Reviews, Etc.

BOOK NEWS: December 28, 2021

BOOK NEWS: December 28, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the FINAL release week of 2021. Let’s take a look at what’s wrapping up the year in books.

Books for Kids

Stacey’s Extraordinary Words – A new picture book by Stacey Abrams about a girl who loves words and learns their power when she’s preparing to compete in the local spelling bee.
Bad Kitty Gets a Phone – Kitty is certain a new phone will make her life complete.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Wings of Fire: The Brightest Night (Graphic Novel) – The fifth book of the original Wings of Fire series releases in graphic novel form this week. I pre-ordered this weeks ago. I am really enjoying the stories in this format!
What Was the Harlem Renaissance?
Here’s to Us (LGBTQ+) – The long-awaited sequel to What If It’s Us (♥♥♥♥½). Ben and Arthur keep running into each other even though they have both moved on into new relationships. The frequent run-ins leave them wondering “What if….”

 

Books for Adults

An Unlikely Duchess (Mass Market Paperback) – A marriage of convenience could turn to love for a young woman whose last hope is an old marriage contract and for a duke who needs a proper wife to help his debuting niece.
Death by the Finish Line (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Abby McCree Mystery series. Abby is helping put on a charity 5K when there’s a murder and a friend’s brother becomes the prime suspect.
Star Trek Discovery: The Book of Grudge (Hardcover Gift Book) – Photos and commentary from Grudge showing she truly is a queen.
The Story of You (Hardcover) – A new book from one of the authors of The Road Back to You. This focuses on the stories we tell ourselves, based on our Enneagram types, and on helping us write better, more healthy stories for ourselves. I’ll be reviewing this soon (I loved it!).

 

REVIEW: Killer Research by Jenn McKinlay

REVIEW: Killer Research by Jenn McKinlay

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

The mayoral race between Ms. Cole from the library and the incumbent, Mayor Hensen, is heating up. And Lindsey and her Crafternoon friends are all in for the campaign. In fact, children’s librarian, Beth, is serving as Ms. Cole’s campaign manager.

But when a dead body is found in Ms. Cole’s car, the mayor and his cronies smell blood in the water and turn up the heat on their smear campaign.

So Lindsey, Sully, and Beth start sleuthing, determined to clear Ms. Cole and clear a path to her election victory.

Review

This is one of those series that’s easy to fall into no matter how long it’s been since you read the last one. This is the 12th book in the Library Lovers Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay, and it’s a must-read for me and has been from the beginning. The main characters feel like old friends, and it’s no work at all to dive into a new book.

My book friends did not disappoint in this outing. I was completely invested in seeing Ms. Cole cleared, and I cheered every time she verbally stomped on the mayor when he tried to stir up trouble. The mystery kept me guessing, and I enjoyed watching the story and the solution play out.

I don’t know that you have to read this series in order. It helps, though, because of the history with Ms. Cole throughout the series. It’s so satisfying to have seen her evolution from the beginning of the series until now, especially in her relationships with Lindsey and the Crafternoon group. That said, I still think the story is easy enough to follow if you decide to drop into the series here.

Series fans, of course, should absolutely pick this one up and enjoy watching Lindsey work the case – and Ms. Cole work the election!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

BOOK NEWS: December 21, 2021

BOOK NEWS: December 21, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Christmas. Is. Days. Away. It shouldn’t surprise me, but somehow it manages to sneak up on me. There are only a few new releases on my radar for this week. Here they are:

She Persisted: Oprah Winfrey (Nonfiction Chapter Book)
How Not to Fall in Love (Young Adult) – A romance cynic offers to help her best friend over his umpteenth break up with some lessons in how NOT to fall in love.
Be More Boba Fett (Gift book) – Advice for life from the example of Boba Fett.
How to Spot a Family Murder Plot (e-book, December 22) – Even though Mags isn’t biologically a Murphy, she’s still all in about the family reunion at a Scottish castle. When one of the cousins is killed, the family closes ranks so as not to implicate one of their own, but when Mags’ dad becomes the prime suspect, she isn’t as concerned with keeping family secrets.
School of X (Paperback) – Seven new X-Men stories
Star Trek Deep Space 9: Revenant (Trade Paperback) – Dax heads to a resort casino to help an old friend whose granddaughter has gone a bit wild. But Dax discovers she has changed in some “terrifying” ways. Of course, this is on my list.

REVIEW: Batman and Robin and Howard by Jeffrey Brown

REVIEW: Batman and Robin and Howard by Jeffrey Brown

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

You’d think it would be awesome to be Robin! Helping Batman fight crime with cool gadgets? How amazing! But being the son of millionaire Bruce Wayne can be a drag. Like when your dad makes you go to a new school.

Damian Wayne is NOT excited about being the new kid. Howard figures Damian could use a friend. But they quickly become rivals – both in the classroom and on the soccer pitch.

But when Batman goes missing while investigating a case, Damian needs a friend more than he needs a rival.

 

Review

This was fun! It’s a meaty story – lots of new school/friendship angst for the boys along with a crime for Batman to investigate. The friendship story was stronger for me than the investigation. I did get a kick out of Batman trying to figure out which villain was responsible, though.

I first encountered the author’s work at an American Library Association conference when he was signing his first Jedi Academy novel. My son devoured it in line while waiting to have it signed. I think the kids who have enjoyed Jeffrey Brown’s Jedi Academy books (the series was later continued by Jarrett Krosoczka) as well as his other series will enjoy this new book. DC fans will also get a kick out of this. Classroom teachers and librarians will want to add this to their graphic novel collections.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good +

REVIEW: A Plus One for Murder by Laura Bradford

REVIEW: A Plus One for Murder by Laura Bradford

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Emma Westlake’s travel agency wasn’t as lucrative as it had once been. In fact, as more and more of her clientele starting handling their own arrangements, she was starting to consider how she was going to pay her bills.

The Friend for Hire idea wasn’t Emma’s but it seemed to be working. She had the older woman she had tea with every week. Then there was the elderly man who wanted a date for a Senior Center dance. And the middle-aged woman who needed a workout/accountability partner.

If only Emma had stopped there.

But no. She agreed to attend open mic night and clap for the writer who was going to read first. But right after telling her about the folks in the audience who wanted him dead, Brian keels over in the middle of his poem.  Now, Emma is a murder suspect. And she’s going to have to find her own way out of trouble because the good-looking deputy is looking at her far too suspiciously for her comfort.

Review

Such a fun series launch from Laura Bradford! The set up is clever – I liked the business idea of Emma being a “friend for hire.” It builds her circle and pulls people in for this mystery – and will keep launching new stories and characters and situations for the future.

I got a huge kick out of Emma getting pulled into sleuthing by her cozy mystery-loving friends! The wink-wink nature of a few moments in the book really added to the fun.

The mystery was excellent, with questions and reveals all the way to the end. The set up for the crime and suspects was great. The only wrinkle for me in the whole thing is my fear that the author is setting up two potential love interests for Emma. Love triangles are not my jam. But I’ll have to wait for book 2, A Perilous Pal, to see how things develop. And I will definitely be reading book 2 since this was such a delight. This is a series I’ll be sticking with!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

BOOK NEWS: December 14, 2021

BOOK NEWS: December 14, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Christmas is less than two weeks away! If you are still trying to find some last minute gifts, might I suggest books? You can read my 2021 Holiday Hint List here – and even look at a Padlet of all of the covers.  Here are some of the new books releasing this week that might go on your shopping list, too!

 

Books for Kids

Group Hug – Animals share comfort and encouragement through hugs.
Snoopy on the Job (Early Reader) – A new leveled reader starring Snoopy.
Thunder and Cluck: Smart vs Strong (Early Reader Graphic Novel) – Book three in this series.
You Should Meet John Lewis (Early Reader) – New leveled reader biography
Ada Twist, Scientist: The Why Files: Exploring Flight! – A new early chapter book non-fiction series launches this week starring my favorite Questioneer, Ada Twist.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Escape From Atlantis – First in a new series by the fabulous Kate O’Hearn. Two cousins are separated from their parents when the boat they are on in the Bermuda Triangle capsizes in  a storm. The kids find their way to an island that turns out to be the lost island of Atlantis. This sounds amazing!
Just Roll With It (Graphic Novel) – Maggie hopes the rolls of her 20-sided dice will help her through the anxiety of starting middle school.

 

Books for Adults

An Accidental Odyssey (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Exlibris Adventure series. A young woman leaves her fiancé at home while she travels halfway around the world to help her somewhat-estranged father, a classics professor, trace Odysseus’ journey around the Mediterranean.
Eyelet Witness (e-book, December 22) – Book 4 in the Bonnie & Clyde Mystery series. Bonnie and Clyde are helping a new customer when she is suspected of murder.
Jane Austen’s Lost Letters (Hardcover) – Book 14 in the Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery series. A fidgety older woman hands Josie a package, mentions Josie’s father, and then takes off. Inside is a card with Josie’s name written in her late father’s handwriting along with two letters signed “Jane Austen.”
The Love Con (Trade Paperback) – Kenya has a chance to launch her cosplay career by entering a contest, but the first challenge requires her “significant other.” Her best friend, Cameron, agrees to step in and play the role. I’ve already pre-ordered this one!
Nightwing; Leaping into the Light (Hardcover collection) – Nightwing and Batgirl are investigating Blüdhaven’s new mayor while also looking for a new villain. Issues 78-83. This is on my list for this week.
Zits: Undivided Inattention (Paperback collection) – A new Zits collection.
Be the Brave One: Living Your Spiritual Values Out Loud and Other Life Lessons (Hardcover) – “Part memoir, part spiritual formation guide” by the first female and openly gay chaplain of the NYFD about the change 9/11 made in her life. This sounds fascinating!
My Dad’s Funnier than Your Dad: Growing Up with Tim Conway in the Funniest House in America (Hardcover) – A memoir.
Star Wars Mandalorian: Art of Season 2 (Hardcover)

REVIEW: If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich

REVIEW: If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Saturday is one of the hottest pop groups around. Angel is the fun one; Jon is the sexy one. Zach is the “bad boy.” And Ruben is the blank slate. The label wants him to be the “every guy” who can fit any niche a fan might want that the other three don’t. And that means there is NO room for him to share that he’s gay.

Everything from the boys’ images to their off-stage wardrobes to their choreography is dictated by the label. They want what they want, and they expect the guys to stand and deliver.

But in a moment of vulnerability, Zach acts on feelings he’s been trying to ignore. He kisses Ruben. And everything changes – Zach’s self-concept and identity, the band’s dynamic (even though no one else knows what happened), and the friendship between Zach and Ruben.

If this gets out? It will shake the foundation of everything – the group, their fan base, their record deal, and their future.

Review

This was such a great read! For me there were two aspects of the story – the romance and the band life. Both were so well done.

I liked Ruben and Zach as individuals and also as a couple. All four guys in the group are fascinating, and I loved their fierce devotion to one another. Ruben and Zach get to tell their own stories, which is powerful. Readers are along for the ride as Zach wrestles with his sexual identity and Ruben waffles between his determination to be fully himself and the pressure to give in under all of the gaslighting, manipulation, abuse, and coercion from the adults around him.

The psychology of the novel was my favorite part, though. The manipulation from the label. The identity journey for Zach and for Ruben to a lesser degree. The group dynamics in the “band.” One character’s “merging” behavior (losing himself as he tries to accommodate everyone else first). It’s all SO well done and a joy to dig into.

Come for the romance and the behind-the-scenes look at the music business. Stay for the fantastic characters and the brilliant, insightful moments throughout the story! (Language, sex, alcohol/drug use, LGBTQ+, TW: gaslighting/manipulation/verbal abuse)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: A Counterfeit Suitor by Darcie Wilde

REVIEW: A Counterfeit Suitor by Darcie Wilde

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

When Rosalind Thorne’s father’s crimes and schemes caught up with him, he fled with his oldest daughter, Charlotte, abandoning his wife and youngest daughter. But Rosalind has made the most of the rotten hand she was dealt. She’s been able to keep her own house and help elite families negotiate debuts and avoid scandals, putting them in her debt.

Then her father escapes Charlotte’s close supervision and semi-confinement, which has been for his own good – as well as his daughters’. But an old enemy of Rosalind’s is pulling her father’s strings, looking to destroy her. The tables are soon turned, though. Rosalind’s father, Sir Reginald, is found dead. And her enemy, Russell Fullerton, stands accused of his murder.

It’s pretty audacious for Fullerton to ask Rosalind for help proving his innocence. It would be all too easy to let him suffer for his many sins. But she can’t help dig for the truth, no matter what she might turn up along the way.

Review

Yikes, this was twisty! I could not puzzle this one out for myself. I had to just watch the story unfold.

I so enjoy Rosalind and her friends, and it was a treat to spend time with them again. I didn’t love this story as much as I have some of the earlier mysteries. But I am all in on these characters!

I found the resolution of the situation with Rosalind and her family satisfying. I’m curious to see how her life changes now that she no longer has to fear her father’s return and the trouble that would inevitably follow if he did.

Fans of the series should not miss this latest installment. I truly love the cast, and the slow burn between Rosalind and Adam is fascinating. The potential love interest for Alice was an interesting addition to the series. I’m curious to see how that evolves over the course of future books. I highly recommend newcomers start this series from the beginning to enjoy all of the character arcs fully and to best understand what the return of Rosalind’s father means.

While I debated between a rating of 3.5 (Good+) and 4 (Great!), I am going with 4 because the characters in this series keep me coming back. Historical mystery fans should check this series out. (LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: December 7, 2021

BOOK NEWS: December 7, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy December! Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

 

Books for Kids

Good Knight, Mustache Baby – Mustache Baby and Beard Baby are back, this time fighting the childhood foe, bedtime. I can’t wait to see this one in person. The first two books are some of my favorites.
Build Your Own Disneyland – This gift book becomes a 3D model of Disneyland.
She Persisted: Helen Keller – A chapter book biography.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

What Is the Story of Captain Kirk? (Is it any surprise I already preordered this one?!)
Who Is Queen Elizabeth II? AND Who Were Stanley and Livingstone?
The Big Reveal – Addie and her friends decide to put on a top-secret burlesque show to help Addie raise money for dance school, but when word gets out, the body-shaming and slut-shaming begins.
Fools in Love: Fresh Twists on Romantic Tales (LGBTQ+) – All of your favorite romance tropes applied in new ways. I have this one on my list for this week.
If This Gets Out (LGBTQ+) – From the author of Only Mostly Devastated (♥♥♥♥½) and Perfect on Paper. When two members of a boy band start to fall in love, the pressure from their label to stay in the closet leaves them to wonder if they will ever be able to truly be themselves. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!

 

Books for Adults

Absence of Mallets (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 9 in the Fixer-Upper Mystery series. Shannon and Mac are on the hunt for a killer who is trying to up-end everything they are trying to build in their community.
Absynthe (Trade Paperback) – A shell-shocked veteran with telepathic powers thanks to a military project in WWI teams up with an heiress to take on his former commander who is now the President and who wants the military program to stay secret, permanently. This is absolutely on my list for this week! I have already pre-ordered it.
The Amish Quilting Bee (Trade Paperback) – A collection of three Amish stories about new relationships and quilts.
The Case of the Sugar Plum Shenanigans (e-book, December 9) – When her boyfriend goes to Wisconsin for a job interview, Annie decides to go along. They can stay at her great-aunt’s inn, The Cheesehead Lodge. Sure, her family is a bit odd, and Annie is a ghost-whisperer. But they’ll only be there a few days – what could possibly happen?
The City of Shadows (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Counterfeit Lady series. Elizabeth tries to convince her friends and family to help her con a con when she takes on a fake medium trying to fleece widows.
Cold Brew Corpse (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Coffee Lover’s Mystery series. Lana has a chance to get back into journalism when she is asked to write about the murder of a local business person.
Debutante’s Code (Trade Paperback) – First in the new Thorndike and Swann Regency Mystery series. A young lady ready to debut in London discovers her parents are spies when they disappear and she tries to complete their last mission. This sounds fun!
How to Book a Murder (Hardcover) – First in the new Starlit Bookshop Mystery series. Emma agrees to plan a mystery-themed dinner for a wealthy friend, but the fun ends when someone is murdered.
A Nose for Mischief (e-book) – First in a new Riverbend K-9s series. Zoey finds herself unemployed and unemployable after the FBI raids her former employer. But she gets a fresh start working with a rescue dog – and an FBI Special Agent – in the Riverbend K-9 Academy. So when it looks like the FBI didn’t get the whole story in their raid, Zoey agrees to go back in undercover with her dog and Special Agent as back up. This sounds fun!
A Plus One for Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Friend for Hire Mystery series. Emma is looking for a new business opportunity when a friend tells her she should become a companion/friend for hire. But when one of her first clients is murdered while they are together, Emma gets drawn into a mystery. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Proposing Mischief (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Joplin Chronicles series. A farm girl looking for a way out of her circumstances finds something unexpected in an old mine shaft that draws her into a deal with the son of of the mining company owners that throws all of Joplin into a tizzy.
Renewed for Murder (Hardcover) – Book 6 in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. Amy’s Aunt Lydia begs for her help when Lydia’s best friend is accused of murder. But the woman isn’t helping herself any when she refuses to say why the dead woman was blackmailing her. I have this one on my review list.
Slip Stitched & Slayed (e-book) – Book 5 in the Knitty Kitties Mystery series. It’s Christmas time and Tessa has no room in her schedule for sleuthing why Santa dropped dead in the middle of the Christmas parade.
Stitched in Crime (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Craft Fair Knitters Mystery series. Lia and the Ninth Street Knitters are investigating when a new crafter is killed.
What the Cat Dragged In (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Whitman Street Cat Café series. After a steamy night together, two cat rescue volunteers discover that he is her best friend’s brother. There’s no way they can keep seeing each other – but it also feels like they can’t possible walk away.
Without a Hitch (Trade Paperback) – A wedding planner looking for a way to make a name for herself takes on more high-end, over-the-top events. Based on real events in the lives of the authors.
Call Us What We Carry (Hardcover, poetry) – A poem collection by Amanda Gorman.