Reviews, Etc.

REVIEW: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

REVIEW: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Evangeline desperately needs a new job. Family tragedy and then her dad’s illness have left her to bear the responsibility of providing for her family and keeping them alive.

Is a job as the personal assistant to the Villain an ideal solution? No, but it’s better than her last job which ended badly. With time, maybe she’ll get used to the severed heads and tortured screams of the Villain’s enemies.

When Evie discovers someone is sabotaging the Villain – a mole in their midst – she’s determined to find the traitor. Her boss may be a notorious Villain, but she’s become rather fond of him.

Review

I. Loved. This!!! Everything about it – the characters! The story! The ending! The cliffhanger! Immediately after finishing I wanted to start over. When I see it in the bookstore, I want to hug it. This is the perfect sort of book for me – something I am always on the hunt for. This could be my favorite book of 2023 – the quirkiness of it is right up my alley.

This is everything I love in a story – a great protagonist, a swoony love interest, a mystery to solve, fantasy elements, and some great twists. This is the full package. I can’t wait to read it again.

Fans of romantic fantasy should absolutely pick this up. Fans of quirky stories like The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels and series like Pies Before Guys should try this too. Highly recommend! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BOOK NEWS: November 7, 2023

BOOK NEWS: November 7, 2023

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy November! Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids

The Big Cheese – Book 7 in the Food Group series. The Big Cheese is used to always coming out on top – and bragging to everyone about his wins. But what happens when someone else takes first place?
Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year – Lily’s teacher helps her deal with her worries when she moves to a new town. I have already preordered this one!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

All Is Found – A collection of original Frozen stories.
Duel (Graphic Novel) – Battling sisters face off in a duel when they struggle with being at middle school together. This looks great!
Escape from Mr Lemoncello’s Library (Graphic Novel) – The first Mr. Lemoncello book gets the graphic novel treatment – and it is not to be missed! I’ll be posting a review soon, but this one is already on my 2023 Holiday Hint List which released last week.
Just Lizzie (Older Middle Grade – LGBTQ+) – A class on asexual reproduction in plants leads a teen to consider questions about her own sexual identity.
Keeper of the Lost Cities (Graphic Novel) – The first book in the series by the same name gets the graphic novel treatment. This is the *first half* of the prose novel – so readers should be aware the story is split into two volumes. This is a series I always meant to try but never got around to. Maybe the GN is the way to dive in.
Check & Mate – Blockbuster romance author Ali Hazelwood ventures into YA this week! A girl who insists she has left chess behind agrees to do one last charity tournament and then wipes the floor with the reigning world champ.
Wish of the Wicked – A cursed fairy godmother uses a girl and a ball as her way to get back at the queen who destroyed her family in this reimagined Cinderella. Yes, please!
With or Without You – A new book from Eric Smith. Two teens from rival families have played up the rivalry for tourists, never letting on that they are really in love. But then they end up on reality TV.
Wren Martin Ruins It All (LGBTQ+) – An asexual teen who wants to abolish his school’s annual Valentine’s dance instead finds himself in charge of the biggest dance the school has ever seen.

Books for Adults

Bookshops & Bonedust (Trade Paperback) – Sequel to Legends & Lattes. After Viv is injured, she is sent to recuperate in a sleepy beach town where she spends too much time in a quiet bookshop. I’ve had Legends & Lattes on my TBR for ages – can’t wait to dig into it so I can pick this up.
Chaos Terminal (Trade Paperback) – Sequel to the quirky Station Eternity. Mallory may have caught the serial killer that tracked her to the space station before, but murder still seems to follow her, and she still seems to be the only person who can solve the case when a new arrival from Earth is killed.
The Christmas Jigsaw Murders (e-book, November 9) – A puzzler receives a package 6 days before Christmas containing puzzle pieces that together show a murder scene along with a note that says more people will die unless she can find the killer. This sounds AMAZING!
Enchanted Hill (Trade Paperback) – An aspiring PI posing as a maid searches a sprawling estate for evidence for a client. This sounds fascinating.
Fake Famous (Trade Paperback) – A farm girl agrees to step into a pop-star’s life for a week, but the “simple” swap starts to unravel.  I already pre-ordered this one.
The Good Part (Trade Paperback) – A young woman uses a wishing machine to skip ahead to “the good part” of her life.
Iron Flame (Hardcover) – The hotly awaited sequel to Fourth Wing, which is still sitting on my TBR. I have to get caught up – soon! If you have managed to miss the internet buzz about this dragon rider series, be sure to check out both books.
Never Wager with a Wallflower (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Merriwell Sisters series. Youngest sister, Venus, finds herself thawing toward her old nemesis, Galahad, until she discovers he’s been keeping secrets from her. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
A Power Unbound (Hardcover, LGBTQ+) – Book 3 in the Last Binding series about magical secrets and dangerous threats. I have the first two books on my TBR (Are you detecting a theme?), so I am not letting myself get this one until I catch up. So many books, so little time.
The Rom Con (Trade Paperback) – After a break up, a writer decides to use a 50’s article about tips to “hook a husband” as fodder for a satirical column AND a way to skewer a rival writer. Then those wacky tips actually start to work. This sounds fun!
Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank (e-book, short story) – A short story connected to the delightful Finlay Donovan series. See how Vero and Finlay first met. I am ecstatic about this!

REVIEW: Cat on the Run by Aaron Blabey

REVIEW: Cat on the Run by Aaron Blabey

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Three shadowy figures choose one popular cat for their nefarious plans. That cat is Princess Beautiful. She has the most popular cat videos on the internet.

But one distracted moment changes everything. She instantly goes from internet darling to the most universally loathed creature on the planet. In order to find out the truth, Princess Beautiful becomes a cat on the run.

Review

This was fun! Princess is a total diva in all the stereotypically awful ways. Adults – and savvy kids – will recognize the way everyone turns on her as a commentary on our social media culture.

Princess Beautiful’s “crime” includes launching/arming nuclear weapons. I did wonder as I read if the target audience would understand the references to weapons of mass destruction and nuclear war.

I got a kick out of the story here. There’s a ton of action, and the illustrations are great. Kids will pour over those. There’s a great cliffhanger at the end, too, so I will absolutely have to pick up the sequel when it comes out next spring.

Fans of the author’s Bad Guys series along with fans of cat protagonists will want to pick this up. Graphic novel fans should take a look at this series launch as well. I think this will be super popular with kids, so teachers should take a look at this one for your classroom libraries.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: 'Twas the Bite Before Christmas by David Rosenfelt

REVIEW: ‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas 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

At the Tara Foundation Christmas party, one of their clients, Derek Moore, is arrested for murder. Derek adopted two dogs from the Tara Foundation – something that gets Andy Carpenter’s legal expertise on Derek’s side. Andy’s also curious because the police call Derek by a completely different name when they arrest him.

Derek was in witness protection because he gave testimony about two gang members for a murder they committed. But now,  one of the gang leaders has been killed – and the evidence is piling up against Derek.

Andy believes Derek is innocent, but proving it could be beyond even his considerable skill and experience.

Review

Another great Christmas-time mystery starring Andy Carpenter. My first ever Andy Carpenter mystery was a Christmas one, and they remain some of my favorites in the whole series.

This was such a satisfying read. I really got concerned that Andy was not going to pull this off – it was a tricky case! All the pieces came together so nicely, though. And in the end I even puzzled out a couple of the reveals on my own. Always a triumphant reading experience! Andy is his usual sassy self here, which I always enjoy. And he gets key help on this case from a surprising source which was a twist I really enjoyed.

I think new readers could start with this story and not have any trouble following the mystery. I don’t know how Andy plays if you don’t already love his sarcasm – but I love it so these are a perfect fit for me. If you enjoy mysteries that are more on the legal side than a cozy (court room drama, police and private investigators, etc.), you should give this series a try. Series fans should of course pick this up to stay current. Book 29, Dog Day Afternoon, will release in the summer of 2024.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

Book Shopping Suggestions: The 2023 Holiday Hint List Is Here

Book Shopping Suggestions: The 2023 Holiday Hint List Is Here

Posted on by Jaymie

The holiday season is upon us!

That’s the rule, right? Once Halloween is over, we can start thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas? This year I am back to my usual early shopping behavior – last year must have been a fluke. And I have already put together my 2023 Holiday Hint list for my readers. If you are looking for some book recommendations for the readers in your life, look no more.

Here is the 2023 Neverending TBR Holiday Shopping Hint List

You can see my past lists here if you are looking for more suggestions. And as in past years, I put together a Padlet so you can see the covers of the books on the list because if you are like me, you absolutely judge books by their covers.

Don’t forget to use the Holiday Hint List to help you add some books to your holiday wish list, too! Happy holidays.

BOOK NEWS: October 31, 2023

BOOK NEWS: October 31, 2023

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy almost-Halloween! Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids

I Am Mister Rogers – The latest in the Ordinary People Change the World series.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Hidden Truths (Older Middle Grade) – Something new from Elly Swartz.  A best friendship is in jeopardy when Eric can’t be sure Dani’s accident isn’t his fault.
The Lotus Flower Champion – Instead of being able to focus on her mother’s final days, a young woman is stranded on an island with strangers as Thai mythology comes to life around them. This one is on my list!
People to Follow – A group of social media influencers are invited to an island for a 3-week reality show “off the grid.” But when none of the crew arrives, and one of the influencers is killed, it becomes obvious that something more menacing is going on. Yes, please!!
The Rosewood Hunt – Four teens are on an unexpected treasure hunt when Lily’s grandmother dies and her fortune goes missing. Fascinating!

Books for Adults

A Dish Best Served Hot (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Vega Family Love Stories series. High school sweethearts reconnect years later when she discovers his family is what has put the LGBTQ+ youth shelter at risk. This series is new to me, but I have both books in my cart right now!
Being Henry: The Fonz… and Beyond (Hardcover) – A memoir.

REVIEW: The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

REVIEW: The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Grayson is drawn to Phoenix to help the younger sisters he has never met. But the line between helping them in their current circumstances and protecting them from the truth gets hard to walk. If necessary, he’d rather have them hate him in order to keep his secrets – for everyone’s sake.

Jameson’s father draws him into a challenge he can’t resist. Make his way into a secret gaming establishment and retrieve what his father lost. Jameson’s never been one to walk away from a challenge – especially if it can connect him to the family he’s never known.

Two of the four Hawthorne brothers might be running personal missions – but they are never alone. Avery, Nash, and Xander are always ready to lend a hand.

Review

This is a continuation of the Inheritance Games series – and readers really need to have have read that whole series for this to make sense. In fact, I wish I had at least re-read Final Gambit for a refresher before diving into this.

The emphasis here is on the brothers rather than Avery (although she does play a part). I have never connected with Jameson in the earlier books, so him telling half the story here really made it hard for me to get into this initially. Grayson’s story was a little easier for me to enjoy.

By the end, though, I was completely in the groove. I loved any time the four brothers were all together. (Xander is my favorite by far – I *need* a Xander-focused story!) The ending of both stories was great, and the next book is set up nicely at the very end. Fans of The Inheritance Games should absolutely pick this up to continue the story of these characters.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey

REVIEW: Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey

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

Laurel never planned on lying. Yes, her life was in total disarray. And she desperately needed a job. But she clearly stated in her interview that she ran social media for Meadow Rose Farm. Her boss made the assumption that it was her farm. But when she could have corrected him, she didn’t.

She *really* needed that job.

And so far it’s worked out. Her twin sister, Holly, and her husband, Darius, do own the farm. So Laurel writes her pieces about what HOLLY does – just in first person.

But now her boss has invited himself to Christmas Eve Eve at the farm. And while Holly is happy to help with the subterfuge for Laurel’s sake, she’s not willing to sacrifice Darius to the cause. So they’ve invited Max Beckett to play Laurel’s husband. Too bad she hates the man.

Review

This absolutely has those Hallmark Christmas movie vibes. And I was here for it! This was so fun to read! I adore fake relationship stories – although the “be my date to all the things so my relatives leave me alone” style usually involves less outright lying than this did. But I loved Laurel and her whole family. And Max was my favorite sort of grump – you know there’s depth there. The “sunshine” just has to slow down and give him a chance.

Yes, the inevitable disaster was as painful as you can imagine. But the resolution was also all I had hoped for. I can’t recommend this highly enough. This should appeal to Hallmark fans, grumpy/sunshine fans, fake relationship fans, fans of the author’s other books, as well as everyday romantic comedy fans. Do not miss this one! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BOOK NEWS: October 24, 2023

BOOK NEWS: October 24, 2023

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

Final Word – A charity spelling bee turns into a hunt for clues through a family chalet for a set of twins. This sounds fun!
Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity – Book 5 in the Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery series. Myrtle and her governess are stranded on an island with a thief if not a killer. I really enjoyed the first book in this series! Can’t wait to get caught up to this one.
Britannica’s Encyclopedia Infographica (Older Middle Grade) – I love infographics!!

Books for Adults

 

Emergency Contact (Trade Paperback) – Something new from Lauren Layne.  A woman with a concussion ends up stuck on an out-of-town trip with her ex as her “emergency contact” to monitor her. Yes, please!
Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date (Trade Paperback – LGBTQ+) – Book 3 in the Bright Falls series. A romance writer on deadline with no ideas agrees to fake date her last (disastrous) one night stand. I’m intrigued by this one.
It’s a Date (Again) (Trade Paperback) – A woman with amnesia finds three men at her bedside, each claiming to be her boyfriend. She just can’t remember which of them she was going to say yes to marrying. So her friends suggest she date them all again. I pre-ordered this weeks ago!
Murder in Drury Lane (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Lady Worthing Mystery series. Lady Worthing is drawn into a murder at the Drury Lane Theatre
The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline (Hardcover) – Movie stills and plot descriptions lay out the MCU in timeline order. This looks gorgeous, but it’s on the pricey side, along the lines of the Art of books for various Marvel movies.

REVIEW: Detective Duck: The Case of the Strange Splash by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver

REVIEW: Detective Duck: The Case of the Strange Splash by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Willow (AKA Detective Duck) and her friends hear a splash in the pond, she is on the case to discover the cause. Once she puzzles it out, she’ll have two more mysteries to solve – how to get the thing OUT of the pond, and what to do with it next?

Review

This is a cute transitional chapter book with a fun cast of animal characters. I can still hear Henry Winkler’s voice as he first described the series concept on a late-night talk show. It was fun to get to read the first book in the new series.

Willow is both industrious and compassionate. She uses her Stuff Box in her efforts to address the problems, and she looks out for how the problem will impact her community. She also invites community members to help. I liked that Willow gets to work on essentially 3 “mysteries” or puzzles/problems with her friends. It gives the reader something to look forward to once they know what caused the mysterious splash.

Willow is a clever and determined main character, and her adventure here is so fun. Many readers will appreciate the strong environmental message in the book, too! I recommend this one for parents/grandparents as well as teachers and librarians. Kids are going to enjoy this new series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great!