Welcome to my blog on books. I’m BreeAnn and I have always loved to read! We love reading just about everything in our house. We take trips to the libraries in the area, including the Little Free Libraries that we find! I seem to have an affinity towards Historical Fiction lately, but I read just about every genre there is! I review new and old books; ones that I have enjoyed, and even ones I haven’t loved so much. I have two children, so you’ll find lots of great children’s book reviews as well! I review books I find through my own To Be Read list, NetGalley, and author’s requests! I’d love to hear of any books you’d like me to read and review as well!
What I Loved: This book is written in first person narrative of both Grace Coffin and Cormac, our badly-sewn corpse. The chapters alternate between each narrator. I loved their commentary, like they were each just sitting down to have a conversation with you and tell you the story. I found the writing style easily drawing me in with this.
How I Felt: I read some reviews of this book before I started reading and I found some comments about how the words used in this book would require a dictionary and I did not find that to be the case. There are always words that I don’t know in a book, and I appreciate that, and that was the case in this book as well. However, it was no more than any other book, and if you have read those comments, please do not let that deter you from reading this book.
I really enjoyed the story. I found myself laughing at things that Cormac says and does, he’s really kind of a likable dead-guy! There are some serious subjects as well, and I found myself really thinking about the book and the story after I closed it.
To Read or Not To Read: This is a great book for people that love Charlaine Harris-type stories. I found the characters fun, but sassy and it had the right amount of spooky/ghoulish stuff in it.
What’s This Book About Anyway?
Grace Coffin is starting fresh in Southwest Harbor, with a new school and a new house. She doesn’t make friends easily, and she doesn’t want to, but she does start to have a friendship with the boy next door.
Cormac is dead, but he’s taken it upon himself to sew everything back together and take up residence in his backyard in a ridiculously large urn he built. He has chosen to not move to the other side so that he can solve his wife’s murder. His home becomes invaded by Grace and her mom, as they move in. After some time, Grace and Cormac find themselves joining forces to figure out and set right the wrongs in both their lives.
Where to Find This Book:
You can get this book for FREE by signing up for Winter Fox’s newsletter!!
Footnotes:
This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.
Welcome to the Book Tour stop for Who Named Their Pony Macaroni? at She Just Loves Books! A big thank you to Rockstar Book Tours for this book tour stop!
About the Book:
Who Named Their Pony Macaroni? by Marilyn Singer
Illustrated by Ryan McAmis
Published: October 1, 2019
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Available formats: Hardcover, eBook
Page Count: 48
A family of mice. A runaway goat.
A mischievous snake.
A shocking parrot.
A pardoned turkey.
A pampered raccoon.
A ghostbusting dog.
A celebrity cow.
The White House housed more than presidents and First Families–who could forget the furry, scaly, feathered friends who impressed the press, guarded their charges, and kept them company through all the ups and downs of their respective terms?
Marilyn Singer’s compelling poems will delight readers with stories of the creatures who sat beside our country’s leaders, as she draws intriguing connections between the animals and the administrations they accompanied. Mixed-media illustrations by Ryan McAmis lend humor and vivacity, and detailed back matter explores each president’s pet history in more depth.
A Peek Inside:
This fun artwork is taken directly from Who Named Their Pony Macaroni? with permission of the author and Rockstar Book Tours for this tour.
Marilyn Singer was born in the Bronx (New York City) on October 3, 1948 and lived most of her early life in N. Massapequa (Long Island), NY. She attended Queens College, City University of New York, and for her junior year, Reading University, England. She holds a B.A. in English from Queens and an M.A. in Communications from New York University.
In 1974, after teaching English in New York City high schools for several years, she began to write – initially film notes, catalogues, teacher’s guides and film strips. Then, one day, when she was sitting in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, she penned a story featuring talking insect characters she’d made up when she was eight. Encouraged by the
responses she got, she wrote more stories and in 1976 her first book, The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn’t, was published by E.P.Dutton & Co.
Since then, Marilyn has published over seventy books for children and young adults. Her genres are many and varied, including realistic novels, fantasies, non-fiction, fairy tales, picture books, mysteries and poetry. She likes writing many different kinds of books because it’s challenging and it keeps her from getting bored. She has won several Children’s Choice and Parents’ Choice Awards, as well as the following: the Creature Carnival, Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book, 2005; I Believe in Water: Twelve Brushes with Religion, New York Public Library’s “Best Books for the Teen Age,” 2001; Stay True: Short Stories for Strong Girls, Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 2000 (YALSA); On the Same Day in March, Booklist’s Top Ten Science Books of 2000; NCSS-CBC Notable Book, 2000; Deal with a Ghost, finalist, YA category, Edgar Award, 1998; It Can’t Hurt Forever, Maud Hart Lovelace Award, 1983; The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 1983; Turtle in July, NCTE Notable, N.Y.Times Best Illustrated and Time Magazine Best Children’s Books of 1989; Turtle in July was also a Reading Rainbow review book.
Marilyn currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband Steve; their standard poodle Oggi, a cousin of their beloved and recently departed poodle Easy, seen in the home page photo; a cat named August ; two collared doves named Jubilee and Holiday; and a starling named Darling. Her interests include dog training, reading, hiking, bird-watching, gardening, meditation, playing computer adventure games and going to the movies and the theatre. She’s also a major Star Trek fan.
A big thank you to the author and Silver Dagger Tours for allowing She Just Loves Books to be a part of this book tour!
Accidental Lazarus by Kfir Luzzatto
Dead & Busy Episode 1
Genre: Humorous Noir, Supernatural Mystery
Print Length: 39 pages
Publisher: Pine Ten
Publication Date: September 21, 201
It is sort of annoying having dead people dropping by at all hours…
A paranormal detective like Dave Callaghan has already seen everything, but he never expected to find a presumed dead mobster drinking scotch in his armchair. He is definitely unhappy when he (it?) engages him to find out who shot him. But the worse is yet to come; Dave’s girlfriend gets involved and the real trouble begins.
Episode 1 of the DEAD & BUSY series will keep you laughing to the (bitter) end.
“Dave Callaghan is not here to bring you profound, life-changing thoughts; only quick, unadulterated fun.”
Make sure to check out the rest of the series too!
Where to Buy:
Phantom Lover by Kfir Luzzatto
Dead & Busy Episode 2
Print Length: 37 pages
Publisher: Pine Ten
Publication Date: March 21, 2013
A SEXY ECTOPLASMIC HOOKER
Why Do All These Deadies Keep Flocking Around Dave?
“It was bad enough, I can assure you, finding a half-naked ectoplasm sitting at my desk, but she had to talk nonsense too . . .”
Dave Callaghan is used to having ghosts drop by uninvited at all hours. But this time he is in for a new experience, and you must get ready for a good laugh!
Episode 2 of the DEAD & BUSY series – the one with the hooker.
A Mouse That Keeps Reciting Poetry to You, Is a Pest
When white mice plague a short-tempered mobster, he hires Dave Callaghan to find out where they are coming from. The mobster wants to know why the mice wake him up in the middle of the night to recite “Mary had a little lamb” to him.
Dave is used to dealing with ghosts of every description, but this time he is facing a complex conspiracy that involves the government and a lascivious ghost.
Episode 3 of the DEAD & BUSY series – the one with the Aussie ghost sailor.
In Which the Accountant Disappears With the Bank Codes
What can be more maddening for a businessman, than to have his trusted accountant disappear with all the bank access codes? Well, discovering that he has eloped with the ghost of a prostitute surely makes it worse.
The need to walk into a ghostly brothel doesn’t put Dave off. He even befriends one of the girls there and fun is had by all.
Episode 4 of the DEAD & BUSY series – the one with the little ghostly whorehouse.
Kfir Luzzatto is the author of eight novels, several short stories and six non-fiction books. Kfir was born and raised in Italy, and moved to Israel as a teenager. He acquired the love for the English language from his father, a former U.S. soldier, a voracious reader, and a prolific writer. He holds a PhD in chemical engineering and works as a patent attorney. In pursuit of his interest in the mind-body connection, Kfir was certified as a Clinical Hypnotherapist by the Anglo European College of Therapeutic Hypnosis.
Kfir is an HWA (Horror Writers Association) and ITW (International Thriller Writers) member.
What I Loved: I LOVED this book. I’m already thinking about when I can read it again. The dystopian world that Kim Liggett creates in this book is fascinating! I was completely drawn into the story and the universe. The “Grace Year” location was so well built, I could see everything. I was right there with them through the whole experience.
How I Felt: It’s been a while since a book so completely grabbed me from the beginning and held me through the whole thing. There were times were I just couldn’t read fast enough. I wanted to figure out all the little questions and the odd things happening. I was invested. I’m really, really hoping there will be a sequel…I would grab it in a second.
To Read or Not To Read: If you enjoyed The Hunger Games, The Handmaid’s Tale, or The Crucible, I think this is right up your alley.
What’s This Book About Anyway?
The women of the county have magic that appears as they enter their Grace Year. They are exiled to an island for the entire year where unspeakable things happen. The ones who survive can come home at the end of the year, but must never speak of their year to others.
Tierney is coming up on her Grace Year, but she’s not like others. She has never quite conformed to the county’s rules. As a result she expects that she won’t receive a veil from a suitor as a proposal before she leaves for her Grace Year. She must go with or without a veil, and survive. There are poachers that will kill any Grace Year girl that wanders off the path or out of the encampment. They are skinned alive as their bodies are said to have magical powers. So, while it seems that the danger lies outside the encampment, the dangers from within, from the other girls are just as real.
Where to Find This Book:
Click on any images to be linked to the book!
Footnotes:
This ARC was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
A big thank you to the author and Silver Dagger Tours for allowing She Just Loves Books to be a part of this book tour!
Ticking Off Breast Cancer
by Sara Liyanage
Genre: Autobiography
Print Length: 237 pages
Publisher: Hashtag Press
Publication Date: September 26, 2019
Sara is a married, forty-something, mother of two and part-time lawyer in London. When breast cancer appears on her never-ending to-do list, Sara’s life is thrown upside down…
Ticking Off Breast Cancer is a chronological narrative of Sara’s life from the day of her primary breast cancer diagnosis and throughout treatment. Sara opens up with heart-wrenching honesty, as she deals with the physical, emotional and mental challenges thrown at her by cancer. Accompanying her on the rollercoaster of cancer struggles, are plenty of light-hearted and positive moments. This is a no-holds-barred insight into the day-to-day realities of breast cancer treatment aimed at supporting the patient as well as their family and friends. Packed with helpful to-do lists, Ticking Off Breast Cancer provides thoughtful and helpful advice for every step of the way.
Where to Buy:
I was diagnosed with HER2 positive and oestrogen positive primary breast cancer on 19 October 2016, aged 42. It wasn’t part of my life plan (which at that point involved being a very busy wife, mother of two children, working part time in the corporate London rat race, general multi-tasker, juggler and spinner of many plates). But I decided to get through this detour with a positive attitude and as much dignity, grace and composure as possible.
Well, with the combination of medical appointments, scans, surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy my dignity, grace and composure all flew out the window at some point. But I did retain the ability to get myself organised and make a few lists. And I love a list. I found myself spending a lot of time researching the practical stuff like what to take to hospital for surgery and chemo, how to alleviate the side effects of chemo, what to eat, how to relax, what to expect from radiotherapy and so on. Researching and making lists.
I found a wealth of excellent online information about going through breast cancer treatment. However, I found the websites completely overwhelming. I wanted to talk to someone who had been through it and who would hold my hand and tell me what to do. I wanted a website which gave me practical advice in one easily accessible place where I didn’t have to go through link after link trying to work out if the information was relevant or not, whilst trying to avoid the untrue/out-of-date/unreliable information. But I didn’t have someone to talk to and I didn’t find that website. Instead I researched around and I separated the wheat from the chaff, noted down a few to-do lists, shopping lists and action plans and put one foot in front of the other along the well-trodden cancer path.
Armed with my trusty lists I have made it through to the other side where I am now basking in the glow of hair regrowth, new eyebrows, new eyelashes, and a renewed energy.
After my treatment came to an end, it seemed a shame for my dog-eared lists to get thrown out but I certainly don’t plan on using them again. Never. I thought they might help other people like me. So here they are: I have created a website, which is what I needed when I was first diagnosed and going through my treatment.
I can’t hold your hand and tell you what to do, but I hope that my website can help make this turbulent journey a little less bumpy for you. I wish you all the best.
What I Loved: There is actually so much that I loved about this book. So, you are getting a list today!
The illustrations in this book are so very fun! The little details were really thought through on this making each page its own experience. The human tooth fairy’s home was my daughter’s favorite (and mine)! The thought that went into making these illustrations was amazing. The curtains are tied with tooth-shaped curtain ties. The mailbox is tooth shaped. It’s adorable and perfect for a child.
There is a seek and find on each page! A shark tooth has been hidden on each page for a child to find. They weren’t so easy and obvious that it wasn’t fun and it wasn’t so hard that my daughter ever gave up. It was perfect.
The writing is excellent for a pre-school through middle elementary child to enjoy. I really loved that it was a rhyming book because I find those fun, but the sentences were longer, making a full story with each page.
Finally, this book was written by 17 year old Erica Morgan. I am so impressed in her work and want to support her in this adventure!
Example of the Seek and Find on each page. This one is on the cover so I’m not spoiling any of the fun inside.
How I Felt: I immediately knew that my daughter would like this. It’s about tooth fairies and mermaids and sharks. And she did love it. She wanted to savor each page, looking at all the art and listening to my words. There are some “big-kid” words in there too, so she would interrupt every once in a while to ask what this word or that word meant. *A “big kid” word example would be “brief” as in to be quick. So the words aren’t so big that they make the book difficult, but it introduced new vocabulary. As I was reading, I kept thinking that it would be a fun book to do a Parent Reading to my child’s classroom. Overall, we just loved this book!
To Read or Not To Read: I can’t think of a single child that should not read this book. It is fun, well-written, and perfectly illustrated for the story!
What’s This Book About Anyway?
The shark tooth fairy , Mrs. Chompers, is sick and asks the human tooth fairy, Mrs. Pearly White, if she can cover for Mrs. Chompers for the night. Mrs. Pearly White uses magic to turn into a mermaid so she can travel the ocean making sure all the little sharks of the ocean get their treat in exchange for their newly lost tooth.
Image from A Shark Tooth Fairy Tale by Erica Morgan
What I Loved: The illustrations were perfect. The animals were interesting and drew our attention. My daughter specifically liked the Lions, but they were all great.
How I Felt: The writing made the story easy for a child to understand. My 6 year old was very interested in this book, and asked if there were more books like this story. She wanted to know more.
To Read or Not To Read: This is a great book for a pre-k to young elementary school child. It is a christian-based book and would be great for church libraries and nurseries.
What’s This Book About Anyway?
Noah is asked by God to build a boat. Noah works on it and then it is finished. God sends two of each animal to Noah to fill the boat. Once all the animals are there, it rains for 40 days and 40 nights. The boats saves the animals and Noah’s family. Once the rain stops, the must look for land to start over on.
Where to Find This Book:
Links in images
Footnotes:
This ARC was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
