Friday, March 29, 2024

Book Review: Miss Oops!: Strangers to Lovers by Jo Anne Barnes

  
 Miss Oops!: Strangers to Lovers by Jo Anne Barnes 
Story is about Marianna and she's on a timeline to make things happen. At her age she wants to have a child, she's a lab technician processing blood work ordered by doctors.
She follows a mans results and know with his background he'd be the one she would choose to be the babys father.
Story is also following Tyler who owns his own company. He's got a lot gooing on in his life but keeps a lot of secrets.
She tries to persuade him and tells her how she knows all about his secrets. He is attracted to her even though she has a scar across her cheek.  He feels comfortable talking to her, he's able to vent all the pent up stress.
 She has a lot of her own secrets...he has stipulations....she's concerned and planned on different methods...The particulars of it all are complicated...
Great story, so many 'ifs' and 'maybe's .  Like hearing of the details and how it should all pan out...great read and hope there is another in the series..
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.







Thursday, March 28, 2024

Mar 26 Up-Island Harbor by Jean Stone

   


 
Up-Island Harbor by Jean Stone
Starts with Maddie and she's going to Martha's Vineyard, where her grandmother lived. She lives with her son Rafe and her father in western MA. 
When she arrives  she meets neighbors who all knew her grandmother and some even knew her mother. Maddie recalls going there as a young girl and never understood why she never returned. Her father told her the grandmother had died. So she is quite taken aback when the letter from the lawyer informs her that Nancy just died Lisa, a neighbor tells her how she found her. 
Love the discussion about the three sisters when it comes to planting as I've tried that method in my own garden. It's a New England kind of thing, I think.
Love the interjections about the local Indian tribe and all the shocking things she learns about it all. She becomes concerned when she breaks an ankle falling down a sand dune. then the fire. Love how she goes through the grandmothers items and what she treasures about them all. So many loose ends.
So many scary moments and the story wraps up at the end with so many pieces in the puzzle for you to finish solving the mysteries. Great story.
Received this review copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
#UpIslandHarbor #NetGalley.
 

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Misc books reviewed: Mar 26

  


 
The 100 Year Menu: Recipes from the Okinawan blue zone  by Christal Burnette
Color pictures throughout the book. Discusses what a blue zone is and especially how to live well past your expectancy.
Love pantry section as it's things you'll need to cook the recipes included.
Each food type explains what it is and what nutrients and percentages you will receive from them, how to cut them and use them in a recipe. each recipe comes with a color photo, title, prep, servings cooks in minutes. breief summary fo the dish.
List of ingredients and how to cook it. Very healthy book for recipes.
Chart at the end shows English name, Japanese and Okinawan


 

 
Ask Why and Learn About: Apples: Learn Basic Concepts through the Alphabet by Kim Young
Colorful children's education book. Letters of the alphabet, a is for apple.
All kinds of easy questions are asked and also answered. Like that I can enlarge the font of the words with white background otherwise the letters are too hard to see. 
Cute book hope the rest of the books int he series concentrate on food and letters.



 
50+ Questions to Ask While at the Dinner Table: Questions to Share, Connect, and Grow by Lisa Rusczyk
Like the list of questions one could ask at the table to get a conversation going.  
Good thought provoking questions.
Other works by the author are listed at the end.




 
A Frugal Mindset, Simplify Your Life And Enjoy Life On A Budget BY 
Kathy Stanton
Book concentrates first on food and budget. What to cook, no leftovers, no processed foods, its' also better for your health.
Buy on sale and with coupons are also mentioned. There are apps that can also make a list of what you need, from what stores and how to safe.
We make a meal but have enough left over for another whole meal which goes into the freezer for another week. Then when we have a busy day, time is short to make a meal we just pull that meal out of the freezer and defrost.
Use of thrift stores for decorating the house are profitable for you especially if you can make a new cover for a cushion.
Like electric savings and how to make it possible.
I use window quilts that we made to help keep the hot air and humidity out of the house during wicked hot sunny days. bottom section fo the window where screen is allows air to circulate.
We even safe money when traveling, bringing out own lunches and fruits for 2 day trip, soup  to heat up at the hotel for dinner rather than spending $50 for dinner out.
Good reference book to keep handy.

 
How to Not Clean the Kitchen : Discover the Way to Declutter and Organize Your Kitchen So You Don't Have to Clean it by Tamra Carter
Good ideas in this book. we just don't let things pile up in the sink. Also don't keep a lot of appliances out but the ones we use every day, several times a day: coffee machine.  Love decluttering, we passed to our son the bigger dishes as we don't use that size any longer. Bulleted lists are also provided in each chapter. 

 




 
Your Guide to the National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 59 National Parks by Michael Joseph Oswald
Love this guide because it tells you how to plan for a trip to any of the parks, what to expect, how to explore and what's out there.
Love the different ones that even offer bus rides between the different areas of a park. We have been to several and I wish I had this book before we had gone, pretty sure we missed some things i would've wanted to see for myself. We still have a few years left to go travel. A newer version is now available: 63 national parks. guess we've added some recently.
A KEPER!
 

Sunday, March 24, 2024

craft books reviewed: Mar 24

  


 
crafts for adults basics by nancy gordon
This book has chapters about different types of crafts, textile, stone, functional crafts, ceramics, needlework, wood, flower, paper, fashion , leath, and so much more.
An intro chapter about making mistkaes for crafters when they first start a new one.
how to save money. There are color photos also.
Very basic book about what crafts are out there. There are no tecniques discussed, just general ideas. other books by the author are highlighted at the end.

 
 





 plymouth encore worsted colorspun pattern F286 my first baby blanket by Plymouth yarn company
Book starts with a pattern for baby first blanket: skill level, finished size,  yarn used, needles, gauge and instructions and notes.
works up fast holding two stands of yarn together.
Very basic stockinette stitch afghan with garter stitch borders so it will lay flat.

 

 
Little Panda Amigurumi Crochet Pattern by Sayjai Thawornsupacharoen
Starts with intro and the pattern. Every aspect is explained in detail.
Material, abbreviations, size, and how to make the item. For beginners and expert crocheters.
There are colorful pictures also.  easy to make and follow along.
  

Children's books reviewed: Mar 24

 
 
Who says what? by  Dr. Hoot
Colorful children's educational book.There are 50 animals in total, amazing and so fun to learn about.
Each animal is pictured and the word is seplled otu along with the sound 
they make.

 


 
Facts about the Coral Snake by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the snake.  
Never heard or seen these.



  
 
Facts about the Olive Baboon by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the animal.  
Never heard or seen these.

 


Facts about the Yellow Baboon by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the animal.  
Never heard or seen these.


 
Facts about the Mountain Goat by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the goat.  
heard and seen these.



 

Facts about the Metalmark butterfly  by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the butterfly.  
Never heard or seen these.



 
Facts about the Purple Heron by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the bird..  
Never heard or seen these.









Facts about the Sparrow by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the bird..  
Have heard of these and seen them in back yard.
 

 


Facts about the United States by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include  Population, government, natural wonders, terrain, animals, exports and so much more.
There are also included color pictures of what's being discussed.


 




Facts about Indonesia by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include  Population, government, natural wonders, terrain, animals, exports and so much more.
There are also included color pictures of what's being discussed.



 




Facts about the Osprey by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the bird.  
heard  of and seen these locally.


 
Facts about the Chilean Skuas by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the seabird.  
Never heard or seen these.



 
Facts about the Wahlberg Eagle by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the eagle.  
Never heard or seen these.






Facts about the Puffbird by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the bird.  
Never heard or seen these.







Facts about the Roadrunner by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the animal.  
  heard and seen these on TV.


 



Facts about the Longhorn Beetle by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the beetle.  
Never heard or seen these.






Facts about the Sitka Deer by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the deer.  
Never heard or seen these.






Facts about the Madagascar Walking Stick Insect by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the insect.  
Never heard or seen these.







Facts about the Orb Weaver by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the animal.  
Never heard or seen these.



 





Facts about the Oxpecker by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the bird..  
Never heard or seen these.


 

Facts about the Somali Wild Ass  by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the animal.  
Never heard or seen these.


 

 

Facts about the Six spotted tiger Beetle by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the beetle.  
Never heard or seen these.


 

 
Facts about the Giant eagle owl by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the owl.  
Never heard or seen these.
 

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Children's books reviewed: Mar 23

  









Easter Chicks by Lindsay DeRollo
Childrens' story, color pages are very light. Words are not easy to enlarge so you can read them. Great story. 


 




If I were a bird by Sue Poynter
Colorful children's book about what a bird can do.  Not only tye typical things but what happens in a storm is another section.
 When bird is overcome with too many others he can just fly away.

 
 

 Super food power by Maya Green
Colorful children's book.  What I love about this are all the bright colors and how the author uses food and color combination.
Each color is shown on one page listing the foods you can eat and the next page shows the food itself.
One one page the blocks of different colors are shown with all the foods in that group. You should eat a healthy meal with all the different colors.

 
 




Daddy, Help Me Get Dressed! by Yonit Werber
Children's colorful book. What I like about this book is that the child does not like to get dressed and wants daddy to do it all the time. He's old enough to dress himself so dad pulls a fast one on him. When asked for help the dad will put the shirt facing backwards and the child will tell him, no that's not right and puts it on the proper way. Dad continues to do this til the son has dressed himeself correctly.
Fun read.


 
 


Good Habits for kids by Lisa Rusczyk
Colorful children's book. What I like about this book is all the brilliant colors   Hard to read some of the words as the colors combine with the letters.
Starts with getting up in the morning, wash up, brush your teeth, etc.  Just everyday good common sense also.
 There are sections for the home, school and others where you also take care of the environment.

 


Friday, March 22, 2024

Children's book reviewed: Mar 22

Facts about the Nut Weevil by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the animal.  
Never heard or seen these.









Can You Count the Stars?: Count the Stars I Spy Book for Kids Ages 2-5: Stars Picture Puzzle Book for Kids: Activity Book About Stars (Stars Counting Book for Toddlers) by Lisa Strattin
Children's colorful educational book. Instructions are clear and tell you how many of one color stars can you find.
 Other instructions are also given for more counting with answers on the next page to see if you got the right answer.
Nice big font, easy to see what the instructions are asking.
Good read.









Can You Count the Dinosaurs?: Count the Dinosaurs I Spy Book for Kids Ages 2-5: Dinosaurs Picture Puzzle Book for Kids: Activity Book About Dinosaurs ... for Toddlers)  by Lisa Strattin
Children's colorful educational book. Instructions are clear and tell you how many of one color dinosaurs  can you find.
 Other instructions are also given for more counting with answers on the next page to see if you got the right answer.
Nice big font, easy to see what the instructions are asking.
Good read.


 

Five Little Dumplings The Lunar New Year Feast by Kelsey Chen
,  Children's story with a bit of color and shapes called cumplings.
They are excited about the new year. Each page is a line of words that tells you to find something on the page.  Besides the shape there are numbers to go along with the shapes.
Cute story when they help with the food.



 
Can You Count the Poops?: Count the Poops I Spy Book for Kids Ages 2-5: Poops Picture Puzzle Book for Kids: Activity Book About Poops (Counting Book for Toddlers) by Lisa Strattin
Not my pick of what to read on the topic.
Children's colorful educational book. Instructions are clear and tell you how many of one color poops  can you find.
 Other instructions are also given for more counting with answers on the next page to see if you got the right answer.
Nice big font, easy to see what the instructions are asking.
Good read.






Alarm clocks make me upset! by Lisa Strattin
Appointments have been made and the child forgets about them. Parent shows them how to use alarms so they can be prepared in time for the events.
Colorful children's read.
Great story.
Very hard for me to enlarge the lettering so i can read it. background makes it impossible to read the words.

 






Why Celebrate Thanksgiving? (Cassandra Bee Picture Book Series)  by Lisa Strattin
this colorful children's book discusses the holiday of Thanksgiving.
Child is prepared for Thanksgiving with cards, of valentines and hearts. opps wrong holiday. they pull out cards with shamrocks, opps wrong holiday .  parent teaches them about the important things sabout Thanksgiving.
Very hard for me to enlarge the lettering so i can read it. background makes it impossible to read the words.





We Can Play a Game by Lisa Strattin
Like how child is rewarded for finishing their dinner, they get to play with their friends.  They all gather at the farm and play hide and seek.
They sure count to a lot! Cute story.







School Valentines Party (Cassandra Bee Picture Book Series)by Lisa Strattin
Love this sstory that is about the class is having a Velnetine day party. Teacher explains in the handouts that everyone who wants a Velentine has to bring one for everybody else. This way nobody is left out. Besies the cards there are other treats also.
Great story.









A to Z of Creativity: An ABC book of learning about creativity by Maya Green
Great book showing a lot of different ways to express yourself with no matter what form you choose.



Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Children's books reviewed: Mar 20

 

 
Facts about the Red Ruffed Lemur by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the animal.  
Never heard or seen these.









Facts about the Snake Necked Turtle by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the turtle.  
Never heard or seen these.





 
Facts about the Mink by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the mink.  
Have heard of and seen these and damage left behind.
.

 

 
Facts about the Eastern Screech Owl by Lisa Strattin
Colorful children's educational fun book.  This book starts out  with free ebook  offer when you subscribe to authors website. also information about box set of books and list of what they include.
Image credits are given then table of contents where chapters are listed.
Chapters include:  their life cycles, habitat, what they eat, etc. Each chapter also includes a full size photo showing different things about the owl.  
Have heard of and seen these.



 





Silly Movements (Dr. Lisa's Kids Learning Books) by Lisa Rusczyk
Cute story about a lot of different animals and what they do. It is enteraining and colorful childrens, easy to read book.
Worth the read.