Category: Book News

BOOK NEWS: July 16, 2019

BOOK NEWS: July 16, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

July is half over, and I can already hear the call of school supply lists. Maybe a new book is just what you need to help you savor the final weeks of summer!

Books for Kids

 

Bad Kitty Does NOT Like Thanksgiving – No, she doesn’t like it, she LOVES it. And she will do anything to get her paws on some turkey.
A Boy Like You – Boys are encouraged to lean into all the ways they are unique, to embrace their stories and to listen to the stories of others.
Ultrabot’s First Playdate – The professor is planning a playdate for Ultrabot with the girl next door.
A Royal Ride: Catherine the Great’s Great Invention – Catherine the Great of Russia longs to enjoy the fun of winter ice slides year round. The sample pages I have seen of this look outstanding! And I adore the illustrations.
Dinosaurs: By the Numbers – Kicks off a new nonfiction series of Infographic readers by Steve Jenkins
Llamas – Leveled Reader
Mia Mayhem Breaks Down Walls – Book 4 of the Mia Mayhem series. When Mia’s super strength gets away from her, she’ll have to figure out how to make things right again.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

 

A Pinch of Phoenix – Series finale for the Mystic Cooking Chronicles series. In a war between elves and scientists. a young master chef is caught in the middle.
Survivor Girl – A girl whose father is a reality-tv survival show star finds herself in a real-life quest for survival.
SW Adventures: Flight of the Falcon (graphic novel) – A First Order spy is on the hunt for the Millennium Falcon.
Where Is the Serengeti?
My Ideal Boyfriend Is a Croissant – When a plus-sized teen on a doctor-ordered diet encounters a personal tragedy, losing weight is the last thing on her mind. But her food diary becomes a place to record her thoughts and feelings about what is happening with her family. I have requested this from the library.
The Infographic Guide to American Government – If you are looking for a way to get a better grasp on American Government – no matter what your age – check out this visual guide. Covers the Revolutionary War and the set up of our government as well as the branches of government, elections and voting, and state and local government.
They Called Us Enemy – A new autobiographical graphic novel from George Takei about World War II.

Books for Adults

Bark of Night (Hardcover) – Book 19 in the terrific Andy Carpenter series. Andy gets pulled into a murder trial when a dog is surrendered to his vet to be euthanized. I’ll be reviewing this next week.
The Body in Griffith Park (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Anna Blanc historical mystery series. An ex-heiress is employed by the L.A.police department to work with delinquent kids and women in jail, but she really wants to find criminals – including the one who murdered the guy she found in the park. This sounds like a fun series! Book 1 is The Secret Life of Anna Blanc.
Desire and the Deep Blue Sea (e-book) – Book 1 in the new Love Unscripted series. A research librarian finds himself in luck when the girl of his dreams needs a stand in boyfriend for an episode of a tv show. I pre-ordered this weeks ago. I adore the fake-relationship trope in romance books.
A Genuine Fix (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Allie Cobb literary agent mystery series. Allie is the prime suspect when the guy who stood her up for prom is killed. I have book one on my wish list.
The McAvoy Sisters Book of Secrets (Trade Paperback) – Estranged sisters are drawn together when their mother needs help recovering from a stroke. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe (Hardcover) – A women returns to the town her mother fled in order to bury her grandmother. But while she plans to leave as soon as possible, she is drawn to the town. I picked up a free teaser for the book online, but I haven’t gotten to read it yet.
The Pawful Truth (Hardcover) – Book 11 in the delightful Cat in the Stacks mystery series. This time, Charlie is drawn into a mystery surrounding a history class he is auditing at the college. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week, too.
Sophia Princess Among Beasts (Hardcover) – The latest from James Patterson. A beloved princess fights to protect her kingdom from mythical creatures and an invading army. I don’t read much from Patterson, but I might give this one a shot.
The Wedding Party (Trade Paperback) – The latest from romance author Jasmine Guillory, book 3 in the Wedding Date series. Enemies in the wedding party (both best friends of the bride) spend the night together and then can’t stop thinking about one another. They try to keep up their abrasive banter, but they keep sneaking off when the bride isn’t looking. They are certain the relationship will dissolve once the wedding is over – but what if they don’t want it to?
The Church of Us vs. Them: Freedom From a Faith that Feeds on Making Enemies (Hardcover) – I was recently accused of being divisive by posting an article critical to the current presidential administration. Shouldn’t Christians be able to just get along?  I am eager to read this author’s take on the issue of our conflicted culture and the followers of Christ caught in the middle.
Ferocious Warrior: Dismantle Your Enemy and Rise (Hardcover) – Learn to fight through personal battles like grief, depression, and insecurity by thinking like a warrior. I am eager to check this one out, too. That cover is amazing!

 

BOOK NEWS: July 9, 2019

BOOK NEWS: July 9, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Hope you are enjoying some sunny summer weather wherever you are! Here are some new books out this week that you might want to make part of your summer fun. (If you love pet stories, don’t miss the picture books this week!)

Books for Kids

Cookie AND Elmo (Board Books) – Part of the new Sesame Street Friends series of board books.
Baby’s First Jailbreak (July 11) – Sequel to Baby’s First Bank Heist where Baby Frank tries to rob a bank to get money for a pet. Now Baby Frank has a zoo, but Baby Bruce has opened a rival zoo nearby, and all of Bruce’s animals are unhappy. I can only guess what the “jailbreak” is going to be! This sounds fantastic. I’d love to read both of these.
Grover’s Own Alphabet – Grover bends and contorts his body to make every letter of the alphabet.
Little Unicorn Is Angry AND Little Unicorn Is Scared – A picture book series about strong emotions. When the little unicorn has a strong emotion, his mane changes colors. Books explore breathing techniques to help cope with strong feelings.
Mighty Reader and the Big Freeze – Hugo the Beagle puppy transforms into Mighty Reader whenever his friends run into a reading emergency, like when his friend Barkley freezes up before reading out loud. This sounds ADORABLE!
Not Quite Snow White – Tameika was born to be on stage, but when she tries out for the title roll in a Snow White musical, the other kids mutter about how she is not quite right for the role. I am eager to read this one and see how the author deals with this situation.
The Pawed Piper – A little girl longing for a cat of her own like her grandmother’s beloved Hector sets out dishes of milk and balls of yarn to lure in a pet. But she gets a big surprise when Hector and a bunch of other cats show up – and her neighbors post signs for lost felines. This book is at the top of my picture book wish list. Sounds darling!
A Quieter Story – When a girl starts to write a story about her kitten, he wants one with adventure worthy of a TIGER. But the kitten finds there can be too much of a good thing when he jumps into the more adventurous story she writes.
Truman – Truman the tortoise is alarmed when his Sarah leaves on  a big bus for the first time. Oh my goodness, the sample pages for this are so sweet and endearing. This is another must read for me. Cue heart eyes.
Unicorn Is Maybe Not So Great After All – Sequel to Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great. Unicorn is ready to take the school by storm, but a new rubber band trend has already done that, leaving Unicorn feeling not-so-special.
The Invention Hunters Discover How Machines Work AND Discover How Electricity Works – A new series! The Invention Hunters travel the world looking for cool inventions, and with the help of some great kids they discover things about science. These would be cool in classrooms!
Pete the Cat’s Trip to the Supermarket – In this new leveled reader, Pete and his brother help their dad at the grocery store when he loses his shopping list.
Night of Soldiers and Spies – Book 10 in the terrific Ranger in Time series (like Magic Tree House with a dog). This time Ranger is off to the Revolutionary War to help a kid chosen to be a spy for General Washington.
To the Future, Ben Franklin! – Speaking of Magic Tree House, this is the 32nd Magic Tree House story (I think they launched the Merlin Missions into their own line and re-started the counting.). This time, Jack and Annie meet Ben Franklin, and he is very curious about their tree house.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray – The first book in the new Elements of Genius series that has been described as Oceans 11 meets Spy School. When Nikki’s death ray accidentally blows up her bedroom, she is sent to Genius Academy to learn to channel her ideas. But when her death ray is stolen she’ll have to team up with her fellow geniuses to track down the thief. I can not WAIT to read this one!
School-Tripped – Book 3 in the Babymouse Tales from the Locker series. When Babymouse’s middle school art class heads to the museum for a field trip, Babymouse decides to test her freedoms by exploring the city instead.
Titans – First in a new series from the author of the Pegasus series. When Olympus was destroyed, the Olympians resettled on Titus. And so far the Titans and the Olympians are keeping peace with one another. When a Titan named Astraea and her winged horse, Zephyr discover a human on Titus – something that should be impossible -, it seems he is only the beginning of a plot to unsettle the peace and maybe destroy Titus. I haven’t been this interested in a mythology-related story in a long time! This sounds fantastic.
William Wenton and the Lost City – Book 3 in the William Wenton series. William is a puzzle-solving genius, but when his secret skill was discovered, it set off a series of events that have left William unsure who to trust. This next event will send William to the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the ocean.
Wish on All the Stars – Sequel to See You on a Starry Night.  Three girls who are in the Starry Beach Club look for ways to save their beloved bookmobile. Both of these books sound terrific.
From an Idea to Google AND Lego – Books 3 and 4 in this fun nonfiction series for kids.
Cheshire Crossing – Ever wondered what happened to Dorothy, Alice and Wendy when they get back from their respective adventures? This graphic novel tells that story when the three girls meet at Cheshire Crossing, a boarding school for magical multiverse travelers. They use their world-crossing powers to visit other lands – and leave a heap of trouble in their wake.
The Last Word – It’s 1861. When a young woman discovers her favorite author has died before finishing her favorite series, she coerces her father’s young business partner to help her track down the reclusive author’s whereabouts and try to discover how she planned to end the series.  How fun!
Maybe This Time – A young woman who works for the local florist finds herself at every major event in her small home town. The son of the fancy new chef in town finds himself at all those same events. Will he just be an annoyance keeping her from getting her job done so she can move on to the things that matter in her life – or will he become something more? From author Kasie West.
Past Perfect Life – When a small town Wisconsin girl applies for college, her world comes crumbling down as she discovers her name – and her life – aren’t real.
The Shortest Distance Between Love & Hate – A young woman ready to embrace all the new opportunities of college can’t shake her nemesis – the guy who ruined her life in middle school and the hottie she made out with at her first college party. Now every where she looks, Carter is there, and she can’t get rid of him. Is there a do over available for this college thing?
Stealing Home – A young woman ready to take over her family’s minor league baseball team runs into a snag when she sees the team’s finances. If she teams up with the charming Sawyer Campbell will he help her find sponsors and save the team, or will he be a distraction she actually can’t afford. I’ve heard great things about this one!

 

Books for Adults

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill (Trade Paperback) – A quiet, bookish woman is living her best, quiet life when she discovers her estranged father has died and left her with a slew of family members who live close enough to expect her to visit – and speak to them. And her trivia nemesis seems to want to see her socially – what is he thinking?.  Is it too late to change her name and go into hiding? I have already requested this from the library.
Crashing the A-List (Trade Paperback) – An unemployed book editor is desperate enough to take a temporary gig cleaning out storage units. Among all the creepy and gross things she finds there, she finds the secret past of a famous British actor. While she tries to assure him she has no interest in cashing in on her find, her attempts go awry and leave him certain she wants to blackmail him. I have this on my list, too.
Hope Rides Again (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Obama Biden Mystery series. While I am personally over  Biden in the political sphere, the idea of these books is still a hoot to me. In this one, the politicians-turned-detectives start sleuthing again when Obama’s prized Blackberry gets stolen and their prime suspect winds up dead.
Peach Clobbered (Hardcover) – First in the new Georgia B&B Mystery series. An ice-cream shop mascot dressed in a penguin costume arrives on Nina’s porch saying his great-aunt pledged to leave him the house. Later, a developer is found dead – in the penguin suit. Did the killer get the wrong man? Nina and the mascot, Harry, team up to track down a killer and protect her new B&B – at least until Harry decides if he is going to contest the sale and his great-aunt’s will. Sounds like a fun series kickoff!
The Queen Con (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Golden Arrow Mystery series. In The Frame-Up, comic book writer, MG Martin deals with someone recreating crimes from her favorite comics. She thought all that was behind her, but the Golden Arrow seems to be back and MG has been called back in by the police to help them track down the supposed hero. When a sting goes sideways, MG and her friends are back to sleuthing. I have book one already – I need to get into it so I can pick this one up!
The Queen’s Advantage (e-book) – Book 2 in the Rogue Queen series by the author of one of my favorite books for 2019, Jessie Mihalik. Queen Samara has worked diligently to keep her Rogue Coalition OUT of interstellar war. But the warring factors refuse to trade with any neutral parties and her people are suffering. Samara’s plans to rescue the kidnapped Kos emperor go sideways and the man she tried to save becomes her partner in evading mercenaries.  And that was just in book one! Now, the emperor wants her to meet his advisors – and help him root out the traitors in his midst. I just bought the first book, and I can’t wait to dig into this series!
Risky Biscuits (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Sugar & Spice Mystery series. Two friends launched a community cookbook publishing business, but their latest fundraiser ends with a dead body. This series sounds so fun! I have book one of this on my list.
All My Friends Have Issues (Trade Paperback) – A faith-based book about finding and keeping friends.
Star Trek Illustrated Handbooks (Hardcover) – Star Trek resources on the original Enterprise NCC-1701 and 1701-A and the Enterprise NCC-1701-D from The Next Generation.
Vegan Comfort Cooking – To be honest, I only put this on the list because of the cover. That looks amazing! I would love to try some of these recipes to do more meat-less meals at home.

BOOK NEWS: July 2, 2019

BOOK NEWS: July 2, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy July! I hope this week finds you enjoying your summer and, if you are in the US, looking forward to celebrating Independence Day. Here are some new books out this week that you might want to make part of your holiday celebration.

Books for Kids

Battle on the Moon – Captain Marvel teams up with the Avengers in this Little Golden Book.
First Day of Groot – A celebration of learning and firsts with Groot and the Guardians of the Galaxy
I’m Trying to Love Math – An alien helps the reader see that math is all around us. This looks adorable! Perfect for classroom use.
The King of Kindergarten – In this darling story, a boy uses all of the things his parents taught him to have a great first day of Kindergarten.
Little Red Reading Hood and the Misread Wolf – A girl uses what she has learned from her reading to help her on a trip to her grandmother’s house.
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! – Mo Willems’ Pigeon is off to school.
Too Many Tribbles – Little Golden Books takes on the Star Trek tribbles.  This is on my list for this week.
Rocket’s Very Fine Day – Rocket the dog is back in this leveled reader about Rocket and his friend enjoying a lovely day together.
School of Fish – A fish is off to his first day of school in this leveled reader. First in a new series.
Uni’s First Sleepover – Uni the Unicorn’s first leveled reader! Uni struggles at a sleepover for the first time.

Books for Older Kids, Teens, Young Adults

Awesome Dog 5000 – A trio of video game-loving kids find an adventure in the real world when they discover a robotic dog. First in a new series.
The Echo Park Castaways – A trio of foster kids tries to adjust to a new arrival who throws the whole house into chaos.
Emperor of the Universe – A boy, his gerbil, and a package of ground beef are beamed onto an alien space ship. That description just BEGS for you to pick the book up and check it out!
Tom Swift’s Inventors’ Academy: The Drone Pursuit AND The Sonic Breach – First in a new series about a group of kids at the Swift Academy of Science and Technology. The first book is about the kids investigating the school custodian for being a spy, and the second is about a robotics club and a new phone app that could be helping kids cheat. Both stories sound terrific! An Alex Rider-type story for the younger middle grade crowd.
To the Forgotten Castle – Book 5 in the Finding Tinker Bell series of the Never Girls. The Never Girls and the fairies team up to find Tinker Bell.
Who Is Oprah Winfrey?
The Odd Sisters – Book 6 in the Disney Villains series. In the first five books, the Odd Sisters have meddled in the lives of other villains, but it’s time to find out who they are and what their story is.
Queen of Ruin – Sequel to Grace and Fury. The sisters have changed so much after the events of book one, and now they will team up to ensure that the revolution begun on Mount Ruin can sweep across the entire kingdom and kick off much needed change for everyone. I adored the first book! I can’t wait to read what happens next.
Symptoms of a Heart Break – A 16-year-old doctor arrives for her first day treating pediatric cancer patients and risks her future when she falls in love with a patient. I’m intrigued by this one – the full description talks about how she deals with skeptical adults in her new job and I am curious to read how she handles that.
Teen Titans: Raven – The latest graphic novel for teens from DC focuses on the story of Raven. Raven has lost her foster mother and finds herself in a new home (with her foster mom’s sister and niece), new school and new town. And some weird new abilities are developing, but Raven can’t remember anything from before the accident that killed her foster mother. Is she strong enough to dig into her past for the truth? I’ve always been fascinated by Raven’s character! I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.

Books for Adults

Booking the Crook (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Bookmobile Cat Mystery series. While the bookmobile program is in danger thanks to a new library board chair, Minnie and her cat Eddie are determined to keep doing their work with a smile. When Minnie finds one of their regulars dead in the snow, she knows they will be sleuthing once again.
The Gifted School (Hardcover)  – When an exclusive school for the gifted opens in their town, a group of friends start showing their competitive and ambitious sides – and it has a huge impact on their kids, their marriages and their friendships.
Heart of Barkness (Hardcover) – Book 9 in the Chet and Bernie Mystery series. Look at that cover!! That cover is the whole reason I bought the first book in the series. I have to read through the first 8 books so I can get to this one! Chet and Bernie head out to a dive bar to hear a famous country singer. The $100 they place in the tip jar is stolen multiple times that night which launches them into the most puzzling case of their partnership.
The Me I Used to Be (Trade Paperback) – Evangeline is wrapping up 4 years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit when she gets word that her father has died. The officer who arrested her offers her a deal – help him hunt down the real culprits, and he’ll get her record cleared. Evangeline is not the same woman now that she was before prison. Her family wants nothing to do with her – and they are even more bitter when her dad’s will is read, and she is put in charge of the future of the family ranch. There are a lot of things stacked against her, but Evangeline is determined to get her freedom and reclaim her life after the years that were stolen from her.  I’ll be reviewing this one next week – it was terrific!
Protect the Prince (Trade Paperback) – EEEEK! It’s finally here! This is the sequel to Kill the Queen, my FAVORITE book from 2018. I have had this pre-ordered for ages. I can’t wait to hold this one in my hands and dive in.  Book 2 in the Crown of Shards series. Evie has her hands full with assassins, quarreling nobles who only want her crown, and pursuing an essential alliance with a neighboring kingdom. And she finds herself falling for a guy – and that relationship would be awfully complicated. With dark forces at work, Evie has to wonder if she is even strong enough to be a Winter Queen. Eeek! I can’t wait to read this.
A Thread of Darkness (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Queen Bees Quilt Shop mystery series. When the wife of the local celebrity chef is found murdered, he is the prime suspect. The Crestwood Quilters are on the case to keep him out of jail.
Unsung Heroine (e-book novella) – A new novella addition to the Heroine Complex series (Heroine Complex, Heroine Worship, Heroine’s Journey).  This is Lucy’s story. Lucy is the superhero bodyguard for Evie and Aveda. Lucy has had a crush on the head of the demon unit at the police department, but she’s afraid Rose won’t like the real Lucy. But when Lucy is displaced as the queen of karaoke at her favorite bar, strange and supernatural things seem to be at work. Which means Lucy and Rose are working on the case. Together. I have only read the first book in the original trilogy, but I loved it. I can’t wait to get caught up on these characters.
Wanderers (Hardcover)  – Shana’s little sister is the first person she knows who starts the sleepwalking thing – she can’t be awakened, and she is marching determinedly toward something only she knows. Shana follows along to keep her sister safe. And then they join up with others around the country who are in the same situation. Fear and violence follow as the country wonders about the cause of the epidemic – and where it is all leading. This sounds amazing!
Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the US (Trade Paperback) – A former inmate turned preacher shares this love letter to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America calling Christians to renewal through racial equality and justice.

BOOK NEWS: June 25, 2019

BOOK NEWS: June 25, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the last release week of June 2019. Let’s see what books are out this week.

Books for Kids

 

Bug Off! – When one girl keeps Maude from being able to join the Bug-of-the-Month Club, Maude is determined to deal with the girl’s rudeness – but not in the way anyone expects.
Can Cat and Bird Be Friends? – Can this traditional predator-and-prey pair really become friends?
Nugget & Fang Go to School – Sequel to the amazing Nugget & Fang: Friends Forever or Snack Time! This time the unlikely friends are off to school – but can a shark fit in at a minnow school? When I was teaching, the first book was always a hit with students. I can’t wait to see what happens with book 2.
Bruce’s Big Fun Day – Mother Bruce is back in a new Early Reader format. I can not wait to read this one!!
A Sea Otter to the Rescue (Tails from History) – In this non-fiction Early Reader, kids can read about the mother sea otter whose story led to protections for endangered species.
A Good Team – Book 2 in the Unicorn and Yeti series from Scholastic ACORN about two unusual friends.
Amelia Earhart and the Flying Chariot – Book 4 in the Time Twisters early chapter book series about historical figures. A time travel adventure with bits of history and a whole lot of crazy adventures. This time, Amelia Earhart lands in Ancient Greece, and the kids have to get her back on track for her flight across the Atlantic.  This series sounds fantastic!
The Bad Guys in Big Bad Wolf – Book 9 in the Bad Guys series. The Big Bad Wolf has grown humongous and the Bad Guys have to deal with him AND an alien invasion. Such a FUN early chapter book series!
The Battle for Perodia – Book 6 in the Last Firehawk series from Scholastic BRANCHES.
The End of Orson Eerie? – Book 10 in the Eerie Elementary series from Scholastic BRANCHES has a Halloween/haunted house/ Fall Festival theme as Sam and his friends try to defeat Orson Eerie once and for all.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Artemis Fowl The Graphic Novel (New) – This is a NEW graphic novel adaptation of the series, launching in advance of the movie which releases in August.
Digging Deep – Book 4 in the Hoops series about a girl who gives up basketball in search of her passion.
Level 13 – Book 2 in the Slacker series from the fantastic Gordon Korman. An infamous slacker has found his calling – playing video games online in front of an audience. Too bad there are so many things getting in the way of his calling – like school and the club he never meant to start. This series is hard to describe – I haven’t even mentioned the beaver – but you cannot go wrong with a book by Gordon Korman.
The Problim Children: Carnival Catastrophe – Book 2 in the Problim Children series. The 7 Problim children are catching all the blame when a series of catastrophes strike the local carnival – and their mother has gone missing.
Harry Potter Origami – Fifteen projects including a dragon, an owl, a Howler and the castle. Includes specialty paper and notations of how difficult each pattern is to complete. On Amazon you can see a few of the patterns and see how the printed paper they provide will work to help you create each structure. This looks like great fun!
Better than the Best Plan – A teen who has been living on her own since her mom disappeared ends up in foster care when someone reports her living situation. She ends up back in the foster home where she was as a baby. She starts to wonder what her life would have been like if her mom hadn’t regained custody way back then. But now her old life and her new one are about to collide again.
Call It What You Want – The latest from the awesome Brigid Kemmerer! Two ostracized teens are thrown together for a class project and find in one another a person who understands them. I will be reviewing this one later this week.
The Evil Queen – First in the Forest of Good and Evil series. A teen raised in the mortal realm discovers she is a fairy tale princess – and fated to become Snow White’s nemesis, the Evil Queen. This is definitely on my wish list for this week!
The Virtue of Sin – A teen raised in New Jerusalem under the watchful eye of the founder and leader is obedient and quiet as expected. But when the life she expected to live in the community is not the path set before her, she finds her voice and starts to question everything she’s been told and everything she has believed.

Books for Adults

An American Duchess (Trade Paperback) – When a Duke marries a Colorado rancher, the new duchess has NO idea what she is doing in the English nobility. An unusual friendship with one of her maids gives both women a chance to open up about their hopes and dreams and help one another out with life’s ups and downs. This sounds lovely.
Andrew (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Petersheim Brothers series. A proper young Amish man is looking for the right woman to marry and settle down with. But the young woman who catches his attention wouldn’t be proper at all. Two years after leaving the community she is back, single and pregnant. As she refuses to hide in shame and ignores the whispers all around her, she stands out as a woman of grace and resilience. This is on my list for this week, too.
The Bookshop on the Shore (Hardcover) – A single mother takes a job in Scotland as a part time bookseller and an au pair for a widower’s three children who have become somewhat wild as they have been left to their own devices.
Clause & Effect (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Deadly Edits mystery series. Mikki is working on a cold case that may be connected to the town’s bicentennial celebration 25 years ago.
Cross My Heart (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Legacy of Faith series. A couple discovers a lot of common ground between them from their upbringing to their love of horses. But his history of alcoholism and her experiences with her addicted brother could end up tearing them apart.
Decades: Marvel in the 90s – The Mutant X-plosion (Paperback Graphic Novel) – See how the X-Men franchise grew in the 1990s at Marvel.
Down in Flames (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery series. This time Savannah is looking into a deadly hit and run that took place right outside her store.
Evvie Drake Starts Over (Hardcover) – A woman still holed up at home a year after her husband’s death allows a friend to invite a down-on-his-luck baseball player to stay in the apartment on her property and the two become friends – and then maybe something more.
Frugal Lissa Finds a Body (ebook – June 28) – First in a new series about a small town woman who stumbles across the body of a person she argued with recently. And the investigating officer is someone she teased in high school, and he seems to be holding a grudge. I pre-ordered this one the first time I heard about it. I can’t wait to read it.
Guilty as Charred (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Cook Off Mystery series. While Sherry is supposed to be celebrating a big Cook-Off win on the radio, she instead finds out an acquaintance from the community garden has been killed. The food mentioned just in the blurb for this book will have me picking this one up to check the recipes – and to try out a new-to-me series.
Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody (Mass Market Paperback – exclusive to Barnes and Noble) – First in a new series. A retiree gets a reputation as a local “fixer.” A condo community hires her to come in and deal with some hostilities between residents. And then someone is murdered. I have already pre-ordered this one!
A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder (Hardcover) – Sequel to the outstanding A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder. Frances had such luck with finding a suitor for her younger sister, she is now playing host to one of Lily’s friends, and trying to find a spouse for her cousin as well. When the woman she matched with her cousin is murdered, Frances will be sleuthing again to keep him out of jail. I’ll be reviewing this one next week.
Left Fur Dead (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Jules & Bun Mystery series. A woman running a rabbit rescue, and a special “bun” who can communicate with her telepathically, find a body and look into the mysterious death. This sounds like a hoot!
Lost and Found (Hardcover) – After suffering a fall and injury, a mother of three adult children heads off on a road trip to reconnect with three men who might have been “the one” to see if the decisions she made in the past were the right ones. I can’t remember the last time I read a Danielle Steele novel, but this one really caught my attention. I love stories where characters go back to confront choices they made in the past. I am 49th on the hold list for this at the library – so it’s going to be awhile until I read it.
Murder’s No Votive Confidence (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery series. When the candlemaker’s unity candle for a wedding is used to commit a murder, it leads to a loss of business for Stella. To help a friend who is under suspicion and to save her own business, she joins forces with a reporter to sniff out the killer. I’ll definitely be trying out this new series!
Once Upon a Bad Boy (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Sometimes In Love Series. (I enjoyed book 2 – Smitten by the Brit.) An actress goes into training for the role of a lifetime and the person training her is the ex who broke her heart.
A Rainbow Above Us (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 8 in the Blessings, Georgia series. After Hurricane Franny, a woman who is the only surviving member of her family tries to put the pieces of her life back together. A young man who returns to Blessings to help his grandmother rebuild doesn’t plan to stay for long, but the lost young woman captures his attention.
Strangled Eggs and Ham (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Country Store Mystery series. When a developer wants to put a luxury resort monstrosity at one of the prettiest parts of Brown County, Indiana, tempers run high and protesters are out in force. When one of the protesters is murdered, Robbie is on the case, if for no other reason than to keep her Aunt Adele, another vocal opponent, from winding up dead. I never realized that this series takes place in Indiana. How fun!
Tell Tail Heart (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Cat Cafe Mystery series. A big-name writer is killed and an eccentric woman comes to town saying Maddie’s cat, JJ, is hers. Just when Maddie was hoping things would quiet down for awhile so she could work on her business – and a special relationship. But now she’s back to sleuthing.
Toxic Toffee (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 4 of the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series by Amanda Flower. This time Bailey is looking into the murder of a sweet old rabbit farmer with a twenty-year-old secret. I am on the hold list for this at the library, too. Looking forward to reading this addition to the series. There’s also a novella for this series (Criminally Cocoa) that I need to catch up on. And there will be a spin-off series – The Amish Matchmaker Mystery series – coming at the end of 2019/first of 2020.
Scoot Over and Make Some Room: Creating Space Where Everyone Belongs (Trade Paperback) – A mom  to adopted and special needs children shares some of her family stories with the underlying message that there is room for every one at the table and it’s our job to watch for those who are left out and invite them in.

BOOK NEWS: June 18, 2019

BOOK NEWS: June 18, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books out this week for your summer reading pleasure! There are lots of books for kids this week, both picture books and early chapter books.

Books for Kids

 

Bunny’s Book Club Goes to School – Book 2 in the Bunny’s Book Club series. Bunny’s new friend is nervous about starting at a new school, and Bunny is determined to help. This series looks so sweet!
Dragons From Mars Go to School – Book 2 in the Dragons from Mars series. The dragons from Mars are back and eager to join their friend Nathaniel at school.
Even Monsters Go to School – Sequel to Even Monsters Need to Sleep. Shows all the different ways monsters enjoy school.
The Great Gran Plan – One of the Three Pigs tries to save Little Red Riding Hood’s granny.
Hey, Dog – A boy works hard to show an abused dog that he can be trusted.
The Peculiar Pig – A dachshund puppy finds herself in a family of piglets where what makes her peculiar can also save the day.
How to Read a Book – Poetry by Kwame Alexander, art by Melissa Sweet.
Frankie Sparks and the Class Pet AND Frankie Sparks and the Talent Show Trick – The first two books in the Frankie Sparks, Third Grade Inventor series, a new early chapter book series with an emphasis on STEM.
Miss Porter is Out of Order! – Book 2 in the My Weirder-est School series by Dan Gutman. The kids get a substitute teacher who as a Personal Digital Assistant.
Moles (Superpower Field Guide) – A 96-oage field guide to moles.
Mummies, Myths and Mysteries (My Weird School Fast Facts) – The latest nonfiction book from Dan Gutman.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

The Curse of Greg: An Epic Series of Failures – Book 2 in the Epic Series of Failures series. A middle schooler finds out he’s a fantastical Dwarf and he is drawn into a war between the Dwarves and the Elves.
The Art of Breaking Things – A teen with her eyes on graduation and freedom has to rethink things when her mom rekindles a relationship with the man who crossed serious boundaries with her when she was too young to understand what was happening. Will she hold her secrets and focus on escape or will she give up her dreams to protect her younger sister?
Hungry Hearts: 13 Tales of Food and Love – 13 interconnected short stories about a baker’s dozen of teens and their families, cultures, and foods.
Last Bus to Everland – A lonely teen makes a friend who introduces him to Everland, a “knock off Narnia” where he finally finds a circle of friends. But when the doors to Everland start to disappear, the teen will need to decide if he will stay in Everland or return to his normal life.
Risking It All – Two teens at Wallingford Academy, an elite military school, could not be more different. One is disciplined and determined to pursue her dream of an Air Force career, and the other is there because he took the fall for his girlfriend’s crime. Can Paige help Logan get the most out of his time at Wallingford or will his past drag both of them down in the end?

Books for Adults

Answers in the Attic (ebook) – Book 4 in the Inn at Holiday Bay series.
Ever Faithful (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Vintage National Parks series. Yellowstone National Park is the setting for this romantic mystery about an illiterate man who needs a fresh start – and some reading skills to help him keep his job – and the young woman who tutors him while mysterious fires threaten their relationship.
It’s a Ghost’s Life (ebook) – Book 5 in the Murder By Design series. A home stager is the only one who believes the death of her grandmother’s bingo partner is suspicious, so she enlists her ghost friend’s help in her sleuthing.
The Trouble with Talent (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Gourmet Cat Mystery series. Colbie and her cat Trouble are on the case when a couple of shady school employees are killed after some crooked deals to help or hinder kids getting into college.

BOOK NEWS: June 11, 2019

BOOK NEWS: June 11, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Books for Kids

 

Codzilla – When a big codfish is teased for his size, he thinks maybe he should just live up to the taunts from the littler fish who call him Codzilla.
Sumo Joe – A boy playing Sumo with his buddies is torn between his favorite sport and his beloved little sister when she asks to join their fun.
Go For the Moon: A Rocket, a Boy, and the First Moon Landing – An exploration of Apollo 11.
Horse & Buggy Paint It Out – Horse is so eager to get started on his mural, he ignores the advice of his friend Buggy and makes a big mess.
Imagine You Were There…. Winning the Vote for Women (June 13) – Celebrates the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote.
Goldilocks, Go Home – This illustrated early chapter book is a mash up of classic fairy tales starring Goldilocks and Bobby (Baby) Bear.
Nixie Ness Cooking Star – Book 1 in the Afterschool Superstars series. When her mom gets a job, Nixie has to go to aftercare at school instead of hanging out at home with her best friend. But the afterschool program gives her a chance to attend a cooking camp.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Briar and Rose and Jack – Sleeping Beauty meets Jack and the Beanstalk in this fairy tale mash up starring two girls who may be cursed and their friend Jack,  who are all willing to do what no adult has been – fight the giant terrorizing their kingdom.
The Prisoner of Azkaban Ravenclaw Edition (June 13) – I was so excited about this one, but in the last week the purchase option at Amazon has disappeared. The publisher’s website says you can only get this in the UK. If you still want a house edition, you can find them  in hardcover and paperback at Book Depository (dot) com. Now that I think about it, I think that is how I got my Ravenclaw edition of the first book, too.
Midsummer’s Mayhem – A contemporary retelling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. An Indian American girl who feels forgotten in her super talented family enters a baking contest. But her mysterious new friend and the wondrous and strange ingredients he helps her find for her baking may be causing more trouble than she realizes.
This Was Our Pact (GN) – At the Autumnal Equinox Festival, the town sets lanterns adrift in the river. Tradition says that the lanterns eventually float up to the Milky Way and become stars. One group of kids decides to follow the lanterns’ journey down the river to see where they actually go.
The Time Museum Vol 2 (GN) – The Time Museum chooses kids from all over history for internships.  A group of time travelers go to Versailles in 1778 under the direction of a squad led by President Richard Nixon to save an alliance between the US and France.
Treasure Hunters: All-American Adventure – The treasure hunters are stuck in Washington DC when they discover a fake Bill of Rights. Book 6 in the series.
The Ables (GN) – A teen with telekinesis is excited to find out he’s going to superhero high school, but he doesn’t expect to be placed in the special education class for “disabled empowered kids” who call themselves “the Ables.” Book 2 will be out in September.
The Exact Opposite of Okay – A teen is caught in a compromising position with the son of a politician and finds her reputation trashed. She expects things will blow over so she can get back to her regularly scheduled high school life, but there is no end to the scandal in sight.
Rise – Sequel to Rule, about a kingdom with a dying king and a murdered heir as well as three illegitimate daughters who have a chance at the throne. I have both books on my library wish list.
Screen Queens – Three young women competing in a highly competitive tech competition learn that all-female teams never win, and they have several factors working against them. I have requested this one from the library.
Urban Legendz (GN) – A police officer’s son joins a group of vigilantes looking into some monstrous events going on in town.
The Hormone Diaries: The Bloody Truth About Our Periods (June 13) – From the woman who hosts a YouTube series by the same name. An honest look at periods, hormones and contraception.

Books for Adults

The Black Cat Steps on a Crack (ebk) – Book 4 in the Bad Luck Cat Mystery series. A headstrong librarian meets a dark end and a friend is accused of murder, so mystery writer Sabrina Tate and her cat Hitchcock start to investigate. This series sounds delightful! I need to check this one out.
Chai Another Day (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Spice Shop Mystery series. The owner of a Pike Place Market spice shop stumbles across another murder.
A Crafter Hooks a Killer (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Handcrafted Mystery series. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week!
The Disappearance of Alistair Ainsworth (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series. This time, Joanna and the Watsons are drawn into a case involving a cryptographer held captive by the Germans during the war. You can read my review of book one here.
Fix Her Up (Trade Paperback) – A woman who chose being a clown and planning children’s birthday parties over her family’s home renovation business can’t get anyone to take her seriously in the romance department. So she convinces her brother’s friend, a former baseball player, to be her fake boyfriend. They can use their fake relationship to help both of them out of personal problems – what could go wrong? I ADORE fake relationship stories in romance books, so this is definitely on my list for this week.
The Friend Zone (Trade Paperback) – Kristen is facing a serious medical procedure that will make her unable to have children. And she hasn’t told anyone else. When she meets an amazing guy who wants to have a big family one day, she determines to steer clear of him so neither of them will get hurt. But their mutual attraction is hard to resist. I have been on a romantic-comedy streak lately and this sounds like just the right story to continue that streak!
Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck & Fortune (Trade Paperback) – Food, heritage and finding family.  Natalie Tan returns home after her estranged mother’s death and discovers she has inherited her grandmother’s restaurant. The neighborhood “seer” tells Natalie she must cook three recipes from her grandmother’s cookbook to help the neighboring businesses that are struggling. Then her own restaurant will see success. This sounds fascinating – a little magic, some bitterness and old wounds, and plenty of cooking. Sign me up!
Over the Line (Trade Paperback) – When a dying man shows up gasping her brother’s name, Gabby turns to her homicide detective ex to help her find her brother.
Star Wars: Alphabet Squadron (Hardcover) – First in a new trilogy set after Return of the Jedi. A squad of pilots commanded by General Hera Syndulla herself are tasked with tracking down a rogue group of TIE fighters wreaking havoc in revenge for the fall of the Empire.
Sweet Tea and Secrets (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Book Tea Shop Mystery series. In the midst of planning a Fourth of July Tea for her great-aunt’s vintage tea room, Callie gets caught up in the rumors about the disappearance of a famous TV actress who was last seen in Heart’s Harbor. You can read my review of book one here.
This Is Home (Trade Paperback) – A military wife with a missing husband moves into the first floor apartment of a building owned by a policeman’s sister. The policeman knew the woman’s husband in the military.  I am still reading this one, but I will be reviewing it later this month.
Waiting for Tom Hanks (Trade Paperback) – A screen writer who dreams of being the next Nora Ephron thinks finding her own Tom Hanks will solve all her troubles. This is at the top of my list for this week.
The Enemy of the People: A Dangerous Time to Tell the Truth in America (Hardcover) – CNN’s Jim Acosta details his rocky relationship with President Trump and the President’s war against the media.
For Such a Time as This: Hope and Forgiveness After the Charleston Massacre (Trade Paperback) – A hospital chaplain who lost her mother and two cousins in the shooting at Emanuel AME Church in 2015 talks about hope and forgiveness in the face of tragedy.

BOOK NEWS: June 4, 2019

BOOK NEWS: June 4, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy June, happy summer, and happy Monday! Here are some of the books out this week that might look great on your summer TBR pile.

Books for Kids

I Love My Dragon (Board Book) – A board book based on the fantastic picture book When a Dragon Moves In.
Adventures with Dragons – A pop-up book based on the How to Train Your Dragon movies
Cece Loves Science and Adventure – A second picture book starring Cece, this time focused on STEM while camping. Sounds perfect for summer!
Hangry – A young monster shows what happens when little folks get hungry and angry, a view parents will find all-too familiar.
A Normal Pig – A new pig at school points out all the ways Pip is different, leaving Pip questioning all the things that made her Pip. Identity is one of my favorite themes in literature, so I am eager to read this one.
Spider-Man Swings Through Europe – A Spider-Man Far From Home picture book
Unicorn Day – While the unicorns celebrate their most special day of the year, they discover an impostor in their midst.
Beyoncé: Shine Your Light – Picture book biography
Wilma Rudolph – Picture book biography, part of the Little People Big Dreams series
Snoopy, First Beagle on the Moon – Snoopy wants to be the first beagle on the moon. Includes facts about the moon in the back matter.
20,000 Robots Under the Sea – Book 3 in the Bots early chapter book series. I love the look of this fully illustrated series. Ten years ago, these would have been must reads in our house. Three more books are planned for this year.
Micah’s Super Vlog: Micah’s Got Talent? AND The Big Fail – The first two books in a new chapter book/young middle grade series based on a JellyTelly show. (Jelly Telly is a Christian streaming service started by Phil Vischer, one of the creators of Veggie Tales.) Highly illustrated.
Sing With Me, Lucy McGee – Book 2 in the Lucy McGee series about Lucy McGee and her friends. This book focuses on the antics of a mean girl and the school talent show. Includes song lyrics and ukulele chords.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

All the Greys on Greene Street – In 1981, an artist’s father disappears in the middle of the night and all the adults – and even her best friends – are acting strange. I have already requested this one from the library.
The Boney Hand – Book 2 in the terrific Charlie and Frog series. Charlie and Frog continue their detective work, this time when a school artifact goes missing.
Escape from the Isle of the Lost – Book 4 in the Descendants series based on the Disney television movies about the offspring of Disney villains.
Out of Place – After her best friend moves away, Cove becomes the target of a vicious bully.
Peter and Ned’s Ultimate Travel Journal – A middle grade novel based on the upcoming movie Spider-Man Far From Home. This looks fantastic – readers can read along as Peter and Ned both write in this travel log about their school trip with some commentary from MJ.
Spaced Out – Book 8 in the DC Super Hero High graphic novel series from Shea Fontana. You can see some reviews – as well as other books about Super Hero High here. This one focuses on the latest Green Lantern and some of her new super friend as they battle General Zod. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, and I am eager to read the latest adventure! A new set of graphic novels with these characters will kick off this fall.
The Story Web – A girl discovers a mysterious web, and its safety seems to impact her community.
Who Was Che Guevara? AND Who Was P. T. Barnum? AND Who Was Stephen Hawking?
The Beholder – After a public and humiliating rejection, a young woman’s step-mother tells her she must sail off to find a suitor. And if she can’t, she shouldn’t bother coming home. That cover is absolutely gorgeous! I am curious to check this one out.
The Chosen – First in a new trilogy about a young man transported to another realm full of all the people and creatures who have disappeared from his world where he must battle for his survival.
The Confusion of Laurel Graham – A teen and her grandmother connect over nature photography and their discovery of a mysterious bird call. But now that her grandmother is in a coma after an accident, the teen must reconsider all the things she thought she knew about her life and what she is willing to fight for.
Girls of July – Four young woman spending the summer in the mountains learn a lot about themselves and about each other.
If It Makes You Happy – A heavyset girl is happy to be living her best life at her Granny’s diner in Misty Haven until she is named Summer Queen. All of the activities that go along with that pull her away from the diner and send her into anxiety-provoking situations. Can she redeem this last summer before she leaves for college? Sounds like this will be all about identity (including sexuality) which is a theme I love in fiction, as I have mentioned.
I Wanna Be Where You Are – When her mom says she can’t audition for her dream dance conservatory, a teen plans a secret road trip, but she didn’t count on her neighbor blackmailing her into taking him along. I would absolutely read this one!
Kissing Ezra Holtz (And Other Things I Did for Science) – When a girl is matched with her nemesis for an AP Psychology project, they embark on an experiment to prove that with the right steps, any two people could fall in love. This is at the top of my list for this week!
Ordinary Girls – A contemporary take on Sense and Sensibility about two sisters whose family hits a rough financial patch. They had me at “Sense and Sensibility.”
Shadow & Flame – Sequel to Onyx & Fury. A young woman with secret animal-controlling magic triumphed over her enemies in the first book, but the dangers are not completely routed. I have book one on my library list.
Sorry for Your Loss – A young man grieving the loss of his brother and struggling in every aspect of his life discovers a new outlet in photography. This sounds fascinating!
Virtually Yours – A college freshman who hasn’t dated since her high school sweetheart broke things off decides to try a matchmaking app. It matches her with that high school sweetheart – and her new best friend. Should she trust her heart or the app? This is on my list for this week, too.
War of the Bastards – Third and final book in the Royal Bastards series. The rebels continue to protect the true queen as her kingdom suffers under an evil leader. I loved the first book, so I hope to get to the other two books in this series this summer!
When the Ground Is Hard – When her best friend dumps her at their boarding school, Adele is forced to room with the least popular girl in school. But when they share a copy of Jane Eyre, they learn a lot about and from each other – and even have the chance to solve the mystery of a missing student. This is on my list, too.
Where I End & You Begin – A young man longs to invite his crush to prom, but her best friend, his tormentor, stands in his way. After a solar eclipse, Ezra and his tormentor have switched bodies. As they switch back and forth, they agree to help one another make headway with their individual crushes. This sounds amazing!

 

Books for Adults

The Book Supremacy (Hardcover) – Book 13 in the Bibliophile Mystery series. While on their honeymoon, Brooklyn finds a first edition of The Spy Who Loved Me, a fun James Bond choice for her new husband the spy. But when a spy friend is killed and someone else is murdered in the spy store that is displaying the rare book, Brooklyn and her husband will have to dig into his past to find a killer. This sounds amazing! I am so behind on this series, but I might have to make an exception to my read-a-series-in-order rule and try this one out!
Cherry Scones and Broken Bones (Trade Paperback – June 8) – Book 2 in the Very Cherry Mystery series. Whitney is trying to help her family inn recover after a recent murder, so when a famous painter decides to spend her summer at the inn, it seems like a great way to draw people out to the property, try her cherry treats and enjoy the art scene. But the painter is a pain in the backside. When she’s found dead, Whitney is a murder suspect. If their inn is ever going to recover, she will have to hunt down another killer. I’ll be reviewing this one next week.
Death in Kew Gardens (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Below Stairs historic mystery series. A Victorian era cook receives a rare gift of tea after an act of kindness. Two days later, the man who gave her the gift is accused of murdering Lady Cynthia’s neighbor, and Kat steps in to investigate once again. I enjoyed the first book in this series.
Magic for Liars (Hardcover) – When a murder occurs at the magic school where Ivy’s twin sister teaches, magic-less Ivy is drawn in to investigate. This is the other book at the top of my list for this week!
More Than Words Can Say (Trade Paperback) – When a young Amish woman needs a man’s name on the deed to her bakery, Zacharias finds himself giving up the bachelor life he prefers for a marriage of convenience. This is on my list, too.
The Number of Love (Trade Paperback) – Historical novel set during WWI where a woman who works as a codebreaker for England teams up with a wounded soldier pursued by the enemy.
A Patchwork of Clues (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Queen Bees Quilt Shop series. The site of a Saturday quilting bee becomes a crime scene when a local professor antiques shop owner is killed.
Searching for Sylvie Lee (Hardcover) – When her oldest sister disappears after a visit with their dying grandmother, the baby of the family goes looking for the sister who was always her fiercest protector. This sounds fascinating!
Kinda Like Grace: A Homeless Man, a Broken Woman, and the Decision that Made Them Family (Hardcover) – A chance meeting between the author and a homeless man who returns to the spot where he had last seen his mother three years ago leads to a change for the man, the author and her family who welcomed him into their home. An engaging-sounding memoir.
Naturally Tan (Hardcover) – Memoir from one of the Queer Eye guys, Tan France. Fans of the show should know that most of the guys have a book out now or will have one out later this year.

BOOK NEWS: May 28, 2019

BOOK NEWS: May 28, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy Memorial Day! Here are some of the books releasing this week – perfect for kicking off your summer reading.

Books for Kids

 

Jasper & Ollie – A thoughtful sloth and an impatient fox have their differences on display in this book that shows what happens when the friends decide to head to the pool.
Oi Duck-Billed Platypus! – Several years ago I read Frog on a Log? (also called, Oi, Frog!) and loved it. The series continues here where Frog is trying to figure out where Platypus should sit. What rhymes with platypus? I cannot wait to read this!!
Up to Something – Dad invites Billy into his workshop, but will only let him watch. Billy gathers Dad’s scraps and builds a creation of his own.
What Kind of Car Does a T-Rex Drive? – A car salesman is desperate to sell some cars – to anyone! Then the dinosaurs show up. This looks fun!
When Pencil Met Eraser – Based on the true story of how pencils got erasers
The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon: The True Story of Alan Bean – The fourth astronaut to walk on the moon also painted what he saw there. Includes back matter with photos of the Apollo 12 mission and of Alan Bean’s paintings.
Kitten Kingdom: Tabby’s First Quest AND Tabby and the Pup Prince – A new transitional chapter book series kicks off with these two titles. Princess Tabby and her brothers accidentally give away an important scroll when they are tricked by an evil king. They have to keep their mission to save the day a secret from their parents. In the second book, the evil king is at it again and Tabby teams  up with a puppy prince to try and save the day. I thought the first book was cute.
Robo-Rabbit Boy, Go! – Book 7 in this Branches series about Super Rabbit Boy.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Batting Order – Two baseball players with different skills team up to improve their skills to help the team, but how can Matt really help Ben if Ben won’t listen to anything Matt has to say?
The Book Case – After getting expelled, Daphne is off to a girls’ boarding school where she meets a crime-solving genius in need of an assistant. This looks great. I love middle grade mysteries.
The Girls of Firefly Cabin – A group of girls who meet on the first day of summer camp hope to immortalize their summer by becoming the “face” of the camp in the promotional materials.
Other Words for Home – Novel in verse about a girl who must leave Syria for her own safety and finds “home” in the United States.
Rocky Road Ahead – Sprinkle Sundays, book 7. A middle grade story of ice cream and friendship and crushes.
Secrets of a Fangirl – A girl trying to keep her “geek life” separate from her popular “jock life” has a chance to win a contest to go to the movie premier for her fandom. But she will have to go up against older competitors who question her fan cred, and she risks showing her peers this geeky side of herself. This is on my wish list for this week!
She’s the Liar – Sisters at a boarding school have each crafted new personalities for themselves. But their personal plans run up against the agenda of the other sister and a power play ensues. This sounds great!
Solving for M – A fifth grader struggling at the start of middle school uses her math journal (art in math?!) to help her sort out the trouble she’s having both at school and at home. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow.
Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go on a Class Trip – Book 3 in the fun and silly Two Dogs in a Trench Coat series. This time, the dogs join the kids on a trip to the history museum.
Science Comics: Cars – Engines that Move You – Graphic novel exploration of cars and engines.
Fake It Till You Break It – Mia and Jake have known each other their whole lives. Even though their moms (who are best friends) think they would make the perfect couple, the two teens can’t stand each other. They agree to fake date so they can have a spectacular break up and get their moms to let them move on to other dating options.
The Kingdom – One of the “princesses” at a fantasy amusement park is accused of murdering a park employee.  This looks amazing. I already have this on hold from the library.
Limited Wish – Book 2 in the Impossible Times series. After a time-travel adventure in book one, cancer survivor and reluctant prodigy Nick realizes there are creases in the fabric of time. I have book 1 on my reading list because this series sounds perfect for me!
Not Your Backup (June 1) – Book 3 in the Sidekick Squad. Emma is the only non-superpowered member of team of resistance fighters moving against the Heroes League of Heroes. I have book 1 on my list.
The Voice in My Head – When one twin develops a terminal illness and wants to die on her own terms, her sister starts hearing a voice in her head claiming to be God and telling her to take her sister to a rock formation in Arizona where she can be healed. I am requesting this one, too!
The Wise and the Wicked – In a family with only the barest hint of magic left, the women come of age and see a vision of who they will be when they die. When Ruby’s great-aunt dies and her vision did NOT come true, Ruby and her cousin start digging into their family history to see if they too can chart their own destiny.

Books for Adults

The Amish Cookie Club (Mass Market Paperback) – From the author of the amazing Amish Fairy Tale series. First in a new series about a group of cookie-baking friends and the struggles their families experience in the course of day to day Amish life. This first book focuses on a young woman whose strong personality keeps her from keeping a job and finding a husband.
Crèpe Expectations (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Pancake House mystery series is focused on a cold case and an amateur chef competition.
A Daughter’s Truth (Trade Paperback) – A young Amish woman who feels the weight of her mother’s grief receives a gift that raises questions and sets her off to the non-Amish world to find answers. I already have this on hold at the library. I enjoyed Laura’ Bradford’s last Amish standalone, Portrait of a Sister.
The Flatshare (Hardcover) – A man who works nights and a woman who works days share a flat even though they have never met. A series a notes left for one another leads them to friendship, and maybe to something more. I already have this on hold at the library, too. What a clever premise!
Hitches, Hideouts & Homicide (ebook) – Book 7 in the Camper and Criminals Mystery series focused on a power outage, a treasure map and a dead body. I have the first book for this series in my reading pile.
Just One of the Groomsmen (Mass Market Paperback) – Addison is going to be one of the “groomsmen” when one of her best guy friends gets married. Seeing Addison again leaves Tucker feeling like they should give love a try, but if it doesn’t work, he knows it will destroy their friend group permanently. I’m looking forward to trying this one!
Murder, She Uncovered (ebook) – Book 2 in the Murder She Reported series about a young photographer in 1938 working for the Daily Trumpet and covering the aftermath of a hurricane. I don’t often read historical mysteries, but the covers for these are so gorgeous, I’m tempted to give this series a try!
Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series. When a restaurant critic dies after eating food from the Tea Garden, Daisy and Aunt Iris must track down a killer to protect their business.
Passion on Park Avenue (Trade Paperback) – The first book in the Central Park Pact series. A young woman who is the new CEO of a jewelry empire still feels like she has to prove herself to the Upper East Side elite – including the son of the family her mother worked for as a housekeeper. I am SO excited about this series! Sounds so fun. Book 2 is out this fall, and I have both on my wish list.
Rebel (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the Women Who Dare series. This takes place in the aftermath of the Civil War when a young Black woman sets up a new school and thugs destroy the school and target her.
Sconed to Death (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Cat Latimer series about a cozy mystery writer’s retreat, a local baker stirring up trouble, and a dead celebrity chef. I am way behind on this series, but I intend to get caught up soon.
Seeing Red (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the terrific Red Herring Mystery series. Alex is still working her freelance career while enjoying her relationship with B&B owner, Ian. But when Ian’s father disappears and Alex finds a body in the B&B, she starts to wonder if she really knows Ian at all. This is a must read for me. I loved the first book in the series.
Smitten by the Brit (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Sometimes in Love series. An English professor in the aftermath of a broken engagement heads to England for the summer and finds a sexy distraction. I have this on hold from the library, too.
Something Borrowed, Something Mewed (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series. This time it is murder at the dress-fitting when a wedding planner is found dead and Daphne has to figure out if one of her sister’s future in-laws is a killer. I loved the first book in this series. I’d like to get caught up on this one soon.
Star Trek TNG: The Missions Continue (Hardcover Graphic Novel) – Graphic novel collection of The Space Between, Intelligence Gathering, Last Generation, Ghosts and Hive.
Star Trek TOS: The Captain’s Oath (Trade Paperback) – The story of James T. Kirk before his service on the Enterprise.
Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come: One Introvert’s Year of Saying Yes (Trade Paperback) – A shy introvert commits to living one year like an outgoing extrovert. I adore books like this where someone digs into a differently lifestyle for a year – A Year of Biblical Womanhood, The Year of Living Biblically, My Life as an Experiment, 7, The Year of Less, etc.
Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide (Hardcover) – From the folks behind the podcast My Favorite Murder comes this book with personal stories from the authors’ lives in relation to their mission to encourage self-advocacy. I have this on my list, too.
Taste of Home Handmade Food Gifts (Paperback Cookbook) – Recipes and ideas for edible gifts. I love the idea of food gifts and jars of ingredients that people can use to bake something delicious!

BOOK NEWS: May 21, 2019

BOOK NEWS: May 21, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the third week of May – and usually the third week of the month doesn’t have as many books releasing. But I found a bunch of great options out this week!

Books for Kids

Pinky Got Out! – During a day at the zoo, the kids discover Pinky the flamingo is on the loose.
That’s What Dinosaurs Do – Roaring gives William the dinosaur a sore throat. Even though it’s his favorite thing to do, the doctor says he can’t roar for a whole week.
Parker Bell and the Science of Friendship – This transitional chapter book/”young middle grade” story is about Parker who wants to win the Science Triathlon, but she’s afraid the third member of her team will end up stealing her best friend.
Rabbit & Bear: The Pest in the Nest – As spring begins in this illustrated chapter book, Rabbit is struggling with Bear’s snoring and a new noise up in a nearby tree.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Camp Shady Crook – Two kids get into a battle of who can pull off the best con at camp. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Champions: Because the World Still Needs Heroes – After the second superhuman Civil War, Ms Marvel, Nova and Spider-Man quit the Avengers and strike out on their own.
The Pumpkin War – Billie loves to win, but her best friend Sam never seemed to care until he beat her in last year’s Pumpkin Race. This year, Billie is determined to grow the biggest pumpkin and win the race.
Rock Painting for Kids -(Kindle version releases tomorrow; physical version is out next week) Ideas and step-by-step instructions for painting rocks.
Where Is the Kremlin?
Alex Rider: Secret Weapon: Seven Untold Adventures from the Life of a Teenage Spy – A collection of short Alex Rider stories. Includes some previously published material.
As Far as the Stars – Two teens meet in an airport because they have loved ones on the same flight – a flight that has now gone missing.
The Boy Next Story – Book 2 in the Bookish Boyfriends series after A Date with Darcy. Ms. Gregoire is back, and she’s once again using literature to influence the life of a student, Merrilee’s younger sister Rory. I absolutely ADORED A Date with Darcy – and I think this book is EVEN BETTER. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Girl Gone Viral – Opal, a teen tech prodigy, is looking for a chance to win a contest for WAVE, a virtual reality platform. The billionaire founder may know the secrets to what happened to Opal’s missing father. He might have even killed him.
Kingsbane – Book 2 in the Empirium Trilogy after Furyborn. Two queens, centuries apart, wrestle with choices that will impact their kingdoms for years to come. This series sounds fantastic!
Let Me Hear a Rhyme – From the author of the *stunning* Monday’s Not Coming. Three teens plot to turn their murdered friend into a rap star by sharing his music but not telling anyone that the artist is dead.
No Place Like Here – A modern twist on Hansel and Gretel. A girl finds herself at a rustic team-building retreat center for the summer when her father is arrested for tax evasion and her mother goes into treatment for depression.
Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider Vol 1 – Graphic novel collection of comics staring Spider-Gwen in a multi-verse story.
We Are the Perfect Girl – Modern retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac. What starts as an accident quickly turns complicated when a beautiful girl starts dating a popular guy while her best friend is the bold voice behind their text exchanges and conversations.

Books for Adults

The Codebook Murders (ebk) – Book 4 in the Oakwood Mystery series. The sleuth discovers a coded journal that could help solve the town’s most notorious cold case. This sounds fantastic! I bought  book one so I could check out this series.
The Dark Bones (Trade Paperback) – A detective returns to the hometown she swore she had left forever when her father’s death is ruled a suicide, something she just can’t believe. This sounds amazing.
Decades: Marvel in the 80s (Paperback) – The next decade in the history of Marvel comics
Murder by the Sea (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the By the Sea mystery series. This time there’s a murder at a masquerade ball when the sleuth’s ex shows up at a literary event, and he’s later found dead.
Wooing Cadie McCaffrey (Hardcover) – A new book from the author of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck. Cadie McCaffrey feels her relationship with Will will never be all she hopes, so after an incident that leaves her full of regret she breaks things off. Determined to win her back, Will uses his former pro-athlete friends and Cadie’s beloved romantic comedies to develop a plan to reconcile. I can’t wait to read this one!
Do It Scared: Finding the Courage to Face Your Fears, Overcome Adversity, and Create a Life You Love (Hardcover) – Techniques for tackling fear head on and building the life you want.
The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong (Hardcover) – The author shares her immigration story and ties it to the stories of immigrants and refugees in the Bible.
The Nice and Accurate Good Omens TV Companion (Hardcover) – This month Amazon kicks off its production of a show based on the Terry Pratchett/Neil Gaiman novel Good Omens about an angel and a demon trying to hold off the end of the world. This is a behind-the-scenes guide to the show starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen.
Romans Disarmed (Trade Paperback) – Authors unpack the book of Romans both in its original context and for today. From the authors of Colossians Remixed,.
The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions (Trade Paperback) – The family devotional that’s more “safety goggles” than “flannelgraph.”

BOOK NEWS: May 14, 2019

BOOK NEWS: May 14, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

I’m looking forward to checking out these new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

I Am Kind AND I Am Unstoppable (Board Books) – A new format for the Ordinary People Change the World series.
How to Take Care of Your Dinosaur – Pet care goes to a whole new level. This looks delightful!
Never Trumpet with a Crumpet – What happens when zoo animals are invited to join the Queen for tea? The illustrations for this one are fantastic!
Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records – The history of women athletes and the road to Title IX.
Now What?: A Math Tale – A puppy wants to build a bed out of blocks. While he doesn’t have enough rectangles, he does have several triangles.
When Sue Found Sue: Sue Hendrickson Discovers Her T. Rex – Chronicles the discovery of Sue the T.Rex in South Dakota.
The Dragon’s Tale – Book 6 in the Princess Pulverizer transitional chapter book series. On their Quest for Kindness, Dribble the dragon has a chance to open his own restaurant, but trouble develops when someone is jealous of Dribble and Princess Pulverizer’s arrival.
Mia Mayhem vs the Super Bully – Book 3 in the Mia Mayhem series. Sometimes even superheroes have to deal with bullies.
The Unbelievable Oliver and the Four Jokers – Oliver, an amateur magician, discovers a super smart rabbit in an old magicians hat. At their first gig, Oliver is accused of stealing and he has to find the real culprit. I’m excited by the idea of a new mystery series for the chapter book crowd.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Freedom Fire – Book 2 in the Dactyl Hill Squad series that is an alternate history with dinosaurs. This book focuses on the Civil War.
Jada Sly, Artist and Spy – An illustrated spy book about a girl searching for her mother and tracking her adventures in her art journal. The cover for this is outstanding (except in this picture, Jada doesn’t look Black – maybe the colors in person are better), and I love kid-spy stories.
Odd Gods – Described as Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets Percy Jackson. Oddonis is the brother of Adonis, but this son of Zeus doesn’t think he has any powers. This is a pun-filled story, based on the full description, that sounds like a TON of fun (although reading it aloud would be tricky with the Oddonis/Adonis homophones).
Planet Earth Is Blue – An autistic and nonverbal girl waits at her new foster home for her missing big sister to arrive so they can watch the Challenger launch together. This one is going to be amazing.
Pugs in a Blanket – A girl and a new friend wrangle the pug pups that were left on her family’s doorstep while trying to puzzle out who left them.
The Queen’s Secret – Book 2 in the Rose Legacy series about a girl who discovers her uncle secretly breeds horses, animals that have been outlawed. Anthena now knows the truth about horses, and she has discovered a way to talk with them. But other forces want to use this gift for evil. And others want to blame the horses for a mysterious plague. Horse fans should NOT miss this series!
Theodore Boone: The Accomplice – Book 7 in the Theodore Boone Kid Lawyer series from legal thriller author John Grisham. This time, Theodore is on the case when a school friend is arrested for a crime he didn’t commit.
On a Scale of One to Ten – The story of a teen admitted to a psychiatric ward who refuses to talk about what happened to her friend.
Road Tripped – His dad committed suicide. His mom is not coping well. And his girlfriend abandoned him at the worst possible time. Maybe a road trip and a change of scenery will help Stiggy get a handle on his life again.
Stepsister – Isabelle is the step-sister who cut off her toes to fit into Cinderella’s glass slipper (Disney kind of left that detail out of the movie). When the prince turns her away in shame, Isabelle will have to find her own path. This sounds fascinating!
Testimony from Your Perfect Girl – When her father is accused of scamming hundreds of people, Annie and her brother are sent to live with extended family until the trial is over. Annie discovers how nice it is to have a fresh start in a new place. But family secrets have followed her, and she will have to decide how she’s going to face them.
There’s Something About Sweetie – A companion novel set in the world of When Dimple Met Rishi. This book stars Rishi’s brother, Ashish, whose parents feel they can do a better job of finding him a girlfriend than he is doing on his own. While Sweetie’s parents feel her weight is a strike against her in finding a match, Sweetie is determined to show the world who she is.
The Things She’s Seen – A dead girl and her father, a detective who can still see and hear her, take on a mysterious case with a suspicious fire, a dead body and an unreliable witness.
We Hunt the Flame – In a land on the brink of war, a young woman hides her identity and works in secret to feed her people while the son of the sultan seeks to kill anyone who would defy his father. Neither is able to shake off expectations and be who he/she is. When both search out an ancient artifact that could change their world, they have no idea of the danger the artifact poses for all of them. This has been getting ceaseless buzz for months now. I have requested it from the library to see if it lives up to the positive press.
The Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets – A book for teens marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York, an event credited with launching the LGBTQ movement. This is a piece of history that is completely new to me, but something we should be hearing a lot about this summer as the anniversary draws closer (June 28).

 

Books for Adults

My Ex-Best Friend’s Wedding (Trade Paperback) – When a successful author returns home for her wedding, her mother knows the secret she is keeping could help her daughter and her ex-best friend reconcile. This sounds fantastic!
No Saving Throw (Trade Paperback) – First in a new cozy series built around a tabletop gaming theme! This is at the TOP of my wish list for this week. The library already has this one on hold for me.
The Unhoneymooners (Trade Paperback) – When the rest of the wedding – bride, groom, attendants and guests – get food poisoning, the bride’s sister and her nemesis, the best man, agree to take the honeymoon trip, which the bride won, together so it doesn’t go to waste. Yep, I have this one waiting at the library, too!
Discovering Joy in Philippians: A Creative Devotional Study Experience (Paperback Workbook) – Sequel to Discovering Hope in the Psalms. The format for book one was 8 weeks with devotions for five days each week. Includes instructions for use in group settings or individually. Includes a reading, pieces to color, questions to answer and background material. While there might be some changes or improvements from the first book to the second, I expect this will follow a similar pattern.
Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons from Over the Rainbow (Hardcover gift book) – Wisdom and insights from the movie, The Wizard of Oz.
Forever and Ever, Amen: A Memoir of Music, Faith, and Braving the Storms of Life (Hardcover) – For memoir and/or Randy Travis fans.
Genuine Pizza: Better Pizza at Home (Hardcover) – How to make better pizza at home. Includes information on tools to use, lots of pictures, and recipes.
Life to the Extreme: How a Chaotic Kid Became America’s Favorite Carpenter (Hardcover) – Memoir from the host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Ty Pennington
Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Football (Hardcover) –  A memoir on life, math and football from former Ravens Offensive Lineman John Urschel. My favorite part of the description of this book is when it outlines how he worked on his PhD at MIT WHILE playing for the NFL.
Perfect Pan Pizza: Square Pies to Make at Home, From Roman, Sicilian, and Detroit to Grandma Pies and Focaccia (Hardcover) – I’ve only seen a few pictures from this book, but they look amazing!
We Will Feast: Rethinking Dinner, Worship, and the Community of God (Trade Paperback) – A book about Christians following in Jesus’ footsteps by gathering around the table with diverse people.
Why We Love Star Wars: The Great Moments that Built a Galaxy Far, Far Away (Trade Paperback) – Commentary on the film franchise.