Reviews, Etc.

REVIEW: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library Graphic Novel by Chris Grabenstein

REVIEW: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Graphic Novel by Chris Grabenstein

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers! If you are looking for gift ideas on this Black Friday, be sure to check out my Holiday Hint List of book recommendations.

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

Summary

Game designer Luigi Lemoncello builds a fantastical public library in his home town and then invites a group of kids to take a early peek inside by spending a night in the library. But the lock-in turns into a game when the kids have a chance to solve the puzzle of how to escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library.

Review

Outstanding! I have been a fan of this book – really, of the whole series – from the beginning. And this is a fantastic graphic novel adaptation of the first book in the Lemoncello’s Library series. It’s been too long since I read the original for me to be able to comment on what was trimmed out for length. But the story here hangs together brilliantly.

This would be a great introduction for kids who aren’t familiar with the prose novel or kids who think the novel looks intimidating. Graphic novel adaptations can be a great onramp for some kids before they try out the full book. I also think this is a fun option for kids (and teens and adults) who already love the original and want to explore a visual version of the story and characters. Do not miss this one! Highly recommend.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey

REVIEW: Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Melody and Beat met as teens – her, awkward and self conscious and him, gorgeous with seemingly effortless ability to command a room. Their mothers were the Steel Birds – female rock legends. The teens were shooting interviews about their famous mothers – and the infamous breakup of Steel Birds. But there was a moment – a comradery born from their shared role as offspring of the famous duo. It might have turned into something if they had had more time.

Years later, Beat is crushed under the weight of a blackmailer’s scheme. And a producer offering him enough to make that go away – again – is too good to ignore. It doesn’t hurt that it gives him a chance to see Melody for the first time since they were teens. But when the producer suggests a reality stream of the two trying to convince their mothers to reunite, he’s about to walk away.

Melody is tired of the empty relationship she has with her mother. This streaming reality program is a chance to get her mother’s attention for once. Maybe Melody could finally be SEEN. And if it doesn’t work, the money could at least allow her the financial freedom to walk away from her mother for good.

Review

There’s a lot to love here. The storyline is just plain fun. Add to that the amazing main character – I was expecting Mel to be mousy but she never was. Reserved, maybe, but hilarious and sweet with a sassy streak. She was a delightful surprise. The heat between her and Beat crackled on the page. The moms brought some excellent additions to the story. And the friend group characters needed more page time. The whole cast is fantastic.

The “we’re getting the band back together” vibe of this was perfect for me too. I loved that premise and the parts of the story that explored the history of the band.

There was a line early in the book that set off a few alarm bells in my head that said this book might be much farther along the “spice” scale than I usually read. And that inkling was right on target. There’s some frank talk about sex with some details bordering perhaps on “kink” at least as I define it. If spicy romance is your jam, you should definitely check this one out. The story is excellent and the content definitely skews “spicy.” If that’s not your style, you might approach this one with caution. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BOOK NEWS: November 21, 2023

BOOK NEWS: November 21, 2023

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy Thanksgiving Week! There’s just two books on my release calendar this week, but that only means you have some extra time to explore this year’s Holiday Hint List – or the Padlet that allows you to check out all of the covers. Enjoy!

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

The Nightcrawlers (Graphic Novel) – When a kid at school believes his parents have been replaced by werewolves, the Nightcrawlers promise to look into the claim. The author of this one reached out and asked if I would consider adding this to Book News. I got a kick out of the premise with the mystery/fantasy mash up. I’ll be looking for this one at the bookstore to check it out in person. 
Ink Girls (Graphic Novel) – A printer’s apprentice goes into hiding when her master is arrested for speaking truth to power. This was fantastic! It’s on this year’s Holiday Hint List, and I’ll be posting a full review soon.

REVIEW: Mothman's Merry Cryptid Christmas by Andrew Shaffer

REVIEW: Mothman’s Merry Cryptid Christmas by Andrew Shaffer

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and 8th Circle Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Rudolph needs Christmas off one year, Santa asks Mothman to help lead the sleigh team. But Mothman has a reputation for being unlucky, and he doesn’t want to end up ruining Christmas.

Review

This is a hoot! I liked this far more than I even expected to. Our family has been on the “cryptid” journey for a few years now, so when I had the chance to review this, I just had to see what it was about. The story is simple and fun! I loved the artwork. (I need this Mothman on a t-shirt!)

There are some fun facts here about cryptids in general and about Mothman in particular in the backmatter. As soon as I finished reading this I started a list of folks who need this for Christmas. Don’t miss out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews

REVIEW: Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews

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

As a favor to both her blacksmithing mentor and another old friend, Meg is helping behind the scenes of a reality TV bladesmithing competition – a week before Christmas. But when Faulk, her mentor, is attacked before shooting starts, Meg agrees – reluctantly – to compete in his place.

But the production has issues. Someone is trying to sabotage the contestants. The producers seem more “green” than they’re letting on. One of the contestants seems to be harassing women around the set. And then someone is murdered.

Review

This was so fun! I have been feeling for awhile that I missed the whole blacksmithing angle that was a big part of the earlier books in the series. So I was thrilled to realized that even though this was a Christmas book, the emphasis would be on this bladesmithing competition. And it was exactly what I was missing. I’d love to see that part of Meg’s life get more attention in future books.

That said, there’s still some great Christmas elements in the book that make it a great read for the season. I also LOVED all of the crow elements in the book.

Honestly, the mystery was only okay for me. The solution felt random, and there wasn’t the usual debate for me between suspects as I read. Meg spends a good bit of time spinning the same elements over and over in her mind as she tries to puzzle things out, which felt redundant at times.

Despite that fact, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Series fans may have a mixed experience regarding the mystery, but I think the rest of the story is a solid delight. This is book 34 in the series. Book 35, Between a Flock and a Hard Place, will release in the summer of 2024.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BOOK NEWS: November 14, 2023

BOOK NEWS: November 14, 2023

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Books for Kids

Mothman’s Merry Cryptid Christmas – Mothman gets a special request for Christmas. This book is so fun! It’s on my 2023 Holiday Hint List this year. You can check out this year’s list as well as past ones here.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Punycorn (Graphic Novel) – The smallest unicorn in Carbuncle is the only one who can fight for the city when an ogre attacks. This was a hoot! I’ll post a review soon, but this one also made this year’s Holiday Hint List.
Above the Trenches (Graphic Novel) – Book 12 in the Nathan Hale’s Hazardous tales nonfiction graphic novel series. Read about the squadron of American fighter pilots in France’s Lafayette Escadrille.
Artifacts of an Ex – After getting dumped, a girl turns her break up box – and those of her peers – into art. This sounds fantastic!

Books for Adults

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord (Hardcover) – First in the new Lady Petra Inquires series.  After losing her fiancé, Lady Petra has declared that she will never marry. When she discovers an asylum where men are leaving their inconvenient wives and daughters, she decides to use her wealth and her access to do something about it. SO excited to read this one!
Mom Com (Trade Paperback) – Maddi is headed home after a very public breakdown, but instead of going to a place of comfort and safety, she’s sure it will be filled with her mother’s criticism and painful decisions about her late father’s beloved bakery. What she isn’t expecting is to run into her ex.

REVIEW: Punycorn by Andi Watson

REVIEW: Punycorn by Andi Watson

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Clarion Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book will release on Tuesday, November 14th.]

Summary

Punycorn lives in the land of Carbuncle which once vanquished evil and now enjoys peace. Punycorn trains like the other, majestic unicorns. But Punycorn is small and struggles at times.

Sir Ogre has received some magical “gauntlets” to help him defeat Carbuncle once and for all. He schedules his attack, but the unicorn fighting force is away on training maneuvers. Only Punycorn remains behind.

Punycorn is sent on a quest to assemble a Kinship of Heroes to help him save the day. But Sir Ogre has someone spying on Punycorn and trying to thwart his every move.

 

Review

What a fantastic adventure! I loved Punycorn and the Kinship. This is a great team, and I would definitely read more of their adventures. Good thing Punycorn and the Princess of Thieves is in the works!

For me this feels like a story in the vein of Max and the Midknights or Hilo – two graphic novel adventure series that I have adored! Fans of those series definitely should check this book out. There’s a classic quest setup here but with a quirky “party” which I thoroughly enjoyed. The artwork here is fantastic – something readers are going to want to pour over. Classroom teachers with students who love graphic novels do not want to miss this one! Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

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.