Category: Reviews

REVIEW: This May End Badly by Samantha Markum

REVIEW: This May End Badly by Samantha Markum

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Doe finds out her beloved Weston girls school is merging with their rival, Winfield boys school, after her senior year, she’s devastated. She’s convinced that when the school goes co-ed, the girls will lose far more than they gain. Doe is certain this is the worst idea ever, and she’s determined to do her part to see the merger fall through.

But Doe’s rivalry goes beyond the rival schools. She also has a personal rival at Winfield – Nathaniel Wellborn the Third. So, to escalate her feud with Three, she agrees to fake date his cousin. But Wells wants something from their arrangement besides watching his cousin go ballistic. So, they’ll fake date until Doe helps Wells get a family heirloom back from Three. It will just require some secrets and maybe some small, harmless lies.

But Doe’s lies start to compound until she’s at risk of losing everything at Weston that matters to her.

Review

Wow, this was great! There are a ton of laugh-out-loud moments, which I loved. But there are also some serious ones, too. Doe starts falling apart and alienating everyone who loves her. And it’s painful to watch. But when she has a cause outside herself to fight for, she is a force to be reckoned with. And I was cheering all the way to the end.

I loved the cast in this. Even the antagonistic characters have moments to shine. I might have liked a few more pages dedicated to the fall out at the end, but that would have made the story more about what happens at the end. And this is really about Doe – about her figuring out who she wants to be, about her learning to channel her anger, and about her relationships with all of the important people in her life.

Fans of coming-of-age stories with fantastic characters should not miss this. Come for the romance, humor, and prank war. Stay for a Moxie-ish “we’re not going to take it any more” climax that is a home run. (Language, TW: Sexual harassment/predator)

Rating:♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton

REVIEW: The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton

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

The Wisteria Society (pirates) and the League of Gentlewomen Witches have been at war for centuries. And when the long lost amulet of Black Beryl is discovered and put on display, things heat up as both groups want the artifact for themselves.

But when Charlotte, the future leader of the League, and Alex, a pirate, disappear together while chasing down the amulet, the two societies will team up to be certain the two don’t corrupt one another.

Review

I loved this quirky world when I read book one in the Dangerous Damsels series, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels. The mash up of historical fiction with fantasy elements like flying houses, magic, and then pirates was a lot of fun! That world is expanded a bit here as the pirates return in conflict with their witchy rivals. This unique set up really works for me.

The story took longer to gel for me in this book. While the worldbuilding propelled me forward, it took awhile for the characters to find a rhythm. By the end, I enjoyed Alex and Charlotte and the way their relationship grew and how it influenced their individual journeys. I just had to stick with the story for awhile until I found my footing with it.

Fans of quirky, magical tales as well as fans of the first book in the series should definitely pick this up and give it a try. I’m eager to see what the author does with this world next! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Star Wars: A Queen's Hope by E. K. Johnston

REVIEW: Star Wars: A Queen’s Hope by E. K. Johnston

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

The Clone War is heating up. And that means even though Anakin and Padmé are married now, they each have a job to do. Yes, it means secrets – from their closest friends and at times from each other. But they can keep their love and their duty separate.

Padmé’s handmaidens have duty as well. Sabé is on Tatooine hoping to make headway on her mission when Padmé calls her into service. Sabé will pretend to be the Senator while Padmé goes off on a crucial mission for the war. A lot has changed since they last used this trick – can they really pull it off again?

Review

I have so enjoyed the characters in this series. It’s been great to get more about Padmé, but it’s the handmaidens that I have found fascinating. And I love how the author has let them evolve over time, especially as Padmé’s role has changed.

There are a few fantastic “interludes” through the book that focus on a female character in the larger story. Each passage begins with the character unnamed, and we only get her name at the end. They are all cleverly written and left me wanting more.

While I enjoyed those things, I felt like there wasn’t one driving storyline here. Instead, this seems to be filling in around Star Wars events we know from the movies and shows. We know about Geonosis, we know about Palpatine’s secret agenda, we know about clone troops, and we know about the wedding. So the author takes those things – and some others – and then lets us experience them from other perspectives, like those of the handmaidens.

For a plot-driven reader, this can be less than satisfying. Any danger situation is over fairly quickly, and the stakes are low because we know the main characters exist past this book. But character-driven readers will find a LOT here to enjoy. How does Padmé’s secret relationship change how she relates to her friends and her job? When people find out about her marriage, what changes?

Series fans should definitely pick this up. Newcomers should probably start with the earlier books to get to know the handmaidens in order to enjoy this one to its fullest.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good +

REVIEW: To Marry and to Meddle by Martha Waters

REVIEW: To Marry and to Meddle by Martha Waters

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Lady Emily fears her father’s debts will keep her single – or tie her to a terrible husband – no matter how pristine she has been able to keep her reputation. So when Lord Belfry suggests they marry, it seems like a great solution for Emily. He will take care of her father’s problems and rescue her from a dismal future. In turn, the theatre owner hopes Emily’s class and reputation will help him establish a more suitable clientele for his business.

Once Emily has a taste of freedom from her disapproving parents and from her hyper-vigilance over her own behavior, she’s not sure she wants to stay quiet any more. But Julian can’t see what Emily could bring to his business – or his life – other than their initial agreement.

Review

This is book 3 in the Regency Vows series after To Have and to Hoax and To Love and to Loathe. I LOVED this book. It was truly a perfect fit for me. It’s romantic and funny. There’s just enough conflict to move the story and characters along but not so much as to be painful or stressful to read.

I loved Emily and Julian – separately and together. The premise completely worked for me – a touch of fake relationship, but different enough to feel fresh. And the transformation of Emily over time felt believable as well as fun to watch.

Fans of this series should not miss this. But newcomers can start here, too. I still have not read book one (the premise doesn’t click for me). But while there are references to the earlier books, they are general enough that the reader knows there is history there, but not in such a way to leave the reader feeling like they are missing something important.

This is the sort of book I would read again – comfort reading at its best! Sweet, endearing, funny, sarcastic, and romantic. Check it out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: The School for Whatnots by Margaret Peterson Haddix

REVIEW: The School for Whatnots by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Max was born into a world where well-off parents like his could afford to send their kids to school with “whatnots.” But Max was just a kid. He didn’t even know what whatnots were. All Max truly knew was that ever since kindergarten, Josie had been his best friend.

So when Josie disappears after fifth grade after leaving him a mysterious note, Max is desperate to find her. His texts go unanswered. And his family is ready to whisk him away for summer vacation just like always. So Max sneaks out to find Josie.

Review

What a creative and unusual story! This is the first Haddix novel I think I have read – although I stocked her books in the library where I worked, and my students loved them. The story here intrigued me, but the truths, as they were slowly revealed, continued to surprise and delight as I read.

I don’t want to give too much away by going into a lot of detail about what I enjoyed. The characters are great, but the situation was the most fun because it wasn’t what I was expecting.

I think kids will get a kick out of this twisty tale of friendship and family and secrets. I think the early chapters BEG to be read out loud. And I’d love to get a group of kids together to talk about what happens and WHY they think the author created this story. What might she have wanted readers to consider? Haddix fans should not miss this one. And science fiction/mystery fans should give this a try as well.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter

REVIEW: Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter

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

In a life full of embarrassing mishaps and disasters, the latest – she burned down her apartment building while burning love letters from her ex – has left Olivia living with her older brother and his gorgeous yet annoying roommate. She literally has only the clothes on her back after the fire. She needs a job; she needs a break.

The one bright spot in the whole thing is a misdialed text that turns into a funny, flirty, banter-filled relationship with a stranger. But when the “stranger” discovers Olivia’s identity, he knows it can’t go any farther. Olivia is super off-limits. No matter how much he is captivated by her.

Review

This was so fun! The story is, of course, familiar – You’ve Got Mail, Shop Around the Corner. And it’s familiar because it works. And while a familiar plot could feel done or over-done, the execution here is great. The characters are endearing and funny, with great chemistry! I cared about this relationship from the start and was rooting for it until the end. The secondary characters were fun as well. I especially enjoyed the sibling relationships. The various parents were the worst, but they were relegated to something for the characters to push against, so we only had them in thankfully small doses.

If you love romantic comedies that make you literally laugh out loud, and you are intrigued by the set up here, be sure to pick this one up! I loved both the story and the characters in this one. Such a fun read! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Map of Flames by Lisa McMann

REVIEW: The Map of Flames by Lisa McMann

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Louis was the only “parent” the kids had known for years. While he was Brix and Birdie’s biological father, he’d filled the role for Tenner, Seven, and Cabot too when their parents had not returned.

Three of the superpowered adults had left the island first, in search of supplies. When no one heard from them, four more left as well. And now Louis is dead, leaving the five kids alone.

Birdie’s father left her a map and told her to find her mother. Her ability to talk to animals would be an asset in the journey. But some of the kids don’t want to leave the only home they’ve ever known – and risk anyone back in Estero City discovering they have powers. But Birdie can’t resist the pull of finding out what happened to their missing parents. They all want to know why they’ve been left alone, forgotten, all this time.

Review

I was captivated by the start of this one, but after a few chapters of the kids alone on the island, the book started to drag. I think this is something tricky about first books in a new fantasy series. There’s a lot of world-building and character introduction to do, and it can feel slow.

Section 2 of the book picks up with some danger situations. And section 3 was great. I was all in by the end. There are some nice twists and tons of unanswered questions to carry readers to book 2 in the Forgotten Five series – The Invisible Spy (November 2022).

Fans of fantasy stories like McMann’s other series – The Unwanteds, Going Wild, etc. – will find a lot to connect to. And I’d encourage readers to push through section 1 if they feel things are starting to slow down. It’s worth it to stick with the story. The ending is easily a 4 or 4.5 star adventure. (Grief and loss)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good +

REVIEW: Under Lock and Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian

REVIEW: Under Lock and Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian

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

After a disastrous show that could have killed her, Tempest Raj has moved home to lick her wounds and look for a fresh start. But instead of a respite, she’s found the family business struggling, a musical ghost,  and a dead body.

Between Tempest’s experience as a stage magician and her family’s years of building secret rooms and hidden staircases for clients, she’s certain she can uncover the solution to her real life locked room mystery. But even as she sleuths, she has to wonder if she was the intended victim all along.

Review

This was incredible! I have had such a reading slump lately that I was starting to wonder if I’d ever click with a book again. This was perfect for me right from the beginning.

I loved all of the elements here – the magicians, the family construction business of installing secret rooms, Tempest and her core group of friends and family. Every bit of it was delightful. I was never bored and never tempted to skim ahead or stop reading – a real struggle of late.

There are layers of mysteries here, so the sleuthing as well as the solutions were so satisfying. I am all in on this series! Do not miss this launch of the Secret Staircase Mystery series!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: What Is the Story of Captain Kirk? by M. D. Payne

REVIEW: What Is the Story of Captain Kirk? by M. D. Payne

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

This book tells the dual story of the creation of Star Trek, including the Original Series (TOS) show and movies, as well as telling the life story of main character, James T. Kirk.

This is a fun race through the highlights of a franchise with five decades of history. The book includes references to

  • the first pilot with Captain Pike
  • the movie plots of the 6 movies starring the original cast
  • descriptions of those main characters
  • a mention of the Animated Series
  • the series which followed TOS
  • the Kelvin timeline
  • some of the alien species.

As a Trek fan, this was a fun glimpse at a 50+ year phenomena. The focus stays on Kirk, so the famous Trek lore about Lucille Ball and MLK Jr. doesn’t get a mention.

There should be spoiler alerts throughout the book as the movie summaries especially are pretty revealing at times. I also felt like the publisher missed a HUGE opportunity by not including episode titles, even in footnotes or end notes, for any readers who wanted to dig deeper on something the book referenced.

Overall, this is a fun, high level look at James Kirk and the original Trek series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: The Amber Crown by Jacey Bedford

REVIEW: The Amber Crown by Jacey Bedford

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

The king is dead. Poison. And his relative has taken the throne and the crown.

Valdas is a king’s guard, on the run, looking for the truth. He’s the scapegoat for the new king, just like his men were.
Mirza is a witch and healer trying to take her place in her roving band.
And Lind? Lind is the king’s assassin.

But when Valdas is almost killed and Mirza must use her gifts to bring him back from near death, the two encounter the ghost of the murdered king. And he binds them to the quest for the truth.

Review

The writing here is enjoyable, and the characters and their situations were engaging. But the story was slow and drawn out for me. For example, the encounter with the king’s ghost didn’t happen for a quarter of the book. And while I usually don’t mind stories where you know the different characters are moving toward one another eventually, I was missing a driving story that pushed me forward to get to that place. The pace made the book too easy to set down and not pick up for awhile. And in the end, I didn’t finish it.

I think fans of longer, more intricate fantasy will find a lot here to enjoy. I did like several of the characters, and I found their situations interesting. The world building is well done, too. But I seem to be in a reading space where I need the author to get to the point. I need fast paced stories that grab me from page one rather than slow builds. There’s nothing wrong with a slow build for a story, but it’s not a great fit for me right now. (Language, sex, violence/gore, reference to sexual assault of a minor)

Rating: ♥♥♥* – did not finish

*♥♥♥ = Solid/fine