Category: Book News

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.

 

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.

BOOK NEWS: January 12, 2021

BOOK NEWS: January 12, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

Mia Mayhem and the Super Switcheroo – Book 10 in the Mia Mayhem series. When Mia wakes up with no powers one day, her best friend Eddie has them instead.
Stella Diaz Dreams Big – Book 3 in the Stella Diaz series. Stella is fully in the groove of 4th grade, including extracurriculars. But when school gets harder, she starts to feel like she is juggling too much.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

Alone (Older Middle Grade) – Novel in verse about a girl who finds herself alone in a town that has been mysteriously evacuated and abandoned. Sounds like a fascinating read for those who love survival stories.
Animal Rescue Agency: Little Claws – Book 1 in the Animal Rescue Agency series. An animal odd couple run the Animal Rescue Agency whose latest quest is to rescue a polar bear cub.
Clues to the Universe – An #Own Voices story. Two kids who are science partners bond over missing their fathers and try to help one another with the things that are most important to them.
Halfway to Harmony – The latest from Barbara O’Connor. As Walter grieves the loss of his brother who went into the military and never came home, a summer of adventures with his new neighbor and an eccentric man in town help him start to figure out who he is without the brother who was so important to him.
Many Points of Me – When Georgia finds one of her father’s last sketches, it looks like he was working on a fourth asterism based on her. Her quest to prove her theory takes her all over her neighborhood and to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood – A middle grade memoir from the author of Hatchet.
What Is Nintendo? – The latest from the folks at Who Was?

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Angel of Greenwood – Historical YA novel exploring the story of Black Wall Street. Two Black teens with different ideas of how Black Americans should respond to the racism of 1921 experience the mob riots in Oklahoma City on May 31st. This is on my list for this week.
Concrete Rose – A prequel to Thomas’ The Hate U Give.  Maverick Carter decides to give up dealing and go straight once he has a child who is depending on him. But his family ties and family name make it hard to leave that life behind.
Every Single Lie – A teen who is already the target of rumors and speculation finds herself in the middle of a firestorm when she finds the body of a newborn baby in her school’s locker room. Everyone is saying the baby is hers, and it becomes all too clear that a lot of people are holding secrets at her school.
The Meet Cute Project – When Mia has to find a date to her bridezilla sister’s wedding, her friends think it would be brilliant to use their favorite movie meet-cutes to help, even though Mia hates those movies. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
You Have a Match – The latest from the author of the delightful Tweet Cute. Abby signs up for a DNA service to help a friend, never expecting to find out she has a secret older sister. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

Books for Adults

Artistic License to Kill (Trade Paperback, January 15) – First in a new Fine Art Mystery series. Amanda is trying to create a new life for herself post-divorce, and getting a spot at the Roadrunner Gallery could be an integral part of that. But her joy at being accepted is short-lived when she later finds the director dead and all of the Gallery members become murder suspects.
Birds of Prey: Hero Hunters (Graphic Novel) – A reprint of Gail Simone’s beloved line. Collects issues 96-103.
A Curious Incident (Hardcover) – Book 6 in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series (Book 1 is Elementary She Read – ♥♥♥♥). Gemma is approached by her 10-year-old neighbor who wants to hire her as a consulting detective, first to find the girl’s missing cat, which she does, and then to clear her mother of murder charges. I enjoyed the first couple books in this series, and this new story sounds fantastic!
Ever After Always (e-book) – Book 3 in the Berman Brothers series. A couple struggling in their marriage and in their lives are thrown together on an island getaway to celebrate her parents’ marriage.
The Forever Girl (Trade Paperback) – Book 6 in the Wildstone series. A group of friends, torn apart by tragedy as teens, is brought together again for a wedding.
The Frozen Crown (Hardcover) – Book 1 in the Warrior Witch Duology. A naive woman becomes heir to the Frozen Crown because of her devotion to her people, but she is in no way prepared to defend her land from invading hordes or to navigate the political intrigue of the neighboring kingdom where she goes for help. And she must keep the secret of her magic at any cost. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Hope, Faith and a Corpse (Hardcover) – The first book in the Faith Chapel Mystery series from Laura Jensen Walker. Hope Taylor arrives in Apple Springs a widow, and the first female pastor for Faith Chapel Episcopal Church – and quickly finds herself under suspicion of murder. I am so looking forward to reading this one! I’ll be reviewing it soon.
The Last Exit (Hardcover) – First in the new Jen Lu Mystery series. A police detective in the Elder Abuse unit in a not-too distant future gets pulled into a bizarre investigation involving the highly sought after longevity drug – and a street version with dangerous side effects. I am fascinated by the sci-fi pieces of this thriller. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Lost Manuscript (Hardcover) – A woman on vacation finds an abandoned manuscript in the bedside table of her hotel room. She falls in love with the story and reaches out to the author whose address is scribbled on a page in the middle of the document. When she hears back, he confesses that he only wrote the first portion and then lost track of it 30 years ago. The woman is determined to find out who wrote the rest of the story.  This plot is fascinating to me.
The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry (Trade Paperback) – A young con-woman with some magical ability secures a job protecting a “Lady of some importance” before her wedding, but the job turns unexpectedly deadly – and undead. I’m not big on the “undead” part, but everything else in the description of this sounds fantastic. It’s on my list to check out, as is the author’s debut novel, Unnatural Magic.

BOOK NEWS: January 5, 2021

BOOK NEWS: January 5, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy 2021! I hope these first few days of the new year are treating you well. Here are some of the books launching this new year of reading:

Books for Kids – Picture Books

Blanket: Journey to Extreme Coziness – Discover the power of the blanket!
Loki – A Little Golden Book starring Loki
Spring Stinks – Bruce is not impressed with the smells of spring.
Stella’s Stellar Hair – When Stella’s hair isn’t quite right for her big day, she travels the solar system to visit her aunties for some help. A celebration of hairstyles of the African diaspora.
Star Wars The High Republic: The Great Jedi Rescue – The Jedi of the High Republic are on a rescue mission. Set 200 years before The Phantom Menace.
The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall’s Life, Leadership, and Legacy – Picture book biography.
Prince (Little People, Big Dreams) – Picture book biography
What If You Could Spy Like a Narwhal!? – Part of the What If You Had series, this one focused on animal superpowers.

Books for Kids: Early Readers and Transitional Chapter Books

Libby Loves Science: Mix and Measure – Libby is hosting a party and accidentally leaves out an important ingredient for her cupcakes. She and her friends use science to solve the problem.
The Adventures of Allie and Amy: Stars of the Show – Book 3 in the series. Allie and Amy are supposed to perform together for a fundraiser, but Allie gets sick, leaving Amy to wonder if she will have to perform alone.
BunBun & BonBon: Hoppy Go Lucky (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the series. BunBun and BonBon have an epic adventure.
Geeger the Robot: Lost and Found – Book 2 in the series. When the class pet goes missing, Tillie helps Geeger prove he didn’t eat it.
Little Goddess Girls: Persephone and the Evil King – Book 6 in the series. Hephaestus has turned Athena and her dog into treasures and hidden them away. The girls only have 7 guesses to find their friends.
Pixie Tricks: The Greedy Gremlin – Book 2 in the series. A fairy traps Violet’s cousin in a video game.
Society of Substitutes: The Great Escape – First in a new series. When Milton finds out his classroom’s pet ferret is plotting for world domination, he’s grateful to know the Society of Substitutes – including his mom – is there to help. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Star Wars Galactic Storybook – Six illustrated stories.
She Persisted: Harriet Tubman – First in a new line of chapter book biographies of women. Part of Chelsea Clinton’s She Persisted line.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

The Lion of Mars – The latest from Jennifer L. Holm (Babymouse, Squish, and Sunny graphic novel series, The Fourteenth Goldfish – ♥♥♥♥♥). All the adults in Bell’s colony on Mars fall ill with a virus, leaving Bell and the rest of the kids to uncover the truth and save their families. This is going to be fantastic! I can’t wait to read it.
Meow or Never – Part of the WISH line from Scholastic. When Avery gets talked into singing in the school musical and her stage fright threatens to get the best of her, a stray cat tucked away backstage could be the help she needs – as long as no one finds it.
The Sea in Winter – Maisie struggles with her anxieties and dark mood when an injury keeps her from ballet training and auditions.
Star Wars The High Republic: A Test of Courage – One of three new books out today launching the new Star Wars High Republic line of stories that take place 200 years before The Phantom Menace. When the cruiser they are in is bombed, a new Jedi Knight, the young inventor she is supervising, a Padawan, and an ambassador’s son escape in a shuttle, but they have few supplies, and communications are down. I’ll be talking more about this one soon.
Star Wars The Mandalorian Junior Novel – A junior novel of season one of The Mandalorian.
Unplugged – The son of a tech billionaire dropped off at a device-free camp for the summer notices the adults acting strangely. But his reputation as a spoiled troublemaker makes it hard for him to get any of the other kids to take him seriously. In my opinion, you can never go wrong with a book from Gordon Korman!
The World Between Blinks – Two cousins following their late grandmother’s map find themselves in a magical world where lost things – and people – wind up, and where someone wants to keep them from getting back home.
Baseball’s Leading Lady: Effa Manley and the Rise and Fall of the Negro Leagues (Older Middle Grade) – The story of the first and only woman inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Fascinating!!
History Smashers: Pearl Harbor – Explore little-known truths behind the attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath.
Race Against Time: The Untold Story of Scipio Jones and the Battle to Save Twelve Innocent Men  (Older Middle Grade) – A self-taught attorney who had been born enslaved steps up to defend twelve sharecroppers wrongfully sentenced to death. Sounds like an excellent addition to history collections.
Trailblazers: Lin-Manuel Miranda: Raising Theater to New Heights – A biography of the creator of Hamilton.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

The Awakening of Malcolm X – An historical novel about Malcolm X’s adolescence in jail written by his daughter in cooperation with Tiffany D. Jackson (Monday’s Not Coming – ♥♥♥♥½)
Court of Swans – Book 1 in a new Christian historical fiction series for teens and young adults. When her father, an earl, dies, Delia watches his wife accuse her seven brothers of treason and murder just as Richard II is executing anyone who could be a threat to the throne. Delia is their only hope, and a captain of the guard who finds the situation fishy agrees to help her.
Happily Ever Afters – A young writer who has rarely seen herself in a romance novel writes the characters she longs for into her own stories. But when she is accepted into a prestigious creative writing program, Tessa’s words dry up. Her best friend is convinced that the solution is Tessa finding a real life romance of her own.
House of El: The Shadow Threat (Graphic Novel) – First in a new graphic novel series about Superman’s home planet of Krypton. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
Influence – From the author of Pretty Little Liars. Four young women enjoying their moments in the spotlight have no idea they are on the verge of watching everything fall apart.
Monsters Among Us – After one semester of college, Catherine is dealing with the fleeting memories of a night she’s not sure she wants to remember. Days later someone close to her is killed. Then a stranger shows up with clues to the night Catherine can’t quite remember – and to the murder. But what is his angle, and is he actually trying to help?
One of the Good Ones – When Happi’s sister, Kezi, is killed after a social justice rally, she becomes another icon in the fight against police brutality. But Happi and her other sister, Genny, want to remember the real Kezi, not the idealized version in the news. So they set off on a road trip to honor her in their own way.
The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss – By senior year, Evie has worked on her anxiety enough that she might just be ready to enter the national math and physics competition AND to flirt back with the new boy at school. She has no idea her best friend Caleb is in love with her, and he is devastated watching her meet cute with the new guy, so he uses an online forum to get her attention without revealing his identity. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Roman and Jewel – Roman and Jewel is the new hip-hop take on Romeo and Juliet, and Jerzie is desperate to play the lead. She will have to settle for being Cinny’s understudy. And falling in love with the male lead is definitely a no-no. Especially when Cinny has decided she wants him too.
Jesus for You: The Ultimate Answer to Your Deepest Needs (Teen Bible Study) – A Bible study over 8 sessions based on the author’s new book releasing next week.

Books for Adults – Fiction

Active Defense (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Danger Never Sleeps series. A former field surgeon is on the run from a dangerous stalker while a security expert has been tailing her for weeks, watching her back.
Blood Heir (Trade Paperback, January 8) – First in the Kate Daniels World series, a spinoff of the Kate Daniels series. A woman with a new name, new face, and new magic returns to an Atlanta drifting towards apocalypse in order to save her adoptive mother, Kate Daniels.
City of Schemes (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Counterfeit Lady series. Elizabeth and Gideon’s wedding is in jeopardy from Elizabeth’s past, but she’s also trying to help a wealthy friend who may be the target of a con.
A Double Dose of Love (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Amish Mail-Order Bride series. Impulsive Darla travels to Birch Creek in search of a husband while her responsible twin, Amanda, promises to bring her back home. Darla meets reckless Zeke, and his twin, Zeb, teams up with Amanda to protect their siblings from one another. This sounds convoluted but fun!
Joint Custody (Trade Paperback) – A dog in the midst of a custody battle ups the ante to get his owners to see they still belong together. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Killer Comfort Food (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series. Angie is investigating the case of a missing woman with ties to the soybean processing plant that is trying to edge her out of her Nona’s farm.
Say I Do (Trade Paperback) – A collection of wedding stories from Rachel Hauck, Becky Wade, and Kate Ganshert. All three stories have previously been published in other collections, so be sure to check the titles carefully.
Star Trek Picard: The Dark Veil (Hardcover) – Following the novel The Last Best Hope comes this new Picard-era story starring Will and Deanna Riker and the crew of the Titan. This is at the top of my wish list for the month!
Star Wars The High Republic: Light of the Jedi (Hardcover) – The first adult novel of the High Republic era of Star Wars (taking place 200 years before The Phantom Menace). In the golden age of the Republic, the Jedi are called in to deal with a hyperspace disaster which signals something sinister in the works.

Books for Adults – Nonfiction

100 Days of Prayer (Devotional Journal) – A devotional with dot grid space on the facing page for journaling or art. Part of the series by Shanna Noel.
Book of Genesis Study Guide AND Book of Romans Study Guide (The Passion Translation – Trade Paperback) – Two new studies related to the Passion translation of the Bible.
Depression, Anxiety and Other Things We Don’t Want to Talk About (Trade Paperback) – A Christian exploration of mental health and mental illness.
Elijah: Faith and Fire (Paperback Study Guide) – A new Bible study from Priscilla Shirer.
Fighting Forward: Your Nitty-Gritty Guide to Beating the Lies that Hold You Back (Trade Paperback) – Essay collection of Christian thinking on stress management, empowerment, and pushing through hard times.
Healthy Keto Air Fryer Cookbook: 100 Delicious Low-Carb and Fat-Burning Recipes (Paperback) – Keto-friendly recipes for your air fryer.
How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice (Hardcover) – The latest from Jemar Tisby, the author of The Color of Compromise. Move beyond conversations about racism and into action against it. There is also a study guide that will be available in April.
Sacred Tears: Simple Reminders that God Sees You and Loves You (Hardcover) – Essay collection with art, photography, prayers, and scripture for weary souls.

BOOK NEWS: December 29, 2020

BOOK NEWS: December 29, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here’s our final release week of December – and it is chock full of reading goodness! Take a look.

Books for Kids

My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World – A kid who doesn’t like reading has to find his “favorite book” for a school assignment.
Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles – Picture book biography.
Fairylight Friends: Time to Shine – Book 2 in the Fairylight Friends early chapter book series from the folks at Scholastic ACORN. Enjoy 5 magical winter stories with friends Ruby, Iris and Pip.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Julie and the Phantoms: The Edge of Great (Novelization) – The Season 1 novelization of the new Netflix show about a girl who is about to be kicked out of her performing arts school when she starts a new band – with three ghosts. This sounds amazing! I have heard great things about the show.
Otto P. Nudd – When a beloved neighborhood inventor is in trouble, a girl, her favorite bird Otto, and a mother squirrel will team up to save the day. This looks darling!
Wings of Fire: The Dark Secret (Graphic Novel) – The graphic novel version of the 4th book in the original Wings of Fire series.
Show Me History: Harriet Tubman Fighter for Freedom (Graphic Novel) – Graphic novel biography of Harriet Tubman.
What Is the Civil Rights Movement?
Black Canary: Breaking Silence – Book 5 in the DC Icons series after Wonder Woman: Warbringer, Batman: Nightwalker, Catwoman: Soulstealer, and Superman: Dawnbreaker (♥♥♥). An origin story for Dinah Lance. (This story stands apart from the story about Black Canary in the middle grade graphic novel Black Canary: Ignite.) Growing up in the oppressive Gotham City under the rule of the patriarchal Court of Owls, Dinah has never forgotten the time as a child she heard the voice of a woman singing, something forbidden in Gotham. She wonders what it might mean for the city if women could start using their voices. I am very excited about this one! I’ve enjoyed the Icons series.
Just Our Luck – Even though family history says that the Paros family cursed his family, Leo agrees to Evey Paros’ offer to sign him up for a hot yoga class (instead of the self-defense his dad wants him to take) in exchange for a favor. This sounds fun!

Books for Adults

Absence of Alice (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 9 in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series. Sarah’s landlady is kidnapped, and the kidnappers have contacted Sarah with their list of demands.
Amish Secrets (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the River Haven series. When her wealthy new employer faces unusual accidents, Rachel reaches out to the only person she can with her suspicions that the woman is in danger.
Bait and Witch (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Witch Way Librarian Mystery series. A librarian hiding out in Oregon waiting to be the star witness in a corruption case discovers her family history of magic as well as discovering a body in the woods. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
A Catered Book Club Murder (Hardcover) – Book 16 in the Mystery with Recipes series. When their friend doesn’t pick up the elaborate desserts they made for her monthly book club, Bernie and Libby are concerned. They start sleuthing when she is found dead.
Chilled to the Cone (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 12 in the Bakeshop Mystery series. Jules has the chance to open a pop up ice cream shop, but the death of an eccentric town favorite throws everything into disarray.
Fairy Godmothers, Inc. (Trade Paperback) – When the magic of Ever After, Missouri – which is powered by love – starts to dwindle, the three fairy godmothers in charge decide to turn Ever After into a premiere wedding destination. Their first task is to ask their goddaughter to promote a fake wedding to her ex. This sounds so fun! I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Love at the Icicle Cafe (Trade Paperback) – Mina heads to Germany to facilitate a quick sale of her parents’ cafe, but an encounter with her childhood crush – Scott, the cafe’s chef who wants to buy their parents out –  threatens to put an end to those plans.
Swine and Punishment (e-book, December 31) – Book 7 in the Bought-the-Farm Mystery series. When Ivy’s sow is the prime suspect for the latest murder in Clover Grove, her sheepdog Keats is all in to help solve the mystery even though there is no love lost between the dog and the pig. This series sounds so fun!
Ten Rules for Faking It (Trade Paperback) – After a string of bad luck, Everly find herself in the middle of a Bachelorette-style dating situation and the possibility of a relationship with her boss and long-time crush. She hardly knows what to do with all of this attention when she usually strives to avoid people as much as possible. I’ll be reviewing this one soon. I can’t wait!
To Fetch a Felon (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Chatty Corgi Mystery series. (How cute is that cover?!) Emma and her talking corgi, Oliver, leave the fast pace of London to settle in Cornwall and open a tea shop. But the woman who owns the building Emma wants to rent is difficult to say the least. When Emma later finds the woman dead, she and Oliver start playing detective. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
A Wicked Yarn (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Craft Fair Knitters Mystery series. Lia and the Ninth Street Knitters dig into the death of the man who was determined to dismantle their spring craft fair. I’ll be reviewing this one soon as well.
The Case for Keto: Rethinking Weight Control and the Science and Practice of Low-Carb/High Fat Eating – An exploration of the health benefits of a low-carb, high-fat diet. You can read my review here.
Teach Reading with Orton-Gillingham: 72 Classroom-Ready Lessons to Help Struggling Readers and Students with Dyslexia Learn to Love Reading (Professional Book, paperback) – Materials for teachers wanting to incorporate Orton-Gillingham methods into their classrooms.
Win the Day: 7 Daily Habits to Help You Stress Less & Accomplish More (Hardcover) – I wouldn’t expect a productivity and goal-reaching book from pastor and speaker Mark Batterson, yet, here is just that. A spiritual self-help resource. I have liked some of Batterson’s previous work. I’ll be checking this one out.

BOOK NEWS: December 22, 2020

BOOK NEWS: December 22, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Not many new releases on my list this week, but you can see them here.

Curls (Board Book) – Four friends celebrate their different and beautiful hair styles.
Trouble at Table 5: I Can’t Feel My Feet (Early Chapter Book) – Book 4 in the Trouble at Table 5 series. Rosie, Molly, and Simon look for ways to keep their feet warm on the walk to school.
Franken-Sci High: The Good, the Bad, and the Accidentally Evil (Middle Grade) – Book 6 in the Franken-Sci High series about a school for mad scientists. Newton travels to the future where his friend has become accidentally evil. How have I never heard of this series before?
Super Easy Teen Cookbook (Teen/YA) – Recipes that don’t require prior cooking experience to prepare.
Crown of Strength (e-book, December 26) – Book 3 in the Hidden Mage series. Verene and Darius will have to deal with the rift between them if they want to have any hope of protecting the Academy and uniting the kingdom.
Rhubarb Pie Before You Die (e-book) – Book 2 in the Garlic Farm Mystery series. App developer Mabel Skinner is hoping to sell off the farm she inherited – Stinkin’ Stuff Farm. But when she finds the body of a local rhubarb farmer, dead in his green house after they had a disagreement over grass clippings, she starts sleuthing before someone decides she’s the culprit. This series sounds fun!

 

BOOK NEWS: December 15, 2020

BOOK NEWS: December 15, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

Good Dog: Home Is Where the Heart Is AND Raised in a Barn AND Herd You Loud and Clear – A new early chapter book series kicks off this week with the first three books in the series. A young farm pup named Bo has adventures while looking for his lost dog tag, while introducing a foal to the farm, and when he tries to herd the farm’s sheep by himself. These look darling!

 

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Faraway Collection: The Prince and the Troll AND Hazel and Gray AND The Princess Game AND The Cleaners AND The Wickeds – A collection of fairytale retellings for teens launches this week with five stories told by some of the biggest names in YA literature.
This Is How We Fly – A teen whose family life and personal life are spinning out of control finds solace in an unexpected place – a muggle Quidditch team. Yeah, this is definitely on my list for this week!
A Girl’s Guide to Bible Journaling – A guide to Bible journaling including lettering tips, color techniques, and guidelines for studying the Bible. This could be a delightful Christmas gift for the creative tween, teen, and young adult women in your life. 

Books for Adults

Deadly Amish Reunion (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 9 in the Amish Country Justice series. A man who is supposed to be dead shows up to save the Englisch wife he doesn’t remember.
Death By Fountain (December 18, e-book) – Book 5 in the Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery series. While tour guide Randy Wright and his girlfriend Lana are planning a wedding in Tuscany after they finish hosting a Christmas in Rome tour, Randy’s ex thinks they still have a future together. When she is later found dead in Trevi Fountain, Randy is arrested.
Ropes, Riddles, & Robberies (December 17, e-book) – Book 15 in the Camper and Criminals cozy mystery series. (There was no description available at the time of this writing.)
Truth, Lies, And Second Dates (Trade Paperback) – Sparks fly between an airline pilot and a local medical examiner when Captain Ava Capp returns to the hometown she’s been avoiding for 10 years and reconnects with Dr. Tom Baker who remembers all too well the cold case she ran away from.
Take Care of Your Type: An Enneagram Guide to Self-Care (Hardcover) – Self-care guidelines and recommendations for the nine types of the Enneagram. I have this on my wish list for this week, too.

BOOK NEWS: December 8, 2020

BOOK NEWS: December 8, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.? AND Who Is Ruth Bader Ginsburg? (Board Books) – A new format from the folks who publish Who Was nonfiction books for older kids.
Little Blue Truck’s Valentine – When Little Blue Truck delivers Valentine’s cards, he wonders if he will get any.
The ABCs of Black History – Alphabet book of Black History.
Sincerely, Emerson: A Girl, Her Letter, and the Helpers All Around Us – Based on the true story of an 11-year-old girl who writes a thank you note to her mail carrier.
Interrupting Cow and the Chicken Crossing the Road – Interrupting Cow meets a famous chicken.
Space Traveler, Sally Brown – Sally looks for help writing her report on a famous astronaut.
Wonders of America: Yosemite – A leveled reader about Yosemite National Park.
Lola’s Super Club – When villains kidnap Lola’s parents, including her super secret agent father, Lola becomes Super-Lola.   

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Arkhamaniacs – Young Bruce Wayne wants to know why the Arkham apartment building (owned by Wayne Enterprises) seems to be so fun.
Donut Dreams: Ready, Set, Bake – Book 5 in the Donut Dreams series. Lindsay is feeling jealous when there’s a new bakery in town. The owner’s daughter is in her class, and she’s everything Lindsay wishes she was.
Star Wars The Clone Wars: Seasons 7, Volume 1 Screen Comix – A comic retelling of the beginning of Season 7 of The Clone Wars.
Exploring the White House – Includes photos, fun facts and quotes about the folks who work and live at the White House.
Trailblazers: Martin Luther King Jr. – A biography of MLK, Jr.
Escaping Eleven – When the Earth became uninhabitable, humanity moved underground. In Compound 11, the lower the floor you live on, the worse the living conditions. Eve lives on Eleven which means she is a fighter. But she’s ready to leave Eleven, and her fighting skills might help her finally escape.
A Universe of Wishes – A collection of #OwnVoices ya fantasy stories from some of the biggest names in young adult literature.

Books for Adult

The Butterfly Effect (Trade Paperback) – An anti-social entomologist finds herself in a series of awkward situations when she leaves her research project – in the middle of her dissertation – to go home for a family health emergency.
The Daydream Cabin (Trade Paperback) – A public school teacher plans to spend her summer working as a substitute counselor for three troubled girls at a cabin for “wayward” teens while she deals with her own burdens.
A Deadly Edition (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. Amy and Richard find a body during a party, and their friend Kurt is the prime suspect for the murder. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Grounds for Murder (Hardcover) – First in a new Coffee Lovers Mystery series. When Lana’s best barista leaves for another job right before the big barista competition, Lana understandably loses her temper. But when Fabrizio is later found dead, Lana is the prime suspect.
Hidden Treasure (Hardcover) – Book 13 in the Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery series. When the elderly former owner of Josie and Ty’s new house insists that she left an old trunk behind, Josie finds it along with a jewel-encrusted box and a cat sculpture. But when Josie goes to return the box, Maudie has vanished. And there’s a dead body in her apartment. This sounds fascinating!
The Queen’s Triumph (e-book) – Book 3 in the Rogue Queen series by Jessie Mihalik, author of the excellent Consortium Rebellion series. Samara is going head to head against her sworn enemy, and her friends refuse to let her face him alone. I have book one in this series, and I can’t wait to dive into it.
Sit, Stay, Slay (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Dog Club Mystery series after Paw and Order, which I loved. When Lilly’s best friend is accused of murdering her old high school rival, Lilly is determined to find the real killer.
Star Trek Deep Space 9: Too Long a Sacrifice (Graphic Novel) – A space noir graphic novel starring Odo, the chief of security for Deep Space 9. A murder on the station leads to a fractured peace while Odo tries to track a killer.
Forged by Reading: The Power of a Literate Life (Professional Book, paperback) – A new professional development book for teachers from Kylene Beers and Robert Probst exploring the value of independent reading in the growth of students as citizens of the world.

BOOK NEWS: December 1, 2020

BOOK NEWS: December 1, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Looking forward to some great new releases in DECEMBER! (How is tomorrow already December? ) Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids

The Square Root of Possible – A picture book based on a song from the Netflix movie Jingle Jangle.
Star Wars Mandalorian: A Clan of Two – A picture book summary of season one highlights.
Star Wars Mandalorian: Allies & Enemies – This leveled reader includes a look at the heroes and villains for The Mandalorian.
Cat Kid Comic Club (Graphic Novel) – Book 1 in a new series by Dav Pilkey (Captain Underpants, Dog Man). Li’l Petey and friends talk about creating comics and characters.
Itty Bitty Princess Kitty: The Un-Fairy – Book 6 in the series. Itty helps a new friend figure out where she belongs.
Pixie Tricks: Sprite’s Secret – First in a new series from Scholastic BRANCHES. When Violet finds a portal to the fairy world in her backyard, she and her new friend, Sprite, team up when a fairy’s fun gets out of control.
Sparkleton: The Mini Mistake – Book 3 in the Sparkleton series. Sparkleton accidentally shrinks himself and his friends right before the town talent show.
Unicorn Diaries: The Goblin Princess – Book 4 in the Unicorn Diaries series. Bo grants a bored princess her wish to fly, but trouble ensues.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

Goodbye, Mr. Terupt – Book 4 in the delightful Mr. Terupt series. The seven kids from the series are back with Mr. Terupt again when he serves as their 8th grade advisor. The kids come up with bucket list projects to make this final year together memorable. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Hilo Box set – A collection of the first story arc of this delightful graphic novel series. Includes books 1-6.
Jingle Jangle: The Invention of Jeronicus Jangle (Novelization) – A middle grade novel based on the Jingle Jangle movie on Netflix.
Max & the Midknights: Battle of the Bodkins – Book 2 in the outstanding Max and the Midknights series. (I’ll be reviewing book one in December – I loved it!) Max and her friends attend knight school. I can’t wait to read this one!
Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy (Older Middle Grade) – Book 1 in the Chronicles of Never After from the author of the Descendants series. When Filomena is approached by a character from her favorite book series, she is drawn into a world of fairies and an evil enchantress.
Perilous Journey of Danger and Mayhem: The Final Gambit – The third and final book in the series. It’s 1884 and the Peppers and the Lees have survived their latest adventures, and they are feeling a little disillusioned about the world around them that would try to silence them and cover up what they have discovered. But when they discover a plot tied to the 1884 presidential election, they are off to Washington DC to do the right thing one more time.
The Rembrandt Conspiracy – Book 2 in the Lost Art Mysteries series after the fantastic The Van Gogh Deception. Art and Camille team up again, this time to thwart a heist at the National Portrait Gallery. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Smartest Kid in the Universe – The latest from Chris Grabenstein. When a kid eats jelly beans from a bowl at a conference, he accidentally ingests untested information pills. Jake becomes the smartest kid in the universe, but then everyone wants a piece of him. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
American Girl: My First Cookbook Collection – A collection of American Girl cookbooks including Baking, Cooking, and Parties.
Brick x Brick: How to Build Amazing Things with 100-ish Bricks or Fewer – From the host of the YouTube series Brick x Brick. Includes build instructions, trivia, and mini challenges.
Who Was Confucius? AND Who Was Duke Ellington? – New middle grade biographies.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Admission – From the author of Hope and Other Punchlines. When her B-list celebrity mother is arrested in a college admissions bribery scandal, Chloe is left to wonder why her parents thought they had to cheat to get her into school and how she might have been complicit in the scandal.
The Cousins – The latest from teen thriller master Karen McManus. When three cousins are invited to work at an island resort by their reclusive grandmother – the one who disinherited their parents before the teens were even born – their families see this as a way to get back into their grandmother’s good graces. But the more time the teens spend at the resort, the clearer it becomes that there was an ulterior motive to bringing them to the island. And the family’s secrets won’t be secret for long. This is at the top of my list for this week!
Day One – Book 2 in the Day Zero duology. Stepsisters Jinx and MacKenna must work together in a time of unprecedented political upheaval, thanks in part to members of their own family, in order to rescue their younger brother from the Opposition. This series sounds fascinating!
Heiress Apparently – When a young actress heads to Beijing for a role in M Butterfly, she discovers secrets her parents have been keeping from her her whole life.
The Love Curse of Melody McIntyre (LGBTQ+) – Every time Melody falls for someone during a theater production, it always ends in disaster. So to protect the school production of Les Mis, Melody swears off relationships. But then she meets Odile.
New Year’s Kiss – When reserved Tess has to stay at her grandmother’s resort between Christmas and New Year’s, she decides to create a bucket list of activities to get her out of her comfort zone.
The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person – The author shares race-related anecdotes from his time in a largely white high school about statements and experiences that he ignored at the time, but he would now handle differently. Consider this a conversation starter for race-related growth and action.

Books for Adults

A Big Fat Greek Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series. When a groom-to-be is found dead and her sister is accused of his murder, Athena starts digging into the mystery.
The Bookworm’s Guide to Faking It (e-book) – Book 2 in the Bookworm’s Guide series. A woman agrees to be a pro baseball player’s date to his sister’s wedding. But while he doesn’t seem to remember what happened at senior prom when he broke her heart, she can’t seem to forget it.
Bridgerton: The Duke and I (Netflix Edition, Trade Paperback) – The first book in the Bridgerton series, with a new cover based on the Netflix series. I don’t usually post about re-releases, but fans of the show might be interested in picking up the source material.
Christmas Corpse (e-book, December 3) – First in a new Christmas Cozy Mystery series. When Holly skids into a snow bank, she is rescued by a woman named Mrs. Claus and taken to Candy Cane Hollow to recover. But when Mrs. Claus is accused of murder, Holly hopes to repay her kindness by clearing the woman’s name. This sounds cute!
Coffee Corner (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Amish Marketplace series. Micah and his grandfather are regulars at Bethany’s coffee and donut stand. But when they miss a Saturday, she starts to worry about them. When she hears tragedy has struck, she wonders how to help Micah in his time of need. This series looks delightful.
Courting Can Be Killer (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Amish Matchmaker Mystery series after Matchmaking Can Be Murder. This time, Millie and Lois are investigating when a young man is killed after being told he cannot marry the young woman he loves. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Courting Misfortune (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Joplin Chronicles series from Bethany House Publishers. A new Pinkerton operative is charged with finding the kidnapped daughter of a mob boss. But a handsome pastor puts her undercover identity and her mission at risk.
Death at a Country Mansion (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Daisy Thorne Mystery series. A stylist becomes an amateur detective when her best friend’s mother – an opera star – is killed and a famous painting goes missing.
Finished Off in Fondant (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Courtney Archer Mystery series. Courtney is thrilled to be co-hosting the new season of  The American Baking Battle. But when a murderer strikes, Courtney starts investigating.
Firefly: Watch How I Soar (Graphic Novel) – An original Firefly graphic novel starring Wash as he realizes he is about to die.
Heather and Homicide (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Highland Bookshop Mystery series. A true crime writer asking nosy questions is murdered after faking her death to observe Janet’s reaction to finding her “dead body.” When her real death includes a valuable book from Janet’s shop, the police what to know what the connection is between Janet, the book, and the dead woman.
How to Catch a Queen (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Runaway Royals series by the fantastic Alyssa Cole.  When a conflicted royal couple hits a rough patch, both in their marriage, and in their kingdom, the queen goes on the run, and the king must figure out how to get her back while also leading his people into the future. This is a spin off of the author’s *delightful* Reluctant Royals series, and I can’t wait to read it.
How to Fail at Flirting (Trade Paperback) – When Professor Naya Turner’s job is in jeopardy, her friends convince her that she needs a night on the town. An unexpected connection leaves her wondering if she wants to stick with the safe life she knows or if she wants to stay with the person who inspires her to live a little.
The Kensington Kidnap (e-book, December 2) – First in the new Epiphany Bloom Mystery series. A woman with barely enough money to feed herself and her three-legged cat is mistaken for a missing persons expert and charged with finding the missing son of two celebrities. I pre-ordered this one and can’t wait to dig into it.
Murder at Veronica’s Diner (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Ferrara Family Mystery series. When their waitress at the local diner is killed during the breakfast rush, there are plenty of suspects for the Ferrara family to investigate. This series sounds so terrific! I have book one, Murder on Memory Lake, on my TBR shelves.
Murder Is a Must (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the First Edition Library Mystery series. Hayley recruits her somewhat difficult former boss to help her prepare the First Edition Library for an exhibition. The woman is later found dead, and Hayley has to wonder if the murder had something to do with a valuable mystery that is supposed to be in the First Edition collection. I have book one of this series on my library wish list.
Murder on a Midnight Clear (e-book) – Book 6 in the High Society Lady Detective series. Olive gets drawn into a new mystery when she attends an “old fashioned English Christmas” and the butler goes missing. This whole series sounds terrific!
Poppy Redfern and the Fatal Flyers (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Woman of WWII Mystery series. Poppy’s job as a script writer sends her to investigate the Air Transport Auxiliary to write a 15 minute film about the “Attagirls,” a group of civilian women who have been trained to pilot planes to military airfields all over Great Britain. When some of the Attagirls start dying off, Poppy believe these “accidents” are the work of a killer.
Premeditated Mortar (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 8 in the Fixer-Upper Mystery series. A series of problems at her latest work site – an old asylum being converted into a small luxury hotel – including murder, leads Shannon to start investigating.
Second Chance on Cypress Lane (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Holly Grove Island series. After a scandal wrecks her career, Dakota returns home only to find herself working for the man who broke her heart.
Suspects and Sorting (e-book) – Book 3 in the Good, Clean Cozy Mystery series starring roommates (Aurora) Sparks and Joy. This time, Joy’s uncle is murdered, and Joy is at the top of the suspect list, so Aurora goes looking for the real killer. I picked up the first book in this series because I was tickled by the names of the characters.
Ten Things I Hate About the Duke (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Difficult Dukes series. A new spin on Taming of the Shrew. When Cassandra’s habit for plain speaking and trouble with a duke threatens not only her own future but that of her sister and her whole family, she will probably have to marry the man.
This Time Next Year (Trade Paperback) – Two babies born just after midnight in London on January 1, 1990. Quinn’s family was given the cash prize while Minnie’s birthdays from that moment on were a series of unlucky breaks. Running into each other at a New Year’s party on their 30th birthday, it seems obvious that Quinn has continued to enjoy all the luck while Minnie is on the verge of losing everything. But if their lives and their trajectories are so different, why do the two keep bumping into each other? I am intrigued by this one!
Trusting Skylar (Trade Paperback) – First in the new Silverstone series about ex military operatives running a tow business as a front for clandestine work. When Bull rescues the lovely kindergarten teacher stranded at the side of the road, the attraction is immediate. But Skylar can’t get past what Bull really does for a living, even when she faces her own threats where his work could literally save her life. I am intrigued by this one, too.
The Way You Hold Me (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Pure Talent series. Skye encounters her ex when they are doing crisis management for a couple whose high-profile marriage is imploding. But Skye represents the A-list actress while Garrett represents her high-powered director husband. When Skye and Garrett rekindle their personal relationship, it could put both of them in professional jeopardy.
When a Rogue Meets His Match (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Greycourt series. After years working as the Duke of Windemere’s fixer, Gideon is ready to strike out on his own. But first, the Duke wants his help with one final task. In exchange, Gideon can marry Messalina Greycourt. But the lady is not interested in a marriage of convenience.
A Whisker of Doubt (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Cat Cafe Mystery series. When tensions flare between wealthy homeowners and animal activists over a feral cat colony that Maddie is overseeing, the tensions lead to murder.
Wine Tastings Are Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the fantastic Poppy McAllister Mystery series. This time Poppy and Aunt Ginny are hosting a wine and cheese tasting for a tour group at their B&B. One of the tour group guests is later killed on a winery tour, and Poppy starts to look for clues to the culprit. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Write Christmas (Trade Paperback) – In this twist on A Christmas Carol, a grieving young woman decides to sell her late-father’s greeting card business. But when she signs the sales papers, the whole world changes to one without Christmas.
Art of Star Wars Mandalorian, Season One (Hardcover) – A coffee table book of art from the first season of The Mandalorian.
Big Kibble: The Hidden Dangers of the Pet Food Industry and How to Do Better by Our Dogs (Hardcover) – An inside look at the pet food industry.
The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American Church’s Complicity in Racism (Study Guide) – A workbook to go with the video study of The Color of Compromise. You can read my full review of the original book here.
Marvel Myths and Legends: The Epic Origins of Thor, the Eternals, Black Panther, and the Marvel Universe (Hardcover) – A beautifully illustrated book outlining the origins of Marvel’s characters.
Strange Planet: Existence Chronicle (Hardcover Guided Journal) – A Strange Planet guided journal.

BOOK NEWS: November 24, 2020

BOOK NEWS: November 24, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy Thanksgiving Week! I know this year has been super weird, but I hope you are able to find some time to reflect on things to be grateful for this year. Here are some of the new books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

It’s Her Story: Rosa Parks (Graphic Novel) – A picture book biography of Rosa Parks
The Library Bus – Based on the author’s experiences of growing up in Afghanistan where his sister was not allowed to learn to read. A girl assists her mother on the library bus while thinking of the future when she will learn to read and write.
Roller Bears – A rhyming book about bears on roller skates.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Blades of Freedom (Graphic Novel) – Book 10 in the stellar Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales nonfiction graphic novel series. This one focuses on the Haitian Revolution and Napoleon. This is a piece of history about which I know nothing. I’m eager to read this one.
Defending the Galaxy – Book 3 in the Sentinels of the Galaxy series. No one believes Ara’s discovery. In fact, her parents think it’s a delusion brought on by stress. And their disbelief is getting in the way of Ara doing her job to protect the Milky Way from being overrun. I picked up the first book in this series to give it a try. It sounds awesome!
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories – An illustrated addition to the Folk of Air trilogy with an emphasis on Cardan, including stories from before The Cruel Prince.

Books for Adults

The Awakening (Hardcover) – First in the new Dragon Heart Legacy series from the prolific Nora Roberts. When a young woman discovers a secret bank account in her name worth over 4 million dollars, she has no idea the secrets that will be unlocked when she uses some of the money to travel to Ireland, including a portal to a land of magical creatures. This is at the top of my wishlist for the week!
Eggnog, Extortion, and Evergreens (e-book, November 28) – Book 14 in the Camper and Criminals Mystery series. After recovering from a coma due to an accident, Mae has flashes of memory that she can’t quite sort out but that seem to point to a murder. This sounds fascinating and different. At the time of this writing, Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read this one for free.
Fa la la la Llama (e-book) – Book 4 in the Friendship Harbor Mystery series. Sophie’s business is struggling, and she has high hopes that the extra holiday activities will help her bottom line. But when a guest is murdered, Sophie is sleuthing again.
Fishing for Trouble (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Alaskan Diner Mystery series. When an employee from the local fish processing plant dies in the diner, Charlie and her friends start looking for clues.
Game of Cones (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Lickety Splits Mystery series. Kate and Jake are trapped in an isolated hotel with a group of quirky strangers – and a dead body. I love stories like this!
How to Frame a Fashionista (e-book) – Book 3 in the Resale Boutique Mystery series. Kelly’s ex-boss is the prime suspect in the death of her ex’s new wife. Kelly knows the woman is awful, but she is no killer.
A Lady Compromised (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the excellent Rosalind Thorne Mystery series after A Useful Woman (♥♥♥♥♥), A Purely Private Matter (♥♥♥♥♥), and also And Dangerous to Know (♥♥♥♥).  This time, Rosalind is helping her friend prepare for her wedding when she is asked to look into a suicide that might have been murder. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Lois Lane: Enemy of the People (Graphic Novel) – Lois leaves a White House press briefing with information that might threaten Superman’s life. Collects issues 1-12 of this comic series. This sounds terrific.
A Murder Between the Pages (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Main Street Book Club Mystery series after Can’t Judge a Book by Its Murder. The book club folks are certain that their new club selection was inspired by a 50-year-old cold case, and they want to solve it, especially when another murder takes place in the same spot. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Notorious (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Rebels of the Ton series. When Drusilla is rescued from scandal by her best friend’s brother, a rake who makes her heart race, she wishes his proposal was because he had feelings for her rather than out of obligation. But their relationship is at risk from a threat neither could predict. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Open for Murder (e-book) – First in the new Happy Camper Mystery series. Former journalist Zo Jones is running a South Dakota tourist gift shop, and looking forward to the return of her childhood best friend, Beth. But when the re-opening of Beth’s hotel comes complete with a dead body and a murder accusation, Zo starts investigating to clear her friend’s name. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Princess Knight (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Scarred Earth Saga and sequel to the AMAZING The Blacksmith Queen, one of my favorite books of 2019 (♥♥♥♥♥). I have been waiting for this book since the moment I finished the first one! When her sister Keeley became the Blacksmith Queen, Gemma left the War Monks to fight beside her sister. But when someone starts wiping out religious sects, she returns to the War Monks to convince them to accept Keeley’s offer of sanctuary. But the War Monks have changed in the two years since Gemma left. I will be reviewing this one soon!
Ready Player Two (Hardcover) – Sequel to the wildly popular Ready Player One. Days after the ending of Ready Player One, Wade discovers a new riddle and quest from the late James Halliday specifically for his heir – something that will change the OASIS in unfathomable ways. And a dangerous new rival will kill millions to secure the secret for himself.
To Kill a Queen (Trade Paperback) – When Raine’s older sister disappeared, Raine became the heir to the throne of Altria. When her father announces her betrothal, Raine sneaks out of the castle to find out what she can about her husband to be. On her mission, she gets word of a prophecy regarding the murder of the last heir to the throne. But could that prophecy be about her, or about her sister? This sounds fascinating!
Marvel: The First 80 Years (Hardcover) – An encyclopedia of Marvel.
Seven Kinds of People You Find in Bookshops (Hardcover) – A memoir of sorts from a bookseller in Scotland about the sorts of folks he encounters in his shop.
Star Trek Voyager: A Celebration (Hardcover) – An encyclopedic look behind the scenes of the 7 seasons of Star Trek Voyager.