‘It’s happened, a three-week lockdown has been imposed by the government. One walk a day for food or medicine. They’ve got the old retired medics back in to help the NHS and Wetherspoons are refusing to pay their staff. It wasn’t clear if all the old medics worked for Wetherspoons’. Dedicated to all the shopkeepers, and everyone who stayed home, played their part and followed the science … Follow Aunt Sheila as she scribbles down her secret thoughts from the small corner shop. Hilarious and everything you wanted to know about the outbreak from Boris the PM, the Chancellor’s new furlough scheme, school closures, panic buying and baking bread. Hilarious, no holds barred, from Wuhan to Yorkshire, follow Aunt Sheila’s itemised diary on the little Northern estate, it’s odd folk and the pub closures. The Diary contains a free copy of ‘The Magic Vodka Wardrobe’ series, Book 5.
It was truly a hilarious read. I laughed at the nick names used and even at how this book managed to entwine Trump, Boris, the Queen and her family, Wuhan, and lots of vodka. Thanks, Sheila.
In The Literary Hedgehog, the charming sequel to The Poetry Mouse, readers follow the inspiring story of Miss Evie Mouse, a talented poet who defies societal norms to have her voice heard. When Mr. Hedgehog, editor of the prestigious City Magazine, receives her bold submission, he is initially skeptical. How could a small female mouse contribute something worthy of publication? But after a change of heart, driven by the wise words of those around him, Mr. Hedgehog realizes the true power of Evie’s poetry. With support from her friend Brayden Fox, Evie faces the excitement and anxiety of seeing her work in print for the first time.
This delightful tale teaches children the importance of believing in themselves, challenging outdated assumptions, and the value of friendship and encouragement. Evie Mouse’s journey shows that determination, courage, and the support of others can make dreams come true.
What this book can teach young children:
The importance of self-belief and following your passions.
Challenging stereotypes and societal expectations.
The value of encouragement and support from friends.
Courage in seizing opportunities and taking risks.
Introduce your young readers to The Literary Hedgehog, and let them discover how far self-confidence and the support of friends can take them. Spark their imaginations and inspire them to find their voice—just like Evie did. Add The Literary Hedgehog to your library today and join Evie on her literary adventure!
Children will love this sweet story about a mouse who writes beautiful poetry. Evie didn’t believe in herself and her abilities until it was pointed out to her by other characters. The publisher didn’t think women in general, let alone a girl mouse, could write. The publisher finally realized how valuable his secretary truly was, not just for pouring tea, but the business couldn’t run without her. Evie challenged the forces against her and became a hero in the process.
I’m honored to annouce that Her Alibi was a Finalist in the IAN book Awards under Non-Fiction/Relationships. If you would like a copy of this impactful book of 69 pages, let me know.
Short Blurb:
No! This can’t be! Not after the joking around at my home last night. NO!!!!Did she use me last night? She’d never use her scapegoat child. No, she couldn’t! Even Marguerite wouldn’t sink that low! Or would she? Marguerite had always been abusive and vile to most people,and especially to her children and husbands, but would she shoot Harold?
Editorial Review:
Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers’ Favorite
As a child, Mary could not figure out why her mother’s behavior toward her tended to be either violent or angry. As she got older the relationship between them only got worse, so much so that she could not wait to get out of living under her mother’s control. Her siblings were not immune and even her mother’s partners bore their fair share of her vitriolic attacks. After she had moved out, got married, and started her own family, you would expect that Mary would be free of her mother’s machinations. Then she received a call about her stepfather’s death which coincided with her mother’s strange late-hour visit. Could it be that her mother somehow found a way to rope Mary into her fiendish scheme? One so unbelievable it could involve murder?
Mary L. Schmidt tells a compelling story in her book. Her accounts are detailed and graphic, leaving precious little to the imagination. She explains her family history thoroughly, making it easier to understand her story. It is difficult to believe that some of the events transpired in the way she recorded them, but the waythe details come together in the latter stages gives the reader ample opportunity to draw conclusions as to the mental state of Mary’s mother and her capabilities. Her Alibi is another example of where reality trumps fiction and Schmidt must be commended for finding the courage to pen this book.
Our Halloween weaves an intricate web of mysteries and surprises. Once again, the authors Derek R. King and Julie L. Kusma give your family a book that teaches and inspires imagination. Every page offers beautifully designed illustrations accompanied by a story, poem, or the history behind the object portrayed. Also included in this book are excerpts from various prior publications, as well as original shorts stories from both authors. You’ll be excited by the colors, photos, and puzzles from the first page to the last. Monsters find their way into your line of sight throughout the book. But, don’t worry, there’s a story behind each one. You and your family will find yourself reading and re-reading this Samhain treasure.
This is a fun yet scary book centered around Halloween. Included are illustrations, photographs, and puzzles with many different Halloween activities. Historical references are included. The one that touched me most was the child crying in the house when no children were home. Furthermore, the adult was on the phone at the time, and that woman also heard the cries.
After forty disastrous dates, Elsie Goode decides she’s kissed her last frog and turns to focus on salvaging her business that’s close to bankruptcy.
New-to-town veterinarian, Dirk Lovett, prefers the company of animals—they don’t crush your heart by lying and skipping town with another man.
In a twist of fate, Mr. Purrfect veterinarian hires Elsie to plan a birthday party. Her hopes for a happily-ever-after spike, but her conniving business partner promises to sign over her half of the company—if Elsie helps her become Mrs. Dr. Lovett.
Sole ownership will save the business, so Elsie takes on a dubious matchmaking role requiring lies and deceit. Trouble is, the pet whisperer falls for Elsie.
Now she must make a choice: continue to lie and save her company or give up and tell Dirk the truth—which will destroy his heart all over again.
The cookies are baked. The tree is trimmed. The shopping? Well, it’s almost done, and Fiona’s parents have finally returned home for a holiday visit—along with some unexpected unruly friends. Yep, Fiona’s perfectly planned Christmas is coming together, but how could’ve she planned for her favorite uncle’s murder? Who could possibly kill a sweet old man who’s played Santa at the local mall every year without fail? Fiona’s boyfriend, Detective Nathan Landry, is determined to find out—before Christmas day arrives. There’s only one problem: Nancy Quinn. Fiona’s mom is just as determined as the detective to catch the murderer, and she isn’t shy about getting the job done—even if it includes breaking a few pesky laws! Will Fiona and her mother find the killer first or will the killer find them?
My Review:
I loved this book! It was great to finally read one of the first two books in this series! I gained a bit of backstory and a lot of laughs at the antics of some characters and pint-sized little dogs. Add in Christmas, one murder, and a drug cartel, and the mystery around all of it makes for a great read!
Fiona Quinn arrives at her parent’s home in Daytona, Florida for a short visit only to be informed that their usually quiet retirement community has been besieged with robberies—cash, jewelry, and more. Her mom told all the neighbors Fiona is a wiz at catching bad guys. Yikes! Can Fiona crack the case? Hopefully, but what’s an amateur sleuth supposed to do when her Maltese, Harriet, shows up decked out in the stolen goods? Double yikes! Join Fiona, her parents, Harriet, and some pretty crazy old ladies for a real jewel of a quick mystery!
What a wonderful short mystery, romance, little dogs, and lemon meringue pie book! Okay, so those elements are included in this story and burglaries in abundance. I say burglary as no one was home when their items were stolen. Had they been home, then robbery is the correct term. This was a great short story and I imagined a little Maltese dressed up in…must read to find out.
I found a new review! I’ve been sitting at 92 for over a year. 93 my new number.
From Amazon:
After surviving the cruel rage of tyranny from her mother and ex-husband, Sarah Jackson traveled a new path; a journey of loss, heartbreak, and ultimately strength. How do we survive the unthinkable, our child suffering from a terminal illness? They say there is no greater loss than that of a child; I say losing a child is the king of loss. Sometimes the thing that helps us survive it, is knowing we are not alone. Bestselling author, Sarah Jackson, will take you on her journey of hope and strength as she provides an intimate raw look at her life.
This book is a beautiful testament to a mother’s enduring love for her son, through the most unimaginable and heartbreaking circumstances.
I read this book over many days. There is a lot to digest on many levels.
Cancer is a brutal beast. It is gut-wrenching when an adult is diagnosed, but to be diagnosed at four, before his life had barely begun, is something impossible to understand.
The author, a registered nurse, was by her son’s side every step of the way. This book is a combination of many things: it is a woman’s journal (with many medical specifics), the story of a little boy (who loved water guns) and tried so very hard to carry on, the story of a woman fighting the imminent death of her son only to have an abusive husband (and mother) complicating and twisting her pain. It is also the author’s story of a blossoming love with a good man, who was steadfastly by her side, counteracting the sorrows, grief, and abuse as well as any mortal can.
In this book, the author mentions that after her son’s death, she was told by many that she should be “over it by now.” That hit me hard, as this is something I have not only personally dealt with, but seen many grieving human beings slimed with the same inappropriate and horrific commentary. We all have a right to feel what we feel and to grieve as we do. In reading this book, I hope that having journaled this sad transition from life to Heaven, that some comfort is given.
This was not an easy book to read, but an important one. I believe each reader will take from it what they most need to know. A brave and important book.
Alexa’s younger sister, Natalyn, is accused of murdering her boss, and why not? Jacob Burnley is found stabbed to death in Natalyn’s bed the morning after an office party. Because of this current chaos in Alexa’s life, Winnie is forced to take her place and travel to 1958 with Detective Slater for his next rookie Guardian Angel case. Before too long, Alexa finds herself entangled in a tricky situation: what could happen if her fiancé, Cliff Slater, a detective from the current century, would investigate the same murder as his grandfather, Clifton Slater, a detective from the previous century? Moreover, what would happen if said investigations were happening simultaneously? What kind of cross-interference could erupt on either side of time? What would that look like? Worlds collide, justice for a murdered girl hangs in the balance, and only time will tell.
My Review:
This book did not disappoint! I’ve read the other four books, and this was the best one yet. What happens when you toss together two detectives, a few women, several lawyers, more than one murder, and time traveling with guardian ghosts who take you back in time, never mind you can’t do anything to change history so you must tread carefully as you investigate a cold case with a woman from the current day? A lot can happen! This book Has all of that and more. Five shiny gold stars.
Mollie is back for Christmas! “Be naughty and save Santa a trip. It’s better for the planet…”
There was little over a week to go until Christmas Day, but Mollie McQueen hadn’t sent a single card. She hadn’t purchased one gift, and she hadn’t decked the halls with anything other than mountains of wet laundry.
Usually, come the first of December, the McQueen house resembled Santa’s grotto. Stockings would hang from the fireplace, his and hers advent calendars would be propped up on the mantlepiece, and the two sparkly polar bears bought by Mollie’s mother would stand proudly on the windowsill.
This year, all was quiet on the Christmas front. The door was missing its usual wreath, the sprig of mistletoe was absent from the hallway, and the alcove in the living room was minus the retro tree that Mollie normally insisted on rolling out on the first day of December. When Mollie first announced her plans to strip Christmas back to basics, she received nothing but negative feedback. Max accused her of trying to ruin Christmas, Margot advised her to chuck back a daily vitamin D pill in a bid to rediscover her Christmas spirit, and Mrs Heckles had taken to singing Christmas carols through Mollie’s letterbox.
Despite their grumbling, Mollie was determined to prove to everyone that you could enjoy Christmas without falling victim to the endless marketing campaigns that emotionally blackmailed you into purchasing unnecessary gifts for people who would rather have a pack of socks and a slice of Yule log.
With her no-Christmas Christmas amassing quite the guestlist, Mollie had an almighty task on her hands.
Can she convince her nearest and dearest that the true meaning of Christmas had nothing to do with expensive gifts and garish decorations?
One thing’s for sure, Mollie McQueen is NOT Ruining Christmas.
My Review:
This book is funny. Hilarious, actually. Mollie decides to make Christmas all about the reason for the season and helping less fortunate people through actual working for free, while all the while bringing the true and best of any Christmas come to be. Never mind the kooky homemade gifts Mollie made, or tossing beans into mashed potatoes, but Mollie has everyone worried about what they will eat and the gift giving doesn’t line up with past years. Decorations are off the table and slowly but surely, time happens, and the true sense of the best Christmas ever happens.
Life on Molly is a travel and lifestyle blog. I am a normal girl with many passions. I am an explorer of new places, a learner of new languages, creator of my ambitions, blogger, and a good pal. This blog is my little corner of the world where I am able to share my adventures with you and inspire you to live a life full of purpose.
When Angels Fly 