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Review: Dasher Gift Set

Title: Dasher Gift Set
Author: Matt Tavares
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 24, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Celebrate five years of Matt Tavares’s holiday classic with a beautifully designed gift set featuring four press-out keepsakes.

Dasher is an adventurous young reindeer with a wish in her heart and whose life is forever changed when she meets a man in a red suit with a horse-drawn sleigh. New York Timesbest-selling author-illustrator Matt Tavares channels the spirit of the season—and leaves us with a heroine to root for—in a pair of picture book odes to giving, kindness, and holiday magic. Included are two specially designed paper ornaments, two standees as well as two hardcover classics:

Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever
Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas

Review:

This gift set had two hardcover picture books about the reindeer Dasher. In Dasher, she lives with her family in a traveling circus. Her mom has always told her stories about living at the North Pole, so when Dasher gets a chance, she runs away. Dasher meets Santa who is struggling to pull his sleigh with his horse, so Dasher helps him.

In Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas, Dasher now lives with her family at the North Pole. She loves Christmas Eve, and one year she can’t wait for it to arrive, so she runs away the night before Christmas Eve to see the Christmas lights and hear carols. However, she gets lost and needs the help of a child to get home.

These are two beautiful Christmas picture books. I love that they are new origin stories about Santa’s reindeer, but they fit with the traditional story of Santa and his reindeer. This gift set also comes with some ornaments and decorations on a card that can be used for the holidays.

Dasher and Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas are beautiful books for the holidays!

Thank you @penguinrandomca and @tundrabooks for providing a copy of this book. This book was gifted to me from Penguin Random House Canada as part of the Holiday Book Magic Campaign! The Holiday Book Magic books are a curated list of books that are perfect for gifting and enjoying all year long!

Have you read Dasher or Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas? What did you think of it?

Review: The Hotel Balzaar

Title: The Hotel Balzaar
Author: Kate DiCamillo, Júlia Sardà
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a wise and magical follow-up to The Puppets of Spelhorst, Kate DiCamillo revisits the land of Norendy, where tales swirl within tales—and every moment is a story in the making.

At the Hotel Balzaar, Marta’s mother rises before the sun, puts on her uniform, and instructs Marta to roam as she will but quietly, invisibly—like a little mouse. While her mother cleans rooms, Marta slips down the back staircase to the grand lobby to chat with the bellman, study the painting of an angel’s wing over the fireplace, and watch a cat chase a mouse around the face of the grandfather clock, all the while dreaming of the return of her soldier father, who has gone missing. One day, a mysterious countess with a parrot checks in, promising a story—in fact, seven stories in all, each to be told in its proper order. As the stories unfold, Marta begins to wonder: could the secret to her father’s disappearance lie in the countess’s tales? Book two in a trio of novellas bound by place and mood—with elegant line art by Júlia Sardà—The Hotel Balzaar masterfully juggles yearning and belief, shining light into every dark corner.

Review:

Marta’s mother works at the Hotel Balzaar while Marta creeps around the hotel during the day, being quiet and not disturbing anyone. One day, a woman arrives with a pet parrot. She tells Marta stories that remind Marta of her father who has disappeared. She realizes that the answers to her father’s disappearance may be hidden in these stories.

This story reminded me of the Eloise books and movies, since Marta lived in a hotel like her. However, there was a more serious tone since Marta was always thinking about her missing father. The story takes place decades ago and the beautiful black and white illustrations reflected that.

The Hotel Balzaar is a beautiful middle grade story!

Have you read The Hotel Balzaar? What did you think of it?

Review: The Holiday Honeymoon Switch

Title: The Holiday Honeymoon Switch
Author: Julia McKay
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Viking
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 8, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

When doppelgänger best friends trade one’s cabin Christmas vacation for the other’s Hawaiian would’ve-been-honeymoon, both might just find love they weren’t expecting.

Holly Beech and Ivy Casey are bury-the-body besties. They’re so in sync, they even look alike. So when Holly’s fiancé jilts her, leaving her in shock and with a nonrefundable honeymoon, Holly convinces Ivy to switch places. Ivy will go on the Hawaiian honeymoon her best friend can’t bear to take alone, while Holly escapes to Ivy’s rented Hudson Valley cabin to binge-watch holiday movies and heal.

But Holly’s wallowing is interrupted when her rugged Airbnb host turns out to be her high school academic rival who’s had a major glow-up. Meanwhile, Ivy’s (now Hawaiian) annual solo art retreat is upended when Holly’s ex-fiancé checks into the honeymoon suite—with a new woman. Raging and bedless, the last thing Ivy expects is for the hot hotel bartender to come to her rescue. Against all odds, this Christmas might prove the most magical yet.

Review:

On the night before her Christmas wedding, Holly Beech’s fiancé breaks it off. She’s too devastated to go on their honeymoon in Hawaii, so she sends her best friend Ivy Casey on the trip instead. Holly takes Ivy’s solo trip to a winter cabin in a small town. When Ivy arrives in Hawaii, she discovers that Holly’s ex-fiancé decided to go on the honeymoon with his new girlfriend. She finds a new place to stay with the bartender at the resort. Holly meets her teenage rival and crush in the small town on her trip. Both women have vacation flings that develop into real feelings.

This was a cute holiday romance. It started with heartbreak for Holly, but the rest of the story was positive and uplifting. Both women had very different holidays, with Ivy in tropical Hawaii and Holly in a Christmasy small town. It had such a cute, heartwarming ending!

The Holiday Honeymoon Switch is a fun holiday rom com!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for providing a digital copy of this book!

Have you read The Holiday Honeymoon Switch? What did you think of it?

Review: How to Be a Color Wizard

Title: How to Be a Color Wizard
Author: Jason Logan
Genre: Nonfiction, Science, Art
Publisher: MIT Kids Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 10, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a bountiful book combining art and chemistry, a celebrated ink maker invites kids to become color wizards—by foraging and transforming natural materials to make their own paint and artistic creations.

In this book you will find secret recipes, magic formulas, and wild experiments that will delight your friends, intimidate your enemies, and turn you into a color wizard.

What colors might await in a leafy forest, a berry-stained back alley, a seaweedy beach, or even the dark corners of an ordinary fridge? With this book as a guide, curious young wizards can make natural confetti, unlock the hidden color power inside a leaf, and craft a paintbrush wand. They’ll brew magic potions from beets and acorn caps to produce their own colors, from the darkest black to the palest pink to invisible ink, then share their discoveries with friends, family, and the whole color-hungry human race. With whimsy and infectious enthusiasm, master ink maker Jason Logan explains the science of color while presenting “quests,” recipes, and hands-on activities using materials kids can find in their own homes and neighborhoods. Featuring both photographs and the author’s own gorgeous homemade-ink illustrations, How to Be a Color Wizard is an ideal blend of art and science—plus a little bit of magic.

Review:

This book teaches kids how to combine chemistry and art to create ink and paint. There are secret recipes and magical experiments for kids to complete and become a color wizard. Each experiment represents a “quest,” and when they’re completed, the wizard reader can level up.

I love the way this book combines science and fantasy to make foraging in nature a game. This book is simple to follow, since most of the materials used in the experiments can be found in the kitchen or outside. I would have loved this book when I was a kid, because most of the science books I had used expensive materials that I would have had to buy. This book is perfect for kids ages 10+.

How to Be a Color Wizard is a great science book for kids!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra Books for providing a copy of this book. This book was gifted to me from Penguin Random House Canada as part of the Holiday Book Magic Campaign! The Holiday Book Magic books are a curated list of books that are perfect for gifting and enjoying all year long!

Have you read How to Be a Color Wizard? What did you think of it?

Review: Matchmaking, Mistletoe and a Moat

Title: Matchmaking, Mistletoe and a Moat
Author: Kim Janine Ligon
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Ebook
Release Date: December 2, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Greyford Parker is eager to see his twin sister and her family, but is dreading the matchmaking marathon she has planned at the two week Christmas party at Castle Winterhaven. As the unexpected Duke of Wallingford he must find a bride. Preferably one with a large dowry to help bolster the estate’s finances his older brother dissipated before his death.

Lady Emmeline Spenser reluctantly agrees to attend the “husband hunting” party at Castle Winterhaven, but only if her dear cousin, Eleanor Brown, can also attend. Emmeline is worried suitors will
love her large dowry more than they do her. Eleanor has a plan to allay her cousin’s fears. Do they dare try it?

Review:

Greyford Parker’s twin sister, Caroline, is planning a two week long Christmas party at her home, Castle Winterhaven. There are lots of eligible men and women who have been invited, so Caroline is hoping her brother will find a match. Cousins Emmeline and Eleanor have been invited to the party. Emmie is a Lady with a dowry, but Eleanor is an orphan without one. The girls look like twins, so they decide to pretend to be each other so they can find men who love them for who they are, not for money. It’s an eventful Christmas party that ends in more than one marriage!

This was a cute historical holiday romance. I loved the “Parent Trap” kind of switch Emmie and Ellie did. Their mothers were twins so they looked like twins and were able to successfully fool the guests into believing they were each other. It was a clever way to find out if the men who fell for them really loved them or their money. This was a low stakes romance with a happy ending!

Matchmaking, Mistletoe, and a Moat is a fun historical romance for the holidays!

Thank you The Wild Rose Press for providing a digital copy of this book for a paid campaign!

Have you read Matchmaking, Mistletoe and a Moat? What did you think of it?

Review: The Christmas Tree Farm (Dream Harbor #3)

Title: The Christmas Tree Farm (Dream Harbor #3)
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: One More Chapter
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: October 10, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

From the author of the viral TikTok sensation, The Pumpkin Spice Café, comes the only spicy grumpy x sunshine Christmas romcom you need this year!

Kira North hates Christmas. Which is unfortunate since she just bought a Christmas tree farm in a town that’s too cute for its own good.

Bennett Ellis is on vacation in Dream Harbor taking a break from his life in California. And most importantly, taking a break from his latest run of disastrous dates.

After a run in with Kira in her fields, Ben has no intention of offering to help the grumpy owner set up her tree farm, despite the fact she’s clearly got no idea what she’s doing.

Kira knows she should stop being so stubborn, but her farm is not all cute and cozy like people always show on social media, it’s borderline dangerous with no heating, and she’d rather no one saw it.

But somehow fate finds Ben at Kira’s farm once more, and as Kira watches him swing an ax at the first tree, she finds herself appreciating his strength and questionning why she refused help in the first place..

The Christmas Tree Farm is a spicy romantic mystery for fans of Gilmore Girls with a HEA guaranteed!

Review:

Kira North moved away from her wealthy family in Georgia to Dream Harbor and bought the Christmas tree farm. It’s more run down than she expected, and she needs help since the heat isn’t working and the temperature outside is rapidly dropping. Bennett Ellis is visiting his sister, Jeanie, from California for the holidays. After an encounter with Kira on her land, he offers to help her fix up the house. Kira refuses his help at first, but then reluctantly agrees when she realizes they could have a Christmas fling. However, when their feelings become real, they have to figure out what will happen when Bennett eventually goes back home.

This was such a fun Christmas rom com. They were a grumpy/sunshine couple. There were still funny antics in Dream Harbor. The people in the town believed there was some dark secret at the Christmas tree farm, like the previous owner had murdered and buried his wife on the property. This is a really fun series, and I can’t wait to read the rest!

The Christmas Tree Farm is a cute Christmas romance!

Other books in the series:

Have you read The Christmas Tree Farm? What did you think of it?

Review: All by My Elf (Under the Mistletoe Collection #3)

Title: All by My Elf (Under the Mistletoe Collection #3)
Author: Olivia Dade
Genre: Novella, Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Format: Ebook
Release Date: November 12, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Secret crushes, spicy Christmas treats, heinous holiday traffic, and a fateful snowstorm bring good friends together in a funny, heartfelt short story by bestselling author Olivia Dade.

Nina and William are underpaid adjunct professors at the same university, where winter break is no break at all: ’tis the season to make extra money. When their holiday side hustle has them stranded by a blinding blizzard in the middle of nowhere, there’s nothing to do but cuddle up for warmth and play a game of Never Have I Ever to pass the time. But in the game of love, secrets never stay secret for long…

Olivia Dade’s All by My Elf is part of Under the Mistletoe, a stirring collection of December romances that thrill and tingle all the way. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.

Review:

Nina, William, and Claudia are adjunct professors who take a side job during the holidays driving a food-shaped truck and promoting pastries. Nina has had a crush on William since she started working at the university. Nina’s best friend Claudia and William seem to be getting closer so Nina thinks she’s lost her chance with William. However, when a storm traps Nina and William on the truck together, they have to cuddle for warmth and maybe confess their true feelings for each other.

I really enjoyed this novella. It was short at only 55 pages, but it was enough space to develop the characters, their relationships, and a steamy romance plot. My only criticism is that I don’t think the title really fits with the story.

All by My Elf is a cute holiday novella!

Other books in the series:

Cruel Winter With You (Under the Mistletoe Collection #1)
Merry Ever After (Under the Mistletoe Collection #2)
Merriment and Mayhem (Under the Mistletoe Collection #4)
Only Santas in the Building (Under the Mistletoe Collection #5)

Have you read All by My Elf? What did you think of it?

Review: Fire in the Hole!

Title: Fire in the Hole!
Author: Bob Parsons, Laura Morton
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: Forefront Books
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: May 7, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In Fire in the Hole!, Bob Parsons, founder of GoDaddy, shares his story of extaordinary success as a self-made serial entrepreneur.

Born in the tough town of East Baltimore to parents who were inveterate gamblers, billionaire philanthropist Robert Parsons’ early years were marked by hardship and financial struggle. While he vowed his own children would never lack for anything, never did he imagine the wealth he would ultimately amass as the founder of Parsons Technologies, GoDaddy, and ultimately YAM Worldwide. In his literary debut, Fire in the Hole!, this extraordinary entrepreneur recounts the exploits of his youth, his hellish days at the mercy of Catholic school nuns, his harrowing tour of duty in Vietnam as a decorated US Marine, his pioneering contributions to the software and internet industries, and his latest ventures in power sports, golf, real estate, and marketing. Along the way, we witness his remarkable resilience as he copes with his mother’s mental illness and his father’s infidelities, battles PTSD resulting from both his childhood and war traumas, and mounts a quest to find new and effective treatments for himself and others who suffer from this affliction. He strongly supports veterans organizations, and believing in the concept of paying it forward, has awarded grants to more than ninety-six charities and organizations worldwide through the Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation. Perhaps the only thing that has come easy to Parsons is his gift for storytelling. His reflections are at turns heartbreaking, heartwarming, humorous, and inspiring. If ever there were a story about a self-made man whose wealth can be measured as much by the contents of his heart as by the contents of his bank account, this is it.

Review:

Before Bob Parsons became a philanthropist, he fought in the Vietnam war, worked as an accountant, and created GoDaddy. This memoir tells his story from his tough childhood in Baltimore to his successful life today.

One thing that stood out and really made Bob successful was his attitude. He had a positive attitude and outlook. Instead of getting upset over any setbacks, he looked for solutions to his problems. I don’t read a lot of nonfiction, but I’m so glad I read this fascinating memoir!

Fire in the Hole! is an inspiring and fascinating memoir!

Thank you Bob Parsons and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: war, PTSD, drug use, mental illness, child abuse

Have you read Fire in the Hole? What did you think of it?

Review: Third Shift Society, Vol. 2

Title: Third Shift Society, Vol. 2
Author: Meredith Moriarty
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy
Publisher: Webtoon Unscrolled
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 29, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Eisner-nominated WEBTOON Third Shift Society is a story about stumbling head-first into a world of magic and mystery. Financially challenged Ellie discovers she has strong psychic powers and gets a job working for Ichabod, a paranormal detective with the head of a Jack-o-Lantern.

Life’s funny. One minute you’re jobless, deep in debt, and on the verge of eviction; the next you’re in a fight with a monster and getting a job working for a paranormal detective with the head of a Jack-o-Lantern. It’s an age-old story.

Now the clumsy but determined Ellie (who’s recently discovered she has strong psychic powers) and her pumpkin-headed boss Ichabod have to team up and fight the things that go bump in the night.

Ellie and Ichabod have some supernatural solves under their belts and Ellie has her psychic powers more (or less) under control. All they’re up against now are cryptic witches, sinister demons, and some ancient monsters hellbent on escaping their psychic prison. What could possibly go wrong?

This volume collects Season 2 of the bewitching WEBTOON comic.

Review:

Ellie, who has just discovered her supernatural powers, works with Ichabod, a man with a pumpkin head, to investigate the paranormal. Ellie must confess her dream of Alice, who left her with a real mark on her hand. Ichabod enlists the help of a witch to figure out what Alice’s plan is, while also investigating other paranormal creatures.

This was a fun second book in the series. There were a lot of fight scenes that made the story go by quickly. I love the mystery around Ichabod. There was some of his origin story in this story, but he is still secretive and a mystery. I’m excited to see where the story goes next!

Third Shift Society, Vol. 2 is a great spooky graphic novel!

Thank you Wattpad Books for providing a digital copy of this book.

Other books in the series:

Third Shift Society, Vol. 1

Have you read Third Shift Society, Vol. 2? What did you think of it?

Review: The Kiss Curse (The Ex Hex #2)

Title: The Kiss Curse (The Ex Hex #2)
Author: Erin Sterling
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Fantasy
Publisher: Avon
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: September 22, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Welcome to Spooky Season!! The follow-up to Erin Sterling’s New York Times bestselling hit The Ex Hex features fan favorite Gwyn and the spine-tinglingly handsome Wells Penhallow as they battle a new band of witches and their own magical chemistry.

Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she’s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she’s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town. As Halloween approaches, there’s only one problem—Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow.

Wells has come to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town they founded as well as to make a new life for himself after years of being the dutiful son in Wales. When he opens up a shop of his own, Penhallow’s, just across the street from Something Wicked, he quickly learns he’s gotten more than he bargained for in going up against Gwyn.

When their professional competition leads to a very personal—and very hot—kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other, convinced the kiss was just a magical fluke. But when a mysterious new coven of witches come to town and Gwyn’s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together to figure out just what these new witches want and how to restore Gwyn’s magic before it’s too late.

Review:

Gwyn runs the successful witchy shop, Something Wicked, in her hometown of Graves Glen. The grumpy descendent of the town’s founder, Wells Penhallow, arrives in the town for a new start. Wells starts his own shop, Penhallow’s, across from Something Wicked. Gwyn wants to shut it down, but as she spends more time with Wells, she starts to fall for him. When her magic begins to fade, Gwyn and Wells must figure out what’s causing it before it’s completely gone.

Gwyn was one of my favourite characters in The Ex Hex, so I was excited to read her own story. I loved the grumpy/sunshine pair, though Gwyn could be more grumpy than sunshine at times. There were some funny moments, just like in the first book. I listened to the audiobook as well as reading the physical book, and it was really well done!

The Kiss Curse is a cute witchy rom com!

Other books in the series:

The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex #1)
The Wedding Witch (The Ex Hex #3)

Have you read The Kiss Curse? What did you think of it?