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Swordheart by T. Kingfisher - a book review

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This is a fantasy book that features a sword that, when unsheathed, releases a magical warrior. This sword is then found by a woman trying to kill herself because her family locked her away to make her marry her wealth into the family. The whole concept is darkly absurd, humorous in a way that appeals to a slightly absurd sense of humor. I was dying laughing in the first ten chapters. Let's talk about it.  This book was fantastic, a slow burn romance with humor and ridiculous conversations. From the darker humor to the romance between Halla and Sarkis, it was fun to read. I buddy-read this with my best friend. My best friend has great taste. This was her wonderful idea and I loved the book.  This romance is about Bridgerton level, which means if you can read some steamy Bridgerton scenes, you can read this. It is for adults only, so keep that in mind. I wouldn't hand this book to a child. The best part about the romance is the build-up, which is far more realistic than some of...
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Oswald Cartoon Review - (1930) Hell's Heels

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 I watched another Oswald - a cartoon about a lucky rabbit. I noticed the opening image had the lucky horseshoe upside down, making him an unlucky rabbit. This one is a 10 out of 10. I'd have no problem watching this again.  Courtesy of intanibase.com Hell's Heels, made in 1930, is about Oswald the Lucky Rabbit going into Hella City to rob a bank. He gets caught, finds the sheriff's child, and is then forced to bring the child back to the sheriff. He gets there and runs back into the desert. It's a simple plot and I enjoyed it.  Do you get some weird stuff going on? Of course, it's 1930 and animation is new. It's a musical. That shouldn't shock anyone. All the lines connect to the music. You start with Oswald and two bandits going into Hella City. They shove dynamite the size of Oswald into Oswald's hands, make him rob the bank, and the sheriff literally jumps out of the safe. The bandits run off. He then runs into the dessert.  Now we get to the sheriff...
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Morrow is out and ready!

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BIG NEWS! Morrow is out and available on Amazon, Kindle, and Kobo. Huzzah! Here's all the information you need to know.  Morrow is currently available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook (Kindle and Kobo). Whatever ereader you have, I have the Kobo and Kindle options for you. It will eventually be available at The Clever Quill in Carrollton, Ohio, but right now I have to order the author copies to stock that local bookstore. In the meantime, go visit The Clever Quill for copies of Wrenville, my first novel.  The Clever Quill is located here: 450 S Lisbon St, Carrollton, OH, United States, Ohio Behold the links to buy the book!  Amazon -  https://a.co/d/e5TrMw2 Kobo -  Morrow eBook by Cathy Baker - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States How you can help me I need all of you reading this blog, every one of you, to share this to your social media. Tell your friends, buy the book, leave a review, and draw attention to Morrow's release. I am only one person promoting ...
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1930 Cartoon Review - Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor (1936)

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This is another cartoon review for my research, this time Popeye the Sailor Man. It's much better than the Betty Boops. Let's talk about it.  Courtesy of theretroset.com The plot of this couldn't be simpler. Popeye accidentally interrupts Sindbad the Sailor singing about his greatness, Sindbad reacts by destroying the boat and taking Olive, and Popeye triumphs by eating spinach. It's fun, easy to follow, and doesn't make me question if my coffee was drugged. I loved it. I have nothing bad to say about it. Let's go into why.  The review We have Sindbad at the start of the cartoon, singing “who’s the most remarkable, extraordinary fellow” to his animals (and monsters) who are chained up. This includes dragons, a two-headed man, a big vulture, and lions chained at his door. He decides to punch the lions because he feels like it. Popeye boats by innocently minding his business, singing his theme, which just happens to fall right after the phrase I quoted. The vultur...
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Colonel Sun by Kingsley Amos - a James Bond book review

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 This book is about James Bond saving M from a kidnapping. It is a continuation of the James Bond series, but is the only one written by this author. Let's jump in.  It starts with James Bond visiting M, after a health concern led him to stay home and be cared for by others. Bond comes in and something is wrong. Bond nearly gets kidnapped with him in the ensuing fight, where he is temporarily drugged after escaping the crew taking M. He then has to get captured in Greece on purpose to have a chance at saving M. From there things get complicated. You have a Nazi man and Colonel Sun to contend with at the very end, both trying to sabotage a political conference and blame the English.  The Review The Bad This one was a three star. Why three stars? Let's talk about sexism. I know Ian Fleming was sexist. I know that. Some authors drop that sexism and others don't. Yet others who continue the series will tone it down (making the character, but not the narrator, sexist). You hav...
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Spooks (1930) - An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon

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 I have never watched an Oswald cartoon until today. It was definitely...something. Here we have a take on Phantom of the Opera and it is interesting. I can't say it makes me feel sane. This was a journey and it was only five minutes.  Courtesy of intanibase.com Today we look at my research journey into 1930's era cartoons. Oswald is somewhat lost to history. I'm not real sad about it when I look at this cartoon. It is a drug-trip of a cartoon with a horrible script that sounds like a bad radio drama. To be fair, it is 1930, but whoever animated this and wrote the voice lines must have been on drugs. It makes no earthly sense.  Now, 1930 featured some real weird cartoons to begin with. It is not just Oswald that is like this. I can't say watching Betty Boop makes me feel sane, either. The anatomy of the cartoons is deeply in question. This is voice acting in infancy and I know it. But even that knowledge makes me think someone slipped stuff in my morning coffee while I ...
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The Whim Challenge #1 - Reading books that you bought on a whim

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 Today's challenge is something I thought of while staring at my home bookshelves, and thinking about the many ebooks I acquired over the years. We all buy or pick up books on a whim, but how long do these books sit on your shelves before you read them? This challenge is directed straight at that category of books.  This challenge is simple, allowing for some mood reading. You go up to any shelf of your choice, or all of them, and decide on one or more books. You read it, you decide if you'll keep it, and do this as many times as you please.  Rules:  1. The book can't have a familiar author. 2. The book can't be given by friends/family or suggested to you before you acquired it. If you had it suggested after you got it, this rule doesn't count.  3. If you are familiar with the movie plot, leave it. 4. It has to be a book you picked up on a whim. 5. If you DNF (do not finish) the first book, you pick up another. With these rules in mind, go up to any bookshelf yo...
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