Month: March 2025

BOOK NEWS: April 1, 2025

BOOK NEWS: April 1, 2025

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy almost-April! Here are some of the books releasing this week – no fooling!

Books for Kids

Dragon Masters: Night of the Dream Dragon – Book 28 in the Dragon Masters series.

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

Cartoonists Club (Graphic Novel) – A new graphic novel for middle grade readers from the author of Drama and Smile about a group of kids who form a cartoonists club.
The Dragon’s Apprentice – A girl living in a kingdom where magic is forbidden accidentally summons a dragon!
The Liars Society: A Risky Game – Book 2 in the Liar’s Society series by Alyson Gerber about a secret society.
What Do We Know About the Lost Colony of Roanoke?
Who Is Caitlin Clark?
All the Stars Align – A young woman in a family of people who always know their true love upon first meeting has to rely on her former best friend to help her connect with her own true love.
Give Up the Night – The conclusion of the Moonstruck duology after the fantastic Draw Down the Moon. Lee finds himself on the other side of things at Academia de la Luna from his best friend, Wren, as things come to a head.
Huda F Wants to Know (Graphic Novel) – Book 3 in this graphic novel series starring Huda, a Muslim teen. This time, Huda finds out her parents are getting a divorce.
Lady Knight – Book 2 in the Diamonds historical fiction series. A rogue discovers a young woman’s secrets when she participates in a group called the Lady Knights, a group of rebellious young women who do things polite society says they should avoid.
Notorious Virtues – When her mother is killed, a young heiress has to compete with her cousins to see who will take over the family fortune. This sounds amazing!
Sasha vs the Whole Wide World (and Dragons) (e-book) – In a desperate effort to turn around her fortunes, Sasha steals a priceless jewel of magic from a dying seadragon, and then she must go on the run. Yes, please!

Books for Adults

Any Trope But You (Trade Paperback) – A romance author who doesn’t believe in HEAs finds herself in the middle of a real life romance with every trope imaginable. I cannot wait to read this!
Beast (Charming) (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Charming series. In a gender-flipped Beauty and the Beast, a con-man finds himself trapped in a beautiful castle with a cursed woman.
Flight of the Sparrow (Trade Paperback) – First in a new series.  A young woman is at risk of losing everything she has built for herself when her estranged grandmother – a notorious space pirate who abandoned her – is accused of terrorism. Yes, please!
If Tomorrow Never Comes (Trade Paperback) – A woman facing a serious illness has a life-changing romantic encounter and then walks away. A year later, in better health, she meets the woman whose stem cell donation saved her life, only to meet the woman’s boyfriend – the man from her encounter. Fascinating dilemma!
Say You’ll Remember Me (Hardcover) – Something new from the fantastic Abby Jimenez (The Friend Zone – ♥♥♥♥½, The Happy Ever After Playlist – ♥♥♥♥½).  Despite a fantastic first date, a woman walks away, deciding her life is too chaotic for a relationships, encouraging the man to just forget her.
Smoke and Murders (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Impossible Crimes series after Three Card Murder. A female detective and her con artist sister are asked to help a woman suspected of murder.  I have book 1 on my TBR – this series sounds so fun!
Spilling the Tea (Trade Paperback) – A young woman with no memory of the accident that left her an orphan goes hunting for answers.
Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Vera Wong series. Vera, bored after the excitement of solving a murder at her tea shop, goes looking for another case – and finds one! These books sound amazing.

REVIEW: God's Stories as told by God's Children by The Bible for Normal People

REVIEW: God’s Stories as told by God’s Children by The Bible for Normal People

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

The Bible for Normal People is a podcast but also a community of Bible scholars and enthusiasts. In 2024 they did a Kickstarter to produce a children’s illustrated collection of over 60 Bible stories.

The stories are told like you’d relate a story to your kids while driving. They ask a question and the next thing you know you are trying to tell the Good Samaritan story from memory in words your child will understand. In the book there’s the core story as well as some sections of commentary and asides and interpretation and context. For example, the book begins with a passage from Jeremiah and a story of the exile, setting up a context for reading. Then Genesis comes next.

I chose a story in the middle to start, and I’ll admit on first reading this manner of telling a familiar story was jarring. This is an interpretation – a paraphrase. But the more stories I read, the more I settled into the approach. And the more I liked it. The illustration style is not my favorite, but again, it is growing on me as I spend more time reading through the collection.

There’s a QR code with each story to take readers to a website for exercises and activities. You must have an account to access these, which I chose not to create – so you’ll have to check those extra features out on your own.

I’m pleased with how this turned out, and I am looking forward to reading through the whole collection. But I will caution readers. These stories have an “agenda.” One I happen to agree with. I would call them “progressive” in their theology and interpretation. That’s not going to work for every family. If you are looking for a KJV verbatim sort of kids Bible or something I might describe as “classic evangelical,” this is not that. But I love it for what it is, and I’m proud to have been part of the Kickstarter that produced this.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Death in the Stacks by Jenn McKinlay

REVIEW: Death in the Stacks by Jenn McKinlay

Posted on by Jaymie

[I recently discovered some unpublished reviews I wrote several years ago. I’m posting these now as they were originally written.]

Summary

Lindsey and the library crew are preparing for their biggest fundraiser of the year – the $50 per plate Dinner in the Stacks. But the new library board president is determined to cause trouble.

Olive Boyle is only chairing the board because she wants to run for mayor. She thinks a few local leadership positions will help secure her win. But her abrasive personality isn’t doing her any favors. She threatens to fire Lindsey and to expose another library employee for some past indiscretion. And then she tries to bully the event caterers into donating everything for Dinner in the Stacks.

Is it really any wonder that Olive ends up dead?

Unfortunately, Olive’s feud with Lindsey and her staff was quite public. And the body was found in the library. Even though Lindsey has sworn to all her friends that she is done sleuthing for good, how can she hang back now when her friend is the  prime suspect for Olive’s murder?

Review

This was excellent! As I have mentioned before, I love the characters in this series. I enjoy spending time with them in every book. The library angle is also a perfect fit for me.

Fans of McKinlay’s hat shop and cupcake shop series will be delighted to find the characters from those books making an appearance here. Both of those series are on my TBR pile – and this made me want to dive into those soon.

The mystery in this was outstanding. Olive was like Delores Umbridge in the HP series. Just a horrible, mean, hateful, narcissistic character. There were plenty of suspects to choose from. And the solution twisted and turned all the way to the end. Delightful!

I highly recommend this series. I am a big fan of Jenn McKinlay’s work. If you haven’t tried out any of her books, she has several series to choose from for both mystery and romance fans.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BOOK NEWS: March 25, 2025

BOOK NEWS: March 25, 2025

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

Cincinnati Lee, Curse Breaker – Cincinnati tries to resolve her family’s problems by returning the items her ancestor “rescued.”
Isle of Ever (Older Middle Grade) – First in a new series from Jen Calonita. A young woman needs to find a long-missing island in order to inherit from an unknown relative  which would change life for her and her mother.
Lovely Dark and Deep – Faith becomes a “Red Stripe” at her school for magic, meaning too dangerous for regular classes, leaving her an outcast at the one place that used to feel like home. But she and her fellow Red Stripes are the only ones who can put a stop to the dangerous and dark things happening around the school.

Books for Adults

The Big Fix (Hardcover) – A tussle at an estate sale with a man at an estate sale leaves a woman on the run with a fixer whose recent “fix” fell apart. This is at the top of my list for this week!
Cover Story (Trade Paperback, LGBTQ+) – In 2005 a lesbian publicist, charged with keeping gay stars in the closet, starts to fall for her latest client who needs to appear straight for a move role.
Essence of Foul Play (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Aroma Wellness mystery series. A woman trying to open her dream spa is instead the prime suspect in a murder case.
A Fortune Most Fatal (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Miss Austen Investigates series. Miss Austen tries to unmask a swindler.
Just Our Luck (Trade Paperback) – Two down on their luck folks fake a relationship after one wins the lottery and the other is caught up in the excitement. This looks great!
The Plot Twist (Trade Paperback) – A rom-com author and a long-time crime novelist, both with writer’s block, try swapping plots to meet their deadlines.
Summer in the City (Trade Paperback) – A struggling screenwriter finds inspiration in her city neighbor, a man she’s hated since their stairwell hook up two years ago. Soon, the two agree to help each other out of a jam, but the partnership doesn’t mean a thaw to their feud.
Late Star Trek: The Final Frontier in the Franchise Era (Trade Paperback) – A look at the recent history of the Star Trek franchise as it has tried to relaunch after the heyday of the 1990s. I’m looking forward to reading this one!

 

 

REVIEW: Wagnificent: The Adventures of Thunder and Sage by Bethanie Murguia

REVIEW: Wagnificent: The Adventures of Thunder and Sage by Bethanie Murguia

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Sage is excited about hunting for magical creatures with her dog Thunder. But Thunder is learning about his wolf ancestors, leading to some behavior that Sage doesn’t like. As Sage learns about the connection between dogs and wolves, she starts to understand. And Thunder learns there’s a time and a place to let out the inner wolf.

Review

This graphic novel is charming! I loved the illustrations and the shifts in perspective between Sage and Thunder. The nervous “worry wind” (dog farts) made me laugh every time! There are clever illustrations showing readers about Thunder’s emotions in dog-ish ways. And the wolfish explanations for Thunder’s behavior allow for some empathy and understanding to develop between the characters. This is super sweet! Dog fans and graphic novel fans should not miss this! Book 2 in the Wagnificent sereis, A New Dog in the Den, will be out this summer.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara

REVIEW: A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Kathy’s work for SCYTHE, escorting the souls of the newly dead to processing, is simple. Predictable. And newly-divorced and pregnant Kathy can use some “predictable” in her life.

But the soul she’s supposed to be picking up is at first missing. And then later, when she finds him, he’s belligerent and hostile, insisting he was murdered. So now she’s stuck with a mouthy teen soul as her sidekick while she tries to hunt down the truth.

Review

This was fun! I adored the relationship between Connor (the soul) and Kathy throughout the book. And the role Kathy’s ex played in the story was a sweet addition.

The world building here is fun – the role of SCYTHE, Kathy’s job responsibilities, etc.. I liked the combination of genre’s too – mystery, fantasy, with a little second chance love story to work out on the side. The pieces all came together for an engaging story with a fast-paced ending with a sweet, emotional touch. I loved this quirky story and would absolutely pick up a sequel. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

BOOK NEWS: March 18, 2025

BOOK NEWS: March 18, 2025

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

Who Is Carol Burnett?
Embergold – A young woman finds herself “sacrificed” to a dragon, but that’s only the first secret she uncovers. This could be cool – feels a little like Beauty and the Beast or Damsel.
True Life in Uncanny Valley – A young woman applies for a job as a summer nanny to her half-brother in order to get a glimpse of the father she’s never known.

Books for Adults

Code Word Romance (Trade Paperback) – In order to get out of soul-crushing debt, a young woman agrees to pose as a powerful prime minister who has become the target of assassins.  But her in-room bodyguard is an old flame. Yes, please!
Fake It Like You Mean It (Trade Paperback) – A young woman and the pain-in-the-ass nurse caring for her grandmother go along with a dementia-induced delusion that they are madly in love, certain that her grandmother will forget the ruse in the morning. But she doesn’t, and they have to keep faking it.
A Geek Girl’s Guide to Arsenic (ebook, REISSUE)- This completed series from Julie Anne Lindsey is being REISSUED, and I am here for it. I loved the whole series! Book 2 is out this week.
The Library Game (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Secret Staircase Mystery series. Tempest is hired to help turn an old home into a public library, but problems keep cropping up – like disappearing dead bodies – and it seems like someone is recreating classic crime novels in real life.
Pomona Afton Can SO Solve a Murder (Hardcover) – An heiress finds her trust fund frozen when her grandmother is killed. If she wants her lifestyle back, she is going to have to investigate a murder. Yes, please!
The Third Rule of Time Travel (Trade Paperback) – A scientist finds a way to time travel that does not allow for any changing or interfering with the timeline, but then finds her own time observations changing her present life.
Becoming the Pastor’s Wife: How Marriage Replaced Ordination as a Woman’s Path to Ministry (Hardcover) – From the author of The Making of Biblical Womanhood. Considers what the rise of the “pastor’s wife” role in traditional evangelicalism cost the Church in terms of female leadership, ordination, etc.. I need to catch up on both of these books!

REVIEW: Unicorn Book Club by Dana Simpson

REVIEW: Unicorn Book Club by Dana Simpson

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

In the latest Phoebe and Her Unicorn book (#21), Marigold tries to join her sister Florence’s book club, Dakota becomes friends with Lord Splendid Humility, and Phoebe has to find Marigold when she goes missing.

This is a fun collection of stories starring Phoebe and her unicorn friend, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. There’s plenty of unicorn shenanigans and snark but also heart and friendship. I especially enjoyed the book club pieces, but there’s lots here to enjoy.

Series fans should check this collection out. Newcomers may not catch on to all of the humor as a good amount is based on history and relationships. I have loved Phoebe and Marigold from the beginning and would encourage newcomers to just start from book one and work your way here. This is a fun series!

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good +

REVIEW: The Dream of You by Jo Saxton

REVIEW: The Dream of You by Jo Saxton

Posted on by Jaymie

[I recently discovered some unpublished reviews I wrote several years ago. I’m posting these now as they were originally written.]

Summary and Review

When the storms of life come – as they always do – it’s important to know who and whose you are. Be anchored in your identity in Christ.

Jo Saxton has experienced plenty of ups and downs in life. Through them all, she knows God has been walking beside her. She shares her personal story in this book – from her early years in foster care to her move to the US and the ups and downs of her life in ministry. She also shares Bible stories about Ruth and Naomi, Ezekiel, David and Goliath, and others to illustrate basic principles of identity.

This book was a delight from start to finish. Jo Saxton first came to my attention through If Gathering (several years ago). Every time I hear her, she speaks directly to my heart and my circumstances. This book was no different. Many of the chapters start with a letter. It was my favorite feature. The letters are personable and tender. The writing style of the whole book is that way. I felt like I was reading a letter from a friend – someone who’s been there before, someone who wants to help.

Identity is one of my favorite themes in books – fiction or nonfiction. And this is one of the best I’ve ready. [I received an ARC of this book when I registered for the 2018 If Gathering conference in my local area.]

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BOOK NEWS: March 11, 2025

BOOK NEWS: March 11, 2025

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids

Moving Day – A Victorian home is moved to a different part of town while the community watches.
No Huddles for Heloise – Heloise has a problem – penguins huddle for protection and warmth, but Heloise NEEDS her personal space.
Zero! The Number that Almost Wasn’t – A picture book of the history of zero.

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

The Griffin’s Boy – A princess helps a griffin trainer who doesn’t want to be separated from his friend. But when animals start going missing from the king’s menagerie, could the trainer be the culprit?
Last Chance Academy: A Study in Secrets – First in a new series. Meg is sent to a boarding school following the death of her mother. While it seems like just another strict school at first, Meg and her friends start to discover the school’s secrets.
Serge & Roscoe – A veteran counting down the days to retirement and a rookie are teamed up to help with Search and Rescue during out-of-control wildfires.
History Smashers: Earth Day and the Environment – The latest in this series by Kate Messner.

Books for Adults

All the Other Mothers Hate Me (Hardcover) – When her son’s bully goes missing after a school trip and her son becomes the prime suspect, a party girl has to get her act together for her son’s sake.
A Drizzle of Magic (e-book) – First in the new Pobyd Perfections Bakery cozy fantasy series, a spin off from The Weary Dragon Inn series. Magical creatures in a seaside town are being threatened even though the end of the recent war was supposed to mean they were finally able to use magic openly.
Fan Service (Trade Paperback) – When a down and out actor seems to have turned into a werewolf, he reaches out to the woman who has made it her life’s work to catalog his old werewolf detective series. Even if she hates him, she’s the only person who might be able to help him figure out what is going on. This sounds amazing!
The Four Queens of Crime (Hardcover) – A new female detective asks the four Queens of Crime – Christie, Sayers, Marsh, and Allingham – to help her solve a real life murder. Yes, please!
Go Luck Yourself (Trade Paperback, LGBTQ+) – Book 2 in the Royals and Romance series following The Nightmare Before Kissmas (♥♥♥½). The “spare” prince of Christmas investigates a theft of joy that seems to have come from St. Patrick’s Day. I love the world building in this holiday royalty series – it’s such a clever idea.
Hard to Get (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Big Love from Galway series. Small town math teacher meets a sexy singer who might help him change his “vanilla” self-perception.
Story of My Life (Trade Paperback) – Something new from Lucy Score!!! First in the Story Lake series. A writer long past her last chance deadline buys a house in a small town on a whim and finds some things she never expected. This too will be a drop everything and read sort of book.
The Usual Family Mayhem (Trade Paperback) – From the author of Moorewood Family Rules. In an effort to save her job, a woman pitches her grandmother’s bakery as an investment opportunity, but her grandmother wants no part of it. Kasey thinks she’s keeping secrets  – and she’s afraid they have something to do with the mysterious deaths around town of abusive men. Sounds like Pies Before Guys, and I am here for it.