicsmith) by L. R. Braden

Chaos Song is the sixth book in the Magicsmith, series by L. R. Braden. This is a series that needs to be read in order, both in terms of plot and character development, in order to enjoy the story. 

Nothing has gone to plan since she joined the PTF. Now mysterious "natural" disasters are happening all over the world, and all signs point to a fae attack. But by whom? And why now? In the midst of this chaos, she faces Purity protesters, coworkers looking to undermine her every decision, and werewolves who can't stop snapping at each other long enough to prove they're safe to work with. Now is not the time to abandon her fledgling alliance for an off-the-books mission, but if she doesn't… the fragile peace between the Realms may shatter.

Chaos Song is a solid addition to the series, and answered many questions and wrapped up quite a bit nicely. There are still some unanswered questions however, I thought that Alex grew a little bit more as a character in the first half of the book, and so did the explanations and understanding of the world and communities in it. The tension and danger ramped up quickly, and there were some good twists and turns. However, I have to admit that by the time the big battle and resolutions come on the page I was more than ready for things to wrap up. Each big moment was important, and so many of the twists were great, but it felt like there was just more than necessary and things felt like they dragged on too much for my personal tastes. 

Chaos Song is a good conclusion to the story, and I thought Alex and her world has grown a great deal since the start of the series.