Reviews, Etc.

REVIEW: One Wild Christmas by Nicholas Oldland

REVIEW: One Wild Christmas by Nicholas Oldland

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

Three friends – a bear, a moose, and a beaver – prepare to celebrate Christmas when they realize they forgot to get a tree. Once they find a perfect pine, Bear won’t let them chop it down.

This is an adorable Christmas story that is part of the Life in the Wild series. There’s a small amount of text on each page, and fantastic illustrations that do some of the storytelling heavy-lifting. I enjoyed the humor in this, and the resolution makes this a fun read-aloud for Christmas. This was the first book in the series that I read, and I got such a kick out of it I ended up reading all of them. You can see some of my other reviews at the links above.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: Rockin' Around the Chickadee by Donna Andrews

REVIEW: Rockin’ Around the Chickadee 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

Meg is helping her grandmother who is hosting a Presumed Innocent conference at the Caerphilly Inn. The emphasis of the conference is on overturning wrongful convictions. They have lawyers and law enforcement and exonerees speaking. And troublemakers causing issues.

Godfrey Norton – “the Gadfly” – is the biggest troublemaker. He’s openly scornful about the conference aims, and hostile toward the exonerees and those who have helped them secure freedom. But he crosses the line with a false accusation and his own acts of animal cruelty and is kicked out of both the conference and the Inn.

But Godfrey is going to cause one last bit of trouble when his dead body is found behind Meg’s house.

Review

What a fun mystery! The setting – a conference about exonerees and pursing justice for the wrongfully incarcerated – was fascinating. It brought interesting characters to Caerphilly and placed most of the action at the Inn which was a nice shift in setting. The usual holiday chaos at Meg’s house was toned down due to an impending baby delivery for Meg’s SIL. And I enjoyed that change too.

The victim was truly awful, but the setting allowed the LEOs to do their work at a conference all about law enforcement and sound investigation. The twins and their best friend even got to help with the case which was a great part of the story. I pegged the killer early on but loved watching all of the pieces come together in the end.

This is book 36 in this long-running series. Book 37, For Duck’s Sake, will release in August of 2025.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BOOK NEWS: November 12, 2024

BOOK NEWS: November 12, 2024

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

Best Wishes: Like a Boss – Book 4 in the Best Wishes series about a wish-granting bracelet and a girl who makes a wish and becomes in charge of EVERYTHING.
The Winterton Deception: Fault Lines – Book 2 in the series. Hope and Gordon are drawn into a hunt for new clues to find people they aren’t sure they even want to see again. I have got to catch up on book one – this sounds exactly like the sorts of books I love.
Games Untold – Book 5 in the Inheritance Games series is a collection of short stories about the characters of this series.
Heist Royale – Book 2 in the Thieves’ Gambit series.
In Want of a Suspect – Lizzie Bennet (from the Jane Austen Murder Mystery series) is back, working at her father’s law firm and hired to investigate a warehouse fire that turns into a murder investigation. I ADORED the first series and have already preordered this.
Our Deadly Designs – Sequel to This Dark Descent. The hunt is on for the lost heir, but the competitors in that hunt are also pursuing their own personal agendas.

Books for Adults

All’s Fair in Love and Treachery (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Lady Petra Inquires series. Lady Petra discovers the death of her fiancé 3 years ago was murder. And the culprit seems to be her secret paramour.
The Courting of Bristol Keats (Hardcover) – Bristol and her sisters think their parents are dead, but then Bristol starts getting letters from a previously unknown aunt. And she finds out her father might have been kidnapped – and taken back to the realm where he was from.
Her Knight at the Museum (Trade Paperback) – An art conservator breaks the magic enchantment on a knight and then becomes a suspect in the disappearance of his “statue” while he adjusts to the modern world.
I’ll Be Home for Mischief (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series. As Holly preps for Christmas and her first wedding anniversary, she’s also looking for a killer – again.
Imperfectly Perfect (Trade Paperback) – A jilted-at-the-altar wedding planner teams up with her college ex to fake date their way into something each of them needs.
Servant of Earth (Hardcover) – First in the Shards of Magic series about a servant who is charged with helping her fae mistress survive six deadly trials.
Sons of Star Trek (Graphic Novel) – A collection of four episodes of the comics series starring the sons of Captain Sisko, Rom, and Worf.
Toto (Trade Paperback) – Toto gets to tell the story of The Wizard of Oz.
Believe: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso the Show that Kicked Its Way Into Our Hearts (Hardcover) – A behind the scenes look at this fantastic show!
How to Dungeon Master Parenting: A Guidebook for Gamifying the Child Rearing Quest, Leveling Up Your Skills, and Raising Future Adventurers (Trade Paperback) – A parenting book based on D&D.

REVIEW: Mr. Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale by Chris Grabenstein

REVIEW: Mr. Lemoncello’s Fantabulous Finale by Chris Grabenstein

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Kyle Keeley is back, and this time he’s hoping to win it all! Mr. Lemoncello is giving away his entire empire to a 13-year-old kid, and Kyle wants to be that kid.

Kyle isn’t the only kid hoping to win. There’s Simon and Soraiya in New York and Gloria in Florida as well as Betina in California. As Kyle gets to know the other contestants – 13 in all – his confidence starts to waver. Most of his closest friends chose to sit this one out, and he could have too. He’s not sure his gaming skills are best in the group. And running the Lemoncello empire requires more than game skills. But he also knows that Charles Chiltington is up to no good. Kyle has to stay in the game to keep Charles from ruining the Lemoncello legacy.

Review

A lovely send-off for, as Chris Grabenstein says in his acknowledgements “this particular arc of the Lemoncello universe.” While there are new stories – and graphic novels – still to come, this is a satisfying conclusion to the initial book series. The games are fun, and the contestants for the most part are endearing kids who hope to succeed. I loved that there was space for several series regulars to sit this one out. They set a boundary for themselves and pursued their passions – it was great!

Thankfully the Chiltingtons did most of their scheming off-page because I have been over Charles since the All-Star Breakout Game. But he got to make a final appearance and close out his arc while Kyle and Mr. Lemoncello closed out theirs. At least for now.

Teachers, librarians, and series fans will want to finish the series and pick this one up. There’s tons here to love!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Mary We Forgot by Jennifer Powell McNutt

REVIEW: The Mary We Forgot by Jennifer Powell McNutt

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary and Review

Mary Magdalene is known in scripture for being healed from multiple demons by Jesus and also for being one of the first witnesses of the risen Christ. But there are misunderstandings of her as well. Dr. Powell McNutt is determined to clear up these misunderstandings and present a compelling portrait of this disciple of Jesus and apostle of the early Church.

This book:

  • Addresses the “surprises” of the Bible – Peter and John being called in front of the High Priest in Acts, Jesus as a surprise out of Nazareth, Mary Magdalene – or any woman – mentioned in Scripture.
  • Extensively covers the conflation of Marys (Mary of Bethany, Mary Magdalene) with the woman in Luke 7 which is challenged with multiple sources and logical rationales. And where the Luke 7 woman is distinguished from Mary Magdalene, the woman is honored by the author (as she is by Jesus in the text). I liked that this honored many of the women of the New Testament, not just Mary although she was the focus.
  • Refers to the Gospel of Mary Magdalene as a commentary on the time of its writing.
  • Addresses Mary’s demon possession as well as her inclusion with Jesus’s ministry and followers along with other women healed by Jesus and named by Luke – patronesses of Jesus’s ministry.

Overall I liked this – the writing is conversational and easy to follow. The author sprinkles in some personal stories to tie some of her exploration areas together. And I found the conflation section fascinating, although it seemed to go on for a long time. I think researchers, historians, and students will love the deep dive, but for a newbie like me, it felt like selling past the close. Super detailed proof and examples of how past scholars and historians have blotted out Mary’s role, identity, and place in the followers of Jesus will be fantastic for other scholars, but the point was made sufficiently for me pretty quickly.

The book is also written with the full view of history interjected regularly which may be a distraction for less-informed readers. The book doesn’t necessarily move in a straightforward way from from left to right so to speak. It felt at times like re-reading a favorite series where you read book 3 in light of what you know is coming in book 6. But for those exposed to this material for the first time – like me – those interjections of what is to come may be jarring. This is one of the ways I felt like I am  not the intended audience for this book. My PhD-level colleagues at a seminary would have a lot more context for the material in this book. If this is used in an academic setting, students may need more historical context as well for the Church’s response to Mary.

My only real complaint would be that in my review copy, the endnotes aren’t linked which is frustrating for the reader. Hopefully this will be fixed in the official e-book.

I can recommend this to scholars, researchers, and seminarians. I think it would be a supremely readable textbook for students. More casual readers like me can get a lot out of this, too. This will forever impact my understanding of Mary and her presence in the gospels!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great! Might re-read.

BOOK NEWS: November 5, 2024

BOOK NEWS: November 5, 2024

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week to kick off November.

Books for Kids

Yes, Chef! It’s Snack Time (Board Book) – A darling story about making a fruit salad. The artwork is fantastic!
The Critter Club: Marion’s Warm Welcome – Book 28 in this chapter book series full of fun animals and friendship stories.
Scare School Diaries: Forest Frights – Book 2 in this not-too-scary series by Jarrett Lerner. Bash the ghost has a couple of mischievous vampires in his project group, and he is worried they could ruin his grade.

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

Mr. Lemoncello’s Fantabulous Finale – The sixth and final book in the Mr. Lemoncello series.
Where Is Yellowstone?
Who Is Taylor Swift? (Deluxe Edition) – The Deluxe Edition is hardcover with special endpapers and sprayed page edges.
A Diamond Bright & Broken – A girl who has been used for her tears which become diamonds seeks out the Mage Queen to learn more about her gift/curse.
Teen Titans: Starfire (Graphic Novel) – Book 6 in the incredible Teen Titans series. I pre-ordered this a YEAR ago, and I will drop everything to read this when it finally arrives. The author has released the cover for the next book – Teen Titans Together – which will release in 2025, and it looks AMAZING!

Books for Adults

The Author’s Guide to Murder (Hardcover) – Three writers are suspects when their host is killed during a visit to his castle. This sounds amazing!
The Gardener’s Plot (Hardcover) – When her friend goes missing and a body is found in their community garden, Maggie is determined to find the real killer.
Janie’s Got a Gun: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Music of Aerosmith (Trade Paperback) – 16 crime authors celebrate the band Aerosmith as the band heads into retirement by turning out stories based on their music. This whole premise is fantastic!
Let It Snow : Cozy Mysteries for Winter (Trade Paperback, November 10) – A collection of mysteries for the season by one author. A great way to check out some of her characters/series.
Mistletoe Mischief (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Falling in Mistletoe series. A tour guide looking to boost business invites a podcaster to Mistletoe, Idaho but he doesn’t realize the public face of the podcast is a different person than the one behind the mic.
Mr. Nice Spy (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the My Spy series. A fireworks designer is on the run from her escaped arms dealer father. Before the CIA can convince her to work with them as bait to catch her father, she and one of the agents are kidnapped. Sounds fantastic!
Pony Confidential (Hardcover) – A woman accused of murder is helped by the pony she had as a child. Sounds fun and quirky!
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Asylum – Pike’s early memories with Una at the Academy become pertinent during their life on the Enterprise when faced with a terrorist attack.
Teller of Small Fortunes (Trade Paperback) – A fortune teller with a past joins up with an unexpected found family as they try to find a missing child. This sounds lovely and cozy for November.
The State of Old Testament Studies: A Survey of Recent Research (Paperback) – An Old Testament collection like the Pauline collection I reviewed in October. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

REVIEW: The Frindle Files by Andrew Clements

REVIEW: The Frindle Files by Andrew Clements

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Josh Willet’s Language Arts teacher, Mr. N, is like someone from the stone age! No computers in class. An honest-to-goodness CHALKBOARD in the classroom. And handwritten homework. What century is this guy living in?!

One night while working on his (handwritten) homework, Josh’s pen runs out of ink. The one he borrows from his mom has the word “Frindle” written on it. Josh looks up the word online and get’s an unbelievable surprise. The kid who invented the word Frindle? Nicholas Allen?

He looks just like Mr. N!

So Josh opens a new file on his computer, names it “The Frindle Files,” and starts investigating his teacher and this “Nick Allen,” the creator of Frindle.

Review

This. Was. Incredible.

It’s everything I wanted it to be. I should never have doubted Andrew Clements.

This has a familiar and similar dynamic as the original book without being an outright copy. And it’s sharp and contemporary without trying too hard. The main characters of The Frindle Files are like Nick and his friends from Frindle – smart and clever kids who aren’t perfect but who have good intentions. Their grown ups – both at school and at home – want what’s best for the kids. And that’s provided with both freedom and boundaries.

And the teacher/student relationship is everything I loved from the original.

Of course, I re-read Frindle for a refresh before diving into this – and I’m so glad I did. It made the call backs so easy to recognize. And I cried happy tears through both books. Clements fans and Frindle fans – do NOT miss this!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BOOK SHOPPING SUGGESTIONS: The 2024 Holiday Hint List Is Here

BOOK SHOPPING SUGGESTIONS: The 2024 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? I’ve been trying to wait to do my shopping this year. I find when I start too soon – with the movies, with the music, with the shopping – I get burned out by mid-December and then Christmas is disappointing. But just because I’m not DOING Christmas thing doesn’t mean I’m not THINKING about doing Christmas things! And I have already put together my 2024 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 2024 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.

REVIEW: Big Witch Energy by Molly Harper

REVIEW: Big Witch Energy by Molly Harper

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Caroline’s newly awakened magic has shown her a ghost that hangs around her family’s restaurant, the Wilted Rose. Riley wonders if the ghost might be tied to Caroline’s family curse. And the curse is ever-present in Caroline’s mind since her high school sweetheart – the man she loved but lost because she can’t leave the island – has returned to Starfall.

Ben and his kids have come to Starfall to try to rebuild their lives after Ben’s divorce. He didn’t realize how often he’d run into Caroline on the small island. You’d think he’d be “over” their history after all this time, but he gets tongue-tied every time he runs into her.

When Ben stumbles onto the coven’s ghostly secret – and his kids get drawn in as well – the extra time with Caroline reveals the depths of their feelings for one another. But there’s a lot of hurt – and a magical curse – in their past. And that might be more than they can overcome.

Review

This was excellent! It’s a fantastic mix of fantasy, mystery, and romance, making this Starfall Point series perfect for me. The cast gets even better with the addition of Ben and his kids. I am a sucker for any book that can add in excellent kid/teen characters, and these two are outstanding. Every scene with the core group together – whether magical or not – absolutely sparkled. I laughed so much as I read this. It was a complete delight!

The magical mysteries in this book were fascinating. This felt like the perfect season to read a ghostly story, too. Once again, there was plenty of information doled out to make the story satisfying while still holding something back for the next book which will be April’s story. And I can’t wait!

Fans of book one, Witches Get Stuff Done, should absolutely pick this up. Newcomers should definitely read these books in order because the mystery/magical pieces will make more sense. This series was a delightful surprise for me – I randomly requested the first book from the library and fell in love. Now they have become part of my personal library so I can return to them before the third book comes out. If you are looking for something “spooky” for the season, don’t miss this series. (Language, sex, ghosts/curses)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

BOOK NEWS: October 29, 2024

BOOK NEWS: October 29, 2024

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

Kamala Raised Her Hand – A picture book about Vice President Kamala Harris and the ways she has “raised her hand” across her life in an effort to make a real difference for people.

 

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults

Let It Glow – Two adoptees discover they are biological sisters – twins – and plan to swap places for the holidays to learn about each other’s lives.

Books for Adults

A New Lease on Death (Hardcover) – First book in a new mystery series. A ghost and the new tenant of her apartment team up to look into the murder of a neighbor.
Only Cold Depths (ebook) – Book 4 in Jennifer Estep’s Galactic Bonds series about a specially-powered couple on the run.
Perfect Fit (Trade Paperback) – A woman has to work with her ex-best friend’s twin brother to save her company. When they actually start to hit it off, they will have to deal with his sister and the history between the women.
This Will Be Fun (Trade Paperback) – A band of heroes are reunited ten years after their epic victory for a wedding where they have to confront not only new enemies but also their past. Yes, please!
What If? 125 Questions to Discover More About Life and Faith – A small gift book of thought-provoking questions for personal or group use. The author is a personal friend, and she is known for her questions and her approach to life and faith and community.