This delightful story by Lisl H. Detlefsen and illustrated by Natalia Vasilica reminds the reader to find the magical gifts in each day. Of course, the measure of each day depends on the recipient. Some days are highly anticipated and wonderfully exciting. Some days take getting used to. Some bring unexpected surprises. And some don’t […]
Archive | Books 4 Fun
Privileged Information
When you find a book that you look forward to reading each evening, it’s a treasure. This gem by Stephen White is the first in the Dr. Alan Gregory series, of which I’d read one long ago and for some reason got away from. Thankfully, Privileged Information was gifted to me and brought me back […]
Ping’s Perfect Pot
When Ping visits the market with her grandfather, she’s overwhelmed with all the decorations, food, and New Year celebratory energy around them. They settle on buying a tangerine tree, which symbolizes good luck. But when they take it home, Ping feels something is missing—the perfect pot. Through a concerted effort, tries and misses, Ping, with […]
One Great Love: An Advent and Christmas Treasury of Readings, Poems, and Prayers
The editors at Paraclete Press put together a heartwarming collection of holiday-related classics in this beautifully presented book. The images, photographs, and artwork are breathtaking (you know I’m a visual gal), but where they found such a plethora of Christmas content is a magical mystery. There are stories you know, songs you’ve sung, poems you’ve […]
Nisha’s Just-Right Christmas Tree
Little Nisha insists on a big tree, but her parents remind her that they live in a small apartment. That doesn’t deter Nisha from believing in the impossible—”a tree as big as a camel and as wide as an elephant.” Still, her Baba stresses they need a reasonably sized tree to drag home and carry […]
It Starts with a Kiss: A Very Merry Fairbanks Christmas
Margaret Fairbanks is due home for the holidays. On her way through the village, a winter storm whips up, and she’s forced to waylay her journey and spend the night at her family’s cottage. When she arrives, she discovers it inhabited by Grayson Rochester, a “gentleman farmer” seeking shelter from the storm. The two discover […]
The Stand-In
Gracie Reed decides to organize her life with an app that will keep her focused and on the path of becoming a total boss. It isn’t working. She’s got a sexual predator for a boss, is struggling to find a new job, and fretting about how she’s going to afford the care facility where her […]
Thanksgiving In the Woods
I love a good holiday book designed to be read aloud and shared with friends, children, and family—one that can be passed down for generations. Thanksgiving in the Woods is such a book. Written by Phillis Alsdurf and Illustrated by Jenny Lovlie, Thanksgiving in the Woods is charming picture book in storyline and visual appeal, […]
Estrellas: Moments of Illumination Along El Camino De Santiago ~ a Memoir
When author Suzanne Maggio chose to walk the 500-mile El Camino de Santiago, a surprising experience awaited her. The story begins with her “why” and swiftly moves to her first night in Spain, where she finds herself dining alone, wondering if she’ll survive this independent month-long excursion. Her doubts blossom, but then she crosses paths […]
Books and Bribes
Lovers of the paranormal mystery will enjoy this first installment in the Bookstore Cozy Mystery Series by Lucinda Race. The central character, Lily Michaels, is a secret-keeping bookseller in the small town of Pembroke Cove, Maine. But when she discovers she’s a witch, everything changes. She can communicate with her cat, Milo, and her “friendship” […]