by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

#AntoinedeSaintExupéry #NetGalley

Adults who love The Little Prince and kids who may just be learning about de Saint Exbury will both enjoy this entry in the good series. Watch young Antoine grow up and find his way to becoming a pilot (he faces a few challenges). Read about all that he accomplished before his life ended to soon.

My favorite part of the story is when the author says that, when flying a mail plane, Antoine circled the airport for an hour so that he could finish his book. What a book lover!

After sharing this book with a child, buy a copy of Le Petit Prince for them. They may treasure it for many years.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 05 November 2024

Molten Mud Murder is published by the excellent Poisoned Pen Press, a small press that is dedicated to mystery fiction. This is author Johnson’s first novel and the first in a projected series.

American protagonist, Alexa, is a forensics examiner whose specialty is teeth. She has come to New Zealand on a fellowship, falls in love with the country and wants to stay longer. She manages to insert herself into the murder case involving a city counselor.

What I struggled with a little: Alexa took many risks that felt plot driven. Some mysteries, such as what happened to her friend, Mary, were not fully solved. Perhaps that is for another book.

What I liked: The setting on the North Island of New Zealand and the ways in which the landscape is brought vividly to life. The information about tribal Maori customs and rituals. That there was a back story for Alexa. The hint of romance between her and Bruce, the Senior, a term for the chief detective. The details on forensic examination.

This mystery should appeal to armchair travelers, lovers of New Zealand and those who enjoy action packed mysteries. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this proof in return for an honest review. I look forward to the author’s next book.

An Encyclopedia of an Epic Continent

by Rashmi Sirdeshpande

Do you know a child who might like to know more about the many countries that make up Asia? Would they like books with maps, photos and a nice layout? Are they interested in history, people, culture, food, wildlife, sights, the past and future of this continent? And, this book has even more.

If they (or you) can answer yes to some (or all) of the above, this book is an excellent resource. It is organized by geographic areas, for example, South Asia or West Asia, etc. and packed with information.

This book would make a fantastic addition to a home or school library.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

by Nancy Campbell

Imagine that is four o’clock on a late fall or winter afternoon. A cup of tea or coffee or hot chocolate is on the table and this book is in your hands.

Take the time to read an entry any day that you have the opportunity. It will see you through many a cold, dark night.

Some of the entries in this book are very short as is the first one by Anne Frank. At most the others are still less than ten pages.

There are authors whose names I recognized including Virginia Woolf, Tove Jansson, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Vincent Van Gogh. Interspersed with their writings were many minutes of getting new perspectives on the time of year.

Start with the author’s introduction and then read this one in any order. It is a title that I will be pulling out again and again.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for this title. All opinions are my own.

Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

100+ Funny Animals and Fantastic Characters

by Terry Runyan

#DrawItHappy #NetGalley

Are you a doodler? I am always drawing in my notes. For anyone, like me, who has some fun with pencils, this book is worth a look. Here are more than 100 drawings to replicate.

Many of these drawings are whimsical. For example, the very first one titled baseball bat does not show a Louisville slugger but, rather, a bat (the winged type) holding a bat. Each doodle that follows has clear instructions and steps.

So, enjoy a drawing break. It can be refreshing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 15 October 2024

From the Publisher

Draw a Baseball Bat…	Or a Night Owl…	Or a Ghost Writer!

A Short Story

by Mary Kay Andrews

#HolidayHideaway #NetGalley

I picked this short (under 100 page) story when I was feeling a bit out of sorts. It did cheer me up.

Readers have to be willing to suspend disbelief but,if they do so, this is a fun read.

Tilly is no longer married and is facing some (temporary) housing issues. Her solution? Stay in one of the vacant properties that is on the books of the agency where she is employed. This works just fine until a tenant enters the house leaving Tilly and her dog fleeing to the attic.

This is how the stage has set for an enjoyable and witty holiday read. Since this is a seasonal story, readers can relax and enjoy waiting for the happy ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 29 October 2024

A Novel

by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Sci-Fi and Fantasy

#BeforeYourMemoryFades #NetGalley

Have you ever wished that you could go back to the past? Is there something you wanted to say? Something you wanted/needed to do? Do you want to revisit a critical time? It might not be possible for you and me but it is exactly what the characters in Kawaguchi’s stories can do so long as they follow the rules.

In Before Your Memory Fades, third in the series, readers old and new can experience the magic of these opportunities. Here they will visit café Donna Donna which has some of the same magic as café Funiculi Funicula as in the earlier novels.

True to form, there are four stories in this collection. They feature:

A daughter who begrudges her deceased parents for leaving her orphaned

A comedian who aches for his beloved and their shared dreams

A younger sister whose grief has become all-consuming

A young man who realizes his love for his childhood friend too late

How will lives be changed? Turn the pages in the stories with a unique concept to find out.

To be enjoyed with your next cup of coffee. Your life may just be changed a bit too.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

This book was published in 2022

Also by this author:

A lovely read: Tales from the Cafe

Is there time: Before we say goodbye

Three City Kitties

by Ashley Barron

This very cute title will be enjoyed by young children who like animal stories. The text is simple and inviting, the depiction of the cats will ring true to cat lovers, and the illustrations are bright and charming.

Highly recommended. This is adorable.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Owlkids Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Here is another title in this excellent series of short biographies for kids. This time, I got to read about Mary Kom, someone whom I did not know. As is always the case in the Little People, Big Dreams titles, readers will find a story with inspiration, this time about a girl who dreamed of becoming a boxer. Learn how she achieved this, how she grew along the way and how she gave back.

This book is beautifully illustrated and tells Mary’s story well. Give it to a child to show them how dreams can lead to accomplishments.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dreaming of Arcadia

by Tim Richardson

#TheEnglishLandscapeGarden #NetGalley

While I don’t have a garden, I so enjoy looking at books about them. I just sit down, relax and enjoy some virtual touring. It is a lovely way to spend some time.

In this well put together book, readers can visit twenty gardens including Castle Howard, Chiswick House, Blenheim Palace (all known to me) along with, to name a few (that I did not know), Stowe, Painshill, and Petworth Park among others.

The introduction lets readers know that the focus here is the eighteenth century landscape garden. In this section, learn what exactly and English landscape garden is-for one thing, it is naturalistic. Read a bit more and then get to the gardens. For each of these there photos and text. Dip in anywhere and enjoy!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 22 October 2024