It’s time for Colin the handyman and Clara, who works at the museum, to get married. Oh! and did I mention that they’re crabs! This is a delightful children’s story about two crabs who are madly in love and the only thing they want to do is be married to one another. The news of the wedding starts a frenzy and their dear friends’ good intentions ultimately impede on their very special day. Will Colin and Clara have the wedding they envision? Or will it be total chaos?

Colin the Crab Gets Married by Tuula Pere offers a lesson for young children to be aware of the needs of others. It offers a teaching moment to learn to respect people’s boundaries and wishes, especially when it comes to matters of personal moments in one’s life. Even as adults this is a hard lesson to follow through with. When the people in our lives mean so much to us, we want to do whatever it takes to show that love and sometimes the actions can overshadow that love.

The writing style in this charming children’s book is clear enough for a young readers and even toddlers to understand. The illustrations by Roksolana Panchyshyn are so utterly adorable that even as an adult reader I couldn’t help but enjoy and spend time looking through each scene. It was colorful, rich with life and set the tone of the story perfectly. I felt the author and illustrator had great cohesion when it came to the layout and formatting. Although this is nothing a child would notice, as a parent I appreciate it because it does truly help tell the story visually to children who may be too young to read. The words used in the book were suitable for elementary school children, but can be read out loud to younger children and wouldn’t be lost on them.

Pages: 48 | ASIN: 9523570811

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/08/30/colin-the-crab-gets-married/

Kate is a normal 26-year-old living in Australia when she unexpectedly moves back home with her parents. When she arrives home, she finds her old bedroom is full of her mother’s old things. Kate and her mother go through the ancient family treasures and find a diary that unveils an old family mystery. What happened to Kate’s missing great aunt? She went missing in the 19th century and while rumors are everywhere, no one knows what happened to great Aunt Catherine. Kate flies to England to solve the mystery of Catherine’s disappearance from Lacey Hall.

Author Ellen Read has done an exceptional job of turning this riveting romance novel into a nail-biting mystery. It has everything readers would want in a romantic paranormal thriller. I was engrossed with the setting of this novel, maybe because of the vivid descriptions of the scenes, or maybe because the locales are intrinsically fascinating. Who doesn’t like the English countryside?

The Ghost Rider is captivating right from the start of the book. I really enjoyed the methodical pace of the story. The mystery unravels slowly, ensuring the intrigue and suspense is consistently high. This is one reason I kept coming back to this book time and again; I so desperately wanted to know what was going to happen. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I was beyond pleased with the way the story came to an end. I feel like the author planned the ending well as it answered all my big questions. It’s always nice to have a tight mystery novel wrap up without needing to plan for a long series arc, but I still wanted more of the romance even after the mystery was solved.

The author’s ability to develop character arcs throughout the novel is phenomenal. I got so attached to Kate and Catherine, I just wanted them to turn out alright. The evolution of Charles is a great example of the skill Ellen Read has with developing characters and letting the story reveal their traits. As we see Charles transform from a gruff-looking man lacking manners to a well-established man of substance. This is an impressive feat to accomplish in so few pages. When I was introduced to Charles’s character I disliked him, but by the end I was in love with him. This ability to make me love and hate characters is what I look for in good supernatural romance novels.

The Ghost Rider is an enchanting ghost fiction story with a compelling female protagonist and a spellbinding storyline.

Pages: 295 | ASIN: B0B581Q3CX

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/08/30/the-ghost-rider/

Young Sam has a difficult time transitioning from taking a bath to taking a shower. He does not like when the water gets into his eyes while he bathes. Good thing Sam has his big brother Niles to help lead the way and show him how to enjoy taking a shower. Niles knows just what to do and all he needs is his old umbrella and a little help from his mom.

In this sweet story poor Sam is having a hard time getting used to taking showers and wonders why he can’t take a bath in the tub like he used to. Thankfully he has Niles, his older brother, who experienced the same issue when he was getting older. Taking on his big brother role he shows Sam a different way of going about taking a shower and more importantly shows that he is there to care for and protect Sam.

This cute picture book shows the importance of family, teamwork, and ingenuity in writing this story. It shows young readers that having strong family values is important and to have trust and rely on the people we love. Niles found common ground with Sam and made sure to keep him safe, supported and understood to aid in his growth along with their mother. Young readers will enjoy this story and the whimsical illustrations by Catty Flores.

I enjoyed the life lesson shared in this story because I found it unique. I have never come across a children’s book that tackles this topic. It’s a challenge many parents face and this book provides a great story that will help children make the transition. The Swishing Shower tells an adorable tale that’s the perfect vehicle for an important life lesson.

Pages: 34 | ISBN: 952325457X

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/08/30/the-swishing-shower/

Leo, the Little Wanderer by Tuula Pere is a children’s book that follows a young boy named Leo who hears whispers in the wind which tell him to venture out into the world and experience what life has to offer. Leo listens to the wind and is taken on an enchanting and enriching journey through towns and mountains where he meets an array of people that teach him about life.

I have never read a children’s story with such a powerful message until this book. The writing was beautifully illustrative all on its own. The full page illustrations by Andrea Alemanno gave a delightful charm to the adventure and made the reading experience simply enchanting. The moments when Leo met people throughout the story were relatable and filled with introspection and meaning. He was able to connect with many different people from diverse places on basic levels such as music. This shows that we all have so much in common and this story effectively sends that message to young readers. 

My favorite line from the story, and one that I truly connected with, was “…the building was like life itself- a big dream full of details and always in the making.” This one poetic line gives just a small taste of the soulful reflection that this picture book offers. Author Tuula Pere shows life’s possibilities in this bewitching children’s book, if we just take the time to listen and to live.

Pages: 46 | ISBN: 9523570242

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/08/30/leo-the-little-wanderer/

Narrated by Kyla Garcia, A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair is the first in the Halfling Saga. Keera is the King’s Blade and his favorite assassin. She is tasked with hunting down the Shadow, who is making moves against the crown. All is not as it seems and soon the listener will be swept up in this fast-paced fantasy.

A Broken Blade
by Melissa Blair
Series: The Halfling Saga #1
Narrator: Kyla Garcia
Length: 13 hours and 21 minutes
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate

Rating:
Narration: 4.5 cups Speed: 1.35x

My body is made of scars,

some were done to me,

but most I did to myself.

Keera is a killer. As the King’s Blade, she is the most talented spy in the kingdom. And the king’s favored assassin. When a mysterious figure moves against the Crown, Keera is called upon to hunt down the so-called Shadow.

She tracks her target into the magical lands of the Fae, but Faeland is not what it seems—and neither is the Shadow. Keera is shocked by what she learns and can’t help but wonder who her enemy truly is: the King that destroyed her people or the Shadow that threatens the peace.

As she searches for answers, Keera is haunted by a promise she made long ago, one that will test her in every way. To keep her word, Keera must not only save herself but an entire kingdom.

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I confess I am not on BookTok and missed all the hype surrounding this release. It wasn’t until it came across an email that I read the blurb and listened.

Keera is a halfling in this new adult fantasy perfect for fans of Throne of Glass and Blood and Ash. The tale starts off slowly as we learn about the kingdom, the key characters and its history. There is magic and those who serve are forced by magic. For example, one girl cannot go beyond the boundaries, not even to tough the ocean waters.

We learn that the people in the kingdom are starving and that a dark force known as the Shadow is moving against the king. When Keera is tasked to bring him down, she travels to the land of the Fae but soon discovers all is not as she was led to believe. Her loyalties will be tested towards the kingdom, the young blades in training and the people of these lands.

Keera is a skilled assassin but also trouble and broken by her past and carries the names of those she has killed with her. When we meet her she is a drunk, but we get to witness her finding herself again. Her loyalties lie more with the people she wants to keep from harm, making her role difficult.

The world is filled with fae, elves, magic, and more. The author did a lovely job of building the world and explaining the magic, politics and ruling kingdom without info dumps. As the story progressed, the pace picked up.

The romance is a slow-burn that will progress over the saga. While I am not completely sold on it yet, the author held my attention and has me curious to continue the series.

Kyla Garcia narrates and did a great job giving voice to Keera, the Shadow and secondary characters.

Amazon | Audible

A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair is the first in Halfling Saga with an assassin protagonist who will be tested. #NewAdult #Fantasy #FantasyRomance #Audiobook #KylaGarcia
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/08/a-broken-blade-by-melissa-blair.html

The Left Turn by Becky Parker Geist is the first book in the Split Universe Series. The book is a blend of genres, part science fiction, part romance, part self-help book, and part beginners guide to quantum physics. That may sound like a strange mix but rest assured, Geist nails it.

The book follows Hannah and James, a couple who have been together forever. Both characters are haunted by their pasts. Hannah is a mess of anxiety and neuroses, whilst James is unable to settle, determined to forever keep pushing forward. Both unhappy with their lives, a sudden decision made by Hannah during a seemingly ordinary bike ride throws both of them into a parallel universe.

In this new universe, they are seemingly separated, both left with few memories of their former lives. Yet, both set out on a journey of self-discovery to discover their authentic selves as they attempt to fill the shoes of their alt-universe counterparts.

The book is excellently written, and Geist proves adept at blending genres. The characters and the story itself are both deeply engaging. Geist sprinkles mysteries throughout the book as the reader is left trying to work out the differences between universes. At times these mysteries can feel like plot holes. For example, who is Bob? But it seems that the loose threads Geist leaves here are picked up in the next book.

The book deals heavily with quantum physics and the idea of self-actualization. These are clearly things Geist is passionate about, and for the most part, she weaves them into the book naturally. No prior knowledge of quantum physics is required to enjoy the book, but a little might help. Geist seems to know this as she name-drops several beginner guides to quantum physics.

There are many minor characters Hannah and James meet through this journey. The people they encounter come across as walking, talking self-help books at times. These characters have a tendency to dive into deep conversations with complete strangers in a way that can feel a little unnatural. Still, it is a great way to get information and help the main characters figure out themselves.

The Left Turn is an excellent book that I thoroughly enjoyed. It has left me with several questions I can’t wait to answer in the sequel.

Pages: 238 | ASIN : B0B54B3HSL

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/08/29/the-left-turn/

After being neglected by a previous owner, curious and energetic Walter looks over the fence and discovers an entire world he has never seen before. Wanting so badly to experience this world, he takes matters into his own paws and jumps the fence. Walter by Sara V. Robinson is a sweet children’s book that is dedicated to the animals who have a special role in this world. This charming story follows Walter, an adorable black Labrador mix, who finds himself at an Atlanta, Georgia dog pound waiting for his forever family.

This heartfelt kids book is told through the perspective of Walter, and I felt the dialogue to be right on point with what I would imagine a dog sounding like when experiencing things or deciphering body language with humans. The book is a little sad, but the story does not go into detail about animal abuse, ensuring the story is emotionally light and approachable, and this also help keeps the focus on the point of the story. Which is that all animals deserve to be loved and live their lives to the fullest.

The images by illustrator Edixon Rodriguez matched the sweet and tender personality of Walter and helps readers connect with the story. It is an easy read, and there is a Spanish version provided as well. This can be beneficial for young children who are learning another language or for Spanish speaking people. My favorite part of this wonderful book is that it is inspired by a real story and includes a picture of the real Walter at the very end.

Walter is an emotional, illuminating and uplifting story of one dog’s journey towards love, trust and his forever home.

Pages: 106 | ASIN: B0B6L5DSDW

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/08/29/walter/

Scott Ellis was a normal child, living his life, not thinking about counting calories or how his body should look. Scott joined his school’s cross country team and with practice became quite good at it. He began experimenting with diets and lived by a set of rules when it came to eating. No matter what weight he reached, he was never satisfied and felt like he needed to lose more despite all of the pain his body was going through. In 11th grade he got his license and began to socialize with friends at fast food places which caused him to gain weight. Scott put himself back on a diet by his senior year in order to lose the weight. To cope with his depression he started to drink, which made his depression severe and he became suicidal. After suffering from severe chest pains, he made the choice to go to the hospital to seek help. Scott’s journey towards recovery is winding and emotional, but ultimately uplifting and illuminating.

Scott Ellis gives readers an up close and personal look at how anorexia affects someone mentally, physically, and emotionally. I was unaware of these issues and I really appreciated the detail that was provided as I felt it made things less abstract and made them more vivid and real. I appreciated the authors candid nature throughout the book. The beginning of the story helps readers connect with him as a person first, so that you end up rooting for him throughout the entire ordeal.

Because of the brutal honesty there were times when the story was hard to read, especially when reading about how much the author was suffering with being overwhelmed with thoughts of hunger, his body constantly hurting and always being depressed. I continued reading on in hopes that the author would find peace and begin to recover. This is an emotionally heavy memoir, so be ready to take some breaks to absorb what you just read.

This book is educational for both people who suffer from anorexia and people who just want to know more about it. I learned that there is a support group out there for people who are suffering from anorexia, and there is also forums of people sharing tips and tricks to lose weight and also encouraging one another to continue on a self-destructive path. It’s shocking, but it helps open your eyes to a different world.

This emotionally stirring memoir focuses on Scott, but I would have liked to have known more about Scott’s parents and their side of the story. His parents are supportive of him once he did tell them that he was suffering from anorexia.

Chasing Numbers is a powerful story detailing the author’s battle with anorexia. I highly recommend this enlightening memoir to young readers to inform them of the dangers of anorexia and to let them know that there is more to life than trying to look like people in magazines or on TV.

Pages: 145 | ASIN: B0B8Q13Q87

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/08/29/chasing-numbers-starve-sleep-repeat/

How to Run a Marathon in 13 Years is a captivating memoir detailing the author’s incredible odyssey towards running a marathon after battling a series of injuries, medical issues and a mental health crisis. The journey is long and full of obstacles, but JP Mac shows readers that perseverance and determination are all it takes to overcome the variety of challenges that life throws at us.

JP Mac was a middle-aged man who loved running marathons. While training for his biggest marathon he noticed an odd, sharp pain in his left knee, a condition he named SPITLK (pronounced spit-lick). The knee pain didn’t leave on its own like he thought it would, instead he was forced to go from doctor to doctor, from appointment to appointment, and his health was only getting worse. As time progressed he had knee surgery, and shoulder surgery, and with that gained a lot of weight. Add to it he was then diagnosed with cancer and it’s no wonder that all this took a toll on his mental health. However, after a lot of uphill battles, years later he managed to get back to his marathons and was better than he ever was.

This is an inspirational story with a style and tone that make the book feel like a diary. This gives this extraordinary story a personal feel, which helps connect readers to JP and ensures we feel all the heartache and triumphs along the way. We learn that the author is tough and tenacious. To have gone through what he’s gone through takes so much on its own, and he still had the willpower to continue with running. This inspiring read is perfect for readers who are going through a tough time as the author shares his personal experiences while keeping a great sense of humor.

At the beginning of every chapter the author provides the year and the best picture (movie), Super Bowl champ, top song, U.S. President and the top we browser, which I found to be interesting and added a cultural point-in-time feel to the story. This was also interesting for me because I could look back at my life and remember what I was doing at that time and compare it to what the author was going through. I found it humorous that the author compared running to that of an ex girlfriend and it shows just how enticing running is to the author.

How to Run a Marathon in 13 Years is an emotional, fun, and inspiring memoir that serves as a beacon of hope to anyone that thinks they can’t pull themselves out of the rut they find themselves in. Mac’s story touched me deeply and made me think about my own life. I recommend this uplifting memoir to anyone who needs to find the motivation, willpower, and strength to push forward regardless of the goal you are trying to reach, or to readers looking for a riveting memoir about an intriguing person that faced some tough obstacles.

Pages: 174 | ASIN: B0B6MP879R

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/08/29/how-to-run-a-marathon-in-13-years/

Evelyn is an alluring romance novel following the story of a young married woman in London. With a stable marriage, a son she adores, and a flourishing career, Evelyn’s life seems perfect until her company is outsourced to work with Philip, a young bachelor with a philandering history. Evelyn starts questioning her marriage once she gets involved with Philip and develops feelings for him. Not long after, she gets into an affair with him. This tricky arrangement is further complicated by the mysteries surrounding Philip and the secrets Evelyn is bound to discover. Evelyn might have to choose between her marriage and her immoral relationship with a colleague.

Evelyn by Umut Sagsoglu is perfect for readers with a penchant for romance fiction. The book is lighthearted and tackles an important domestic issue. The author skillfully explores the themes of relationships and infidelity in the contemporary world.

Evelyn, our eponymous heroine, is passive-aggressive, prone to mistakes, yet relatable. The author continually describes her emotions with a single adjective—”angry.” This monotony mirrors the general language and style of the novel, especially when it comes to the characters.

It is eye-opening to have the story narrated from an omniscient point of view. This enables the author to tell the story directly so that readers understand the series of events as they happened, rather than living through them.

This captivating romance story piqued my interest, The plot focuses on a few main points and uses the rest of the pages to give readers information about characters and backstory, so if you’re a reader that enjoys plenty of detail to fill out the world, then you’ll enjoy this story. This is a slow burn type of story, where we slowly build up to the climax of the novel. The story picks up towards the middle, and the twist at the end feels like a justifiable wrap.

Pages: 284 | ASIN: B09M69PY2V

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/08/29/evelyn/