This wonderfully written children’s book tells the story of a little boy, Lucas, as he tries to find the truth about Santa Claus. The illustrations are wonderfully drawn and really helped to capture my daughter’s attention as we read this story before bed.
This story does not give a quick yes or no answer to his question but rather explains a little of the magic of Santa. Lucas is invited to become the newest member of the Dream Keepers. I can see this becoming a holiday classic for kids for many years to come.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Lyndsay Witheyhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLyndsay Withey2021-11-26 22:34:472021-11-27 08:37:04Mom, Is There a Santa Claus? by Susan J Berger Illustrator: KC Snider – Review by Lyndsay Withey
First, let me start out by saying I am so excited this is a series! I can not wait to continue living in the world the author has created! I will say however this book is so filled with details it is not a book you can speed through. It was probably a good 10-12 hours of active reading time versus the 4-5 hours I’ve been used to with other books I’ve read recently. This did cause a slight struggle for me as it was not a book I could easily put down and pick up in carpool lines, doctors’ offices, or other places where I could read for a couple of minutes. This book required my full concentration and I loved every minute.
The story starts out with a prologue to give the readers an insight into what has caused Dahlia to find herself on Earth in Sentinel City. She has vowed to give Earth protection in exchange for the protection they have given her unknowingly. As we follow Dahlia on her journey to help solve a series of unexplainable murders, we meet other characters who like herself are not from Earth and have found sanctuary in this land. While Dahlia is teamed up with the lead detective on the case, we realize he might not be like every other human she has met. There are a few intensely graphic scenes however it does not take away from the story being told.
I was recommended this book because I have enjoyed books like Dresden Files, Monster Hunter International, Hard Magic, and other books in the sci-fi/fantasy/magic genre. This book was a little slow to get into but once I could truly give it the concentration and dedication it deserved, it very quickly became found it’s way to my favorites list. I can’t wait to read books 2 and 3 (as well as any others the author puts out.) I can’t recommend this book enough! Do yourself a favor and grab a copy!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Lyndsay Witheyhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLyndsay Withey2021-11-17 18:37:412021-11-18 07:20:50Nite Fire: Flash Point by C. L. Schneider – Review by Lyndsay Withey
Twilight’s Curse is the first book in the Twilight Realm series by K.M. Wray. This book is a Young Adult fantasy story with dragons, elves, magic, adventures, and a good story about coming to age and responsibility. The story is told in a split POV. We are experiencing the story right alongside Nix, a young child-adult, who has witnessed his parents’ death at the hand of a former ally and been forced to go into hiding to protect not just himself but his entire kingdom. We also get to follow Zoe’s journey, a young elf with magical abilities who is tormented and experimented on by her mother when those abilities are discovered. Along the journey towards saving their kingdom, we meet other fascinating characters.
K.M. Wray has created such a magical universe with characters that we can fall in love with as well as despise. The story flows effortlessly as though it truly was just a diary of someone’s life. The way the story is written adds both complexities to the characters as well as simplicity as the story naturally unfolds. It was an easy read and a story that kept my attention and didn’t add extra fluff to make it enjoyable. The language was easy to understand where I feel my 10 year old could easily read and enjoy the book, but my husband and I also enjoyed the story. By the time I finished this book, I was very eager to start the next book in the series. The continuation of the story of the Twilight Realm is set to be an amazing adventure and I can’t wait for more.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Lyndsay Witheyhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLyndsay Withey2021-11-09 20:27:592021-11-10 06:51:07Twilight’s Curse (Twilight Realm Series Book 1) by K. M. Wray – Review by Lyndsay Withey
Snowflakes and Stockings – Winston Hills Christmas book 4 – Marianne Rice – October 2021
As the weather starts to turn a little colder outside, I am so excited to start reading Christmas stories snuggled inside my fluffy blankets. While this was my first Winston Hills Christmas book as well as my first Marianne Rice book, I am in love with not only her writing style but the characters, the story, and the feel-good vibes she has created inside the world of Winston Hills. Since finishing this story, I can’t wait to go back and check out the first 3 as well as the other stories she has written.
When I look for a story to capture my attention, I look for how well the story is written. Does the story flow well or does it feel choppy? Are the characters believable? Can I relate to not only the main storyline but does the back story of the characters seem to fit with the current story being told? I also look at the length of the book. Is this a story I can read easily in a few days between carpool lines and quiet evenings after my daughter goes to bed? Beyond the mechanics of the book, I also look for a story that is going to leave me feeling uplifted as if I just escaped the stress of my everyday life and was transported to a different world. I enjoy books from multiple genres so I look for books to help me enjoy an adventure into a world I may never get to visit.
When I first stumbled on to the synopsis of Snowflakes and Stockings, I saw the other reviews that mentioned: “It is just like a Hallmark Christmas Movie” over and over again, and while that might feel like a been there done that storyline, Marianne creates such a magical world inside the Winston Hills series that it doesn’t feel like every other Christmas Romance book or movie out there. She takes these two main characters, Liberty and Sawyer, and tells a story of redemption, work-life balance, the importance of family connections, and love. Liberty is out to make her big break as an investigative reporter and Sawyer is helping to run his father’s company. The spark between these two is evident from the very first meeting and continues to grow throughout the rest of the story. There are a few bumps along the way but life has a way of being bumpy when we are working towards our goals especially when fate throws a curveball when we are least expecting it.
I try not to give out 5 start reviews too often as to not dilute the WOW factor a 5-star review brings, but Marianne Rice totally deserves it for this book. What a wonderful way to kick off my Holiday Reading for 2021!
Have you ever just wanted to pack it all up and drive across the country to start over in a new city? This was the whole reason CC decides to take a temporary job driving from Chicago to Las Vegas, but fate would put up a few different obstacles before she could finish the trip. Reese is content living the bachelor lifestyle on his cattle ranch with little time for holiday cheer. Together they both must learn how to trust not only each other but themselves if they want to move past the pain from their pasts.
Laurie L.C. Lewis has written a beautiful story about taking a chance not just on love but on life. There are some twists and turns along the way which help to take this book to the next level. The beginning few chapters were a little slow which stopped me from giving the book a 5-star review but it is definitely a solid 4.75 star read! Highly recommend this to anyone who wants a quick read (less than 5 hours) and a wonderful feel-good Christmas story.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Lyndsay Witheyhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLyndsay Withey2021-10-28 20:40:042021-10-29 07:42:52Cross-Country Christmas (A Silver Buckle Brides Romance) by Laurie Lewis – Review by Lyndsay Withey
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Mom, Is There a Santa Claus? by Susan J. Berger
