Lila Danisa

The book started with Casper woke up startled by guinea fowls somewhere vast. I had no idea who Casper was and where she was because this is my first book by this author. The book just started like that without the explanations on the story and carried on like that. Though I ended up understand the background story of Casper (she was a black home cat, by the way), I wish there was little bit detail on who she was and she lost in the jungle so a first time reader like me don't get confused right on the first page.

I needed to get used to the writing style because I reckoned the author like to throwing names to every characters without proper introduction. Aside of that, the story was actually fun. Adventurous and full of hidden values.

I hope I am wrong, but the illustrations gave me AI-made vibes. My son, who I read this book to, also said the illustrations kinda looked like AI and he was only 5 years old.

My son and I loved the facts about animal mentioned in the story by the end of the book. TMI: In Indonesia, we also have antlions. We called it "undur-undur". When I was little, I used to "hunt" for them. The mentioned of them instantly brought me back to my childhood memories. I shared this memory to my son and he would love to catch them too if we go to my childhood village since we currently live in the city and I doubt they have them here.

Thank you to Jennifer Ussi, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Light, suspenseful, and technical about cyber crime.

This is the second book from this series I have read. And the same like the first book I read (Code Name: Tiara) this book was fast paced but still had slow moment. For example the relationship between Bebe and Griff. Bebe was instantly interested in Griff but Griff wasn't. He was "protective" of Bebe and her son, but I felt like he didn't "fall" for her until the half of the book.

The suspense side of the story was good. I had it coming but still satisfied with the ending.

To be honest my son and I didn't like this book much. For me, it was chaotically messy, not in exciting chaotic messy but more to annoying one. I might come as a strict mean mother but I don't like when my son not behave well, especially in public. And Rosie, the main character in this book rubbed me the wrong way. She was not behaving right. Well ok, she was only a kid, but still it was rude for her to jumped all over the places in public space, aquarium in this case. And I know this is children fiction but the way the story hold, as if it was ok to behave like Rosie did as long as you help cleaning the mess, was not on my line. I tried hard to straighten the story to my son so he could get the value out of the chaotic behavior Rosie had.

As for my son, he didn't like much of the story because he thought Rosie was reckless. He said what if the other animals got sick from human germs because of she jumped all over the aquarium. He also said she could be drowning from the way she swam.

Despite our opinions about the storylines, my son and I loved the illustrations. They were so colorful, full of details, and looked real. Definitely point plus for the illustrations.

Thank you to Larry Daley, Bookling Media, and NetGalley for the ARC.

My son didn't need this book as the original function as high-contrast book since he is already 5 years old. We used this book as coloring book and for him to learn how to read. Disclaimer: I never force him to learn how to read, he showed interest in learning it and I just support him. Since this book has very simple words with little bit of letters, this book was perfect for him.

As for high-contrast book, I was kinda skeptical because I think the illustrations were kinda complicated for baby eyes. However I really couldn't say anything because I used this book as any.

Thank you to Emily Barton, Free Spirit Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC.

My son has been constantly video calling with his aunts and uncle who live in New York city this past week. They showed him how heavy the snow was, especially these past three days. This book was perfect for him so he could understand that snow fall could be something we grateful for.

What I loved the most about this book was the illustrations. They were so calming and warm. Though this book is about snow, the illustrations portrayed the warmth within it. So beautiful. The colors were so soft yet still perfectly vibrant.

The words used in this book were simple and easy to understand. My 5 years old son could easily understand the story and even could retell this book to his aunt in Montreal who also got heavy snow.

Thank you to Dan McCauley, Free Spirit Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Perfect book for the little ones to regulate sadness even when you don't know exactly why you feel sad. Not only that, this book also delivers the message to be compassion with others.

The illustrations were so good. Detailed and vibrant with color.

My son also loved it that one of the character has curly hair like him.

I personally loved that this book showed it's ok to be sad. Nowadays I feel like kids forced to be happy every single time. Through this book I could easily tell my son that it's ok not to feel ok.

Thank you to Carol Miller, Boys Town Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.

That was heartwarming reading 🥹

Jett aka Demon was the enforcer in the MC. He held his namesake tight because he believed he was a demon. Entered Ivy, a single mom who just free herself from her ex. She was falling for Jett instantly but Jett fell harder.

I loved that Ivy was patient with Jett. She gave Jett time to explore the new feelings he never thought he would feel.

The found-family trope was chef's kiss. I loved this tight brotherhood within the club.

Thank you to Bianca Lee Ward and NetGalley for the ARC.

Russian bratva boss fell for doctor who helped patching him up after he got shots. She actually fell for him too but she had her mind only on black and white of the world. Their story to finally reach their HEAs was interesting. I enjoyed reading this book though the writing style made the story kinda dragging. I found this book had quite many plot holes. By the end of the book I still had questions unanswered.

Mikhail, the hero, was actually really good. I loved that he got arc redemption and character growth. He got portrayed as cruel mean man but deep inside he had insecurities. He listened to his right hand men too. They were his son and nephews, but I liked that he was not arrogant boss.

Claire, the heroine, was so stubborn. She needed to be in dangerous twice to finally accept that she belonged to Mikhail. Her character was actually refreshing for me because I usually read mafia romance with FMC who already familiar or in the circle of mafia world, unlike Claire who had zero awareness about it.

Though this book didn't blow my mind, I would definitely read the following books in this series. I slightly invest in the characters already.

The fck!!! That was so much fun 🤣

The most amusing and entertaining reading experience this year yet.

I never expected that I would love a story about human woman and a Kool-Aid pitcher. Yes yes yes, you read it right. Kool-Aid pitcher. With red liquid and ice cubes and everything 🤣🤣 So freaking random I wonder what the author consumed when writing this book 🤣🤣🤣

The smuts details were even more absurd and so funny I lost myself so many times. I snorted and laughed so hard so many times my son looked at me like I am crazy 🤣🤣🤣

This book was so short yet impactful. It brightened up my mood. The idea that even Kool-Aid pitcher could get his HEA made me optimise that you can get through everything in your life and joke about it along the way.

Magically beautiful 🥹

I personally loved the illustrations so much. The colors were so beautifully vibrant. The illustrations smoothly conveyed the magic within the story.

My son also loved the illustrations. He mostly loved that the boy in the book has curly hair like him. My son loved gardening too. Unfortunately we currently live in townhouse without garden. My son said when we move to different house with garden, he would make a garden like in this book 🤞🏻

What I loved about this book was it suavely deliver the message of not to be afraid to feel bored. When you feel bored, you might discover something interesting. I think kids need to feel bored and through this book I told my son that it's ok and even good to feel bored.

With only 32 pages, this book definitely has many good values for the young readers (and grown-ups too). Automatically deserves to be in our (my son and I) reread shelf.

Thank you to Sharon Rose, The Collective Book Studio, and NetGalley for the ARC.

That was so freaking good!!!

I requested this book on NetGalley for my son because there was a time when he was so obsessed with dinosaurs. But as we read this book, turned out I enjoyed this book way better than him.

This book is packed with prehistoric facts. Though the title is dinosaurs, this book is beyond the dinosaurs. Balance knowledge about earth periods and the creatures on earth at that time.

The illustrations were good. Perfect for kids. Vibrant with colors.

Definitely will reread this book for the longest future.

Thank you to Rachel Ignotofsky, Clarkson Potter, Ten Speed Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.

That was good. Simple yet so educational. As an adult, it was easy for me to understand everything this book delivered. I bet this book is perfect for middle-graders who love science and psychology.

I tried to read this book to my 5 years old son and as expected he didn't understand at all. It was too scientific for his age. But he enjoyed the illustrations and I explained to him simply about what the illustrations meant. At the end I think he got new knowledge from this book. He might forget about everything in this book, but I will definitely reread this book to him as his comprehension level up.

Thank you to Tanya Lloyd Kyi, Phil Nicholls, Kids Can Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.