Review: One

One
One by Eve Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this fast-paced thriller in one sitting. It has the pacing and setting of the YA dystopian thrillers from a few years ago that were so popular. This book tackles many serious themes around climate change, infertility, government overreach, motherhood, and more. Sadly, many of the themes explored are not very far from today’s reality.

with gratitude to Independent Publishers Group, Orenda Books and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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The Joy of Art – February 16, 2024 at 07:57AM

 

Don’t look back you’re not going that way.

#art #watercolorjournal #watercolorlandscape #watercolorseascape #artfun #joy #art #kolbieblume #thiswritingdesk #loveyourimperfectletters #etchr #practicingwatercolor #practicinglettering #practicingart #learningtowatercolor #learningtoletter #learningtopaint #landscapes #watercolorjournal #watercolors #watercolor #watercolorlandscape #watercolorsunset #landscapeart #seascapes #etchrsketchbooks #etchrsketchbook
#etchrstudio

The Joy of Art – February 13, 2024 at 09:48AM

 

Your idea of me is not my responsibility to live up to.

#art #kolbieblume #thiswritingdesk #loveyourimperfectletters

The Joy of Art – February 12, 2024 at 11:58AM

 

First page in my new watercolor relaxation journal. @willa.wanders makes it look easy when it’s not! But it’s so joyful and meditative anyway.

#art #willawatercolors #watercolorforrelaxation #wendysolganik #artjournaling #watercolorfun #watercolors #watercolor #joy #color #triangles #geometric

The Joy of Art – February 08, 2024 at 08:25AM

 

Enjoy the little things in life…

#art #kolbieblume #thiswritingdesk #loveyourimperfectletters #etchr #practicingwatercolor #practicinglettering #practicingart #learningtowatercolor #learningtoletter #learningtopaint #landscapes #watercolorjournal #watercolors #watercolor #watercolorlandscape #watercolorsunset #landscapeart #seascapes #etchrsketchbooks #etchrsketchbook
#etchrstudio

Some Art Videos – January 2024

I’ve loaded these to instagram this month so I wanted to make sure they were here too.

Review: Mercury

Mercury
Mercury by Amy Jo Burns
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was more like a 3.5 and almost 4 but for me it went on a little longer than I wanted. I loved every single one of the characters and I loved how real and 3-dimensional they were. I loved that by the end of the book, I could relate to each and every one of them and my heart broken for almost each of their stories. So many themes explored here around family, marriage, sibling relationships, marriage, single-motherhood, young-motherhood, small towns and more. Beautiful story.

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Review: Your Wish Is My Command

Your Wish Is My Command
Your Wish Is My Command by Deena Mohamed
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely excellent. Especially the first wish. But i loved all of this book and the worldbuilding and the idea behind it. I can’t recommend it enough!

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Review: Bright Side

Bright Side
Bright Side by Kim Holden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A fun book with dramatic and over the top moments. I think I am likely too old for these types of books at this point.

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Review: Pink Whales

Pink Whales
Pink Whales by Sara Shukla
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had a lot of fun with this light read about a family that moves to a beach town where many rich folks summer and while the mom, Charlie, gets to know all the wealthy women and their secrets and gossip, her husband who works at a local medical center is struggling and they are talking to each other less and less.

There are a lot of funny moments in this book, and a lot of not-so-funny moments too. It is told with humor and doesn’t take itself too seriously but there are some serious topics tackled in this book. Some of the characters are over the top and not as three-dimensional as they could have been.

But I still found this book to be very enjoyable and read it all in one sitting. I think it will be a lovely and fun beach read!

with gratitude to netgalley and Little A for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Gathering

The Gathering
The Gathering by C.J. Tudor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ok this book was creepy. I had no idea it was going to have vampires or I might not have requested it but I had read C.J. Tudor’s books before and I knew they were slow burn mystery that I liked and this one was no exception. A kid is dead. Everyone assumes it must be the vampires because, come on, they are vampires! Right? Well, of course not right because if it was that obvious, it wouldn’t be a novel. At least not a good one, and she writes good novels. This is creepy, and fun, and interesting. I wasn’t crazy about the vampire bits but I loved the book.

with gratitude to netgalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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Review: This Strange Eventful History

This Strange Eventful History
This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

It is very rare for me not to finish a book. In fact in the last three years, I’ve probably DNF’ed 2 books. And I’ve loved Messud’s other novels. But this one was just not what I expected and even at the 40% mark I was still struggling to focus. At that point, I decided to call it and not continue with reading the book. I am confident there will be others who love it and her writing, as always, is beautiful but this was just not the right book for me. Since I didn’t finish I will not rate it. Please read other reviews and I will absolutely look forward to and read Messud’s next book.

with gratitude to W. W. Norton & Company and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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