Month: June 2019

REVIEW: Cherry Scones and Broken Bones by Darci Hannah

REVIEW: Cherry Scones and Broken Bones by Darci Hannah

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Whitney is happy to be home at the Cherry Orchard Inn. And she’s happy to have the murder business from the Cherry Blossom Festival behind them. That mess has done the family business no favors. Whitney has had to drop the price of rooms at the inn as low as she can to get people to try a resort where someone died.

Then she gets the “thrilling” news. Silvia Lumiere the painter has booked a room at the inn for the entire summer! Silvia often paints portraits in Cherry Cove, and the summer reveals are a big deal. The art community is ecstatic to have Silvia close by all summer.

Not everyone is ecstatic. Silvia has a very high opinion of herself and strong ideas of what she is entitled to in her business and personal life – and also at the inn. When the woman is found dead, there are several potential suspects, people Silvia regularly abused with her words and expectations. Unfortunately for Whitney, she’s at the top of the list.

Review

Another fun mystery from Cherry Cove, Wisconsin! Whitney and her friends and family are a lot of fun. The love triangle is alive and well in this book, but by the end it seems to have run its course, which makes me happy. I feel like I have been “burned” by love triangles in other series before, so I don’t usually care for them.

The mystery is well done. The victim is infuriating, and there are plenty of suspects who want her dead. Instead of juggling through 4-6 suspects all at the same time, Whitney seems to dig into one at a time in this book. This felt different from the typical cozy, and I liked it! There are some nice twists along the way to the end that made this a great read.

The final copy will include recipes, although I didn’t get to see them in my review copy. I hope there’s one for cherry scones. They sound amazing.

If you enjoy cozies in general or food-based cozies in particular, don’t miss the Very Cherry Mystery series. Book one is Cherry Pies & Deadly Lies; you can read my review of it here.  This is a not-to-be-missed series for me.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Summer of a Thousand Pies by Margaret Dilloway

REVIEW: Summer of a Thousand Pies by Margaret Dilloway

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

After an incident at school, everyone finds out that Cady and her dad are homeless – and her dad is drinking to excess. He’s arrested for child endangerment, and Cady is placed with her estranged Aunt Shell.

Cady eventually bonds with her aunt over baking. Shell has a pie shop. But Cady still holds everyone at arms length. Her dad always said Shell had written them off. She probably wasn’t trustworthy. Cady needs to protect herself. And anyway, Cady’s dad would be coming for her soon. There was no reason for her to get attached to Shell or anyone else.

Being fed and supervised and cared for, learning to bake, and opening herself to Shell as well as to others around town begins to change Cady. And she likes it. But the pie shop is in financial trouble. If it closes, what will happen to this home Cady has just discovered? What will happen to the family she has started to build with Shell and Suzanne? And what can a middle school kid do to fix or change or help anything?

Review

Cady’s growth and development over the course of the book was AMAZING to watch. She has a delightful self-awareness that grows even stronger over time.  And the relative security of life with Shell and Suzanne helps her find some equilibrium for the first time in her life. I loved watching all of it unfold.

The secondary story about immigration was well-integrated into the book through Cady’s relationship with Jay’s family. I didn’t feel it was as strong as Cady’s story, but it was good. It never felt grafted in just to be political or to make a point  It added to the panic at the thought of the pie shop closing. That would impact Jay’s family in big ways, too. I thought it fit into the larger story of the community.

The food and baking pieces were a lot of fun. Pair this with books in The Doughnut Fix series or the All Four Stars series. Hand this to readers who love to cook and bake as well as those who are addicted to The Food Network. The book includes recipes, including a gluten-free pie crust.

Don’t miss Cady – her story is a delight.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: June 11, 2019

BOOK NEWS: June 11, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy Monday! Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids

 

Codzilla – When a big codfish is teased for his size, he thinks maybe he should just live up to the taunts from the littler fish who call him Codzilla.
Sumo Joe – A boy playing Sumo with his buddies is torn between his favorite sport and his beloved little sister when she asks to join their fun.
Go For the Moon: A Rocket, a Boy, and the First Moon Landing – An exploration of Apollo 11.
Horse & Buggy Paint It Out – Horse is so eager to get started on his mural, he ignores the advice of his friend Buggy and makes a big mess.
Imagine You Were There…. Winning the Vote for Women (June 13) – Celebrates the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote.
Goldilocks, Go Home – This illustrated early chapter book is a mash up of classic fairy tales starring Goldilocks and Bobby (Baby) Bear.
Nixie Ness Cooking Star – Book 1 in the Afterschool Superstars series. When her mom gets a job, Nixie has to go to aftercare at school instead of hanging out at home with her best friend. But the afterschool program gives her a chance to attend a cooking camp.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Briar and Rose and Jack – Sleeping Beauty meets Jack and the Beanstalk in this fairy tale mash up starring two girls who may be cursed and their friend Jack,  who are all willing to do what no adult has been – fight the giant terrorizing their kingdom.
The Prisoner of Azkaban Ravenclaw Edition (June 13) – I was so excited about this one, but in the last week the purchase option at Amazon has disappeared. The publisher’s website says you can only get this in the UK. If you still want a house edition, you can find them  in hardcover and paperback at Book Depository (dot) com. Now that I think about it, I think that is how I got my Ravenclaw edition of the first book, too.
Midsummer’s Mayhem – A contemporary retelling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. An Indian American girl who feels forgotten in her super talented family enters a baking contest. But her mysterious new friend and the wondrous and strange ingredients he helps her find for her baking may be causing more trouble than she realizes.
This Was Our Pact (GN) – At the Autumnal Equinox Festival, the town sets lanterns adrift in the river. Tradition says that the lanterns eventually float up to the Milky Way and become stars. One group of kids decides to follow the lanterns’ journey down the river to see where they actually go.
The Time Museum Vol 2 (GN) – The Time Museum chooses kids from all over history for internships.  A group of time travelers go to Versailles in 1778 under the direction of a squad led by President Richard Nixon to save an alliance between the US and France.
Treasure Hunters: All-American Adventure – The treasure hunters are stuck in Washington DC when they discover a fake Bill of Rights. Book 6 in the series.
The Ables (GN) – A teen with telekinesis is excited to find out he’s going to superhero high school, but he doesn’t expect to be placed in the special education class for “disabled empowered kids” who call themselves “the Ables.” Book 2 will be out in September.
The Exact Opposite of Okay – A teen is caught in a compromising position with the son of a politician and finds her reputation trashed. She expects things will blow over so she can get back to her regularly scheduled high school life, but there is no end to the scandal in sight.
Rise – Sequel to Rule, about a kingdom with a dying king and a murdered heir as well as three illegitimate daughters who have a chance at the throne. I have both books on my library wish list.
Screen Queens – Three young women competing in a highly competitive tech competition learn that all-female teams never win, and they have several factors working against them. I have requested this one from the library.
Urban Legendz (GN) – A police officer’s son joins a group of vigilantes looking into some monstrous events going on in town.
The Hormone Diaries: The Bloody Truth About Our Periods (June 13) – From the woman who hosts a YouTube series by the same name. An honest look at periods, hormones and contraception.

Books for Adults

The Black Cat Steps on a Crack (ebk) – Book 4 in the Bad Luck Cat Mystery series. A headstrong librarian meets a dark end and a friend is accused of murder, so mystery writer Sabrina Tate and her cat Hitchcock start to investigate. This series sounds delightful! I need to check this one out.
Chai Another Day (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Spice Shop Mystery series. The owner of a Pike Place Market spice shop stumbles across another murder.
A Crafter Hooks a Killer (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Handcrafted Mystery series. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week!
The Disappearance of Alistair Ainsworth (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series. This time, Joanna and the Watsons are drawn into a case involving a cryptographer held captive by the Germans during the war. You can read my review of book one here.
Fix Her Up (Trade Paperback) – A woman who chose being a clown and planning children’s birthday parties over her family’s home renovation business can’t get anyone to take her seriously in the romance department. So she convinces her brother’s friend, a former baseball player, to be her fake boyfriend. They can use their fake relationship to help both of them out of personal problems – what could go wrong? I ADORE fake relationship stories in romance books, so this is definitely on my list for this week.
The Friend Zone (Trade Paperback) – Kristen is facing a serious medical procedure that will make her unable to have children. And she hasn’t told anyone else. When she meets an amazing guy who wants to have a big family one day, she determines to steer clear of him so neither of them will get hurt. But their mutual attraction is hard to resist. I have been on a romantic-comedy streak lately and this sounds like just the right story to continue that streak!
Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck & Fortune (Trade Paperback) – Food, heritage and finding family.  Natalie Tan returns home after her estranged mother’s death and discovers she has inherited her grandmother’s restaurant. The neighborhood “seer” tells Natalie she must cook three recipes from her grandmother’s cookbook to help the neighboring businesses that are struggling. Then her own restaurant will see success. This sounds fascinating – a little magic, some bitterness and old wounds, and plenty of cooking. Sign me up!
Over the Line (Trade Paperback) – When a dying man shows up gasping her brother’s name, Gabby turns to her homicide detective ex to help her find her brother.
Star Wars: Alphabet Squadron (Hardcover) – First in a new trilogy set after Return of the Jedi. A squad of pilots commanded by General Hera Syndulla herself are tasked with tracking down a rogue group of TIE fighters wreaking havoc in revenge for the fall of the Empire.
Sweet Tea and Secrets (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Book Tea Shop Mystery series. In the midst of planning a Fourth of July Tea for her great-aunt’s vintage tea room, Callie gets caught up in the rumors about the disappearance of a famous TV actress who was last seen in Heart’s Harbor. You can read my review of book one here.
This Is Home (Trade Paperback) – A military wife with a missing husband moves into the first floor apartment of a building owned by a policeman’s sister. The policeman knew the woman’s husband in the military.  I am still reading this one, but I will be reviewing it later this month.
Waiting for Tom Hanks (Trade Paperback) – A screen writer who dreams of being the next Nora Ephron thinks finding her own Tom Hanks will solve all her troubles. This is at the top of my list for this week.
The Enemy of the People: A Dangerous Time to Tell the Truth in America (Hardcover) – CNN’s Jim Acosta details his rocky relationship with President Trump and the President’s war against the media.
For Such a Time as This: Hope and Forgiveness After the Charleston Massacre (Trade Paperback) – A hospital chaplain who lost her mother and two cousins in the shooting at Emanuel AME Church in 2015 talks about hope and forgiveness in the face of tragedy.

REVIEW: Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

REVIEW: Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Tyler has achieved all he’s worked for. He’s completed his Academy training at the top of his class. He’s going to get first pick for the best squad of graduates – until he discovers Aurora.

Two hundred years ago, Aurora left Earth in cryostasis, headed for a colony. Her ship disappeared. When Tyler finds it two centuries later, Aurora is the only one on the ship still alive.

Rescuing Aurora was the right thing to do, but it cost Tyler his chance at an elite squad. His twin sister, Scarlett is still with him as his diplomat, and Cat is still his pilot and best friend. But the other three – Finian, Zila, and Kaliis – weren’t anyone’s first, second, or third choice.

When Tyler and his team – plus Aurora – head out on their first assignment – a garbage assignment that feels beneath them – everything that could go wrong, does. That’s when they discover that the Global Intelligence Agency is eager to get their hands on Aurora. And the GIA isn’t very particular about what happens to anyone else who gets in their way.

Review

I am a huge fan of great science fiction stories, and Aurora Rising definitely qualifies. I loved this whole adventure – the characters, the world, the heist, the aliens – all of it.

We have only scratched the surface with these characters. This book left me wanting to know more about them. Kal and Zila were the most interesting for me – and I hope we hear more from Zila in the next book. She’s still pretty much a mystery. I also loved Aurora’s 21st century vibe – references to Lord of the Rings and all – because she feels the most familiar, coming from a time near our own.

The authors do an amazing job of rolling out a captivating story without giving all their secrets away early on. While so many questions are answered by the end, there are yet more out there for book 2. And book 2 is a MUST read for me. I can’t wait to share this one with my family – I gave it to my teen as soon as I finished – and friends. It’s a terrific story – and it’s only the beginning of Aurora’s journey. I can’t wait to read more! (Some language, references to off-page sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Murder at the Palace by Margaret Dumas

REVIEW: Murder at the Palace by Margaret Dumas

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

After discovering her husband’s infidelity in all its publicized Hollywood glory, Nora Paige flees to San Francisco. Her best friend Robbie puts her up in her guest house and asks her to step in as manager of The Palace, a theater that shows movies as classic as the building is.

On her first day, Nora meets her core staff – Marty, the grumpy projectionist; Albert, who’s been seeing movies at the Palace for over 80 years; Callie, the film student; and Brandon, the teen concessions worker. All of them were quite fond of the last manager, Kate, who had died only a couple weeks earlier from a fall. When Nora discovers a dead body at The Palace, though, Kate’s death starts to look less and less like an accident.

With the help of her staff, her friend Robbie, Kate’s best friend Monica, and Trixie the ghost of an usherette who died at The Palace, Nora is looking into what really happened to Kate. What she finds will have a long-lasting impact on The Palace.

Review

I loved this! Nora was GREAT! I loved how she is processing the changes in her life while dealing with all the things going on at The Palace.

The setting of this is so fresh. I loved the classic movies angle, both for the theater and also throughout the story. I’m excited to track down some of the movies that are part of the book.

The cast of characters is quirky and eclectic. And there’s enough of them to be interesting without there being too many to track. Nora’s relationship with her grumpy projectionist is my favorite. I so want her to put him in his place when he questions her movie “cred,” but I figure that will come eventually. The author throws in an interesting wrinkle right at the end which will carry readers into book 2. I can’t wait!

The mystery is great. Not too drawn out, but with interesting suspects and motives. Lots of questions for Nora to work through and for readers to puzzle out, too.

I’m a huge fan of this series launch. I’m eager to see where things go in the future with this must-read Movie Palace Mystery series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Camp Shady Crook by Lee Gjertsen Malone

REVIEW: Camp Shady Crook by Lee Gjertsen Malone

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Archie Drake has been attending Camp Shady Brook for three years. It’s probably the WORST camp in Vermont. The camp director is abrasive and hyper-strict. The cabins are rundown and falling apart. Art supplies are locked away so no one can actually use them. And the grounds look nothing like the flashy brochure that lures families in.

Archie loves Camp Shady Brook. But that’s because Archie has developed a system – a series of cons he can play on the weekly kids that leaves him richer when his six weeks of camp are over. But Archie has never had Vivian at camp before.

Vivian is only at Camp Shady Brook because of some trouble at school last year. Her parents don’t think they can trust her, so she’s stuck at camp for six weeks. She has some ideas to make her summer more pleasant, maybe scam some treats from fellow campers. That sort of thing. But Archie, sensing a rival con artist, tries to psych her out. Now the battle of wills – and cons – has begun.

Review

For me, a heist/con story only works when I feel the characters have a compelling reason for the scheming. Otherwise it’s just dishonest and wrong. The real world has so much of that already. Early on, it was hard for me to like Archie or Vivian. Neither had a good reason for conning. They pretty much did things because they could get away with it and because they wanted to.

When the rivalry blows up in their faces – as it inevitably does – Archie and Vivian are forced to take a closer look at their behavior. They have to decide what kind of people they want to be.

And that’s where the story becomes magic. By the end, I wanted to stand up and cheer. I loved how Archie and Vivian grew up over the summer. And I loved how they decided to use their “powers” for the greater good!

I think this would work for a class read aloud or a book group. There’s a lot to unpack in this story about what it means to be a friend and what you have to do to make and keep friends. Check out this fun summer-themed story!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: June 4, 2019

BOOK NEWS: June 4, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy June, happy summer, and happy Monday! Here are some of the books out this week that might look great on your summer TBR pile.

Books for Kids

I Love My Dragon (Board Book) – A board book based on the fantastic picture book When a Dragon Moves In.
Adventures with Dragons – A pop-up book based on the How to Train Your Dragon movies
Cece Loves Science and Adventure – A second picture book starring Cece, this time focused on STEM while camping. Sounds perfect for summer!
Hangry – A young monster shows what happens when little folks get hungry and angry, a view parents will find all-too familiar.
A Normal Pig – A new pig at school points out all the ways Pip is different, leaving Pip questioning all the things that made her Pip. Identity is one of my favorite themes in literature, so I am eager to read this one.
Spider-Man Swings Through Europe – A Spider-Man Far From Home picture book
Unicorn Day – While the unicorns celebrate their most special day of the year, they discover an impostor in their midst.
Beyoncé: Shine Your Light – Picture book biography
Wilma Rudolph – Picture book biography, part of the Little People Big Dreams series
Snoopy, First Beagle on the Moon – Snoopy wants to be the first beagle on the moon. Includes facts about the moon in the back matter.
20,000 Robots Under the Sea – Book 3 in the Bots early chapter book series. I love the look of this fully illustrated series. Ten years ago, these would have been must reads in our house. Three more books are planned for this year.
Micah’s Super Vlog: Micah’s Got Talent? AND The Big Fail – The first two books in a new chapter book/young middle grade series based on a JellyTelly show. (Jelly Telly is a Christian streaming service started by Phil Vischer, one of the creators of Veggie Tales.) Highly illustrated.
Sing With Me, Lucy McGee – Book 2 in the Lucy McGee series about Lucy McGee and her friends. This book focuses on the antics of a mean girl and the school talent show. Includes song lyrics and ukulele chords.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

All the Greys on Greene Street – In 1981, an artist’s father disappears in the middle of the night and all the adults – and even her best friends – are acting strange. I have already requested this one from the library.
The Boney Hand – Book 2 in the terrific Charlie and Frog series. Charlie and Frog continue their detective work, this time when a school artifact goes missing.
Escape from the Isle of the Lost – Book 4 in the Descendants series based on the Disney television movies about the offspring of Disney villains.
Out of Place – After her best friend moves away, Cove becomes the target of a vicious bully.
Peter and Ned’s Ultimate Travel Journal – A middle grade novel based on the upcoming movie Spider-Man Far From Home. This looks fantastic – readers can read along as Peter and Ned both write in this travel log about their school trip with some commentary from MJ.
Spaced Out – Book 8 in the DC Super Hero High graphic novel series from Shea Fontana. You can see some reviews – as well as other books about Super Hero High here. This one focuses on the latest Green Lantern and some of her new super friend as they battle General Zod. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, and I am eager to read the latest adventure! A new set of graphic novels with these characters will kick off this fall.
The Story Web – A girl discovers a mysterious web, and its safety seems to impact her community.
Who Was Che Guevara? AND Who Was P. T. Barnum? AND Who Was Stephen Hawking?
The Beholder – After a public and humiliating rejection, a young woman’s step-mother tells her she must sail off to find a suitor. And if she can’t, she shouldn’t bother coming home. That cover is absolutely gorgeous! I am curious to check this one out.
The Chosen – First in a new trilogy about a young man transported to another realm full of all the people and creatures who have disappeared from his world where he must battle for his survival.
The Confusion of Laurel Graham – A teen and her grandmother connect over nature photography and their discovery of a mysterious bird call. But now that her grandmother is in a coma after an accident, the teen must reconsider all the things she thought she knew about her life and what she is willing to fight for.
Girls of July – Four young woman spending the summer in the mountains learn a lot about themselves and about each other.
If It Makes You Happy – A heavyset girl is happy to be living her best life at her Granny’s diner in Misty Haven until she is named Summer Queen. All of the activities that go along with that pull her away from the diner and send her into anxiety-provoking situations. Can she redeem this last summer before she leaves for college? Sounds like this will be all about identity (including sexuality) which is a theme I love in fiction, as I have mentioned.
I Wanna Be Where You Are – When her mom says she can’t audition for her dream dance conservatory, a teen plans a secret road trip, but she didn’t count on her neighbor blackmailing her into taking him along. I would absolutely read this one!
Kissing Ezra Holtz (And Other Things I Did for Science) – When a girl is matched with her nemesis for an AP Psychology project, they embark on an experiment to prove that with the right steps, any two people could fall in love. This is at the top of my list for this week!
Ordinary Girls – A contemporary take on Sense and Sensibility about two sisters whose family hits a rough financial patch. They had me at “Sense and Sensibility.”
Shadow & Flame – Sequel to Onyx & Fury. A young woman with secret animal-controlling magic triumphed over her enemies in the first book, but the dangers are not completely routed. I have book one on my library list.
Sorry for Your Loss – A young man grieving the loss of his brother and struggling in every aspect of his life discovers a new outlet in photography. This sounds fascinating!
Virtually Yours – A college freshman who hasn’t dated since her high school sweetheart broke things off decides to try a matchmaking app. It matches her with that high school sweetheart – and her new best friend. Should she trust her heart or the app? This is on my list for this week, too.
War of the Bastards – Third and final book in the Royal Bastards series. The rebels continue to protect the true queen as her kingdom suffers under an evil leader. I loved the first book, so I hope to get to the other two books in this series this summer!
When the Ground Is Hard – When her best friend dumps her at their boarding school, Adele is forced to room with the least popular girl in school. But when they share a copy of Jane Eyre, they learn a lot about and from each other – and even have the chance to solve the mystery of a missing student. This is on my list, too.
Where I End & You Begin – A young man longs to invite his crush to prom, but her best friend, his tormentor, stands in his way. After a solar eclipse, Ezra and his tormentor have switched bodies. As they switch back and forth, they agree to help one another make headway with their individual crushes. This sounds amazing!

 

Books for Adults

The Book Supremacy (Hardcover) – Book 13 in the Bibliophile Mystery series. While on their honeymoon, Brooklyn finds a first edition of The Spy Who Loved Me, a fun James Bond choice for her new husband the spy. But when a spy friend is killed and someone else is murdered in the spy store that is displaying the rare book, Brooklyn and her husband will have to dig into his past to find a killer. This sounds amazing! I am so behind on this series, but I might have to make an exception to my read-a-series-in-order rule and try this one out!
Cherry Scones and Broken Bones (Trade Paperback – June 8) – Book 2 in the Very Cherry Mystery series. Whitney is trying to help her family inn recover after a recent murder, so when a famous painter decides to spend her summer at the inn, it seems like a great way to draw people out to the property, try her cherry treats and enjoy the art scene. But the painter is a pain in the backside. When she’s found dead, Whitney is a murder suspect. If their inn is ever going to recover, she will have to hunt down another killer. I’ll be reviewing this one next week.
Death in Kew Gardens (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Below Stairs historic mystery series. A Victorian era cook receives a rare gift of tea after an act of kindness. Two days later, the man who gave her the gift is accused of murdering Lady Cynthia’s neighbor, and Kat steps in to investigate once again. I enjoyed the first book in this series.
Magic for Liars (Hardcover) – When a murder occurs at the magic school where Ivy’s twin sister teaches, magic-less Ivy is drawn in to investigate. This is the other book at the top of my list for this week!
More Than Words Can Say (Trade Paperback) – When a young Amish woman needs a man’s name on the deed to her bakery, Zacharias finds himself giving up the bachelor life he prefers for a marriage of convenience. This is on my list, too.
The Number of Love (Trade Paperback) – Historical novel set during WWI where a woman who works as a codebreaker for England teams up with a wounded soldier pursued by the enemy.
A Patchwork of Clues (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Queen Bees Quilt Shop series. The site of a Saturday quilting bee becomes a crime scene when a local professor antiques shop owner is killed.
Searching for Sylvie Lee (Hardcover) – When her oldest sister disappears after a visit with their dying grandmother, the baby of the family goes looking for the sister who was always her fiercest protector. This sounds fascinating!
Kinda Like Grace: A Homeless Man, a Broken Woman, and the Decision that Made Them Family (Hardcover) – A chance meeting between the author and a homeless man who returns to the spot where he had last seen his mother three years ago leads to a change for the man, the author and her family who welcomed him into their home. An engaging-sounding memoir.
Naturally Tan (Hardcover) – Memoir from one of the Queer Eye guys, Tan France. Fans of the show should know that most of the guys have a book out now or will have one out later this year.

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: My Summer Reading Plan 2019

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: My Summer Reading Plan 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Last summer was something of a summer reading “FAIL” for me even though I read 69 books. I only read 2 of the six family challenge books I was assigned (I finally read a third later in the year). So this year, we are simplifying yet again for the Family Challenge. Here are some of the things I plan to read this summer.

Family Reading Challenge

We decided that this summer each of us will read the entire Harry Potter series again. It has been ages since we have read the whole thing, although my teen and I have re-read single books here and there. I might even read a couple of them from the illustrated versions we bought but haven’t enjoyed yet.

In addition to Harry, we are only picking one challenge book for each of the other people in the family. I gave both my husband and my teen a stack of books to choose from. If we were doing 2 or 3 books, I would have picked myself but I didn’t have “that one” book I wanted either to read. I have challenged my teen to read Powerless and my husband to read Polaris Rising. My husband and I both were thinking of Scalzi’s Lock In for the teen so he assigned that one. My teen chose #MurderTrending for both parents. And my husband chose Long Road to Mercy for me.  He’s always trying to get me to read more Baldacci!

We are also putting in “prizes” for this year, too, to see if that helps us actually finish the goal by July 31.

#Bookaday

Teachers, librarians and other book fanatics all over social media (Instagram, Twitter) choose to read a book each day of summer vacation. My #bookaday will run from June 1 to July 31, so 61 books in 61 days. And to help with that I have a Kindle full of Advance Reader Copies and my personal TBR pile for the summer.

TBR Books

My top priority for the summer is to get ahead on my review copies. These are some of the ones I am most excited to read.

 

These are some of the new books coming out in June and July that I hope to read.

 

And finally, these are some of the books I want to RE-READ this summer. I am craving a re-reading binge like no one’s business. I am hoping to get ahead on as much as I can in June so I can spend July on reading old favorites – some to get ready for sequels (Ash Princess, Kill the Queen, Lady’s Guide…) and the rest just because I love them.

Aliens Abroad
Ash Princess
It’s Not Me It’s You
Kill the Queen
A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder
A List of Cages
The Names They Gave Us
The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You
Polaris Rising
Prince in Disguise
The Way to the Stars

What are you planning to read this summer?