REVIEW: The Busy Beaver by Nicholas Oldland

Summary and Review


A careless beaver finally sees the path of destruction he’s left in his wake and decides to make things right.

As I mentioned last week, I picked several of the Life is Wild books up at the library, including this one, before discovering they were going to be released in a single volume. My review for that will post next week, but for now I wanted to post about this story on its own because it is my favorite in the collection. The message here is fantastic! The illustrations are excellent and really help tell the story so there’s minimal text for young readers. This was delightful!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read

REVIEW: Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper

Summary


Riley Everett has arrived in Starfall Point, MI to meet the aunt she hadn’t known existed before her mother died and Aunt Nora reached out. In fact, Riley had been going through such a string of bad luck, she wrote the woman off as a scammer at first. And now that Riley has finally arrived, she gets word that Aunt Nora has died.

Edison Hold is the head of the library at Starfall Point. And he’s been eager to get a look at Nora’s home, Shadow House. But Nora’s death – and an unfortunate first encounter with Riley – will not help his quest to get in the door.

Once in Starfall, Riley discovers the family legacy her mother never mentioned. They have been the keepers of a house full of ghosts and haunted objects. And Riley is now the new “keeper.”

Riley begins to settle into a routine – with the house, with the ghosts, with some friends who can help her with her magical responsibilities – and even with Edison. But there’s someone who wants the house’s secrets for themselves – and they don’t care what happens to anyone who gets in their way.

Review


This was captivating! I loved the premise and the characters. The magic system is more instinctual than learned, so I’m not as clear on what all Riley and her friends can do as I would like. But watching them do their thing – together – was highly entertaining.

This is funny, with an enjoyable found family core that really touched me. I’m eager to see how things develop for Riley and Edison as well as for the “coven,” although that term seems too formal and witchy for this fun, breezy, ghost-filled paranormal story.

Fans of this author as well as fans of humorous paranormal romance should absolutely check this out. It was a hoot! Book 2 is Big Witch Energy, and it’s on my library list! (Language, sex, paranormal elements include ghosts and magical powers)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great!

BOOK NEWS: September 3, 2024

Happy Labor Day! Here are some of the new books out this week.

Books for Kids


The 13 Days of Swiftness: A Christmas Celebration for Fans – A Taylor Swift-focused count down to Christmas.
Is This a Tiger? – Follow up to the delightful Have You Seen an Elephant?  I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Life in the Wild – A collection of stories including Big Bear Hug which I reviewed last week. I’ll have a review of this soon, too.
The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe – Every time Princess Magnolia goes on a mission, her new kitten destroys something.

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults


The Festival of Lights (September 5) – This collection of Hanukkah stories includes something from my friend Gini Koch, so you know I want to check this one out!
Out of My Dreams – Melody gets to go to an international symposium in England as a spokesperson for kids with different abilities.
Fairy Godmother – Something new from Jen Calonita. A young governess has the chance to become a fairy godmother.

Books for Adults


The Games Gods Play (Hardcover) – For the first time, Hades enters the gods’ contest for a chance to take the throne, but they use mortals to fight their battles. I am so interested in this one!
Hot Hex Boyfriend (Trade Paperback) – Delia breaks a hex that has bound her family’s magic for years. Now her neighbor, Max, has to keep them from outing witches everywhere.
No One Does It Like You (Trade Paperback) – Thinking he’s about to die, an actor reaches out to his ex to say he still loves her and he wishes he could make things right. When he survives his dramatic rescue, his ex challenges him to make good on his promise to make things right by helping her fix up her family B&B.
Prime Time Romance (Trade Paperback) – Brynn and her post-divorce roommate, Josh, find themselves in her favorite teen soap opera after Brynn makes a birthday wish for a happily-ever-after.
Lovely One (Hardcover, Nonfiction) – A memoir from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.