Reviews, Etc.

REVIEW: Flight Risk by Cherie Priest

REVIEW: Flight Risk by Cherie Priest

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book releases on November 15th.]

Summary

Leda picks up a new psychic detective case when a man comes to her travel agency looking for help to find his sister who has gone missing.

At the same time, Grady stumbles across a new case when his dog, missing for days at Mount Rainier, trots out of the woods with a human leg in its mouth.

Before either Leda or Grady can get very far on their cases, they discover a connection that puts them on the same path once again.

Review

Book 2 in the Booking Agents series is fantastic! This was so fun, a start-to-finish read for me. I easily fell back into the rhythm with these characters from book 1, Grave Reservations. The mystery was twisty and kept me guessing all the way to the end. And there were numerous moments that left me laughing out loud. The whole reading experience was delightful!

The slightly psychic hook for this series is wonderfully sketchy. It’s hit and miss for Leda but that makes it all the better for the reader as you watch her puzzle things out. The main characters in this are fun – and the extended group rounds things out nicely. I would happily spend more time with these characters. I hope there are going to be many more Booking Agents books in the future. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

BOOK NEWS: November 1, 2022

BOOK NEWS: November 1, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy Halloween!! Tomorrow is the first release day in November – here are some of the new books releasing this week:

 

Books for Kids

Black Panther Wakanda Forever: The Courage to Dream – Picture book set in the world of the new Black Panther movie.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

The Wicked Remain – Book 2 in the Grimrose Girls series. Four friends continue to look for the source of a deadly curse while each is also working out her own issues. I have both of the books in this series on my library list!

Books for Adults

The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks (Trade Paperback) – Maggie takes over the running of her friend’s bookstore, but the local literary society has banned her from selling anything written in this century. So Maggie gets creative and starts an underground book club. I have already pre-ordered this one!
Dead and Gondola (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Christie’s Bookshop Mysteries series. Two sisters running a bookstore find themselves in the middle of a real life mystery when a customer is later found dead. This sounds fun!
Ex Appeal (ebook) – Book 3 in the Ponto Beach Reunion series. A financial wiz needs hacker assistance when a million dollars goes missing, but will his ex be willing to set aside their history and help him out? I pre-ordered this weeks ago! Can’t wait to dive in.
Holmes Coming (Hardcover) – A modern day doctor encounters a cryogenically preserved Holmes – no, not Sherlock, but the guy Doyle based the fictional detective on – who sent himself into the future to work on more challenging mysteries. This is a fascinating premise, so I *have* to give this one a try!
Honor and Shadows (ebook) – A prequel short story to the Starlight’s Shadow series. I love this series, so of course I pre-ordered this prequel. I will have PLENTY to read on November 1st when all of these books release!
In for a Penny (ebook) – Book 4 in the Crush on You series. An aspiring thriller writer and a grumpy, reclusive best-selling author with writer’s block are snowed in together. You know I pre-ordered this one too, right?!
Kiss Her Once for Me (Trade Paperback) – From the author of The Charm Offensive (which is on my TBR shelves). A down-on-her luck waitress agrees to her boss’s plan of a marriage of convenience, but when he introduces his new fiancée to his family, the waitress comes face to face with the women who got away. I can never turn down a fake relationship story!
Ocean’s Echo (Hardcover) – Winter’s Orbit, book 2. (Yet another “series” where I have one book still on my TBR, waiting.) A soldier and a socialite, both genetically modified, fake a sync bond that is supposed to merge their minds, until they discover dangers that leave them wondering if they would be safer completing the sync they’ve been faking. This sounds fascinating! It’s definitely on my list.
Once Upon a Royal Christmas (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Once Upon a Royal series from Hallmark. A children’s party “princess” is chosen to star in an Ice Festival in a real-life kingdom that needs to increase tourism to stay afloat. But the real-life prince of that kingdom is not convinced this “princess” is the right solution for his kingdom.
A Restless Truth (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Last Binding series. Yet another sequel to a book on my TBR – my bookshelves are getting lapped! She agreed to be the old woman’s companion on the ocean liner to help her brother solve a mystery. But she didn’t count on the old woman dying within hours of stepping on board.
The Rewind (Trade Paperback) – College sweethearts-turned-exes run into each other 10 years later at a wedding, each on a path toward the future that has no room for the other, no matter what feelings might surface. But when they wake up the next day in bed together – and apparently married – they are going to have to work together to figure out what happened. Because neither of them can remember.
A Very Merry Bromance (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the delightful Bromance Book Club series. An immigration attorney looking for ways to help her clients agrees to reach out to her ex, a country music star, and convince him to be the face of her family’s ad campaign. Still nursing a broken heart, he says he will only do it if she goes on three dates with him. I will be reviewing this one soon!
Enneagram Life: Personal, Relational, and Biblical Insights for All Seasons (Trade Paperback) – A new Enneagram book? Yes, please!

 

REVIEW: The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

REVIEW: The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Avery has not only solved several of the Hawthorne puzzles, but her one year at Hawthorne House is almost done. But before she can start thinking about her 18th birthday celebration and what she might do first after her inheritance becomes official, the whole Hawthorne world is turned upside down.

A new Hawthorne puzzle.
Dead girl look-alikes.
Kidnapping.
And a race against the clock for someone important to the family.

Review

I know that summary is a bit thin, but I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn’t read the first two books. I know there are folks who will only read a series when the whole thing has been published so they can blitz through it from start to finish. And this is a fantastic series to do that with. I zoomed through a re-read of The Inheritance Games and The Hawthorne Legacy (♥♥♥♥♥) before I started this, and the whole series is supremely satisfying.

Having read all three recently, I have to say this book has a more serious tone than the earlier books. The stakes are higher than ever. You may need to carve out time to read this in one sitting. I didn’t want to put it down.

I was thrilled with this final installment. It delivered on almost everything I wanted – and on several things I didn’t know I needed. Like the epilogue and bonus story in my Barnes and Noble Exclusive edition!

I believe strongly that this series should be read in order. It’s the best way to work through the puzzles, mysteries, and reveals. This is a not-to-be-missed conclusion. And since this published in September, the author has revealed there will be a couple more books set in this world, so watch for those! (This book includes couples sharing bedrooms, but no specific references to sex.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Photo Finished by Christin Brecher

REVIEW: Photo Finished by Christin Brecher

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

After a day of losses, including her best camera, Liv Spyers uses an unexpected encounter and a moment of boldness to secure a high paying gig photographing a debutante ball. It’s a great place to show Regina Montegue what she can do with a camera. But the event also is a great place for someone to commit murder.

Liv finds the body – and Regina nearby covered in blood. With her new boss at the top of the suspect list, Liv’s new gig could be short-lived. But one of the reasons Liv is such a great photographer is her understanding of people and her observation skills. So she decides to put them to use to clear Regina’s name and save her new job.

Review

This was fun! I enjoyed the “hook” of Liv’s photography and her photographer’s eye for details. It was a clever set up for a new mystery sleuth.

The case was super twisty. I had no guess whatsoever, so I was just along for the ride. The end of the mystery was satisfying, and the end of book was terrific.

I enjoyed the surrounding cast – a potential love interest, Liv’s family, and some new work friends. I will absolutely read more books in this Snapshot of NYC Mystery series! Cozy mystery fans should absolutely give this one a try!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

BOOK NEWS: October 25, 2022

BOOK NEWS: October 25, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the last full week of October. I don’t know about you, but I have found a TON of books this month I want to read. This is the perfect time to start building my holiday wish list. Let’s see what new releases catch your eye this week:

 

Books for Adults

The Bookshop of Secrets (Trade Paperback) – A young woman in town to uncover long-buried family secrets finds herself torn between letting people into her life and keeping her protective boundaries up. I’m intrigued by this one.
No Plan B (Hardcover) – Book 27 in the Jack Reacher series. Reacher witnesses a death that while ruled an accident is anything but. When a second “accident” occurs, Reacher is on the case. We fell in love with the Reacher series on Amazon this year, and I’m excited to read some of the books for myself.
Photo Finished (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Snapshot of NYC Mystery series. Photographer Liz Spyers stumbles into a brilliant career opportunity, but before the event is over someone will be dead and her new boss will be the prime suspect. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Stand-Up Groomsman (Trade Paperback) – Wedding attendants at odds with each other try to put their differences aside to get their friends happily wed.
A Trace of Poison (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Phyllida Bright Mystery series. Agatha Christie’s housekeeper stars in this series, and in this installment, there’s a murder at a writing contest where Agatha is one of the hosts. I am intrigued by this series!

REVIEW: Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus

REVIEW: Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

It’s the last semester of her senior year, and Brynn is back at Saint Ambrose, the last place she expected to be. But her return could help her out of a jam.

At her last school, a malicious prank left Brynn cut from her school newspaper job and ripped away any credibility she had earned for journalism. But now she’s an intern for a true crime show, and she’s pitched them a story centered at Saint Ambrose.

Brynn’s favorite teacher was murdered on school grounds. Three students found him, including Brynn’s former best friend. But the investigation seemed flimsy, and the crime was eventually blamed on a “drifter.”

So while Brynn is back at Saint Ambrose, she’s determined to find out the truth. And if she gets some bonus points for college by sharing the story with the world, all the better.

Review

This was twisty! From start to finish. Brilliantly plotted. The two storytellers really made this come together.

I was sure I knew what was going on at least 4 different times – but every reveal spun the story in a different direction.

When I was a teen, I voraciously read books by Lois Duncan. And the whole time I was reading this, I kept thinking about Duncan’s books and what I loved about them. Teen me would have been a HUGE Karen McManus fan. I loved this book and the sense that I was tailing a young sleuth looking for the truth while I read.

Fans of McManus’s previous work – One of Us is Lying, Two Can Keep a Secret, etc. – should absolutely pick this up. If you enjoy a tightly plotted mystery with teen protagonists, you will love this! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley

REVIEW: Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Delilah is opening a new pizza restaurant in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. It was supposed to be a joint effort with her fiancé, Sam. But their frequent disagreements – she’s too critical and controlling, he’s too conflict- and work-averse – have boiled over until he broke things off. Right before the soft open for their restaurant.

Delilah’s day only gets worse when she finds her frail and aging aunt holding a gun next to her caretaker’s body, just feet away from her restaurant.

Delilah understands the reality of police investigations. They can drag on. And her fledgling business can’t afford that. She needs this restaurant to work, especially after breaking up with Sam who was her financial backer. Her staff are all desperate for the business to blossom. So Delilah will just have to help the police solve the case.

Review

This was fun! I enjoyed the Wisconsin setting and the pizza joint in this series kickoff. (The book includes recipes, written in character, which was fun.) The characters here are great. The mystery is well done and kept me guessing.

There were parts I thought could be stronger – animosity toward the victim, rationales for some of his behavior, emotional punch to Delilah’s relationship situation. All of it was fine, but I wanted it to be bigger/stronger – more impactful.

The core group of characters are what made the book work for me. They would be what would bring me back for the sequel, Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust, due to release in spring 2023.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

BOOK NEWS: October 18, 2022

BOOK NEWS: October 18, 2022

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the third release week of October, but there is no sign of slowing down – lots of new books to check out this week!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Unicornado – Volume 16 in the Phoebe and her Unicorn series. I get such a kick out of these comics!

Books for Adults

Built to Last (Trade Paperback) – An adult romance from Erin Hahn. Former child stars team up for a renovation show, each looking for something including a second chance at love. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
Partners in Crime (Trade Paperback) – While her matchmaker is starting to think Mira will never find a match, she runs into Naveen, the first match she dismissed abruptly. But the two find themselves working together, initially as Naveen’s law firm helps Mira with her aunt’s affairs, but later as they dodge crime bosses and jewel thieves as they try to figure out what all Mira’s family was into. I am so stoked to read this one! I’ll be reviewing it soon.
Poster Girl (Hardcover) – Imprisoned with the fallen dystopian regime called The Delegation, Sonya has a chance at redemption – and freedom – if she can find a girl kidnapped by the old regime. I am intrigued by this one!
Beyond the Enneagram: An Invitation to Experience a More Centered Life with God (Hardcover) – From the author of Self to Lose, Self to Find comes this new Enneagram resource that focuses on the Spiritual Center. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Death of a Dream: Resurrecting Purpose When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned (Trade Paperback) – The author of this book spoke at our church this summer, tying his story to the story of Joseph in the Old Testament.
Madly Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman (Hardcover) – A collection of personal diary entries from 1993 through his death in 2016.
Tom Felton, Beyond the Wand (Hardcover) – A memoir.
We Wrote Your Name in Color (Trade Paperback, October 19) – A memoir of a couple who said yes when his sister and her husband wrote a will listing them as guardians for their children – and who never expected a murder/suicide to leave them parenting those children through the unthinkable.

REVIEW: The Search for Sasquatch by Laura Krantz

REVIEW: The Search for Sasquatch by Laura Krantz

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

The author, a journalist and podcaster, shares how she got involved in researching Sasquatch/Bigfoot and what she’s learned along the way. She ties as much as she can to science, the scientific method, and scientists like her famous ancestor, anthropologist Grover Krantz.

Review

This is fantastic! The content and illustrations are engaging. This is a meaty nonfiction book for kids about the science in the search for Bigfoot. Bigfoot enthusiasts will recognize many of the names she references throughout the book. And the sciences of DNA, eDNA, and anthropology are described in terms that will work for the kids and teens who will gravitate toward this title.

Amazon says this is for readers between 8 and 12, but this seems heavy for the younger kids in that age range. While reading I felt like this would be perfect for the older elementary and middle school crowd, 10 to 14 years old. This would be an excellent addition to classroom and library collections, especially where teachers and librarians are looking for engaging and contemporary nonfiction. This is the first book in a new Wild Thing line; I can’t wait to see what else they add to the collection!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Mrs. Claus and the Evil Elves by Liz Ireland

REVIEW: Mrs. Claus and the Evil Elves by Liz Ireland

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

April Claus is looking forward to having her friend, Claire, visit Santaland. Claire is still a little stunned at April’s life as Santa’s wife. But they have tons of fun activities planned for her vacation.

The first wrinkle is the reindeer strike. Not ideal a week before Christmas. Then there is a drone accident that ruined the ice sculpture contest.

And then there’s a murder.

One of April’s Santaland friends is arrested for the crime, so April has to get to the truth before the whole town turns on her friend and she spends Christmas in jail.

Review

I get such a kick out of this Christmas-themed mystery series! I love the setting, populated by elves, reindeer, and talking snowmen. The fantasy elements are more about the setting and characters than “magic,” but I enjoy this fresh take on a cozy mystery. The mystery here was good and kept me guessing all the way to the end.

I would have liked a bit more of the story anchored to April’s life as Santa’s wife and to the Claus family. But the full cast of elves opens up a lot of story ideas.

Series fans will want to pick up this new book in the Mrs. Claus Mystery series. Newcomers are probably fine starting here, although some of the setting elements and character history (like with Santa’s family) might take a little bit to make sense.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.