Book Review – Falling Like Leaves (Bramble Falls, #1) by Misty Wilson

 

Falling Like Leaves (Bramble Falls, #1) by Misty Wilson is about two young adults who reconnect after years apart.

Ellis is excited about her senior year. She has a lot of goals she hopes to accomplish before attending Columbia to study journalism. However, she wasn’t expecting to move from Manhattan to Bramble Falls, Connecticut.

Her parents have decided to separate, with her mother heading back home to Bramble Falls. Bramble Falls is a charming town that celebrates autumn with lots of festivals and activities. The last thing Ellis needs is more distractions from her goals, especially one in the shape of Cooper Barnett, her ex-best friend who now works as a local barista.

Cooper has grown up and glowed up since the last time they saw each other. Ellis feels herself drawn to Cooper, but he seems to be avoiding her. However, when the town holds a month-long tourist festival celebrating autumn, the pair ends up spending more time together. Will Ellis be able to focus on her future at Columbia, or will she warm to the idea of spending more time in Bramble Falls with Cooper?

I thought the book was an okay read. It was a cute autumn read with lots of cozy vibes. However, I found the female main character a bit annoying, and the book felt repetitive because she kept making the same bad choices over and over. I also didn’t understand why she kept calling her dad in the beginning but gradually stopped trying, or why the author stopped mentioning those attempts. Her dad would often blow her off, so I didn’t understand why she was so insistent on going back to someone who didn’t even check in on her. It did take some time for Ellis to grow, but it felt like it took too long for her to realize that she had people who cared about her and that she should be making the same effort for them.

I would have preferred if Ellis had ended up with someone else in the end. I felt like both Ellis and Cooper could have communicated better at times, and their romance felt uneven. Despite these issues, I would still recommend the book to anyone looking for a cozy small-town romance.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.

Book Review – Celestial Lights by Cecile Pin

 

Celestial Lights by Cecile Pin is about a man, Oliver "Ollie" Ines, who dreams of becoming an astronaut and the sacrifices he makes to achieve that dream.

On January 28, 1986, shortly after launch, the Challenger space shuttle falls from the sky into the sea. Around that same time, Oliver Ines is born.

Ollie spends his childhood in a small English village with a bedroom covered in space memorabilia. Decades later, his dream comes true, and he becomes one of the most renowned astronauts of his time.

He receives news that an enterprising billionaire wants him to lead a landmark mission to the distant moon, Europa. Ollie is thrilled by the opportunity, but he worries about the impact his decision might have on his loved ones.

As the mission ventures into deeper uncharted territory, Ollie finds himself reflecting on his past. He remembers his university days, the years he spent in the navy, and the relationships he built and lost, most notably becoming a husband and father. However, the one question that weighs on his mind is whether the world he remembers will still be the same when he returns.

I had picked up this book because I thought the cover looked interesting. The book was an okay read. I didn't like that the author kept jumping back and forth between the past and present, as it sometimes made the story hard to follow. Ollie was an okay character, but I wasn't invested enough in him to really care about what happened. Overall, it was an okay read, but nothing particularly noteworthy that will stay with me after putting it down.

Book Review – A Far-Flung Life by M.L. Stedman

 

A Far-Flung Life by M.L. Stedman is about the MacBride family, whose lives are forever changed after one tragic accident.

In 1958, in a remote part of Western Australia, the MacBrides have lived on a vast sheep station called Meredith Downs for generations. The station spans a million acres and is surrounded by dry, unforgiving land.

Patriarch Phil MacBride is driving with his two sons when he swerves to avoid a kangaroo. The accident leaves Phil and his eldest son dead. Matt, the youngest son, survives but is left with lasting physical and emotional scars.

Matt tries to move on from the accident and live his life as it was before. However, after another unfortunate incident results in the death of another sibling, he finds himself on a difficult moral and emotional journey, unsure of what to do. As he uncovers long-buried secrets from the past, Matt realizes he must choose between love and duty, even if it means sacrificing his own happiness.

The book was beautifully written with an interesting story, but it is a long read. At times, there were so many characters that I found myself getting confused about how they were related to one another and how they fit into the story. There were also parts that felt drawn out to the point where my eyes started to glaze over. However, I still enjoyed the book. Even though it was a bit dark, it had a few redeeming qualities.

Book Review – Nugget and Tenders's Eggcellent Adventure: A Star Chapter Book by Kaz Windness

   

Nugget and Tenders's Eggcellent Adventure by Kaz Windness is about two chicken friends trying to stop an evil scientist from taking over the world.

Tenders and Nugget discover that an evil scientist wants to take over the world. To make matters worse, their baby chick, Waffles, has been kidnapped and mind-controlled by the evil mastermind. The duo realizes that to stop the scientist, they will need help from some of the greatest minds in history. Will they be able to stop the evil doer before it’s too late?

The book is the second in the series. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the books in order. The graphic novel was easy to follow and had some mild chicken humor. It is a quick read with short chapters that are suitable for young readers. I love the inclusion of four strong women who mostly focused on STEM fields (except, technically, Rosie the Riveter). I thought this was a fun way to introduce young readers to influential women and their contributions.

 Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author. 

Book Review – Bawk to the Future: A Star Chapter Book by Kaz Windness

 

  

 

Bawk to the Future: A Star Chapter Book by Kaz Windness is about two chickens, Tenders and Nugget, who try to escape a laboratory only to accidentally travel back in time.

Nugget and Tenders are being held captive in an evil laboratory, where they are accidentally fed a serum that makes them super smart. While trying to flee their captors, they accidentally get trapped in a time machine and are sent back to the time of the dinosaurs. While in the past, they must devise a way to save themselves from the dinosaurs and change the past to save their future. Will they be able to succeed?

The graphic novel is a short read with small chapters, making it great for young readers. The artwork is done in a black, white, and red color scheme. Personally, I would have preferred full-color illustrations instead. The book has some fun and humorous moments. Since this is the first book in the series, it will be interesting to see what other adventures the chickens go on. 

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.