Month: January 2022

BOOK NEWS: February 1, 2022

BOOK NEWS: February 1, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the first week of February – starting tomorrow – and here are some of the books releasing that I am excited about!

Books for Kids

I Am Malala Yousafzai – Picture book biography
The Princess in Black and the Mermaid Princess – Book 9 in the Princess in Black series. The Princess in Black and her friends help a mermaid princess discover the power of using her voice in the face of trouble.
Unicorn Diaries: Storm on Snowbelle Mountain – Book 6 in this darling early chapter book starring Bo the Unicorn who is on the hunt for yetis in this new story.
Little People Big Dreams: Amanda Gorman – Early reader biography of the 2021 inaugural poet.
She Persisted: Wangari Maathai – Early reader biography of the founder of the Green Belt Movement.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms – When Cameron’s parents disappeared, his grandmother locked away The Book of Chidani, stories of a fabled kingdom. But when Cameron and his friends open the book, they are transported to Chidani, a kingdom in need of saving.
City Spies: Forbidden City – Book 3 in the City Spies series by James Ponti. The City Spies are trailing two kids who are entrenched in their parents’ dangerous work. I’m a book behind in this series, but I’d love to get caught up!
When the World Turned Upside Down – A group of friends and neighbors cope while the coronavirus spreads, their schools close down, and they see how the pandemic is impacting their families. Not many books have tackled our present reality, so I am curious to see how this one does it.
Castles in Their Bones – First in a new series from the author of Ash Princess. Three princesses trained to be perfect brides – and spies – for their ruthless mother, the Queen, venture forth to marry their princes. I pre-ordered this one so I should have it in hand soon!
We Were Kings – Twenty years ago a teen was convicted of murdering her best friend. Now, thanks to a new law, she has 30 days left before her execution. But a member of the victim’s family believes the woman is innocent, so she puts everything on the line to prove it. Sounds twisty!!

 

 

Books for Adults

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the fantastic Finlay Donovan series. I reviewed this one last week. You can read my full review here.
Hunt the Stars (Trade Paperback) – A new series launch from Jessie Mihalik, author of the outstanding Consortium Rebellion series. You might also remember me talking about this one in my Best of 2021 post because I read it last year and loved it. A bounty hunter reluctantly teams up with her enemy, risking her life to help him find something that was stolen. I loved this so much I immediately ordered my own copy as well as pre-ordering book two, Eclipse the Moon. You can read my full review of this, the first book in the Starlight’s Shadow series, later this week.
Marion Lane and the Deadly Rose (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Marion Lane series about an Inquirer and a 1959 murder. I have both books in this series on my list at the library.
Totally Pawstruck (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 9 in the Second Chance Cat mystery series. Stella and her group of senior citizen detectives work a case for a friend suspected of murder. I have yet to read any book in this series, so in my new Book News system, I likely wouldn’t even bring this one up. But the story sounds too good not to mention.

REVIEW: Bound by Firelight by Dana Swift

REVIEW: Bound by Firelight by Dana Swift

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Adraa and Jatin are facing more trouble than they ever have.

Adraa’s kingdom has turned against her, believing the worst. She’s cast into prison at the Dome. She will have to fight for her life as well as for a chance to escape and make things right.

Jatin is supposed to be leading his own country, but he can only think of Adraa and freeing her. He’s pulled together a very small team of allies, but they have no idea what they are truly up against.

Review

Wow! This was a roller coaster! And I really enjoyed the ride.

Adraa and Jatin tell their own stories once again. I feel like Adraa was really the star of this book. All of her chapters were riveting. I truly loved her journey – maybe even more than I loved Cast in Firelight.

While Jatin is fighting his way back to Adraa, I had mixed feelings about the old friend who joined his team. While I appreciated the twists and reveals she brought with her, I didn’t love the attempted love triangle. She was a distraction and left me wanting to skip ahead to an Adraa chapter.

I had thought this Wickery series was going to be a duology. And the main action truly is wrapped up here without any cliffhangers. But there are some unresolved issues that make me wonder if there is a plan for more. If so, I am here for them.

If Jatin had had more of a story here, this would have been a five star book for me. In fact, when I look at the two books together, I truly loved Adraa’s story here more than book one. Don’t come into this book expecting more of the same from book one, though. This is less about secrets and lies, and more about peril and identity and real questions about whether or not the heroes will triumph. Book 1 fans should not miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano

REVIEW: Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano

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. This book will release February 1, 2022.)

Summary

Finlay Donovan is done with dead bodies. After what happened last time, she’s not even up for dealing with her daughter’s dead goldfish. The only good thing about all that happened before – aside from her friendship with Vero and whatever sparked between her and that detective – was it helped her break through her writer’s block.

Unfortunately, the writer’s block is back. And the muses seem intent on setting Finlay up for another wild ride in real life that might help with her next story idea.

Finlay has discovered a post on a women’s forum that seems to be hunting for a contract killer to take out Finlay’s ex-husband. While she doesn’t want him back in the least, Finlay also doesn’t want her kids to suffer if he’s killed. But tracking this would-be killer is going to involve another round of bluffing, bullets, and bodies.

Review

This was fantastic!

Know going in that the books in this series are painful and awkward a lot of the time as Finlay and Vero are magnets for trouble. But the mysteries are brilliantly plotted, the characters are fascinating, and the stories are a hoot! I am a huge fan of this series! Book 1 was one of my 2021 favorite reads.

This book – and book one, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It – are so DIFFERENT from any of the other mystery series I read. They truly feel like a genre all their own – and I am absolutely here for them. I love the writing angle as Finlay tries to wrangle the crazy situations she finds herself in into useable fiction for her career. I love the relationship between Finlay and Vero. And the piling on of problems and spiral-staircase-like twists to the mystery kept me frantically turning pages until the end.

Another feature I love in these is the epilogue that teases the next book. I am already thinking about what could happen in book 3 for Finlay and Vero. The next book is a must-read for me. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ – I loved it! Would read again.

BOOK NEWS: January 25, 2022

BOOK NEWS: January 25, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are the books releasing during the final week of January that are on my radar – it’s a much smaller list than I expected. But take a look!

Exchange Students – The Teen Titans Go! team meets up with the DC Super Hero Girls when the Titans pose as exchange students at Metropolis where all of the heroes have secret identities. This sounds so fun – I can’t wait to read it!
Her Hidden Genius (Hardcover) – A female scientist cracks the mysteries of DNA, but her male colleagues will try to grab the credit. This sounds fascinating!
Light Years from Home (Hardcover) – On a family camping trip, Evie  and Kass’s father and brother disappeared. Later, their father is found, and he has stories of alien abduction. Their brother, on the other hand, seems truly gone. The sisters’ relationship fractures. And when their brother Jakob returns with stories of an invading alien armada, their broken relationship might be the easiest thing to fix. Yes please!!
Up to No Gouda (Mass Market Paperback) – Usually I would have a large number of cozies on my list this week, but this – the launch for a new Grilled Cheese Mystery series – was the only one I was really eager to read. A widow lives her dream by opening her grilled cheese restaurant, but the town bully has just bought up her building and wants her out. When he’s found dead, one of her employees is the prime suspect, so the widow starts sleuthing. I love reading the first mystery in a new series, so this one is absolutely on my list for this week. From the author of Escape Claws.

REVIEW: House of El: The Enemy Delusion by Claudia Gray

REVIEW: House of El: The Enemy Delusion by Claudia Gray

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from the publisher, DC Entertainment, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Sera and Zahn have stolen a data device from Jor-El and Lara, looking for answers about the experiments done to Sera. But there’s far more on the data solid than they can imagine.

Meanwhile, both are struggling to fit in with their old friends. They are distracted, not only by the mysteries they are trying to solve but also by the feelings growing between them. While Sera and Zahn were born into vastly different worlds, they are finding in each other someone who truly understands them.

As Sera and Zahn look for answers and explore the romantic side of their relationship, the “terrorists” known as Midnight are getting more bold about their plans to bring change to Krypton. And no one will believe who is truly in charge of that rebel group.

Review

Another fantastic Superman-adjacent graphic novel! I really enjoyed book one, The Shadow Threat, and this second chapter of the story is just as strong.

I love that Sera and Zahn are the focus of this story rather than Jor-El or Lara or Zod. They bring a fresh perspective to the Krypton story. I can’t wait for the third book in this series. Even though I know where things are headed, I can’t wait to see how all of the mythology we know weaves around these original characters to create a new, fresh story. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: Crimes and Covers by Amanda Flower

REVIEW: Crimes and Covers by Amanda Flower

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

One week before her wedding, when Violet’s thoughts should have been on Christmas or her groom, she was distracted by an unpleasant visitor to her shop, Charming Books.

The rude and insistent woman had wanted Vi to buy a book. It *looked* like a signed first edition of Walden, something Vi would have loved to have owned. But the woman was so unpleasant and demanding – and in a terrible hurry. Something seemed fishy. So Vi said she needed an appraisal. And the woman left.

It’s a shock then when Vi and Rainwater find the woman’s body right after their wedding – but maybe not so surprising that the book has gone missing.

Review

This has been my favorite Amanda Flower series from the start. No matter how long it has been since I read the last book, I fall right into the stories and the characters as if it’s been no time at all.

One of the fun pieces of this series is the magical bookshop. What avid reader wouldn’t want to visit a bookshop that knows just the right next book for you? While none of the bookshop’s crime-solving tomes have been favorites of mine so far in the series, the premise is right up my alley.

The mystery was wonderfully plotted as always. I was completely caught up in the character I wanted to be the killer that I was distracted from hints I caught early on and then forgot. The whole case was completely satisfying.

Amanda Flower fans and fans of this series hardly need my encouragement to pick up a new mystery from the prolific author. (I can think of 7 series she has going or starting this year.) But you have that encouragement anyway – this was a fun read! Newcomers could probably start here without issue – and I’d encourage you to do so if you love cozy mysteries with great characters (including some fun animal ones) and a touch of magic.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great! Might re-read.

BOOK NEWS: January 18, 2022

BOOK NEWS: January 18, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

The Who Was? Trivia Book – Trivia fans will love this new resource from the folks who publish the Who Was series of nonfiction books for middle grade readers.
Bound by Firelight – Sequel to Cast in Firelight from the Wickery series. Adraa and Jatin are back to deal with the fall out from book one where Adraa is imprisoned and Jatin has to find a way to break her out and prove her innocence so they can find the ones scheming against their kingdoms. I can’t wait to spend time in this world again! I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Chosen Twelve (Trade Paperback) – Comedy and lifestyle writer James Breakwell releases his first fiction novel this week, a science fiction story that has been called “Hunger Games meets the Hitchhiker’s Guide.” There are 12 seats left on a colony ship, and those twelve are the last to join a colony to repopulate the species. But there are 22 candidates for those 12 seats. I’ve enjoyed Breakwell’s social media for so long, I am curious to see if his humor translates to this fictional story.
To Disguise the Truth (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency series by Jen Turano. Eunice turns down Arthur’s request for help out of fear the case would expose her true identity. But the case she takes on instead leads her to more risks, not only to her secrets, but also to those she cares about most. I loved book 1 in this series, and have book 2 on my TBR. I’m looking forward to catching up on this series so I can pick this one up, too.
Fight: How Gen Z Is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America (Hardcover) – Gen Z is defined as those born between 1996 and  roughly 2012 (dates vary based on sources). This book looks at how the cultural shifts of the last 20ish years have impacted those who are becoming adults in the age of Trump and Covid and such – and how they are using the hallmarks of their childhood to push them toward activism and change. I love books on generational identities and impacts, so this one is on my radar for this week.

REVIEW: When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord

REVIEW: When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Millie Price’s star is on the rise. She’s worked her butt off to get into a theater pre-college program. But her dad is reluctant to let her go. And his resistance seems to have something to do with Millie’s mother.

Millie doesn’t know who her mother is, but she stumbles on her father’s LiveJournal from college. Reading through the entries around the time she would have been conceived, Millie finds some names of women who could be her mother. She’s sure if she can find the woman – who was also into musical theater – she could get her mother’s help to convince her dad to let her go.

But Millie’s plan to check out each of these women hits a snag when she ends up competing with her high school nemesis, Oliver, for an internship she doesn’t even want. But as it’s a chance to work with one of the potential moms, she sticks with it while getting to know the other women on her list. But Millie has no way of knowing how this search for her mom and her quest to attend this theater program is going to change everything.

Review

Emma Lord is the author of the fantastic Tweet Cute and You Have a Match, and after this third delightful story, she’s a must-read author for me.

I loved this! Millie is such a great character. She has a big personality, and sometimes the dramatic theater types can be abrasive to read. But that was never the case here. While she’s abrasive to Oliver, that’s part of the fun of the story, but I loved her (and Oliver) from the start.

Millie’s quest for her big theater program and for finding her mom opens up SO many great threads for this story – with the internship, with Oliver, with her family and friends, and with the new people she meets along the way. But none of those external pieces overshadows the internal work Millie does which is equally great.

Fans of Emma Lord’s previous books should absolutely pick this up – the character work here is excellent! And the romantic bits and the humor is icing on the cake. RomCom fans and musical theater lovers – you’re going to want to read this one too! (Language, LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Never Fall for Your Fiancée by Virginia Heath

REVIEW: Never Fall for Your Fiancée by Virginia Heath

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

In order to keep his mother from scheming to find him a wife, Hugh made up a fiancée. He named her Minerva. And since his mother lived in America with his step-father, Hugh could keep up the lie with detailed letters full of fabrications. And it was all working so well. But then his mother announced she was boarding a boat to come meet her future daughter-in-law and start planning the wedding.

When Hugh stepped in to help the lovely young woman arguing over money, he did it, sure, because she was lovely. But Hugh could never resist an opportunity to rescue a damsel in distress. The fact that her name was Minerva was a shock. The fact that she was arguing over money meant she needed some. And might therefore be open to his scheme.

Minerva would play fiancée for Hugh’s mother. Then they would find some way to break things off so they could both go back to their old lives.

What could possibly go wrong?

Review

I don’t read historical fiction often, but when I do, it is usually a story just like this. I love fake relationship stories! Even though I know the awkward moment is coming where everything falls apart, I still love the trope.

But this book felt different from the start. The tone, the voice, the characters – it all sparkled. There’s great chemistry between the main characters. There’s a ton of humor and some truly laugh-out-loud moments. Even as it’s all unravelling, I am cackling. But the author never loses track of her story. She brilliantly balances the conflicts with the romance and the humor. It made for a delightful reading experience. And now I HAVE to read book two.

I don’t know what it will be (although I am guessing Diana’s story – it’s called Never Rescue a Rogue), and for now it seems it won’t release until November of 2022, but it will be at the top of my TBR when the time comes.

Historical fiction readers, and others who love a good fake relationships story, should not miss this one! (Sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

BOOK NEWS: January 11, 2022

BOOK NEWS: January 11, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

This new Book News format is still feeling weird to me. I’m used to long scrolls through cover after cover after cover. At the same time as I am missing the old way, though, I love looking at these books because they are the ones I am most eager to see and read and hold. So, here are the books catching my attention this week.

 

Books for Kids

When the Schools Shut Down: A Young Girl’s Story of Virginia’s “Lost Generation” and the Brown v Board of Education of Topeka Decision – An autobiographical picture book from someone who lived during the five year school shutdown of Farmville, Virginia. This is a story I don’t know, and I am eager to get the full scoop here.
Rocket Finds an Egg – A new leveled reader starring Rocket. I will read anything with this dog in it – I love Rocket’s books!

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Who Was the Girl Warrior of France? – One of four graphic novels from the folks at Who Was releasing this week. This is the one, though, I am most eager to pick up. The illustrations look fantastic!
House of El: The Enemy Delusion – Book 2 in the House of El series from the folks at DC Entertainment. I really enjoyed the first book in this Superman-adjacent series, so I jumped at the chance to read a review copy of book two. My review of this one will post soon.
The Storyteller – A young woman longing to live life on her own terms discovers the journals of her late aunt who might have been the missing princess Anastasia. This sounds like it’s going to be a great exploration of identity for both the main character and the aunt, and I love books that look at questions of identity.

 

Books for Adults

The Amber Crown (Trade Paperback) – Three outcasts are the only ones who can help a kingdom overrun by a usurper king – but only by following orders from the dead king’s ghost. Oh yeah, I am going to be checking this one out! I already have it on pre-order.
Crimes and Covers (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Magical Bookshop Mystery series. Violet’s wedding reception is disrupted by a dead body. And Violet recognizes the woman as someone who tried to sell her a rare copy of Walden. Thankfully she has her magical bookstore to help her as she tries to solve the crime. This is such a fun series; I’m excited to read a new story set in this world.
The Family You Make (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Sunrise Cove series. A guy who thinks he’s about to die in a snowstorm tells his parents he’s met “the One” and uses the stranger he’s with for his description. But when the two survive the storm, his family is eager to meet the woman he told them about. While she agrees to pretend for one family dinner, she starts to wonder if maybe this could become the life she’s always wanted. Yes, please!
Tailing Trouble (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Furry Friends Mystery series. When the poodle she is boarding discovers a dead body, Ally and her grandfather get drawn into a mystery. This sounds so fun! I have book one on my review list (I am SO behind), and I would love to get caught up on both of these soon!