The Sassy Bookworm

Book Review: Death in the Haunted Wood by Kim Griswell 🎃📚

Rating: 4 Stars

I picked up Death in the Haunted Wood expecting a light, seasonal cozy and mostly got exactly that — in the best way. Kim Griswell delivers a charming Pacific Northwest whodunit that’s heavy on atmosphere, quirky characters, and autumnal vibes, and I had a good time even if it didn’t quite deserve five stars. 🍂📚

The setup is a fun one: Saffi Graywood, a writer under deadline, thinks a quick road trip to help a friend will be just the break she needs. The trip, however, quickly turns eerie when aging horror star Malcolm Morton admits he’s been getting creepy vintage postcards, and the estate’s groundskeeper is found dead under a dock. Malcolm is preparing to relaunch a long-neglected theme park — the aptly named “The Haunted Wood” — and Saffi ends up right in the middle of a community full of secrets, from oddball locals to a sheriff who’s not entirely trustworthy. 🕵️‍♀️🎃

Griswell really leans into atmosphere here. Between the towering evergreens, costumed visitors arriving for the Halloween Spooktacular, and jack-o’-lanterns dotting the grounds, the book nails that cool, misty October feeling. Saffi does a lot of her sleuthing over cups of spiced chai, and those cozy, small pleasures make the mystery feel lived-in. The stakes escalate nicely as the postcards grow more threatening and the town’s friendly façades start to look more sinister. 🌲☕️

I liked the cast: Saffi is relatable and sharp-witted, the supporting characters are colorful (in that cozy-mystery way), and Malcolm’s old-hollywood aura adds a playful twist. The story stands up well as a standalone — you don’t need to have read the first book to enjoy it — though fans of the series will appreciate the recurring touches. The pacing is mostly solid, but I did feel the book ran a bit long in spots; trimming a few scenes could have tightened the momentum and kept the tension crisper. 👥⭐️

Bottom line: if you’re in the mood for a cozy mystery with excellent seasonal setting, an engaging amateur sleuth, and a cast of suspects who keep things lively, this is a great pick. I’m giving Death in the Haunted Wood four stars — a very enjoyable, atmospheric read that’s just shy of perfect. 🍁✨

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: Flora: The Secret Language of Plants in Art by Hope Werness 🎨📚

Rating: 4 Stars

I picked up Flora: The Secret Language of Plants in Art by Hope Werness mostly on a whim, and I’m so glad I did. This felt less like a dry reference and more like a conversation with a friend who happens to know everything about plants and how artists have loved them through the ages. Werness pairs botanical know-how with art history in a way that’s unexpectedly warm and vivid. 🌿📚

At its heart the book is organized by plant families — trees, flowers, fruits, vegetables, spices, grasses, grains, and vines — and each entry is a neat little doorway into how a particular plant has been seen, used, and imagined. You’ll hop from Piet Mondrian’s chrysanthemums to Faith Ringgold’s sunflowers, Georgia O’Keeffe’s black iris, Salvador Dalí’s narcissus, and even Yayoi Kusama’s pumpkins. These pairings don’t just show pretty pictures; they offer fresh, artistic readings of what each plant can mean in different hands and moments. 🎨🌻

Each plant entry blends short botanical facts, folklore and folk remedies, mythological associations, and key art examples. It’s concise but layered: you get enough background to understand a flower’s symbolic weight, learn how a vegetable or spice featured in folk practice, and then see how artists across centuries have distilled those meanings into visual form. If you want to look up a single plant, there’s a helpful plant index; if you want to linger, you can read it straight through and luxuriate over the images and tidbits. The result is a lovely bridge between the scientific and the poetic. 🌱🕰️

On a personal note: I adored the cover and the book’s overall design — it feels like a proper coffee-table book, which is exactly how I want to use it. I came to this expecting light, surface-level stuff, but was pleasantly surprised by the depth: there are mythic plants, symbolic analyses, and well-chosen reproductions of classic and contemporary artworks. The images are high quality, and the plant index page (where you can see the plants and their names at a glance) is a small feature that I found genuinely useful. It’s the kind of book I’d reach for during long winter nights when I’m craving green things and want a dose of floral inspiration. Bottom line: this is a beautiful, informative book I’d happily own as a permanent fixture on my coffee table. ☕🌷

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: Amish Baking at Home Cookbook by Naomi Stutzman Gingerich 👩‍🍳📚

Rating: 5 Stars

I’m giving Amish Baking at Home Cookbook by Naomi Stutzman Gingerich five stars without hesitation. From the moment I picked it up I felt like I’d been invited into someone’s warm, sunlit kitchen—one where the oven is always on and the coffee is already poured. Naomi writes like a friendly neighbor, and the recipes read like family heirlooms: straightforward, comforting, and rooted in real life. 🫖🍞☀️

The book delivers what it promises: 176 recipes that span cookies, breads, rolls (yes, the cinnamon rolls are divine), pies, cobblers, and more. But it’s more than a collection of instructions. Naomi pairs each dish with personal stories and the cultural context of Amish and Mennonite baking, so you’re not just following steps — you’re experiencing the heritage behind them. There’s an authenticity here that makes you want to slow down, measure with care, and savor the whole process. It’s an inviting tour through Amish country traditions and the sensibilities that shaped them, and it makes the idea of baking from scratch feel both doable and deeply satisfying. 🥧🍪👩‍🍳

A few things I especially loved: the book looks and feels special (this edition’s fabric-wrapped spine and gold-edged pages are lovely), and Naomi’s signature and the numbered inside cover give it an almost-keepsake quality. The layout is clear and practical — recipes are easy to follow, which is perfect for both beginners and seasoned home bakers. And the photos! There are plenty of mouth watering images of the dishes alongside warm, memoir-style family photos that add to that cozy “sit down for coffee and a slice” vibe. I kept thinking of my grandma while flipping through — she wasn’t Amish, but so many of these recipes felt like the ones she’d make on a Sunday afternoon. 📚✨👵

If you’re looking for a cookbook that’s part recipe compendium, part storybook, and all about simple, wholesome baking, this is it. It makes a thoughtful gift for home cooks, new homeowners, or anyone who loves nostalgic, made-from-scratch desserts. I’m already planning what to bake next, and I know this one will have a permanent spot on my shelf. Highly recommended. 🎁🥮🏡

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: Ghosts: A Collection of Spirits from Literature and Folklore by Abbie Headon 🫣📚

Rating: 3 Stars

I’m sitting here with a cup of tea that has gone cold because this book kept pulling my attention back like a mild poltergeist. Ghosts: A Collection of Spirits from Literature and Folklore by Abbie Headon is exactly what it promises — a tidy, illustrated compendium of famous haunts, historical apparitions, and the stories that have kept them alive in our imaginations. I’ll give it three stars: enjoyable, well put-together, but not quite the full-body chill I hoped for. 👻☕️

What you get is a tour of ghostly archetypes and particular spooks — the tragic Grey Lady, the persistent specter in the Bloody Tower, the friendly, melancholy phantoms of Dickens and du Maurier, and eerie tales tied to places like New Orleans’ St. Louis Cemetery. Headon collects the lore surrounding each figure: reported sightings, supposed origins, and the ways these ghosts have been stitched into literature and oral tradition. There’s also a nod to modern life — how ghosts keep showing up in film, TV, and pop culture — which prevents the book from feeling like a dusty museum exhibit. 🕯️📚

The writing leans into the point many ghost stories aim for, as Roald Dahl put it: spookiness for spookiness’ sake. These stories are meant to unsettle and linger in the corners of your mind, and Headon’s selection generally respects that aim. The entries don’t overload you with academic jargon; they’re approachable and anecdotal, which makes it an easy bedside or coffee-table reader when you want something atmospheric without committing to a full deep-dive. 🌙🛋️

Visually, the book is a strong suit. It’s pleasantly illustrated with photographs and drawings that enhance the mood rather than distract. I appreciated the small structural touches — little boxes that give quick origins, "Once Upon a Time" style snippets, and mini-sections on how each ghost appears in popular culture. The inclusion of quotations sprinkled throughout adds a nice, slightly literary texture. It would make a very good present for anyone who enjoys the macabre but prefers it served with polish rather than raw terror. 🖼️🎁

Why three stars and not four or five? A few reasons. The scope is enjoyable but somewhat surface-level: you get intriguing summaries and the odd surprising detail, but if you’re looking for rigorous historical investigation or new primary-source revelations, this isn’t that book. At times the tone tips toward the breezy, which works for casual reading but won’t satisfy readers who want a darker, more immersive fright. Also, while the illustrations are attractive, there are moments where more contextual depth or sourcing would have made the entries feel a bit more substantial. ⚖️📖

Overall, Ghosts is a charming, well-designed primer on a bunch of famous spectres and the myths around them. It’s ideal for flicking through on a rainy evening or leaving out for guests to flip open and get a thrill from. If you like your chills neat and pretty rather than raw and bone-deep, this will be right up your haunted alley. 🌧️👀

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Eat to Thrive During Menopause: Managing Your Symptoms with Nourishing Foods by Jenn Salib Huber 🌿📘

Rating: 4 Stars

I picked up Jenn Salib Huber’s latest with curiosity and walked away impressed, if not completely dazzled. This book sits somewhere between a practical nutrition guide and a cookbook, leaning more heavily into evidence-based advice about how food can help ease the often confusing and uncomfortable symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. If you want a friendly, research-informed roadmap to eating for midlife wellness, this is a solid pick. 🧠🍽️

What the book does well

Huber, a registered dietitian and naturopathic doctor, grounds her recommendations in current research and translates it into clear, actionable advice. The core idea is simple and compelling: certain foods and nutrients can help manage symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and brain fog. She highlights five key nutritional players—soy and other phytoestrogens, adequate protein, calcium, omega-3 fats, and fiber—and explains why each matters during this life stage. 📚🔬🥦

Beyond the explanations, the book aims to be usable: Huber shows how these ingredients can be incorporated into everyday meals and offers an intuitive-eating approach that feels non-restrictive and realistic. The tone is approachable and encouraging, which makes the science feel practical rather than overwhelming. 🥗👍

The recipes

There are 55 recipes sprinkled throughout the book, and they’re designed to showcase those five nutritional priorities. Examples include a ginger-squash red lentil soup (protein + fiber), a spinach and mozzarella pita pizza (calcium), sweet potato salmon cakes (protein + omega-3s + calcium), and even a no-bake peanut butter chocolate tofu pie that leans on soy/phytoestrogens for dessert. Many of the dishes are straightforward and comforting—perfect for someone who wants useful, no-fuss meals rather than elaborate culinary projects. 🍲🍕🐟🍰

What held me back from five stars...

While the nutrition content is definitely strong and grounded in evidence, the recipe collection is relatively modest and often on the simple side—think a handful of overnight oats variations and other basic preparations. If you come expecting an expansive, creative cookbook full of complex recipes, you might be a bit disappointed. Where the book truly shines is as an educational resource about what to eat during perimenopause and menopause, not as a chef’s compendium. ⚖️📖

Small touches I liked

- The book has an inviting cover and a warm, approachable voice that makes it easy to read. 🎨😊

- The practical focus on kitchen-friendly ingredients means the suggestions are realistic for busy people. ⏱️👩‍🍳

- The intuitive-eating lens is refreshing: it’s more about nourishment and symptom support than strict dieting. 🌸🍴

Bottom line

Eat to Thrive During Menopause is a useful, research-backed guide for anyone navigating midlife hormonal changes who wants to use food as part of their toolkit. It’s not the most adventurous cookbook, but it delivers clear, practical advice and simple recipes that illustrate how to incorporate supportive nutrients into your daily life. Four stars for being informative, accessible, and genuinely helpful—especially if you’re looking for a sensible, food-based approach to managing menopause symptoms. 👍

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: The Illuminated Book of Birds by Robin Crofut-Brittingham 🦚🦜📚

Rating: 5 Stars

I just finished The Illuminated Book of Birds by Robin Crofut-Brittingham and I’m officially smitten. This is one of those books that makes you want to sit down with a cup of tea and slowly flip every page, because each spread is a tiny, joyous discovery. As someone who loves both art and nature, I found it to be a perfect blend of the two. ☕️🕊️

At its heart, this book is a celebration—nearly 400 hand-painted birds rendered with fantastic color and personality. Robin Crofut-Brittingham is clearly an artist who knows her birds and loves them. The book groups species by region and family, taking you on a globe-trotting tour through Latin America, Africa, Asia, Oceania, North America and Europe, and also stopping to admire flightless, unusual, and even extinct birds. Every section opens with a short, informative paragraph that sets the scene, and each bird gets one or two concise, fun facts that are just the right balance of entertaining and educational. It’s approachable for newcomers and still a delight for experienced birders. 🌍🎨

Visually, this book is a knockout. The cover alone made me pick it up in the first place—gorgeous and inviting—and the interior lives up to that promise. The illustrations are bright, bold, and whimsical in the best way; they’re beautifully rendered but never stuffy. There’s a charming, slightly playful aesthetic to the whole book that makes it feel like a personal tour through an artist’s sketchbook rather than a dry field guide. Every page feels curated to spark curiosity and imagination. 📘✨

I also love how it feels like a thoughtful gift. It would make a stunning addition to anyone’s coffee table or bookshelf and is exactly the kind of book you’ll find yourself returning to just to savor the artwork or to learn a small, delightful tidbit about some obscure bird. It’s informative without being overwhelming, artistic without being inaccessible, and consistently fun throughout. 🎁📚

If you appreciate fine art, nature, or just want a beautiful book that invites you to linger, pick this one up. Five stars from me—charming, visually dazzling, and endlessly enjoyable. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: Podcasts, Pretenders & Pumpkins by Fran Heap 🎃📚

Rating: 4 Stars

I dove into Fran Heap’s Podcasts, Pretenders & Pumpkins like stepping onto a pumpkin-lit village green—cozy, a little spooky, and full of characters who feel like neighbors you’d borrow sugar from (or suspect of murder). This one gets a solid four stars from me. 🎃🍂

The setup is delightfully autumnal: Willowcroft is decked out for the Jack-o’-Lantern Walk and the new Tunnel Museum is about to open. Enter Rowe Harvey, a true-crime podcaster who’s come to town to dig up dirt on local history. Before she can publish her story, she turns up dead after the Halloween celebrations, and suddenly all those friendly faces in town look a lot more suspicious. 🕯️👀

Tammy Rumbelow—our reluctant amateur sleuth, usually accompanied by her cat Lockie—gets pulled into the mess. With a ragtag group of fellow nosy neighbors, she starts picking apart old grudges, secret identities, and rumors tied to the town’s Prohibition tunnels. Everyone seems to be hiding something, and the main question becomes: who was faking friendship, and who was faking innocence? 🐾🕵️‍♀️

What I loved: the vibe. Willowcroft feels like the kind of place you’d want to visit in October—pumpkins everywhere, cozy shops, and quirky locals. Tammy is a great lead: ordinary, curious, and easy to root for. The supporting cast adds charm and humor, and Lockie the cat is the perfect cozy-mystery accessory. 🍁☕️

The mystery itself kept me guessing. There are plenty of red herrings and little twists, and the link between present-day drama and the town’s tunnel history gives the story a nice spooky undertone. That said, the chapter-to-chapter viewpoint switches were sometimes a bit clunky and pulled me out of the story. A few scenes could’ve been tightened up, too, but those are small complaints in an otherwise fun read. 🔍📚

Bottom line: if you want a warm, witty, Halloween-flavored cozy that’s big on atmosphere, this one’s worth your time. It’s fun, seasonal, and full of personality—perfect for curling up with a blanket and a hot drink. 🛋️☕️

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: The Littlest Solstice Tree by Lisa Varchol Perron, with illustrations by Ahya Kim 🌲✨

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I just finished The Littlest Solstice Tree by Lisa Varchol Perron, with illustrations by Ahya Kim, and I am completely charmed. This little book is a cozy, wintry hug of a story — the kind you’ll want to read aloud by lamplight with hot cocoa and a blanket. ☕🧣📚

The story is told from the perspective of a tiny Sapling who lives deep in a forest of towering pines. Every year, the woodland community chooses one evergreen to be the Tree of the Year for the winter solstice, and Sapling desperately hopes this will finally be her year. She’s the smallest of the bunch, though, and winning seems almost impossible... until a new friendship begins to change everything. When Sapling reaches out to an overlooked neighbor, they discover that together they might reach new heights and challenge tradition in the sweetest, most heartwarming way. The narrative gently explores themes of friendship across generations, rethinking who gets to lead, and how youthful hope can spark change — and there’s an author’s note at the end that beautifully connects the story to centuries-old solstice and holiday tree traditions. 🌲🤝🌟

I have to gush about the look of this book — that cover drew me in immediately. Ahya Kim’s illustrations are nothing short of gorgeous; the solstice scenes glow in purples, golden yellows, and blues that make every spread feel warm and magical. The art perfectly complements Lisa Varchol Perron’s poetic, tender voice and gives the whole book a timeless, storybook feel. 🎨💜💛💙

This is the kind of picture book that will become a family favorite. It’s heartfelt and festive but focused on the quiet, meaningful rituals of the season. I can already picture cozy read-aloud nights where everyone leans in for the next page. If you’re building a holiday library (or just want a sweet little solstice story), do yourself a favor and pick this one up — five stars from me. ⭐🌟📖

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: Mrs. Morris and the Day of the Dead (A Salem B&B Mystery Book 10) by Traci Wilton 📚🪦💀

Rating: 4 Stars

I picked up Mrs. Morris and the Day of the Dead with zero expectations beyond a cozy, Halloween-tinged read—and I came away thoroughly charmed. Traci Wilton delivers another gentle, paranormal cozy that balances atmosphere, likable characters, and a properly twisty mystery. I’m giving it four stars because it’s a lot of fun, even if a few beats feel comfortably familiar to longtime cozy readers. 🎃👻

At the heart of the story is Charlene Morris, the warm and inquisitive owner of a Salem B&B, who once again finds herself neck-deep in a case that mixes the supernatural with small-town intrigue. This time Charlene and her ever-helpful ghostly sidekick, Dr. Jack Strathmore, get pulled into the disappearance of Marisol, a gifted psychic whose sister Isabella turns to them for help. The timing is perfect—Halloween and Day of the Dead festivities mean the veil between worlds feels paper-thin, making it the ideal moment to ask the dead for answers about Marisol’s whereabouts and a missing, jewel-encrusted statue. 🕯️🏠

Wilton lines up a neat roster of suspects. There’s Rico, Marisol’s fiancé, who raises Jack’s suspicions; an obsessive ex-stalker; a rival with obvious motives; and a sleazy businessman who traffics in threats more than treats. Detective Sam Holden, Charlene’s boyfriend, is on the official trail, but some leads only open when you have a ghost helping ask the right questions. I liked that the investigation felt well plotted—the clues were doled out fairly and the culprit didn’t feel shoehorned in at the end. 🕵️‍♂️🧩

A few personal notes: the cover drew me in immediately—bright, festive, and perfectly on-theme—and I only realized as I finished that this book wraps up the series. I have to say I’m glad for closure; Wilton ties up several character threads in a satisfying way without making the ending feel rushed. The ensemble of characters is one of the book’s best assets: they’re warm, distinct, and easy to care about. And the Salem setting, with its seasonal celebrations and ghost-friendly atmosphere, is rendered with just the right amount of spooky charm. 🖼️🍂

Why four stars and not five? Mostly because some moments hit familiar cozy beats a little predictably. That said, the familiar structure is also part of this subgenre’s comfort, and Wilton still manages to keep the story engaging and the stakes personal enough to matter. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you enjoy paranormal cozies with a strong sense of place, a hospitable protagonist, and a mystery that rewards you for paying attention, Mrs. Morris and the Day of the Dead is a satisfying read. I loved revisiting these characters one last time, and I appreciated that the author tied up the series in a way that felt both tidy and heartfelt. ❤️📖

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: We Cook Plants by Sarah Bentley 🥬🥦📚

Rating: 5 Stars

Five stars, no question. I picked up We Cook Plants by Sarah Bentley with a curious appetite and came away inspired, informed, and unusually excited about my next trip to the farmers’ market. 🥕🛒

At its heart this book is a joyful invitation to eat more plants—whether you’re a curious omnivore, a committed vegetarian, or a longtime vegan. Sarah and the Made In Hackney crew draw on years of community cooking experience to make plant-based food feel practical, accessible and delicious. There are well over a hundred recipes that span the globe and the spectrum of comfort food: think zingy kimchi and fizzing mango kombucha, soul-soothing feijoada and chipotle mushroom tacos, plus desserts like chocolate-and-black-bean pudding and fragrant pistachio-cardamom kheer. Everything reads as if it was tested on a busy weeknight and at a relaxed Sunday feast, which I loved. 🌍🍽️

What sets this book apart from many cookbooks is how it balances hands-on cooking with a bigger-picture perspective. You get sensible pantry and fridge tips, easy tutorials on staples like lentils, pulses and rice, and approachable guides to fermenting and building umami without animal products. There’s also grounded, non-preachy discussion about the food system—organic versus regenerative, who actually goes hungry and why, and how to think about decolonizing food and culinary culture. Practicality and ethics sit side-by-side here, delivered with warmth and humor rather than dogma. 🧑‍🍳🌱

The book is also surprisingly multi-dimensional: part cookbook, part cultural primer, part how-to manual for growing and cooking plants. There are sections on what to grow (and how to do it), advice from plant-based health professionals, and useful ideas for adapting recipes across different budgets, equipment levels, and physical needs. That inclusivity shone through for me—this isn’t a niche manifesto but a genuinely useful resource for people in many life situations. 🌿📚

I should also call out the book’s presentation: bright, inviting pages and a cheerful cover that instantly put me in a good mood. The layout makes recipes easy to follow, ingredient lists clear, and the photography (and writing tone) warm and encouraging. The variety of recipes kept me flipping the pages with real anticipation—there’s something for every palate and moment. 📸✨

If I were recommending this to a friend (and I already have), I’d say you don’t need to be vegan to get huge mileage from We Cook Plants. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to eat more plant-forward meals without sacrificing flavor or feeling overwhelmed. It’s practical, worldly, and hopeful—a cookbook that teaches you to cook better, think a little differently about food, and feel good about the plant-forward plate you’re building. ❤️🥗

In short: delicious recipes, sensible guidance, and a refreshing, upbeat voice. This would be a lovely addition to any food lover’s shelf. Highly recommend. 🌟📖

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: Crystal’s Curiosity Cabinet by David Crystal 📚

I’m giving Crystal’s Curiosity Cabinet by David Crystal three stars.

This is a book full of little delights — more a grab-and-go miscellany than a single, sustained argument. Crystal, who’s known for being one of Britain’s sharpest linguists, serves up over 150 short entries that celebrate the odd, funny and sometimes baffling corners of English. Think comic alphabets, lipograms (texts that avoid particular letters), wellerisms, and quirky collective nouns (an audit of accountants, an intrusion of spammers) alongside questions about how Shakespeare might have said his own name. The entries range across accents, dialects, etymology, proverbs, place names, punctuation, and language change, often dipping into history and other languages to show how English has been shaped and reshaped. 📚

I enjoyed this book as a casual, fragmentary read. The cover is attractive — it gives off that cabinet-of-curiosities vibe and sets the tone nicely — and the layout encourages random browsing rather than linear reading. It’s exactly the kind of thing you can pick up for five minutes at a time: a nice coffee-table book or a “bathroom book” to leave lying about and return to whenever you want a quick hit of linguistic trivia. ☕️

Some of my favorite bits were the cross-cultural proverbs and the entries that highlighted lesser-known Victorian wordplay and slang. Crystal’s “underworld” dictionary (a cheeky dip into criminal slang) was genuinely entertaining, and the frequent quotations from writers like Shakespeare, Dickens or Mark Twain are often illuminating. However, the book leans heavily on these long excerpts; whole passages are reproduced and followed by a brief note pointing out the linguistic curiosity. That approach can feel like being shown the answer rather than being taken through the discovery. 🔍

That leads to my main reservation: I wanted a faster-moving, more inquisitive voice at times. There are clear flashes of the lively, curious collection I hoped for, but too often entries read like stylish footnotes rather than fresh insights. With a tighter editorial focus and more of Crystal’s own interpretive commentary, this could have been a standout. As it is, it’s a pleasant, occasionally brilliant miscellany — great for dipping into and for fellow word lovers — but not quite the consistently revelatory cabinet of delights its cover promises. ✨

If you like language trivia, cross-cultural proverbs, and short, entertaining bursts about English, you’ll get a lot of enjoyment out of this. If you were hoping for more sustained analysis or original argument, you might come away wanting a bit more. 🤓

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: Kringle’s Emporium: A Magical Christmas Adventure by Jemma Hatt 📚🎄

Rating: 4 Stars

I picked up Kringle’s Emporium: A Magical Christmas Adventure by Jemma Hatt and was instantly charmed. The cover alone — warm, whimsical, and utterly inviting — felt like a promise of cozy magic, and the book delivers most of what it suggests. ✨

In the story I followed Laney and Ben as they tumble through the door of an extraordinary shop and into a world where ordinary objects hide uncommon enchantments. The emporium is revealed to be more than a collection of oddities; it’s Kris Kringle’s travelling sanctuary, and its very existence is threatened. Alongside Ben’s impish sister Millie, Laney and Ben unravel the secrets of the shop’s bewitched trinkets and embark on a mission that grows unexpectedly large — with stakes that stretch beyond their town. They must stay one step ahead of a shadowy organisation intent on stealing Kringle’s gifts, while also navigating the ever-present school bullies who try to undermine their friendship. With Six Pines dusted in snow and Christmas Day drawing nearer, the trio discover that bravery and wonder often appear where you least expect them. 🎄🛍️🕵️‍♀️

What I liked most was how gently the book argues for the power of belief. It isn’t preachy; instead, it uses small, tender moments and clever magical touches to remind readers that kindness and courage are themselves a kind of magic. Andrew Smith’s illustrations add an extra layer of delight — they’re simple but evocative, giving the story little bursts of visual sparkle that complement the text nicely. ✨🖼️❤️

The pacing is generally strong, with enough mystery and adventure to keep younger readers engaged. I appreciated the balance of humor and heart: Millie’s mischief brings levity, while the threats from the mysterious organisation and school antagonists provide enough tension to make the characters’ victories feel earned. If there’s a criticism, it’s that some plot threads could have been developed a touch more deeply for older readers seeking complexity, but for its intended audience the narrative feels just right. ⚖️📖😊

Overall, Kringle’s Emporium is a sweet, festive read that celebrates imagination, friendship, and the small acts that keep the Christmas spirit alive. If you’re after a charming holiday adventure with warmth, a sprinkling of laughs, and a touch of mystery, this book is a fine choice. I’m giving it four stars — a delightful, comforting story that captures the glow of the season. 🎁

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: The Unofficial TikTok Cookbook, Volume 2 by Palestrina McCaffrey 📚👩‍🍳

Rating: 3 Stars

I picked up The Unofficial TikTok Cookbook, Volume 2 with the same casual enthusiasm I reserve for scrolling past a 30-second pasta transformation video at 2 a.m. The cover alone hooked me — bright, tempting, and radiating the kind of confidence only a cookbook that promises “viral” recipes can pull off. It’s like a glossy social media profile for your kitchen, and I was ready to fall in like, follow, and maybe even duet. 😍📘

What you get here is essentially a curated playlist of 75 TikTok-born recipes and trends, organized into a single, very tangible place. Think whipped lemonades that foam like tiny citrus clouds, pasta chips that snap and crunch like the plot of a reality show, and the infamous baked feta pasta that has turned otherwise sensible people into ardent carb romantics. There are simple salads (hello, refreshing cucumber salad), novel snacks (Dubai chocolate bars, which sound fancy until you try one and realize you are indeed fancy), and beverages like dirty soda that make you question if soda has social status now. The book is aimed squarely at people who want to replicate the latest food trends without having to decipher a thirty-second sped-up video and(or) an army of cryptic comments. 🍋🍝🥤

The recipes are presented in an approachable, step-by-step format that’s genuinely user-friendly. If you’ve ever attempted to follow an influencer’s three-minute tutorial only to emerge with a mysterious pan of something, this book is a breath of calm. Instructions are clear and the techniques feel accessible for pretty much anyone — from the culinary-curious teenager packing a dorm mini-fridge to the stubbornly traditional adult who only recently agreed that almond milk is a thing. 👩‍🍳📖👍

Now for the honest bits. The cover did its job: I kept opening the book just to admire it. Inside, I found a surprising number of recipes I’d never encountered in my feed — which is saying something, because I’d been doomscrolling for weeks. I actually bookmarked a healthy stack to try, imagining a future of impressing friends with trendy, Instagrammable snacks. However, the book left me wanting in one significant way: a lot of recipes don’t have photos. As someone who’s visually oriented, I like to know what I’m aiming for. Following a recipe without an accompanying picture feels a bit like trying to assemble IKEA furniture with only the Allen key and a prayer. You can make it work, but you spend half the time wondering if your version should look slightly more like a sculpture or a casserole. 📚🔍😅

So why three stars and not four or five? The instructions are solid and the selection is timely and fun — perfect for gifting to a college-bound kid or a friend who keeps asking “what’s trending now?” But the lack of visuals for many dishes means it’s less of a glossy, reassuring cookbook and more of a textual treasure hunt. For the price and the ambition (75 viral hits is no small feat), I was hoping for a little more eye candy to match the earworm-level catchiness of the recipes. ⭐⭐⭐🤷‍♀️

If you’re buying this as a toolkit to recreate social media sensations in real life — and maybe to finally make sense of that viral whipped lemonade — it’ll serve you well. If you’re buying it because you want to scroll through a cookbook the way you scroll through a feed, expecting photos for every single item, you may come away a bit disappointed. That said, I’m still excited to try the recipes I have bookmarked, and I think this would make a delightfully practical and trendy gift for young adults heading off to college. 🎁👩‍🎓🍽️

Final verdict: A fun, practical, sometimes-photo-shy collection that’ll get you making the viral dishes everyone’s talking about — but don’t expect a full visual parade. Three stars: delicious intention, modest execution. 🌟🌟🌟

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: Yule Need a Drink by Editors of Cider Mill Press 🎄🍸

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I picked up Yule Need a Drink expecting a cute gimmick and got a full-on survival guide in a book jacket that is basically holiday cheer with a corkscrew. First things first: that cover is delightful. It practically whispers, “Take me to the couch, put on a Christmas movie, and don’t come back until you can tolerate Aunt Marge’s fruitcake.” It set the tone perfectly—festive, flirty, and a little bit dangerous. 🎁📚✨

The premise is deliciously simple: more than 100 holiday cocktails that are specifically engineered to make the season tolerable, if not outright festive. Whether you’re dealing with surprise in-laws, elbow-to-elbow mall shopping, or the emotional chaos of the “last-minute-Christmas” countdown, there’s a concoction for every cringe-worthy, cozy, or chaotic moment. Solo night with Love Actually on loop in your fluffiest pajamas? There’s a comforting tipple for that. Accidentally invited to a snooty party where the champagne is underwhelming? There’s a recipe guaranteed to outshine it. Awkward office Secret Santa sock gifts? Yep—mix one of these and they’ll look like a thoughtful present in comparison. And for anyone bracing for Grandma’s third-degree interrogation about your relationship status—well, the book practically hands you a cocktail and a comedic one-liner. 🍹🎬🧦

What makes this more than just another recipe compendium is the personality running through every page. The editors (and their merry gaggle of recipe names) have the humor dialed to “cheeky.” Puns like “Nog Yourself Out,” “Pour Some Mulling on Me,” “Butter Late than Sober,” and “Martini, Naughty and Stirred” are everywhere, and I’m not ashamed to admit I laughed out loud multiple times while measuring bitters. The writing knows the exact brand of holiday exhaustion we all secretly endure and turns it into something to be celebrated—ideally with a garnish and a festive rim. 😂🍊🎉

As for the drinks themselves: solid. The recipes are clear, doable, and yield genuinely tasty results. These aren’t just Instagram props—these are sippable, shareable, and seasonally satisfying. From warm, spiced crowd-pleasers to boozy twists on classics, there’s a nice variety so you can match the right drink to your particular holiday calamity (or triumph). 🥃🔥🥂

Bottom line: Yule Need a Drink is the perfect addition to your seasonal shelf if you like your holidays with a wink, a snarky footnote, and a cocktail umbrella. It’s equal parts lifesaver and party starter—ideal for gifting, selfishly keeping, or sliding onto the counter before that family Zoom starts. If you want to make your yuletide a little less frazzled and a lot more festive, this book will be pouring you a very merry lifeline. Cheers to surviving the season—one cheeky cocktail at a time. 🍸🎄🥳

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: A Quilted Christmas by Deb Grogan 🎄🪡📚

Rating: 4 Stars

I picked up A Quilted Christmas by Deb Grogan with the kind of giddy anticipation usually reserved for the first cup of cocoa on a frosty morning—and the book didn’t disappoint. It’s a warm, inviting collection that feels like a cozy craft night with a friend who happens to be a seriously talented quilter. This is a four-star read for me: charming, very practical, and brimming with holiday spirit, though I’d have loved just a bit more variety in some technique explanations. 🎄☕🧵

Grogan, who runs The Quilt Factory and designs the patterns sold there, clearly knows her stuff. The book offers 16 festive projects—everything from full quilts to table runners, wall hangings, pillows, placemats, and even soft ornaments—so you can sprinkle Christmas cheer throughout your home in whatever form suits your style. The projects are holiday-forward without being kitschy, and the variety makes it easy to pick something quick and satisfying or a showstopper that might become a family heirloom. 🧶✨🏠

What I especially appreciated was how approachable the instructions are. Grogan walks you through the essentials of appliqué and patchwork with step-by-step clarity, and generous photography helps make each stage understandable. If you’re someone who learns by watching, the included QR codes are a real bonus—each links to video demonstrations that reinforce the written guidance. Templates are thoughtfully provided too: you’ll find on-page templates and downloadable options via QR codes, plus layout guides to help you visualize assembly and scale. 🎥📘✂️

The book’s production values are friendly and useful. The cover caught my eye immediately—cheerful and evocative of cozy holiday afternoons—and inside is a steady flow of inspiring photos that make you want to start cutting fabric right away. Projects are presented in a way that suits quilters at different levels: beginners will find recipes for success, and more experienced sewers can adapt patterns or embellish them to suit their own flair. 📸🎁🧵

If I had to nitpick, a few of the instructions could have been expanded for absolute beginners—some steps assume a smidge more prior knowledge than a complete novice might have. Also, while the projects are lovely and cohesive in their seasonal aesthetic, I would have enjoyed a handful more wildly different color or style options to show how to push the patterns beyond classic holiday palettes. ⚠️📝🔍

Overall, A Quilted Christmas is a delightful addition to any crafter’s bookshelf. It’s full of easy-to-follow projects, plenty of photos for inspiration, and practical digital extras that make the patterns easy to access and follow. If you love handmade holiday décor (or want to learn), this book will get you happily stitching through the season. Four stars for warmth, usefulness, and the urge to start a festive quilting project right now. 🧵🎄

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: The Twelve Days of Christmas Dogs: The Classic Edition by Amanda Sobotka, Chris Dunn (Illustrator) 🐶🎄

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I picked up The Twelve Days of Christmas Dogs: The Classic Edition with a grin, and it did not disappoint. From the moment I opened it I was charmed — the cover alone is irresistible — and the whole book felt like a warm, wagging holiday hug. 🥰📘

Amanda Sobotka’s playful reimagining of the traditional twelve days poem is exactly what it promises: a canine twist that’s both clever and comforting. Each spread introduces a new dog-filled scene, with breeds that range from fluffy Golden Retrievers to perky Beagles, dapper Dalmatians, and squishy-faced Pugs. The verses are simple and singable, making this an easy read-aloud for little ones (and not-so-little ones who adore dogs). Chris Dunn’s original illustrations truly bring the festivities to life — full of personality, color, and holiday cheer — so much so that you’ll want to linger on every page and point out each pup’s antics. 🐕🎨🎶

This book is such a sweet pick for families. It works wonderfully as a cozy read for children, but it’ll also make grown-up dog devotees smile. It would be perfect added to a child’s holiday bookshelf, slid into a stocking, or gifted to any pet parent who appreciates a heartwarming, humorous take on a classic carol. 🎁🛋️👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

If you love dogs and holiday spirit, this one’s an easy five stars from me. Delightful, beautifully illustrated, and utterly shareable — I’ll be reading this at every December storytime for years to come. 📚✨🎅

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: Murder at the Royal Palace (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 23) by Verity Bright

Rating: 5 Stars

I absolutely loved Murder at the Royal Palace — it’s a five-star treat from start to finish. From the moment I picked it up I was swept into a charming, cozy mystery that feels both delightfully old-fashioned and thoroughly fresh. 📚✨

In this installment, Lady Eleanor Swift is off to Buckingham Palace for a wonderfully proud reason: her husband, Detective Chief Inspector Seldon, is being knighted. She’s dressed to the nines, has the perfect date lined up, and even hopes Gladstone the bulldog will keep his composure in front of the monarch. But the glittering occasion takes a dark turn when a royal guard, Dilly Dalrymple, collapses and dies. The official channels are tight-lipped, so Eleanor and Hugh are quietly asked to look into the matter on the side — and Eleanor quickly realizes there’s more beneath the polished surface of palace life. 👑🕵️‍♀️

Eleanor plunges into palace intrigue by adopting a disguise as a society journalist while her faithful butler Clifford pretends to be her photographer. Together they navigate a web of whispered scandals, flirtations, and hints of hidden treasure. The guest list reads like a buffet of secrets: gossiping wives, illicit affairs, and old scores that might explain who wanted Dilly silenced. Was this murder the result of a longstanding grudge, or did the guard know a little too much about somebody’s private life? The investigation unfolds with clever sleuthing, touching moments, and plenty of wry observations. 🕵️‍♂️📸🗝️

A few personal thoughts: the cover is gorgeous — seriously, it’s one of my favorites in the series. This may well be my favorite entry so far. The balance here is just right: it’s a cozy, historically flavored mystery that’s both entertaining and informative. I loved the vivid palace setting and the little historical details woven into the plot, and the characters continue to be a joy to spend time with. Eleanor’s pluck, Hugh’s steadiness, and Clifford’s dry wit are such a fun trio. 🎨❤️🏰

If you enjoy gentle mysteries with a strong sense of place, warm character relationships, and just enough scandal to keep you turning pages, pick this one up. I’m already eager for the next adventure. 📖💫

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: Little Hearts in the Snow – A Cozy Winter Picture Book About Friendship, Kindness, and Nature 😊❄️

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

Little Hearts in the Snow is a warm, wintry read that left me smiling long after the last page. I’m giving it four stars because it’s a cozy, beautifully illustrated picture book that does so much right for young readers. 📚❄️

I followed Julia on a gentle snowy quest: she adores everything about winter (like me) but this season feels different—her usual forest companions are harder to find, and she discovers that the cold makes it tough for animals to find food. Determined to help, Julia decides to bring a surprise gift to Bertrand, a book-loving bear from earlier titles in the series. Along the way she’s not alone for long; a new friend joins her and together they navigate the hush and sparkle of the woods. The story celebrates small acts of generosity and the quiet comfort that comes from noticing others’ needs and reaching out. 🐻🌲🤝

The illustrations by Joseph Sherman are the real highlight for me. The palette feels like a soft, snowy hug—muted blues and warm, cozy accents—and the characters’ expressions convey emotion in a way that young kids will easily read and respond to. The cover is adorable and perfectly sets the tone: inviting, seasonal, and child-friendly. The pairing of text and art creates an atmosphere that’s equal parts magic and tenderness, ideal for bedtime or classroom read-alouds. 🎨🫧📘

I appreciate how the book nudges toward empathy without being preachy. The narrative shows, rather than lectures, about kindness and community care, and it does so in a way that feels natural to a child’s perspective. The inclusion of Julia’s previous encounters with Bertrand gives a sense of continuity for readers who know the earlier books, but it also stands alone well for newcomers. ❤️👧🐾

The back matter is a thoughtful bonus: short, accessible science tidbits about how animals cope with winter food scarcity and a simple family-friendly winter recipe. Those extras make the book useful beyond storytime—perfect for a follow-up activity in a classroom or a parent-child project at home. I can easily imagine teachers using this title to spark discussions about empathy, seasons, and helping others. 🧪🍪🏫

Who should read this? Families with children ages 4–6, preschool and early-elementary teachers, and anyone looking for a gentle winter story with positive social-emotional themes. Little Hearts in the Snow is a delightful addition to a child’s bookshelf or a school library—perfect for curling up together and talking about kindness, nature, and the joy of giving. 📖👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🌨️

⚠️his review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: Snowflakes for Christmas – A Mindful and Heartwarming Holiday Story 😊❄️

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

I picked up Snowflakes for Christmas mostly on a whim — the cover immediately caught my eye with its soft, snowy palette and cozy village scene — and I’m glad I did. This is a warm, thoughtful little picture book that lands squarely in the “comforting holiday read” category, and I’m giving it four stars. 📚🎁

The story follows Yuka, a young girl in the village of Flurria who notices something everyone else has missed: the snow has stopped falling. While the grown-ups rush through their holiday to-dos, Yuka sets off to do something about it. What follows is a gentle tale about noticing the small things, rallying your neighbors, and rediscovering the quiet magic of winter. The language feels a touch poetic at times, and the story leans into themes of mindfulness and community — it’s less about a dramatic rescue and more about people learning to look up, slow down, and enjoy the season together. 🌨️👧🏘️

I read an advance copy in French (oddly, since the book description I saw was in English), but that didn’t spoil the experience — and luckily I can read French. Even so, I can easily see how the text would resonate in either language. The book is clearly designed for read-aloud moments with young children (ages roughly 4–8), and it would work well in a classroom or a family circle where you want to spark a conversation about paying attention, helping neighbors, or simply appreciating nature. 🇫🇷📖👨‍👩‍👧

One of the real highlights here is Amélie Martel’s artwork. The illustrations are lush and immersive: frosted rooftops, playful flakes, and expressive faces bring Flurria to life and make the whole wintery world feel inviting. Visually, the book almost feels like a quiet invitation to slow down — which suits the story perfectly. 🎨❄️🖼️

Overall, Snowflakes for Christmas is a cozy, mindful holiday tale with beautiful illustrations and a feel-good message. It’s a lovely pick for bedtime read-alouds, classroom SEL units, or as a thoughtful gift for families who appreciate calm, reflective stories about community and wonder. 🎄❤️

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: The Night Before Christmas Press and Play Storybook 🎄📚

Rating: 4 Stars

I’m giving The Night Before Christmas Press and Play Storybook four stars. It’s a lovely edition of a poem I’ve loved since childhood, and it does a lot right: gorgeous artwork, a sturdy hardcover presentation, and a fun interactive twist with Jeff Bridges’ narration built into the pages. If you want a warm, family-friendly version of the classic poem with a little techy charm, this is a great pick. 🎄📚✨

This edition keeps the original Clement C. Moore poem intact — the familiar opening lines about the hush of Christmas Eve, the reindeer, and St. Nicholas’ magical visit are all here — but dresses it up in a way that makes the story feel fresh. Charles Santore’s vintage-inspired illustrations give the book an old-fashioned, Victorian Christmas vibe that pairs perfectly with the poem’s nostalgic tone. The pages are beautiful to look at and feel like something you’d want to pull out each holiday season. 🕯️🖼️🎁

The Press and Play feature is a highlight in theory: the book has an updated soundboard that plays Jeff Bridges’ narration. I didn’t get to use the audio myself, but I like that there’s an option for kids or adults who’d prefer to listen while following along — it’s a nice touch for family gatherings or for little ones who are hearing the story for the first time. The package also acknowledges some historical details from the poem (like the Dutch influence in the reindeer names), which is a thoughtful nod for anyone curious about the poem’s background. 🔊👂📖

My favorite practical detail is the cover — it’s gorgeous and immediately puts you in the mood for Christmas. This is the story my family reads every Christmas Eve, so this edition felt like a natural addition to our tradition. The interactive buttons are aimed at young readers, and while I couldn’t test them out personally, I can imagine how exciting that would be for kids discovering the poem. Santore’s art really sells the Victorian Christmas atmosphere; it’s elegant and cozy. 🎅🏼❄️❤️

All in all, this Press and Play edition of The Night Before Christmas is a charming, well-made version of a beloved classic. It’s perfect for family read-alouds, and the Jeff Bridges narration option plus Santore’s illustrations make it a festive addition to any holiday bookshelf. If you want a pretty, interactive keepsake of this timeless poem — especially to share with little ones — this is a solid buy. 📦🌟

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: Two-List Thanksgiving by Christine Whan & Sienna Youngsun Kim (illustrator) 🍠🍲📚

Rating: 4 Stars

I picked up Two-List Thanksgiving by Christine Whan (with charming illustrations by Sienna Youngsun Kim) expecting a sweet holiday picture book, and what I got was a warm, colorful celebration of family, food, and the small rituals that stitch cultures together. I’m giving it four stars. 🧡📚

At its heart this is a Korean American Thanksgiving story told through the eyes of a child who’s preparing for the big meal by making not one but two shopping lists—one for the local market and one for the Korean market. The lists themselves are a lovely narrative device: you’ll find carrots for japchae next to ingredients for turkey stuffing, whipped cream for pumpkin pie beside shrimp for pajeon, and short ribs for galbi paired with cinnamon for the sweet potatoes. There’s even kimchi on the roster. The result is a joyful mash-up of dishes and traditions that shows how both sides of a family’s background can come together around a single table. 🥘🦃🥕🥟

On Thanksgiving Day the book moves from planning to the noisy, delicious reality of the holiday—food being cooked, relatives chatting, football on TV, and eventually a big moment of gratitude. The story is simple but effective: through the day’s bustle the narrator discovers a deeper appreciation for the two cultures that shape her family, and the blending of traditions becomes something to celebrate rather than choose between. 🍽️🏈👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

What really sold me were the illustrations. Kim’s art is adorable—expressive faces, cozy kitchen scenes, and an upbeat color palette that makes the food look especially tempting. The cover is delightful too; it perfectly captures the book’s warm, inviting tone. I also appreciated the inclusion of recipes—little extras like that make the book feel interactive and give readers a way to bring the story off the page and into their own kitchens. 🎨🍲📖

Overall, Two-List Thanksgiving is a cozy, heartening read—perfect for family story time during the holidays (or any time you want to be reminded how meals can bridge worlds). I’d happily recommend it to parents, teachers, or anyone who loves food-forward family stories. ❤️👪

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: Murder on Devil's Pond by Ayla Rose 🪻📚

Rating: 4 Stars

I picked up Murder on Devil's Pond because the cover grabbed me — seriously, it’s one of those perfect cozy-mystery covers that makes you want to curl up with tea and a blanket. I’m glad I did; Ayla Rose delivers a charming series opener that balances small‑town warmth with a solid whodunit, and I came away entertained and eager for the next installment. ☕📚

The story follows Hannah Solace, a thirty‑three‑year‑old who returns to her Vermont hometown to breathe new life into the Victorian inn she co‑owns with her sister, Reggie. Hannah’s plans are wholesome and specific: renovate the place, plant pollinator gardens, and lure both pollinators and guests with native flowers and fruit trees. Of course, nothing goes smoothly. Between Reggie’s meddling, sketchy contractors, and a painfully tight budget, the renovation is a constant uphill battle. Worse, Hannah must face the people she left behind fifteen years ago, which stirs up old friction and fresh complications. 🏡🌸

The cozy vibe takes a dark turn when Hannah discovers the cantankerous Ezra Grayson—an eighty‑year‑old recluse she’d been speaking with that morning—dead on the property. Ezra was no stranger to grudges and had made enemies over property disputes, so his death quickly sends the town buzzing with suspicion. Before long Hannah finds herself under the microscope, and she can’t help but start poking into the town’s secrets. As she digs, the quaint surface of the community peels away to reveal motives and hidden relationships that keep the mystery moving. 🕵️‍♀️🔍

What I liked most: Rose’s writing is engaging and well paced. The book never drags—there’s a nice rhythm between domestic renovation details, town gossip, and investigative momentum. The setting is cozy and vivid; I could practically smell the flowers in Hannah’s pollinator garden and sense the creak of the old inn. Hannah is an appealing protagonist—practical, resilient, and likable—and the supporting cast, including the prickly townsfolk and her meddling sister, add both humor and tension. 🌺🛠️

If I had to nitpick, some plot elements felt a touch familiar for the genre, and a few secondary characters could’ve used a bit more depth. But those are small quibbles in a book that otherwise delivers a satisfying cozy mystery. ✍️🤏

All in all, Murder on Devil’s Pond is a terrific start to a new series. It’s warm, well written, and fun—perfect for readers who enjoy Ellen Byron or Ellery Adams–style cozies. I’m giving it four stars and I’ll definitely be back to check out what Ayla Rose does next. 📣

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: Kid the Goat Won't Wear His Christmas Coat by Lana Stenner, Anna Simeone (illustrator) 🎄📚

Rating: 4 Stars

I picked up Kid the Goat Won't Wear His Christmas Coat by Lana Stenner, with illustrations by Anna Simeone, because the premise sounded like a perfect little holiday romp—and it delivered. I’m giving it four stars because it’s sweet, funny, and very kid-friendly. 🎁🐐

The story follows Kid, a young goat who is far more excited about Christmas morning than about dressing for it. After sprinting to the tree and tearing through presents, Kid discovers one enormous box that contains…a winter coat. Needless to say, clothes for Christmas are a bit of a disappointment to him. When he refuses to put it on, his family decides Kid has to sit out the outdoor fun: no skating, sledding, building snow people, or caroling. So Kid has to figure out how to make the most of the holiday day indoors—finding ways to have fun and learning, gently, that some things (like coats) are meant to be worn in winter. ⛄🧥

Stenner’s tale is playful and rhythmical, with a nice dose of humor aimed straight at little ones who’d rather stay in pajamas than face the cold. It teaches the consequence of not dressing for the weather in a light, non-preachy way that feels age-appropriate. Simeone’s artwork is the real charm here: soft, cuddly, and full of personality. The characters—especially Kid—are irresistible, and the cover is so delightful it made me want to display this on any holiday bookshelf. ✨🎨

What I loved: the tone is upbeat and genuinely funny in places; the rhymes and cadence read aloud smoothly; and the illustrations add heart and warmth to the text. It’s an ideal read-aloud for the 0–4 crowd or for parents dealing with coat-averse toddlers. 📖❤️

Overall, this is a charming little holiday book and a great addition to a child’s Christmas or Advent collection. If you’ve got a kid who resists bundling up, they (and you) will probably get a good giggle—and maybe a reminder to put on that coat. 🎅🧣

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: The First Christmas by N. T. Wright 📚💭

Rating: 4 Stars

I picked up N. T. Wright’s The First Christmas: The Bible’s Nativity Story with low-key curiosity and left feeling pleasantly moved — it’s a thoughtful, beautifully packaged retelling that earns four stars from me. 😊📘

Wright takes the familiar elements of the nativity — Gabriel’s startling announcement, Mary and Joseph’s journey, the manger scene, the shepherds, the Magi, and even the family’s flight to Egypt — and stitches them together into a single, coherent narrative. His voice is pastoral and accessible rather than academic; he keeps Jesus unmistakably at the center while guiding readers through the story’s theological resonances and moments of simple human tenderness. The book doesn’t try to be exhaustive or scholarly in a heavy-handed way; instead it presents the events with clarity and hope, showing how the birth of Jesus connects back to Old Testament promises without getting bogged down in textbook exposition. 🙏✨

One of the real standouts is the artwork. The painted illustrations by Helena Perez Garcia are just lovely — warm, textured, and full of quiet detail. They feel like the kind of images you’d happily leave on the coffee table or read aloud with small children gathered nearby. The book also includes a helpful page pointing out how various Old Testament prophecies link to the nativity events, which I appreciated as a useful, succinct guide for further reflection or family conversation. 🎨🕯️👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

A few personal notes: first off, that cover is delightful — charming and inviting, exactly the kind of art that made me want to open the book right away. The tone across the pages struck the right balance for me: reverent without being stuffy, informative without losing the intimacy of the story. 🌟📖

Overall, The First Christmas is a warm, reliable nativity book that I’d happily recommend as a family-read or a gift. It centers Jesus clearly, offers beautiful visuals, and gives just enough scriptural scaffolding to prompt further conversation. If you want a lovely, hope-filled retelling to bring into your Advent or Christmas traditions, this one is well worth a place on the shelf. 🎁🕊️

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Book Review: Benjamin Grows a Garden by Melanie Florence, with illustrations by Hawlii Pichette 🌱🌞

Rating: 5 Stars

I absolutely adored Benjamin Grows a Garden by Melanie Florence, with illustrations by Hawlii Pichette — a cozy, joyful picture book that feels like a warm morning spent outside getting your hands in the soil. 🧑‍🌾🌿

At its heart this is a gentle, step-by-step gardening story seen through Benjamin’s eyes. We follow him and his mom from that first spring excitement — when the grass turns green and the birds return — through all the patient, loving work of planting: digging holes, tucking in seeds, and watering. They plant in a thoughtful sequence, sowing mahtâmin (corn), pîmiciwacis (beans), and osawipak (squash) together for Three Sisters Soup, then adding strawberries for bannock and later zucchini, tomatoes and cucumbers. Watching the garden grow across the seasons, Benjamin dreams of the harvest and a big fall feast where there will be more than enough to share with everyone. The book also gently highlights the yearly rhythm of planting, tending, harvesting and starting again — simple, comforting cycles that young readers can really grasp. 🌾🥕🍅

What I loved most: the story feels both intimate and communal. Melanie Florence captures the sweetness of teaching and learning across generations, and the idea that growing food is as much about care and patience as it is about the yield. The explanation of how corn, beans and squash support one another is woven in naturally and makes the gardening process feel almost like a friendship between plants. I also appreciated that Cree words are used throughout the story and that there’s a pronunciation guide in back — a thoughtful touch that invites readers to learn and respect language. 🤝📚🗣️

Visually, Hawlii Pichette’s art is a dream. The illustrations are bright, warm and full of life; they bring Benjamin’s garden and emotions to vivid color, from the small hopeful sprout to the bustling harvest. The cover alone is charming and perfectly sets the tone for what’s inside. 🎨🌈

This book would be a lovely addition to any child’s bookshelf or a classroom library. It’s heartwarming, educational, and rich with lessons about perseverance, kindness and sharing. Highly recommend for families who love nature, community stories, or just a beautiful picture book to read together. Five stars.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️