Reviews, Etc.

BOOK NEWS: February 21, 2023

BOOK NEWS: February 21, 2023

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books out this week!

Books for Older Kids

Lasagna Means I Love You – A girl new to foster care finds a handmade cookbook with family stories so she starts to collect other recipes and stories, hoping to find some family stories for herself. I am so excited to read this one!

Books for Adults

Best Served Hot – When the online battle between two restaurant critics starts to get attention, they agree to do some joint events for additional publicity.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: The High Country – The crew of the Enterprise are scattered on a strange world after a mysterious shuttle malfunction.

REVIEW: Stardust in Their Veins by Laura Sebastian

REVIEW: Stardust in Their Veins by Laura Sebastian

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Beatriz, Daphne, and Sophronia – triplet princesses, born to both rule and ruin. Each left for their assigned country and prince; each expected to marry and then enact their mother’s plan. But nothing has gone as expected.

Beatriz has discovered unexpected powers while also facing betrayal. She’s sequestered in a nunnery under charges of treason.
Daphne has been the target of several assassination attempts, but not from the corners she might have expected.
And Sophronia….

The triplets have gone off course from their mother’s plan – but the Empress has been working her own scheme all along. And she’s not the only one.

Review

AMAZING! This was fantastic! The minute I finished, I sat, stunned. What a ride.

In some ways this is the sort of mid-trilogy book that mostly serves to set up the big action of book 3. There’s not a ton of ground gained here. That being said, there were some fantastic moments and fascinating reveals. The book is completely engrossing, and I loved it! But at the same time, I feel like it mostly kept me in a holding pattern for book 3.

There’s some great character development going on in that “holding pattern,” though. We continue to learn about the triplets and their mother as well as other friends – and villains – from book 1, Castles in Their Bones. Once I finished the last page, I was ready to start over again. Sadly, I have fallen behind in my reading, so a re-read will have to wait. On the plus side, once my personal print copy arrives, (hopefully with the UK cover which matches book 1 better than the US cover), I’ll be able to book tab this like I did book 1.

This was a fun book annotation practice I tried in January. I really missed the ability to continue tabbing with my e-ARC.

Fans of book one should immediately pick up the sequel – and carve out time because you won’t want to put it down. Fans of the author’s Ash Princess series should definitely check this series out asap – I think you will love it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ – I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz

REVIEW: The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz

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

For years, Evan has used the skills the Orphan program gave him to help people in desperate need of his talents as the Nowhere Man. But the US government didn’t like that. They said he could have a pardon for all he’s done – under orders and under his own conscience – if he stopped being the Nowhere Man. But he didn’t. And they have hunted him down.

Now he has a new offer – help the President by taking out a problem and his pardon agreement will be reinstated. But X is working on his own terms – he needs to check the guy out for himself. But what he finds isn’t what he expected.

Review

I read this series for two reasons:

One, my husband loves it. I read one of the early books for a family challenge a few years ago.
Two, I love the series characters.

But these books are often dark and super violent. So they don’t always click for me. I’ve even skipped a couple along the way. This one really only worked for me about 60% of the time. Most of the scenes with the villain fell flat. He was annoying. I hated him, but not in a “he needs to pay”/someone needs justice sort of way. More in a “when can we get back to the good stuff?” way.

Honestly, EVERY OTHER THING in the book (other than the violence/gore/icky bits) was a delight – Joey, other old friends, Evan’s personal growth. Even the scenes with the governmental powers that be who were coercing Evan were brilliant. Emotionally, I felt like I was reading two different books – one laugh-out-loud-funny and smart and sharp while the other was flat, bland, and colorless. I’m not sure if the author was trying to create a sort of Moriarty character here, (which I don’t enjoy in Sherlock Holmes either – although the recent Enola Holmes movie did an amazing job with the character) but it did not work for me.

I think there’s a lot here for series fans to enjoy. I bookmarked many perfect moments as I read. Readers who really get into the villainous interchanges here will find this to be the full package. But if the villain falls flat for you too, this may be an “only okay” addition to the series. Newcomers should not start here. I think this book only has a chance of being satisfying if you’ve read enough of the previous 7 stories. Context matters here. (Language, sex, sexual references including references to sexual assault, gore, violence)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

BOOK NEWS: February 14, 2023

BOOK NEWS: February 14, 2023

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy Valentine’s Week! Here are some new books you might love!

Books for Kids

Super Pancake (Chapter Book Graphic Novel) – A struggling young pancake develops superpowers and wants to use them to help her town.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

On Air with Zoe Washington – A sequel to From the Desk of Zoe Washington. Now that her birth father is out of prison, Zoe wants to help him achieve his dream of opening a restaurant.
When You Wish Upon a Lantern – Liya has to team up with her former best friend to help save her family’s wishing-lantern store.

Books for Adults

End of Story – Susie’s unhappy to discover that the contractor for the house she inherited is her ex’s best friend. But even more surprising is the divorce certificate he finds in the house – dated 10 years in the future and with THEIR names on it.
The Last Orphan – Book 8 in the Orphan X series. Evan’s been able to stay one step ahead of the US government for years, but that advantage is now gone, and the President offers him a deal – if he eliminates someone she says is too dangerous to live, she will leave Evan alone. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Ruby Spencer’s Whisky Year – A writer living in Scotland for a year to write a cookbook starts to see reasons to make her stay more permanent.
The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days – Faith-based blessings for the lives we actually live. I have this on my wishlist.

REVIEW: Cranky Chicken Party Animals by Katherine Battersby

REVIEW: Cranky Chicken Party Animals by Katherine Battersby

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

Cranky Chicken and Speedy the worm explore parties in their latest adventure.

Another delightful grumpy/sunshine buddy book starring Cranky Chicken and Speedy. The sass is a little stronger in this one, and I cackled more than once.

If you are looking for a book kids and their grownups can enjoy, this series is a winner!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: A Good Day to Pie by Misha Popp

REVIEW: A Good Day to Pie by Misha Popp

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Daisy’s primary business is baking pies. But only a special segment of her customers know about “Pies Before Guys.” That’s the mostly-secret baking business where wronged and wounded women can buy a magical pie that will make the man stop his shenanigans. It’s not Daisy’s fault that for some of these trolls the only thing that will stop them is their death.

Daisy is doing a TV bake off with the hopes of winning money to keep funding Pies Before Guys. But she doesn’t expect that one of the contest judges is the man she’s supposed to deliver a magical pie to on the way home. When the judge later dies – without the help of Daisy’s special baked goods – she starts looking for a killer.

Review

Not unlike an excellent pie, an excellent mystery requires the right ingredients at proper amounts, blended together. Murder, Lies, and Deadly Pies was my favorite book of 2022. That’s a lot to live up to. But A Good Day to Pie was up to the task.

I was afraid the baking contest might be a drag for me – I don’t watch baking shows, and I’ve read other books recently with a similar setting. But this really surpassed other examples of the set up. I was riveted by the competition and zipped through every challenge to see what would happen next. And I adored the little community formed by the contestants.

For a long time I worried that the murder would keep Daisy from using her magic, but that worry was unnecessary. Everything was woven into the story, and I was supremely satisfied how it all came together.

This is a distinct and different series that is hitting me in a way I didn’t know I needed. It seems weird to love a series with a protagonist who is essentially a killer. But the way Daisy’s power works means she only provides the pies and magic. The “victims” bring on their own demise by their lack of repentance. That might feel too dark for some readers, but it’s hitting just the right tone for me these days. I’ll be sticking with Daisy and Pies Before Guys for the long haul! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

BOOK NEWS: February 7, 2023

BOOK NEWS: February 7, 2023

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the first release week of February. Let’s take a look at what is releasing this week.

Books for Kids

The Library Fish Learns to Read (Picture Book) – The fish on the librarian’s desk decides she wants to learn to read.
Bigfoot and Nessie and the Art of Getting Noticed (Chapter Book Graphic Novel) – First in a new series. Bigfoot’s family is disappointed in his inability to be photographed while Nessie gets more attention than she wants.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

City Spies: City of the Dead – Book 4 in the City Spies series. The young spies work to thwart a series of cyberattacks.
Nat for Nothing (Graphic Novel) – Book 4 in the Nat Enough series. Nat experiences friend issues while also trying to figure out what her “thing” is when all of the students at her school have to join a club.
Daughters of Oduma – In a world where young girls compete in fights for their futures, a retired fighter has to step back into battle to save her found family.
The Severed Thread – Sequel to The Bone Spindle, a gender-flipped Sleeping Beauty tale. I have both books on my wish list!
Stardust in Their Veins – Sequel to Castles in Their Bones, from the author of The Ash Princess. Three princesses trained by their mother to be her ticket to world conquest have found clarity thanks to distance from their mother, but they are still reeling from the events of book 1. I am gearing up for a re-read of book one so I am ready to dive into this one immediately!!

 

Books for Adults

A Good Day to Pie – Sequel to Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies, my most favorite read of 2022. This time Daisy is participating in a baking competition, but also delivering some of her super secret magical pies. But when one of her targets turns out to be a judge at the competition – and then dies before she delivers his murder pie – she’s pulled into a mystery again.
Just My Type – Two journalists – who happen to be high school exes – are pitted against each other by their boss to write relationship articles against type. She’s been in many long term relationships, so she has to write about being single and staying single while he has to stop being a player and write about being good boyfriend material.
Not Your Ex’s Hexes – Book two in the Supernatural Singles series. Rose is no longer the next Prima for her supernatural community, so she is trying to find a new path. When an animal rescue mission goes awry, Rose ends up having to serve community service hours with a grumpy vet – the one she hooked up with a few weeks earlier and can’t get out of her mind. Book 1 in this series  was one of my top 10 favorite reads from 2022. I reviewed this one last week – you can read my review here.
Of Manners and Murder – First in the Dear Miss Hermione Mystery series. Violet’s first Agony Aunt letter leads her to a murdered woman and a mystery to solve.
Secretly Yours – An uptight professor on sabbatical hoping to write a novel clashes with a bubbly landscaper from his past who is working at his family’s vineyard.
Curveball: When Your Faith Takes Turns You Never Saw Coming (Or How I Stumbled and Tripped My Way to Finding a Bigger God) – From the author of  How the Bible Actually Works and The Bible Tells Me So. Dealing with life’s “curveballs” without losing faith.

REVIEW: Moon Rising by Tui T. Sutherland

REVIEW: Moon Rising by Tui T. Sutherland

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

The War of Sandwing Succession is over and the Dragonets of Destiny have started a school so other dragons can learn about one another and old animosity might someday be overcome. But someone seems to be trying to cause trouble at the school – and commit murder. One Nightwing, Moon, has the legendary mindreading and prophecy gifts of her ancestors, so she’s getting clues about the culprit. But she’s afraid everyone will hate her if they find out what she can do.

Review

This is the graphic novel adaptation of the 6th novel in the Wings of Fire series. This kicks off my favorite arc of the series, and I was pleased with how this turned out. The artwork is gorgeous and does a great job with the story. But it’s still an adaptation of a larger story. This really whet my appetite to revisit the series again so I can enjoy the full experience.

Newcomers should probably start with book 1 to understand the references to the first arc, but I think this can stand alone. But to truly experience the story, I still think the full middle grade novel is the best bet. This graphic novel can be a great introduction for newcomers to the story, and it can also be a great visual experience for readers who already love the novel.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Not Your Ex's Hexes by April Asher

REVIEW: Not Your Ex’s Hexes by April Asher

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book releases February 7th.]

Summary

At one time, Rose Maxwell was the Prima-apparent, training to take over from her grandmother one day. But when her sister Vi finally came into her magic (Not the Witch You Wed – ♥♥♥♥½), she became the heir. While Rose has been enjoying her freedom, she had been training to be Prima most of her life. And Rose is still trying to figure out what this means for her future.

When a well-intentioned animal rescue mission goes awry, Rose finds herself doing community service at the animal rescue which means working with the sexy – and grouchy – Damian Adams, a half-demon veterinarian. After a brief hook up weeks ago, Rose hasn’t been able to get Damian out of her head. But Rose is NOT looking for a relationship. And Damian is too infuriating to ever be a romantic possibility. So Rose is just going to clock her hours and then have nothing to do with the sexy vet ever again.

Review

This was fun! It took me a little longer to warm up to this than it did for book one, which I adored. (It was one of my top 10 reads in 2022.) Grumpy/Sunshine is not a trope I usually seek out, and the “half-demon” aspect of this put me on my guard. For me, there’s a line in the world of paranormal fantasy for what is harmless fun and what starts to push the horror/occultish side. But this remained on the fun side. I fell for Rose and Damian, and I really enjoy the world-building and community in this series.

The fantasy/paranormal elements here are secondary to the solid romantic story. He has history and is sure he can only share his bed, never his heart. She’s not looking for forever but finds it anyway in an unexpected place. The magical elements were icing on the cake – I love a magical setting!

Readers could start the series here – the story stands on its own. But you will want to pick up book 1 to get Vi’s story while we wait for book 3. And that will be a must-read for me. This book does some nice set up work for the next story – and I am here for it!

Grumpy/Sunshine fans, series fans, and paranormal romance fans should not miss this one! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BOOK NEWS: January 31, 2023

BOOK NEWS: January 31, 2023

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the last release week of January – let’s see what new reading treasures we can find this week!

 

Books for Kids

This Book Is My Best Friend – Two kids consider the same book from the library their best friend.
Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends – A new leveled graphic novel. Worm assumes they are friends because they are so much alike, but Caterpillar thinks there are big changes coming.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Simon Sort of Says – The only boy in his class to have survived a school shooting moves to a community where the internet is banned – somewhere he might be able to be known for something else.
Where the Black Flowers Bloom – An orphan goes on a quest to find out what killed her caretaker.
The Davenports – The Davenports are a wealthy Black family in the early 1900s, and this story centers around four women in and around the family.
Going Dark – An influencer goes missing – just like another girl two years ago – and a hacker starts looking for the truth.
Promise Boys – When a prep school principal is murdered, three boys at the school become murder suspects.
Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling – Starting on New Year’s, Reggie and Delilah keep running into each other on holidays throughout a year – and they grow closer over time.

Books for Adults

Dear Henry, Love Edith (Trade Paperback) – A widow and a grump share a living space for a little while. He assumes she’s an old woman, and she assumes he’s a grumpy old man. The exchange notes in their shared space, but at the same time they keep running into each other around town – and they have no idea the other person is their house-mate. This is on my list for this week!
Dodged a Bullet (e-book, February 3) – Book 6 in the Samantha True series. Samantha is working with a woman dodging a stalker – and the stalker doesn’t care who gets in his way in his pursuit of his target. I can’t want to dig into this series!
Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the fantastic Finlay Donovan series! Finlay finds herself in debt to the Russian mob, and they want Finlay to help them find a contract killer.
Sorry, Bro (Trade Paperback) – An Armenian woman’s mother is trying to set her up with men all over town, but it’s a woman who catches her eye.