Month: November 2020

REVIEW: Victor and Nora by Lauren Myracle

REVIEW: Victor and Nora by Lauren Myracle

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

Victor is at the cemetery, visiting his brother’s grave when he meets Nora. She’s visiting her mother’s. But she’s also contemplating her own mortality. Her disease will progress until she’s not herself anymore. But she doesn’t tell Victor any of that.

Painfully shy, Victor slowly warms up to the vivacious Nora. When he’s not with her, he’s at his lab working on his freezing tech. Little does he know that his Nora could be in need of the very thing he is creating.

Review

This is an origin story for Victor Fries, aka Mr. Freeze, a villain from the Batman/Gotham universe. Here we see both his early work in cryogenics as well as his whirlwind romance with Nora (who, in other versions of the story, is his wife).

This is a dark story. Between the scenes with Nora and a bird attacking her like her disease eventually will, and her talk of ways to die with Victor when they first meet, there’s a lot of death hanging over this story. There are also hints at Victor’s tendency toward obsession and controlling behavior.

The Gotham universe has a lot of darkness to it anyway, and this graphic novel falls more on that side of things. And it’s darker than my usual preference. If I was rating this just on my enjoyment, I would give it two stars. It’s just not a great fit for me. But the story is well-written and the art well done, so I feel like I can recommend this to others who are more comfortable with the darkness of the story with a rating based on the story’s merits rather than my enjoyment. (Some language, talk of death, off page sex, TW: Suicide, grief and loss) You can read about other graphic novels from the DC universe here.

DC Entertainment has graciously shared some of the internal art with us. Here are some sample pages:

 

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥=Good/solid/fine

BONUS REVIEW: Snapped by Alexa Martin

BONUS REVIEW: Snapped by Alexa Martin

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Elliot “Elle” Reed is living her dream. She is the strategic communications manager for the Denver Mustangs. And she could only have been happier if her father had lived to see it. She loves football, and loves the Mustangs. And she’s thrilled to be part of the PR staff, helping the team and players with messaging and image.

Quinton Howard Jr is the Mustang’s star quarterback. The Denver team put him on their roster after he led another team to the championship  in his first year off the bench. And Quinton has decided to use his notoriety and his platform to speak up for issues in the league and in the world. So he takes a knee during the National Anthem. And Elliot is sent to manage the story – and Quinton.

After a few rocky conversations, Elle and Quinton eventually find a tenuous working relationship. But he’s brittle and abrasive. And she’s still trying to hold back her personal grief. Yet when a drunken kiss upends the fragile peace between them, it also just might be what they need to get them to open up to one another. But forces are at work that want to silence Quinton and put Elle in her place. Will they stand together or be torn apart?

Review

This is book four in the Playbook series after Intercepted (♥♥♥♥), Fumbled, and Blitzed. While I haven’t yet read book 3, right now this is my favorite book in the series.

The “Lady Mustangs” and Elle’s friends shine in this book. I adored the community Elle builds with her school friends and her new Mustangs-adjacent friends. They made for almost all of my favorite moments in the book. (Donny was in several of the others. What a hoot!) As always, the writing here is sharp and smart, and I loved it. Sections begged to be read aloud, and I laughed often in the first two-thirds of the book before things got more serious.

The piece that set this story apart for me was the focus on race, racial identity for Ella as a bi-racial woman, and racism both in some of the characters and also in the football league as an institution. The book raises excellent questions. And the author takes readers along as voices are raised and issues are spelled out. No miracle solutions are offered, but readers will enjoy excellent storytelling with a realistic bite. I loved the author’s note up front about the impetus for this story.

Series fans should not miss this one! And I think newcomers will be able to start here without any issues. This is a fantastic story that will stand on its own. The football pieces to this are not heavy handed, so if you aren’t a fan or don’t understand the game, it won’t be an issue. But once you meet the Lady Mustangs, you are going to want to pick up the rest of the series! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½= Loved it! Would re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: If the Boot Fits by Rebekah Weatherspoon

BONUS REVIEW: If the Boot Fits by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

On the night he wins his first Oscar, Sam Pleasant hooks up with a beautiful woman. She doesn’t give him her name, and when he wakes up in the morning, she is gone.

Amanda Queen is assistant to an up and coming diva in Hollywood. She knows exactly who Sam is when they first meet. She also knows there is NO future for them together. So after a great night, she grabs her Oscars swag bag and leaves.

Except it’s Sam’s bag, not hers, and his Oscar is still inside it.

Amanda has the Oscar returned and expects to never see Sam again. But they keep crossing paths, first at a wedding on his family’s ranch. And then in a weak moment after a disaster with her boss. Next thing she knows, Sam has invited her back to the ranch to get away from the stress, even though he still has no idea what she does for a living or who she works for.

The ranch is beautiful and peaceful. Amanda adores every animal she meets. Sam’s family is lovely and welcoming. And the heat between Amanda and Sam is as scorching as that first night. But can this go any way other than towards disaster?

Review

This is book two in the Cowboys of California series, after A Cowboy to Remember (♥♥♥♥). And it’s a clever twist on the classic Cinderella story.

I love the Pleasant family! This was a terrific addition to the series. I liked Sam a lot, and Amanda is a delight. Her self-acceptance, the strength she shows in dealing with her horrendous boss, and her affinity for animals made her such a fun character to spend time with.

The other piece of this I especially loved is that the major conflict at the end wasn’t between Amanda and Sam (like you would find in most Hallmark movies and many standard romances), but focused against them. This allows them the opportunity to decide if they are going to stand together or let this push them to go their separate ways. The final scenes of the book were excellent.

This is a don’t miss/must read series for me. This book teases a lot at the third brother, Jesse’s story. I can’t wait to dig into it and find out what has been going on with him. And I am eager to see if the author has stories planned for other members of the Pleasant family.

Fans of the first book in the series should not miss this one! But if you are new to the Cowboys of California, I think you can start here, but you will want to pick up the first book as soon as you can. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥=Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

REVIEW: Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Alexis’s coffee shop, ToeBeans Cat Café, has become something of a safe haven for other survivors of sexual harassment and assault. And that’s why she thinks the new arrival at her shop has shown up. But Candi is actually there because she believes Alexis is her biological sister. And she has an unbelievable request. Her biological father is going to die unless he gets a kidney transplant.

Noah desperately wants to protect Alexis from whatever this business is with Candi. Either it’s all a scam, or it’s a gross imposition on Alexis for a man who never bothered to acknowledge her before now, a man who left Alexis and her mother to scrape by on their own.

But this crisis is tweaking Noah’s and Alexis’s feelings for one another. Out loud, they both insist they are only friends.  Or that they can’t risk their friendship on something more. But maybe a chance at rich, true love is worth the risk.

Review

There’s a lovely emotional ebb and flow to this story. There are laugh-out-loud moments, especially when it comes to Lexa’s cat, Beefcake. There are also heart-tugging ones with the core romance as well as with the losses both characters have experienced. The ups and downs evolve naturally and made for a fun reading experience.

It was good to be with the Bromance Book Club crew again. The premise for this series – a group of men who read romance novels to help them in their romantic relationships – is outstanding. The men in the group are a hoot, and I enjoy the banter between them. Even more, I love their more touching, emotional moments with one another. The scenes with the Bromance guys were my favorites in the story.

While I was moved at times by Noah and Lexa’s story, I didn’t click with them like I have with other series characters. One of the issues for the couple is his seething resentment and anger and unresolved grief while she tends to gloss over her hard feelings in an attempt to take the high road and be “above” such things. It was perfect for the story being told, and the growth needed for the characters. But their situations should have made them furious, at least at some moments. But there wasn’t enough fury for me for the context. (Of course, this could just be my own 2020 rage looking for an outlet, too.)

I enjoyed this addition to this excellent series, and I cannot wait to get my hands on book 4, Isn’t It Bromantic, set for a summer 2021 release. If you are a fan of the series, you will want to pick this one up for yourself and check out Noah and Alexis’s story. (Language, sex, TW: grief/loss)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½=Good+

BONUS REVIEW: Serena Says by Tanita S. Davis

BONUS REVIEW: Serena Says by Tanita S. Davis

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Serena and JC have been best friends since 4th grade. But when JC gets a transplant in 6th grade, things start to shift. Serena gets sick so she can’t visit JC at the hospital. They can only see each other online for awhile. Then JC starts spending time with Leilani instead. Pretty soon, Serena is feeling like Leilani has pushed her out of everything – her class ambassador position at school, her WinterFest project plans, and her friendship with JC.

This leaves Serena wondering where she fits as she joins the Student Senate at school and deals with conflict with another classmate. But it’s possible that Serena has places where she could shine – opportunities she might never have tried if her friendship with JC hadn’t changed. Maybe there’s a silver lining in all of the 6th grade drama.

Review

I enjoyed this finding-your-voice story! There are lots of friendship pieces to this as well as some lovely family moments, but my favorite moments were the ones where Serena speaks up, sets a boundary, advocates for a peer, and carries the mantle of leadership.

There’s a vlog thread to this where Serena is learning to be confident speaking on camera and off the cuff. I think kids who also want to be You Tube stars will get a kick out of watching Serena find her voice through her videos. It’s a nice support piece to the work she does in the novel to find and use her voice in her school relationships.

I was pleasantly surprised that one of the friendship messages in this is that people grow apart. I would have liked a little weightier empathy for Serena’s hurt feelings to go with it. Sometimes the advice seemed too dismissive of her feelings. But I liked the normalizing of friendships that stretch and change and grow and drift over time. These things don’t only happen because someone is mean or thoughtless. Sometimes it just happens from growing up.

Be sure to add this to your home or classroom library if you are in the market for a smart friendship story where the main character finds her voice – and uses it!

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: The Mouse Watch by J. J. Gilbert

REVIEW: The Mouse Watch by J. J. Gilbert

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Bernie lives in the secret mouse village of Thousand Acres with her family. It’s her dream to work with Gadget Hackwrench and the Mouse Watch to defend the mouse world AND the human world from evil. Evil, like Dr. Thornpaw. Bernie has seen first hand what that rat can do.

When Bernie gets her chance to join Mouse Watch, she’s not just looking for a way to help others and to fight evil. She wants a place to belong. And maybe some mice who really get her.

Bernie’s first obstacle at Mouse Watch is the partner she’s assigned. The second is the attack on New York that is launched right in the middle of her first training exercise. While all the agents go to investigate, Bernie and her partner are left behind. Without training, they have to figure things out as they go. But Bernie is not about to sit on the sidelines when the world is in danger!

Review

This was delightful! The world building is extensive and shows excellent attention to detail. I feel like this would be a fun book to read aloud thanks to those details and the action. And I was tickled to find that this is a spin off from the Rescue Rangers TV show with Chip and Dale. We watched that when my son was young, and I enjoyed the small connections to this story.

Bernie’s dilemmas were pretty typical – her conflict with the villain, her mistrust of her partner. The author does a great job of balancing Bernie’s internal processing of these issues with the action of the story. I never felt like the story dragged from too much introspection, yet Bernie’s thought process was thoroughly covered. There were times, though, where the details of the mouse world or Mouse Watch headquarters cut into the momentum of the story. But the details were so clever, I wasn’t too bothered by it.

This feels a bit like The Mouse and the Motorcycle and a bit like Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, which were additional selling points for me. I think kids are going to adore this book. The sequel, Mouse Watch Underwater, is currently scheduled for Spring 2021, and I will definitely be checking it out! Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥=Great! Might re-read.

BOOK NEWS: November 3, 2020

BOOK NEWS: November 3, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy Election Week to my American readers! Hope you are able to get out to vote this week if you haven’t already. When you are done, or while you stand in line, take a look at some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids

The Couch Potato – Book 4 in the Bad Seed series. When the power goes out, Couch Potato has to leave his sunken cushion and venture out into the fresh air and sunshine.
Find Fergus – The story of Fergus who is very bad at hide and seek.
Fox Versus Winter – A leveled reader about a fox who does NOT like winter.
Roaring Mad Riley – An anger management book for kids.
Disney Princess Baking – Recipes inspired by Disney characters.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

Disney/Pixar Finding Nemo/Finding Dory: The Story of the Movies in Comics – A graphic novel retelling of the movies.
Dog Diaries: Curse of the Mystery Mutt – Junior and his dog friends wonder if there is evil about when their toys go missing right when a mysterious creature, the Howly Wiener, usually comes around and fills the streets with monsters.
The Mouse Watch – Bernie the mouse joins the Mouse Watch to fight evil, but she’s not sure she can trust her new partner. Then they are thrown into the middle of an emergency before they’ve been completely trained. This was so fun! I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes – Part of the Ghost Writer series. An adaptation of the Holmes mysteries along with games and puzzles.
Serena Says – Serena is working on becoming comfortable speaking on her vlog while also wrestling with friendship issues at school. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Stick With Me – When Izzy’s family rents out part of their house over winter break, she meets Wren, a figure skater who isn’t happy to be in a new place and forced to attend theater camp while her sister tries a new medical treatment for her epilepsy. When Izzy and Wren both are targeted by mean girls at camp, they will have to decide if it will draw them together or if they’ll let middle school drama keep them from ever becoming friends.
Homecoming Tales – True stories of senior dogs and their forever homes.
Kwame Alexander’s Free Write Poetry Notebook – Part of the Ghost Writer series. A notebook of exercises to help young writers.
Star War The Mandalorian Season 2 Poster Book – A poster collection.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

All I Want for Christmas – All Bailey wants for Christmas is someone to kiss under the mistletoe. She’s certain her dream guy is less like player Jacob Marley and more like the British stranger, Charlie.
Crown of Danger (e-book) – Book 2 in the Hidden Mage series. Verene is back and trying to learn to use her strange ability, but Darius has reverted to the cold, distanced prince he was when they first met. And she has to figure out a way to convince him that there’s still danger lurking, and that he has put his trust in the wrong person. At the time of this writing, this book and the first book in the series, Crown of Secrets, are available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited Subscribers.
Frozen II: Dangerous Secrets: The Story of Iduna and Agnarr – The story of Elsa and Anna’s parents. Iduna is keeping secret the fact that she is Northuldran as she grows ever closer to Agnarr who is wrestling with all he lost in the Enchanted Forest and the pressures of becoming Arendelle’s next king. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily – Book 3 in the Dash and Lily series after Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares(♥♥♥♥) and The Twelves Days of Dash & Lily (♥♥♥♥).  This time when Dash says he can’t get home for Christmas, Lily decides to go to see him in London. But being in the same town doesn’t mean they can’t feel farther apart than ever.
Victor and Nora (Graphic Novel) – Victor Fries and Nora meet at the cemetery. He’s painfully shy and wrapped up in his cryogenics research. She is dealing with a diagnosis that will eventually destroy her. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

Books for Adults – Fiction

The Alpha Enigma (Hardcover) – Book 1 in the Team Psi series. The head of a military psychiatric unit and his new patient are attacked by assassins and they barely survive. The patient, “Patient Alpha,” speaks in an unknown language and doodles figures no one understands. At the same time, an archaeologist discovers an 18th dynasty tomb in Egypt full of things that shouldn’t exist. This one is definitely on my list for this week!
Brothers in Arms (e-book, November 6) – The 6th, and final, book in the Reverend Margot Quade Cozy Mystery series. On the day of the Veteran’s Day parade, Margot reunites with an old army buddy who then goes missing. A ransom note leads her to dig into her military past in a race against time. This series sounds great!
Burden of Proof (Trade Paperback) – Ever since his brother’s murder on the courthouse steps in Jacksonville, Florida, Ethan has berated himself for not saving his brother’s life. When his brother’s widow comes to him for help, with information that they were in a situation with global implications, he feels this might be his chance to redeem himself.
The Escape (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in a new US Marshals series from Revell publishing. Two Marshals transporting two prisoners wake up in their downed plane to two dead pilots and one dead prisoner, while the other is a fugitive on the run.
Firefly:Generations (Hardcover) – The fourth original tie-in novel. When Mal wins an old map in a card game, River is able to read the mysterious symbols. It leads them to a generations ship – one of the ones that would have transported people from the old Earth to the universe. But the closer they get, the more upset River becomes, sensing something dangerous, and angry, on board.
Fortune and Glory (Hardcover) – Book 27 in the Stephanie Plum series. As Stephanie and her grandmother search for treasure, they encounter some foes from the past as well as a formidable new enemy who’s going to give Stephanie a run for her money.
The Gentleman and the Thief (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Proper Romance series. Two people down on their luck. He secretly writes penny dreadful novels to keep afloat when his family coffers are empty. She teaches music by day, but is a thief by night, looking to reclaim the things once stolen from her family. Together they team up to solve a series of robberies around London. This sounds fun!
How to Turn a Frog into a Prince (e-book) – Book 5 in the Happy Ever Regency series. After losing her entire family, Charlaine leaves Jamaica for England where she is side-eyed by the ton, but welcomed by Lord Markham and his family. While in London she meets a broken man in need of a friend, so ignoring social protocols, Charlaine reaches out to him. At the time of this writing, this book is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited Subscribers.
A Picture of Love (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Amish Inn series. Naomi cooks at the Peony Inn where she is loved by the owners as she recovers from her fiancé’s betrayal. Amos and his mother stay at the inn for a wedding, although Amos wants nothing to do with with weddings as he is still grieving the loss of his fiancée. Amos and Naomi bond over their grief and a love of painting.
Spellbreaker (Trade Paperback, November 1) – Book 1 in the Spellbreaker series. There are two kinds of wizards in the world – those who can pay to use spells, and those born with the gift to break them. Elsie uses the latter in an effort to help the common man, not unlike the story of Robin Hood. But she is unlicensed, which makes her magic use a crime. When an elite wizard catches her, he agrees to keep her secret if she helps him clean up some of spells around his estate. But as her fondness for the man grows, so do her concerns about the murders of wizards around the city. Yes, this is one I will be reading! At the time of this writing, this is available to read for free as part of the Amazon First Reads program. Book 2 releases in the spring.

Books for Adults – Nonfiction

The 40-Day Social Media Fast: Exchange Your Online Distractions for Real-Life Devotion (Trade Paperback) – Guidelines for a “screen sabbatical.” This could be a timely release for the post-election and holiday season!
Celebrate with Bread Baking: Essential Recipes for Special Occasions (Paperback) – Bread recipes from around the world. At the time of this writing, this book is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited Subscribers.
The Complete One Pot: 400 Meals for Your Skillet, Sheet Pan, Instant Pot, Dutch Oven and More (Paperback) – I love the idea of one-pot cooking. It sounds so simple and easy! Includes recipes that can be made in 45 minutes or less as well as ones scaled down for smaller families.
Truthfilled (Paperback) – A Bible study of the book of Colossians.