Tag Archives: review

March 28, 2022 · 7:00 am

Ten Thousand I Love Yous by Lisa Slabach (Book Review)

TEN THOUSAND I LOVE YOUS by Lisa Slabach

 
In this humorously touching novel by the critically acclaimed author of Degrees of Love, a woman is blindsided when her high school sweetheart abandons her after eighteen years of marriage.

At sixteen, Kimberly Kirby thought the only thing she needed to be perfectly happy was to spend the rest of her life with Jay Braxton. Twenty years later, she still believes it. As they proudly watch their daughter, Haley, graduate from high school, she imagines her life is as perfect as anyone could reasonably expect. Jay is a formidable attorney, she a freelance writer, and their love as strong as ever. With Haley heading to UC Berkeley in the fall, Kimberly fantasizes about making love on the kitchen table. She has no clue that Jay’s bags are already packed.

Now divorced and determined to squelch her love for Jay, she accepts a gig writing a sex and dating blog for divorcees. As the Virgin Dater, she is on the hunt for love. No-strings-attached nights with a sexy fireman and moving to San Francisco are just what she needs to boost her battered ego and mend her shattered heart.

But just as she falls hard for a talented young chef, Jay fights to win her back. Torn between her bold new life and the comfort of Jay’s strong arms, she questions if there is too much to forgive. The ten thousand I love yous that had passed Jay’s lips can’t be dismissed, but nor can her newfound freedom and the knowledge that her happiness doesn’t depend on Jay.
 

 
 
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add to goodreads
 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from iRead Book Tours. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 
 
Divorce is never easy, no matter how long you’ve been together. Emotions can range from anger, sadness, confusion, and then acceptance. Jay was 100% cruel in how he ended his marriage to Kimberley. No warning. He just packed his bags, threw out some harsh words, and then walked out on her. The crazy part was Haley, their new high school graduate, thought the bags were for her parents to go on a trip together. He swore her to secrecy. Sorry, but that was a d!ck move.


No matter what he did a year or so later, my opinion of him didn’t change one iota.


Kimberly made great strides in the times he walked out. New job, new home, new relationships — a new start in life. I know they shared twenty years of marriage together, have a grown child together, but she gave up so much for a man who thought so little of her.


Even though she and Kevin, the firefighter, had a sticky situation in their first meeting, I came to like him. It was apparent he really cared for her. Joshua loved her too.

I think Kimberley made the wrong choice, but that’s just my opinion.


On a final note, I laughed out loud when Kim referred to Kevin’s schlong as the “baby maker” and when Kevin called her boobs “soft cans.”

 
 
 
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤
 
 
 
 
Meet the Author:

Author Lisa Slabach


Ten Thousand I Love Yous is Lisa Slabach’s second novel.

Prior to publication, her first novel, Degrees of Love was recognized as a Best Book of 2014 by Kirkus Review. Degrees of Love made its publishing debuted December 1, 2017 and was nominated for a 2017 Reviewer’s Choice Award by RT Book Reviews.

In addition to writing, Lisa is a Fintech Relationship Executive for a Fortune 500 Company. She is a long-time resident of Northern California and lives with her husband, one-hundred-forty-pound puppy and numerous goldfish. In her free time, she enjoys wine tasting, shopping with her daughters, and cooking in her pink kitchen.

connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ twitter ~ goodread

 
 
 

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March 24, 2022 · 7:00 am

Roger and Wesley by Elizabeth Hastings (Book Review)

 

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

Oh my goodness gracious, what an adorable book. Even the pages leading up to the story were cute. I loved the smiley faces on the glue bottles and teddy bears. (Illustrated by Brittney Hassinger). Roger and Wesley were also adorable. Their happy expressions made me smile. 

The page where the toy split and stuck to Wesley’s rear end was funny. I know young kids will be giggling over this image. 

At Roger and Wesley’s repair shop, you’ll meet a lot of animals who have a common dilemma—their favorite toys were broken. For toddlers, use this opportunity to teach or reinforce the names of animals and their unique sounds. You could also point to a picture and ask the color with all the vibrant colors utilized. Babies might not understand the words, but I think they’ll like all the colors! 

Roger and Wesley by Elizabeth Hastings is a good book for those learning to read on their own. There are one to three lines per page and house words that (for the most part) should be not too difficult for children to pronounce. I think maybe only a couple stand out, which might be tricky. With that being said, I give it a couple of attempts, and they’ll know those words too! 

Roger and Wesley has the potential to appeal and be used by toddlers through kindergarten.

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Elizabeth Hastings lives in Manchester, Michigan with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. She never imagined writing was in her future, at least not until she had her daughter. She decided to capture those precious moments of inspiration after seeing her daughter’s love for her favorite dogs.

Reedsy Link

 

 

 

 

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March 21, 2022 · 7:00 am

The Moon in the Sky: Poems Your Kids Would Have Written (If Only They Could Write) by Bruce Shutts (Book Review)

THE MOON IN THE SKY: Poems your Kids Would Have Written (if only they could write) by Bruce Shutts

 
Children have the power to turn simple everyday tasks into moments of intrigue and laughter.

When getting dressed, they might just think:

“My pants are really easy
Since both my feet will fit.
And after I put both legs in,
I pull them up. That’s it!
But shirts are very tricky;
They have three holes, not two!
And if you pick the wrong one,
Your head just won’t go through!”

 

Delight in thirteen whimsical poems that capture the simple honesty of everyday childhood activities written from the perspective of three-to-six-year-olds. From getting dressed, eating snacks, or having stinky feet, you and your child will recognize yourself in these poems. Crafted to make you laugh, smile, and build memories with your kids.
 
 
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add to the goodread
 
 
 
 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from iRead Book Tours. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 
 
Bruce Shutts’s poems were topics that kids and parents could absolutely relate to: getting dressed, car rides, walks outside, bathroom breaks, and much more.


We’ve all seen our children struggle with dressing themselves—head in armholes or backward attire. Most times, their first attempts are pretty humorous.


For many people, we use car seats or strollers quite regularly. Kids love the outdoors. Those poems were 100% accurate, including all the spills as well. I think my daughter dropped more crackers than what she ate.


I have sneaking suspicion that children will love “Picking My Nose” the most. While parents think it’s gross, kids think it’s hilarious. Face it, you know they have their finger up there most of their younger years. Amy Wummer’s image of the boy, looking out the corner of his eye while digging for gold, was cute and funny. I know I’ve caught my kids many times in the act. Eww!


The poems dealing with food could lead to asking your child or class what foods they like to eat for snack, lunch, or dinner.


I want to end my review by addressing “A Bug in the Bathroom.” My daughter screams at the top of her lungs when she spots a bug. That little girl, in the story, was so brave. Heck, I think she might be more courageous than some adults I know. 🙂


Bruce Shutts (author) and Amy Wummer (illustrator), you two made a great team. I loved every poem, and the drawings were spectacular too.


The author’s recommended age group is 3-7. I think that’s accurate.

 
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤
 
 
 
 
 
Meet the Author:
Bruce Shutts has spent countless hours reading children’s picture books to his three children and five grandchildren over the past forty years. He also loves to create humorous poems for nearly every occasion he can imagine. Coupled with the fact that he often thinks and acts like a three-to-six-year-old, it makes his entrance into the world of children’s books a natural fit. He currently is retired with his wife of forty-five years and loves to travel, play golf, and (you guessed it) read books at night to his grandkids! 
 
connect to the author: goodreads

 

 
 
 
 
 

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March 18, 2022 · 7:00 am

Down in Flames by Elena Kincaid (Book Review)

 

When Daphne Quinn’s parents were murdered two years ago, all she wanted was justice… or revenge; whichever came first. She had even closed herself off from the one man she truly desired. When she finally realized what Dante meant to her and how deep her feelings ran for him, she worried it was too little, too late.

Dante Pascal had a job to do, one that prevented him from pursuing Daphne, the woman he had wanted since the day he laid eyes on her. With pressure coming down on him from all sides, he finds himself unable to prevent her kidnapping. What’s a guy to do when the only possible lead he has is locked away tightly in a holding cell? Get himself pinched, of course.

Held for ransom, Daphne’s kidnapping could finally ignite the fire that starts a war between two rival wolf packs. It’s a race against the clock for Dante to save the woman that he loves. Will he be able to find her before they kill her, or will time finally run out on him?

 

Amazon Purchase Link

Books2read

And read the other side of the story in: CUFF-LINKED  by: C.D. Gorri – Books2read

 

 

(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 

Dante was not a wolf to cross when it came to the love of his life, Daphne. When Dante’s teeth elongated and he sunk his claws into Felix’s neck, I wasn’t surprised Felix pissed his pants. I would have too! 

Daphne was no weakling either. She’s an alpha’s daughter, which means she can deliver a can of whoop-ass. And, she did! 

With adrenaline still coursing through their bodies, feelings were revealed, and passion erupted. FYI – Elena knows how to write a sexy love scene! 

Down in Flames by Elena Kincaid had heat, suspense, and a wee bit of humor (tickle scene). It’s also under 100 pages, so it won’t take you days to read. For me, I gobbled it up while I ate lunch. 🙂

 

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

 

Amazon Purchase Link
Books2read

 

 

 

About the Author

Elena Kincaid is an award-winning and Amazon best-selling author. She writes Paranormal and Contemporary Romances with alpha males who stop at nothing to protect their women, heroines who are anything but damsels in distress, and stories where the only love worth fighting for is the forever kind of love.

She was born in Ukraine and raised in New York, where she currently lives with her daughter. Her desk is constantly cluttered with journals, sticky notes, and torn-out pieces of paper full of ideas. When not working, Elena loves to spend time with her family, travel the globe, curl up with a good book, and catch up on her soaps.

 

Blog / Website  / Instagram

Twitter  / FB Author Page / Amazon

Goodreads / Street Team

 

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March 16, 2022 · 7:00 am

A Black Boy in Hopes to be a Black Man by Challotine Cius-Bonds (Book Review)

This book is a short poem about a heart warming journey through a black mother’s eyes. As her son ventures through the many obstacles of being a black boy, his future self is gently whispering affirmations to keep him grounded.

 

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

 

It’s apparent history has not been kind to black people. As seen on the nighttime news, blacks are targeted repeatedly because of the color of their skin. They are viewed as criminals – already assumed they’re guilty of something. This constant treatment makes young black children think less of themselves, which is not what they should be feeling. Black and brown children need to see their worth – know they can accomplish anything. The world should not see them as villains, criminals, or lesser humans. Skin pigment should not define us – our actions should.  

Through Dr.Challotine Cius-Bonds, PhD’s text and illustrations, we will see one little boy stand tall amongst haters. He sees a bright future and lets nothing stand in his way from achieving his goals. He grew up to become a proud black man. 

February is Black History Month, but A Black Boy in Hopes to be a Black Man by Dr.Challotine Cius-Bonds, PhD is not limited to one month a year. Parents should be reading this story to their child(ren), no matter the month. 

This book’s message is strong, illustrations even stronger. Together, they make a powerful book that should be shared in every home and classroom. 

 

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

For Sale through the Author’s Website

 

 

About the Author

I am a Haitian-American Naturopathic doctor from GA, who loves to write children’s books and self-care topics for women of color. I’m also a wife, mother of three, and a true self-care enthusiast. My true passion is helping women and children be an advocate for themselves and their health.

Reedsy

 

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