Month: September 2020

BONUS REVIEW: St. Francis Society for Wayward Pets by Annie England Noblin

BONUS REVIEW: St. Francis Society for Wayward Pets by Annie England Noblin

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Maeve discovered she was adopted when she was 6 years old, and a hateful cousin told her in a fit of temper. Maeve’s adopted parents were awesome. They told her about her mother, Annabelle, still a girl herself when Maeve was born. And when she was 16, Maeve tried reaching out to Annabelle. But all the letters were returned to her unopened. Hurt, Maeve decided if her birth mother couldn’t be bothered, she didn’t need her in her life.

After a string of bad luck – lost her job, boyfriend caught on video cheating on her, mugged – all in one day, Maeve moves back home with her parents to regroup. That’s where she is when she gets the call that Annabelle has died.

At first, Maeve wants no part of her birth mother’s life, including her funeral. But she decides to go, and discovers Annabelle left everything to Maeve – a house, a car, and a cat! But Timber Creek is as good a place as any to try to find herself and restart her life. And maybe, after time with her birth mother’s friends and in her house, Maeve will better understand the woman who didn’t want her.

Review

This was so good! I love that we got chapters from Annabelle’s perspective that filled in some of the story behind her decision to place Maeve for adoption. Even though Maeve was hurt and had lots of questions, the reader knows Annabelle loved her.

Timber Creek was a fascinating community. Annabelle’s friends and neighbors added interesting pieces to the story, as did the animals Maeve encounters. Maeve’s adoptive family was fantastic, too. Truly, all of the characters in this are terrific.

I was captivated by the whole story. I had to know what Maeve would do with the fresh start she had been given. Annabelle’s story was compelling, too. This was a start-to-finish read for me. I couldn’t put it down without knowing what happened with everyone.

This is a fantastic character-driven story with a bit of romance and suspense thrown in. I highly recommend this one! (Language, TW: Domestic violence)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½=I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker

REVIEW: Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker

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

Teddie St. John is an author living in Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin with tons of friends and her family nearby. A cancer survivor, Teddie took early retirement from her government job and toured Europe before settling down at home to become an author of cozy mysteries. Life is too short to not do what you love.

Tavish Bentley is an author, too, visiting Lake Potawatomi for a book signing. Teddie ends up missing it due to a hot flash issue (early menopause thanks to her cancer). But she’s first on the scene to find Bentley’s ex-fiancée dead. And to discover the woman was strangled with a scarf someone stole from Teddie earlier in the day.

As a mystery writer, Teddie can’t ignore a murder mystery right in her home town. And as a suspect, she needs to clear her name before her publisher drops her for violating the morality clause in her contract. So she’ll be pressuring her friend the sheriff for details and keeping her ears open for clues. And maybe even going under cover! Whatever it takes to find a killer before they strike again.

Review

This was fabulous!! From the very first page, the writing and the voice grabbed me. In fact, in those early pages it felt like nothing I had read before. The voice is fresh and fun. I would love to be part of Teddie’s circle. (I am a Wisconsin girl, too, and from the area around where Lake Potawatomi is supposed to be.) Every reference to kringle (the Wisconsin stuff, not that stuff in the one Hallmark Christmas movie) made me crave it.

As if all of the Wisconsin pieces weren’t enough to endear this to me, Teddie is fabulous. She’s a writer, and a mystery writer at that. And her whole vibe over being a cancer survivor is brilliant. She discusses her mastectomy in a matter-of-fact way, sometimes with humor, which made her stand out for me compared to other mystery protagonists.

So, by all means pick this up for the perfect setting and awesome protagonist. But stick around for the great mystery. I had two favorite theories going into the home stretch, but I had to wait for the big reveal to find out which would be correct. Also, I don’t usually like mysteries where the protagonist is the main suspect. I find them extra stressful. But the balance here of suspects was terrific. The author paces the whole novel in such a way that Teddie can really dig into investigating a suspect. I loved it! She also does a great job of giving Teddie a reason for sleuthing that felt plausible.

I was thrilled to discover the second book in the Bookish Baker Mystery series – Deadly Delights – is already scheduled for summer 2021. And I also realized I have a review copy of the launch of the author’s second cozy series – the Faith Chapel Mystery series – waiting to be read. I’ll be reviewing Hope, Faith, and a Corpse in January 2021. In fact, as I looked into the author’s backlist I discovered that I have read her work before. She published at least two books with Thomas Nelson (Christian) publishing that I enjoyed years ago – Reconstructing Natalie (2006) and Miss Invisible (2007). I can recommend those books, too.

I am so pleased to support this fellow Wisconsinite and a great writer. Cozy fans should NOT miss Murder Most Sweet!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥= Outstanding, Excellent, Amazing

BONUS REVIEW: Princesses Versus Dinosaurs by Linda Bailey

BONUS REVIEW: Princesses Versus Dinosaurs by Linda Bailey

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary and Review

As a group of princesses celebrates being in a book about all tiaras, gowns, and glass slippers, they encounter a rival group of dinosaurs who believe the book is all about them.

This is darling! I enjoyed the split pages where each group convenes about the dilemma. Then they bring in the heavy hitters, which is my favorite part.

Things get silly for a moment, but in the end, the princesses and dinosaurs come to a delightful compromise.

This will be a fun read-aloud with a good message – that this is a book for everyone. But kids are definitely going to want a close up look at the fun illustrations, too, so be prepared for plenty of lap reading and read-to-self time.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½= Good+

BONUS REVIEW: The Campaign by Leila Sales

BONUS REVIEW: The Campaign by Leila Sales

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Seventh grade is off to a less-than-stellar start for Maddie. And it feels even worse when her favorite teacher, Mr. Xian, tells her that the new mayoral candidate is campaigning on a platform that includes a cut to all arts programs in the public schools. If she wins, there will be no music, no drama, no art – and no Mr. Xian. And since no one is running against her, this is all essentially a done deal.

Maddie convinces her post-college nanny, Janet, to run for mayor. Janet agrees that the arts are important, and she wants to be a voice for people like Maddie who can’t vote. But Janet and Maddie are both in for a steep learning curve over what running for mayor entails.

Review

I enjoyed this! Maddie is quirky, and I liked her. I was amused – and saddened – at how often her mom was off at some seminar to be a better parent rather than actually sticking around and BEING a parent to Maddie. And don’t even get me started on Maddie’s dad. I was happy that the family pieces of this were part of the backdrop to the larger story rather than the focus. Thankfully Maddie had Janet!

The friendship pieces here were also part of the backdrop, but a little more pertinent as Maddie has to face her friendship issues during the campaign. She discovers that it really isn’t just about what the other kids are or aren’t doing, but also about what SHE was doing and not doing in these relationships. It’s a smaller piece of the book, but I liked it. I think kids will find some interesting pieces here to talk about, too.

But the focus of the book is on this local election. And I loved this whole part of the story. A local election has more direct impact on our day-to-day lives. It’s also where citizens can get the most directly involved which is what Maddie and her friends do. Some readers have raised the issue that a mayor wouldn’t have any voice in what the school curriculum includes, but I think as a springboard, that doesn’t matter to the goal of the book or how I would use it with kids. I thought questions could be raised, too, about why the townspeople didn’t ask harder questions of the councilwoman about the issues they had in town. If she hadn’t addressed them as part of the council, why would they think she would as mayor? But, again, this is a springboard to conversation. This book isn’t going to be a perfect illustration of every city government.

Readers get to see Maddie – and Janet – learn how to get on the ballot, how to find and connect with voters, and how to look outside personal preferences to the needs of the larger community. This book is, in my opinion, meant to LAUNCH a conversation, not be the be-all-end-all. Use this to help readers ask questions about the same processes in your community. Get involved in a local campaign as a family. Attend a town hall or a debate. If you are looking for a way to talk with kids about the upcoming election season, start here!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥= Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog by Lisa Papp

REVIEW: Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog by Lisa Papp

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Madeline Finn’s puppy, Star, is finishing his training to be a therapy dog by visiting a retirement village. Star does well on his tests, and Madeline makes sure he practices. And the residents of Walker Oaks love him. But one resident doesn’t respond to Star or Madeline’s efforts to connect.

Review

Another winner of a book by Lisa Papp starring Madeline Finn! I don’t think I personally could use this one for a read aloud, though, because I think I choked up on every single page. This is precious!

Madeline is sweet and earnest. Star is adorable. The soft illustrations in this series feel like warm hugs. And once again, books and reading play as big a role as the sweet, cuddly dogs.

Do not miss ANY of the books in this series!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: September 29, 2020

BOOK NEWS: September 29, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

This is the final release week for September. And there are a TON of cozy mysteries and Christmas books to add to your list. Take a look at some of the new books out this week!

Books for Kids

The Alphabet’s Alphabet – A twisted take on the traditional alphabet book. Illustrated by Dan Santat.
Hello, Arnie! – A new book starring Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller.
Ming’s Christmas Wishes – In 1930s California, Ming is not included in things like some of her classmates. So her father takes her on an adventure to get in touch with her heritage.
Mistletoe – A new Christmas book from the author of the fabulous Duck & Goose and How Rocket Learned to Read. Mistletoe wants her friend Norwell to enjoy the snowy beauty of winter, but Norwell doesn’t like the cold. This looks sweet!
The Office: A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary – A kid-friendly version of The Office where Michael wants to be the best line leader.
Oscar the Hungry Unicorn Eats Christmas – In his hunger, Oscar manages to eat the Christmas tree, the stockings, and then the magic reindeer food that makes Santa’s reindeer fly.
Unicorns Are the Worst – A little goblin grumbles that everyone loves unicorns, but all they ever do is frolic, while goblins do good, orderly, important things. This looks adorable!
Pete the Cat: Super Pete – When trouble appears, Super Pete is ready.
InvestiGators Take the Plunge (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the InvestiGators series. Mango and Brash go undercover as sewer workers to solve a new mystery.
Jr. Monster Scouts: Monster of Disguise – Book 4 in the Junior Monster Scouts series. Baron Von Grump is causing trouble at the carnival.
Lily to the Rescue: The Not-So Stinky Skunk AND Dog Dog Goose – Books 3 and 4 in the Lily to the Rescue series. First, Lily gets sprayed by a skunk with no stink, which means the skunk can’t defend itself. Then some orphaned geese think Lily is their mother. But how can a dog teach geese how to fly?

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

The Campaign – An art-loving girl convinces her babysitter to run for mayor when the election’s front runner plans to cut art funding for schools. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Endangereds – First in a new series about some superpowered animals working to fight extinction around the world.
The Explorers Code – The latest mystery from Allison K. Hymas. Three kids will try to solve the mysteries of an old manor tied to a famous female explorer.  This sounds amazing!
Pepper’s Rules for Secret Sleuthing (LGBTQ+) – When her last case costs her the chance at a relationship with a girl she likes, Pepper decides to stop sleuthing. But when her great-aunt dies under mysterious circumstances, Pepper can’t help investigating.
Saucy – The only girl in a set of quadruplets feels like, unlike her brothers, there’s nothing special about her. But when she finds a sick piglet, she knows rescuing it can be her special thing. But when Saucy gets well and starts to outgrow the family’s home, some decisions will have to be made.
The Willoughbys Return – The next generation of Willoughbys star in this sequel. Just as Richie, a lonely only child, has a chance to make friends, it becomes illegal to sell sweets, putting his family’s candy business in jeopardy. But that’s nothing compared to what will happen when Richie’s awful grandparents, presumed frozen to death 30 years ago, thaw out and plot their grand return.
Leaders & Dreamers prints – Art collection tied to the books by Vashti Harrison.
Crownchasers – When Alyssa’s dying uncle – the emperor – announces a Crownchase to determine the next ruler of her people, she must consider the life she has been trying to flee for years. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Dear Justyce – A follow up to Dear Martin (♥♥♥♥) from the author of Shuri. Quan sits in a juvenile detention facility and writes letters to Justyce who is away at Yale. Through his letters readers will discover his story.
Disclose – Book 2 in the Verify series by Joelle Charbonneau. A dystopian series about a young woman whose search for answers after her mother’s death lead her to secrets some would kill to keep quiet. I have this series on my wish list.
The Glass Queen – Book 2 in the Forest of Good and Evil series. A fragile princess stars in this Cinderella retelling that sees her fighting for her destiny and her crown.I have this series on my wish list, too.
A Neon Darkness – Book 2 in the Bright Sessions series about a group of powered people and the therapist, Dr. Bright, who works with them. The premise of this – What if the X Men decided to go to therapy instead of become superheroes? – is fascinating to me. This is also on my (neverending) list.
Shine – Get a glimpse inside the world of KPop with this novel about a girl who has sold out to her producers for her chance at stardom yet starts to question what she has given up when she begins to fall in love.
Skyhunter – The latest from Marie Lu. The Federation’s mutant beasts have overcome every  nation in the world except for Mara. Talin is one of the warriors who fights to maintain Mara’s freedom. But when a boy is brought into the capital, she’s not sure if he is there to help them, or to destroy them.
Thoughts & Prayers: A Novel in Three Parts – Three students connected by the minutes they hid together under a staircase while fellow students and a teacher were killed are now, a year later, living very different lives from what they had before and from one another in the aftermath of tragedy.

Books for Adults – Christmas

Amish Christmas Twins (Trade Paperback) – Three Amish Christmas tales, one about kids in foster care, one about a grieving widow, and another about two sets of twins. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Candy Slain Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 8 in the Country Store Mystery series. Robbie is dealing with a  decades-old mystery and a stranger in town.
Christmas Carol Murder (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the A Dickens of a Crime series where Charles Dickens is a journalist and a sleuth. While out caroling, Dickens and his fiancée see a man thrown from a window to his death. Readers familiar with the Dickens novel A Christmas Carol will see connections to this case. I haven’t read any of these, but this is a fun premise!
Christmas Cupcake Murder (Hardcover) – Book 26 in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series. In the midst of her holiday preparations, Hannah is helping out with the mystery of a man found near death and with no memory of his identity.
Christmas Ever After (Trade Paperback) – A romance writer is asked how she can write about love if she hasn’t yet found “the one.” When she mentions past love that helps her write, three of her exs hear the interview and think he is the one she must be talking about. All three show up at an event to convince her to give their love another chance. This sounds like the best sort of Hallmark Christmas movie, and I am here for it!
Dying in a Winter Wonderland (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. When a bride Merry agreed to help with wedding decorations moves up her wedding date, everyone is bending to her demands. But there’s not going to be a wedding after all when the groom is found murdered.
Gingerdead Man (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series. This year’s grumpy Santa is poisoned by a gingerbread cookie.
Holding Out for Christmas (Mass Market Paperback) – A kindergarten teacher with big Nashville dreams resists the charms of the rugged rancher back home who wants her to stick around. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Hollyberry Homicide (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Berry Basket Mystery series. Marlee agrees to help out in the town production of A Christmas Carol when an elderly participant dies. But the production is full of dangers and accidents, as well as a dead body.
Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. When a reception hall owner is murdered at a local winter event, Lucy has no shortage of suspects.
Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings (Trade Paperback) – As the new Mrs. Claus, April is trying to adjust to her new home at the North Pole with her grieving in-laws as her husband adjusts to being the new Santa after his older brother died. But when an angry elf hisses accusations of murder at Santa, and then is later killed, April is on the hunt for the truth. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Salem B&B Mystery series. When a friend and recent lottery winner is killed while Charlene and her parents are in his restaurant for a fundraiser, she teams up with the ghost at her B&B to puzzle out the case. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Snowball’s Christmas (Trade Paperback) – Lukas is certain that selling the B&B is the right thing to do so his aunt can retire. Emily, the B&B’s cook, is devastated by Lukas’ plans. But Snowball the kitten is sure that Lukas and Emily belong together, right there at Weber Haus, forever. This looks darling.
Varnished Without a Trace (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Tallie Graver Mystery series. Instead of a quiet Christmas alone with her boyfriend, Max, Tallie finds herself playing referee between her mother and grandmother at Christmas bingo. Even worse, her hateful Aunt Ronda is there, too. When  Tallie finds Ronda’s body, her beloved – and now missing – Uncle Hoagie is the prime suspect. Tallie is certain her uncle did not do this, so she is tracking down a killer again.

Books for Adults – The Rest

The Constant Rabbit (Hardcover) – The latest from Jasper Fforde, author of the Thursday Next series. In England, in 2022, there are 1.2 million human-sized, walking, talking rabbits. When a rabbit family moves into a human neighborhood and most of the humans leave, one father and daughter decide to stay. They quickly discover that you can be friends to rabbits or to humans, but not likely to both.
The Corpse Who Knew Too Much (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Food Blogger Mystery series. Hope is teaching her first blogging class at the local library and getting into podcasts like the true crime one her friend Devon is doing. Devon is back in town looking into the unsolved disappearance of her own mother, and she asks Hope to help.
Death on the Green (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Dublin Driver Mystery series. Megan has moved to Ireland and become a limo driver. When she’s driving a golf champ around, she’s invited to play a round, but then they find a dead body floating in the water hazard. And Megan’s client has a motive for the murder.
For Letter or Worse (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Stationery Shop Mystery series. Delta is hosting a card-making event at a friend’s event when someone is murdered.
Haunted Homicide (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Haunted Mansion Mystery series. In Avery’s first week as the manager of the Portage Path Women’s Club, she stumbles across the body of a difficult board member as well as the resident ghost who’s been in the building for 100 years.
The Midnight Library (Hardcover) – The Midnight Library holds all of the versions of your story. One is the life you are living right now, but others look at what would have happened if you had made different choices along the way. One woman visits the library as she considers changing her current life for a new one.
Misleading a Duke (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Wallflowers of West Lane series. Lady Faith calls upon her friends to investigate her fiancé who happens to be a spy. When he discovers her investigation, and her mistrust, he wonders if he can actually marry her. I already have the first book in this series. I am eager to read it!
Murder at the PTA (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Maya and Sandra Mystery series. When someone starts a gossip site focused on the local high school and targets Sandra, the PTA president, she teams up with Maya, another parent who is also a PI. When they go to confront the person behind the site, they find a dead body and a confession. But Maya feels like it was all too easily wrapped up, so the two continue their investigation.
Once Dishonored (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 of the Rogues Redeemed series. A daring divorcee catches the eye of a naval officer who has lost his honor. When they team up to find evidence to restore her name and retrieve her son, they also find love. If only they can survive long enough to enjoy it.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian: The Art and Imagery Volume 1 (Hardcover) – A collection of artwork from the early parts of season 1.
Sweet Revenge (September 30 e-book) – Book 7 of the Dewberry Farm Mystery series. A new honey-themed mystery.
Tail for Two (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Fur Haven Dog Park series after Cold Nose, Warm Heart. Lance Donovan is ready to work with his brother Caleb on a new condo project. And he’s certain the right decorator for the job is his ex, Carrie. But before he really knows what happened, Lance is dog sitting for both Carrie and his brother – and watching the son he never knew he had while his ex gets back into the dating scene. I enjoyed the first book and am looking forward to the rest of this series!
Veiled in Death (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Wedding Planner Mystery series. The story starts with an antique piece of lace with possible ties to a decades-old hit and run – and maybe to Betsy Ross. But it ends in murder by musket at the town’s Revolutionary War re-enactment.
Winner Cake All (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Chef-to-Go Mystery series by Denise Swanson. Dani is hired to cater a swanky engagement party which could really help her add some wealthy clients to her business. But when the bride-to-be is killed and Dani’s maybe-boyfriend is the prime suspect, she’s digging into another murder.
A Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Meditations for Renewal (Hardcover) – The latest from author Sarah Bessey is a collection of meditations from writers such as Nadia Bolz-Weber, Barbara Brown Taylor, and Amena Brown.
True Comfort: More Than 100 Cozy Recipes Free of Gluten and Refined Sugar (Hardcover) – Gluten-free recipes for cozy meals.
When Women Pray: 10 Women of the Bible Who Changed the World Through Prayer (Hardcover) – From Bishop T. D. Jakes.

REVIEW: Daphne & Velma: The Vanishing Girl by Josephine Ruby

REVIEW: Daphne & Velma: The Vanishing Girl by Josephine Ruby

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

The town of Crystal Cove counts on their mysterious history (the disappearance of most of the town founders) and the Haunted Village attraction to bring tourists to town.

When a teen gets locked in an attraction at Haunted Village, and she blames ghosts, there’s tons of fresh attention on the town. Unfortunately, the girl’s story could cost Velma Dinkley’s mom her job at the Haunted Village. The Village has already taken so much from her family. So Velma is determined to get the girl, Marcy, to recant her story so Velma’s mom can get back to work.

Instead, Marcy goes missing. Daphne Blake is Marcy’s best friend. She does NOT believe the lame story that Marcy ran away to Mexico. Finding Marcy is a bigger job than Daphne can tackle on her own. But the only other person who questions the story is Velma. Maybe they could have worked together when they were 10. But the two girls have been bitter enemies for years now. Could they put aside their history to find out the truth about Marcy?

Review

This was great! I loved watching the girls work through their history as well as the mystery. Shaggy and Scooby play a role, and Fred is around, but the girls are the stars here.

I’m not certain if this is an alternate universe from the TV shows I have enjoyed for years, tracking it’s own independent course, or if it is an origin story for the Mystery Inc. gang that will develop over time. I’ll have to keep up with the series to find out. And I plan to! This was so fun.

I had thought this was going to be a graphic novel, but this is a prose novel instead. The history and angst between Daphne and Velma is a significant part of the story. It’s mostly resolved by the end, and I’m eager to see how they move forward in future books. There’s also family stuff going on for both girls that added some nice layers to the story.

The mystery was terrific. It felt like an episode of Scooby Doo in all the best ways. I’m eager to dive into book 2, The Dark Deception. A third book is currently scheduled for spring, 2021.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = Loved it! Would read again

REVIEW: Behind the Frame by Tracy Gardner

REVIEW: Behind the Frame by Tracy Gardner

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Carson has won the privilege of hosting the area Art in the Park Festival for this year. As an artist and art teacher, it makes sense for Savanna to be on the planning committee.

The first sign of trouble is the damage to a statue at the community park. It’s tagged with “Never Carson,” and the head of town founder, Jessamina Carson, has been severed from the body of the statue.

Then one of the other committee members, local councilman John Bellamy, is killed. When a family friend is arrested, Savanna and her sisters are certain the man could not have committed this heinous crime.

The question is, who did? And why? Is it tied to the art event? Folks from the town that hosted the last three years seem testy about the change of venue. And John did disqualify an entry for the $50,000 scholarship and other prizes. Or maybe it has something to do with Bellamy’s run for mayor. Or could it have been Bellamy’s son, back in town after a falling out with his father years ago?

Savanna and her sisters are fully invested in finding the killer, clearing their friend, and ensuring the festival goes off without a hitch.

Review

This was fun! I love Savanna and her sisters. It’s not often that I read a cozy that uses a team of sleuths, and I really enjoy the change up. Savanna is primary, but she and her sisters work together to bring different skills to the case. Also, the local LEO walks the fine line between cautioning the sisters and embracing their input and insights. I love it. And I thoroughly enjoyed the developments in Savanna and Aidan’s relationship. There are several fun developments on the personal side for all three sisters.

The mystery was great and had me guessing all the way to the end. The escalation was nicely paced. I could absolutely see this story play out on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries on TV.

Book one in the series is Out of the Picture (♥♥♥♥½). I really enjoyed both books. And I hope there are going to be more. This is the style of cozy I love – great characters and community balanced with a well-plotted and engaging mystery. Do not miss this series. Other mysteries from Hallmark Publishing so far are Dead-End Detective and The Game Changer.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥= Great! Might re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: Tune It Out by Jamie Sumner

BONUS REVIEW: Tune It Out by Jamie Sumner

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Lou and her mom are living out of their truck at a camp ground. Her mom is a waitress, for now. She’s certain that Lou’s singing will change their fortunes if she can get “discovered.” So Lou hasn’t been enrolled at school for the last year. Schools ask too many questions. And they need to easily be able to leave town when Lou’s big break comes.

Lou’s voice is as good as her mom thinks it is. But she has some quirks that can cause trouble in public situations. Lou doesn’t like to be touched or to have people watching her. Loud noises can startle her and set her off. A teacher at her last school said she was “on the spectrum.” Whatever it is, Lou feels like she is always one moment away from a meltdown no matter what she does.

An accident on a snowy night leaves Lou with a concussion – and a CPS caseworker. Her mom is being investigated for neglect, and Lou is being sent to Tennessee to live with an aunt and uncle she doesn’t know. How is she ever going to manage without the one person who actually gets her?

Review

This book for older middle grade readers (ages 10+) was AMAZING!

First of all, it’s a foster care/found family story which I always enjoy. I loved seeing Lou cared for, seen, and heard at both her aunt’s house and at her new school. She’s in a place where she’s safe and can thrive, and I loved it.

Then there’s Lou herself. She was one of the best protagonists I have encountered this year. She may not know why she has her “meltdowns,” but she knows herself. She knows what she can handle and what’s not going to work. At the same time, though, she’s determined to push through where she can to make the most of her new situation.

The other characters are excellent, too. After Well’s first scene, I was firmly in love with this book. He’s my favorite sort of character – fun, personable, charming, and a great friend. He has his own issues which keeps him relatable, especially to Lou. I also loved the school staff who, again, SEE Lou and GET her. There are great counselors/social workers in this, and Lou’s aunt and uncle are also great.

One of my favorite things in this is the way Lou’s understanding of her mom and their relationship changes over the course of the book. Lou loves her mom. But she also recognizes her faults. And in the end she stands her ground for what she needs.

This was an absolute treat. The kids feel old for 6th grade, but I loved them too much to care. Do not miss this one! You can read a brief review of one of the author’s other books here.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥=Outstanding! Amazing!

REVIEW: The Places We Sleep by Caroline Brooks DuBois

REVIEW: The Places We Sleep by Caroline Brooks DuBois

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a physical review copy of this book from Holiday House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

A novel in verse starring Abbey, a seventh grader in a new school in 2001. She’s trying to make friends, avoid the mean kids, and deal with her first period.

Abbey’s mom isn’t around to help her with her period. Planes flew into the twin towers in New York City and now her mom’s sister, Rose, is missing. Abbey’s mom has gone to help her brother-in-law with their kids while they wait for word on Rose.

Abbey’s dad is career-military. As the country tries to recover from the unthinkable, he’s preparing for deployment.

When the world seems changed forever, Abbey is trying to negotiate middle school while her family deals with the unimaginable changes in their day to day lives.

Review

This is a new-kid-in-school story, told in verse, and set with 9/11 as the backdrop. September 11th is an inciting incident. It changes the dynamics in Abbey’s home and in the world around her. It pulls her mom away and pushes Abbey to deal with her first period on her own. And it is why her father later gets deployed. There are threads on grief and war protests and racism against Muslims. But those aren’t the main focus of the story.

The focus is Abbey. It’s on her adjustment to a new school and to puberty. She considers questions of identity when it comes to her art. And she grows in her confidence to stand up when others are teased or harassed.

I have read other novels in verse – The Crossover (♥♥♥♥), Garvey’s Choice, Inside Out and Back Again (♥♥♥♥♥), Long Way Down (♥♥♥♥), Solo – and my reaction has been mixed. Some I love and others haven’t clicked. For me, I think it’s about how much I connect with the story being told and how the format enhances that story. And this one was fine, but didn’t grab me. I liked Abbey, and I cared about what happened with her family. But I wanted more. I think I wanted to go deeper on the emotions of Abbey’s story with 9/11. That just wasn’t the story the author chose to tell.

If you are building a collection of novels in verse, or you are looking for middle grade coming-of-age stories, be sure to check this one out. Abbey is a lovely character, and I think kids will like her. If you are looking for more stories that talk honestly with readers about menstruation, this could be a good choice. Abbey’s period really weaves through the whole book rather than just being a one-off incident. (Content Warning: 9/11, grief, deployment)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥=Good/fine/solid