November 2018 - Page 2 of 3 - The Neverending TBR

REVIEW: The Last Best Story by Maggie Lehrman

Posted on November 15, 2018September 21, 2018 by Jaymie

Summary

Grant is ALL about the school newspaper. He’s dedicated all four years of high school to the paper, serving as editor-in-chief for his senior year. And through it all, his best friend, Rose, has been right by his side. Until she up and quit two months ago.

Rose thought she wanted the same things as Grant – the paper and the journalism program at Northwestern. She thought she wanted Grant, too. But two months before graduation Rose questions everything in her life. Does Grant feel about her the way she feels about him? Does she even want to be a journalist? Or did she get caught up in HIS enthusiasm? So Rose strikes out on her own, quitting the paper, getting a boyfriend and not telling anyone she was accepted at Northwestern.

So, that’s that. Grant and Rose end up at prom, but not together. Senior year for them is essentially done. Grant is alone. Rose is with JB. All of their opportunities to be together have slipped away. But when the school goes into lockdown in the middle of prom, Grant and Rose find themselves caught up in the news story of their lives.

Review

This was so fun! From online descriptions of this book, I was expecting all the romance pieces in the story. The will-they-or-won’t-they questions hanging over Grant and Rose’s relations were expected. And that was great. Neither of the kids were good at expressing their feelings. Sometimes they weren’t even aware of them at all. I was thrilled that Rose was strong enough to walk away from the paper and explore some other options for her final days of high school when she started question her direction. That’s a great story in and of itself.

The lockdown angle, though, was a complete surprise for me, and I loved it. It opened up the story to other characters and increased the pace and urgency in the story. And it gave Grant and Rose time to look back and examine some of their past choices.

I enjoyed the combination of typical high school relationships and drama with the jolt of suspense brought about by the lockdown and the ways that part of the story unfolded. This was a lot of fun to read! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: ‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

Posted on November 14, 2018October 6, 2021 by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

While Holly’s loved her life growing up in Mistletoe, Maine on her family’s Christmas tree farm, Reindeer Games, her best friend Caroline’s life in town has always been more complicated. Holly grew up enjoying the freedom of her family’s property. Caroline is the mayor’s daughter. Her life has been a series of lectures and expectations and obligations. The most recent was the event she had to attend with Judge Waggoner’s son, Derek. She didn’t want to go in the first place, and then he tried to get a little too familiar. The video of her telling him off went viral and news hit the front page of the paper. The only bigger news came 24 hours later when Derek was found dead.

Holly remembers how dangerous last Christmas was when she was on the hunt for a killer. Even if she could forget, her family and friends won’t let her. She’s been told to stay away from this investigation. But when the evidence stacks up against Caroline, and someone leaves Holly threatening notes to leave it be, Holly is convinced she has to get to the truth for Caroline’s sake – and her own.

Review

I fell in love with this series last year, and book two has lived up to the excellence of the first one. I adore the fictional Mistletoe, Maine! What a terrific setting! The town shops sound delightful, and I love the activities at Reindeer Games. I’m excited about the changes happening at the Christmas tree farm for Holly’s family – they add lots of avenues for new stories in the future.

Holly and her family and friends are people I’d love to know in real life. I chuckled many times at the conversations between the characters. Cookie is a hoot, and I loved the interplay between Holly and Ray as well as Holly and Caroline. The author added a nice wrinkle to Holly’s relationship with the sheriff that may extend into the next book.

The mystery was excellent! Lots of juicy gossip led to several viable suspects. There was a lot more danger for Holly in this book. This added a layer of suspense to the whole story that I don’t often find in cozy mysteries. It made for a great reading experience. There’s also a touch of Christmas magic in this one that I loved.

I highly recommend both books in this Christmas mystery series! Excellent characters and well-crafted mysteries make for an enjoyable reading experience and help set the mood for Christmas!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Annie’s Life in Lists by Kristin Mahoney

Posted on November 13, 2018November 13, 2018 by Jaymie

Summary

Annie has a fantastic memory for people. She remembers names, faces and details. Usually, this is less of a gift than you might think. Annie is a quiet, blend-into-the-background kid and others think it’s weird when a “stranger” knows so much about them.

Annie’s awesome memory causes problems for her at school when her people-skills expose a family secret. Now Annie has to go to a different school. To make matters worse, Annie’s parents decide to leave the city and move to a small town. Her dad says it’s for his job, but Annie wonders if it was because she exposed their secret.

Annie is determined to keep her weird memory to herself when she starts at her new school. It takes time to make friends, and she doesn’t want her freaky skills to alienate people. Her brother already hates her because they had to move. And her dad doesn’t seem as enamored with the small town life as he did at first. How can Annie make things better for everyone after she ruined everything?

Review

My list of things I loved about this book:

Annie. I really identified with her and her memory for people. I feel like I remember people better than others remember me. I also loved her lists. They tell the reader so much about what she’s thinking and how she’s feeling.
The kids in Clover Gap. Annie makes some great friends in her new home. The dynamic between Annie and Amelia is a great one for Annie to work through.
Annie’s growth across the story. One of my favorite themes in books is finding your voice. And Annie is on that journey here. It’s great.
The format. The “new kid at school” thing has been done before. But a story told almost entirely in lists? It’s brilliant! I can’t believe the author composed such a rich and intricate story with lists and a handful of paragraphs to fill in some details. This format created an absolutely excellent, unique reading experience.

This would make a fantastic addition to home and school libraries. This would also be an excellent mentor text in a writing classroom. Imagine young writers creating lists and list stories of their own! This has become one of my favorite books of the year. It’s one I recommend all the time.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

BOOK NEWS: November 13, 2018

Posted on November 12, 2018October 23, 2018 by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

The Case of the Missing Chalk Drawings – From the author of the awesome This Book Just Ate My Dog! comes a mystery about missing drawings. I can’t wait to read this one!
Super Turbo Gets Caught – In book 8 in the series, Super Turbo falls victim to a mousetrap in the school cafeteria.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Bad Hare Day – Book 2 in the Mutant Bunny Island series. Perry is invited back to Bunny Island for Carrot Con. That sentence alone would get me to pick this one up and check it out. Carrot Con!
It Wasn’t Me – Another middle grade book compared to The Breakfast Club (like The Reckless Club). This time, five students suspected of vandalism join the victim on a Saturday to get to the bottom of what happened. I will be on the look out for this one!
Sasquatch and the Muckleshoot – Book 3 in the Unicorn Rescue Society. I have book 1 on my TBR shelves.
Twilight of the Elves – Book 2 in the Adventurers Guild series about a group of kids called on to right wrongs in a fantasy world.
Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow – Book 2 in the Nevermoor series about a cursed girl destined to die who is swept away to a secret city. I have book one on my reading list.
Crimes of Grindelwald Screenplay (November 16) – The screenplay for the latest movie in the Harry Potter universe.
How She Died How I Lived – This book for teens focuses on a group of girls who were targeted by a killer. One of them paid the ultimate price. On the eve of the killer’s sentencing, the five survivors try to cope with their questions and survivor’s guilt. This sounds fascinating.
The Lying Woods – A teen finds out his father funded their lavish life with stolen funds. Now he has skipped town and left the young man and his mother to deal with the fall out. which includes threats against them for revenge. Yep, I would absolutely read that!
The Resolutions – Four Latinx teens make New Year’s resolutions – for one another – in an effort to stay connected during their senior year of high school. Sign me up for this one, too.
The Storyteller – Book 3 in the Sea of Ink and Gold series after The Reader and The Speaker. In an illiterate society, a girl whose father was murdered and whose aunt was kidnapped finds a book. I’ve had book 1 on my list for ages.
Your Own Worst Enemy – Three students vie for Student Council President in this satirical story of the electoral process. I have already requested this one from the library!

Books for Adults

Dead Sea Rising (Hardcover) – Jerry Jenkins launches a new series about an archaeologist whose discovery could change everything we think we know about history – and those who will do everything they can to stop her revelations.
Death and Daisies (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Magic Garden series by Amanda Flower. I’ll be reviewing this one later this month.
In Peppermint Peril (Hardcover) – First in a new series starring a young woman in town for Christmas and to help her great-aunt with her tea shop. I’ll be reviewing this one later this month, too.
Long Road to Mercy (Hardcover) – David Baldacci launches a new series this week, too. Atlee Pine is an FBI agent who 30 years ago was a six-year-old at the mercy of a kidnapper – a kidnapper who chose her twin sister, Mercy, instead thanks to an twisted game of eeny- meeny. Now, she is still haunted by that night even as she works through her latest case of a missing Grand Canyon tourist whose donkey is found stabbed to death at the bottom of the Canyon. This sounds amazing. I know my husband and I will both be digging into this one!
A Scandal in Scarlet (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery about a woman who manages a Sherlock Holmes bookstore. In this book, a local museum is damaged by fire and the locals put together an auction to raise funds for restoration. Before the auction can kick off, though, someone has kicked the bucket. I have this series on my reading list!
‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series, which I LOVE! This book was excellent! I’ll be reviewing it later this week. You should check it out!
Becoming (Hardcover) – Michelle Obama releases a memoir this week. I am looking forward to reading this one.
It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered (Hardcover) – The latest book by Lysa TerKeurst is already on my Christmas list. This is at the top of my list for this week!

REVIEW: How to Fracture a Fairy Tale by Jane Yolen

Posted on November 8, 2018October 30, 2018 by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy from Netgalley and Tachyon Publications in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

A collection of 28 fractured fairy tales as well as notes and poems from the author. Some of the material also ties back to the author’s other works. Reading this gave me the same feelings I felt when reading Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling. You might not know the origins of all the stories, but there is a tone and cadence to them that feels familiar anyway.

Review

It’s difficult to summarize a collection of short stories, at least for me. I find that I enjoy some of the stories and others don’t click. It’s rare for me to love everything in a collection like this. My favorite fairy tales in this collection are:

Snow in Summer – A twist on Snow White with a satisfying ending I really enjoyed.

One Ox, Two, Ox, Three Ox and the Dragon King – A story of three brothers on a quest to save their mother.

Slipping Sideways Through Eternity – A time travel story that shifts from modern times to the Holocaust.

Sleeping Ugly – A Sleeping Beauty-esque story starring a beautiful princess with an ugly personality.

I love fractured fairy tales in general and have enjoyed many books in that style. This was an interesting collection of them, although many weren’t my style. This could be a great resource for writers, writing students and writing classrooms as well as for poetry work. I wish the collection had been arranged so the notes and poems were with their fairy tale counterpart rather than having the fairy tales at the front of the book and all the notes at the back. I also found that I enjoyed this more when I read only a couple fairy tales at a time and then let the stories sit in my mind for awhile rather than trying to read through the whole book as you would a novel.

Rating: ♥♥♥

REVIEW: Deadly News by Jody Holford

Posted on November 7, 2018February 1, 2019 by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy from Netgalley and Lyrical Underground in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Molly was eager to start her new life in Britton Bay. She had a new job as the editor for the Britton Bay Bulletin. The Bulletin had been struggling to keep up with the times, but her boss, Alan, thought Molly was just what they needed to change that. One of the staff on the paper wasn’t so sure.

Vernon was a sour, grouchy, disagreeable person – with everyone. He was resistant to change and resistant to any of the improvements Molly wanted to make. He had a reputation for being awful to nearly everyone. But it was still a surprise when Molly found his dead body.

Who could have hated Vernon so much they’d kill him? Could it be Molly’s boss, Alan, or one of the staff, Elizabeth? They seemed awfully cozy, and Alan was married. Vernon sure thought something was going on because he threatened to tell Alan’s wife. Or was it the other guy at the paper – Clay? Molly saw evidence he was at the scene. What about Vernon’s angry poker buddy? Or his ex?

Molly’s curious nature as a reporter means she won’t back off this case. She has to figure out who killed Vernon.

Review

This was terrific! This is an excellent kick off for a new series. Molly is a great character. She’s skilled at her job and genuine with other people. She makes some great friends in this small town and even mentors a young writer. She has great chemistry with the romantic interest, too. I loved that he isn’t a cop or a detective! They are very sweet together. The dog was a great addition to the story, too – so cute!

The mystery was terrific. The reader has enough time to get a feel for Vernon before he is killed. And there’s ample time and space to consider the various suspects and motives. The wrap up was solid and satisfying.

This is a series I will definitely keep following. The characters and the town are engaging and enjoyable. I would be happy to spend more time in Britton Bay!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

BONUS REVIEW: The Unusual Chickens series by Kelly Jones

Posted on November 6, 2018February 1, 2019 by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of Are You Ready to Hatch an Unusual Chicken? from Netgalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer – SUMMARY

Sophie and her family have inherited her great-uncle Jim’s farm. And Jim at one time had some very special chickens. Now those chickens belong to Sophie – but someone is trying to steal them! Sophie shares the story of her family’s adjustment to the farm and her own learning curve when it comes to chickens in general as well as her unusual chickens through letters to her dead great-uncle, her Abuelita who has also passed away, and a farm supply catalog company.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Are You Read to Hatch an Unusual Chicken? SUMMARY

Sophie continues to care for her unusual chickens, and now she gets to hatch a batch of her own for the very first time. She has a lot to learn – about the hatching process and also about caring for the farm she inherited in book 1 (a different farm than Great-Uncle Jim’s). The biggest lesson of all, though, is learning to ask for help. Sophie is a bright girl who loves her chickens. She’s committed to doing whatever it takes to care for them. And that’s good because her new chicks are a whole new level of “unusual.”

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

Review

I adore this series! I read book one from the library in preparation for reading book 2. It was adorable! I loved Sophie. She’s got a great “voice.” The format – letters to deceased relatives and an unknown person at the catalog – is clever. It’s like a journal, but it keeps Sophie connected to family, which is important to her and to the story.

In the second book, Sophie continues to tell her story in letters to the dead and also emails to the living. Her letters and emails are where Sophie pours out her heart about the ups and downs of family, friends, a new school, and being a farmer with unusual chickens. There are illustrations and chicken facts throughout the book, which were fun to read. There are general illustrations for the story, too, which I loved. Henrietta is my favorite chicken from the illustrations!

The bulk of this story is anchored in reality – Sophie’s family is trying to find their way on a farm when they are city folks, and they have little money to put into the farm while they get it up and running. Sophie is making new friends and starting at a new school – pretty typical activities for kids her age. The Brown family is becoming part of the community around their farm, especially as Sophie meets people who can help her with chicken tasks. The unusual chickens are the only fantasy elements in the books. I read a lot of fantasy where the whole WORLD around the story is fantastical. This is a lovely change of pace. It reminds me of the author’s YA book that I read last year.

I thoroughly enjoyed both books in this series, and I recommend them highly!!

REVIEW: Judy Moody and the Right Royal Tea Party by Megan McDonald

Posted on November 6, 2018February 1, 2019 by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this from Netgalley and Candlewick in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Judy’s imagination gets quite the work out when her class does a family tree project. Judy’s grandmother brings her all the family research they have, including the Moody family crest. Judy learns that one of her relatives was on the Titanic and another broke someone out of the Tower of London.

Judy decides this means she must be related to the Queen of England. She writes to the queen, visits a castle (in Virginia, where her family lives), and plans a royal tea party for her friends where she could be crowned queen.

But the tea party doesn’t go the way Judy planned. And a classmate’s family tree project shares new information relating to Judy’s family that changes everything.

Review

Overall, this is a solid story, but not my favorite. I’ve not enjoyed the latest books as much as I adored the earlier ones in the series. This one is cute, with lots of British references, including a list of fun terms at the back. The castle tour and family tree projects were fun parts of the story. The kids had really clever ideas for their projects. This could be a great classroom tie in for lessons on the British monarchy or for family tree projects. It could also be fun for a tea party or tea-party themed birthday celebration. The illustrations were not available in my early review copy, but Peter H. Reynolds always does an excellent job!

If you’re new to Judy Moody, I would start with the earlier books to get to know the characters. Judy Moody Goes to College is my favorite. Readers could start with this one, though, without issue. The books don’t have to be read in order. If you enjoy Judy’s books, be sure to check out the series starring her brother Stink as well as the Judy Moody and Friends Early Readers.

Rating: ♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: November 6, 2018

Posted on November 5, 2018October 18, 2018 by Jaymie

Happy November! Historically I have noticed that November is not a big month for publishing, but this year I have found a LOT of great books releasing this month. Here are some of the books out this week.

Books for Kids

Dr. Thirteenth – Limited edition hardcover celebration of the new Doctor. (The regular paperback version will release in January 2019)
No Boring Stories – A group of misfit animals are tired of boring stories so they write some stories of their own. This looks fantastic!
Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott – A lesser known story from the Civil Rights movement. I can’t wait to read this one!
To Wakanda and Beyond – The latest in the Marvel Super Hero Adventures series. I’ve read one of these, and it was a lot of fun!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Aquaman: Arthur’s Guide to Atlantis – Part of a collection of books set around the new Aquaman movie releasing in December
Aquaman: The Junior Novel – The junior novel for the movie.
Aquaman: Undertow – A prequel story of a young Arthur Curry set in the DC Cinematic Universe
Are You Ready to Hatch an Unusual Chicken? – Book 2 in this series about some very special chickens with superpowers. I really enjoyed the first book in this series. I’ll be reviewing this one here tomorrow.
Ellie, Engineer: The Next Level – Book 2 in the Ellie Engineer series. This time, Ellie and her friends use their engineering skills to help an elderly neighbor.
Flashback – Book 7 in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series. I heard the author speak when this series was just getting started, and I still haven’t gotten around to digging into it. It sounds like just the sort of story I love. The series is about a telepathic girl who meets someone like her and finds out she really belongs somewhere else.
The Girl with the Dragon Heart – Book 2 in the Tales from the Chocolate Heart series about a young dragon who is tricked into drinking enchanted hot chocolate that turns her into a human. This series is on my TBR list, too.
Lizzy and the Good Luck Girl – A girl who is always on the looking for signs to tell her how to live her life finds a runaway with a four-leaf clover tattoo on her hand and decides to hide the girl in her closet. I’m curious to try this one!
More Than a Princess – An original fairy tale about a special princess who is mistaken for a human and captured to be used as a pawn by a king. I love this author’s other books, and I will definitely be giving this one a try!
No Slam Dunk – A novel about teamwork on and off the court from Mike Lupica. I have enjoyed several of the author’s previous books. This looks great.
The Secret Files of Barry Allen – Everything you need to know about The Flash TV show on the CW.
Shelby’s Story – Part of W. Bruce Cameron’s line of puppy and dog stories for kids. This one focuses on Shelby, a dog who acts in movies. Sure to be a hit with dog-loving kids!
Speechless – A boy has to speak at his cousin’s funeral and wonders what he could possibly say. This sounds fascinating.
Two’s a Crowd – Sequel to The Real McCoys, which is still on my TBR list from last year. This series focuses on sibling detectives looking into a series of mysterious letters and finding out two McCoys are better than one.
The Lego Neighborhood Book 2 – Another instruction book for building a neighborhood out of Lego bricks.
Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World – From the author of the spectacular Little Leaders comes this book highlighting 40 women creators including Hedy Lemar and Wangari Maathai. I loved the first book, so I’m excited to see the new one!
She Did It!: 21 Women Who Changed the Way We Think – Another collection of women’s biographies for kids, this one focusing on women who changed the world around them.
Archenemies – Sequel to Renegades (which I was supposed to read this summer, but haven’t gotten to yet) about a teen working as both a superhero (Insomnia) and super villain (Nightmare) in a world where the lines between good and evil are blurring. I hope to get to book one before the end of the year.
The Color of Lies – A teen who sees emotions as colors meets a guy she can’t read at all. At first it’s a relief, but then she discovers he is looking into the death of her parents, and it might not be the accident she always thought it was. This sounds like my kind of story! Definitely on my list for this week.
How to Fracture a Fairy Tale – A collection of fractured fairy tales and legends. Yes, please!
Last Seen – Book 3 in the Amateurs series about a group of teens coerced by a killer to dig into the mysterious disappearance of a nine-year-old boy. This series is one that has been on my list to try for awhile.
Little White Lies – A new book by a favorite author, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, about an auto mechanic turned debutante. Barnes is a must-read author for me, so I will be checking this one out soon.
Mammoth – A high school paleontology geek gets an internship that will change her life, but not in the ways she was expecting. This sounds amazing. It’s on my list for this week.
Marvel Rising – Book 1 in a graphic novel series staring Ms Marvel and Squirrel Girl. I’m excited to check this one out!
Skyward – A girl who longs to be a pilot has to overcome her father’s choice to desert his team which is keeping her from her dream. I’m curious to try this one – our family has enjoyed several of the author’s other books.
Toxic – A girl who has grown up in secret on a bioship discovers her mother and her crew have disappeared. I love a good science fiction story, so I am eager to try this one.
The XY – In a world of women only, a girl discovers an XY, sick and suffering and at her mercy. Should she eliminate him or save him? I am curious about the world building for this one. I’ll be checking this out, too.

Books for Adults

Breach (Paperback) – Book one in a new Cold War Magic series where a breach of the magical Berlin Wall could kick off World War III. This sounds fantastic!
Cold Brew Killing (e-book) – Book 3 in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe series about a dead body in the freezer at the local ice cream shop. This is a fun series!
Cubicles that Make You Envy the Dead (Paperback) – The latest comic collection staring Dilbert
Fatal Festival Days (November 8) (Paperback) – Book 3 in the Dog Days Mystery series about a murder at the local winter festival. This is another great mystery series. I need to get caught up with this one.
Nine Perfect Strangers (Hardcover) – Nine strangers at a health resort looking for solutions may find more than they planned. I’m curious about this one. I’m not even sure if it is a mystery or a romance or what.
Star Trek Discovery: Succession (Paperback Graphic Novel) – A mirror universe Star Trek story. The first cover is the official one, but for awhile they were using this second one and I loved it SO MUCH, I just had to include it here.
A Vintage Death (November 8) (Paperback) – Book 2 in the Keepsake Cove mystery series about a music box store owner and a murdered B&B owner. I had some reservations when I read the first book in the series, but I’d like to try this one and see if those hold up or if they were just part of the first book.
You Don’t Own Me (Hardcover) – Book 6 in this Mary Higgins Clark/Alafair Burke series about a producer of a television series that investigates cold cases. I have this whole series on my TBR list!
Consider It Joy (Hardcover) – For those who have wanted to try bullet journaling, but aren’t sure where to start. I’d love to see this in person to see how it is laid out.
Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave (Hardcover) – From television personality Joanna Gaines. Walks you through how to set up your home to reflect your personality
Living Well, Spending Less/Unstuffed Study Guide: Eight Weeks to Redefining the Good Life and Living It (Paperback) – A study guide to accompany the books and a video study
The Passion Generation: The Seemingly Reckless, Definitely Disruptive, But Far From Hopeless Millennials (Paperback) – The millennial generation from the perspective of one of their own regarding the Church. I love books like this that look at the unique characteristics of different generations.

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Holiday Books for 2018

Posted on November 3, 2018October 9, 2018 by Jaymie

I love digging into holiday books at this time of year. Hallmark has already started showing Christmas movies. I’ve been buying presents since September. It’s time to get my Christmas on! Here are some of the holiday books releasing this year.