Month: August 2020

BOOK NEWS: September 1, 2020

BOOK NEWS: September 1, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Tomorrow is the first release day in September 2020. Let’s see what books we have to look forward to this week! There are TONS of choices.

Books for Kids – Picture Books

Catkwondo – Kitten wants to break a board, but she has to be patient in her training.
Every Night Is Pizza Night – Pipo thinks pizza is the best food, but her tastes are expanded when she cooks with her friends.
I Am Every Good Thing – A Black boy celebrates all the great things he is.
Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog – The third book in this excellent series sees Madeline and Star volunteering at an assisted living facility as Star trains to be a therapy dog. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man – A Little Golden Book about Miles Morales.
Rocket Says Clean Up! – When Rocket visits her grandparents, she is shocked at the volume of trash at the beach. And when she finds a turtle trapped in a net, she decides something must be done.
Pete the Cat: Crayons Rock! – When Pete shows his latest artwork to his friends, they don’t react like he expected.
Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie – A Thanksgiving celebration can be tricky for particular eaters like Peyton. I so get Peyton!
Short & Sweet – Book 4 in the Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast series. When Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast become worried that they are going stale, Professor Biscotti tries to help but ends up turning them into toddlers.
Sweet Child O’Mine – A picture book based on the lyrics of the Guns N’ Roses classic.
Wonder Woman: Christmas Comes to Paradise Island – Wonder Woman celebrates Christmas.

Books for Kids – Early Readers and Early Chapter Books

       

Ty’s Travels: All Aboard! AND Zip, Zoom! – The first two books in a new Early Reader series.
BunBun & BonBon: Fancy Friends (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series. A lonely bunny becomes friends with a fancy piece of candy. This I have to see for myself!
The Critter Club: Amy the Puppy Whisperer – Book 21 in the Critter Club series. A girl with a talent for training puppies does such a good job she soon as more customers than she has time or energy for.
Dog Man: Grime and Punishment (Graphic Novel) – Book 9 in this uber-popular graphic novel series.
Fairylight Friends: A Magic Spark – First in a new series from Scholastic ACORN. Three fairy friends discover their special powers.
Fox Tails: The Great Bunk Bed Battle – First in a new series from Scholastic ACORN. Fox siblings try to get ready for bed.
I Survived the California Wildfires 2018 – Book 20 in the I Survived series focuses on the California Wildfires of 2018.
Mac B, Kid Spy: The Sound of Danger – Book 5 in the Mac B, Kid Spy series. This time Mac is searching for a stolen violin.
Owly: Just a Little Blue (Graphic Novel) – Owly and Wormy try to help a family of bluebirds living in a damaged tree.
Pawtriot Dogs: Save the Sanctuary AND Everything’s Bigger in Texas – The first two books in this new series about a team of dogs who take on various missions. These two books look at a case to save an animal shelter and a case of kidnapped puppies.
Squidding Around: Fish Feud! (Graphic Novel) – The first book in this new series. Squizzard and Toothy are best friends, but Squizzard’s bossiness when they play games pushes Toothy too far. This looks adorable!

Books for Older Kids/Teens

Alpaca My Bags – Part of the WISH line of middle grade novels. When an anxious girl moves from homeschooling to a public school, she finds comfort working with alpacas. But when a prank goes wrong and puts the alpacas in danger, she will step up to save the place that has been a sanctuary for her. This looks great!
Arcade and the Dazzling Truth Detector – The fourth and final book in the Coin Slot Chronicles series from Christian publisher Zonderkidz and former NFL running back Rashad Jennings. Arcade and Zoe travel through time to the top and bottom of the world.
Battle for the Crystal Castle – Book 13 in the Kingdom of Fantasy series.
Before and Ever After (Older Middle Grade) – The latest from National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson looks at ZJ, the son of a former pro football player, and what happens to his family when his dad starts experiencing personality and memory issues because of head injuries during his career.
The Candy Mafia – The story of a private detective in a world where sweets are forbidden who stumbles onto a shady underworld of sweet smugglers. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
DC Super Hero Girls Midterms (Graphic Novel) – The latest Super Hero Girls graphic novel focuses on Bumblebee, Lois Lane, and Harley Quinn when midterms will determine who is the best in their Metropolis High class. You can read my review of other books in the DC at Metropolis High here as well as reviews of the Super Hero High series here.
Forget Me Nat (Graphic Novel) – Sequel to the delightful Nat Enough. Nat’s crush tells her he just wants to be friends, and the rejection throws Nat into self-doubt. I am looking forward to this one.
The Gerbil Ate My Homework – Book 23 in this comics collection starring Big Nate.
Jayla Jumps In – Jayla tries Double Dutch as a way to stand out in her family.
The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the Worst Olympic Athlete – Book 5 in the Long-Lost Secret Diary series. A boy living in Greece gets to help an Olympic athlete, but when his athlete falls sick, Alexander has to find out why. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Max Einstein: Save the Future (Older Middle Grade) – Max is still on the run from The Corporation when she and her friends receive their next challenge – eliminate childhood hunger.
Millionaires for the Month – The latest from author Stacy McAnulty. When two boys find a wallet and one “borrows” $20 because the owner is a famous billionaire who can afford it, she challenges them to spend over $5 million to learn the value of money. There’s a Brewster’s Millions feel to this, and I am 100% here for it. I am so excited to read this! I will be reviewing this one soon.
Name Tags and Other Sixth-Grade Disasters – When Lizbeth switches to a new school mid-year and gets stuck with the “weirdos,” she finds herself becoming friends with them as they prepare to participate in the required school talent show. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Pumpkin Spice Up Your Life – Another WISH book releases this week. Nadine and Daniel have been best friends for most of their lives, but just as Nadine realizes her feelings for Daniel are a little more than just friendship, he falls for the new girl at school.
Real Pigeons Nest Hard – Book 3 in this silly and fun graphic novel series. This time, the pigeons put their detective skills to work looking for a missing family while dodging a vulture. I got a kick out of the first book in this series.
Tune It Out (Older Middle Grade) – From the author of Roll With It. A girl with a sensory processing disorder adjusts to a lot of change when child services places her with her aunt and uncle. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Virtual Unicorn Experience (Graphic Novel) – Book 12 in the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series, a hilarious comics collection starring Phoebe and her best friend Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. I adore this series. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Who HQ Now: Who Is Greta Thunberg? AND Who Was Kobe Bryant? – A new line from the folks at Who HQ which will focus on “trending topics.” The first two books in the line focus on environmentalist Greta Thunberg and the late Kobe Bryant.

 

Books for Teens/Young Adults

As the Shadow Rises – Book 2 in the Age of Darkness series. Forces of light and darkness collide as prophecies comes to pass and the end of the world approaches. I have both books on my library list.
Cemetery Boys (LGBTQ+) – A trans boy determined to prove himself to his family conjures a ghost with unfinished business. At first, he can’t get the ghost to leave; after awhile, he’s not sure he wants him to leave after all.
Fable – Book 1 in a proposed duology.  Grieving her mother and abandoned by her father, Fable enlists the help of a trader who isn’t who he seems to help her get back to her father and the life she lost when he left her four years ago.
Flyy Girls: Lux AND Micah – The first two books in this new series about four Harlem highschoolers. The Flyy girls are a trio of girls who seem to have it all together – just the sorts of girls Lux  should hang out with to help her stay out of trouble. Then Micah’s world is upended when her perfect older brother dies.
Greythorne – Book 2 in the Bloodleaf Trilogy. A princess on the run because of her magical abilities flees to her friend’s family mansion. But it holds secrets that might mean she isn’t as safe there as she hoped. This series sounds great! I have both books in this series on my library list.
The Inheritance Games – First in a new series by the fabulous Jennifer Lynn Barnes! When Avery inherits a mansion and fortune from a man she never met, there are plenty of puzzles to solve as she moves into his old home – with the four grandsons he disinherited when he left all his money to her. I have had this pre-ordered for weeks. This is my top pick for the week.
The Insomniacs – A competitive diver with insomnia after a fall spends her waking nights with her neighbor/crush, trying to put her memory of that day back together.
Love & Other Detours – Book 3 in the Love & series. Lina is desperate to leave Italy and time with the father she never knew until she receives a journal her mother kept when she was alive. Through the journal, Lina sees Italy in a new way – and discovers a secret that will change everything.
Majesty – Book 2 in the American Royals alternate history series about an America ruled by royalty instead of democracy. As Princess Beatrice prepares to become the country’s first Queen, her siblings and their friends wrestle with their own secrets and choices.
Punching the Air – A novel in verse about a teen convicted of a crime he didn’t commit who finds refuge in words.
Queen of Volts – The third and final book of the Shadow Game series. Enne and Levi are forced into a dangerous final game where they will have to decide if they are partners or rivals.
Recommended for You – The employee who sells the most books at Once Upon will receive a holiday bonus. And Shoshanna needs that money. But new hire, Jake, who doesn’t even read, is starting to outsell her. So Shoshanna is just going to have to take him down. I will be reviewing this one soon – I can’t wait to read it!
Sanctuary – A near-future dystopian story where everyone is chipped and tracked, which makes it extra hard to survive as an undocumented immigrant. When Vali’s mother’s status is discovered, Vali has to get herself and her brother to the sanctuary state of California before it’s too late.
Save Steve – Billed as “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels meets The Fault in Our Stars.” Steve is a jerk – a cancer patient, boyfriend of the most perfect girl, Kaia, and a jerk. But when Kaia asks Cam to help her pull off a fundraiser for Steve’s experimental treatment, he agrees, hoping it will show Kaia that he is really the guy for her, not Steve. But Steve sees through Cam’s plan and is determined to make Cam’s life miserable. This is already on my library list.
The Somebody People – Sequel to The Nobody People. Fahima’s old friend has been manipulating those who gained superpowers after the Pulse and building an army to fight anyone who would oppose him. This leaves Fahima to rely on unproven allies to help her fight for everyone’s freedom.
Teen Titans: Beast Boy (Graphic Novel) – A sequel of sorts to Teen Titans: Raven, although she doesn’t make an appearance in this book. This is Gar Logan’s origin story. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
Unbirthday – Book 10 in the Twisted Tale series of fractured fairy tales. The characters Alice met in Wonderland are appearing in photographs she takes around town. I’m not a Wonderland fan, but the premise of this one sounds fascinating.
We Are Not Free – The story of a group of 14 Japanese-American teens who are sent to internment camps during World War II.
Better Than Life – Teen Girls’ Bible Study Book: How to Study the Bible and Like It – A nine-session study of Psalm 63. (Videos included in leader’s guide.)
The Extraordinary Life of Malala Yousafzai AND Michelle Obama – Leveled readers for English Language Learners.

Books for Adults

Avengers Extinction Key (Trade Paperback) – A prequel to the Marvel’s Avengers game. An ancient group of heroes once assembled to fight the Zodiac, a group of foes who used a Key to channel their powers. When the Key was lost, the Zodiac went into hiding. Now they are returning, and the Avengers are answering the call to fight once again. But if they are to have any hope of winning, they will need to find the Key.
A Case of Cat and Mouse (Hardcover) – Book 12 in the Magical Cats series. Kathleen is using her skills as a librarian to advise a reality baking show that is filming in town. When one of the judges is killed, Kathleen and her very special cats, Hercules and Owen, are on the case.
The Christmas Swap (Trade Paperback) – Since Emma has no chance of getting her dream White Christmas in Arizona, she signs up for a house swap in Colorado. When Tyler catches a glimpse of her, he decides not to leave after all. Tyler hopes to keep his identity as a famous musician and songwriter a secret, but Emma’s friend finds out and decides she wants him for herself. I could see this as a Hallmark movie, easily!
Gored of the Rings (e-book) – Book 1 in the Matchmaker Marriage Mysteries series, a spin off from the Matchmaker Mysteries by Elise Sax. Gladie is married now, and after three years of wedded bliss, there have been no dead bodies or murders to solve. Frankly, Gladie is a little bored. Her Grandma Zelda has decided to expand their matchmaking business into wedding planning and put Gladie in charge. When a member of the wedding party is killed during the festivities Gladie planned, she’s on the case. I have picked up a prequel for the original series – Road to Matchmaker – to try it out.
Off With Their Heads (e-book) – Book 1 in the Wonderland Library Mystery series. (This is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.) Wonderland, Alabama embraces their ties to the classic stories with an annual Tumbledown Festival. But when a guest is killed at the festival, and her mentor bizarrely confesses, librarian Emerson Bloom starts investigating.
One for the Books (Hardcover) – Book 11 in the Library Lovers Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay. As Lindsey and her friends scout out a location for her upcoming wedding, they stumble across a body – the justice of the peace who was supposed to perform her wedding. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
A Rogue of Ones Own (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the League of Extraordinary Women series. Lucie and her suffragettes have enough money to take over a publishing house to advance their agenda, but the last obstacle, Lord Ballentine, sets an outrageous condition – a night in her bed.
Seven Ways to Kill a King (e-book) – A princess is out to kill the seven murderous kings who destroyed her life. I’ve pre-ordered this one.
Star Wars: Thrawn: Chaos Rising (Harcover) – Book 1 in the Ascendancy Trilogy which will explore Thrawn’s origins and the home of the Chiss Ascendancy.  I haven’t read any of the Thrawn books so far (my husband has enjoyed them), but this one sounds amazing!
The Way Out (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Forbidden Minds series. Natural pregnancy has been deemed an unnecessary risk when artificial means have been developed. But a reporter investigating the new technology and subsequent laws discovers that some natural-born children have developed supernatural powers. She teams up with a former Marine whose son has some of those powers, and both women become targets for those who want them silenced. This sounds fascinating.
When No One Is Watching (Trade Paperback) – A thriller from the author of the Reluctant Royals series. As Sydney’s neighborhood starts changing, she notices her long-time neighbors disappearing. Sydney turns her frustration into something fruitful by digging into the history of the neighborhood with one of the new residents. But what they discover is truly disturbing.
Yours to Keep (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Man of the Year series by the author of the Central Park Pact series. A sidelined shortstop heads home to recover and to attend his high school reunion. But things don’t go the way he expects them to.  This sounds fun. (This is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.)
28-Day Prayer Journey: A Daily Guide to Conversations with God (Trade Paperback) – The latest from Christian writer Chrystal Evans Hurst. Includes three daily prompts, space for writing, as well as prayer and praise prompts.
Do It Afraid: Embracing Courage in the Face of Fear (Hardcover) – The latest from Joyce Meyer. Recognize, confront and conquer fear.
Is God Speaking To Me?: How to Discern His Voice and Direction (Booklet) – A 64 page booklet from author Lysa TerKeurst about learning to recognize God’s voice.
Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio (Hardcover Graphic Novel – September 4) – A 50th Anniversary look at the Kent State shooting when National Guardsmen shot and killed four unarmed students, and wounded several others, protesting the Vietnam War.
The Primal Gourmet Cookbook: Whole 30 Endorsed: It’s Not a Diet If It’s Delicious (Hardcover) – 100+ gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free recipes.
Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation As an Exercise in Hope (Trade Paperback) – The author, a New Testament scholar, posits that reading Scripture from the perspective of Black church tradition helps address the issues of our times. He also explores how the Bible speaks to topics often ignored by white interpreters such as ethnicity, policing, slavery, and political protest. This is also at the top of my list for this week.
Seeking the Lord: A 30 Day Start to Your Journey  (Trade Paperback) – A 30 day devotional exploring the lives of 22 people from the Bible who sought and found God. (This is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.)    
Star Trek: Quibbles with Tribbles (Puzzle book) – A puzzle book for Trek fans.
Who Will Be a Witness?: Igniting Activism for God’s Justice, Love and Deliverance (Trade Paperback) – A call to action for the Church to respond to the need for justice in our times. This is on my September list, too.

REVIEW: How to Live on the Edge by Sarah Lynn Scheerger

REVIEW: How to Live on the Edge by Sarah Lynn Scheerger

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Cayenne and Saffron lost their mother 14 years ago when they were 4 and 3 respectively. Since then, they’ve lived with their Aunt Tina and her family. Cayenne is about to finish high school, but she has no plans beyond that. It’s hard to be excited about your future when you know you are going to die early like every other woman in your family.

Cayenne and her boyfriend are adrenaline junkies, train jumping and cliff diving for thrills. Cayenne especially is looking for ways to feel “alive.” In her grief, she has even imagined a personification of death who feels like she is always lurking, coming for Cayenne one of these days.

Cayenne’s mom left some videos for the sisters to watch together before Cayenne graduates as a way for them to know her and for her to communicate some things to them as they become adults. Cayenne initially wants no part of them.

But when the girls’ aunt announces she has the BRCA gene and plans to have a preventative mastectomy, Cayenne is forced to face her fears about the family “curse” and the potential fate of the women she loves most.

Review

This is a realistic look at how people might respond to the weight of cancer risk. Cayenne believes the family history means she is going to die anyway, so she takes tremendous risks like she is daring Death. Saffron’s loss has left her afraid of losing someone else. And Aunt Tina is willing to do whatever it takes to reduce her risks in order to have as many healthy years with her family as possible. All of this felt realistic, and it all wove together so well.

Cayenne is the point-of-view character, so she’s the one we get to see grow the most. And her arc is tremendously satisfying. But the videos from their mom and their aunt’s genetic risk impact both of the girls over the course of the book. While Cayenne’s story is more dramatic, I preferred Saffron’s. I connected more with her character and her ways of coping. But the whole book is really well done.

I highly recommend this one for readers who want an emotional punch in their stories as well as readers who want to explore a story with a medical risk like cancer or grief and loss issues. This is a well-crafted story with tons to think about! (References to sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥ – Great!

 

BONUS REVIEW: The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi

BONUS REVIEW: The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Years ago, mathematician Grant McAllister posited a math theory about literature, specifically murder mysteries. He privately published the theory along with a book of seven short mysteries to illustrate his ideas called The White Murders.

Julia Hart is working for a small publishing house that wants to re-publish the book for a wider audience. So she’s tracked Grant down and traveled to his seaside cottage to talk through the stories in the book in order to prepare them for publication.

Except Julia has noticed some oddities and inconsistencies in the stories. She’s hoping Grant will be able to explain them to her. Maybe they are the innocent errors of a writing novice. Or maybe there’s a connection to an unsolved murder from over 20 years ago.

Review

The book launches with the first short story in The White Murders before introducing readers to Julia and Grant in chapter 2. The rest of the book toggles back and forth between the short stories and Julia’s work on the manuscript.

Honestly, I felt the short stories were more engaging than the larger story of the novel which is the Grant/Julia piece. If I was rating the short stories alone, I’d give them 4 stars. But the Julia/Grant portion was maybe a 2 star read on it’s own. So my overall rating for the book is an average of the two.

The Julia and Grant story never clicked for me. There wasn’t a lot of time in the book for readers to really get a feel for the characters. It’s a lot of Julia pushing and probing for information Grant doesn’t want to give and him telling her how little he remembers of the stories in the book. And the math pieces of this – Venn diagrams, sets and subsets – felt so basic (as far as “math” goes). Even the application to mysteries – killers and suspects and victims and detectives – wasn’t much of a revelation. It was a stretch for me to think this work was anything “significant” enough to warrant a first book much less a republication. There ARE twists to this part of the book, but they weren’t enough to elevate my enjoyment of it, and in some ways they undercut my enjoyment of the short stories. That said, I DID enjoy the short stories, though some were more violent/gruesome than I usually read.

This one is a mixed bag for me. Come for the short stories. If they work for you, awesome. I think you can easily just read the short stories – they are basically every other chapter of the book. If you like the short stories enough to stick around for the larger story, good for you. You will have some twists and turns in store. (LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = “Solid/Fine”

REVIEW: The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews

REVIEW: The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews

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

Meg’s grandmother, Cordelia, has recruited the family into helping with her weekend Renaissance Faire. Meg’s dad is in the first aid tent, her earthy cousin is selling potpourris, and Meg is doing blacksmithing demos and serves as Cordelia’s second-in-command. And Meg’s husband is creating the “story” for the Faire, and wrangling the actors. Michael’s story sets the Faire in a made up kingdom where various factions fight for who will succeed the queen when her reign ends.

Unfortunately, Terence, the actor playing their resident villain/troublemaker is a little too good at being the bad guy. He’s managed to alienate most of the actors and get someone fired from their job in the world outside the Faire. He’s on notice that if he puts one toe out of line, he’ll be fired.

So when Meg finds him dead, no one is really very surprised. The larger issue is weeding through all the people who had a reason to want Terence gone for good in order to find his killer.

Review

Meg Langslow and her family + a Renaissance Faire.

That’s all I had to hear before I decided this was a must read for me. I have loved Meg and her family since I first read Murder with Peacocks. Meg’s life, and the full cast, has changed over the course of 27 books, but these stories never disappoint.  Reading a Meg Langslow book is like coming home. I’d love to go back and re-read some of the early books again some time. This is a terrific series!

The RenFaire setting for this was fantastic. We used to visit one in the summers, and I miss it. I loved the descriptions here and the way Meg’s husband developed the “story” for their Faire. It’s also an excellent setting for bringing in new characters for the mystery.

The mystery here is great. I puzzled out the killer, but for a long time it looked like my guess was going to be wrong. The final confrontation was terrific as was the wrap up of all the story threads in the end.

I don’t think you have to have read the previous 26 books to appreciate this, although it does help readers have context for the major characters. But if you haven’t read a Meg story before, and you love cozy mysteries and Renaissance Faires, you should absolutely check this one out! Of course, Meg’s fans will not want to miss another terrific story. You’ll also want to put the next book, The Gift of the Magpie, on your wish list. It releases in October. (LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*I have a new rating system. 4 stars= “Great! Might re-read.”

REVIEW: Star Wars The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark

REVIEW: Star Wars The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

These are 11 short stories from the Star Wars Universe that take place during the Clone Wars. The stories are told from the perspective of one character. Every story is adapted from one or more episodes of the Clone Wars TV series – 3 from season 1, 1 from season 3, 5 from season 4, and 2 from season 5.

Review

When I started the first story, “Sharing the Same Face,” I was struck immediately by how familiar everything seemed. Sure enough, after some research on Wookiepedia, I turned on the first episode of the series, “Ambush,” and followed along. Yes, there were extra bits of Yoda’s musings on clones and individuality, and their engineering to follow orders. But essentially the story was one I had watched in the show.

I read through six of the eleven stories this way – looking for an episode with a similar descriptions and watching along while reading – before realizing that every short story was based on the show. (Readers can look up the title of each short story on Wookiepedia, and it will list the episode(s) involved.) That’s when I stopped reading.

Somewhere along the way I missed that these were adaptations rather than original stories. And I was disappointed.

Taken alone, the adaptations are good. There’s a reason Star Wars is such a huge property. These are great characters and stories. And I liked the tidbits of personal content or thought processes that were included. But for the stories I read, the new, original material was only a small bit of the whole story.

Readers who are Star Wars fans who like novelizations of the movies might enjoy these retellings. There are plenty of very positive reviews for this book. I don’t know if readers who aren’t somewhat versed in the Clone Wars show will be able to follow all of the stories here because some reference characters, places, and events that aren’t in the main 9 films. But readers who already love the show may enjoy this look at those stories. There is an audience for this book.

That audience is not me, though. I wanted new stories with my favorite characters. Or new stories that endeared other characters I didn’t already love to me. I wanted to see the Star Wars Universe expanded. It’s why I read Star Wars and Star Trek novels. If I had bought this and then discovered it was only adaptations of episodes I have already seen (some multiple times), I would have felt betrayed.

For readers who understand what this is, and who are eager to read it, I think this could be a 3 or 3.5 star book – or more. I personally didn’t find a lot of new insights in this. So for me it was a 2 star read, which means “finished (or not), but didn’t like, not a good fit”

Rating: ♥♥

BOOK NEWS: August 25, 2020

BOOK NEWS: August 25, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the last release week of August 2020. Watch for some fall and Halloween titles to start releasing this week and in the weeks to come. Let’s see what books we are getting this week!

Books for Kids

How Big is Zagnodd? (Board book) – The newest board book from the brilliant mind and pen of Sandra Boynton!
Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice – Picture book biography of Senator and Presidential candidate – and now Vice Presidential candidate – Kamala Harris.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul – Picture book biography of Aretha Franklin. The artwork on that cover is stunning.
Interrupting Cow – First book in a new Early Reader series starring Interrupting Cow.
Little Goddess Girls: Athena and the Island Enchantress – Book 5 in the Little Goddess Girls series. Athena and Hercules encounter Circe on their quest to save a queen.
Tiny Truths: Wonder & Wisdom – A look at Psalms and Proverbs. I love this line of books for little kids. The illustrations are fantastic.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Donut Dreams: A Donut for Your Thoughts – Book 4 in the Donut Dreams series. When Casey gets back from summer camp, everything back home seems different.
Lola Benko, Treasure Hunter – First in a new series. When her archaeologist dad goes missing while on the hunt for a mythical stone that could control the world, Lola goes looking for him.
Marvel Action: Captain Marvel AIM Small – Book 2 in the Captain Marvel series from Marvel Action. As Carol is teaching Nadia Van Dyne to drive (see The Unstoppable Wasp), AIM gets control of some Pym Particles and causes trouble.
Midnight at the Barclay Hotel – JJ convinces his mother to accept the odd invitation for a weekend at the most haunted spot in town. But when the owner is killed and JJ’s mother is blamed, he and his new friends start investigating for themselves.
Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket – Book 5 in the Mr. Lemoncello series by Chris Grabenstein.  The hunt is on for one of 4 tickets that will entitle the winners to compete to  win Mr. Lemoncello’s whole business.
Once Upon a Unicorn – A scientifically-minded unicorn teams up with a flaming horse to save their home from monsters.
The Places We Sleep – This novel in verse takes place in September of 2001 and focuses on a girl who is adjusting to a new home with her military family when the attacks take place on 9/11. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark – A collection of Star Wars stories that take place during the Clone Wars. NOTE: These are not new, original stories but are adaptations of episodes from The Clone Wars show. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Triple Threat (Older Middle Grade) – A football-loving girl who can throw a perfect spiral has to fight for the opportunity to play on the school football team.
The Assignment – When a favorite teacher gives a class assignment to argue the merits of the Nazi’s “Final Solution,” two students refuse to participate which escalates the issue to the whole school and then the community.
The Con Code – Fiona and her dad have been performing difficult heists to track down the clues her mother left behind before she disappeared. But when her dad is captured by the FBI before their final three heists are completed, Fiona pulls together a crew of kids from school to help her. This is at the top of my list for this week. I love heist books!
Darius the Great Deserves Better (LGBTQ+) – Sequel to Darius the Great Is Not Okay. Just when Darius starts to feel like he has a handle on his life and his relationships with his dad, his best friend, and his boyfriend, everything shifts.
Kind of a Big Deal – The latest for teens from Shannon Hale. A highschooler who hit it big – and then lost her career – is finding books to be a great way to escape all the issues in her life. And they are literally an escape – she goes into each book and becomes a character. But each time she uses this power, it becomes harder to get back out of the book to her real life. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Nemesis – Book 3 in the Diabolic series. Emperor Tyrus killed the woman he loved, but some say Nemesis is not truly gone and that she will return to confront her enemy.
Now That I’ve Found You – A young woman trying to restore her Hollywood career thinks she can turn things around by bringing her famous – and reclusive – grandmother back into the spotlight. But when Gigi goes missing, Evie will have to team up with the last person to see her grandmother – a cute musician – to help her.
Twin Daggers – A new story from Blink YA publishing. A pair of twins posing as normal Technocrats are secretly rebels trying to take their city back. Aissa agrees to take on a mission to find the Heartless heir to the Technocrat throne, but her sister Zandra is captured, changing Aissa’s mission completely.
Where Dreams Descend – First in the new Kingdom of Cards series. The magical feats at the Conquering Circus are more than just dazzling – they’re dangerous. And as more magicians go missing, three members of the circus wrestle with their own secrets as they wonder who might be next.

Books for Adults

15 Minutes of Flame (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery series. While investigating an old candle-making shop, Stella finds the body of a long-dead Quaker woman. As she looks for answers as to what might have happened to the woman, another murderer strikes.
Boston Scream Murder (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Deputy Donut Mystery series. When Emily goes to deliver her Boston Scream donuts to the birthday party for an eccentric local man, she finds him dead.
Cat Me If You Can (Hardcover) – Book 13 in the Cat in the Stacks Mystery series. I’ll be reviewing this one soon, and I can’t wait. Charlie and Diesel hit the road with Charlie’s significant other, Helen, as well as the Ducote sisters from the Southern Ladies Mystery series,  for a mystery readers’ gathering in North Carolina.  When an uninvited guest turns up dead, Charlie and his friends start investigating.
Dead End Detective (Trade Paperback) – First in a new series from the folks at Hallmark Publishing, written by prolific mystery author Amanda Flower. When Darby’s business partner is killed and she becomes the prime suspect in the death, Darby will have to trust her partner’s nephew – the man who inherited her half of the business – to help her discover the truth. I can’t wait to read this one! I’ll be reviewing this soon as well.
Digging Up Remains (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 of the Garden Squad Mystery series. The Fall Festival’s 10K fundraiser is only one of the many tasks Lilly is juggling right now. But when an annoying reporter is found dead near the starting line, she’s going to have to add sleuthing to her to do list.
Dough or Die (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Bread Shop Mystery series. As Yeast of Eden is on the brink of Reality TV notoriety, an attempted murder in front of the store means Ivy is sleuthing again.
Eat Drink and Be Wary (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Cook-Off Mystery series. When Sherry’s competition is killed in the cook-off at the Fall Festival, her brother, Pep, who was serving as her sous-chef, is the prime suspect.
Goodnight Moo (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Buttermilk Creek Mystery series. As Brynn plays host to a cheesemaker’s contest, a tractor accident starts to look a lot like murder. When a second death puts her top cheesemaker under suspicion, Brynn starts investigating. I have this series on my wishlist.
Gourd to Death (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Pie Town Mystery series. Val and Charlene are investigating when a pie contest turns deadly. This series sounds so yummy!
Hidden (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Texas Murder Files series. An investigative reporter and a detective team up to track down a murderer that could have ties to a high tech research facility working on something dangerous.
How To Catch a Sinful Marquess (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Disreputable Debutantes series. An orphaned heiress trapped by her position and her guardians volunteers to help her neighbor when a young child is dumped on his doorstep with a note saying she’s his daughter.
Kickbacks, Kayacks, and Kidnapping (e-book) – Book 12 in the Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery series. When an Olympic kayaker dies during a race hosted by Happy Trails Campground, the bad press could undo all the hard work Mae has put into her business. At the time of this writing, this is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Killer Kung Pao (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. Lana is a witness to the car accident and blow up between two local women. But when one of them ends up dead, Lana feels the blame falling on the other woman is a little too easy.
Knit of the Living Dead (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Knit & Nibble Mystery series. A murder during the Halloween Parade pull the Knit and Nibblers into sleuthing again.
The Mother Code (Hardcover) – In a future where a deadly bioweapon threatens human survival, scientists place genetically engineered children into large robots that will gestate, birth and raise the children. But when children like Kai come of age, the robots change as well, making the government consider destroying them. Kai will have to decide if he will allow this destruction to take place or fight for the only parent he has ever known. This sounds fascinating!!
Murder at Kingscote (Hardcover) – Book 8 in the Gilded Newport Mystery series. Emma’s role as the new editor-in-chief for the Newport Messenger puts her in place to witness a drunken accident during the first automobile parade in Newport (1899). Then, at a dinner party, she sees the same drunk driver, but this time he’s nearly killed the family butler. When Emma receives word that the butler in question could have had numerous enemies, she has to wonder if the car accident was a convenient ruse.
Thread and Dead (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Apron Shop Mystery series. During Iris’ visit to a cottage estate to scout vintage fabrics for her shop, she gets drawn into a mystery when the teaching assistant to an environmentalist who is renting the cottage is killed.
Three Treats Too Many (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Sarah Blair Mystery series. Sarah is investigating another murder when a friend is suspected of killing a line cook from a rival restaurant.
To Coach a Killer (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Cat & Gilley Life Coach Mystery series. Cat is sleuthing a client’s “curse” as well as murder when a series of violent deaths strikes the Hamptons.
Wednesday Walks & Wags (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Sunday Potluck Club series. As Bridget juggles her busy schedule and the grief over losing her mother, her new neighbor – and his dogs – might be just the distraction she needs.
Who Wants to Marry a Duke (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Duke Dynasty series. When a female chemist is brought in to determine if Grey’s father was murdered, his half brother, Thorn, can’t stop thinking about how she once blackmailed him – or about the kiss they shared.
You Lucky Dog (Trade Paperback) – When their dog walker mixes up their Basset Hounds, Carly discovers that Max’s dog, Hazel, could be just the thing to help her rescue, Baxter, with his depression. And she certainly doesn’t mind spending more time with Max. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth (Hardcover) – Explores the relationship between the President and Fox News, especially when it comes to lies and disinformation.
The Presidents vs. The Press: The Endless Battles Between the White House and the Media – from the Founding Fathers to Fake News (Hardcover) – A history of the relationship between the Presidents of the United States and the news media.

REVIEW: The Game by Linsey Miller

REVIEW: The Game by Linsey Miller

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

In the spring, the thoughts of the seniors at Lincoln High turn to college acceptance letters – and murder.

Well, not actual murder. Just to the annual game of Assassins. Armed with water guns, the teens of Lincoln track their peers with the hope of being the last one standing.

Lia Prince is counting on Assassins to be her claim to fame. Always in her older brother’s shadow, Lia is determined to make her name here. She’s been observing her classmates’ schedules for months, planning her strategy for this moment.

But when one of the players dies in an accident, the Assassin game is in jeopardy. When a second dies, and NOT in an accident, it’s clear something more than some good clean fun is going on in Lincoln.

Review

I knew this was billed as a mashup of Agatha Christie’s The ABC Murders (which I know of but haven’t read) and Riverdale (which I’ve never seen). But I didn’t expect the tie-ins to the Christie mystery to be as clear as they were, starting with even the email address for the Council that is running the game. It was a clever set up for Christie, and it’s still a clever set up here. Those who aren’t familiar with the original mystery will probably catch on to the scheme quickly.

I enjoyed the suspense of this and the idea of a harmless game that turns deadly. The suspense and the stakes bring to mind books like #Murder Trending (♥♥♥♥) and thrillers by Karen McManus (One of Us is Lying – ♥♥♥♥, Two Can Keep a Secret). This one wasn’t as well executed as those, but there were some good moments.

The emotional beats to this didn’t click for me. I didn’t care for Lia or any of the other main characters. I also didn’t lock into Lia’s obsession over this game. She explained it several times in the book, but I wasn’t emotionally hooked into her rationales. She was pretty over-the-top in her preparation and her compulsion to put herself in danger for the sake of this game. I didn’t feel like the case for her drive was as clearly made as it could have been. I felt like her reputation as a puzzle person was more told rather than shown, and this skill/gift of hers wasn’t really reflected in the story.

Fans of thrillers, fans of The ABC Murders, and those intrigued by the premise of this one should consider it. If you are new to the genre, this might be a nice starting spot. A weird, mysterious ending could indicate that there is a sequel planned, which I know will make fans of this story excited to see what is next for Lia and her friends. (Violence)

Rating: ♥♥½*

*I have a new rating system. ♥♥½ is “Mostly solid to solid. May have some issues.”

BONUS REVIEW: The Love Scam by MaryJanice Davidson

BONUS REVIEW: The Love Scam by MaryJanice Davidson

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Rake Tarbell is having a bad day. He woke up hungover in a strange hotel room. In Venice, Italy. But he has no memory of going there. He also has no wallet, no phone, and he’s fallen into the canal. And the tip of the iceberg? When he finally finds his way to his bank accounts to get some money, he finds them empty.

All of that is epically bad. But in the middle of discovering how much trouble he’s in, he also meets a woman who says the girl at her side – Lillith – is his daughter.

So now Rake is in Italy with no money, no ID or passport, no phone to call his family, and a kid he doesn’t know but might be responsible for. Thankfully, the woman who brought Lillith to him, Delaney, is willing to help him. They just have to dodge thugs, stuff Easter baskets, and figure out why Rake’s life has turned upside down.

Review

What a hoot! I got a huge kick out of Rake and this whole story. Apparently this takes place concurrently with book one, Danger, Sweetheart, which I have not read. I feel like I picked the right book, and the right brother of the Tarbell twins, though. Rake is obnoxious early on, but I warmed up to him. (His brother, on the other hand, always felt like a jerk whenever he appeared in this book.) Lillith is also a complete delight. I love adult books with fantastic kid characters. And Lillith is brilliant, both literally and figuratively.

The “mysteries” of what Delaney and her friends are up to, what happened to Lillith’s mother, and what happened to Rake’s money were engaging. I enjoyed watching it all unfold, and I laughed loudly and often as I waited for things to be resolved. This was a ton of fun, and I’m glad I tried it out!(Language, sex, some violence)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Paw and Order by V. M. Burns

REVIEW: Paw and Order by V. M. Burns

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Lilly Ann had convinced her bosses at the Chattanooga Museum to host the Eastern Tennessee Poodle Rescue Association’s fundraiser when their venue fell through. It would garner funds for the museum as well as goodwill as they helped out the charity.

Having wealthy recluse Archibald Lowry show up was a big surprise. Lilly Ann’s friend, Dixie, had been courting him as a donor for the Rescue, but no one expected him to show up for the fundraiser. It might have been better for him if he had stayed home, though. Before the event was over, Archibald Lowry was dead.

Now Lilly Ann is fostering Archibald’s poodle, and that seems to be bringing trouble to her doorstep. When someone repeatedly tries to steal the dog, and someone else ends up dead, Lilly Ann and her friends decide it’s time to kick off a new investigation.

Review

Other than the fact that this is a book about all manner of poodles, yet the dog on the cover is not a poodle, I have only great things to say about this mystery!

This is book 4 in the Dog Club Mystery series, but it’s the first one I have read. But I have already placed the first 3 books on my To Read list (along with the first book of the author’s other series – The Mystery Bookshop series – The Plot Is Murder!). This was so good, and I liked the characters so much, I don’t want to miss any of their adventures.

I prefer to start a series at the beginning, but I had no issues following the plot of this one. There are a number of core series characters in the Dog Club that I had to track carefully in the beginning since I had no context for them from the earlier books. But by the middle of this, it was no longer an issue. The author does a great job making sure readers can drop in wherever and still follow the story.

The mystery here is fantastic. I loved how Lilly and her friends banded together to investigate. The sleuthing was great, the pacing of the mystery was excellent, and the ending wrapped up most of my questions. This is a series I will definitely be following in the future!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: Mask by Kate Hannigan

BONUS REVIEW: Mask by Kate Hannigan

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

At first glance, Josie, Mae, and Akiko look like normal girls. But in reality, they are the Infinity Trinity. Thanks to some special artifacts – a cape, a mask, and some boots, the girls are superheroes.

Akiko’s family has been taken to an internment camp because of World War II and the attack on Pearl Harbor. But she gets word her mother has gone missing from the camp. And she’s not the only person missing. Several superheroes, like Zenobia, have gone missing as well.

As the girls start looking for Akiko’s mother, they run into a new villain on the scene, a clown called Side-Splitter. Side-Splitter is setting off bombs around San Francisco and trying to destroy American Naval vessels. The Infinity Trinity have their hands full with this guy!

Review

I love the creativity and uniqueness of this series. This is a re-imagined WWII story where superheroes are real. The racial issues of the time – like the internment camps – are present. Real historical figures are mentioned. The real role of women in the war is also reflected in the story. As with book 1, there are extensive end notes that let readers know which parts of this fantasy tale are anchored in reality.

The final art for the graphic novel sections of the book were not available in my review copy, but there were descriptions of what will be included in the final art. I think readers will enjoy this fun feature to this series. I love the creativity of including comic panels – this is a superhero story after all – into a prose novel.

While there is a lot about this series that I love, I struggled with the pacing of this story. There were several sections that dragged for me. In this story there are several times where the girls are puzzling out coded messages, and it’s hard to put action into moments when they are listening and thinking. There are fight scenes, of course, but this particular story also has quieter moments of thinking, of empathizing with Akiko as she stresses over her mom’s role in the Side-Splitter’s plans, etc. The great features I have already mentioned, though, make up for the slower sections of the story telling for me.

There are several unresolved threads here, including the missing superheroes, to lead readers to book 3. These books should definitely be read in order. Be sure to check out the first book in the League of Secret Heroes series, Cape.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥