KJK Reads

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Romance, Small Town, Dual POV, Grumpy/Sunshine Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I know Carlisle can do small town romances well but this one was a step up with the stuck in the cabin too. I loved the dogs and how well their characters shone through and it added to the snowy cabin days and the feeling of homeliness (despite being so far from Tessa’s home). I also really liked Tessa’s character with the clumsiness and jokes about romcoms, it made her feel so much like the kind of person I often am and know so many of. I did like Gage and the parts from his POV to help understand him more and I was rooting for them as a couple by the end too.  Favourite Quote: “Because love doesn't come around every day. And when it does when it looks like a grumpy mountain man with kind eyes and chainsaw-carved furniture and dogs that fall in love with you instantly-you don't walk away. You fight. And this time...

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Non-Fiction, Disability, Self-Help, Memoir Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. As someone who is still coming to terms with my disability and it’s impacts on my life, this book helped make me feel seen. Some of the advice I already knew from a recent bout of therapy to help me process it but it felt really validating to see that someone else had gone through something similar and also give me a heads up as to what I may come to experience when I decide to start dating while disabled. Favourite Quote: “Growing up, I never asked for help. I was scared to ask because I felt it made me look weak and needy. One of the biggest stigmas people with disabilities face, in my experience, is being underestimated, infantilized, and perceived as in constant need. I did not want to give anyone further reason to put me in that box.” With thanks to Amplify Publishing and Netgalley for my advanced digital copy of this bo...

Rating: 3 Stars Themes:  Thriller, Fiction, Crime Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I have mixed feelings about this one. One one hand the murder crime element around the missing girls was interesting and I didn’t predict who the killer would be. On the other hand there were bits in there that felt unnecessary such as all of the bits from Regina’s POV and most of Zoe looking into her past since we didn’t get any closer to answers there although I see there’s going to be another book so maybe it’s gonna be a story across a series with the different crimes alongside for each book. The audiobook itself seemed well paced but I did notice I’d stopped paying attention at a couple of points.  With thanks to Bookoture Audio and Netgalley for my advanced digital copy of this book.

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Children's, Fiction, Holiday  Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great children's holiday book to open their curiosity and understanding around the different winter holidays. It touches on 6 different holidays and also the importance of helping others and giving too and I really appreciated the Holiday Glossary at the end as there were 2 that I didn’t know anything about covered. I also liked the diversity in the book was really thought about with the illustrations too with different races, hairstyles and ages being covered, with there being a child in and wheelchair and even a long distance family thought of. Favourite Quote: “Though we all celebrate in our own way, kindness is what leads the winter day.” With thanks to Purple Diamond Press Inc and Netgalley for my advanced digital copy of this book.

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Children, Graphic Novel, Disability  Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I just had to grab this book as the premise sounded so interesting and it was. The book handles the theme of disability in a sensitive manner and I’m sure that it will be great to help children get their heads around having an amputated limb. It was also an interesting creative choice to have the majority of the book in red with the title being rose and just the black for the wolf although with colourblindness being so common I’m not sure whether it would be as impactful for those with red colourblindness.  With thanks to IDW Publishing and Netgalley for my advanced digital copy of this book.

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Childrens, Christmas, Fiction  Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is such a fun way for kids to learn about the spirit of giving at Christmas rather than being told by caregivers (as we know how often it goes in one ear and out the other) but instead through dogs. I really liked that the lesson was learnt through Faith’s House to really reinforce the looking out for those less fortunate. The book can also be used to explain to children the reason a family is doing a gifting tree, donating to a food pantry or donating a gift to a local gift drive. Favourite Quote: “Remember, Christmas is a time of being selfless, showing forgiveness, and being together with the ones we love. Sure, it’s awesome to get gifts, but to make others feel happy, that’s the Spirit of Christmas.” With thanks to Franklin Publishers and Netgalley for my advanced digital copy of this book.

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Poetry Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. As someone who is still trying to heal their relationship with food, the description and other reviews convinced me I had to give this book a try. The photos are of really appetising food and the Haikus that accompany them related to both the food and relationships. Some of the things I hadn’t even thought of such as the grounding warmth comment alongside the coffee picture. I also appreciated the glossary of food found in Singapore at the end since there were foods I wasn’t aware of covered. With thanks to Purple Ink Press and Netgalley for my advanced digital copy of this book.