Sheila's Reads

Grace ignores a new girl at school. That night her parents tell her they are moving. She becomes the new girl at school. Grace sees a tambourine on the shelf at school going to grab it the same time a boy grabs it. The teacher intervenes but Grace says she wants to do something quiet. The next day she and the boy share the tambourine and become friends.

I enjoyed this book. It shows how one day Grace ignores someone, not meaning to be mean, but because she was interested in the tambourine and didn't want to share. Grace understood only after becoming the new girl how the other girl felt. She learned how to make new friends and how sharing helps with that.

I liked the rhyming of the story. It was fun. The illustrations were good. This is good for early readers as well as toddlers.

Cherry owns a club that caters to wealthy lesbians. They come for a night of fun. Cherry watches over her club and clientele with an experienced eye so there are no complaints. She arranges partners and parties for them.

I liked this book. It introduces the characters who work for and with Cherry. It also sets up the series. The rendezvous are hot! I liked the graphicness of what happens in the club. This time Cherry has arranged for a woman's birthday surprise by her friends as well as an 18th birthday party for the stepdaughter of a long-time and important client. Cherry has hired a new dancer and has a request to join the club. The story is good bedtime reading and I look forward to the rest of the series.

Baby Tumbleweed and Little Sparrow are small when they are born. Their fathers are not sure if the babies will grow up to be big and strong. Their mothers reassure them all that they will grow. Tiny Tumbleweed grows and roots herself. She's not as big as her brothers and sisters but she's okay. Little Sparrow also grows, just not as big as his siblings, but his father teaches him how to strengthen his wings and legs. One day he is out when a storm arrives. He sees Tiny Tumbleweed below him. Can he make it to her for shelter before the storm hurts him? Can she help him?

I liked this story. I loved the illustrations. They are gorgeous. I liked that Tiny Tumbleweed and Little Sparrow both grew up under similar circumstances. I also appreciated that they were able to do what they needed to do.

I liked the fun facts about tumbleweeds and sparrows at the end of the book as well as the questions about the book. This is good for toddlers and early readers. It is designed for third graders but your 4-8 year old will enjoy it.

Harry is a happy mouse because he helps others. On his walk, he helps a frog. The frog asks how he can repay him, and Harry tells him to help someone else. The frog does and helping others moves through the ones who have helped another. Seeing how it worked through others makes Harry happy.

I liked this story. I liked how Harry and each one after him helped someone else. I liked how they felt after helping. It makes a circle and Harry's wife shows him how his helping one animal then moved through the other animals. This story was fun. It rhymes. Your toddlers will enjoy the story and the illustrations. I look forward to more of Harry.

Four of Aesop's Fables starring the lion, the mouse, the ox(en), the ant, the grasshopper, and the frog.  I liked that the story is first followed by the adage it illustrates.  These are good stories and lessons to learn.  Your toddlers will enjoy them as well as your early readers.

Grandpa Mudcake wants a haircut, but Grandma Mudcake says she is too old to give him one, so he has to go out and get a haircut. Grandpa refuses and his hair grows and grows. Finally, he cannot take it anymore, so he goes to find a barber. He tells Bazil the Barber want he wants but Bazil does not speak English very well and Grandpa falls asleep. What a haircut he gets! But is it what he wanted? What happens when Grandpa wakes up?

I enjoyed this story. It makes me want to read more of the series. Grandpa is a grump and Grandma does not seem to be any different. I loved his haircut. I also liked that Grandpa wanted the lollipop at the end of the haircut. This is a perfect book for your early readers. They can laugh over Grandpa's haircut and style.

Chantal comes for a job interview with Jared, but she is mistaken that it is for a personal assistant not an executive assistant. Jared has been a jerk to his employees which is why he is looking for a new executive assistant. He is also instantly smitten with Chantel and promised to find her a job. The job he offers is that of mistress. Will she accept?

I enjoyed this story. I really liked Chantel. She was smart and wanted to be a writer but knew she needed a job to bring in money until she sold a book. Jared started out as a jerk, but Chantal smooths his edges and temper. He becomes human with her. The story moves fast but suspend belief and enjoy Chantal and Jared's interactions. They are good for each other.

Sabrina is suspended from the police force after having an affair with a suspect. Pending an investigation, she decides to go to Las Vegas for a vacation. While there, she gets into trouble and is rescued by Kyle in a dark alley. He takes her to his place. She is unlike anyone he has previously met. She feels the same about him. It has only been a few days. Could they be in love?

I enjoyed this story. I did not know it was the beginning of a series. You can end it here because it is a happy ending, but I want to know more. I liked Sabrina and Kyle. She is smart and figures out what Kyle is. He has to call his Sire to figure out why he feels this way and why certain things are happening. I found it interesting. But he is holding secrets. Now I need to know how he tells her. I look forward to more of the series.

Lula wants to open a restaurant but her aunts, who are witches, are teaching her to make potions not delicious food. Lula decides to show them she will do good food, not potions. Does she succeed?

I enjoyed this book. It was fun as Lula studied cookbooks while her aunts tried to teach her potions. Eventually one aunt tries Lula's "potion" and decides it is good. The rest of the town smells it and feels the same way. It was fun what they would do to get Lula's food.

Your little one will enjoy this. I look forward to more from this author.

Someone leaves a baby on Quinton Dunn's porch claiming it is his. He thinks it's a joke but decides to have a DNA test to find out. In the meantime, he tries to remember what he did 9 months previously to have a baby. He remembers with help from his teammates. He tracks down the address of the baby's mother only to be met by her sister with anger. Callie is exactly what he is looking for--a woman who says no. They fight over the baby then come to an arrangement. Quinton pursues her, but she is gun shy because of her ex and her sister. Is he the father of the baby? Can they come to an agreement? Can he convince her he's changed?

I enjoyed this story. I liked Quinton and Callie. I found Quin's criteria for a woman interesting. I loved the two points-of-view through the story. I like knowing what each one is thinking and feeling. I understand Callie's feelings knowing his history. I appreciated his teammates warning him about Callie's desire for a baby, but I liked that he ignored them.

I look forward to reading more of this series. It made me feel good although the subjects talked of are tough. I felt hopeful for Quinton and Callie throughout the book.

A Princess keeps popping up in a little girl's soup, dish water, bath water, and puddle. She has instructions for the little girl. What could those instructions be? Will she be able to follow all those instructions?

I enjoyed this story. It's adorable as the little girl follows the instructions the princess gives her. I liked that it showed her doing what was asked of her without preaching. The illustrations are cute and fit the story well. Perfect for your pre-schooler.

Alex DeLuca and Cassandra Harrell are opposing lawyers during a divorce case. Alex sees a copy of an erotic novel sitting on his paralegal's desk with Cassandra's picture on it. He says something about it when in court. Cassandra is confused when he calls her by her sister's name. She goes to see her sister to find out her sister used Cassandra's photo on the dust jacket. Cassandra decides she will confront Alex when he calls to take her out to dinner over the fiasco he created. She goes, explains, then turns the tables on him. This leads him to want to show her something special. Will she let him? Will she listen to him? Can they become a couple?

I enjoyed this story. I liked Cassandra. She knew just where to get Alex. I liked her sister K. C. also and she knew how to tell Cassandra how she needed to improve her life. Alex, I warmed up to. At first, he was kind of a jerk but once he explained himself, he became okay. I would like to see their story expanded. This was just one episode of them.