Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Book Review: Burning Both Ends by Sinclair Jayne

  
 
Book starts with Daringtons grandfathers funeral in Australia. Shes a fire jumper. Meets Lachlan whose in charge of local firefighters.
Love Dares story about her fire tattoos. They are both enthralled with one another. Shes snarky and flirty.
They each have a lot of their pasts that we learn about in this story. Such hardships for them both to get through.
Wonder how its all gonna work out as she's due in Montana soon for her next job.
Excerpt from next book is alsp included. Lots of adult situations.

 

Children's books reviewed: Nov 11

  
 
Fall is My Favorite Season by H.R. Manske
Colorful rhyming children's book. We meet puppy and then his friends.
They love the cool breeze and how they get to dress with scarves and mittens and hats.
Changing colors of the trees, then apple, pumpkins, and then Thanksgiving. They don't want the season to move forward, but stay there forever.
Great story.







Together we can build a Gingerbread House by  Donna Weeks
Colorful, fun, children's book about how to make the house.
Starts out with instructions about the dough showing pictures of everything.
Step by step til you need to make templates of the shape. Like use of pizza cutter. All sizes are explained in detail. Bake and cool them, then it's time to make icing to hold shapes together.  Like pages where child is asked to count shapes to make sure they have enough for the gingerbread house. Keeping them interested although they might not be able to do all the steps by themselves.  Love the idea of using 10x sugar for snow. so imaginative.
Ending shows other works by the author and they sound great!
awesome book




 
Santa's Secret Notebook by Rosa Cloud
This colorful, fun, entertaining children's book  starts out with a bear named Benny and he shares his food that he finds outside in the snow and cold. Sometimes he's not so nice and later he thinks that Santa saw himyelling and stomping his feet and it's just a few days til Christmas.
He finds out from his mama about the notebook and how things good are written in gold and others not in gold and Santa keeps track.
There are questions and answers at the end of the book.
Cute story.





Sweet Baby Christmas by Victoria Scudder
Colorful, rhyming, educational fun Christmas read for babies.
Pages on the left show a picture and on the right side of the book it asks a question about the picture.  Very pretty pictures throughout the book.
Ends with about the author and their other works.
Great story book.









Bug ABC By Barbara Pinke
Colorful, children's educational book about bugs.
ALpha starts with with a for ant,  To the left of the page is the big A and small a and bug: ant. TO the right of the page shows the bug and what they do best (Did you know section). Turn the page and onto another b in alphabet order.
Games included at the end of the book. About the author and their other works are listed at the end.


 
 
Hard and Soft Animal Anatomy: Science Inside a Tortoise and an Octopus: an Illustrated Zoological Encyclopedia for Kids by Paper Dissection by Ksenia Yegorov
Colorful, children's book about animals anatomy.
Pages show the animal and the words explain about what type of shell they have and how they keep safe in the world.  Like that it shows you the insides of the animals as well.  Fun science and biology.
End has question and answer section, crossword puzzle, coloring pages that after you can name the animal. Answers are given also.
Wicked fun book.
 

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Children's books reviewed: Nov 10

   

 
Facts about the Poison Dart Frogs by Lisa Strattin
Starts with offer of free ebook, other volumes are listed, image credits and TOC where chapters are listed. Have never heard of this type of frog so very interested in everything about them.
Fun, educational, colorful children’s book that adults will enjoy also.
So many facts about these frogs and where they live, eat, and so much more.
So tiny, less than 2 inches long!  


 
Facts About the Pig by Lisa Strattin
Spouses grandfather had a farm and he raised show pigs. SOmetimes they ate better than the family.
Starts with offer of free ebook, other volumes are listed, image credits and TOC where chapters are listed.  
Fun, educational, colorful children’s book that adults will enjoy also.
So many facts about pigs and where they live, eat, and so much more.
 






Facts about the Rockhopper Penguin by Lisa Strattin
Starts with offer of free ebook, other volumes are listed, image credits and TOC where chapters are listed. Have never heard of this type of penguin so very interested in everything about them.
Fun, educational, colorful children’s book that adults will enjoy also.
So many facts about these great penguins and where they live, eat, and so much more.
Love how they got their name, so cool. So wicked tiny and vulnerable.

 

Book Review: Her One and Only by Cheryl Bolen

  





Her One And Only: A Dragonblade Quickie Historical Romance by Cheryl Bolen
Didn't realize this series existed so when I got an email about it from Amazon I bought the book and read it right away. So happy to see th euathor is writing again after her medical issues.
Love a good mystery, one in which I never guess who culprit is.
Story starts out with Venus and she's been on the hunt for a spouse for years and has turned so many away.  She only has eyes for one man but he's more interested in lands and the operation side of things.
Love how sparky she is and sticks to her word. She won't settle for less than what she wants. She arrives at James property in guise of wanting more information on how things are done, for her family's lands. He teaches her a lot and even offers to take her riding because they had to let their horses go. He sees another side to her...
She gets kidnapped from an angry suitor and James has to decided is she worth it, saving her..
Great read, can't wait to read more.
 

Book Review: The Everyday GLP-1 Cookbook by Julia Everden

  





The Everyday GLP-1 Cookbook by Julia Everden
This cookbook caters to one on GLP-1 drug. There is a lot of introduction material that you should review. SO many tips to help you along your journey to weight loss.  Recipes sound so yummy. They are easy to make also.
Each recipe starts with a title and a brief summary of the dish.
Prep cook and total times long with servings are included.
List of ingredients and most items are fresh and healthy.
Directions are given as to how to prepare this dish..
Adjust the servings is included.
Make it your way is another alternative.  Directions non how to store and reheat for another meal.
Allergens list is included.
Nutritional information per serving has calories, protein, carbs, fat, fiber and sodium .
SO many choices to select from. Weekly plan is included and shopping lists. Check with your doctor first. Resources and references are included at the end.
Great book to keep handy.
 

Monday, November 9, 2026

Book Review: A Harvest of Miracles by Josie Riviera

  

 

A Harvest of Miracles by Josie Riviera 
Story starts out with prologue of Connie writing to Florence...
She knows the house and business will be in good hands when she passes away.
Back to the book where we follow Florence... she's arrived in Vermont and she finds the neighbors friendly. Her aunt Connie has Mrs. Owens running the book store and Jake helps her. She left her job in the city and thinks she's made a huge mistake...
Her boyfriend in the city had broken their dating off and he's relocating to CA.  Love layout of the book shop and that they serve shortbread cookies, love the added spice they put in them. 
She always loved spending time with her aunt at the shop in vt. Jake is next door neighbor who's a handyman and he knows where her aunt put notes on all special events that were held in bookshop. 
Love when Jake and Florence go on a hike up the mountain during full foliage week. So very festive time of the year. Love times Florence spent with aunt Rose. Don't care for way Florence's parents treat her when they visit. They want her to sell everything and move back home. Jake tells them it's her life, let her decide. Love how whole community comes together for her,
Great read. Wonderful events at book shop.
 

Book Review: Wild Irish Christmas by Tricia O'Malley

  

 
Wild Irish Christmas by Tricia O'Malley 
This story starts out with Lily and she's escaped her abusive boyfriend and finds herself at Graces Cove. She has a job  teaching after the holidays. She wants to be a writer now and has her journal with her writings. She has dreams of a man that she can picture and wants to meet him someday. Love friends she makes at local pub where they tell her of the legends of the area.
Story also follows fae Prince Callum and he can dreamwalk with the woman of his dream.   He's on his way to hopefully meet her after talking to his mother bur fae of water take him.
A fairy wakes up Lily to go rescue him and they bring him back to her place where fairy explains how to fix his wounds.
He wakes and wants to give her a medal. She's able to open up to him about her past with her ex. He wants to kill him. Adult situations.
Love Christmas festivities and he does incredible things with his magic.
Great holiday read. Excerpt from another book is included at the end.
Not really into fae and fairys but enjoyed this book a lot.