Frivolous Pursuits - D.C. Farmer

                Frivolous Pursuits is a humorous fantasy novel written by D.C. Farmer that I thoroughly enjoyed even though normally the fantasy genre is not one I would choose to read. It was actually the cover and interesting font used for the title that drew my eye to the book. The main character, Darren, is your average young man with an average job who lives in a house he inherited along with a tidy little nest egg. Unfortunately also living in his house is his shrew of a girlfriend who has a dream of her own of how to spend his money. What is unknown to Darren is that he actually has a special “ability” whereby plastic characters and worlds he creates actually come to life. It’s up to him to save one of these worlds and from there the excitement begins. There are fairies, warriors, and Brownies among many other fantastical characters. The characters are well written and easy to both love and hate. Hands down the most hated is Amanda, so well written as a shrewish, nasty, self-absorbed witch that I hoped for a horrible end for her by the end of the book. The writing is funny and the fantasy world is interesting and well thought out. I sometimes get bored when a book is just about one long quest but the author has more than one storyline in the book so it kept things moving along nicely. The digital version of this book worked well on my ereader. I look forward to reading more from the Hipposync Archives.

Switch-a-wish - M.B. Earnheardt

Switch-a-Wish is not just an adult version of Freaky Friday, the classic book and movie about a mother and daughter who switch bodies and learn lessons about each others lives. This book uses that basic premise but the author beautifully tells the story of a married couple who have drifted apart, are on the cusp of divorce, and each resents the other. Chris is a teacher who feels the pressure to bring home money to his wife and kids who always seem to need something new. Amanda resents him, often shows it, and is never interested in having sex. Amanda feels like Chris doesn’t respect her or understand how hard raising the kids really is and it’s taking its toll on their relationship. One night they each wish on a star that the other will have to live how they do and the next morning they wake to find that they’ve switched bodies. The author alternates viewpoints throughout the book between Amanda and Chris. Everything is explored from how Amanda finds Chris’s body achier than her body to how it feels to always be “in the mood”. The book is both amusing and soul searching at times as the couple’s relationship is dissected. It maintains a steady and enjoyable pace. This is a thoroughly entertaining read. I read this on my ereader and it formatted well. The cover is basic but represents the title perfectly.

The House Guest - Deborah L. Norris

                The House Guest is a book that explores many ideas but in such a way that none ever become the main focal point and all remain equally important. In most books this wouldn’t work but in The House Guest everything intertwines nicely, never becoming confusing, monotonous or “preachy”. I enjoyed the setting and time period which is a rooming house in the 1950s. It’s run by the main character, Maggie, a widow trying to raise her daughter on her own but luckily has a strong support group consisting of a unique group of characters who each contribute greatly to Maggie and Jenna’s lives. There’s Lee, an outspoken and obnoxious neighbour who represents the prejudice of the era. Anna is the gentle grandmother type who suffers a tragic loss but exhibits poise and kindness through it all. Noah is the mysterious man who shows Maggie she can love again. Many more interesting people make up the cast of characters that all come together to tell a beautiful story about how people become a family whether blood related or not. There’s even a bit of a mystery although, much like real life, it isn’t solved to my satisfaction. I read this on my ereader and it formatted well. The cover is as relaxing to look at as the book is to read. It’s like coming home, relaxing and satisfying.