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1250624029
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| 1250624029
| 4.04
| 89
| unknown
| Oct 06, 2020
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it was amazing
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Reviewed for THC Reviews 3 2 1 Awesome! is a children’s picture book in Eva Chen’s Awesome! series of educational stories that feature inspiring women. Reviewed for THC Reviews 3 2 1 Awesome! is a children’s picture book in Eva Chen’s Awesome! series of educational stories that feature inspiring women. Juno Valentine, a character from another book series by the same author, makes a brief appearance at the beginning as well. The book starts at number twenty and counts down to number one. Along the way, kids will learn about these notable women through a number that was significant to their lives and/or accomplishments. Eg. Ada Lovelace was 17 when she created the first computer algorithm or Greta Thunberg was in the 9th grade when she first protested to raise awareness of climate change. They’ll also learn about other women, including Sonia Sotomayor, Dolly Parton, Rosa Parks, Rihanna, and many more. Each page gives a brief explanation of who that person is/was and their contributions to the world, and most pages also feature a brief quote from the person. As a grandparent with a young granddaughter who’s very spirited, I’m always looking for books with strong female role models to share with her and just like its predecessor, A Is for Awesome!, this one definitely fits the bill, while also teaching kids their numbers. It features an interesting and diverse group of women from all walks of life that should be inspiring to girls of all ages and backgrounds. (As a person who is on the autism spectrum, I was thrilled with the inclusion of not just one, but two autistic women.) Then it’s capped off with “the 1 and only you,” celebrating the child who’s reading it and encouraging them to go out and change the world, too. The text is accompanied by fun cartoon renderings of the women discussed that should delight little readers. Right now, the print version of the book appears to only be available as a board book, which typically means that it’s aimed at the littlest readers. It’s certainly appropriate for infants and preschoolers, but I think that even early elementary age kids could glean something from its pages. There were a few of the women that I didn’t even know, and since the book only gives the barest amount of information about each one, it could create a jumping off point for older readers to further research or read about any of the women that catch their interest. I recommend the book for parents who are looking for empowering learning books for their little ones. Note: One of the women included in the book is J. K. Rowling, which I wanted to mention for those readers who might want to skip the book because of this. While I don’t support Rowling’s viewpoint, this book was published in 2020, the same year that her transphobic crusade really started to penetrate the collective consciousness, so I’m giving the author the benefit of the doubt that perhaps she wasn’t aware of it yet when she wrote this book. For that reason and because so many other wonderful women are celebrated within its pages, I decided not to dock the rating. ...more |
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Jul 04, 2025
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Jul 04, 2025
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Jul 04, 2025
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B07V6PM444
| 3.97
| 593
| Oct 08, 2019
| Oct 08, 2019
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Reviewed for THC Reviews I opted to only read the Dresden Files short story for now. I'm not giving the book a rating, because I don't think it would b Reviewed for THC Reviews I opted to only read the Dresden Files short story for now. I'm not giving the book a rating, because I don't think it would be fair to rate the entire anthology based on just one story in it. “Monsters” is a short urban fantasy story in the Dresden Files universe that takes place sometime after Skin Game. It is written from the perspective of shape-shifter Goodman Grey who was introduced in that novel. Much like Harry, who is Chicago’s only professional wizard, Grey considers himself to be a professional monster and owns the business Monsters LLC. He’s approached by Gentleman John Marcone who is in need of his services. Some undesirables who are sexually trafficking children kidnapped from Mexico have moved into Marcone’s territory, and John wants them gone. However, due to the sensitive nature of the matter, he doesn’t want to be connected to it and hires Grey to handle it instead. With the help of his loyal secretary, Viti, the pair set out to take down the operation and rescue the kids. From the moment Goodman Grey was introduced, I found him to be an intriguing character. He’s not all good, but given that he allied himself with Harry in Skin Game, he’s not all bad either. I like that the idea of where he falls on the spectrum is explored in this story. He admits to being a monster but also says he’s not a bad guy, which is born out in the story. He’s brutal with the traffickers but kind to the kids, saving them. He also works for virtually nothing, which I thought was very interesting. Likewise, Marcone continues to be the enigmatic character, who despite being a gangster, has his own sense of honor that we’ve seen all along in the series. Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It dropped plenty of tantalizing tidbits about Goodman Grey and Viti that I hope to see explored more in future books of the Dresden Files. Star Rating: ***** ...more |
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Jun 13, 2025
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Jun 13, 2025
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Jun 13, 2025
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Kindle Edition
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0316456381
| 9780316456388
| 0316456381
| 4.20
| 3,398
| Mar 10, 2020
| Mar 10, 2020
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it was amazing
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Reviewed for THC Reviews The Only Black Girls in Town is a stand-alone middle-grade novel from Brandy Colbert who has previously published books in the Reviewed for THC Reviews The Only Black Girls in Town is a stand-alone middle-grade novel from Brandy Colbert who has previously published books in the YA and adult genres, but this is her debut book for a younger audience. Twelve-year-old Alberta lives in the small, California, seaside community of Ewing Beach where she can probably count on one hand the number of Black people who live there, and she’s the only Black girl in her seventh-grade class. That’s why Alberta is very excited when a new Black girl her age moves into the bed & breakfast across the street along with her mom. Edie is from Brooklyn so it’s a bit of a culture shock for her moving all the way to California. Not to mention her parents just got divorced and she misses her dad. Alberta already has a best friend, but at first, Laramie seems to be clicking with Edie faster than Alberta. It appears uncertain as to whether Alberta and Edie will become good friends until Edie discovers a bunch of old journals from the 1950s and 60s in her attic room that were left behind when the family of the elderly woman who previously owned the B & B cleaned out the house. As the girls read the diaries, they feel a certain kinship with Constance, the woman who wrote them, so they start to dig for information on who she was and how the journals came to be in the attic. It becomes their little secret project that draws them closer together. But just as Alberta is starting to feel a deeper friendship with Edie, her friendship with Laramie begins to feel like it’s falling apart when the other girl starts hanging out with the “cool” kids. The entire book is written from Alberta’s first-person perspective. She’s twelve years old and about to start seventh grade. She’s lived in Ewing Beach her whole life with her two dads. Alberta loves to surf, is just finishing up summer surf camp as the story opens, and is eager to start competing, but her dads say she has to wait another year until she’s thirteen. Alberta’s best friend is Laramie, who she considers to be pretty popular, even though Alberta herself isn’t. However, as close as they are, there are things that even Laramie can’t understand. Because she’s white, sometimes Laramie has a tendency to brush off Alberta’s concerns about race. That’s why when Edie moves in across the street, Alberta is excited that maybe she’ll make a new friend who has a better understanding of what it means to be Black. Being from Brooklyn, though, and also being Goth, Edie is very different from Alberta and it takes a little while for their friendship to take off. That’s facilitated by their discovery of Constance’s diaries, which becomes their secret passion project. Constance seems to have a keen understanding of race, and her story develops in such a way as to make the girls think about their own racial identity. Meanwhile, Alberta is bummed out when Laramie starts hanging out with Nicolette, an eighth-grade girl who always seems to be committing deliberate racist microagressions toward Alberta, leaving her wondering if they’re actually still friends. I loved Alberta as the main POV character. She reminds me a little of myself at that age, being the good girl and a bit of a late-bloomer in certain ways. But despite not having Black friends, she’s fairly confident in her own skin and both brave and talented to be able to surf so competently at her age. While she wants to befriend someone who fully understands what it’s like to walk around in Black skin, she doesn’t want to lose Laramie as a friend either. I like that Alberta tries her best to balance her friendships and also does her best to be nice to everyone. As a concerned grandparent, I’d have no issue with my grandkids reading this book. There was very little I found that should be concerning. Alberta has two dads, but their situation is treated very matter-of-factly, like any other family. She tells her friends how she was conceived using a surrogate’s egg and one of her dad’s sperm, and how Denise, the surrogate, who is a close friend of her fathers’, carried and gave birth to her. A pregnant Denise comes to stay with them while her husband is out of town working and she has the baby (off page) while there. The girls mention getting their periods a few times. However, all of the reproductive stuff is pretty basic and nothing that a middle-schooler shouldn’t already know. One of the girls mentions a boy trying to kiss her. Then there’s some exploration of race and prejudice themes, but it’s all handled very gently, in such a way as to build empathy and hopefully get kids to think about these issues and perhaps ask questions. Overall, I’d say that the book is wholly appropriate for its target audience. Ever since becoming a grandparent, I’ve been on the lookout for great kids’ books that I can hopefully one day share with the grandkids, and The Only Black Girls in Town is just such a book. It explores themes of family, friendships, and identity in a wholesome way. I like how the girls’ friendships are an ever-evolving thing. Some conflicts arise, and sometimes Edie and Laramie get a little short with Alberta, but they’re eventually able to discuss things and resolve their differences. Alberta is very patient and I like how she handles issues with the resident mean girl. She does so in a confident way that doesn’t come off as her being mean herself. There are also the family aspects that are handled with care. Alberta is very close with her dads and although it’s a little weird to have Denise around at first, she builds a relationship with her as well and ends up included in the new baby’s life. Edie lives with her single mom and misses her dad and brother back in Brooklyn, which causes her some distress, but she eventually starts to see things in a new light. Laramie has a brother who appears in the story and we learn a little of her life as well. All of the girls and their families (even though their situations are all different) just seem like completely normal people who’d make great friends. I like, too, that although Alberta and Edie keep their discovery of the journals and their research on them a secret from everyone else until the end, that they don’t go running off without parental approval, so I viewed them as good role models. Then there’s the whole aspect of the diaries and how Constance’s life story plays into Alberta’s and Edie’s views of themselves. I love how it was all explored in an age-appropriate way that fosters learning about others and a building of empathy. Overall, The Only Black Girls in Town was a fantastic story that even I, as an adult, enjoyed and that I can’t imagine kids who are interested in realistic fiction about family, friends, and identity wouldn’t as well. ...more |
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Jun 09, 2025
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Jun 15, 2025
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Jun 09, 2025
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Hardcover
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B07CKJY96X
| 3.98
| 1,036
| Aug 09, 2013
| Jun 20, 2018
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it was amazing
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Reviewed for THC Reviews *************This review contains information that some readers may consider to be spoilerish so I've hidden those bits.****** Reviewed for THC Reviews *************This review contains information that some readers may consider to be spoilerish so I've hidden those bits.*************Capture & Surrender is the fifth book in L. A. Witt and Aleksandr Voinov’s Market Garden series, which follows the rent boys at the London club/brothel of the same name. This one features Frank, the owner of Market Garden, who lost his partner two years earlier. Nick (If It Fornicates), one of his best and most in demand rent boys just quit the business to be in a monogamous relationship with his boyfriend, Spencer, leaving Frank shorthanded. But thanks to his right-hand man, Raoul, a new guy comes in to interview for the job. Stefan is a drop-dead gorgeous, ex-US soldier with a more dominant persona who has all the qualities that Frank usually falls for in a man. Even though Stefan makes his interest in Frank clear by shamelessly flirting with his new boss, Frank adamantly refuses to sleep with his employees. Not only does he feel it would be a conflict of interest, but (view spoiler)[his HIV positive status complicates relationships. (hide spoiler)] However, Frank can’t resist inviting Stefan to one of the kinky, sexy paintball games that he and his friends host, in which the rules allow players to capture members of the opposing team and have their wicked way with them. Stefan eagerly accepts the invite, because he’d love to capture Frank, but Frank only referees. Thanks to his friends’ meddling, though, Stefan makes a bet that he can capture a ref, leading to a steamy encounter between him and Frank. After that, Frank can’t resist Stefan anymore. The pair become more and more deeply involved until Frank knows he’s falling for Stefan, but (view spoiler)[after both men losing former partners to the scourge of AIDS (hide spoiler)], Frank doesn’t want to hurt Stefan that way(view spoiler)[ if his condition worsens (hide spoiler)] and thinks it might be better to break ties sooner rather than later. Frank has shown up a few times in the previous books but we didn’t get to know a whole lot about Market Garden’s owner until now. He did a short stint in prison before meeting his partner and falling in love, but his partner died two years ago (view spoiler)[from AIDS and Frank is HIV positive, too. The drugs are working for him, so he’s reasonably healthy right now, but he knows that could change at any time. Because of prejudices against people like him, he mostly keeps his diagnosis to himself and a few close friends, only disclosing to others when he feels it’s necessary. (hide spoiler)] He also hasn’t been in a relationship since his partner’s death. Because of the estate his partner left him, Frank is pretty wealthy and he used the money to start Market Garden. For the more submissive Frank, military types and dominant men make him weak in the knees, so when Stefan shows up for the interview, Frank is instantly attracted to him. However, he’s always had a rule not to sleep with his employees, so he tries to lock his lust away. Stefan is a shameless flirt, though, making it hard for Frank to resist, and by their second paintball game, when Stefan captures him, he no longer has the will to fight it. The more time they spend together, the more Frank starts to fall for Stefan, but not only does he not want to put Stefan through the pain of (view spoiler)[losing someone again (hide spoiler)], he’s also fifteen years Stefan’s senior and feels that the other man might be better off with someone closer to his own age. Frank is a little rough around the edges, but he has a gooey center that warms up under Stefan’s attentions. I liked the juxtaposition of him being a tough guy with submissive tendencies, who enjoys being dominated by Stefan. I also felt like I understood how hard it was for him to have lost his partner and how that would make him want to spare Stefan that kind of pain. American Stefan (although this isn’t his real name, just his hooker nom de guerre) served in the military in the Middle East, and after his tour of duty ended, he met his partner (view spoiler)[who also died of AIDS. Due to extenuating circumstances, it was even more difficult for him in some ways than it was for Frank, (hide spoiler)] so afterward, he decided to move to London for a change of scenery. He’d been working in another club where Raoul found him. Since Stefan loves sex and the money is good, he decides that working for Market Garden might just be a good change of pace. Mature for his age, Stefan loves older men, so he’s instantly attracted to Frank and lets his interest be known by being flirty and seductive. Frank tells him that he doesn’t sleep with the rent boys, but when Frank invites him to his kinky paintball games, Stefan thinks maybe Frank is interested after all. It’s not until a risque bet is made on capturing a ref that he gets a chance to live out his fantasy of having Frank. After that things turn hot and heavy and soon Stefan is falling for Frank. He thinks Frank feels the same, but when the other man tries to break things off with him, he fears it might be the end of their relationship. Stefan is seriously hot and sexy. I love the way he seduces and commands Frank. He can be dominant, but he can also be tender and gentle. I love how he just accepts all of Frank in spite of everything and isn’t afraid of what the future might bring. Although still on the shorter side, Capture & Surrender is the first full-length novel in the series and I enjoyed having a little more time and space to explore Frank and Stefan’s relationship. Just like all the couples in the series so far, they were perfect for each other. (view spoiler)[It was hard for Frank to share his HIV positive status with Stefan, but it really paid off. (hide spoiler)] The shared experience (view spoiler)[of the two of them having lost their respective partners to this dread disease (hide spoiler)]created a connection that others weren’t as understanding of and brought a lot of emotion to the story. But it wasn’t just that. They each have their own kinks and preferences that align superbly, making the love scenes super-hot and sexy. I also love how the scenes range from sweet and gentle to some scorching domination. Frank playing voyeur after Stefan captures other guys on the paintball field was hot, too. I also appreciated the exploration of how everyone deserves love, no matter what. Overall, Capture & Surrender was another winner for me in this series that I really enjoyed. I hope we’ll see a little more of Frank and Stefan in the remaining books. Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, including mild BDSM elements, voyeurism, orgy-like paintball games, and sex work, all of which could be objectionable to sensitive readers. ...more |
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1
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Jun 2025
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Jun 05, 2025
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Jun 01, 2025
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Kindle Edition
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1406372471
| 9781406372472
| 1406372471
| 3.98
| 492
| Jan 01, 1998
| Jul 07, 2016
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it was amazing
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Reviewed for THC Reviews My Friend Bear is the third and final book in Jez Alborough’s Eddy and the Bear children’s picture book series. In the first t Reviewed for THC Reviews My Friend Bear is the third and final book in Jez Alborough’s Eddy and the Bear children’s picture book series. In the first two books, Eddy and the bear were afraid of each other. In this one, both Eddy and the bear are feeling sad because they have no friends. Eddy is in the forest one day and comes across the bear’s giant teddy, which he immediately recognizes as belonging to the big bear that scared him before. When he hears noises, he hides behind the giant teddy. The bear appears, crying, so Eddy consoles him by giving a voice to his big teddy. Eventually the bear figures out what’s actually going on and the pair have a great laugh over the fact that the bear thought his teddy could talk. Then they spend the day together, pretending to make their teddies talk to one another, and by the time the day is over, they’ve become the best of friends. The first two books of the series were pretty humorous, especially the first one. My Friend Bear still has touches of humor as Eddy and the bear pretend to give voices to their teddies. Mostly, though, this is a really sweet book about making friends. Readers got to see these two being very scared of each other in the previous books, but this time, Eddy shows a little bravery, as well as empathy for the sad, lonely bear, and it pays off in helping them both make a new friend. The illustrations are cute and express just the right amount of emotions, whether it’s sadness, fear, laughter, or caring. Overall, this entire book series has been awesome and has left me looking forward to checking out more of the author’s work. ...more |
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1
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May 23, 2025
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May 23, 2025
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May 23, 2025
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Paperback
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B0DTT15LLR
| 4.14
| 1,831
| Jul 2013
| Jul 2013
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it was amazing
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Reviewed for THC Reviews “Making Dinner” is a short story of about six pages that takes place around the start of Heart of Obsidian in the Psy-Changeli Reviewed for THC Reviews “Making Dinner” is a short story of about six pages that takes place around the start of Heart of Obsidian in the Psy-Changeling series chronology. This one features mates Riley and Mercy. Riley is preparing a special dinner for a pregnant Mercy, and they’re joined by Mercy’s brothers, Bastien, Sage, and Grey. While the brothers tend the food, Riley and Mercy go on a little romantic run in the forest. Riley and Mercy are a favorite couple for me in this series. I loved that Riley was playing chef for Mercy, and that they got to enjoy a romantic interlude while waiting for the food to cook. I also enjoyed Mercy’s playful banter with her brothers and learning a few tidbits about them. Bastien is dating someone, though I don’t know if it’s the same character who will become his heroine when his story is told in the novella, Secrets at Midnight. In any case, I look forward to seeing more of Mercy’s brothers later in the series. For now, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this little romantic moment for Riley and Mercy. ...more |
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1
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May 23, 2025
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May 23, 2025
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May 23, 2025
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Unknown Binding
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0880381752
| 9780880381758
| 0880381752
| 4.14
| 60,663
| Sep 12, 1985
| Sep 12, 1985
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it was amazing
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Reviewed for THC Reviews Dragons of Spring Dawning is the third and final book in Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman’s Dragonlance: Chronicles, as well as Reviewed for THC Reviews Dragons of Spring Dawning is the third and final book in Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman’s Dragonlance: Chronicles, as well as the third book in the huge multi-author Dragonlance Universe. It picks up where the second book left off. Tanis loves Kitiara, but he cannot in good conscience take her offer to join her DragonArmy. Instead he chooses to leave her and return to his companions, after which they board a ship, hoping to eventually reunite with the others from whom they were separated at the beginning of book #2. Unfortunately they’re caught in a storm and end up shipwrecked in the underwater kingdom of the sea elves. Before that happens, though, Raistlin uses the Dragon Orb to spirit himself away. Meanwhile, Laurana, Flint, and Tasslehoff are still grieving the loss of their good friend Sturm at the battle of the High Clerist’s Tower. Everyone looks to Laurana for leadership, and after the return of her brother, Gilthanis, who arrives with the good dragons, she takes up the mantle of the Golden General, leading her troops to many victories over the Dark Queen’s DragonArmies. Just as they seem to have gotten the upper hand, a message arrives from Kitiara who claims that Tanis is with her, that he’s dying and his final wish is to see Laurana again. Even knowing that it may be a trap, Laurana’s love for Tanis won’t allow her to ignore the summons on the off chance that it is real, so using a captured Dragon Lord to guide her, she heads for the Dark Queen’s realm, but is captured along the way. After the sea elves help Tanis and the others get back to dry land, they finally reunite with Flint and Tasslehoff, and learning of what happened to Laurana, Tanis and most of his companions embark on a final mission, trying to save her. As with the first two books, we have an ensemble cast of main characters. Our principles include Tanis, a half-elf, half-human, who has been the defacto leader of the companions. He stepped back from that role somewhat in the second book, but here, he steps up again, when he decides that he cannot in good conscience follow Kitiara no matter how much he might love her. So he leads everyone as they board the ship to escape the DragonArmies and later in the quest to rescue Laurana. The mage Raistlin is with the companions until the ship founders. Then he escapes on his own using the Dragon Orb and ends up on the steps of a library in Palanthus at death’s door. We don’t see him again until the end, where he plays a pivotal role. His twin brother, Caramon, is still the brave warrior, loyally sticking by everyone throughout. Even though he feels betrayed by Raistlin, he still loves his brother very much. He also loves Tika, the barmaid from Solace, who has become a pretty good warrior in her own right, but he doesn’t feel like he can make a commitment to her with his responsibilities to Raistlin hanging over his head. There’s also the gruff dwarf, Flint, and the kender, Tasslehoff, who are the best of friends even though Flint always says that Tas drives him crazy. These two often provide some fun comic relief. Riverwind and Goldmoon are there during the first half of the book, but after they make it back to Kalaman, Tanis insists that they stay behind and not accompany the rest of them on their final mission. Raistlin and Caramon’s sister, Kitiara is essentially one of the bad guys, having joined the Dark Queen and become the Dark Lady, one of the feared Dragon Highlords. She tried to use Tanis’s love for her to manipulate him into joining her, but when he leaves, she goes after him and twists his arm by tricking Laurana and taking her hostage. There are also plenty of other supporting characters who play smaller roles. Out of the three books in the Dragonlance: Chronicles trilogy, Dragons of Spring Dawning ended up being my favorite. There were less slow spots in the pacing and quite a bit more action. I also didn’t have as much trouble keeping track of everyone since I’d already become very familiar with the core characters and there were few new ones being introduced. There was also some pretty good character development in this installment. I like that even the good guys like Tanis and Laurana sometimes have flaws. Love proves to be something of a weakness for both of them, given that Tanis allowed Kitiara to temporarily turn his head and Laurana went after Tanis out of love even though she knew it might be a trap. But love also proves to be a strength, in that Tanis’s realized love for Laurana gives him the will to get out of a sticky situation and he is also willing to give up his life for her in the end. Kitiara may be a bad guy, but her assertions that she doesn’t love Tanis beyond him being a means to an end are belied by a couple of her actions. Likewise Raistlin has always been a rather selfish character and the things he does in this book show that he would betray even those he cares for to gain power. However, he’s not so thoroughly corrupted as to completely ignore his friends, even though arguably he might have if it hadn’t benefited him as well. So I liked that some of the characters are more complicated and not pure good or evil. Unfortunately we do say another sad farewell to one of the main characters. Dragons of Spring Dawning has a very suspenseful denouement with our companions venturing into the dragon’s lair, in an effort to save Laurana, and the ending provides a satisfactory wrap-up to the events that began months earlier in the first book. That said, though, it leaves just enough tantalizing loose threads to encourage the reader to continue with the Dragonlance: Legends, the next sub-series in the greater Dragonlance universe, which will feature Raistlin and Caramon. Since I do like Caramon and find Raistlin’s mercurial nature intriguing, I’m definitely interested in reading those soon. ...more |
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1
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May 2025
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May 08, 2025
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May 01, 2025
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Mass Market Paperback
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0804190119
| 9780804190114
| 0804190119
| 4.27
| 91,738
| Feb 28, 2017
| Mar 28, 2017
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it was amazing
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Reviewed for THC Reviews On Tyranny is authored by Timothy Snyder, a historian and expert on fascism. In this short, pocket-sized, 126-page book, he of Reviewed for THC Reviews On Tyranny is authored by Timothy Snyder, a historian and expert on fascism. In this short, pocket-sized, 126-page book, he offers twenty lessons from historical events of the twentieth century from which we can learn that have been adapted to our current circumstances. Each chapter gives practical advice on how we can take personal responsibility during a crisis of tyranny, and each step is designed to slow down the pace of the implementation of an authoritarian regime. Mr. Snyder draws from, not only the most well-known example of fascism, the Nazi regime, but also communism and other tyrannical dictatorships throughout the twentieth century to make his points. I like that each thing he suggests is very doable even though some may take courage. In fact, I think I was already doing most of them without even realizing it and have been doing them for years, but it definitely doesn’t hurt to be reminded of the steps we can take to overcome authoritarianism in order to preserve democracy. This book may be small and each of the chapters only a few pages long, but it packs a powerful punch, presenting a strong and succinct reminder that we aren’t completely powerless in the face of tyranny. I highly recommend On Tyranny to everyone who wants to be part of the resistance in our current time. ...more |
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Apr 24, 2025
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Apr 28, 2025
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Apr 24, 2025
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Paperback
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B000NW4F5G
| 4.02
| 30,762
| 1950
| 2007
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it was amazing
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Reviewed for THC Reviews Henry Huggins is a middle-grade, children’s chapter book and the first in Beverly Cleary’s series of the same name. Henry thin Reviewed for THC Reviews Henry Huggins is a middle-grade, children’s chapter book and the first in Beverly Cleary’s series of the same name. Henry thinks that nothing exciting ever happens in his life until the day he finds a dog. The dog is skinny and scruffy, so Henry names him Ribsy. After getting his parents’ permission, he embarks on an adventure trying to get Ribsy home. Once he has Ribsy, things start to get more interesting. Henry uses his birthday money to buy a pair of guppies, but they keep reproducing until his entire room is crammed with bowls, jars, and other containers of fish. After accidentally throwing his friend’s new football into the back seat of a moving car, Henry must figure out a way to earn the money to buy a new one and it involves worms. Henry doesn’t want to be a part of the school’s Christmas play, even though he’s been cast as the main character, but thanks to Ribsy causing a little mayhem, Henry just might get out of it. Then Henry enters Ribsy into a dog show, hoping to win the silver cup, but Ribsy has his own idea of how the show is going to go. This results in Henry and Ribsy getting their picture in the local paper, which leads Ribsy’s former owner right to Henry’s door. Henry doesn’t want to give up the dog he’s come to love so much, but can they work out a solution? I have fond memories of a couple of Beverly Cleary’s books being among my childhood favorites. Those two were on my personal bookshelf during my formative years, but I’m sure I read others that were borrowed from the library. I can’t recall for certain if I’d previously read any of the Henry Huggins books, but as I was reading this one, parts of it seemed vaguely familiar. In any case, it was a fun story. It’s written more like a series of vignettes, although there is the through line of Henry finding Ribsy in the first chapter and Ribsy’s former owner showing up in the last one, leading to a touch of suspense about whether Henry will be able to keep his dog. I was impressed with Beverly Cleary’s ability to write the perspective of a typical third-grade boy so convincingly and I was even more impressed when I discovered that this was her first published book. I found Henry to be a good role model. He’s very responsible, calling his parents and asking permission before bringing Ribsy home. He also takes excellent care of Ribsy and all the fish he ends up with. When he accidentally loses his friend’s football, he takes on the responsibility for earning the money to buy a new one. While he may be typical for his age, he’s also a really great kid. In addition to Henry and Ribsy, there’s a wonderful cast of supporting characters, including some that crossover with the author’s Ramona Quimby series, mainly Beezus, who is a classmate of Henry’s, but Ramona shows up once, too. The two families live on the same street. Since the book was first published in 1950, there are a few things that are a bit dated (eg. a nickle for an ice cream cone or Henry using a pay phone), but in general, I think it should still be pretty relatable to kids today. There’s a reason it and pretty much all of Beverly Cleary’s works have become modern classics. Overall, Henry Huggins was a very enjoyable read and a nice reintroduction to the author that has left me excited to continue the series and share the books with my grandkids. ...more |
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Apr 19, 2025
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Apr 21, 2025
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Apr 19, 2025
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Paperback
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1951812530
| 9781951812539
| 1951812530
| 4.28
| 900
| Aug 24, 2021
| Aug 24, 2021
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it was amazing
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Reviewed for THC Reviews Bond of Destiny is the twentieth book in Larissa Ione’s Demonica series. Sold into slavery mere hours after his birth, the wer Reviewed for THC Reviews Bond of Destiny is the twentieth book in Larissa Ione’s Demonica series. Sold into slavery mere hours after his birth, the werewolf Tracker has spent his entire seventy years as a slave. Ever since Jillian (Rogue Rider) was given his slave bond, he’s experienced a new lease on life, but if the slavers ever found out that she was treating him humanely, they could revoke the bond and sell him to someone else. So he lives in near constant fear of losing the freedom she’s granted him. Jillian’s best friend, Stacey, has watched Tracker from afar and is deeply attracted to him, but Jillian has all but warned her away from him. When Stacey’s truck slides off the steep mountain roads in the middle of a blizzard, she barely escapes with her life. Tracker finds her injured and passed out in the snow and takes her back to his cabin to look after her. However, the storm doesn’t seem to be abating, leaving them snowed in together for several days. Fearful of trusting anyone, Tracker has always kept to himself, but living with Stacey makes him start to long for human connection and the love he’s been denied all his life. Being in such close proximity, they quickly start to fall for one another. But then Tracker’s pack comes looking for him, wanting him to save them from certain death, in spite of the fact that they’ve never done anything for him. They’re not inclined to take no for an answer and will stop at nothing to get what they want. Even if Tracker and Stacey can survive the ordeal, they’ll still have to contend with his slave bond, which forbids him from ever mating. As a newborn, Tracker was sold by his parents to a demon slaver in exchange for being granted power over their pack. As a result, he’s spent seventy years as a slave in the Underworld, being treated abominably by his masters. When we first met Tracker, his bond was held by the fallen angel, Harvester, who has since been redeemed back into Heaven. Toward the end of Rogue Rider, Harvester transferred his slave bond to Jillian. She, of course, doesn’t believe in slavery, so she’s given him a small cabin to call his own and generally allows him the freedom to do as he chooses. However, it’s against the rules of the slaver’s guild for a human to hold a slave bond or for anyone to treat him as well as she has, so if they find out, they could forcibly take him back. Because he has major trust issues, Tracker has mostly kept to himself in his little cabin, but it’s a pretty lonely existence. He likes Jillian’s friend, Stacey, but he’s never really gotten to know her until they’re stranded together during the snowstorm. Then he genuinely starts to connect with her and crave the love he’s never known. But their romantic interlude is interrupted by his pack showing up, demanding that he help them produce an heir to his bloodline to save them from destruction. Tracker isn’t inclined to help them when they never did anything for him, but when they decide to use Stacey as a bargaining chip, he’ll do anything to save the woman he’s fallen in love with. I’ve adored Tracker since he was Harvester’s slave, and although it took a while, I’m thrilled that Larissa Ione finally wrote a story for him. He’s a total sweetheart and a rare beta-leaning hero in this series. He’s so shy when he first saves Stacey, but as they get to know one another, he gradually warms up. He still has fears, but he bravely stands up to his pack. I love that even juiced up on a Seminus demon concoction, he manages to control himself and not have sex with just any female and still be gentle and considerate with Stacey. Tracker will definitely go down as a favorite hero for me. We first met Stacey as Jillian’s best friend, who at that time, was in local law enforcement. The two of them were like peas in a pod, growing up together, and have always had each other’s backs. After Stacey learned about all the things that go bump in the night, she decided to join DART and now handles the rare demon sightings in their small Colorado community. She’s admired Tracker from afar ever since he came to live with Jillian, but Jillian has practically called him off limits. Stacey is aware of him being a slave and of some of the things that were done to him in the past, but she doesn’t know everything until he rescues her and they’re stranded alone for several days. It takes some kindness and patience on her part, but eventually he starts to open up about about his experiences. Even still, there are many things he doesn’t dare do for fear that the slaver’s guild will find out that he’s breaking the rules and take him back. She doesn’t want that to happen, but at the same time, she abhors slavery and just wants him to be able to live his own life and make his own choices. Unfortunately the few choices he does have continue to be impinged upon when his pack comes calling, making demands, and then takes Stacey captive to twist his arm. And then there’s the slave bond that will never allow him to get mated to anyone. I loved Stacey for being so kind and gentle with Tracker and for understanding and helping him with his trust issues. She understandably gets frustrated with the slave bond, but once she comprehends the implications of it, she does what she can to make it easier on Tracker. She’s also a kick-ass fighter when she needs to be, so overall, she was a great heroine. Given how much I liked Tracker when he appeared in other books, I’d really been looking forward to Bond of Destiny and it didn’t disappoint. Tracker and Stacy are wonderful together. He’s a sweet, tortured hero, one of my favorite kinds, while she gradually earns his trust and showers him with all the love he’s been missing. I’m a sucker for the stranded in a snowstorm and close proximity tropes, so that part of the story was a great way for them to get to know one another and start falling in love that showcased some wonderfully sweet romantic interludes. When Tracker’s pack comes for him and Stacey, it turns more suspenseful, and then the ending where they finally figure out what to do about his slave bond was chef’s kiss perfection. I love that Jillian and Reseph, along with the other Horsemen, got in on that action. Then there was Harvester, too, who still had a lot to make up to Tracker for things she’d done when he was her slave. I really like that she got to begin making amends. Given that this book is long novella/short novel length, I suppose things moved a little quickly between Tracker and Stacey, but their relationship still managed to give me all the feels I expect from a romance in spite of the rapid progression. I absolutely loved seeing Tracker finally get his much-deserved HEA, so overall, I can’t think of a single thing I’d change about the story. It’s definitely earned a spot on my keeper shelf and also as a favorite in the Demonica series for me. ...more |
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Apr 09, 2025
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1618245252
| 9781618245250
| B00AP91UDC
| 4.23
| 3,350
| Apr 01, 2006
| Apr 01, 2006
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really liked it
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Reviewed for THC Reviews "4.5 stars" Wolf Who Rules is the second full-length novel in Wen Spencer’s Elfhome series. It takes place on the planet of El Reviewed for THC Reviews "4.5 stars" Wolf Who Rules is the second full-length novel in Wen Spencer’s Elfhome series. It takes place on the planet of Elfhome, which, as its name suggests, is the home-world of the elves, but thanks to a special inter-dimensional gate, the city of Pittsburgh has been transported there, only returning to Earth one day out of the month. That all changed, though, at the end of Tinker, the first book of the series, when Tinker, girl genius and now princess of the elves thanks to her marriage to Wolf Who Rules, viceroy and leader of the Wind Clan, built a second gate and created a resonance between them that destroyed them. This resulted in the human inhabitants of Pittsburgh now being stranded on Elfhome, as well as an anomaly they call the Ghostlands. Tinker is worried that somewhere in that anomaly enough of a gate may be left to make it possible for the brutal, sadistic oni to launch an incursion. Her theory seems to be borne out when an oni dragon attacks Tinker and her sekasha (guards) while she’s trying to ascertain the exact nature of the anomaly. As she puzzles out both its scientific and magical origins, she comes across information that reveals more about her parents, and she also begins having nightmares that seem to be trying to tell her something, which requires careful interpretation. Meanwhile, knowing that they might be attacked by the oni at any moment, Windwolf must ask for the help of the other elf clans, which leads to arguments and calculated political negotiations over the future of Pittsburgh and its inhabitants. Through it all, he must try to find a careful balance between his duty to his people, and keeping the peace between them and the humans, the half-oni who view themselves as humans, the tengu who are trying to escape slavery at the hands of the oni, and a pair of oni dragons. In the first book, Tinker went from the human girl genius who owned the local junkyard and created fun inventions to being turned into an elf by Windwolf and elevated to princess status when she went through the elven mating ritual. In this second installment, she has still retained most of her human mentality and struggles to adapt to elven culture, learn how to control her magical powers, and find a balance between the new expectations that are being placed on her and still wanting to be just plain Tinker. In the midst of this existential crisis, she’s also faced with the knowledge that because of her previous actions, many humans are now stranded on Elfhome. Additionally her destruction of the gate created a mysterious anomaly, which could pose a grave threat to all people who live on the planet if the oni manage to use it to muster an attack. Then there are the dreams, most of which are nightmares, that seem to be trying to tell her something, the new revelations regarding her family, the need to choose her sekasha, and her growing feelings for her first Hand, Pony. It’s a lot of responsibility for a young new princess to deal with, but most of the time, Tinker manages admirably. Sometimes, she loses it a little, which is understandable given the circumstances, but Windwolf is there to comfort her when he can be, and when he can’t, she has Pony, although as a former human, she finds it strange and confusing to be having feelings for two men at once, even though the elves don’t blink an eye at it. Mostly though, we get to see the brainiac in action, trying to figure out the anomaly and what her dreams are trying to tell her, and later, saving a spaceship full of people and the entire city of Pittsburgh. As viceroy of the Westernlands, which include Pittsburgh, and leader of the Wind Clan, Windwolf must figure out how to best serve the people, both elf and human who are counting on his leadership. With the threat of oni attack a very real possibility, he must call for help from the other elf clans. However, some of them, especially the leaders of the Stone Clan, expect a steep price for their help while also having a strong difference of opinion on how things should be handled. While Windwolf trusts Tinker implicitly, the other clans view her as an outsider because of her formerly human status. Then there are the half-oni who consider themselves to be human and the tengu who are fighting for their freedom from oni oppression. The elves mostly lump them all in with the oni, seeing them as a threat that must be eliminated, but as the story progresses, Windwolf begins to see them through new eyes and must find a way to handle their needs as well. Since the first book was entirely from Tinker’s perspective, I enjoyed getting Windwolf’s POV as well, and getting to know him a little better. He’s a strong leader who understands the power of negotiation and diplomacy. While he, too, initially views the half-oni and tengu as threats, I like that he was open-minded enough to see the truth of the matter and change his mind. Even though he struggles with finding a balance between his duties as a clan leader and those to his new wife, I appreciated that he still loves Tinker and trusts her, not hesitating to place lives in her hands when necessary. I love that he treated her as his equal and never hesitated to stand up to others who would put her down for her origins. I felt that Wolf Who Rules got off to a somewhat sluggish start. I was liking the story, but it wasn’t drawing me in as much as I wanted it to. It was a little slow-paced, as the author spends a lot of time setting up for the big reveals later in the story and the showdown at the end. There’s also a great deal happening in many different areas. There’s Tinker’s struggles in her new life as an elf, her trying to interpret her dreams, and her figuring out what went wrong to have created the anomaly and trying to fix it before the oni can strike. Then we have Windwolf’s political maneuvering and fighting a few battles of his own, both physical and diplomatic. It takes a bit of brainpower to keep up with all of it. However, I’d say about two-thirds of the way into the story, the pace picks up quite a bit, events start meshing together, and the story became really engaging. From there, it was a very exciting read, as new things are revealed, Tinker finds herself in a race against time to save people, both in space and in Pittsburgh, and battles are waged against powerful foes. In the end, I loved how Tinker belies her youth by becoming a strong leader in her own right and how Windwolf stands firm beside her. There’s a touch of romance in Tinker’s ongoing relationship with Windwolf, and also in her evolving relationship with Pony. I wasn’t quite sure what to think of this initially since she’d just mated Windwolf, but when it became clear that the elves in this universe are more fluid in their sexuality and don’t really think anything of having more than one lover, it didn’t bother me as much, seeming more like consensual polyamory. There are many intriguing elements to the story, a colorful supporting cast, and plenty of excitement in the end, so overall, Wolf Who Rules ended up being another enjoyable read in this series that has left me interested to see where the story goes next. Note: This book contains a scene in which a supporting character relates the story of his mother being repeatedly raped, which could distress sensitive readers. ...more |
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Kindle Edition
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0425251136
| 9780425251133
| 0425251136
| 3.79
| 7,459
| Dec 31, 2012
| Dec 31, 2012
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it was amazing
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Reviewed for THC Reviews The Seduction of Elliot McBride is the fifth full-length novel in Jennifer Ashley’s Mackenzies & McBrides series. This one fea Reviewed for THC Reviews The Seduction of Elliot McBride is the fifth full-length novel in Jennifer Ashley’s Mackenzies & McBrides series. This one features Elliot McBride, Ainsley’s brother, who has only recently returned from India where he had first traveled as a young man to serve in the British military, but once his service was completed, he bought a plantation there, which made him wealthy. However, his wealth couldn’t stop him from being kidnapped by local tribesmen and held captive for a year, during which time he was brutally tortured. Some think he’s insane because he suffers from a severe case of PTSD (although of course that’s not what it was called back then). Throughout his captivity, thoughts of his childhood sweetheart, Juliana St. John, were all that kept him alive. The story opens with Juliana being jilted at the altar by her fiance who has eloped with another woman. At loose ends, Juliana takes refuge in a small chapel on the church grounds where she accidentally sits on a sleeping and somewhat inebriated Elliot. Juliana has loved Elliot from afar since childhood and desperately wants to be married, so she impulsively asks him to be her groom, something to which he readily agrees. The two are wed that same day and later travel to the castle he’s just bought from his uncle in the Scottish Highlands. The castle has a certain charm, but it’s literally crumbling around their ears, so Elliot gives Juliana leave to spend however she sees fit to fix it up. She immediately begins renovations with the intention of hosting a big ball and fete soon. But Elliot’s flashbacks and violent outbursts worry her as she tries to figure out how to help him. Then Elliot becomes aware of being stalked by an old nemesis who may be looking for revenge, making it necessary to do all that he can to protect his family. Elliot is a deeply tortured soul who went through hell during his captivity in India, where he was kept in dark holes and tunnels in the ground, regularly beaten and tortured, and turned into an assassin for the tribesmen who captured him. The only thing that gave him the will to live was a desire to get back to Juliana, the only woman he’s ever truly loved. They were close friends since childhood and he’d fallen in love with her at her come-out ball where he stole a kiss. His military service took him far away, but he had his sister keeping tabs on her for him. After escaping his ordeal, he returned to Scotland a broken man, in both mind and body, but with the help of his loyal Indian manservant, he’s managed to recover physically and is somewhat improved emotionally. Elliot went to Juliana’s wedding with the intent of putting a stop to it, so when she finds him in the chapel and makes her impulsive proposition, he couldn’t be happier. After the wedding, he takes her to his crumbling, old castle in the Highlands, where he finds that having Juliana close gives him more peace than he’s felt in a long while. They begin building a life together, but Elliot experiences flashbacks that make him feel as though he’s still a prisoner and that sometimes make him lash out violently. Then he discovers evidence that an old friend turned enemy is hunting him, which could put his new life and family in danger. I’m a complete sucker for tortured heroes like Elliot. He’s been through so much, I just wanted to wrap him up in my arms and love away the hurt, just like Juliana does. In spite of his mental condition, he’s a dreamy seductive lover. He’s very loving and giving toward Juliana, and also toward his illegitimate half-Indian daughter and his Indian servants who are like family to him. He’s also protective and loyal to a fault toward those he loves. Juliana’s mother was a rather selfish woman, so when she died Juliana felt a need to be the exact opposite, driving herself toward perfection. She took over the managing of her father’s household and is very adept at making lists and getting things done. Juliana cherished her friendship with Elliot and started loving him even in childhood, so his kiss at her come-out ball was very welcome. She had hopes that they might have a future together, but then he went off to India, first in military service, then staying to make his fortune. After waiting on him for over a decade, she’d all but given up on him returning for her, so she became engaged to another man, who leaves her at the altar on their wedding day. When Juliana finds Elliot in the chapel, she suggests they marry on a lark, and is surprised when he eagerly agrees. Once at his Highland castle, she discovers the pure bliss of making love to the man she’s loved for years. She also sets about renovating the castle to its former glory so that she can host a big ball and fete for their friends and the surrounding community. But Elliot’s flashback spells weigh heavily on her. She desperately wants to help him, but doesn’t quite know what to do. Then he admits that he believes someone is stalking them, but asks her to trust him to take care of it. However, she’s also approached by a woman claiming that Elliot killed a man in India and that she and her husband are going to prove it and have him arrested. But through it all, Juliana remains Elliot’s steady rock. Juliana is a kind, compassionate person who loves Elliot with her whole heart and would do anything for him. I love how accepting she is of his illegitimate daughter and of his Indian servants and their exotic foods. She’s simply unflappable, taking everything in stride and never wavering in her loyalty. I’ve loved every book in the Mackenzies & McBrides series so far, and The Seduction of Elliot McBride was no exception. Elliot was definitely my kind of hero, tortured and in need of lots of love, but still kind and loving toward his family and friends. His solitary nature reminds me a little bit of Ian (The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie), which is probably why they get along well as friends. Juliana is more social but understands Elliot in ways that others don’t. Where they see madness, she sees a man who simply needs compassion and room to heal. I adored the fact that these two have been in love with each other basically since childhood and have never wavered in their feelings. From the moment they marry, they’re fire together, emotional, romantic and sexy beyond measure. I love that they’re loyal to a fault, always being supportive and never doubting each other. The supporting cast, namely Elliot’s uncle, his Indian servants, his daughter, Priti, and their one Scottish servant, Hamish, add flavor and humor to the story. There’s even a little bit of secondary romance brewing amongst this cast. As far as other characters who have books in the series, the Mackenzie brothers and their families attend the ball and fete, as do the other McBride brothers, but the only ones who play significant roles are Elliot’s sister, Ainsley (The Many Sins of Lord Cameron) and Mackenzie half-brother, Inspector Fellows, who Elliot asks for help when he’s being accused of murder and thinks his old friend may be trying to kill him. That part of the story led to a little intrigue and danger. Overall, The Seduction of Elliot McBride proved to be another keeper for me in this series and has left me eager to keep reading. ...more |
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Mar 26, 2025
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Mar 31, 2025
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Mar 26, 2025
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Mass Market Paperback
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B0DTS86CZL
| 4.19
| 2,230
| Oct 02, 2012
| Oct 02, 2012
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really liked it
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Reviewed for THC Reviews "4.5 stars" “Poker Night” is a short story of only about seven pages in Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling world that takes place s Reviewed for THC Reviews "4.5 stars" “Poker Night” is a short story of only about seven pages in Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling world that takes place sometime after Kiss of Snow in the series chronology. It’s written from the POV of Nate, lieutenant of the DarkRiver leopard pack. A bunch of guys from both DarkRiver and SnowDancer have gotten together for a poker night. As they play the game, they discuss what they could do to celebrate Riley and Mercy’s upcoming first anniversary since the couple were the first inter-pack mating. They’re interrupted by Nate’s two young cubs, Roman and Julian, who join the game, after which Nate spends a little quality time with the kids, putting them to bed. This was a nice little story. I liked the camaraderie between the males of the packs as they tease each other during their game. It was also great for them to show that they can engage in a little party planning and aren’t leaving it all up to the females. Nate allowing Roman and Julian to be a part of the game and the ending where Nate takes time to put them to bed showcased some quality father/son bonding and was very sweet. We haven’t seen a great deal of Nate and Tamsyn and their family in recent books, so it was nice to catch up with them. Overall, this was a good addition to the Psy-Changeling shorts. “Poker Night” used to be available for free on Nalini Singh’s website, but I couldn’t find it anymore. I read in in her Newsletter Exclusives, Vol. 1 anthology, which I obtained for free by signing up for her newsletter a while ago, so it might still be in there. ...more |
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B01B1AHD8E
| 4.32
| 8,745
| Jun 03, 2012
| unknown
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it was amazing
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Reviewed for THC Reviews Season for Love is the sixth book in Marie Force’s Gansett Island series. This one focuses on an HEA for Evan McCarthy’s best Reviewed for THC Reviews Season for Love is the sixth book in Marie Force’s Gansett Island series. This one focuses on an HEA for Evan McCarthy’s best friend, Owen, and the McCarthy’s cousin, Laura. The pair met a couple of books ago when Owen started renovating his grandparents’ old Victorian hotel, The Sand & Surf, and hired Laura to manage the place. Laura was nursing a broken heart after finding out her brand new husband hadn’t been faithful, while trying to figure out what to do after discovering that she was pregnant with his child. At the point where this story begins, Owen and Laura have been living at the hotel for the past few months while working on it, and during that time, Owen has been there for Laura every day, through her bouts of morning sickness. At the end of the previous book, Owen, a formerly itinerate musician, had just decided to give up his winter gig on the mainland to stay with Laura. They’re both longing to deepen their relationship, but her husband has refused to give her a divorce and is making life difficult for them. She also has yet to tell him about the baby, and Owen feels it’s important for her to at least do that before they take things any further between them. Unfortunately her husband doesn’t react well, insulting Laura and letting her know that he hired a private investigator who’s been following her around. Laura reluctantly gets her father, a respected judge, involved to try to put pressure on him, but it leads to him making an ultimatum that neither Owen nor Laura have any intention of giving in to. About that time, Owen’s mom makes a surprise visit, revealing more of the childhood Owen has been hesitant to talk about and it isn’t pretty. Worrying about how the events unfolding with his mom might affect Laura’s divorce, he suggests that it might be better to temporarily separate, but Laura is determined to stand by the man who has always stood by her. Meanwhile, we get lots of updates and romance from the other residents of Gansett Island. No one except his best friend, Evan, has ever known about the terrible struggles of Owen’s growing up years. The only respite he got from those times were the summer visits to his grandparents on Gansett Island, where he has wonderful memories of the Sand & Surf hotel. Because of his Air Force general dad, the family moved around a lot, and that nomadic lifestyle continued into his adult years. For most of the past decade, he’s spent his life on the road, living out of a VW van and playing gigs as a musician at various venues that included summers at the Tiki Bar on Gansett. When his grandparents retired, they gave stewardship of the Sand & Surf to Owen who has decided to renovate it to its former glory. He hired Laura to help out and run the place once it’s ready to serve guests again, and has been enamored of her since the moment they met. Since he found out that she’s pregnant, he’s barely left her side and even canceled his winter gig to stay on the island with her. He never thought he’d find a reason to settle down, but Laura inspires him to want to stay in one place for the first time in his life. The only thing standing in the way of Owen taking his relationship with Laura to the next level is her loathsome husband who refuses to sign the divorce papers. Or at least he thought so until his mom unexpectedly shows up, leaving him having to explain his horrible childhood to the woman he loves and worrying how it might affect them moving forward. Owen is the sweetest guy, a giver and a caretaker, who has definitely become one of my favorite Gansett heroes. I started to fall for him from the moment he tenderly cared for Laura through her first bouts of morning sickness, and he’s still there by her side every step of the way, holding her up through all the difficulties they face. There aren’t many men who would stick by a woman who’s pregnant by another man and wholeheartedly want to be a father to her baby. Owen, without a doubt, has Golden Retriever energy, loyal and kind to a fault when it comes to those he loves. Laura is a cousin to the main McCarthy clan, with her father, Judge Frank McCarthy, being a brother to Big Mac. After her mother died, she, too, often spent time on Gansett with her uncle and aunt while growing up. She recently married a lawyer who she discovered right after the wedding was cheating on her. She immediately ended things with him and filed for a divorce, then went to Gansett to nurse her wounded heart. There she found a friend in Owen who hired her to manage the Sand & Surf and help him get it ship shape. When Laura realized she was pregnant with her ex’s baby, Owen was there to scoop her up off the bathroom floor every morning and gently care for her through the worst part of her pregnancy. Now he’s given up his winter gig just for her, and she wants nothing more than to deepen their relationship, but her ex won’t sign the divorce papers. He also doesn’t yet know about the baby and Owen thinks it’s important to clear the air with him about that before they take things further. He accompanies her to the meeting with her ex and stands by her side through more nastiness. Laura hopes that her father can put enough pressure on her ex to convince him to let her go, but only time will tell. Meanwhile, when Owen’s mom shows up out of the blue, she learns the terrible truth about his childhood that he’s always been reluctant to talk about. Owen worries how that might affect the divorce proceedings, but Laura isn’t about to leave the man who’s given her so much. Laura is a kind, big-hearted person who’s been through a lot. In the face of her ex’s shenanigans, she shows a lot of grace and fortitude. He does manage to get to her when they meet, but Owen is there to help pull her out of her funk. I love that when Owen is the one who has to face his past, Laura is there for him in the same way he’s been there for her. Because Owen and Laura’s story has already been unfolding throughout the last couple of books, their part in Season for Love only accounts for a fraction of the narrative. The rest is populated by the continuing stories of past and future heroes and heroines. We get updates on all the former characters, including Mac and Maddie (Maid for Love), Joe and Janey (Fool for Love), Luke and Sydney (Ready for Love), Grant and Stephanie (Falling for Love), and Evan and Grace (Hoping for Love). Without getting too spoilery, I’ll say that two of these couples take the next steps in their relationships, one hits a rough patch and must find their way through it to the other side, and one receives a very unexpected surprise. While waiting for news on his recording contract, Evan gets a tempting business proposal from Ned. Tiffany and Blaine haven’t seen each other alone since their passionate encounter in the previous book. Tiffany is still working through her own painful divorce, but Blaine makes it abundantly clear that he expects her to let him know when it’s finally over. Theirs is the next book, Longing for Love, and I can’t wait to see more of them together. David puts in a couple of appearances when a doctor is needed. He’ll be the hero of the ninth book, Time for Love. We’re introduced to Jenny, the new lighthouse keeper who has a tragic backstory, but she’ll get her own HEA in the tenth book, Meant for Love. We get a quick visit with Slim when he flies Owen’s mom to the island. He’ll be the hero of book #15, Desire After Dark. Although they aren’t really seen in this book, Laura’s brother, Shane, and Owen’s sister, Katie are mentioned, and they’ll become the focus couple of book #12, Kisses After Dark. We were also introduced to Kara and Dan who just got a new spin-off book. Additionally there’s a steamy, age-gap romance that begins between Joe’s mom, Carolina, and Seamus, the charming Irishman Joe hired to run the ferry service while he’s with Janey in Ohio. Once they get going, these two can’t seem to keep their hands off each other, but Carolina is reluctant to take things beyond a one-night stand because of their age difference. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next for them, as I’m sure their story will play out as a secondary romance in future books. I really don’t know how Marie Force does it, but somehow she’s made me love every book in the Gansett Island series so far. Season for Love is certainly no exception. It’s just the latest of her books to land on my keeper shelf. I adore Owen and Laura and think they’re perfect for each other. They make a great team, both in their work on the hotel and in their personal lives. They share a heartwarming bond and are so giving and loving toward one another. Their chemistry is also off the charts, making their love scenes equal parts emotional and sexy. I loved the secondary romance for Seamus and Carolina. I instantly fell for Seamus when he was first introduced. I was hoping he’d get a book of his own and was a little disappointed when I didn’t see his name attached to any of the other books of the series. I’m glad that he’s finally getting some page time. He’s a dream lover who’s tied poor Carolina in knots over their age difference. However, since he doesn’t seem inclined to take no for an answer, I have a feeling he’s eventually going to wear her down. I adored all the updates on our past couples and where things are in their lives now. There’s lots and lots of romance and loving going on, on Gansett. There must be something in the water.:-D I also enjoyed meeting new characters, as well as the updates that will propel characters we already know into the spotlight. I can’t express how much I enjoyed Season for Love and the series in general. Gansett is such a warm and welcoming place that seems to provide healing and hope for all who come there. Not to mention there are so many hot, sexy men who know how to treat a lady right. It all makes me wish it was real place so I could visit. (Yes, I know it’s based on a real island and maybe someday I’ll make it there, but Gansett will always just be a place that only lives in the hearts and minds of the author and her readers.) In any case, I’ve loved the journey so far and can’t wait to continue, because there’s a great deal of story left to explore. A Gansett Island Wedding – Bonus short story. “A Gansett Island Wedding” is included at the end of Season for Love and it walks readers through Luke and Sydney’s wedding day, which also happens to be Christmas Eve. High school sweethearts separated when she went to college, they were reunited years later after Sydney went through an extreme tragedy in which she lost her entire family to a drunk driver and Luke was there to help her pick up the pieces. These two have waited so long for their happy ending, so this bonus story was very welcome. It’s obvious how perfect they are for each other. Neither feels much trepidation on their big day, only a sense of calm and rightness that they’re finally together. It was a beautiful moment with all their closest friends and family present, followed by a joyful party and some red hot lovin’. I look forward to seeing a lot more of this core couple in future books of the series. ...more |
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Feb 23, 2025
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Feb 28, 2025
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Feb 23, 2025
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031605318X
| 9780316053181
| 031605318X
| 4.37
| 1,943
| Jul 10, 2009
| Nov 01, 2009
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it was amazing
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Reviewed for THC Reviews Nubs is a children’s book that is the true story of a stray dog in Iraq that was rescued by an American service member. Nubs w Reviewed for THC Reviews Nubs is a children’s book that is the true story of a stray dog in Iraq that was rescued by an American service member. Nubs was the leader of a pack of wild dogs that hung out near an Iraqi army fort in the desert, scraping by on small animals they could catch and scraps the Iraqi soldiers fed them. When Major Brian Dennis arrived in the area with his team to help train Iraqi soldiers, the dogs raced out to meet them, all but Nubs. He approached more cautiously, but from the moment he let Brian pet him, Nubs became attached to the Marine. However, Brain was unable to stay, his mission taking him elsewhere, but every time he came back through the area, Nubs was there to greet him and always ran after the convoy when it was time for them to leave. On one such day, Nubs decided he was going to follow them no matter what. He trekked seventy miles through harsh desert terrain in search of the person he’d claimed as his own. After Nubs managed such a daring feat, Brian couldn’t let him go even though he knew that keeping a dog was against military regulations. So he set out to find a way to get Nubs to America so that once his tour of duty was up, they could be together forever. I’m a total sucker for all the stories of animals befriending American service members that came out of the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact, I wrote a book about one such fictionalized friendship myself. Nubs is the first book about this subject I’ve read that was written for children and it was fantastic. It’s written in language that’s very engaging and sure to hold kids attention, and although this is a story of war, there’s nothing traumatic in it that might frighten youngsters, although the most curious ones may have questions. Nubs’s story is also inspirational in that he survived a nasty wound that Brian and his medic treated, and then went on to pull a real-life incredible journey through the desert to be with the person he’d bonded with in much the same way the dog in my own book did. The story ends very happily and is accompanied by lots of actual pictures of Nubs and Brian, both in Iraq and after, once they were both safe in the States. I highly recommend this book for kids and parents alike who are animal lovers and for its inspirational story of perseverance. ...more |
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Feb 21, 2025
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Feb 21, 2025
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Feb 21, 2025
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Hardcover
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0439696747
| 9780439696746
| 0439696747
| 4.02
| 47
| May 30, 2003
| Jan 01, 2005
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really liked it
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Reviewed for THC Reviews "4.5 stars" Farm Animals is a non-fiction, children’s picture book with text geared toward early readers. It takes children on Reviewed for THC Reviews "4.5 stars" Farm Animals is a non-fiction, children’s picture book with text geared toward early readers. It takes children on a journey to the farm, discussing all kinds of animals that might be found there and the reasons farmers might keep them, such as for their meat, milk, eggs, wool, etc. There are super-short chapters talking about what farms are, what feeding time might be like, and how ranches are a type of very big farm. There are also chapters on egg-laying, milking, and shearing. Then it discusses specific types of animals that might be kept on farms. Here, I liked that the author didn’t just stick with traditional farm animals like cows, chickens, and pigs, but also broadened her scope into other types of animals like fish, crocodiles, and ostriches, which kids might not realize are kept on farms. There’s even a chapter on very cold and very hot climates where you might see animals like reindeer or camels being farmed. At the end there’s a glossary of farm words and instructions for accessing Usborne Quicklinks to learn more. Overall, I think this is a great book for young children to learn more about farms and the types of animals that live on them. It’s appropriate for younger pre-readers, but written in accessible language tailored just for beginning readers. One thing that impressed me enough to bump up the rating a half star is that the Usborne Quicklinks currently still exist and seem to have been kept up to date, which is almost unheard of for a book this old (published in 2002). This little book was well done and has left me interested in trying other books in the Usborne Beginners series as well as more by author Katie Daynes. ...more |
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Feb 21, 2025
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Feb 21, 2025
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Feb 21, 2025
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B07C65YX96
| 3.92
| 1,078
| unknown
| Jun 20, 2018
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it was amazing
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Reviewed for THC Reviews If It Fornicates is the fourth book in L. A. Witt and Aleksandr Voinov’s Market Garden series, which follows a group of rent b Reviewed for THC Reviews If It Fornicates is the fourth book in L. A. Witt and Aleksandr Voinov’s Market Garden series, which follows a group of rent boys at the exclusive London club/brothel of the same name. It is also a direct sequel to the previous book, If It Flies, continuing the story of dominant sadist, rent boy Nick and submissive Spencer, the client who turned into a boyfriend. In this one, Nick and Spencer begin to navigate the intricacies of their relationship, while Nick continues his work at Market Garden. Spencer is very supportive and doesn’t mind that Nick is still selling his sexual services, but the deeper Nick starts to fall for Spencer, the more he begins to falter at work. His heart just isn’t in it anymore and he’s becoming miserable. He knows that as a Dom, especially one who’s also a sadist, that isn’t good, because he needs to be completely focused on the client or unintended injuries could occur. He also prides himself on giving clients a good time, and because he’s very distracted by his feelings for Spencer, his efforts lately have been half-assed at best. However, if he were to quit, he can’t figure out how to manage financially, while he’s still in college. Meanwhile, Spencer is almost equally unhappy in his work, so the two begin to have dialogues about what things they could change in their lives and what the future might look like for them. But when Spencer suggests Nick moving in with him and letting him pay the bills, the stubborn Dom in Nick isn’t sure he can allow that without completely losing his treasured independence. If memory serves, I believe the first part of Nick and Spencer’s story was written in dual third-person POV (or if might have just been Spencer's). If It Fornicates is entirely from Nick’s perspective. I didn’t mind this at all, because we’d gotten a pretty good picture of Spencer before, and having it all from Nick’s POV really helped to deepen his character. We learn that he’s studying for a psychology degree and we also get a peek at his apartment when he takes Spencer there. Nick makes a moderate living at Market Garden, but he lives very simply in a tiny studio flat, unlike Spencer who has a nice house and other expensive things paid for by his job as a corporate lawyer. We also get to watch Nick as he wrestles with his feelings. He doesn’t want to quit his job, but when it becomes apparent that he can’t give it his full attention, as a responsible Dom, he doesn’t have any other option. For his part, Spencer is the sweet, supportive boyfriend, willing to be there for Nick no matter what career he decides is best for him. He’s also the perfect submissive, superbly complementing Nick’s kink in every way, which makes Nick feel even more guilty for continuing his work. He isn’t ashamed of what he does, but he still can’t help feeling it’s somehow wrong when he has such a perfect guy at home. As a warning to jealous readers, there are a couple of scenes showing Nick working with his clients. Normally I tend to fall into that category and I’m not much of a fan of reading about a main character’s sexual exploits when they’re already in a relationship with their person. For some reason, though, it didn’t bother me as much here, maybe because it was just a job for Nick, or maybe because Spencer was okay with it, or maybe because there’s so much more emotion to Nick and Spencer’s scenes together. I also admit that it deepened Nick’s character development, because it’s in those moments that he starts figuring things out and hashing them out in his mind. I enjoyed the first half of Nick and Spencer’s story in the previous book, but I really loved this second part. I think it’s because the two men are now in a relationship that only grows deeper by the day, so there’s a lot more tender romance and the love scenes are more emotional with a lighter touch on the BDSM elements. Overall, If It Fornicates was the perfect culmination to Nick and Spencer’s love story. I look forward to the remaining books in the series and hope we get to see more of these guys in supporting roles. Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, including a D/s relationship, sadism/masochism, bondage, sex work, and sex toys, all of which could be objectionable to sensitive readers. ...more |
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1
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Feb 20, 2025
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Feb 23, 2025
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Feb 20, 2025
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Kindle Edition
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0316098337
| 9780316098335
| 0316098337
| 4.08
| 827,298
| Aug 20, 2010
| Sep 2010
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it was amazing
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Reviewed for THC Reviews Room is a contemporary fiction novel that is entirely narrated by Jack, a five-year-old little boy who has never known any oth Reviewed for THC Reviews Room is a contemporary fiction novel that is entirely narrated by Jack, a five-year-old little boy who has never known any other home besides the room in which he was born and has lived his entire life. His mother, affectionately known as just Ma, was kidnapped at the age of nineteen from her college campus and has been held captive in Room for the past seven years. Many nights, she’s visited by Old Nick, her captor. Jack has never really seen the man, though, because on those nights he sleeps in Wardrobe out of sight. The novel opens with Ma helping Jack celebrate his fifth birthday. Up until that time, she has pretended that the things on TV are just make believe and nothing outside of Room really exists. However, soon after Jack’s birthday, Ma becomes concerned that changes to Old Nick’s life may mean that they could be in even more danger, so she starts telling him the truth about Outside and begins formulating a plan to escape. She tells Jack that he must be brave and be her hero. Jack is terrified, but knowing how important it is to Ma, he does as she asks, but it’s really scary. Outside is so much bigger than he ever could have imagined and interacting with people he’s never met before is frightening. He struggles to remember the plan and to find his voice while figuring out how to adjust to a vast, new environment that’s so different than anything he’s ever known before, especially when Ma isn’t there to help him. Jack is a surprisingly compelling narrator. He’s extremely smart for his age, but not in a way that seemed unrealistic. He’s able to read well and do basic math, but I was able to do those things by kindergarten, too, so it seemed pretty normal to me. Jack is also only six months older than my grandson who while he can’t yet read or do math, has excellent reasoning skills for one so young. I couldn’t help thinking, too, that he’d had his mother’s undivided attention every day, and that although they had meager resources and limited space, she managed to make his life amazingly rich. They played games, made crafts, exercised, read the few books they had, watched TV in limited amounts, and she taught him stories and songs from memory. It wouldn’t be a stretch to think that a naturally bright child with daily teaching would be able to do the things he does. It also helps that he’s often confused, sometimes taking things people say literally or just plain not understanding and needing to ask lots of questions. I also loved his innate curiosity. Jack is surprised when Ma starts telling him about Outside and some of the basics of how they came to be in Room. It’s a little hard for him to fathom until he makes it Outside and then it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. Although it scares Jack to think of leaving Room, he finds determination within himself to be the hero Ma needs him to be. But even after their Great Escape, he has to adjust to a whole new way of life that can sometimes be bewildering and other times discomfiting. But through it all, Jack is a wonderful child who is stunningly resilient and adaptable. Room is very reminiscent of a fictionalized account of real stories like those of brave young women such as Jaycee Dugard or Amanda Berry, only written from the perspective of the child who was born in captivity. It makes me wonder if Emma Donoghue found inspiration for her story from these accounts or others I might not be familiar with. In any case, because of the subject matter that it covers, the book isn’t exactly a happy one or an easy read. However, it is one that allows hope to spring up out of darkness. I’m not overly prone to crying over stories, so it didn’t really hit me in the feels until the very end when I knew that Jack and Ma had finally moved beyond their experience in Room. I’d predict, though, that many sensitive readers might shed many tears over it. Jack’s first-person narration brings a certain innocence to the story as well. He’s too young to fully comprehend what’s happened to his Ma, but we as the readers are very well aware of what’s actually going on. That’s why although it doesn’t contain anything explicit since it’s only Jack’s observations, I’d caution sensitive readers. I have to say that as a writer myself, I was really impressed with Ms. Donoghue’s ability to get inside the mind of a five-year-old and render him in such a way that felt authentic. I was also inspired by the love that Ma has for Jack in spite of the circumstances of his birth and her ability to make life fun and rich for him with make-believe play and activities spawned out of her own memories and ingenuity. Although she clearly has bad days when she’s extremely depressed, somewhere deep down, she didn’t give up on getting out of their circumstances. While some may find Room slow-paced or depressing and while I’ll admit that it isn’t the most uplifting story, I found a great deal of beauty within its pages, mainly rooted in the resilience of the human spirit and the innocent musings of its child narrator. I look forward to watching the Oscar-winning movie adaptation next. ...more |
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1
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Feb 12, 2025
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Feb 19, 2025
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Feb 12, 2025
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Hardcover
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0373259409
| 9780373259403
| 0373259409
| 3.18
| 49
| Jul 01, 2001
| Jul 01, 2001
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it was amazing
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Reviewed for THC Reviews Intimate Fantasy is the third book in the multi-author continuity series, Fantasies, Inc., in which the heroes and heroines va Reviewed for THC Reviews Intimate Fantasy is the third book in the multi-author continuity series, Fantasies, Inc., in which the heroes and heroines vacation at a Fantasy Island-style resort that allows them to live out their sexy fantasies. In this one, Kyra has always selflessly done what’s best for her family, and now she’s ready to marry a wealthy man she doesn’t love in order to rescue the family business. But before she walks down the aisle, she decides to indulge in her fantasy to experience true passion and adventure. At Fantasies, Inc., she’s intrigued by reports of a man who is surreptitiously going around the island rescuing people every night. One night, Kyra gets herself into a pickle when she climbs a tree to save a kitten and is about to fall until “Michael” comes to help her. An instant chemistry sparks between them that leads to her fantasy of passionate nights being fulfilled, but during the daytime, she meets Tony, a former firefighter who was injured on the job, ending his career. Tony is on the island, trying to indulge his fantasy of being the hero again and little does Kyra or anyone else besides the staff know that he’s the mysterious “Michael.” Kyra continues to indulge her desires with “Michael” at night, while building a friendship and falling in love with Tony during the day. Tony is falling hard and fast for Kyra, too, but he fears that if he tells her the truth about his alter-ego, that scarred Tony won’t be good enough for her. Not to mention, she’s made it clear she’s only on the island for a little fling before marrying to save the family business and Tony has nothing to offer her except his love. Kyra’s mother died when she was twelve, but before she passed, she made Kyra promise to take care of her father and brother. Ever since, Kyra has been the backbone of the family, selflessly giving everything and never doing anything for herself. The family radio station is in financial trouble. Her father’s health isn’t great and the station has been his whole life for a very long time, so she sees it as her responsibility to do everything she can to save the business. The only way she sees out of her predicament is marrying a wealthy friend of the family who is fifteen years her senior. She doesn’t love him, but he’s been good to her and her family and can provide the funds she desperately needs. But before she gives him her answer, Kyra goes to Fantasies, Inc., hoping to indulge in a little adventure and finally experience true passion. The island’s mystery hero intrigues her from the moment she hears about him, so when she meets “Michael,” she feels an instant attraction to him that leads to some very passionate nights. But then there’s Tony, the scarred firefighter, who keeps her company during the day. He’s so easy to talk to and they form an almost instant friendship that starts leading her toward loving feelings. All of it leaves Kyra torn between her obligations to her family, her love for Tony, and her passion for “Michael.” I enjoyed Kyra’s good girl persona. She’s always done so much for her family that she deserved something for herself. However, even when she thinks she wants a sexy adventure, it’s hard for her let go, which was something I could relate to. Both “Michael” and Tony help her to see that she’s worthy of all the love and attention he can give her. Tony is a firefighter who was injured on the job by falling debris and then his girlfriend left him. He now has a bad back and a scar around his eye and has been told that he won’t be able to continue working in the profession he loved. Before settling for a desk job or going into consulting work, he wants one last hurrah playing the hero. Every night since arriving at Fantasies, Inc., he’s been donning a disguise and a pseudonym and going out, looking for people in trouble. He’s rescued several, and although he suspects that the scenarios may have been engineered by the owner of the resort, it does make him feel somewhat more useful. On one such night, “Michael” finds Kyra hanging upside down from a tree limb. After helping her down, the sparks start to fly between them, and by the next night, they’re reveling in the excitement of an anonymous fling. Then Tony meets Kyra during the day as himself and can’t resist allowing a friendship to blossom. Although he wants to tell her about his alter-ego, he knows that she’s only there for a little indulgence before walking down the aisle, making him reluctant to disrupt her fantasy. He’s also very self-conscious of his injuries and worries that the scarred Tony might not be enough for an adventure-seeker like Kyra, so he keeps it to himself until he realizes he’s fallen in love with her. I’m a sucker for a scarred hero, so I really sympathized with Tony. I could also relate to his desire to be the hero one more time. After being dumped by his girlfriend, I could understand his reluctance to really reveal himself to Kyra, but regardless of whether he was Tony or “Michael,” he was a great guy. “Michael” was the dream lover who gave her the genuine passion she was craving, while Tony was the friend who offered true intimacy and love. I think, in part, because I was a fan of the old Fantasy Island television show, I’m really enjoying the Fantasies, Inc. books so far, so I was looking forward to continuing. However, I noticed that the GoodReads rating for Intimate Fantasy was the lowest of all the books in the series and pretty low in general. This gave me a bit of pause going into reading it. I was very much enjoying it, but also waiting for something to happen to ruin my good time. Thankfully that didn’t occur, and in fact, I loved it, which has left me a little baffled as to why so many others didn’t. I haven’t read any reviews yet to see if they give me any insights, but the only thing I can think of is that perhaps readers had a hard time buying that Kyra didn’t realize that Tony and “Michael” were one and the same sooner. Admittedly the “Michael” disguise was a little thin, but no more so than the Superman/Clark Kent masquerade, so it honestly it didn’t bother me. I was caught up in the whole fantasy of having a secret lover by night while getting to know him for real by day. I thought it was a fun scenario. Also Kyra and Tony were both very likable characters in difficult circumstances, looking for a little indulgence before dealing with obligations. I suppose some readers might also have been off-put, possibly feeling that Kyra was cheating on the guy she was going to marry, but I didn’t see it that way. She hadn’t even given him an answer yet and it was going to be little more than a loveless, business arrangement, albeit one that she was determined to remain faithful to once her vows were said, so I thought she was justified in wanting to feel special to someone even if only for a few days. I like that Tony and Kyra were very supportive and respectful of each other’s fantasies. Their relationship gave me all the feels I look for in a romance, along with a healthy dose of steam. I also enjoyed the progression of the assumed reunion that will likely occur between Fantasies, Inc. owner Merilee and the love of her life in the final book. Overall, I had a great time reading Intimate Fantasy and look forward to completing the series soon. ...more |
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Feb 2025
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Feb 04, 2025
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Feb 01, 2025
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Mass Market Paperback
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B0DSZX9QGQ
| 4.12
| 2,389
| 1950
| 1950
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it was amazing
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Reviewed for THC Reviews Petunia is the first book in Roger Duvoisin’s children’s book series of the same name. Petunia is a goose who lives on a farm. Reviewed for THC Reviews Petunia is the first book in Roger Duvoisin’s children’s book series of the same name. Petunia is a goose who lives on a farm. One day, while strolling in the meadow she comes upon a book. She recalls seeing the farm boy taking one to school and his father telling him that anyone who owns and loves books is wise, so she carries it around, becoming more and more puffed up with pride, while believing that she’s clever. All the farm animals come to her for advice, but the “wisdom” she dispenses is highly questionable. When her errors in judgment get her and all the other farm animals hurt and in trouble, the silly goose finally realizes that it’s the words inside the book that make it special and not just possessing it, setting her on a path to true wisdom. Petunia is a classic children’s picture book first published in the 1950s. Although I can’t recall for certain, I may have read it during my own childhood, but whether I did or not, it turned out to be an enjoyable book to (re)discover in adulthood. Petunia is a very silly goose indeed, who lets her pride over owning a book get in the way of seeing the truth that real wisdom comes from learning how to read it. The advice she gives her farm friends is laced with humorous situations, but it’s not until everyone gets hurt that she realizes her own folly. The book presents a great cautionary tale for kids on not becoming too confident in your own knowledge but instead that becoming a life-long learner is the actual path to gaining wisdom. I love that the story teaches a lesson in critical thinking to youngsters but it’s done so in a lighthearted way. The illustrations are indicative of the time period in which the book was first published and alternate between simple black and white line drawings and ones that have splashes of bright color. They all complement the text well. Overall, this was a wonderful book that will be placed on my keeper shelf for the grandkids, and even though it looks like many of the other books in the series may be hard to come by, due to being out of print, I hope to find and read more of them. ...more |
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it was amazing
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May 23, 2025
|
May 23, 2025
|
||||||
4.14
|
it was amazing
|
May 08, 2025
|
May 01, 2025
|
||||||
4.27
|
it was amazing
|
Apr 28, 2025
|
Apr 24, 2025
|
||||||
4.02
|
it was amazing
|
Apr 21, 2025
|
Apr 19, 2025
|
||||||
4.28
|
it was amazing
|
Apr 12, 2025
|
Apr 10, 2025
|
||||||
4.23
|
really liked it
|
Apr 08, 2025
|
Apr 01, 2025
|
||||||
3.79
|
it was amazing
|
Mar 31, 2025
|
Mar 26, 2025
|
||||||
4.19
|
really liked it
|
Mar 21, 2025
|
Mar 21, 2025
|
||||||
4.32
|
it was amazing
|
Feb 28, 2025
|
Feb 23, 2025
|
||||||
4.37
|
it was amazing
|
Feb 21, 2025
|
Feb 21, 2025
|
||||||
4.02
|
really liked it
|
Feb 21, 2025
|
Feb 21, 2025
|
||||||
3.92
|
it was amazing
|
Feb 23, 2025
|
Feb 20, 2025
|
||||||
4.08
|
it was amazing
|
Feb 19, 2025
|
Feb 12, 2025
|
||||||
3.18
|
it was amazing
|
Feb 04, 2025
|
Feb 01, 2025
|
||||||
4.12
|
it was amazing
|
Jan 26, 2025
|
Jan 26, 2025
|