February Book Reviews
contributed by Brace Books
The following book reviews appeared in the print issue of Ponca City Monthly magazine. Get full access to all online articles, videos, and content by becoming a paid subscriber. We offer free and paid subscription plans. Find rack locations to pick up your free print copy here, or subscribe here to get online access plus exclusive content.
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Reviewed by Lorrie Layton
Ali Hazelwood showed up on the bestseller lists in 2021 with The Love Hypothesis. She was back on the bestseller lists in 2022 with Love on the Brain and again in 2023 with Love, Theoretically. After three adult romance bestsellers, she has now written a young adult romance with all the charm and wit of her previous STEM-based romcoms.
Mallory Greenleaf used to live and breathe chess, but that ended three years ago when chess destroyed her life. Now, every choice she makes revolves around her mother, whose rheumatoid arthritis has been aggressive lately, and her two younger sisters.
She’s done with chess, until her BFF sweet talks her into playing in a charity event. It’s not a big deal until Mallory somehow wins against Nolan Sawyer, the number-one-ranked player in the world. Oh, wow. And what does Mallory do? She runs away.
The next morning, a grandmaster from New York City shows up on her front porch to offer her a year-long fellowship that could cover all her financial worries – the mortgage that’s three months behind, her mom’s prescriptions (with no insurance), keeping the electricity on ... But Mallory says, “No, thanks,” to the fellowship – until she has to reconsider after being fired from the job that was keeping the Greenleaf family with a roof over their heads and fed. The fellowship has become her only option.
Now she’s studying famous chess games, working with grandmasters, playing in the occasional tournament, but it’s just a job. She’s only playing chess for a paycheck, even though she’s becoming known in chess circles as an unbelievably talented player – and Sawyer just wants her to play chess with him.
This novel is flirty, fun, intelligent, and charming, with delightful banter and a swoon-worthy romance. I loved it!
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Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb
Review by Lorrie Layton
This book is rated as age-appropriate for 4-8-year-olds, but is an absolutely fun and encouraging story for any age!
I first picked up this book because the quote from the publisher says, “I’m the Buffalo Fluffalo – I heave and I huffalo. Leave me alone because I have had enuffalo!” and let’s be honest, who hasn’t felt this way more than once in their life! Especially kiddos, who sometimes have those tough days when they struggle with their emotions and how to express and handle them.
We follow Mr. Fluff as he huffs and puffs at each of his prairie friends to leave him alone because he’s not feeling up to being a good friend today. He gruffs at each one to leave him in peace as they try to get him to join in their fun and games. They each, in turn, leave him to be alone as he seems so big and scary. As Mr. Fluff sulks to himself, a rain shower begins to pour right down on top of him, leaving him drenched and, well, much smaller than he appeared before. Much less fluff and gruff! Mr. Fluff is soon worried that the other creatures will find him silly-looking and make fun of him in this less-than-fluffalo state. After all, he was quite rude to them earlier, why would they be nice now? As the critters gather around him, they let him know that he’s perfect just the way he is and there is no need to cower alone when you can be surrounded by friends! “You’re great how you are, no matter your size!”
With beautiful illustrations and a fun rhyming pattern, this book is perfect for reading aloud with your whole family!
Brace Books has been locally owned in Ponca City, Oklahoma since 1983. Our physical store carries books of all types but we also carry toys, calendars, gift items, and a coffee bar.
Any order questions would be best resolved by emailing orders@bookshop.org. With that said, we will do our best to help you in any way that we can. We want your book-buying experience to be as easy as possible. Please contact us at 580-765-5173 or info@bracebooks.com for any more information!
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