Welcome to Erica Talks Books. Here I review books--new and old, as well as those yet to be released.
I read books across the board, but I do have favorite categories. That being said, you'll notice that some genres on my site are packed full of books, while others are a bit starved for attention. I unabashedly confess that nowadays I tend to prefer my books with an extra large helping of magic, wonder and whimsy, served with a hearty dash of inspiration.
A fun premise and a light tone. Despite the rather bland cover, this book turned out to be an engaging read. It is fast paced with plenty of action and intrigue, as well as good moments of humor. It even gave me chills towards the end.
A good book with a very interesting premise. Great character diversity and solid writing. There was even a good twist at the end.
Underwhelming. I used to love the X-Files on television, so I was looking forward to this read. Unfortunately it didn't wow or engage me. It felt slow and dry. And whereas most books will appeal to a broad audience, outside of the “target” audience, this book feels like it's heavily targeted towards men.
I love how the pictures represent the geography where various Indigenous people live. It was informative and illuminating.
Halloween, diverse characters, and a book store! What more could I possibly ask for?!
I loved the fun, whimsical art and the feel-good holiday spirit that this book promotes. The story is a gentle reminder to be kind and selfless, because generosity of spirit is often rewarded.
Cute animal characters in an idyllic, small-town setting. The lively art belies the darker underbelly of this sinister series starter. But once you look past the visual whimsy, it's readily apparent that this book has some serious Dexter vibes (if Dexter were a female bear).
Do not be fooled by the “One Week” portion of the title. This is a full-on, high-intensity writing workshop that can easily be stretched out over the course of several weeks. Each of the seven days is not simply a single activity, but rather multiple activities centered around that day's theme. And these exercises are not the basic writing prompts that many writing craft books offer. Rather, they are vehicles which encourage writers to engage all their senses—to think outside the box and to really be in the here and now—and then translate those thoughts, observations, and feelings into words.
A murder mystery with ghosts for helpers. And this time Marlow House has a new ghost.
I can't resist a book about writers going on a writer's retreat, so I was super excited to crack into this one.
A very interesting premise and reliably good writing. However, even though I generally like Koontz, this book was not a favorite.
Such a fun and cute holiday read. This book is a celebration of both Hanuka and Christmas. It is a nod to adoption. It is an exploration of family. And it is a reminder not to let fears stop you from living your best life. Be brave and flourish!
