Review Insanitus: Into The Darkness by William P. Thomson

Insanitus: Into the Darkness by William P. Thomson has a writing style that almost reminds me of H. P. Lovecraft. What might surprise unsuspecting readers is that this is a collection of three short stories.

What if vampires were real but not in the way society typically thinks of them? What if someone detached from themselves decides to commit suicide by means of the judicial system? What if a secret group of military scientists created something that appeared human but had no emotion and could be programmed? These are the horrors readers will find within these pages. This book makes readers question just what it is that makes someone or something human, and what happens when you take that factor away.

What I liked best is that this book is disturbing and creepy without being outright scary. The short stories build tension extremely well without dragging anything out. They were also creative and believable, making them all the more disturbing. What I didn’t like was that the writing was very dry, almost so much so that it felt like reading a report or biography. This style almost made me judge the book too harshly at first and I wanted to set the book aside early.

Although the content is disturbing I see no reason why young adults couldn’t handle reading this book. It may be more ideal for older audiences that won't be upset by the odd and bazaar. I rate this book 2 out of 4 as an interesting and creepy book. It introduces readers to believable concepts that are also extremely strange. The dry style is defiantly a major negative point but if readers can power through it they will be rewarded with a truly interesting read.

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Review: Ten Minutes on Mars by Jonathan Fisher

Ten Minutes on Mars by Jonathan Fisher is a small collection of eighteen short stories. Some, or rather, most of these stories are a bit on the twisted side so reader be warned. On a deeper level this book appears to explore the darker side of humanity and how we are monsters to each other and to animals.

Keeping with more of a horror theme this book starts off with a ghost in a graveyard although the ghost doesn't make another appearance until the end of the book. Readers are then taken on a hunting trip through the eyes of the prey. A truly scary experience. During the course of this book, the people who live in the cracks in the pavement or as it seemed to be the down and out or homeless are brought to light as well. Basically these are the people that the majority of society pretends don’t exist.

This journey takes readers to the far reaches of space abroad The Ascension. It is on The Ascension where tattoos can be used to control people and others are able to shapeshift. In our technologically advanced society, many wonder about what will happen when AI becomes so advanced that it sees itself as human or tries to take over. That is what happens in another one of the stories to a worker on another planet. Finally, readers see the lengths that a mother will go to in order to avenge a close friend and protect her own child. So sit back and relax as you are taken on a creepy trip deep into the monstrous world that we call humanity, in a town where monsters are normal.

What I liked best was that many of the stories overlapped with one another in some way. While they all take place in the same town the connections go deeper than just that. This book could almost read as each story being just a chapter instead of a stand-alone story. What I did not like was how often this book was confusing to me. I had to reread areas to clear up and be sure what I just read was correct. Some of the confusing points were just because of me misunderstanding the wording. On the other hand, some areas such as when it talks about a decapitated dolphin head being sentient and a vampire still confuse me.

The target readers for this book are adults and young adults. Specifically, those who like fantasy and horror should enjoy this book the most. There is cussing, murder, and the overall tone was not for children to read, even if it wasn’t that long. A high school student should be able to handle this book if they wanted to read it. I rate this book 2 out of 4. After reading this book a second time I might increase my score but for now, this is the best I can offer it. I found this book to be enjoyable yet at the same time, I did not really like it. On the surface I found some of the stories to be confusing or even pointless. When I looked deeper I found it had more depth about the nature of humans than I previously thought, although I do not know if this was the author’s intention.

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Review: The Adventures of Pugalugs: A Christmas Furry Tail by Jessica Parish

The Adventures of Pugalugs: A Christmas Furry Tail by Jessica Parish is the heartwarming story of all the fun Pugalugs and his siblings have on Christmas day with their family.

The fun all starts on Christmas Eve with decorating the tree and singing Christmas Carols. Then it is off to bed where Pugalugs thinks he hears Santa in the house. On Christmas morning the Pugs get presents and enjoy a wonderful Christmas dinner of turkey and gravy. After a busy day, everyone relaxes in the living room while Pugalugs is already thinking about all the fun to be had next Christmas.

What I liked best about this book is that I enjoyed seeing Pugalugs and his siblings taking part in all of the fun Christmas activities. The pugs are included in everything just like the rest of the family. The rhymes also make this such a fun book to read. What I liked the least about this book was trying to pry it away from my daughter so that I could flip through it while wringing my review. I’m kidding, but in all seriousness, I have nothing negative to say about this book. I love this series.

Young children and toddlers will enjoy having this book read to them, especially during the Christmas season. Slightly older children will enjoy reading this book both on their own and to family members. I rate this book 4 out of 4. It is an extremely cute Christmas book that I can see being read by families during the holidays all over the world. It is also very bright and full of Christmas fun.

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Review: But I Don't Want a Haircut! by Bobbie Taylor & Jenny Kreoska

But I Don’t Want A Haircut by Bobbie Taylor & Jenny Kreoska is a great book to get before a child’s first haircut. According to the section about the authors, this book was written by two hairdressers. These two specialize in children’s haircuts making them (and this book by extenuation) a viable resource for parents of a scared child.

Joey’s hair has gotten so long that he can’t see and his parents decide it is time for a haircut. Unfortunately, Joey is afraid of the hairdresser and doesn't want to go. He voices his concerns about things like the hairdresser having sharp teeth and claws. Joey’s parents reassure him that he has nothing to worry about and that the hairdresser will be careful. Once they get to the salon Joey decides it doesn't look that bad and that the hairdresser looks nice. She even sits on the floor with him to brush his hair and offers to use an electric razor when the scissors scare him. By the time everything is done Joey is happy, relaxed, and looking forward to his next haircut.

I love how this book acknowledges Joey’s fears about the hairdresser without acting like the fears are silly. Joey is reassured that there is nothing to worry about and is able to relax thanks to the approach used. What I did not like was that while the idea behind this book is great unless you have a children’s salon nearby the book might give children false expectations. Parents/caregivers will need to be sure to still discuss what to expect from the salon they will actually be going to.

This book is designed to reassure children going in for a haircut who are scared. Parents can read this to their children but it is simple enough that a child should be able to read this short book on their own. I rate this book 3 out of 4. This is because this is a very cute book and although I would love to give it a perfect score I can not. The rhymes did not flow very well in a few places (although I doubt a child would care) and the warning I gave in my least favorite part. I still want to emphasize that this book is a great resource.

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Review: The Adventures of Pugalugs: Trick or Treat by Jessica Parish

The Adventures of Pugalugs: Trick or Treat by Jessica Parish is the Halloween edition of Pugalugs. It is a cute story that should not scare children at all.

In this Halloween adventure Pugalugs is getting ready to go trick or treating with his siblings Dug and Bella. He starts digging through a chest full of costumes trying to find the perfect one. Unfortunately, he finds this task o be a bit on the difficult side. Pugalugs and his siblings seem to be able to find something wrong with every costume he tries out. He tries everything from a scary ghost to a silly pumpkin. Finally, at the very end, Pugalugs finds the perfect costume at the bottom of the chest. After getting dressed up Pugalugs surprise everyone with his wonderful disguise.

What I liked best was each of the costumes that Pugalugs tries on is cute in its own way. Pugalugs entertains children with his silly antics by tripping over the tail of one costume and getting all tangled up in another one. At the end, he decides the best thing to be is himself. What I didn’t like was that this book was not quite what I expected, although that is not a problem. I was expecting Pugalugs to actually be trick or treating and possibly overcoming a fear. Instead, Pugalugs is getting ready to go trick or treating but never actually leaves the house.

Animal lovers of all ages will enjoy this fun Halloween book. Toddlers and young children will enjoy having this book read to them over and over again while slightly older children will enjoy reading it themselves. I rate this book 4 out of 4. The small paragraphs accompanied by full-page pictures keep the book from being intimidating to young readers. The rhymes in this book keep it moving at a steady speed and it has a wonderful lesson for children; be your self.

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The Adventures of Pugalugs: Trick or Treat | Book| Austin Macauley Publishers

Review: Anger Management: The Complete Guide to Achieve Self-Control, Overcome Impulsiveness, and Managing Your Emotions by Tommy Foster

Anger Management: The Complete Guide to Achieve Self-Control, Overcome Impulsiveness, and Managing Your Emotions by Tommy Foster has a title (or rather a subtitle) that is a little on the long side, but I am pleased to say that this is not a long-winded book. The book can be finished in a day or two but I encourage those looking to benefit from it to read it slower.

This book rightly starts with a disclaimer that it is not responsible for anything that someone may decide to do after reading it. It then moves onto an introduction and explains what anger is and where it comes from. These ideas will continue to pop up through the remainder of the book. It talks about the different types of anger that someone can have depending on what is going on internally and what caused the anger in the first place. One of the main focuses of this book was how anger can affect our lives and relationships in both a positive and negative way depending on how we handle the anger itself. The ways that anger can do damage to our self-image and even cause an endless loop of brooding and depression are also discussed at length.

Once the background information has been well established the book moves on to different ways of managing anger. Multiple ideas are offered. Some such ideas are to try to see things through the eyes of the person you are angry at or to actively listen because miscommunication could be an underlying cause. There is even an entire section towards the end devoted towards anger in the home and how to fix it before it gets out of hand and tears the family apart.

I liked how this book presented anger as a natural and healthy emotion. All too often anger is seen as a negative emotion and this book works to dispel that myth. The tone is also understanding and offering explanations instead of condescending, a welcome change. What I didn’t like is that unfortunately, this book is in desperate need of a good editor. I am not typically one to complain about spelling or grammar but this book had issues that I could not ignore. In spots, it becomes difficult to read because of these errors and the wording.

People wanting to get a handle on their anger will benefit from this book the most. At the same time, those who find themselves frequently around someone who has problems with how they express anger will benefit by learning where that anger comes from. I rate this book a 2 out of 4. While this book really could be a helpful guide I can not give it a higher score in its present state. People that feel they could benefit from a self-help book such as this one are encouraged to ignore the errors and read it anyway.

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Review: The Queen of the Geraticiaian Empire by Anna Hampton

The Queen of the Geraticaian Empire by Anna Hampton is the third book in The Two Worlds of Geratica Series. This book continues perfectly from where there the previous book left off. I am also happy to see that this is not the final book in the Geratica series. I look forward to seeing the world(s) carry on.

At the direction of The Mistress, Alexandra creates the first Constitution of Geratica that is adopted by the new government. Two main political parties form, Conservatives and Radicals, and elections begin. Elizabeth surprisingly joins the Conservative Party alongside Linda instead of the Radicals as everyone expected after her involvement with the Male Rights Protesters. Unsurprisingly Linda also runs in the elections, not wanting to give up her power. Meanwhile, Alexandra graduates from Castra University and starts looking for employment.

Things are not all smooth sailing though as conditions in Geraticai are still out of balance. The woman placed there from Geratica to be their Queen is put in jail by her own sister-in-law in a play for the throne. The sister-in-law’s seat is not secure either as the Hybrid living inside the Mistress starts thinking up ways to get back at those in Geratica it feels wronged it. The Hybrid plans to attack Geratica, specifically targeting Queen Alexandra and Linda in order to name itself The Queen of the Geraticaian Empire.

What I liked best about this one was how the characters evolved over the course of the book. Linda is starting to relax on her views and accept that times are changing. Other characters are evolving and growing as well, yet her transformation is the most shocking. Although this book was packed full of surprises. There is once again very little that I can negatively say about this book. Having to choose something I would pick the issue of transport between Geratica and Geraticai after the two are separated. It states that direct travel through the transport capsules is no longer possible yet there are a few connected to the Mistress who can still do it so why not everyone?

The target readers for this book remains the same as the first two. That means this book is geared towards adult female readers more so than other groups. While there isn’t as much sex in this one as the previous two books, politics and the occurrence of rape still keeps it at an adult level. I rate this book 4 out of 4. For many books, as the series moves on it starts to lose something and just rides off of the popularity of earlier books. That is not the case with this book. I found this book to be just as well written and compelling as the first two in the series.

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The Queen Of The Geraticaian Empire | Book| Austin Macauley Publishers

Review: The Two Worlds of Geratica Volume 2: The Mistress of Geratica by Anne Hampton

The Two Worlds of Geratica Volume 2: The Mistress of Geratica by Anne Hampton is a wonderful follow up to the first Volume. There is some overlap between this book and the first as this one starts ten years earlier then Volume 1. It also gets caught up to modern times quickly so this time change isn’t too much of a problem. Once again it is important to remember that Geratica and its parallel, Geraticai, are similar to Earth but no the same place and the people who live there are not human.

Geratica is facing a time of political and economic turmoil due to the increasing number of “radical” thinkers in the realm. They are also in danger of spies from Geraticai who want to be their own world and not just a parallel of Geratica. As things reach a breaking point The Mistress of Geratica comes forward to aid in setting things right again. Sadly even that doesn't fix things right away.

Linda has a hard time getting bills passed through Parliament and Alexandra’s boyfriend, Tom, is caught in a compromising position. Alexandra finds herself gaining confidence as her own woman and makes some very big decisions for not only herself but for Geratica as a whole. It is questionable though if Geratica can survive the strikes and civil unrest and form a way to keep both the radicals and convinces happy. At the same time, the government in Geraticai keeps changing so fast it is hard to keep track of who is in charge at any given time. Eventually, Geraticai goes to war. To say the least, things are not going good for the two worlds of Geratica.

What I liked best was that in my review of the first book I complained that the second world (Geraticai) didn’t play a big part in the story yet this book fixed that entirely. The two worlds become intertwined in this book in such a way that it is deserving of its title. I almost regret my statement about the first book. What I didn’t like so much was that towards the ending I got very confused about Fiona and Robert. Without giving anything away their relationship with each other and the Mistress was good in concept but did not make since to me very well as to why things worked out the way they did.

Once again I suggest a mature audience for this book. It is still geared more towards a mostly female audience but some men may find it interesting as well. There was still quite a bit of sexual content and politics so reader beware. This book deserves a rating of 4 out of 4 just like the first one. It could still use to be edited a little bit better but for the most part, I can not complain (and who am I to make a judgment on editing). The balanced time the author spends talking about each world prevents either one from getting too much attention. Overall an excellent book once more.

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Update: 11/05/2019

UPDATE

Well, today a package came in the mail with more books for me to read. I still need to finish The Two Worlds of Geratica Volume 2: The Mistress of Geratica and read The Queen of the Geraticaian Empire (Volume 3) both by Anne Hampton as well but the review of Volume 2 should be posted later this week followed closely by the review for Volume 3.

I also am reading Anger Management: The Complete Guide to Achieve Self-Control, Overcome Impulsiveness and Managing Your Emotions by Tommy Foster (what a title right?) and Solaris Seethes (Solaris Saga #1) by Janet McNulty

I am also waiting for Music Man 2: Other Dimensions by Moonyani Write and the fourth book in the Ronaldo series by Maxine Sylvester to be given to me.

All that aside I just received a package today containing the following books:
The Adventures of Pugalugs: Trick or Treat by Jessica Parish
Ten Minutes on Mars by Jonathan Fisher
Insanitus: Into the Darkness by William P. Thomson
The Evil that Came To Denham by John Ulrich
A House of Lies by Babra Sales
Bitter Memory by Sian Nicholas
But I don't want a Haircut by Bobbie Talor & Jenny Krzoska
Nutritional Herbs for Optimal Health by Mary T. Keane
Will Shaksper's Secret by John Hole
Coven: Deception by D. H. Davis
Rediscovering Earth by Michal Hall
36 Hours by B. J. Woster

So that is four books that I need to finish, two that I am still waiting on, and twelve that I just received that I need to read. That is a total of at least eighteen books so let's be real and round it up to twenty...how long do you think it's going to take for me to get through this pile?

Updated 11/1/19 Do not ask me to remove a review because you don't like the rating....this will happen.

The Crystilleries of Echoland

REQUESTED TO REMOVE MY AMAZON REVIEW BECAUSE I GAVE A 2 STAR REVIEW BY AUTHOR!!!

So normally this is not something I would do but I feel this is extremely wrong. I review books for onlinebookclub.org somewhat frequently. After I submitted my review to onlinebookclub they asked me to put a short review on amazon as well, so I did. However, I gave the book a 2-star review.

The author, using her real name Tal Boldo, sent an email to Scott, the owner of onlinebookclub asking to reach out to me for me to take the review down because of it being a 2-star review. I naturally refused. To do so would not only be morally wrong but also against Amazon's rules. I feel as a book reviewer it is my job to provide an honest review of the books I read and I will not change them or remove them just because the author doesn't like it.

 Here is a copy of the email that was forwarded to me by Scott from Tal Boldo regarding my review:

Subject: Help with 2-star Amazon Review
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2019 21:52:21 +0000
From: Tal Boldo
To: Scott


Scott,

I believe that 2 club members have recently posted the first 2-star reviews on Amazon. As the book was a gift, I think the author's choice not to share the review on Amazon ought to be respected. Although I do not know the reviewer's names on Online Book Club, it seems likely that they originated from the club because I provide no free books elsewhere. Scott, perhaps you have a way of discovering whether the writers are club members. I would greatly appreciate your help and advice once again!

Amazon review by Melissa Espenschied

Amazon review by Amie M. Allen

Respectfully yours,

Tal Boldo

Here is my Amazon review of the book:

The Crystilleries of Echoland is a book series that seems to have gotten fairly popular very quickly. I had to read it to see what everyone was talking about. It appears to draw readers in with similarities to books like Harry Potter and is even geared towards the same age group.

Echoland is the home of Echos or our reflections and there is currently a law in place that if a Sound (someone from our world) dies then their Echo must die as well. Will is the Sound of the Prince of Echoland and must team up with him in an attempt to change this law of death. Of course, there are those who don't want them to succeed and have no problem traveling between our realm and Echoland, a land of ice, to stop Will and the Prince.

Normally I like fantasy and young adult books but there was something that felt off about this one. It could have been that the way Echoland was described made me picture a world that was nothing but an icy blue with no contrast to it. It also could have been the fact that the book ended up confusing at times and the writing was choppy.

Either way, I imagine a child, around middle school-aged, would still enjoy this book with very few complaints. Yet an adult might find it a bit dry.

My full review that I sent to onlinebookclub is here:
https://nightreaderreviews.blogspot.com/2019/10/review-crystilleries-of-echoland-by-dew.html
(It is a longer review so I just linked to it)

The amazon rules state:

"Can I give free or discounted copies of my books to readers?
You may provide free or discounted copies of your books to readers. However, you may not demand a review in exchange or attempt to influence the review. Offering anything other than a free or discounted copy of the book - including gift cards - will invalidate a review, and we'll have to remove it. To learn more, see our Community Guidelines."

If you wonder about the difference in the ratings its because onlinebookclub has their own 4-start system that I have to convert to a 5 star for Amazon and Goodreads. Any questions feel free to message me.

Normally I do not do things like this but I must speak out against what I feel is like the equivalent to "buying" a review.


Start Update


Response from Online Book Club to me refusing to change or remove my review.


OnlineBookClub.org Review Team Support
1:35 PM (37 minutes ago)
to me

Hi, Melissa,

Thank you for getting back to me.

I am sorry if I was not clear. I am absolutely not at all asking you to
change your review.

Rather, we gave you a book in exchange for you to write an honest review
of the book at OnlineBookClub.org.

You chose to not only review the book at OnlineBookClub.org, but also
post an additional review on Amazon.

So I am asking if you are willing to remove the review that you posted
on Amazon. I'm not asking to remove your OnlineBookClub.org review, or
asking you to change your review.

Let me know your thoughts.



Thank you,
Scott
OnlineBookClub.org

My reply

Scott,

As it happens that is not true.

After I put my review on Online Book Club I was prompted by the website to put a review on Amazon. In fact, if I wouldn't have the review on Online Book Club would not have been fully processed, as I am sure you know.

I do not put my reviews for Online Book Club on Amazon or anywhere else unless prompted to do so because of the plagiarism issue. I used to on my first two reviews but quickly leaned that's a bad idea.

Also don't you think asking for a review to be removed is "influencing the review" as stated as unallowed per Amazon's rules? I do. 

The fact is I even have proof that I was requested to put a review on amazon as the below message shows:

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: OnlineBookClub.org Review Team <noreply-rt@onlinebookclub.org>
Date: Thu, Oct 24, 2019 at 4:03 AM
Subject: Amazon Review Request for The Crystilleries of Echoland
To: <fangedwolfgirl@gmail.com>


Hi,

The author of "The Crystilleries of Echoland" has requested that you also post an additional review of the book on Amazon.

This is not required, but we are passing on the favor request. If you do post a review on Amazon, it does not need to be nearly as long. Just a couple sentences will do. However, please do not copy and paste your review from OnlineBookClub.org to Amazon. Instead, please write a couple new sentences as your Amazon review.

IMPORTANT: Amazon uses a 5-star system, but OnlineBookClub uses a 4-star system. So please do NOT blindly copy your rating. For example, a 4/4 rating should be put in as a 5/5 on Amazon, not a 4/5.

For reference, following is the Bookshelves page for the book:

 https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelves/book.php?id=326446


Once you have posted the additional review, please confirm on the History tab of the Review Team Page:

 https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/review-team/history.php


Thank you,
OnlineBookClub.org  

So as you can see it was not just my choice to post on Amazon, I was asked to do so. I am sorry the author doesn't like it but I will not take it down.

I hope you understand,
Melissa

As any of you reading this can see I am not going to back down. There is nothing wrong with the review I posted and I was even asked to put one on Amazon, which as you can see he is trying to deny, good thing I do not delete emails.

End Update

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Review: The Crystilleries of Echoland by Dew Pellucid

The Crystilleries of Echoland by Dew Pellucid is a book in which parallel worlds meet in an interesting fantasy story with children teaming up to save the day. I noticed quite a few things that had a strong resemblance to other popular young adult books such as The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman and Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling. The similarities were mainly, but not limited to, each orphan having a pet of some kind as well as many characters being able to turn invisible. It is important to note that the book was extremely well-edited.

Children all over disappeared without a trace and even their parents have no memories of what happened to them. None of the missing children ever return, except for one. This one chid is Will Cleary. Sadly Will does not know where he and the missing children were or how to bring the others back, including his sister. Then one day Will finds himself under attack by Fate Sealers and learns the truth about Echoland, a world parallel to ours.

Will learns that a law was passed in Echoland ruling that if a Sound (someone from our world) dies their Echo must die as well. Will is the Sound to the Prince of Echoland and in an attempt to kill the Prince the Fate Sealers are after Will. Will must return to Echoland in disguise, pretending to be another one of the missing children and live in an orphanage. All so he can work with his Echo to reclaim the throne and abolish the Law of Death.

What I liked best about this book was the concept of our world being the world of Sound and the parallel is that of the Echos. Echoland is a great representation of the opposite of our world. Everything there seems to be colder and duller than our world making it feel like a shadow or Echo (which I imagine was the author's intention). What I didn't like was that I frequently found the book to be dry and boring. At times it felt like it stalled out completely. There were also multiple areas where the writing felt slightly out of order or choppy. I wish I could explain just why the book came across this way, but I am unsure.

It appears this book was written for slightly younger readers. Middle school to early high school students would probably find this book enjoyable. It falls clearly in the fantasy category and is a relatively easy read. I rate this book 3 out of 4. Ordinarily, I would enjoy a fantasy or young adult book, yet I was unable to get into this one. This may have been due to the writing style or the way the plot was confusing and dragging. Most likely it was a combination of both. For a fantasy book, it was not engaging at all. I was going to rate it a 2 out of 4 however since I can not explain exactly what it is that caused me to feel like something was "off" about this book I can not take points away from it.

Author Interview: Jessica Parish of the Pugalugs Series

Interview with Jessica and Mark Parish, author of the Pugalugs series.

About Pugalugs

Q: Pugalugs currently has five books in the series. Do you plan on writing more and if so how many?

A: Yes, depending on the success of the first 5 books, I have over 30 titles planned... the potential for Pugalugs to go off on adventures now he has found the magic bone (in the book by the same title) is endless. It would be nice to do some educational books (geographical, spelling, numbers etc) if I get the chance.

Q: How much research went into writing Pugalugs? How long did it take you to complete writing it?

A: Months and months of research. I wanted to learn how to write and produce a children's book, not just write a story and submit it for publishing so I learned everything there is to know about publishing a children's book before I even started to write the stories. The books took about 2 weeks to write and get things to where I was satisfied with the text. I would say the time needed to create the design for the illustration took more time. All in all, I'd say about a month per book!

Q: Was there any specific reason for the names that you gave the characters? Specifically, how did you come up with the name Pugalugs?

A: I thought long and hard about the main character's name. My husband and I spent many an evening discussing it and coming up with ideas. Eventually, I decided on Pugalugs because my husband's mum used to call him "Bugalugs" when he was a child and so I just swapped the B for a P and Pugalugs was born. The characters of the books are based on my own Pugs (The main character's name is actually "Rocky" in real life but Dug and Bella are actually real names).

Q: What compelled you to write Pugalugs?

A: The books were inspired by a real-life event. My husband's father (Granddad in the books) dog-sits for our dogs. One day my husband got a frantic call from Granddad whilst he was at work to say that he had been out gardening and the dogs were with him but when he turned round they had disappeared. He had left the garden gate slightly open and they had escaped. My husband left work immediately to try and find them but there was no sign of them. Over 2 hours he searched. We were devastated as we thought they may have been stolen or worse knocked over on the roads.

Later that afternoon when we had given up hope, my husband got a call from his work on his mobile (he was still looking for them) to say the local vet had been in touch and somebody had kindly realized that the dogs were two escapees and took them to the vets. They had been found about 1 mile away from home outside a local country pub!

So that is what inspired the books. We always wondered what adventures they had been having during the time they had gone missing. And to this day we are amazed at how far the dogs managed to get without being injured or stolen. They had to cross two main roads and a number of side roads to get to the pub (called the Gerrard Pub).

Q: What do you think it is about Pugalugs that has made it so popular?

A: I think Pugs are a very popular breed of dog which definitely helps. Who can resist a cute cuddly loveable pug? My illustrator did a fantastic job of translating what I wanted the characters to look like (it took many many revisions to get it 100% right) and I think they look great which also helps. 

About Writing

Q: What made you decide to start writing?

A: I studied English A-Level and always had a desire to put pen to paper but never had the inspiration until we experienced the dogs escaping. So it was being a Pug fanatic that really started things off.

Q: What do you use when you write (for example do you use a computer, have a special pen or notebook)?

A: I always use a notebook and pencil to scribble my ideas down. The stories fill out from there. I still have the old note pads with the original scrawl. Who knows, one day they may be worth something!

Q: Do you start writing with a specific story or plot in mind or do you just "go with the flow"?

A: Yes, the idea is there in my mind before I start to put pen to paper. A lot of thought has gone into it before I actually start to write.

Q: Writers are often believed to have a Muse or something that they draw inspiration from, how do you feel about that?

A: Yes I definitely get my inspiration from the dogs.

Q: Are you currently working on any other books outside of the Pugalugs series? If so what can you tell me about it?

A: No, I work full time as an accounts assistant. If the first 5 books take off properly then I will create time to write more but for now, I'm happy to have produced 5 books.

About Jessica Parish 

Q: What do you like to do in your free time when you are not writing?

A: I like to keep fit so I run (have done 1/2 marathons and 1 marathon). I'm also a bit of a tomboy in that I like motorbikes/motorbike racing (I ride on the back with my husband) and Rugby League. I live in St. Helens and so am a big St. Helens Rugby League Fan.

Q: What is your stance on physical books vs. e-books? How do you feel about audio-books?

A: Any book is good but I am a big fan of physical books. The smell and feel of a book add to the reading experiance I believe and it is nice to see a collection building on a bookshelf as opposed! I do read a lot of e-books on my kindle for convenience when I'm on vacation.

Q: What font do you like the most? What font do you like the least?

A: Haven't really thought about it. I do like Calibri and probably copperplate gothic is one I'm not keen on.

Q: What was your favorite book as a child? What is your favorite book today?

A: Goosebumps as a child. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins today. 

Q: What is your favorite quote (from anything/anyone)?

A: If you think you can, you can. (Norman Vincent Peale)

Q: In honor of the season, what is your fondest Halloween memory?

A: Making your own costume out of a bin bag as a child...how times have changed!

Q: Is there anything else you would like to share?

A: The Pugalugs Trick or Treat Book is my second favorite after the Christmas book.

About Charity Efforts

Q: Pugalugs has gotten a bunch of press, how does this make you feel?

A: I'm quite a reserved person and don't really like being in the limelight but when I do see an article in the press it makes me feel proud of my achievements. 

Q: If you do not mind sharing, in total how much has been given to charity thanks to your books?

A: I haven't really kept a record but I have done literally 100's of book signings in stores like BHS (before it closed), Debenhams, Tesco, and other book shops where I would donate £1,000 from each book sale so I would say a minimum of £5,000 to various charities. I also donated 1000 of each book (5000 books) to Alder Hey Children's hospital which they now give to poorly children and sell in their gift shop.

End Interview

Review: A Warrior's Blush by Shannon Whittall

A Warrior’s Blush by Shannon Whittall is an action-adventure fantasy story with just a hit of romance. This book could z easily be the beginning of a very interesting series if the author wanted to go that route with it. The ending is also surprising, but I do not encourage any readers to skip ahead in the book to see what I mean.

Lenora Belavier has been held prisoner and was used as a slave in the female prison, Golnar. It is here in Golnar that Lenora makes two names for herself. The first is Iron-Will for the excellent blades she forges. The second is Golnar’s Ghost, for protecting her fellow prisoners from the guards without them finding out who the ghost is. One day after much planning Lenora escapes from Golnar and brings an eleven-year-old prisoner, Mear, with her. Elijah finds Lenora (who has now adopted a new name) and Mear injured in the desert and takes them to Drodal’s Keep for healing.

In Drodal Lenora endures training for a magical ability that she does not believe she possesses, by a temperamental Elijah. Mear, on the other hand, seems to be enjoying her freedom and wonders off for some unknown reason. Lenora and Elijah slowly form an unlikely friendship as they start looking into the appearance of Bolgran, the evil monsters controlled by Myrna. Myrna, the evil Queen who Lenora was fighting against when she was arrested has learned of Lenora surviving Golnar and seeking refuge at Drodal. In an attempt to destroy her enemy Myrna floods Drodal with Bolgren and it doesn't look good for the small keep.

What I liked best about this book was that it was not predictable nor was it confusing. The twists in the story were extremely enjoyable and even surprised me. I am purposely leaving these twists out of the review as to not ruin them for the interested reader. What I did not like was how some of the characters and creatures were named similar to each other. The biggest of these issues was Bolgran, a terrible monster, and Brogan, a blacksmith. This did cause a bit of confusion because one is obviously evil and the other is not.

This book is age-appropriate for readers who are at least in high school. Younger readers would enjoy most of the story but would have to be mature. The rape and abuse of female prisoners is a big driving factor for Lenora and readers must be able to handle that. Overall I rate this book 3 out of 4. While it was a good book the name issue felt a little sloppy and lost it some points with me. I would still recommend this book to people who like fantasy but they would have to pay close attention to the names.

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Review: The Mandore Rose by Cyril James Morris

The Mandore Rose by Cyril James Morris is set in the early 1950s yet, for the most part, it feels like it could be set in modern-day. It also has a prologue from the 1700s but it takes a while for the connection to be made. This book can easily be read in a day or two.

Just Riley is a young Romany girl who is ordered by her elder to take her caravan and run away. This is not because of anything she has done. She must run in order to protect herself from the man pretending to be her uncle after her mother died just so he can steal from her. Just Riley now has to survive on her own with her horse Pixe and her spirit guide, The Bangled Lady for companions.  That is until an accident at the beach puts her in contact with Big Pierre and Rhys.

Rhys teaches her how to hunt for crabs and they quickly become friends. Big Pierre owns and works on a crabbing boat and gives Just Riley some work. When Pierre takes Riley with him one day she meets the Monks and Lady Caldey on their island. The Lady agrees to have an instrument repaired for Just Riley and the two feel a bond right away. After learning to trust one another Just Riley learns that they each have a ring identical to the other. It is with these rings and a little bit of luck that they start on an adventure that may lead them to the truth about who Just Riley really is.

What I liked most was how the main character is called “Just Riley”. At first, I found this to be annoying and awkward, but after the reason is explained I fund it to be cute, if not a little sad as well. What I did not like was that I wish the book would have explained the difference between Romany and Gypsey. This is because on multiple occasions people in the book confuse the two and Riley seems to be insulted by that. I feel like many people (myself included) do not know the difference and would benefit from the explanation.

People who enjoy historical mysteries would enjoy this book the most. This book is appropriate for just about all readers even those in middle school. It is not too heavily historical that it is not enjoyable. I give this book a 3 out of 4 ratings. While there is not anything wrong with this book I could not give it a perfect score. The book just was not compelling to read. While it is classified as a mystery it really doesn't have a quality that made me curious about what was happening.

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Review: What if... by Corrina Joy

What If… by Corrina Joy is one woman’s story as she explores her ‘what if..’. A word of warning though, this book is full of both happiness and heartbreak. Depending on the reader’s current emotional state and lifestyle this book could be very depressing or uplifting.

Joy Chambers feels like there is something missing in her life. Her husband is a hardworking man but puts money and sports above caring about her. He doesn't pay attention to her or her needs and lets her take care of the house and children alone. The crushing loneliness of her marriage mixed with her longing to feel true love and joy again propels her to take a half-hour break at the beach. This is so that she can emotionally let go before returning to her daily chores. A random wave knocks her into the water where she hits her head and comes across her “magical little relic”.

Upon twisting this relic Joy gets transported to a different dimension where her life is significantly different. There is one common theme in each dimension that she visits, Jerry. Unconditionally but was unable to be with him in her original dimension. For some reason on another each one of Joy’s visits is cut short and so is her time with Jerry. How Joy’s story ends is completely up to the reader thanks to two very clever options for endings by the author. Both of the endings are extremely different but as the book says “Her destiny is in your hands...”

What I liked best was all the different dimensions that Joy visited while trying to find what was missing from her life. I did notice one thing that may or may not have been true. It seemed to me that each ‘dimension’ was really just a different time period in the same dimension or the world. As if Joy only changed dimension once and visited important points in that dimension. What I did not like was in the first chapter Joy explains her life to the reader. She talks of just existing, not living, and an unnamed husband who does not seem to care for her or emotionally support her, and their children. After she finds her magical little relic they are not mentioned again. I can not help but wonder about Joy’s feelings about leaving them behind, especially her kids. What becomes of them?

This book is directed more towards adults. Specifically, those who find themselves wondering what their lives might be like if they had done things differently. At the same time, this book is just as enjoyable for everyone else. I rate this book 4 out of 4. This book was beautiful. Over its 188 pages, Joy finds what element in her life she needs in order to feel whole. The final twelve pages or so consist of two alternate endings (an amazing and unusual concept) so the reader can decide exactly how Joy’s life turns out.

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BOOK GIVEAWAY ALERT!!! The Adventures of Pugalugs: The Beginning

BOOK GIVEAWAY ALERT 

Jessica Parish, the author of Pugalugs, in partnership with Austin Macauley Publishing has authorized the giveaway of three copies of The Adventures of Pugalugs: The Beginning. To enter the giveaway please follow these simple steps: 

1) Like, Share, and Comment on the facebook post, tagging 3 friends.

2) Follow Night Reader Reviews https://www.facebook.com/nightreaderreviews/ 

and 

Austin Macauley Publishinghttps://www.facebook.com/AustinMacauleyUSA/

The Adventures of Pugalugs: The Beginning by Jessica Parish is just the first book in an adorable five-book children’s series. These books are about a cute and curious pug puppy and his siblings. For a full review of the first book click here: https://nightreaderreviews.blogspot.com/2019/07/review-adventures-of-pugalugs-beginning.html. Jessica Parish has also raised quite a bit of money for charity through the use of her books. She has even taken her own pug puppy, Rocky, to book singings with her. These books would make great Christmas presents for any young child. 

Don't forget to follow Jessica Parish for more updates on the Pugalugs series and be on the lookout for her author interview with Night Reader Reviews. 

*As this is the first giveaway Night Reader Reviews has hosted it will run for two weeks so be sure to sign up before 10/29/2019. Winners will be announced by 11/01/2019 at the latest. All winners will be requested to provide their address in a privet message. All costs will be covered by Austin Macauley Publishing.*

Review: The Devil's Workshop by Donnally Miller

The Devil’s Workshop by Donnally Miller is one of the few books that I felt like I had to read twice, and did. Even after that I still feel like I am missing quite a bit of what this book has to offer. If there were ever a book that deserves to be torn apart (and I mean that in the best possible sense) and be studied in depth to have all the hidden meanings exposed this is it. However, I am not the one to do it.

Tom and Katie love each other to the point that when Tom leaves to work on a ship for a while, Katie gives him an extremely special engraved pocket watch to take with him. Little does Tom know, he helped bury the Son of Light shortly before leaving and this has thrown the world into chaos. Katie loses her job at the mansion where she lives and finds herself traveling with a dog and a lovesick man whom she has no affection for on a journey to find Tom. Meanwhile, Tom has lost Katie’s pocket watch, was thrown overboard, and is trying to make his way back to her. Thanks to Deirdre, The Queen of the Witches, the journey these two lovers are on is excruciatingly long and dangerous.

The Indians who live peacefully in the Forest have started to band together in preparation for driving “the white man” back into the sea where they came from. Slaves have also started rebelling all along the Coast and are being hunted by a military who wants them destroyed. Making things even worse Pirates are causing the roads to be unsafe for travelers and Tom finds himself mixed up with them. All the while Deirdre is playing her games with each of the separate groups. The only way to set everything right once more is to create a new Child of Light.

I enjoyed how all the characters seem to cross paths at one point or another in ways that are more natural than forced by the author. All the trials that Tom and Katie are willing to endure in an attempt to see each other again restore a person’s faith in humanity and love. At the same time, the book forces the reader to question just what is love and why will we go to the ends of the Earth for it. What I did not like was that there were a few different times where I would lose track of who was talking or what was going on. I am not sure if this was in any way due to how the book was written or because I was not devoting the amount of attention to the book as it deserves. Even so philosophical books are expected to confuse readers at times and force them to re-evaluate passages, so it in no way changes my opinion of this book.

I would only recommend this book to adult readers. While there is nothing inappropriate for readers in high school, the philosophy would probably be a bit much for them. The casual reader should also be prepared for a long and at times difficult read. Nonetheless, I rate this book to be a perfect 4 out of 4. People who do not realize what kind of book this is would probably put it down during the first few chapters and give it a low rating for being hard to read. Those that realize what they are reading will find that the seemingly random ramblings do make sense if you slow down. There is a wonderful plotline and a beautiful love story (thankfully not a mushy one) that takes place throughout the book if readers are willing to take their time and look.

https://www.donnallymiller.com/

Review Re-post Before Interview and Giveaway

The following is a review for Lithium written by Asina C. In honor of October and Halloween Asina C has agreed to an interview which will be posted soon along with a giveaway of the book Lithium. If interested please read the following review and keep an eye out for the interview and giveaway coming soon.

Lithium by Asina C is not the typical book style that comes to mind when I think about a fiction book based in Chernobyl. Normally I would expect such a book to be full of zombies or mutants who go around terrorizing a group of tourists that get lost but that is not the case with Lithium. Instead, this book mixes truth with science and a little bit of fantasy and gives readers a different type of story altogether. This book also talks about the Red Forest in Chernobyl and it sparked an interest in me to look up some pictures of the forest. I also did not notice too much that widely away from the actual facts about Chernobyl, though I would by no means consider myself to be well informed on the subject.

Zurin has lived with her mother for all of her twelve years in a small shack in Pripyat. Her mother has always kept Zurin inside her home for fear of radiation sickness and being seen. This is in part because the area in which they live is believed to be uninhabitable because of all the radiation still in everything following the explosion. Zurin has always been obedient to her mother’s rules until one day when her mother goes to get supplies and Zurin decides to step outside for the first time but may have been seen by someone.

Then one day, shortly after her birthday Zurin wakes up to find her mother gone and blood on the floor. Zurin then ventures out into the Red Forest in search of her mother but gets extremely lost and succumbs to radiation sickness. Luckily she is found by a young couple who works for a travel company and snuck into a restricted area of Chernobyl to take pictures for their website. The couple takes Zurin to the hospital and adopts her once she gets better. As fate would have it months later Zurin returns to Pripyat in search of her mother yet again and finds herself in an abandoned hospital. It is in this hospital that she learns the truth about her mother and her life up to this point. Her only hope is to team up with a doctor she is not completely trusting of, the young couple, and a man she has never met before.

What I liked best was the idea of people still being able to live in a highly irradiated area such as Pripyat with few side effects was interesting. The book also offered some mystery as to who Zurin and her mother are and why they chose to continue to live in an isolated area such a Pripyat. What I liked least was a little more complicated. I understand the fact that people exposed to nuclear radiation and or uranium may mutate both physically and/or mentally if they survive. What I did not understand was Nikolav’s goal by purposefully mutating the patients who survived the explosion but were trapped in the mental ward of the hospital.

This is definitely a young adult book, but for many, after high school, I feel like it would quickly lose its strong appeal. It is a good book but I feel like it would need to be a little more detailed, making the book a bit longer in order for it to have more of an appeal to adults. I ended up rating this book a 2 out of 4. This is because while I enjoy books set around Chernobyl (especially if mutated people or zombies are involved because it offers a plausible explanation for it) this book fell short of my expectations. One of the main issues I had was how the book fails to give solid reasoning and jumps from one topic to another.

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BIG UPDATE

Big Update for Night Reader Reviews

I am planning on not only having reviews here soon but also hosting giveaways and author interviews. These new additions have made me realise that I need to expand out from just one little blog. Night Reader Reviews now has its own facebook page https://www.facebook.com/nightreaderreviews/ for readers to like and follow. It also has a new email address for those who need to contact me directly about the reviews bookreviewsatnight@gmail.com. In the near future, it is also in the plans for an Instagram account to be created as well so keep your eyes out. 

Review: Cave Man by Aedan Sayla

Cave Man by Aedon Sayla is classified as an Erotic Christian Fiction. That being said this is not for anyone under 18 years old. Erotica and Christian Fiction are two genres that are not generally mixed. Readers should be aware that the events in this book are from biblical times and modern rules do not apply.

Alon is a captive of the King of Babel, Nimrod. He is set to be killed on the very next night when an angel shows up. The angel has come to save Alon before God comes down and destroys Babel. Alon escapes and goes to start a new civilization that honors God. Early on in his journey Alon comes across Ayangla who speaks a different language from him. Frustrated at not being able to speak to her the voice of God tells Alon that once his seed is deep in Ayangla she will begin to understand his language. He immediately takes her there on the ground and makes her travel with him as his wife. Over time Ayangla notices that Alon cares for her and comes to love him in return as he takes the time to pleasure her unlike those who had her while she was a slave under Nimrod’s rule.

During their journey, they meet up with Enais and his wife who had the same message about making a new civilization. The two couples decide to be a tribe and call themselves Alonai. The Alonai tribe ultimately end up in a land of plenty and set up a well-guarded home there for themselves and all of their children (there is a lot). The two men end up saving two women from a shipwreck one day while out fishing and bring them back to their home. Each man takes one of the two to become their second wives to share with the first and expand their families while making the new women a part of their struggle for survival. Through it all Alon constantly thanks The Creator for all of his blessings and all the things The Creator has worked for him and within him.

What I liked best was that the time and location of the story is well thought out. Taking place right after the fall of the tower of Babel was a great idea as many people are at least somewhat familiar with that story. The need for the main character to create a new civilization explained all the sex besides just plane lust. Being a modern woman there were multiple things that I did not like about the story. The first of which being Alon attacking and raping Ayangla, made all the worse by God indirectly suggesting it. Ayangla appears to have Stockholm syndrome as she falls in love with Alon who she calls master and husband interchangeably through the book. She seems to stay with him because she learns to enjoy the sex and because being with him helps ensure her survival. I also had a major problem with Alon purposely triggering Ayangla’s milk production for his enjoyment. This may be because I approve of public breastfeeding of children and seeing the production of breast-milk as a sexual act and a grown man breastfeeding from a woman as an orgasmic experience goes against the movement to normalize breastfeeding as a non-sexual act.

Target readers for this book are adults ages 18 and older. As this is considered erotic Christian fiction Christians may have more appreciation for this book than others. Readers should be ready for and expecting heavy sexual content.  I ended up giving this book a rating of 2 out of 4. While trying to stay in the mindset of the target audience I still can not put aside my personal feelings about this book completely. It is not the rough sex scenes that was a problem as much as it was how they came about. If it wasn’t for taking the period the book was written in into consideration and how things would have been done then I would have failed this book completely. Content aside it was well written so an even half score of two is appropriate in my eyes.

Review: The Geek Who Came From The Cold by Leon Kaminsky

Readers should not be fooled by the title The Geek Who Came From The Cold: Surviving The Post-USSR Era On A Hollywood Diet by Leon Kaminsky has nothing to do with food or dieting at all. The “Hollywood Diet” mentioned in the title is movies, mainly those from the US. A little bit of knowledge about Russia and their policies would be helpful when reading this book but is not required.

Leon is a young boy growing up in Russia at the end of the 1900s. He has a nervous problem (possibly anxiety) and has a hard time at school and with other people in general. Leon quickly falls in love with movies, specifically those from Hollywood after seeing them for the first time. Like so many other people who are not exactly social for one reason or another, he trades social interaction for watching films. His love for movies over the years borders on the edge of obsession as he knows not only actors and directors but also the Russian’s who voice over the tapes to translate them. His daily and weekly schedule revolves around what movies are being played on TV or at the theaters.

He takes readers through the difficulty of obtaining some of the popular movies that can be found just about anywhere here in the United States. This difficulty is not only because of how much Russia censored movies from just about anywhere but because the titles are often changed as well. Leon shares his excitement and the challenges he faced to get his first VCR play and to transport his VHS collection when his family moved. He even talks about when owning a VCR was illegal in Russia and when people would give anything to have one, including offering to trade a boat for a VCR.

What I liked best was that the informative quality of the book was wonderful and the author clearly did his research (I even wondered at times if the book was based on the author’s own childhood). I appreciated the human qualities of the book, such as the struggles Leon faces at school. New facts about Russia was presented to the readers in a way that prevented anything from feeling too overly informative. What I did not like was the fact that the book ends fairly abruptly. I would have liked to see at least one chapter about after the family’s move to Germany. There were also multiple sections where it would begin on one topic and end on another, seemingly unrelated topic.

Movie fans will enjoy this book but it is recommended that they be somewhat familiar with movies from the 1980s (I think was the time period of most movies mentioned in the book, I myself am far from a movie buff at all) and newer. High school students may not be able to fully appreciate the cinematic history in this book and may feel more like a history book to them. It should also be noted as VHS tapes are already a thing of the past (I am holding on to a few to show my children in the future) upcoming generations may not know what the book is talking about without asking their parents or google. Finally, I give this book a rating of 3 out of 4. This book is very informative about a topic not many people are probably aware of. Sadly this gives it a very narrow target audience. The way the book is written makes it feel like it is an autobiography about a movie lover growing up where movies are largely controlled. The plot of the book is frequently lost through during all the movie talk.

Review: I Love You Just the Way You Are by Ghabeba Hurkchand

Although there is never a bad time to read to a child I Love You Just The Way You Are by Ghabeba Hurkchand seems to lend itself well to a bedtime book. It may also be good after a child has done something wrong and has been punished or is just feeling bad as a good way to reassure them.

This book takes readers through a bear family’s day. The parent bear explains what the cub did and tells that cub that it is loved anyway. It starts out with being grumpy in the morning and tired in the afternoon. It even talks about when leaving home for the day becomes too much for some children. The book finally ends with the parent holding the two cubs and telling them “I love you forever”. It is hard to accurately describe this book, but I highly recommend it.

What I liked best is that all children can be difficult at times and the events in this book are extremely accurate. This book is very specific on things such as not understanding why a child did something, yet reassures them that they are loved. There really is not anything I did not like about this book.

Although children can read this book themselves the content feels more geared towards parents reading it to there children. While I recommend this to all parents some have children that are a little moodier than others and would probably benefit from this book the most. No matter what the age every child should hear how much they are loved daily. I give this book a 4 out of 4 rating. This book is just perfect for reading to children. It touches on very real subjects for children (young) to doubt themselves. The text is also very short and keeps children from getting bored which easily happens.

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