Jill's Book Blog

Review: Hockey ABC

Title: Hockey ABC
Author: Taffy Tales
Genre: Children’s, Board Book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Board book
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis:

Lace up your skates and get ready to learn your ABCs–Hockey ABC is the ultimate alphabet board book for toddlers and preschoolers who love hockey! Part of Taffy Tales’ best-selling Fun Flaps series, this chunky, interactive board book is packed with hockey-themed words, silly surprises, and flap-filled fun, making learning the alphabet a total power play.From A is for Assist to Z is for Zamboni, each page is bursting with hockey-related words, colorful illustrations, and fun facts that bring the game to life. Kids will discover everything from gear (J is for Jersey) to game rules to key team roles–like the Captain with the big C on their sweater and Assistants proudly wearing their As.Every sturdy flap hides a surprise, encouraging hands-on exploration and adding a playful twist to early learning. With hockey humor, wacky details (yes, even a moose on skates!), and lively illustrations, Hockey ABC is the perfect mix of education and entertainment.

Review:

This board book teaches the ABCs with hockey themed words. There are fun flaps that lift up to make the book interactive. It teaches lots of aspects of hockey including penalties like icing and offside. I loved all the vibrant illustrations too.

Hockey ABC is a great board book!

Thank you Taffy Tales for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Have you read Hockey ABC? What did you think of it?

Review: Delaware at Christmas

Title: Delaware at Christmas
Author: Dave Tabler
Genre: Nonfiction
Publisher: Self-published
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Paperback
Release Date: July 4, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Delaware at Christmas uncovers the rich and surprising ways Delawareans have celebrated the holiday season across four centuries. From colonial-era customs brought by Swedish, Dutch, and English settlers to modern multicultural observances, this book blends history, folklore, and festive tradition into a vivid portrait of Christmas in the First State.

Readers will discover the origins of outdoor Christmas decorations, the rise of the state’s holly wreath industry, and the stories behind local favorites like eggnog, wassail, and plum pudding. The book shines a light on forgotten practices — from mumming parades and house tours to the music of handbell choirs and the enduring power of church lovefeasts.

Delaware at Christmas also gives voice to the holiday experiences of Black Delawareans during the antebellum period, alongside the customs brought by Irish, Italian, Polish, and Hispanic communities who shaped the state’s evolving identity.

Whether exploring 19th-century sleigh bells, Victorian Christmas cards, or the curious history of IBM punch card wreaths, Dave Tabler captures Delaware’s holiday spirit with meticulous research and a storyteller’s eye.

Perfect for history lovers, regional readers, and anyone drawn to the enduring magic of Christmas traditions.

Review:

This book describes the traditions that were brought to the state of Delaware from immigrants around the world. Europeans and Hispanics brought their traditions of family gatherings and different foods, such as indoor Christmas trees and the Feast of the Seven Fishes. There were also sections about Christmas traditions that seem essential now but weren’t always part of the celebrations, like Christmas cards and outdoor decorations.

Delaware at Christmas is an interesting look at Christmas traditions in America!

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Have you read Delaware at Christmas? What did you think of it?

Review: The Haunting of Paynes Hollow

Title: The Haunting of Paynes Hollow
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Fiction, Horror
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: October 14, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

From New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes a nail-biting supernatural horror about a haunted lakeside property and twisted family secrets.

When Samantha Payne’s grandfather dies, she figures she won’t even get a mention in the will. After all, she hasn’t seen him in fourteen years, not since her father took his own life after being accused of murdering a child at their lakefront cottage. Her grandfather always insisted her father was innocent, despite Sam having caught him burying the child’s body, his clothing streaked with blood.

But when she does attend the reading of the will at the behest of her aunt, she discovers that her grandfather left her the very valuable lakefront property where the family cottage sits. There’s one catch: Sam needs to stay in the cottage for a month. To finally face the fact she was wrong and her father was innocent, in her grandfather’s words.

Traveling to Paynes Hollow, Sam is faced with the realities of her childhood and the secrets kept hidden in the shadows of her memories. When her aunt goes missing a couple days into their stay, Sam begins to question everything again. Plagued by nightmares and paranoia, she begins hearing sounds in the forest and seeing shapes crawling from the water as the rippling waves of the lake promise something unspeakably dark lurking just below their surface.

Review:

This was a super creepy story. Sam’s grandfather left her a multi-million dollar property in his will, but she could only receive it if she spent a month on the property where her father killed himself. I thought I had figured out the ending but I was wrong. There was a supernatural element to the story that I wasn’t expecting but I liked it.

The Haunting of Paynes Hollow is a great spooky read!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of this book!

Content warnings: Alzheimer’s, death, murder, death of animals, stalking

Have you read The Haunting of Paynes Hollow? What did you think of it?

Review: Planets and Stars

Title: Planets and Stars
Author: Elena Sturgess
Genre: Children’s, Board book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Board book
Release Date: October 7, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Blast off into space with Planets and Stars, the newest out-of-this-world addition to Taffy Tales’ Fun Flapsseries! This chunky, interactive board book is packed with cute illustrations, fun facts, sturdy flaps, and just the right touch of humor to keep little astronauts entertained from liftoff to landing.Young readers will explore the solar system, from sizzling Mercury to chilly Neptune, learning what makes each planet unique. They’ll discover fascinating facts about Earth, the stars, and even imagine life on other worlds. With lift-the-flap surprises, children can uncover fun details about moons, planetary rotations, and the blazing sun that lights our days.

Review:

This is a great board book about planets and stars. There were a lot of fun facts that I didn’t know. For example, I didn’t know that Jupiter is more than twice as big as all the other planets combined! I love learning from children’s books. I think kids and adults will enjoy this book!

Planets and Stars is a great board book!

Thank you Taffy Tales for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Have you read Planets and Stars? What did you think of it?

Review: Hockey Night on Halloween

Title: Hockey Night on Halloween
Author: Harry Caminelli, Jack Stubbs
Genre: Children’s, Board Book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Board book
Release Date: September 2, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

It’s that spooky time of year again, and you know what that means… Monsters on ice!

Every fall, a ghoulish game takes place—one where the stakes are high, the players are terrifying, and the puck is… well, it’s spooky! This isn’t your average hockey match. In fact, the winning team gets the ultimate prize: the right to haunt your house on Halloween night. Eek!

Coach Frankenstein is leading his team of monstrous misfits, including a new player he’s pieced together himself. Will his Frankenstein-inspired monster be enough to take down the competition? Or will Coach Dracula and his team of creepy critters, like a sneaky mouse and flying witches, rise to the challenge and put an end to Frankenstein’s scary winning streak?

Review:

Halloween falls at the beginning of hockey season so there are usually games on Halloween night. In this book, Halloween monsters are playing a game of hockey to determine who gets to haunt your house. The teams are led by Dracula and Frankenstein. This was such a funny and festive Halloween story.

Hockey Night on Halloween is a fun Halloween book!

Thank you Taffy Tales for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Have you read Hockey Night on Halloween? What did you think of it?

Review: The Quest for Freedom (The Conquest Trilogy #1)

Title: The Quest for Freedom (The Conquest Trilogy #1)
Author: Matthew Devitt
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Bold Publishing
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: July 5, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Affer was once a peaceful planet, until a war broke out between its six inhabiting species. The humans, who were once the mightiest force on Affer, were massacred in droves, and the ones who survived the onslaught were reduced to mere slaves. The five other species divided the humans amongst themselves and returned to their respective kingdoms.
The years passed, turning into decades and centuries, without any change. Eventually, the humans had accepted their fate as slaves. All except one. Four hundred and seventy-three years later, Fletcher Rush starts his journey to free his kind…and conquer the planet.

Review:

This book is set on a planet where humans were enslaved. A couple of humans decide to rise up to free their species from slavery. The long battle scenes were broken up with some funny moments. The politics between species were intriguing to read about.

The Quest for Freedom is a great fantasy novel!

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign.

Content warnings: violence, death, stabbing

Have you read The Quest for Freedom? What did you think of it?

Review: Curly Sue and the Beetle

Title: Curly Sue and the Beetle
Author: Chad Billmyer, Kory Alexander (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Luminare Press
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Paperback
Release Date: January 10, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A dog named Curly Sue spends her day waiting for her boy to come home from school. Told through the dog’s perspective, this story follows Curly Sue as she observes nature in the yard, wishing her boy were there to see the birds, squirrels, and insects she sees. Because her boy loves nature, she tries to capture different critters like a bee and a ladybug to give as a gift to her boy. She successfully captures a beetle and presents it to her boy upon his return from school. He is thrilled by the dog’s creative expression of love and loyalty.

Review:

In this picture book, Curly Sue is a dog who misses her owner while he’s at school. She decides to catch a bug for him for when he gets home. She tries to catch a few bugs until she settles on a beetle. Anyone with pets knows how hard it can be to leave them. This story shows a glimpse of what a dog might do while thinking about their humans who aren’t home. Curly Sue reminded me so much of my dog who passed away earlier this year. This is a beautifully illustrated book.

Curly Sue and the Beetle is a beautiful picture book!

Thank you Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Have you read Curly Sue and the Beetle? What did you think of it?

Review: Super Science, Vol. 1

Title: Super Science, Vol. 1
Author: N. Alessandro K., Perker
Genre: Graphic Novel, Science Fiction
Publisher: The Lab Press
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: August 12, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a world where imagination becomes reality, a global phenomenon grants ordinary people extraordinary scientific powers.

Super Science is a sci-fi/comedy about a world where the limits of human imagination have become real. For five days the entire sky over twelve spots across the globe turn amethyst purple. The inexplicable result was in each location, professional engineers and scientists, as well as tinkers, amateur inventors, and high school science teachers were able to create scientific and engineering breakthroughs in ways far surpassing the world’s top scientific institutions. Our story starts three years later in Los Angeles, where a breed of actual superheroes and super villains are emerging.

Dealing with this new phenomenon is LAPD’s new “Mad Scientist Division.” Our two main characters are the no-nonsense Sergeant Esmerelda Villanueva and her idealistic young partner, Officer Jack Mantle. Other main characters are manipulative industrialist Burt Montague, and his bold lab assistant Felicia Bari; perpetually unlucky Karen Katz, a former biology teacher who has turned herself into a human-cat hybrid; Esmerelda’s son Gabe, who might be the smartest teenager on the planet; and finally, nefarious super villain Dr. Cornelius Otherland, and his nemesis, bumbling superhero Gas Giant.

This mind-bending graphic novel from THE LAB ships in a gold-foil stamped cloth slipcase.

Review:

In this graphic novel, scientists have discovered how to give themselves scientific super powers. Many of them use their powers for evil, rather than good. However, it’s difficult for law enforcement to figure out how to keep the peace. I liked the vibrant illustrations and the colorful cast of characters!

Super Science, Vol. 1 is a great start to a graphic novel series!

Thank you Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Content warnings: death, violence

Have you read Super Science, Vol. 1? What did you think of it?

Review: Cranky the Snowman

Title: Cranky the Snowman
Author: Carrie Hager
Genre: Children’s, Board Book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Board book
Release Date: November 4, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Cranky the Snowman comes to life, it’s a full-on winter disaster. Raised from the icy depths of the local dump (because, where else?), Cranky’s idea of spreading holiday cheer involves a little chaos… and a lot of naughty behavior. Instead of building snow forts or having snowball fights, Cranky drives an ice cream truck and raises the prices, shuts down the town’s Wi-Fi, and—get this—he even chops down his neighbor’s Christmas tree! (We told you he’s cranky.)

Rhyme, rhythm, and mischief galore!
From the moment Cranky hits the streets, it’s an all-out snowstorm of trouble. The town’s residents are absolutely up in arms—who can stop this frosty menace before things really get out of hand? But after Cranky is arrested, a shocking twist leaves us with… just a puddle in his jail cell.

What happened to Cranky? Did he melt? Escape? Head for a vacation in the tropics? We may never know… but one thing’s for sure—you’ll be laughing all the way through this hilarious, frosty tale!

Review:

This is a fun story in the style of Frosty the Snowman. Cranky the snowman is the opposite of Frosty. He isn’t warm and friendly. Instead he chases children and cuts off the Wi-Fi. I always found Frosty the Snowman a little sad because he melts at the end of the story. However, I didn’t feel bad about Cranky melting in this story.

Cranky the Snowman is a fun winter board book!

Thank you Taffy Tales for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign.

Have you read Cranky the Snowman? What did you think of it?

Review: Believers: The Hunt for the Unholy

Title: Believers: The Hunt for the Unholy
Author: Christiano Maki
Genre: Thriller, Religious
Publisher: self-published
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: April 16, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

How far would you go to possess the unholy? In this supernatural thriller, the boundaries between men and monsters blur as power and greed collide with forces beyond comprehension. What begins as a pursuit of the world’s most precious relics spirals into a war between the ruthless elite and the dark prophets of Satan himself. With every step deeper into the unknown, ambition fuels destruction, and those who believe they control their own fate soon realize—they were never in control at all.

As the will of men clashes with the temptations of the abyss, the institutions that claim to lead us are exposed for what they truly pawns in a game older than time. Those who seek to harness evil for their own gain will learn a harrowing truth—no one steals from the Devil and lives to tell about it.

This is not just a story. It is a warning. One that will haunt you long after the final page.

Because believers believe.

Believers is a darkly atmospheric supernatural thriller. If you like ancient mysteries, epic battles between good and evil, and the search for forbidden knowledge, then you’ll love Christiano Maki’s immersive and haunting tale of faith, ambition, and deadly secrets.

Review:

This was an intense supernatural thriller. It explored ideas of religion, good versus evil, and greed. There were some chilling scenes that make this book perfect for spooky season. This is a book that you won’t soon forget!

Believers: The Hunt for the Unholy is a creepy thriller!

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Content warnings: possession, body horror

Have you read Believers: The Hunt for the Unholy? What did you think of it?