Pages & Paws

Writing, Reading, and Rural Life With a Border Collie

Monthly Archives: December 2023


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Dark Fantasy Shows Promise

Shadows of the Dark Realm

By Tyler Edwards (December 2023)

Genre: Fiction – Fantasy

Pages: 503

Via: Author request

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tbe Basics:

The idyllic kingdom of Parisia sat nuzzled securely in the Great Emerald Mountains. For generations Parisia had known nothing but peace and prosperity. When the elder dragon Darka Mors, steals the Darkstone, the entire realm is threatened. Without the Darkstone, the magic sealing away the Shadow King would fail. His return would bring death and destruction to the world of men.

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MG Fantasy Flies High

Crown of Three

By J. D. Rinehart (Aladdin, 2015)

Genre: Middle grade fiction/ fantasy

Via: Library

Pages: 407

“Change is coming – coming like the winter wind. We cannot change the weather, Agulphus. But we can stand before the storm.”

No one is who they seem to be or where they should be in this humdinger of a high adventure. This high octane fantasy moves like Secretariat around the final turn at the Belmont Stakes. So you might want to buckle up, Buttercup. Here’s the scoop:

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11 Cozy Reads for Cold Winter Days

What?

So Her Crankiness is grumping about this thing called “winter.” Seems Mom’s kinda tired of the thing. She keeps saying stuff like, “Cold. Gray. Pouring rain. Dark too early. Let’s move to Miami!”

No clue what that means. But I thought today would be a good day to warm up some cozy reading suggestions. So I got my Thinking Cap on and came up with the following. (Okay, okay. Mom helped. A little. But it was mostly me.)

These cozy winter reading suggestions include books that are either set during winter or there’s plenty of snow and cold in the pages. So grab a hot cuppa, a warm blanket and find your next great winter read (Yes, we’ve read all of these):

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The Heart of CHRISTMAS!

‘It’s not easy being beautiful and brilliant. But someone’s gotta do it!’

Thank you for joining us for a year of gaining new friends, discovering new authors, and savoring good books!

For those who’ve taken the time to read Pages and Paws, share links, like a post, comment, submit guest articles or recommend Pawsome titles new and old, THANK YOU!

It’s been a great ride. We’re looking forward to more in 2024!

Please join us as we celebrate today with one of our favorites. By Matthew West:

“Wherever you are, no matter how far,

Come back to the heart, the heart of Christmas.

Live while you can, and cherish the moment.

The ones that you love, make sure they know it…”

And today:

Our best wishes to you and yours for the merriest of Christmases and a Happy New Year!

Mom and Kimber


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The Best Gifts of Christmas

“… all snug in her bed…”

Kimber: Mom just called me in from the yard. ‘Bout time. That big yellow ball in the sky is starting to spread across the horizon like a giant egg yolk. Temperatures are dropping. The Powder Puff just sauntered past. Why that canine lets her owner deck her out in that green and red jacket + reindeer antlers, I’ll never know.

Anyway, when Mom opened the porch door, I caught a whiff of Something Warm and Wonderful inside. She says, “Kimber, dinner! Come!”

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A Five Minute Festive

Merry Christmas Dear Readers!

 

Mom and I have cooked up something short and sweet for you today. Well, actually we cooked this up last year. But who’s counting? Besides. Ya see, one of us is being a lazy slug today (Hi, Mom).  Come to think of it, I, Kimber, am a bit tuckered, too.

Mom says solitude can be hard to come by in our rush-rush, hurry up, instant everything society. Grabbing a few quiet moments to refresh and recharge can be a challenge any time. But it’s particularly tough during the holidays, huh?

This One’s For You

So if holiday merry-making has you ready to tear your hair out or your festive feathers are a bit ruffled, this is for you.

Slow down.  Grab a hot cuppa. Plop in a peppermint stick. Sit down. Put your feet up. Give Manheim Steamroller’s Stille Nacht (Silent Night) a listen.  Five quiet minutes. You’ll be glad you did.

Know someone who could use a yuletide boost? Don’t forget to share!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snowy field image credit: Public domain

 


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XMAS BOOK BASH #3: Evans Twofer

1. If Only

By Richard Paul Evans (2015)

Genre: Fiction – Christmas/Young Adult

Pages: 288 (paperback)

Via: Library

Mom’s in her kerchief and I’m in my cap. We’ve just settled down for a long winter’s nap.  We’re waiting for some dude to show up. He has a little round belly that shakes when he laughs like a bowlful of jelly.

No idea what that means. But if Mom likes it, then so do I.

Anywho, we’re talking about Christmas books today. And one of our favorite authors popped up. Richard Paul Evans reigns supreme as “the King of the Christmas novel.” Evans perches high on our Favorite Authors List. We’ve read just about every title he’s ever written. And Evans is a prolific writer, if ya know what I mean. Mom’s been reading his books ever since 2003, when she nabbed the Evans book that started it all: The Christmas Box. It’s a perennial fave. And if you haven’t read it, you should. Cuz it’s really really good. (Mom re-reads it every holiday season. Since 2003. That must be some kind of a record. And yes, she has it pretty much memorized.)

Blue Plate Special

Anyway, today we’re bringing you an Honest to Goodness, Tail-Waggin’, Bow-wowin’, Bark-worthy Mom and Kimber Blue Plate Special. Also known as a “Richard Paul Evans Twofer.”

First, we recently re-read an Evans Christmassy novel called If Only. One of us didn’t realize we’d already read it until she was about halfway in. But you know Mom. (It was previously published as Grace. That’s what threw us off. So there!)

Anyway again, If Only isn’t Evans’ typical Christmas novel. Those usually center around love found. Love lost. Hopes dashed. Lives ruined. But then…. Redemption. Rescue. Love rediscovered. Forgiveness. Grace. Strong undercurrents of faith, hope, and love swirl throughout the typical Evans Christmas novel. And although there’s All of the Above in If Only, it marks a dramatic departure from Evans’ typical Christmas fare.

That’s cuz If Only touches on a difficult topic: child abuse. Not exactly the stuff that makes for chestnuts roasting on an open fire or Jack Frost nipping at your nose. But Evans’ handling of the topic is so sensitive and poignant and understated, he pulls it off. One powerful page after another. Like this:

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XMAS BOOK BASH #4: Will New Xmas Story Go Down in History?

The Greatest Reindeer

By Greg S. Paris, Indie author (2023)

Genre: Fiction/Children’s Christmas Tale

Pages: 199 (Paperback)

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen… But do you recall the greatest reindeer of all, Kris’s closest friend and protector, Cedric? He didn’t have a shiny nose, but Cedric shines bright in the pages of this expertly crafted blend of magic, myth, legend, and a betrayal that changed everything.

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15 Forgotten Christmas Movies Worth Watching

‘Tis the season, folks! For merry-making. Decking the halls. Fa-la-la-la-laing. Snuggling up with a hot cuppa. Plopping in a peppermint stick. Curling up with a Christmas-themed fave or binge-watching some good ‘ole Christmas movies.  

‘You gonna eat that?’

Mom and I were gonna do our version of Best Christmas Movies Ever today. You know. George Bailey and Bedford Falls. Pine Tree Inn, Vermont and lots of snow. The Grinch. Then we thought about some “lost,” lesser-known Christmas movies worth watching. Made a list. Checked it twice.

Here ’tis (in no particular order):

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