Category: Book News

BOOK NEWS: May 24, 2022

BOOK NEWS: May 24, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

I’ve got my eyes on the long weekend ahead, and I’m hoping to get a lot of reading in. Here are some of the new books out this week that you might check out for a long weekend of reading, too!

Books for Kids

Wednesday and Woof: Catastrophe – A girl and her service dog solve mysteries together. You can read my review of this one here.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

The Civil War of Amos Abernathy – A history loving boy goes looking through records to find people like him represented in history. When he discovers a Civil War solider who today might have identified as a trans man, Amos looks for a way to share the soldier’s story. I have requested this one from the library.
Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels, Vol 1 – The first three Enola Holmes middle grade novels get the graphic novel treatment. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Problem with Prophecies – First in a new Celia Cleary series. When a girl who inherited a gift of prophecy sees the death of a neighbor boy, she does everything she can to keep that vision from coming true.

Books for Adults

Buried in a Good Book (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new By the Book mystery series. A thriller writer and her daughter arrive at the family cabin looking for some healing – and writing time – when their retreat is spoiled by an explosion – and a murder. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

BOOK NEWS: May 17, 2022

BOOK NEWS: May 17, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books out this week that I have on my watch list!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

This Is Not a Drill – After a disastrous day, Ava is taking a moment in the bathroom when her school goes on lockdown – and she discovers it is not a drill. I have requested this one from our library.
See You Yesterday – After a horrendous first day of college, Barrett finds herself reliving the same day over. To make things worse, her nemesis is reliving the day, too. And he has been for months. This is already on my library list!
Twin Crowns – Twin princesses, raised apart – one raised to rule and the other raised to usurp the throne. This is exactly my kind of story!

Books for Adults

Adult Assembly Required (Trade Paperback) – The latest from Abbi Waxman. A young woman trying to start over in LA finds herself homeless after just a week and her life takes some wild turns. This is on my review list, so stay tuned!
From Bad to Cursed (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Witches of Thistle Grove series, after Payback’s a Witch. Issa teams up with a member of a rival family to investigate sabotage caused by mysterious dark magic. I have book one on my TBR – I need to get to that one soon!
Hotel California (Hardcover) – A Music and Murder Mystery collection. Includes a new Jack Reacher story!
We Were Dreamers (Hardcover Nonfiction) – We have adored Simu Liu since we first watched Shang Chi (a Marvel movie I wasn’t sure I wanted to watch which has now become a favorite). I am so looking forward to reading this memoir.

BOOK NEWS: May 10, 2022

BOOK NEWS: May 10, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Answers in the Pages – A boy struggles to understand why his whole town is freaking out over the adventure book he was reading. But the book’s gay main characters are the reason his mom is trying to get the book banned from his school. This is a timely story, so I already have this one in my shopping cart.
A Show for Two – The latest from the author of Counting Down with You. Mina agrees to help a TV star undercover at her school to do research for a role in exchange for him helping her by starring in her short film for a contest. This is on my list because I loved Counting Down SO much!

Books for Adults

Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies (Hardcover) – First in a new Pies Before Guys Mystery series about a woman who “bakes vengeance into her pastries.” I am LOVING the recent release of these mysteries that don’t follow the usual pattern. I can’t wait to read this one – I already have it on hold at the library!
Speaking By the Numbers (Hardcover Nonfiction) – The Enneagram for teachers, pastors and communicators. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!

BOOK NEWS: May 3, 2022

BOOK NEWS: May 3, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy May! I don’t know about you, but April was jam packed for me, so I have high hopes for a more relaxing May. Here are some of the new books releasing this week that I am excited about.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

The Marvellers – A middle grade debut by the author of The Belles. The first magic user of her kind at the Arcanum Training Institute, Ella initially encounters mistrust before finding her people. But when a dangerous criminal escapes prison with help from someone like Ella, and then her favorite teacher disappears, Ella starts investigating things for herself. I have this on my library wishlist.
Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game – Fans of the fantastic Mr. Lemoncello series can now go back and read about a teen Luigi Lemoncello. This is on my library list as well.
The Agathas – Two young women use the collected works of Agatha Christie to help them solve the mystery of a missing girl in their own town. This is on my review list for later this month.

 

Books for Adults

Blame It on the Brontës (Trade Paperback) – Athena returns to her home town – and daily run-ins with her ex – in her quest to find a reclusive author (who is writing spicy retellings of classics) she is writing about in order to keep her job as an English Professor. This is waiting in my shopping cart right now.
Book Lovers (Trade Paperback) – This new novel by Emily Henry focuses on a cut-throat literary agent who goes on vacation determined to reinvent herself as the heroine of her own story. Instead she keeps running into an editor she knows – and loathes – from the city. Another for the library list!
By the Book (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Meant to Be series after If the Shoe Fits (which is still on my review list from last year). This series of fairy tale re-imaginings is right up my alley! A young woman feelings stuck in her publishing job decides to take charge of her own destiny by wrangling a delinquent author into completing his manuscript. But his beastly behavior is more of a challenge than she expected. *add to cart*
Claws for Suspicion (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the delightful Catskills Pet Rescue Mystery series. When Kari’s ex comes to town with the news that their divorce was never finalized he tells her this means he is entitled to half of her lottery winnings – but he’d settle for the land where her beloved rescue sits. Sure she’s upset, but she would never resort to murder! But that’s not what the police think. You can read my review of this one here.
The Dachshund Wears Prada (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Dogs in the City romcom series. After a social media disaster, an influencer settles for a job as a dogsitter for a foul-tempered dachshund with an owner who is just as prickly. Yes, please!
Double Twist (Trade Paperback) – After accidentally marrying a drug kingpin, Mia is eager to get her life back on the straight and narrow. But then she and some new friends stumble across a body. Then, when a friend is suspected of murder, Mia decides to dust off the skills of her old life to clear their name. I have already pre-ordered this one.
The Homewreckers (Hardcover) – A young widow falls in love with a money pit of a house. To help her stay afloat after a series of disasters she agrees to star in a reality show where she ends up embroiled in a mystery. I am thrilled so many of the books on my list this week are already on order with my library. This is on my wishlist there, too.
The Murder of Mr. Wickham (Trade Paperback) – Jane Austen’s Mr. Wickham is murdered at a house party, and Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy team up to solve the mystery.  Another for the library list!
Tear Down the Throne (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the fabulous Gargoyle Queen series, a spin off from the Crown of Shards series. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week, so all I will say now is that the new book is just as fantastic as its predecessors.
The Wedding Season (Trade Paperback) – When Freya’s wedding – the first of 8 on her calendar for the year – is called off, she can’t imagine how she will survive watching happy couples all year while she feels devastated. So her friends devise a series of challenges for her to complete at the various weddings. Yet one more for the library list!
The Joy of Reading (Paperback – Professional Development) – When I was teaching, my go to resource for all things reading was Donalyn Miller. This is her latest book and I will be reviewing it soon. For now I’ll just say she never disappoints!

BOOK NEWS: April 26, 2022

BOOK NEWS: April 26, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the final release week of April. Let’s see what books are on my watch list for this week.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

 

Breaking News (April 28) – When a fundraising scandal rocks their school, three students search for the truth. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
The Great Peach Experiment: The Peach Pit – Book 2 in the Great Peach Experiment series after When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie. The Peaches are back from their first adventure when their great aunt says she wants to gift them her historic mansion. But there are a few… conditions. I haven’t read the first book yet, but it is on my TBR pile. I hope to get to both of these soon.
Chasing After Knight – Four years ago, Alexa publicly betrayed her then best friend and crush Carson Knight. Now that Carson is a famous actor with a bad-boy image, Alexa’s best friend Lindsey is convinced that Alexa’s betrayal is the reason he has this image problem. So Alexa decides to try to make things right. I’ve already pre-ordered this one!
Harley Quinn: Reckoning – Part of the DC Icons series. Harleen’s internship at Gotham University leaves her disillusioned and seeking revenge on behalf of all the women in STEM who have faced harassment. Harleen soon falls into a vigilante girl gang called The Reckoning and starts to feel like she has found her people. Then someone in the gang is murdered. I already pre-ordered this one too.

Books for Adults

Double Shot Death (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Ground Rules Mystery series after Fresh Brewed Murder. Sage scores a spot for her coffee cart at a music festival. And then she stumbles across a body. I loved the first book so much, this is a must read for me. I have already asked my local library to pick this one up.
A Margin for Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 8 in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series. At a library sale, Addie buys an old bookmobile to use as a traveling part of her store, but before she can take possession, a fatal crash occurs and the first editions that were part of the bookmobile go missing. This is a clever set up that makes me want to pick this one up. It’s on my library wishlist.
The Vanishing Type (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society series. When Nora is asked to help Deputy Andrews propose to his girlfriend Hester, she’s thrilled to help with a Little Women-themed proposal. But when someone mutilates all of the store’s copies of The Scarlet Letter where the character Hester Prynne is mentioned, Nora is worried someone has it out for the real life Hester. I have several of these books in my Kindle TBR, and I think I will be adding this one because the premise sounds so great!

BOOK NEWS: April 19, 2022

BOOK NEWS: April 19, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s a small but mighty group of books on my radar this week. The three I don’t have ARCs for all ended up on my library wishlist. Let’s take a look!

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Flirting with Fate – When Ava misses being with her grandmother as she passes away because of a thunderstorm fender bender, she also misses the traditional family blessing. But it turns out, her grandmother gave the blessing – it just landed on the boy at the accident instead of Ava. Now shy and reserved Ava has to befriend the boy in order to set things right.
Queen of the Tiles – Najwa enters her first Scrabble tournament – the same tournament where her best friend died. But while the other competitors focus on trying to take the late Scrabble Queen’s throne, Trina’s Instagram account starts posting again with messages that Trina’s death might not have been as straightforward as everyone thinks. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!

Books for Adults

The Bookseller’s Promise – First in a new Amish Bookstore series. Jake promised his grandfather he would never sell the book. But the English woman, Yvonne, doesn’t plan to take no for an answer. Jake starts to read the book in question with Eva, one of his employees. Eva hopes the time together will help Jake see her as more than his employee. But Eva also senses Yvonne’s interest in Jake. This is a fascinating premise for a book centered on the Amish community, so I am curious about this one. It’s on my library wishlist.
Drop Dead Gorgeous – After an accident, Brittany finds herself in the Limbo Lounge between Heaven and Hell, waiting for her fate to be decided. But when her portal to Heaven opens, another woman, Edie, steals her spot. Brittany then has a second chance at life on Earth, but she has to do it from Edie’s body. What a fascinating premise. I’ll pick this one up just to see how things work out! It’s on my library wishlist, too.

BOOK NEWS: April 12, 2022

BOOK NEWS: April 12, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

Easter is just around the corner. Maybe one of this week’s new releases should be in your Easter basket this year! And if you don’t celebrate Easter, mid-spring is a great excuse for picking up a new book.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

This May End Badly – In her efforts to win a long-standing prank war between Weston girls and Winfield boys, Doe arranges to fake date the cousin of her nemesis. But as senior year progresses, she’ll have to decide if winning the prank war is truly the most important task she has before graduation. This sounds SO amazing. It’s on my review list for later this month.
You Should Have Seen This Coming – Hayden uses her ability to see the past for her blackmail schemes. Cassie can see the future, so she knows that Hayden’s latest scheme is actually a trap. And when a future kidnapping is all Cassie can see, and nothing she does seems to change the trajectory, both girls are in trouble. This sounds amazing, too.

Books for Adults

Funny You Should Ask (Trade Paperback) – A  fledgling writer who does an interview with the new James Bond leading to a long weekend of tabloid fodder has the chance to interview the actor again 10 years later. This sounds fascinating! I have this on my library wishlist.
I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet: Discovering New Ways of Living When the Old Ways Stop Working (Hardcover) – The latest from Shauna Niequist. In a season of chaos, when her usual patterns of processing and coping were no longer working, Niequist had some unlearning and relearning to do.
Still Just a Geek: An Annotated Memoir (Hardcover) – Writer and actor Wil Wheaton revisits his 2004 collection of essays and blog posts with new annotations as well as all-new material. I read Just a Geek back in the day, and I am looking forward to revisiting that content and seeing what new things Wil has to add. We pre-ordered this months ago. The challenge will be who gets to read it first, me or my husband.
What Is My Calling? (Trade Paperback Textbook) – A textbook from Baker Academic that looks a the Christian concept of calling through contemporary, historical, biblical, and theological lenses. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

BOOK NEWS: April 5, 2022

BOOK NEWS: April 5, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy April! Here are some of the new books releasing this week.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Wings of Fire: The Flames of Hope – Book 15 in the series, and the final book in the Lost Continent Prophecy arc. Luna is flying home with new friends in the hope that they can save the day. I am a book behind and need to get caught up asap! I should have this book in hand tomorrow.
What Is Juneteeth? – I am excited for kids to learn the history of Juneteenth through the latest book from Who HQ.
Sense and Second-Degree Murder – Book 2 in the Jane Austen Murder Mysteries series. When Elinor Dashwood finds her father dead, it signals a change of fortune for the Dashwood women, including the transfer of ownership of her father’s investigation firm to her half-brother and his haughty wife. And the substance Elinor finds in her father’s tea cup signals something else – murder. I *adored* the first book in the series, Pride and Premeditation. I can’t wait to read the new book, especially since it stars the Dashwoods. I’ve already pre-ordered this one.
Star Wars: Queen’s Hope – Book 3 in this series staring Padmé Amidala, following Queen’s Shadow (♥♥♥♥) and Queen’s Peril. This story takes place during the Clone Wars and after Padmé’s secret marriage to Anakin. This is on my review list; I can’t wait to read it!

Books for Adults

The Blood Trials (Hardcover) – When Ikenna’s beloved grandfather is assassinated, she takes all he taught her, both the fighting skills and the secrets to harnessing her blood gift, to the Praetorian Trials where she intends to find – and kill – the assassin.
The Dale from Hell (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Match Made in Hell series after Not Your Average Hot Guy. Callie and Luke have the chance to make some changes around Hell when Lucifer tasks them with tracking and redeeming a wayward soul. I have book 1 on my TBR – I can’t wait to catch up with this duology.
Knit or Dye Trying (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Riverbank Knitting Mystery series. When the special guest for Libby’s yarn event is killed, Libby starts tracking a killer. The full premise of this one really grabbed my attention.
Lost and Found in Paris (Hardcover) – From the author of The Sweeney Sisters. When her marriage implodes, Joan sees it as an opportunity to make dramatic changes in her life. She takes on a job as an art courier, and on a trip to Paris she starts a fling with an interesting man. Then the art she is transporting is stolen. In its place is a piece of her famous father’s art journal – something presumed lost when he died on 9/11 – and a poem that reads like a scavenger hunt clue. I can’t wait to try this one!
To Marry and to Meddle (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Regency Vows series after To Have and to Hoax and To Love and to Loathe. Lady Emily fears her father’s debts will keep her single – or tie her to a terrible husband – no matter how pristine she has been able to keep her reputation. So when Lord Belfry suggests they marry, it seems like a great solution for Emily. He will take care of her father’s problems and rescue her from a dismal future. In turn, the theatre owner hopes Emily’s class and reputation will help him establish a more suitable clientele for his business. I so enjoyed the last book, I quickly requested a review copy of this one. I’ll be reviewing this soon.
The Wedding Crasher (Trade Paperback) – When a hopeless romantic crashes his wedding to keep him from making a huge mistake, Dean is spared the marriage, but finds himself in a new quandary when the perfect job requires him to have a significant other. So he has to beg his wedding crasher to be his fake girlfriend. You all know how much I love a fake relationship story! This one is on my list for this week.

BOOK NEWS: March 29, 2022

BOOK NEWS: March 29, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the last release week of March, and April is right around the corner. Let’s see what new books are on my radar this week!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

A Darkening of Dragons (April 1) – A disgraced boy, a girl cursed to live as a rat, and a dracogriff team up against the Piper of Hamelyn.
Always Jane – The latest from Jenn Bennett. A young woman begins a relationship with the son of her record producer boss, but when she returns to the family’s resort and connects with the family black sheep, her feelings start to change. Jenn Bennett is my go-to author for YA romance, so of course this was on my list for this week.
So This is Ever After – A sword-wielding hero assumes the throne while his team works to save the true heir. But when they determine she is already dead, he’s stuck on the throne – and therefore stuck with the laws that say he has to wed by his 18th birthday. I’m loving the quest/D&D vibe of this, so it’s on my list this week as well.

Books for Adults

Cheddar Off Dead (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Cheese Shop Mystery series. As Willa works to launch her new business, everything goes awry, starting with the murder of the local food critic.
Four Aunties and a Wedding (Trade Paperback) – The follow up to the terrific Dial A for Aunties. Meddy is ready to marry her college sweetheart when she realizes the Mob is using her wedding to take out a target. I got such a kick out of book one, I can’t wait to check out this sequel!
Lost Coast Literary (Trade Paperback) – Something new from author Ellie Alexander. A book editor discovers she must edit manuscripts in order to inherit a Victorian mansion. But any edits she makes to the manuscripts happens in real life – and cause chaos she isn’t sure how to fix. This is fascinating – I definitely need to check this one out!
The Temps (Hardcover) – On his first day, a temp is stranded in an office complex when a toxic gas kills all the regular employees while they are in a meeting in the outdoor pavilion. Yes, please! I can’t WAIT to see what this is all about!
The Enneagram for Black Liberation (Hardcover) – The Enneagram as a tool for Black women to find wholeness. I am the wrong audience for this, but I am intrigued by it nonetheless.

BOOK NEWS: March 22, 2022

BOOK NEWS: March 22, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

New week means new books! Here are some of the titles I am excited about this week.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Okoye to the People – As a young Okoye tries to discover her place in the Dora Milaje, she goes on her first mission – to New York.

Books for Adults

The City of Dusk (Trade Paperback) – First in the new Dark Gods series. The four realms converge on the City of Dusk but the corresponding gods have withdrawn their favor. Four heirs work to save their city. I’m curious about this one, so it’s on my library wishlist.
The Impossible Us (Trade Paperback) – Two people fall for one another thanks to an errant email, but when they try to meet in person they realize they live in parallel universes. Yes, please!
Lifeless in the Library (e-book, March 24) – Book 4 in the Moorecliff Manor Cat Cozy Mystery series. A charity cat show turns deadly. I recently picked up the first book in this series to check this out – sounds fun!
The Recovery Agent (Hardcover) – First in a new series. A recovery agent has to team up with her ex in order to track down a missing treasure. This sounds so fun!
Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell (Trade Paperback) – As Savvy works to renovate the kitchen she inherited, she also starts renovating the rest of her life. This is the one book I have pre-ordered for the week.