Monthly Archives: October 2023

October 30, 2023 · 7:00 am

Detective Buster Cuffs: Catching the Treat Snatcher by Liana Somerset (Book Review)

Join Detective Buster Cuffs on a thrilling adventure as he faces his most challenging case yet in ‘Catching the Treat Snatcher’.

When the doggy treats mysteriously vanish in Pawchester, the clever canine detective sets out to unravel the puzzling crime. With his keen senses and tenacious spirit, Buster follows clues, questions suspects, and navigates hidden tunnels to uncover the truth. Will he be able to solve the mystery and restore peace to the town? Find out in this delightful tale of friendship, redemption, and the joy of sharing treats.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Detective Buster Cuffs uses his keen sense of smell, spectacular doggie intuition, and unbeatable observation skills to keep everyone in the small town of Pawchester safe. No case was too big or small for the dapper-looking dog dressed to the nines in an old-fashioned detective attire: suit, tie, and fedora. Today’s investigation leads him on the hunt for the doggy treat bandit. Detective Buster Cuffs takes readers with him as he sniffs out clues in the park, along the shore, and underwater. 

When Buster discovers paw prints, it sends him on the hunt for Trouble Whisker, a wide-eyed, black cat with a sweet tooth. Did the feline nab the canine’s yummy treats, or was the real culprit still on the loose? That’s a question for readers to solve as they work the case with Buster.

Detective Buster Cuffs: Catching the Treat Snatcher is a fun, interactive storybook with stupendous illustrations and unforgettable character names: Nutty Rascal, Inspector Frosty Bones, Gully Peeper, Flair White, and the ones already mentioned. I adored Trouble Whisker’s expressive face as they were caught with their scrumptious snacks. Inspector Frosty Bones was a handsome pooch in his dark blue trench coat and matching fedora. Gully Peeper stole the show with their adorable head tilt and smile. Nutty Rascal was also cute in his plaid shirt. 

Join Detective Buster Cuffs on a thrilling adventure as he sifts through clues to discover who stole the puppies’ treats. And stick around after the case’s conclusion for bonus material: a competition for all aspiring detectives with rules and three puzzle questions. Once your child figures out the puzzles and submits their answers (direct link or email), they will automatically be entered into the Detective Buster Cuffs’ Club with the chance to receive a free Top Secret Detective Kit. What a fantastic prize and incentive to carry on their sleuthing skills! Good luck to all that enter!

Detective Buster Cuffs: Catching the Treat Snatcher’s recommended reading age is 4-8.

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

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Meet the Author

Liana recently embarked on an exciting new journey as a writer, weaving imaginative tales that captivate young hearts. Her stories reflect her deep appreciation for the imaginative world of children. Liana is based in the UK and currently working on her new Detective Buster Cuffs series.

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October 26, 2023 · 7:00 am

Bob Tales, Land of the Woody Warbles by Susan Sullivan (Book Review)

When a sad and hungry kitty is rescued from a garbaggy place by a loving family, only to lose them again, he sets out to find them. On his journey, he encounters many strange and wonderful creatures including a slithery snake, a frisky frog, a friendly fish, a laughable lemur, a marvelous mantis, a testy turtle, a babbling bee, a wee worm, and a wise old owl. Along the way, he learns that he is a bit different than most cats and the other creatures aren’t so nice about his unique qualities.

While struggling with his identity, and weakened from his journey, the cat becomes more and more lost. He faces perilous danger and nearly gives up all hope. But after digging deep to find trust, and a little help and teamwork from his new friends, he finds more than he was hoping for.

In this beautifully illustrated tale of a cat without a tail, our hero learns how to believe in himself, overcome his fears, and feel comfortable in his own fur – with lots of adventures along the way. An inspiring story of courage, teamwork, and the long journey home.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

The World Animal Foundation claims that, shockingly, there are 60-80 million unowned or feral cats in the U.S. Susan Sullivan focuses on one homeless kitty in Bob Tales, Land of the Woody Warbles. Before the black kitty met his owners, he lived on the streets. He feasted on rotten garbage, causing his coat to smell no better than the food he consumed. He was bullied, beaten, and understandably sad. All that changed the day the gentle man with shaggy hair scooped him up and promised to help him. The friendly human gave the lonesome, dirty, hungry cat a name (Bob). He made sure Bob was given medical care, a bath, a warm bed, and plenty of healthy food. Bob loved his new family, a blended home of cats and dogs. He felt safe. He felt loved. He felt like he belonged. 

Bob understood that sometimes his owners would leave for the day, but he also understood they eventually returned. However, one day, they didn’t, and Bob was consumed with worry. As pet owners, we see the joy in our furry friends when we return home. Kisses. Head butts. They show love in their own way. Bob loved his humans and was willing to brave the harsh outside world again for them. 

In every chapter, Bob meets new faces. He met some friendly animals and some rude animals. Art imitates life in this instance. No matter the reader’s age, you will encounter people who will lift you up and those who enjoy tearing you down. It’s important to remember the wise words of Oakley, the owl: “What others think doesn’t matter half as much as what you think.”

Bob did not have a tail, and many animals remarked about it, causing him to be ashamed of who he was and what he looked like. Bob didn’t know life with a tail, but these wild animals made him feel terrible about it. We see this type of behavior in humans. We focus on someone’s outward appearance and should be judging someone by their actions. Bob was a sweet, smart cat who loved his family with all his heart. He braved the turbulent waters, faced his fears, and never gave up looking for his “lost” humans. 

In the end, Bob was reunited with his family, and what a story he had to share with his furry brothers and sisters. He swam. He flew. He had an adventure that would widen any furry friend’s eyes with shock and disbelief. 

Bob Tales, Land of the Woody Warbles thirteen chapters are full of action, adventure, love, and gorgeous illustrations of animals and insects (artist: Lauren Reeves). I recommend sharing it with your child six years and older. Make it a part of your bedtime routine. 

Remember: adopt, don’t shop!

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score:  ❤❤❤❤❤

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Reedsy Author Link
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Meet the Author

Susan Sullivan worked in Nuclear Medicine before teaching high school biology and anatomy for ten years. Bob, Susan’s tailless rescue cat, had wanderlust and his true adventures became the source of great stories. Susan enjoys being in nature and among animals, particularly when she is beekeeping.

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October 23, 2023 · 7:00 am

Josie, Johnnie and Rosie and the Ocean Rescue! by Michael Panzner (Book Review)

Discover the Magic!

Follow the adventure of three wonderful friends – a little girl and twin unicorns – who journey to the beach and end up saving a family of fish. After rescuing them, the trio realizes the sea and the sand also need their help, and they join with others to clean things up. Aided by special unicorn magic, they restore nature’s beauty and show how to make our world a better place.

Dive into a vibrant and captivating read-aloud adventure! Bursting with color, this tale celebrates friendship, compassion, and kindness. Join our inspiring young heroes as they unite to preserve and protect our precious environment.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Rosie lived in a magical land with her two best friends, who were extraordinary unicorns. Josie and Johnnie had sparkling manes and glowing horns and could make beautiful magic together. 

Rosie loved going on adventures with her BFFs. One day, the trio decided to have a fun-filled day at the beach. They laughed, built sand castles, listened to the seagulls’ caw, enjoyed delicious food, and collected loads of seashells. However, when they went closer to the water’s edge, their day took an unexpected turn. Josie, Johnnie, and Rosie were stunned to see multiple fish trapped in a net and knew they had to help the struggling fish. 

Josie and Johnnie used their magical powers to loosen the net’s knots while Rosie untangled the fish and set them free. The trio’s actions were kind and brave, and the fish’s smiles illustrated their appreciation for the help. 

Unfortunately, what happens to these defenseless fish occurs every day, and we need more brave people to step up and protect our sea friends. As the story progresses, children will notice that not all dangers of the sea have teeth. Fish must avoid nets and pollution, like plastic bottles, cans, sunglasses, toys, bags, etc. Thankfully, kids have three magnificent role models demonstrating the importance of cleaning our beaches and keeping trash out of the water. 

Josie, Johnnie and Rosie and the Ocean Rescue! educates readers on the dangers of trash poses to sea life. It encourages YOU to take action by helping preserve our seas and beaches by picking up garbage and disposing of it in their proper bin. It (hopefully) prompts children to be ocean conservationists. 

Josie and Johnnie had magic on their side, but we can do what they did. With everyone’s assistance, all seas can be crystal clear! Our beaches can be free of litter.  

Share Josie, Johnnie and Rosie and the Ocean Rescue! with your 3-7-year-old and become an advocate for our friends under the sea. 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

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Meet the Author

I’m a long-time freelance writer who’s always been a child at heart. Inspired by the countless stories I’ve shared with my children and grandchildren, I craft tales designed to entertain, spark the imagination, and instill values like kindness, courage, empathy and perseverance.
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October 20, 2023 · 7:00 am

The Scalp Collector by Suzanne Smith (Book Review)

Detective Sammy Stone stared at the blood soaked corpse tied to the La-Z-Boy recliner. The body was that of twenty one year old Marci Levelle. Like Barbara Tony in Lake County last month and Abigail May in DuPage County the month before, Marci has been scalped and gutted. Sammy’s sixth sense tells him that this sadistic killer, aptly named the Scalp Collector by the press, hasn’t finished his murderous rampage yet. It’s just a matter of time before he takes the life of another innocent girl. Determined to put an end to the senseless slaughter as quickly as possible, Sammy relentlessly follows the bizarre pattern of clues that begin to emerge in the aftermath of the crime. It isn’t long before he realizes that the prime suspect in his murder investigation is an intimate acquaintance of his. Will Sammy act on his suspicions in time to save the next victim, and himself?

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Do you love watching crime shows? Do you scrutinize every piece of evidence, attempting to solve the case before the fictional cops do? Have you ever doubted your sleuthing instincts? Have you ever flip-flopped whether a character is guilty because the evidence was so overwhelming, which made them the obvious choice? If you answered yes to even one of these questions, you must read The Scalp Collector by Suzanne Smith.

The short story begins with a crime scene that would turn anyone’s stomach. Marci Levelle, twenty-one, was discovered tied to her La-Z-Boy: gagged, gutted, and scalped. I can’t imagine being a police officer or coroner working on this case; worse, she’s not the first victim. Three women dead. Three different jurisdictions. Will Detective Sammy Stone stop the serial killer before he or she targets victim number 4?

The evidence was overwhelming, pointing at one character. Sammy didn’t want to believe someone close to him was a murderer; however, he had an obligation to follow the evidence. Sammy didn’t follow police procedures, which came back to haunt him. He should’ve contacted his partner (Will) and the other precinct detectives about his suspicions or the frantic help me phone call.

His investigation did reveal painful memories and brought to light scars that someone would’ve preferred to stay hidden. (I’m staying vague to avoid spoilers.)

When the investigation leads to one suspect, you must ask yourself, Is it too obvious? Are they the killer, or are they being setup quite beautifully? That was the case with this case. (No pun intended) I had the nagging feeling it was all too easy, but then again, I wondered if the author played it that way. 

When Sammy and the serial killer come face-to-face, he realizes they do not fit the profile. Their reasoning for these horrific acts proved the villain required psychiatric care for many years. 

Did Sammy catch the killer before their blade took scalp number 4?

Did the scalp collector escape? 

Read the book and find out! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score:❤❤❤❤

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Meet the Author

I grew up in Bucktown, a bustling community on the northwest side of Chicago. From an early age, I was attracted to the dark side of human nature, truly fascinated by what motivated good people to behave in bad ways. My books touch on both the grace and brutality of life.

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October 16, 2023 · 7:00 am

A Tale from Hare Wood: Turnip by Nicky Edwards (Book Review)

One memorable Halloween Turnip, a rabbit, finds a hat and decides with the help of her animal friends, to keep it.

But the hat’s owner is a witch, and she needs it back to protect her cat friend, Pudding.

The witch and Pudding hunt for the hat and find Turnip and demand it back but the animals invoke the woodland lore of ‘Finders Keepers’ and call a woodland court to determine who should have the hat.

At the court we discover that the hat speaks, and it tells of being stuffed with magic and used as a cushion and poked with pins. Outraged the court decides Turnip should keep the hat.

That night, after a long talk, Turnip and the hat decide the hat should return to the witch on condition that it is treated well. The witch is so grateful she invites Turnip to become her apprentice.

The story celebrates friendship, compassion, and discovering one’s inner magic.


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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

A Tale from Hare Wood: Turnip is home to many spectacular characters. Pudding is a witch’s cat, her familiar, and a remarkable inventor. They developed a stroking machine to have pets as they lay in their cat’s bed and drift off to sleep. They created a cat-cloak of invisibility and a dog-repellent whistle. Since Pudding was a witch’s cat, every invention possessed some magic; thus, his creations got a mind of their own, like the self-winding ball of wool. Pudding is a very cool cat! 

Esme, the witch, has several problems she’s dealing with as the story progresses. First, she has overstuffed her hat with magic, and now it won’t fit over her thick hair. Not surprisingly, Esme fixed the hairy situation with magic. Next, she had a dreadful time keeping her broom in flight against the fierce easterly winds. Then came the misfortune of losing her hat, thanks to a gust of wind. Esme’s loss did become Turnip’s (the rabbit) gain. Turnip looked oddly adorable in human clothing. Clothing was fair game since humans either left it or lost the articles of clothing in Hare Wood, and the woodland animals live by the rule, “Finders Keepers.”

It didn’t take Turnip long to discover he found a witch’s hat, and with his friends’ encouragement, he invoked the sacred lore of the woodland: “Finders’ keepers, losers’ weepers.” While the three woodsy animals were off to a party, Esme had a major freak-out. This leads to another, more significant problem. 

Esme’s problems seem to compound while at the All Witches Eve celebration. Now, she must retrieve her hat or suffer the consequences. Kids will find the story captivating. The plot was wildly inventive. The sketches add the right amount of visual stimuli to keep all readers’ eyes glued to the pages, curious about who the Court will grant ownership of the magic hat. 

A Tale from Hare Wood: Turnip teaches children that while having magic at your ready might be fun, there’s also a sense of joy, pride, and accomplishment when you construct something with your own hands. In a roundabout way, it also nudges readers regarding the importance of cleaning up and keeping track of your possessions because you don’t want the Finders Keepers rule to happen to you. 

I recommend A Tale from Hare Wood: Turnip to children six years and older. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

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Goodreads Link

 


Meet the Author

Hello, I’m Nic, and I’m delighted to introduce you to the first of my Hare Wood stories. Journey with Turnip as she embarks on an enchanting adventure after stumbling upon a witch’s hat. I’m excited to share the wonders of Hare Wood and eagerly await your thoughts and comments x.

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