Author: Randi-Lee Bowslaugh

Synopsis (taken from Amazon)

What makes a person a trusted friend or lover?

How does it feel when you have that status? It takes years to earn and seconds to destroy.

Dive into these selected short stories, exploring romance, friendship, and the rocky roads. Trust is a critical element of any successful relationship.

Explore the bonds of trust and love. The journey determines the destination for these friends and lovers.

Enjoy the stories.

Review

This is a collection of seven short stories that are easy reads. Readers can curl up and immerse themselves in love through these stories. 

There was lots of dialogue (which I love!). I am not a ‘lovey-dovey’ person, but I enjoyed this book. The stories are sweet but not over the top—except the last one. A few of the stories had danger and the characters overcoming past trauma. These kept me intrigued, and I could see an entire story being written about how the characters came to that place. 

My favourite was Caribbean Dream, the story in the middle of the collection. The forged friendship and how they would work through tumultuous times were powerful. Having a true friend can sometimes be hard to find, but when you have one, the bond is unshakeable. You are in it together, ups and downs.

If you enjoy short stories that you can cozy up with, then this book is for you.

Get your copy here (affiliate link).

Synopsis (taken from Amazon)

Shahrazad’s Gift is a collection of linked short stories set in contemporary Cairo—magical, absurd and humorous. The author focuses on the off-beat, little-known stories, far from CNN news: a Swedish belly dancer who taps into the Oriental fantasies of her clientele; a Japanese woman studying Arabic, driven mad by the noise and chaos of the city; a frustrated Egyptian housewife who becomes obsessed by the activities of her Western gay neighbor; an American journalist who covered the civil war in Beirut who finds friendship with her Egyptian dentist. We also meet the two protagonists of McCullough’s Confessions of a Knight Errant, before their escapades in that story. These stories are told in the tradition of A Thousand and One Nights.

Review

Each story stands alone, but some characters overlap, making this collection more interesting. Readers get a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people and the idiosyncrasies that span the world.

I enjoyed the variety of stories with diverse characters. From America to Cairo to Japan and other places, life holds similarities throughout cultures. We all have struggles and smiles. Of course, there are differences, and the author does a great job of giving the characters the uniqueness they deserve.

I was entertained throughout the book, but the one that stood out to me was Fatima’s New Teeth. I don’t want to spoil it, but this story’s message is poignant. It happens frequently, and we need to be more conscious of it. Read it, and you will understand!

If you like an interesting read with some humanity, this is the book for you.

Get your copy here (affiliate link – thank you for the support).

Synopsis (taken from Amazon)

You must never touch a dragon . . . unless it’s in this book! This dragon-themed touch-and-feel board book is great for children of all ages and fits perfectly into tiny hands. Kids will love reading the silly rhymes that warn the dangers of touching a dragon–and then ignoring the advice!

Children of all ages, 0 and up, will enjoy:

• The innovative and engaging silicone touch-and-feel features on every spread
• The bright and vibrant illustrations
• The silly and easy-to-read rhymes that involve the fun dragons
• Receiving this fun book as a birthday gift, stocking stuffer, Easter basket goody, road trip activity, or just because

Parents and their little ones will enjoy reading aloud Never Touch a Dragon again and again.

If your child enjoys Never Touch a Dragon, check out the rest of the Never Touch … series Never Touch a Polar Bear, Never Touch a Porcupine, Never Touch a Spider, Never Touch a Shark, Never Touch a Dinosaur, Never Touch a Monster, and Never Touch a Tiger.

Review

Kids’ books are always so much fun. Interactive books are even better! 

At bedtime, my grandson always picks this book. It is silly and colourful, and each dragon has texture. You can feel bumpy scales, scratchy patches, and more. 

This book is excellent for young ones (and adults, because we like fun too)!

Get your copy here (affiliate link – thanks for your support)

Synopsis (Taken from Amazon)

Two young families are on the brink of new beginnings. Brynn and Eric Branson, recently married, are overjoyed with their baby, Paul. Alison and Jared Jensen are equally excited to start their life together, with Alison eager to escape the influence of her overbearing father, Cecil. Both couples are filled with anticipation for their futures.However, life takes a dramatic turn when Jared is deployed to Afghanistan. In a misguided attempt to help Alison cope with a devastating loss, Cecil and Gail, Alison’s parents, intervene in ways that profoundly affect both young couples.As they navigate through heartbreaks and some victories over the next twenty years, will these couples find their way back to happiness? Can they overcome loss and tragedy, and will hope ultimately triumph?

Review

The book begins following two separate and seemingly happy couples. However, life rarely goes as planned, and the book quickly delves into the depths of human sadness. 

As a parent whose child has wandered off, the emotions are nearly indescribable—shock, sadness, fear, and an overwhelming need to find them. But I could not imagine not finding them. However, the author did an amazing job of describing the traumatic event for the characters, and each handled their emotions in distinctly different ways. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the intertwined aspect of mental illness and the different ways in which people handle grief. 

I could not put the book down. I loved everything about this heartbreaking story.

If you enjoy a good read, this is a great book for you!

Get your copy here (affiliate link – thanks for the support).

Synopsis (taken from Amazon)

We all have two lives. We only get to experience living in the second after we realize we only have just one.

Simon Yeats had his first real scare in life when he was attacked by a kangaroo when he was seven years old. His first brush with the cliff-face edge of death came when he was 12. His father drove his family down the dangerous, 4WD only Skipper’s Canyon dirt road in New Zealand in a rented minivan.

Including the occasions he was almost involved in two different plane flight crashes, in the same night, there have been at least a half dozen more times when the author has come within a moment’s inattention of being killed.

However, none of those frightening incidents compare to what he experiences after his son is abducted to South America.

This memoir is the story of how Simon used the traumatic experiences of his life to give him strength to forge on during an incomprehensible 13 year fight to be a father to his son.

What did it take for him to get to his second life?
It took him to truly understand what fear is.

Life is a struggle. While we all often think that we are the only one going through tough times. Knowing how others have suffered and gotten through it brings each of us hope that we can do the same.

Review

The first few chapters outline significant moments in the author’s life—moments that were heartwrenching, traumatic, and down-right scary. These chapters create a memorable moment for the reader as we are reminded how short life can be and to never take it for granted. 

Every chapter starts with an essential short life lesson that we often forget. These small reminders were what brought me to connect with the author.

Simon Yeats had multiple near-death experiences, but what I found more heartbreaking was the betrayal of friendship. My heart broke being reminded of similar betrayals. Not only that, but the emotion put into this book about the ups and downs of trying to be a father to a child you are forbidden to see. As parents, we only want to do what is best for them, but when everything seems stacked against us, how can we do it? 

There were a few grammatical errors, but the story is so emotional that they don’t detract from the lessons it bestows on the readers.

It is a book that pulls at your heartstrings, and you want to keep reading in hopes that you will get the answer he deserves.

When I read the title about having a second life, I never realized the lessons you must learn before getting there.

If you enjoy emotional and inspirational books, this is for you.

Get your copy here (affiliate link – thank you for your support)