Category: Reviews

REVIEW: Draw Down the Moon by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

REVIEW: Draw Down the Moon by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Lee and Wren have been best friends since 8th grade. Prank partners. Ride or die – even after Lee moved across the country when his mom got a new job. It doesn’t matter that he’s Moonstruck, and she’s a Mundane without any magick. He’s her person. Period.

Lee is off to Moon Isle for school where Wren just can’t go. She’s been trying to figure out her next steps while his have been laid out for him his whole life. They won’t be able to talk to one another at all while he’s away. But at midnight on Wren’s 18th birthday, everything changes. She’s literally Moonstruck.

While mysterious, this development ensures that Wren gets to go to Moon Isle with Lee and her other Moonstruck friend, Sam. But the mysteries don’t stop once Wren gets there. While she questions whether she’ll ever feel like she belongs – and her feelings for Lee – Wren starts getting odd, cryptic messages. Those lead her to more questions, especially about what really happened to Lee’s older sister when she was at Moon Isle.

Review

Arrgh! I don’t love cliffhangers, especially at the end of a captivating book. And this was captivating from start to finish.

I really enjoyed this – I was drawn in by the magical system here, and I enjoyed the magical school setting. This book gives readers the barest bits of information and clues to draw you from chapter to chapter. And then that cliffhanger?! Really?! I literally shouted “No!” at the end.

I’m eager to read the sequel when it comes out so I can see all of the pieces put together. My only hesitation is that I did not love the romantic sub-plot. The female and non-binary characters in this are fantastic! But I didn’t love Lee at all. I am hoping that I get a better sense of him in book 2.

Fantasy fans and fans of the authors should definitely check this out. The second book of this duology is scheduled to release in the spring of 2025. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great! Might re-read

 

REVIEW: Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

REVIEW: Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When Viv (Legends & Lattes) is injured fighting the necromancer Varine, her mercenary group moves on without her to hunt Varine while Viv stays in Murk to heal.

Viv is desperate to get back to “fighting strength” to rejoin the hunt, but pushing herself only makes things worse. So she slowly finds ways to make herself useful in Murk while she heals. But while Viv is making friends and helping at a local down-and-almost-out bookstore, Varine is still at large. And she might not be as far away as Viv thinks she is.

Review

Another fun “cozy fantasy” from Travis Baldree, this prequel to Legends & Lattes gives us a look at a younger Viv, earlier in her fighting career. Once again, the bulk of the pages were devoted to Viv and her new community and friends. And I loved it! The community has a different feel than the one in L&L, but both are great. There’s a lot of book-love in this story, and I thoroughly enjoyed that. And there’s a lovely book-related tie-in to L&L in the epilogue that I enjoyed.

I think I clicked with Viv’s journey and community a little more in L&L than I did here. This made me want to re-read the first book (publication-wise) to see how Viv grows and changes between this prequel and that book.

Fans of book 1 should absolutely pick this up. I think newcomers could start here without issue, but I liked reading these in publication order instead. I feel like L&L has the stronger set up for the character. I even tabbed this while I was reading it, which is an experience I am liking more and more. It helps me stay more connected to what I am reading and to think about how threads weave through a book. (Language, LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Enneagram for Teens by Ainsley Britain

REVIEW: The Enneagram for Teens by Ainsley Britain

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary and Review

This Enneagram book for teens lays out a great introduction of the personality system in an approachable way. The author comes from the Your Enneagram Coach approach to the Enneagram, and this includes religious/faith components.

The type chapters include two narrative examples for the number along with the usual details like core fear, wounding message, core desire, stress/security, etc.. The sections on career and faith were among my favorite parts – I thought the approach to these areas was great.

The writing style and voice here is good. This is a solid introduction for teens who keep hearing about this Enneagram thing and want to know what it’s about in a simple, approachable way. The chapter on my type felt spot on. I was disappointed that the author indicates that an Enneagram “test” could be helpful to readers. My bias is that tests are more often wrong than right. I think that’s even more complicated for teens whose identity and self-reflection is still in development.

I would be comfortable handing this to a teen who wants to start reading about the Enneagram. But I would follow it up with either podcasts by Enneagram-masters or other books rather than suggest teens try a test. I would also caution teens that their self-perception is still in development, so they might hold their ideas of their type loosely while they continue to mature.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great!

 

REVIEW: The Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score

REVIEW: The Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Riley is not quite “living the dream.” She’s divorced, broke, and renting a room at a house full of octogenarians. Her job is a regular disappointment. And she has can’t-be-ignored messages and premonitions from the dead.

All of that is bad enough. But when a premonition about her neighbor’s murder comes true, the police think Riley could be the killer.

One person on Riley’s side, though, is the gorgeous – and annoying – PI who had been trying to find Riley’s neighbor before he died. Now Riley and Nick are something of a team, pretending to be engaged and trying to find – and arrest – a killer. But the scorching, flirty thing between them is only going to complicate an already ridiculous situation.

Review

Fantastic!! It took me forever to finish this because I was only reading a chapter or two at night before bed, but I was always looking forward to reading a few more chapters. This is quirky in all of my favorite ways – a funny combo mystery/romance with a psychic/paranormal twist. There are fun, eccentric characters who are interesting and funny, but not obnoxious. The mystery is rich and meaty, and it kept me flipping pages night after night. The two main characters are perfect – they have great chemistry and respect one another’s abilities about the case. Their banter is hilarious! I was rooting for them all the way through. I loved the writing in this so much I ended up tabbing this book as I read.

The premise was so great that I took the risk and bought books 1 and 2 at the same time. And when it was clear that these characters and the author’s storytelling were going to be perfect for me, I bought book 3 and pre-ordered book 4 so I could zoom through the whole series as it stands now. I am saving books 2 and 3 for summer vacation because the romance/mystery/humor combo is exactly the vacation vibe I want. I’m looking forward to tabbing the entire series as I cackle through Riley’s next adventures. Highly recommend! (Language, sex, paranormal elements like tarot readings, spirit guides, clairvoyance, etc..)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Stan Lee by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

REVIEW: Stan Lee by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary and Review

This is a kid-friendly biography of comics-creator Stan Lee. I adored the colorful artwork in this book! The story is kid-friendly with a focus on reading and storytelling, perseverance, and familiar characters from comics, television, and movies.

While Marvel and the MCU isn’t quite at the height it was several years ago, the staying power of the characters Stan Lee created make his story one that endures whether Marvel is churning out blockbusters multiple times a year or fans are returning to “old” favorites.

This would be great for collections of the Little People Big Dreams series as well as other picture book biography collections – and of course for all Marvel/Stan Lee fans.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great!

REVIEW: Quiet Violet Finds Her Voice by Gabrielle Nidus

REVIEW: Quiet Violet Finds Her Voice by Gabrielle Nidus

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

While Violet is quiet in general, the one place she’s not is in the kitchen. In the kitchen she’s skilled, competent, and confident.

When her class at school tries some cooking, Violet struggles to be heard. Her classmates forget she’s there, and her small voice gets lost in the chaos. But when her chance to make an impression on the star of her favorite cooking show is in jeopardy because of her peers’ mistakes, Violet finds her voice.

Review

This is a cute story about quiet voices – and quiet kids – being seen and valued. The story includes some backmatter to help readers learn to value quiet voices. I really liked that the approach is less about “fixing” or “changing,” and instead about accepting. This includes questions for kids as well as suggestions for adults.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: The Last to Pie by Misha Popp

REVIEW: The Last to Pie by Misha Popp

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When it comes to murder pies, Daisy has a system. The requester identifies themselves in very specific ways. So when an unusual request comes through, she can’t shake the feeling that it could be a trap. But she also knows the statistics – police officers are 40% more likely to commit domestic violence than the average person.  If the requester is legit, she doesn’t have a lot of options for help. So Daisy eventually reaches out again to test the request a bit more.

But the person goes silent before Daisy can decide if she’s going to take the job. Daisy does some investigating, but she can’t find the woman. Her boyfriend acts like she never even existed. Daisy feels guilty for having waited, and responsible if something has happened to the woman. So she goes all in on her own investigation. She has to know what happened before she can decide if the guy’s murder pie needs to be delivered or not.

Review

“What I do is terrible, but it’s also necessary.”

This is Daisy’s thinking about the Pies Before Guys part of her business.  Her magic allows her to provide a pie that will convince an abuser to either turn from his ways, or keel over as the only way he will “stop.” I have loved this dark, unique, thought-provoking series from book one,  but this new story is darker and more stressful than the first two books. The villain is every awful story you’ve ever read about sadistic, narcissistic individuals becoming police officers to wield that power so they can get away with anything. There were times I had to put the book down and take a break from the darkness of it all.

And because the villain is so bad AND he’s a cop, Daisy is in all sorts of new layers of danger. And that puts her friends and her future in jeopardy – not to mention the risks for the person or people she’s trying to help.

All of the ethical questions around “murder pies” and Daisy’s magic are amped up here too. What is the “right” thing to do when faced with an enemy with a badge and cohorts who also misuse their positions and power?

Fans of the series as well as readers who enjoy a “morally grey” character should give this series a look – although I do recommend reading the books in order. The “mystery” here is a smaller part of the story – what happened to the missing woman, how will Daisy figure it out –  but I enjoyed watching Daisy and her friends work through the mystery – and the larger pie-related ethical questions. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great!

REVIEW: Welcome to the Woofmore by Donna Gephart and Lori Haskins Houran

REVIEW: Welcome to the Woofmore by Donna Gephart and Lori Haskins Houran

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Rufus works for Ms. Coco at the Woofmore. And this week they have a special VIP (Very Important Pooch) visiting:  movie star Greta Garbark!

Greta is looking for some peace and quiet. But the puparazzi have tracked her to the Woofmore. Thankfully, Rufus has a great idea to help Greta get her peace and quiet. And in return she helps the Woofmore with a big problem that could ruin the hotel.

Review

This is a cute early chapter book with fun, colorful illustrations. There are plenty of dog puns across the five chapters for readers to enjoy. Kids will get a kick out of Rufus who toots when he gets excited or nervous. The story is complete and satisfying while being simple for new readers to enjoy. Watch this fall for my review of book 2 in the series, The Woofmore Is Not Haunted.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Free Period by Ali Terese

REVIEW: Free Period by Ali Terese

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Best friends Helen and Gracie are pranksters. And their latest stunt at the end of 8th grade has pushed their principal – and their families – to the limit. For punishment, in addition to things like detention, the girls are sentenced to “care” – to find something they can accomplish for the benefit of the school.

The girls agree to join a student-run community action group at school, hoping they can skate by on their “punishment” by using things the club has already done. The leader’s next plan to crusade for period products doesn’t sound like their kind of thing. But when Helen has a bleed-through incident at school, the girls are 100% on board.

But their enthusiasm might not be enough. Both of the girls’ parents are questioning if they are a good influence on each other and if maybe the girls should go to different schools in the future. Is there any way their period project can also save their future as friends?

Review

These girls are a lot! I get why their parents question the wisdom of letting them stay friends. But once you move past their chaotic – and borderline criminal – choices, their friendship is glorious. They truly see and understand – and CELEBRATE – each other. It’s so beautiful.

The friendship between Helen and Grace isn’t the only excellent thing in this book. It’s laugh-out-loud funny. And I adored the boys who made an effort to understand the cause and be part of the campaign for period products. There are also tons of stories told by a variety of characters about the realities of being a person who menstruates.

I think there are so many ways kids will enjoy this book. There’s a lot to love for readers who like prank stories, girl-power stories, friendship stories, and campaigns for justice. Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday

REVIEW: Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Archie, Simon, and Effie are finally off on their annual 2-week Earls Trip when their path crosses that of an old family friend of Archie’s. The Morgans were family friends long ago, but Archie can’t say no to Sir Albert’s request for help.

The Morgan daughters – Clementine and Olive – have gone missing. Olive has run off with Clementine’s fiancé, and Clementine has gone after them. Archie feels compelled to help, and Simon and Effie insist on accompanying him, even though it throws off their annual trip.

Once the ladies are “rescued” and the cad fiancé is sent off with threats of bodily harm, the earls continue on to their getaway “castle,” Olive and Clementine in tow. As long as the ladies keep to themselves, the gentlemen can keep their much-needed escape, and no one will accuse anyone of improper behavior.

Review

This book was both enjoyable and a struggle for me. I was reading it at a time when I felt pressured to “read faster.” And this felt super long without a necessarily “driving” plot. I kept telling myself I would just skim to the end in order to finish. But every time I sat down to read, I got caught up in the conversations and the relationships of the core five characters. I couldn’t actually make myself skim anything.

So the book is great! The writing is enjoyable, and the characters are terrific. But it’s not a particularly fast paced or action packed story.  I needed to be on a beach or some other vacation setting where I felt I had all the time in the world to just let the story unfold without pressure.

If you love character-driven love stories with a found-family sort of cast, I can’t recommend this enough. I loved the three gentlemen and their relationship almost immediately. I don’t often get to enjoy stories with this sort of male friend group (Think Bromance with more gentlemanly esteem and less sass – although there’s still some sass, but appropriate for the time period. The Ted Lasso quote at the beginning also calls to mind the Diamond Dogs). And I grew to love the sisters as they reconnected across the novel. The romance is lovely – one of those “caught by surprise by love” sorts that I found satisfying. But it’s the brotherly/sisterly relationships that really shine here.

Do yourself a favor and let this one unfold on its own timetable. Enjoy the ride. While the book is long, the story is worth savoring. I will absolutely be checking out the sequel, Manic Pixie Dream Earl, in 2025! (Sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great!