Month: June 2020

REVIEW: The Amelia Six by Kristin L. Gray

REVIEW: The Amelia Six by Kristin L. Gray

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Millie, Thea, Cassie, Nathalie, Robin, and Wren are the Amelia Six – six girls who won the chance to spend the night at Amelia Earhart’s Birthplace Museum in Atchison, Kansas. It was supposed to be an evening of food and fun with a scavenger hunt and a tour of the house, full of Amelia Earhart memorabilia. The prize attraction is a pair of Amelia’s goggles – a pair that is about to go the Smithsonian. But over the course of the evening, the goggles go missing.

The kids and the adults in charge of the museum are trapped in the house due to a snowstorm. There’s no cell reception. And everyone is suspicious of everyone else. The goggles are worth a lot of money to a thief.

But the Amelia Six are determined to find the goggles, get to the truth, and preserve Amelia’s memory. But what can six pre-teens do?

Review

This was a fun mystery with some unexpected twists. Millie was the point of view character, but the ensemble of girls was great. They worked well together once the investigation kicked in, and each brought something different to the sleuthing.

There’s a lot of great Amelia Earhart information both in the book and in the back matter. The setting for the story and the group that plans the event for the girls in the book are both real. Amelia Earhart fans will get a kick out of all the little nuggets of information.

Mystery fans, Earhart fans, and fans of books with great ensembles of characters should be sure to check this one out. It is a lot of fun with plenty of page-turning suspense.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: June 30, 2020

BOOK NEWS: June 30, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the last week of June – this summer is zooming by. Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

Grover (Board Book) – A new board book starring my favorite Muppet!
Baaad Hair Day (Sheep Dog and Sheep Sheep) – In this sequel to Sheep Dog and Sheep Sheep, it’s sheering day. And Sheep could use a haircut because her wool is so long it covers her eyes and she trips over things. But she doesn’t want to lose her beautiful curls.
Hey, Who Made This Mess – Someone tracks through purple paint and causes all sorts of trouble at the zoo. Who could be the culprit?
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I Am Theodore Roosevelt AND We Are the Brontë Sisters – New biographies based on the Xavier Riddle show.
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I am Alexander Hamilton (Early Reader) – A new biography based on the Xavier Riddle show.
Magic on the Map: Escape from Camp California – Book 4 in the Magic on the Map series. Finn and Molly are in California helping wildfire refugees.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

The Amelia Six – When a pair of Amelia Earhart’s goggles go missing from the museum in her childhood home, the six girls who were spending the night there for scavenger hunts and fun instead band together to find a thief. This looks fantastic! I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Really Truly (Older Middle Grade) – Book 3 in the Pumpkin Falls mystery series. I just got to read book one, Absolutely Truly, and I enjoyed it (♥♥♥♥½). This time, Truly and her friends discover a mystery at mermaid camp.
Show Me History: Susan B. Anthony, Champion for Voting Rights! – Graphic novel biography of Susan B. Anthony.
What Is a Presidential Election? – The What Was books look at presidential elections just in time for the 2020 election season.
Goddess in the Machine – A girl asleep for 1000 years instead of the hundred that would have taken care of her trip through space wakes to find all of her family and friends gone, while their descendants call her “Goddess.” She teams up with an unlikely accomplice to find how why she was left in stasis and what happened in the meantime.
I Killed Zoe Spanos – Anna comes to town for a summer nanny job and finds the community still in shock from the disappearance of Zoe Spanos on New Year’s Eve. Anna seems weirdly connected to Zoe, and when Zoe’s body is found later in the summer, Anna confesses. But her story is full of holes and inconsistencies. Martina, the host of the Missing Zoe podcast is determined to find out the truth.

Books for Adults

About a Rogue (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Desperately Seeking Duke series. Bianca takes her sister’s place at the altar so she can marry her true love. Max doesn’t care which sister he marries as long as he can accomplish his own goals which include a dukedom.
The Black Swan of Paris (Hardcover) – Genevieve is a singer secretly working with Allied Forces against the Nazis. When her mother Lillian is captured, the resistance movement will do whatever it takes to keep Lillian quiet, even if it means killing her. But Genevieve is determined to risk everything to rescue her.
Crushing It (Trade Paperback) – Sierra needs to conquer her stage fright before she can pitch her new role playing game at a conference, so she tries a diary slam. She has no problem sharing the highs and lows of her college crush with a bunch of strangers. But the reader right after her? It’s the college crush. But the chance to see what might have been could keep Sierra from seeing what was right in front of her all along.
Daring and the Duke (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Bareknuckle Bastards series after Brazen and the Beast (♥♥♥♥♥). Grace has made a life for herself despite the rough moments in her history, but she has no room in her life for the Duke of Marwick, the man who broke her heart.
Death of a Wandering Wolf (Mass Market Paperback) – Book two from the delightful Julia Buckley in her Hungarian Tea House Mystery series. Hana finds a lovely wolf figurine at a yard sale, but it only leads to trouble, especially for the man who sells it to her. He ends up dead.
Don’t Keep Silent (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Uncommon Justice series from Christian publisher Revell. An investigative reporter is looking for her missing sister-in-law when she reconnects with the former DEA agent whose cover she blew.
A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby (Trade Paperback) – First in the Rogues and Remarkable Women series. The Widow’s Grace is a secret society dedicated to helping widows find their way in the world. This time they are helping an heiress who loses her son, her fortune and her station when she questions her husband’s suicide. She’s arrested and the Widow’s Grace helps her get a job as a nanny – to her own son. His guardian, the Duke of Repington, is looking into the death as well so he can do what’s best for his charge. Sounds delightful!
Fatal Fiction (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Deadly Edits Mystery series. This time, freelance editor Mikki Lincoln is working on a tell-all memoir that puts a spotlight on a condemned building in town. When a body is found there, all attention turns to Mikki who was seen arguing with the man before he died.
The Finders (Hardcover) – First in the new Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. When Reid starts training his latest rescue dog to be a cadaver dog, they are pushed to their limits on a new murder case.
A Killer Ending (e-book) – Book 1 in the Snug Harbor Mystery series. When Max opens a new bookstore in Snug Harbor, Maine, she has her hands full with the shop and the unexpected arrival of her ex – accompanied by a famous author. Then Max’s dog finds a dead body, and the murder weapon came from Max’s shop.
The Last Curtain Call (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 8 in the Haunted Home Renovation series. While Mel and her fiancé are in the middle of their own renovation process, her work on an old theater turns up a connection to the ghost in her attic – and another dead body.
The Lion’s Den (Hardcover) – When Belle’s friend Summer invites her on an exotic yacht trip, it sounds like the perfect getaway. But everything is not what it seems, and before long Belle and the other women on board are more prisoners than guests. Wow! Sounds amazing.
Murder in a Scottish Shire (Trade Paperback) – First in a new series. A young woman who owns a sweater and knitting shop gets an unwelcome surprise when a part timer at her shop is found dead.
Murder in Waiting (Trade Paperback) – Book 11 in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. Jill may be the boss at work, but as Amy’s maid-of-honor, she can hardly keep up with the bridezilla to be. But Jill has more going on than just the wedding prep, and when an ally in some of her community dealings is killed, she’s hoping to catch a killer instead of the bouquet.
Nacho Average Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Country Store Mystery series. Robbie leaves Indiana and heads to California for her high school reunion, but while she’s there she hears rumors that her mother’s death might not have been from natural causes.
Nothing Bundt Trouble (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 11 in the Bakeshop Mystery series. This time Jules takes on a hit-and-run from the 1980s.
Puppy Kisses (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Forever Home romance series. Dawn “rescues” (steals) an abused Golden Retriever and her friend Adam goes along with the story that the dog is one she is training to be his seeing eye dog. Dawn is a force of nature and Adam has trouble saying no to her. But when she tries to take the puppy home with her, he puts his foot down and says he’s keeping her just like he said he was. This was great! You can see my full review here.
A Sprinkling of Murder (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Fairy Garden Mystery series. Courtney has built a magical life for herself around her shop Open Your Imagination, a fairy garden business and tea shop. But when a neighboring shop owner is killed and Courtney is the prime suspect, she’s adding sleuth to her job title.
Still Knife Painting (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Paint & Shine Mystery series. Miranda’s brilliant business plan – an outdoor painting and moonshine tasting in the middle of a national forest – leads to trouble when her cook is murdered.
Sunset in Sydney (e-book – July 3) – Book 3 in the Holiday Romance series. Sarah returns home from her trip with two men hoping to wine and dine her. Her decision is complicated by the fact that neither man lives in Australia where she does.
Star Trek Discovery Guide to Seasons 1 and 2 (Trade Paperback) – A fan’s guide to the first two seasons of the CBS All Access show.
Sweet & Savory Keto Chaffles (Paperback) – Chaffles are waffles made with eggs and cheese and are a trendy bread substitute for those on a keto diet. This includes 75 recipes and ideas for both sweet and savory chaffles.
West Side Story: The Jets, the Sharks, and the Making of a Classic (Hardcover) – A behind the scenes look at the classic West Side Story.

REVIEW: Layoverland by Gabby Noone

REVIEW: Layoverland by Gabby Noone

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When Bea died, she was driving her car around, aimlessly, thinking about her little sister – her best friend, Emmy – and how she ruined Emmy’s life. One moment she’s looking into the eyes of the kid who hit her. The next, she’s on a weird airplane with strangers.

Turns out, Bea is in purgatory. And because of the abrasive, disagreeable way she lived her life, she has to work in the Memory Experience department, helping other souls deal with the regrets of their lives that have kept them from going to Heaven. Bea just has to help 5,000 others work through their issues, and then she gets to go to heaven, too.

But Caleb is one of the first soul’s assigned to Bea. And she realizes he’s the one from the accident. The guy who killed her. There’s no way she’s going to help him move onto Heaven after that! She’ll just have to find a way to sabotage him. Not enough so she gets into trouble and gets sent to Hell, but just enough to push him back into the lottery to wait for another chance at Heaven.

Review

This was SO quirky! The whole premise is a hoot! Bea spends the entire book in the “airport” of purgatory, with its gross food and odd characters and blank books. Periodically there’s a chapter about what happened before the accident on the day Bea died. It’s actually pretty tragic to think of what things could have been like for her family after her death.

Caleb’s a nice guy who has no idea about the connection to Bea. He goes along with every question she asks, trusting her completely in the Memory Experience process. Which leads to an interesting dynamic between them.

This is a pretty secular view on the afterlife. There’s no reference to Jesus. And people can move out of purgatory when their number is called if they cooperate with the process to figure out what repressed issue has gotten in their way. Bea is freakishly good at discerning what people need to help with that process. The ending of this was interesting.

While this was quirky from start to finish, it was also compelling. I was curious about what happened between Bea and her sister. I wondered what would happen with Caleb when he discovered the truth. I had to know if a loophole would get Bea to Heaven sooner or if she’d really have to work with 5,000 souls first.

If you enjoy odd, existential stories, don’t miss this one! (Language, references to underage drinking and abortion)

Rating: ♥♥♥½

BONUS REVIEW: To Kill a Mocking Girl by Harper Kincaid

BONUS REVIEW: To Kill a Mocking Girl by Harper Kincaid

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

Quinn Caine is back in Vienna, Virginia after teaching English in villages overseas for a few years after college. She’s living in a house on her aunt and uncle’s property and doing book binding work at her parents shop, Prose and Scones. Even her brother has moved back to Vienna thanks to a new job. It’s good to be back in town with her people.

Part of Quinn’s “welcome back” is a run in with Trica Pemberley, one of her high school’s mean girls. Tricia and her twin sister, Trina, are local real estate stars in town. But Tricia’s boasting wasn’t about the housing market, but rather about the diamond on her ring finger. She seemed to think Quinn would care that she was engaged to Scott Hauser, a guy Quinn dated for a few weeks several years back. As far as Quinn was concerned, Tricia and Scott could have each other!

But when Quinn stumbles onto Tricia’s dead body, at least one local police officer thinks Quinn might have been jealous enough to kill her “rival.” Quinn, her friends, and her family know the idea is ludicrous. But to keep Quinn out of trouble, she and her cousin/best friend, Sister Daria, are going to track down a killer.

Review

Excellent! Everything about this was a delight – the characters, the setting, the potential romance, the mystery, the dogs. All of it.

The writing here is sharp. I loved the humor and the pop culture references. I laughed out loud many times. The romance, which is typical for cozy mysteries, has great chemistry and didn’t feel like the usual cozy relationship. My favorite pair, though is Quinn and Sister Daria. They have such an unusual dynamic. They grew up together, but Daria has changed so much while Quinn has been gone. I loved both the creativity of the relationship and the execution of it in the book. The scene where Quinn has dinner at the abbey is a perfect example of how fascinating this dynamic is.

The mystery here is SO well done! Quinn isn’t tracking suspects as much as she is tracking clues. The suspects come later as she tries to make the clues fit. It was easy to forget there was a second suspicious death, but it helped complicate the sleuthing when it came up. I was guessing all the way to the end, which was so satisfying. The hook – the book shop and Quinn’s book binding work – was a character development piece for Quinn and other characters more so than a major factor to the mystery, although it did play a role. I imagine it will be developed more in future books. And I am here for all of them. Cozy fans should NOT miss this one!

This book is available now as an e-book, but readers will be able to pick up a print copy after July 7th.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

BLOG TOUR: Puppy Kisses by Lucy Gilmore

BLOG TOUR: Puppy Kisses by Lucy Gilmore

Posted on by Jaymie

Welcome to the Blog Tour for book 3 in the Forever Home series, Puppy Kisses. [I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.] This book will release next Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

 

Summary

It started with a car chase and a lie.

Dawn and Zeke had stolen – rescued – the puppy from an abusive owner who chased them with a shotgun. Their high-speed getaway caught the attention of the sheriff. Zeke was about to lose his license, and Dawn’s flirting was doing no good. So she said the puppy was a service dog in training for Adam.

Zeke’s brother, Adam, went along with the story once he put most of the pieces together. He’d do almost anything for Dawn, not that he’d tell her that. But once the sheriff was gone and the local vet had checked out the puppy, Adam was attached and refused to let her go.

Dawn had been rescuing the puppy for herself. She had other animals at the kennel that would work as a service animal for Adam. Training the right puppy – and getting her rescued puppy back – would be a great excuse for spending more time with Adam. She didn’t know why he insisted on pushing her away. They were combustible when they were together. She would just have to keep pushing until he saw the potential they had together like she did.

Review

This was a great addition to a fun series! The characters – both human and canine (and bovine!) – are terrific. The dogs in this book are especially delightful. I adored Uncle from his first appearance. And I laughed every time Adam called the new puppy Methuselah.

There are lots of laughs in this book. I loved the snappy dialogue between the various characters. The animals added great humor to this too, especially the rogue cow.

Adam and Dawn are fascinating protagonists. Dawn is so in-your-face for most of the book, yet a lot goes unsaid between her and Adam. Both of them could have avoided some conflict with better trust and communication as well as fewer assumptions. Adam gets some benefit of the doubt on the communication pieces because his visual impairment means he misses any visual cues from Dawn’s facial expressions or body language that might have clued him into her true feelings. Dawn is also working through some identity things as the person she wants to be and the person people assume she is don’t always line up.

There was a moment at the end of the book that seemed to be headed one way and then absolutely didn’t go where I thought it would. Which was fine – it was a great shift. But it didn’t feel resolved by the end, which left me feeling off-kilter going into the great epilogue. This was the only blip in a thoroughly delightful story. I have enjoyed this whole series from the start. Be sure to check out book one, Puppy Love (♥♥♥♥) and book 2, Puppy Christmas. (You can read my review of Puppy Christmas here.) I would love to read more books with these characters if the series is going to continue or spin off in any way. Each of the three sisters have had a book, though, so I’m not sure if there will be more Forever Home stories in the future. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

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If you have enjoyed one of Lucy Gilmore’s books before, or if you want to know more about her, you can explore her website here.  While you are there, you can see the other names she writes under and check out those books as well. It looks like she has plans for some new stand-alone puppy-related romances coming in 2021! I even picked up a few books from her other pen names, thanks to the website. Be sure to check it out!

As part of the Blog Tour you can enter a giveaway for copies of the first two books in the series!  You already know I loved them. Check out the giveaway here.

BONUS REVIEW: Seven Clues to Home by Gae Polisner and Nora Raleigh Baskin

BONUS REVIEW: Seven Clues to Home by Gae Polisner and Nora Raleigh Baskin

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

It’s Joy’s birthday, but she’s struggling to be excited about it. The memories of last year’s birthday – which started out so well, but ended so tragically – are unavoidable. For the last year, her parents have watched her carefully. No one really mentions Lukas. Joy can’t even think about him in the past tense. She talks to him in her head. How could she let go of her best friend – someone who might have been something more?

Joy and Lukas used to make scavenger hunts for each other for their birthdays, which were only a couple days apart. She has the first clue for last year’s hunt. It’s been in her desk for 365 days. But maybe it’s time to see where the note leads – to see if any of his clues are left. To see if there’s a hint that he heard her last words to him or not.

Review

I have mixed feelings on this book. It’s very well written. But I didn’t love it. I can positively recommend it to the right readers, but I don’t think I was the right reader, if that makes sense.

The authors did a nice job here of balancing what could have been an extremely sad story with some sweet friendship moments and some chuckles. It’s still a sad story. You know all the way through that Lukas – who tells the story of writing and placing his clues – is going to die. You don’t know how until the end, but it’s an ever-present weight on the story. Personally, that anxiety and wondering was a distraction at times from Joy’s journey through the scavenger hunt.

My heart broke for Joy. She comes across as still pretty numb and emotionally flat in her grief. And she doesn’t talk about Lukas or her loss, although she obviously thinks about him a lot. She holds back her tears so often. The stakes on the scavenger hunt are also big. Joy wants to have this last experience with Lukas, but the chances of finding all of his clues after a year are slim. What will she do if she can’t find them? I thought the authors did a terrific job of dealing with this issue in the book.

Because of the seriousness of the story and the crush components between Joy’s last words to Lukas and Lukas’ thoughts of kissing her and declaring his feelings, I would push the age for this up to an older middle grade range – 10 to 14 instead of the traditional 8-12. As I think back to my students, my 5th and 6th graders would have gravitated to this more than my 3rd and 4th graders on the whole.

Readers who want to be moved by their books, who love friendship stories, or who enjoy middle grade stories that wrestle with mature topics like grief and loss should not miss this one. As I said, it is very well written. It just wasn’t a good fit for me as a reader. My personal rating for this is a 3.5, but my official rating is a 4 to reflect the quality of the book outside of my reaction to it.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Primer by Jennifer Muro and Thomas Krajewski

REVIEW: Primer by Jennifer Muro and Thomas Krajewski

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Ashley’s been in multiple foster homes as well as a group home before she goes to live with the Nolans. Mr. Nolan is an artist and a professor. He’s funny and relatable and down to earth. His wife is a scientist. Ashley’s convinced Dr. Nolan doesn’t like her.

Ashley notices Dr. Nolan acting suspiciously. She thinks that the box Dr. Nolan puts in the family safe must be her birthday present. She has no idea that Dr. Nolan has stolen this box from her job because what’s inside it is dangerous. She doesn’t want it to fall into the wrong hands.

What Ashley thinks is just a kit of body paint for fun is actually a military project. Each paint color gives Ashley a different power. When a group of villains calling themselves the Night Knights starts trouble, Ashley uses the paints to fight them. She likes being a superhero. And she chooses her own hero name – Primer.

Review

This was so fun! I loved Ashley and the Nolans. They are pretty chill about her new super hero life – more relaxed than you think parents would be – but otherwise I loved the interplay with the three of them.

Ashley’s biological father, who is in jail, is far more alarming with his psychological abuse than the villain of the larger story here. This book only teases at this father/daughter relationship, but it will be a bigger focus of future stories. I will definitely be reading any sequels to see what the writers decide to do with that creepy relationship, especially as Ashley grows more attached to the Nolans.

The art wasn’t completely finished in my review copy, but what I saw was terrific. I can’t wait to see this one in person. DC has graciously provided a few sample pages so you can see the art for yourself:

The story here falls neatly between the light plots in the DC Super Hero Girls graphic novels and the more serious teen titles like Oracle Code and Raven. You can read my other DC reviews here. Hand this one to fans of Black Canary: Ignite and Batman Overdrive. I think they will love it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: June 23, 2020

BOOK NEWS: June 23, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books out this week:

Books for Kids

Library Books Are NOT for Eating! – Ms. Bronte is a terrific story time guest except that she eats every book once she finishes reading it. This looks adorable!
Pete the Cat: Secret Agent – Pete the Cat goes undercover as Secret Agent Meow.
Uni the Unicorn Goes to School – Uni goes to school to learn to use her unicorn magic.

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

Braver  – First in a new fantasy series by Suzanne Selfors. A young wombat longing for adventure finds more than she bargained for when an exiled predator returns and captures the other wombats, including her parents.
Con Quest – A pair of twins ditch their family at a comics convention while they try to win a huge scavenger hunt. I am so excited about this one!
Disney Moana Movie in Comics (Graphic Novel) – The story of the movie in comics form.
Marvel Action Spider-Man Venom (Graphic Novel) – The Spider team tries to determine if Venom is friend or foe.
Super Puzzletastic Mysteries  – An anthology of mystery short stories from favorite children’s authors like Chris Grabenstein. This is at the top of my list for the week.
Deadly Curious – From the author of the delightful Duels & Deception comes a new YA mystery. Sophia would love to become a Bow Street Runner, but ladies do not become detectives! If they would even let a woman join them anyway in 1834. But Sophia gets a chance to solve a case when her cousin asks her to investigate the death of her brother. This is on my list for this week, too.
Hunted by the Sky – First in the Wrath of Ambar series. Gul’s parents are killed and she is forced into hiding because of the birthmark on her arm. But when a group of women find her and offer to train her in magic, she sees the opportunity for revenge.
My Eyes Are Up Here – A teen struggles with the changes in her body and the way puberty changes her feelings about herself and her interactions with the people around her. For the title alone I am going to read this one.
Seasons of the Storm – A young man is forced to choose between death and immortality. Immortality means he becomes Winter, knowing that in his world, Winter kills Autumn and is killed by Spring – even though he and the girl who is Spring have fallen in love. The magical set up of this one is fascinating. I have this on my list, too!
Sisters of Sword and Song – When Evadne’s older sister finally returns from her service in the queen’s army, she is on the run and accused of murder. Evadne agrees to take part of her sister’s punishment in order to investigate and find out the truth of what happened. Another intriguing plot!
The Sullivan Sisters – Three sisters, each struggling in her own way, must band together when they receive news of an inheritance that draws them into sinister family secrets.

Books for Adults

The Last Flight (Hardcover) – Two women fleeing terrible circumstances switch plane tickets hoping the misdirection will give them time to establish new lives where no one from their pasts can find them. But when one of the planes crashes, everything changes for the survivor. Fascinating!
Murder on the Silver Screen (e-book) – Book 3 in the fantastic Movie Palace Mystery series after Murder at the Palace and Murder in the Balcony (Rating: ♥♥♥♥). This time, Nora opens the theater for the launch of a new online game, but the event ends in murder. I have had this on request with the library for months. Can’t wait to continue this series!
Party of Two (Hardcover) – A woman moving to LA to start her own law firm spends a delightful evening flirting with a stranger with no clue that he is a hotshot junior senator. While they find creative ways to keep their relationship out of the spotlight, when it becomes public she has to ask herself if what they have together is worth the drama that ensues.
Star Wars: Shadow Fall (Hardcover) – Book two in the Star Wars Alphabet Squadron series. Alphabet Squadron, with help from General Hera Syndulla (Star Wars Rebels), prepares to take down Shadow Wing once and for all.
Take a Hint Dani Brown (Trade Paperback – LGBTQ+) – Sequel to Get a Life, Chloe Brown and book 2 in the Brown Sisters series. Dani is really only looking for a friend with benefits, so when a sexy security guard rescues her during a fire alarm gone awry, he seems like the perfect candidate. But video of the rescue goes viral, and he asks her to play along that they are a couple so his children’s charity can benefit from the attention. But after awhile, it’s hard to keep track of what is real and what is fake in their fake relationship.
Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going to Do About It (Hardcover) – The latest from Bob Goff focuses on dreaming big.

REVIEW: Shadow Knights by Jennifer Anne Davis

REVIEW: Shadow Knights by Jennifer Anne Davis

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

After the events of Realm of Knights, Reid is sent to Axian for an arranged marriage to Prince Henrick’s son, Prince Dexter. They have a rocky history, and he seems as excited about the match as she is – that is to say, not at all.

Reid and Dexter are both aware of the king’s true lineage. And neither of them trust him. But a marriage will align their counties and put them in a stronger position if King Eldon ever decides to cause trouble.

But Reid also has an obligation to the Knights of the Realm, at least until she is married. They want to know where Dexter sneaks off to. And they are keeping an eye on Eldon and some suspicious activity around the kingdom.

When assassins come for Dexter and Reid, it’s obvious that Eldon has escalated his plans. Whatever Eldon’s true goal, the attempt helps Reid and Dexter break through the frosty barriers between them. And together, they could be a formidable force against the illegitimate king.

Review

I would have liked a little more information at the beginning of the book to refresh my memory from book one, but once I was back in the flow of the story, I couldn’t put this down.

The development of Reid’s character in this is terrific. I feel like the match with Dexter is FAR better than the weird romantic dynamic in book one. Dexter – and his family – seem to bring out the best in Reid. And for the first time she gets to be as much herself as she can be with the Axian customs and her role as the prince’s fiancée.

There’s a major twist at the end of this that I totally saw coming, but loved anyway. And this left me breathlessly waiting for book 3 so it could all be explained. There are some nice, big developments at the end of this that add to the suspense for book 3 – Hidden Knights – and I was caught up in all of them. I was thrilled when my local library ordered book 3. They have been great about helping me stay connected to this whole series. (I wrote this review months ago and by now I have read – and enjoyed – book 3. I won’t be posting a full review of it due to my review backlog.)

This series is fantastic! The royal intrigue and the girl-power moments are right up my alley. There are some laugh-out-loud moments to balance out the suspense and seriousness of assassination, conspiracy, and war. Don’t miss this great series!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison

REVIEW: A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison

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

Alex has quit her job and gone to Bellamy Bay, North Carolina for vacation with her mother’s side of the family. The family her father refused to visit after her mother’s death. The people he forbid Alex from seeing. But with her father and her job gone and her future up in the air, family is just what Alex needs.

Alex, and her dog Athena, are staying with her aunt Lidia and cousin Minka. Minka’s sister, Kamila, lives in town as well. Aunt Lidia has an apothecary called Botanika, and Alex pitches in there to spend time with her family while she sorts out the upheaval in her life.

Randy Bennett comes to the store in search of a “good luck potion.” Lidia isn’t there, but Minka waits on him. But when Lidia walks in, she flies into a temper at finding Randy in her shop. She tosses his tea at him and bans him – again – from her store.

It’s weird enough that a customer would ask for a “potion.” Add to it Lidia’s temper; it looked like she lifted Mr. Bennett off the floor in her rage. Then there’s the gossip columnist who says Alex’s family are witches. But those problems are weird, and minor, compared to the death of Randy Bennett. The one Lidia is arrested for.

Review

This is a fantastic paranormal mystery! It’s similar in tone and feel to the Wishcrafters series, but with a paranormal hook that’s all its own. The water witch/mermaid piece is unique, and well designed, tying into actual legends from Poland. I thought the world-building here was great!

Alex and her family are characters I would love to know in real life. In fact, finishing the book was actually disappointing because it will be awhile before there’s a sequel. I can’t wait to spend more time in Bellamy Bay.

There’s the usual cozy mystery romance with a law enforcement officer here, or at least the potential for one. But there are actually hints at a possible romantic triangle. Usually I hate those, but this one was fascinating and well written.

The mystery here was top notch. I was guessing all the way to the end, which was so satisfying. There are some unresolved threads here to carry readers into book two. And I can’t wait to read Alex’s next adventure. Paranormal cozy fans – don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥