Reviews, Etc.

REVIEW: What Comes Next by Rob Buyea

REVIEW: What Comes Next by Rob Buyea

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

When Thea’s best friend, Charlie, died, Thea stopped speaking. Going back to school was excruciating, so her mom homeschooled her to finish out the year. But her parents decided that the family needed a change, so they moved to a new town.

On top of a change in location, Thea’s dad promises her younger sisters that the family will also get a dog. Thea has no interest in a puppy, especially as her frequent nightmares shift to start including a puppy she can’t save. But at the shelter, Jack Jack reaches a paw out to touch Thea, and she is converted. He picked her – just like Charlie once did. And that’s only the first of many examples of how special Jack Jack is.

Review

Oh, this was lovely! I was immediately drawn in by Thea, and I loved her on every page. I loved her whole journey – with Charlie, with Jack Jack, and with the folks she meets in her new home. But Jack Jack was the star of the story. He was exactly what Thea needed – but not just Thea. His story was so much bigger.

There’s a great epilogue here that goes farther into the future than you usually get in a middle grade novel. It was the cherry on top of this terrific story!

I loved every moment of this – and I cried through several of them. This is another hit from Rob Buyea – do not miss it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BOOK NEWS: June 22, 2021

BOOK NEWS: June 22, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

How to Spot a Best Friend – On the first day of school, a girl vows to find a best friend.
Thank You, Dr. Salk!: The Scientist Who Beat Polio and Healed the World – Picture book biography.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year – When his dad gets sick, Ahmed and his family have to move to Minnesota where Ahmed is one of the only brown kids at his school and he has to deal with bullying. This one is on my list.
Jukebox (Graphic Novel, Older Middle Grade) – Two girls are magically pulled through various decades of music by a mysterious jukebox. Sounds cool!
Show Me History: Helen Keller – Middle grade biography in graphic novel format.
Along for the Ride – When Katelyn has to give up all of her summer plans so her family can tour with her famous pop star brother, one saving grace is that his opening band is one of her favorites. This is on my list, too.
Between You, Me and the Honeybees – Josie has secretly declined her college acceptance because she wants to stay home and work in the family honey business. But while she’s lying to her mom about her college plans, her life becomes even more complicated when she starts to fall for a member of their business rival’s family. I’m so excited to read this one!
Blackout – A short story collection of romances starring Black teens.
Kind of Sort of Fine – Two teens in a film production class start creating mini documentaries about their classmates’ hidden talents and along the way the ways the world sees them starts to change. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Rising Like a Storm – Book 2 in the Wrath of Ambar series. Gul and Cavas are targeted by the new regime when they are hunted for what they did to King Lohar.

Books for Adults

Love Scenes (Trade Paperback) – Sloane agrees to work on her family’s production of a World War II era romance when she loses her television gig, but she didn’t count on having to work with one of her least favorite former co-stars.
Questland (Trade Paperback) – A literature professor is asked to help when a billionaire genius’ latest creation – a high-tech fantasy world immersive experience – is hijacked by an employee, someone the professor has a history with. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Getting to the Promised Land: Black America and the Unfinished Work of the Civil Rights Movement (Trade Paperback) – In conversations about race in America, sometimes all non-white people groups are lumped together. But the author asserts that American Descendants of Slavery hold a unique experience that must be explored, understood, and rectified.

REVIEW: Reserved for Murder by Victoria Gilbert

REVIEW: Reserved for Murder by Victoria Gilbert

Posted on by Jaymie

[There’s no YA review today – the book I had scheduled just wasn’t a great fit for me. Instead, enjoy this review of a new adult cozy mystery. 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

Chapters Bed and Breakfast is playing host to Amanda Nobel, an author of romantic fantasy books, as well as a few of her fans. Amanda is looking for a respite from her hectic book tour, so her stay at Chapters is a secret. But she did agree to one signing event in town, a cooperative venture between Chapters and the local indy bookstore, Bookwaves.

Charlotte, the owner of Chapters, is doing all she can to make the author’s visit restful and relaxing, including staying on her guard for any sort of trouble. A year ago there was a murder, and Charlotte wants no part of that sort of excitement ever again!

But Charlotte isn’t going to get her wish. When the president of an Amanda Nobel fan group is murdered, Charlotte and her neighbor, Ellen, start asking questions and looking for clues to the killer. The woman’s troublesome ex-husband seems the most likely candidate, but he’s certainly not the only one who had it out for the woman.

Review

While I am a huge fan of Victoria Gilbert and her Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, I somehow missed reading the first book in this Booklover’s B&B Mystery series, Booked for Death (I have it on my e-reader.). But now I know I need to get back to it soon. The mystery here is solid, but there’s an intriguing side story about Charlotte’s neighbor that I wasn’t expecting. It really grabbed my attention. It gave the mystery a fresh spin from the usual formula.

I liked the series set up – the B&B, the writing/reading/publishing pieces, the perfectly sized cast. The mystery was well done with lots of questions. The pacing of the reveals was nice. I’m looking forward to picking up book 1 as well as watching for what might happen for these characters in the future. Don’t miss either of the author’s mystery series!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

 

REVIEW: Plot Twist by Bethany Turner

REVIEW: Plot Twist by Bethany Turner

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

On February 4, 2003, Olivia was minding her own business at a crowded coffee shop, working on her screenplay. Annoyed after several interruptions, she shared space on a couch with a handsome actor. When yet another “interruption” wouldn’t take no for an answer, Olivia’s couch-mate came to her rescue with an outlandish story about their undying love for one another. It was a meet cute made for movies.

And then it was over. The actor left for an audition after extracting a promise that they would meet up at the same coffee shop in 10 years when he would be a famous actor and she would have a screenplay. Olivia never even got his name.

The next year, on February 4th, Olivia finds herself at the same coffee shop to meet her boyfriend – and everything about their relationship changes. A year later, on February 4th, she discovers the name of her mystery actor. A year later, she is grieving a break up.

As the years march by, February by February, bringing Olivia ever closer to February 4th, 2013, her life and her work twist and turn in ways she never expected. And everything seems to hinge on the magical 4th and that long ago conversation in a coffee shop.

Review

My thoughts and feelings on this one are mixed.  This is an author I have enjoyed for several years now. And the first and last chapters of this were as delightful as the previous books of hers that I love. But in some ways, the 2003 and 2013 chapters feel like a different book than the middle chapters. Unlike the main character, Olivia, I love rom-coms, and these chapters deliver all the fun, flirty banter and meet-cute moments I adore.  Those chapters are right up my alley.

The rest of Olivia’s journey, though, while interesting and engaging, wasn’t “fun.” I was committed to seeing the story through. But I didn’t love any of the characters, and I pushed through to the end somewhat out of obligation. I prefer stories and characters that drive me to frantically flip pages to see what might happen next. The final chapter was so spectacular, though, I exclaimed out loud and even several days later I feel like it made all the rest of the reading worthwhile. I just wish the rest of Olivia’s story had been as fun.

Fans expecting a faith story in this book published by Thomas Nelson may be surprised to find no mention of faith in this one whatsoever. Readers looking for a romcom may have mixed feelings like I did. Romance fans who enjoy the ups and downs of a complicated journey may be a better fit for this story as a whole. And that closing chapter is *chef’s kiss* perfect.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

* ♥♥♥½ = Good +

 

REVIEW: Born to Be Bad by Ken Lamug

REVIEW: Born to Be Bad by Ken Lamug

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

By day they are Missy and Gizmo. Gizmo is the cat Missy rescued from a group of bullies. Missy lives in Idleville with her parents and her brother. Missy is an inventor, but her inventions – and the destruction they can cause – lead to trouble with both Missy’s parents, and their neighbors.

While Missy tells her parents she’s going to science camp, instead she heads to superhero boot camp so she can use her brain and tech skills to become a hero.

But something happens at camp that will set Missy and Gizmo on the path to villainy. They will become Mischief and Mayhem.

Review

This was such a fun story. Missy and Gizmo are a great team. The book starts with examples of their supervillain ways, but chapter 2 shifts to their origin story. I wasn’t sure if the first chapter actually takes place after the events of this book, or if the story returns to that timeline in the middle of the action. Either way, this is a fun look at the journey from “Missy and Gizmo” to “Mischief and Mayhem.”

The art work here is great. I only saw one chapter in full color, but even in black and white, the art is great. I can’t wait to see the finished copy with full color throughout.

There are some interesting moments in the book about what makes someone a hero and what makes a villain. And Missy’s story doesn’t develop like I expected it to, which was fun. There’s a lot here for graphic novel fans and superhero story fans to enjoy.

Readers will experience a great teaser at the end that will propel them on to book 2. This will be a huge hit with kids, so don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

BOOK NEWS: June 15, 2021

BOOK NEWS: June 15, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

What Is God Like? – A picture book from the late Rachel Held Evans written to answer children’s questions about God. I’m eager to see this one in person.
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: I Am Harriet Tubman AND I Am Nikola Tesla – The latest from the Xavier Riddle series.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Dead City Saga – The three books of the Dead City Saga, by James Ponti (FRAMED series, City Spies series) are collected into one volume about a zombie hunter.
The Double Life of Danny Day – Danny lives each day twice. The first day is like a dry run, and the second is his chance to make every moment count. I am super excited to read this one!
Even and Odd – A magical middle grade book by Sarah Beth Durst. Two sisters who share magic are trapped on the magical side of the border between our world and the one where they were born because a wizard is manipulating magic for her own purposes. This one sounds fun, too! I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Islanders – Jake has to stay with his grandmother on a small island nature sanctuary while his mother goes to care for his father who was injured in Afghanistan. While he’s expecting a boring summer, he makes some new friends and they have to band together to save a turtle’s nest from predators. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Mischief and Mayhem: Born to Be Bad (graphic novel) – First in a new middle grade graphic novel series about a supervillain girl and her sidekick. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Box in the Woods – Book 4 in the YA Truly Devious series. Stevie Bell has caught a killer, and now she’s been invited to the site of a 1978 unsolved murder to help the owner with a true crime podcast about the case.
Don’t Hate the Player – After bonding over video games when they were kids, Emilia and Jake reconnect in high school when they are both competing in a gaming tournament. Emilia is desperate to keep her gaming life a secret from her friends and family, but the high profile nature of the tournament puts her secrets in jeopardy. You can read my full review here.
Indestructible Object (LGBTQ+) – After a series of disappointments and losses, Lee and some friends team up to produce a podcast about whether love really exists.

Books for Adults

The Abduction of Pretty Penny (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes mystery series. Joanna and the Watsons are investigating the case of a missing young actress.
Once Upon a Royal Summer (Trade Paperback) – From Hallmark Publishing. A theme park princess meets a real-life prince. I’ve already pre-ordered this one!
Plot Twist (Trade Paperback) – A wannabe screenwriter has a meet cute with a wannabe actor and then they part, planning to meet up at the same coffeeshop in 10 years. I’ll be reviewing this latest book by Bethany Turner soon.
Start Trek The Original Series: Living Memory (Trade Paperback) – Admiral Kirk is dealing with murder at the Academy as he is trying to settle in as the new commandant. Spock, on the Enterprise, and Chekov, on the Reliant, are investigating cosmic storms that seem to be targeting Federation worlds. I love stories that involve Starfleet Academy, and I would gladly pick this up to spend time with favorite characters.
Very Sincerely Yours (Trade Paperback) – A new romantic comedy from the author of Waiting for Tom Hanks (♥♥♥♥) and Not Like the Movies. A woman dealing with a disappointing break up reaches out to the host of a local children’s show about her problems – just like the kids in the audience do – and they start corresponding. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Dangerous Damsels series. A member of the Wisteria Society crime sorority is targeted by an assassin whose boss wants to eliminate all of England’s troublesome women, starting with the ladies of the Society. I’ll be reviewing this one soon. I can’t wait to read it!!

 

REVIEW: Don't Hate the Player by Alexis Nedd

REVIEW: Don’t Hate the Player by Alexis Nedd

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. This book releases on June 15, 2021.]

Summary

Emilia and Jake met in 4th grade at an arcade birthday party. They bonded over video games. And every year or so for a little while they would run into each other and hang out.

As a junior in high school, Emilia has carefully crafted her life. During the day, she is a diligent student and the captain of the field hockey team. She’s running for VP of the Junior class. If an activity could look good to a college, Emilia is doing it. But at night, she’s a member of Team Fury on Guardian League Online. No one in her real life knows about her gamer life. Her parents would have a fit that she’s wasting so much time that she could be putting toward her college prep. Her friends wouldn’t understand. So it’s a secret, and Emilia wants to keep it that way.

Jake has transferred to Emilia’s school, but she has no idea. She obviously doesn’t remember him because when she sees him, she looks right through him. He’d love to reconnect, but he’s just not sure how to approach her. All of his friends on Team Unity in Guardian League Online are shipping the two of them and urging him to talk with her.

When Wizard Games announces a huge in person GLO tournament, Team Unity and Team Fury are all in. But a public tournament will put everything in Emilia’s gaming life out in the spotlight if anyone finds out who she is. Considering the secrets she is keeping from her friends and family – not to mention the issues women put up with in the gaming world – publicity means nothing but trouble.

Review

What a delight! After a darling opener about Emilia and Jake as kids, there were a few chapters that were slow-going for me. I wasn’t vibing the game at the center of the story. But once Jake and Emilia re-connected, I was sold. The game descriptions made more sense to me as the book went on (I am not a gamer.). But it was the characters and their relationships that made this story special.

I am completely in love with Jake and Emilia – both the kid versions and the high school versions. Jake is the perfect guy for Emilia. He accepts her as she is without expectations. She can be fully herself, and he gets her. It’s lovely.

I adored the humor in this – and the great Marvel/Avengers/MCU references in the book. This was a FUN story, and I would definitely read it again. Readers who enjoy YA romance, gaming stories, and stories dealing with sexism – like Moxie, or Slay, or Don’t Read the Comments – should run right out and pick this one up! (Language, LGBTQ+, TW: online harassment, doxxing, etc.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would read again!

REVIEW: Deadly Delights by Laura Jensen Walker

REVIEW: Deadly Delights by Laura Jensen Walker

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

Lester Morris – aka “Lester the Molester” – is notorious for his lecherous behavior. Sexist comments, inappropriate touching, innuendo and more. In fact, he grabbed Teddie’s butt while he was serving as a judge for the local baking off. She smacked him with her rolling pin and told him off.

So it’s really no surprise that Teddie is the prime suspect, at least to Lester’s widow, when Lester is later found dead. But Lester harassed a LOT of women who were sick of his behavior. Maybe one of them – or a husband or father – finally had enough of Lester’s antics.

Teddie and her friends are determined to clear her name – again. The last murder almost cost her her publishing deal. She’s not willing to risk that again.

Review

This was fun! I enjoy the crew in Lake Potawatomi, and it’s always fun to head back to my childhood home region, even if only in fiction. The mystery here is pretty straightforward, but the solution was twisty. My guess for the culprit was wrong, but I enjoyed watching the full resolution play out.

If you aren’t familiar with Laura Jensen Walker’s work, I highly recommend anything she writes. You can read my review of Murder Most Sweet, the first book in the Bookish Baker Mystery series, here. You can also read my review of the first book in her Faith Chapel Mystery series, Hope, Faith, and a Corpse, here. Be sure to check out her whole backlist, too – I’ve read several of her older books, and I loved them. (TW: sexual harassment)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

 

REVIEW: That Thing About Bollywood by Supriya Kelkar

REVIEW: That Thing About Bollywood by Supriya Kelkar

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Sonali is stressed as the new semester starts at school. She is in a drama class she’s not sure about, her best friend seems enamored with a new friend, and the tension between her parents at home seems to be rising. If she lived in the Bollywood films she loves, everyone would sing their feelings – from her best friend Zara’s excitement about all things drama to her brother’s frequent tears and her parent’s anger. But Sonali swore off feelings – and sharing them – years ago.

As a younger kid, Sonali had made a project all about her parent’s arguments and how it made her feel. But rather than changing anything at home, she was laughed at and yelled at. She learned quickly to keep everything she thought and felt to herself.

But when her parents announce their separation, everything changes for Sonali. First, she wakes up in a bedroom that is a cross between her regular room and what you might find in a Bollywood film. Then she has a soundtrack wherever she goes. And everyone says this is perfectly normal. Before she knows it, Sonali is breaking into song and dance routines while she watches her whole world shift into something out of her favorite movies. And she’s not sure how she’s going to get back to her own reality.

Review

This is a clever kids story along the lines of a Groundhog Day or Freaky Friday adaptation where the main character is in an alternate world and has to dig deep to unravel the mysteries that are keeping them from returning to their normal world. I love that sort of story, and this is a great twist on that idea. While I am not well-versed in Bollywood, the author does a great job of describing Sonali’s alternate world for readers with less context.

As an adult, it was easy to see the solution to Sonali’s problem. I’m curious to see if the intended audience catches on as quickly or if they have to walk the journey with Sonali. Either way, there’s a ton of rich emotional storytelling here that would make this great for a read-aloud or a discussion group. This is a beautiful way to engage kids in the concepts of emotional expression and health.

Kids who love Bollywood as well as those who enjoy musical theater and drama will find a lot to love here. But any kid who has struggled with emotional regulation and expression, family conflict, divorce, or grief/loss may also see themselves reflected in this story. Be sure to check this one out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might-re-read.

BOOK NEWS: June 8, 2021

BOOK NEWS: June 8, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books releasing this week that caught my attention:

Books for Kids

Franklin Endicott and the Third Key – Book 6 in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series, a spin-off of the Mercy Watson series. This is a new adventure starring Franklin.
The Incredible Power of God’s Word – Young readers get to discover the power of God’s Word thanks to this new book from Joyce Meyer.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Marvel-Verse: Shang-Chi (Graphic Novel, Older Middle Grade) – Book 12 in the Marvel-Verse series. This collects a variety of comics to lay out the story of Shang-Chi. Other heroes include Spider-Man, Wolverine, Nick Fury, and Black Widow.
To Tell You the Truth – A new story from Beth Vrabel. Trixy needs a story for school, and fast, but the only ones she can think of are the ones her grandmother told – and no one believed. And since her grandmother is gone, Trixy doesn’t think anyone will mind that she uses one of her stories. But the story grabs everyone’s attention and things start to get more complicated. So Trixy and her friend start looking into her grandmother’s past. Maybe when she knows the true story, Trixy will be able to come up with a story all her own.
What Comes Next – A new story from the fantastic Rob Buyea. After Thea loses her best friend in a tragic accident, she stops speaking. Her parents feel like a fresh start somewhere new might help, and her dad has promised all three girls that they will get a dog at their new house. Thea isn’t sure any of that could make any sort of difference, but Jack-Jack the dog opens up doors for her that she thought might be closed forever. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Donuts and Other Proclamations of Love – Oscar is biding his time until the end of high school so he can turn his full focus on the food truck he runs with his grandfather. Mary Louise – Lou – is a lock for valedictorian and she has a plan for earning her Girl Scout Gold Award, too. But Lou’s plans hijack Oscar’s plans and he ends up roped into helping someone he can’t stand on a project he never wanted to take on. This is on my list for this week!
Down with this Ship – A secret fanfiction writer is exposed when her work receives an award, and she finds herself caught up in not only “ships” over the characters in her work but also “ships” of her with people at her school.
Fire with Fire – Two sisters, raised to be dragon slayers. One is all about the hunt, driven and committed to their mission. Her sister is the one who forges a magical connection to one of the creatures, putting them at odds as war looms.
The Marvelous – The heiress-turned-social-media-influencer who created the most popular video-sharing app has returned dramatically from a year out of the spot light to make an announcement. Selected users of her app will be invited to her estate for a weekend. Once there, the guests discover they are part of an elaborate game to see who has what it takes to win, no matter the cost.
We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This – Two teens, thrown together repeatedly thanks to their parents’ businesses (Hers are wedding planners – and she is a wedding harpist. His are caterers, and he often waits tables for them), clash the summer after she confessed her feelings for him and he left for college without saying anything.

Books for Adults

Deadly Delights (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the delightful Bookish Baker Mystery series. Teddie is on the case again when the lecherous judge of a baking contest is killed and her distinctive rolling pin is the murder weapon. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Love for Beginners (Hardcover) – Recovering from a coma – and from learning that while she was unconscious her fiancé fell in love with her best friend – Emma refuses to give up. She pushes through treatment with her evil physical therapist and opens a doggie day care, even though it means renting space from her nemesis. But nothing goes as she expects – she starts falling for the evil physical therapist, she might actually be becoming friends with her nemesis, and people start dropping off their elderly relatives instead of dogs at her new business. This is on my list for this week!
Reserved for Murder (Hardcover) – Sequel to Booked for Death in the Booklovers B&B Mystery series by Victoria Gilbert. When one of the hottest authors of romantic fantasy comes to Chapters Bed and Breakfast, it’s to get away for awhile. But her fans start pouring into town, so she agrees to host a couple events and then get back to her retreat. But when the president of the author’s fan club is found dead, Charlotte starts sleuthing. I have book one in the series on my e-reader TBR.
A Rogue’s Company (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery series. Iris and Gwendolyn are on the case when something is very clearly going on in the Bainbridge family. Gwendolyn’s father-in-law threatens to send her son away and undo all of the work she and Iris have been doing. And then the ladies take on a new case for a client who seems to be harboring secrets related to the Bainbridge family. I enjoyed the last book in the series, so I would definitely give this one a go.
Star Trek The Next Generation: Mirror Universe Collection (Graphic Novel) – A collection of Mirror Universe TNG stories.
The Wakanda Files: A Technological Exploration  of the Avengers and Beyond (Hardcover) – An in-world book compiled on Shuri’s request to collect documentation of Wakanda’s inventions and technology from over the years.
Creative Polymer Clay (Paperback) – Learn to work with Polymer Clay. I can get lost for hours on Instagram, watching videos of people rolling out clay to make earrings and such. It’s very soothing!