Captured Crimes by Anabelle Raven

Boy they really needed each other. Bylur needed some humor in his life and Auria needed someone to help her feel safe and secure so she would stop stealing.

I 💚LOVED the mystery and intrigue. Plus the chemistry and humor between Bylur and Auria made me grin so much. I felt bad for her poor bird at times, but he really took care of her. It did have more of one tale than the other. But Goldilocks meshed so well with East of the Sun West of The Moon. The Goldilocks character literally having to deal with a bear was such a good concept. Also I think it was brilliant that she was a thief at first,because some people believe Goldilock's vandalized the bears home. So their were bits and pieces of each story thrown in.

If you are a fan of Rachel Rossano books this one is a must
I MOST HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT

Summer of the Summoned Sword by Sarah Beran

First off swoon... Sarah Beran has done it again. I wasn't for sure about this series and now I want to try the Spring one. 

The characters are so well developed and the chemistry between the hero and heroine, so swoony. Especially since they both try to ignore their feelings at first. The secondary characters are so perfect for this story adding humor and some depth to the story. 

I felt like I was magically transported to a different place filled with magic, romance, and a fight for power in a very tense environment. Good vs Evil . I 💚LOVED the twist near the end it explained why one character was the way they were. Elsa and Lowen's chemistry as I said was so swoony and I may of been so involved in the story I didn't get many swoony quotes cause there were a lot of them

I HIGHLY recommend this book. If you love Swan Princess cause it does have a slight nod to it, and knights saving princesses with some mystery added in you HAVE TO PICK THIS ONE UP 

I Lost My Polka Dots by Annie Auerbach

This was soooo cute. I loved the goofy storyline about Minnie 's dress dots running off on her. She goes on a trip around the world to find them. I ♥️LOVED the illustrations, especially seeing the squirrel monkey, Moroccan Marketplace, Eiffel Tower, and even Alaska. If you can pick this up you should.

It is a light fun read filled with fun illustrations and a funny storyline that leaves you smiling.

I HIGHLY recommend

A Christmas Carol by Van Gool

I 💙LOVED how it showed his former sweeties current life with a family. I also 💙LOVED that it mentioned he realized that all he saw with Christmas Future was about him and what could be. This is such a good Christmas Carol book and a lot easier than the original.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. Plus the pages have such colorful illustrations.

Disney Cinderella an Uncommon Bond

The second Cinderella movie is my favorite, because of her stepsister. It shows that she was only being mean due to her mother. It also shows her redemption and finally telling her mother that something's are worth more than money basically 

Cannot RECOMMEND THIS ENOUGH MILLION STARS

Fly Into Friendship adapted by Courtney Acampora

I💜LOVED this episode and it is basically a shortened version of it, but with some neat activities. There is a search, maze, and more in it. The reason I 💜LOVED it was, because it really shows how Starlight and Trixie have came in their redemption. They made such an interesting friendship, especially since they 💜LOVE magic. Despite one likes magical magic and the other likes the magician magic tricks.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT

Transformed Tail by Leialoha Humpherys 

This is my favorite Little Mermaid retelling and it fit soooo well with The Frog Prince. I had trouble putting it down. The mystery, chemistry,storyline, and critters makes this such a magical read. This is my first book by this author, but I plan on getting more of her novellas

From the start you can tell Aulani is meant for more than her undersea world and when she meets Ezra well I won't spoil it. Lol it is funny.
This story has such a good meaning that sometimes kindness or gentleness makes a better ruler than one of brute force. I could go on and on one favorite scene near the end involves critters, but I don't want to spoil anything

I VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND RECOMMEND IT.

To Crack A Soldier by Sarah Beran

The world of Faerie that Sarah Beran has created has left me speechless. Oh my it is like you stepped into one story and into a whole new world. The storyline also with the glass mirror pieces that they have to collect was brilliant.

At first I thought Celesta was annoying, but she turned out to be what Alex needed. He needed to lighten up just like Celesta needed to be serious on somethings. Also I love that Drosselmeyer makes an appearance in a Cursed Climb.

I MOST DEFINITELY recommend this.

Falling for the Winged Witch by Sarah Beran

That was so precious! I was worried about the title with witch in it, but it explained she had fairy blood and was trying to learn how to control it basically. Not really a spoiler and figured someone else might want to know this isn't that kind of tale.

Poor Lindy she had such a hard life and Atlas is just who she needed. I 💚LOVED when Atlas told her "stepsons" what he thought of them.
I really felt for Lindy going through all that trouble for them, because it wasn't her fault.
It just shows how good she is despite what people thought of her. This was such a good read after Cursed Climb, because it mentions Jax.

I MOST Definitely recommend this one. Would give it more stars, but poor Lindy going through all that. However, actions do have consequences despite it being accidental. I do 💚LOVE Atlas's character more than I thought I would. He is misunderstood too and is able to notice things that others don't, because of it.

Cursed Climb by Sarah Beran

Oh my goodness!!! Swoon. And that dragon you just want to hug he is so ornery lol.

So much to love and several characters from past books were in this. I did manage to think of one of the twists, but then it did a twist on its own. Lol 😆 I can't spoil it. But Sarah Beran sure knows how to spin a tale.

You can tell from the get go Jax is using his obnoxious ways as a defense mechanism and with Odessa's curse she sure needs some humor. I just 💙LOVED this book. And I didn't realize how well Jack and the Beanstalk goes so well with Swan Lake.

If you are fans of the Swan Princess movie and some Once Upon a Time humor from a dashing Prince Charming lol then this is a must read for you.

Top Romance Tome 2026- Cursed Climb by Sarah Beran
Why;
* semi figured the twist till it took another turn
*dragon
*Swoon
*Humor
*Menagerie
*Just wow this needs to be a movie like now

Bluebeard's Bride by Mary Mecham

The story flows so well together and you can't help, but be glued to the page. Also it has an enemies to lovers type of vibe and I 💜LOVE that.

I don't know how many times I almost laughed out loud with all the banter between Zafir and Alia. I actually had a brief moment where I thought what the twist was and then thought no way. Well it was🙀. However, their is a lot I wasn't expecting and if you 💜LOVE dragons this one may have one in it and it was one of my favorite scenes. Poor Zafir and Alia though, but it was still a good scene. So much to say, but I don't want to give too much away.

I cannot recommend this enough I MORE THAN HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ONE. TO

Also I💜Love that it has lemurs in it. When my grandfather passed we found that my grandmother put one of my old McDonald's lemur toy in a box with other stuff. So they are kind of special to me like squirrels and a lot of books don't have them in it.

I'm Not Scary by Raahat Kaduji

This book is so adorable. I ♥️LOVE the cover page with the foil looking moon and stars. I also ♥️LOVE the illustrations the fall colors, yummy foods, and adorable critters. The storyline is a perfect fall or just cozy read. Poor bat the animals let their imagination run away with them and well I won't spoil anything.

I HIGHLY recommend it

Don't Touch That Flower by Alice Hemming

This is so precious. Squirrel wants to protect a tiny little flower and in the process learns about what it needs.

I Highly recommend it plus read the last pages on how you can help flowers.

The Snow Thief by Alice Hemming

This is so adorable and poor squirrel. I ♥️LOVEd the ending it was so perfect.

I just love all the illustrations and inside the squirrels house. He had a jar of snowballs on his table🤣. This is my favorite so far in this series. In fact I had to reread it just to look at all the stuff in the illustrations.

I HIGHLY recommend this book.

***** When I reread it I noticed; pictures with squirrel and the Leaning Tower of Pisa along with leaves he drew and put in a frame, a radish on Bird's house, and Bird has a picture that says Mon Ecureuil which means My Squirrel in French ( I looked it up).

A Place to Belong by Heidi Gray McGill

Need a good Christmas book to remind you of Janette Oke's. Then this is it from a swoony hero to a heroine who is not used to feeling worthy. This has a lot of feels, scripture meaning, and things to think on when you yourself is feeling unworthy. 

I Highly recommend it. 

A Batuu Adventure by Jeneanne DeBois

This is soooo adorable!!! I first was thinking that the ending should of been different, but (SPOILER)

He adopted a tooka that needed a home. So it turned out good. The story flowed along and was filled with intrigue. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT ESPECIALLY TO GET READY FOR GALAXY'S EDGE.

The Grumpy Owl by Fredrick Warner & Co

I ♥️LOVED this one as much as the other Peter Rabbit book I read. I ♥️LOVE how smart the squirrels are. I also ♥️LOVE that this is about friendship and how Nutkin risked a lot to help a friend. The squirrels are soooo smart. And like I said on the other the illustrations are so wonderful

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK

Earl the Squirrel by Don Freeman 

🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
I am in awe at this book. I ♥️LOVED the drawings/illustrations and the moral of the story. His mother wanted Earl to be able to take care of himself and he did. This is a book about independence and a mothers love. I won't give away much more, but I cannot recommend this book enough

I VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

ALSO
I understand one person's complaint about his mother scolding him for getting something from a friend. But the whole point of her wanting Earl to go out was to get something on his own. She wants to know he can fend for himself without a human's help.

REASONS WHY IT IS
RUNNER UP FOR TOP MISCELLANEOUS TOME 2026-

*SQUIRRELS
*GOOD MESSAGE
*LOVELY ILLUSTRATIONS
*GOOD STORYLINE
* WANT TO READ IT AGAIN AND AGAIN

One Tough Turkey A Thanksgiving Story by Steven Kroll 

LOL🤣🤣🤣
This book shows the turkeys making turkeys out of the pilgrims. So funny and so smart reminds me of Bugs Bunny outwitting Elmer Fudd during rabbit season.

Highly recommend this fun lighthearted read, especially during Thanksgiving.

Beady Bear by Don Freeman 

This book was STINKING ADORABLE!!!!
It was so precious a boy and his bear. Beady tried to be like other bears then he realized he wasn't. It is ok to be different and having a friend is what counts.

I MORE THAN HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. This is the author of Corduroy and it is such a heartwarming story.

I wasn't going to do Top Misc.

But this one is a must for;

* Beautiful drawings
* Adorable storyline
* Moral it is ok to be different
* Friendship is the best
* Winnie the Pooh feels

A Flag for Our Country by Eve Spencer

♥️LOVED this easy read about our nation's flag!!!

I honestly didn't know much about Betsy Ross and this tells a lot. It also mentions by the time her story was told it had been 100 years, so it may not be all accurate.

I also ♥️LOVED the illustrations, because it was just enough to tell the story, but you could focus on the storyline. I HIGHLY recommend it

The Mother's Day Mice by Eve Bunting

This is such a beautiful tail lol of three brothers going out to find their mother a present for Mother's Day. It has such a good meaning and that is love they all gave her something with love.

Rooster's Off to See the World by Eric Carle

I always ♥️ LOVE Eric Carle's illustrations and these were so beautiful. The moral in this one was to always plan before you do stuff. You can dream, but planning is what makes it possible.

I ♥️LOVED all the animals that were in this one and how it showed how many was following at the top in a box.

Highly Recommend it.

Nutkin on the RUN! by Fredrick Warner & Co.

Story is fast paced, but easily able to keep up with the storyline the way I ♥️LOVE it.

The illustrations are bold and bright making the story even more fun. I didn't think about the main clue until one of the rabbits mentioned it. So it stayed a mystery till the big reveal. I ♥️LOVED all the places they visited they looked so fun, especially Peter Rabbits house.

Sad the poor squirrel don't have a tail, but reminded me of this one squirrel who got his tail bit by a mad mama cardinal. She was mad at her mate for looking at another female cardinal and when the squirrel tried to take the peanut close by her she had enough. Poor squirrel we named him Goober, because he was always stealing peanuts.

Anyways I Most Definitely recommend this book poor squirrels tail he definitely reminds me of Goober

Quest for a King by Brittany Fichter 

Finally got a chance to read this. It was very long. But reminded me of Tolkien's world with vivid details, magical creatures, twists, and smart villainous creepy dragons. I 🤎LOVE the faith aspect and how the hero prays. I also 🤎LOVE light overcoming darkness. I did not expect anything in this book to happen and it was AMAZING

I Highly recommend it, because when I get a chance I will definitely be rereading it