Category: Reviews

REVIEW: Austin//His Amish Sweetheart by Jennifer Beckstrand

REVIEW: Austin//His Amish Sweetheart by Jennifer Beckstrand

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Alfie and Benji Petersheim have been working to get their three older brothers married and out of the house. They helped Andrew (♥♥♥♥♥) and Abraham find true love and now they just need Austin in love so all of the older boys will move out of the house and the twins can move out of the cellar and back into a room.  But Austin could be their hardest project yet.

Benji is convinced Austin is in love with his best friend, Hannah Yutzy. Alfie thinks they should get Austin interested in Priscilla Lambright who works at the library. With the twins at odds, they decide to work their own agendas – alone. May the best man win.

Review

This was a lovely wrap up to the Petersheim Brothers trilogy!

I’ve been a fan of this series from the start. This book, originally titled Austin, was supposed to release in the summer of 2020. And then Covid. And while the publisher waited for the right time to release it, they also determined that the book might sell better with an Amish woman on the cover. So this is the new cover and the new title. While I had no issues with the other titles and covers, I’m just happy to finally see how the series ended. It was a satisfying resolution.

I have to be honest, though. Austin is a hot mess in this book. I can’t say for sure who I grumbled about more – Austin or “Scilla.” She was obnoxious, and he was an idiot a lot of the time. It never got to the point where I thought about giving up on the book, but they were truly a mess. The twins and Hannah and some of the other events of the book helped balance out Austin’s moments.

I think my annoyance is part of what made things so awesome in the end, though. I loved the resolution here. Alfie and Benji really stole the show in this book. And the extra help they recruit for their quest was an added delight!

Newcomers can start here without too much trouble. There are pieces of the story with the larger community – and the twins’ quest to get out of the cellar – that play out in Andrew, Abraham, and the Honeybee Sisters books. And reading those will fill in around this story, but I think new readers can get along without those details to start. But I highly recommend the books in both series, so you should be sure to check them all out in the end.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: Happily Ever Island by Crystal Cestari

REVIEW: Happily Ever Island by Crystal Cestari

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Happily Ever Island is Disney’s newest themed resort. It allows guests to live as their favorite character for awhile – costumes, music, housing, everything. And Madison just won a trip for two to be among the first to experience the island.

While Madison’s peers all seem focused on futures and careers, Madison still has no clue what she wants to study at school or do for a job. But she knows EVERYTHING about Disney.

Since her girlfriend broke up with her just before Madison gets the good news, she needs a new plus 1 for her trip. And her best friend Lanie is the perfect choice.

Lanie is Madison’s opposite in a lot of ways – grounded, focused, driven. It feels like she’s been on the fast track for med school her whole life. But suddenly she’s having doubts about all of those plans. So, even though she knows almost nothing about Disney, Lanie agrees to go on the trip.

But their magical vacation challenges each of the young women to re-examine their lives – and dishes up surprises that could change their trajectories completely.

Review

How fun! This is a great friendship/coming of age story with a strong side of romance in a clever setting. I really enjoyed this! Both Madison and Lanie were characters I would hang out with. And both are struggling with questions about the future. This is a great topic for the intended young adult audience. And I love how the characters are coming at the same issue from different angles.

There’s a LOT here for readers to enjoy. For Disney and theme park fans there’s this creative setting and lots of classic Disney moments. For romance fans, both main characters meet someone special. Then there’s the friendship struggles and growth alongside the coming-of-age pieces. And I enjoyed all of it! This is a creative and clever story – don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: A Bride's Guide to Marriage and Murder by Dianne Freeman

REVIEW: A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder by Dianne Freeman

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book releases next week on June 28th.]

Summary

Frances can’t wait until her wedding day. Not only so she can begin her life with George, but also to escape her mother’s meddling and battles over guest lists, seating charts, and feuding aristocrats.

But before Frances and George can escape on their wedding trip, her brother is arrested for the murder of one of those feuding aristocrats. Alonzo may have been found with the murder weapon, but the man had plenty of enemies. And the path between the man’s home and the wedding reception site was well travelled over the course of the day. Frances and George will have to team up again to find the truth before they miss out on their entire honeymoon.

Review

What a great mystery! This one is super twisty, so it kept me guessing all the way through. The pacing was great – I never felt like things were dragging. As Frances and George investigated, there were new clues discovered, more questions raised, and a different suspect to consider. The mystery was highly satisfying!

I was as over Frances’ family as she was in the book. The author does a great job of making them a pain without making the reader miserable. There were lots of lovely Frances and George moments to offset her family as well as moments with some of the other series regulars.

Other than tracking the various relationships, I think newcomers could start this series here without any major difficulty. While I love the journey Frances and George have been on, I don’t think readers have to know all the backstory to follow the action here. But I’ve loved all 5 books in this series so far – and I hope there will be many more! I recommend these for historical fiction fans as well as mystery lovers. Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: The Gospel for Improvers by Tyler Zach

REVIEW: The Gospel for Improvers by Tyler Zach

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

This is book 5 in the author’s series of devotionals for various Enneagram types. The devotionals for 3s, 9s, 6s, and 4s are already available; you can read my review of the first book, for Threes, here. It looks like *my* book for 2s will be out before the end of this year.

There are 40 days of devotionals in the book. Each day is laid out with the title, a Bible verse, a page or two of devotional thoughts and then a feature called “The Good News for Improvers.” This section ties the general Biblical content or truth to the personality of Enneagram 1s. After that section there is a short prayer, 3-4 reflection questions (with space to write answers), and a response activity.

Review

As with the book for Achievers (3s), I loved the introductory material for this book, especially the caveat that this is “an invitation to be rather than do or improve.” I have a very strong 1 wing, and that statement really connected for me.

As far as general Enneagram content, the devotional addresses moves in stress and security, defense mechanisms, and subtypes. Each devotional ends with resource references which can lead readers to other materials to check out. There’s a lot of material here for readers to dig into. I could see this being something to return to annually as the reader grows in self-awareness and understanding of their Enneagram nuances. This is a “second tier” resource in my opinion as it is for folks who are solidly aware of their number, although it could also be helpful for folks who are trying to discern between two numbers if they could read both versions.

I gave this to my husband to read as he identifies as an Enneagram 1. He read a few of the entries and immediately said he would like to have the whole book to work through. He felt like the content really connected for him in a way that he both felt seen and understood and in a way where he felt the book could help him grow.

We both highly recommend this resource! (You can read more reviews of Enneagram resources here.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Cryptid Club: Bigfoot Takes the Field by Michael Brumm

REVIEW: The Cryptid Club: Bigfoot Takes the Field by Michael Brumm

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Lily is looking for a big story for the school paper, she decides to investigate the rumors of a Bigfoot on the school grounds.

Review

This was fun! The graphic novel layout is something kids will enjoy. The team up between Lily, her younger brother, and the neighbor she babysits makes for some funny moments. The sibling bickering is familiar and yet at moments also endearing. And the young neighbor is the source of some of the gross humor some kids enjoy.

The Bigfoot mystery is light and fun. I’d read more in this series, and I think kids will enjoy them, too!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great!

REVIEW: Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley

REVIEW: Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Donovan Dell – pro football player, baker, and part owner of Sugar Blitz, a San Diego cupcake store. The store is Donovan’s dream – and his back up plan for life after football. But sagging sales are putting his dream in jeopardy. So he lets the sassy customer get to him as he tries to defend his store.

Jada Townsend-Matthews – reality TV star, and target of vicious hate after turning down a marriage proposal on the show My One and Only. Jada only goes into Sugar Blitz because her best friend loves their cupcakes. She doesn’t intend to get into a verbal battle with the sexy staff member. Her day only goes downhill from there, ending with a summons to her grandmother’s office to talk about her “future” and lack of direction in life.

In order for Jada to access her trust fund when she turns 26, her grandmother is requiring her to work a consistent job – and she’s convinced one of her football players to hire Jada. Now Donovan and Jada are thrown together again. But when a reporter shows up at Sugar Blitz and pressures Jada on why she turned down the marriage proposal on TV, Jada panics and says it’s because she is in love with Donovan. And the kiss she springs on him goes viral.

Review

This was excellent! If I wasn’t laughing at something out loud, I had a big grin on my face. This was delightful! Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, so I was already sold with that part of the story. But the slowly thawing animosity between the main characters was perfectly paced and so satisfying. The dual perspective storytelling gives the reader all the insights about the characters’ thoughts and feelings while still letting the action unfold over time. The chemistry between the two main characters was fantastic, too.

I also loved the dynamic with Donovan and his business partners. I had my fingers crossed all the way through that this would turn out to be just the first book in a series focused on those three men. Judging by the end of this, my wish is coming true. Don’t miss this fun, steamy romance! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Sloth Sleuth by Cyndi Marko

REVIEW: Sloth Sleuth by Cyndi Marko

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

When the inhabitants of the island of Winklefuss start getting sick at the café, Paz the sloth teams up with her best friend, Andrews, the librarian, to figure out why.

Review

This is a meaty graphic novel mystery – lots of characters, plenty of silliness, and one main case – from the author of the BRANCHES series Kung Pow Chicken.

The book starts with something of an info dump. The background of the island is amusing. The introduction of the island’s inhabitants – all criminals – feels like a lot. Later in the book, minor characters get a side bar-ish introduction that might have worked earlier for some of the main characters so they weren’t all introduced at once.

There are a lot of distractions along the way to the solution – many based on sloth facts. Their slow pace is used a lot. Also the fact that they poop once a week. Other facts worked into the story are explained in an end note. Overall, this was cute, and I think kids will enjoy it.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good +

REVIEW: The Gatekeeper by James Byrne

REVIEW: The Gatekeeper by James Byrne

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

Dex has retired to California. He plays in bar bands when he finds one he clicks with. And he did. That’s how he got the comped room at the Hotel Tremaine. It was supposed to be a relaxed night in a luxury room. But then he spotted the sniper.

Thwarting the kidnapping plot is almost easy compared to what’s next. The near-victim is a hugely influential person in a multi-national corporation. And she’s been investigating some questionable things at her company. But that just means she’s angered people who are willing to do anything to see their scheme come to fruition.

Review

Fans of Baldacci and Hurwitz should not miss The Gatekeeper. I got a kick out of Dex as the hero. He’s tough and smart and makes do much of the time with whatever’s at hand. And he makes hash of the bad guy plans along the way. It was enjoyable to read!

The scheme is contemporary – the author anchors the story so it could happen today. He mentions American politics from the last 6 years as well as making a passing reference to the pandemic. The scheme is also intricate, making for a meaty story. The pacing is well done. I never felt like things were dragging or being drawn out or that the plot points were unnecessarily convoluted. This is more violent and gruesome at times – along the lines of Jack Reacher or Orphan X – than what I usually read. But fans of thrillers like those I mentioned should find a lot here to enjoy. (Language, references to sex, references to sexual assault, violence, suicide)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great!

REVIEW: Max and the Midknights: The Tower of Time by Lincoln Peirce

REVIEW: Max and the Midknights: The Tower of Time by Lincoln Peirce

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

As Max longs for answers about her twin, she turns to Mumblin the Magician for help going back in time. But he tells her there’s no spell for that. So the kids head out to find answers for themselves.

Review

This was so fun! It’s a great story – meaty, and it didn’t feel like it was over too soon. It was fun to spend time with Max and her friends once again.

References to the earlier books – Max and the Midknights, and Max and the Midknights: Battle of the Bodkins (♥♥♥½) – reward series readers, but newcomers would probably be all right starting here. The story definitely makes more sense, though, with the context of the earlier books. This is a series I have really enjoyed and look forward to – I think kids will love it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Double Twist by Stephanie Rowe

REVIEW: Double Twist by Stephanie Rowe

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

After helping the FBI put her husband in jail – and dodging a couple attempts on her life – Mia has bought a marina in Maine with big plans to start over, fresh.

On the plus side, the lake is gorgeous, and she’s already made a couple of friends. On the down side, though, the marina is in horrible shape, the town hates her because they think she destroyed a prized landmark, Mia’s already had to break out her lockpicks despite saying she would live her new life on the straight and narrow, and one of her new friends is a murder suspect.

Review

What a fun, unusual “cozy” mystery! I got such a kick out of this!

Mia is fantastic. She’s got a fun, sassy voice I loved. But I was also touched by the push and pull she feels about her “old” life. She longs to leave the crime-adjacent life she’s always known. But her experiences also help her stay alive and help her try to keep her friend out of jail. I also loved how much she appreciated the women in her new life.

There’s a lot to love here for mystery fans. This is twisty and layered. I really enjoyed the journey to the resolution. The hot Law Enforcement Officer (LEO), and a fantastic feline sidekick round out the terrific cast in this book. And I can’t wait to read more. Book 2, Top Notch, is scheduled to release this fall. I’ll be picking that one up for sure.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.