Review of With These Hands by Don MacLean

With These Hands: Traditional Arts, Crafts, and Trades of Atlantic Canada by Don MacLean

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclaimer: I was given an advance reader copy of this book by Nimbus Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

With These Hands is a wonderful look into traditional crafts and those who do them. It gives a glimpse into the passion that goes into these crafts by the people that are preserving them for the next generations.

As someone who makes my living making things with my hands, I love seeing the passion of other makers. It always brings me joy reading about those who make and are passionate about what they make.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that is a maker or just appreciates makers.



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Review of Molded 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton

Molded 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book even without reading the previous four in the series. I found the characters engaging and entertaining without being over the top. The dynamic between Phee, Marshall, Nate, Augusta, and Phee's mom are relatable and keep the story moving.

I liked how the story was much more than you initially think and it moves in a logical progression that doesn't leave you lost.

I would highly recommend this series to anyone that likes cozy mysteries!



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Review of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson is a wonderfully written piece of realistic historical fiction that tells how the Library Project came about. Cussy Mary Carter is a traveling librarian and a Blue, which makes her unpopular among the hill folks of the Appalachias. Cussy loves her job as a traveling librarian, she is passionate about bringing books to the people of Troublesome Creek.

This book also covers some difficult topics of domestic abuse, prejudice, the environmental impacts of mining, and labor rights issues. It also had me wanting to know more about the blue people of Kentucky because I had never heard of them before. I would recommend this book for anyone that is interested in historical fiction that makes you think.



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Review of Threads of Life: A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle by Clare Hunter

Threads of Life: A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle by Clare Hunter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Threads of Life by Clare Hunter chronicles the importance of women and needlework throughout history. It tells the ways in which women used needlework to express their views on political, social, and historical events. Needlework has played such an important role in coping with traumatic events, propaganda, and story telling. This book tells the importance of what has been considered to be traditionally women's work that has often been overlooked through history.

I would highly recommend this for anyone interested in needlework and women's history.



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Review of Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy of Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera through BookishFirst.

Juliet Takes a Breath covers some very tough topics that are very important to be talked about. It covers LGBTQ and POC issues that are prevalent in society that many white people do not fully understand, which includes me.

Juliet, who is from the Bronx, takes an internship with feminist author Harlowe Brisbane in Portland, OR and is confronted with issues that she doesn't really know how to deal with at first. During her summer in Portland, she learns and grows in her understanding of who she is and how she identifies as a queer Latina within her own world and family.

This is a must read and highly recommend it!

Review of Mulberry Mischief by Sharon Farrow

Mulberry Mischief by Sharon Farrow

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Disclaimer: I was given an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mulberry Mischief by Sharon Farrow is a wonderful cozy mystery set in my home state of Michigan. I have not read the first three books in the series but I did not find it hard to jump right in on the third book. The characters were easy like and dislike as the story needed and you couldn't easily guess who the killer was, which is always nice. I really liked all the characters names that had literary links.

I will definitely be putting the first three books from this series on my to be read list!



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Review for Can't Judge a Book By Its Murder by Amy Lillard

Can't Judge a Book By Its Murder by Amy Lillard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Disclaimer: I was given an advance reader copy of this book from Poison Pen Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Can't Judge a Book By Its Murder by Amy Lillard is the first in the new Main Street Book Club series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I didn't lose interest in the story once, it was wonderfully written and the characters were well developed. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters for this new series and and very much looking forward to more in the series.

There were twists in the plot that kept you thinking about who the killer is and guessing up to the end. It is definitely a wonderful new cozy mystery!



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Review of A Bias For Murder by Sally Goldenbaum

A Bias for Murder by Sally Goldenbaum

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for this book since I loved the Seaside Knitters Mysteries series, however this did not live up to the expectations for me. I did come into this having not read the first two in the series, so I may have missed something important about the dynamics of the characters. I found that it started off with a hostile tone with made it hard to get into the story. Once I got past that the characters seemed to be all over the place emotionally, which also made it hard for me to enjoy the story.

My feelings could really be influenced by the fact that I have not read the first two books in the series because I do know that there usually is a lot of character development in Ms. Goldenbaum's books, so I may have missed something important. With that said, I wouldn't recommend this book without reading the first two in the series.



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