Month: February 2018

REVIEW: Claws for Concern by Miranda James

REVIEW: Claws for Concern by Miranda James

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Charlie Harris has met a lot of people through his jobs as a librarian. Walking around with a 40-pound Maine Coon named Diesel helps him meet people, too. This time, Charlie meets Bill Delaney. Delaney says he’s the son of Charlie’s late uncle from his first, brief marriage. The guy seems a little lost. His mother recently died, and the news of his father’s identity is pretty new. Charlie, being Charlie, considers inviting Bill to rent one of the boarding rooms at his house.

At the same time, true crime writer, Jack Pemberton, contacts Charlie about working together on a book about amateur sleuths and the crimes they’ve solved. Jack lives in Tullahoma, Bill Delaney’s home town. The town where Bill was suspected of four murders, but never charged.

Charlie feels a responsibility to help Bill out, but he can’t invite a murderer into his home! But when Bill is involved in a hit-and-run that doesn’t seem accidental, Charlie and Diesel decide to team up with Pemberton to see if they can solve the 20 year old cold case once and for all.

Review

I have enjoyed this series since I read the very first book. I don’t read a lot of cozy mysteries with a male protagonist, and I like how this sets the series apart. Diesel is a terrific character – not just animal window dressing for the series. He opens up conversations for Charlie, passes judgement on the character of people involved in the cases, and chirps his two cents along the way.

One of the things I liked about this particular story was the fresh take offered by a cold case and a new sleuthing partner for Charlie. The usual characters are still around – Charlie’s boarders, housekeeper, and family as well as the Ducote sisters – but they are secondary to most of the action.

The mystery in this one is “quiet.” There’s not a lot of action or danger until the very end. The case is solid. I was working on the solution all the way to the end. Since it’s a cold case, Jack and Charlie have to do a lot of digging, interviewing folks until they can shake loose a new wrinkle in the case. I enjoyed that.

The Tullahoma pieces felt like a cozy mystery in the making. I couldn’t find evidence of a series starring Jack Pemberton, but if Miranda (Dean) James decides to write one, I will definitely read it!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans by Russell Ginns

REVIEW: Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans by Russell Ginns

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When Samantha’s Uncle Paul goes missing, she does her best to find a clue for where he is and what’s happened to him. But all the family is able to find is a long, confusing letter that leaves each of the kids a gift. Samantha’s sister, Buffy, gets $2.4 billion, which she promptly takes on a shopping spree of epic proportions. Samantha’s brother, “Nipper,” gets the deed to Yankee Stadium and ownership of the team, which he promptly loses to their manipulative neighbor. And Samantha? Uncle Paul’s partner in exploration? Samantha gets a worn, red umbrella with a weird note.

An umbrella? Seriously? How unfair is that?

Once Samantha gets some well-deserved moping time, though, she and Nipper discover there’s more to her umbrella than she thought. What they discover will send them on an international adventure.

Review

As I was reading this, it reminded me of Dan Gutman’s Genius Files series. A couple of kids traveling to interesting, far-flung places, looking for clues and dodging villains. This will appeal to fans of that series.

There are a lot of quirky things for kids to enjoy with this one. Samantha’s siblings are a large part of the quirk. The ways the kids move around the world, and the dangers they encounter will appeal to fans of adventure stories, too.

I wish I had a better feel for the characters in this. The books I love almost always have characters I love. Samantha and her family are interesting, but I didn’t connect with them emotionally. I don’t feel like I really got to know Samantha in this book, so it’s harder to care what happens on her adventures. I think kids who love a lot of action and activity in their stories will enjoy this. Kids who want to connect with great characters may need to work a little harder to get to know Samantha and her family.

Thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte Books for the opportunity to read an electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Rating: ♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: February 27, 2018

BOOK NEWS: February 27, 2018

Posted on by Jaymie

Our last release week for February 2018 is a big one! Here are some of the new releases I am excited about this week:

Books for Kids

  

Ada Lovelace AND Ella Fitzgerald (Mar 1) – Part of the Little People Big Dreams picture book biography series
All That Trash: The Story of the 1987 Garbage Barge and Our Problem With Stuff –  Discover the event that helped spark the recycling movement. Another great nonfiction picture book!
No Truth Without Ruth – Picture book biography of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Unplugged – Blip discovers a whole new world when she is accidentally unplugged from her computer.
Baby Monkey Private Eye – This quirky little book from the author/illustrator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret is about a little monkey detective who has issues with putting on his pants. This one is a must read for me because I just have to see how this story plays out.
Eva and the Lost Pony – Book 8 in the fabulous Owl Diaries series. I have loved these colorful little Branches books since the first one released. Perfect for kids ready to branch into chapter books.
Hazy Bloom and the Pet Project – Book 2 in the Hazy Bloom series about a third grader who has visions of the future. This time, she is trying to convince her parents she is ready for a pet. I haven’t read the first book, but I’d like to check out this series for new chapter book readers.
Peachy and Keen: A School Tail – Book 1 in a new series about best friends who try to launch an electronic magazine/newspaper for their school. Looking forward to reading this one.
Sparks – Two cats operate a mechanical dog suit and fight an evil alien in this new graphic novel. Yes please!
Third Grade Mermaid and the Narwhals – When a mean girl says narwhals are fake, Cora and her friends head out to prove her wrong. This series looks adorable. This is the second book in the series.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Bears of the Ice: Quest of the Cubs – The first book in a new series by the author of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole and Wolves of the Beyond series. This book focuses on a pair of polar bears who have to rescue their mother from power-hungry bears determined to take over the Northern Kingdoms.
I Survived the Children’s Blizzard, 1888 – Book 16 in this fantastic adventure series, this one about a frozen hurricane that hit the Midwest without warning.
Pixel Raiders: Dig World – First in a new series about a couple of kids who get trapped in a very realistic-feeling video game.
The Calculus of Change – A new guy in her calculus class helps a girl connect to her dead mother’s faith. This sounds terrific!
Daughter of the Siren Queen – Book 2 in the Daughter of the Pirate King series full of high-seas adventure. I’d love to check this series out!
Heart of Iron – A girl adopted by the crew of a space vessel will do anything to fix the android that has been with her as long as she can remember. Her quest will leave her on the run with her nemesis, pursued by people who don’t necessarily want to capture her alive. Yes please! This sounds awesome.
People Like Us – When a dead girl is found in the lake, Kay’s efforts to escape her past are in jeopardy. The dead girl has left her a scavenger hunt to find the murderer. This has been compared to One of Us Is Lying, which was amazing. I have this on my list as well!
Tess of the Road – A wild child, Tess is being sent to a nunnery when she disguises herself and sets off in search of a place where she might belong. I will be reviewing this one later this week. It has been receiving rave reviews.
This Heart of Mine – A girl in need of  a heart transplant receives one – from a former classmate who commits suicide. But the boy’s twin doesn’t think his brother killed himself. Sounds like a fascinating story.
The Traitor’s Game – The daughter of the evil king’s right hand man is a valuable bargaining chip for rebels in this first book in a new series by the author of the fabulous The False Prince. This is at the top of my list for this week!
Where I Live – A homeless girl living in her high school stumbles onto the secrets of another student. Doing the right thing for the other student could expose her own secrets. This is #2 on my list for this week. It sounds fantastic.
Hope Nation: YA Authors Share Personal Moments of Inspiration – A collection of personal essays from authors like Ally Carter, Libba Bray, James Dashner,  and Jason Reynolds. I am excited about this book.

Books for Adults

 

Color Me Murder – Book 1 in the Pen and Ink Mystery series starring a bookstore manager who also designs adult coloring book pages. In this book, the bookstore owner is suspected of murder. The premise for this series is so clever. I can’t wait to see it in person.
Hummus and Homicide – First book in the new Kebab Kitchen Mystery series where a grown up mean girl is killed after visiting the Kebab Kitchen. The description of this one had me at “hummus bar”.
I Know What You Bid Last Summer – Book 5 in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series. This time, the school superintendent is murdered at a sports equipment swap.
Lethal Licorice  – Book 2 in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. This time, Bailey is trying to solve a murder at a candy competition. You can read my review of book one here.
Pawprints and Predicaments – Book 3 in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery Series. Daphne investigates the death of a controlling TV producer. You can read my review of book one here.
Raspberry Danish Murder – Book 22 in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series about a cookie shop owner. The recipes in this series are fantastic.
Bygone Badass Broads – Just in time for Women’s History month (March), this covers the stories of 52 influential women. I am looking forward to checking this one out.
Enough As She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy and Fulfilling Lives – The latest from Rachel Simmons
My Faith Journey (Mar 1) – A guided devotional including space to journal and pictures to color
The Rescue: Seven People, Seven Amazing Stories  – True stories that should have ended tragically, and the miracles that changed those stories. I have enjoyed the author’s previous books, so I am curious to see how this one is.

REVIEW: Turn It Up! by Jen Calonita

REVIEW: Turn It Up! by Jen Calonita

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Bradley Academy boasts two a capella groups on campus – the all-boys group, the Kingfishers and the all-girls group, The Nightingales. While the Kingfishers are at the top of their game, the Nightingales have had a string of bad luck. New co-captains (and best friends) Lidia and Sydney are hoping to end the five-year slump.

But before the school year even starts, the best friends are barely speaking. Sydney was supposed to be getting to know Lidia’s crush, Griffin, so she could point him in Lidia’s direction. But Griffin falls for Sydney instead, and Lidia sees him kiss Sydney. When Sydney tries to play it off as no big deal, hoping Lidia will get over it so they can get back to a capella, Lidia quits the Nightingales.

The girls’ huge fight is a distraction the Nightingales don’t need. It keeps people from auditioning and leaves Sydney with a rival as her “co-captain.” Can the Nightingales pull it together or are they doomed for good?

Review

It took me awhile to get into the rhythm of this one. I was frustrated with Sydney and didn’t have a lot of sympathy for her in the fight with Lidia. But I loved that the fight gave Lidia a chance to find her own path away from the Nightingales. That path had seemed chosen for her in some ways. I was thrilled that they author let Lidia follow a new course all the way through the story. Lidia’s storyline kept me reading.

This is a fairly simple plot. The tension and suspense is minor. The conflicts are, too. The biggest stakes were Julianna’s stage fright and the future of the Nightingales. But every story doesn’t need a life or death conflict.

This is a fun, clean and simple friendship story with a side of light romance (kissing, holding hands). I could hand this to any kid in 5th grade and up without hesitation. There are some open ended threads that could be woven into a sequel, and I would readily read it.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: A Grave Issue by Lillian Bell

REVIEW: A Grave Issue by Lillian Bell

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

It started with an emu.

A dead emu. Rosemary and Alan Brewer said the barking is what killed it. In their opinion, Kyle and Lola Hanson’s dogs scared the emu to death.

The death of the emu led to the fight. At the funeral home. That’s how Desiree got dragged into the mess. She was working at her family’s funeral home when Rosemarie and Lola had an altercation over the emu. Desiree was supposed to be helping her family business. A fight during a funeral isn’t very helpful. Not Desiree’s best moment. (Also, not her worst!)

Things go from bad to worse when Alan is found dead and Kyle is arrested for the murder. Kyle has been like a second father to Desiree. And with her own father presumed dead after a surfing accident, Desiree is determined to track down the truth and exonerate Kyle.

Her skills as a former reporter and her ties to the folks in her home town could be just what Desiree needs to puzzle things out.

Review

This was excellent! The setting – a funeral home – is unusual and gives Desiree access to lots of folks around town. The mystery is complicated and the pacing for it was perfect. Every so often a new layer or wrinkle or clue comes along to keep the reader engaged and guessing. And there are side stories like Desiree’s sister’s pregnancy or her best friend’s maybe-stalker that serve to cement the other characters into the story. Everything connects and makes sense yet doesn’t overshadow the main plot.

Desiree is great. She’s smart and determined and likable. She’s hoping to reinvent herself eventually after a major gaffe. But she stays focused on the here and now – helping her family and proving Kyle innocent.

There are a couple potential love interests for Desiree and an overarching mystery that will carry into the next book. The overarching mystery is a brilliant thing I have seen in some other series recently. It draws readers onto the next book to see what happens. I know I will definitely be reading book 2 (If the Coffin Fits – Fall 2018) in this terrific new series.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for access to an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It was a treat to read this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Arts and Thefts by Allison K. Hymas

REVIEW: Arts and Thefts by Allison K. Hymas

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Jeremy, Case and Hack are heading to an art show for the day. Case has entered a painting in the show. Of course his best friends are there to back him up!

But trouble is brewing. Someone stole paint and paintbrushes from another artist. Jeremy’s sometimes-nemesis/sometimes-partner, Becca, is on the case. Even though they worked together once before, Becca is determined to catch Jeremy at something and see him in detention forever. But Jeremy isn’t a thief. Sure, he takes “retrieval” jobs, but it’s always to right wrongs.

Becca and Jeremy realize the thief could use the stolen items to sabotage the art show. If they work together, they could solve the case and protect Case’s painting and the others from the saboteur. Jeremy is a righter-of-wrongs after all. But he can’t let Case or Hack know he’s working with Becca. They would never understand.

Review

In preparation for reading this book, I read the first book, Under Locker and Key, a book that has been on my wishlist since it published. I loved it and gave it 4.5 stars in my (non-blog) reviews. This second book, while different, is just as terrific. Book one is more of a heist/con story (like The Great Greene Heist – which I loved – but with a much smaller crew) while this is a more traditional mystery. The characters are fantastic. Becca and Jeremy like to think they are on opposite sides of the law, but their intentions are similar – to right wrongs.

I loved that this story took place almost entirely over one day at the art show. It gave the story a nice, quick pace. The secondary characters for this one were a lot of fun. I hope there’s going to be a book 3 because I’d love to see how the new characters could factor in. I’m also hoping for more of Case and Hack. I feel like they are going to make a huge contribution to a later story. They have the skills, but we haven’t gotten to see much of them. Yet.

These are some of my favorite middle grade mysteries. I highly recommend both books – and that you watch for more from this series! Many, many thanks to Netgalley and Aladdin for an electronic review copy of this book for review purposes. That pushed me to get the first book off of my TBR list so I could enjoy this one fully.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

BOOK NEWS: February 20, 2018

BOOK NEWS: February 20, 2018

Posted on by Jaymie

This is a small week for new releases, but there are still some fantastic choices for this week!

Books for Kids

Anywhere Artist – A celebration of creativity and imagination. I can’t wait to see this one in person. The illustration style is exactly what I love.
Florette – A girl who is moving longs to take her garden with her to the city. This looks lovely.
The Lost Penguin (Feb 22) – Kate Hindley’s art work is what stopped me in my tracks on this one. Her work always catches my eye. This is the second Oliver and Patch story. This time, Oliver and friends try to find a lost penguin. This looks too precious to miss! Right now, I can only find this book listed as an e-book.
The Rabbit Listened – When something terrible happens, all the animals want to do something to help, but the rabbit just listens. This looks like a tender-hearted story.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Sticky Notes – A dad’s forgetfulness becomes something more serious. I want to cry just from reading the description. This will be an emotional one, but I still want to read it.
R Is for Rebel – A girl in reform school plans to follow in her parents’ footsteps to resist the government that wants to silence them. I am fascinated by the description of this story for teens. This is on my list.

Books for Adults

Claws for Concern – In the 9th book in the Cat in the Stacks Mystery series, Charlie and Diesel are investigating mysteries close to Charlie’s own family. I’ll be reviewing this one next week!
The Bible Book – I love this series of informational books by the folks at DK. I have several in my personal collection. This one focuses on the Bible – history, personalities and major events recorded in its pages.

REVIEW: The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

REVIEW: The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

In the world of Orléans, the Belles are a gift to the world from the goddess of beauty. The God of the Sky turned the humans of Orléans grey and ugly in a fit of anger. The Bells were sent to bring beauty back to the world.

Camellia is one of six Belles debuting this year. When each of the girls has displayed her skills to the queen at the Beauté Carnaval, the queen will assign the girls to the place where they will serve the people. Only one of them can be “the favorite” and serve the royal family and their most honored guests at the palace. And Camellia – Camille – is determined to win.

But nothing goes as Camille expects. There are secrets at the palace. And at the tea houses where the Belles serve. Even back at the home where they were raised. Secrets. Lies. Manipulations. Betrayals. Nothing has prepared Camille for the reality of her new life or what will be asked of her.

Review

Wow! This book left me feeling stunned. It was nothing like I expected. It doesn’t look like a fantasy from the cover, but it very much is. There’s a lot of world building that went into the development of this story. It took me a little while to get the feel of it. It’s about beauty on one level – about being the best of the best. I think I was expecting something along the line of The Selection, but this is something entirely different.

I’m can’t exactly say I enjoyed this. I didn’t click with the main character. And characters are almost always what makes a book special for me. There are enough secrets and twists in this that it’s hard to feel like you really know the characters.  And Camille is stuck between a rock and a hard place. She’s not even sure who she’s going to be in the face of some events.

At the same time, the story was absolutely captivating. I was rooting for Camille against her foes. I was breathless as things accelerated toward the end. The finish left me at loose ends, wondering what could possibly happen next. Underneath the beauty pieces is a dark, twisty and suspenseful tale of madness, betrayal and manipulation. It’s brilliantly written. And while I feel no draw to a character or my usual feelings about a great book, I also know I will have to read the next book to find out what happens. (Trigger warning for assault)

Thanks to Netgalley and Freeform for the opportunity to read an electronic copy of this book for review purposes. While it was nothing like I was expecting, at the same time it was excellent.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEWS: Two Self-Help Winners!

REVIEWS: Two Self-Help Winners!

Posted on by Jaymie

I’ve been having a hard time finding a day for these reviews, but I enjoyed the books so much, I didn’t want to push them off any longer. So today, you get two reviews. Happy Valentine’s Day! Show some love to yourself and check these out.

She’s Still There – Summary

Have you ever found yourself in a moment or at a cross roads and wondered “How did I get here?” And not in a good way! You had these plans, these dreams, these expectations. But nothing in your life looks like you thought it would.

Maybe you drifted. Maybe you took a short cut, lowered a standards, or took your eyes off the path and that changed your course. Maybe you got distracted. That temporary move, temporary job, “short season” of something has become your permanent location. Maybe circumstances outside your control have left you in a place you never intended to be. No matter how you got here, you can find your way back. The person you were once upon a time is still there. And Chrystal Evans Hurst wants to help you find her.

She’s Still There – Review

While this book is targeted to women in the title and in many of the examples, this really works for anyone. The book is broken into 6 sections with multiple chapters. Each chapter has reflection questions and Bible verses to go through. There are practical applications for every point from doing an assessment of your gifts and skills to ways of setting small goals to help you stay on track.

I read the book as part of a study with Proverbs 31. This included videos and Bible study ideas and conference calls. And all of that “bonus” content was great. But the foundation is the book, and it is all you really need to take a long look at your life and your current direction.

I found the book both challenging and encouraging. The writing is approachable. There’s a “me too” feel where the author shares from her own journey. She’s not perfect or an expert. She’s lived this and coaches from her place a few steps ahead of you. Great for personal study or for group study. I highly recommend this.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

The Wellness Revelation – Summary

The subtitle for this book is “Lose what weighs you down so you can love God, yourself and others.” For a diet/health/fitness book, this has a HUGE faith component.

There are 8 sections of the book, designed to lead the reader on an 8-week journey. Each chapter has five components, easily broken down for weekday usage if you choose. The first two sections include a chunk of information and encouragement and often an action step or two. There’s a set of Bible study questions in another section, reflection questions in the fourth, and a final “testimony” piece at the end.

The journey is intentionally slow paced. It doesn’t address much with food until week 3, and the exercise kicks in in week 4. This is by design. The author spends two weeks setting a spiritual foundation, encouraging readers to approach food and movement from healthy places. And she reinforces this message in each workout, podcast and Facebook Live posting.

The Wellness Revelation – Review

I loved this whole process from the beginning. I loved the faith pieces that are part of every breath of the program. I read the book as part of an online course through Facebook, and every leader online encouraged participants to seek the Lord and follow His leading on food, on movement, on pacing and on how our past influences our present.

There’s enough material in the book and online (workouts, podcasts, etc) to make this process a full time job. I had to choose to be content to do what I could, to emphasize the parts that were encouraging to me and be okay when I couldn’t keep up with it all. I’ve become a fan of their online workouts at RevWellTV (available for a monthly fee) – there are different types of workouts, different instructors, and different skill/intensity levels. Something for everyone.

If you feel like now is the time to invest in your health, I can’t recommend this book and the people behind it highly enough.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

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REVIEW: DC Superhero Girls: Date with Disaster! by Shea Fontana

REVIEW: DC Superhero Girls: Date with Disaster! by Shea Fontana

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Romance is in the air as the Super Hero High kids plan a dance and Batgirl sees her dad, Commissioner Gordon, on a date. Even Principal Waller has a boyfriend. Batgirl signs her dad up for a dating service because she doesn’t like the person he’s dating. But her plans to find true love for her dad backfire.

While the plans for the dance start coming together, and the kids start matchmaking for one another, there’s an explosion at STAR Labs. Dr Faulkner is hurt, and the mayor is trying to hide something. The kids will have to wait to put on their dancing shoes until they sort out what is really going on at STAR Labs.

Review

This was a fun story that really held together well.  There was a nice level of tension from chapter to chapter leading up to the end. The STAR Labs piece was especially well done. The matchmaking was more of a means to an end. It got people into places where they need to be for other parts of the story to take place.

Poison Ivy and Lois Lane had expanded roles in this story which was a lot of fun. The rest of the girls worked various angles on the mystery. The guys – Flash and Cyborg in particular – were more involved in the dance portions of the story.

This will be great for fans of the other graphic novels in this series as well as fans of the Lisa Yee middle grade novels and other DC properties. This is my favorite book so far in this graphic novel series.

Thanks to Netgalley and DC Comics for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥