middle grade

Interview with Tess Cacciatore (Yumi’s Universe)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Yumi’s Universe was born from the imagination of Tess Cacciatore, an award-winning writer, director and global peace advocate. After decades of empowering youth across continents, Tess envisioned a world where children could learn values of harmony, respect, purity and tranquility. The emphasis is to inspire children everywhere to grow with kindness, imagination, and peace through magical stories, music, and art from around the world. People can go to her website and explore Yumi’s Universe. (www.YumisUniverse.com) …

Continue reading

Mixing Magics by Clare Edge

Title: Mixing Magics Author: Clare Edge Series: Accidental Demons #2 Much thanks to Clare Edge, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed by book 2. It felt like a hot mess of a first draft. It also felt like the author had no idea what to do with any of her own lore. Book 1 was fantastic, and the two things it did extra well …

Continue reading

Review Roundup Autumn 2024 – Part 2

Another quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Autumn 2024. Beware of spoilers! Title: If I Stopped Haunting You Author: Colby Wilkens Series: n/a Thank you to Colby Wilkens, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was okay. Not well balanced, and the characters had to work to be likeable, especially Pen. I don’t care what race, gender, ancestry, etc, you are, if …

Continue reading

Review Roundup Summer 2023

A quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Summer 2023. Beware of spoilers! Title: A Fatal Illusion Author: Anna Lee Huber Series: Lady Darby Mystery #11 Thank you to Anna Lee Huber, Berkley, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Yazmine Hassan for inviting me to participate in the blog tour; I’m sorry I didn’t get my crap together in time to participate properly. …

Continue reading

The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett

Title: The Grace of Wild Things Author: Heather Fawcett Series: n/a Thoroughly enchanting! Much thanks to Heather Fawcett, HarperCollins Children’s Books/Balzer + Bray, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This story was thoroughly enchanting. And way more cerebral than I would expect of a “children’s” book. The themes are deep and layered. Fawcett has officially found a place on my authors-to-keep-an-eye-on list. My only complaint is that the ending wasn’t …

Continue reading