Reviews, Etc.

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Raven has trapped her demon father and is desperate to keep him out of her life. Desperate enough to hop a train to Nashville to meet up with a guy who says he can help.

Raven’s foster sister, Max, is following her in secret to protect Raven from whatever trouble she might run into.

Garth is still adjusting to his recently un-suppressed powers. He’s on a bus to Nashville to meet a guy who says he has the answers Garth is looking for.

And there’s someone else who is supposed to be meeting up with Slade Wilson. He’s the smart one – observing, wary. And as he watches, he sees what happens next.

Review

EEEEEK! I love these books! This was fantastic! I loved Gar and Raven together. It was great to see them connect. I also loved Max’s presence – as well as the other person who is watching. The only complaint I have about this series is that the books are TOO SHORT. I finish each one begging for more. (There’s a cover reveal for the next book at the back, and I am HERE FOR IT.)

I enjoyed the balance here between the character development and the budding romance along with the next bits in the Slade story. Is it enough? No, not for me. But I was satisfied with the balance between the two aspects.

I don’t know that readers have to go back to read Raven and Beast Boy first, but it will certainly help fill out the backstories for Raven, Max, and Gar. And now that readers can slam all three books in one go, it might feel more satisfying than when I read each one and then had to wait a year for the next installment.

I highly recommend these – for graphic novel fans, and for DC fans. (Demons/ghosts)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Her New Story by Laura Bradford

REVIEW: Her New Story by Laura Bradford

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

It’s been a year, and Tess is still reeling from finding her new husband and her “best friend” together. In fact, her distraction is starting to impact her work. She missed a huge, newsworthy story that happened right in front of her. And now she’s dealing with the fall out – in Amish country.

Tess was supposed to get a fun, exotic assignment for her job at In Depth magazine. Her peers are going to dogsled in Alaska, hunt poachers in South Africa, and shadow Special Forces in Afghanistan. She was supposed to go to Belize. It feels so unfair.

But Tess is determined to find her story – something attention-grabbing, something to get her back in her boss’s good graces – and then she can get her career back on the right trajectory.

Review

While the four books in this “series” stand alone, there are threads of connection from Portrait of a Sister to A Daughter’s Truth (♥♥♥♥) to Piece by Piece and finally to Her New Story. And I have adored the previous three books so much, reading this was essential. I loved getting to spend some time with these characters again.

That said, Tess made it really hard for me to enjoy this. Her bitterness and feelings of betrayal are completely understandable. And I sympathized with her. But she let her experience turn her hard and prickly. And she was that way through most of the book.

Then, she let her prickliness drive her work. She wanted to find a flashy story in Amish country that fit – and reinforced  – her broken and bitter worldview that no one can be trusted but yourself.

I can’t fault the author here. She does an excellent job of telling Tess’ story. I just didn’t like her. Thankfully she was offset by the women around her (from the earlier books) as well as a flirty newcomer. Those other characters, plus Tess’s mentor who tried to be a mirror for Tess to see herself, kept me engaged and curious to see how things turned out.

The resolution felt abrupt to me, especially after enduring brittle, angry Tess for 80% of the book. But it was satisfying, and it left me feeling content about the whole in the end. Readers don’t have to have read the other books – or to have read them in any particular order – to read this. But I personally would recommend the other three first to give better context for this one.

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Good/solid/fine

BOOK NEWS: October 19, 2021

BOOK NEWS: October 19, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books releasing this week! [Due to supply chain issues, release dates are subject to change. It’s happening so much right now, I don’t have time to reset all the books to their new dates. I’ll note the change when I see them. The bottom line is, order your holiday books early!]

Books for Kids

Planting Friendship: Peace, Salaam, Shalom – Three girls from different faith traditions learn about one another during a class planting project. This looks lovely.
I Am Oprah Winfrey – The latest picture book biography in the Ordinary People Change the World series.
Good Dog: Life Is Good – Book 6 in the series sees Bo experiencing his first snowfall.
Sophie Mouse: The Hidden Cottage – Book 18 in the sweet Adventures of Sophie Mouse early chapter book series. Sophie and her friends find a darling cottage that seems to be abandoned.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

A Batch Made in Heaven – Mina is supposed to be starting a mentorship at the local bakery, but the son of the owner won’t let her in the kitchen.
Dust & Grim – Orphaned siblings raised apart try to figure out how to manage the family business – a monster mortuary.
Keeping It Real (Older Middle Grade) – A girl in a special fashion training program discovers some family secrets when she looks for the reason for another participant’s hostility toward her.
A Kind of Spark – A neuro-divergent girl looks for ways to honor the other “different” women her town used to burn as witches.
The Shattered Castle – Book 5 in the Ascendance series by Jennifer A. Nielsen that started with the stellar The False Prince. The king keeps a secret he hopes will help him hold his kingdom, but nothing for him has ever gone easily.
The Unfinished Corner (Graphic Novel) – A girl preparing for her Bat Mitzvah while questioning if she even wants to be Jewish is whisked away to the Unfinished Corner, a place in Jewish mythology where monsters dwell.
Bad Girls Never Say Die – A new novel from Jennifer Mathieu, the author of the outstanding Moxie – this one a gender-flipped version of The Outsiders. I am intrigued by this!
City of Shattered Light – An heiress and an outlaw will have to decide if they are better off teaming up or going their own way when the things most precious to them are threatened. I love the sci-fi angle of this one.
Little Thieves – A maid who magically takes the place of a palace princess is cursed for her greed and left to scrape together a solution in two weeks time before she loses everything. Yes, please!
Out of the Fire – A girl taunted by the man who once kidnapped her teams up with other girls searching for vengeance, but she unearths some unexpected secrets along the way.

 

Books for Adults

Best in Snow (Hardcover) – Book 24 in the fun Andy Carpenter mystery series. You can read my full review of this one here.
A Christmas Courtship (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Berlin Bookmobile series. The bookmobile librarian recommends reading romance novels to a man looking for advice for wooing his long-time crush.
Dear Santa (Hardcover) – A young woman trying to recover from a devastating betrayal tries writing a letter to Santa to lift her holiday spirits.
Jackets, Jack-O-Lantern & Justice (e-book, October 21) – Book 22 in the Camper & Criminals mystery series.
Mulled to Death (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Colorado Wine Mystery series. A romantic getaway turns dangerous when a resort owner is killed and Parker experiences some mysterious “accidents.”
The Night of Many Endings (Trade Paperback) – An eclectic group takes shelter in the local library during a snowstorm and discovers more about themselves, and each other, than any of them expected.
The Twelve Jays of Christmas (Hardcover) – Book 30 in one of my favorite mystery series! Meg has her hands full when an artist working in their home is killed in the midst of a blizzard and her brother’s wedding preparations.
Well Matched (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in this Renaissance Faire series. April agrees to be Mitch’s fake girlfriend for a family dinner, but their fake relationship will have to continue when his family later comes to the Faire. Between the fact that I love these two characters and I am a sucker for a fake relationship story, this one is definitely on my list for this week!
Forty Days on Being an Eight (Hardcover, nonfiction) – The latest in this devotional series edited by Suzanne Stabile. Looks like the print version of this has been pushed back to November 23rd.

REVIEW: The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Ursu

REVIEW: The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Ursu

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Marya has grown up in the shadow of her two brothers – the younger brother who died and the older brother, Luka, destined to be a great sorcerer who protects their kingdom. But when Luka’s magical assessment doesn’t go as planned, and Marya is blamed for everything that went awry, she is taken to Dragomir Academy. While Marya’s not sure exactly what it means to go to a school for “troubled” girls, no one in her family seems inclined to try to stop it.

Once she’s there, Marya’s curiosity leads her to ask questions – and those questions only lead to more trouble.

Review

It’s hard to talk about this one because a lot of the punch and power comes from the whole. To talk about it with someone who hasn’t read it would ruin it for them.

In some ways, this went exactly where I expected it to go. But it went farther – almost to a bleak and disturbing place. Not disturbing like the content is bad, but disturbing like it holds a mirror up to things we might want to pretend don’t exist. If readers will let it, this book will force them to look unflinchingly at some things. And I encourage it. Take it in – see and hear what the story has to say. Sit with it and then ask yourself what you’re going to do with what you’ve seen.

I know this is written with middle grade readers in mind. But I’d love to hand this to a group of high school girls and talk with them about it. I think their take on the story, with a little distance from being Marya’s age, would be fascinating. It also would be interesting to talk about this with other adult women.

I highly recommend this one, especially for book groups because this begs to be discussed with other readers. (TW: Gaslighting)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Best in Snow by David Rosenfelt

REVIEW: Best in Snow by David Rosenfelt

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. This book now releases next week on October 19.]

Summary

It was bad enough that Andy’s dog, Tara, found a dead body in the snow. Finding out it’s the body of Paterson mayor, Alex Oliva, puts the whole town on edge, including Andy’s friend, Vince Sanders.

Vince is the editor of the local paper. And one of his reporters, Bobby Nash, lost his job over an article he wrote about the mayor. The police are looking for Bobby. And Vince wants Andy to defend him.

Things look bad for Bobby, especially when there’s a second murder tied to his article. Andy and his team will have their hands full trying to prove Bobby’s innocence – and trying to keep him alive.

Review

Another fun Andy Carpenter mystery to keep you guessing until the end. There are some fun twists to the case that kept it from feeling like it’s following a pattern. (This is the 24th book in the series – freshness is important.) I read this immediately after Dog Eat Dog, and I enjoyed how Rosenfelt changed things up with his cast, too. While the K-Team was involved with both books, this one relies more on electronic evidence, bringing in a different part of Andy’s team. This was a fun addition to the story.

Series fans will want to pick this up just to stay on top of what Andy and his team are up to. Newcomers can probably jump in here without a lot of issues. You’ll have missed how the team came together and a lot of the history and maybe a few inside jokes. But that just makes it more fun to go back and pick up the stories you’ve missed.

This is a must-read series for me. I always enjoy Andy’s humor – sarcastic and snarky – and court room antics. And the mysteries are usually intricate enough to keep me guessing until the end. Mystery fans should check this out. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BOOK NEWS: October 12, 2021

BOOK NEWS: October 12, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the fun new books grabbing my attention this week! [Due to supply chain issues, release dates are subject to change. It’s happening so much right now, I don’t have time to reset all the books to their new dates. I’ll note the changes when I see them. The bottom line is, order your holiday books early!]

Books for Kids

Dachshund Through the Snow – Crosby was so excited to finally be old enough to compete in the North Pole Animal Olympics, but when he’s teased for his small size, he gets discouraged and thinks about quitting. This looks adorable!
Interrupting Chicken: Cookies for Breakfast (now releasing October 26) – Book 3 in the series. A little chicken tries to use nursery rhymes to convince Papa that she should have cookies for breakfast.
Pinkie Promises – A girl who keeps hearing, “That’s not what girls do” gets to meet a woman who is running for president.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Across the Desert – The latest from the author of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. When a girl watches her favorite streamer – and online friend – crash her ultralight plane in the desert, she realizes she is the only one who has a chance to find her – and rescue her before she dies in the desert heat.
The League of Picky Eaters (now releasing November 2) – At a school where picky eating is frowned upon, a girl finds herself in the remedial eating class, RETCH.
The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy – When her brother’s magic assessment goes awry and Marya takes the blame, she is sent to a school for “troubled girls.” I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Violets Are Blue (Older Middle Grade) – The latest from Barbara Dee. As Wren starts to make her way in a new town and new school, her mother starts withdrawing and doesn’t seem to be doing well. This one is on my review list – I can’t wait to read it!
What Are the Winter Olympics?
The Heartbreak Bakery (LGBTQ+) – A teen baking at a queer bakery accidentally makes a magical batch of brownies that makes couples break up. I’m curious about this one!
So, This Is Christmas – When Finley goes home to Christmas, Oklahoma from her boarding school, she finds out everything has changed while she has been away.
Thronebreakers – Book 2 in the Crownchasers series. When the Crownchase ended in betrayal, everything changed for Alyssa Farshot. She never wanted to compete in the first place, but now she is in it for revenge. This is the sequel to my favorite book of all of 2020. I have had this on preorder for months. I cannot wait to get my hands on this one, just in time for my Fall Break!

Books for Adults

Betrayal on the Bowery (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Gilded Gotham Mystery series. Dying men screaming about demons are at the center of this historical mystery starring a society girl-turned investigative journalist.
A Brush with Murder (Hardcover) – Book 1 in the Paint By Murder Mystery series. When a critic is killed behind Chloe’s new painting-event business, she becomes a murder suspect.
Christmas By the Book (Trade Paperback) – While their bookstore is in trouble, a couple decides to make this Christmas special with some anonymous book gifts for those struggling through the holidays.
Digging Up Trouble (Hardcover) – First in the Sweet Fiction Bookshop Mystery series. When Lexi’s dog unearths a body in a shallow grave, Lexi becomes the prime suspect in her neighbor’s murder.
In Hot Water (Hardcover) – First in the new Misty Bay Tea Room Mystery series. When Vivian’s assistant is suspected of murdering her ex, Vivian and Gracie team up with a local detective to find a killer.
No Words (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Little Bridge Island series. A writer looking at a festival on Little Bridge Island as a solution to her financial woes while she is in the throes of writer’s block doesn’t count on her author nemesis being at the same festival.
The Party Crasher (Hardcover) – The latest from Sophie Kinsella. Effie sneaks into her family home to find a treasure she left behind, hoping to go un-noticed by her father and his young new wife who are throwing a party over the sale of the house. But Effie’s sneaking leads her to overhear some things that change how she views everything in her past.
The Patriot List (Trade Paperback) – First in a new line of Dark Avengers/Marvel Untold novels. Norman Osborne is in charge of the Avengers, which he has secretly filled with a group of super villains. He’d love to put the Green Goblin days behind him and focus on becoming the Iron Patriot. But some members of SHIELD have other ideas. This sounds fascinating!
Seven Deadly Sequins (e-book, October 15) – Book 2 of the Bonnie & Clyde Mystery series by Julie Anne Lindsey. Bonnie’s grandmother is a murder suspect when the woman passing off Gigi’s cobbler recipe as her own is found dead.
The Shadow of Daph: Weddings. Funerals. Sleuthing. (e-book) – Book 2 in the Daphne Jones Mystery series. Daphne Jones is a traveling celebrant who officiates at weddings and funerals and the like. When she and her husband show up in Shady Bend so Daph can perform a funeral, the deceased disappears, but a murderer provides another body. I love the quirky premise of this series!
Slashing Through the Snow (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series. As if Julie Anne Lindsey isn’t busy enough, she has a second book on the list this week under the name Jacqueline Frost. Holly White and her friends and family are back in another Christmas mystery. This time, a critic in Mistletoe to review a variety of businesses is killed, and Holly’s beloved friend, Cookie, is the prime suspect. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Strawberries and Crime (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Finn Family Farm Mystery series. Charlotte is sleuthing again when local strawberry crops seem to be sabotaged and when the one farmer with a good crop is found dead.
Tacos for Two (Trade Paperback) – Rivals in a food truck competition don’t realize they already know each other – they’ve been exchanging anonymous messages through a dating service for the last month.
When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Gospel of Self-Improvement with the Gospel of Life-Transforming Grace (Hardcover, nonfiction) – Find freedom from the never-ending quest for self-improvement and embrace God’s gift of grace.

 

REVIEW: Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

REVIEW: Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

The kingdom of Kadala is suffering. A deadly fever has taken root, and the only treatment that makes any impact is Moonflower petals. Only two sections of the kingdom can grow the flower, so it’s limited, rationed, and expensive. Only the privileged can get any. And the poor are becoming desperate.

Tessa and Wes are among a rare few who are trying to help the poor. Tessa’s background as an apothecary has led her to learn that a smaller dose could be equally effective, which means more people could receive the elixir. Wes helps her steal Moonflower petals, mix the elixir, and distribute it to those in need.

But the cruel King Harristan and his brother, the brutal King’s Justice enforcer, Prince Corrick, are clamping down on “smugglers.” When Wes disappears, Tessa fears the worst – that Corrick has killed him and made an example of him. And that fear makes her reckless. But when she sneaks into the palace, she discovers things aren’t exactly as she expected.

Review

Brigid Kemmerer is a master of writing compelling characters. I have adored her previous books like Letters to the Lost, More Than We Can Tell, Call It What You Want, and her Elementals series. And this book is no exception. I really enjoyed the characters in this one. They were what kept me flipping pages. I wanted to know what happened to them.

But at the same time that I was turning page after page in search of the full story of these characters, I was also wondering what exactly the goals were to the story. I need my books to have a goal – a villain to fight, a quest to complete, a mystery to solve. Other kinds of books are fine, but these are the sorts that most appeal to me. But for the early part of this book, as the character pieces are being developed, I wasn’t clear on the goal. I knew Tessa wanted answers and revenge for Wes. I knew Corrick was trying to protect his brother and their kingdom. But it wasn’t until closer to the end that an external villain/problem became clear.

While I was content to keep reading to see what happened to the characters, and eventually was caught up in who was lying and sneaking and causing trouble, that “quest” of the book took too long to develop for me. I might pick up a sequel to see what happens with Tessa and the rest. But this sense of not really knowing where things were going is hanging over this one for me. If that sense is still there when book two releases, I might not pick it up. While this was good, it wasn’t as great as some of the other Kemmerer novels I have loved in the past. (Violence)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide by Liz Ireland

REVIEW: Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide 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 has brought Halloween to Christmastown. The kids are thrilled about the costumes and candy of course. And many of the business people are making the best of the holiday novelty. But not everyone is a fan. Someone vandalizes the greenhouse that was growing pumpkins for the holiday festivities. There have also been threats on social media. And then someone tries to kill April. When a body is found, and the killer seems to be an unlikely snow monster, April starts to feel like the Halloween celebration may be overshadowed by a killer.

Review

This was another fun mystery starring April Claus in Santaland/Christmastown. I got such a kick out of the first book, Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings, that this was a must-read for me. And I was not disappointed.

I love the setting for this series – the North Pole, populated by elves and reindeer. Right from the start, this series has a different feel from the majority of cozy mysteries. And the author has done a great job with her world-building. The towns and businesses as well as the Claus family castle are well established while still giving space for future developments and sites. And the core cast of characters are a fun collection of humans and elves, not too unlike the core of any cozy – but with some reindeer and snowmen thrown in.

The mystery in this book veers off in several directions, which I enjoyed. It kept me guessing all the way to the end.

There seemed to be some hints at a future story where maybe April’s “real world” life will clash with her Christmastown one when a friend comes to visit. I can’t wait to see how that goes if that is the next story in this series.

Yes, this is a Halloween story in a Christmas setting. It seems like it wouldn’t work, but it absolutely does, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Don’t miss this fun cozy series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might-re-read.

BOOK NEWS: October 5, 2021

BOOK NEWS: October 5, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy October! Fall weather is settling in, and my thoughts are turning to cozy reading sessions under a mound of blankets while the wind whistles outside. Here are some of the new books releasing this week that I might be reading soon! (NOTE: Due to supply chain issues, some release dates may be delayed.)

Books for Kids

The Christmas Owl – Based on the true story of an owl found in the Rockefeller Christmas Tree.
The Dead Sea Squirrels: Jingle Squirrels – Book 9 in the Dead Sea Squirrels series continues the squirrels’ zany adventures while tying in the Biblical Christmas story.
The Underdogs – First in a new early chapter book series from the author of the Dragon Masters books. A group of dogs work together to pass their agility test because if one fails, they all fail.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens

Children of the Fox – “Oceans Eleven meets The False Prince.” How is that for a sales pitch?! Five young criminals are tasked with stealing something from the most powerful sorcerer. This looks fun!
Cinders and Sparks: Fairies in the Forest – Book 2 in the Cinders and Sparks series after Magic at Midnight. This time, Cinders and her talking dog, Sparks, encounter Rapunzel, some bears, and other adventures in the forest.
Cold-Blooded Myrtle (Older Middle Grade) – Book 3 in the delightful Myrtle Hardcastle mystery series after Premeditated Myrtle and How to Get Away With Myrtle. This time, Myrtle is trying to solve a string of murders that follow revealing changes in a shop’s Christmas display. I loved book one, and I am eager to dig into the next two!
Daughter of the Deep (Older Middle Grade) – A new story from Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief) based on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. While on their way to their freshman-year Trial at Sea, Ana and her friends witness a tragedy that draws them into a cold war that has been going on for more than 150 years between their school and a rival. This sounds fascinating – different than Riordan’s mythology books, but likely just as awesome.
Heroes – Book 3 in the Royal Academy Rebels series by Jen Calonita. Princess Devin’s dreams of becoming a Magical Creatures Caretaker seem completely out of reach when new villains are rising, old villains are cursing the kingdom, and the losers from the Fairytale Reform School move into the Royal Academy. I thoroughly enjoyed book one in this series, and I am eager to get caught up. This one is on my review list.
How to Train Your Dad (Older Middle Grade) – From the author of Hatchet and Lawn Boy. Carl starts using a puppy-training manual to encourage his dad to change his “off the grid”-leaning lifestyle.
Playing the Cards You’re Dealt – From the author of The Great Greene Heist (♥♥♥♥) and The Parker Inheritance. When Ant’s best friend gets grounded, Ant has to find another partner for the huge Spades tournament. When he teams up with Shirley, he keeps it a secret from his dad, who is holding secrets of his own. This is definitely on my list for this week.
Tristan Strong Keeps Punching – The third and final book in the series where Tristan starts moving north toward the final showdown with King Cotton.
The Violet Veil Mysteries: A Case of Grave Danger – First in a new middle grade mystery series. While Violet works to earn a chance to help with the family funeral home, she stumbles across a ghost and decides to help him solve the mystery of his death. This is on my review list.
History Smashers: Plagues and Pandemics (Non-Fiction) – Book 6 in the non-fiction series by Kate Messner. This one focuses on diseases from the plague to smallpox to polio to Covid19.

 

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Briarheart – Miriam is trained with magic and charged with protecting her baby sister, Aurora, from the Fae determined to curse her. Sounds like an awesome Sleeping Beauty retelling. This is on my list for this week.
I’m Dreaming of a Wyatt Christmas – Something new from Tiffany Schmidt, the awesome author of the Bookish Boyfriends series. Noelle is invited to accompany her babysitting charges and their family on a holiday ski trip, but everything – including Noelle’s heart – is up-ended by the arrival of the  kids’ older half-brother, Wyatt. Yep, totally on my list for this week!
A Spindle Splintered (LGBTQ+) – First in a new Fractured Fables series. Zinnia and her friends and family know that her 21st birthday will be her last. But when Zinnia’s friends plan a Sleeping Beauty experience for her birthday, the spindle-prick sends Zinnia off on an unbelievable adventure. Two Sleeping Beauty retellings in one week? Magical!
Squad (Graphic Novel) – A popular clique of girls are actually predators, werewolves who strike back at boys who take advantage of their peers. Fascinating!
Why We Fly – From the authors of I’m Not Dying with You Tonight. Best friends and cheerleaders see their friendship strain to the point of fracture as high school and college-prep pressures rise and following fallout over the squad’s choice to take a knee during the National Anthem.

 

Books for Adults

All that Is Secret (Trade Paperback) – First in the new Annalee Spain mystery series. A Black theologian tries to solve her estranged father’s murder.
The Cure for What Ales You (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Sloan Krause Mystery series. As Sloan continues to look into the mysteries of her past, a murder suspect indicates that Sloan’s family could be in danger.
Epilogue of an Epitaph (e-book) – Book 8 in the St. Marin’s Cozy Mystery series. Harvey and her father are looking into the death of a postmistress who was rumored to steam open people’s mail looking for gossip.
God Rest Ye Royal Gentlemen (Hardcover) – Book 15 in the Royal Spyness Mystery series. Georgie’s plans for her first Christmas with her new husband are upended by a royal request that draws her into a murder investigation. I’ve lost track of this series over the years, but I really enjoyed the early books when I was keeping up with it. This one sounds great!
The Holiday Swap (Trade Paperback) – Twins swap places for the holidays. Hallmark-sounding? Yes. In fact, isn’t there a Hallmark movie about twins who switch places (although for different reasons)? Yes. Do I care? No. Will I be reading this one? Absolutely.
A Holly Jolly Diwali (Trade Paperback) – After losing her job, Niki’s carefully controlled “good girl” life starts to feel stifling, so she throws caution to the wind and books a flight to her friend’s wedding – and finds love. This sounds lovely.
No Memes of Escape (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Brooklyn Murder Mystery series. A fun day out with the girls at an escape room ends in murder. This is on my review list.
The Throwback List (Hardcover) – The latest from Lily Anderson. When a woman who loses her job and goes back home to lick her wounds finds an old bucket list, it leads her and two of her old friends on a new adventure.
Twisted Tea Christmas (Hardcover) – Book 23 in the Tea Shop Mystery series. Right after a wealthy client reveals to Theodosia that she’s going to make a big announcement about giving all her money to charity, the woman is found dead.
Jesus Music: A Visual Story of Redemption as Told by Those Who Lived It (Hardcover, nonfiction) – Companion book to the documentary by the same name.
Live Like a Vulcan, Love Like a Wookie, Laugh Like a Hobbit: Life Lessons from Pop Culture (Hardcover, nonfiction) – Three cosplaying friends talk about what they have learned about life from pop culture.
Reading Evangelicals: How Christian Fiction Shaped a Culture and a Faith (Hardcover, nonfiction) – A look at five best-selling Christian novels – Love Comes Softly, This Present Darkness, Left Behind, The Shunning, and The Shack – and their impact on Christian publishing and on Evangelicals. I’m curious about this one!
The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music (Hardcover, nonfiction) – Autobiographical stories from Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters, etc.).

 

REVIEW: Never Saw You Coming by Erin Hahn

REVIEW: Never Saw You Coming by Erin Hahn

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

When Meg discovers everything she thought was true was a lie, it’s like the rug has been pulled out from under her feet. Her plans for the summer and for a gap year before college don’t even feel right any more. So she heads north looking for the family she never knew existed – and looking for her sense of self as well.

Meg meets Micah early on in her stay – and they click! Sure, he’s cute and built. But he also seems to know how it feels to have your world – your foundations – upended. Micah’s dad is in jail. A pastor, he had been Micah’s hero before he found out the truth about what his father was hiding behind his perfect Christian façade.

As each of the young adults explores the potential in their relationship, they also process the upheaval from their family secrets and consider how those secrets impact their faith.

Review

Wow. This is outstanding!

I have followed the author, Erin Hahn, online for years. I’ve always been intrigued by her faith story. You can see evidence of it in her online interactions, and in her books, but she doesn’t fit the stereotype of a “Christian public figure” or “Christian author.” This book feels like a peek into some of that story. And I was here for every page.

Meg and Micah hooked me from the beginning. They are characters I would hang out with, people I would want to know. And they wrestle with faith and the Church and the rules of Church in ways that felt honest – and familiar.

I found the faith pieces of this so engaging and compelling. Honestly, this is one of the best examples I can think of for how to weave faith into a story in a way that feels natural – something I can struggle to find in “Christian fiction.” Yet, the faith pieces aren’t the most important parts of the book. This is a coming-of-age story for both Meg and Micah. It’s also a swoony romance. And it’s a story about family, identity, and emotional healing in addition to the parts about faith, “purity,” sex, sexual identity, and more.

It’s amazing to think of how many ideas the author wove into this story. And it felt like a story – not like a sermon or like a vehicle to carry forced messages from the author. The story is never short-changed for the issues and questions raised. The whole is truly greater than the sum of the parts.

Do not miss this romantic, engaging, and thought-provoking novel! I adored it. (Language, LGBTQ+, references to sex, references to teen pregnancy, references to abuses in the Church)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!