Sassy Reviews

February 16, 2026

Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Michael J. Bowler ✍️
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Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil is an intriguing middle-grade fiction. The story follows Elmo “Mo” Fitzroy, aka the internet-famous “Muppit Boy,” as he stumbles into a mystery involving a break-in at his school, strange government agents, and something far more bizarre than any ordinary crime. From the beginning, the book hooks readers with Mo’s funny, self-deprecating voice and the instant tension of something strange lurking beneath everyday life.

Mo is a lovable, relatable hero whose insecurities about bullying and unwanted fame feel painfully real, especially for young readers navigating social pressure. His friendships with Kash and Barn provide laugh-out-loud moments. The dialogue feels natural, making the story easy to follow.

Beyond the humor and action, the book also explores deeper themes like self-worth, courage, and what it means to be seen for who you truly are. The mix of mystery, light horror, and comedy makes this a perfect pick for readers who enjoy adventure. Go ahead with this book without any second thoughts.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

February 14, 2026

Blessings Abound: Awaken to the Gifts at Hand

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Blessings Abound: Awaken to the Gifts at Hand 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Katherine Scherer and Eileen Bodoh ✍️
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Blessings Abound: Awaken to the Gifts at Hand by Katherine Scherer and Eileen Bodoh is a deeply insightful and uplifting read. The book gently reveals how truly blessed we already are. It opens our eyes to the many forms blessings can take: those we receive, those we often take for granted, and even those that arrive disguised as challenges.

I especially loved the daily blessings highlighted in the book, simple things we frequently forget to feel grateful for. The message is a beautiful reminder that happiness comes from within and that each of us is responsible for cultivating our own joy. It also emphasizes the importance of being there for one another and choosing kindness, love, and a sense of fun in how we treat others.

I happened to pick up this book at just the right time. Recently, I made a conscious decision to live more intentionally with a positive outlook on life. For anyone experiencing temporary setbacks, this book offers gentle reassurance that failures, too, can be blessings in disguise. By the end of this read, readers are likely to feel inspired to embrace a more grateful way of living. The authors have done a wonderful job, and I’m truly glad I found this book when I did.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

Buy book form Amazon

February 14, 2026

Ranger’s Oath

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Ranger’s Oath 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Blake Arthur Peel ✍️
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Ranger’s Oath pulls readers into a gritty, fast-moving fantasy world where loyalty is as dangerous as betrayal. From the opening chapters, the story establishes a harsh landscape shaped by conflict, survival, and hard choices. The central theme of honor, what it means to swear an oath and live by it, grounds the narrative and gives emotional weight to every decision the protagonist makes.

The protagonist’s journey balances the skills of a trained ranger with the vulnerability of someone who has already lost too much. The author does a strong job of portraying internal conflict.

World-building is one of the novel’s strengths. The environments feel lived-in, with danger lurking beyond every forest trail and political tension simmering beneath the surface. The author avoids long, heavy exposition, instead letting the world unfold naturally through action and dialogue. This makes the setting immersive without slowing down the pacing.

Overall, Ranger’s Oath is an excellent pick for fans of action-driven fantasy with emotional depth. I enjoyed every bit of this book. I highly recommend it to my fellow readers.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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February 13, 2026

Year of the What?

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Year of the What? 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Jennifer Lieberman✍️
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Year of the What? is a raw coming-of-age story about heartbreak, sexual awakening, and the awkward journey of learning who you are when the relationship you built your identity around falls apart.

The novel follows Dana in the aftermath of a long-term breakup that leaves her emotionally wrecked and questioning everything she thought she knew about love, sex, and herself. What begins as a desperate attempt to heal turns into a year of misadventures: romantic, sexual, and personal. Dana’s voice is candid and vulnerable, and her internal monologue feels refreshingly unfiltered.

Lieberman’s writing shines in its emotional honesty. The book shows the confusion, the bad decisions, the late-night spirals, and the small, hard-earned moments of growth. The supporting characters, especially Dana’s unapologetically bold best friend, bring humor and contrast, highlighting the different ways people cope with pain and desire.

If you enjoy emotionally raw contemporary fiction with a strong female perspective, this book will hit home.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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February 11, 2026

The Prodigal’s Son

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: The Prodigal’s Son: Crackhead to Jesus Freak 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: S.E. Tschritter ✍️
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The Prodigal’s Son: Crackhead to Jesus Freak is a memoir that walks readers through the wreckage of addiction and the slow, painful work of redemption. Told through the intertwined perspectives of Clint, a pastor battling alcoholism, relapse, and devastating consequences and Samantha, the wife who loves him through the chaos, this book refuses to sanitize suffering.

Tschritter doesn’t present a neat, inspirational arc where faith magically fixes everything. Instead, she shows the long road: the lies we believe about ourselves, the collateral damage addiction causes to families, and the exhausting cycle of hope, failure, and trying again. The writing is vivid. It pulls you into hospital rooms, jail cells, late-night phone calls, and the quiet moments of fear and shame that often go unseen.

Even readers who don’t identify as Christian will likely connect with its central themes: brokenness, love that refuses to give up, and the human longing to be seen as worthy despite our worst mistakes. The portrayal of Samantha’s resilience and complicated love adds emotional depth, reminding us that addiction is never a solo battle, it ripples outward into every relationship.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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February 9, 2026

Hygge and Homicide

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Hygge and Homicide 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: A.L. Jensen ✍️
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The story follows Minna, a recently divorced interior designer who returns to her hometown of Lakewood in Northern Ontario to help run her mother’s Nordic lifestyle shop. From the very first chapter, the setting shines: forest trails, lakeside views, cozy storefronts, and a tight-knit community where everyone knows everyone. Jensen excels at grounding the reader in this world, making Lakewood feel like a place you could step into and might never want to leave.

What truly sets this novel apart is its embrace of Nordic culture and the concept of hygge. From Finnish terms of endearment to Scandinavian design, food, and traditions, these details are seamlessly woven into the narrative.

Minna is a relatable and engaging protagonist. She is thoughtful, slightly anxious, and quietly observant. Her relationships with her mother, her best friend Christie, and her daughter Sofia add emotional richness and authenticity.

As the plot unfolds, the calm, comforting rhythm of small-town life is disrupted by darker undercurrents. The mystery develops at a steady pace, with enough intrigue to keep readers turning pages until the last page. Go ahead with this book without any second thoughts.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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February 9, 2026

Between the Tines

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Between the Tines 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Ben Leman ✍️
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The story features Arran Lamont, a young Highland warrior raised for battle and burdened by the expectations of his clan. As battles mount and alliances fracture, Arran learns that courage and strength alone are not enough; command requires foresight, humility, and a willingness to bear responsibility for the lives of others.

The battle scenes are vivid, tense, etc, capturing not only the chaos of combat but also the strategic decisions that shape victory and loss. Yet the novel’s most haunting moments often occur away from the battlefield when Arran and his companions witness the devastation inflicted on innocent civilians.

The supporting cast, particularly the leaders and warriors of allied clans, enriches the narrative. Clan loyalties feel lived-in, and the political tensions driving the conflict are clearly conveyed.

Arran’s ultimate dilemma, whether to die preserving tradition or lead his people toward an uncertain future, gives the story a powerful emotional resonance. Fans of historical fiction, particularly those drawn to Scottish history and clan culture, will enjoy every bit of this novel.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

February 7, 2026

Shoes That Fit Her Soul

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Shoes That Fit Her Soul 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Shamayne Olivia ✍️
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Shoes That Fit Her Soul: One Woman’s Midlife Journey to Reclaim Her True Self is an empowering memoir that blends storytelling with practical self-development tools. Shamayne Olivia Kotfas invites readers into her life with honesty, sharing experiences of childhood emotional neglect, divorce, grief, and the disorienting questions that often surface at midlife and then gently guides them toward healing, self-awareness, and personal transformation.

What sets this book apart is its beautifully simple metaphor: the parts of a shoe become a roadmap for inner growth. Each “component” represents an essential step on the journey to wholeness. This creative framework makes abstract emotional concepts easy to remember, turning personal growth into something practical and approachable.

Kotfas’s writing is relatable. She positions herself as a fellow traveler who has learned through loss, reflection, therapy, and courage. The sections titled “Walk With Me” are especially powerful, grounding each lesson in real-life experiences that many readers, particularly women navigating midlife transitions will recognize in their own lives. The book thoughtfully explores how childhood coping mechanisms can follow us into adulthood, how unhealed patterns shape our relationships.

Kotfas encourages readers to slow down, listen inwardly, and redefine their identities on their own terms rather than living by inherited expectations. Shoes That Fit Her Soul will resonate strongly with women who feel stuck, disconnected from themselves, or quietly yearning for a more meaningful, aligned life.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

Buy book on Amazon

February 6, 2026February 6, 2026

Winning the War Over What-ifs

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Winning the War Over What-ifs 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Billie Corley ✍️
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Winning the War Over What-ifs is an encouraging, faith-filled guide for anyone who has ever felt stuck in cycles of fear, doubt, or “what if” thinking. With warmth, biblical insight, and personal testimony, Billie Corley walks readers through the emotional and spiritual battles that arise when life takes unexpected turns and shows how to face those moments with hope and confidence in God.

Each chapter focuses on being “empowered”, empowered by hope, in weariness, in waiting, in discouragement, and even in the messiness of everyday life. This book is perfect for readers who want tools they can apply in their daily walk with God.

The theme of “what-ifs” is powerful and universally relatable. Corley reframes these moments not as obstacles, but as divine opportunities for God to reveal His power, faithfulness, and purpose. Her message gently challenges readers to surrender control, trust God’s plans even when they don’t make sense, and move forward in faith rather than fear.

The writing style is heartfelt and devotional, making this book ideal for personal reflection, journaling, or small group study. The included prayers, Scriptures, and “battle plans” at the end of chapters offer practical ways to pause, reflect, and apply each lesson.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

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February 5, 2026

The Waters of Awakening

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: The Waters of Awakening 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Brian A. Mulliner and Dr. Joseph James ✍️
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The Waters of Awakening is a powerful tale of courage and destiny that captured my attention from the very first page. The story follows Arieh, a young boy gifted with the ability to read metal by its color. From his father, Ronan, Arieh learns the art of blacksmithing along with discipline, faith, and reverence. When Arieh is just fifteen, his father’s sudden death places the weight of responsibility squarely on his young shoulders.

Forced to leave school, Arieh takes over his father’s blacksmith shop. Over time, he begins to lose his passion for shaping metal, while his mother retreats into silence under the weight of grief. One day, driven by an irresistible call to “Ascend,” Arieh leaves home in search of something more. The journey he embarks on transforms not only his own life but also the lives of many others he encounters.

Arieh’s path is marked by loss and betrayal, as well as wisdom, kindness, and love. The story is rich with life lessons, and readers will find much to reflect on through his experiences. I’m truly grateful to have read this book. The narration is smooth, and the storyline kept me engaged right up to the final page. This is a must-read, and I highly recommend it to fellow readers.

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

Buy book on Amazon