Book Review - Bitsy Bat, Snow Star by Kaz Windness

 

Bitsy Bat, Snow Star by Kaz Windness is about a young bat experiencing her first snowy day.

Bitsy wakes up to discover that it has snowed. It is the first time she has ever experienced snow, and she is excited to go to school and enjoy some winter activities with her friends. However, when she tries the different activities, she realizes that she isn't enjoying them as much as she expected. Instead of admitting how she feels, she tries to pretend that she is having fun. Bitsy eventually returns to the classroom, where she finds that some of the other students are inside too. After talking with them, she comes up with an indoor activity that she can enjoy with her friends while also giving her a chance to express her feelings.

I thought the book was a cute and fun read. It was beautifully illustrated with fun, bold drawings, and the story was sweet and easy to follow. I also like that the author provides additional resources and discussion points for young readers and their parents. While the story is told from an autistic perspective, I think it's a great read for all children. It teaches empathy and shows that our differences are what make us unique. I also loved the diversity included in the book.

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 – The Silver Kingdom by Radiya Hafiza

 

 

The Silver Kingdom by Radiya Hafiza is about two royals from neighboring kingdoms at war who fall in love against all odds.

Prince Zayd is busy defending the borders of Dakaria when he is called home. His father’s condition has worsened, and Zayd will need to marry to ensure the stability of his kingdom. As his mother announces a potential match with another kingdom, Zayd crosses paths with a different princess.

Princess Layla of Sawan is beautiful and brash. She is the exact opposite of her cruel and power-hungry mother. Layla is only a few months away from coming of age when she discovers that she has latent magical powers. However, she doesn't understand or know how to control them. Layla fears that her life could be in jeopardy if her mother discovers her abilities.

Meanwhile, Zayd has begun negotiating with the mages to help protect his kingdom. The mages have been in hiding after nearly facing extinction when they were hunted. As Zayd tries to negotiate an agreement with them, his and Layla’s paths become intertwined. With the kingdoms divided and still dealing with the fallout of colonial rule, Zayd and Layla must put their personal needs aside and focus on building alliances to survive the impending war. Will they be able to put their hearts aside and save their kingdoms, or will it be too late?

I really enjoyed the book, although there were a few things that bothered me. I thought the story moved a bit slowly in the middle, but the pacing picked up toward the end. I liked both Zayd and Layla, but there were times when I found myself getting annoyed with them. I couldn't believe how long it took Zayd to figure out that Layla had powers when the signs were right in front of him. I also found it amusing that they discussed how poor communication can ruin a relationship while exchanging book recommendations, only to turn around and do the exact same thing themselves!

The book is narrated from dual POVs, which made it interesting to read from both Zayd’s and Layla’s perspectives. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and am interested in seeing how the series progresses.

 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 – Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch

 

 

 

 

Just the Good Parts by Robbie Couch is about a high schooler, Caspen Coolsby, who is worried about his missing dad.

Caspen’s dad has been missing for a few months, and Caspen feels like everyone has given up looking for him except for him. When Caspen finally gets a lead on his dad’s disappearance, the clues come in a rather unusual and unlikely way.

Since his dad disappeared, Caspen’s mother has decided to rent out the upstairs apartment. Three college students move in, and Caspen’s mom welcomes them with candles. When the students light the candles, each one triggers a special memory for that student. While they relive their memories, Caspen is somehow able to join them and experience those moments as well. Caspen believes the memories are connected to his dad because no one loves candles more than his father.

While exploring the students’ memories, Caspen keeps running into a handsome boy named Lars. Lars is the only person in the memories who can see and hear Caspen. As the two try to make sense of the memories, the lines between reality and memories begin to blur. Will Caspen uncover the truth behind his father’s disappearance before it’s too late?

The book started off interesting, and I liked the idea of being able to view someone’s memories through an object they have a connection to. However, the story started getting a bit confusing, and eventually I began to realize where it was heading. I felt that some parts were unnecessarily confusing, and I wish the story had been more fleshed out. I would have liked more explanations about why those particular students were chosen and why Lars was there. There were several parts of the story that I felt could have been explained better. Overall, it was an okay read, but I think the execution could have been better.

 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.

November 2026 Empties

 

If you are wondering how I managed to finish so much this month, it's mostly because I forgot to do an empties post in October. So now, it looks like I did a lot of decluttering when I actually did nothing.

I will say that I fell into that hype of beef tallow, and it was not worth it. I got the beef tallow facial cleanser, face cream, and body lotion from HealthyDerm. It did absolutely nothing and performed subpar compared to other products in a similar price range. I think in the future I might get it again if it were on sale for a lot cheaper.

I got a few classics that I had when I was younger. I tried the Herbal Essences Rose Hip Shampoo and Conditioner. It smelled amazing and had a nice floral scent that lingered. I remember their fruity scents and loving them. However, the floral shampoo was a nice change of pace. 

I tried The Body Shop Shea Shower Cream. I used to get their stuff often when I used to work across the street. I was pleasantly surprised to see their stuff available on Amazon. The body cream had a cocoa butter scent. It was creamy but didn't do much moisturizing or lathering. It was rather disappointing. 

Lush Snow Fairy was an amazing body butter. It was thick and creamy but not greasy or tacky. It definitely is very expensive for a small container that was not filled up all the way. However, the scent smelled so good, and it was a cotton candy scent. I love how it lingered on my skin all day.  

Until next time.  

Book Review – The Fourth Wife by Linda Hamilton

 

The Fourth Wife by Linda Hamilton follows Hazel Russon as she becomes the fourth wife of Jacob Manwaring and discovers a sinister secret that taints their marriage.

In 1882 Utah, Hazel Russon’s life is defined by three things: the Mormon Church, polygamy, and the men who hold power over her. Hazel dreams of living a monogamous life with her childhood sweetheart and having the freedom to play the piano, even though the church considers it sinful.

She knows that it is every Mormon woman’s duty to obey her husband and remain devoted to him and her calling as a sister wife, especially if she hopes to attain eternal salvation. When she is summoned by a church elder, she fears what he might ask of her.

The church elder declares that it is godly for Hazel to marry a man she has never met and become his fourth wife. Hazel is happy to discover that Jacob Manwaring is attentive and handsome. However, she is shocked when she arrives at her new home and learns that she will be living with all of Jacob’s wives and children under the same roof, rather than in separate households as is customary.

Although Hazel is warm and caring, she senses tension and resentment among the sister wives. She then begins hearing strange music, catching glimpses of an apparition, and experiencing terrifying, bloody nightmares. As her nightmares and sleepwalking worsen, Hazel becomes unsure of what frightens her more: her husband or the sinister presence that seems to be haunting the house.

I thought the novel was an okay read, with some creepy moments. As a woman in modern times, I found it difficult at times to read about polygamy and how women were treated as second-class citizens in society/religion. The story moved a bit slowly in places, and I often felt like I was waiting on the edge of my seat for something to happen. While I liked most of the characters, they sometimes grated on my nerves when they slowly revealed information or refused to communicate with one another. Overall, I found it to be a spooky read and would be open to reading more books by the author.

Book Review - Venus Washington, Eye Spy by Maisha Oso

  

 

Venus Washington, Eye Spy by Maisha Oso is about a young girl, Venus Washington, who is nervous about going on a trip with her mother after she discovers she might be part alien.

Venus is excited when her mom tells her that they will be going on a trip. However, when her dad mentions that their destination is part of her name, Venus assumes he is referring to the first part of her name. She figures this must mean they are going to Venus and that she must be half alien. After all, she has heard that her mom has eyes on the back of her head! Venus is determined to find her mom’s extra eyes and prove that she is part alien.

This chapter book is a quick read for young readers. It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. Similar to the other books, Venus takes things very literally, which leads to plenty of misunderstandings, mayhem, and chaos. Adult readers might find her behavior annoying, but I can see younger readers enjoying her misunderstandings and the chaos that follows.

 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 – Hardy Boys Clue Book Fall Mysteries 3-in-1 by Franklin W. Dixon

 

Hardy Boys Clue Book Fall Mysteries 3-in-1 by Franklin W. Dixon is a compilation of three short stories featuring two brothers, Frank and Joe, as they solve mysteries.

In The Bad Luck Skate, Frank and Joe are excited to cheer on their friends on the Bayport Checkers hockey team. However, the mood darkens when someone dumps paint all over the team’s lucky skate, and then their friend’s hockey stick breaks. The team’s star player and goalie begin to worry that their luck has run out. Has the team’s luck really run out, or is someone trying to sabotage them?

In The Pirate Ghost, the brothers’ friend Jason wins a treasure map during Bayport’s Pirate Palooza. However, Jason receives a warning telling him not to hunt for the treasure. Is the legendary ghost of Captain Scurvydog warning people of a deadly curse, or is someone more human trying to mess with Jason?

In The Great Pumpkin Smash, the brothers are excited to attend Bayport’s annual Boo at the Zoo party. They look forward to participating in the activities but are devastated to discover that all the painted pumpkins on display have been completely destroyed. The duo must find the culprit, or the annual event will be canceled.

The book took a bit of time to get into. I felt like the first story was a bit stilted and boring. However, as I read on, I found the other stories more enjoyable. I thought the last story was the best because it had better pacing and a more engaging storyline. The first story felt more like someone was presenting a case, giving us all the details, and asking us to figure out who the culprit was, while the last story read more like an actual story.

I do like that there are three short stories in one book, and I enjoy autumn-themed mysteries. However, since all three stories are included in the same book, I felt that some of the repetitive details weren't necessary, especially when the same information was repeated in every story. I also found Aunt Trudy’s character a bit bizarre and didn't understand why she was written that way.

I did enjoy the format of reading about the crime and the brothers’ investigation of the suspects, followed by questions that let readers guess who the culprit is before the answer is revealed. I was able to guess two out of the three mysteries before the culprits were revealed. Overall, I think this is a good starting point for budding mystery fans.

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 – Socks & Secret Quests by Triona Murphy

 

 

 

Socks & Secret Quests by Triona Murphy is about four unlikely heroes embarking on an epic quest to save their home.

Peri has been waiting for her magic to show up ever since she was chosen as an Apprentice Shopkeeper a year ago. As an Apprentice Shopkeeper, she travels with a magical shop that helps equip adventurers for their quests. Peri feels that all she will ever do is stock shelves and knit non-magical items to help keep the heroes warm during their travels.

Everything is thrown into disarray when a mysterious and powerful dark wizard kidnaps the Master Shopkeeper. He wants to use her power to create an army of dark forces. Peri is desperate to rescue her master, but first, she must find someone who can help her. She decides to ask the nearest adventuring team, which is made up of young heroes who don’t seem to know how to work together. As Peri joins them to help save her master, she realizes that her magic is starting to grow in unexpected ways. Will Peri and her team be able to stop the wizard before it’s too late?

The book was an okay read. It took me a bit of time to get into the story, and I found it hard to connect with the characters at first. I wish the author had included more worldbuilding, such as the ceremony in which Peri was chosen as an apprentice, why adventuring parties exist, and more details about the geography, politics, and history of the different countries.

The book is the first in a series and gives a hint about what might happen in the second installment. I did eventually grow to like the characters, and I would be interested in seeing where their adventures take them.

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.