Category: Five Star Reviews

REVIEW: Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog by Lisa Papp

REVIEW: Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog by Lisa Papp

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Peachtree Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Madeline Finn is back after her adventures in Madeline Finn and the Library Dog where she practiced her reading with a dog named Bonnie at the library. Now Madeline is ready for a puppy of her own – one of Bonnie’s! When Madeline picks out her puppy, she asks Mrs. Dimple how she chose Bonnie. Turns out, Bonnie came from a shelter. Mrs. Dimple and Madeline’s mom tell her about animal shelters and take her to visit one.

Madeline feels sad for the shelter animals who can’t play outside and don’t have someone who says they love them every day like her puppy, Star, does. They also don’t have anyone to read to them. So Madeline collects supplies for the shelter and invites others to join her for a reading day there. But what will she do if no one else comes?

Review

The perfection of Madeline Finn and the Library Dog is repeated here in Madeline’s second book. The illustrations are soft and sweet; you want to scoop up the animals for a snuggle. Madeline’s love and compassion for the animals is evident, even in the tightly written text of the story. And Madeline continues to put books and dogs – and other animals – together for a winning combination.

If this is your first introduction to Madeline Finn, run out and scoop up both of these books. You won’t regret it! And if you loved book one as much as I did, you’ll want to pick up Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog asap! Highly recommend.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: 2018 Cybils Awards

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: 2018 Cybils Awards

Posted on by Jaymie

Once again I had the privilege of serving on a committee for the 2018 Cybils Awards. This year I served with the group choosing the winner in the Middle Grade Fiction category. You can see my post about the 2017 Cybils here. Now that our committee work is done, I am able to talk about the finalists we read this year. These are my personal thoughts on each of these books and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the full committee who presided over this category. Books here are listed in alphabetical order.

The Doughnut Fix –  A boy trying to adjust to a new town decides to open a doughnut stand and make the town’s secret doughnut recipe once again. This was so fun! I adored Tristan and his family. There’s lots here for kids to relate to – family stuff, friend stuff, a move, etc. So many funny moments, but also lots of great information about starting a business and about cooking. This was delightful! I’m looking forward to reading the sequel this spring. Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

 

 

Front Desk – A girl holding a lot of secrets, including the dream of being a writer, hopes to make it through the year keeping the biggest secrets from the owner of the motel where her family lives and works. I was temped to DNF (“did not finish”) this book when I was about 50 pages in. It was stressful – instead of the sort of suspense that keeps you moving forward, I was filled with dread as I read. What other horrible thing was going to happen to these poor characters? I’m glad I stuck with the book because there were hopeful things to balance out the painful. My favorite part was the way Mia learned to use words and writing to change circumstances for herself and her friends. I’m not sure the ultimate solution in the end is 100% believable, but I was so desperate for this family to get a win, I didn’t care. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Harbor Me –  Six kids meet together in a space where for the first time they can be completely honest about the things they are facing.  I wasn’t convinced any school would let 6 teens meet unsupervised in the school, but I did enjoy watching the connections unfold. The “be a harbor” and “harbor others” sentiments were great. Rating:  ♥♥♥♥

 

 

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl – When a lightning strike gives a girl genius level math skills, her grandmother challenges her to complete one year of middle school and a series of tasks before she can leave for college. You can read my full review here. This was one of my favorite books from 2018, so my love for this one is clear. Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥

 

 

The Orphan Band of Springdale – The two historical fiction books on the list were brand new to me. I didn’t even have them in my Book News lists for last year. This one is about a girl who is sent to live with her grandmother who runs a home for orphaned and displaced children.  This is a hard book to summarize because there is SO MUCH going on. I’m going to do a full review in a couple weeks so I can cover it in more detail. I will say I was set to dislike this one on principle because I don’t generally enjoy historic fiction, but this was an absolute delight! I loved Gusta’s voice and her spunk. I learned a lot about 1941 in America, and the various threads of the story really pulled at my emotions. This one was fantastic! Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

The Parker Inheritance –  From the author of the fabulous Great Greene Heist comes this story of a forgotten letter, an old injustice and a possible fortune. A girl finds an old letter addressed to her grandmother who left town in disgrace. The letter promised a fortune for the town if a puzzle could be solved. The girl and a friend try to solve the puzzle on their own to help their community and restore her grandmother’s name. This is a terrific puzzle story/mystery with strong social commentary on not only racial issues but also sexual orientation. I enjoyed the references to The Westing Game and the flips from past to present throughout the book. Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

 

Skylark and Wallcreeper – The second historical fiction book in this set is about a girl caring for her grandmother during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 who discovers her grandmother’s secret history in the French Resistance. This has a nice merging of the 2012 hurricane/family story with the 1944 World War II/French Resistance pieces told from the grandmother’s perspective. Solid for fans of historic fiction, books with split story lines/time lines, and fans of WWII fiction. Rating: ♥♥♥½

 

 

You can see all of the 2018 Cybils Award winners here.

REVIEW: The Way to the Stars (Star Trek Discovery) by Una McCormack

REVIEW: The Way to the Stars (Star Trek Discovery) by Una McCormack

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

On the eve of her start in the Command Training Program, Tilly shares her personal story with her Discovery roommate Michael Burnham.

When Sylvia Tilly was 16, she lived with her maternal grandmother in Paris and went to school every day in New York. Her parents were divorced. Her dad was on a starship, The Dorothy Garrod, and her mom was a bigwig with the Federation Security Council. Frankly, her mom was a force to be reckoned with. She often left Sylvia feeling small and trapped – like she felt when her mom announced she was sending her to a boarding school on Talaris IV. Sylvia’s mom was determined to give her daughter every opportunity to develop the skills she would need to join the diplomatic corps. She didn’t see Sylvia’s love of math and science as anything to cultivate when there were languages to learn and political scenarios to understand.

The ups and downs of boarding school life set Sylvia/”Tilly” on a path she never could have imagined when she first stepped foot onto Talaris IV.

Review

This book’s intended audience is adults, but Tilly’s story is so solidly in the YA range, too, that I wanted to review it as a YA coming-of-age tale.

Tilly is my favorite character on the show Star Trek Discovery. So when I saw she was getting a book, it immediately went on my “must read” list. And now that I’ve read it, it’s on my “must buy list.” This was outstanding! A perfect-fit book for me.

The Star Trek pieces were comfortable and familiar, as was the general story of a teen seeking her identity while under the thumb of a controlling parent. And I loved all those pieces. But Tilly really made this story for me. She’s wicked smart and funny. She’s also endearing and awkward. I wanted to rescue her from her mother’s controlling ways. But it was so much more satisfying to watch her rescue herself. Her journey wasn’t flawless, but it was delightful! I am a sucker for a book with a kid or a teen who finds his/her place/gift/identity and then thrives in it. And this was that sort of story.

The Star Trek Discovery connections are minimal, mostly just the prologue and epilogue which anchor the character to the TV series. But if you know that Michael Burnham is a woman, and she’s Tilly’s roommate on the ship – older, with more life and Star Fleet experience, maybe a reluctant mentor – you probably have everything you need to know to enjoy the book.

I highly recommend this book. In fact, after typing up this review, I want to go read it again! (Some language, minor consumption of alcohol)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Good Ones by Jenn McKinlay

REVIEW: The Good Ones by Jenn McKinlay

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Maisy inherited her great-aunt Eloise’s lovely – but old – Victorian home and her overwhelmingly large collection of romance novels. In fact, the books are piled precariously throughout the house – stacked on steps, piled in rooms, and heaped in the living spaces. And Maisy’s dream is to turn the house into a romance bookstore and share her great-aunt’s favorite stories with her customers. As a literature professor with two Master’s degrees, Maisy is definitely qualified to run the store. And since her ex just snaked a promotion out from under her, it’s time to throw caution to the wind and follow her dream.

The first step in the process is to have an expert in to assess the work the house will need to update it and convert it into a book store. Enter Ryder Copeland. He’s far too good looking for Maisy’s own good. With his cowboy hat and rugged good looks, he looks exactly like the guy on the cover of her favorite romance novel.

No matter how much chemistry Maisy feels with Ryder, it doesn’t matter. The wedding ring on his left hand means he is off limits. But Ryder only wears the ring to discourage relationships. He’s been divorced for 3 years, but he’s not ready to tread into a relationship again. Right now, he has set a course for himself and his teenage daughter that will be taking them out of Fairdale. And that course has no space for the petite bookseller whose smile could break down his resolve.

Review

I have enjoyed Jenn McKinlay‘s mysteries for years, but after reading her Bluff Point books last year and this first book in her new Happily Ever After series, I think her romance books are even better than the mysteries! After finishing this book, I wanted to go re-read the Bluff Point books. That series is a lot of fun. I think I caught a sentence that ties this book to that series, as well.

I was hooked at the start when I realized this was a book book. The main character is a reader and a literature professor. The house at the center of the story is stuffed to overflowing with books. The goal is to turn it into a bookstore. I was sold on the story at that point!

And then I got to know the characters. After that, there was no putting this one down until I finished. Maisy and Ryder are fantastic together, but the supporting cast – including Ryder’s daughter Perry, and King George the cat – round out the story so well. There are some fun hints at potential future stories – including the relationship at the center of book 2, The Christmas Keeper, out in the fall of 2019. And I am absolutely here for those future stories! I highly recommend this funny, endearing romance. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Phantom Wheel by Tracy Deebs

REVIEW: Phantom Wheel by Tracy Deebs

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Six teens are invited to LA to compete for a scholarship through a CIA college program. All of them are excellent hackers. And the CIA has a special task for each of them as their “audition.”

Except nothing about this program is what it appears to be. Soon the kids find themselves trying to figure out who they can trust – even among the six of them. Car chases and flying bullets weren’t what they were expecting either. While their hacking skills are top notch, and several of them have immense family resources, it may not be enough to get them out of the dangerous situation they find themselves in.

Review

I feel like there’s so much going on in this story, I can’t give a full summary for fear that it will give something away. And this was TOO fun to spoil for another reader. I loved this! I’m not a techy person, but there were only a few spots where the tech was over my head, but that was never an issue for my enjoyment of the book.

The characters are terrific. I loved watching them move from strangers to teammates to friends. Their interplay was so fun! The individual backstories were fascinating, too. I would love for this to kick off a series. When the book ended, I wanted to know what happened next for these characters.

The story was a treat! The pacing was excellent. The tension builds throughout the whole book, and the finale was perfectly satisfying. I couldn’t put the book down. I had to know if the kids were going to solve the problems they were fighting – and if they were all going to survive.

There are a few swear words and some innuendo and teasing between the characters. But otherwise I feel like I could hand this to any teen who wants a story that is full of action, some humor, and lots of technology and hacking. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Lock In by John Scalzi

REVIEW: Lock In by John Scalzi

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When a flu-like pandemic swept the world, a lot of people got sick. One percent of those who contracted it found themselves “locked” inside their immobile bodies. Their bodies continue to live, but their consciousnesses are trapped inside. The condition is called Haden’s syndrome. Those with Haden’s cannot interact with the physical world any more without the assistance of a mechanical suit that serves as a personal transportation device. The other option for those with Haden’s is to work with an “Integrator,” others who had the illness but did not get locked in. Instead, their brains developed the ability to work with hardware installed in their skulls to allow a locked in person to push their consciousness into the Integrator’s brain in order to take over the body for a time.

On Chris Shane’s first day with the FBI, Chris is partnered with a former Integrator named Vann. They stumble into a weird case involving an Integrator and a dead man. While the Integrator seems guilty, if he was hosting someone with Haden’s at the time of the murder, there’s another culprit to find. Things get even weirder with an explosion at a Haden’s research lab and also an assassination attempt. Recent legislation is changing the world for the locked in. There’s been a walk out and a march, and the march organizer seems to be tied into everything that’s happening in Chris’ case. Since Chris is locked in (Chris uses a mechanical suit to get around)and Vann is a former Integrator, they are perfectly positioned to understand some of the intricacies of this case and figure out what is really going on!

Review

This was amazing! The world building with the disease and the technology pieces is exceptional. And behind all of the tech is a fantastic mystery. I loved every bit of this. There’s some terrific humor through the story that I enjoyed, too. It’s hard to give a good summary and explain the differences in the world that are central to the mystery without giving anything important away. Just trust me – this was excellent.

If you love an intricate science fiction world and a just-as-intricate mystery, run right out and pick this up! The sequel, Head On, is just as fantastic – with a football-ish spin to the Haden’s story. There’s also a prequel about Haden’s that I am eager to read. If audiobooks are your style, this one is read by Wil Wheaton, who does a terrific job with audiobooks. Don’t miss this one! I had my husband read it last summer for our family reading challenge, and he loved it, too! (Language, some violence)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep

BONUS REVIEW: Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Lady Everleigh has lived at Seven Spire palace since her parents were killed when she was a girl. As 17th in line for the throne – and a “mutt” with barely any magic – her life at the palace was less than spectacular. Queen Cordelia tolerated her. She sent Everleigh to any event where a royal was required, but none really wanted to attend. If there was a crummy task to dump on someone – like making 13 pies for a luncheon – it was dumped on Everleigh.

The crown princess was even worse. Vasilia was hot and cold to Everleigh. She ignored her or looked down on her as less than dirt, unless she could humiliate her instead. At 27, Lady Everleigh is ready to leave palace life behind, return to her family home, and live her own life.

She hopes to approach Queen Cordelia about that plan at the luncheon. But Vasilia launches a murderous attack on every other member of the royal line, and Everleigh barely escapes with her life. If Vasilia finds out she’s alive, she will destroy Everleigh in the most brutal way possible. Especially as Everleigh is one of the few who can tell what really happened the day of the massacre.

Review

This was AMAZING! I loved everything about this. The characters, the world building, the story. It was all a perfect fit for me! It is my favorite book that I read in 2018.

While the reader knows from the book summary that the massacre is coming, the build up is slow and deliberate. The author doles out great details about the characters at Seven Spire and the worlds of politics and magic so that when the action kicks up, you already have a good handle on the situation and you care about the people.

But at the same time, the author doesn’t tell everything. There are great details sprinkled throughout the whole book – and some questions are still unanswered at the end to drive readers to book 2 (Protect the Prince – summer 2019).

The magical world in this was fascinating. I loved Everleigh from the start, and the friends she makes along the journey are terrific. I’m a huge fan of displaced royalty sorts of stories, and this is the epitome of everything I love about them. I can’t wait to read more! Highly recommend! (Some language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: A Mild Wide by Brandon Hatmaker

REVIEW: A Mild Wide by Brandon Hatmaker

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

The core of this book is the idea of taking your faith deeper. Too often we feel “a mile wide but an inch deep.” Hatmaker challenges readers to not only let the gospel save them (one time), but let it transform them (all the time). Topics in the book include Biblical identity, community (both in the church and outside it), the Kingdom, social justice, and mission.

I found this both challenging and encouraging. I underlined something on almost every page. I really grabbed onto the idea of the gospel as transformational. It’s not one and done. And if the goal is to be more like Jesus, I know I have a long way to go. But at the same time, Hatmaker spends a good amount of time reiterating that God loves us – right now – no matter how transformed or not transformed we are.

While one clear message is that doing more – adding more Bible studies or showing up at church activities more days of the week – doesn’t make us more lovable to God, there are suggestions for ways to engage in Jesus’ name that will help in our personal transformation and help us be a light to others. I loved the questions and the practical steps suggested throughout the book. This is one to revisit and keep close at hand. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Fire & Heist by Sarah Beth Durst

REVIEW: Fire & Heist by Sarah Beth Durst

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley  and Crown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Sky is a wyvern – as are her brothers and her parents. Wyverns are were-dragons – humans who can shape shift into dragons. Although modern wyverns have lost the ability to shift, they can still breath fire. And they are crazy about gold!

On the night someone tried to steal her mother’s 24-karat gold piano, Sky was supposed to be at the movies, drowning her sorrows in buttered popcorn. Her mother had disappeared while on some sort of job, and Sky’s boyfriend, Ryan, and the entire wyvern community had shunned Sky’s family. But Sky wasn’t feeling up to a movie and burning the mementos of her broken relationship, so she went home early. And stumbled into a heist in her own home.

Then, she ruined the heist (yay!) only to later discover it was her brothers, trying to prove to their father that they were up to the task of a major heist (oops!). But all of that made Sky realize how tired she was of trying to live as though her mother’s disappearance was no big deal. So when she finds out what her mom was trying to do, Sky puts together a crew for a heist of her own.

Review

I loved every bit of this! It was the perfect book for me – a smart and sassy protagonist, a fantasy world, and a heist/mystery. I read it in one sitting and as soon as I finished, I ordered my own copy of the book. This was fantastic!

I loved the “voice” of this from the first page. It begs to be read out loud (as my family discovered because I kept reading passages to them). And Sky is a huge part of that voice/tone. She’s smart and funny – sarcastically honest. But she was only the first character I fell in love with. Gabriela and Sky’s brothers and “Worm”  were some of my other favorites – so many great personalities in this one!!

The fantasy world for this really worked well for me. It feels 75% normal with 25% dragons. And I love dragon books. The heist was fairly simple. Once Sky and her crew had it planned, they just had to execute it several times flawlessly for things to work. The issues in the story had little to do with the planning and more to do with self-confidence and determination during execution. Well, that and traps.

Another great selling point for this book is it is “clean” teen. I can recommend this to any kid who enjoys fantasy without having to worry about mature content. And I adore finding terrific stories for teens that will appeal to all audiences. I highly recommend this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman

REVIEW: A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

In 1899 England, Frances was fortunate to have her own money. With her husband dead for over a year, she was out of her mourning period. She had the means to leave the family estate – and her in-laws who only wanted her money – and set up her own house for herself and her daughter. But things were not going to be that simple.

First of all, her new home is next door to a man who had been part of the most devastating and embarrassing moment of her life. Second, her sister was coming from America for the London Season, and Frances was to be her chaperone for finding a suitable husband. Third, her brother-in-law decided to sue for Frances’ personal funds, saying it became part of the estate when she married. The suit freezes her accounts and puts her independence in jeopardy. And if all that wasn’t enough, throw on a theft, a break in and a murder!

Review

This was perfect from start to finish! It lived up to all of my highest hopes when I first saw that cover. This book delivered everything I want from a new mystery series.

I adored Frances. She has great strength and courage. She’s learned a lot from her time in London society, and she uses that to her sister’s benefit as well as her own. She has a fantastic assortment of supporters – friends, family and staff – to help with the personal issues as well as the criminal ones.

The mystery was excellent – interesting and twisting. I was guessing all the way through. There were so many layers to this, my attention never wavered. I can’t wait to read through this again.

This is everything I love in a great book! I can’t wait to read more in this series. Book two – A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder – releases next summer.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥