book review

Non Fiction Review: Tricky Logic Puzzles for Adults

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Tricky Logic Puzzles for Adults by Steven Clontz
Tricky Logic Puzzles for Adults: 150 Difficult Puzzles to Challenge Your Brain
by Steven Clontz

5 out of 5 stars

This book includes sudoku puzzles, nonograms, calcudoku, and masyu games. There are cryptic puzzles that solve similar to sudoku, but result in decrypting a word or phrase. Masyu is a puzzle where you draw lines that connect in a path through black or white circles with strict rules of movement and direction.

Each puzzle comes with clear instructions to get you started, and a hint in case you get stuck. The answers to each puzzle are at the back of the book, so that you can check your work. Continue reading →

Non Fiction Review: Organic Aromatherapy & Essential Oils

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Organic Aromatherapy & Essential Oils by Amber Robinson
Organic Aromatherapy & Essential Oils: The Modern Guide to All-Natural Health and Wellness
by Amber Robinson

5 out of 5 stars


This book has chapters for using aromatherapy and essential oils for common health ailments, emotional and mental well-being, cosmetics and personal care, and to use around the home or outdoors. The book begins with general information about how aromatherapy works, and how various essential oils can be used and blended together. There are individual pages for each essential oil detailing its properties, uses, and benefits.

The remedies include things like allergy relief, congestion, nausea, toothache,and sunburn relief. The blends for emotional well-being include soothing relief for anger,frustration, anxiety, loneliness, and ways to boost your focus, find patience, learn to forgive, encourage a hopeful outlook, and find inspiration. Some of the recipes are designed for inhalation or for topical use. Continue reading →

Book Review: The Ravenous Gown

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The Ravenous Gown by Steffani Raff
The Ravenous Gown: And 14 More Tales about Real Beauty
by Steffani Raff (Goodreads Author)

5 out of 5 stars


These fairy tales focus on daring young men and women who want to be appreciated for their personality, virtues, and inner qualities rather than outward beauty. They battle dragons, fight wars, defeat evil sorcerers, and unravel magic in order to find their true identity and inspire their kingdom.

I loved that these fairy tales use all the old tropes about dragons and knights and fair maidens, and then turn everything upside down and surprise you with the plot twists when the maiden saves herself.
Each fairy tale is short but powerful with meaningful messages of hope and acceptance. Continue reading →

Non Fiction Review: 5-Minute Stress Relief

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5-Minute Stress Relief by Elena Welsh
5-Minute Stress Relief: 75 Exercises to Quiet Your Mind and Calm Your Body
by Elena Welsh

5 out of 5 stars

The first chapter in this book discusses what causes stress and how it affects our bodies and minds. It goes through common emotional and physical symptoms of stress, and how we can change our behavior and reactions to better handle stress.

The second chapter begins the exercises for stress relief with simple things like focusing on the breath, being mindful of your surroundings, and activities like reading for pleasure, talking to someone about how you feel, quieting your mind, listening to music, and laughing more. Each of these come with detailed instructions that list the benefits of the activity. With guided meditations, positive affirmations, and instructions for using essential oils, this chapter has a lot of wonderful ideas for relieving stress. Continue reading →

Book Review: The Everything Princess Book

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The Everything Princess Book by Barbara Beery
The Everything Princess Book: 101 Crafts, Recipes, Stories, Hairstyles, and More!
by Barbara Beery, David Miles, Brooke Jorden, Michele Robbins, Rebecca Sorge 

5 out of 5 stars

This book begins with several fairy tales about princesses, including Thumbelina, Princess Savitri, and Princess Kaguya. The next chapter has royal recipes and instructions for organizing a tea party, a royal ball, or a cottage picnic. There is also a chapter with princess games and activities, and another with crafts for making your own tiara, princess sandals, necklaces, and fancy invitations.

The chapter on “Princess Practices” goes over courtesy and manners including the proper way to set a table, how to curtsy and have proper posture, as well as lessons in horsemanship, music, penmanship, art, fencing, and how to deal with enchantments and poison apples. You will also learn how to say hello in different languages, how to do the princess wave, and be sincerely friendly when meeting foreign dignitaries.

My favorite chapter was the one about “Being a True Princess” with lessons and examples for Kindness, Courage, Gratitude, Honesty, Intelligence, Sensitivity, Forgiving, and Inner Beauty. This chapter asks thoughtful questions and encourages the reader to take action in their own lives and share kindness with others.
Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: Like a Shooting Star

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Like a Shooting Star by Rino Alaimo
Like a Shooting Star
by Rino Alaimo

4 out of 5 stars

A little boy mistakenly wishes on a firefly instead of a shooting star, and the firefly hears his wish and determines to fulfill it. The boy wishes for his father to come home safely from the war, and the firefly goes on a journey to find the boy’s father. The firefly’s wings are too small to fly, so it bounces and glides from place to place searching for the soldier. The message is that even when you seem too small and weak to do any good, you can always do something and help in some small way.
Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: It’s a Great Big Colorful World

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It's a Great, Big Colorful World by Tom Schamp
It’s a Great, Big Colorful World
by Tom Schamp

2 out of 5 stars


This book is much too chaotic, with a lot of random text all over the page and wild illustrations of random things. The whole thing is aimless, and doesn’t tell a story or have any structure other than to group colors together. It’s too busy for a child to be able to focus on anything. If it were 20 or even 30 items on the page, I would have enjoyed it more. I counted over 50 separate items on one page, not counting the text. Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: The Seedling That Didn’t Want To Grow

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The Seedling That Didn't Want to Grow by Britta Teckentrup
The Seedling That Didn’t Want to Grow
by Britta Teckentrup (Goodreads Author)

4 out of 5 stars

Ant and Ladybird find a seedling that won’t grow, and they encourage it to sprout and grow into the sun. Gradually leaves begin to appear, and the little plant grows out and up looking for more sunshine away from the shade of other taller plants. The little plant begins to blossom and flourish with the help of her little animal and insect friends.

I loved the sweet story of encouragement and growth in this book! It’s such a simple story, but with a powerful message. I also love that the growth doesn’t happen all at once. The little seedling has to gradually journey up to the sun, in small steps day by day. The animal friends stay by the side of the little plant, guiding the growth, clearing the ground, and offering help and support. Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: Luis and Tabitha

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Luis and Tabitha by Stephanie Campisi
Luis and Tabitha
by Stephanie Campisi, Hollie Mengert (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars 


Luis is a suave cat who lives on the streets and hangs out at the firehouse, but when he falls in love with Tabitha, a house cat, how can the two ever be together with the doors that separate them? Tabitha’s owner shoos Luis away whenever he comes near Tabitha, but Luis never gives up.

I just adore how dashing and gentlemanly Luis is, and how gentle and elegant Tabitha is. I was really rooting for those two and their forbidden romance! Luis brings sardines and flowers and does everything he can to woo Tabitha, but she is trapped inside the house, mournfully watching him through the windows. Luis’ cat friends tell him to just accept the situation, but Luis is indefatigable! I loved his energy and determination! Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: Unicorn and Horse

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Unicorn by David W. Miles
Unicorn (and Horse)
by David W. Miles, Hollie Mengert (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

Horse is plain and frumpy. He’s jealous of the gorgeous Unicorn, who eats pink cupcakes and makes rainbows. Unicorn dances around spreading cheer and sunshine. Horse eats hay and scowls at everyone with a grumpy attitude. Can these two ever resolve their differences and becomes friends?

This story is hilarious! It’s so much fun that I read it three times in a row!
I laughed and laughed at the funny predicaments poor Horse has to deal with. The illustrations are a big part of the humor, with silly expressions on the character’s faces and background details that make the story even funnier. I just love the soft cartoon style of the illustrations. The artwork is bright and vibrant with adorable animal characters and plenty of action. Continue reading →