Jill's Book Blog

Review: Hockey 123

Title: Hockey 123
Author: Taffy Tales
Genre: Children’s, Board Book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Board book
Release Date: October 3, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Get ready to hit the ice and start counting! Hockey 123 is the ultimate hockey board book and interactive counting book for toddlers, part of Taffy Tales’ best-selling Fun Flaps series. With chunky flaps, playful illustrations, and hockey-themed surprises, this hands-on learning book makes counting numbers exciting for preschoolers and young hockey enthusiasts.From 1 hockey puck to 10 cheering fans, kids will learn to count using everyday hockey objects, silly surprises (yes–even animals on skates!), and legendary jersey numbers. Along the way, they’ll discover fun facts about hockey legends like Wayne Gretzky and iconic numbers like 3 for a hat trick or 99 for hockey greatness.

Review:

This is a cute board book that teaches kids how to count using hockey terms. It counts everything in hockey, including how many players are on the rink and the numbers on famous players’ jerseys. This book also has fun flaps that show more hockey facts underneath.

Hockey 123 is a great board book for hockey families!

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

Have you read Hockey 123? What did you think of it?

Review: The Invasion (The After Series #3)

Title: The Invasion (The After Series #3)
Author: J. Taylor
Genre: Middle Grade, Dystopia
Publisher: Friesen Press
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: July 24, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

With no central government to support Canada, chaos reigns as invaders seek control, and the Resistance rises to challenge them. Charlotte and Anna find themselves entangled with those protecting their country, desperate to prevent the intruders from seizing power and dismantling what remains of their nation.

Fleeing through unfamiliar territory, Charlotte and Anna’s resolve is tested as they evade relentless pursuers determined to capture or eliminate them. Although hopeful they can make a difference, every step forward is fraught with uncertainty, the looming threat of captivity pushing them to their limits.

Despite fear and exhaustion, the determination to protect Canada’s future keeps the girls moving, even as the shadows of war close in around them.

Review:

This was an intense and fast paced third story in The After series. Anna and Charlotte’s world grew bigger as they got involved in the Resistance group. I wasn’t sure how they would finish everything that needed to be wrapped up in this story but there will be another book in the series. This story was more heartwarming than the first two.

The Invasion is a great middle grade story!

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

Content warnings: death of parent

Other books in the series:

Have you read The Invasion? What did you think of it?

Review: Old MacDonald Had a Farm Team

Title: Old MacDonald Had a Farm Team
Author: Jody Houser, Roberta Ingranata
Genre: Elena Sturgess, Jack Stubbs
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Board book
Release Date: October 7, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis:

Join Mother Moose on a hilarious countryside adventure in Old MacDonald Had a Farm Team, part of the beloved Mother Moose series. This playful board book follows Old MacDonald as he assembles his farm team for the hockey season. From Beaver, the log-solid goaltender, to Goat, the mischievous player who headbutts opponents, picking the perfect team is a fun-filled challenge–especially before the song ends!

Review:

This board book is a fun twist on the “Old MacDonald” nursery rhyme. Old MacDonald has a hockey team made up of animals including a goat and a sheepdog. There were lots of hockey references as well as fun illustrations of the animals playing hockey.

Old MacDonald Had a Farm Team is a fun Canadian twist on the classic nursery rhyme.

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

Have you read Old MacDonald Had a Farm Team? What did you think of it?

Review: I Love Hockey

Title: I Love Hockey
Author: Harry Caminelli
Genre: Children’s, Board book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Board book
Release Date: November 4, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Get ready to hit the ice with I Love Hockey, the latest title in Taffy Tales’ popular Look and Find Lift-the-Flap series! This exciting, interactive board book takes young readers on a thrilling journey from a friendly road hockey game to the big game on the ice, teaching them all about the fast-paced sport of hockey along the way.The adventure begins with a fun road hockey game, where kids warm up before their exciting match later that night. As the puck drops, readers will:

Look, find, and count different players Learn basic hockey terms and positions, like forwards, defensemen, and the goalie Discover hidden surprises behind lift-the-flap tabs–from the locker room to the game-winning goal in overtime With vibrant illustrations and playful interactions, I Love Hockey introduces young fans to the world of hockey in a fun, accessible way. Children will count players, learn about hockey equipment, and understand the rules of the game–all while having a blast. The sturdy board book format, complete with chunky tab flaps, makes it perfect for on-the-go reading.Whether it’s their first introduction to the game or an addition to their growing hockey library, I Love Hockey is sure to inspire a love for the sport and have kids excited to play–both on the road and on the ice!

Review:

This adorable board book is all about hockey. It shows kids playing ball hockey on a street. It also shows scenes of an ice hockey game, from the locker room to the rink. There are fun flaps that ask questions, like how many skates are in the illustrations.

I Love Hockey is a fun board book for hockey fans!

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

Have you read I Love Hockey? What did you think of it?

Review: Survival (The After #2)

Title: Survival (The After #2)
Author: J. Taylor
Genre: Middle Grade, Dystopia
Publisher: Friesen Press
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Physical book
Release Date: January 24, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In the wilderness of Nova Scotia, Charlotte and Anna confront the formidable challenges of survival such as finding food, building a shelter, and establishing a new life. Their bond is tested, however, when an unknown individual enters the scene, potentially driving a wedge between them. As tensions rise, a catastrophic event further complicates their situation, leading to a separation that leaves them struggling to reunite.
Book Two of The After Series explores themes of resilience, friendship, and the harsh realities of survival, highlighting both the strength of Charlotte and Anna’s connection and the obstacles that threaten to tear them apart.

Review:

This is the second book in The After series. Charlotte and Anna are on their own trying to survive. This story had a few heart wrenching moments. It reminded me of The Last of Us in the way that the girls were on the run, looking for ways to survive.

Survival is an intense and heart wrenching story.

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

Content warnings: death, fire

Other books in the series:

The After (The After #1)
The Invasion (The After #3)

Have you read Survival? What did you think of it?

Review: Oh, Canada

Title: Oh, Canada
Author: Abby Lawrence-Valeriani
Genre: Children’s, Board book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Board book
Release Date: November 4, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Oh, Canada! – Interactive Look and Find Lift-the-Flap Board BookCelebrate the beauty and diversity of Canada with Oh, Canada!, the newest title in Taffy Tales’ best-selling Look and Find Lift-the-Flap series. This vibrant, interactive board book invites young readers to explore Canada’s landscapes, wildlife, and landmarks while discovering hidden surprises under every chunky flap. From the icy tundra of the North to the lush forests of the East, children will meet iconic animals like moose and beavers, spot famous landmarks like the CN Tower and the Rockies, and learn fun facts about Canada’s provinces and territories.

Review:

This is a fun board book about Canada. The book takes the reader on a journey across Canada, showing landmarks and different animals. There were questions in each section, encouraging kids to think about what they’re reading and interact with the book.

Oh, Canada 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 Oh, Canada? What did you think of it?

Review: The After (The After Series #1)

Title: The After (The After Series #1)
Author: J. Taylor
Genre: Middle Grade, Dystopia
Publisher: Friesen Press
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 10, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Despite the deadly virus that caused borders to close and governments to fall ten years earlier, fourteen-year-old Charlotte and her family have lived a challenging yet relatively peaceful life, isolated on their acreage in rural Nova Scotia. However, when Charlotte discovers that an interloper has infiltrated their property, she must decide between keeping the potential threat a secret or embracing the potential for companionship that the intrusion represents. As the chaotic world that lurks outside the fence surrounding her farm disrupts Charlotte’s life even further, she must reach deep within herself and find the courage to become the mature young woman she claims to be—or risk losing everything that she and her family have worked so hard to build.

Review:

This is a postapocalyptic middle grade story. A virus killed many people, leaving Charlotte’s family to live isolated on a farm. The virus reminded me of Covid, but it was much more destructive. This story shows what could have happened if we didn’t have a vaccine. There were some sad parts, that go along with a deadly virus. I’m curious to see what happens in the rest of the series!

The After is a great dystopian middle grade story.

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

Content warnings: death, death of animal, virus

Other books in the series:

Survival (The After Series #2)
The Invasion (The After Series #3)

Have you read The After? What did you think of it?

Review: The Heart of Valor

Title: The Heart of Valor
Author: Connie Y Harris
Genre: Fiction, Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 8, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

After an early retirement from the Marine Corps, Kacie O’Shea finds herself at a crossroads, feeling adrift. When an opportunity arises with Valor Security Systems, she’s determined to prove herself. Her first assignment is successful, but unravels a sinister revenge plot targeting her client.
Trevor Marlowe is a single parent whose sole focus is protecting his young daughter, Emma. Impressed by Kacie’s credentials, he hires her as a bodyguard, but their professional relationship takes an unexpected romantic twist.
Faced with a crisis of conscience, Kacie requests a replacement, ends the affair and returns home.
Then, the unthinkable happens—Emma is kidnapped. Kacie vows to get her back, knowing the mission will push her to her limits as she returns to the treacherous streets of Mali, where her Marine career ended abruptly.

Review:

This was a short, sweet, and steamy military romance. Kacie and Trevor made a really cute couple. I liked the way that Trevor’s daughter, Emma, loved Kacie. There were fairly low stakes in their romance which made it a light and quick read. There were a few fun steamy scenes too.

The Heart of Valor is a short and steamy military romance!

Thank you The Wild Rose Press for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign.

Content warnings: death, kidnapping, robbery (mentions)

Have you read The Heart of Valor? What did you think of it?

Review: Construction

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

Synopsis:

Construction is the newest title in Taffy Tales’ best-selling Fun Flaps series! This interactive, chunky board book takes young readers step by step through the exciting process of building a home. From clearing the land to the final coat of paint, children will discover how houses come to life with the help of workers, vehicles, tools, and materials.

Follow along as kids meet excavators, builders, window installers, painters, and landscapers—each crew revealed through sturdy flaps that hide fun surprises, including playful details like a mouse visiting drying cement! Young readers will learn the names of tools, vehicles, and the tasks each crew performs, all while exploring colorful, engaging illustrations.

Review:

This is an adorable board book about a construction site. The illustrations show how a house is built, from clearing the land to putting the shingles on the roof. There are fun flaps that can be lifted to see more fun facts about construction underneath. I think any kids who are interested in construction or tools will love this board book.

Construction is a fun board book!

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

Have you read Construction? What did you think of it?

Review: Stones River

Title: Stones River
Author: M.F. Jones
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Fieldwood Books
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 26, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Jessie Gibbs meets Lemuel Sanders, she thinks she has finally found her ideal man—until she discovers that he is the ghost of a Civil War soldier. For 144 years, Lem has kept vigil at his unmarked battlefield grave, seeking someone to complete a personal mission so he can go to his final rest. As love grows between them, Jessie is torn. If she succeeds in fulfilling Lem’s wish, she’ll lose him when he passes into the afterlife. But if she fails and he remains in the world, she’ll never be free to find intimacy with a living man. A riveting story of faith, passion, and selfless devotion, Stones River shows the power of love to overcome all obstacles—even death itself.

Review:

This is a beautiful story about love and loss. Jess falls in love with her perfect man, but he turns out to be the ghost of a soldier from the Civil War. I liked this supernatural romance. I was rooting for Jess and Lem, even though it seemed impossible for them to have a future. This story was fast paced and exciting!

Stones River is a beautiful story.

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

Content warnings: war, death, cancer

Have you read Stones River? What did you think of it?