Month: January 2021

REVIEW: City of Villains by Estelle Laure

REVIEW: City of Villains by Estelle Laure

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When a teenager from her high school goes missing, police intern Mary Elizabeth Heart is assigned the case. She’ll be working with one of the only other Legacies at the station, young Officer Bella Loyola.

Mally Saint was not someone to be trifled with. When her friends decided she was too bossy to be invited to their annual fairy party, she showed up anyway and let her bird, Hellion, destroy the place. Then she targeted each of her three “friends” for acts of retribution. Those girls were obviously Mary Elizabeth’s first suspects.

But when another Legacy goes missing, it seems to Mary Elizabeth and Bella that there is something larger going on than acts of revenge over a party. And this time, it’s personal to Mary Elizabeth. In fact, the police chief assigns the second case to other officers – non-Legacies who don’t take it seriously – and threatens to pull Mary Elizabeth off Mally’s case if she can’t pull it together. Mary Elizabeth is going to have to decide what is more important to her – keeping her job or protecting her found family.

Review

The reviews on Goodreads for this were less than stellar, which worried me. But I enjoyed it! It took a little while for the world building to come together for me. And some of the writing and word choices for the world were awkward, especially early on when I was trying to grasp everything. But once the system was established, it was easy to fall into the story.

I thought the set up was clever. Former magic wielders – Legacies – sharing a community with “Narrows” who are the outsiders. There are prejudices and class differences rumbling in and around the story, setting up some of the book’s conflicts. Then there was the mystery of the missing teens. I was intrigued.

In addition to the core story of missing kids and lost magic and community tragedies, there are other pieces working between and around the characters – Mary Elizabeth’s murdered family, her hero worship of the police chief who tracked their killer, sexism and discrimination between the Legacy and the Narrow, and the importance of Mary Elizabeth’s found family. For me, this wasn’t a character-driven story. I didn’t love or connect with any particular characters in a special way. I was intrigued by the mystery (although I did pick out the culprit right away) and the sleuthing of Mary Elizabeth and Bella as well as this re-imagined origin story for familiar Disney characters.

Early on it was easy to get distracted trying to figure out who each character was supposed to be in the larger Disney universe (some are more obvious than others). But it didn’t take long for me to get drawn into the story instead. I will definitely be reading book 2 to see what happens to these characters next. There are some unanswered questions at the end of this, and I am eager to see how things play out. (Some language and violence, magic, some sexual harassment/sexist workplace behavior)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: Prodigal Son by Gregg Hurwitz

BONUS REVIEW: Prodigal Son by Gregg Hurwitz

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

The Nowhere Man, Evan Smoak, is retired from government work  and from being a vigilante fixer. He expects that to mean the Nowhere Man phone will stop ringing. But that is not the case. Even more surprising? The latest caller insists that she’s his birth mother.

The woman asks Evan to help a man named Andrew Duran. Andrew witnessed a murder and was set up to take the fall. He’s on the run, and Evan is curious enough about the whole thing to try to find him.

But this case, that can’t be a case because Evan is retired and could lose his pardon, is going to bring Evan face to face with his childhood. And even though he knows his own Commandment Four by heart, this case is definitely personal.

Review

Wow!! There is a LOT going on here. The core of the book is the trouble Andrew Duran is in and how Evan plans to help him. And just when I think Hurwitz has hit the peak of his bad guy plots, he writes another one that takes things to a whole new level. The story in this book will literally chase Evan to the final page. Fans of this suspense series will find all the usual series pieces they love in this book. But there’s so much more.

My husband is a HUGE fan of this series. He gave me book one, Orphan X, to read early last year (♥♥♥♥), and then challenged me to read book 3, Hellbent, last summer (♥♥♥♥½) because he thought I might enjoy the series a little more with the addition of Evan’s teen protégé, Joey. I also read book 4, Out of the Dark (♥♥♥♥), but did not enjoy the start of book 5, so I skipped it. I have also read the three short stories with mixed reviews (“The List,” Joey’s story, was outstanding! – ♥♥♥♥♥).  All that to say, I show up to this series for Joey, frankly, and for the relationship between her and Evan. I like Evan well enough, and his cases are pretty interesting. But the violence can be a bit much for me at times, and the missions drag in the middle for me. That’s not a knock on this series. I feel the same way about other suspense thrillers. I completely skip the Baldaccis my husband loves for this reason. But Joey and Even keep me returning to this one. Every scene with Joey is a delight. I love her on her own, but I absolutely adore what her presence does for Evan.

Then, in Prodigal Son, Hurwitz adds a new interpersonal wrinkle – the supposed birth mother. Her call forces Evan to look at his childhood, and his current relationships, in new ways. (The book includes scenes from Evan’s childhood in foster care which were fascinating.) I especially enjoyed watching how this mom issue shifted Evan’s relationship with Joey. This whole aspect of the story was brilliant. It added a fantastic new layer to Evan.

The ending will leave readers gasping – and grasping for the next volume. I have book 7, which hasn’t even been announced yet, on my mental wish list. I have to see what will happen next! Series fans will NOT want to miss this.

While I think you could probably read this without the rest of the series, I think it would be frustrating to not understand the interplay between characters, and Evan’s full history. So if you are new to the Orphan X series, start at the beginning and enjoy the ride. (I have skipped book 2 and 80% of book 5 without issue. I don’t think the short stories are essential reading, but “The List” is my favorite of the three.) This is one of the best books in the series, and thriller fans should not miss it. (Language, violence, alcohol addiction, vaping, sexual references, TW: rape and sexual assault, child abuse)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Shipped by Angie Hockman

REVIEW: Shipped by Angie Hockman

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Henley Evans is doing everything she can to get ahead at work – putting in extra hours, working toward her MBA, and developing new marketing ideas for her company’s cruise line. So when she finds out she’s up for a huge promotion, she’s thrilled.

But then she finds out her work nemesis, Graeme Crawford-Collins, is up for the job, too. Graeme has only been with the company a year. He’s abrupt in his communication, and doesn’t always respond to her requests to post material to the company’s social media, which is his job. He took credit for some of her best work. He doesn’t even work in the office! He’s remote from half a country away.

The boss’s brilliant idea is to send both of them on one of the company’s cruises. Whoever returns with the best marketing plan to improve sales will get the job. But Henley didn’t expect that spending time with Graeme face to face would be so distracting – or that he would be so sexy.

Review

This is such a fun, funny story with a unique setting, an electric couple, and a powerful ending. This is a romantic comedy which delivers on both fronts. There are several laugh-out-loud moments, and I enjoyed the chemistry between the two leads.

What really set this apart for me, though, was the setting and the post-cruise events. I loved the unique experience of the Galápagos Islands. At least, it was unique to me. I also enjoyed the way Henley connects with the conservation efforts of those who live and work there.

The post-cruise pieces, though, won me over on this. Henley gets a wake up call on the way she is living her life (all work, no life) just in time to make a stand and make some changes. And I was cheering for her and for her team all the way to the end. Overall I would give the romance three stars, the setting 4, and the ending 5.

This is a fun story with good characters in a fascinating locale with a girl-power ending to tie it all together. Be sure to check it out! (Language, LGBTQ+ secondary characters, mostly off-page sex, references to abusive/manipulative relationship)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥= Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Battle of the Bodkins by Lincoln Peirce

REVIEW: Battle of the Bodkins by Lincoln Peirce

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Long ago, in the land of Byjovia, a selfish prince was ready to become king. His fairy “dogmother” siphoned off his more problematic personality traits and put them in a jar. But when the jar broke, an evil copy of the prince emerged – a “bodkin.”

While that bodkin was exiled, Max and her friends have discovered a bodkin in present day Byjovia. It seems as though there are even more bodkins now, and they are preparing for an invasion. It will be Max’s job – along with the Midknights – to invade the bodkins’ home and stop them.

Review

I got such a huge kick out of Max’s first adventure, I knew I had to read book two. This is fun and suspenseful. The Midknights really have their hands full with the evil bodkins.

As with the first book, the pacing of the story is great – peril on top of peril, but nothing so far fetched that it pulls you out of the story. There’s a larger cast here – the Midknights plus the key adults in the kingdom as well as a few new friends. I call this a graphic novel, but it really is more of a highly illustrated story – prose along side line drawings. It’s a terrific format for the story.

I think kids will love Max’s new adventure. There are some nice tidbits in the book about Max’s origins – and an interesting twist to launch the kids into their next adventure. Fans should not miss this one. I am looking forward to reading book 3.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

BOOK NEWS: January 26, 2021

BOOK NEWS: January 26, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are the new releases for the final week of January 2021.

Books for Kids

What’s the Matter, Marlo? – A picture book about best friends and big feelings.
Pizza and Taco: Best Party Ever! – Book 2 in this “young graphic novel” series (early reader/early chapter book). When Pizza and Taco feel bored, they decide to throw a party.
It’s Her Story: Marie Curie – A kids graphic novel biography of Marie Curie. (I’ve seen mixed reports on the age group for this. The description says 6-9 but in other places it is listed for middle grade readers.)
The Story of John Lewis – A kids biography of John Lewis.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Starfell: Willow Moss and the Forgotten Tale – Book 2 in the Starfell series after Willow Moss and the Lost Day (♥♥♥♥). After recovering the lost day and setting things right, no one remembers the near- disaster Willow averted. But when one of her friends sends word for help, Willow assembles her crew once again, this time to face the Queen of the Undead. I loved book one in this magical series.
Star Wars The Clone Wars: Battle Tales – Stories from the Clone Wars era.
Star Wars Adventures: Rise of the Wookiees (Graphic Novel) – Comics collection (Issues 27-32).
Glory Girl: Daring to Believe in Your Passion & God’s Purpose – From the author of You Are the Girl for the Job comes this journaling guide for preteen girls about discerning your purpose.
NIV Verse Mapping Bible for Girls – Includes 350 partially-completed maps showing the first three steps done as well as 70 blank maps for readers to use. I love this idea – and the Bible looks beautiful inside. This would be so cool to do with a small group of students.
City of Villains – Book one in a new series about Disney villains in a Gotham-like city. This re-imagined origin story for villains like Maleficent, Ursula, and Captain Hook sounds fascinating. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Girls I’ve Been (LGBTQ+) – The daughter of a con artist and her friends get caught up in a bank robbery. I have this on my list – I want to see how Nora’s life of cons helps her out in a robbery.
Time Travel for Love and Profit – After a crummy freshman year, Nephele creates a time travel app to go back and give it another try. And it works – except she is the only one looping. She’s about to start her 10th freshman year, complete with a teacher who was once in her original 9th grade class. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Wings of Ebony – When Rue’s mother is killed, she is taken away from her sister by the father she never knew only to discover she is a half-god. Desperate to reconnect with her sister on the anniversary of their mother’s death, Rue leaves her magical new home to return to Houston, only to find it sinking into evil and her sister falling in with the forces that destroyed their mother. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

Books for Adults – Fiction

Capturing the Earl (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Wallflowers of West Lane. Mercy is determined to protect her friend from another disastrous match, but she doesn’t count on finding the Earl so irresistible herself. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Coffee House Clairvoyant: Emeralds in the Espresso AND Faberge in the Frappuccino AND Opals in the Oolong (e-book) – Three books in this new paranormal cozy series release this week. A woman who can read the history of an object by touch keeps finding items that are tied to murders in her caffeinated beverages. I’m looking forward to giving this series a try.
Claw & Disorder (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Cat Groomer Mystery series. When an elderly hoarder dies and suspicion falls on her husband and their cats, Cassie is there to help track down a killer.
Crime of the Ancient Marinara (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Tuscan Cooking School Mystery series. Chef Orlandini is set to reveal his secret marinara recipe to a group of American foodies, including a possible private investigator sent by Nell’s father, when one of the guests falls dead.
Death by Intermission (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Abby McCree Mystery series. Abby’s mother’s boyfriend is accused of murder at the final Movies in the Park night of the summer.
Egg Shooters (Hardcover) – Book 9 in the Cackleberry Club series. Suzanne stops a gunman at the emergency room by beaning him with a thermos, but he gets away. The Cackleberry Club are concerned he’ll be back, so they start sleuthing.
The Ex Talk (Trade Paperback) – From YA mainstay Rachel Lynn Solomon comes this adult romcom debut. Public radio host rivals have to pretend to be exes in order to keep their jobs. But as the public gets more invested in their new show based on this fake failed relationship, the two hosts start to fall for one another. I have this one on my list.
Falcon & Winter Soldier (Graphic Novel) – Comics collection (Issues 1-5). Sam and Bucky are reunited when someone tries to kill Bucky and the two former Captain Americas are drawn into the hunt for the newest head of Hydra.
Fruit Basket Upset (e-book, January 31) – Book 6 in the Taylor Quinn Quilt Shop Mystery series. A murder at her family’s strawberry farm pushes Taylor to do what she can to keep a family scandal a secret. Except her efforts undermine her alibi for the murder.
Hopeless RomeAntic (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the When in Rome series. Sixteen years ago, Leo gave up his dream and stuck around to work the family business and be a father figure for his niece. But just when things look like he could reconnect with that dream, he meets a woman who runs a concierge service in town as she also cares for her autistic brother. And he finds her captivating. I have book one from this series on my TBR shelves.
Ink and Shadows (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society. When a Halloween window display at Miracle Books causes a stir, Nora and the Society try to calm things, but in the local uproar, someone is killed. While the death is ruled an accident, some clues lead Nora to believe otherwise. I have the first three books of this series waiting on my digital TBR shelves.
Irish Parade Murder (Hardcover) – Book 27 in the Lucy Stone Mystery series. Lucy’s reporting rival leaves her wondering if her job is in jeopardy – until he is suspected of murder.
Maryann’s Hope (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Amish Charm Bakery series. An Amish widow’s chance at love is shaken when her fiancé has to leave town to care for his family’s business and she discovers he’s been harboring secrets.
Murder at Mabel’s Motel (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Granny Reid Mystery series (Murder in Her Stocking – ♥♥♥♥), a spinoff of the Savannah Reid Mystery series. This series is set 30 years before the original series, when Savannah is a teen. When a gang leader is found dead, most assume it is from an accidental overdose, but Stella knows something more is going on.
A Pairing to Die For (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Colorado Wine Mystery series. In the chaos following the arrival of his estranged family,  Reid is accused of murdering his sous chef. Parker is determined to clear her new boyfriend’s name.
The Preacher’s Son (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 1 in the new Infamous Amish series. When Isaiah’s father is imprisoned for fraud, it costs him everything, not the least of which is his reputation. At his new job, he’s falling for a woman who has lost everything thanks to his father’s crimes. How could she ever take a chance on Isaiah after all she’s lost? I’m intrigued by this new series.
Prodigal Son (Hardcover) – Book 6 in the Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz. Retired secret government assassin Evan Smoak is contacted by a woman claiming to be his biological mother. And she needs his help. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
A Sinister Service (Hardcover) – Book 6 in the A Lady and Lady’s Maid Mystery series. When Phoebe and her siblings travel to Staffordshire to commission a set of china, one of the two rival designers is found dead, and his design book is missing. Eva goes undercover to talk with the women who work there (and who are only allowed to paint, never design) while Phoebe and her younger brother investigate the case.
A Tourist’s Guide to Murder (Trade Paperback) – Book 6 in the Mystery Bookshop series. Sam and the Shady Acres ladies are on a London tour of sites related to famous mystery writers when people start dying.
Undercover Kitty (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 8 in the Second Chance Cat Mystery series. Charlotte’s Angels, a group of elderly sleuths operating a detective agency out of Sarah’s store, are hired to find out who is sabotaging cat shows around the state. They have Elvis entered in the next show “undercover,” so when a volunteer is murdered, Sarah starts sleuthing.
We Could Be Heroes (Hardcover) – Zoe and Jamie meet in a memory-loss support group with no memory of their past lives. Zoe uses her powers of speed and strength to deliver fast food. Jamie uses his ability to read and erase memories to hold up banks. Their friendship could be the key to discovering their past, but before they can dig too far into that, they discover a much larger threat. I can not WAIT to read this!

 

Books for Adults – Nonfiction

Ida B the Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells (Hardcover) – Born into slavery. Journalist. Suffragist. Activist. Co-Founder of the NAACP. This biography is written by the great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells. This is on my list for this week.
NIV Verse Mapping Bible (Leather) – Just like the girls’ Bible described earlier. Includes 350 partially completed maps and 70 blank ones. From pictures, the Bible looks gorgeous!
Now that Faith Has Come (Paperback) – This six-week study of Galatians is the latest from Beth Moore, written with her daughter, Melissa Moore. I tweeted with Melissa, and she said you do not have to have the videos to complete the study. Personally, I do better with just the book and my Bible, but there are options for different sorts of learners. They also have a PODCAST option if that is more your speed!
Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner’s Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause (Hardcover) – The author, who grew up with the narrative of Lee as the “greatest man who ever lived” and Confederates as “underdogs who lost the war with honor,” shares the evolution of his thinking over time. Part memoir, part history lesson.
Verse Mapping Bible Study Journal (Hardcover) I am SUPER intrigued by this. I haven’t seen any sample pages yet, but I am assuming they will look like the blank maps in the Verse Mapping Bible. I am waiting to see some interior pictures, though, before I order one.

 

REVIEW: Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift

REVIEW: Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When she was 8 and he was 9, Adraa met Jatin for the first time. Their parents talked about the betrothal while Adraa and Jatin were talking about magic and getting to know one another. To say that first meeting didn’t go well would be an understatement.

Now, nine years later, Jatin has finished his magical schooling. He has mastered all 9 types of magic. And he loves rubbing it into Adraa’s face when he sends her periodic “love notes” with secret, sarcastic messages in them. Adraa, as a future ruler/maharani of Wickery, can’t rule unless she can master all 9 as well. She has 45 days to get a handle on the last piece of magic.

But Adraa has other priorities than magic practice. She’s been undercover on a mission sanctioned by Jatin’s father, going by the name Jaya Smoke. She can pull it off now because no one really knows she’s the next Maharani. But once she’s 18 that all changes, so she has to work fast if she is going to uncover the seedy things going on in her country.

Jatin has met “Jaya,” but he has no idea she is his betrothed, Adraa. And that’s okay because she thinks Jatin is his own friend and guard Kalyan. And while neither knows who the other is, they team up on Jaya’s undercover mission, one far more dangerous than future royalty should be tackling on their own.

Review

This was fantastic! I loved the secret identity story line even though it was obviously going to cause trouble eventually. I also loved the magic system and the world-building for this. I was completely engrossed, right from the beginning. This is exactly the sort of YA fantasy I love.

I loved Jatin and Adraa, both as individuals and as a potential couple. They are so good with and for each other!

The larger mystery that Jatin and Adraa are investigating takes awhile to develop. And in an instant it becomes  far more than it seems to be early on. I was waiting for some big shift, and got more than I bargained for. There isn’t a cliffhanger per se in this; you get to some level of resolution. But it’s really more of a breathing spot before launching into whatever book 2 will have in store. I can’t wait to read it and see what happens next for these characters. Book 2, Bound by Firelight, is currently scheduled to release in 2022.

I highly recommend this one for fans of YA fantasy!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Enjoy the View by Sarah Morgenthaler

REVIEW: Enjoy the View by Sarah Morgenthaler

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

River Lane’s fledgling career as a producer and director depends on getting this documentary right. But the residents of Moose Springs, Alaska, couldn’t be less cooperative. She can’t get the permits she needs to film, and the townspeople keep selling her out to local law enforcement who runs them off every time.

Easton Lockett thought he was offering to help a stranded tourist when he offered River a ride. How could he possibly know he was “ruining the shot?” But the actress-turned-director is captivating. Before he knows it, Easton is leading River and her crew on a climb of Mount Vail for their documentary.

No matter how many times Easton warns the group about the dangers of the climb, reality will catch River and her group off guard. And the challenges they face could push each of them to their limits.

Review

This was so awesome! There’s more suspense in this book with the frozen mountain climbing adventure than in the previous books in the series. But there’s also a sweet budding romance that’s delightful to watch. And  SO MUCH HUMOR! This is one of the few series labeled “romantic comedy” that actually delivers on that promise for me. This book made me laugh, out loud and often!

I think newcomers could start with this book, which is the third in the series, without much trouble. There are references to the couples from the other books, but I think readers can enjoy this without having those connections. But after reading this, I think you’ll want to read The Tourist Attraction (♥♥♥♥♥) and Mistletoe and Mr. Right (♥♥♥½).

Easton has been something of a mystery in the earlier books – the burly, silent mountain man. But now that he’s had a book of his own, I think he and his twin sister are my favorite characters in the series. I loved him with River, too. There’s a lovely lack of lying or secrets in this story, which can make for great conflict in a book, but also gets old for me. The mountain in this book makes for plenty of conflict all by itself.

This is a must-read series for me. While book 2’s characters didn’t click for me like in book 1 and this book, I still love the Moose Springs setting and the community in the whole series. And when I feel the need for a laugh, I know this series will always deliver. Be sure to check out the Moose Springs, Alaska series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Cleo Porter and the Body Electric by Jake Burt

REVIEW: Cleo Porter and the Body Electric by Jake Burt

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

In May 2096, Cleo Porter and her parents are living in an apartment – like pretty much everyone else. Every apartment is sealed and secured. Supplies are delivered by drone. And no one leaves. It was the way the world became safe from influenza D.

The problem is that a drone has delivered a package of life-saving medication to Cleo’s apartment. By mistake. If the medication doesn’t get to the right person in time, she could die. Cleo plans to be a doctor when she grows up. In fact, she is preparing for her first major exam to get into the training program. She feels like this woman is already her patient. And she can’t let her die without trying to help.

After Cleo exhausts her ideas for finding a solution from the inside of her home, she decides she’ll have to leave it – its safety and security, her parents, and everything she knows – to try to get the medication to the right person.

Review

Believe it or not, this book existed before we had even heard the term “Covid-19.” But the publication process meant the book didn’t get into the hands of readers until fall of 2020, when many folks had already had their fill of quarantines and masks and such. Thankfully, this novel takes place far in the future from the novel’s own pandemic. In fact, the culture in the book “solved” their pandemic with extreme lockdown measures. I believe things are different enough for readers to be able to enjoy this and not let Covid dampen their enthusiasm for a high stakes, futuristic adventure. But there will be some kids who will want a different sort of escape these days. (There are questions raised about what the “proper” response to a pandemic should be, so readers may have questions about those pieces of the story.)

Cleo’s a great protagonist – bright, empathetic, brave, and determined. The author does a great job of giving Cleo of “team” of sorts as she negotiates her escape so she isn’t entirely alone or in her own head for the action of the story. I felt for Cleo at the resolution of her quest. There are a lot of complicated feelings for her to explore, and I liked that. As an adult, I wanted MORE at that point, but I think the focus on the adventure and the closing scene will be satisfying for most readers in the intended age group.  I also wanted more details about the future for Cleo – what happens “after?” But the glimpse we are given is satisfying.

Hand this to fans of the author (Greetings from Witness Protection, The Right Hook of Devin Velma, The Tornado) as well as readers who love middle grade survival stories, adventure, and science fiction.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

BOOK NEWS: January 19, 2021

BOOK NEWS: January 19, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

Ambitious Girl – After hearing a strong woman on TV called “too ambitious,” a girl decides to investigate the challenges women face.
Eyes that Kiss in the Corners – A young Asian girl notices her eyes look different from the eyes of many of her peers, but their shape connects her to generations of her family. She recognizes the beauty in her features. This looks lovely.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

The Comeback – A figure skater faces competition on the ice and racism at school. Will she buckle under the stress or is she primed for a comeback?
Magic’s Most Wanted – Mason’s dad was recently sent to jail, his grades are plummeting, and he’s been taken into custody by officers of “Magix,” whatever that is. Thankfully, he’s got some people – and a talking rabbit – on his side.
The Million Dollar Race – Grant is close to setting the world record for the 100-meter for his age group, so when a sneaker company launches a contest to find the world’s fastest kid, he’s all in. But when he discovers his non-conforming parents never got him a birth certificate, his chances of competing start to dwindle.
Timelines from Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies – A survey of Black history including political figures, sports figures, writers, etc. This would be an excellent classroom resource.
Who Is Kamala Harris? – Part of the Who HQ NOW series of middle grade biographies highlighting figures who are prominent in the news.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Bookish Boyfriends: Get a Clue (LGBTQ+) – Book 4 in the spectacular Bookish Boyfriends series. Ms. Gregoire has assigned Sherlock Holmes, and a mystery has arisen at Hero High. And Huck and Win team up to solve it. I have already pre-ordered this one. I can’t wait!
Cast in Firelight – Book 1 in the Wickery series, and one of my favorite books from 2019. (I read my review copy in November before realizing the release date had been pushed back.) Two magical heirs, betrothed since childhood, team up under false identities to address a challenge to their kingdoms. This was fantastic – I can’t wait to read it again! My review will post soon.
This Will Be Funny Someday – A girl unused to having and using her own voice stumbles into stand up comedy and loves it. But her new friends on the open mic scene think she’s a college student like them – because that is the lie she told them. I love a story about kids and teens finding and using their voices. I will be checking this one out.
Wench – When Tanya’s guardian dies, she’s at risk of losing the tavern and home where she’s grown up. So she goes on a quest to petition the queen to let her keep the property in her name. This has been on my wishlist for months!
Winterkeep – Book 4 in the Graceling Realm series. As Queen, Bitterblue sent envoys to the neighboring Winterkeep, but when they drown under mysterious circumstances, she heads off herself with two friends. But on the journey, tragedy strikes again. This is a series I have been waiting to read for ages.

Books for Adults

The Broken Spine (Hardcover) – Book 1 in the Beloved Bookroom Mystery series. When her beloved library is turned into a bookless “technology center,” Tru and her friends rescue some of the books and set them up in a secret book room in the library basement. But when the town manager who pushed for the change is found dead, Tru is the prime suspect. And the *secret* book room is her alibi. This sounds excellent!
A Deadly Discovery (e-book) – Book 4 in the Allie Cobb Mystery series. Allie investigates the murder of a young woman who disappeared 20 years ago, and whose body was recently discovered.
Enjoy the View (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the delightful Moose Springs, Alaska series (The Tourist Attraction – ♥♥♥♥♥). Former Hollywood darling River Lane is in Moose Springs to film a documentary. Strong and silent Easton Lockett is leading her crew up and down Mount Veil. While he’d like to do so without any emotional entanglements with River, she’s a hard woman to resist. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Firefly: New Sheriff in the Verse Vol 2 (Graphic Novel) – Sheriff Mal has been ordered to arrest the crew of Serenity.
Her Turn: A Bookish Romantic Comedy (e-book, January 21) – Addie Snyder became her brother Owen’s guardian after their mother died. When her new book becomes an overnight sensation, she needs her publicist to help her protect Owen who has Down syndrome from the hype, especially as her publicity obligations grow. But when their absent father shows up, threatening to take guardianship of Owen, and other relatives come out of the woodwork to take advantage of her success, she is going to need all the help she can get. This sounds fun!
A Perfect Amish Romance (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Berlin Bookmobile series. The bookmobile librarian partners Aaron, a man secretly pursuing his GED, with Kayla, a young woman hiding from the pain in her life in romance novels, to help him study for the GED test. This looks sweet.
Scripted to Slay (e-book) – Book 6 in St. Marin’s Cozy Mystery series. Harvey looks into the death of the new bartender in the neighborhood.
Shipped (Trade Paperback) – Work rivals competing for the same promotion meet in person for the first time on a cruise that is part of their promotion competition. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Black Panther Party (Graphic Novel) – A history of the Black Panther Party founded in 1966.
Dear White Peacemakers (Hardcover) – A guide for White Christians – based on the Sermon on the Mount – to grow as racial justice activists.
In Search of Wisdom (Hardcover) – An exploration of Proverbs from Joyce Meyer.
Revelation: Extravagant Hope (Trade Paperback) – Part of the Beautiful Word Bible Study series. This volume is written by Margaret Feinberg. A six-session study of Revelation. Video study available separately.

REVIEW: You Have a Match by Emma Lord

REVIEW: You Have a Match by Emma Lord

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Abby takes a DNA test to be supportive of her best friend (and crush) Leo, she never expects it will shake every foundation of her life. But when the results come in, it says she has a sister. A full-blooded, older sister.

When Abby and Savvy meet up in secret, it’s obvious the results are accurate. The questions start piling up – why did Abby’s parents place Savvy for adoption? How are they connected to Savvy’s adoptive family? Why have they kept this secret from Abby her whole life?

Abby decides to meet Savvy at Camp Reynolds for the summer. It meets her parents’ insistence on academic recovery work, but it will also let the girls dig into this mystery and get to know one another for the first time.

Review

Emma Lord is now a must-read author for me. Last year I fell in love with her delightful debut, Tweet Cute. And now I have fallen again for Abby and Leo and Savvy and Mickey and Finn and the rest. This was a start-to-finish read for me. It’s funny, suspenseful, and emotionally touching. It’s everything I want when I sit down with a YA novel. I can’t wait to read it again. And again. (In fact, the minute I finished reading the ARC, I pre-ordered my own copy.)

The family story was the hook for me. There are other things happening in the story – Abby’s feelings for Leo, the pressures from her parents regarding school, the camp, her reluctance to share her photography with others, her grief over the loss of her grandfather, and her questions about the future. And every one of those pieces was beautifully handled and part of the joy that is this book. But I was all in on the relationship between Abby and Savvy and on finding out the truth of their story. And it was so satisfying! There were moments when I couldn’t read fast enough to take in everything as quickly as I wanted to.

“Comfort reads” are a real thing, especially in these weird days. These are the books you know you love and you go back to them over and over to enjoy sinking into a great story with great characters. I have many YA comfort reads – Tweet Cute, 10 Blind Dates, Prince in Disguise and more. And now You Have a Match. The writing, the characters, the story, the humor, the heart – all of it was fantastic. YA fans do not want to miss this one! (Language, LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!