THE BOOK WITCH by Meg Shaffer

Fiction, Fantasy

5++ Stars

Blurb: She can hop into any novel, but she just can’t stay there.
Rainy March is a proud, third-generation Book Witch, sworn to defend works of fiction from all foes real and imaginary. With her magical umbrella and feline familiar, she jumps in and out of novels to fix malicious alterations and rogue heroes like a modern-day magical Nancy Drew. Book Witches live by a strict code: Real people belong in the real world; fictional characters belong in works of fiction. Do not eat, drink, or sleep inside a fictional world, lest you become part of the story. Falling in love with a fictional character? Don’t even think about it. Which is why Rainy has been forbidden from seeing the Duke of Chicago, the dashing British detective who stars in her favorite mystery series. If she’s ever caught with him again, she’ll be expelled from her book coven—and forced to give up the magical gifts that are as much a part of her as her own name. But when her beloved grandfather disappears and a priceless book is stolen, there’s only one person she trusts to help her solve the case: the Duke. Their quest takes them through the worlds of Alice in Wonderland, King Arthur, and other classics that will reveal hidden enemies and long-buried family secrets.

THOUGHTS: I love this book. So much so that I’m going to buy the paperback to replace my ebook because of the story. I so enjoyed every chapter/part of this book. The characters, the world building, the plot – I loved it all. It really struck home for me – maybe because I’m both an avid reader, a writer, and a librarian. It resonated with me on multiple levels.

Rainy March is such a wonderful character. And then you pair her with Koshka, one amazing cat, and Duke, a handsome noir detective and you have the makings of great fun – which it was. Rainy is up against the “Burners” – people who attack books from the inside in order to destroy them, like people who literally burn books because they don’t like them. She is my hero! But when her only family—her grandfather—disappears, she knows she has to find him. Except the head of the coven has ordered her to do nothing (Rainy got into trouble for falling in love with a fictional character – a definite no-no). But Rainy can’t do that. And the handsome Duke comes in from his stories to help her. They have a mystery to solve and clues to follow and nobody is going to stop them.

This is such an imaginative book full of fun, twists, and gentle mystery. It is a love story – not just between Rainy and Duke, but between writer and reader. Between you and the book. And as Rainy is fond of saying: “All stories are love stories if you love stories.” Thank you.

“Pencils Down.”

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC.

TETONS BY MORNING by Lucy Kubash

Fiction, Contemporary Romance

5*****

Blurb: After a whirlwind summer romance, Casey Girard marries ex-rodeo champ Chance McCord and settles at the North Star, his family’s Wyoming ranch. Certain their love will last forever, she secretly harbors fear he will return to the rodeo circuit. Chance never wanted the responsibility of running the ranch. When circumstances force him into that role, he must protect the North Star Legacy, as well as keep his promises to Casey. Loving and protecting her and his stepson are what matter most in his life. But when their tragic pasts come back to haunt them, their love is tested to the limit. How will a summer romance survive the depths of winter?

THOUGHTS: This book takes up where the first one left off. Though you don’t need to have read the first one, I strongly suggest that you do – you won’t be disappointed and it will add a lot to this one. When you first start reading this one, you may think it’s an old-fashioned historical western. It is a “western” in that it takes place on a ranch in Wyoming, but it takes place in today’s world. Speaking of worlds, the author does an amazing job putting us there on the ranch and in the surrounding area. In this book, Casey and Chance are getting used to being married, living on the ranch, and dealing with all the doubts and worries and challenges that go along with that life. There are storms (a lot of storms!!) to deal with, the bitter cold, the dry heat (and fire danger), wild animals, and more. But there are also good times like the birth of a new foal, holidays, laughter and friends. Casey and Chase both have to come to grips with their pasts and the tragedies that led them to this place and time. But sometimes, fear and doubt can be overwhelming. On both their parts. But somehow, they manage and get to their HEA in the end. Definitely recommended. And do yourself a favor and pick up the first one “Chance’s Return” to get the whole experience of Chance, Casey, and the people at North Star Ranch.

Fiction, Cozy Mystery,

3***

Blurb: When a festival honoring local farmers is marred by murder, cook-off contestant Sherry Oliveri will have to harvest the clues to catch a killer . . . The tight-knit community of Augustin has always valued its local farmers, and this year’s fair to honor them features a cook-off with Sherry Oliveri in the running. The sponsor of the event is an heirloom potato farm run by a man and his two sons, but tensions rise when one of the sons begins pulling away from the family business. With the young man’s father dead-set on preserving his traditional way of life, the festive celebration takes a dark turn when the rebellious son is found murdered. Unwilling to believe that the man could have killed his own son, Sherry turns a suspicious eye on a local real estate developer, who might literally have killed to get his hands on the property. But Sherry knows the most likely suspect isn’t always the culprit, and soon she turns to others in the community to unearth any evidence they can find. Because Sherry will need all the help she can get to catch the killer and save the farm—and her own life . . . Includes mouthwatering recipes from Sherry’s kitchen!

THOUGHTS: Who would have thought that potatoes could be the reason for murder? The Augustin festival is holding a cook-off featuring potatoes and Sherry Oliveri is a seasoned cooking competitor. While she is busy coming up with the perfect recipe, there are some nasty things going on with the owners of the local potato farm–the sponsors of the contest.

I had a little trouble getting into the story. I will say that the world building was very well done. I learned a lot about potato farming and storage. I never realized how much was involved. It was the characters I had a problem with. I just couldn’t accept some of them as realistic. And the interaction between them just didn’t grab me. And the ending… I was frustrated by the reveal in that several clues were given only then and not throughout the story. And the contest…. I really felt let down by the solution. It was nicely done, but… it just seemed too easy. Too pat. But I understand the reasoning behind it.

So… a decent murder mystery with lots of secrets and issues, but some problems for me. And remember, these are just my thoughts. Someone else might have absolutely loved the story.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

MANAGING DEPRESSION CBT DECK by Rob Hindman

Nonfiction, Self-Help, Mental Health, Cards

5*****

BLURB: Reduce the frequency, intensity, and length of depressive episodes by retraining your brain with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skill cards for depression. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression (CBT-D) is a proven, evidence-based form of CBT specifically designed to treat major depressive disorder and depressive symptoms. While general CBT is popular in self-help for addressing a wide range of mental health issues like anxiety and phobias, CBT-D focuses on changing the negative thought patterns, self-defeating behaviors, and heavy emotions that make depression so difficult to manage. Offering practical strategies from three key areas of treatment—behavior, thoughts, and emotion—the Managing Depression CBT Deck can help you lift the fog of depression, even if you’re struggling with hopelessness, overwhelm, and low motivation.

THOUGHTS: When I opened the box, I immediately started to go through the cards to see what they were like, and I was intrigued. And the small guidebook is clear and helpful. The cards themselves are 4×6″ so not tiny, and they contain a lot of information. They are color-coded for different activities/issues so are easy to find. Cards 1-21 are Behavior Skills such as daily and weekly schedules, behavior activation methods, and more. Numbers 22-64 are Thought Skills. These include dealing with automatic thoughts, thinking errors, and “should and must” statements. Numbers 65-82 are Emotion Skill cards help you learn about focusing and soothing emotions. Finally, cards 83-100 are Lifeline Cards with emergency coping plans and self-care. The suggestions and activities included are easy to understand and may help you through a difficult time.

Recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Thanks to PenguinRandomHouse and Zeitgeist Publishers for providing these materials.

THANKS FOR MUFFIN by Victoria Hamilton

Fiction, Cozy Mystery

3***

Blurb: After years of planning and hard work, Merry Wynter was finally ready to host the grand opening gala of the Wynter Woods Center for the Performing Arts. With musicians, entertainers, members of the media and even influencers on the guest list, the event went off without a hitch—until a particularly nasty journalist posted a criticism of the gala and everything Merry was trying to accomplish. Still reeling from the review days later, Merry wasn’t sure what to feel when she discovered the reporter’s dead body on the grounds of Wynter Castle. With many of her guests staying on at the castle for the weekend, Merry realizes they’ve got a murderer in their midst. Going from celebrating to sleuthing, she discreetly questions each of them, trying to weed out the culprit. She quickly learns that the victim had heated arguments with several of the people at the gala, and it turns out those people were all connected by a tragedy in the past. Certain the killer is among them, Merry will have to unearth the final clue that nails the killer—before the killer decides she’s getting too close . . .

THOUGHTS: I’ve read this author before and enjoyed her stories, but this one just did not resonate with me. First of all, there are a lot – and I do mean a lot – to the point where it was really confusing after a bit. Plus two of the characters – Pish and Piph — had names so similar, I had trouble keeping them straight. And then there was the mystery itself. In most cozies, the dead body (or mystery problem) usually shows up by chapter two. Three at the very most. I was halfway through this book before anything happened. The first half of the story is all about the gala happening at the new Performing Arts Center and the descriptions of all the guests and their clothing, which made for really slow reading for me. But by the time we got to the actual murder, we had quite an extensive list of suspects.

I’m not saying this is a bad book, it just didn’t pull me in like most cozies do. But the ending was satisfying and I will give the author kudos for her world-building and descriptions.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Brain Teasers for Memory Fitness by Julie Demyanovich

nonfiction, puzzle book

4****

Blurb: Forgot where you put your keys multiple times this week? Having difficulty remembering your to-do list? Boost your ability to recall details and strengthen your long-term memory with Brain Teasers for Memory Fitness, the ultimate 90-day mental challenge that increases in difficulty from easy to hard. With a variety of fun brain teasers, including trivia, word games, recall tests, sudoku, logic puzzles, and more, you’ll be amazed by the improvement you see in how you process and recall information. Get started on your journey to better memory fitness today!

THOUGHTS: I love these 90-day challenge puzzle books, but… as actual books, not as ebooks. I definitely do not recommend that format. But, that being said… the puzzles in this book are aimed specifically at improving memory so there are mental exercises such as sudoku, spot-the-differences, timed puzzles, and more. The levels–easy, medium, hard–are split into thirty-day challenges for each level, plus a few extras at the end. Having just the ebook version available to me, I copied several of the puzzles onto paper so I could do them–and enjoyed the challenges.

Recommended in paperback format, not ebook.

Disclosure of Material: Thanks to Netgalley and Zeitgeist for providing this material. I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Thanks to Zeitgeist and Penguin Random House for providing this book. @penguinrandomhouse

A Ferry Long Way to Go by Misty Simon

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal

5++*****

THOUGHTS: This is the latest in the “Charmed Inn Mysteries” series and if you haven’t read them, you should be! Though each book is a stand-alone, you really need to read the first two in order to get the full understanding of what’s going on. Roxy runs a small family B&B In a small town on the Susquehanna River. There are several family members who help her run the place, but the brunt of the work falls to Roxy. Oh, and there’s a resident ghost in the basement who you can contact through a payphone hidden behind a secret panel behind the welcome desk. Roxy’s family all have “powers”. Roxy’s is getting cryptic answers from books. When she asks a question, if a book throws out sparkles, she picks it ups and words pop out into the air to answer her–unfortunately, the message isn’t always easy to figure out. She also has a boyfriend, Dean, whose brother and his two kids live in the guest cottage behind the inn. And a cook who can be quite grumpy at times.

In this story, a large family is having a reunion at the inn. Everything seems to be going okay until the last day when one of the family members ends up dead. In the library. With the candlestick. And all the clues point to Glynnis, the cook. Roxy and Dean go to work to solve the murder but in doing so, uncover some secrets that have been buried for decades. And a couple new ones that crop up concerning Dean and his family.

Misty Simon never fails to entertain with her wry wit and saucy sarcasm to go along with a darned good mystery. A lot of cozy mysteries come across on the serious side, but not Ms Simon. You will giggle if not outright laugh at the shenanigans in her books. If you want to smile while being entertained with a puzzle, pick up any one of her mysteries.

Definitely recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

BLURB: Roxy Gleason, an innkeeper by trade and a bibliomancer by birth, has lived in the same small town on the Susquehanna River in Central Pennsylvania for her entire life. Tradition is strong here. Roxy understands the rules and is willing to play by them most of the time. She runs the Charmed Inn, which has been in her family for decades. And there always seems to be a little magic in her life.