Reviews, Etc.

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

BOOK NEWS: September 26, 2023

BOOK NEWS: September 26, 2023

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the last release week of September 2023 – let’s see what books are out this week!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

The Mark of Athena (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation for the third Heroes of Olympus book. I have really enjoyed the adaptations for the previous books, so I will definitely be picking this up.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians:  The Chalice of the Gods (Older Middle Grade) – PERCY JACKSON IS BACK! Percy has to complete 3 quests in order to get the recommendations he needs from the gods to go to college. I have had this pre-ordered since February. I can’t wait to get this one!
Who Was Betty White?
Thieves’ Gambit – Winning the Thieves’ Gambit – a series of international heists – would grant Ross any wish, and she plans to use it to save her mom. I love a good heist novel!

 

Books for Adults

The Christmas Orphan’s Club (Trade Paperback) – A found family struggles at the thought that this could be their last Christmas all together.
The Christmas Wager (Trade Paperback) – A real estate developer competes against a shop owner’s grandson in a series of holiday games. The prize? The business they each want to buy.
A December to Remember (Trade Paperback) – Three sisters must follow their eccentric father’s final instructions in order to inherit. I love stories like this! I am finding mixed information online about the release date for this book, so check your usual book retailer – this might be releasing later this fall.
Faking Christmas (Trade Paperback) – A misunderstanding leads a woman to pretend she own’s her sister’s business. The pretend life comes complete with a fake husband – a man she can’t stand. But they only have to fake things for one dinner – until an unexpected snowstorm extends the charade. Yes, please!
The Fragile Threads of Power (Hardcover) – Four worlds, connected through London. Long-silent magicians with the power to move between worlds. Two royals trying to hold on to their crowns – and their lives. This sounds fascinating!
Love Holly (Trade Paperback) – Trying to help a stranger reconnect with her grandson could lead Holly to love. This sounds fantastic!
Mrs. Claus and the Trouble with Turkeys (Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Mrs Claus Mystery series. When the Thanksgiving turkey is kidnapped and a family member is murdered, April Claus is investigating again. I have really gotten a kick out of this series over the years. Looking forward to a new book!
Three Holidays and a Wedding (Trade Paperback) – Two women, strangers, confess their hopes and fears to one another during a turbulent flight, thinking they will never see one another again – until they – and some love interests – end up snowbound at the same inn.
Trading Places (Trade Paperback) – A celebrity is challenged to trade lives with a mechanic when she rear-ends his car. I have already pre-ordered this one – sounds amazing.
What Became of Magic (Trade Paperback) – A woman who has been using her magic and ability to talk with ghosts only in secret is discovered and invited to a town that needs her special powers to help them find their lost magic. Yep, I pre-ordered this one too.
Woke Up Like This (Trade Paperback, October 1) – A prom decorating accident leaves Charlotte not only crashing into her nemesis, J. T, but it also propels both of them into a future where they wake up as 30 year old adults – who are engaged to one another. Yes, please!
Wrapped With a Beau (Trade Paperback) – To help her home town – and her own work reputation – Elisha needs to convince her sexy new neighbor to let her film a movie in the home he just inherited. But Ves just wants to sell and get out of town as quickly as he can, no matter what feelings Elisha stirs in him. Sounds like a Hallmark movie, so of course, I am in!

 

THROW BACK: The False Prince by Jennifer A Nielsen

THROW BACK: The False Prince by Jennifer A Nielsen

Posted on by Jaymie

This review was originally posted on my Bring on the Books blog on March 20, 2012. When this book first released, I often found it shelved with teen books. I think it probably best fits an Older Middle Grade age group, so 10-14. This is the first in what is now a four-book series by Jennifer A. Nielsen. 

Summary

Sage is an orphan – cocky, clever and independent. When he is bought and taken from the orphanage, his plan is to run away at the first opportunity. But the man who buys him has plans for Sage and the other orphans with them. He’s going to turn one of them into a prince – and the rest will probably die. Sage will have to decide who he wants to be and what he is and is not willing to do to be that person

 

Review

Amazing! Outstanding! Brilliant! I have not felt this strongly about a book since I first read The Candymakers. This could easily be my “best book of 2012.” It will be a hard one to beat. Sage has a great voice, and I was drawn into his story from the first page. There’s a Hunger Games-ish feel to the relationship between the boys as they know only one will be chosen to play the prince and the others will likely be killed. The whole story is masterfully put together. I could hardly get to sleep after finishing it because I was so excited about how it all came together. This is going to be the first of a trilogy. This is one I will buy for myself (this copy is for our school’s library), share with my son, rave about to my students – and any random stranger I can get to listen.

5 out of 5 stars – I’d give it more if I could!

Recommended for: readers 4th grade and older, those looking for stories with mystery and adventure.

 

THROW BACK: The Princess and the Pig by Jonathan Emmett

THROW BACK: The Princess and the Pig by Jonathan Emmett

Posted on by Jaymie

This review was originally posted on my Bring on the Books blog on March 8, 2013. This is another book that was a hoot to read aloud with students. 

Summary

On the same day, a farmer discovers a small pig in his wagon and a queen is holding her baby girl. In one rash move, the baby tumbles from the tower into the wagon and the piglet is bounced from the hay up into the princess’s crib. The farmer and his wife believe a fairy has turned their pig into a child as a gracious and benevolent act while the king and queen believe an angry fairy has turned their princess into a pig because she wasn’t invited to the christening. The girl grows up sweet and charming while the pig is just a pig. Eventually, the farmer and his wife realize what has happened. Sadly they head off to the castle to make things right….

Review

I won’t spoil the fun by telling the end. Instead I’ll only say this book was a delight to read from beginning to end. I found this one at the Scholastic Book Fair at our church and my first thought after reading this was, “Why wasn’t THIS book in my preview pack!” I thought it was far better than anything else Scholastic had included in their pre-packaged preview sets for advertising their spring fairs. I can’t wait to read this one to my students and rave about it to every teacher and parent who comes through our fair at the end of the month. This was a winner!

5 out of 5 stars