Category: Reviews

REVIEW: Fearless by Mandy Gonzalez

REVIEW: Fearless by Mandy Gonzalez

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Monica Garcia and her abuelita head to New York when Monica is cast as an understudy for a Broadway musical called Our Time showing at the Ethel Merman Theater. On their way to the hotel after their flight, they stop by the theater to take a peek only to see an ambulance leaving. Monica is no longer an understudy – now, she’s a lead.

And that’s because something is going on at the Ethel Merman Theater. Accidents. Injuries. Actors and crew scared off the production. This is Monica’s big break, but she’s starting to wonder if the show will even happen. So she and her castmates start investigating.

Review

Sadly, this didn’t click for me. Monica is a solid protagonist. I enjoyed her relationship with her grandmother a lot. But there’s little character development beyond Monica, even though all four kids starring in the show work on investigating the goings on at the theater. Also, while the story is in third person point of view (POV) and Monica is the POV character, the reader is randomly fed information and details about the other characters that Monica couldn’t know and that aren’t revealed through dialogue. At best, it’s an example of more telling than showing, and when it happened it pulled me out of the flow of the story. I think the book would have been stronger, all the way around, if we had had all four kids as POV characters. It would have given more character development and would have more naturally conveyed these tidbits of backstory.

I loved the reveal of what caused the theater’s curse and the connections Monica makes to that story by the end. But I wanted more from that part of the book. I wanted it to carry more of the weight. We had far more information on the musical the kids are doing than on the mystery, the clues, and the resolution.

I think theater fans will enjoy the backstage and insider details of this. (The author is a Broadway performer.) But personally, I would recommend something like Upstaged or Broken Strings over this one for fun, engaging musical performance stories with great characters. I’m not sure mystery fans will be satisfied with this one, either. The potential is there, but there are some different directions this might have gone to make it stronger, in my opinion. (Paranormal activity/curses)

Rating: ♥♥½*

*♥♥½ = Mostly solid to solid, some issues but okay overall

REVIEW: Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price

REVIEW: Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Lizzie Bennet longs to become a barrister and study the law and argue cases. But as a young woman – with a mother who thinks only of seeing her daughters married – that is never going to happen. But she holds out hope that her father will hire her to be a solicitor and investigator. He’ll have to be convinced, though, so Lizzie decides she will solve (another) case to prove her ability.

There’s been a murder and an arrest. Mr. Bingley is accused of killing his brother-in-law. Lizzie hopes to convince him to hire her father’s firm to represent him. (They could use the business!) And Bingley is impressed by Lizzie. But he already has help from his good friend, Mr. Darcy. Darcy is arrogant, condescending, and dismissive of Lizzie from the start.

Darcy’s plan seems to be to present Bingley as “too good” of a person to be a murderer. But Lizzie knows the only way to truly protect Bingley is to find the real killer. And she feels she is just the person to do that.

Review

Delightful!!

I have to confess: I’ve never read – or watched – Pride and Prejudice. I’ve never been able to make myself care enough to push through the reading. I love the Sense and Sensibility movie, but I could not get into that book, either. Austen just doesn’t click for me. But I do enjoy retellings in general, as well as mysteries, so I decided to give this a try. And I thoroughly enjoyed it!

There are TONS of nods to the original plot (which I read online) with regard to the characters and relationships, but also lots of twists to keep fans engaged. But you don’t have to have read Pride and Prejudice to enjoy this. The author takes some liberties with the timeline (which she explains in an engaging author’s note), but it didn’t bother me in the least. I am not a purist about such things.

The mystery was fantastically twisty. I figured out part but not all of it before the end, which I enjoyed. I like both solving the puzzles and being surprised by them. And I can’t wait to read more mysteries in this series. Book 2 – Sense and Second-Degree Murder – will release in 2022 and book 3 – Manslaughter Park – will release in 2023. Mystery fans and Austen fans should be sure to pick this one up asap!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: To Love and to Loathe by Martha Waters

BONUS REVIEW: To Love and to Loathe by Martha Waters

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

The Marquess of Willingham had always made her heart race a little. Even when she was newly debuted and on the hunt for a husband of means, the Marquess was a tempting distraction. But Diana knew the only way she’d have any sort of future would be by marrying well. While handsome and charming, Jeremy had a reputation as something of a womanizer. And he had no money.

As a second son, Jeremy had been happy with his life of leisure – and pleasure. But the death of his older brother left him holding the family responsibilities – and debts. On a whim, one night five years ago, he had teased at marriage with Diana, and she shut him down, hard. Those debts were a dealbreaker for a woman hoping to secure a good match.

But now Diana is a wealthy widow. And Jeremy is still single. The two can rile one another up like no other. In their squabbling, Diana bets Jeremy that he will be wed within a year – something he protests vehemently. But it gets him thinking that Diana could help him with a bit of a “problem.” His last mistress critiqued his skills in the bedroom, and he needs someone who will be brutally honest with him to give him some feedback. The arrangement will help Diana out, too. She doesn’t want to marry again, enjoying her freedom. But she would like some romantic company, and an affair with Jeremy would signal to the ton that she was interested in such relationships. What could go wrong with such a proposition where both parties should come out winners?

Review

This was fun! I had skipped the first book in this series because I didn’t care for the couple or the premise. It just wasn’t a good fit for me. But the sassy, snarky couple at the center of this story was a much better fit. Their story of finding love was delightful. And I could see the author setting up some possible sequels with other couples from the social circle, and I would definitely pick those up.

As tropes go, this is enemies-to-lovers in a way. But the sass of the characters always has a flirty undertone, so I don’t think they were ever really “enemies.” But they had some baggage to work through before they could see each other clearly. The bedroom skills story thread was thankfully not as awkward as I feared it might be. It really was a smaller bit of the story than the summary led me to expect. I enjoyed watching Jeremy find himself again through Diana’s encouragement. He needed someone to see him and speak truth to him that he would hear. It was supremely satisfying.

Historical romance fans, romcom fans, and fans of the first book, To Have and to Hoax, should be sure to check this one out. (Language, sex, LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Dating Plan by Sara Desai

REVIEW: The Dating Plan by Sara Desai

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

Ten years ago, Liam destroyed Daisy’s fragile teenage heart when he stood her up for the prom and disappeared from her life. Good riddance!

But now he’s back. Just when her family is pressuring her with yet another fix up. And her ex is still hooking up with her ex-boss. Introducting Liam as her fiancé, in the heat of the moment, was… temporary insanity.

If Liam wants the chance to inherit the business that has been in his family for generations, he has two months to get married. If not, his brother will raze it to the ground. Even though Daisy hates him, maybe she’d be willing to take this pretend engagement to the next level.

Liam and Daisy are both getting something out of this fake relationship. Thanks to their upbringing, each of them has significant relationship baggage that keeps them from making a real commitment to anyone. And they both are perfectly fine keeping this fake relationship purely business. But what happens when their feelings about each other become all too real?

Review

This was fun! I thoroughly enjoyed the main characters, both alone and together. Their work, their families, and their history were fascinating. And I was absolutely invested in seeing how they pulled things off. But I would have liked a little more time spent on dealing with the last “secret” Liam was keeping. (It was pretty obvious in the reading, but I expected it to have a bigger punch in the reveal.) After waiting so long for it to be revealed, I wanted a meatier scene or response for it. The ending, though, was supremely satisfying.

This is the first book I have read by the author even though this is the second book in the series. I don’t feel like I was missing anything having not read the first book. I do have book 3, The Singles Table, on my wish list though. It sounds fantastic!

This was fun and funny and sexy with a happy ending – everything a reader could want from a romcom. I love fake relationship stories, and this is a great example of the trope. Don’t miss this one! (Language, sex TW: domestic violence, child abuse/neglect, abandonment)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Cinders and Sparks: Magic at Midnight by Lindsey Kelk

REVIEW: Cinders and Sparks: Magic at Midnight by Lindsey Kelk

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

It all started with a sink of dishes that washed themselves.

It was a typical day for Cinders – her haughty step-mother criticizing her, her step-sisters acting like they are better than her, and her father refusing to take her to the castle where he works.

Then the dishes washed themselves. Sparks the dog started talking. And Cinders met her fairy godmother, Brian.

It turns out that Cinders has magic. And it couldn’t have come at a better time. The royal family is about to host a ball.

Review

This is a cute kick off to the Cinders & Sparks series. The opening follows the Cinderella story with a few notable wrinkles, including Cinders’ magic. But from there Cinders is launched on an adventure to find out who and what she is and how that will impact her kingdom and her new friend, the prince.

There’s a hint of a mash up here – the kingdom has electronics and social media and DMs. But otherwise it’s a typical fantasy kingdom with magic, witches, fairies, and creatures. There are some mentions of other fairy tale characters – Hansel and Gretel, Belle, Jack and Jill, Jack (from the beanstalk) – that I think readers will enjoy. This is a young-feeling middle grade story which I believe will also be a good fit for chapter book readers who are ready for longer stories. Fractured fairy tale fans should check this one out!

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: The Flipside of Perfect by Liz Reinhardt

REVIEW: The Flipside of Perfect by Liz Reinhardt

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Della heads home to Michigan after her summer with her dad and older siblings in Florida, she feels torn. It was a hard summer after the death of Nan Sunny. And now Dell is about to start high school alone, with her older siblings in Florida and her younger sisters still at Trinity. But Dell’s mother misunderstands the struggle and suggests she stop going to Florida. So Dell decides she just has to be extra awesome at compartmentalizing her life. In Michigan, she’s AJ, the uber-responsible daughter, perfect sister, and top notch student leader. In the summers, she can relax and be Della, the baby of the family who is free to cut loose.

Three years later, AJ has become a pro at her double life. But she doesn’t love how it feels. As she approaches her senior year of high school, the pressure is mounting. Her parents in Michigan are pushing internships and extracurriculars that threaten her time in Florida. Her father’s business in Florida is struggling, and Della keeps butting heads with his teen employee. But as life starts to crumble for one of Della’s younger sisters and she is sent to Florida, Della’s two worlds are about to collide.

Review

This had a slow, slow start for me. It made the book feel twice as long as it really was. I was maybe 1/3 or more into it before things started to click. I needed AJ to get to a place where she was honestly appraising her dual life – and the reasons for it – while also digging into what it was costing her. Once that happened, I was hooked. And once her younger sister arrived in Florida and pushed AJ’s self-evaluation that much deeper, I couldn’t put the book down.

I’m so glad I didn’t give up on this early on. I ended up adoring this book. The characters are a delight – even the one who annoyed me early on. There are fantastic messages woven in about emotional health and maturity, communication, therapy, and identity. The core pieces about family and siblings are lovely. Really, there are almost too many terrific pieces to list them all – romance, humor, self-discovery. So satisfying in the end.

Pick this one up! If it feels slow at first, stick with it. This was so good, I would read it again! (Language, LGBTQ+, sexual references, underage drinking, teen pregnancy)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: Duchess If You Dare by Anabelle Bryant

BONUS REVIEW: Duchess If You Dare by Anabelle Bryant

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.]

Summary

Scarlett Wynn and the rest of the Maidens of Mayhem seek to right wrongs and protect the less fortunate. When Scarlett’s seamstress goes missing, and the search leads to a brothel, Scarlett becomes worried for the young woman.

Ambrose Cross, the Duke of Aylesford, is beside himself over his brother’s irresponsibility. In fact, right after a big speech and cutting off his brother’s funds, Ambrose is summoned to a brothel to bail his brother out of trouble once again.

Soon, Ambrose and Scarlett are both looking for the missing seamstress. Their stations allow them access to different areas of town for sleuthing. But those differences also cause a lot of complication as the two become closer and start to explore the draw they feel toward one another.

Review

This is a good romance/mystery centered around a dark topic – prostitution and the sex trade. This is the first title in a new series – the Maidens of Mayhem. And while we meet the other women, we don’t get a good feel for them in this book. I assume the other women will star in their own future stories. (This has a similar set up to the Wallflowers of West End, although that series, or at least Capturing the Earl, which is the one book I have read so far, has a much lighter tone than this story. )

I appreciated the mystery in this book. The author put together a great set up where the two main characters are at odds with one another while searching for answers on what will amount to the same case. It’s quite clever. But the subject matter is dark and I found it disturbing. It made it difficult to enjoy the rest of the story. The ending for the couple was a happy one, but the heinous crimes of the book were not really resolved in a satisfying way for me.

Historical fiction fans who enjoy stories like this where women defy conventions in order to be themselves and right wrongs and such should check out this series. (Sex, TW: Assault, sex trade)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Good/solid/fine

REVIEW: Animal Instinct by David Rosenfelt

REVIEW: Animal Instinct 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

When Corey Douglas was a cop, one somewhat random case always bothered him. He didn’t usually work domestic violence cases, but he answered this call about a neighbor hearing an escalating fight. The alleged victim refused to press charges, saying she fell. Her boyfriend was far too smug to be innocent. But Corey was powerless to do much more than file the report.

Now, Corey and his former K-9 partner, Simon, are PIs along with a couple other investigators, including Andy Carpenter’s wife, Laurie Collins. When the alleged domestic violence victim is murdered in what looks like a drive by, Corey is convinced the boyfriend struck again. The K-Team agrees to help Corey look into the case.

What seemed simple at first becomes more convoluted than any member of the K-Team could have predicted. And Corey has the most to lose if they can’t puzzle out the truth.

Review

This was excellent! Come for the fantastically plotted mystery, stay for the terrific cast of characters and the sassy tone of the writing. Rosenfelt is in fine form with the second K-Team book. All of my favorite characters are part of the case including Andy Carpenter, the defense attorney from Rosenfelt’s long-running series.

The mystery in this one is exceptionally twisty. I had no clue what was going on, but I was happy to just be along for the ride. The resolution was supremely satisfying!

I don’t know that readers have to read the K-Team books in order or to have read the Andy Carpenter books first. The case here stands solidly on its own. But I think readers will enjoy the characters enough to want to go back and fill in the gaps if they start reading here. David Rosenfelt fans should be sure to pick this one up!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Thornwood by Leah Cypess

REVIEW: Thornwood by Leah Cypess

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

If you went by the standard fairy tales, you might think Sleeping Beauty was an only child. After all, she’s the focus of the story and all you hear about. But Rosalin – Sleeping Beauty – has a younger sister, Briony.

On Rosalin’s 16th birthday, she’s supposed to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and sleep for 100 years along with the rest of the castle. And Briony remembers the start of that day. But when she wakes up in the tower with a spinning wheel and a fairy, she has no memory of the birthday or what happened to Rosalin or the kingdom.

While the prince is there when Briony wakes up, and he wakes Rosalin with a kiss, the Thornwood surrounding the castle is as robust as ever, even trying to grab Briony and pull her in. But when she starts to work on a plan to get out of the castle, Briony discovers that nothing is what she expected – not the curse or the castle or the prince.

Review

This was so fun! I’ve read other “fractured” or re-imagined fairy tales (I love them!), and this one felt fresh and had some nice twists to it.

I liked Briony and her friend Edwin. I found the repeated dismissals of Briony by her family and others in the castle to be frustrating. It fits with the kids fiction emphasis on protagonists who save themselves, which I love. But this felt cruel, and I didn’t like it for Briony.

The reaction of the other folks in the castle to their plight was a clever piece of this story. I don’t want to give anything away, but it was probably my favorite feature. It’s a great example of what makes this story feel fresh and different.

Fans of The Wide Awake Princess series, The Hamster Princess series, The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, and other fractured fairy tales should not miss this one! This is the first book in a new series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris

REVIEW: The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Alex can see the future when he touches an object. The longer he holds it, the farther forward he can see. He’s learned to shut most of his visions down immediately. (He really doesn’t need to see himself pick up a napkin in his mind and throw it away just before he throws it away in real life.) He’s also learned that he tends to cause more trouble when he tries to fix things or stop things from happening. The thing he tries to fix always happens anyway.

The visions started at the hospital after Alex’s parents died. They are a constant companion, and a constant burden. The anxiety he lives with, braced for the incoming images all the time, is devastating.

But then he has the vision about his younger brother, Isaiah.

Review

Wow. Reading this book over several hours one evening felt like I took a journey. For a long time, the journey was full of anxiety and fear. Then, Alex was able to share his burden with one person. And sharing the load and being seen and understood lessened the weight of it for Alex – and for me. But it was still heavy.

But there was a moment, in the pain and strain of Alex’s journey, where it all clicked. The whole journey, all of time and space of this story came together. It was like someone flipped a switch. Suddenly, I “got” it at a whole new level. I understood the author’s message and her point in a way I just didn’t get until that precise moment. And it is something that has stuck with me since I finished the book. (Be sure to read the author’s note/acknowledgements, too. It’s the perfect closing after finishing the story. You can also read my review of the author’s book. Slay, here. I loved it!)

This was a hard story to love early on. While I adored Alex and Isaiah from the start, and I was engaged with their story, the angst and anxiety and burden of Alex’s visions are tremendous. But there’s a reason, a purpose to it that is not to be missed. The book touches on many issues – racism, gun violence, grief and loss, slavery – but in a way that felt new and fresh for me. And I think the story will stick with readers in ways a more straightforward story might have missed. I highly recommend this one. It would be a fascinating book to discuss with other readers! This book releases NEXT WEEK, April 6th. (Language, TW: anxiety, racism, grief and loss, gun violence)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.