Picture Book Review: Grampy’s Chair by Rebecca Thomas

Title: Grampy’s Chair

Author: Rebecca Thomas

Publisher: Annick Press

Publication Date: September 17, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Description:

Grampy’s chair sits in the middle of his living room and always keeps an eye on My Love. The Chair is the perfect spot for My Love to learn to read, to play games with her friends, and The Chair is always extra soft when My Love is sick. As My Love grows up, The Chair sees Grampy grow older and My Love must care for him. One day Grampy is gone, and The Chair is moved to a space with only a few things it recognizes (and a few spiders too). Will it see My Love again?

In this poignant story inspired by her own grandfather and his chair, Rebecca Thomas invites readers of all ages to explore love, grief, and the important moments in life that take place in our favorite spots. With lively illustrations from Coco A. Lynge and featuring a heartfelt author’s note, Grampy’s Chair takes the readers through loss, and how we can be found again by the ones we love.

My Thoughts

Grampy’s Chair is a touching story that adults will appreciate even more than children. The personal recollections of the author shine through. Anyone who had a close relationship with a grandparent can relate.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

My Favorite Book of August 2024: Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

“My Google search history alone was probably enough to put me on a government watch list. I wrote suspense novels about murders like this. I’d searched every possible way to kill someone. With every conceivable kind of weapon.”
― Elle Cosimano, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It

Title: Finlay Donovan is Killing It

Author: Elle Cosimano

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publication Date: February 2, 2021

Goodreads Synopsis:

Finlay Donovan is killing it . . . except, she’s really not. She’s a stressed-out single-mom of two and struggling novelist, Finlay’s life is in the new book she promised her literary agent isn’t written, her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her, and this morning she had to send her four-year-old to school with hair duct-taped to her head after an incident with scissors.

When Finlay is overheard discussing the plot of her new suspense novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer, and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet . . . Soon, Finlay discovers that crime in real life is a lot more difficult than its fictional counterpart, as she becomes tangled in a real-life murder investigation.

Fast-paced, deliciously witty, and wholeheartedly authentic in depicting the frustrations and triumphs of motherhood in all its messiness, hilarity, and heartfelt moment, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is the first in a brilliant new series from YA Edgar Award nominee Elle Cosimano.

My Thoughts:

I was going through a bit of a reading slump early in the summer, and this book was exactly what I needed to get out of it. It’s not deeply meaningful or realistic, but it was so much fun, I didn’t want to put it down. The twists and turns are so crazy, you never know what will happen next. Finlay Donovan is a great character and I can’t wait to read more books in the series.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Children’s book review: Mummy & Me: A Monster’s Tale by Danesh Mohiuddin

Title: Mummy & Me A Monster’s Tale

Author: Danesh Mohiuddin

Publisher: Owlkids Books

Publication Date: August 27, 2024

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Description:

When the sun goes down, Mummy and Wee Wolf emerge from their coffin to start the day. Wee Wolf loves his mummy. She brushes his unruly fur, brews midnight stew for their lunch, and reads him his favorite Hairy Tales. And whenever Mummy and Wee Wolf have a disagreement, a little boogie helps them forget all their troubles!

But taking care of Wee Wolf isn’t easy. Wee Wolf’s efforts to be a perfectly well-behaved monster often hilariously sabotage Mummy. He interrupts her morning stretches, “helps” her cook by cannonballing into hot stew, and wiggles out of her grasp while she tries to clip his little wolfy toenails. By the end of the night, Wee Wolf notices Mummy becoming a little … unravelled. But just as Mummy is always there for him, Wee Wolf is there for her—ready to help re-wrap her bandages, toilet paper in hand.

This hilarious, highly original picture book plays with the phrase “little monsters” as it explores parent-child relationships. While the bold, detailed illustrations will draw readers in, Wee Wolf’s tender, thoughtful moments encourage both empathy and self-awareness. It’s a howling good time!

My Thoughts:

Kids will love the illustrations in this fun story. Despite Wee Wolf’s claim of having great manners, the pictures tell a different story. Parents will also appreciate the exhaustion Mummy feels after a long day caring for Wee Wolf. Even though the book is filled with silliness, it shows a realistic and touching relationship between a mother and child.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

My Most Anticipated Book Releases: September 2024

These are the new releases I’m most looking forward to in September. A lot of mysteries, but some other genres mixed in as well.

September 3

The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin

Goodreads synopsis:

A heartwarming story about a mother and daughter in wartime England and the power of the books that bring them together.

In Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job to provide for herself and her beloved daughter, Olivia. But with the legal restrictions prohibiting widows with children from most employment opportunities, she’s left with only one option: persuading the manageress at Boots’ Booklover’s Library to take a chance on her.

When the threat of war becomes a reality, Olivia must be evacuated to the countryside. In her daughter’s absence, Emma seeks solace in the unlikely friendships she forms with her neighbors and coworkers, as well as the recommendations she provides to the library’s quirky regulars. But the job doesn’t come without its difficulties. Books are mysteriously misshelved and disappearing, and her work forces her to confront the memories of her late father and the bookstore they once owned together before a terrible accident.

As the Blitz intensifies in Nottingham and Emma fights to reunite with her daughter, she must learn to depend on her community and the power of literature more than ever to find hope in the darkest of times.

All I needed to see was the title to know I wanted to read this one.

The Cottage Around the Corner by D. L. Soria

Goodreads Synopsis:

Chanterelle Cottage is Charlie Sparrow’s whole world. The cozy spellshop where she and her moms practice their witchcraft, selling goods and services to the people of small-town Owl’s Hollow, has been in her family for generations.

Okay, business has been a little slow and a recent burglary hit their inventory pretty hard. And the bank may not agree to restructure their loan. But Charlie is talented and savvy, and she’ll keep things afloat once her parents finally let her buy into the business as a co-owner. Still, when a competing magecraft firm opens in town, things start to look bleak. After all, everyone knows there’s room for only one magic shop in Owl’s Hollow.

So what if Fitz, the mage who owns the new Maven Enterprises, happens to be ridiculously handsome in his ridiculously expensive suits? Who cares that, when Charlie can forget for a moment or two that Fitz is her competitor, things between them are as easy as breathing? None of that matters—because Charlie is not going to get involved with the competition. In this battle of the businesses, she’ll do whatever it takes to make sure Chanterelle Cottage is the last spellshop standing.

But when strange supernatural events begin to plague the citizens of Owl’s Hollow, Charlie and Fitz must put their rivalry aside and their magic together to save the town. As they grow closer, it becomes harder for Charlie to keep her carefully drawn line in place—maybe Owl’s Hollow is big enough for a witch and a mage, after all.

With the haunting season coming, this is my kind of sweet witch story.

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

Goodreads Synopsis:

“What looks like magic is simply a part of life we don’t understand yet…”

When retired math teacher Grace Winters is left a run-down house on a Mediterranean island by a long-lost friend, curiosity gets the better of her. She arrives in Ibiza with a one-way ticket, no guidebook and no plan.

Among the rugged hills and golden beaches of the island, Grace searches for answers about her friend’s life, and how it ended. What she uncovers is stranger than she could have dreamed. But to dive into this impossible truth, Grace must first come to terms with her past.

Filled with wonder and wild adventure, thisis a story of hope and the life-changing power of a new beginning.

I’m already a Matt Haig fan, but through in a Mediterrranean Island and teacher protagonist and I can’t resist.

September 17

The Banned Books Club by Brenda Novak

Goodreads Synopsis:

She left her hometown following a scandal—but family loyalty is dragging her back…

Despite their strained relationship, when Gia Rossi’s sister, Margot, begs her to come home to Wakefield, Iowa, to help with their ailing mother, Gia knows she has no choice. After her rebellious and at-times-tumultuous teen years, Gia left town with little reason to look back. But she knows Margot’s borne the brunt of their mother’s care and now it’s Gia’s turn to help, even if it means opening old wounds.

As expected, Gia’s homecoming is far from welcome. There’s the Banned Books Club she started after the PTA overzealously slashed the high school reading list, which is right where she left it. But there is also Mr. Hart, her former favorite teacher. The one who was fired after Gia publicly and painfully accused him of sexual misconduct. The one who prompted Gia to leave behind a very conflicted town the minute she turned eighteen. The one person she hoped never to see again.

When Margot leaves town without explanation, Gia sees the cracks in her sister’s “perfect” life for the first time and plans to offer support. But as the town, including members of the book club, takes sides between Gia and Mr. Hart, everything gets harder. Fortunately, she learns that there are people she can depend on. And by standing up for the truth, she finds love and a future in the town she thought had rejected her.

You had me at banned books.

Gracie Under the Waves by Linda Sue Park

Goodreads Synopsis:

Gracie Under the Waves by Linda Sue Park An empowering story from #1 New York Times bestseller and Newbery medalist Linda Sue Park starring a young snorkeling enthusiast who draws inspiration for fighting climate change from interacting with her pesty little brother

Snorkeling is the best! Gracie loves floating above underwater reefs, watching colorful fish dart in and out of the coral. She convinces her parents to let her plan a family vacation to Roatán, Honduras, where they can snorkel together. She even makes a new friend there. Now, if only her irritating little brother would leave her alone, everything would be perfect.

Things come to a screeching halt when Gracie hurts her leg, and all her carefully made plans start to come apart. Worse still, she learns the reef itself is in serious danger. Gracie wants to help the reef . . . but she’s just a kid. How can she possibly make a difference?

Inspired by her own experience, Newbery medalist Linda Sue Park tells the engaging tale of a young girl learning how to impact a cause she cares about while navigating the ups and downs of sibling relationships and turning disappointment into opportunity.

Looks like another winner by Rochester’s Newberry winning author biggest middle grade author.

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave

Goodreads Synopsis:

Estranged siblings discover their father has been keeping a secret for over fifty years, one that may have been fatal…

Liam Noone was many things to many people. To the public, he was an exacting, self-
made hotel magnate fleeing his past. To his three ex-wives, he was a loving albeit distant family man who kept his finances flush and his families carefully separated. To Nora, he was a father who often loved her from afar – notably a cliffside cottage perched on the California coast from which he fell to his death.   

The authorities rule the death accidental, but Nora and her estranged brother Sam have other ideas. As Nora and Sam form an uneasy alliance to unravel the mystery, they start putting together the pieces of their father’s past—and uncover a family secret that changes everything.

Sounds like a good suspense thriller.

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

Goodreads Synopsis:

Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines: the pub quiz, his favorite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over: adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s business now.

Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. As a private security officer, she doesn’t stay still long enough for habits or routines. She’s currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive. Which was meant to be an easy job…

Then a dead body, a bag of money, and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending an SOS to the only person she trusts. A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a lethal enemy?

Thursday Murder Club is still sitting on my tbr pile, but I’ve heard enough to know I’ll like Osman’s work.

September 24


A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan

Goodreads Synopsis;

Dragons are extinct. Witches are outcast. Magic is dying.

But human lust for power is immortal.

Dragon fire no longer blisters the skies over Penterra, but inside the lavish palace, life is still perilous…especially for Tamsyn. Raised in the glittering court alongside the princesses, it’s her duty to be punished for their misdeeds. Treated as part of the royal family but also as the lowliest servant, Tamsyn fits nowhere. Her only friend is Stig, Captain of the Guard…though sometimes she thinks he wants more than friendship.

When Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, descends on her home, Tamsyn’s world becomes even more dangerous. To save the pampered princesses from a fate worse than death, she is commanded to don a veil and marry the brutal warrior. She agrees to the deception even though it means leaving Stig, and the only life she’s ever known, behind.

The wedding night begins with unexpected passion—and ends in near violence when her trickery is exposed. Rather than start a war, Fell accepts Tamsyn as his bride…but can he accept the dark secrets she harbors—secrets buried so deep even she doesn’t know they exist? For Tamsyn is more than a royal whipping girl, more than the false wife of a man who now sees her as his enemy. And when those secrets emerge, they will ignite a flame bright enough to burn the entire kingdom to the bone.

Magic is not dead…it is only sleeping. And it will take one ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny to awaken it.

I think Sophie Jordan is an underrated author. Whether it’s a historical romance, dystopian or YA fantasy, I’ve everything I’ve read by her.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

Goodreads Synopsis:

The bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room three days before Christmas.

Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt:

She’s the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery.

He’s Mr. Big-time Thriller Guy.

She hates his guts.

He thinks her name is Marcie (no matter how many times she’s told him otherwise.)

But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself.

That night, the weather turns, and the next morning Eleanor is gone.

She vanished from a locked room, and Maggie has to wonder: Is Eleanor in danger? Or is it all some kind of test? Is Ethan the competition? Or is he the only person in that snowbound mansion she can trust?

As the snow gets deeper and the stakes get higher, every clue will bring Maggie and Ethan closer to the truth—and each other. Because, this Christmas, these two rivals are going to have to become allies (and maybe more) if they have any hope of saving Eleanor.

Assuming they don’t kill each other first.

Yes! The holiday books are coming!

Picture Book Review: The Strangest Fish by Katherine Arden

Title: The Strangest Fish

Auther: Katherine Arden

Illustrator: Zahra Marwan

Publisher: Astra Young Readers

Publication Date: September 3, 2024

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Description:

When Daisy wins a funny-looking goldfish at a fair, she ignores the mean comments about its appearance. She doesn’t mind the dull scales and lumpy head—in fact, she thinks her goldfish is the prettiest thing in the world. However, as Daisy continues caring for the goldfish, something strange starts happening to it . . .

With lyrical writing and stunning illustrations, this enchanting story about a girl and her goldfish reveals—with a touch of magic— the transformative power of unconditional love and care.

My Thoughts:

This was a cute “Ugly Duckling” type story. Daisy’s fish doesn’t look like other fish and keeps outgrowing containters. Turns out it’s because he’s not a fish, but a water dragon. This is a beautiful story about unconditional love and not judging someone/thing based on appearences.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Nicole’s Nook is 3!

Three years ago today, I launched Nicole’s Nook, a place to celebrate a love for books. I just renewed the domain name, so I’m committed for another three years. With the new school year starting soon, I am working to get posts written and scheduled while I have more time. Meanwhile, I looked at my stats from the last year and here are my most popular posts from the last year, in case you missed them:

1.) Seasonal Reading

2.) Picture Book Review: A Garden Called Home by Jessica J. Lee

3.)Expect the Unexpected When Traveling

Picture Book Review: Let’s Go Kitty! by Holly Rosenweig

Title: Let’s Go Kitty!

Authour Holly Rosenweig

Illustrator: Emily Rutherford

Publisher: Ninewise Publishing

Publication Date: August 27. 2024

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Description:


From the Award winning author of Let’s Go, Puppy!

Come and play with Kitty!

From spilling a glass of milk — “Wet, wet, wet” — to chasing a ball of yarn — “Bounce, bounce, bounce” — to getting stuck in a tree — “Help, help, help!” Kitty’s mischief provides fun opportunities to introduce early speech sounds, words, and actions.

Written by a speech-language pathologist, this playful, interactive story helps enhance early communication development in babies and toddlers. Let’s Go, Kitty! promotes babies’ ability to recognize and imitate sounds, strengthens familiarity through the repetition of words, enriches basic vocabulary, and builds confidence through praise.

Tips for caregivers as well as a list of the earliest-developing speech sounds are included. 

My Thoughts:

This is a perfect toddler book for language development. Kids will like the kitty and want to read it again and again. As an educator, I love that it includes tips for parents as well. Language development is so important and often missed in this era where our primary conversationis often online.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Let’s Talk About Mysteries

Today’s bookish talk is about mysteries. I don’t really like graphic blood or guts, so I tend to lean more on the side of cozies or historical mysteries. But, I do like an occasional thriller, if it focuses on the psychological aspect. No matter what subgenre, here are the things I look for in a good mystery.

Twists

It goes without saying that you should not be able to solve a good mystery within the first few chapters. I want unexpected twists along the way. Just when the reader thinks they have something figured out, new information should let them know that they must be wrong. I want to gasp at least once during a mystery.

Entertaining, Intelligent Detectives

Whether it’s a real detective or an amateur sleuth, the crime solber should add to the story. I want someone who has interesting quirks. It can be something that helps them or hinders them. I just don’t want them to be a crime solving machine. I want a smart but flawed detective that’s going to add layers to the story beyond solving the mystery. If it’s an amateur sleuth, I want them to show some intelligence, and not just make a bunch of dumb decisions that results in them solving a crime while all of the trained detectives miss the clues.

Realistic Motive

If someone’s going to be murdered, the stakes have to be high, or the killer is insane enough that they think they are. I want to believe that the motive would really drive somebody to commit murder.

Show Me the Clues

Once the culprit is revealed, I should be able to look back and see that all the clues were there. I hate it when there’s an important piece of information that was never hinted at until the reveal at the end.

Some of my favorite mysteries

I only listed first in series or stand alones. Click on the books for their description.

My Book Pet Peeves

A few days ago, I posted about the little details that I enjoy in books. So, I thought I’d look at the other side and talk about the little things that annoy me when reading.

Condescending Narrators– I like a smart protagonist, but I hate it when they look down on others or talk aobut how much smarter they are then everyone else.

Anticlimatic Reveals- I hate it when an author keeps dropping hints about a big secret and then when it’s revealed it’s something that either doesn’t seem like a big deal or is predictable.

Characters that fall in love for no apparent reason- This could be instalove, or characters that just happen to have close proximity to each other.

Whiny/Entitled Protagonists– If I don’t like the main character, the book isn’t going to work for me.

Do any of these bother you? What are your book pet peeves?

Let’s Talk Writing: Competitions

I’m in the middle of the summer Writing Battle nanofiction competition. So, I thought it would be a good time to talk about writing competitions. My experience is limited as I haven’t entered a variety of competitions. I got started writing through the Rooglewood Fairytale contest, and started participating in writing battle in autumn of last year. So, I can’t speak to different kinds of writing contests, but I did want to talk about the benefits of writing contests.

Some people are hesitant to join writing contests because it costs money, and chances are you won’t win. But, if you look at it as a method of improving your writing skills, you get a lot of bang for your buck.

Writing contests vary greatly in most aspects, but the two constants are a time and word limits. Having a specific time limit to submit a story forces you to write fast. Though stressful at the time, the pressure is great for forcing you out of writer’s block. The word limit reallly makes you think about every word, and trains you to look for unnecessary words and to pick strong words. This habit then carries over to revisions in your other writing.

Most writing contests will also provide feedback. Critique groups are wonderful because you get to know each other’s writing. But, writing contests give you the opportunity to get feedback from people who are judging solely on that piece of writing. They don’t know if this is your first time trying a new point of view, or genre. They don’t know if your description is much better than it was six months ago. You also don’t have a personal relationship with them that could color their opinions.

Writing Battle is unique in that participants are also judges. So you give and get ten pieces of peer feedback. I find that giving the feedback is just as beneficial as receiving it. When I look closely at others writing, I often find myself critiquing errors I make myself. Knowing peers will be looking at it makes me look at my writing and think about what I would say about it. Again, that carries over to my other writing.

So you think your ready to join a writing contest? Here are some you might find of interest:

Writing Battle

Twist in the Tale – Writing Competitions

Writers’ Playground (writersplaygroundllc.com)

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