Quickie Review: Big Mushy Happy Lump by Sarah Andersen

Big Mushy Happy Lump by Sarah Andersen is a second "Sarah's Scribbles" collection. The strips are full of honest vignettes that are frequently funny. I especially liked the slightly longer strips that were mixed with prose. "Sadie - How I learned to get over myself and love cats" was one such set of strips. Sarah's apartment is overrun by mice. So, she borrows her mother's kitten. Cuteness ensues.

The longer set of strips on "I Don't Know How to Be a Person" have insight into social anxiety and overthinking. It's interesting to see this topic handled here since Allie Brosh and Jenny Lawson also have taken a run at similar topics. It's well done and truthful.

But it is not all serious. There is plenty to laugh or smile about in the pages here.

I give this collection 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Quickie Review: Hard Day's Knight by John G. Hartness

Hard Day's Knight by John G. Hartness

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Two things stood out to me when thinking back on this short novel: it was filled with action and with humor.

Jimmy and Greg, 2 rather nerdy vampire private detectives, have been hired to protect a boy from a girl he says has cursed him. One thing leads to another and soon they are dealing with a serial kidnapper who wants to use the innocents to summon a demon.

Things progress at a fairly steady pace with Jimmy and Greg until they become suspects to one pretty detective. They manage to prove their innocence, but more innocents are taken. The instigator has the required number to summon the desired demon. Add in a priest, a fallen angel and the infamous Lilith to the mix for one fantastic showdown with the demons.

Sounds serious, but the heroes are wise cracking all the way through with lines like: "Our vamp night vision is equal to any human's day sight. Unfortunately, our navigation skills were piss-poor. We went stumbling through the woods like a pair of drunken rhinos."

Hard Day's Knight is an enjoyable read. I give it 4 stars out of 5. It's well written and a lot of fun, even if at times it is a tad predictable. Extra points for the copious humor in it.



View all my reviews

Quickie Review: Cellar by Karen E. Taylor

CELLAR by Karen E. Taylor

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Cellar is a good haunted house story. Karen E. Taylor makes you want to know what's going to happen next to the poor Laura character who is a recovering valium addict and alcoholic. And despite her most human foibles, Laura is still a likable character. From the time she moved into the house, the basement always spooked her. She spent as little time down there as possible. But, for some reason, things get worse. It gradually becomes clear that she is not really living alone in the house. And her housemate isn't of the friendly variety.

I could kind of see where the story was headed, but there was enough up in the air to keep me reading. I really give this 3.5 stars out of 5. I liked it. It moved along well and quickly. Laura experiences character development. My only complaint was a little with the epilog. I felt it really didn't need it. It didn't need to have all the ends tied up in a bow. And I had a little trouble suspending my disbelief as to how the characters were acting in the epilog. Still, overall it's a good story. And if you like haunted house stories, you will most likely enjoy this one.



View all my reviews

Quickie Review: Big Foot Stole My Wife and Other Stories by Joan Hess

Big Foot Stole My Wife and Other Stories by Joan Hess
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Big Foot Stole My Wife and Other Stories by Joan Hess is a collection of mostly rather dark mysteries. Honestly, I didn't like most of them. I did enjoy the 2 Claire Malloy mysteries and the 2 Arly Hanks mysteries, though.

Many of the mysteries had a slow pace. And in some of them, the characters weren't even likable. If not for the Claire Malloy mysteries and Arly Hanks mysteries, I would have given the book a 2 out of 5 stars. Generally speaking, Joan Hess's writing is good, but these stories just didn't click for me. This collection was first published in 2003. This is a re-release issued in July of 2016.

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. If you describe a collection of short stories as hit and miss, most of these were misses for me. If you like your short stories a little slow, dark, and weird, then check this collection out.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.


View all my reviews

Quickie Review: The Thing at the Foot of the Bed and Other Scary Tales by Maria Leach

The Thing at the Foot of the Bed and Other Scary Tales by Maria Leach

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The stories in this book are all about things that go bump in the night and the creepy things that can sneak up on you - ghosts, witches, and more. They are written in an easy to read manner making it accessible for both children and adults. The black and white drawings that go along with the stories add to the creep factor.

This book was originally published in the late 1950s. It could be considered a precursor to the Scary Stories books that Alvin Schwartz has written. The stories are enjoyable as they are written or embellished for oral performance. Some of them do seem to beg for embellishment.

In addition, adults who are into folklore will enjoy the information at the end of the book which briefly tells of the origins for the stories. Altogether this is an enjoyably creepy collection of tales. I give it 3 stars out of 5.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.



View all my reviews

Quickie Review: Strange History by Bathroom Readers Institute

Strange History by Bathroom Readers Institute

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I enjoyed this book of strange historical facts. It's easy to dip into when you have a few minutes or longer. The sections are short. The facts are often offbeat which makes for interesting reading. Among the treasure pieces in this edition lie the first use of silver bullets to kill werewolves as well as the story of a cow named Fawn who was picked up by tornadoes more than once and survived to moo the tale. And who knew there once existed a kit marketed to children to make your own shrunken head?

If you are looking for a book that is readable in short increments of time and has some interesting historical trivia, then this is a good book for you. I give it 4 stars out of 5 based on the information and the humor it has to offer.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.



View all my reviews

Quickie Review: The Mermaid Girl by Erika Swyler

The Mermaid Girl by Erika Swyler

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a short story that is sort of a prequel to Erika Swyler's The Book of Speculation. It's well written. It's basically a short piece showing what family life was like when Simon was very young. It lets you get into the heads a little of Paulina and Daniel, the parents of Simon and Enola. The language choices make it seem a little dreamy in parts which is appropriate. It is an enjoyable read. I would recommend it for the way it is written alone. If you've read The Book of Speculation, it gives you more depth into the family. If you haven't read the book yet, hopefully this short story will pique your curiosity and you will read it.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.



View all my reviews

Quickie Review: Grit for the Oyster: 250 Pearls of Wisdom for the Aspiring Writer

Grit for the Oyster by Suzanne Woods Fisher, Debora M. Coty, Faith Tibbetts McDonald and Joanna Bloss is now available as an ebook.

The book is very structured and is aimed at the Christian writer in general and the Christian writer who is focussed on the Christian market.The book is divided into 4 sections and has multiple entries by each of the authors in each section.

• Section 1 is entitled: Getting Started. Can I? 
• Section 2 is The Joyful Grind. 
• Section 3 is I give up! Too Many Rejections. 
• And section 4 is Getting "It" Right: The Proper Perspective. 

Each section has further structure. It starts with a quotation from scripture. The an anecdote from the author of the entry. Then a prayer and reflection and finally quotations to inspire you. The structure makes it almost ideal for use as a devotional.

Also included are additional sections: On Our Bookshelves- Favorite Must-Haves, a Bible quotations reference, Plan Your Next Escape! What's your reading pleasure? And finally, an index of the other quotations in the book is included.

The book could be a useful tool for someone in the right mind frame. From the synopsis: "More than a how-to, this confidence-building book is designed to draw readers to a closer relationship with God." I believe it can achieve that goal. The entries are mostly interesting. I do think it would work best digested slowly such as a devotional. I can also see it being useful choosing an entry by title for whatever situation arises. I gave this book 3 stars out of 5. Interesting, but definitely for a niche market.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Quickie Review: Adulthood Is a Myth by Sarah Andersen

Adulthood is a Myth: A "Sarah's Scribbles" Collection by Sarah Andersen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A collection of humorous strips that have so much truth, but still make you laugh. Covers introverts and general adulthood issues. Great especially for someone in their 20s, but also fun to read for those older.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.



View all my reviews

Quickie Review: Unicorn vs. Goblins by Dana Simpson

Unicorn vs. Goblins by Dana Simpson
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the Heavenly Nostrils series. It's a cute collection of humorous comic strips. The primary audience is children, but there is a lot of humor that will also appeal to adults. It follows the adventures of Phoebe and her unicorn friend, Marigold, through the summer and into the school year. Phoebe is in elementary school. The book hits on some key issues: making friends at camp, having a frenemy, and being picked last for a team among others. One of my favorite bits was one involving Marigold, tacos, and the Lake Monster at summer camp.

I expected more about Goblins than there was. And I thought some of it was a little more repetitive than the last 2 books. As a result, I gave this collection 3.5 stars instead of 4 this time around. It's still a good book. And it's funny. I just didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first two. That being said, perhaps kids would rate it differently.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.


View all my reviews

Quickie Review: Under Magnolia by Frances Mayes

Under Magnolia: A Southern Memoir by Frances Mayes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It was hard to get into. At first, it was a little hard to follow. Eventually, I wanted to know what was going to happen, but I didn't want to read it to find out. It is written very picturesquely, though. And if you enjoyed her other books, you would probably enjoy this one as well. It just wasn't for me.


View all my reviews

Quickie Review: Bryant and May and the Secret Santa by Christopher Fowler

Bryant & May and the Secret Santa by Christopher Fowler is a short story available November17, 2015.

It's Christmas time in London with the cold, snow and slush expected with the season. Department store Santas have been hired and perform their tasks. But, after one boy visits Santa he becomes frightened and runs out of the store and winds up under a bus. Why did the boy react this way? Who is responsible for frightening him? Bryant and May are quickly called to the scene and begin to investigate.

I don't know much about boarding schools, so I couldn't really anticipate where the pair was going with their line of questioning. But, I didn't mind. All the clues are given that you need to solve along with Bryant and  May. There were a few twists.

I gave this story 4 stars out of 5 possible. Overall, it's a good, entertaining short story. It's worth your time. It can be read whether you are familiar with Bryant and May or not, but it's certainly more enjoyable knowing them from the novels.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this story in exchange for my honest opinion

Quickie Review: Nightwise by R.S. Belcher

I just finished reading the 3 chapter excerpt of Nightwise by R.S. Belcher. Laytham Ballard is some strong character. And the setting does not fail on the gritty and seedy part of the synopsis at all.

The main character in the book, Laytham Ballard, reminded me of John Constantine on the television show, "Constantine," but more ruthless. This was a man who wouldn't hesitate to use innocent others if it was the only way out of  a situation. He proved that at least twice in the course of the 3 chapter sample.

In spite of his ruthlessness, I still liked the main character. I found his circle of friends interesting. And I appreciated that he didn't think it was fair to pull someone into "The Life" by association.

I read the 3 chapter preview of Nightwise quickly. It was action packed and interesting. I look forward to reading the rest of the book. I gave the 3 chapters 4 stars for interesting content and characters and fast paced action.

Disclaimer: I received an excerpt from this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

The synopsis from Goodreads.com:
The acclaimed author of The Six-Gun Tarot and The Shotgun Arcana launches a gritty new urban fantasy series set in today’s seedy occult underworld

In the more shadowy corners of the world, frequented by angels and demons and everything in-between, Laytham Ballard is a legend. It’s said he raised the dead at the age of ten, stole the Philosopher’s Stone in Vegas back in 1999, and survived the bloodsucking kiss of the Mosquito Queen. Wise in the hidden ways of the night, he’s also a cynical bastard who stopped thinking of himself as the good guy a long time ago.

Now a promise to a dying friend has Ballard on the trail of an escaped Serbian war criminal with friends in both high and low places—and a sinister history of blood sacrifices. Ballard is hell-bent on making Dusan Slorzack pay for his numerous atrocities, but Slorzack seems to have literally dropped off the face of the Earth, beyond the reach of his enemies, the Illuminati, and maybe even the Devil himself. To find Slorzack, Ballard must follow a winding, treacherous path that stretches from Wall Street and Washington, D.C. to backwoods hollows and truckstops, while risking what’s left of his very soul .

Quickie Review: Fat Girl by Susan Bodiker

Fat Girl: How to let go of your weight and get on with your life by Susan Bodiker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fat Girl by Susan Bodiker is a short book that is pretty much a cross between a memoir and a how I did it book. She talks about how awful her time growing up with her mother was and her mother's focus on her weight. And then there is a rather miraculous change when she gets married and moves out from under her mother's roof. Her changes in thinking are detailed and she credits this awareness to changing her life and her weight.

The book is ok. I don't think it was really a how-to book, but rather a how I did it and maybe it will work for you too book. I gave the book 3 stars. I liked it, but wasn't crazy about it.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.


View all my reviews

Quickie Review: The World of PostSecret by Frank Warren

The World of PostSecret by Frank Warren is pretty much about what the title suggests. There are vignettes about symposiums, secrets, the perfect secret, and even the mail carrier who brought so many of secrets to Frank's house. There are also many examples of postcards and other things that people have sent in to share their secrets.

Some of the secrets are very touching. I found myself getting teared up more than once. Some of the secrets are informative, especially in the way that they inform us we are not alone in the things we keep secret. It was also touching to read the segment on the PostSecret application and the reactions of some people to secrets that they saw posted there. 

If you enjoy the PostSecret website or any of the other PostSecret books, then you will like this book as well. It's worth a read. It's nonfiction and biographical in nature.