Some Favorite Books This Week!

I’ve been having a tough time keeping up with both the reading AND posting here. While I get it all sorted out, I thought I could at least post the reviews here to Amazon, so you can read them there!

By the way, the first book on the top line above is my own book, published in April to help restaurant’s through the pandemic. Know any restaurateurs, restaurant managers, or head chefs? Let them know about the book! It could save their business!

Note: I am listing reviews as I do them each day. Sometimes, Amazon takes days or even a week or more to approve these reviews, so you will see a lag between when I list reviews and when a link is available. The longest I had to wait was 3.5 weeks!

Hope that life becomes a little more sane soon!

Fiction

Historical Romance

• Mr. Pembroke’s Ward by Jennifer Sanders (very peculiar paranormal Regency)
• Distracted by the Highlander by Rebecca Preston
• The Rake is Taken by Tracy Sumner
• Runaway Duchess by Jillian Eaton
• The Widow’s Hope by Courney Willis
• Scoundrels Prefer Love by Sandra Sookoo
• The Accidental Viscountess by Caro Kinkead
• The Lady and Her PIrate Duke by Jilian Rouge
• To Steal a Highlander’s Heart by Samantha Holt
• The Magnificent Clara by Amber Seraph

Contemporary Romance

• Doctor Behind the Mask by Catherine Coles
• Falling for Dr. Knight by D. L. Gallie (eek, too much profanity!)
• My Very Own Superhero by D. S. Tossell
• Christmas at Castle Bookshop by Lena Ling
• Find Wonder in All Things by Karen Cox (modern Persuasion Jane Austen fanfiction)
• Spooning Leads to Forking by Kilby Blades
• Hours to Arrive by Stephanie Flynn
• Finders, Keepers by Chloe Holiday
• Juni by Elsie James
• Order Up by Annabelle Hunter
• Tempt Me by various authors
• Match Cut by Julie Olivia
• The Weekly Romance Reads Beginner Boxset by Emmaline Wade

Mysteries, Suspense, and Thrillers

• The Mason Walker Bundle (Books 4-6) by Alex Howell
• A Stormy Spell by Lucy May (delightful paranormal cozy mystery)
• Order Up by Annabelle Hunter

Speculative Fiction

• Renegade Queen by R. J. Vickers

Chick Lit / Women’s Literature

• Just South of Paradise by Grace Palmer
• The Woman Behind the Waterfall by Leonora Meriel
• The Summer Sand Pact by Jessie Newton

Children’s Fiction

• It’s Time to Stay Home, Little Bear by S. M. Morin
• Mio’s Snow Day by Samir Saatchi
• My Birthday on the Moon by Shauna Dunkley
• I M POSSIBLE by Anitha Rathod
• Chickabella and the Rainbow Magic by Veronica Strachan
• Squish Squeeze and Smath by Mr. Vinny
• Noah and Blue by Sophia Scarlett

Nonfiction

General

• Hydroponic and Vegetable Gardening by Piana Solana Editions
• How to Analyze People by Lifetime Fulfilment Academy
• How to Raise Confident Multicultural Children by Elisavet Arkolaki
• The Backyard Garden by Priscilla Stevens
• Simply Nietzche by Peter Kail
• The Associated Press Stylebook, 55th Edition by the Associated Press
• SuperSimple Chemistry by DK and the Smithsonian Institute
• Weekly Gratitude Journal by Icarus Books
• Guests Book by Icarus Books
• SuperSimple Biology by DK and the Smithsonian Institute
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Color and Learn) by Color & Learn
• Easy Pretty Mandalas Coloring Book by Dorothy Penn
• Sleep Tight by Luna Green
• A Tortuous Path by Christopher Pelloski
• RadOwl’s Crash Course in Dream Interpretation by J. M. DeBord
• How to Draw Anime for Beginners, Book 2 by Sophia Williams

Health, Wellness, & Medicine

• The Post-COVID Wellness Playbook by Ava Miles
• Women’s New Fitness Book by Rebecca Young
• Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare by Parag Mahajan, MD
• Human Obsession about Obesity by Evelyn Thaylor (simply odd, as if the author were very unclear about what she wanted to write about)
• Spice Apothecary by Bevin Clare

Self-Help & Spiritual

• Managing Anger by A. B. Alin
• Chakra Healing Meditation Part 3 by Adesh Silva (some lovely meditations)
• Grow with Sympathy, Empathy, & Compassion by Kiannah Frost (a gentle beautiful book about how you can become better at these things)
• Narcissistic Men and the Women Who Love Them by Eva Jensen (one of the better ones on the topic)

Business & Finance

• Command Your Presence by Kenyetta L. Gordon
• Exactly How I Make Money on Twitter by Kathy Dee
• Excel 2019 by Jonathan Grey (super simple, for beginners)
• Rapid Idea Generation by Peter Hollins
• Stock Market Rebound by Scott Douglas (good guide for how to work the stock market during this tricky time)
• How to Choose the Ultimate Side Hustle by Kristine Hudson
• Money Management by Leeroy Lingibe
• 8 Paradoxes of Leadership Agility by Yeo Chuen Chuen
• How to Trade Options: Swing Trading by Warren Ray Benjamin (well-written guide that explains options and swing trading well)
• How to Improve Your Credit Score by Reginald J. Kunz
• How to Fix Your Credit Score by Reginald J. Kunz

Cookbooks

• Bread Machine Cookbook by Marie Folher
• The Budget-Friendly Vegan Cookbook by Ally Lazare
• DASH Diet Cookbook by Ann Claire

Children’s Nonfiction (including activity books)

• Dinosaur Coloring & Activity Book for Kids by Studio Activity
• Dot to Dot Books for Kids ages 3-5 by Jimmy School
• Dad, I Love You More Than by K Francklin
• The 3-Minute Gratitude Journal for Kids by FFK Books
• ABC Letter Tracing Workbook by Nathalie White
• ABC Journal Notebook by Nathalie White
• Dinosaur Coloring + Activity Book by Tim Wizper
• Would You Rather for Kids by Bryce Ross
• Would You Rather? Pirate Gamebook for Kids by Pretty Pug Publishing
• 4th of July Activity Book for Kids ages 4-8 by Jacob Mason
• Word Search for Kids ages 6-8 – Boys Edition by Alex Page
• Trucks and Cars Coloring Books for Boys ages 4-8 by Alex Page
• First Thoughts Notebook by Icarus Books
• A Kid’s Guide to Drawing Cartoon Animals by Vicki Whiting and Jeff Schinkel
• Mermaid Activity Book for Girls ages 6-8 by Alex Page
• Would You Rather Book for Kids ages 5-11 by Andrew Gugi
• Animal Coloring Book for Kids ages 3-8 by Funny Mickey
• Home Science Experiments for Smart Kids! by Lisa Watts
• My First Learn to Write Workbook by Danny Levy

No-So-Favorite Books This Week!

Some Favorite Books This Week!

I’ve been having a tough time keeping up with both the reading AND posting here. While I get it all sorted out, I thought I could at least post the reviews here to Amazon, so you can read them there!

By the way, the first book on the top line above is my own book, published in April to help restaurant’s through the pandemic. Know any restaurateurs, restaurant managers, or head chefs? Let them know about the book! It could save their business!

Note: I am listing reviews as I do them each day. Sometimes, Amazon takes days or even a week or more to approve these reviews, so you will see a lag between when I list reviews and when a link is available. The longest I had to wait was 3.5 weeks!

Hope that life becomes a little more sane soon!

Fiction

Historical Romance

• A Stolen Kiss by M. A. Nichols
• Stealing the Heiress by Samantha Holt
• One Enchanted Christmas by Heather Boyd
• Steamy Historical Romance Boxset by Tracy Sumner
• Her Secret Scandal by Yasmine Nash
• Born to Blush by Fran Connor

Contemporary Romance

• A Willow Oaks Sweet Romance Collection, Volume 2 by Melissa Crosby
• A Sweetheart for Sophie by Gillian Mayne
• Book Boyfriend by Brooklyn Knight
• I Hate to Stand Alone by Casey Winter
• Pinkie Promise Duet by Shandi Boyes
• The English Oak by Heather Reyburn
• Maybe Tomorrow by Sherri Renee
• Anonymoosely Yours by Jacqueline Winters
• Diving into Love by Kat Bellemore
• Finding Forever with You by S. L. Sterling
• When You Were Mine by Alessa Martel
• The Paradise Bay Romantic Comedy Boxset by Melanie Summers
• Nell by Annie Seaton
• Healing Hearts by Jax Burrows
• Sugar Baby Sweetie Pie by Sara Hazel (big girl erotica–not quite my cuppa)

Mysteries, Suspense, and Thrillers

• A Witch of Edgehill Box Set (Books 1-3) by Melissa Erin Jackson (paranormal cozy mystery)
• Witch of a Godmother by Belinda White (paranormal cozy mystery)
• The Exciting Life of a Minor Character by Morgan W. Silver (unique construct; for writers for sure!)
• A Double Shot of Magic by Jo-Ann Carson (paranormal cozy mystery)

Speculative Fiction

• The Lost King by Leilani Love (Arthurian retelling)
• Warrior of Magick by Jessica Wayne
• Guardian of Magick by Jessica Wayne
• Bewitched by Beth Caudill (surprisingly well-done paranormal novella–no info dumps!)
• The Fae Killers Compendium by Jaxon Reed
• Feisty Heroines Romance Collection of Shorts by various authors (36 stories! Put here because it is mostly paranormal, supernatural, and fantasy romance, though there are sections for contemporary and historical romance as well)
• Storm at Keizer Manor by Ramcy Diek (time-travel romance with several twists)

Children’s Fiction

• Suki the Seal and the Plastic Ring by Dawn Brookes
• Meet Me at the Farmers Market by Lisa Pelto
• My First Day of School by Shauna Dunkley

Nonfiction

General

• Trauma, Shame, and the Power of Love by Christopher Pelloski
• A Miracle is on Its Way by Mathilda Collins
• Hand Lettering and Modern Calligraphy by School for Kids
• Journaling for Beginners by Adam Cardinal
• The Spanish Flu History by John Groudman
• 200 Word Search Puzzle Book for Adults by TayPuzzle Books
• Dancing Dogs Coloring Book by Angelika Sommer (for adults; some images not suitable for children, like a dog in fishnets)
• Skateboarding Animals Coloring Book by Angelika Sommer (no problematic images but would be best for teens or adults because of the detail)
• 60 Kinesthetic Grammar Activities by Alphabet Publishing / Alice Savage (for EFL teachers)
• How to Draw Almost Everything, Volume 2 by Six Pommes
• 1200 Facts You Won’t Believe are True! by Scott Matthews
• 500 Word Search Puzzle Book for Adults by TayPuzzle Books
• The Whole Brain Child by Samuel Pattinson
• The Elements of Style (Annotated) Business Edition by Marc Roche
• Flawed and (Still) Worthy by Allie Brazas
• Success in Art: Mastering Perspective by Andy Fish

Cooking & Crafts

• Jane Austen Embroidery by Jennie Batchelor
• New World Sourdough by Bryan Ford
• Wood Pellet Smoker and Grill Cookbook by Billy Patel
• An Anthology of Thirty 30-Minute Made-from-Scratch Desserts by Editors at CakeChatter (questionable copyright… photos and recipes taken from other blogs and websites)
• SpiceTheWorld by K. C. Martin

Self-Help & Spiritual

• Emotional Intelligence Mastery by Damon Colmain
• Find Your Glow, Feed Your Soul by Emily Silva
• Find Your Passion and Live a Life You Love by Emma Jones
• The Gratitude Journal for Women by Francis Lucky Press
• Upscaling Life by Bert Bakker
• Change Your Mindset by Brayden James
• How to Analyze People at a Glance by Leo Black
• How to Implement Effective Relaxation Techniques by Michael Robertson
• Practical Self-Discipline by Peter Hollins

Business & Finance

• Stock Market Investing by Daniel Lewis
• The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up a Home-Based Business by Rachael Gay
• Accounting 101 by Max McCoy
• Exactly How I Make Money with the Amazon Loophole by Kathy Dee
• Exactly How I Make Money Writing Filth by Kathy Dee (quick tips about how to write erotica quickly for cash)
• Exactly How I Make Money with Facebook by Kathy Dee
• Exactly How I Make Money on Quora by Kathy Dee
• No Fluff Property Rental Investing by Derek Simmons
• AWS by Raoul Alongi

Health, Wellness, & Medicine

• Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle by Ann Omasta and C. M. Love
• Psychology of Pandemics by John Groudman

Children’s Nonfiction (including activity books)

• Starting to Read with Sniffer by Pippa Pennington
• The Creative Unicorn Coloring Book by Mickey Creative Lab (Amazon pulled my review, and the book isn’t up at Goodreads)
• Learning to Trace Lines, Shapes, Numbers, Letters by Michelle Brilliant
• How to Draw Animals for Kids by Kim Penguin
• How Do I Feel? by DK
• I Love You, Daddy! by Shauna Dunkley
• Would You Rather Book for Kids Ages 7-13 by Scott Sims
• Trace Alphabet Letters by Mum Teacher
• 200 Must Know Sight Words Workbook by Alpha Press

No-So-Favorite Books This Week!

Some Favorite Books This Week!

I’ve been having a tough time keeping up with both the reading AND posting here. While I get it all sorted out, I thought I could at least post the reviews here to Amazon, so you can read them there!

By the way, the first book on the top line above is my own book, published in April to help restaurant’s through the pandemic. Know any restaurateurs, restaurant managers, or head chefs? Let them know about the book! It could save their business!

Note: I am listing reviews as I do them each day. Sometimes, Amazon takes days or even a week or more to approve these reviews, so you will see a lag between when I list reviews and when a link is available. The longest I had to wait was 3.5 weeks!

Hope that life becomes a little more sane soon!

Fiction

Historical Romance

• Healing Her Heart by Lisa Reisner

Contemporary Romance

• Forty Weeks to You by Giselle Lumas
• Romance at the Spa by Avery North
• Jaded by Jax by Theresa Paolo
• Desiring You: A Miller Brothers Duet by Iris Taylor
• Summer Heat by various authors

Mysteries, Suspense, and Thrillers

• Battered at Breakfast by B. M. Gold (the body doesn’t drop until 42%, not leaving a lot of time to develop a murder mystery in this novella)
• Secrets of the Past by Shelly West

Speculative Fiction

• Red Hot Dragons by Lisa Daniels
• The Royal Trilogy by Godiva Glenn
• Love Will Find You by Sherry Ewing
• Magic, Romance, and More by Caroline Mickelson
• The Rebirth Saga by J. P. Cianci

Children’s Fiction

• Toric the Dragon and the Stolen Treasure by Bex Sutten
• Hope and Freckles by Bill Kiley
• Halloway’s Eve by Scott Mabbutt
• Arlo and the Great Big Cover-Up by Betsy Childs Howard
• Benny Learns to Swim by Judith Koppens
• Staying at Home by Asaf Rozanes (ideas for things to do while staying at home)
• Dinnertime for Zaza by Mylo Freeman

Nonfiction

General

• RV Camping for Beginners by Frank Laws
• FunnyPuz Sudoku, Volume 1 by FunnyPuz
• Full-Time RV Living by Frank Laws
• Drinking Animals Coloring Book by Debbie R. Murray
• Summary and Analysis of The Complete Guide to Fasting by Stark Homier
• The Self-Defense Handbook by Sam Fury
• How to Write a Bestseller by Vikrant Shaurya
• Dad Jokes by Frank N. Steinz
• DIY Sustainable Home Projects by Sam Fury
• I Left the House Today! by Cassandra Calin
• Smooth Transition to Parenthood for First-Time Mothers and Fathers by Harley Carr
• Woodworking for Beginners Handbook by Stephen Fleming
• Live More with Less by Lilly Nolan
• 1200 Fun, Random, & Interesting Facts to Win Trivia by Scott Matthew

Self-Help & Spiritual

• Let Go and Heal by Mark Linden O’Meara
• The Beginner’s Guide to Practical Meditation by Christopher Cooke
• Love Yourself Big by Michelle Kulp
• Prayers and Meditation for Daily Inspiration by Mark Linden O’Meara
• The 3 Minutes Gratitude Journal by Dorothy Penn
• Power Habit Morning Routine by Romney Nelson
• Public Speaking by Romney Nelson
• Goal Setting by Romney Nelson
• Practicing Meditation by Matthew Riza

Business & Finance

• Instagram Marketing by Billy Shannon
• AWS by Matthew Bittinger
• Affiliate Marketing by Billy Shannon

Health, Wellness, & Medicine

• Renal Diet by Mary K. Morgan
• Insulin Resistance by Mary K. Morgan
• Herbal Antibiotics by Autumn Hubert
• Homemade Hand Sanitizer by Karina Barrett
• Healthy Living 365 by Richard Robertson
• Apple Cider Vinegar by Claire Bryce
• Definitive Kettlebell Guide by Richard Robertson

Cookbooks

• Plant-Based Diet Meal Plan by Samuel V. Woods
• Keto Vegan Cookbook for Beginners by Samuel V. Woods
• The Easy Baked Donut Cookbook by Sara Mellas (fun if you want slightly more healthful donuts!)
• 30-Day Whole Foods Cookbook by Vanessa Olsen (actually 2 cookbooks, one on general whole-foods cooking and the other specifically for slowcooker whole foods)
• Half the Sugar, All the Love by Jennifer Tyler Lee and Anisha Patel
• Cookies & Cocktails by Katherine Cobbs

Children’s Nonfiction (including activity books)

• Color by Numbers for Kids ages 4-8 by Activity Wizo
• Would You Rather? for 11 Year Olds by Rather Funny Press
• 101 Fun Crossword Puzzles for Kids by Jennifer L. Trace
• Scissor Skills by Kawaii Activity
• Would You Rather Book For Kids by Wiffan Activities
• Sight Words Word Search Book (P, K, and 1st Grade) by Alpha Press
• Would You Rather by Pete Spencer
• Connect the Dots for Kids Ages 4-8 by Jenny Jacobs
• How to Draw Monsters by Activity Wizo
• Connect the Dots Book for Kids Ages 4-8 by Margaret Grace
• Word Search for Kids University by Kevler Rupplett
• Word Search for Kids Ages 8-10 by Activity Wizo
• Dinosaur Coloring Book for Kids ages 4-8 by FFK Books
• Sight Words Word Search Book (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grades) by Alpha Press
• Would You Rather? for 7-Year-Old Kids by Rather Funny Press
• Yoga Animals for Kids by Shauna Dunkley
• Would You Rather? Super Hero Gamebook for Kids by Pretty Pug Publishing

No-So-Favorite Books This Week!

Some Favorite Books This Week!

I’ve been having a tough time keeping up with both the reading AND posting here. While I get it all sorted out, I thought I could at least post the reviews here to Amazon, so you can read them there!

By the way, the first book on the top line above is my own book, published in April to help restaurant’s through the pandemic. Know any restaurateurs, restaurant managers, or head chefs? Let them know about the book! It could save their business!

Note: I am listing reviews as I do them each day. Sometimes, Amazon takes days or even a week or more to approve these reviews, so you will see a lag between when I list reviews and when a link is available. The longest I had to wait was 3.5 weeks!

Hope that life becomes a little more sane soon!

Fiction

Historical Romance

• Eva by Parker J. Cole
• Fallen by Jane Castel (the final installment of the Sisters of Kilbride series, a fitting end, though I wanted to see a little more of the romance)
• My Favorite Duke by Bianca Blythe
• Claimed by Jayne Castel (an epilogue novella to the Sisters of Kilbride series; wonderful bonus if you’ve read the rest of the trilogy–or at least the last two)
• Ladies, Love, and Mysteries by Joyce Alec
• The Russian Prince’s Bride by Mariah Stone
• A Past to Forget by Rose Pearson

Contemporary Romance

• Home Sweet Home by Merri Maywether
• Redeeming Lottie by Melissa Ellen
• One Lakeside Summer by Amie Denman
• Home from the Hill by Susanne Bellamy

Mysteries, Suspense, and Thrillers

• Opium and Absinthe by Lydia Kang
• Find Me by Anne Frasier
• Campfire Catastrophe by Ami Diane

Speculative Fiction

• Scarlet Odyssey by C. T. Rwizi
• The Quantum Curators and the Faberge Egg by Eva St. John (a delightfully funny sci-fi thriller)
• Do-Overs by Jon Spoelstra

Chick Lit / Women’s Fiction

• Someone Else’s Secret by Julia Spiro
• The Lending Library by Aliza Fogelson

Children’s Fiction

• This Watermelon is Not Round by Vicky Wong
• The Tiny Monster by Samir Saatchi

Nonfiction

General

• Word Search for Women by Carmen Edwards
• Mandalas & Patterns: Relaxing Coloring Book for Adults by Donna Penn
• Family Camping Journal by Peter MaGraw
• The Great Book of Spain by Bill O’Neill
• Simply Stravinsky by Pieter van der Toom
• Simply Turing by Michael Olinick
• How to Write a Wrong by Amanda Steel
• Raised Bed Gardening by Bryan Jackson
• Coloring Book of Love by Sissi Blue
• Mandalas & Patterns by Dorothy Penn
• Simple Fitness by Richard Robertson
• Summary and Analysis of The Call of the Wild by Stark Homier
• Dad, I Want to Hear Your Story by Kimo Ben 
• Your First Parenting Journey by Harley Carr
• Summary and Analysis of Where the Crawdads Sing by Stark Homier
• Would You Rather, Volume 2 by Vaughn Reynolds

Cookbooks

• Instant Vortex Plus Cookbook by Linda Schultz
• Healthy Lifestyle Recipes by V.I by Valya Ivanova
• The Histamine Intolerance Cookbook by Ketoko Guides
• Mom’s Secret Recipe Journal by Brian Daniel
• Keto Kids Lunch Parents Edition by Eva Iliana
• The Budget-Friendly Vegan Cookbook by Ally Lazare (for whatever reason, Amazon rejected my benign review of this book; link is to Goodreads)
• Practically Pagan – An Alternative Guide to Cooking by Rachel Patterson
• Canning Essentials by Jackie Callahan
• Dairy-Free Meal Prep by Silvana Nardone

Self-Help & Spiritual

• Signs of the Universe by Wendy Robbins
• Natural Healing by Shirley Wood
• Restore Yourself by Shirley Wood
• The Ultimate Book of Life Hacks by Ann Omasta and C. M. Love
• Master Your Mind – Master Your Success by Mark Dalton
• Children’s Book about Anger by Michael Welch
• Power of the Enneagram by Elena Wright
• Inside the Enneagram by David James Sandison
• The Five Core Conversations for Couples by David and Julie Bulitt
• Hard Easy by Arthur Coombs III
• Wicca for Beginners by Crystal Stones
• Find Your Values, Find Yourself by Hana Wurzelova
• Chill Out, Bro by Reese Owen
• Rewire Your Anxious Brain by Jonathan Lee
• Self-Love and Confidence Workbook by Elena Wright

Business & Finance

• Magnetic Words by Alina Swanson
• The SaaS Email Marketing Playbook by Etienne Garbugli
• Day Trading for a Living Series, Books 1-3 by Leigh Vernon

Children’s Nonfiction (including activity books)

• Monsters Coloring Book by Angela Kidd
• Word Search for Kids ages 6-8 by Alex Page
• Ocean Animals Activity Book for Kids ages 4-8 by Byron Woods
• Riddles for Smart Kids by Mr. Merryfox
• Coding for Kids ages 9-15 by Bob Mather
• Dad Jokes by Billy Chuckle
• Things that Go Coloring Book by Angela Kidd
• Learn Basic Spanish to English Words Box Set #4 by Bobby Basil
• Would you Rather? for 9-Year-Old Kids by Rather Funny Press
• Knock Knock Jokes for Kids 5-7 Years Old by Mary Milner
• Caticorn Coloring and Activity Book by Global Peach
• Chaotic Chores by Renee Conoulty
• Texting with Cleopatra by Bobby Basil
• Magical Road Trip Travel Activity Book for Kids by Global Peach
• Unicorns & Sweet Treat Coloring Book by Sarah Reed
• Happiness by E. Hagen
• A is for Airplane! by Elephant Publishing
• Garden Journal for Kids by Global Peach
• Shark: Primary Story Journal for Girls by Creative Paper
• Play with Dinosaurs by Kayla A. Bani
• Would You Rather? For 8-Year-Old Kids by Rather Funny Press
• Nature Journal for Little Explorers by Peter MaGraw
• My First Letters Tracing Book by Crazy Dolly
• Dinosaur World by Funny Raccoon for Kids

No-So-Favorite Books This Week!

Some Favorite Books This Week!

I’ve been having a tough time keeping up with both the reading AND posting here. While I get it all sorted out, I thought I could at least post the reviews here to Amazon, so you can read them there!

By the way, the first book on the top line above is my own book, published in April to help restaurant’s through the pandemic. Know any restaurateurs, restaurant managers, or head chefs? Let them know about the book! It could save their business!

Note: I am listing reviews as I do them each day. Sometimes, Amazon takes days or even a week or more to approve these reviews, so you will see a lag between when I list reviews and when a link is available. The longest I had to wait was 3.5 weeks!

Hope that life becomes a little more sane soon!

Fiction

Historical Romance 

• Finding Lord Farlisle by Cassandra Dean (unique two-handed story, with only the hero and heroine in the main part of the text)
• The Duke She Despised by Alina K. Field
• Saved by the Highlander by Alisa Taylor
• Love at Lost Lagoons by Isabelle Hargreaves
• The Brides of Briar Cliff Box Set by Kellie Abbott
• Teaching His Ward by Noel Cades

Contemporary Romance 

• Hiding from the Heartbreaker by Tru Taylor
• Taste by Tracy Ewens
• No Breach Like Nantucket by Grace Palmer (more family drama than romance, but I didn’t feel like creating a separate category)
• No Wedding Like Nantucket by Grace Palmer (a victory lap for the beleagured Benson family–even though a storm threatens Eliza and Oliver’s wedding)
• Autumn Allure by Allie Boniface

Christmas in May! — Fiction and Nonfiction

• Misfortune (Christmas with Scrooge) by Peggy Ann Craig
• Christmas by Andy Thomas (a delightful look at the history of Christmas)
• Christmas Angels by Nancy Naigle
• The Merry Viscount by Sallie MacKenzie
• Once Upon a Dickens Christmas by Michelle Griep
• Miss Lottie’s Christmas Protector by Sophia James
• White Christmas Wedding by Celeste Winters
• Spirit of the Season by Fern Michaels
• Holly and Hopeful Hearts by Jude Knight et al.
• A MacKenzie Clan Christmas by Jennifer Ashley
• Christmas Cocoa Murder by Carlene O’Connor, Maddie Day, and Alex Erickson
• Have Yourself a Beary Little Murder by Meg Macy

Speculative Fiction

• Tower of Thorns by Laura Greenwood
• How to Carve a Fae Heart by Tessonja Odette
• Chloe’s Cupid by C. B. Samet (can Cupid’s ghost help a couple marry who’ve had two failed attempts at a ceremony?)

Mysteries & Thrillers

• The Mason Walker Bundle Books 1-3 by Alex Howell
• Root Brew Float by Sydnie Winward

Children’s Fiction

• Where Am I From? by Elisavet Arkolaki
• Margie Surprises Doc by Virginia K. White
• Mio and the Little Duckling by Samir Saatchi

Nonfiction

General

• Podcast Planner by Jerry Hamilton
• Persuade, Don’t Preach by Karen Tibbals
• Can’t Sleep? by Jessica Lee
• Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Krysten Harlow
• Hygge by Krysten Harlow
• Swipe Right by Sarah Hart
• How to Raise a Loaf and Fall in Love with Sourdough by Roly Allen (A wonderfully detailed cookbook perfect for the novice sourdough baker… with enough interest for the more experience. Tons of photos to help you get it right!)
• Google Classroom 2020: An Easy Guide by Ali Keler
• Google Classroom 2020: A Comprehensive Guide by Ali Keler
• The Complete Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Beginners by Dean J. Sloan
• Mandalas and Relaxing Patterns Coloring Book by Svetlana Eismunt
• The Solo Ager Estate Plan by Anthony S. Park
• My Favorite Recipe Book by Anne Claire

Writing

• 185 Tips on World Building by Randy Ellefson
• My Unedited Writing Year by Hope Lyda (nice book of writing prompts… for both life and writing)
• The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities by Paul Anthony Jones (if you love wacky words, this book is for you!)
• Write with Me by Vanita Oelshalger (very odd book with just quotes and blank journal pages)
• Wild Words by Nicole Gulotta (inappropriately personal and not enough universally applicable for writers who aren’t just like her)
• Creating Life by Randy Ellefson
• Creating Places by Randy Ellefson

Self-Help & Spiritual

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy by Olivia Telford
• Build Rapid Expertise by Peter Hollins
• Growing from Depression by Dr. Neel Burton
• Mindfulness Activities for Kids by Patricia Turner
• Self-Talk Secrets 2-in-1 by Stuart Wallace
• Habits Start Small by F. Collins
• Ultimate Focus by Chandler Kitching (a wonderful book written by a man who was diagnosed with ADD as a child; this book is the culmination of his research on how to focus and concentrate; fantastic whether you have ADD/ADHD or not)
• Get Out of Your Head by Brian Sachetta (the cover’s unfortunate, as this is actually a well-done book by someone who has suffered from anxiety and panic attacks; he shares what he has researched and that works for him; love it when people make “their mess their message,” as this and the above author have done)
• Peace During the Coronavirus by S. M. Worley
• Healing from Grief by Kayla Brissi

Business & Finance

• Stock Options Trading by Oliver Swing
• Options Trading by David Johnson
• Day Trading for a Living: Investing Psychology for Beginners by Leigh Vernon

Children’s Nonfiction (including activity books)

• Scissor Skills by Activity Nest 
• Montessori Toddler Activities by Susy Callory
• Lots of Games Activity Book for Kids: Space Edition by Lots of Games for You
• Connect the Dots Fun Coloring Book by Astro Publisher/Olivia Mills
• Mazes for Kids Ages 6-9 by Panda Activity
• Dinosaurs Activity Book for Kids by Namaste Books
• Space Coloring Book for Children by Kidko Activity
• Sherlock Holmes Puzzles by Pierre Berloquin 
• Sudoku for Kids by David Lane
• Travel Bug Goes to Paris by Bobby Basil
• How to Draw Princess Books for Kids by Pineapple Activity Books
• How to Draw People Book for Kids by Pineapple Activity Books
• Trains Coloring and Activity Book for Kids ages 4-8 by 
• Dinosaur Coloring Book by 
• Would You Rather? Space Gamebook for Kids by Pretty Pug Publishing
• Would You Rather? Circus Gamebook for Kids by Pretty Pug Publishing
• Connect the Dots Book for Kids by Let’s Learn Press
• Family: Learn Basic Spanish to English Words by Bobby Basil
• 100 Must Know Sight Words Workbook Ages 3-5 by Alpha Press
• Count Diggers, Dumper Trucks, & Tractors by NCBUSA Publications
• Dot to Dot Book for Kids by Wiffan Activities

TBD

No-So-Favorite Books This Week!

Some Favorite Books This Week!

I’ve been having a tough time keeping up with both the reading AND posting here. While I get it all sorted out, I thought I could at least post the reviews here to Amazon, so you can read them there!

By the way, the first book on the top line above is my own book, published in April to help restaurant’s through the pandemic. Know any restaurateurs, restaurant managers, or head chefs? Let them know about the book! It could save their business!

Note: I am listing reviews as I do them each day. Sometimes, Amazon takes days or even a week or more to approve these reviews, so you will see a lag between when I list reviews and when a link is available. The longest I had to wait was 3.5 weeks!

Hope that life becomes a little more sane soon!

Fiction

Historical Romance

• Susanna’s Secret by Joyce Alec
• Pioneer Dream by Ramona Fletchner (poorly written and implausible)
• A Duchess Most Ardent by Nastazia Nielsen
• A Rake’s Redemption by G. L. Snodgrass
• To Win a Wicked Lord by Sofie Darling
• Darcy’s Obsession by Abbey North
• Eastern Intrigue by Amber Seraph

Contemporary Romance

• Loving Scarlett by Kate Carley
• Lost Memories by Kendra Roberts (not really a romance at all; no HEA or HFN)
• The Weekly Reads Box Volume Set #6 – #10 by Emmaline Ward (well-done quick, steamy contemporary romance reads)
• Blue Bay Beach Romance Box Set by Ellie Hall

Mysteries

• Cruising for a Bruising by Paula Lester and M. E. Harmon

Speculative Fiction

• Northern Realm Royal Bear Shifters Box Set by Lisa Daniels (I don’t usually read shifter romance, but I make an exception for Lisa Daniels as I just love her writing style(
• Pirates of the Milky Way Box Set (Books 1-10) by Jaxson Reed (well-done space opera: excellent characters, cool tech, and a save-the-galaxy storyline)
• Inside the Egg by Laura Greenwood

Children’s Fiction

• All Along the River by Magnus Weightman

Nonfiction

General

• Quick Lessons for the Real World by Timothy Witt
• Embroidery Techniques for Beginners by Freya Gates (disorganized, nonlogical flow)
• Word Scramble: 1007 Puzzles for Adults by David Lazio
• Speed Reading the Right Way by Dane Krauss
• The Art of Accelerated Learning by Dane Krauss
• Photographic Memory for Beginners by Dane Krauss
• Mind Manipulation for Beginners by Dane Krauss (not as sinister as the title sounds; about hypnosis)
• How & When to Sign a Book Deal by Helen Cox
• Prepper’s Survival Stockpile by Kenneth Olsen
• Intermittent Fasting Secrets 2-in-1 by Evelyn Whitbeck
• The Art of Intermittent Fasting 2-in-1 by Andrew Sorenson
• Mandala Coloring Book: Rajas by Namaste Books
• Cryptograms: 200 Large Print Puzzles by Mike Potter Puzzles
• The Future of Leadership in the Age of AI by Marin & Luka Ivezic
• Chess for Beginners by Game Nest
• A Parent’s Guide to Teen Social Media by Bjorn Beam
• Get Your Drawings by Francesco Grillo
• Sourdough: Baker’s Guide by Maria Doblev
• The Mastery Quadrant by Mastery Quadrant
• Podcasting: The Little Book of Podcasting: 7 Simple Steps to Starting a Successful Podcast by Jerry Hamilton
• The Spanish Flu by Jennifer Hope
• The Insightful Reader by I. C. Robledo

Self-Help & Spiritual

• The Self-Love Cure 2-in-1 by Charlene Moore (if your self-love lacks, this book will get you back on track(
• Stoicism by Jason Hemlock (surprisingly good introduction to the basic tenets of Stoicism)
• NLP Hacks 2-in-1 by Joseph Sperry (poorly written; not really hacks)
• Attract Your Dream Job by (based on the laws of attraction, has guided meditations and affirmations to help you attract a job)
• Find Your Passion by Logan Hawkins
• Self-Esteem Workbook for Young Women by Georgette Clark
• Stop Overthinking by Richard Kim
• Helping Your Kid’s Anxiety 2-in-1 by Lawrence Conley
• The Social Skills Blueprint 2-in-1 by Chad Collins
• Trauma Recovery 2-in-1 by Michael Vitela
• How to Talk to Anyone by James J. Downes
• The Simple Life: Life Balance Reboot by Gary Collins

Children’s Nonfiction (including activity books)

• My First Handwriting Workbook by Mary N. Publishing
• I am Kind, Strong and Smart by Jacob Mason
• I is for Iguana by R8ML press
• The Ultimate Trucks Activity Book for Kids by Elephant Publishing
• Connect the Dots for Kids Ages 5-10 by Happy School
• Coloring Book for Boys – Space Edition by Crazy Dolly
• I am Brave, Kind and Wonderful by Jacob Mason (too generic and reinforces stereotypes that girls must be beautiful)
• Scissor Skills Preschool Workbook for Kids by Jacob Mason
• Coloring Book for Girls – Unicorn Edition by Crazy Dolly
• Trace Letters and Numbers Ages 3-5 by Valerie Brown
• Unicorn Activity Book for Kids by Namaste Books
• Fun Coloring Book for Toddlers by Funny Mickey
• Back to School Counting Book by R8ML Press
• Connect the Dots Puzzles for Smart Kids by Kantt Clerk
• Ultimate Would You Rather Game Book for Kids by Joke Captain

No-So-Favorite Books This Week!

Some Favorite Books This Week!

I’ve been having a tough time keeping up with both the reading AND posting here. While I get it all sorted out, I thought I could at least post the reviews here to Amazon, so you can read them there!

By the way, the first book in the lines above is my own book, published in mid-April to help the restaurant industry during the pandemic. If you know any restaurant owners, managers, head chefs, or operators… let them know!

Note: I am listing reviews as I do them each day. Sometimes, Amazon takes days or even a week or more to approve these reviews, so you will see a lag between when I list reviews and when a link is available. The longest I had to wait was 3.5 weeks!

Hope that life becomes a little more sane soon!

Historical Romance

• Love and Other Addictions by Isabella Hargreaves
• The Duke’s Marriage of Convenience by Fiona Miers (started off OK—but not great—but then it got very weird)
• The Baroness of New York by Anya Silverthorne (felt like it took too long to get started)
• The Seduction of the Glen by Michelle Deerwester-Dalrymple
• The Ideal Countess by Katherine Grant (delightful debut, looking forward to more!)
• Last Stop for Sin by Devon McKay (wickedly fun old West historical romance)
• Her Seafaring Scoundrel by Sophie Barnes (he’s not really a scoundrel–but this one is surprisingly funny with the hero’s sections almost coming across as tongue-in-cheek, as if he himself cannot take himself seriously)
• A Scoundrel’s Kiss by Shelly Thacker (the hero-spy posing as the husband of an amnesiac female scientist to get information from her and take her to England… what could possibly go wrong? 😉 )
• Betrayal and Lies by Rose Pearson

Contemporary Romance

• Home at Last by Judith Keim
• Intimate Strangers by Tara Mills (just terrible–a newly engaged woman lusting after a guy… then getting busy with him immediately after the fiance is dragged into the sea by a shark. Ugh.)
• Love is Like a Box of Chocolates by various authors (I couldn’t find much to like about this anthology… kept moving through the stories, not finding much to enjoy. More like a Whitman’s sampler, not a See’s one!)
• One Hundred Decisions by Kelly Collins (I love how this author touches on what could be “downer” societal issues in her books… but with such a light, deft hand that it only enhances and deepens the romance.)
• Defending Love by Kendra Roberts (poorly written)
• Home to Him by Kendra Roberts

Thrillers

• Legacy of Lies by Robert Bailey (love a heroine with such moral integrity)

Chick Lit / Women’s Literature

• If You Must Know by Jamie Beck
• Sorry I Missed You by Suzy Krause (quirky, funny… about ghosts of several sorts)
• The Fire Blossom by Susan Lark (the story of strong women beating the odds together as friends in the harsh environment of 1840s New Zealand)

History — Fiction & Nonfiction

• Golden Poppies by Laila Ibrahim (a breathtaking tale of the Gilded Age as seen through two generations of women in two white and black families)
• Love without End by Mervyn Bragg (a fictionalized account of the story of Heloise and Abelard)
• The Fire Blossom by Susan Lark (New Zealand in the 1800s)
• The Mother of the Brontes by Sharon Wright (a surprisingly good read; well-research history—not a novel)
• Along a Broken Shore by Amy Trueblood
• Woman in Scarlet by Karen L. Adams (memoir of one of the first female Mounties)
• The Elizabeth Tudor Conspiracy by Alexandra Walsh

Literary Fiction

• A Man by Keiichiro Hirano (the first time this popular Japanese writer has been translated into English–I wasn’t impressed)

Nonfiction — General

• Master the Art of Self-Publishing by Mastery Quadrant
• Master the Art of Book Marketing and Promotions by Mastery Quadrant
• Sudoku Large Print 101 Puzzles Medium by
• Public Speaking Panic by Cody Smith
• DIY Homemade Hand Sanitizer Recipes by Krysten Harlow (avoid like the plague… unless you want to catch one)
• Ultimate Cryptograms by Game Nest
• Mind Hacking and Escaping Zombification by James Stephenson
• Mediterranean Diet Meal Prep Cookbook by Lindsey Pine
• 500 Fantasy Writing Prompts by Erica Blumenthal
• Culture and Beyond by Randy Ellefson (for writers, how to come up with culture, religion, and other institutions for your made-up world)
• All in a DAZE Work by Shepperd November
• Fibromyalgia by Pauline Patry (Kobo review, not at Amazon)
• Publish. Market. Sell. How to Promote Your eBooks: Branding Your Pen Name Like the Pros by Spicey Ky
• Interesting, Fun, and Crazy Facts about America by Scott Matthews
• Dental Copywriting Hacks by Alex Wong (not solely about copywriting; very general, not really specific to dentists; could also be confusing for non-marketers)
• Blogging Hacks for Dentistry by Alex Wong (ditto above, except about blogging)
• Dental Marketing Hacks (2-in-1) by Alex Wong (combines the two books above)

Nonfiction — Self-Help

• 5 Steps to Raise an Emotionally Intelligent Child by Freya Gates (not a good book)
• The Power of the Attraction Mindset by Romney Nelson (ties together some common self-help ideas in a cohesive package)
• Self-Improvement for Men by John Adams (another poorly written book by this author)
• Memory Improvement, Accelerated Learning, and Brain Training by John Adams (yup, you guessed—another not so good book by this author)
• Do by Genaro Torres Celis
• Memory Improvement for Kids by Lisa Marshall
• First-Time Mom by Jolie Kitt
• Success in the Mirror by William Cole
• Public Speaking Principles by Gerard Shaw
• Intuitive Eating by Nathalie Easton

Children’s

• Mandala Coloring Book for Kids by Activity Nest (kid-friendly mandalas, some abstract and some with animals, insects, and even a teddy bear)
• I am Thankful for Today by Activity Nest
• Connect the Dots for Kids Ages 5-10 by Happy School
• Animal Coloring Book for Kids by Adam Warne-Smith
• ABC Ability by Melissa Sue Walker (picture book of a little girl just learning how to sound out words)
• The Bunny on the Moon by Isla Wynter
• Thank the Chef by Melissa Sue Walker
• Tracing Letters, Numbers, and Words for Kids Ages 3-5 by Angelica Ross
• Bedtime Stories for Kids: Meet Dino Chef by Anna Lopez
• My First ABC Toddler Coloring Book by Matthew Berg
• I Love You, Mom! by Pamparam Kids Books
• How to Draw Adorable Animal for Kids by Activity Bolt
• Monster Truck Coloring Book for Kids by Kathy Studios
• Dinosaur Activity Book for Kids by Adam Warne-Smith
• Mother’s Day Activity Book Book for Kids by Pamparam Kids Books
• Would You Rather Game Book by Cushy Monkey
• Kitty Coloring Book by Activity Corner
• I Am Strong, Confident, and Bright by Activity Nest
• Monster Truck Coloring Book for Kids Ages 4-8 by Coloring Visions

No-So-Favorite Books This Week!

Some Favorite Books This Week!

I’ve been having a tough time keeping up with both the reading AND posting here. While I get it all sorted out, I thought I could at least post the reviews here to Amazon, so you can read them there!

The book in the first position is my own book, Kitchen Open, published just a few weeks ago, meant to help restaurants during the pandemic. Know any restaurateurs or managers? Let them know about the book!

Note: I am listing reviews as I do them each day. Sometimes, Amazon takes days or even a week or more to approve these reviews, so you will see a lag between when I list reviews and when a link is available. The longest I had to wait was 3.5 weeks!

Hope that life becomes a little more sane soon!

Historical Romance

• Awoken by Jane Castel (medieval Scotland Isle of Skye; this one is about a nun who is kidnapped by an evil clan chief; very good, actually!)
• Lords and Secrets by Joyce Alec

Contemporary Romance

• Cottage on Oeanview Lane by Lilly Mirren
• A Taste of France by Lula Woods (yikes! nothing much happens; avoid)
• Finding You by Leah Busboom
• Dr. Love by Virginia Hodgson (poorly written medical romance)
• Caked in Dust by Mel A Rowe (delightful Australian romance)
• Vacancy by Tracy Ewens
• Moments with Mason by Theresa Paolo (tackles a surprising topic: partner abuse)
• Finding Home by Denise Janette Bruneau
• Kind of Famous by Mary Ann Marlowe (heroine annoying but hero good)
• Always Been You by Iris Darshi (Indian romance well-done by new author)
• Lucky Fall by L. Austen Johnson (very short, poorly written)
• My Favorite Moosetake by Jacqueline Winters
• Heather’s Hero by C. B. Samet (has a paranormal twist to it)
• A Storybook Love by Amelia Sinclair

Nonfiction – General

• Lose Weight Fast and Live Longer by Eric Garrett
• Sudoku Hard Level Volume 1 by Brain & Fun
• Systemized Thinking Models for Entrepreneurs by Joel E. Winston
• Billionaire Thought Models in Business by R. Stevens
• Practical Thought Models for Men by John Adams
• Recorder for Beginners by Ben Newman
• The Science of the Big Bang Theory by Mark Brake
• Succeed with Social Media Like a Creative Genius by Brainerd Carey
• Start Your Own Freelance Writing Business by the Staff of Entrepreneur Media, Inc. and Laura Pennington Briggs
• High Crimes and Misdemeanors by Frank O. Bowman III
• Making a Life by Deanne Fitzpatrick
• Guitar Fretboard and Scales for Beginners by James Haywire
• Guitar Fretboard by James Haywire
• Crystals for Beginners by Jessica Flowers
• Cryptograms, Cryptoquotes & Cryptoquips Book Puzzles for Adults Vol.1 by Brain & Fun
• The Art of Quilting for Beginners by Freya Gates
• Practical Guitar for Beginners and Guitar Exercises by James Haywire
• Hydroponics for Beginners by Tom Jones
• Hydroponics Growing System by Green DIV
• Aquaponics by Margaret Fisher
• Sudoku 200 Huge Big Book Large Print Hard Level Vol. 1 by Brain & Fun
• Prepping and Survival for Newbies by Ernest Rivera
• 50 Kick-A$$ Tips for Writing that Novel by A. Writer
• Leadership Hero Code by Kristen T. Hemingway
• Get in Shape by Richard Robertson
• Why We Can’t Sleep by Ada Calhoun

Nonfiction – Self-Help

• Take Back Your Day by (This author fears an honest review [after he read this one] so much that he’s banned on Booksprout from being a reviewer of his books! Click the link to see the review that scared him so much!)
• How to Win Friends and Talk to Anyone by Stephen Hopkins
• The Evolutionary Empath by Stephanie Red Feather
• Confidence for Men by John Adam
• Mindfulness Meditations for Anxiety by Michael Smith
• The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Workbook for Panic Attacks by Elena Welsh
• The Meaning of Life by Nathanael Garrett Novosel
• ADHD Workbook for Beginners by Freya Gates (poorly done like a research paper or a compilation of unrelated blog posts)
• The Extremely Busy Woman’s Guide to Self-Care by Suzanne Falter
• The Intuition Journal by Jo Chun Yan
• The Ritual Yearbook by Theresa Cheung
• The 7-Day Self Discipline Blueprint: Get Things Done and Unleash Your Inner Drive by Logan Hawkins
• The “Do or Do Not” Outlook by Nick Maley

Nonfiction – Cookbooks

• Whipped Cream Fast & Easy by Harry Williams (Yes, I know ridiculous, right? That’s why I had to check it out!)
• The Healing Soup Cookbook by Cara Harbstreet and Julie Harrington
• Cookies for Everyone by Mimi Council
• The College Vegan Cookbook by Heather Nicholds (some good recipes for us non college-age people, too!)
• Umami Bomb by Raquel Pelzel (vegetarian umami book… exploring creative ways with aged cheeses, soy sauce, mushrooms, tomatoes, nutrition yeast and more!)
• Instant Vortex Air Fryer Oven Cookbook by Brittany Jones (this cookbook does NOT contain recipes for the Vortex air fryer… at all!)
• Chocolate Soy Milk Fast & Easy by Harry Williams (despite what the author promises all over the book, he does NOT share any fast & easy recipe for making homemade soymilk from scratch!)
• Pizza by Pippa Cuthbert and Lindsay Cameron Wilson (so many amazing sounding and looking pizza recipes!)
• The Pasta Friday Cookbook by Allison Arevalo
• Miso, Tempeh, Natto, and Other Tasty Ferments by Kirsten K. Shockey and Christopher Shockey
• Shining by Jessi Baker (all about moonshine!)
• Botany at the Bar by Selena Ahmed, Ashley Duval, and Rachel Meyer (make your own bitters)
• In the Kitchen with Grandma by Lydia E. Harris (grandparents and grandchildren cooking together)
• Cheese Fondue Fast & Easy by Harry Williams
• The Beginner’s Guide to a Plant-Based Diet by Dean J. Sloan

Nonfiction – Language

• Daily Italian for Beginners by Bruno Palermo
• Spanish Made Easy 2 in 1 by Octavio Mendez
• Spanish Short Stories for Beginners 2 in 1 by Felipe Moya
• Daily Spanish Lessons by Octavio Mendez
• Spanish Learning 101 2 in 1 by Celestino Rivas
• French Made Easy 2 in 1 by Florence Beaujolie
• French Stories by French Hacking
• 2000 French Phrases by French Hacking
• Learning Italian for Beginners: 2500 Italian Phrases by Italian Academy
• Italian Short Stories for Beginners by Italian Academy
• Italian Conversations for Beginners by Italian Academy

Children’s

• Scissor Skills Mermaid Edition by Activity Bolt
• Fire Trucks Coloring Book for Kids by
• Dot to Dot Coloring Book for Kids by Pete Spencer
• Scissor Skills Baby Animals by Activity Bolt
• 1085 Fun, Wacky, and Interesting Animal Facts that Every Kid Should Know by Professor Smart
• Monster Truck Coloring Book by Elephant Publishing
• The Creative Would You Rather Book for Kids by Mickey Creative Labs
• Sudoku for 12 Year Olds by Pete Spencer
• 35+ Indoor Scavenger Hunt Games for Kids by Pretty Awesome Activity Books
• Garbage Truck Coloring Book for Kids by Elephant Publishing
• Plane and Travel Games for Kids by Brain & Fun
• Dinosaur Scissors Skills For Toddler & Kids Ages 3-7 by Activity Bolt
• The Big Book of Mazes for Kids 8-12 by Ok Koko
• Unicorn Coloring Book for Kids age 4-8 by Dubbe Creative
• I Spy Mother’s Day by Pamparam Kids Books
• Scissors Skills For Toddler & Kids Ages 3-7 by Activity Bolt
• Sudoku Kids Vol. 1 by Brain & Fun
• Dog Coloring Book Ages 4-8 by Pete Spencer
• Three-Minute Gratitude Journal for Kids by Jolly Cheeks
• Connect The Dots Book For Kids Ages 4-8 by Activity Time
• Camping Activity and Puzzle Book for Kids by River Breeze Press
• The Tale of Fannie Fae Fox by Sharon K. Turner

Mysteries

• A Letter from Munich by Meg Lelvis
• Flag Cake Felonies by Addison Moore
• Pride, Prejudice, and Poison by Elizabeth Blake
• Death Comes to Dartmoor by Vivian Conroy
• Root Brew Float by Sydney Winward (only Goodreads review for now; not on Amazon yet)
• Grim and Bear It by Paula Lester
• A Gaggle of Ghastly Gradmamas by Jeannie Wycherley

Nonfiction and Fiction – History

• Living Among the Dead by Adena Berstein Astrowsky (a true story of a Holocaust survivor lovingly told by her grandaughter)
• Her Side of History by Claudia Severin (4 fictionalized tales of women in the authors family–more riveting than you might imagine!)
• The Lost Queen by Anne Stott (all about Princess Charlotte of Wales, the daughter of the Prince Regent in the early 1800s–if she had survived childbirth, she would have been queen after her father died, not Victoria)
• How the Old World Ended by Johnathan Scott (should have been an engaging read about the Anglo-Dutch dominance and battle in the New world… but overly wordy and a hard read)
• Women Spies Books 1-3 by Kit Sergeant (More fictionalized history, all about the female spies during the American Revolution, the American Civil War, and World War I.)

Speculative Fiction

• Her Prophecy by Alice Wilde
• Midnight in the House of Lang by Bree M. Lewandowski

No-So-Favorite Books This Week!

Some Favorite Books This Week!

I’ve been having a tough time keeping up with both the reading AND posting here. While I get it all sorted out, I thought I could at least post the reviews here to Amazon, so you can read them there!

By the way, I am proud to announce that my own book published last week, Kitchen Open, was a #1 new release twice in the past 4 days! Check it out above and share it with your restaurant friends!

Note: I am listing reviews as I do them each day. Sometimes, Amazon takes days or even a week or more to approve these reviews, so you will see a lag between when I list reviews and when a link is available. The longest I had to wait was 3.5 weeks!

Hope that life becomes a little more sane soon!

Historical Romance

• Westward Courage by A. T. Butler (disappointing Oregon Trail story, told more than shown)
• Spirals of Fate by Tim Holden (not a romance but a well-written debut novel that details the struggles of a yeoman farmer just after the death of Henry III)
• His Perfect Hellion by Amanda Mariel (super short but well written)
• When Lady Innocent Met Dr. Scandalous by Merry Farmer
• Embraced by Moonlight by Sandra Sookoo (prequel for new Victorian adventure romance series)
• Ladies Prefer Adventure by Sandra Sookoo (the first book of the above series, which I didn’t like to much)
• The Atlantis Papyrus by Jay Penner (not really a historical romance, just historical)
• Highlander Avenged by Rebecca Preston (time travel Highlander romance)
• Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater (paranormal Regency)
• The Mistletoe Mistress by Maddison Michaels
• All of My Love–Stop by Lelia J. Belle (had potential but not fully fleshed out)
• Gentleman in the Shadows by Karen Sommers (delightfull Regency)
• Cecilia or Too Tall to Love by G. L. Robinson (too much telling and not showing)
• An Irresistible Arrangement by (well written; had parts that nearly made me laugh out loud)
• A Stubborn Bride by Kellie Abbott (mail-order bride, American West)
• A Truth Revealed by Lucy Adams (Regency suspense)
• Kisses and Scandal by Shana Galen (three Regency novellas that explore romances for classes and occupations often ignored)
• The Wildflowers at the Edge of the World by Shaylin Gandhi
• Time of the Warrior by Ivy Hollins (time-travel romance back to Pictish Scotland)

Contemporary Romance

• Brokenhearted Lovers by Penelope Wells (super short and ultimately unsatisfying)
• Leaving Home by Casey Dawes (a long, complex, and nuanced tale not only about romantic love but also a family drama; worthwhile read!)
• Finally Married, Sophie by Jan Gallagher Dunn (needed a prologue to explain their past)

Nonfiction – General

• Intermediate German Stories by Let’s Learn Japanese (just German story with English translation; no other tools)
• Mind-Blowing Secrets on How Brands and Designers Lure You to Buy More and Stay Broke by Ellen Johnson (a fascinating look at achieving financial freedom by not giving away your power or money to insidious brand marketing)
• All About Strength Training & Healthy Eating by Taylor Cole (eating book is good; not a fan of the other one)
• 1424 Fun, Random, & Interesting Space Facts that Everybody Should Know by Professor Smart (interesting facts, but too random–no organization)
• The Cosmic Playbook for Writers by P. K. (an excellent book of affirmations and mini-meditations to inspire writers through all parts of the process)
• Intermittent Fasting for Goddesses by Helen Lowe (not as “goddess-y” as I might have liked, but the idea of “missions for each day of the 14-day meal plan is inspired)
• Interesting Stories for Curious People by Bill O’Neill
• A Radical Theory on Men, Metabolic Syndrome/Infertility (MetS) and Depression by R S H
• Word Search Puzzle Book for Adults by David Lazio
• The Art of Crochet for Beginners by Freya Gates (basics well diagrammed; simple and advanced projects)
• The Art of Cricuting for Beginners by Freya Gates
• Sashiko for Beginners by Freya Gates

Nonfiction – Business

• Stoicism for Business by R. Stevens (awkward and difficult to read)
• Stoicism for Entrepreneurs by Joel E. Winston (easy, conversational writing style and great quotes from ancient stoics)
• Social Media Marketing  and Advertising for Your Personal Brand in 2019 by A. Steele
• Social Media Marketing for Small Business Owners by Mark Warner (a combination of three poorly written books)
• Facebook Marketing and Advertising for Small Business Owners by Mark Warner (one of the aforementioned poorly written books; this is the most disorganized ones of the lot)
• Sales Funnel Management for Small Business Owners by Mark Warner
• How Great Leaders Think, Act, and Communicate by R. Stevens (another combination of three poorly written books)
• Starting a Business by Walter Grant (more for entrepreneurs than solopreneurs, but some solid advice)
• Lead for Growth by Nichi Ayoka (a very personal look at what it means to be a good manager)
• Introducing Agile Project Management with Scrum by Andrew Sammons

Nonfiction – Self-Help

• Declutter Workbook: An Essential Guide to Minimalism by Luigi Harbin (poorly done)
• Kid Confidence by Susan Garcia
• Emotional Abuse Recovery by Martha McDowell (subtitle doesn’t reflect what’s in the book)
• Self-Help for Men by John Adams (too touchy-feely for most guys)
• How to Live the Dream: Things Every Van Lifer Needs to Know by Kristine Hudson
• Take Control of Your Life Self-Help Box Set by Martha McDowell (has this author’s book above plus a 21-day plan to help introverts)
• Declutter Workbook: The Vital Role of Sleep to Declutter Your Mind by Luigi Harbin (one of the oddest books on sleep; skip)
• Declutter Workbook: A Step-by-Step Practical Guide to Organizing Your Life by Luigi Harbin (one of the more unusual decluttering books I’ve seen–and not in a good way! has 11 pages of DIY project instructions in 44-page book)
• Declutter Workbook: Illustrated DIY Projects for Your Home for by Luigi Harbin (not DIY projects; more like super simple craft projects)
• Self-Esteem for Men by John Adams

Nonfiction – Spirituality

• How to Navigate the Five Steps of Your Spiritual Journey by Cheryl Marlene (a hero’s journey approach to your spiritual journey)
• Wicca Candles by Wendy Crystal (a solid introduction to fire magic)
• Wicca Book of Spells by Wendy Crystal (more about building a book of shadows)
• Wicca by Wendy Crystal (all 4 other books listed here by this author: spells, candle magic, herbs and a beginner’s book all in one volume)
• Wicca by Crystal Molina (four books on Wicca for beginners, spells, moon magic, and herbs)
• Witchcraft for Beginners by Crystal Molina
• Wiccan Spells by Crystal Molina (potential ethical issues)
• Witchcraft and Wicca by Crystal Molina (combo of the two books just above)
• The Art of Buddhism by Sherman Evans (broad survey of Buddhism)
• Essential Skills for Psychic Development by Serena Dracis (excellent guide to basic new age skills like grounding, centery, and visualization; with exercises)

Children’s Books

• Would You Rather Book for Kids by Mindsource Publishing (better than most I’ve seen! Interesting fonts and some values questions.)
• ABCs of Countries: Australia by Des O’Gorman (lush, gorgeous pictures of Australia)
• ABCs of Countries: Europe by Des O’Gorman
• Coloring Book for Kids — Awesome Animals by Idy Wills (only given 4 drawing pages of the book to review as author didn’t seem to understand that she could give the entire book to a reviewer)
• ABC Alphabet Mazes for Kids by Activity Nest (Love this concept! Learn the alphabet as you figure out a way through a maze.)
• Counting Princesses by Yellow Fox Kids Press (great if your little girl is into princesses)
• Let’s Count Food! by Pamparam Kids Books
• I Spy, You Spy – Shapes and Colours by Yellow Fox Kids Press (Poorly done book on colors that doesn’t give proper names for some of them! “Kinda greeny” Indeed!)
• Word Search Book for Kids Ages 4-8 by Willy Dolly
• Space Activity Book for Kids ages 4-8 by Activity Handwriting
• Word Search for Kids Ages 4-8 by Color Publishing
• My First Preschool Workbook by Lizzie Thompson (just letter and number tracing)
• Fun & Difficult Riddles for Smart Kids Ages 8-10 by Mickey Creative Lab
• Coding for Kids: Scratch by Nathan Jobs (good for the budding programmer)
• Unicorn Coloring Book for Kids Ages 4 – 8 by Michelle Brilliant
• My First Kids Sudoku, Volume 1 by Brain & Fun
• My First Teens Sudoku, Volume 1 by Brain & Fun

Mysteries

• Something Borrowed, Something Broom by Mara Webb (paranormal cozy mystery)
• The Westport Mysteries — LIzzie, The Complete Collection by Beth Prentice
• Crime in the Cafe by Fiona Grace (British cozy mystery)

Speculative Fiction

• Dragons and Mages – A Limited Anthology Edition by various authors (fun if you like dragon or magic stories)

No-So-Favorite Books This Week!