Reviews, Etc.

REVIEW: Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova

REVIEW: Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Ariel del Mar and her sisters – Siren Seven – have fulfilled their part of the deal with their record label – and their father. They’ve been performing for years. And now all of the girls get a break to do what they want – to just “be” for awhile. Except for Ariel. Her father wants her to “strike while the iron’s hot” and launch a solo career.

When Ariel meets Eric, lead singer of Star Crossed, as her true self, Melody, instead of her stage persona, he has no idea who she is. And some freedom and anonymity sounds like all she’s been craving. So she signs on to be his band’s merch person on their tour.

With her sisters providing cover with their dad, Melody has a chance to rediscover who she is – what’s really her and what’s just the character she’s been playing on stage. But real feelings start to bloom between Melody and Eric. What will happen when he discovers the truth? Or when her father finally tracks her down?

Review

This is book 3 in the Meant to Be series of fairytale retellings after If the Shoe Fits and By the Book. Each is written by a different author. This is the first one I have read – the plot summary was so amazing I couldn’t pre-order this fast enough. But I will absolutely be checking out the rest.

This was excellent! The author does an excellent job with Little Mermaid touches throughout the book. Yet the story is original and allowed to stand on its own without being forced into a template by the movie.

I loved the characters in this! Melody and Eric are great, and the secondary characters really add a lot to the story. I would have loved to see more of the sisters together – they were great!

I did have to remind myself, often, that the characters here are adults, not teens. There’s a YA vibe to the story that worked for me until something happened (like drinking alcohol) to remind me these were adults.

If you like fairytale retellings like I do, don’t miss this one. This is a stand alone story, so you don’t have to have read any of the others to enjoy this. (Language, off-page sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read

BOOK NEWS: October 17, 2023

BOOK NEWS: October 17, 2023

Posted on by Jaymie

I’m not quite sure how we have gotten halfway through October already, but here we are. Let’s see some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids

Detective Duck: The Case of the Strange Splash – Detective Duck works with her friends on environmental problems that crop up at their pond.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Lost Legends: The Fixer Upper – Book 3 in Disney’s Lost Legends series (after books about Flynn Rider and Aladdin). In an effort to get Kristoff to relate to other children, his adoptive troll family sends him to school. But it’s not a great fit for Kristoff, especially with his childhood bully there. He hopes he can win the ice harvester competition and that will help him to fit in.
The Queen’s Crown (e-book, October 19) – Book 1 in the League of Rulers series from the author of the Knights of the Realm series. Sabine seeks to avenge her sister’s murder by trying to take her place in the kingdom where she was about to wed, but the king is distractingly appealing even while she tries to dodge a killer in the court. I cannot wait to read this!!!
Thin Air – A teen invited to compete in a contest that could pull her and her family out of poverty forever boards a plane to Europe with the other contestants who then start to die on the plane. A locked-room mystery on an airplane? Stunning!

Books for Adults

10 Things That Never Happened (Trade Paperback) – Jonathan has determined it’s time to let Sam go from his job, but when Sam bumps his head and accidentally implies he has amnesia, Jonathan feels like he can’t fire him. But as the two spend time together, Sam still faking amnesia, the feelings between them become more and more complicated. Yeah, this one is on the list!
Dragged to the Wedding (Trade Paperback) – A closeted gay man needs a date to a family wedding, so a drag queen agrees to help him out. Yes, please!
Friends Don’t Fall in Love (Trade Paperback) – The latest from Erin Hahn. A former country star reaches out to her ex’s  best friend to help her reclaim her lost career. This is a book for *adults* so readers should remember this will be spicier than her YA stories.
Home at Night (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the awesome Mercy Carr Mystery series. A supposedly haunted manor becomes a site for a murder. I love this series and can’t wait to read this new book.
Let’s Get Quizzical (Trade Paperback) – High school exes have a second chance at love when they are paired up on a televised quiz show. This sounds fun!
One Christmas Morning (Trade Paperback) – A woman hiding from past heartbreak during Christmas inhabits the lives of several of her friends in a Christmas miracle designed to help her face her past. Yes!!
Stalking Around the Christmas Tree (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series. Holly is sleuthing again when a visiting dancer is killed right before Christmas.

REVIEW: Quadzilla Finds His Footing by AJ Dillon

REVIEW: Quadzilla Finds His Footing by AJ Dillon

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Quadzilla likes hanging out with his monster friends. They are all good at something they play, but Quadzilla hasn’t found his “thing,” yet.

Review

The Green Bay Packers posted a video this summer where they asked various players what they did during the off season. Running Back AJ Dillon said he wrote a children’s book. Of course, I had to check it out.

This is a cute story with a nice message about trying again and perseverance. Quadzilla eventually finds his place/activity in football, of course. But he also keeps trying the things his friends like, too.

The message makes this a fun read, and I think kids will get a kick out of the monster characters.

Rating: ♥♥♥*

♥♥♥ = Good/Solid/Fine

REVIEW: Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch

REVIEW: Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

The Duke of Woriton, Michael Bromley, likely would never leave his home laboratory and science experiments if he had his way. But his aunt has asked him to watch her beloved poodle, Lancelot, for a few weeks. To keep Lancelot, and his aunt, happy, Michael takes the dog out for regular walks.

Elizabeth Dockering has her own poodle, Galahad. And Galahad is NOT a fan of her primary suitor, Lord Peter Cordray. Galahad is her best protector, but his behavior does get out of hand at times. Like when he runs off at the park and gets tangled with another dog – and that weird Duke of Woriton.

Elizabeth and Michael accidentally trade dogs, but before they can set things right, Lancelot is dognapped from Elizabeth’s home. So naturally, Michael and Elizabeth have to team up to find Lancelot. And the more time they spend together, the more their assumptions about one another are challenged.

Review

This was outstanding! I adored everything about it. The mismatched dognapping was everything I wanted it to be. The main characters had delightful depth that was revealed gradually – to each other and to the reader. The scientific bits were interesting. The whole book is funny.  And the wrap up is supremely satisfying. This was delightful to read – a perfect way to lose myself for a few hours. When I finished I realized I would happily flip back to page one and start again. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BOOK NEWS: October 10, 2023

BOOK NEWS: October 10, 2023

Posted on by Jaymie

Let’s take a look at some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

Frankie and Friends: Breaking News – When Frankie’s mom leaves on an assignment to cover a news event, Frankie and her friends decide to host their own news show. This new chapter book series looks fantastic!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Curlfriends: New in Town (Graphic Novel) – Charlie is used to being the new kid thanks to her military family’s frequent moves, but this looks like a place they could stay awhile, so she’s determined to make a good impression. But nothing goes like she planned. This sounds amazing!
Diana and the Hero’s Journey – The girl who will some day become Wonder Woman discovers the story of the first Greek hero, Hero.
Trouble Finds Plum! – Book 3 in a series about a young peacock named Plum. When the Athensville Zoo is overrun by raccoons, Plum has a plan to save the day.
Huda F Cares? (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in this YA graphic novel series about Huda. This time Huda and her family are going to Disney World, but the forced togetherness with her sisters and the ways her family stands out in Florida are challenging.

Books for Adults

Better Hate Than Never (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Wilmot Sisters series after Two Wrongs Make a Right. Childhood enemies discover an unexpected spark in this modern take on Taming of the Shrew. I have book 1, based on Much Ado About Nothing, on my TBR, and now I think I need to bump it up the list because those two Shakespeare plays are my favorites!
The Holiday Mix-Up (Trade Paperback) – Basically While You Were Sleeping with fake dating – and I am HERE FOR IT!
Let It Crow Let It Crow Let It Crow (Hardcover) – Book 34 in the Meg Langslow series. To help out a friend, Meg gets pulled into a televised blacksmithing competition at Christmas time. Yes, please!
Love Interest (Trade Paperback) – After Casey is passed over for a job, she has to work with the person who got it instead of her – the son of the board chairman.
The Mis-Arrangement of Sana Saeed (Trade Paperback) – Sana’s mother won’t let her be named guardian of her autistic younger brother unless she is married, so she agrees to an arranged marriage, despite her feelings for an old friend (and family enemy) who has resurfaced in her life.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Illyrian Enigma (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel bridging season one and two of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Sword Catcher (Hardcover) – The prince’s body double and a magic-wielding physician get drawn into the criminal underworld of their kingdom where each is offered what they truly want most. But they uncover a conspiracy that leads them to question everything. This sounds amazing!
‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas (Hardcover) – Book 28 in the delightful  Andy Carpenter series. Andy defends a man who adopted his dogs from the Tara Foundation when he’s accused of murder. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!

REVIEW: Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price

REVIEW: Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Fanny Price is the “poor relation” at Mansfield Park. Her uncle, Sir Thomas, took her in as his wife’s relative like he took in Edmund, his late brother’s son. The two “outsiders” become fast friends. Fanny’s never confessed her feelings for Edmund to anyone.

Fanny is fond of her uncle, the only kind person in the household besides Edmund. So she’s understandably saddened when Sir Thomas dies from a fall. But Fanny also thinks the fall was no accident – Sir Thomas was murdered.

When Sir Thomas’s will is read, the family discovers their financial state is not as solid as they believed. Fanny finds the whole thing out of character for her uncle and decides to investigate – the financials, the family business, her relatives, and Sir Thomas’s death.

Review

This was excellent! I have enjoyed this series from the start with Pride and Premeditation followed by Sense and Second-Degree Murder (♥♥♥♥). But I also had at least a passing familiarity with the source material for the first two books. I knew nothing about Mansfield Park when I read this. It didn’t matter at all – I loved this purely on its own merits. (In fact, when I read a summary of the original, it was not as captivating as this book was.)

I enjoyed watching Fanny’s evolution as she finds her purpose and character while pursing the truth about Sir Thomas’s death. The mystery plot was delightfully intricate. I didn’t want to put this down. And I’m proud to say I figured things out before the end which always makes me feel extra satisfied and triumphant after reading a mystery.

I hope there will be more of these in the future! This is one of my favorite YA series right now – which is kind of surprising since I have not quite gotten the appeal of Austen. But the changes the author makes in service of her story (like the addition of the queer romance here – with a great author’s note in the book) and the creation of her mysteries are right on target for me as a reader.

Newcomers could start here, I think. While Lizzie and Darcy play a role in this book, the reader doesn’t need their history in order to follow Fanny’s story. But you will definitely want to go back and pick up the earlier books in the series if you start here!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Starter Villain by John Scalzi

REVIEW: Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Charlie Fitzar has been in a bit of a rough patch. Laid off from his job as a journalist, divorced, his dad has died, and his half siblings are trying to sell  his family house out from under him. He’s trying to survive on money from substitute teaching – enough said.

Then word arrives that his estranged uncle, Jack – a billionaire who ran a company building parking garages – has died. And one of his last requests was for Charlie to host his memorial service.

When someone tries to stab his uncle’s body – in the coffin – to be extra sure he’s really dead, Charlie starts to think there was more to Uncle Jack than he previously knew.

Review

This was absolutely amazing! Everything I hoped it would be – smart, sassy, funny, captivating. I was completely drawn into the story. Charlie is a fantastic point of view character – completely out of his depth but still a “good” guy at his core, even as he finds himself in this Bond-esque world of villains.

I laughed out loud all the way through this. My family only had to sit through 5 or 6 passages read aloud before my husband just pre-ordered a print copy for us. I would absolutely read this again! This is my favorite sort of science fiction – something I’ve come to expect from John Scalzi. As my husband often says, we’ve yet to be disappointed by a Scalzi book.

While I could see how a sequel could be carved out of how this story ends (and I’d read a sequel immediately), I don’t feel like that’s necessarily the plan for Charlie and his friends. This stands completely on its own. And I highly recommend it! If you’ve never tried a Scalzi book, and you like funny books and science fiction, I think you should give this a try. If you are already a fan of the author, do NOT miss this one. Audiobook fans should check this out as well as Wil Wheaton narrates. (Language, violence)

Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BOOK NEWS: October 3, 2023

BOOK NEWS: October 3, 2023

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Books for Kids

The Magnificent Mischief of Tad Lincoln – A picture book biography of Tad Lincoln including the origins of the tradition of pardoning a Thanksgiving turkey.
Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive (Graphic Novel) – Scaredy and his friends get ready for the holidays.
The Big Adventures of Babymouse: Besties – Book 2 in the Big Adventures of Babymouse series.  Babymouse feels jealous when Wilson starts hanging out with a new kid at school

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

The Evers: Forever Twelve – From Stacy McAnulty. Ivy shows up at a boarding school for exceptional kids and encounters the Evers – individuals who look 12, but who are centuries old. And they think Ivy could help them with their curse. I will read anything Stacy McAnulty writes, so I am all in on this one!
Murder at the Old Willow Boarding School – The Choose Your Own Adventure series takes on a mystery in this book where the reader realizes they are dead and they try to solve their own murder. That’s a pretty dark plot for a kids book, but I am intrigued by it, nonetheless.
Unicorn for a Day – Book 18 in this delightful comics series starring Phoebe and her unicorn friend, Marigold. This time, Phoebe and Marigold switch places so Phoebe can see what it is really like to be a unicorn.
Is There Anybody Out There?: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life, from Amoebas to Aliens – Book 2 in the Wild Thing series by Laura Krantz, after The Search for Sasquatch. This time, Krantz explores extraterrestrials.
Eight Dates and Nights – A Jewish teen stuck at her grandmother’s house finds the only other Jewish teen in town to be an unexpected friend – and maybe something more.
Bishop Takes King – Kate accidentally trades bags with a kid named Milo. But Milo’s bag contains something Kingpin would kill to possess, so Kate has to find Milo and save the day. A Kate Bishop story, written by Ashley Poston? Yes, please!

Books for Adults

The Hurricane Wars (Hardcover) – First in a new series. Talasyn hides the secret of her light magic, but when Prince Alaric tries to destroy her to protect his kingdom of shadow magic, their conflict creates a magical force never seen before. This sounds fascinating!
Last Word to the Wise (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Christie Bookshop Mystery series following Dead and Gondola.  When Meg’s blind date is later murdered, she becomes the prime suspect since she was the last person to see him alive.
A Little Magic (Trade Paperback) – First in a new series. A professional hockey player has a second chance at love. I am intrigued by the description of this that says it takes place over 9 Christmas Eves and 8 nights of Hannukah.
Maybe Once Maybe Twice (Trade Paperback) – At two very different times in her life, Maggie told someone “If we’re still single at 35, we should get married.” And now both of those men have showed up.
One Puzzling Afternoon (Trade Paperback) – In 1951, a girl named Lucy befriends Edie and then disappears. In 2018, Edie, who has started experiencing dementia, believes she has seen Lucy. Her family doesn’t believe her, but Edie is certain she is the key to the truth about Lucy. Fascinating.
The Other Princess (Trade Paperback) – A kidnapped African princess is rescued from slavery and “presented” to Queen Victoria as a “gift” and raised in Victorian society. Based on the true story of Queen Victoria’s goddaughter Sarah Forbes Bonetta.
Snowed in for Christmas (Trade Paperback) – A major snowstorm leads Becca’s grouchy-but-sexy neighbor to offer her shelter to wait out the storm.
The Takedown (Trade Paperback) – The FBI asks an undercover CIA agent to infiltrate a crime family when her little sister gets engaged to a member of the family.
The Trouble with Tinsel (Trade Paperback) – A couple who were also a screenwriting team haven’t seen each other since their breakup. When one of their scripts is optioned, they have to work together once again. And when the movie’s star thinks they are still engaged and wants them on set for their romantic advice, they have to fake the old chemistry as well.
Wreck the Halls (Trade Paperback) – The children of former rock stars are asked to help get the band back together for one final show right before Christmas.
Holy Runaways: Rediscovering Faith After Being Burned by Religion (Hardcover) – As church attendance continues to decline, the author – a psychotherapist – examines the stories of “holy runaways” and looks for ways for them to come back to faith
Making It So (Hardcover) – An autobiography from Sir Patrick Stewart
The Enneagram in Marriage (Trade Paperback) – Use the Enneagram to help in your most central relationship, your marriage.

THROW BACK: Alien Proliferation by Gini Koch

THROW BACK: Alien Proliferation by Gini Koch

Posted on by Jaymie

This review was originally posted on my Bring on the Books blog on December 14, 2011. I recently posted a quick review of the first three books in this series based on my reading journals when I first read them. This is my 2011 review of book four, which is still one of my favorite books in the series.

Summary

Kitty and Martini are back, and baby makes three. You would think the happy little family could enjoy a little quiet together, but “quiet” is probably not going to be in the cards for them any time soon. After a traumatic delivery, Kitty discovers a plot to take out Chuckie and Kitty’s mom. At least, that seems to be the plot. But there are more layers to this situation than meets the eye. There’s a mole – or is there? Kitty’s high school friends are in danger – or are they part of the plotting? At the root of everything is Kitty’s baby. The bad guys want the baby and, like any good momma, Kitty will fight tooth and nail to protect her.

Review

This is a hard book to summarize because sooooo many things are going on, and I don’t want to give any of the good stuff away. I have been a big fan of this series since I read the first book. I re-read them just for fun even though I have tons of new and yet-unread books laying around. Alien Proliferation is a perfect addition to the series. I didn’t want to put the book down. I laughed out loud often as I zoomed through this 400+ page non-stop thrill. It was a delight to dig into such a meaty book that wasn’t filled with a lot of unnecessary fluff. Plenty of great twists and turns. New dynamics between characters as Kitty gets a new partner to work with and other new characters are introduced (or familiar characters are developed more fully). While motherhood changes Kitty in some ways, it doesn’t change any of the things I love about her – her sarcasm, her intuition, her kick-butt-and-take-names attitude. She continues to be a great, strong character.

This is not a story for the faint of heart. Kitty is in a life-and-death battle and there are casualties. Everything that happens is appropriate to the story, though. I enjoyed this so much, I am looking for time when I can carve out a few days to read through the whole series to date from start to finish. The next book, Alien Diplomacy, releases in April, 2012.

5 out of 5 stars

Recommended for: fans of the series, science fiction/fantasy fans who like an element of romance in their stories

Cautions: My personal feeling is that new readers will be lost if they jump in here. Do yourself a favor and start at the beginning and enjoy the whole series. Otherwise, there’s some violence, and some romantic moments are described in detail. Those sections can be skipped over by sensitive readers. There might also be some language (honestly, I was reading so fast to find out what was going on, I didn’t really pay that close of attention).

THROW BACK: Gabby and Gator by James Burks

THROW BACK: Gabby and Gator by James Burks

Posted on by Jaymie

This review was originally posted on my Bring on the Books blog on May 13, 2013. My students couldn’t get enough of graphic novels like this. The cover image here is updated since my original post and the book’s initial release.

Summary and Review

An outcast girl and an alligator that survived flushing find friendship together.

This was absolutely delightful! I liked it so much, I bought two for our school library because I think my students will enjoy it, too. The story starts by establishing each of the characters separately and establishing the “mystery” of a monster in the sewer. Then, when the two meet, they develop this wonderful, quirky relationship that is just right for both of them. Gabby and Gator make a great team. As a fun little bonus, there are line drawings at the bottom of the right-hand pages, and if you flip them quickly you can see Gabby and Gator dance. Great fun!

5 out of 5 stars