Category: Reviews

REVIEW: The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

REVIEW: The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Grayson is drawn to Phoenix to help the younger sisters he has never met. But the line between helping them in their current circumstances and protecting them from the truth gets hard to walk. If necessary, he’d rather have them hate him in order to keep his secrets – for everyone’s sake.

Jameson’s father draws him into a challenge he can’t resist. Make his way into a secret gaming establishment and retrieve what his father lost. Jameson’s never been one to walk away from a challenge – especially if it can connect him to the family he’s never known.

Two of the four Hawthorne brothers might be running personal missions – but they are never alone. Avery, Nash, and Xander are always ready to lend a hand.

Review

This is a continuation of the Inheritance Games series – and readers really need to have have read that whole series for this to make sense. In fact, I wish I had at least re-read Final Gambit for a refresher before diving into this.

The emphasis here is on the brothers rather than Avery (although she does play a part). I have never connected with Jameson in the earlier books, so him telling half the story here really made it hard for me to get into this initially. Grayson’s story was a little easier for me to enjoy.

By the end, though, I was completely in the groove. I loved any time the four brothers were all together. (Xander is my favorite by far – I *need* a Xander-focused story!) The ending of both stories was great, and the next book is set up nicely at the very end. Fans of The Inheritance Games should absolutely pick this up to continue the story of these characters.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey

REVIEW: Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Laurel never planned on lying. Yes, her life was in total disarray. And she desperately needed a job. But she clearly stated in her interview that she ran social media for Meadow Rose Farm. Her boss made the assumption that it was her farm. But when she could have corrected him, she didn’t.

She *really* needed that job.

And so far it’s worked out. Her twin sister, Holly, and her husband, Darius, do own the farm. So Laurel writes her pieces about what HOLLY does – just in first person.

But now her boss has invited himself to Christmas Eve Eve at the farm. And while Holly is happy to help with the subterfuge for Laurel’s sake, she’s not willing to sacrifice Darius to the cause. So they’ve invited Max Beckett to play Laurel’s husband. Too bad she hates the man.

Review

This absolutely has those Hallmark Christmas movie vibes. And I was here for it! This was so fun to read! I adore fake relationship stories – although the “be my date to all the things so my relatives leave me alone” style usually involves less outright lying than this did. But I loved Laurel and her whole family. And Max was my favorite sort of grump – you know there’s depth there. The “sunshine” just has to slow down and give him a chance.

Yes, the inevitable disaster was as painful as you can imagine. But the resolution was also all I had hoped for. I can’t recommend this highly enough. This should appeal to Hallmark fans, grumpy/sunshine fans, fake relationship fans, fans of the author’s other books, as well as everyday romantic comedy fans. Do not miss this one! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Detective Duck: The Case of the Strange Splash by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver

REVIEW: Detective Duck: The Case of the Strange Splash by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Willow (AKA Detective Duck) and her friends hear a splash in the pond, she is on the case to discover the cause. Once she puzzles it out, she’ll have two more mysteries to solve – how to get the thing OUT of the pond, and what to do with it next?

Review

This is a cute transitional chapter book with a fun cast of animal characters. I can still hear Henry Winkler’s voice as he first described the series concept on a late-night talk show. It was fun to get to read the first book in the new series.

Willow is both industrious and compassionate. She uses her Stuff Box in her efforts to address the problems, and she looks out for how the problem will impact her community. She also invites community members to help. I liked that Willow gets to work on essentially 3 “mysteries” or puzzles/problems with her friends. It gives the reader something to look forward to once they know what caused the mysterious splash.

Willow is a clever and determined main character, and her adventure here is so fun. Many readers will appreciate the strong environmental message in the book, too! I recommend this one for parents/grandparents as well as teachers and librarians. Kids are going to enjoy this new series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great!

REVIEW: Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova

REVIEW: Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Ariel del Mar and her sisters – Siren Seven – have fulfilled their part of the deal with their record label – and their father. They’ve been performing for years. And now all of the girls get a break to do what they want – to just “be” for awhile. Except for Ariel. Her father wants her to “strike while the iron’s hot” and launch a solo career.

When Ariel meets Eric, lead singer of Star Crossed, as her true self, Melody, instead of her stage persona, he has no idea who she is. And some freedom and anonymity sounds like all she’s been craving. So she signs on to be his band’s merch person on their tour.

With her sisters providing cover with their dad, Melody has a chance to rediscover who she is – what’s really her and what’s just the character she’s been playing on stage. But real feelings start to bloom between Melody and Eric. What will happen when he discovers the truth? Or when her father finally tracks her down?

Review

This is book 3 in the Meant to Be series of fairytale retellings after If the Shoe Fits and By the Book. Each is written by a different author. This is the first one I have read – the plot summary was so amazing I couldn’t pre-order this fast enough. But I will absolutely be checking out the rest.

This was excellent! The author does an excellent job with Little Mermaid touches throughout the book. Yet the story is original and allowed to stand on its own without being forced into a template by the movie.

I loved the characters in this! Melody and Eric are great, and the secondary characters really add a lot to the story. I would have loved to see more of the sisters together – they were great!

I did have to remind myself, often, that the characters here are adults, not teens. There’s a YA vibe to the story that worked for me until something happened (like drinking alcohol) to remind me these were adults.

If you like fairytale retellings like I do, don’t miss this one. This is a stand alone story, so you don’t have to have read any of the others to enjoy this. (Language, off-page sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read

REVIEW: Quadzilla Finds His Footing by AJ Dillon

REVIEW: Quadzilla Finds His Footing by AJ Dillon

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Quadzilla likes hanging out with his monster friends. They are all good at something they play, but Quadzilla hasn’t found his “thing,” yet.

Review

The Green Bay Packers posted a video this summer where they asked various players what they did during the off season. Running Back AJ Dillon said he wrote a children’s book. Of course, I had to check it out.

This is a cute story with a nice message about trying again and perseverance. Quadzilla eventually finds his place/activity in football, of course. But he also keeps trying the things his friends like, too.

The message makes this a fun read, and I think kids will get a kick out of the monster characters.

Rating: ♥♥♥*

♥♥♥ = Good/Solid/Fine

REVIEW: Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch

REVIEW: Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

The Duke of Woriton, Michael Bromley, likely would never leave his home laboratory and science experiments if he had his way. But his aunt has asked him to watch her beloved poodle, Lancelot, for a few weeks. To keep Lancelot, and his aunt, happy, Michael takes the dog out for regular walks.

Elizabeth Dockering has her own poodle, Galahad. And Galahad is NOT a fan of her primary suitor, Lord Peter Cordray. Galahad is her best protector, but his behavior does get out of hand at times. Like when he runs off at the park and gets tangled with another dog – and that weird Duke of Woriton.

Elizabeth and Michael accidentally trade dogs, but before they can set things right, Lancelot is dognapped from Elizabeth’s home. So naturally, Michael and Elizabeth have to team up to find Lancelot. And the more time they spend together, the more their assumptions about one another are challenged.

Review

This was outstanding! I adored everything about it. The mismatched dognapping was everything I wanted it to be. The main characters had delightful depth that was revealed gradually – to each other and to the reader. The scientific bits were interesting. The whole book is funny.  And the wrap up is supremely satisfying. This was delightful to read – a perfect way to lose myself for a few hours. When I finished I realized I would happily flip back to page one and start again. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price

REVIEW: Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Fanny Price is the “poor relation” at Mansfield Park. Her uncle, Sir Thomas, took her in as his wife’s relative like he took in Edmund, his late brother’s son. The two “outsiders” become fast friends. Fanny’s never confessed her feelings for Edmund to anyone.

Fanny is fond of her uncle, the only kind person in the household besides Edmund. So she’s understandably saddened when Sir Thomas dies from a fall. But Fanny also thinks the fall was no accident – Sir Thomas was murdered.

When Sir Thomas’s will is read, the family discovers their financial state is not as solid as they believed. Fanny finds the whole thing out of character for her uncle and decides to investigate – the financials, the family business, her relatives, and Sir Thomas’s death.

Review

This was excellent! I have enjoyed this series from the start with Pride and Premeditation followed by Sense and Second-Degree Murder (♥♥♥♥). But I also had at least a passing familiarity with the source material for the first two books. I knew nothing about Mansfield Park when I read this. It didn’t matter at all – I loved this purely on its own merits. (In fact, when I read a summary of the original, it was not as captivating as this book was.)

I enjoyed watching Fanny’s evolution as she finds her purpose and character while pursing the truth about Sir Thomas’s death. The mystery plot was delightfully intricate. I didn’t want to put this down. And I’m proud to say I figured things out before the end which always makes me feel extra satisfied and triumphant after reading a mystery.

I hope there will be more of these in the future! This is one of my favorite YA series right now – which is kind of surprising since I have not quite gotten the appeal of Austen. But the changes the author makes in service of her story (like the addition of the queer romance here – with a great author’s note in the book) and the creation of her mysteries are right on target for me as a reader.

Newcomers could start here, I think. While Lizzie and Darcy play a role in this book, the reader doesn’t need their history in order to follow Fanny’s story. But you will definitely want to go back and pick up the earlier books in the series if you start here!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Starter Villain by John Scalzi

REVIEW: Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Charlie Fitzar has been in a bit of a rough patch. Laid off from his job as a journalist, divorced, his dad has died, and his half siblings are trying to sell  his family house out from under him. He’s trying to survive on money from substitute teaching – enough said.

Then word arrives that his estranged uncle, Jack – a billionaire who ran a company building parking garages – has died. And one of his last requests was for Charlie to host his memorial service.

When someone tries to stab his uncle’s body – in the coffin – to be extra sure he’s really dead, Charlie starts to think there was more to Uncle Jack than he previously knew.

Review

This was absolutely amazing! Everything I hoped it would be – smart, sassy, funny, captivating. I was completely drawn into the story. Charlie is a fantastic point of view character – completely out of his depth but still a “good” guy at his core, even as he finds himself in this Bond-esque world of villains.

I laughed out loud all the way through this. My family only had to sit through 5 or 6 passages read aloud before my husband just pre-ordered a print copy for us. I would absolutely read this again! This is my favorite sort of science fiction – something I’ve come to expect from John Scalzi. As my husband often says, we’ve yet to be disappointed by a Scalzi book.

While I could see how a sequel could be carved out of how this story ends (and I’d read a sequel immediately), I don’t feel like that’s necessarily the plan for Charlie and his friends. This stands completely on its own. And I highly recommend it! If you’ve never tried a Scalzi book, and you like funny books and science fiction, I think you should give this a try. If you are already a fan of the author, do NOT miss this one. Audiobook fans should check this out as well as Wil Wheaton narrates. (Language, violence)

Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

THROW BACK: Alien Proliferation by Gini Koch

THROW BACK: Alien Proliferation by Gini Koch

Posted on by Jaymie

This review was originally posted on my Bring on the Books blog on December 14, 2011. I recently posted a quick review of the first three books in this series based on my reading journals when I first read them. This is my 2011 review of book four, which is still one of my favorite books in the series.

Summary

Kitty and Martini are back, and baby makes three. You would think the happy little family could enjoy a little quiet together, but “quiet” is probably not going to be in the cards for them any time soon. After a traumatic delivery, Kitty discovers a plot to take out Chuckie and Kitty’s mom. At least, that seems to be the plot. But there are more layers to this situation than meets the eye. There’s a mole – or is there? Kitty’s high school friends are in danger – or are they part of the plotting? At the root of everything is Kitty’s baby. The bad guys want the baby and, like any good momma, Kitty will fight tooth and nail to protect her.

Review

This is a hard book to summarize because sooooo many things are going on, and I don’t want to give any of the good stuff away. I have been a big fan of this series since I read the first book. I re-read them just for fun even though I have tons of new and yet-unread books laying around. Alien Proliferation is a perfect addition to the series. I didn’t want to put the book down. I laughed out loud often as I zoomed through this 400+ page non-stop thrill. It was a delight to dig into such a meaty book that wasn’t filled with a lot of unnecessary fluff. Plenty of great twists and turns. New dynamics between characters as Kitty gets a new partner to work with and other new characters are introduced (or familiar characters are developed more fully). While motherhood changes Kitty in some ways, it doesn’t change any of the things I love about her – her sarcasm, her intuition, her kick-butt-and-take-names attitude. She continues to be a great, strong character.

This is not a story for the faint of heart. Kitty is in a life-and-death battle and there are casualties. Everything that happens is appropriate to the story, though. I enjoyed this so much, I am looking for time when I can carve out a few days to read through the whole series to date from start to finish. The next book, Alien Diplomacy, releases in April, 2012.

5 out of 5 stars

Recommended for: fans of the series, science fiction/fantasy fans who like an element of romance in their stories

Cautions: My personal feeling is that new readers will be lost if they jump in here. Do yourself a favor and start at the beginning and enjoy the whole series. Otherwise, there’s some violence, and some romantic moments are described in detail. Those sections can be skipped over by sensitive readers. There might also be some language (honestly, I was reading so fast to find out what was going on, I didn’t really pay that close of attention).

THROW BACK: Gabby and Gator by James Burks

THROW BACK: Gabby and Gator by James Burks

Posted on by Jaymie

This review was originally posted on my Bring on the Books blog on May 13, 2013. My students couldn’t get enough of graphic novels like this. The cover image here is updated since my original post and the book’s initial release.

Summary and Review

An outcast girl and an alligator that survived flushing find friendship together.

This was absolutely delightful! I liked it so much, I bought two for our school library because I think my students will enjoy it, too. The story starts by establishing each of the characters separately and establishing the “mystery” of a monster in the sewer. Then, when the two meet, they develop this wonderful, quirky relationship that is just right for both of them. Gabby and Gator make a great team. As a fun little bonus, there are line drawings at the bottom of the right-hand pages, and if you flip them quickly you can see Gabby and Gator dance. Great fun!

5 out of 5 stars