Monthly Archives: July 2023

The Ickles®. They’re Everywhere! They’re Everywhere!: An Adventure in an Overlapping Parallel Dimension! by A. J. Eccles (Book Review)


An Adventure in an Overlapping Parallel Dimension!


We are Ickles. A proud, and independent people.
We just didn’t know we were such tiny little beings.
To us we seemed normal size.
Until the day we came face to face with our greatest challenge.
How would you feel if your world was suddenly overrun by giants five times taller than you and your friends?
How would you react if you and your neighbors were driven out of your homes and had to watch your town being turned into a theme park for the giants?


This was the situation facing Mac, a ten-year-old boy, as a rift in the fabric of space and time brought together two worlds of very different sizes. The invading giants were not monsters, not aliens, but normal-looking people just like the Ickles themselves. Only much, much larger. For the briefest moment in time, the tiny world of the Ickles and the larger world of humans overlapped, in a small bubble of physical space. Our hero, Mac, has an amazing adventure in both worlds and manages to help his fellow Ickles return home after the humans are pushed back to their own parallel universe.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

The Ickles reside in a parallel dimension to our world. According to an Ickles historical book, our universes have only overlapped once, in the mid-1800s. The well-documented incident occurred in a farmer’s field in Ireland. The rift in the fabric of space and time closed up as quickly as it opened, shocking both sides. But now, for a reason unbeknownst to either side of the border, the two worlds can see one another again. This time around, their meet-up is significantly impacting both sides of the invisible wall.

The Ickles call “our world” the land of the giants, and I can’t fault them for their name choice. Our house pets are the same size as them. When a bull from our dimension entered theirs, its horns spanned the entire street and knocked down their power lines. Through their eyes, it looked monstrous and behaved accordingly! 

In the “giant” world, our dimension, we were shocked by a sudden miniature town appearing in thin air. Every morsel of food was real. Every aspect of the town was functional, including the vehicles that ran on the same fuel we use. With dollar signs in their eyes, the “giants” didn’t waste a moment capitalizing on the discovery. 

The “giants” had theories about who the “little people” were, and the Ickles had theories about the thin veil separating the parallel universes. Each was curious about the other, which led to scenes with action, humor, and danger. 

The Ickles®. They’re Everywhere! They’re Everywhere!: An Adventure in an Overlapping Parallel Dimension! by A. J. Eccles is a thrilling science fiction story; however, it lacks one component that readers would wish the author added: images. Young readers will want to see the little town surrounded by the train track (Earth realm), the bull smashing its way down the tiny streets, Mac facing off with the “giant” cat, and especially the surprising development in the final chapter. 

If your child loves science fiction stories, I recommend you purchase The Ickles®. They’re Everywhere! They’re Everywhere!: An Adventure in an Overlapping Parallel Dimension! It’s a fantastic read! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: 

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Meet the Author

I first turned my hand to writing fictional stories after a career as a copywriter, video producer, and senior global marketing executive. I love writing for strong characters and developing unusual stories with unexpected plot twists. The stories range from comedy to adventure to sci-fi drama.

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The Magic of Gluten-Free Cooking by Julia Matto (Book Review)

Discover how a healthy, a gluten-free diet can transform your health with these easy, scrumptious, home-cooked recipes

Within this magical ride to gluten-free cooking, you will discover:
● 20 easy-to-prepare recipes to enjoy an enhanced and energetic lifestyle.
● The gluten-free way to start every day – breakfasts so good, you’ll never say never!
● How each home-cooked meal is a doorway to better digestive health, mood, and
focus: a gluten-free mind and body leads to a disease-free life
● Fulfilling lunches to make easy yet exquisite meals – grab your herbs, veggies,
shrimp, chicken, and pasta to whip marvels that make your tastebuds do the
tango!
● Mouth-watering dinners you simply cannot do without!
● How to maximize the benefits of anti-inflammatory herbs and spices to make your
dishes aromatic, delicious and healing
● Detailed ingredient lists and clear instructions with added suggestions and dairy-
free options.

Adopting a gluten-free diet is your ticket to a new way of living – you’ll feel like you’ve been born again from within.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Life is busy, and eating nutritious foods at every meal can be a real struggle. Most families opt for take-out to save time and money and, let’s face it, the hassle of cooking. Besides those obstacles, people face dietary restrictions for themselves or a family member. Julia Matto’s daughter developed gluten sensitivity. “She had endured digestive issues and bloating, and her mood and concentration were off the charts.” Those same issues plagued Julia as well. As the author removed gluten from their diet, everything changed for the better! Julia discusses this and briefly explains gluten, including healthy food choices in the “Introduction.” Be sure and check it out! 

The Magic of Gluten-Free Cooking contains breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert meal ideas; 20 recipes in all. There were anywhere from 4- 16 ingredients per recipe. In those ingredients, there were spices/seasonings that most households have on the ready: cinnamon, pepper, olive oil, (kosher) salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and vanilla extract. However, a trip to the grocery store will be necessary to complete most of the recipes. They require fresh herbs, fresh produce, and (possibly) a need to restock your cabinets. 

I’m a visual person; if a food image looks scrumptious, I’ll be eager to prepare the food. Every recipe had a picture depicting what the food should roughly look like. “Red, White and Blue Berries Parfait with Greek Yogurt” looked divine. “Cranberry Apple Crisp” made my stomach growl. The “Oatmeal Raisin Cookies” and “Lemon Granita with Honey (Sicilian Lemon Ice)” activated my sweet tooth. 

While the dessert portion of the book had mouth-watering pictures, the rest of the food portraits did not have me reaching for a fork. The “Steak and Eggs” and “Chicken Piccata” were visually unappealing, and the blueberry pancakes in “Blueberry Pancakes with Chicken Sausage and Avocado” looked burnt to a crisp. 

Despite my feeling about the food presentations, I’m still inclined to try the recipes. The directions are easy to follow and introduce new foods into my diet. 

If you are seeking recipes that fit into your gluten-free lifestyle or looking for healthier meal ideas, I encourage you to take a chance on The Magic of Gluten-Free Cooking: 20 Home Cooked-Meals Made Easy. Your gut will thank you! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: 

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Meet the Author

Julia Matto is the author of The Magic of Gluten Free Cooking. Her work is dedicated to gluten-free cooking, and helping readers with the skills they need to enjoy a happy and healthy lifestyle. Julia is married and lives in Connecticut. She enjoys gardening; and playing with her Frenchie.

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I Will Always be Me by Kristina Schoettle (Book Review)

This book is a reprint of “I Will Always be Me (Blue),” created for girls to enjoy. “I Will Always be Me” teaches children that God loves them more than they can ever begin to imagine.

The human being is single, unique, and unrepeatable. Someone thought of and chosen from eternity: Someone called and identified by name. -Pope Saint John Paul II

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

I Will Always be Me by Kristina Schoettle is a reprint of “I Will Always be Me (for boys),” created for girls to enjoy. The after credits say the first part of this book is an actual conversation between the author and her three-year-old son. After being assured of his unique and unchanging identity, he smiled sweetly and said, “I’ll always be me.” The synopsis states that the story was created for girls to enjoy, but the message isn’t limited to one gender. It lets all children know that God loves them just as they are. He’s with you at every point of your life. When you cry, he cries, and when you smile, he smiles too. 

The author quoted Pope Saint John Paul II: “The human being is single, unique, and unrepeatable. Someone thought of and chosen from eternity: Someone called and identified by name.” I agree; we possess unique talents or qualities that set us apart. Even if you are a twin, triplet, etc., there are some attributes that only you have. 

The little girl, the star of the story, was adorable. Her smile lit up the pages. Kids will not miss the illustrations. They’ll welcome seeing a little real child on the pages, having fun outside as they do. They might even remark that they have gone through a tunnel like that or have a similar swing in their yard. 

I Will Always be Me by Kristina Schoettle is a Christian-based children’s book that warms a person’s heart and fills a soul with love. At 24 pages, this sweet story is perfect for children with limited attention spans. It is ideal for religious homes, Sunday schools, or Christian schools. 

I recommend I Will Always be Me for readers up to 2-7. It’s a quick read that will bring endless hours of joy. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: 

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Meet the Author

I am a Catholic homeschooling mother of seven. I love creating picture books with my family! My first book was illustrated by my husband, and my oldest son illustrated the next three. I wrote my most recent book, Journey by the Sea, while watching my children play on the coast of Cape San Blas.

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