Category: Book News

BOOK NEWS: April 21, 2020

BOOK NEWS: April 21, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

Baloney and Friends – Launches a new graphic novel series for kids starring a pig named Baloney and his friends (including a rabbit named Krabbit – which makes me laugh every time I think about it!). This is on my must-see-in-person list.
Ronan the Librarian – Ronan the barbarian discovers a new sort of treasure when he discovers a book. Sounds awesome!
Mia Mayhem Gets X-Ray Specs – Book 7 in the Mia Mayhem series where Mia gets new glasses with x-ray vision.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Artie Conan Doyle and the Scarlet Phantom – Book 3 in the Artie Conan Doyle series starring a pre-teen Arthur Conan Doyle of Sherlock Holmes fame. Artie and his friend are investigating a jewel thief.
At Last, Jedi – Book 9 in the Jedi Academy series. Christina Starspeeder experiences life and training at the advanced Jedi Academy campus.
Bird and Squirrel All or Nothing (Graphic Novel) – Book 6 in this hilarious series. Bird joins a cross-country race to save the family honor when his dad is injured and can’t race.
Foreverland – The story of two runaways hiding out at their favorite amusement park. I have this one on my list.
Kazu Jones and the Comic Book Criminal – Book 2 in the Kazu Jones series. Kazu and her friends are investigating vandalism at local comic book shops.
Pathfinders Society Mystery of the Moon Tower (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series. A group of kids are drawn into a mystery when their summer camp introduces them to an explorer/inventor who used to live in their town.
Rick (LGBTQ+) – A middle school student explores his own identity through the Rainbow Spectrum club at school, even though his conclusions might put him at odds with his friends and his family.
Rival Magic – A wizard’s apprentice discovers a rival when the maid displays magical powers. But when their master is accused of treason, the girls have to team up to discover the truth.
The Wrong Way Summer – When a girl’s dad sells their house and moves them into a converted van, she wonders if it is time to confront the reality of their situation instead of enjoying her dad’s fanciful tales.
Lifting as We Climb (Older Middle Grade) – Middle grade nonfiction for older readers about the role of Black women in the fight for women’s voting rights.
The Declaration, The Sword, and the Spy – Book 6 in the Epic Order of the Seven focuses on the Revolutionary War.
Eat, and Love Yourself (Graphic Novel) – A woman with an eating disorder discovers a chocolate bar that shows her key moments in her life so she can examine them and learn to love herself as she is. I’m looking forward to reading this one.
Kent State – The story of May 4, 1970 at Kent State University when soldiers killed 4 American students protesting the Vietnam War.
Late to the Party (LGBTQ+) – A girl who thinks parties and such are for cool kids – straight kids – crashes one and finds a new friend who agrees to show her around so she can experience all the things she thought were out of reach for her.
An Outcast and an Ally – Book 2 in the A Soldier and A Liar series. Four superpowered teens are accused of treason and are on the run as they try to stop the war between the gifted and the ungifted. I have this duology on my list.
Unscripted – A girl with dreams of improv stardom has to deal with sexism at her camp where she is the only girl on the varsity team.
Verona Comics (LGBTQ+) – Two teens who meet at a comic convention prom wrestle with personal issues and their feuding families (rival comics shop owners) as they grow closer together.

Books for Adults

Don’t Go Stealing My Heart (Trade Paperback) – A conwoman trying to steal a Van Gogh from a “trust fund brat” discovers he’s not the villain she thought he was, and she starts to fall for him.
Girl Gone Viral (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Modern Love series after The Right Swipe. When someone live-Tweets an innocent interaction at a coffee shop, reclusive investor Katrina King can’t escape the internet buzz. When her bodyguard – and unrequited crush – invites her to his family farm to hide out until the buzz dies down, she tries to push thoughts of romance out of her mind. I’m so excited about reading this!
In Other Words Love (Trade Paperback) – A second-chance romance from Hallmark Publishing. A woman is hired to ghostwrite the autobiography of the man who once broke her heart.
Killer Karma (e-book – April 24) – Book 2 in the Julie Cavallo Investigates mystery series. When Julie’s sous chef is accused of murder, she’s investigating once again. I have the first book on my reading list.
Master Class (Hardcover) – In a world where children are routinely tested and only the best and brightest are educated while the rest are sent to federal boarding schools, a teacher sees the system with new eyes when her own daughter bombs a test and is sent away.  From the author of Vox.
Race the Sands (Trade Paperback) – A new stand alone fantasy from the author of Fire & Heist. A down-on-her-luck trainer teams up with an inexperienced rider and an untested kehok (reincarnated monster) to prepare for a deadly race that could make or break all of them.
Seas the Day (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Seafood Capers Mystery series. A caterer with a reputation for being able to find things is on the case of finding a missing man when there’s a murder.
A Simple Wedding (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Heart’s Landing series from Hallmark Publishing. A young woman shows up in Heart’s Landing to plan a wedding for her cousin who is a famous movie star, but to keep the secret she says she is planning her own wedding. The local baker struggles not to fall for the appealing woman who is already spoken for. I will definitely be checking this one out!
Six Cloves Under (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Garlic Farm Mystery series. An app developer inherits a garlic farm – and a mystery to solve.
Walk the Wire (Hardcover) – Book 6 in the Memory Man series. Amos Decker is called into London, North Dakota to investigate a strange murder.
The Wedding War (Trade Paperback) – A friendship destroyed by a secret twenty years ago gets a second chance when the son of one and the daughter of the other fall in love and get engaged. Now the former friends have to work together to plan a wedding while also dealing with issues in their personal lives.
Bridging Theory and Practice in Children’s Spirituality (Trade Paperback) – Explores theories of faith development for children from a Christian perspective while also discussing practical application.
Choose Joy Women’s Devotional: Finding Joy No Matter What You’re Going Through (Hardcover devotional)
Consider the Lilies: Get Rooted in Your Destiny By Discovering God’s Plan (Hardcover – April 22)
Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire (Hardcover) – The latest from Jen Hatmaker. Let go of the people pleasing and live fierce, free and full of fire! I am so excited to read this one!
I’m Your Huckleberry (Hardcover) – A memoir from Val Kilmer.
The Truth About Us: The Very Good News About How Very Bad We Are (Trade Paperback) – What would happen if we admitted we aren’t as perfect or as righteous as we would like others to believe? Would it allow us to live more free?

BOOK NEWS: April 14, 2020

BOOK NEWS: April 14, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books out this week!

Books for Kids

It’s a Moose – When the new baby a family is expecting turns out to be a moose, they run into some difficulties. This looks ADORABLE!
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I Am Harry Houdini AND I Am Susan B. Anthony – Two new 8×8 picture books (with stickers!) from the Xavier Riddle series on PBS.
I Am Leonardo da Vinci – The latest picture book biography in the FANTASTIC Ordinary People Change the World series.
Rescuing the Declaration of Independence: How We Almost Lost the Words that Built America – The true story of the man who saved the Declaration from destruction during the War of 1812.
Peter & Ernest: Sloths in the Night – Book 3 in the Peter & Ernesto graphic novel series for kids. Even though there are dangers in the dark, Peter and Ernesto form a search party to look for one of their friends who has gone missing.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Anti Hero (Graphic Novel) – A girl who longs to be a superhero switches bodies with another who is super-genius smart and forced to help her villainous grandfather. The two have to live in each other’s lives while they try to find a way to switch back. This is at the top of my list for this week!
Camp Average: Double Foul – Sequel to Camp Average (a book I have had on my wish list for a year now). The kids are back at Camp Average for a new summer of fun while their super-competitive camp director pits the boys against the girls in his neverending schemes to win at anything and everything. I can’t wait to read both of these books.
Finally Something Mysterious – The members of an only-child detective club have a new case when hundreds of rubber ducks end up on a neighbor’s lawn. This is on my list for this week, too.
Marvel Action: Black Panther Rise Together – Collects issues 4-6 is the Marvel Action Black Panther series. There are adventures here for T’Challa, Shuri, and for both together. I can’t wait to read this one, too.
The Prettiest – When a list goes up online, ranking the “prettiest” girls in the 8th grade, three girls band together to stand up for themselves and the other girls in their grade.
When Stars are Scattered (Graphic Novel) – The story of a boy and his non-verbal younger brother growing up in a refugee camp as told to the author by a man who lived it.
Girls Save the World in This One – A “YA horror comedy” set at a zombie convention where three girls are there to enjoy all the fun around their favorite shows until they discover the zombie apocalypse has actually arrived at the con. I’m not much of a horror reader, nor do I usually enjoy zombie stories, but this sounds like a HOOT!
Redemption Prep – YA mystery where the “it” girl at an exclusive and mysterious prep school goes missing in the middle of mass. This is on my wishlist for this week.

Books for Adults

Big Finish (Hardcover) – An elderly man in assisted living teams up with his roommate’s granddaughter who’s hiding from her abusive boyfriend even though he knows any “trouble” could get him kicked out and sent to the horrible local nursing home. I can not WAIT to read this!!
A Case for the Yarn Maker (e-book – April 16) – Book 2 in the Ainsley McGregor series. When the “Yarn Goddess” comes to town, and an argument breaks out with one of the locals, Ainsley never expected it to end in murder. I have the first book in this series. I’m looking forward to digging into it soon.
Cutie and the Beast (e-book) – A local trainer trying to make ends meet after his wife left rents out his master suite to a new co-worker who is also down on her luck. They have daughters the same age and can really help each other out. But living like a blended family when you actually aren’t one can make for some confusion for everyone. I am intrigued by this one.
The Happy Ever After Playlist (Trade Paperback) – From the author of The Friend Zone (Rating: ♥♥♥♥½). A woman who is struggling in life gets a new infusion of confidence when she takes in a lost dog. But when the owner of the dog – a musician on tour – wants his dog back, she is not giving the animal up without a fight. This sounds great! I have this one on hold at the library.
The Joy of Falling (Trade Paperback) – Over a year after losing their husbands in a scuba accident, two widows embark on a marathon together hoping to get back some of what they have lost. This sounds charming.
Not That Kind of Guy (Trade Paperback) – A state attorney who’s been unlucky in love needs a date for a family wedding. Her intern is only too happy to be that date, because as soon as she is not his boss any more, he plans to make his move. Sounds great!
Star Trek Discovery: Aftermath (Paperback Graphic Novel) – Two stories from the Star Trek Discovery universe, one involving Saru and Tilly and then the primary story which involves Spock and Captain Pike after the Discovery disappears.
Star Trek: The Unsettling Stars (Trade Paperback) – From the Kelvin timeline (the J.J. Abrams movies). Kirk and his inexperienced crew encounter a new race fleeing an unknown enemy. I’m eager to check out this new story.
Ready to Rise: Own Your Voice, Gather Your Community, Step into Your Influence – The latest book from one of my favorite Christian speakers, Jo Saxton, addresses the things that tend to derail women from leading in the ways God has called them. I heard Jo speak during If: Gathering this year, and I was inspired by what she had to say. It sounded a lot like what this book is going to address. Don’t miss this one.

BOOK NEWS: April 7, 2020

BOOK NEWS: April 7, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy April! Wherever you are checking in from, I hope you are doing well and enjoying some great books. Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

A Is for Another Rabbit – A rabbit-obsessed narrator annoys an owl by not following the rules of a traditional alphabet book.
A Book for Escargot – A sequel to Escargot. This time Escargot is headed to the library in search of a book about a snail hero.
Cat Ladies – Princess is a cat who knows how to take care of her ladies and keep them out of trouble. But when a stranger arrives, it upsets Princess’ carefully maintained system. I can not WAIT to read this in person!
Do Not EVER Be a Babysitter!  – Uncle Pig endures an Amelia Bedelia sort of adventure when he babysits his nieces and nephews. 
The Elephants’ Guide to Hide-and-Seek – When an elephant struggles in hide-and-seek, he uses a handy resource from the Elephant Hobby and Sport League to help. This looks ADORABLE!
Explosion at the Poem Factory – A former piano teacher takes a job at a poem factory, but one day the machines go berserk.
Follow that Car – Mouse follows Gorilla through a series of interesting settings on a chase.
Star Wars: I Am a Padawan – The latest Little Golden Book is written by Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels, all about her character, Ahsoka as she trains to become a Jedi.
Marie Curie and the Powers of Persistence – First book in the new My Super Science Heroes series. In the book Marie Curie faces an evil nemesis that wants to thwart her growth into a super scientist in the future. It’s a clever idea. I’d like to check this one out in person.
Scoob!: A Dog’s Best Friend – An early reader based on the new Scoob movie.
Bumble and Bee: Let’s Play Make BEE-lieve – Book 2 in the Bumble and Bee series from Scholastic ACORN. Bumble and Bee are ready for a day of adventure on the pond, but their friend Froggy isn’t interested.
Junior Monster Scouts: It’s Raining Bats and Frogs! – Book 3 in the Junior Monster Scouts series. The Baron’s evil plan goes wrong and the rain just won’t stop.

Books for Older Kids and Teens

Ansley’s Big Bake Off – Book 1 in the new Daniels’ Sisters series from Faithgirlz written by the younger sisters of Alena Pitts (and daughters of the late Wynter Pitts). It looks like this is a spin-off of Alena’s series Lena in the Spotlight. The Daniels’ sisters are trying to find a new normal after the loss of their mother and move to a new city. Ansley dreams of gymnastics success, but she also discovers how much baking means to her. How does she decide which passion to pursue?
Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes – Book 3 in the Pandava series based on Hindu mythology from Rick Riordan’s imprint.
Camping with Unicorns (comics collection) – Book 11 in the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series. This book highlights Phoebe and Marigold’s summer adventures.
Catwad: Me Three (Graphic Novel) – Book 3 in the Catwad series.
Compass of the Stars – Book 2 in the Thea Stilton and the Treasure Seekers series. The Thea Sisters are on the hunt for seven secret treasures.
The Deceivers – Book 2 in the Greystone Secrets series by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The Greystone kids and their friend Natalie are trying to rescue their parents and friends from the evil world they discovered in book 1. I have these on my reading list.
Disney Frozen (Graphic Novel retelling) – A graphic novel retelling of the first Frozen movie.
Eye of Zeus – Book one in a new Legends of Olympus series (not connected to Rick Riordan that I can tell). When a statue of Athena comes to life, it tells Phoebe, a girl who has been bounced around in foster care, that she is the daughter of Zeus. I’m looking forward to reading this one!
The Last Kids on Earth: June’s Wild Flight – June gets a solo story in this spin off of the Last Kids on Earth series. This book is set between books 5 and the upcoming 6th book.
Lila and Hadley – Hadley’s life is upside down. Her mom is in jail. Hadley has to move to another state to live with her older sister. And they haven’t spoken in years. In the middle of it all, Hadley meets Lila, an abandoned dog with no interest in anyone or anything – except Hadley. I’m eager to read this one!
The List of Things that Will Not Change – There are plenty of things changing in Bea’s life – like her dad getting married to his boyfriend and her getting a new sister. But she keeps a list of things that will not change – like her parents’ love for her – to help her through the ups and downs.
Nat Enough (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series. Nat has never felt like she is “enough.” And when middle school starts, and she’s not even cool enough for her best friend, she’s not sure where she fits. I can’t wait to read this one!
Poison at the Pump – Book 25 in the Imagination Station series. This time the kids travel back to the cholera epidemic of 1854.
Rewritten (Older Middle Grade) – Book 2 in the Unwritten series. The characters from Gracie’s original fairy tale have had to start over, and some of them aren’t very happy with her about that. But when Gracie finds out she’s still in danger, she ends up in a horror story as she tries to set things right. I am so intrigued by this one!
Scoob Junior Novelization – A junior novel based on the movie.
Thieves of Weirdwood – First in a new illustrated fantasy series about two thieves who stumble across the headquarters of a magical organization.
Timmy Failure: Zero to Hero – A prequel to the series which is also now a movie on Disney+. This is Timmy’s origin story.
Untwisted – The sequel to Twinchantment. While the kingdom adjusts to the return of magic, not everyone is happy about the new unified approach, especially at the school where the princesses attend. I’m looking forward to the next step in this series!
Whatever After: Abby in Oz – A special edition from the Whatever After series where Abby and her friends head to Oz.
Wizard for Hire: Magic Required (Older Middle Grade) – The third and final book in the Wizard for Hire series. Ozzy’s been injected with a mind-control serum, and Rin the “wizard” has gone missing.
What Were the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World?
Who Is Temple Grandin?

 

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Alex Rider: Nightshade – Book 12 in the Alex Rider series. Now that Scorpia has been destroyed, Alex is hoping to get back to a normal life. But a new criminal organization, Nightshade, is on the rise. Sounds awesome!
Black Widow: Secrets of a Super Spy – Discover the whole story of Black Widow Natasha Romanoff.
The Burning – A teen running from rumors and harassment in a new town with a new name gets drawn into the story of seventeenth century woman accused of witchcraft.
Empire of Dreams – An orphan joins the Royal Guard when her adoption by the empress is thwarted by her enemy. If she can survive the first year – something no woman has ever done – she may have the experience she needs to save the empire. This sounds fascinating!
Goodbye from Nowhere – A teen discovers his mother has been having an affair and his father has known and kept the secret. As Kyle withdraws from his usual activities and friends, his parents urge him to keep the secret until after a large family gathering over the summer. But Kyle sees what the secret is doing to people, and he’s not sure he should keep it after all.
Gotham High (Graphic Novel) – A re-imagined Bruce Wayne gets kicked out of his exclusive prep school for defending another student from bullies and finds himself at the local high school. There he starts hanging out with Selina Kyle and Jack Napier. But the school is rocked by the kidnapping of fellow student Harvey Dent.
Jack Kerouac Is Dead to Me – When her older boyfriend prepares to graduate and hit the open road, 15 year old JL has to decide if she wants to join him, knowing if she does, it will permanently fracture the relationship with her best friend.
Meet Me at Midnight – After a six-year prank war, Asher suggests he and Sidney join forces to prank the woman who kicked their families out of their lake houses because of the pranks.
The Perfect Escape – A teen in need of money is tempted to commit grade fraud when a co-worker approaches him with a more legal plan. The two of them could join up and compete in a survivalist weekend and split the huge cash prize if they win.
Rules for Being a Girl – From the author of Sex and the City. When no one believes her reports of a teacher coming on to her, Marin is not about to back down. She will use every means available to her to take back her power and make things right.
So This Is Love – The latest Twisted Tale is based on the story of Cinderella. What would have happened if Cinderella never tried on the glass slipper?
Sword in the Stars – The sequel to Once & Future (Rating: ♥♥♥♥). Ari and her crew must travel back in time to get the Holy Grail. (LGBTQ+) I’m curious to see what happens next for this quirky cast of characters in this quirky retelling of the King Arthur legends.
We Didn’t Ask for This – In the middle of the annual lock-in, a group of eco-protesters chain themselves to the doors, refusing to let anyone out until their demands are heard.
What I Like About You – Can you have a love triangle with only two people? You can when the person you are online has already engaged in a relationship with the guy you are meeting in real life – and you are NOTHING like your secret online persona. I can’t wait to read this one!
Speak Love: Your Words Can Change the World – A devotional for teens from Annie F. Downs.

 

Books for Adults

The Body in the Garden (Hardcover) – A young woman who overhears a blackmail attempt that turns into murder starts to investigate when the police are bribed to drop the case.
Chosen Ones (Hardcover) – Years ago, five ordinary teens were prophesied to take out a force of evil. And they did. This is the story of what happened after, when one of the five dies and the others discover the Dark One’s plans were bigger than they ever imagined. This sounds amazing!
Dead on the Vine (Hardcover) – First in a new Finn Family Farm Mystery series. A woman who inherits a produce farm has every intention of selling it. But when she finds a dead body there, the sale is on hold, and she has to work the farm while the police investigate the crime.
Deep Fried Revenge (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series. Angie and her crew are competing in the Best Restaurant competition at the Idaho State Fair when one of the competitors is killed.
Dogcather in the Rye (e-book) –  First in the new Bought-the-Farm Mystery series. A woman launching a farm-themed inn runs into trouble when her dog finds a dead body on her property. This looks like a cute series! This book is available for Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.
The Stolen Letter (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. Delaney’s beloved bookstore, the Cracked Spine, is in danger of being closed down and she meets a woman who thinks she might be the reincarnated Mary Queen of Scots.
To Have and to Hoax (Trade Paperback) – One year into their marriage, Lady Violet and Lord James Audley had a fight to end all fights. They have barely spoken to each other in the four years since. But when Lady Violet gets word that James has been hurt in an accident, she rushes to his side only to find him completely fine, and utterly confused as to why she has come all this way. This launches the couple into a game of one-upsmanship as each tries to get the other’s attention. I already have this on hold from the library.
Up Next Murder (e-book – April 9) – The sequel to the delightful Microphones and Murder. In the course of solving their first case, a body was found. Now, for their second podcast season, the step-sisters dig into the case of the young woman found during that investigation. I bought this the MINUTE I saw it announced!
You Deserve Each Other (Trade Paperback) – When a pair of fiancés start to grow tired of their match, they know whoever actually calls off the wedding has to foot the bill for the canceled event. So they launch a series of pranks to get the other one to be the one to cancel. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
All the Glorious Names (Hardcover) – A 40-day devotional about the names of God.
Get Out of Your Head Study in Philippians (Paperback) – The study guide for the Philippians Bible study based on the Jennie Allen book Get Out of Your Head.
Shut Hell Up: When the Enemy Brings Up Your Past, Remind Him of Your Future (Trade Paperback) – Overcome the negative thinking that keeps you feeling inadequate and out of whatever God has called you to do.
When Did We Start Forgetting God?: The Root of the Evangelical Crisis and Hope for the Future (Trade Paperback) – From the former editor-in-chief of Christianity Today.
Your Story Matters: Finding, Writing and Living the Truth of Your Life (Trade Paperback) – A book about writing as a spiritual practice. I have this one on my list for this week.

BOOK NEWS: March 31, 2020

BOOK NEWS: March 31, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

How is it that we are already at the end of March?! Here are some of the new books out this week:

Books for Kids

Your Nose! – The latest board book from Sandra Boynton.
Hound Won’t Go (April 1) – In the middle of a walk, in the middle of an intersection, Hound decides he’s done.
Peanut Goes for the Gold – Picture book from Jonathan Van Ness (Queer Eye) about a gender nonbinary guinea pig with flair.
The Princess and the Petri Dish (April 1) – A princess who prefers petri dishes to curtsies gets a bright idea.
Rover Throws a Party: Inspired by NASA’s Curiosity on Mars – A lonely Mars rover plans a birthday party.
Pete the Cat’s Family Road Trip – Pete’s family explores America in this early reader.
Prance Like No One’s Watching: A Guided Journal for Exploding Unicorns – A funny activity book for kids from humor writer James Breakwell.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Dog Diaries: Mission ImPAWsible – Book 3 in the Dog Diaries series from James Patterson. Junior’s family goes on vacation and leaves him behind where he has his own adventure.
Fins (Sharks Inc.) – Book 1 in the Sharks Incorporated series. Three kids help Doc Ford protect sharks from poachers by tagging them for research. But their work puts them in danger where they will have to learn to work together.
The Great Upending (Older Middle Grade) – A struggling family plays host to a famous writer. While the kids are supposed to leave “The Mister” alone, Sara figures if they steal the ending of his series finale, maybe his publisher will pay them the money she needs for a life saving surgery. I’ve already requested this one at the library!
How to Make Friends with the Sea – A boy living in the Philippines with his zoologist mother has collected a slew of fears and anxieties as they have moved around over the years. When his mother takes in an orphan with a cleft lip, the boy finds that his fears fade when he focuses on helping the girl. I have requested this one, too.
Twilight Hauntings – First in the new Enchanter’s Child series by the author of the Septimus Heap series (Magyk, etc,) A girl with magic powers is betrayed by her foster sister because magic is forbidden. While the girl is able to escape the city, she finds that she is the target of creatures hunting for Enchanters and their children.
What Stars Are Made Of (Older Middle Grade) – A girl makes a bargain with the universe – she will enter a contest and if she wins and gives the money to her pregnant sister and her husband, that means their baby will be born healthy.
Wink – A boy with cancer longs to blend in, but that is no longer an option that is going to work out for him. Illustrated novel based on the author’s life.
We Are the Wildcats – The girls on a field hockey team on the evening before their first game host their usual initiation ceremony, but their coach takes things in a new direction.

Books for Adults

Before I Called You Mine (Trade Paperback) – A first grade teacher committed to international adoption has agreed to stay single through the whole adoption process. But as her match with a child becomes a real possibility, a new man drops unexpectedly into her life and could make her commitment to staying single waver.
Daughter of Cana (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Jerusalem Road series by Angela Hunt. Twins working a wedding in Cana are amazed when a wedding guest turns rainwater into wine. When the brother decides to follow the teacher, his sister teams up with Jesus’ younger brother to trail the group until she can bring her brother home.
Dead in the Doorway (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the House-Flipper Mystery series. A Nashville house-flipper finds the perfect property for her next project. Too bad there’s that dead body blocking the entrance.
A Fatal Yarn (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Knit and Nibble Mystery series. I love these just for the darling covers. I really need to read them soon. Someone is covering trees with yarn to hide the fact that the mayor has marked them for removal. When the mayor is murdered, one of the Knit and Nibble knitters is the prime suspect.
Gone With the Whisker (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 8 in the Bookmobile CAT Mystery series by Laurie Cass, not to be confused with the Bookmobile Mystery series by Nora Page. When Minnie’s visiting niece discovers a body at the Fourth of July fireworks, Minnie realizes it is a bookmobile regular. She and her cat Eddie are on the case!
Lily Barlow: The Mystery in the Mangroves (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Lily Barlow series. Back in Virginia to help her dad after a heart attack (and solve a murder), Lily is wrestling with whether she should stay there when she is drawn into another mystery. After reading the full description of this book, it seems best if readers start with the first book (The Mystery of Jane Dough) to get a handle on all the goings on here!
The Sunday Potluck Club (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in a new series. A pair of grieving women who connected at an Anchorage hospital cancer ward start meeting on Sundays for a pitch in and inviting other grieving women to join them.
The Traitor’s Pawn (Trade Paperback) – An FBI agent tracking down a person selling government secrets is drawn into a kidnapping case when he realizes he knows the victim.
Colossians: A Biblical Study (Hardcover) – A Bible study by Joyce Meyer.
Midnight Mom Devotional: 365 Prayers to Put Your Momma Heart to Rest (Hardcover) – A devotional for moms. Great gift idea for Mother’s Day.

BOOK NEWS: March 24, 2020

BOOK NEWS: March 24, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy Spring! It’s finally official, no matter what our weather might look like from day to day. I don’t know about you, but I am ready to celebrate SPRING! How about a new book or two to help us ring in the new season? Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

Bad Brows – A boy wakes up to discover his eyebrows have gone rogue.
Home Base: A Mother-Daughter Story – Mother’s and daughter’s stories are told side by side as the girl steps onto the pitcher’s mound and the mom pursues a new project as a brick layer.
When the Babies Came to Stay – A librarian takes home the four babies who arrived at the island, raising them around the library and turning them into a family. This looks lovely!

Books for Older Kids/Teens

The Derby Daredevils: Kenzie Kickstarts a Team (LGBTQ+) – Two girls who love roller derby have a chance to play in the junior league if they can convince three others to join them.
Disney Princess: Friends, Family, Fantastic – A collection of princess stories in comics format. The art work for these three stories looks fantastic!
The Only Living Girl: Beneath the Unseen City – Book 2 in the Only Living Girl graphic novel series starring one of the last human survivors of a cosmic disaster. In this book, Zee and her friends are looking for answers and a cure when people in the city are poisoned.
Tyrannosaurus Wrecks – Book 6 in the FunJungle/Teddy Fitzroy series. Teddy is drawn into a series of mysteries including a missing T-Rex skull from a secret excavation site and a black market on reptiles.
The Next President: The Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of America’s Presidents – Just think – there are at least 10 future Presidents of the United States alive today! What might they be doing? Some might be kids like you. I’ll say it again – you can’t go wrong with a book by Kate Messner!

Books for Adults

Bag of Bones (e-book, March 28) – Book 5 in the Press Pass Mysteries series, starring a secondary character from the first four books and her teenage daughter. When sixteen-year-old Maisey is taking down the Christmas decorations at her mall job, she discovers a bag of human bones. In order to keep her job – and help her mom keep hers as Media Relations Director for the mall – the two start investigating. This sound like a fun series.
The Honey Don’t List (Trade Paperback) – The latest from Christina Lauren. Melissa and Rusty Tripp are America’s home remodeling and design gurus. They’re about to go on a book tour together, but behind the scenes they can’t stand each other. Two assistants in the Tripp’s empire are tasked with going on the book tour with the couple to keep things on the rails. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
If I Never Met You (Trade Paperback) – Two co-workers stuck in an elevator hatch a plan for a fake relationship that will give the office something else to gossip about (besides her ex and his newly pregnant girlfriend) and give him a “respectable” relationship to impress the bosses. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The K-Team (Hardcover) – A spin-off from the fantastic Andy Carpenter series! Andy’s wife, Laurie, and her investigation partner Marcus, team up with some characters from Dachshund Through the Snow to form an investigative team. Their first case is to help a judge who is being blackmailed. I’ll be reviewing this later this week.
Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal (e-book) – Book 10 in the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mystery series. This one focuses on a murder at a local diner.
The Enneagram and You: Understand Your Personality Type and How It Can Transform Your Relationships (Hardcover) – If you’ve spent any time around here in the last couple years you have probably seen me review other books on the Enneagram. I love learning more about it, and I’ll be reviewing this new resource soon.
The Everyday Life – Psalms and Proverbs (Leather) – Psalms and Proverbs with commentary from Joyce Meyer.

BOOK NEWS: March 17, 2020

BOOK NEWS: March 17, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

A Ben of All Trades: The Most Inventive Boyhood of Benjamin Franklin – A picture book biography of Ben Franklin
Write! Write! Write! – Poetry collection
Swim, Mo, Swim! – Book 5 in this early reader series starring Mo, who is at summer camp in this book.
Hattie in the Spotlight – Book 16 in the Adventures of Sophie Mouse series. Hattie auditions for a play. This series is DARLING!
Lily to the Rescue AND Lily to the Rescue: Two Little Piggies – The first two books in this new early chapter book series from the author of the Dog’s Purpose series. Lily the rescue dog helps her person, Maggie Rose, and her mom rescue other animals.
Vera Vance, Comics Star – Book 2 in the After-School Superstars series. Vera loves all things comics, so she signs up for comics camp at school. But Vera’s mom doesn’t think comics are academically rigorous enough. I would like to read this one and see how it all works out.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

DC Super Hero Girls: Powerless – The second graphic novel based on the Cartoon Network DC series. The power is out at Metropolis High which impacts the various heroes in different ways.
Ronan Boyle and the Swamp of Certain Death – Book 2 in the Ronan Boyle series about a teen who helps the Irish police deal with magical creatures.
Stand Up, Yumi Chung! – A girl who longs to be a comedian stumbles into a comedy camp, and lets everyone believe she is someone else.
Wondrous Rex – Grace’s Aunt Lily is a writer who is struggling. When Lily advertises for a writer’s assistant, Rex  the dog arrives for the position.
What Are the Paralympic Games? AND What Was the Bombing of Hiroshima?
All the Pretty Things – When Ivy’s friend Morgan finds the body of one of their amusement park coworkers and is taken into the psych ward at the hospital, Ivy starts looking into what happened to the dead teen.
All Your Twisted Secrets – Six teens invited to a scholarship dinner find themselves trapped in a room where they are told they have to kill off one of the group for the rest to survive. WOW!
Frozen Beauty – The Malloy sisters are the subject of town gossip as one of the sisters is killed and no one knows exactly what happened that night.
Girls with Razor Hearts – Book 2 in the Girls With Sharp Sticks series. The girls have escaped Innovations Academy and the twisted experimentation they endured there. But now they only have each other as they seek a way to take down the corporation responsible for what they went through. This series sounds amazing.
Super Adjacent – Two “regular” teens connected to the superheroes of Warrior Nation have enough going on in their own lives to keep them plenty busy, but when the heroes all go missing, these two are left to save the day. I have this on my list for this week!
Dragon Hoops (Graphic Novel Memoir) – A non-sporty teacher teaching at a school having a stellar basketball year gains a new perspective as he gets to know the guys on the team.

Books for Adults

Bound to Execute (e-book) – Book 3 in the St. Marin’s Cozy Mystery series. The bookshop-owning star of the series stumbles across the body of a much-despised bank manager.
Cross Her Heart (Trade Paperback) – First in the new Bree Taggert series. A homicide detective who survived her parents’ murder-suicide find herself investigating a similar crime when her sister is killed and her brother-in-law goes missing.
Crush the King (Trade Paperback) – Book three in the fantastic Crown of Shards series (Book one is Kill the Queen – my favorite book of 2018). Queen Everleigh has survived many assassination attempts, but she’s done playing defense. As all of the area kings and queens gather for an event, she’s determined to eliminate the King of Morta for all he has done to her and to her family. I will be reviewing this one later this week. It’s fantastic!!
The Earl Not Taken (Trade Paperback) – First in the new Wallflowers of West Lane series. Four young women make a pact to protect one another from disreputable matches, so Poppy teams up with her nemesis, the Earl of Marsden, to investigate a duke intent on marrying her friend who has never met him before.
In Bed with the Earl (Trade Paperback) – Book one in the new Lost Lords of London series. Reporter Verity Lovelace discovers a lost heir in the sewers of London and exposes him to the world. When he becomes the focus of attention for all manner of matchmakers, it seems only fair that the woman who caused all this trouble pretend to be his wife until he can get a handle on this new life.
Jerusalem Assassin (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Marcus Ryker series. Former Secret Service Agent Marcus Ryker is called upon to investigate violent deaths surrounding the President’s peace efforts in the Middle East. In the course of his investigation, Marcus discovers a plot to assassinate the American President.
Father, Friend and Judge: Three Dimensions of Prayer that Receive Answers from Heaven (Hardcover) – Discover Biblical strategies for prayer based on the identities of God as Father, Friend, and Judge
How to Be Fine: What We Learned from Living by the Rules of 50 Self-Help Books (Hardcover) – The two authors share what they discovered when they followed various pieces of self-help advice including getting off your device, downsizing, and meditation.

BOOK NEWS: March 10, 2020

BOOK NEWS: March 10, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

Goodnight, Veggies – A bedtime story starring vegetables
All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything – A picture book biography of Jennifer Keelan regarding the fight for accommodations for those with disabilities.
The Voice that Won the Vote: How One Woman’s Words Made History – The fight for women’s suffrage hinged on a vote in Tennessee. And the deciding vote was cast because of a mother’s letter urging her son to vote for suffrage.
Beatrice Zinker: Upside Down Thinker – Sabotage – Book 3 in the Beatrice Zinker series. Someone mimics Beatrice and her friends’ Upside Award, but they can’t figure out who did it.
Creature Campers: Surprise Under the Stars – Creature Campers, Book 2. The Creature Campers are working to pass their map and compass skills test.
Houndsley and Catina at the Library – Houndsley and Catina find out the library will close if the town can’t find someone to replace the retiring librarian.
Time Dogs: Barry and the Great Mountain Rescue – Book 3 in the Time Dogs series. A group of older dogs is transported back in time and become puppies again.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

 

The Blackbird Girls – Historical fiction set around the Chernobyl disaster
City Spies – First in a new series from the fantastic James Ponti. Five kids from around the world join forces as spies in a secret MI6 agency. This is at the top of my wish list for this week.
The Copycat – A girl in a new home and new school discovers a family magic that allows her to transform into a copy of any living creature.
Thunder Girls: Skade and the Enchanted Snow – Book 4 in the Thunder Girls series. The goddess of skiing is chosen by Odin to be an alternate on the team, rather than a starter, when some giants challenge the Asgardians to a skiing contest.
Worse Than Weird – Mac participates in a food truck scavenger hunt to win the money she needs to go to coding camp.
What Is the Story of Batman? AND What Is the Story of Looney Tunes? – Readers can learn the stories of popular characters like Batman and the Looney Tunes.
Hidden Knights (e-book) – The third and final book in the Knights of the Realm series. After the events of Shadow Knights (♥♥♥♥½), Reid may be the only one who has any chance of saving the people of Marsden. I have loved this series from the start! This will be at the top of my reading list for the week.
Most Likely – Four teens negotiate their senior year, not realizing that some day one of them will be president.
A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope – A collection of science fiction and fantasy stories starring Black girls.
The Small Crimes of Tiffany Templeton – A tough teen, back from reform school, tries to negotiate the whispers around town, the changes she is trying to make in her life, and the secret she’s never shared.
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You – An adaptation of Stamped From the Beginning for teens.

Books for Adults

Death on the Page (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Castle Bookshop Mystery series. Bayside Books has hosted true-crime writer Savannah Page for two signings, but now that she’s been found dead in a secret passage in the castle, Shelby is sleuthing again to find a killer.
Girl Can’t Help It (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Krista Larson series. When the band Hot Rod and the Pistons reunite for their induction into the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, two of the band members wind up dead. While both deaths are deemed suicide, Police Chief Krista Larson is keeping a close eye on the rest of the band, as well as their replacement players, because she thinks the deaths might be murders. This book, as well as book one, Girl Most Likely, are both available to read for free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.
In Five Years (Hardcover) – A woman who answers the “Where do you see yourself in five years?” question in the most important job interview of her life has a vision of a very different life in 2025. While she tries to put the vision behind her as she doesn’t really believe in such things, she encounters the man she saw herself with in the vision.
Mimi Lee Gets a Clue (Trade Paperback) – First in the new Sassy Cat Mystery series. Mimi Lee’s pet grooming shop, Hollywoof, leads her to an encounter with a talking cat. Using the cat’s inside scoop, Mimi confronts an unethical breeder who is later killed. Mimi’s public argument with him makes her the prime suspect. This sounds so fun!
Mint Chip and Murder (e-book) – Book 4 in the Cambria Clyne Mystery series. When Cambria is up for a new job as a building manager, it is essential for her to stay out of trouble. A dead body in the attic of her current building is all kinds of trouble. To keep the discovery from ruining her new opportunity, Cambria is going to have to track down what happened so the trouble will go away.
Murderous Relation (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Veronica Speedwell Mystery series. Veronica and Stoker go undercover at a high class brothel to protect the royal family from Prince Albert’s indiscretions, except their task is compounded by a murder.
Star Trek TOS: The Higher Frontier (Trade Paperback) – Captain Kirk teams up with a powerful telepath and a mysterious race to help the crew battle seemingly unstoppable killers.
The Starr Sting Scale (Trade Paperback) – First in the new Candace Starr series. A former hitwoman, recently released from prison, is contacted about a new target who happens to be a teenage boy. That’s a line Candace won’t cross, but the boy ends up dead anyway. So Starr teams up with a police detective to find out what really happened to the kid.
Undercover Bromance (Trade Paperback) – Book two after The Bromance Book Club (♥♥♥♥♥). When Liv is fired and blackballed after confronting her boss for harassment of another employee, Braden and the rest of the Bromance Book Club try to help her take her life back.I’ll be reviewing this later this week.
Yours in Scandal (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the new Man of the Year series from Lauren Layne. An up and coming politician asks the wild-child daughter of his rival to plan the party of the season.
The Firsts: The Inside Story of the Women Reshaping Congress (Hardcover) – A closer look at the women who joined the House of Representatives in 2018.
Untamed (Hardcover) – The latest from Glennon Doyle (Love Warrior) is a message of liberation for women.
The XX Brain: The Groundbreaking Science Empowering Women  to Maximize Cognitive Health and Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease (Hardcover) – The first book to address women’s brain health and Alzheimer’s prevention.

BOOK NEWS: March 3, 2020

BOOK NEWS: March 3, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

How is it March already?! The year is speeding by, but in some ways I don’t mind. I am ready to leave winter behind and enjoy some spring sunshine and temperatures. Here are some books to help you pass the time as winter shifts to spring.

Picture Books for Kids

Be You! – The latest from Peter H. Reynolds, the author of The Dot and So Few of Me. Great message to be your own work of art because there’s only one you.
I Found a Kitty! – The latest from Troy Cummings, the author of More Bears. A sequel to Can I Be Your Dog? (♥♥♥♥♥) Arfy the dog writes persuasive letters to townspeople trying to find a home for a homeless kitten. Great for animal lovers and for classroom teachers working on letter writing and persuasive writing.
The Legend of King Arthuratops – A re-imagined Camelot story starring dinosaurs. This looks darling!
Monster’s Trucks – Monster loves his trucks, but he doesn’t like it if anyone else touches them – and that is just what the reader is going to do!
Violet Shrink – When an introverted girl finds out her family reunion is coming up, she talks to her dad about her anxious feelings at large family parties. I am looking forward to reading this one!
When My Brother Gets Home – A little sister imagines the adventures that await when her older brother gets home from school.
Bringing Back the Wolves: How a Predator Restored an Ecosystem – A government sponsored hunt in the late 1800s decimated the wolf population at Yellowstone National Park, negatively impacting the entire ecosystem. In the 1990s, the government reintroduced wolves to the area which in time restored the ecosystem. I am fascinated by this story and can’t wait to read this book. Terrific nonfiction addition for homes and schools.
This Book Is Literally Just Pictures of Snoozy Animals That Will Make You Sleep Better – Beautiful photographs of sleepy, yawning, and snoozing animals.

Early Chapter Books for Kids

Arise and Shine – Amelia Bedelia and Friends, book 3. Amelia and her friends are studying the Middle Ages at school and learning about chivalrous behavior. This sounds cute.
Bo and the Dragon-Pup – Book 2 in the Unicorn Diaries series from Scholastic BRANCHES. Bo the Unicorn and the rest of the unicorns at school discover the dragon caves. I enjoyed the first book so much (Bo’s Magical New Friend – ♥♥♥♥). I’m looking forward to reading this one, too.
The Dead Sea Squirrels: Tree-Mendous Trouble AND Whirly Squirrelies – Books 5 and 6 in this silly series from Veggie Tales co-creator Mike Nawrocki. These two stories focus on kindness and self-control.
Disney Before the Story: Anna Finds a Friend AND Elsa’s Icy Rescue – Childhood stories of Anna and Elsa.
Fierce Competition! – A sports competition with the school villains gets out of hand.
The Future of the Time Dragon – Book 15 in the Dragon Masters series from Scholastic BRANCHES. The kids must find the time dragon to save a friend.
I Can Build It! – The darling Princess Truly, with her magic hair, is back for her third adventure from Scholastic ACORN. Princess Truly uses her inventing skills to help with a problem at the animal shelter.
Space Shuttle Scam – Book 12 in the A to Z Mystery Super Editions. The kids try to find a sneaky thief at a Space Museum in Florida.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

Aster and the Accidental Magic – A bored girl in a new place wishes for the power to communicate with her new dog and ends up only able to speak in dog language.
Awesome Dog 5000 vs Mayor Bossypants – The robot dog Awesome Dog 5000 teams up with three kids when the Mayor decides he wants to get rid of Awesome Dog for good.
Batman Overdrive (Graphic Novel) – Bruce Wayne is itching to turn 16, fix up his dad’s old car, and track down some thieves stealing cars in Gotham. I loved this one. I’ll be reviewing it here tomorrow.
Black Brother Black Brother – A Black student at a mostly white prep school struggles to fit in and face injustice unlike his lighter-skinned brother. This sounds like a fascinating story.
The Chaos Curse – Book 3 in the Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond series about a girl struggling with the forces of evil.
Coo – Ten years ago, a flock of pigeons took in an abandoned baby and raised her. Now, when her most favorite pigeon is injured by a hawk, Coo must venture down into the world of people to find help. I’ve already requested this one from the library!
The Dragon Egg Princess – A boy who comes from a long line of rangers who protected a magical forest full of supernatural creatures wants no part of the woods that claimed his father. But there are forces trying to take over the woods and an evil stirring within them – and he might be the only one able to save the world.
Dragonslayer – The second Wings of Fire Legends story (after Darkstalker – ♥♥♥♥♥). Three human kids negotiate the dangers of Pyrrhia. This is at the top of my list for this week!
Fly Back Agnes (Older Middle Grade) – A struggling girl invents a new identity for herself when she visits her dad for the summer, but her lies start to pile up and cause problems with people she wants to befriend.
The Future King – Book 3 in the Revenge of Magic series. Six magic students from the UK return from being lost in time with stories of a dire future and a coming war. I have this series on my wish list.
The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane – A girl longing for the father she’s never known finds out he will be judging a singing contest in Nashville, and she’s determined to perform for him and finally meet him face to face. I’ll be reviewing this one later this month.
The Lost Lands – Rise of the Dragons, book 2. This is a multi-author series like The 39 Clues series. Dragons used to roam the Earth, but they were banished.  But now, the kids are friends with a dragon that can open the portal between the worlds – and there are some who would use that power to invade Earth again. I have the first book in the series from the library right now. I love dragon stories!
Mananaland – The latest book from Pam Muños Ryan (Echo, Esperanza Rising). A boy longing to know more about the mother who disappeared when he was a baby sets out on an adventure to find answers for his questions.
Marvel Action: Captain Marvel: Cosmic CAT-tastrophe – First in a new series. Manhattan is overrun by Flerkens, and Captain Marvel is on the case. I’m eager to see this one in person.
The Oracle Code (Graphic Novel – Older Middle Grade) – Barbara Gordon is living in the Arkham Center for Independence after being shot and losing the use of her legs. But her investigative instincts are still sharp as she looks into stories of missing patients. I’ll be reviewing this one later this month.
Show Me a Sign – An Own Voices story of a Deaf community on Martha’s Vineyard in the early 19th century and a girl caught in a cruel experiment as a scientist tries to discover why so many residents of the area are Deaf.
Things You Can’t Say – A boy still grieving the loss of his dad faces other losses – a best friend who pulls away; someone taking over his sacred, safe space; and his usual routines at home when a stranger moves in. I’ll be reviewing this one later this month, too.
Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor (Older Middle Grade) – The fabulous Ally Carter publishes her first middle grade novel this month, and I can’t wait to read it! A group of orphans look for clues to several mysteries in the old mansion which has become their unusual home.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Every Reason We Shouldn’t – The daughter of Olympians tries to settle into a new life now that her own Olympic dreams have ended, but the arrival of a new Olympic hopeful at her parents’ ice rink adds an unexpected wrinkle to her new normal.
The June Boys – The Gemini Thief has been kidnapping boys for years – three boys, held for 13 months and then released, every time. Except one teen believes an extra boy has been taken this year. And she’s starting to wonder if the kidnapper is closer to home than she ever imagined. This sounds amazing.
The Kingdom of Back – The latest from Marie Lu (Legend, Warcross, Young Elites) focuses on Mozart’s older sister, equally brilliant and talented, but limited by her gender and her family’s expectations until a mysterious stranger offers her everything she dreams of.
Moment of Truth – A girl who is sure she has her life figured out finds everything upended by a masked man dressed like action hero Heath Hall. This sounds so fun!
Only Mostly Devastated (LGBTQ+) – A m/m take on Grease. A summer fling ends abruptly for Ollie, and he thinks he’ll never see Will again. But when his family moves across the country, there is Will, at Ollie’s new school. But the Will here is NOTHING like the Will Ollie spent the summer with.
Salty, Bitter, Sweet – A new Own Voices romance from Blink. Isa is living in France with her father and step-mother after losing her abuela and watching her parents’ marriage implode. The only bright spot is the chance to compete for an apprenticeship with Chef Grattard, but the arrival of an attractive young man might unravel what stability she has left.
The Warrior’s Curse – The Traitor’s Game, Book 3, from the fabulous Jennifer A. Nielsen (The False Prince – ♥♥♥♥♥+, A Night Divided – ♥♥♥♥). Simon and Kestra are still trying to defeat the evil Lord Endrick, but their paths have diverged and it’s not clear if they will ever be able to work their way back to one another again. This series is on my TBR list.
Wicked as You Wish – A Hundred Names for Magic, book 1. The prince of a magical land, now frozen in ice, is stuck in Arizona where no magic works at all. But the appearance of a magical creature means there might be a chance for him to return to his home and defeat the Snow Queen. This sounds amazing!
Find Your Voice – From the author of The Hate U Give comes this guided journal for teens about writing your story and your truth.

Books for Adults

The Crow’s Call (Trade Paperback) – First in the new Amish Greenhouse Mystery series from Wanda Brunstetter. Three women are forced to provide for their families when father, son and son-in-law are all killed in an accident. But someone is trying to put the family greenhouse out of business.
Eight Perfect Murders (Hardcover) – Book 1 in the Malcolm Kershaw series. Bookseller and mystery lover Malcolm Kershaw once put together a list of eight perfect literary murder mysteries. But that was years ago. Now, though, the FBI is knocking at his door about a series of unsolved murders that look suspiciously like his old list.
From Alaska With Love (Mass Market Paperback) – After exchanging letters during his tour of duty in Iraq, a soldier and the woman whose letters sustained him meet in Alaska. He’s not sure why she is there – she turned down his initial request to meet in person, but he’s convinced her to stay for 6 weeks and get to know one another. But she’s afraid if he finds out the truth about her, he won’t want her there any more. I’ll be reviewing this one later this month.
The Happy Camper (Trade Paperback) – A woman fleeing her disappointing life decides to head home to help her grandfather on his small farm, but her mother has beaten her there and taken over her old room, leaving Dillon in her grandfather’s old camp trailer. While she works with a neighbor to renovate the trailer and  start putting her life together again, her old life shows up – with roses and a ring.
Lavender Blue Murder (Hardcover) – Book 21 in the Tea Shop Mystery series. A bird hunt turns deadly and Theodosia is asked to stick around and help the widow figure out who killed her husband and tried to burn down their home.
My Fair Latte (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Café Cinema Mystery series. An unemployed barista inherits an old theater, a bunch of family secrets and a nemesis. This looks fun!
A Novel Way to Die (March 5 – Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Cozy Mystery Bookshop series. Sawyer is hosting her first author event when the author’s husband is found dead in her best friend’s shop. Sawyer knows her friend is being framed, so she teams up with her book club members to track a killer. This is currently available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers as is book 1, Plotting for Murder.
One Little Lie (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the new Pelican Harbor series from Colleen Coble. Jane Hardy is the new interim sheriff in Pelican Harbor, but before she can even settle into her new assignment, her father is arrested for theft and suspected of murder, possibly tied to the cult they fled 15 years ago.
The Panda of Death (Trade Paperback) – Book 6 in the Gunn Zoo series. Teddy’s new husband discovers he fathered a son he never knew about. But when the young man comes to town to meet his family, he’s arrested for murder.
Star Trek: Kirk Fu Manual: A Guide to Star Fleet’s Most Feared Martial Art (Hardcover) – An illustrated book celebrating the fighting style of Captain James T. Kirk.
Star of Persia (Trade Paperback) – A new novel looks at the story of Queen Esther from the Bible.
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird (Hardcover) – A couple’s love is shattered when he is killed in a car accident and she has to try to find a way to go on living, But then an unexpected event gives her a chance to get their life together back and soon she is living both scenarios – one life where Freddie died and another where he lived.
Better Stretching: 9 Minutes a Day to Greater Flexibility, Less Pain and Enhanced Performance the JoeTherapy Way (Hardcover) – Tips and techniques to improve mobility, strength, and flexibility.
Don’t Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life (Trade Paperback) – The latest from Anne Bogel focuses on overthinking and negative thoughts. This seems like it will address similar things to Jennie Allen’s new book Get Out of Your Head. The books might pair up well together.
Galatians: A Biblical Study (Hardcover) – A new Bible study from Joyce Meyer. Includes study material and reflection questions.

BOOK NEWS: February 25, 2020

BOOK NEWS: February 25, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the last week of February. 2020 is zooming by! Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

Count With Olaf (Board Book) – Book comes with plush, movable hands.
Balletball – A girl who loves ballet is “stuck” playing baseball in the spring, but discovers she might actually like it.
Don’t Feed the Coos! – She was warned what will happen, but the girl still feeds a pigeon. Then all of its little pigeon friends start following her every where she goes. I can not WAIT to see this in person!
Feast of Peas (March 1) – Jiva works so hard in his garden to care for his peas. And he can hardly wait to enjoy them. But every time he goes to take the ripe ones from his garden, they are already gone.
Mr Pig’s Big Wall – Hog is annoyed that after a hard day’s work he can’t just relax in his garden because his neighbor always wants to play. So he builds a wall to keep her out, not realizing that his wall will deprive him of what he values most.
Piper & Mabel – An adorable story of two dogs sent to “Happy Trails Ranch” instead of going on vacation with their people. I can’t wait to see this in person.
Supertato: Books Are Rubbish (February 27) – The evil Pea thinks books are rubbish, and the other vegetables are determined to prove him wrong.
Fight of the Century: Alice Paul Battles Woodrow Wilson for the Vote – The story of Alice Paul and President Woodrow Wilson’s battle over votes for women.
Free for You and Me: What Our First Amendment Means – Picture book exploring the first amendment to the Constitution.
Cats in the Crater – Book 3 in the early chapter book My FANGtastically Evil Vampire Pet series. The Great and Powerful Mark, and his vampire cat, are spending the summer at Evil Scientist Summer Camp. This sounds hilarious!
InvestiGators – First in a new graphic novel early chapter book series about super spy alligators. This. Looks. Amazing. I have this one on my list for this week, too.
Trouble at Table 5: The Candy Caper AND Busted By Breakfast – The first two books in a new early chapter book series from the author of the Stick Cat and Stick Dog books, Tom Watson. The stories focus on a set of three friends and the antics they get into as they help one another.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Finding Home – Book 2 in the Baxter Family Children series, a spin off from the adult Baxter family novels.
Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! – Novel in letters. A girl on the autism spectrum writes letters to a baseball star sharing her own dreams of playing on the team. This one is on my list for this week!
A Home for Goddesses and Dogs (Older Middle Grade) – When a girl loses her mother and goes to live with an aunt and her wife, she struggles to find a place of belonging. Then the adults also take in a rotten, misbehaving dog. Wasn’t taking her in enough “rescuing” for them for awhile? This one is on my list for this week, too.
Village of Scoundrels (Older Middle Grade) – For older middle grade readers and teens based on a true story about teens in the French resistance in WWII.
We Could Be Heroes – A boy on the autism spectrum is suspended for a week because of his choices when his teacher makes the class read a really sad book. A girl has been looking for a kid just like him – someone with the gumption to help her save a dog with seizures. This is also on my list.
The Wonder of Wildflowers – A girl looks forward to when her family completes the path to citizenship so she can finally access Amber and the magic it provides and be an insider instead of an outsider.
The Opposite of Falling Apart – A YA story of two teens preparing to leave for college, one battling extreme anxiety and the other dealing with the fallout of “The Accident.” As they find each other, they also find a means of overcoming some of the obstacles in their paths.
Rebelwing – That cover is screaming my name! It’s amazing!! This book has it all – it’s dystopian, there are cybernetic dragons and smugglers, and it takes place in a near-future Washington DC. This one is already in my Amazon cart.
The Shadows Between Us – A girl with a murderous plan for the king needs to keep him alive long enough to make her queen before she takes him out. And plenty of others are trying to hunt him down.
The Sound of Stars – In a world where a misunderstanding led to the death of 1/3 of the population and takeover by an alien race, music, books and art are illegal and emotional expression can be grounds for death. But Ellie is keeping a secret library anyway. When one of the aliens discovers her secret, he knows he should turn her in, but his love of music compels him to keep her secret. This sounds fascinating.

Books for Adults

Al Dente’s Inferno (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Tuscan Cooking School Mystery series. An American chef trying to launch a farm-to-table culinary school in Tuscany stumbles across a murder. Looking forward to this one!
The Body in the Bookmobile (e-book) – First in the new Millie Monroe Mysteries series. A law school drop out who takes on the job of driving the local bookmobile discovers a dead body in the van.
British Murder (Trade Paperback) – Combines previously published books 17 (English Tea Murder) and 23 (British Manor Murder) into one volume.
Coconut Layer Cake Murder (Hardcover) – Book 25 in the Hannah Swenson Mystery series. Hannah’s sister’s boyfriend is the prime suspect in a murder investigation.
A Cowboy to Remember (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Cowboys of California series. A chef who loses her memory in an accident heads to California and family friends who might be able to help her put her life back together again. There she sees the face that has been haunting her dreams even though she doesn’t remember the history between them. I already have this one on hold at the library.
Death by Chocolate Frosted Doughnut (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Death by Chocolate Mystery series. When a Pirate Festival comes to town, bakeshop owners Jake and Ellie find a dead body instead of a boost in their bottom line. And then Jake becomes the prime suspect.
Death with a Dark Red Rose (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series. While Lena should be working on her next book with friend and author Camilla Graham as well as enjoying her engagement, she’s instead looking for one of her friends who has gone missing. I am two books behind on this fantastic series, but I’ll be catching up soon!
Dressed Up 4 Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Sophie Kimball Mystery series. Phee’s mom is consumed with showing her dog Streetman in the Precious Pooches Holiday Extravaganza costume contest. But a couple dead bodies could be a sign that someone is after the dog owners in the contest, including Phee’s mom.
Egg Drop Dead (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Noodle Shop Mystery series. Lana’s first ever catering event is a flop when a dead body is found at the event.
Finna (Trade Paperback) – A Swedish big box store is home to multiverse-spanning portals. And when an elderly customer slips through one, two minimum wage employees (who recently broke up) must go after her to save the company (and the woman). (LGBTQ+)
Here Comes the Body (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Catering Hall Mystery series. A dead body at the family catering hall is not what Mia needed at the bachelor party she planned as her first event back in town. Now she is sleuthing to be sure her father doesn’t end up in jail for a crime he didn’t commit.
The King’s Justice (Hardcover) – Book 9 in the Maggie Hope Mystery series. Secret Agent Maggie Hope is looking for connections between a missing violin and a series of murders.
Lupine Lies (e-book, February 27) – A Gray Whale Inn short story.
Murder Makes Scents (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery series. Coming home from a Paris perfume conference, Stella and her mom, Millie, have brought trouble home with them. Millie is attacked and a stranger accuses her of stealing a formula and smuggling it home.
On the Lamb (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. While preparing for Easter and enjoying the annual Bikers on the Beach celebration a man is killed and Lucy’s friend is the prime suspect.
Pies Before Guys (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 in the Pie Town Mystery series. A poet accused of plagiarism is found dead at the pie shop, and the Baker Street Bakers are asked to look into it.
A Silent Stabbing (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the A Lady and a Lady’s Maid Mystery series.  Lady Phoebe and her lady’s maid, Eva, are in a puzzling mess when their new head gardener is murdered. His brother is the most likely suspect, but Eva’s sister – her MARRIED sister – has been spending time with him while she’s on holiday. If she is his alibi, her reputation will be ruined. Phoebe and Eva know they have to investigate so the killer can be brought to justice.
Stayin’ Alive (e-book) – Book 10 in the Country Club Murders series. After all this time, Ellison has sort of come to expect that she’ll find a body any time there’s a big event – like the exhibit of Chinese funerary at the museum. She’s happy, though, to stay far from the investigation this time, until someone tries to kill her.
Who’s Dead, Doc? (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Jules and Bun Mystery series. Jules and her telepathic rabbit Bun are sleuthing again when someone is killed at a birthday party.
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women that a Movement Forgot (Hardcover) – The author asserts that the feminist movement is too often focused on “increasing privilege for the few” instead of the basic needs – food, quality education, safe neighborhoods, a living wage – for the many. This is on my list of nonfiction books to add to my TBR.
The Illustrated Feminist: 100 Years of Suffrage, Strength, and Sisterhood in America (Hardcover) – Highlights 10 landmark moments for women from each decade from 1920 to 2020.
On the Bright Side: Stories about Friendship, Love and Being True to Yourself (Hardcover) – The latest from Melanie Shankle. How to anchor yourself to unchanging principles in a world gone mad.
Suffrage: Women’s Long Battle for the Vote (Hardcover) – History of Suffrage from pre-Civil War to now.

BOOK NEWS: February 18, 2020

BOOK NEWS: February 18, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy President’s Day! Here are some of the new books out this week:

Books for Kids

Evolution for Smart Kids (Board Book) – Theories of evolution presented in story form.
Dream Big, Little Scientists  – Introduces 11 branches of science in a bedtime story.
Friday Night Wrestlefest – A family gets ready for Friday night bedtime in the style of a televised wrestling match.
Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring – A boy and his dog on a walk notice the signs of spring. Part of a series.
The Music of Life  – A composer with writer’s block is inspired by the sounds around him.
The Paper Kingdom – When the babysitter cancels, a boy has to go into work with his parents at night, but they turn the job into something magical and fun.
Tickled Pink: How Friendship Washes the World with Color – A flamingo is sad when a zebra and panda say they will only play with animals that are black and white. I’m eager to see this identity exploration in person.
Equality’s Call – Learn the history of voting rights.
God the Father and the Best Day Ever – A rhyming story about Easter and God’s love.
Frankie Sparks and the Lucky Charm  – Book 4 in the awesome Frankie Sparks series. Frankie and her classmates build Leprechaun traps, but Frankie is having trouble with her designs.
Miss Blake Is a Flake! – My Weirder-est School, book 4. The kids learn survival from an odd scout leader.
Born Curious: 20 Girls Who Grew Up to Be Awesome Scientists – Brief biographies of female scientists and mathematicians.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

The Fire in the Star – Book 3 in the Unicorn Quest series. Younger sister, Claire, finally gets a chance to lead in an adventure that might be their most important and dangerous yet.
Marvel Action: Spider-Man: Bad Luck (Graphic Novel) – Book 3 in the Marvel Action: Spider-Man series. Peter, Gwen and Miles are working together against a new villain and her bad luck powers.
Middle School: Master of Disaster – Book 12 in the Middle School series sees a team up between the stars of several Patterson series. Rafe and Jimmy are working on a huge celebration of books and reading when they team up with Jamie Grimm (I, Funny – ♥♥♥♥), Jacky Ha-Ha, the Kidd family (Treasure Hunters) and Max Einstein. I love the whole idea of this!
Star Wars Adventures: Defend the Republic (Graphic Novel) – A prequel adventure. Collects issues 18-20.
Taylor Before and After – A story told in journal entries in two timelines – before and after a tragedy as a girl negotiates changes at home and at school. This sounds really good.
Zatanna and the House of Secrets – The latest graphic novel for kids from the folks at DC. Zatanna discovers some mysteries about her family and her home in this fun, magical story. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.
A Black Woman Did That – A celebration of women of color in history.
The Feminist Agenda of Jemima Kincaid – A self-identified feminist who thinks prom is a prime example of the gender-based issues in her school finds herself on the planning team for the event. So she convinces the team to change things up this year. I have already requested this one from the library.
Foul Is Fair – A group of teen girls who tend to “rule the school” – and any other environment they find themselves in – experience something new and unexpected when they crash a party for a local prep school. But these girls know their power, and when one of their own is assaulted, they fight back with a vengeance. A bloody, violent and dark Macbeth retelling about rape. Sensitive readers should approach this one with care, but the reviews for this are overwhelmingly positive.
Miss You Love You Hate You Bye – When her strong, leader best friend starts cracking under the strain of family issues and develops an eating disorder, the quiet, blend-into-the-background best friend has to find a way to speak up.
Of Curses and Kisses – From the author of When Dimple Met Rishi and There’s Something About Sweetie (♥♥♥♥½) and the upcoming 10 Things I Hate About Pinky (June 2020). A princess and a lord from feuding families meet at boarding school where she is determined to make him love her and then break his heart for what his family has put her family through, but where he is just waiting for his cursed future. This is at the top of my list for this week.
The Seventh Sun – First in a new series based on Aztec and Mayan legends. A young prince feels unprepared to take the throne after his father’s death, and his family’s connection to the sun seems to be fading. He is presented with six noble women from which to choose his bride, but the gods seem to be working against the prince and the young woman he would choose – and they both know any woman not chosen will be sacrificed.
The Upside of Falling – A YA fake-relationship story! I love these! Tired of being hassled for not having a boyfriend, a girl claims she already has one. A guy nearby steps into the role so he too can get people off his case. What starts as pretend starts to feel pretty real when the two teens realize how much they have in common. I already have this one on hold at the library!

Books for Adults

Dead to the Last Drop (e-book, February 21) – Book 8 in the Killer Coffee Mystery series. When Roxi’s Aunt Maxi gets involved in community theater, Roxi gets involved in another murder. This is free to read for subscribers to the Kindle Unlimited program at the time of this writing.
Ghost-Spider, Volume 1: Dog Days Are Over (Paperback Graphic Novel) – Gwen Stacey travels from Earth-65 to the Prime Marvel Universe to go to school. This looks fascinating! I have been interested in this characters since the Spider-verse movie came out in 2018.
Harley Quinn & the Gotham Girls (Paperback Graphic Novel) – Five issue mini series. Catwoman steals something thinking she is helping the lion preserve only to find out she is working for Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy.
Highway to Hel (e-book) – Book 2 in the Vikings of Virginia Mystery series. When the goddess of the underworld shows up in Freya’s town, she figures she’s just there to check out the Asgardian retirees. But then Loki goes missing and it’s obvious Hel is up to something. I am SO intrigued by this series! I have book 1 waiting on my TBR. Both books are free to read for Kindle Unlimited subscribers at the time of this writing.
Isaiah’s Legacy (Trade Paperback) – A young girl tutoring the child-King Manasseh starts steering him away from obedience to Yahweh. The king’s road to ruin starts to take her with him and leads her to seek out Yahweh for herself and her people.
Lawless Litter (e-book, February 20) – Book 11 in the Pet Whisperer series. A litter of kittens is left on the porch, their paws covered in blood. This cozy mystery series looks so fun!
Queen of Raiders (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Nine Realms series. The exiled princess is compelled by spirits to join a group of rebel raiders.
Here for It: How to Save Your Soul in America (Hardcover) – A memoir-in-essays exploring identity as well as the current political landscape, asking the question, “Why should we bother when everything only gets worse?” (LGBTQ+)
I Still Believe (Trade Paperback) – A memoir by Jeremy Camp. Christian singer Jeremy Camp shares his journey of losing his first wife months after their wedding.
Loving Well in a Broken World: Discover the Hidden Power of Empathy (Trade Paperback) – Jesus said to love our neighbors, but that would be a lot easier if they thought and believed and acted just like us. Readers can learn to leverage their empathy to help us put Jesus’ words into practice.
Star Trek Voyager: 25th Anniversary Special Book (Hardcover) – A celebration of the 25th anniversary of the science fiction show.