In the Lives of Puppets: New Book Review

 If you love science fiction, do not miss this fantastic new book! I immediately bought Klune's other titles (how did I not know about him??!!) and am starting one tonight. 

In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots--fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They're a family, hidden and safe. The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled "HAP," he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio-a past spent hunting humans.

When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio's former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic's assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming. Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?

Author TJ Klune invites you deep into the heart of a peculiar forest and on the extraordinary journey of a family assembled from spare parts.

Amazon Buy Link (or tap the cover image)

My review from Goodreads/Amazon:

5 stars! 

I loved this story imagining a universe where androids have determined humans are a danger to the environment and Earth and seek to eliminate them. I mean, they aren't wrong. What could be a very dark tale is kept highly humorous through rescued robots Nurse Ratched and Rambo the flaky Roomba-style vacuum. Ratched's sociopathic yet delightful tendencies and Rambo's wandering and babbling lighten up the journey of Victor, possibly the only human left on the planet. 

If you are a fan of science fiction, this book is right up your alley and filled with humor, sadness, and the ultimate questions sci-fi often addresses: What gives life meaning/purpose, and what's the point of life anyhow? Friendship (even with creatures totally different from us), acceptance for who we are, love, and all of the answers follow. 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy.

The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor: New Book Review

 

A charming middle-grade novel about old magic, new adventures, a winged lion learning to roar, and a young girl fighting to be heard—perfect for fans of classics like The NeverEnding Story .
 
Poppy Woodlock believes in magic, but so far, she hasn’t found any. It’s been two weeks since her parents moved their family to Oregon to undertake their biggest project revitalizing the once-grand Lark-Hayes Manor. Her older brother instantly found his place, but after being thrown into middle school midyear, Poppy is feeling…invisible. So she retreats to where she’s always felt most at books and magic. And if the fantastic and supernatural exist, certainly they can be found in this mysterious old estate.
 
A late-night prowl leads Poppy to a desperate water nymph, with whom she strikes a dangerous bargain. In exchange for the thing she loves most—her favorite book— Poppy now has the secret of a her very own flying lion. Sampson is exactly what she needs to prove magic  does  exist and, more importantly, that she is not to be so easily dismissed.
 
But the cost of ancient magic is astronomic.

Tap here for my five-star review on Goodreads.

You Are Here: Connecting Flights

 

An incident at a TSA security check point sows chaos and rumors, creating a chain of events that impacts twelve young Asian Americans in a crowded and restless airport. As their disrupted journeys crisscross and collide, they encounter fellow travelers--some helpful, some hostile--as they discover the challenges of friendship, the power of courage, the importance of the right word at the right time, and the unexpected significance of a blue Stratocaster electric guitar.

Twelve powerhouse Asian American authors explore themes of identity and belonging in the entwined experiences of young people whose family roots may extend to East and Southeast Asia, but who are themselves distinctly American.

Written by Linda Sue Park, Erin Entrada Kelly, Grace Lin, Traci Chee, Mike Chen, Meredith Ireland, Mike Jung, Minh Le, Ellen Oh, Randy Ribay, Christina Soontornvat, and Susan Tan, and edited by Ellen Oh.

You Are Here: Connecting Flights
by 

Ellen Oh (Goodreads Author) (Editor)

Meg Dendler's review

Mar 29, 2023  ·  edit

it was amazing

I thoroughly enjoyed this interwoven collection of stories about Asian American families from different cultural backgrounds sharing their experiences of struggling to be seen as American and treated with respect. This book would be a wonderful way to start discussions about prejudice and how we respond to anyone/anything different from our own known experience. I loved how the families bumped into, observed, and supported each other in crisis, even though they were strangers and came from completely different Asian cultures themselves. I can't imagine the work that went into creating and weaving these stories by separate authors together. Well done!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a review copy.

Heavenly Heabutts: Reflections of Hope and Cats and Eternity

Those of you who follow me regularly know our family has had a dog and three cats grow old and cross the Rainbow Bridge over the last few years. It never gets easier, but sometimes there are ideas and books that help us make the transition. Here's a new one for you to check out.

I was given a chance to review this new book, and it is quite lovely. Full of peaceful and assuring quotes. 

"Heaven is where you'll meet all the cats you've ever loved."

I hope that is true, and they all get along with each other.

Here's my review from Goodreads. 

Heavenly Headbutts: Reflections of Hope about Cats and Eternity
by 

Allia Zobel Nolan

Meg Dendler's reviewt

it was amazing

As someone who has had a beloved cat cross the Rainbow Bridge recently, I found this book a sweet collection of quotations and thoughts on what lies beyond for both them and us. Personally, I don't take Bible stories this literally (more as proverbial lessons), but there were still nuggets to make me smile.

How could anyone believe cats don't have a soul? And I agree, if heaven is a place without cats, I'm not much interested.

Thank you to the author for providing me a review copy.

***

Book Review: Betty White's Pearls of Wisdom

 I did a multi-week, lengthy blog series about Betty White when she passed on (though it was intended to celebrate her 100th birthday), so you can imagine I was excited to see this new book about her. My review is below. 

Betty White's Pearls of Wisdom: Life Lessons from a Beloved American Treasure

by 

Patty Sullivan

Meg Dendler's review

really liked it

From the title, I was expecting this to be more a book of quotations or "pearls" from Betty and how they impacted Patty Sullivan. Not having this be the case was disappointing, at first. I have read nearly every book Betty White wrote and did a blog series on her for her 100th birthday (even though she didn't quite make it, though Patty disagrees with that when you count leap years). But the Sullivans' interactions and memories of their time with her still provided a fresh window into her quiet life behind the scenes. Not necessarily earth-shattering revelations, but more confirmations of her kindness, fascination with life and learning new things, and overwhelming devotion to animals and their care that we already hold as a cherished part of our memories of Betty White.

Some sections felt a bit repetitious, but I also read it in a couple of days instead of more spread out, like most people will. Others may not feels this same way.

If you are a fan of Betty White, you will thoroughly enjoy this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this review copy.

New Book: Through the Dog's Eyes

 New Book Recommendation: Through the Dog's Eyes, by Sal Sanfilippo

A feel-good love story about a boy and an exceptional dog destined to join him on his journey to manhood.

Jake has a dream to get away from his working-class town, but fate may have a different plan for him. Through heartache and loss, his dog Bull is by his side as Jake searches for meaning in this heartfelt coming-of-age story.

Will fate be Jake's downfall, or will Bull help him find his way? Find out in Through the Dog's eyes.

You can read my review at Goodreads here.*

*I served as editor/proofreader for this novel (which means I have read and enjoyed it multiple times!), but I am under no obligation to give it a review.

Free Syfy and Fantasy Books for the New Year

 

Looking for some good reads for the new year? This promotion is fabulous! I mean, dozens and dozens of free books with everything from dragons to shifter romance to science fiction. I've grabbed a few myself. The Tigran Chronicles is participating, but that is just one of the books available. 

Downloads are through Book Funnel, which is 100% safe and secure for both readers and authors. Click on the image or this link and fill up your e-reader today!