Book Review: All the Ice Cream in the Land by Emmy Kastner

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All the Ice Cream in the Land  by Emmy Kastner  is about a princess, the kingdom she lives in, and her loyal subjects. Full of twists and turns, children will surely delight in this story about ice cream. When I saw the title and cover art of this kid's book, it made me instantly think of my childhood and how I would've loved a book like this one. A huge shout out and thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for approving my request to read this book. I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. The storyline is very easy to follow, making it especially suitable for toddlers, preschoolers, and early readers, particularly children between the ages of two and six. Its straightforward narrative and clear structure make it an excellent choice for read-aloud sessions at home, bedtime stories, or classroom story time. While there is limited character development, which is typical for a picture book format, the princess is still an intere...
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Book Review: Mind Game (Eve Duncan, #22) by Iris Johansen

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Mind Game (Eve Duncan, #22) by Iris Johansen
Mind Game is the twenty-second book in Iris Johansen’s Eve Duncan series and focuses on Jane MacGuire, Eve Duncan’s adopted daughter. Jane is on a quest to find a treasure buried centuries ago by a woman named Cira near a lake in Scotland. At the same time, she begins having vivid dreams about a girl who seems to be in danger. As the story unfolds, Jane tries to determine whether the girl is real and whether she can somehow save her.

I was fortunate to receive an Advance Readers Copy (ARC) of Mind Game by Iris Johansen through a Goodreads giveaway. I received it for free in exchange for my honest review, which gave me the opportunity to read the book ahead of its official release and share my thoughts with other readers. It’s always exciting to receive a book this way, and it made reviewing Mind Game even more enjoyable knowing I could provide an honest perspective before the book hit shelves.

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This is only the second book I’ve read by Iris Johansen, and the other one I read was also part of the Eve Duncan series. I enjoyed Mind Game much more than the previous book. The storyline is action-packed from the very beginning and features two intertwined plots. While having multiple storylines can sometimes feel disjointed, Iris Johansen manages to weave them together seamlessly. Although the novel leans heavily toward action and suspense, there’s also a touch of romance that adds depth and makes the story feel more realistic. The characters are well developed, which isn’t always the case in long-running series, and I found that especially refreshing.

Don’t expect Mind Game to be a deep, literary read. Instead, it’s a fast-paced, thrilling beach read that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I definitely recommend this book, and one of the best things about it is that you don’t need to read the earlier books in the series to understand the story. Iris Johansen does an excellent job of providing just enough background information from previous books without making it feel forced or repetitive. I gave Mind Game by Iris Johansen 4 out of 5 stars.

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