“Sensitive Reader Alert”- Frequent sexual references by the main character who is a playboy. I tried to overlook the references, but the final straw for me was when the main character says that their is a member of the nobility who is known to take young boys to bed with him. The casual and flippant attitude, especially in regards to sodomy (main character’s words not mine), is something sensitive readers will find repulsive. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it past the first several chapters.
The First Wordweaver is written by Rachael Waldburger and tells the tale of a young Viking destined to be a future king. There is only one problem – he doesn’t want to be king. He would rather spend his time studying and engaging in other scholarly pursuits. When he is tasked by his father to search for land to build this future kingdom, he is less than thrilled, and it shows in his attitude. On this journey, Vilden is forced to come face to face with his attitude and the resulting choices. Can he be the king he was predicted to be?
Personally, I prefer books with more dialogue between the main characters and a little bit more action. However, if you are a fan of stories with introspective dialogues and Viking-esque settings, check out this book. The quality of writing was easy and enjoyable to read.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Isaac is cleaning the attic to earn money for a new video game when he stumbles across a trunk full of faeries. Suddenly, Isaac has the ability to have anything and everything he wants. From free cleaning services to unlimited strawberry milkshakes to a skate park entirely to himself, anything he wishes, the faeries are willing, even eager, to accommodate. Things are going well, and Isaac is living his best life until things start happening around town – strange things. Soon, the entire town is plagued by weird situations, and Isaac is forced to question if the faeries’ are responsible, and if they are, what can he do to stop them?
Growing up, my family used to spend the evenings reading together. If you are one of those families or if you are looking to be one of those families, The Light Keeper by Christina Wallace is a good place to start. This family-friendly book is well-written and is great for elementary students.
My favorite aspects of the story were the family dynamics. Most of the time in books with juvenile main characters, they are living in broken homes – the parents are either divorced, deceased, or distant (uninvolved in their child’s life). That was not the case in The Light Keepers. The parents are alive, married, and actively engaged in their children’s lives. Family dinners are important and the children have responsibilities around the house. While this may not seem like a big deal to some people, it was definitely a big deal to me. The family dynamics reminded me of my family, and it was refreshing to see unity displayed among a family in a work of fiction.
** I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder is the first book in the Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke. It is one of the best mysteries I’ve read since the Harriet Gordon Mysteries by A.M. Stuart.
I did not want to put Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder down and finished it in a couple days. (I would have finished it sooner had the responsibilities of adulthood not prevented me.) Since originally writing this review, I have actually read the first four books in the series. I will be starting book 5 – Coconut Layer Cake Murder – shortly.
The well written book has engaging, likeable characters. The main character is a baker, and the book even includes the different recipes that Hannah, the main character, makes.
Overall, the book is clean. I don’t recall any profanity, but there are a few sexual references which are brief and relatively tame. However, the references are brief, not graphic, and are not huge part of the story. (This book just wouldn’t be appropriate for pre-teens because of the references.)
Regardless, I highly recommend the series for adults who enjoy murder mysteries.
You know a book is good when you have to skip to the end to find out what happens…or maybe that just makes me a coward. 😊
Dead Woman Walking is the first book in Diana Corbitt’s paranormal mystery series. Izzy Santos, the first female police officer in Rocky Harbor, is fresh out of the academy, and so far, being a police officer was not the exciting job she imagined. She spent her first two months issuing parking tickets and DUI citations. All that changes when a woman disappears in the middle of the night, leaving no trace. The lead detective – Detective Fulton – is sick, so Izzy is tasked to be his arms and legs, interviewing witnesses, investigating leads, and attending crime scenes. Izzy’s mother and father are deceased, but Izzy has a close relationship with her aunt, Maggie, who has a gift; Maggie can communicate with ghosts. This little gift of Maggie’s aids Izzy from time to time in her investigation.
Dead Woman Walking has a little bit of humor, a little bit of suspense, and a whole lot of mystery. For those who enjoy a good mystery, check out Dead Woman Walking by Diana Corbitt.
*** I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. ***
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