Month: May 2019

REVIEW: You'd Be Mine by Erin Hahn

REVIEW: You’d Be Mine by Erin Hahn

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Clay Coolidge is country music’s latest bad boy. He might only be 18, but his drinking and carousing and recklessness is starting to catch up with him. And his record label is NOT happy.

Their solution is to have him convince Annie Mathers to open for him on a summer tour. Annie’s parents were music legends before their deaths (overdose and suicide) when Annie was 13. While Annie doesn’t want to ride their coat tails into a music career, her own talent and their names would be a great asset on a tour.

Clay and Annie are drawn together by undeniable chemistry both on and off the stage. But their personal baggage, grief, and Clay’s self-destructive behavior could destroy both of them, condemning them to a repeat of Annie’s parents’ lives.

Review

This is SO good! The social media buzz for this has been tremendous – and it’s well-deserved. My heart broke for these two teens trying to negotiate adult decisions and the pressures of music careers while weighed down by the grief they each carry. I LOVED both of these characters. I wanted to hug them – and shake Clay several times. The supporting cast – Annie’s best friend and cousin who are her band mates and Clay’s best friend/band mate – are also fantastic. It’s easy to get caught up in the story and forget how young they all are.

The music pieces – recording studios and summer festivals, concerts and song writing – all felt absolutely realistic. I traveled on the fringes of such things once upon a time, and this felt very familiar.

This is a fantastic example of dual-perspective storytelling done well. Each character has a clear and distinct voice. Telling their own parts of the story – their thoughts, their grief, their feelings about one another – was so rich for me as a reader. I also liked that they were fairly honest with each other. This is not one of those “If only they TALKED about their feelings” books. Their feelings were apparent. The roadblock wasn’t secrecy but grief, fear, and Clay’s choices.

If you enjoy a star-crossed love story, or stories from the music scene, be sure to check this one out! It’s fantastic. (Language, alcohol/drug use, hooking up [off page], TRIGGER WARNING for suicide)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Read on Arrival by Nora Page

REVIEW: Read on Arrival by Nora Page

Posted on 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

Cleo Watkins is a librarian in Catalpa Springs, Georgia. At seventy-five, there’s not much that flusters her anymore. Except for dead bodies, of course.

In some ways, Dixie Huddleston was Cleo’s arch nemesis. The woman checked the book Luck and Lore out from the library 45 years ago and refused to return it. Oh, she’d tease that she was going to give it back. But she was as bad as Lucy in the comic strips, yanking the football away from Charlie Brown. Whenever Cleo got her hopes up about getting the book back, Dixie would dash them once again.

The story was an oft repeated one around town. In an article about the library reopening after some major repairs, Cleo even mentioned her desire to have the book back by the re-opening. But that didn’t mean she’d kill Dixie! Who would kill someone over an overdue book? To clear her name, Cleo will be sleuthing once again.

Review

Book 2 in the Bookmobile mystery series (not to be confused with the Bookmobile Cat mystery series by Laurie Cass) was great fun. I’m going to have to go back and read the first one, Better Off Read, now.

I loved Cleo! I usually enjoy book or library related stories. But I especially liked this one with a non-traditional sleuth. Cleo is older than most cozy protagonists. And I loved that there was no love triangle in this either. The balance between Cleo’s sleuthing and the time she spent dealing with her library issues was great. The story moved at a good pace and all the pieces tied together nicely.

The mystery was terrific! There were several factors at work in the story besides Dixie’s murder. Cleo had a librarian rival. There were weird omens and threatening notes all over town. And on top of that there were several strong suspects who might have wanted Dixie dead. The solution was a fascinating choice – the author really did a fine job with the whole set up and resolution.

If you are a cozy mystery fan, be sure to check out Cleo and the gang from Catalpa Springs in the Bookmobile Mystery series!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Solving for M by Jennifer Swender

REVIEW: Solving for M by Jennifer Swender

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Mika (Mee-ka) starts middle school, there’s a lot to adjust to.  Four elementary schools feed into the middle school, so there are lots of new kids. The fifth grade is split into “pods,” and Mika’s best friend isn’t in her pod. She barely even sees Ella at lunch, and even when she does, Ella is with a whole new group of friends. While Mika loves art, she never gets to draw in class because it’s “not in the fifth grade curriculum.” But her quirky math teacher has the kids using math journals. So Mika does get to draw – in math class!

When Mika’s mom gets sick, Mika discovers that life doesn’t always work as neatly as math can. But Mika’s math journal is a place where she can work on her math concepts while also wrestling with all the changes in her personal life. And that’s just a taste of what a difference this one class – and one teacher – will make in Mika’s life this year.

Review

This book is brilliant! I sat down just to read a couple chapters to get a feel for it. Next thing I knew, I was done. I adored this!

Mika is a stellar character. Her meekness early on and her responses to her mom’s illness felt honest and genuine. But she also changes and grows in believable ways through the story. And I adored her school friends and her math teacher. I love a middle grade story with a fantastic, creative teacher in it!

I’m not familiar with teachers who use math journals in the classroom. But the way Mika uses hers – and the way the assignments are set up to have students apply concepts to personal interests was cool. Kids enjoy middle grade stories that are a mix of text and illustration. This fits that trend perfectly in a fresh, new way. I’d love to see a 6th grade sequel for Mika and her peers with this format. It was so cool!

Mika’s mom deals with her illness and treatment options in very realistic ways. She’s scared and angry and fatigued. She wonders if the improved chances of survival are worth the traumas of the treatment. She tries to shield Mika as much as she can, which leaves Mika feeling angry and out of the loop. It’s all handled honestly without ever feeling like “too much” for the age group. It’s beautifully done. My favorite moment in the book is one where Mika sort of takes charge of something related to her mom’s illness, calling in her supports and resources. It’s fantastic.

I highly recommend this one for elementary and middle school libraries and classrooms as well as home libraries. This would be fun for a math teacher who loves to engage with students about what they are reading. Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: May 28, 2019

BOOK NEWS: May 28, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy Memorial Day! Here are some of the books releasing this week – perfect for kicking off your summer reading.

Books for Kids

 

Jasper & Ollie – A thoughtful sloth and an impatient fox have their differences on display in this book that shows what happens when the friends decide to head to the pool.
Oi Duck-Billed Platypus! – Several years ago I read Frog on a Log? (also called, Oi, Frog!) and loved it. The series continues here where Frog is trying to figure out where Platypus should sit. What rhymes with platypus? I cannot wait to read this!!
Up to Something – Dad invites Billy into his workshop, but will only let him watch. Billy gathers Dad’s scraps and builds a creation of his own.
What Kind of Car Does a T-Rex Drive? – A car salesman is desperate to sell some cars – to anyone! Then the dinosaurs show up. This looks fun!
When Pencil Met Eraser – Based on the true story of how pencils got erasers
The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon: The True Story of Alan Bean – The fourth astronaut to walk on the moon also painted what he saw there. Includes back matter with photos of the Apollo 12 mission and of Alan Bean’s paintings.
Kitten Kingdom: Tabby’s First Quest AND Tabby and the Pup Prince – A new transitional chapter book series kicks off with these two titles. Princess Tabby and her brothers accidentally give away an important scroll when they are tricked by an evil king. They have to keep their mission to save the day a secret from their parents. In the second book, the evil king is at it again and Tabby teams  up with a puppy prince to try and save the day. I thought the first book was cute.
Robo-Rabbit Boy, Go! – Book 7 in this Branches series about Super Rabbit Boy.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Batting Order – Two baseball players with different skills team up to improve their skills to help the team, but how can Matt really help Ben if Ben won’t listen to anything Matt has to say?
The Book Case – After getting expelled, Daphne is off to a girls’ boarding school where she meets a crime-solving genius in need of an assistant. This looks great. I love middle grade mysteries.
The Girls of Firefly Cabin – A group of girls who meet on the first day of summer camp hope to immortalize their summer by becoming the “face” of the camp in the promotional materials.
Other Words for Home – Novel in verse about a girl who must leave Syria for her own safety and finds “home” in the United States.
Rocky Road Ahead – Sprinkle Sundays, book 7. A middle grade story of ice cream and friendship and crushes.
Secrets of a Fangirl – A girl trying to keep her “geek life” separate from her popular “jock life” has a chance to win a contest to go to the movie premier for her fandom. But she will have to go up against older competitors who question her fan cred, and she risks showing her peers this geeky side of herself. This is on my wish list for this week!
She’s the Liar – Sisters at a boarding school have each crafted new personalities for themselves. But their personal plans run up against the agenda of the other sister and a power play ensues. This sounds great!
Solving for M – A fifth grader struggling at the start of middle school uses her math journal (art in math?!) to help her sort out the trouble she’s having both at school and at home. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.
Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go on a Class Trip – Book 3 in the fun and silly Two Dogs in a Trench Coat series. This time, the dogs join the kids on a trip to the history museum.
Science Comics: Cars – Engines that Move You – Graphic novel exploration of cars and engines.
Fake It Till You Break It – Mia and Jake have known each other their whole lives. Even though their moms (who are best friends) think they would make the perfect couple, the two teens can’t stand each other. They agree to fake date so they can have a spectacular break up and get their moms to let them move on to other dating options.
The Kingdom – One of the “princesses” at a fantasy amusement park is accused of murdering a park employee.  This looks amazing. I already have this on hold from the library.
Limited Wish – Book 2 in the Impossible Times series. After a time-travel adventure in book one, cancer survivor and reluctant prodigy Nick realizes there are creases in the fabric of time. I have book 1 on my reading list because this series sounds perfect for me!
Not Your Backup (June 1) – Book 3 in the Sidekick Squad. Emma is the only non-superpowered member of team of resistance fighters moving against the Heroes League of Heroes. I have book 1 on my list.
The Voice in My Head – When one twin develops a terminal illness and wants to die on her own terms, her sister starts hearing a voice in her head claiming to be God and telling her to take her sister to a rock formation in Arizona where she can be healed. I am requesting this one, too!
The Wise and the Wicked – In a family with only the barest hint of magic left, the women come of age and see a vision of who they will be when they die. When Ruby’s great-aunt dies and her vision did NOT come true, Ruby and her cousin start digging into their family history to see if they too can chart their own destiny.

Books for Adults

The Amish Cookie Club (Mass Market Paperback) – From the author of the amazing Amish Fairy Tale series. First in a new series about a group of cookie-baking friends and the struggles their families experience in the course of day to day Amish life. This first book focuses on a young woman whose strong personality keeps her from keeping a job and finding a husband.
Crèpe Expectations (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Pancake House mystery series is focused on a cold case and an amateur chef competition.
A Daughter’s Truth (Trade Paperback) – A young Amish woman who feels the weight of her mother’s grief receives a gift that raises questions and sets her off to the non-Amish world to find answers. I already have this on hold at the library. I enjoyed Laura’ Bradford’s last Amish standalone, Portrait of a Sister.
The Flatshare (Hardcover) – A man who works nights and a woman who works days share a flat even though they have never met. A series a notes left for one another leads them to friendship, and maybe to something more. I already have this on hold at the library, too. What a clever premise!
Hitches, Hideouts & Homicide (ebook) – Book 7 in the Camper and Criminals Mystery series focused on a power outage, a treasure map and a dead body. I have the first book for this series in my reading pile.
Just One of the Groomsmen (Mass Market Paperback) – Addison is going to be one of the “groomsmen” when one of her best guy friends gets married. Seeing Addison again leaves Tucker feeling like they should give love a try, but if it doesn’t work, he knows it will destroy their friend group permanently. I’m looking forward to trying this one!
Murder, She Uncovered (ebook) – Book 2 in the Murder She Reported series about a young photographer in 1938 working for the Daily Trumpet and covering the aftermath of a hurricane. I don’t often read historical mysteries, but the covers for these are so gorgeous, I’m tempted to give this series a try!
Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series. When a restaurant critic dies after eating food from the Tea Garden, Daisy and Aunt Iris must track down a killer to protect their business.
Passion on Park Avenue (Trade Paperback) – The first book in the Central Park Pact series. A young woman who is the new CEO of a jewelry empire still feels like she has to prove herself to the Upper East Side elite – including the son of the family her mother worked for as a housekeeper. I am SO excited about this series! Sounds so fun. Book 2 is out this fall, and I have both on my wish list.
Rebel (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the Women Who Dare series. This takes place in the aftermath of the Civil War when a young Black woman sets up a new school and thugs destroy the school and target her.
Sconed to Death (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Cat Latimer series about a cozy mystery writer’s retreat, a local baker stirring up trouble, and a dead celebrity chef. I am way behind on this series, but I intend to get caught up soon.
Seeing Red (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the terrific Red Herring Mystery series. Alex is still working her freelance career while enjoying her relationship with B&B owner, Ian. But when Ian’s father disappears and Alex finds a body in the B&B, she starts to wonder if she really knows Ian at all. This is a must read for me. I loved the first book in the series.
Smitten by the Brit (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Sometimes in Love series. An English professor in the aftermath of a broken engagement heads to England for the summer and finds a sexy distraction. I have this on hold from the library, too.
Something Borrowed, Something Mewed (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series. This time it is murder at the dress-fitting when a wedding planner is found dead and Daphne has to figure out if one of her sister’s future in-laws is a killer. I loved the first book in this series. I’d like to get caught up on this one soon.
Star Trek TNG: The Missions Continue (Hardcover Graphic Novel) – Graphic novel collection of The Space Between, Intelligence Gathering, Last Generation, Ghosts and Hive.
Star Trek TOS: The Captain’s Oath (Trade Paperback) – The story of James T. Kirk before his service on the Enterprise.
Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come: One Introvert’s Year of Saying Yes (Trade Paperback) – A shy introvert commits to living one year like an outgoing extrovert. I adore books like this where someone digs into a differently lifestyle for a year – A Year of Biblical Womanhood, The Year of Living Biblically, My Life as an Experiment, 7, The Year of Less, etc.
Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide (Hardcover) – From the folks behind the podcast My Favorite Murder comes this book with personal stories from the authors’ lives in relation to their mission to encourage self-advocacy. I have this on my list, too.
Taste of Home Handmade Food Gifts (Paperback Cookbook) – Recipes and ideas for edible gifts. I love the idea of food gifts and jars of ingredients that people can use to bake something delicious!

REVIEW: The Boy Next Story by Tiffany Schmidt

REVIEW: The Boy Next Story by Tiffany Schmidt

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Rory and her older sister, Merrilee, got into Hero High, it was supposed to be this “great opportunity.” Their oldest sister, Lilly, was marrying into a senator’s family, and the senator used her influence to get the girls into Reginald R. Hero High. Nevermind that her influence led to some resentment by some students and administrators about the girls skirting the rules and procedures. While Merrilee had negotiated a lot of that, and emerged triumphant, Rory was dealing with her own struggles.

Rory’s early weeks at Hero were not filled with a lot of academic success. It’s hard to be the little sister to someone as brilliant – and as personable – as Merri. And the one place that should have been a safe haven for Rory – the art room – was a bigger minefield than any of her academic classes. In Advanced Art, the freshman and “new girl” stuck out. And the resentment of the older students meant her easel was always under “accidental” assault. Her projects were “lost” or “destroyed” constantly. School was one disaster after another for Rory.

Even her life outside school was filled with complications. Her forever-crush, Toby, was her next door neighbor. There was no avoiding him. That meant she also couldn’t avoid seeing how he looked at Merri. Toby’s affection for Merri was at war with his hurt at seeing her fall for someone else. It was painful for Rory to watch while her own feelings of longing were obviously never going to be returned.

Two reading assignments for the mysterious Ms. Gregoire stir up a lot of questions and feelings for Rory as she considers her school woes, her family relationships, and her crush. She’s embarking on a life and literature adventure she won’t ever forget.

Review

When book 1, Bookish Boyfriends: A Date with Darcy released last year, there was no way I wasn’t going to read it. Books, romance and a possibly magical teacher pulling strings to use literature to instruct her students on life? SIGN ME UP! And book one was a DELIGHT in all ways – characters, story, heart. And I re-read it before starting this one so all the story details would be fresh for me.

That re-read actually made me a little nervous about reading this book. I loved Merri in book 1.  Her voice is a huge part of why I enjoyed that first story. Since this is Rory’s story, I was concerned I wouldn’t connect with her like I did with Merri.

Rory’s voice and story is EVEN BETTER!

I almost don’t have words for how much I adored this book. I think chapter 3 was when I started crying and fell in love with Rory. All the sharp, snarky attitude and behavior in book 1 suddenly made complete sense. I could see all the ways Rory developed to protect herself – from feeling “not enough” or left out or “settled for.” And this is a young woman who should never feel like she is second fiddle to anyone – no one should. I bookmarked more than 40 spots that were just magical for me in this story. Actually, I wasn’t even 1/4 through the review copy when I set it aside to pre-order my own copy. I am a fanatic for this story!

Just like with Merri’s story, Rory works through two books with Ms. Gregoire – The Great Gatsby and Little Women. As with book 1, I’ve only read one of those books, but I was completely able to follow the action here anyway. I almost felt like I was reading two whole books because of the depth of Rory’s story related to both of these classic novels. The author does not skimp through the arc of the first to get to the second. Both were important – to the story and to Rory’s growth.

I gushed at the author on social media because I just could not contain how much I was adoring this story. (It was too early to talk about it online because it wasn’t going to release for another month or two.) She told me book three will be Talk Nerdy to Me (2020), and she’s already at work on book 4. This series is now firmly on my “must buy” list. The richness in the characters and the stories are not to be missed. At every page turn, my heart sang, “I LOVE this book!” I could not have asked for a more perfect book for me.

I feel like there’s a lot for readers to learn here from Rory – what happens for her when she speaks her truth, how her feelings have driven her behavior, what role she should play when she’s unhappy in a relationships, etc. You do NOT want to miss this book – be sure to check out A Date with Darcy and then scoop up The Boy Next Story too. Perfect for summer reading. I can’t recommend this highly enough.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

REVIEW: Survive or Die by Catherine Dilts

REVIEW: Survive or Die by Catherine Dilts

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Aubrey Sommers thought she was going on a romantic getaway with her husband, Grant. Things had been strained lately, and she was wondering how long their marriage could hold out. But then Grant invited her on this surprise trip. They sent their kids to stay with grandparents. It was going to be a magical week.

The surprise, though, was the fact that it was a mandatory work trip for Grant at a wilderness camp. The camp once hosted the defunct reality show Survive or Die. Grant’s boss is using the camp for a survival-of-the-fittest contest where the winner gets a raise and the loser gets fired. No wonder someone left a death threat on the guy’s car. Great vacation!

Things don’t get much better for Aubrey. While Grant is apologetic about his deception, he says he really wants Aubrey there. But he prioritizes the game and his job over her every time there’s a choice to be made. She’s stuck on the “leftovers” team while she watches another woman try to make inroads with her husband.

But her week is going better than Stewart’s. His wife just found him dead at the camp.

Review

Early on I wasn’t sure about this one. There are a TON of characters – almost too many to track, especially at the start. Then there are several point-of-view characters. This is essential with a cast this large and a setting this vast, but it made it hard to know early on who I was supposed to track as the “sleuth” for this mystery.

But this evolved into a great story with some crazy developments and even crazier twists. The survival story alone kept me turning pages – what a disaster these poor people were dumped into! Add to that an early attack/murder that no one noticed and then Stewart’s death which seems to be an accident. So the reader knows *something* is going on, but you aren’t sure what. The questions and the twists and the business pieces and the backstabbing keep growing and getting more convoluted as the story goes on. It got the the point where I couldn’t put the book down. I had to know what was going on!

I’m a character-driven reader. And this book is full of unique, quirky characters. I didn’t really get attached to any particular ones. I stuck with this book because of the plot moreso than seeing what happened to any particular characters. But the main 6 or so were fascinating to watch as they negotiated the dilapidated survival camp, the dangerous tasks, and the interpersonal tensions. If you like intricate stories with lots of quirky characters in challenging circumstances, don’t miss this one. It was a wild ride!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Squirreled Away by Mike Nawrocki

REVIEW: Squirreled Away by Mike Nawrocki

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Michael and Justin are on an adventure in the Middle East during the summer before 5th grade. Michael’s dad is there for an archaeological dig. While exploring in a cave on the day before their return home, Michael sees something weird on a high ledge. Before he can examine it closer, it’s time to head back for dinner.

Even though Michael’s dad has told the boys they should never be in caves without an expert guide, Michael can’t stop thinking about the cave. He knows he will regret it if they leave tomorrow and he never finds out what was on that ledge. Ignoring Justin’s advice and his dad’s warning, Michael goes back to the cave.

On the plus side, Michael finds what he was curious about – two petrified squirrels. On the down side, though, he gets lost, has to be rescued, and gets in trouble.

Now Michael has to figure out how to get his squirrel discovery through airport security and what he’ll do with the squirrels when he gets home.

Review

This is the first book in the Dead Sea Squirrels series by Mike Nawrocki, one of the creators of Veggie Tales.

This is a fun transitional chapter book with a Christian message about obeying your parents. The message fits nicely into the story and never feels heavy handed.

I can see why the publisher released the first two books of this series at the same time. While this book introduces Michael, his family, Justin and the squirrels, the action doesn’t really kick in with the squirrels in this book. This book really sets up what will happen in the rest of the series. A review copy of book 2, Boy Meets Squirrels, was not available. You can see the cover of book 2 here.

Michael seems like a typical protagonist for these sorts of books – curious, sincere and impulsive. You know he’s going to screw up. Things will fall apart spectacularly at some point. And you trust that he will learn a lesson in the end.

This is a fun start to the series. I’d definitely suggest getting both book 1 and 2 at the same time or your reader will be very frustrated in the end. Two more titles will release later this year.

Rating: ♥♥♥½

BOOK NEWS: May 21, 2019

BOOK NEWS: May 21, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the third week of May – and usually the third week of the month doesn’t have as many books releasing. But I found a bunch of great options out this week!

Books for Kids

Pinky Got Out! – During a day at the zoo, the kids discover Pinky the flamingo is on the loose.
That’s What Dinosaurs Do – Roaring gives William the dinosaur a sore throat. Even though it’s his favorite thing to do, the doctor says he can’t roar for a whole week.
Parker Bell and the Science of Friendship – This transitional chapter book/”young middle grade” story is about Parker who wants to win the Science Triathlon, but she’s afraid the third member of her team will end up stealing her best friend.
Rabbit & Bear: The Pest in the Nest – As spring begins in this illustrated chapter book, Rabbit is struggling with Bear’s snoring and a new noise up in a nearby tree.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Camp Shady Crook – Two kids get into a battle of who can pull off the best con at camp. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Champions: Because the World Still Needs Heroes – After the second superhuman Civil War, Ms Marvel, Nova and Spider-Man quit the Avengers and strike out on their own.
The Pumpkin War – Billie loves to win, but her best friend Sam never seemed to care until he beat her in last year’s Pumpkin Race. This year, Billie is determined to grow the biggest pumpkin and win the race.
Rock Painting for Kids -(Kindle version releases tomorrow; physical version is out next week) Ideas and step-by-step instructions for painting rocks.
Where Is the Kremlin?
Alex Rider: Secret Weapon: Seven Untold Adventures from the Life of a Teenage Spy – A collection of short Alex Rider stories. Includes some previously published material.
As Far as the Stars – Two teens meet in an airport because they have loved ones on the same flight – a flight that has now gone missing.
The Boy Next Story – Book 2 in the Bookish Boyfriends series after A Date with Darcy. Ms. Gregoire is back, and she’s once again using literature to influence the life of a student, Merrilee’s younger sister Rory. I absolutely ADORED A Date with Darcy – and I think this book is EVEN BETTER. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Girl Gone Viral – Opal, a teen tech prodigy, is looking for a chance to win a contest for WAVE, a virtual reality platform. The billionaire founder may know the secrets to what happened to Opal’s missing father. He might have even killed him.
Kingsbane – Book 2 in the Empirium Trilogy after Furyborn. Two queens, centuries apart, wrestle with choices that will impact their kingdoms for years to come. This series sounds fantastic!
Let Me Hear a Rhyme – From the author of the *stunning* Monday’s Not Coming. Three teens plot to turn their murdered friend into a rap star by sharing his music but not telling anyone that the artist is dead.
No Place Like Here – A modern twist on Hansel and Gretel. A girl finds herself at a rustic team-building retreat center for the summer when her father is arrested for tax evasion and her mother goes into treatment for depression.
Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider Vol 1 – Graphic novel collection of comics staring Spider-Gwen in a multi-verse story.
We Are the Perfect Girl – Modern retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac. What starts as an accident quickly turns complicated when a beautiful girl starts dating a popular guy while her best friend is the bold voice behind their text exchanges and conversations.

Books for Adults

The Codebook Murders (ebk) – Book 4 in the Oakwood Mystery series. The sleuth discovers a coded journal that could help solve the town’s most notorious cold case. This sounds fantastic! I bought  book one so I could check out this series.
The Dark Bones (Trade Paperback) – A detective returns to the hometown she swore she had left forever when her father’s death is ruled a suicide, something she just can’t believe. This sounds amazing.
Decades: Marvel in the 80s (Paperback) – The next decade in the history of Marvel comics
Murder by the Sea (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the By the Sea mystery series. This time there’s a murder at a masquerade ball when the sleuth’s ex shows up at a literary event, and he’s later found dead.
Wooing Cadie McCaffrey (Hardcover) – A new book from the author of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck. Cadie McCaffrey feels her relationship with Will will never be all she hopes, so after an incident that leaves her full of regret she breaks things off. Determined to win her back, Will uses his former pro-athlete friends and Cadie’s beloved romantic comedies to develop a plan to reconcile. I can’t wait to read this one!
Do It Scared: Finding the Courage to Face Your Fears, Overcome Adversity, and Create a Life You Love (Hardcover) – Techniques for tackling fear head on and building the life you want.
The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong (Hardcover) – The author shares her immigration story and ties it to the stories of immigrants and refugees in the Bible.
The Nice and Accurate Good Omens TV Companion (Hardcover) – This month Amazon kicks off its production of a show based on the Terry Pratchett/Neil Gaiman novel Good Omens about an angel and a demon trying to hold off the end of the world. This is a behind-the-scenes guide to the show starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen.
Romans Disarmed (Trade Paperback) – Authors unpack the book of Romans both in its original context and for today. From the authors of Colossians Remixed,.
The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions (Trade Paperback) – The family devotional that’s more “safety goggles” than “flannelgraph.”

REVIEW: Killing November by Adriana Mather

REVIEW: Killing November by Adriana Mather

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When November’s dad says he needs to sort out a break in at her Aunt Jo’s, she understands. The three of them have always been close. And as a former CIA agent, it makes sense for him to help Jo with a security issue. So November doesn’t fuss too much about being shipped to a boarding school for a few weeks.

But Academy Absconiditi is nothing like November expected. The location of the school is secret, and it is camouflaged to keep it that way. There’s no electricity, no internet. The only normal class she has is history, but even then it’s a weird twist on the usual study of world wars.

November is more prepared for the weird school than she would have thought. She’s physically active, so she can handle the running, sparring and climbing. And she’s bright. She’s been encouraged to think outside the box, so she’s ready for deception and some of the school challenges. What she’s not ready for is the world of secrets and lies she discovers about her own life. She’s also not ready for the dead body.

Review

This was stunning! I sat in rapt attention from start to finish. There are so many secrets for November to discover. And none of the answers come quickly or easily because everyone thinks she already knows everything. And revealing her ignorance would be very dangerous. It was a brilliant Catch-22 from the author, and I was captivated by the whole thing.

I don’t know that we got to see the full extent of November’s skills or her ferocity in this book. In so much of it, she was clueless, but had to be cagey. If there’s a sequel (please, please, please), we might get a more complete picture of who she is and what she can do.

The mystery is excellent. November is surrounded by liars and schemers, political agendas, and secret grudges. It’s the perfect climate for a twisty mystery.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Mysterious secrets, characters with hidden agendas, and plenty of suspense will keep you turning pages until you hit the resolution. Fantastic!! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: The Scent of Murder by Kylie Logan

REVIEW: The Scent of Murder by Kylie Logan

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Jazz is an administrative assistant at Saint Catherine’s Preparatory Academy by day, but in her free time, she trains human-remains-detection dogs. And one night she’s putting Luther the German Shepherd through his paces. She has access to an abandoned building, thanks to a friend. And since her mom’s having some dental work done, she has a freshly pulled tooth that she’s hidden on the third floor of the building for Luther to find. But Luther signals a find on the first floor. And it’s the body of someone Jazz knows.

Florie Allen had been a student at St. Catherine’s. After graduation, she had gone to the North Coast School of Photography and Design. She was a gifted photographer. Why was she found dead, in goth garb, in an abandoned building?

Finding a dead body when you aren’t expecting to is a big deal, even for someone who works search and rescue with cadaver dogs. But seeing Florie’s face made this personal for Jazz. She knew this girl. And she’s determined to find out what happened to her.

Review

I read this immediately after reading another search and rescue book, and I chose to read this one because I enjoyed  A Borrowing of Bones so much. I had hoped this would be just as terrific as those two titles. Unfortunately, this fell flat for me.

As an amateur sleuth/cozy mystery, this is a standard example of the genre. The mystery is solid. There are some quirks to the story to keep it interesting. The cop/former love interest didn’t really click for me, and I figured out the culprit fairly early on.

I expected more from the dog angle of the story. Luther is a borrowed dog. He’s not Jazz’s own animal, and his role in the mystery was small after the initial find. He was a reminder of a dog Jazz lost, and a prompt that she might be ready for a new dog, but that’s about it. Also, her work with dogs was a tie to her dead father, but even that story wasn’t as strong as it could have been.  In and of itself, the dog pieces were a let down. But compared to the two other books I mentioned that I had in my head as I read, this was where this book really suffered. The other books have really STRONG dog characterizations. My expectations from the cover and the book description were not met on the dog front.

The human characters fell flat for me, too. I couldn’t work up much emotion for the romantic subplot. The only character piece I really liked was Jazz’s dinner with her brothers. Maybe if there were more family pieces with her mom and brothers, as well as more with her friend Sarah and her love interest – I would have enjoyed Jazz more and connected better to the story.

This is a solid choice for mystery fans who care primarily about figuring out the murder. Search and rescue fans may want to try The Lovely and the Lost or A Borrowing of Bones instead – or an Andy Carpenter mystery – if you want a strong dog-related mystery.

Rating: ♥♥♥½