My Own Little Corner of the World

Booked for Murder (Turtle Island Mysteries Book 1) by Savanna Grey

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Sat, 30 May 2026 02:42:39 +0000

Booked For Murder by Savanna Grey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you're looking for a cozy mystery with some fun twists and turns, be sure to grab this one. Grace is a hairdresser, bookstore lover, therapist extraordinaire, and so much more! I mean, she owns a store called "A Breath of Fresh Hair" so you know it's gonna be good! A well-known author shows up dead and Grace and her friend Danny jump in to help solve the mystery. There are some fun twists and turns and you'll finish this story in no time!

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God's Beautiful Love: Christian Inspirational Children's Book about God's Love to Build Faith and Confidence in Kids by Deniese Dennis

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Tue, 26 May 2026 17:29:32 +0000

God's Beautiful Love: Christian Inspirational Children’s Book about God’s Love to Build Faith and Confidence in Kids by Deniese Dennis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This author is becoming a new favorite of mine. This book is written to inspire and encourage young people to have confidence, show love and empathy, and just be overall good people. This is a feel good story about a little girl exploring the world around her. She sees the beauty and love in nature as well as other people. This would be a great book to read to or have read to you by the littles in your life.

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Mealtime at the Zoo: Jungle Bites & Delights by James Williamson

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:39:09 +0000

Mealtime at the Zoo: Jungle Bites & Delights by James Williamson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a very fun rhyming story about different animals and the food that they love. Kids of all ages will enjoy the vivid illustrations, which add even more comedic effect to the story. They will love to hear this one again and again. I highly recommend trying the recipes at the end too!

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Bubbles in Spring (Seasons with Bubble Girl) by Wanda Carter Roush

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Fri, 22 May 2026 03:37:09 +0000

Bubbles in Spring by Wanda Carter Roush
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is all about kindness, including others, empathy, and belonging. The beautiful illustrations help to show Bubble Girl and her human and animal friends interacting with each other during the season of springtime. There are activities at the end of the book for kids and adults alike to try out and work on their skills in being kind to others. This is a great book for reading with the kids or having them read to you.

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Alli the Alligator: A Children's Book about Kindness, Bullying, Courage, and Celebrating Differences by Cindy Miller

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Tue, 19 May 2026 02:46:17 +0000

Alli the Alligator: A Children's Book About Kindness, Bullying, Courage, and Celebrating Differences by Cindy Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alli is the kindest alligator you'll ever meet. She wants to be friends with everyone. It's almost time for first grade and Alli is learning that not everyone is as kind and gentle as she is. She learns to overcome the stigma that others have put on her and becomes more accepting of others herself.

This is a story of friendship, forgiveness, courage, and more. I highly recommend grabbing this one and reading it with your little(s)!

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Hop's Tales: The Kind Bunny by Evelina Ruimy

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Sat, 16 May 2026 04:36:50 +0000

Hop’s Tales: The Kind Bunny by Evelina Ruimy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the story of Hop, who loves school, and a dog named Ruff who makes fun of him for it. It's a story of standing up for oneself, kindness, and love. It's a great book for kids just starting out in school who might need a confidence booster but also teaches them what not to be. The illustrations are well done in this story too!

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The Last Owners (Crocus Hill Inn Mysteries #1) by Jean Rezab

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Thu, 14 May 2026 02:58:38 +0000

The Last Owners by Jean Rezab
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's a fixer upper house and Courtney and Alex are ready to tackle it. There's just a few issues, the main one being the last owners are missing, along with a sizeable amount of jewelry. The couple decides to help out the son of the previous owners who is now a police officer. At what expense will each of them go to solve this?

I love that this is a "clean" book to read first of all. There are some who may not appreciate the religious undertones in the book. It's hard to find great reads that are not full of unnecessary junk. The mystery and suspense of this is not the high excitement that I am used reading. It's a more calm, slow scenario. It's a very enjoyable read though with relatable characters. I am one who enjoys a resolve to an issue and that didn't come with this story. I do look forward to the next book in this series.

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El Macho: A Jessica Watts Southwest Suspense Novel (#5) by Kathryn Dodson

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Tue, 12 May 2026 03:16:00 +0000

El Macho by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jessica Watts has had it with these egotistical alpha males in her crime-solving life. It doesn't matter if they are the authorities or the perpetrators, Jessica's had enough. Especially when her friend is abducted and left in the middle of nowhere. Jessica is going to solve this case with or without the help of these men! In the meantime, past issues are creeping up that also need to be resolved.

This is a great series and I do recommend reading them in order to have the context behind the characters. It's a great tale of mystery and suspense anytime Jessica is involved!

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Bellyrina: A Tutu Tale from the Belly of the Beast by Once Upon a Dance

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Fri, 08 May 2026 06:07:00 +0000

Bellyrina: A Tutu Tale from the Belly of the Beast by Once Upon a Dance
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This kids book is a cute one full of fun and colorful illustrations. There is also a dance move on every page to learn a new dance. I do think the book will be difficult for new readers to figure out how it flows based on the way that the words are on the page. I struggled with it a bit as an adult. The design is cute in theory but not very practical. There are also a lot of words on each page and I personally found it a bit overstimulating. Otherwise, the story is good and the encouragement to get out and move is beneficial.

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Curve Balls and Commitments: Pickwick Pirate Queens Softball Romance Book 2 by Susan Boles

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Mon, 04 May 2026 20:39:00 +0000

Curve Balls and Commitments: Pickwick Pirate Queens Softball Romance Book 2 by Susan Boles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's been Tasha's dream to open up a dance studio. Her eyes is on the prize and the paperwork is submitted only to find out that someone else beat her to the punch and got her perfect location. As she begins the search again, during softball season of all times, a new guy arrives in town named Derek. He's handsome and definitely not from Pickwick Bend. She's also run into Eli, a local EMT who grew up in Pickwick Bend, left, and is now back. Both men start to woo her and she's having to figure out who to spend her time with. Softball is also her passion and as the pitcher for the Pickwick Pirates, she's got to be on her game.

It comes down to choices and who do you trust for Tasha. Will the town she loves back her up when the going gets tough? Will the Pickwick Pirates win this years championship? Will Tasha be able to find the perfect space to open up her studio?

This was a great short read that took me just under two hours to read start to finish. I do feel like the last 3-4 chapters were a bit redundant and unnecessary. Otherwise, a nice clean romance novel with a hint of mystery.

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Hi Little Baby, Big Sister Loves You: A Sibling Colouring and Activity Book by Deniese Dennis

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Mon, 04 May 2026 18:50:00 +0000

Hi Little Baby, Big Sister Loves You: A Sibling Colouring and Activity Book by Deniese Dennis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an activity and coloring book that would be great for a new big sister. It has coloring pages that talk about some of the changes that big sister is going to experience. There are also activity pages with dot to dot, matching, and more. This would make a great little gift for a new sister!

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Hi Little Baby, Big Brother Loves You: A Sibling Colouring and Activity Book by Deniese Dennis

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Mon, 04 May 2026 18:44:00 +0000

Hi Little Baby, Big Brother Loves You: A Sibling Colouring and Activity Book by Deniese Dennis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a neat book for someone about to become or who has already become a big brother. There are coloring pages that talk about the types of things that a big brother does. There are activity pages that help guide the big brother through some changes that will be happening in his life. It's also a teaching tool to know how to do certain things to help with their new sibling. This would make a great gift for a new big brother.

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The Surf Kidz Riding the Waves: A Surfing Adventure Chapter Book for Ages 6-10 by Kim Ann

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Mon, 04 May 2026 01:05:00 +0000

The Surf Kidz Riding Waves: A Surfing Adventure Chapter Book for Ages 6-10 by Kim Ann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a short chapter book that focuses on friendship and the waves that can come and go with it. The focus is on positivity and confidence with Maya and her friends. They are met with a group of bullying surfers and they overcome the negative energy that they are trying to bring. This is a great book full of great illustrations!

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The Green Baize Door (A Marie Chevalier Mystery) by Eleanor Birney

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:11:00 +0000

The Green Baize Door by Eleanor Birney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book took me awhile to really get into the groove and I almost put it in the DNF pile but I persevered and I'm glad that I did. The writing is very well done but the character development is what took some time to get to where it needed to be. This isn't foreign to books that focus on historical events, places, and people, especially when it's trying to be done as respectfully and accurately as this story. Once everything got moving, this really captured my interest and I am excited to pick up future books in this series.

Set in the early 1900's, Marie's grandmother has been found dead. Actually, she is brutally murdered but who would do such a thing? She was the loving housekeeper for many years. Marie doesn't want her family to be blamed so she sets out to prove their innocence, all the while James a.k.a. Jamie is doing the same. Jamie is the son of the mansion owner and he, too, wants to make sure there is no blood on the hands of his family. Once Jamie and Marie meet up, they realize that one or both of their families may be involved.

As I previously mentioned, the writing is very well done. There is a lot to the class system of the day and describing all the different aspects, traditions, rules, etc. also takes some time. The meaning of the Green Door is also explained. I really appreciated this book but the ending was rather abrupt! It does make for needing to know more of the story immediately though!

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Love Big: A Sweet Story on the Power of Kindness and Caring (The Live Big Series) by Kat Kronenberg

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:44:00 +0000

Love Big: A Sweet Story on the Power of Kindness and Caring (The Live Big Series) by Kat Kronenberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a book focused on how the act of kindness and caring can go a long way. The rhino started out being a little rude to the dung beetle but one small act of kindness changed everything for the rhino, the beetle, and everyone they met along the path that day.

The illustrations in this story are very colorful and bright. Very well done!

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On the Run: Giovanni Madia's Saga Begins by P.J. Mann

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:34:00 +0000

On the Run: Giovanni Madìa's saga begins by P.J. Mann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I saw an author that I am a huge fan of was writing another series, I was eager to get my hands on it! There's nothing like settling down with a great book and realizing you've just finished the whole story in one setting!

This one is fast paced and features Giovanni Madìa. He's a respected clan member but when his boss double crosses him and his family is now in peril, Giovanni doesn't play. There is mystery, intrigue, and lots more in this riveting story! I'm super excited to read the books to come in this series!

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Dream Big: A Heartwarming Story on Overcoming Adversity (The Live Big Series) by Kat Kronenberg

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:04:00 +0000

Dream Big: A Heartwarming Story on Overcoming Adversity (The Live Big Series) by Kat Kronenberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book focuses on overcoming adversity in life. There is a caterpillar who wishes to fly, a tadpole who wishes to walk, a flamingo who wishes to be pretty, as well as a termite and baboon who wish for different things.

Confidence is hard for kids, especially if they've experienced negative thoughts and actions throughout their entire life. This book will hopefully encourage them to reach for the stars!!

At the end of this book, there are suggestions for activities that can be done with family and friends to extend the book's ideas of dreaming.

My favorite part of this book is the beautiful, vivid illustrations!! They are extremely well done!

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Think Big: A Story about Believing in Ourselves and Working Together (The Live Big Series) by Kat Kronenberg

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 02:07:00 +0000

Think Big: A Story about Believing in Ourselves and Working Together (The Live Big Series) by Kat Kronenberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a nice book about believing in yourself and working together to help others believe in themselves as well. The illustrations are my favorite part of this book. They are so bright and colorful that kids will be drawn to the story because of them.

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Shattered Peace: A Century of Silence by Julie McDonald Zander

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:54:00 +0000

Shattered Peace: A Century of Silence by Julie McDonald Zander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There are some books that you read that stick with you for awhile. This is one that I believe will stick with me. I normally struggle with reading dual timeline books and I did have some difficulties with this one in keeping things in line. However, this storyline grabbed me from the get go and wouldn't let me stop until I finished.

There are so many emotions in a book like this. It's based on a true story so knowing that made it even more real. There were moments I felt like I could have been Colleen in this book and going through the things that she was experiencing. This was a very intriguing story to me, and being a lover of WWII history, I learned a few things I didn't know much about.

This author, who is new to me, did a great job of explaining things and keeping them in perspective considering the dual timeline she wrote in. I am interested in reading more of her work!

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Shadowed Designs: A Shadow Defense Security Thriller Book 7 by Mavery Ellscott

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:12:00 +0000

Shadowed Designs: A Shadow Defense Security Thriller Book 7 by Mavery Ellscott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of my favorite series to read and this author gets better with every book. This can be read as a standalone but you'd be missing out on some pivotal characters that would make this more understandable.

There is a lot that I would love to say about this book but I really can't say much without giving it away. I will tell you to prepare to read this in one sitting or you'll be finding ways to revamp your schedule so that you can. This is fast paced, intense, suspenseful action with Olivia, Josh, and their K-9 trying to bury the people in the past and look forward to the future.

I look forward to more from this author!

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Children of the Wandering House by Lois Wickstrom

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:54:00 +0000

Children of the Wandering House by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you've read any of my reviews, you know that Lois Wickstrom is a favorite of mine. This book is a little different than her norm, as this one is a chapter book. She mostly writes very short stories that are beautifully illustrated. This one does not have any illustrations and I so wish it did!

Berry has become separated from her house and when she gets to the Gathering, her house is nowhere to be found. Skew has picked her up and then her friend Invert and Invert's brother Hasty join in their house. What's to come is a lot of adventure, a little bit of a mystery, and a quest to keep the forest from being destroyed.

As I previously mentioned, this one is a bit different than the norm for this author. I did find the storyline enjoyable, if a bit strange. This one is more geared towards older chapter readers and the story will likely intrigue them!

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A Tall Tale: How the Ostriches Got Their Long Necks and Long Legs (Stephanie's Stories) by Scott Sollers

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 02:21:00 +0000

A Tall Tale: How the Ostriches Got Their Long Necks and Long Legs by Scott Sollers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's a tale of two towns that are very different from each other. One town is lush and vibrant while the other one barren and practically lifeless. Chief Nobody and Chief Somebody were at odds with one another. Chief Somebody and his Have-Alls had pets called Squatz and Chief Nobody and his No-Haves have no pets at all. A plan is hatched for the No-Haves to steal the Squatz from the Have-Alls and what ensured was a competition of will and a lot of stretching. Thus, Squatz became Ostriches.

This is a cute book that kids will likely love for the humor in the story. It's definitely a true TALL tale!

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Adventures at Lake Omigosh (Stephanie's Stories Series) by Scott Sollers

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 02:58:00 +0000

Adventures at Lake Omigosh by Scott Sollers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Camp Horizon is just for kids, no parents allowed (although the pictures do depict adults!). It's a fun summer camp for kids to get away and give their parents a break. Around a campfire, they learn that Lake Omigosh got it's name because a mysterious turtle like creature has been seen in the lake and when people see it, they say "Oh My Gosh!". The name stuck. Felix and Harry decide to take a boat out one day. There are three rules that must always be followed and in their haste, Felix and Harry don't follow any of them. What happens next will have them saying, "Oh My Gosh!".

I enjoyed this book but I took off a star because I feel the ending was very rushed. There could have been many more details added but it seems like it just stopped very abruptly. I feel that a child reading or hearing this story might also feel the same way.

The illustrations are very well done in this story. Bryan Janky, the illustrator, deserves a shout out for the vivid depictions of the scenes that he created for this book!

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Ellie's Dancing Shoes (Stephanie's Story) by Scott Sollers

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 05:54:00 +0000

Ellie's Dancing Shoes by Scott Sollers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sometimes all you need is confidence, and that is especially true of Ellie. Her whole life's dream was to become a ballerina. She gave up time hanging out with her friends to rehearse the steps she needed to take to be a famous dancer. A lot of the time she ended up on the floor though. One day her parents heard her sobbing and gifted her a pair of magical ballet slippers from her grandmother. All of a sudden, Ellie was dancing well and she was excited. That is, until the day she lost her slippers right before a huge audition. How would she ever be accepted without her magical slippers?

This was a nice read and can show how a little confidence can go a long way.

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Lethal Fortune (Jake Wolfe Thriller Series #9) by Mark Nolan

noreply@blogger.com (Julie J.) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 02:21:00 +0000

Lethal Fortune by Mark Nolan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you've been following along with this series, this is book 9 and each one just keeps getting better!! Jake is wanting to get his winery up and running but, like always, there is a monkey wrench in his plans. This book has many twists and turns involving crime, murder, a ruthless motorcycle gang, and an adorable K9 named Cody. Just when you know what's going to happen next, a new twist comes in the story goes into a different direction all together.

Stay along with Jake and Cody and I can't wait to see what comes next with them!

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