Honest, opinionated consumer reviews

Shopping recommendations from an opinionated mom reviewer

Welcome, and thanks for visiting! This collection is always growing, so please check back, or feel free to suggest a product or service to be reviewed. Use the search box below the top reviews on the right to look for something specific, or grab a category above and enjoy. All reviews on this site express my honest opinion; I never let anyone buy a positive review.

No, you don't have to rely on one person's opinions here. Every review offers the opportunity to leave comments and your own rating. Please take advantage of these to share your experiences whenever you're familiar with the subject of the review. I'd also love to see relevant comments within your field of expertise that could help other readers. I'm not an expert in everything, and welcome any good, useful information.

Antonia Fraser Brings History’s Extraordinary Women to Life in Warrior Queens

Populated with the likes of Queen Elizabeth I of England, Indira Ghandi and Queen Louise of Prussia, Antonia Fraser's Warrior Queens describes some of the greatest female rulers in history. Love them or hate them, each of these ladies affected great change by strategically applying their unique powers as... Read More »

The Bastard of Istanbul, By Elif Shafak, Explores Turkish-Armenian Relationships and Cultural Taboos

Elif Shafak is acclaimed as the most widely-read female Turkish author, and The Bastard of Istanbul is an excellent example of why. Her gift for storytelling shines in this complex tale of a Turkish family and its diverse generations of... Read More »

Cosco Touriva 22-110 Convertible Car Seat Works in a Pinch…Until You Can Replace It

The Cosco Touriva convertible car seat will keep kids safely strapped into the vehicle and meet all legal requirements for transporting children. It's also rock-hard and not designed with frequent moves in... Read More »

Cosco Juvenile Pronto Booster Seat Offers a Cheap Bare-bones Solution

The Cosco Juvenile Pronto is a great booster seat if you just need a "plain Jane" that will get the job done, but will still be tolerably comfortable for your... Read More »

Focus on the Kodak M530 EasyShare Digital Camera: Decent Pictures on a Budget

Snap decent pictures with the Kodak Easyshare M530, just don't expect the ability to adjust for virtually any application. It's a basic, low-cost camera that works well for family pictures or product photos for online... Read More »

Get Started with YouTube Using the Kodak Zi8 Digital Camcorder

The Kodak Zi8 digital camcorder offers everything a basic user could want with a nice picture and good storage options. Its battery is short-lived and the internal microphone isn't quite up to specs, but both obstacles can be overcome at this fairly low price... Read More »

Start Beginner Firearms Training with the Crosman Pumpmaster 760

The Crosman Pumpmaster 760 air rifle offers a low-cost way for beginners to get started shooting, but expect a few minor issues and middle-of-the-road (at best) build... Read More »

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If you want an item reviewed that is not currently in the database, please use the contact form to send suggestions. I will do my best to honor requests from individual consumers for reviews of products or services with which I'm familiar.

If you have a product or service of your own that you'd like reviewed, we can discuss potential terms. This will almost certainly include some type of sample on which to base my review, and generally some payment for the time invested as well. I do not have set rates -- if I love the idea of your product, I may review it just for the privilege of getting to try it. Send me an offer and I'll let you know if it's acceptable. All I ask is that you not insult me or my readers by compensating only for a positive review. I will review as I see fit; all positive reviews here are deserved, not bought.