Month: March 2024

REVIEW: Wombats! Go to Wizard's Wharf by Maddie Frost

REVIEW: Wombats! Go to Wizard’s Wharf by Maddie Frost

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Four years ago, Albert borrowed an egg from Pickles and said “I owe you one.” And now Pickles is ready to collect. He’s cashing in his IOU to go to Wizard’s Wharf amusement park. Albert is just not into amusement parks or “magic.” But he’s a good friend, so he agrees.

Review

This was delightful! The illustrations alone would make me pick this up. Especially when Albert and Pickles get to Wizard’s Wharf – I think kids will love pouring over each panel to see what is going on in the background. And Wizard’s Wharf looks awesome!

At it’s core, this is a friendship story – and it’s a great one. Albert is a good friend who does something that means so much to Pickles. The pages where they first arrive at Wizard’s Wharf are my favorite. I LOVE Pickles’ joy at being in this magical place he’s dreamed about visiting. Albert also uses his knowledge of Pickles to find him when they get separated. The two friends might have personality differences, but Albert really sees and knows Pickles.

I don’t think readers have to have read book one to enjoy this, but fans will definitely want to read both books. Wombats! Go Camping is another fun story. And I loved this one even more. I hope there will be more books starring these two friends – I am here for them!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

REVIEW: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Misery Lark has done her time for her people. She gave her entire childhood to serve Vampyre needs, living with humans as “the collateral.” When her duty was finished, she built her own life in the human world, far from her father and his expectations and demands.

And when he suggests one more sacrifice for “the good of her people,” she can’t say no forcefully or fast enough. But then she discovers this dangerous sacrifice can lead her to the one thing she wants most of all.

So she agrees to marry the Werewolf Alpha – live in his territory, live again as an outsider. Because it might lead to the answers she can’t find anywhere else.

Review

This was outstanding! My first Ali Hazelwood – I totally get what the fuss is about. Once I started this, I didn’t want to put it down. The world building is fantastic! And I loved the mysteries that needed solving. There’s so much here to enjoy.

Paranormal romance fans should not miss this. Everything really was perfect – the characters, the pacing, the HUMOR, the twists, the romance. The ending sets up a possible sequel, and I am here for it! The rest of my Hazelwood books are now at the top of my TBR – I’m looking forward to reading more of her work. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ -= Outstanding!

BOOK NEWS: March 26, 2024

BOOK NEWS: March 26, 2024

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy March! Here are some of the new books out this week:

Books for Kids

For You I Will – A mother’s message to her daughter.
Penelope Rex and the Problem with Pets – Penelope’s new pet is a lot to handle. This looks adorable!

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens

Listen to This – Two teens negotiating friend and family issues meet and find in the other someone who finally sees them and listens to them.
Olivetti – An old family typewriter tries to help a boy whose mother has disappeared by sharing some of the things she would type when she used the typewriter regularly. What a creative concept!

 

Books for Adults

A Governess’s Guide to Passion and Peril (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Ladies Most Scandalous series. When a governess’s employer is murdered, she teams up with a man who once broke her heart in order to find the killer. I have LOVED this series and can’t wait to read this one!
How to Solve Your Own Murder (Hardcover) – First in the Castle Knoll Files series. A fortune teller once told Annie’s aunt that she would someday be murdered. So her aunt spent her whole life digging up dirt to help her either prevent her own death or at least point a finger at her killer. And now that day has come, and Annie must figure out who killed Frances. This is going to be amazing!
The Last Available (e-book) – An unlikely group of adventurers has been hired to save the world – but they might end up destroying it instead.
Off the Air (Hardcover) – A reporter starts digging into the murder of the last man she interviewed.
Sincerely, the Duke (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Say I Do series. A forgotten whim of a marriage proposal brings together two people who might actually have a chance at real love if their secrets don’t keep the two of them apart.

REVIEW: The Princess Protection Program by Alex London

REVIEW: The Princess Protection Program by Alex London

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Princess Rosamund wakes after 100 years of slumber to a smooching prince (Ew!), it takes a bit to get her bearings and remember her story. But when she arrives at the Orphans Home Educational Academy, it all comes back to her – the spindle, the 100 years, the angry fairy.

But Rosamund is now in the Princess Protection Program. It’s a safe, protected space for fairy tale characters who have left their stories to prepare for life in the “real” world.

As Rosamund acclimates to her new home and friends, however, she begins to notice strange things around the school – monsters, missing and forgotten friends, mysterious magic. Maybe HEA isn’t the happily ever after she’s been led to believe it is.

Review

This was a lot of fun! I enjoyed the worldbuilding here a lot. There are some clever design choices along with some little shout outs to other stories and writers of other fractured fairytales. This is a genre I have always enjoyed, and this is a great addition.

The characters here are lovely. I really liked this version of Sleeping Beauty – her curiosity, her questions, and her loyalty. The author does a great job keeping the focus on a small group of recognizable princesses while telling the larger story. Folks looking for middle grade books with LGBTQ+ representation will find some of that here, too.

My favorite thing of all was the way the author wove ideas of personal responsibility, independence, choice, autonomy, and identity into this fun fairy tale story. I’d love to read more books with these themes. And if these characters come back for another adventure, I am here for their stories!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

REVIEW: Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

The Australian Mystery Writers’ Festival is celebrating their 50th anniversary by traveling by train through the country. Ernie Cunningham is on board with his girlfriend, Juliette, as one of the headliners thanks to the notoriety of his memoir, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.

But when someone dies on the train, could it be that Ernie is connected to another murder? Or is it just the wishful thinking of a writer on deadline trying to find his story?

Review

Wow. Another stunner of a mystery from Benjamin Stevenson! I am a huge fan of Ernie’s voice in this series. His self-awareness as the narrator hooked me in book 1, and it’s just as fun here.

I liked this even more than the first book. The secondary characters here are great! And I am a huge fan of this sort of mystery set-up – “strangers” gather at a venue for an event and through a murder you discover secret connections and hidden – or not-so-hidden – motives. And in the end the sleuth reveals the killer. As Ernie promises at the start, this follows all the rules and hits all the beats.

There are some laugh-out-loud moments along with some surprises here. And of course there’s a meaty mystery with a thorough, captivating resolution.

I don’t know that you have to read these in order, but it helps. I would recommend it just because the first book is the basis for Ernie’s presence at this event and is referenced often. If you have already read it – and loved it like I did – you do NOT want to miss this! (Language. TW: Reference to sexual assault.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ – I loved it! Would re-read.

BOOK NEWS: March 19, 2024

BOOK NEWS: March 19, 2024

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy March! Here are some of the new books out this week:

Books for Kids

YOU Can Change the World – A compilation book that includes examples from many of the biographies in this series.
Itty Bitty Princess Kitty: The Sweet Shop – Book 13 in this darling chapter book series. Itty tries to figure out why no one is shopping at the new sweet shop.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Cancelled – A teen is mistaken for someone in a viral video and that starts to tank all of her plans for the future.
Rules for Rule Breaking – Two high schoolers who want nothing to do with one another must go on a college visit trip together.

Books for Adults

Expiration Dates (Hardcover) – Daphne has been receiving a paper for 20 years telling her how long each of her romantic relationships will last. But the latest paper has only a name – with no “expiration date.” But she starts to question the reliability of the papers.
Flirty Little Secret (Trade Paperback) – A quiet school counselor with a bold online secret identity connects with a man who comes to @TheMissGuidedCounselor for advice, and then he discovers her true identity – as one of his coworkers.
Floating Hotel (Hardcover) – Imagine the adventures, romance, and intrigue possible on a space-faring luxury hotel!
In a Not So Perfect World (Trade Paperback) – A female game designer has somehow promised the all-male interview board where she’s applied for her dream job that she will stay single to devote herself to her job. But her hot neighbor invites her to go on a trip as his pretend girlfriend. But as feelings grow between them, she feels she might have to let him go to keep her professional dreams alive.
The Love Remedy (Trade Paperback) – An apothecary hires a PI to help protect her business and her products from a rival who keeps stealing from her.
How Great Is Our God: Living a Worship-Led Life in a Me-Driven World (Hardcover Nonfiction) – Worship leader Chris Tomlin looks at the lyrics of his widely sung songs as an example of living a worship-led life.

REVIEW: Slugfest by Gordan Korman

REVIEW: Slugfest by Gordan Korman

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

A group of 8th graders have to take summer school PE in order to move on to high school. Kids call summer PE “Slugfest.” The “slugs” this year are:

  • Yash – He thought playing on the high school’s JV teams in 8th grade would meet his PE requirement, but it didn’t.
  • Cleo – She missed three months of school for medical reasons and has to make up ALL of her classes in the summer in order to move to high school – including PE.
  • Arabella – She hasn’t been to a gym class since elementary school out of protest.
  • Kaden – He also skipped gym all year, but for different reasons.
  • Fiona – She refuses to put her face in the water even though she CAN swim, so she “failed” the swim unit and has to retake PE.
  • Stuart and Sarah – Twins who seem to be trying to kill each other every day, not just in PE.
  • Jesse – The prank king is in summer PE as punishment.

And their “coach” is Mrs. Finnerty, a former 2nd grade teacher who is old enough to have had Fi’s DAD as a student!

As Yash watches his summer slip away while he tries to make the best of a bad situation that wasn’t his fault, he keeps his eye on the prize of being QB of the high school team when PE is over. But that goal starts to slip away too – and he begins to wonder if any of his sacrifice and “good attitude” has even been worth it.

Review

If you are EVER looking for a great middle grade book, I think you can blindly pick up any book from Gordon Korman and feel confident with your choice. He writes kids – and teachers – you will love. Some of my favorites of his books are:

And now, Slugfest. This was great! I loved watching the Slugs come together over the course of the story. While they were different and quirky, none were off-putting to the point of making the book hard to enjoy (which has happened to me with other books – but NOT this one!).  And when the group starts clicking and becoming a team, it’s even more enjoyable. Yash is an especially likeable character. While he’s really been unfairly treated and is at the mercy of the adults he trusted who have made things worse, he never becomes “that kid.” He’s frustrated and disappointed and angry. But he also works through that with maturity.

This would make a fantastic classroom read aloud or book group selection where kids can talk about teams, friendship, handling disappointment, etc.. There’s a ton here to love. Highly recommend.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan

REVIEW: The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Dorothy Gibson was the sort of politician everyone knows – no matter where they’re from – even before she ran for president. But after the election, when her run as an Independent split the ticket and the country ended up with “THAT guy,” she’s infamous. Which means it’s the perfect time for her to write her memoir. Thus, the ghostwriter.

The ghostwriter begins work at Dorothy’s home where they are when they hear Dorothy’s neighbor has died. As Dorothy and the ghostwriter had met the woman the day before her death, they go to pay their respects. And they find a curious collection of people as well as a death with more questions than answers.

Review

This was wild! The ghostwriter’s voice in this is spectacular! It’s the first thing I noticed when I started the book. And it continued to shine – and make me laugh – all the way through to the end.

The core cast around Dorothy and the writer was fascinating. I’m curious if they will stay on in the series or if the ghostwriter will move on to another sleuthing partner in the next book.

The mystery itself was twisty from start to finish. I didn’t predict or expect any of the final reveals. The mystery wrap up was stunning. I wanted something different from the book’s overall ending, but that’s just a matter of preference. This is an excellent mystery in the vein of Christie. Fans of the genre should not miss this one! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BOOK NEWS: March 12, 2024

BOOK NEWS: March 12, 2024

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books out this week:

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Bird Brain – A girl who always wanted a pet ends up petsitting her uncle’s parrot and finds out the bird is more special than she ever would have guessed.
Get Your Hopes Up: 90 Devotions and True Stories for Young World Changers (Nonfiction) – A devotional for middle grade readers.
Not Your Average Jo – A girl is sidelined at her performing arts school for being “too Asian” and her replacement in her band takes credit for her original song. Another student who is working on a documentary about the band leaks the truth. This sounds fantastic!

Books for Adults

Happily Never After (Trade Paperback) – Two individuals start working as “objectors” at weddings when one party needs to break off the relationship but is not in a position to do so themselves. This sounds amazing!
Have You Heard from God Lately? (ebook, March 15) – Devotional focused on messages from the Bible – from God to the reader.
How to Walk Into a Room: The Art of Knowing When to Stay and When to Walk Away (Hardcover Nonfiction) – How can you know when it’s time to leave a “room” (situation) you are in? I could have used a book like this many years ago. I’m curious to read what the author recommends.
Really Very Crunchy: A Beginner’s Guide to Removing Toxins from Your Life Without Adding Them to Your Personality (Trade Paperback Nonfiction) – A starter guide to building a “crunchier” life.

REVIEW: Wombats! Go Camping by Maddie Frost

REVIEW: Wombats! Go Camping by Maddie Frost

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Albert and Pickles have planned a camping trip. But while Albert has planned a light load to walk to the campsite, and a night in a tent under the stars, Pickles has been imagining a resort with all of his favorite things.

The friends’ miss-matched expectations, however, are nothing compared to what happens when Pickles makes a new friend along the way and they take a side trip to find a “monster.”

Review

This chapter book/early reader graphic novel is a hoot and a half! Hand this to young readers – 7 to 10 – who love friendship stories, camping, and silly tales. I got such a kick out of these friends, and the illustrations here are fantastic.

The beginning of the story would lead to an awesome conversation with kids about expectations. But that’s only the first quarter of the book. The rest is a fun, silly adventure, and I think kids will love it!

This is the first book in a series, and I’ll be posting a review of book 2 soon. Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read