People Don’t Just Disappear
Gripping, tense, mysterious, and shocking! People Don’t Just Disappear is the first book which I have read by Claire Allan, and I will be reading more of this author’s books in the future! I enjoyed the mystery, the tension, the characters, and the plot. Bronagh answered her door to find a little boy crying on her doorstep. He wants his mother and Bronagh goes with him to help him find her. Her boyfriend Mal returns from a business trip Twenty-four hours later and can’t find her. A neighbor informs him that she saw their front door open and she went over to close it for them but has not seen his girlfriend. Where is she? Who was the lost little boy??? Mal is beyond worried and freaked out. It is not like Bronagh to leave without saying anything. Their relationship is solid. She is not ghosting him. The police don’t take him seriously until a journalist decides to investigate Bronagh’s disappearance. Then things get interesting. People Don’t Just Disappear proved to be a fast read which kept me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages!!!! I enjoyed the tension, suspense, and dread in this book. There is danger lurking around every other corner, and I had my fingers crossed and hoped that someone – anyone would find Bronagh before it was too late!!!!!! I thought that Claire Allan did a great job of taking readers into the heads of her characters. I felt their reactions were believable, and I felt their fear, anxiety, and worry jumping off the pages. Wonderfully written, well thought out, shocking, and tense! Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Animals Are A-holes: Meet the Biggest Jerks of the Animal Kingdom
This is a fun one folks! This would make a great gift during the holiday time. It is fun, informative, and has great illustrations and facts. If wondering who the bigger A-Hole is a giraffe or a platypus is keeping you up at night, this is the book for you! Animals aren’t just cute and cuddly; they can be downright nasty and offensive. Don’t believe me? You will after reading this book. I had a lot of fun reading through this book and learning facts about all kinds of critters including insects, sea life, and animals around the world. The illustrations are fantastic and fit the bad behavior of the animals being showcased. This would make for a fun book to have on a coffee table, in a waiting rooms, or for those who enjoy bathroom reading. Fun, informative, entertaining, and wonderfully illustrated.
The Creek, The Crone, and the Crow
Atmospheric, gripping, mesmerizing and hard to put down! Leah Weiss delivered once again with The Creek, The Crone, and the Crow! I loved the setting, the characters, the folklore, and emphasis on the strength of women. I enjoyed how this book had some mystery, some empowerment, some belief, some disbelief, and some secrets. I was drawn in by Leah Weiss’s wonderful writing, the setting, and the use of local folklore. Baines Creek, Appalachia It’s the 1980’s and the last one room classroom in America is going to close. Birdie Rocas is a reclusive witch and holder of local folklore and secrets. Kate Shaw is the teacher at the school that is closing, and Lydia Brown is a psychic who lost her power but has an unusual birthmark. All three of these women play a part in this richly detailed book. I enjoyed the emphasis on the women, their strengths, and how each was the keeper of knowledge and secrets. Each had her own strength and the author showed how women often carry the past, the path to healing, and the stories of where they come from. Wonderfully written, captivating, thought provoking, and atmospheric. Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark | Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton
“I’ve never seen a mountain I didn’t think I could climb.” – Dolly Parton Jolene might have tried to take her man, but no one can take away the impact that Dolly Parton has made on country music and music in general. She has sold over 100 million records worldwide! Dolly Parton has a rags-to-riches story, a perky personality, and an unwavering drive. She broke through barriers, wrote her own songs, won people over with her unique sound, she crossed over into pop music and had a movie career, and she put books into the hands of children through her imagination library. What’s not to love?????? “I’m not offended by all of the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb… and I also know that I’m not blonde.” – Dolly Parton In Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton, Martha Ackmann tells the rags-to-riches story of how Dolly Parton rose to success. The book begins with Dolly’s childhood in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. She grew up dirt poor, but music was in her veins. The book tells of her family members and their love of music and musical abilities. They supported Dolly and her desire to be a performer. She did not have an easy rise to fame, and this book chronicles her early struggles and setbacks on her path to success. It also chronicles her marriage to Carl Dean, and her lifelong friendship with Judy Ogle. “You can wish your life away. But if you’re going to dream, you’re going to have to get out and, like I always say, you have to put some wings on them dreams, and some feet and fingers and some hands. They gotta get into some stuff. You can’t just sit around and think of all the things you want to do. You’ve got to think of what you want to do, and then you’ve got to get out and make that happen.” – Dolly Parton I learned a lot about Dolly Parton that I did not know, and some things I did know were expanded upon in this book. Dolly is perky and spunky and a businesswoman. She attributes her musical skills to her mother’s side of the family and her business skills to her father. Her father was illiterate but had a keen business sense. She began the Imagination Library to honor her father who could not read or write. She gave children the gift of books and reading. Again, what’s not to love? “I hope life treats you kindAnd I hope you have all you’ve dreamed ofAnd I wish you joy and happinessBut above all this, I wish you love” – I will always love you – Dolly Parton Dolly Parton has written over 3,000 songs – some amazing, some not. But she has never stopped. She is a tiny, tiny powerhouse who has lived, loved, entertained, given, inspired, and continues to dazzle. Hopefully, she keeps writing, keeps singing, and keeps entertaining us for years to come! This book gives readers a glimpse into her long career and life. It does long footnotes after each chapter which I wish would have been saved until the very end of the book. This did feel very academic at times but I put that into my I-don’t-give-a-hoot category as I adore Dolly Parton and getting to know more about her. “You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.”- Dolly Parton Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Imaginary Friend
Welp! I thought this would be a slam dunk for me and that I would love it! The synopsis states ” A must-read for fans of John Marrs and Jason Rekulak.” Nope. I enjoy both of their books and no, just no, this was not for me. That is not to say it is not for other readers; it is – unfortunately it was not for me. This book has triggers galore. I don’t want to say what as I do not want to give away any spoilers but know going in; this is not going to be an easy read. It is also a slow burn. I am not a slow burn kinda gal. I struggle with them, and I struggled with the slowness in this book. I kept picking up other books to read while reading this one. That is never a good sign. Even when things began to become clear and take shape, this was still too slow for my taste. What is good about this book is the mood. It is creepy, brimming with unease, dread and heavy on atmosphere. Pennie and Eve are alone in a house that once took in foster children until they aged out of the system. It is not a happy home nor a home that will give one the warm and fuzzies. But it is home, and Eve vows to take care of her younger sister, Pennie. They are all alone except for Pennie’s imaginary friend!! The tone of the book had me feeling as if something bad was going to happen at any second. Things do become clear closer to the end when the reveals begin to happen, but that was not enough to save this book for me. I wanted to keep reading to see how it ended. While this book did not work for me, it did work for other readers, so please read their reviews as well. I thought I would love this one, but the slowness did not work for me. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Howdie’s Apprentice
Gripping, moving, tense, captivating, and atmospheric! Andy Marr has delivered yet again with The Howdie’s Apprentice! I love books that contain mystery, secrets, survival tales, found family, community, and people overcoming obstacles. These are on display in The Howdie’s Apprentice. I found this book to be wonderfully written, well thought out, perfectly paced, and intriguing. Jane is fourteen years old and pregnant when she stumbles and collapses in the sand of Myreton, Scotland. Luckily, she was found by three brothers, John, Alex, and Robbie. The reclusive brothers bring her to their home so that their siter, Grace, a local healer can tend to her. It is there, in the home, where Jane will find safety, comfort, normalcy, and found family. But being young with a new baby, has the villagers’ tongues wagging and gossip being whispered in the wind. Who is this mysterious young girl and where did she come from????? This book also takes readers to Edinburgh, Scotland where a newly married couple lives in discomfort and bleakness. The husband gets himself into a bit of a pickle and finds himself desperate and a wee bit testy – okay, massively testy. I thought the author did a tremendous job with time and place. I was instantly carried away to 1789, Scotland. I loved the atmosphere and settings in this book. With the vivid descriptions I felt as if I was right there in the scenes as a silent observer. This book is full of both likeable and unlikeable characters. The ones who were likeable were very likeable and I enjoyed getting to know them and spending time with them. Alex became a favorite as his hard exterior melted and he proved to be one of my favorite characters in the book. Many of the characters go through transformations in this book – some for the better and some for the worst. I also enjoyed how the author unraveled Jane’s backstory as well as the backstories of several of the key characters. As I mentioned, I loved the found family aspect in this book. I also enjoyed how Jane became a member of the community and the bonds she made with Grace and her reclusive brothers. A gripping coming of age tale of survival, found family, and healing. Thank Andy Marr who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
People Don’t Just Disappear
Gripping, tense, mysterious, and shocking! People Don’t Just Disappear is the first book which I have read by Claire Allan, and I will be reading more of this author’s books in the future! I enjoyed the mystery, the tension, the characters, and the plot. Bronagh answered her door to find a little boy crying on her doorstep. He wants his mother and Bronagh goes with him to help him find her. Her boyfriend Mal returns from a business trip Twenty-four hours later and can’t find her. A neighbor informs him that she saw their front door open and she went over to close it for them but has not seen his girlfriend. Where is she? Who was the lost little boy??? Mal is beyond worried and freaked out. It is not like Bronagh to leave without saying anything. Their relationship is solid. She is not ghosting him. The police don’t take him seriously until a journalist decides to investigate Bronagh’s disappearance. Then things get interesting. People Don’t Just Disappear proved to be a fast read which kept me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages!!!! I enjoyed the tension, suspense, and dread in this book. There is danger lurking around every other corner, and I had my fingers crossed and hoped that someone – anyone would find Bronagh before it was too late!!!!!! I thought that Claire Allan did a great job of taking readers into the heads of her characters. I felt their reactions were believable, and I felt their fear, anxiety, and worry jumping off the pages. Wonderfully written, well thought out, shocking, and tense! Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Animals Are A-holes: Meet the Biggest Jerks of the Animal Kingdom
This is a fun one folks! This would make a great gift during the holiday time. It is fun, informative, and has great illustrations and facts. If wondering who the bigger A-Hole is a giraffe or a platypus is keeping you up at night, this is the book for you! Animals aren’t just cute and cuddly; they can be downright nasty and offensive. Don’t believe me? You will after reading this book. I had a lot of fun reading through this book and learning facts about all kinds of critters including insects, sea life, and animals around the world. The illustrations are fantastic and fit the bad behavior of the animals being showcased. This would make for a fun book to have on a coffee table, in a waiting rooms, or for those who enjoy bathroom reading. Fun, informative, entertaining, and wonderfully illustrated.
The Creek, The Crone, and the Crow
Atmospheric, gripping, mesmerizing and hard to put down! Leah Weiss delivered once again with The Creek, The Crone, and the Crow! I loved the setting, the characters, the folklore, and emphasis on the strength of women. I enjoyed how this book had some mystery, some empowerment, some belief, some disbelief, and some secrets. I was drawn in by Leah Weiss’s wonderful writing, the setting, and the use of local folklore. Baines Creek, Appalachia It’s the 1980’s and the last one room classroom in America is going to close. Birdie Rocas is a reclusive witch and holder of local folklore and secrets. Kate Shaw is the teacher at the school that is closing, and Lydia Brown is a psychic who lost her power but has an unusual birthmark. All three of these women play a part in this richly detailed book. I enjoyed the emphasis on the women, their strengths, and how each was the keeper of knowledge and secrets. Each had her own strength and the author showed how women often carry the past, the path to healing, and the stories of where they come from. Wonderfully written, captivating, thought provoking, and atmospheric. Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark | Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton
“I’ve never seen a mountain I didn’t think I could climb.” – Dolly Parton Jolene might have tried to take her man, but no one can take away the impact that Dolly Parton has made on country music and music in general. She has sold over 100 million records worldwide! Dolly Parton has a rags-to-riches story, a perky personality, and an unwavering drive. She broke through barriers, wrote her own songs, won people over with her unique sound, she crossed over into pop music and had a movie career, and she put books into the hands of children through her imagination library. What’s not to love?????? “I’m not offended by all of the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb… and I also know that I’m not blonde.” – Dolly Parton In Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton, Martha Ackmann tells the rags-to-riches story of how Dolly Parton rose to success. The book begins with Dolly’s childhood in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. She grew up dirt poor, but music was in her veins. The book tells of her family members and their love of music and musical abilities. They supported Dolly and her desire to be a performer. She did not have an easy rise to fame, and this book chronicles her early struggles and setbacks on her path to success. It also chronicles her marriage to Carl Dean, and her lifelong friendship with Judy Ogle. “You can wish your life away. But if you’re going to dream, you’re going to have to get out and, like I always say, you have to put some wings on them dreams, and some feet and fingers and some hands. They gotta get into some stuff. You can’t just sit around and think of all the things you want to do. You’ve got to think of what you want to do, and then you’ve got to get out and make that happen.” – Dolly Parton I learned a lot about Dolly Parton that I did not know, and some things I did know were expanded upon in this book. Dolly is perky and spunky and a businesswoman. She attributes her musical skills to her mother’s side of the family and her business skills to her father. Her father was illiterate but had a keen business sense. She began the Imagination Library to honor her father who could not read or write. She gave children the gift of books and reading. Again, what’s not to love? “I hope life treats you kindAnd I hope you have all you’ve dreamed ofAnd I wish you joy and happinessBut above all this, I wish you love” – I will always love you – Dolly Parton Dolly Parton has written over 3,000 songs – some amazing, some not. But she has never stopped. She is a tiny, tiny powerhouse who has lived, loved, entertained, given, inspired, and continues to dazzle. Hopefully, she keeps writing, keeps singing, and keeps entertaining us for years to come! This book gives readers a glimpse into her long career and life. It does long footnotes after each chapter which I wish would have been saved until the very end of the book. This did feel very academic at times but I put that into my I-don’t-give-a-hoot category as I adore Dolly Parton and getting to know more about her. “You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.”- Dolly Parton Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Imaginary Friend
Welp! I thought this would be a slam dunk for me and that I would love it! The synopsis states ” A must-read for fans of John Marrs and Jason Rekulak.” Nope. I enjoy both of their books and no, just no, this was not for me. That is not to say it is not for other readers; it is – unfortunately it was not for me. This book has triggers galore. I don’t want to say what as I do not want to give away any spoilers but know going in; this is not going to be an easy read. It is also a slow burn. I am not a slow burn kinda gal. I struggle with them, and I struggled with the slowness in this book. I kept picking up other books to read while reading this one. That is never a good sign. Even when things began to become clear and take shape, this was still too slow for my taste. What is good about this book is the mood. It is creepy, brimming with unease, dread and heavy on atmosphere. Pennie and Eve are alone in a house that once took in foster children until they aged out of the system. It is not a happy home nor a home that will give one the warm and fuzzies. But it is home, and Eve vows to take care of her younger sister, Pennie. They are all alone except for Pennie’s imaginary friend!! The tone of the book had me feeling as if something bad was going to happen at any second. Things do become clear closer to the end when the reveals begin to happen, but that was not enough to save this book for me. I wanted to keep reading to see how it ended. While this book did not work for me, it did work for other readers, so please read their reviews as well. I thought I would love this one, but the slowness did not work for me. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Howdie’s Apprentice
Gripping, moving, tense, captivating, and atmospheric! Andy Marr has delivered yet again with The Howdie’s Apprentice! I love books that contain mystery, secrets, survival tales, found family, community, and people overcoming obstacles. These are on display in The Howdie’s Apprentice. I found this book to be wonderfully written, well thought out, perfectly paced, and intriguing. Jane is fourteen years old and pregnant when she stumbles and collapses in the sand of Myreton, Scotland. Luckily, she was found by three brothers, John, Alex, and Robbie. The reclusive brothers bring her to their home so that their siter, Grace, a local healer can tend to her. It is there, in the home, where Jane will find safety, comfort, normalcy, and found family. But being young with a new baby, has the villagers’ tongues wagging and gossip being whispered in the wind. Who is this mysterious young girl and where did she come from????? This book also takes readers to Edinburgh, Scotland where a newly married couple lives in discomfort and bleakness. The husband gets himself into a bit of a pickle and finds himself desperate and a wee bit testy – okay, massively testy. I thought the author did a tremendous job with time and place. I was instantly carried away to 1789, Scotland. I loved the atmosphere and settings in this book. With the vivid descriptions I felt as if I was right there in the scenes as a silent observer. This book is full of both likeable and unlikeable characters. The ones who were likeable were very likeable and I enjoyed getting to know them and spending time with them. Alex became a favorite as his hard exterior melted and he proved to be one of my favorite characters in the book. Many of the characters go through transformations in this book – some for the better and some for the worst. I also enjoyed how the author unraveled Jane’s backstory as well as the backstories of several of the key characters. As I mentioned, I loved the found family aspect in this book. I also enjoyed how Jane became a member of the community and the bonds she made with Grace and her reclusive brothers. A gripping coming of age tale of survival, found family, and healing. Thank Andy Marr who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
