book review

  • book review,  Books

    So Sorry For Your Loss by Dina Gachman

    Sometimes you get handed the perfect book for just the right moment in time. When the opportunity to review So Sorry For Your Loss: How I Learned to Live With Grief, and Other Grave Concerns, it was rapidly approaching the one year anniversary of my dad’s passing. When I actually sat down to read it, it was almost his “heavenly” birthday, as my friends refer to it. I couldn’t imagine a better or timely gift. Keep reading to learn more about this non-fiction book dealing with grief and loss, check out my thoughts on it, and enter the giveaway to win one of three copies signed by the author. Many…

  • book review,  Books

    Book Review: Answers in the Pages by David Levithan

    I have to give a great big thank you to one of my teen’s former middle school language arts teachers for recommending Answers in the Pages by author David Levithan. It’s lovely, timely, and important. There are so many wonderful lines in this book that it was difficult to narrow down which to share, but this one hit me hard enough that I wrote it on a sticky note: “While the meaning of a book may be informed by the author’s intentions, it isn’t defined by them. Meaning comes from the combination of what the author puts in, and what the reader takes out.” As a writer, I can only…

  • book review,  Books

    Spotlight on: Winning Maura’s Heart by Linda Broday

    I’m way behind on book reviews but popping in with a spotlight on what looks to be yet another lovely heartfelt historical fiction by New York Times bestselling author, Linda Broday. Winning Maura’s Heart is the first book in her new series: The Hangman’s Daughter and it looks to be amazing based on the reviews I’ve read so far. (I’ve long been a fan of Linda’s historical fiction as they mesh a sweet, clean romance with a western setting. However, Christena’s review over at Forgotten Winds had me putting this book on order asap!) Read on to learn more about the book, check out some notable lines from the story…

  • book review,  Books

    Book Review: SKYRIDERS by Polly Holyoke

    I’m really pleased to dig into some middle grade books for a bit, and I’m kicking off my MG reading with Skyriders, the first book in a new fantasy/adventure series from the amazing Polly Holyoke! I’m joining in with Lone Star Book Blogs tours to share my review. Read on to see what I thought about Skyriders and check out Polly’s fun book trailer and the adorable giveaway for this tour! SKYRIDERSSkyriders Series, #1by Polly Holyoke Children’s Fantasy / Middle Grade Readers / Mythical Stories / AdventurePublisher: Viking Books for Young ReadersDate of Publication: March 7, 2023Number of Pages: 304 pages  Scroll down for Giveaway! SYNOPSIS Wings of Fire meets Pax in this…

  • blog tour banner for Anita Dickason's book Murder's Legacy
    book review,  Books

    Murder’s Legacy Cover Reveal and Pre-Order Book Blitz

    After a long, unplanned break, a blog refresh, and a brand new name, I’m so excited to jump right back into things with Lone Star Book Blog Tours for the cover reveal of Anita Dickason’s upcoming release, Murder’s Legacy! This is the second book in her Tori Winters Mystery series – and it’s now available for pre-order! Keep scrolling to see the cover, learn a bit more about this mystery, check out the book trailer, AND to enter a giveaway! Murder’s LegacyA Tori Winters Mystery, Book 2By Anita Dickason NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! Mystery / Women SleuthsPublisher: Mystic Circle BooksComing February 16, 2023 Scroll down for Giveaway! Synopsis Secrets that…

  • Blog Tour banner for Mars Adrift
    book review,  Books

    Mars Adrift – Book Review

    Today on the blog I’m THRILLED to bring you my review of Mars Adrift, the third and final installment of Kathleen McFall & Clark Hays’ The Halo Trilogy. This was an unputdownable read and the perfect escape for me, so read on to see why I loved this (and who my new book crush is), and enter the giveaway to win the full trilogy! I was provided a copy of the book by the authors for review purposes; all opinions are entirely my own. MARS ADRIFTTHE HALO TRILOGY: BOOK 3by KATHLEEN McFALL + CLARK HAYS Categories: Science Fiction / Detective (Hard-Boiled) / MysteryPublisher: Pumpjack PressDate of Publication: February 14, 2022Number…

  • book review,  Books

    The Sparrows of Montenegro – Book Tour and Review

    I’m back! Did you miss me? I have SO many books to talk about in the coming weeks, and I’m kicking it off by jumping into a Lone Star Book Blog Tour of BJ Mayo’s western The Sparrows of Montenegro. Read on to discover why this book surprised me and what I loved about it. I received an advanced copy of the book from the author via Lone Star Lit; all opinions are my own. THE SPARROWS OF MONTENEGRO by BJ MAYO Categories: Western / Historical Fiction / TexasPublisher: Skyhorse PublishingDate of Publication: February 8, 2022Number of Pages: 312 pages  Scroll down for Giveaway! Tree “Bigfoot” Smith and Cedar Jones…

  • book review,  Books

    Scattered Legacy by Marlene M. Bell

    I’m back on tour with Lone Star Book Blog Tours with my review of an engaging mystery from Marlene M. Bell titled Scattered Legacy: Murder in Southern Italy. SCATTERED LEGACY: Murder in Southern Italy Annalisse Series, #3 byMARLENE M. BELL Genre: Mystery / RomancePublisher: Ewephoric PublishingDate of Publication: November 4, 2021Number of Pages: 352 pages  Scroll down for Giveaway! SYNOPSIS To outsiders, the relationship between Manhattan antiquities assessor Annalisse Drury and sports car magnate Alec Zavos must look carefree and glamorous. In reality, it’s a love affair regularly punctuated by treasure hunting, high adventure, and the occasional dead body. When Alec schedules a getaway trip to show Annalisse his mother’s…

  • Kindness Wins Cover Banner
    book review,  Books

    What I’m Reading Wednesday – Revisiting KINDNESS WINS

    October is National Bullying Awareness Month, and one way to help combat bullying is to teach kindness. With that in mind, I’m re-sharing my review of Galit Breen’s Kindness Wins from 2015. It’s a truly wonderful tool in your parenting arsenal, and heaven knows there’s not a parent alive that can’t benefit from a great tool. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a commission if you purchase through them.   I purchased a copy of Kindness Wins with my own money.  All opinions found here are mine alone. If you are reading this, it’s obvious you are plugged in and living online. Internet, email, social media –…

  • book review,  Books

    Holding On Loosely by Dana Knox Wright – Book Blog Tour

    I’ve had a lot of things swirling around in my life lately and it’s forced me to take a break from book reviews. Sometimes, though, the books on tour with Lone Star Book Blog Tours seem to appear just when I need them (and I purchased my own copy of this one because the synopsis SPOKE to me). Is it coincidence or just simple good timing? I’m not sure, honestly, but with all the chaos happening, I’m just holding things together (kind of, maybe), and so Dana Knox Wright’s newest book Holding On Loosely feels like it was meant for control freak/Type A/struggling perfectionist me – particularly with my oldest…