Readers Roost

He should’ve called.

That was Jesse Melnik’s first thought as he pulled into the driveway of his childhood home on Prince Edward Island.

The Friday 56

Early July in Toronto was hot, but it hadn’t hit the level of gross mugginess that would surely come within the next couple of weeks.

About the Author

Amy’s lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she’s read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she’s been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn’t at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada’s largest environmental non-profit.

An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram, or sign up for her infrequent newsletter.

Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop

1st - What book are you currently reading? What made you choose this title to read?

(submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

I am writing a (late) review for this book. However, I selected it because I enjoy m/m sports romance, and also because I resonated with the fact that the protagonists had both experienced loss of a family member. I became a sixty-year-old orphan this year when my mother passed away in February. My father has been gone since November 28, 2010.

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If you don’t already have an Audible subscription, click the link below to get started with your 30-day free trial and grab yourself some late summer listens. You’re welcome.

https://froggygirlbook.com/

Friday, July 18, 2025

Friday Book Blogger Special: Froggy Girl

Genre:

Children's books, mental health, psychology, self-acceptance

Buy Link:

Publication Date:

July 15, 2025

Book Blurb:

Froggy Girl tells the story of a little girl who wished she was a frog and everyone in her life wanted to please her wishes. Her parents believed the best thing they could do for her is to buy her froggy clothes. Then, her teacher gave her a froggy flag in class. Her school friends wanted to be nice so they pretended she was a frog too.

But, when the little girl tried to do all the froggy things, she couldn't do them. She couldn't swim with the frogs or catch a fly and she started to feel lonely. Even though everyone supported her decision to be a frog, she still got sad.

Then, she met a wise turtle who helped her realize that living a lie doesn't make anyone happy, and that she is a beautiful little girl. Once she learned to embrace who she really is and stop pretending to be someone else, she finally felt true happiness.

The First Line/Book Beginnings

There once was a girl who said she was a frog, not a chicken, cow, cat, or dog.

The Friday 56

https://ornerybookemporium.blogspot.com/2024/12/humbug-audiobook-review.html

She tried to make frog sounds, but that was hard. She went swimming with the other frogs but didn't get far.

About the Author

Pamela Garfield-Jaeger is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience with children and families.

Pamela noticed that there are so many children's books that teach children that they could be born in the wrong body, so she wanted to write a book that teaches children that they are born right. She believes in teaching children self-acceptance, and that's what her rhyming book is all about.

Nicolas Blooms is full of fruity passion to create ways for people to spark the deeper, magical wisdom within their hearts. After graduating from art and design college, he co-created a children's book series, You Can't Steal My Smile, with his friend Kim O, a relational soul coach, who empowers children to root their inner resilience.

Despite tumbling down a twisty, dark road, he heard the song of his soul call him back toward the path of love, peace, and joy. It's totally possible to be the love you desire to see in the world.

Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop

18th - 24th - What is your opinion on modern artists' interpretations of deceased authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, Louisa May Alcott, Charles Dickens, and Jane Austen? Do you think these interpretations represent the authors correctly, or do they disrespect the authors? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

It depends on the author. I believe most authors treat such story inspirations with respect. For instance, I reviewed a book called Humbug last December. Here is the book's blurb.

Blurb

A Christmas Carol shows us one terrible day in Ebenezer Scrooge’s life, but have you ever wondered what came before his fateful encounter with the ghosts of Christmas time? What happened to turn him into the scowling, penny-pinching old man we think we know so well?

There is so much more to this character—possibly more than Charles Dickens himself could ever have imagined.

Scrooge has compelling reasons for hating Christmas, for rejecting his fiancée and his precious nephew, and for employing Tiny Tim’s father, despite his obvious incompetence. He is a doting uncle, beloved brother, successful businessman, and passionate lover, but a dark secret puts both him and his loved ones at risk. Scrooge struggles to embrace his true self and live in defiance of the Victorian era’s repressive moral standards. Soul-crushing losses and his own destructive choices shape his fate into a twisted path of sorrow, frustration, and uncertainty—but also happiness, fulfillment, and love.

Scrooge’s own words sum it up best: “How delightfully queer life is.”

Some people might take exception to an author interpreting a well-known character from a classic story like A Christmas Carol as bisexual or gay, but I don't think that is the case. I believe the story treated Scrooge respectfully while offering a plausible explanation for his bitterness. I gave the book a five-star rating.

Follow our Start page to keep up with the latest from the Naughty Netherworld Press crew.

If you don’t already have an Audible subscription, click the link below to get started with your 30-day free trial and grab yourself some beach reads... er... listens. Or, you know, out in the middle of the plains listens if you're, say, me, and there isn't a beach within 2000 miles. You’re welcome.

Friday, June 20, 2025

Friday Book Blogger Special: The Life Of Angus Young

Genre:

Biography, entertainment, music, nonfiction

Buy Link:

https://amzn.to/3Tvhq8R

Publication Date:

April 1, 2018

Ebook Price:

$11.99

Paperback Price

$16.89

MP3 CD

$42.23

Also available from Audible. The Audible price will show when you click the link. For me, it shows as one credit since I have an Audible membership.

Book Blurb:

Angus Young, the founder and the last original member of AC/DC still in the band, has for more than forty years been the face, sound, and sometimes the exposed backside of the trailblazing rock band. In his trademark schoolboy outfit, guitar in hand, Angus has applied his signature style to songs such as "A Long Way to the Top," "Highway to Hell," and "Back in Black," helping AC/DC become the biggest rock group on the planet.

High Voltage tells of his remarkable rise from working-class Glasgow and Sydney to the biggest stages in the world. The youngest of eight kids, Angus always seemed destined for a life in music, and it was his passion and determination that saw AC/DC become hard rock's greatest act. Over the years, Angus has endured the devastating deaths of iconic vocalist Bon Scott and his brother in arms Malcolm Young as well as the band's loss of singer Brian Johnson and drummer Phil Rudd. Yet the little guitar maestro's unique flair for performance and unstoppable drive to succeed has kept AC/DC not just on the rails, but at the top of the rock pile.

Features exclusive photographs by Philip Morris

The First Line/Book Beginnings

ANGUS YOUNG’S SUIT tonight was a deep black, his short-sleeved shirt even whiter than his hairless legs.

The Friday 56

It was another six months before Angus and the band resurfaced for the massive Monsters of Rock show at Donington Park in the UK during August.

About the Author

In a career spanning more than 30 years I've written more than 30 commercially and critically well-received books, including biographies of Keith Urban, the Bee Gees, Angus Young and Jeff Buckley. My work has been published all around the world.

New York's Kensington Books has just published my Keith Urban biography in the USA and advance reviews — including praise from 15-time Grammy winner Ricky Skaggs — have been terrific. My other recent subjects include AC/DC's Bon Scott (Bad Boy Boogie), Daniel Johns of Silverchair (The Book of Daniel) and the Easybeats' George Young (Friday On My Mind). I co-wrote the Kasey Chambers memoir, called A Little Bird Told Me, and worked as a ghostwriter with Mark Evans of AC/DC on his bestseller, Dirty Deeds. Kasey's book was part of the '50 Books You Can't Put Down' / Get Reading program in 2011, while Mark's book made NPR's best music books of 2011 list. I also helped Michael Browning with his memoir Dog Eat Dog and assisted Richard Clapton with his book, The Best Years of our Lives.

My biography of Johnny O'Keefe was the Sydney Morning Herald's Pick of the Week in their August 10 2013 issue. My Bee Gees biography, Tragedy: The Sad Ballad of the Gibb Brothers was also Fairfax's Pick of the week and was published in the UK by Jawbone Press. My latest book, 2023's Don't Dream It's Over: The Remarkable Life of Neil Finn is on the bestseller list in Australia and has been widely praised. 'Jeff Apter gives us an engaging portrait of the powerhouse behind Crowded House,' noted the Sydney Morning Herald.

I was a senior writer for Rolling Stone (where I was on staff for several years) and also wrote for the Sydney Morning Herald. I was the music reviewer for The Bulletin for many years and was a senior writer for Vogue and GQ. And I still remember the afternoon I met Aretha Franklin as if it was yesterday.

I'm on Facebook and can also be reached through this site. Also see www.jeffapter.com.au

Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop

13th - 19th - Do you set a monthly budget for books? If yes, what amount? Have you ever exceeded your limit? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

Not really. I honestly don't buy a lot of books anymore. I sometimes review books and get an ARC. I ended up getting today's featured book for about $3 with points I earned from Amazon and Capital One.

Follow our Start page to keep up with the latest from the Naughty Netherworld Press crew.

Friday, February 28, 2025

Friday Book Blogger Special: Navigating Grief Workbook

Genre:

Grief, Nonfiction, Psychology, Self-Help

Buy Link:

https://amzn.to/3DgTBNs

Publication Date:

April 11, 2023

Ebook Price:

$7.98

Paperback Price

$8.98

Book Blurb:

Move through grief while holding space for the feelings that accompany loss.

Grief can feel destabilizing and overwhelming. This grief workbook gives you evidence-based exercises to help with processing grief and loss of any kind. Reflecting on and responding to the prompts and exercises will facilitate greater self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-confidence as you navigate healing after loss.

Information on grief and grieving— Deepen your understanding of grief and prepare yourself to interact with it in healthy ways.

Tools for moving through grief—Case studies help normalize your experience, affirmations raise your spirits, guided journal prompts get you started on sorting through your inner world, and activities promote healing.

Expert guidance—Advice from a licensed clinical psychologist empowers you with knowledge and validation. If you are seeking additional books about grief and loss, this workbook can be used with its companion, Navigating Grief: A Guided Journal.

Begin grief recovery with the Navigating Grief Workbook.

The First Line/Book Beginnings

Despite the perception that grief should be a brief period of sadness after a loss, it rarely ever is.

The Friday 56

https://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com/p/blog-page.html

Sadness, like grief, fluctuates in intensity, with peaks and valleys throughout the day.

About the Author

ANNA DARBONNE, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, mother, and entrepreneur. She focuses on complementary healing interventions that empower clients to transform challenging experiences into growth opportunities, and live with greater ease and purpose. She is also the founder and owner of Bamboo Center for Grief, Growth, and Well-Being, a brick-and-mortar and virtual mental health clinic. There, she and other high-caliber clinicians provide holistic and integrative wellness and performance enhancement services for adults seeking to navigate grief, deepen fulfillment, create or perform beyond their best, and elevate overall well-being.

Book Blogger Hop

28th - 6th - How much time does blogging take out of your life weekly? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

It depends. Some weeks, I just do promo posts for book tours, which doesn't take much more than an hour. Other times I add blog hop posts. I try to update my Substack a couple of times a month. Creating a Substack post can take an hour on its own. Creating this post took about a half hour.

I picked up the above workbook to help guide me through my own recent loss.

My mother passed away on the morning of February 23 at 85 years old. She was in end-stage colon cancer and experiencing cognitive decline. It was time for her to go, but I am now a 60-year-old orphan.

While I always loved my mother, our relationship was difficult at times. Thankfully, it was good during the last five years, and I have those memories. Still, I certainly have things to work through.

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Free use image from Pixabay

Saint Patrick's Day is nearly upon us! What better time to read about some folks who are saints and some who definitely ain't?

If you don’t already have an Audible subscription, click the link below to get started with your 30-day free trial. You’re welcome.

Friday, February 7, 2025

Friday Book Blogger Hop: Down the Rabbit Hole

Genre:

Memoir, Nonfiction

Buy Link:

https://amzn.to/4jL9XhX

Publication Date:

June 23, 2015

Ebook Price:

$16.99

Paperback Price

$13.72

Hardcover Price

$22.56

Book Blurb:

The real, untold, and unvarnished story of life inside the legendary Playboy Mansion—and the man who holds the key—from the woman who was Hef’s #1 girlfriend and star of The Girls Next Door.

A spontaneous decision at age twenty-one transformed small-town Oregon girl Holly Sue Cullen into Holly Madison, Hugh Hefner’s #1 girlfriend. But like Alice in Wonderland after she plunged down the rabbit hole, what seemed like a fairytale life inside the Playboy Mansion—including A-list celebrity parties and her own #1-rated television show—quickly devolved into an oppressive routine of strict rules, manipulation, and battles with ambitious, backstabbing bunnies. Losing her identity, her sense of self-worth, and her hope for the future, Holly found herself sitting alone in a bathtub contemplating suicide.

But instead of ending her life, Holly chose to take charge of it.

In this shockingly candid and surprisingly moving memoir, this thoughtful and introspective woman opens up about life inside the Mansion, the drugs, the sex and the infamous parties, as well as what her relationships with her Girls Next Door co-stars, Bridget and Kendra were really like. Holly talks candidly about a subsequent abusive relationship, her own successful television series, and the hard work of healing, including her turn on Dancing with the Stars. A cautionary tale and a celebration of personal empowerment, Down the Rabbit Hole reminds us of the importance of fighting for our dreams—and finding the life we deserve.

The First Line/Book Beginnings

"Don't you miss the mansion?" squealed a round-faced, wholesome-looking 20-something girl in a high-pitched voice.

"Um," I started, unsure of how to answer her polietely. "No...?" I said, offering her a halfhearted smile.

The Friday 56

https://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com/p/blog-page.html

After more than four years together at the mansion, our little blond army was disbanding.

About the Author

Holly Madison spent five seasons on the #1 rated E! hit reality show The Girls Next Door before landing the leading role in the Las Vegas Strip's smash hit, Peepshow. She also starred in two seasons of her own hit E! series Holly’s World. Madison divides her time between Las Vegas and Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.

Book Blogger Hop

7th - 13th - Do you prefer to read series one book after another, or can you read other books in between? (submitted by Idea-ist @ Get Lost in Literature)

I'm rarely able to read an entire series, one book after another, regardless of my preferences.

Follow our Start page to keep up with the latest from the Naughty Netherworld Press crew.