Category: Reviews

REVIEW: The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter

REVIEW: The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

A woman wakes up on the snowy ground, looking up at the Eiffel Tower.  But  she doesn’t remember her name, how she came to be in Paris, or even why her head hurts. It’s all troublesome. But nothing compared to the men with guns. One of them calls her Alex. That must be her name. But it doesn’t ring a bell or bring back anything else.

Jack Sawyer is a spy – an “operative” – and he’s worked with Alex for years. She’s supremely competent (and annoying), so it doesn’t take long for him to figure out this is NOT Alex.

Alex is a spy gone rogue, and everyone is after her – her bosses at the CIA, and the bad guys. And Jake didn’t manage to find Alex like he was trying to – he found her twin sister. A person he always assumed didn’t actually exist. And now everyone after Alex will make the same mistake he did. So Alex’s twin – whatever her name and story is – is in life-ending kinds of trouble.

Review

I had a lot of fun with this one. I laughed often and read funny sections to my husband. I enjoyed the banter and got a kick out of the bumbling-into-success way of the main character. I would read this again and will definitely give the sequel a try – although with some hesitation. The hinted POV character was not a favorite for me in this one.

That said, this felt more like my favorite YA stories (Prince in Disguise, 10 Blind Dates) than my favorite adult romances (The Bodyguard, Undercover Bromance) – and not just because this is a “closed door” romance. The main character comes off as young. And my favorite banter-y moments at times felt like a different book when compared to the parts where f-bombs are dropping and bullets are flying.

So, YA fans – especially fans of the author’s YA and Older Middle Grade novels – who are not looking for a spicy romance may find a lot here to enjoy – I did! But for die hard adult romance fans, YMMV.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: Books Aren't for Bears by Mark Barry

REVIEW: Books Aren’t for Bears by Mark Barry

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Bear discovers a book, and Owl teaches him to read it, Bear decides he wants more! (I feel you, Bear.) So he takes a bike he finds to the city, both to try to return the bike to its owner and also to find more books.

Review

This simple, sweet story was a joy to read! Through his ups and downs, Bear doesn’t completely lose hope. His perseverance eventually brings him to a perfect bookish spot where he finds the help he needs to continue his bookish life.

The illustrations by Katy Halford are a large part of the book’s charm. I LOVED them. The cover art was what first drew me to pick this up. I think readers will be captivated by the art as well.

This would be a great storytime book – for school, a bookstore, or the library – but I think many kids will also want the up-close experience of reading this in someone’s lap. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: Birder She Wrote by Donna Andrews

REVIEW: Birder She Wrote by Donna Andrews

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

While a May afternoon in the hammock while the boys are at school seems like a glorious idea, Meg’s friends and family have other plans for her time – installing bees in a hive, entertaining a dismissive reporter, finding a missing wild life photographer, wrangling fussy city folk who are causing trouble, and finding a lost 19th century cemetery.

Stumbling across a dead body doesn’t help either.

Soon Meg is looking for clues to a murderer’s identity while also tracking a bee killer and a blackmailer.  Never a dull moment!

Review

This was so fun! The mystery was great – involved enough to pull me through the book with no sections where Meg was spinning her wheels (something I’ve encountered in other books lately). And the bee and hummingbird side-missions were far more interesting than I expected.

It’s always nice to spend time with Meg and the folks in Caerphilly County. Meg’s large extended family doesn’t really factor into this story. While I usually get a kick out of them, I enjoyed that change of pace. The focus here was instead on community members which was a nice shift.

This is book 33 in the funny and long-running Meg Langslow Mystery series. I think newcomers could enjoy the main mystery without feeling like they were missing out on a bunch of history and backstory for the series. Series fans should absolutely check this one out – and then watch for Let It Crow, Let It Crow, book 34, due out in October.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Great Banned Books Bake Sale by Aya Khalil

REVIEW: The Great Banned Books Bake Sale by Aya Khalil

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Kanzi loves the library at her school. The books there reflect a variety of people and stories.

When her class arrives at the library one day, the kids notice that all of the diverse books have been removed. They have been banned by the school district.

Kanzi and her friends decide to fight back by holding a bake sale to raise money to buy diverse books as well as a protest to speak out against the ban.

Review

“Some books are so powerful that they intimidate people.”

This sentence is a punch to the gut in this story – so beautifully expressed! This is a celebration of not only books – especially diverse books – but also of the families and cultures reflected in those stories.  While district book bans in America aren’t quickly or easily resolved, Kanzi and her friends are quickly successful at ending their ban, bringing a solid and affirming resolution to the story. I enjoyed the story overall, but the quick wrap up felt a bit too easy for such a widespread issue.

This would make a great classroom read aloud or book group selection for discussion with kids. The author includes a note of her own experience when a ban in 2021 included her book The Arabic Quilt, which was Kanzi’s first story. This book also includes the recipe for a treat used in the bake sale.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good +

REVIEW: Flop Dead Gorgeous by David Rosenfelt

REVIEW: Flop Dead Gorgeous by David Rosenfelt

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Jenny Nichols is a famous actress. She’s also someone Andy Carpenter dated for a little while in high school – something he likes to drop into casual conversation. The two have stayed in touch and she’s been in town and met Andy, Laurie, and their friends for dinner. A dinner that Jenny’s ex ruins with his barbaric behavior.

So when that same ex is later found in Jenny’s house, murdered, and the police think she’s the killer, she calls Andy. But Andy and his team might be in over their heads on this one.

Review

Another great mystery in the Andy Carpenter series! This one kept me on the edge of my seat almost to the last page. The mystery was twisty and super satisfying in the end.

I loved spending time with Andy and his team in this book. There were several laugh-out-loud moments in this one. Andy’s snark was top notch.

While I always like to enjoy a series in order, I started reading this one mid-series. And I think new readers could absolutely start here. Other than references to Andy and his family and investigative team – who have a long history in the series – the case itself stands on its own.

Series fans should definitely pick this one up – and keep an eye out for ‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas which will release in October. You can read more about the Andy Carpenter series here as well as the author’s spin-off K-Team series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt

REVIEW: The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Hercules Beal doesn’t want to go to the Cape Cod Academy for Environmental Sciences. But his brother, Achilles, made that decision for him. He’d been responsible for Hercules since The Accident.

Hercules’ homeroom teacher at his new school is Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer, a retired marine. He’s also their Language Arts teacher. And he assigns each student a year-long Greek mythology project. And he gives Hercules a project to study the twelve labors of Hercules – and repeat them in a contemporary context.

At first, Hercules isn’t sure how he’s supposed to turn these myths into real events – and write 150 words about each one. But solutions seem to pop up along the way to help him – and not just with his school assignment.

Review

Oh, this book. I am tearing up just thinking about Hercules and Hupfer (who I adored!) and Achilles…. This was a constant journey from tears to laughter and back again. And I loved it.

Hercules has a FANTASTIC “voice” here – earnest and honest and twelve. I totally believed it and got a huge kick out of him. I was impressed with how the author worked myth-Hercules’ labors into things our Hercules could do – and what those experiences would teach him along the way.

This would be an outstanding choice for a family or classroom read aloud. It would also be an excellent book club selection for upper elementary/early middle school classrooms. I would love to watch students meet Hercules and dig into this story. This is not to be missed! (A couple uses of the word “jackass.”)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Unlock Your Menopause Type by Dr. Heather Hirsch

REVIEW: Unlock Your Menopause Type by Dr. Heather Hirsch

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

Considering how little seems to be known – or discussed – about something every aging person who menstruates will go through, it’s nice to see another book release that talks honestly about menopause. The “hook” for this book is the author’s way of grouping common menopause symptoms into types. It’s not a perfect system – people can fall into more than one category. So you might have to read more than one section to get a good idea of what options are available to you. But it’s pretty brilliant if you have ever read something about menopause and thought, “That’s not been my experience.” The experience of menopause differs from person to person.

The overall tone of the book is conversational – another one that feels like talking with an expert over coffee.  I especially appreciated the chapter on myths and misconceptions. It’s also affirming in that you will likely read about others who are experiencing some of the same things you are. You aren’t alone! The chapters on the types are more technical than the introduction, and there may be some readers who want to take the book to their personal physician to talk through the author’s recommendations. Each type is described with at least one anecdote, and then author makes recommendations for typical treatment options that might work for readers who find themselves in a particular type.

To be honest, one draw back to this book for me is the thought of having to convince a medical professional to take this material – and my feelings about it – seriously enough for this to be useful. If my doctor hasn’t read this, how can I go to him and say “I think I have this type and this doctor recommends this course of action” and expect to get very far? But if you have a relationship with your doctor that’s more open and collaborative, I could see using this as a starting point for addressing any symptoms or difficulties you are experiencing.

I also thought The Menopause Manifesto was an excellent resource. If you are approaching this stage in life, I’d probably start with Manifesto to equip yourself with information. If you are already experiencing some of the symptoms of perimenopause, this might be a good resource to add to your arsenal of information.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great resource!

REVIEW: I Am Batman by Brad Meltzer

REVIEW: I Am Batman by Brad Meltzer

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

From the folks who created the delightful Ordinary People Change the World series comes a new series called Stories Change the World. I Am Batman and I Am Superman kicked off the series last year, and this week I Am Wonder Woman released.

The book tells the story of young Bruce Wayne and his journey to becoming Batman. There are references to some of Batman’s most famous associates – Alfred, Robin, Batgirl (Brad Meltzer – I NEED a Batgirl book!!), and Commissioner Gordon.  We also get to see some of his most recognizable foes – Riddler, Penguin, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, and the Joker.

And through it all, the book focuses on Bruce’s character – just like the Ordinary People books do. This is everything I have come to love and appreciate about the original series, but with a shift from biographies of famous people to an exploration of a fictional character. I cannot wait to see what other stories this series explores. (Maybe, like the Who HQ, these will explore the Star Trek universe!)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

 

REVIEW: Capture the Sun by Jessie Mihalik

REVIEW: Capture the Sun by Jessie Mihalik

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Lexi is back on Valovia – a place she promised herself she’d never return to – because the price was just too good to ignore.

But before she can adjust to the double sunrise and sunset on Valovia, she’s on the run from the Empress once again.

Teaming up with Nilo hardly seems like a good idea, considering their history. But at least they both have a vested interest in seeing their friends on Starlight’s Shadow safe and successful in their shared mission to prevent a new war.

But when Starlight’s Shadow goes missing in Valovian space, Lexi will have to trust Nilo if she’s going to have any hope of saving her friends.

Review

This was a satisfying end to the Starlight’s Shadow series. But I’ve noticed that I tend to struggle with the third book in the author’s trilogies. I struggled with the third book in the Consortium Rebellion series, too (although that book has grown on me after subsequent reading).

Lexi was super hard for me to like early on. The trust issues she had make total sense considering the war. And the panic she feels with Nilo’s mental connection has a PTSD-ish quality to it. But instead of making me empathize with her, she came across as difficult and abrasive. Looking back at the whole story, I’m sure that was the point. I just struggled to click with her which made it harder to get into the flow of the story.

I was satisfied with the wrap up of the series-arcing conspiracy. Also I think that because this book had to both tell Lexi’s story AND wrap up the whole series, it made some sections drag at bit while I waited for the action to kick up again. But it all came together in the end.

I might re-read this series again. My re-read of Hunt the Stars and Eclipse the Moon in preparation for reading this was super fun.  I love the Valoffs and the world-building around them. They are my favorite part of this series. But given the choice, I would re-read Polaris Rising and the Consortium Rebellion series first. It was the better fit for me as a reader.

Series fans should definitely pick this up to wrap up the series. I wouldn’t start here. I think there’s too much backstory and worldbuilding that comes in the first two books to read these out of order. And if you’ve never read Polaris Rising, be sure to pick that up when you’ve finished this series – it’s AMAZING! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ =  Good+

 

REVIEW: What Is the Story of Captain Picard? by David Stabler

REVIEW: What Is the Story of Captain Picard? by David Stabler

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

The Who HQ line of nonfiction books for kids adds the story of Jean Luc Picard to their line which also includes What Is the Story of Captain Kirk? This book includes some basic Trek history – from the timeline for TOS (The Original Series) to side bars about Rodenberry, Trek captains, and Picard’s hobbies – as well as background on the actor who plays Captain Picard, Sir Patrick Stewart. Then Picard’s story is told in highlights from key Next Generation (TNG) episodes.

Review

This is really well done! The author does a great job of synthesizing 7 seasons worth of TNG episodes to build a cohesive biography for Picard. A biography for a fictional character! Something not easy to pull off.

There’s no info dump here – nothing bogs the reader down. Tidbits of info are offered (with some spoilers) while the author moves quickly through highlights of Picard’s journey. (Although I did take issue with one instance where the author’s summary of the captain’s motives in a situation didn’t match the episode in my opinion). The book is current through initial planning and discussions of Picard season two.

I’m impressed by how deftly the author moves between reality – box office numbers, series actors, the larger Trek universe – and fiction with the life of Picard and to a lesser extent that of some of his friends. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and highly recommend it for Star Trek fans and newbies alike.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!