Category: Book News

BOOK NEWS: June 30, 2020

BOOK NEWS: June 30, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the last week of June – this summer is zooming by. Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

Grover (Board Book) – A new board book starring my favorite Muppet!
Baaad Hair Day (Sheep Dog and Sheep Sheep) – In this sequel to Sheep Dog and Sheep Sheep, it’s sheering day. And Sheep could use a haircut because her wool is so long it covers her eyes and she trips over things. But she doesn’t want to lose her beautiful curls.
Hey, Who Made This Mess – Someone tracks through purple paint and causes all sorts of trouble at the zoo. Who could be the culprit?
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I Am Theodore Roosevelt AND We Are the Brontë Sisters – New biographies based on the Xavier Riddle show.
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I am Alexander Hamilton (Early Reader) – A new biography based on the Xavier Riddle show.
Magic on the Map: Escape from Camp California – Book 4 in the Magic on the Map series. Finn and Molly are in California helping wildfire refugees.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

The Amelia Six – When a pair of Amelia Earhart’s goggles go missing from the museum in her childhood home, the six girls who were spending the night there for scavenger hunts and fun instead band together to find a thief. This looks fantastic! I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Really Truly (Older Middle Grade) – Book 3 in the Pumpkin Falls mystery series. I just got to read book one, Absolutely Truly, and I enjoyed it (♥♥♥♥½). This time, Truly and her friends discover a mystery at mermaid camp.
Show Me History: Susan B. Anthony, Champion for Voting Rights! – Graphic novel biography of Susan B. Anthony.
What Is a Presidential Election? – The What Was books look at presidential elections just in time for the 2020 election season.
Goddess in the Machine – A girl asleep for 1000 years instead of the hundred that would have taken care of her trip through space wakes to find all of her family and friends gone, while their descendants call her “Goddess.” She teams up with an unlikely accomplice to find how why she was left in stasis and what happened in the meantime.
I Killed Zoe Spanos – Anna comes to town for a summer nanny job and finds the community still in shock from the disappearance of Zoe Spanos on New Year’s Eve. Anna seems weirdly connected to Zoe, and when Zoe’s body is found later in the summer, Anna confesses. But her story is full of holes and inconsistencies. Martina, the host of the Missing Zoe podcast is determined to find out the truth.

Books for Adults

About a Rogue (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Desperately Seeking Duke series. Bianca takes her sister’s place at the altar so she can marry her true love. Max doesn’t care which sister he marries as long as he can accomplish his own goals which include a dukedom.
The Black Swan of Paris (Hardcover) – Genevieve is a singer secretly working with Allied Forces against the Nazis. When her mother Lillian is captured, the resistance movement will do whatever it takes to keep Lillian quiet, even if it means killing her. But Genevieve is determined to risk everything to rescue her.
Crushing It (Trade Paperback) – Sierra needs to conquer her stage fright before she can pitch her new role playing game at a conference, so she tries a diary slam. She has no problem sharing the highs and lows of her college crush with a bunch of strangers. But the reader right after her? It’s the college crush. But the chance to see what might have been could keep Sierra from seeing what was right in front of her all along.
Daring and the Duke (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Bareknuckle Bastards series after Brazen and the Beast (♥♥♥♥♥). Grace has made a life for herself despite the rough moments in her history, but she has no room in her life for the Duke of Marwick, the man who broke her heart.
Death of a Wandering Wolf (Mass Market Paperback) – Book two from the delightful Julia Buckley in her Hungarian Tea House Mystery series. Hana finds a lovely wolf figurine at a yard sale, but it only leads to trouble, especially for the man who sells it to her. He ends up dead.
Don’t Keep Silent (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Uncommon Justice series from Christian publisher Revell. An investigative reporter is looking for her missing sister-in-law when she reconnects with the former DEA agent whose cover she blew.
A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby (Trade Paperback) – First in the Rogues and Remarkable Women series. The Widow’s Grace is a secret society dedicated to helping widows find their way in the world. This time they are helping an heiress who loses her son, her fortune and her station when she questions her husband’s suicide. She’s arrested and the Widow’s Grace helps her get a job as a nanny – to her own son. His guardian, the Duke of Repington, is looking into the death as well so he can do what’s best for his charge. Sounds delightful!
Fatal Fiction (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Deadly Edits Mystery series. This time, freelance editor Mikki Lincoln is working on a tell-all memoir that puts a spotlight on a condemned building in town. When a body is found there, all attention turns to Mikki who was seen arguing with the man before he died.
The Finders (Hardcover) – First in the new Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series. When Reid starts training his latest rescue dog to be a cadaver dog, they are pushed to their limits on a new murder case.
A Killer Ending (e-book) – Book 1 in the Snug Harbor Mystery series. When Max opens a new bookstore in Snug Harbor, Maine, she has her hands full with the shop and the unexpected arrival of her ex – accompanied by a famous author. Then Max’s dog finds a dead body, and the murder weapon came from Max’s shop.
The Last Curtain Call (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 8 in the Haunted Home Renovation series. While Mel and her fiancé are in the middle of their own renovation process, her work on an old theater turns up a connection to the ghost in her attic – and another dead body.
The Lion’s Den (Hardcover) – When Belle’s friend Summer invites her on an exotic yacht trip, it sounds like the perfect getaway. But everything is not what it seems, and before long Belle and the other women on board are more prisoners than guests. Wow! Sounds amazing.
Murder in a Scottish Shire (Trade Paperback) – First in a new series. A young woman who owns a sweater and knitting shop gets an unwelcome surprise when a part timer at her shop is found dead.
Murder in Waiting (Trade Paperback) – Book 11 in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. Jill may be the boss at work, but as Amy’s maid-of-honor, she can hardly keep up with the bridezilla to be. But Jill has more going on than just the wedding prep, and when an ally in some of her community dealings is killed, she’s hoping to catch a killer instead of the bouquet.
Nacho Average Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Country Store Mystery series. Robbie leaves Indiana and heads to California for her high school reunion, but while she’s there she hears rumors that her mother’s death might not have been from natural causes.
Nothing Bundt Trouble (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 11 in the Bakeshop Mystery series. This time Jules takes on a hit-and-run from the 1980s.
Puppy Kisses (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Forever Home romance series. Dawn “rescues” (steals) an abused Golden Retriever and her friend Adam goes along with the story that the dog is one she is training to be his seeing eye dog. Dawn is a force of nature and Adam has trouble saying no to her. But when she tries to take the puppy home with her, he puts his foot down and says he’s keeping her just like he said he was. This was great! You can see my full review here.
A Sprinkling of Murder (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Fairy Garden Mystery series. Courtney has built a magical life for herself around her shop Open Your Imagination, a fairy garden business and tea shop. But when a neighboring shop owner is killed and Courtney is the prime suspect, she’s adding sleuth to her job title.
Still Knife Painting (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Paint & Shine Mystery series. Miranda’s brilliant business plan – an outdoor painting and moonshine tasting in the middle of a national forest – leads to trouble when her cook is murdered.
Sunset in Sydney (e-book – July 3) – Book 3 in the Holiday Romance series. Sarah returns home from her trip with two men hoping to wine and dine her. Her decision is complicated by the fact that neither man lives in Australia where she does.
Star Trek Discovery Guide to Seasons 1 and 2 (Trade Paperback) – A fan’s guide to the first two seasons of the CBS All Access show.
Sweet & Savory Keto Chaffles (Paperback) – Chaffles are waffles made with eggs and cheese and are a trendy bread substitute for those on a keto diet. This includes 75 recipes and ideas for both sweet and savory chaffles.
West Side Story: The Jets, the Sharks, and the Making of a Classic (Hardcover) – A behind the scenes look at the classic West Side Story.

BOOK NEWS: June 23, 2020

BOOK NEWS: June 23, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books out this week:

Books for Kids

Library Books Are NOT for Eating! – Ms. Bronte is a terrific story time guest except that she eats every book once she finishes reading it. This looks adorable!
Pete the Cat: Secret Agent – Pete the Cat goes undercover as Secret Agent Meow.
Uni the Unicorn Goes to School – Uni goes to school to learn to use her unicorn magic.

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

Braver  – First in a new fantasy series by Suzanne Selfors. A young wombat longing for adventure finds more than she bargained for when an exiled predator returns and captures the other wombats, including her parents.
Con Quest – A pair of twins ditch their family at a comics convention while they try to win a huge scavenger hunt. I am so excited about this one!
Disney Moana Movie in Comics (Graphic Novel) – The story of the movie in comics form.
Marvel Action Spider-Man Venom (Graphic Novel) – The Spider team tries to determine if Venom is friend or foe.
Super Puzzletastic Mysteries  – An anthology of mystery short stories from favorite children’s authors like Chris Grabenstein. This is at the top of my list for the week.
Deadly Curious – From the author of the delightful Duels & Deception comes a new YA mystery. Sophia would love to become a Bow Street Runner, but ladies do not become detectives! If they would even let a woman join them anyway in 1834. But Sophia gets a chance to solve a case when her cousin asks her to investigate the death of her brother. This is on my list for this week, too.
Hunted by the Sky – First in the Wrath of Ambar series. Gul’s parents are killed and she is forced into hiding because of the birthmark on her arm. But when a group of women find her and offer to train her in magic, she sees the opportunity for revenge.
My Eyes Are Up Here – A teen struggles with the changes in her body and the way puberty changes her feelings about herself and her interactions with the people around her. For the title alone I am going to read this one.
Seasons of the Storm – A young man is forced to choose between death and immortality. Immortality means he becomes Winter, knowing that in his world, Winter kills Autumn and is killed by Spring – even though he and the girl who is Spring have fallen in love. The magical set up of this one is fascinating. I have this on my list, too!
Sisters of Sword and Song – When Evadne’s older sister finally returns from her service in the queen’s army, she is on the run and accused of murder. Evadne agrees to take part of her sister’s punishment in order to investigate and find out the truth of what happened. Another intriguing plot!
The Sullivan Sisters – Three sisters, each struggling in her own way, must band together when they receive news of an inheritance that draws them into sinister family secrets.

Books for Adults

The Last Flight (Hardcover) – Two women fleeing terrible circumstances switch plane tickets hoping the misdirection will give them time to establish new lives where no one from their pasts can find them. But when one of the planes crashes, everything changes for the survivor. Fascinating!
Murder on the Silver Screen (e-book) – Book 3 in the fantastic Movie Palace Mystery series after Murder at the Palace and Murder in the Balcony (Rating: ♥♥♥♥). This time, Nora opens the theater for the launch of a new online game, but the event ends in murder. I have had this on request with the library for months. Can’t wait to continue this series!
Party of Two (Hardcover) – A woman moving to LA to start her own law firm spends a delightful evening flirting with a stranger with no clue that he is a hotshot junior senator. While they find creative ways to keep their relationship out of the spotlight, when it becomes public she has to ask herself if what they have together is worth the drama that ensues.
Star Wars: Shadow Fall (Hardcover) – Book two in the Star Wars Alphabet Squadron series. Alphabet Squadron, with help from General Hera Syndulla (Star Wars Rebels), prepares to take down Shadow Wing once and for all.
Take a Hint Dani Brown (Trade Paperback – LGBTQ+) – Sequel to Get a Life, Chloe Brown and book 2 in the Brown Sisters series. Dani is really only looking for a friend with benefits, so when a sexy security guard rescues her during a fire alarm gone awry, he seems like the perfect candidate. But video of the rescue goes viral, and he asks her to play along that they are a couple so his children’s charity can benefit from the attention. But after awhile, it’s hard to keep track of what is real and what is fake in their fake relationship.
Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going to Do About It (Hardcover) – The latest from Bob Goff focuses on dreaming big.

BOOK NEWS: June 16, 2020

BOOK NEWS: June 16, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

Antiracist Baby (Board Book) – Board book from the author of How to Be an Antiracist.
You Should Meet Shirley Chisholm – Early reader biography of the first African American woman elected to Congress. She also ran for president in 1972.
The Adventures of Allie and Amy: Rockin’ Rockets – Book 2 in the Adventures of Allie and Amy series. A new girl in the neighborhood has only one extra ticket for a concert. Who will she choose to take – Allie or Amy?
Hand-Me-Down Magic: Stoop Sale Treasure – Book 1 in the new Hand-Me-Down Magic series about “best friend cousins” who are going to be living together for the first time and the conflicts that arise between them.
Little Goddess Girls: Artemis and the Awesome Animals – Book 4 in this series about the Greek goddesses and their adventures. This time Artemis is hoping Zeus can help her be a little more brave when Medusa comes along to stir up trouble.
Mack Rhino: The Candy Caper Case – Book 2 in the Mack Rhino detective series. Mack’s 101st case is one where a new candy cart is stealing business from other sweet shops while other shops are having break-ins, but nothing appears to be missing.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Disney Incredibles Movies in Comics (Graphic Novel) – A comics retelling of both Incredibles movies.
Nancy Drew Diaries: The Vanishing Statue – Book 20 in the Nancy Drew Diaries series. Nancy and her friends are invited to an art gala by a reclusive duchess. Days before the event, a statue is stolen, but the duchess insists that the gala go forward. So Nancy decides to use the event to sleuth out a thief.
Raising Lumie (Older Middle Grade) – Olive longs for a dog, but she knows this is NOT the best time for that. Recently orphaned, Olive is moving in with a half-sister she hardly knows. But then Olive gets the chance to help train Lumie, a guide-dog puppy. This sounds amazing!
The Rider’s Reign – The third and final book in the Rose Legacy series. Anthea’s mother has stolen enough horses to start her own herd and might be negotiating with an enemy kingdom. Anthea and her friends must set things right before they are caught up in hostile territory in the middle of a war.
The Rise of Greg – Third and final book in the Epic Series of Failures series. Greg and his friends are running out of time to save the world from his ex-best friend Edwin and his Elven army who want to steal the world’s magic supply for themselves.
Action Presidents: Theodore Roosevelt AND John F. Kennedy – Real history and fake jokes about these two American Presidents as the Action Presidents series continues.
Basher Civics (Older Middle Grade) A Basher book (infographics and information) about the presidents and states as well as some other governmental vocabulary.
The Kinder Poison – A stable girl’s longing for a peek at palace events puts her life at risk when she is caught up in a rivalry between the three royal heirs. As the heirs compete in a race across the desert, she will be the human sacrifice at the end that determines the winner.
You Say It First – Two teens connect through a voter registration phone call. What starts as bickering and obvious differences in social status becomes something more.

Books for Adults

28 Summers (Hardcover) – Based on the movie Same Time Next Year. As she lays dying, Mallory gives her son instructions to call a number on a slip of paper in her desk. He has no idea that the person he is calling is married to the frontrunner in the upcoming presidential election. The book details how Mallory and Jake know each other and what their relationship has been over the years. This sounds fascinating.
The Art of Deception (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Mystery series. A criminal is running around London sneaking into houses and art galleries, slashing paintings of women. But when Joanna and the Watsons are called in they discover that the criminal is only cutting deep enough to see behind the painting. He’s searching for something.
I Was Told It Would Get Easier (Trade Paperback) – From the author of one of my top books for 2019, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. A mother-daughter college tour doesn’t go at all according to plan. Emily is hoping for a taste of freedom, some clarity on if she even wants to go to college, and maybe a friend or two, unlike what she had in high school. Jessica is hoping to connect with her daughter. She’s not even sure if Emily likes her – or if she likes herself. This is at the top of my wish list for this week!
Sisters and Secrets (Trade Paperback) – The latest from Jennifer Ryan. The Silva Sisters are keeping secrets – from each other and the rest of the family, and in some cases even from themselves. But when those secrets start to come out they will discover there’s more to their family and their connections than they thought.
Stranger Planet (Hardcover Graphic Novel) – A comics collection sequel to Strange Planet.
The Essential Vegetarian Air Fryer Cookbook: 75+ Easy Meatless Recipes (Paperback) – Recipes for your air fryer.

BOOK NEWS: June 9, 2020

BOOK NEWS: June 9, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

A Family for Louie – Louie the French Bulldog looks for a family of his own. This looks darling!
Lift as You Climb: The Story of Ella Baker – A picture book biography of Civil Rights leader Ella Baker.
Mindy Kim and the Birthday Party – Book 3 in the Mindy Kim early chapter book series. Mindy tries to convince her parents she is responsible enough for a puppy.
Sparkleton: The Magic Day AND The Glitter Parade – The Sparkleton early chapter book series kicks off this week with two books. In The Magic Day, Sparkleton the unicorn tries out wish-granting powers for a day, but the results are the opposite of what he had in mind. In The Glitter Parade, Sparkleton’s gloomy friend, Gabe, gets an embarrassing unicorn power.
Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem – Book 5 in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series, a spin-off from the Mercy Watson series. In this book, Stella Endicott, Mercy’s neighbor, writes a poem all about Mercy. But one of her classmates doesn’t believe Stella’s stories which leads to an argument and a trip to the principal. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

American as Paneer Pie – Lekha deals with the prejudice in her community by separating herself into two versions – the home version and the school version. When another Indian family moves into her community, Lekha assumes Avantika will be like her – quiet about her culture. But Avantika is proud of her heritage, and she does not take the bullying quietly.
Catalyst (Older Middle Grade) – A new fantasy adventure from Sarah Beth Durst. Zoe’s tiny kitten Pipsqueak grows into a talking cat the size of a horse. Zoe and her best friend Harrison have to figure out why and if there is a way to keep Pipsqueak safe and make her small again.
Curse of the Night Witch – A boy marked with a fate he doesn’t want makes a wish to change it. Instead of a more desirable future, he gets a death sentence. He has one week to find the Night Witch to break the curse.
Disney Frozen Movies in Comics (Graphic Novel) – One of my favorite graphic novelists, Alessandro Ferrari, tackles the stories of Frozen and Frozen 2 in this graphic novel retelling. The sample pages I have seen are gorgeous!
Disney Princess Follow Your Heart (Graphic Novel) – Three short comics starring Disney Princesses – Mulan, Cinderella, and Belle.
Doodleville – Drew’s doodles tend not to stay in her sketchbook. And when she draws a leviathan – Levi – after an inspiring trip to the art museum, Drew and her friends will have to find a way to contain the monster when he starts causing trouble for her friends’ creations.
Five Things About Ava Andrews – From the author of Summer of a Thousand Pies. Ava Andrews’ quiet exterior hides a mind and heart overflowing with thoughts and ideas – as well as the anxiety and heart condition that leave her feeling disconnected from others. But when her writing abilities get her invited to join the improv group at school, she discovers new things about herself as well as about the people closest to her. This is at the top of my reading list for this week.
Glitch – Two kids who have been training to become Glitchers – people who travel through time to protect key moments in history – must put aside their rivalry when they find a letter from the future about a coming event that could destroy everyone they know.
Seven Clues to Home – A girl still grieving the loss of her best friend a year ago decides to follow the clues he left for her on her birthday last year to see what he might have left behind. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Turnover – The latest from Mike Lupica. When Lucas’s English teacher assigns them a project to write about their hero, it’s a no-brainer for Lucas to pick his grandfather, who also happens to be his basketball coach and a legendary player. But when Lucas tries to ask him anything for the project, his grandfather clams up, leaving Lucas to wonder what his grandpa might be hiding.
Agnes at the End of the World – A young woman loves her life in Red Creek with no idea that it is a cult run by a madman. But when she meets a boy from outside the community, and she starts to question her “sin” every time she barters for her brother’s insulin, she wonders if she shouldn’t pack up her brother and escape to the Outside. But the Outside is facing a viral pandemic making it a different sort of dangerous than Red Creek.
Hood – A re-imagined Robin Hood tale that focuses on the daughter of Robin and Marien, a teen targeted by King John’s right-hand man.

Books for Adults

500 Miles from You (Trade Paperback) – A nurse in London and an Army veteran/paramedic in a little town in the Scottish Highlands switch homes for a season so she can recover from PTSD. Both of them feel out of place in their temporary homes so they strike up an email correspondence to keep each other apprised about their patients. And even though they have never met in person, they start to develop feelings for one another.
Always the Last to Know (Trade Paperback) – While the Frosts seem like the perfect American family, when John has a stroke, it shakes everyone up. His favorite daughter, Sadie, gives up her career to come home and care for him while her sister Juliet starts to recognize that her own “perfect” life might be a sham. And Barb and John have to take a long look at their marriage in the face of John’s health.
The Boyfriend Project (Trade Paperback) – When Samiah’s bad date goes viral, and she discovers she’s been “catfished,” she’s ready to take a break from men and invest in herself. That includes developing the app she’s always wanted to – which brings her into contact with a sexy guy at work. What a terrible time to be on a break from men. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Full Scoop (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Riley Ellison Mystery series. Riley starts investigating the cold case of her grandfather’s murder where she will have to decide just how far she is willing to go to get to the truth.
Gone in Seconds (e-book) – Book 2 in the Max Carter series. Max is investigating another child abduction, this time of an infant from a mansion. But Max starts to wonder if the baby’s father, and his brother, might have something to do with the kidnapping.
Hush, Puppy (e-book – June 12) – Book 5 in the Dogmother’s series. A guy trying to launch his new business and take care of a rambunctious new puppy encounters a captivating woman – and her daughter who wants the puppy for her own. The woman was in town looking for something and someone else, but now she has a fella and a job and a chance at a fresh start. But then her past catches up to her and threatens everything.
In the Dark with the Duke (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Lost Lords of London series. After hiding away for 8 years after a tragedy, Lady Lila March is ready to return to the outside world, once she’s learned some self-defense. Her coach is the Savage Gentleman, a street fighter who longs to leave his brawling life behind.
Llama See that Evidence (e-book) – Book 2 in the Friendship Harbor Mysteries series. Ex-actress turned pub owner Sophie is sleuthing again when rumors swirl that her grandmother killed her grandfather back in the 80s and a body is found in her guest house. I have book 1 in this series on my TBR list.
The Marriage Game (Trade Paperback) – When her life falls apart, Layla goes home where her father gives her some office space above his restaurant, creates an online dating account for her, and sets her up on a series of blind dates. When Sam goes looking for a quiet office space, a misunderstanding lands him in shared space with Layla. Instead of a quiet work environment, he ends up with a parade of Layla’s crazy family and her hopeful suitors. Sparks will fly. This sounds so fun! This is on my list for this week, too.
Miss Cecily’s Recipes for Exceptional Ladies (Trade Paperback) – When her life falls apart on the eve of her 40th birthday, Kate starts volunteering. She meets 97-year-old Miss Cecily who has no patience for Kate’s poor choices. She prescribes a self-help book called Food for Thought which has recipes and menus for any sort of event life can throw at Kate.
Star Trek: The Original Series – Agents of Influence (Trade Paperback) – Three Starfleet agents, deep undercover in Klingon territory, initiate emergency extraction protocols, but everything goes wrong, threatening to expose the agents. Starfleet sends The Enterprise in to save the day. This will be a must read for me – I love anything in the Star Trek Universe about the Klingons.
Rage Against the Minivan: Learning to Parent Without Perfection (Hardcover) – Blogger, podcaster, and licensed therapist Kristen Howerton talks real life and parenting. This sounds fantastic!

BOOK NEWS: June 2, 2020

BOOK NEWS: June 2, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy June! Here are some of the new books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

I Am Curious AND I Am Strong (Board Books) – Board book adaptations of picture book biographies by Brad Meltzer.
Best Day Ever – A high strung boy wants to have the “best day ever” before his summer break ends, but his flighty next door neighbor keeps interrupting his plans with crazy suggestions.
I’m Trying to Love Rocks – A girl who loves rocks tries to help a skeptical reader see that geology is cool. The format of this is fantastic. Other titles in the series address bees, spiders and math.
What If You Could Sniff Like a Shark? – A spin-off of the What If You Had series. In this book readers explore the superpowers of ocean animals.
Barney – Book 57 in the Puppy Place series. The kids try to re-home a boisterous puppy for an overwhelmed family.
Craftily Ever After: Best Buds Forever – Book 7 in the Craftily Ever After series. The kids learn about community activism when they try to resurrect a community garden.  This sounds fantastic!
Dragon Masters: Call of the Sound Dragon – Book 16 in the Dragon Masters series. The Dragon Masters have to stop a wizards’ battle which is destroying a nearby city.
Take a Hike! – Book 2 in the new Scholastic ACORN series Moby Shinobi and Toby Too! Moby tries to use his ninja skills on a camping trip, but Toby helps him see that teamwork is the key to a great outing.
Thea Stilton and the Race for the Gold – Book 31 in the Thea Stilton series, this one focused on the Summer Olympics.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

Agatha Oddly and the Silver Serpent (Middle Grade and Older) – Book 3 in the Agatha Oddly mystery series. This time Agatha is investigating a missing employee from the National Gallery. This series looks so fun.
Brave Like That – A boy expected to follow in his father’s footsteps of greatness doesn’t think he is brave enough. But with the help of a stray dog and some new friends he might realize he is more brave than he realized.
Dactyl Hill Squad: Thunder Run – Book 3 in the Dactyl Hill Squad alternate history series. The kids try to help the Union Army when the Confederates join forces with Imperial troops in Mexico to fight for a spread of slavery. Dinosaur fans should not miss this series!
The Great Pet Heist – “Ocean’s Eleven meets The Secret Life of Pets.” What a great description! Sign me up. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Gryphon’s Lair (Older Middle Grade) – Book 2 in the Royal Guide to Monster Slaying series. Rowan is now the Royal Monster Hunter and one of her first tasks in the role is to return a baby gryphon to the wild. The journey is hard and makes Rowan wonder if she really has what it takes to be the Royal Monster Hunter for her kingdom.
I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916 (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation of the story. This is the second graphic novel in this series.
Klawde: Target Earth – Book 4 in the Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat series. (Book 1: ♥♥♥♥♥, Book 2 – Enemies: ♥♥♥♥) Klawde is ready to conquer earth, and all he needs to do it are an army of zombie squirrels and a ton of cash.
Once Upon a Space-Time (Graphic Novel) – From the author of the original Jedi Academy books comes this new series launch about two kids chosen to go on a research mission to Mars. This looks terrific!
Rescue Dogs: Dusty – Book 2 in the Rescue Dogs series. When Dusty is rescued from the side of the road, he is cared for at the Sterling Center where search and rescue dogs are trained. Dusty thinks he has the determination to do SAR, but his trainers are afraid he might be too small. When disaster strikes, Dusty will have a chance to prove himself.
The School for Good and Evil: One True King – The sixth and final book in the School for Good and Evil series.
Treasure Hunters: Plunder Down Under – The Treasure Hunters are on a race across Australia to find the pirate who framed their parents and got them arrested and get the proof to clear their names.
Warriors: A Shadow in Riverclan (Graphic Novel) – An original full-color graphic novel from the Warriors universe. Feathertail tries to find forgiveness – and compassion for some newcomers – after the events of the past with her clan.
Who Was Ida B. Wells? – Biography of the most famous female Black journalist of the American nineteenth century.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Again Again – The latest from the author of We Were Liars (♥♥♥♥) about a summer of love for a teen who survives a near-fatal family catastrophe.
Burn – Only the poorest people have to hire dragons to help on their farms. And that is the position where Sarah and her father find themselves. But the dragon who arrives is there for more than just the job. He carries a prophecy about assassins, dragon-worshipers, the FBI – and Sarah.
The Court of Miracles – A re-imagined Les Miserables where the French Revolution fails and nine underworld criminal guilds develop. Eponine, a member of the Thieves guild, watches over her adopted sister, Cosette, who has caught the eye of the head of the Guild of Flesh.
Jo & Laurie – A “romantic re-telling of Little Women” by Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz. After the success of her first novel Jo, and her best friend and neighbor, Laurie, head to New York for inspiration for her next one. Laurie has romance on his mind, but Jo turns down his proposal to protect her independence. When he shows up later with a new girlfriend, Jo has to wonder if she has made a big mistake.
My Calamity Jane – Book 3 in the Lady Janies series. Calamity Jane is a werewolf hunter. After a hunt goes bad and she finds a suspicious bite on her arm, Jane heads to Deadwood where there’s rumor of a cure. I have this whole series on my TBR list.
A Song Below Water – Best friends negotiate junior year of high school as well as demons from the past and hidden siren powers.
Star Wars: Queen’s Peril – Companion novel to Queen’s Shadow (♥♥♥♥). This book will focus on Queen Amidala and her handmaidens when the Trade Federation attacks Naboo. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Wonder Woman Tempest Tossed (Graphic Novel) – On Diana’s 16th birthday, the day she expects to be finally accepted into the warrior tribe, the boundary of Themyscira is crossed by boats full of refugees. When Diana goes to help them, she is swept out to sea. I’ll be reviewing this one soon as well.
You Should See Me in a Crown (LGBTQ+) – When a young woman’s college scholarship falls through, she sees her dreams of getting out of her small town going up in smoke. Until she remembers that her high school has a scholarship for the Prom King and Queen. As her campaign for queen progresses, though, Liz realizes she is falling for her rival, the new girl in school. Which would be better – winning Prom Queen or winning the girl?

Books for Adults

Broken Genius (Hardcover) – Book 1 in the new Will Parker Thriller series. In 2011, a coding error by young revolutionary CEO Will Parker cost a college student her life. His self-directed penance was joining the FBI Cyber Division. Years later, Will is on a case at a Midwest comic convention when he discovers the case involves tech from his pre-FBI life. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
A Cottage Wedding (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Heart’s Landing series from Hallmark Publishing. A journalist is in town, charged by her boss to “de-bunk” the romantic reputation of Heart’s Landing. This could destroy the economy of the town and all the people who live there. The townspeople ask the descendant of the town’s founder to wine and dine the reporter to save their community.
Deadly Sweet Tooth (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Vintage Sweets Mystery series. Tally finally has her sweet shop on the road to success and feels she can afford to take a day off to throw an event for her parents, travelling performers. It will give her an opportunity to share her sweets with a new audience, which could be great for her shop. But a dead body at the party is not going to help much at all.
The Grim Reader (Hardcover) – Book 14 in Kate Carlisle’s Bibliophile Mystery series. Brooklyn and her new husband are eager to enjoy a new book fair. Her mom is spearheading the whole event, including having her own booth for palm readings and tarot cards. But things quickly turn ugly at the quaint event – a nasty local businessman stirs up trouble, a member of the planning committee is murdered, and the proceeds from the fair go missing. (I haven’t kept up on this series, so I can’t say if the occult pieces are there for novelty or if there really is an occult component.)
Lady Rights a Wrong (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Manor Cat Mystery series. Lady Cecilia is captivated by the idea of Women’s Suffrage, but when the movement’s local leader is found dead, Cecilia trades marching for investigating.
The Lies that Bind (Hardcover) – Cecily takes the advice of a stranger in a bar and instead of calling her ex she strikes up a conversation with the stranger. Months later, after their relationship has continued to develop, she loses track of him in the aftermath of 9/11. When she sees his face on a poster of those who have gone missing, Cecily uses her investigative reporter skills to  dig into the man she loved who might have been more of a stranger to her than she thought.
Where the Road Bends (Hardcover) – Fifteen years after college graduation, four friends set off on a camping trip in the Australian Outback. Just as they are realizing how much each of them has changed since college, a storm drives the four of them into desert where each finds a guide that helps them set out on a path to find what they are looking for.
The Easy Baked Donut Cookbook: 60 Sweet and Savory Recipes for Your Oven and Mini Donut Maker (Paperback) – Simple sweet and savory donut recipes. I had NO idea there was such a thing as a “mini donut maker.” How fun!
Game Changers: The Story of Pictionary and How I Turned a Simple Idea Into the Bestselling Board Game in the World (Hardcover) – The history behind the board game Pictionary.
What If Jesus Was Serious?: A Visual Guide to the Teachings of Jesus We Love to Ignore (Trade Paperback) – A devotional with charts and doodles. This is on my list for this week.

BOOK NEWS: May 26, 2020

BOOK NEWS: May 26, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy Memorial Day to those of you here from the US! Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

Jasper & Ollie Build a Fort – Two friends decide to each build a fort to see whose is better. This looks darling!
Piglette – A precise piglet heads to Paris to use her skills in perfume shops, but she starts to miss the comforts of home.
Smug Seagull – A seagull who likes to snatch snacks from beach goers meets his match in a grabby crab.
Wonder Woman – A new Little Golden Book about Wonder Woman.
Big Shark, Little Shark, Baby Shark (Early Reader) – The latest early reader in the Big Shark, Little Shark series where Big Shark and Little Shark discover something they can agree on – Baby Shark is too little to be fun.
Storybots: Wheels on the Road (Early Reader) – The latest Storybots early reader focuses on cars and trucks and other things that go.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Disney Frozen True Treasure (Graphic Novel) – Anna and Elsa complete a scavenger hunt that was once created by their mother in this graphic novel that takes place before the events of Frozen 2.
Flash Crossover Crisis: Supergirl’s Sacrifice – Book 2 in the Crossover Crisis sub-series of the Flash middle grade novels. The Flash and Supergirl are trying to save the multiverse after the events of Green Arrow’s Perfect Shot.
Hello from Renn Lake – A girl who has always had a special relationship with the water near her home discovers an algae bloom is hurting her beloved lake.
Camp (LGBTQ+) – A boy at a camp for queer teens reinvents himself to get the attention of his crush, but he starts to wonder if it can really be love if he isn’t being true to himself.
Holly Hernandez and the Death of Disco (May 31) – A teen investigates when one of the teachers at her new school is killed. At first Holly wants to keep her detective mom from arresting the socially awkward kid who is the prime suspect. But then that kid starts investigating, too, wanting to beat Holly to the truth. This sounds fun!
The Paper Girls of Paris – When her grandmother leaves her a secret apartment in Paris that hasn’t been opened in 70 years, a teen starts digging into family secrets. This is told from the teen’s perspective as well as her grandmother’s from Nazi-occupied Paris. Sounds like a fascinating story!
Parachutes – “Parachutes” are teens who are dropped off with American host families to live and attend school while their wealthy parents stay in Asia. Claire finds herself sharing a home with Dani who is not happy to be competing with the parachutes who are buying their way into opportunities she is trying to earn. While the girls try to leave one another alone, they keep bouncing into one another’s lanes. There are hints that there might be references here to sexual assault/abuse.

Books for Adults

Breakfast at the Honey Creek Café (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Honey Creek series. The Honey Creek mayor brings in an investigator to find her missing fiancé, but to avoid a scandal the undercover officer pretends to be an ex trying to win her back. This sound awesome!
Call for Kelp (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Seaside Café Mystery series focuses on the murder of an iconic Hollywood actress who had been in town.
Death by Auction (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Abby McCree Mystery series. Abby is helping with a bachelor action chock full of surprises, including a dead body. I haven’t read anything from this series, but this story sounds terrific.
Ghosting: A Love Story (Trade Paperback) – Two people working out of a café, ghostwriting dating profiles for rival services, unknowingly cross paths online. This sounds like a hoot!
Girls of Summer (Hardcover) – A divorcée living on Nantucket creates sparks with her handyman who is 10 years her junior. Her grown children, worried she’ll get hurt, head home for the summer to keep an eye on her – and to maybe find love for themselves. This sounds like a great story of family and a second chance at love.
Killer Chardonnay (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 1 in the new Colorado Wine Mystery series. On a winery’s opening day a critic shows up unannounced and then is killed.
Marshmallow Malice (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series by Amanda Flower. Juliet and the Reverend are finally getting married, and Bailey is sleuthing when an uninvited wedding guest, there to cause trouble for the Reverend, is found dead. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey (Trade Paperback) – A spy for the crown and a woman with a secret find themselves posing as a couple to protect themselves and those they hold dear while they try to uncover a murderer. This sounds twisty and terrific! I’ve requested this from the library.
Murder with Clotted Cream (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series. When a local girl who left town to become a star returns with a multimillionaire husband, everyone wants to get a glimpse. But when the woman is killed at the tea Daisy had prepared for her, Daisy is sleuthing again.
No Filter (e-book) – First in the Barks & Beans Café Mystery series. Siblings run a café where guests can pet shelter dogs, and one of them ends up with a new pet after a local is killed and his Great Dane is put up for adoption. But when the dog is kidnapped it’s clear there’s more going on. At the time of this writing, this is available for Kindle Unlimited subscribers to read for free.
Red Hot (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Red Herring Mystery series. Alex heads to South Beach for a little R&R, but gets pulled into shenanigans at her sister’s condo association elections. I’m a book behind in this series, but I am hoping to catch up soon.
Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Marygene Brown Mystery series. A woman haunted by the ghost of her mother is pulled into investigating again when she discovers not one but two burnt bodies.
The Marvel Studios Story: How a Failing Comic Book Publisher Became a Hollywood Superhero (Hardcover) – A business/entrepreneurial book based on the success of Marvel Studios.

BOOK NEWS: May 19, 2020

BOOK NEWS: May 19, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

There are several books releasing this week that are at the top of my May wish list. Take a look at what is releasing this week:

Books for Kids

Two Dogs on a Trike – A counting book with 10 dogs and one calculating cat.
Through the Wardrobe: How C. S. Lewis Created Narnia – Picture book biography of C. S. Lewis, specifically about him writing the Narnia books.
What About Worms!? (Early Reader) – Part of the Elephant & Piggie Like Reading series. This book, by the author of Mother Bruce (♥♥♥♥♥) and We Don’t Eat Our Classmates (♥♥♥♥♥), is about a tiger afraid of worms.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

  

Zeus the Mighty: The Maze of the Menacing Minotaur – Book 2 in the Zeus the Mighty series about Zeus the hamster and his gang of gods. This time they are tackling the labyrinth.
Who Was Harvey Milk? (LGBTQ+) – A biography of teacher, activist, and politician Harvey Milk.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – The highly anticipated – and sometimes derided – prequel to The Hunger Games. This book focuses on a young Cornelius Snow as he mentors the tribute from District 12 in the 10th Annual Hunger Games.
Bookish Boyfriends: Talk Nerdy to Me – Book 3 in one of my all time favorite YA book series, Bookish Boyfriends. The books at the center of this story are Frankenstein and Anne of Green Gables. I can not wait to see what the English teacher, Ms Gregoire, has in store for her students next! I pre-ordered this weeks ago. I might even have time to sneak in a re-read of the first two before it gets here.
Just a Boy and a Girl in a Little Canoe – A new YA romance from one of the authors of the Upside Down Magic books, Sarah Mlynowski. A teen returns as a counselor to the camp of her worst summer nightmares when her boyfriend ditches her for the summer. She’s certain her summer will be a disaster, until she meets the camp sailing instructor.

Books for Adults

Beach Read (Trade Paperback) – Two very different writers sharing side-by-side beach houses and struggling with writer’s block set up a challenge to help them get out of their writing ruts. The literary writer who usually kills off his entire cast will try to write something happy. And the romance writer will try to write the Great American Novel. This week is FULL of AMAZING books for adults and this is near the top of my list for this week!
Chaos Reigning (Trade Paperback) – It’s. Finally. Here. This is book 3 in the Consortium Rebellion series. Book 1, Polaris Rising, was my favorite book of 2019. I have been waiting for this book since the minute I finished book 2, Aurora Blazing (♥♥♥♥½). I am going to try to work in a re-read of this series, too, before my pre-order arrives. This book focuses on the youngest member of the von Hasenberg family who goes undercover to a rival house’s summer retreat. This week is like my perfect release Tuesday. If only book stores were open so I could fully enjoy the day. Shout out to my indie bookstores – Kids Ink for Talk Nerdy to Me and Second Flight Books for Chaos Reigning.
The Plus One Pact (e-book May 21) – When her dating app tells a woman there are no more eligible men in her area, and she is facing a summer of plus-one activities like weddings, she connects with a guy in a similar boat and they decide to be each other’s plus one to get through the summer together. Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read this one for free at the time of this writing.
Real Men Knit (Trade Paperback) – Four brothers struggle to keep their adoptive mother’s knitting shop open. Jesse is the brother pushing the hardest to keep the store going, but he knows next to nothing about knitting. Thankfully, a shop employee is willing to help out. The crush she has on Jesse probably has nothing to do with why she volunteers. This is also at the top of my reading list for this week. I’m going to be busy! Good thing we have a long weekend coming up.
A Royal Kiss & Tell (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Royal Wedding series after The Princess Plan. When popular Lady Caroline is snubbed by a prince, she gets even by secretly planting stories about him in the ladies’ gossip papers. When the rumors start to ruin his reputation, he seeks out help to fix his image – from Lady Caroline.
Stranger Ranger (e-book) – Book 2 in the Smart Ranger series from Smartypants Romance. A reclusive loner runs into a hot shot park ranger who thinks he is up to trouble on park land.
The Enneagram of Belonging (Trade Paperback) – One of my early Enneagram resources was The Sacred Enneagram from Chris Heuertz (♥♥♥♥). The author is now releasing a second book with an emphasis on self-acceptance for all the parts of our personalities. There is also a workbook to go with this one. I’m eager to see this in person and see how it stacks up to other resources that are available. [EDIT: Sadly, some new about the author came out after this post. Readers can decide for themselves how this will impact them. You can read the article here. ]

BOOK NEWS: May 12, 2020

BOOK NEWS: May 12, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

   

It Is (Not) Perfect – Two friends try to make their sandcastle perfect. At the time of this writing, this is available to read for free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Memoirs of a Tortoise (May 15) – Book 5 in this series. Oliver and his human Ike are both 80 years old and have a lot of similar interests. But when Ike stops visiting the garden, Oliver wonders why. One of the subjects of this book is death and dying, so this sounds like a more serious entry into this fun series.
Teddy Spaghetti – A boy who loves spaghetti gets teased at school.
If You Love Robots, You Could Be… (Early Reader) – The latest in a line of leveled readers about career options based on childhood interests.
Iggy Peck and the Mysterious Mansion – Book 3 in the Questioneers chapter book series. Iggy Peck, Architect, and his friends the Questioneers, hunt for missing treasure in an old mansion. You can read about some of the picture books that launched this series here.
The Infamous Ratsos Camp Out – Book 4 in the Infamous Ratsos series. This time the boys are going camping. But their special guide tells them that good scouts never ask for help, which causes a lot of trouble.
The Unbelievable Oliver and the Sawed-in-Half Dads (LGBTQ+) – Book 2 in the Unbelievable Oliver series. This time, Oliver has been hired to do magic at a wedding. He decides to use the grooms as his helpers in the sawed-in-half trick.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Bella’s Story – Looks like this is book 8 in the Dog’s Purpose Puppy Tales series (Ellie’s Story: ♥♥♥♥♥). When Bella has to go to a foster home, she is determined to get back to her boy, Lucas.
Dragon Ops – From the author of the Camelot Code series comes this new book about a video game theme park, and three kids lucky enough to beta test it. But once there they get trapped inside by a rogue artificial intelligence dragon.
Elsa’s Hero Journal – The flip side of this is Anna’s Hero Journal. It’s one volume, but two pieces that start at the covers and meet in the middle. This guided journal includes writing prompts and gorgeous Frozen 2 artwork.
By the Book – A teen tries to use 19th century literature to create a Scoundrel Survival Guide to warn her friends off of guys who are bad news. I have this on hold already at the library. I can’t wait to read this one!
Dear Universe – A teen navigating her senior year and her father’s terminal illness encounters an unusual hospital volunteer who helps her walk the line between her two lives.
House of Dragons – “Three Dark Crowns meets The Breakfast Club with dragons.” I don’t know that I need to hear much more than that to put this one on my list!
The Princess Trials (e-book – May 14) – A desperate teen signs on for the Princess Trials, a contest to find a wife for the future king, in order to get into the castle and search for weaknesses to help the rebellion. This sounds like The Selection (♥♥♥♥♥), and I am here for it. At the time of this writing, this is available for Kindle Unlimited subscribers to read for free.
Say Yes Summer – A girl with lofty goals has spent her high school career saying no to everything but studying. And now that she has graduated, she is ready for a summer of “YES.” I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Superman Smashes the Klan – The latest graphic novel from DC Entertainment focuses on Superman in 1946 where he shows up to help a Chinese family who is being targeted by the Klan. I will be reviewing this one soon as well.

Books for Adults

A Study in Murder (e-book/Hardcover) – First in the Victorian Book Club Mystery series. This will be releasing electronically this week, but the hardcover won’t release until June 9. 1890, England. When a mystery author gets news that her fiance is up to something illegal, she dumps him. When he winds up dead in her library a couple days later, she is the prime suspect. I can’t wait to read this one!
Aleph Extraction (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Galactic Cold War series after The Bayern Agenda. Misfit spies on a space heist? Yes, please. I have this series on my list.
The Bright Side of Going Dark (Trade Paperback) – One of the most popular influencers on social media chucks it all – literally, she chucks her phone off a cliff – to live life off the grid for awhile. Another young woman hacks the influencer’s idle accounts and pretends to be her in an effort to connect with her sister who is a fan and is struggling. This is currently available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers. I’m eager to read this one!
A Deadly Inside Scoop (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Ice Cream Parlor Mystery series. A woman trying to relaunch her family’s ice cream shop with a new image gets more than she bargained for with an unexpected snow storm and a dead body.
Love in Deed (e-book) – Book 6 in the Green Valley Library series. A recluse and a nomad find an unexpected life alongside one another – and the possibility of love. I am so intrigued by these books from Smartypants Romance because of their great covers. I have several on my reading list.
Of Literature and Lattes (Trade Paperback) – A woman reluctantly returns to her hometown after a series of problems and meets a man who is looking for help to save his business. The sparks between them won’t mean anything, though, if they keep running into roadblocks.
Read or Alive (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Bookmobile Mystery series (not to be confused with the Bookmobile CAT mystery series by Laurie Cass – Book 1 is Lending a Paw – ♥♥♥♥ ). When a book scout comes to town for the Antiquarian Book Society fair and swindles locals out of rare and valuable tomes, it’s really no surprise he ends up dead. (This is a mystery after all!) But the surprise is that Cleo’s cousin Dot AND Cleo’s beau, Henry, are suspects.
A Spell for Trouble (e-book/Hardcover) – First in the new Enchanted Bay Mystery series. This is another book where the e-book will release this week, but the physical book won’t be out until June. A woman ignores her father’s warnings, forbidding her from contacting her extended family, and returns to Bellamy Bay, NC. What she finds is the family apothecary shop, rumors that her family are descended from MERMAIDS, and murder. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
To Kill a Mocking Girl (e-book/Hardcover) – The series debut for the Bookbinding Mystery series. This is yet another book (all from the same publisher) that will release electronically this week, but in print on June 9. A woman back in her home town at her family’s bookshop is suspected of murdering her high school nemesis – the woman engaged to her ex. So she teams up with her older brother’s detective friend and her cousin-turned-nun to find the truth. Frankly, it’s the ensemble that makes this one sound so amazing. I am eager to read this one.
The Trouble with Hating You (Trade Paperback) – A successful biochemical engineer has had enough of her family’s fix-ups. The latest, a lawyer, actually shows up at her work a week after the disastrous fix-up dinner, as he’s been hired to come in and help save her company. She realizes she might have been hasty to dismiss him early on, but both of them may have too much baggage to make a relationship work. I am eager to read this, too!
100 Days to Brave Guided Journal (Hardcover) – The latest accessory to Annie F. Downs’ popular devotional 100 Days to Brave. This guided journal walks users through excerpts, writing prompts and Bible verses. It can be used on its own or alongside the devotional.
For All Who Hunger: Searching for Communion in a Shattered World (Hardcover) – A memoir from the founding pastor of St. Lydia’s Dinner Church in Brooklyn, New York. The founding of this church sounds fascinating, and then add in the stories of how they interacted with their community in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, and this will be one not to miss. (LGBTQ+)
This Too Shall Last: Finding Grace When Suffering Lingers (Trade Paperback) – If God loves us, why does he allow us to hurt? This memoir/spiritual growth resource looks at suffering in the middle. What can be learned in this space, especially if it is a suffering that isn’t going to go away? I loved this description: “An antidote to our cultural idolatry of effort and ease.” This will be a timely resource!

BOOK NEWS: May 5, 2020

BOOK NEWS: May 5, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy May! Yes, there have been a lot of release dates postponed because of the pandemic, but you can’t tell it by this great slate of books we have to look forward to. Here are some of the new books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

Pterapunzel (Board Book) – Book 3 in the Once Before Time board book series of fractured fairy tales starring dinosaurs. You can read my review of Sleeping Bronty here. A dinosaur with a beautiful singing voice is captured by a witch and imprisoned in a tall tower. This looks adorable!
I Really Want the Cake – A girl and her pup struggle against temptation when there’s cake!
Llama Unleashes the Alpacalypse – Sequel to Llama Destroys the World (♥♥♥). Llama clones his friend Alpaca to help him clean up his baking mess leading to the “alpacalypse.”
The One and Only Dylan St. Claire – A boy who loves the spotlight is cast as a squirrel in the school play about outer space – instead of the starring role he was hoping for.
Welcome to the Party – A new picture book by Gabrielle Union inspired by the anticipation of the birth of her daughter.
Clever Hans – The true story of a clever horse that changed the course of science! I am so excited to read this!
Cutiecorns: Heart of Gold – The first of two books launching this series this week. It’s time for the Cutiecorns to learn to use their magic when Sparkle’s locket is stolen.
Frog and Dog: Frog Meets Dog AND Goat in a Boat (ACORN) – There are three short, rhyming friendship stories in each of these books launching the Frog and Dog series from Scholastic Acorn.
Hotdog! AND Hotdog!: Party Time – These two books launch the Hotdog! series. Hotdog and his friends help a baby bird find its mother in book one, and in book two the friends are planning a surprise party.
Itty Bitty Princess Kitty: The Puppy Prince – Book 3 in the Itty Bitty Princess Kitty series about a princess kitty and her unicorn best friend. These look DARLING!! This time, a royal family of dogs comes to visit, and Itty has trouble connecting with the prince.
Jewel Kingdom: The Ruby Princess Runs Away – The first of FOUR books launching the Jewel Kingdom series release this week! Four girls about to become princesses must face personal challenges in their kingdom(s). These look so fun! The covers for all four are gorgeous! The other titles are: The Sapphire Princess Meets a Monster, The Emerald Princess Plays a Trick, and The Diamond Princess Saves the Day.
Layla and the Bots: Happy Paws (BRANCHES) – Book 1 in the new Layla and the Bots series from Scholastic Branches that combines a rock band with cool inventions. In this book, Layla tries to help a failing amusement park by turning it into a park for dogs. This also looks adorable!
Jesus, Who Are You? – An inductive Bible study for kids on the names of Jesus from Kay Arthur and other authors. This sounds really cool!

Books for Older Kids/Teens

Becoming Brianna – Book 4 in the Emmie & Friends line of graphic novels after Invisible Emmie, Positively Izzy, and Just Jaime (♥♥♥♥). This book focuses on Bri’s preparations for her Bat Mitzvah, especially considering she does not enjoy being in the spotlight. I’ve already requested this one from the library.
Camp Jupiter Classified (Trials of Apollo) – The journal of Claudia, a probatio at Camp Jupiter might lead readers to discover who is really responsible for all the problems that have cropped up recently at the camp. Fans of Rick Riordan’s series should check this one out.
Cursed (Older Middle Grade) – The sixth and final book in the Fairy Tale Reform School series which started with Flunked (♥♥♥♥). Gilly is pitted against her own sister as she battles Rumpelstiltskin and his Stiltskin Squad when they try to curse Enchantasia out of existence.
Donut Dreams: Family Recipe – Book 3 in the Donut Dreams series focuses on an adopted girl wrestling with a family tree assignment for school.
Jacky Ha-Ha (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation of the Chris Grabenstein/James Patterson novel.
Katie Cupcakes and Wedding Bells – Book 33 in the Cupcake Diaries series. Katie is excited about her mom’s upcoming wedding until she finds out it means they are going to have to move.
Keep It Together, Keiko Carter – At the start of middle school, Keiko finds herself caught between her feuding best friends as the pressure builds to have boyfriends before Fall Ball.
Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy from 15 Muslim Voices – A collection of short stories about the celebration of Eid, the festival at the end of Ramadan.
The One and Only Bob – The long-awaited sequel of The One and Only Ivan. Ivan, Ruby, and Bob set off on an adventure as they search for Bob’s sister as a hurricane approaches.
One Last Shot – In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with a book by John David Anderson. I’ve already pre-ordered this one, I am so confident it will be amazing. A non-sporty kid discovers he loves mini-golf, but his dad’s sports obsession threatens to ruin the game for him.
Real Pigeons Eat Danger – Book 2 in the Real Pigeons series starring crime fighting feathered friends. I have book 1 on hold at the library. This series looks hysterical!
Sal & Gabi Fix the Universe – Book 2 in the Sal and Gabi series from Rick Riordan’s imprint for mythological stories. This time, there is a rogue Gabi duplicate on the loose that threatens the world as we know it.
Shuri – My favorite character from the Black Panther movie now gets her own book (in addition to the comics and graphic novels where you can already find her). From the author of Dear Martin (♥♥♥♥). In a story that seems to be launching a series, Shuri leaves Wakanda to find out what is causing the Heart-Shaped Herb to die. This is at the top of my list for this week.
Sprinkle Sundays: A Sprinkle of Friendship – Book 10 in the Sprinkle Sundays series. Allie and Sierra are trying to do the jobs of three people at the ice cream shop when Tamiko goes on vacation during the busy summer season.
Swimming with Dolphins – A girl’s worries about her family’s move and how she’ll adjust to new spaces with her wheelchair are compounded when her dream of swimming with a dolphin doesn’t go like she thought it would.
Throwback: The Chaos Loop – Book 2 in the Throwback series from the author of the Seven Wonders books and the Max Tilt series. In the first book, Corey discovered he has the power to go back in time and change history, but now he’s becoming addicted to the rush of fixing past problems. And a trip back to WWII Germany could ask more of him than he is able to give.
Turtle Boy (Older Middle Grade) – Will, a struggling middle schooler who prefers a quiet life by himself, gets to know RJ, a boy in the hospital with an incurable disease, as part of his Bar Mitzvah preparations. But when RJ’s health starts to decline, Will decides he needs to tackle the items on RJ’s bucket list for him. This will be powerful.
We Dream of Space – Three siblings in 7th grade (a pair of twins and an older sibling taking a second run at it) dig into a class assignment in anticipation of the Challenger launch (1986). This sounds lovely. I am fascinated by the full description of the three kids, the ways they are each struggling, and I’m eager to see how the class assignment impacts each of them.
Show Me History: Benjamin Franklin, Inventor of the Nation! (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel biography of Benjamin Franklin.
What Is Lego? AND Where Is the Congo?

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Aurora Burning – Sequel to the terrific Aurora Rising.  Squad 312 is still on the run as Aurora tries to get a handle on her powers. And a message from the past – the black box on the Hadfield – could be just what they need to figure out how to save the galaxy. I already have this on hold at the library.
The Betrothed – Kiera Cass, author of the fantastic Selection series, is back with a new story about a would-be queen. Hollis has grown up at the palace, so of course she is thrilled to hear the King has his eye on her. But a commoner with a mysterious gift shows Hollis that her heart may actually want something besides the future she was raised to pursue.
Clap When You Land – A novel in verse about two girls – one in the Dominican Republic and the other in New York – who learn about one another when their father is killed in a plane crash.
The Declaration, the Sword and the Spy – Book 6 in the Epic Order of the Seven series. The Epic Order of the Seven animals try to help the Founding Fathers through the treacherous twists of the American Revolution.
Forged in Fire and Stars – Ara was always told her destiny was to become the Loresmith, the blacksmith who armed the kingdom for war. But after the kingdom was overthrown years back, she thought that destiny was gone. Until the lost prince and princess come looking for Ara to help them retake their kingdom and defeat their foes.
Four Days of You and Me – Every year their class takes an all-day class trip. And every year the trip draws Lulu and Alex together again. Looks like this will explore the class trip from all four years of high school with these two teens.
Fractured Tide – A new novel from Blink YA publishing. A scuba diving teen is marooned on an island after her boat is attacked by a mysterious creature and some of her tourist passengers are killed. Reuniting with some survivors on the island is not the relief she first thinks it is. Described as a mix of suspense and horror.
Hunting November – Sequel to the stunning Killing November. November has survived her training at the espionage boarding school where her father sent her, but now she has to use those skills – and the ones he gave her growing up – to find her father before someone kills him. I adored the first book and will be reading this one as soon as I get my hands on it.
The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly – A teen waitressing at a medieval-themed restaurant longs for the chance to be a knight instead of a wench. The pay is better – and her family needs it – and the job is more fun. But when she fills in for her brother as a knight, wins, and then is revealed to be a girl, she decides there’s no way she is going back to waiting tables without a fight. I have this on hold at the library, too.
War and Speech – When her dad goes to prison, Sydney loses a lot. But she gains a new school that is ruled by the blistering speech team of all things. But Sydney’s new group of misfit friends realizes she could actually get onto the speech team and help them take it down from the inside. But what will Sydney choose to do when she realizes she actually has a chance to win the national competition and get some of her life back instead of toppling the power structure? I’ll be reviewing this one soon!

Books for Adults

The Farm Stand (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Amish Marketplace series. An Amish woman running her own produce stand at the market starts to fall for the Mennonite chef working next door. But she’s already in a relationship.
Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish (Trade Paperback) – From the author of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck and Wooing Cadie McCaffrey. The top two chefs on the Culinary Channel have to work together as he is trying to repair his reputation, and she has all the sweet and respectable qualities he needs to find if he wants to keep his career.
Hello Summer (Hardcover) – A journalist stuck back at home working on the gossip column in the family newspaper stumbles into the story of a lifetime.
The Imperfects (Hardcover) – The three Miller siblings launch an investigation into their family history when their grandmother dies and they discover a  famous, long-missing diamond among her belongings.
Mousse and Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 1 in the Alaskan Diner Mystery series. A chef returns to her Alaskan home to take over the family diner, but soon finds herself wrapped up in a murder investigation when her head cook is killed.
A Murderous Misconception (e-book May 8) – Book 7 in the Victoria Square Mystery series. When Kate hears her boyfriend Andy’s assistant manager is pregnant with his child, she is floored. When the woman is later killed (and determined to NOT be pregnant), Kate and Andy both become murder suspects.
My Brother’s Keeper (e-book May 8) – Book 4 in the Reverend Margot Quade Cozy Mystery series. When Margot tries to get away for a restorative vacation, the Lord has other plans. She finds plenty of people at the B&B in need of pastoral care and counsel. When one of those people ends up dead, she feels compelled to investigate. I love the idea of a Christian Cozy mystery! Book 1, Into the Lion’s Den, is free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.
Network Effect (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Murderbot Diaries series, the first full-length, standalone novel in the series. I am fascinated by this Artificial Intelligence story. I have book 1 on my list at the library.
The Resolutions (Hardcover) – The Brennan siblings are close to achieving everything they ever dreamed. But when roadblocks threaten to undo everything, they return home to each other for the holidays, and then head to West Africa to try to save everything they have worked for.
Storing up Trouble (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the American Heiresses series. An independent young woman encounters a scientist on the train to Chicago when someone tries to steal the man’s research. When they bump into each other again, it becomes clear that the thieves have not given up their plans to steal the research, and both the scientist and the young woman may get caught in the middle. This series looks delightful! I can’t wait to read these.
The Tourist Attraction (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Moose Springs, Alaska series. A grumpy local with no patience for tourists may have to change his tune when he gets to know the  young woman who frequents his diner and blushes every time he catches her eye. I have had this on hold at the library for ages!
Upsy Daisy (e-book) – Book 1 in the Higher Learning series. Two young people at college believe this time in their lives is crucial to achieving the future they dream of, but they could quickly become a distraction for one another.
Grace for the Moment Family Devotional (Hardcover) – 100 devotions for families from Max Lucado.
The Lincoln Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill America’s Sixteenth President – and Why It Failed (Hardcover) – The latest from Brad Meltzer looks into a little-known failed assassination attempt against President Lincoln.
The Myth of the American Dream: Reflections on Affluence, Autonomy, Safety, and Power (Hardcover) – A collection of essays around these four American values and how they line up to Jesus’ commands for his followers.

BOOK NEWS: April 28, 2020

BOOK NEWS: April 28, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the final week of April. Here are some of the new books out this week!

Books for Kids

Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family – A pair of pet siblings and an “only child” dog become part of a blended family. This looks darling!
Willow the Armadillo – Willow longs to be the hero of a picture book, so she auditions, but can’t find the right fit. This looks great, too!
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I Am Cleopatra – A new early reader based on the Xavier Riddle show.
Ways to Make Sunshine – First in a new “young middle grade”/chapter book series about a girl who knows how to make “sunshine out of setbacks.”

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

Finn and the Intergalactic Lunchbox (Older Middle Grade) – First in a new series from the author of the Sisters Grimm series and the N.E.R.D.S. series (two series I have loved over the years!).  Finn’s magical lunchbox does amazing things like opens wormholes. The downside is this grabs the attention of a race of bugs intent on destroying Finn because he has a weapon that belongs to them – and they want it back. The ensemble in this book is what grabs my attention. I can’t wait to check this one out!
Great Escapes: Nazi Prison Camp Escape AND Journey to Freedom – The first two books in a new series about history and survival.
How to Disappear Completely – A girl struggling after the loss of her grandmother writes one last thing in their shared notebook – and someone writes her back!
The Popularity Code – A new Aladdin MIX book. When a girl discovers an online SlamBook, she starts leaving nasty comments for the people she thinks have been mean to her online.
Rebel in the Library of Ever – A sequel to The Library of Ever. Lenora joins the resistance to fight against the darkness that has taken over the Library of Ever.
Wild and Chance – A special dog with mysterious skills and tech teams up with a couple kids to solve the mystery of where she came from. This sounds so fun!
Secret Message Origami – A fun activity book might be just what your kids need during these days at home!
Clique Bait – A teen who watched her best friend’s life get destroyed by the in crowd infiltrates the group to take them down one at a time.

 

Books for Adults

And the Killer Is (Hardcover) – Book 25 in the Savannah Reid mystery series. When a 90-year-old movie star is strangled in her own home, the Moonlight Magnolia gang is on the case.
Being Known (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Haven Makers series. What does it mean to be truly known? A woman grieving the loss of her mother has to decide if she will open up to her friends and let them help her or if she will continue to live a guarded life.
Botched Butterscotch (e-book) – An Amish Candy Shop novella. Bailey’s parents are in town for a rare visit when she starts investigating the theft of funds raised for a local women’s recovery group. I’m looking forward to reading this one!
The Diva Spices It Up (Hardcover) – Book 13 in the Domestic Diva Mystery series. Sophie agrees to ghost-write a cookbook for an aspiring lifestyle influencer, but she didn’t know when she took the job that the person who originally agreed to be the ghost-writer has gone missing. This sounds fascinating!
A Fatal Finale (Hardcover) – First in the new Ella Shane Mysteries series. In 1899, a gifted opera singer starts investigating a suspicious death when a fellow performer drinks poison during a performance and an English duke comes to town insisting someone is getting away with murder.
Head Over Paws (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Rescue Me romance series (Book 3: My Forever Home – ♥♥♥♥). Two shelter volunteers find a love connection when they travel to rescue animals displaced by flooding.
Heiress for Hire (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new series. When a woman catches an intruder in her house, she discovers he’s investigating her because she has inherited a fortune from his uncle, a duke.
Home to Stay (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the A Little Child Shall Lead Them series. A widower meets a feisty newcomer to their community. She and her daughter capture his attention, but he’s not sure he is ready to love again.
How to Catch an Errant Earl (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Disreputable Debutantes series after How to Catch a Wicked Viscount (Rating: ♥♥♥♥). A debutante with a questionable past finds herself in a compromising situation with an exiled duke. He does the right thing and offers to marry her, but he doesn’t want her to get too close and discover the things he has been running from.
ImPerfectly Happy (Trade Paperback) – Four college friends formed a group to celebrate and encourage them in their ambitions. But 10 years later, nothing has gone like they imagined.
Island Affair (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Keys to Love series. When a woman’s unreliable boyfriend is a no-show for her extended family vacation (with her driven siblings and their perfect spouses), she recruits someone to pretend to be her boyfriend for the trip. I love books like this!
Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Haunted Craft Fair Mystery series. Celeste and her chihuahua Van Gogh find a body at a craft fair in North Carolina.
Murder In Galway (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new A Home To Ireland Mystery series. A New Yorker heads to Ireland with her mother’s ashes and instructions to find her uncle. Instead, she finds a dead body and her uncle has gone missing.
Murder in the Storybook Cottage (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Book Retreat Mystery series. There’s a rash of murders with rare and valuable books left with the bodies when a children’s publisher hosts an event at Jane’s resort.
Murder on Pleasant Avenue (Hardcover) – Book 23 in the Gaslight Mystery series. Sarah and Frank are investigating a murder when their dear friend is set up to take the fall for a crime he didn’t commit.
Promise at Pebble Creek (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Hope Chest of Dreams series. A writer who lives for adventure meets a young man fleeing his life in the city. But when he’s suspected of some local crimes, can they stand together to find the truth?
Proof of Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series. A bookshop owner finds an insurance appraiser dead in a locked room while a rare and valuable magazine has gone missing. This sounds great!
Pulp Friction (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Cider Shop Mystery series after Apple Cider Slaying. Winnie is thrilled to be hosting a wedding at the Orchard until her ex starts trouble with the groom. If that wasn’t bad enough, the groom turns up dead and Winnie’s ex is on the run.
Pumpkin Spice Peril (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 12 in the Cupcake Bakery series by one of my favorite authors, Jenn McKinlay. The cupcake crew are enjoying life until one of their favorite customers is poisoned – and the last thing she ate was their pumpkin spice cupcakes.
Starbreaker (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Nightchaser series. Tess and Shade are still trying to evade the Dark Watch, but now they also have a near-impossible prison break to plan. Do they trust each other enough to take on this job?
Suck It Up Buttercup (e-book) – Book 2 in the First Fangs Club series. A middle-aged woman whose husband’s death was supposed to free her from his mob connections and complications is now the vampire governor of New Jersey. But her old life isn’t done with her yet. I have the first book because I couldn’t resist the quirky description of this series. I can’t wait to carve out time to read it.
Sugar and Vice (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Cookie House Mystery series. As if Kate didn’t have enough on her plate with a pirate festival and a new promotion for her shop, now her ex is back, trying to win her back, and a skeleton is causing problems for her best friend’s business. This looks like such a great series!
The Sweeney Sisters (Hardcover) – The three Sweeney sisters are drawn together when their father unexpectedly passes away. But in the midst of dealing with estate details they discover there is a fourth Sweeney sister.  I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Tents, Trails, and Turmoil (e-book) – Book 11 in the Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series. This is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing. This time a dead body is found in Daniel Boone National Park. It seems as though the killer wants to shut down tourism at the park for good.
Delighted: What Teenagers Are Teaching the Church About Joy (Trade Paperback) – A group of youth workers assert that youth ministry could be radically changed if the focus shifted to one grounded in joy rather than fear.
Live Love Now: Relieve the Pressure and Find Real Connection with Our Kids (Hardcover) – Based on the thought that today’s kids need Truth Tellers in their lives rather than Taskmasters, “encouragers, not enforcers.”
Love Without Borders: How Bold Faith Opens the Door to Embracing the Unexpected (Hardcover) – A tale of motherhood, a journey with God, and a large family, grown through a combination of adoption and biological means. From the YouTuber behind This Gathered Nest.