(The Lanternfish #3)
by C.S. Boyack
“Wreck of the Lanternfish” is the final book of the Lanternfish Series. Although I was sad to see this thrilling story come to an end, I loved seeing James Cuttler take one more journey to the sea. He risks everything to step back into the war that his friends are still fighting. The battles are shown through different perspectives, including Serang. My favorite characters, the root monsters, were back. Their “I I I I” always made me smile. This story not only touches on pulling communities apart, but how to put them back together. Battles on land and sea showcase how clever leaders can outwit their foe. This is a world and characters that I won’t forget anytime soon. Lanternfish is a series I can highly recommend, especially if you love exciting stories with pirates, love, greed, and great characters. But start from the beginning and don’t miss the companion book. You won’t want to miss any part of this exciting tale!
Dead of Winter: Journey 11, The Sumelazon Escarpment
Emlyn’s journey continues as she learns and grows, and there are Gethin’s experiences mixed in. I loved the direction that was taken on all the fronts of “The Sumelazon Escarpment.” It was nice to catch my breath and get to immerse into the city and story, especially through Emlyn’s eyes. I liked how well the plot and cover tied together, and the women had a moment to enjoy a bit of fashion. Even though there were some nice interactions, there is still that under-matched fight looming. Another good journey and I can’t wait to see where it takes us next. I can highly recommend this read but start this exciting tale from the beginning.
Love, Me: A Christmas Wish Novel
“Love Me” is a wonderful holiday read about a mother and her daughter fighting cancer. Grace and Cassie move to a new town to try an experimental treatment, and luckily an anonymous donor covers the expenses. Grace finds a job at Cassie’s school while Cassie finds a new best friend. I love how the story is told from both the mother and daughter’s POV. Cassie wants a puppy for Christmas, but she decides her mother needs a companion if something happens to her. It’s a story that tugged on my heart, thinking about a little girl battling for her life when she should be playing and having fun. Her strength and caring shine throughout the story as a powerful symbol of love, and the mother, having lived through so much loss and heartache, keeps going for her daughter. I could feel the emotion behind Cassie because her character is based on an amazing young girl on social media who is fighting this battle. This was a heartwarming romantic story that didn’t back down from the reality of childhood leukemia. I highly recommend this!
“HYPE” is a YA story centered on Cici’s life at home and school. She is a popular co-captain of the cheering squad, and her boyfriend is the quarterback on the football team. Everything is perfect in her world, except her dislike of her co-captain, Nicole. But everything changes when her mother remarries, and she gets not only a stepdad but a new stepsister that everyone avoids at school. Cici’s POV is direct and takes the reader into her world. She can be shallow but has her world figured out until she doesn’t. Halfway through the story, there is a betrayal and horrible event that is painful to read, and my heart went out to Cici. Although Cici is a strong character that I was rooting for, I loved her stepsister Gaby/Grub’s complexity. How Cici’s relationships grow and change is skillfully reflected in what is happening in her life. This is a good read for not only YA readers but adults too. I highly recommend it.
Hot Chocolate
by Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey
“Hot Chocolate” is a sweet short story about a family and their holiday traditions. Jacob, Petra, and their son JW are a family I enjoyed getting to know. The parents have a tradition of surprising each other with their Christmas gifts and teasing how much they will like their present. I love the surprise at the end and the love this family shared. This is a wonderful holiday read!
I only post my 4 & 5-star reviews. If I don’t like a book, I won’t finish it. It doesn’t feel right leaving a review in that case, but I have been known to email the author:) Life is too short not to enjoy every book you read!
Our writing community lost a brilliant writer and amazing human being a few weeks ago, Suzanne Burke. She had a wonderful sense of humor, a kind heart, and a great outlook on life. I found out about her passing during my vacation.
So, I offered a red hibiscus flower to the Pacific Ocean in her honor. I like to think it’s floating among the spinner dolphins, and she’s looking down at this with a huge smile.
In memory of Suzanne, check out her Amazon page here. Her memoir, Empty Chairs, is a read you will never forget.
NOTE: This will be my last formal Sunday post of the year and my Monthly Newsletter was sent out today to your email if you are subscribed. Tomorrow watch for Books That Changed Me Winter Edition.
After that, I’ll be taking some time off to be with family and enjoy the holidays.
The only exception to my time off is I have a post over on Story Empire on December 27th.
Wishing everyone the happiest of holidays! May 2022 be the happy year we are all searching for 🙂
Embrace that inner child by reading a good book and enjoying your blessings! D. L. Finn
Fantastic reviews, Denise. I have read three of these and have the others on my Kindle. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. And thank you for the beautiful tribute to Sooz! Merry Christmas!
Excellent reviews, Denise. Sad about Soooz. Thanks for the tribute.
Thank you, John 🙂 Yes, very sad about Soooz. She will be missed.
😊
Thanks, Jan 🙂 You have some good reading ahead! Merry Christmas!
Great reviews, Denise. I just added two Christmas stories to my Kindle!
Saddened by Suzanne’s passing. That’s a wonderful tribute you did for her.
Thanks, Joan 🙂 You have some good reading ahead.
Yes, a very sad loss but I know she will live on through her words.
Fabulous reviews, Denise! I have several of these books on my Kindle but don’t seem to ever catch up. It’s sad about Suzanne’s passing. We lost a wonderful gem!
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and blessed New Year, Denise!
Thanks, Miriam 🙂 I know about never catching up on my TBR list. I keep trying though! That’s a good way to put it, we did lose a gem.
Wishing you and your beautiful family an Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year too!
Thank you, Denise! 🙂
Great reviews, Denise! Thanks for reviewing HYPE. I truly appreciate all your help in making the story perfect. 😊
Thanks, Yvette 🙂 I was happy to be a small part of the process. It sits proudly on my book shelf!
You covered a lot of ground. Glad you enjoyed Lanternfish, and thanks for the review. It’s tragic about Suzanne, and that was a wonderful tribute. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas.
I usually try to spread out my reviews but had to squeeze them all in with the upcoming holidays. I throughly enjoyed the lanterfish series, with characters I’ll never forget. Yes, so sad to lose Soooz and wanted to do something for her. Thank you, I wish the Merriest of Christmas to you and yours too, plus a New Year full of happiness.
Great reviews, Denise. I’ve read one of these but have others on my Kindle and TBR.
Thank you for mentioning Soooz in your post. I am so grateful to have known her and for her friendship. She was indeed a special person.
Merry Christmas to you!
You have some good reading ahead, Mae 🙂 I’m grateful for knowing Soooz too and the friendship she offered. She was indeed a special person. Thank you, Merry Christmas and a Happ New Year to you too!
More great reviews, Denise, but I love seeing the tribute to Suzanne. She truly was a gem in this often dark world.
Thank you, Mae 🙂 I agree Soooz was a gem and inspiration to us all!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on our friend Suzanne Burke, Denise. She will be missed. Thanks for sharing these books and authors as well.
She was a good friend to all of us and is very missed, Beem.
Happy to share those good reads, thank you.
A loving tribute ❤.
Thank you, LaDonna. She will be missed!
♥️♥️
Oh no! I was worried about Soooz and am saddened by her loss. Thanks for the thoughtful tribute, Denise, I’m sure she appreciated it {{hugs}}
And thanks for the wonderful review!
It’s very sad to lose her, Jacquie. She was a sweet and funny soul and I’m sure smiling down on us.
Happy to share your wonderful story here, Jacquie 🙂
Thank you for showcasing these wonderful books, Denise. And a special hug for your tribute to lovely Soooz. I miss her warm heart. I hope you have a blessed Christmas! ❄🎄❄
I’m always happy to share my good reads here, Gwen 🙂 Sending a special hug right back to you. She will be missed by so many. I hope your Christmas is blessed too. xo
I miss Soooz as well. She was a wonderful person and very talented author.
Yes, she will be very missed in our community, I agree.
In beautiful memory of Soooz, Denise. So nice! And I JUST finished reading Teagan’s Journey 11. I’ve had it waiting for a while and couldn’t wait to get to it. Marvelous, as you reviewed.
Thank you, Pam 🙂 I just starting Journey 12 and enjoying it as well.