Reading Fanatic Reviews
Romantic FantasyWicca: A Beginner’s Guide by Melissa Smith
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Wicca: A Beginner's Guide*
Some Confusion May Not Help True Beginners
This book purports to be a beginner’s guide to Wicca. By some measures, it is that. Wicca is a hard term and practice to define, especially the further and further we get away from Gardiner, and I think this fact is reflected in the book. The author attempts to define it and related terms right in the first chapter, but I think the author got a few things confused. She stated in several places that paganism falls under Wicca; I see Wicca and other earth-based religions as falling under the broader umbrella of paganism. Paganism is another word that is hard to define; some use the word to describe any religion outside of the big three while others say that any pagan religion’s tenets must come from a pre-Christian form of religion. Honestly, I don’t think the definitions really matter to the individual; it’s what’s in your heart and what resonates with you. I found it odd that the author discusses shamanism and druidism in the section where she defined Wicca. I don’t believe that shamanism relates in any way to Wicca (although it might be a part of a particular Wiccans spiritual reality), and druidism is what I might call a sister path to Wicca with deep roots in pre-Christian Celtic religion. On the chapter about the benefits of Wicca, the author also included a brief writing about dealing with others who might not accept you. Considering that this is meant to be an introduction to Wicca (perhaps for people who are not practitioners), I think this would have been better put in a separate chapter perhaps later in the book; there, it would make sense to have this information if once one has decided to go on this path.
The book is full of general information that can form a foundation of knowledge for someone interested in Wicca, but it is not detailed enough for someone who really wanted to start practicing. There are brief chapters on deities, holidays, and different types of witches as well as more practical aspects like rituals and spells. The book is potentially dangerous, giving simple spells for readers who haven’t been given enough background to know what they are doing. I think the book definitely could have been better organized; for instance, the “different types of witches” chapter might have been better if it were a part of the definitions chapter. I didn’t like that the author interrupted the book asking for reviews. I get why authors want reviews, but just put it at the end; don’t interrupt your book as it does ruin the flow of a book. Throughout the book, the author does talk about the different flavors of Wicca and modern paganism. I would have loved to have seen a Suggested Resources section at the back that an interested reader could follow up with if he or she wanted to know more about one of the branches of paganism discussed. Instead, there’s an oddly styled reference section of blog articles and websites that seem more general. All told, if you want to learn more about Wicca, you might be better off looking at books that have been around a long time, like the ones by Scott Cunningham.
Highlander’s Caress by Joanne Wadsworth
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Highlander's Caress*
Complex Tale, Good Romance
I have read several books in this series, and I quite enjoyed Duncan and Elle’s story. Much goes on in this book, but the author sets the scene well early on, which keeps it from becoming confusing. Duncan and Elle have chemistry that sizzles off the page. With their clans at war, things do not look good for them even though they have a fated, mated bond. I really enjoyed the unique solution to their problems that happened at the end of the book. If you read other books in the series, you know that there is no huge resolution to the bigger, overarching plot in each book–in fact, each book seems to add to the complexity of the threads that tie the stories together–but I think this is one of the better happy-for-now resolutions that I’ve seen in this series. I love these stories of the Fae and the Highlanders.
Diary of a Ghost Whisperer by Laura Power
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Scribd, 24 Symbols, Thalia, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, Indigo (Chapters), and Bol.de
Diary of a Ghost Whisperer*
Otherworldly Realm from Psychic’s Perspective
While the blurb of the book makes you think that it may give a fair amount of information about working with ghosts or otherworldly entities yourself (or what to do if you encounter one), it is more of a reflection of the title as it is mostly about the author’s own ghost stories. She even has some pictures! I found this book to be an interesting glimpse into the world of a psychic medium. There is a small amount of information at the start of the book about the different types of otherworldly beings that one could encounter (and that the author has). There is a very brief section at the end with the author’s recommendations and tips if you want to try to work with the lighter end of the spirit spectrum yourself. She doesn’t recommend actually interacting with ghosts (whom she distinguishes from spirits). If you like ghost stories, you will most likely enjoy the ones shared by this author as well as her personal take on the otherworldly realm.
Intuitive Tarot Reading by Melissa Smith
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Intuitive Tarot Reading*
Nonintuitive Rehash of Familiar Tarot Information
The title states that this book will look at intuitive tarot reading, and the blurb further suggests that the tarot is a pathway into the subconscious. While I agree with the latter as a long-time tarot reader, I do not believe that either promise was actually delivered in this book. Instead, the book seems to be a compilation of some common themes in tarot books or on tarot websites–like how to pick a deck, how to attune your deck, and how to get ready for a reading as well as some very basic spreads or draws–but is mostly taken up with a brief description of each of the 78 cards of the tarot along with its upright and reversed readings and its possible meanings if it comes up in a spread about finances, love, or work. I found these sections on each card to be little more than what you read in the little white book for each deck; nothing in particular is added to help improve intuitive reading. There’s a brief section about how the cards work that follows these descriptions of the cards; for structural purposes, I think this would have been better put with the beginning background information.
Some of the tips in the general section seem a little fussy and pedantic to me as someone who has been tarot practitioner for a long time; I suggest using your intuition to see if her suggestions feel right to you. I did think, though, that the information about asking the right questions what’s a good one.
The table of contents is a hot mess, and I actually don’t think it is terribly helpful for navigation around the text. Why is this? The author has made a clickable link for not only every chapter but every heading and subheading in each chapter. So in my Kindle, the table of contents goes on for screens and screens, especially when you hit the section on the card descriptions. Not only is the card name a clickable link, but the three sections that the author has written for each card are also clickable links– for each and every card.
There are also some formatting issues within the main text itself. I did receive an advance review copy, so I hope these formatting issues will be taken care of in the published version of the book. For instance, within the card description section, sometimes what should have been separate paragraphs all ran together. This is beyond the first 10% of the book at Amazon, so I couldn’t see if these had been fixed. There are definitely issues with grammar, punctuation, and usage. The reference section was formatted oddly, vaguely reminiscent of college paper reference sections. There was another odd thing as well. The author put out a call for reviews in the middle of the book—with a graphic and everything—and that was rather distracting and offputting.
For all of these issues, I would say that you could find better books on tarot in general, and you will certainly want to look for a different book if you truly want one that is about intuitive tarot reading.
Hypersanity by Neel Burton
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Hypersanity*
Thoughts on Thinking
What an intriguing book! It truly is a book that makes you think about thinking. The earlier sections of the book dissect various aspects of logical and illogical thought. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on fallacies, as these seem to be so rife in today’s political climate. But the author does not only attend to the left brain; the right brain is also given analysis and exploration in sections on intuition, wisdom, emotion, inspiration, and even music. I actually wish more time was spent on the more right-brain parts of thinking that aren’t usually given such prominence or importance. Throughout the book, the author uses examples to illustrate the various points he is making. I have just recently read another book on thinking, and that book seemed to be more about getting you around to the author’s way of thinking. This book is better and completely different, thank goodness! This author presents his ideas and arguments clearly and succinctly and urges the reader, directly and indirectly, to engage and explore the various ways of thinking, taking no sides or positions that are self-serving. I recommend reading this book in small doses, as it can tax our human minds to think about thought, and I also heartily suggest that you continue to think about thinking when engaging with the world around you. You will understand not only your own thinking better but also the thinking of others who matter in your world.
The Exile of the Glen by Michelle Deerwester-Dalrymple
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Scribd, 24 Symbols, Thalia, Angus & Robertson, and Bol.de
The Exile of the Glen*
Grace and Redemption
I am a big fan of this author’s work, having read her previous book in this series, “The Lady of the Glen.” I enjoyed that book a lot, as I absolutely adored the heroine’s character (and the hero wasn’t bad either!). Knowing that story, I was curious to see what this author would do with Alastair because he is actually the villain of that book (The Lady of the Glen). What the author has achieved, though, is laudable and better than I had imagined. From the very first scene, where Alastair is in the boat heading to his exile on a remote Scottish island hoping to find succor with distant family, she sets up the story as one of redemption. The first scene is so well done. We can truly get a sense of both the setting, which is so harsh, as well as Alastair’s despair over what his life has become and will be. He doesn’t fully own all that he’s done at this point, but he is starting to see the error of his ways; in doing so, the author sets up what could be a potentially good character arc.
Much of this book is watching Alastair sink lower and lower in a variety of ways, making the book more focused on an individual’s story than usually happens in a romance (more typically about both in the couple even at the start). In fact, the romance aspect doesn’t pick up until well into the book, but it makes sense within the context of the story. Grace is only offered him by a woman who is in her own way an outcast from her society. These two wounded souls find comfort and understanding in each other that they don’t find anywhere else. I found the relationship between Alastair and Elle (short for a Scottish name that’s hard to pronounce or write) to be sweet and tender as it evolved, giving them both what they needed. They both become better people through their relationship with each other–better versions of themselves–and I love that in a romance; I think love does that to people in real life, so it is a delight to see that mirrored in fiction. While this book could be read as a standalone, you would have a much better context for it if you read “The Lady of the Glen” first. Another good book by an excellent author.
The Sky over Brigadier Station by Sarah Williams
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The Sky over Brigadier Station*
Slow-Burn Romance and Strong Setting
This is a sweet, slow-burn romance with a strong sense of place. While I have read a few other books set in the Australian Outback, few have been able to give such a clear picture of what the world is like for people who live as the characters in this story do. I felt I could sense Riley’s excitement for the muster as well as see it clearly from the author’s descriptions. I’m a very visual reader, and I appreciate it when an author is able to give such incredible word pictures that put you right in the story but don’t distract you by being too much; in this story, the writer got the correct balance. I enjoyed the characters, in particular the brothers. Noah is at a true crossroads in his life, and the way he thinks about his options and Riley throughout his story arc feels realistic. A thoroughly enjoyable romance!
The Secret Life of Lords by Elf Ahearn
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The Secret Life of Lords*
Gothic Themes and Delectable Romance
If you enjoy Gothic-style romance, this book will most likely be right up your alley. The hero and heroine have a past with misunderstandings, but when they meet again, sparks fly. Their lives become joined when she helps his ward, who is physically ill but also mentally unstable. The hero wants the heroine back in his life but knows that everything in his world is topsy-turvy. He loves her and doesn’t want his burdens to diminish her sparkle. But can they deny their attraction? What will this mentally unstable ward do?
The author has an evocative way of describing items, settings, and emotions. She ramps up the drama in several places in perfect Gothic style. The hero isn’t as dark as most Gothic heroes, but the secrets he keeps and the circumstances that surround the entire novel are worthy of that genre. The hero and the heroine have chemistry. I liked that the heroine stood up for herself when she needed to; she wasn’t quite as strong in the beginning of the book, so it was lovely to see her grow into herself. I love personal character arcs in romances like that. The chaperone provided a dry, lovely comic relief. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I found the twists and the turns of the plot as well as the deftly defined characters to be fascinating to follow.
King of Hearts by Eileen Putnam
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King of Hearts*
Hard Time Getting Into Book; Didn’t Like the Hero
I had a hard time getting into this book. It starts off from the hero’s perspective, and I just didn’t like him. That didn’t really improve much through the entire book. I really enjoy historical romances, and one of the keys for me is to like the hero or else the book, to me, doesn’t have much point. The heroine was noble in her passion for her cause, but she never quite became a relatable character for me. This is just a personal pet peeve of mine, but I absolutely hate that the use of the word “chit” to describe a young woman in historical novels as it seems like a way of trivializing women. Every time I read it, it just rankles me. That word was used a lot in this book, so that might have been part of my problem with it.
The Gluten-Free Instant Pot Cookbook by Jane Bonacci and Sara De Leeuw
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, Indigo (Chapters), and Bol.de
The Gluten-Free Instant Pot Cookbook*
Yummy-Sounding Recipes and Helpful Hints
This book is so full of yummy sounding (and looking!) Instant Pot recipes and information about how to have a gluten-free kitchen! If you need such a book, because you love the Instant Pot and have gluten issues, I imagine this would be one of the go-to books for interesting recipes and helpful information. The authors start the book by looking at pressure cooking in general and the Instant Pot in particular. They talk about other tools needed and helpful ingredients. The next chapter is about having a gluten-free home and kitchen. They even give recipes for recommended flour substitution blends. The recipe sections are like those you typically see in cookbooks, from breakfasts to soups to sides to main dishes and desserts. Each recipe also mentions if it has other considerations, like if it is nut free or vegetarian. The authors give further hints and tips about gluten-free cooking within the recipes themselves. Some recipes are very creative in using the Instant Pot, like using it to make a cheesecake or a breakfast frittata. They even have some breads that are made in the Instant Pot. All in all, I found this to be a delightful cookbook with many creative and fun uses for the Instant Pot. many of the recipes sound good enough that they would even appeal to people who do not have gluten issues.
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