Reviews, Etc.

REVIEW: The Flipside of Perfect by Liz Reinhardt

REVIEW: The Flipside of Perfect by Liz Reinhardt

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Della heads home to Michigan after her summer with her dad and older siblings in Florida, she feels torn. It was a hard summer after the death of Nan Sunny. And now Dell is about to start high school alone, with her older siblings in Florida and her younger sisters still at Trinity. But Dell’s mother misunderstands the struggle and suggests she stop going to Florida. So Dell decides she just has to be extra awesome at compartmentalizing her life. In Michigan, she’s AJ, the uber-responsible daughter, perfect sister, and top notch student leader. In the summers, she can relax and be Della, the baby of the family who is free to cut loose.

Three years later, AJ has become a pro at her double life. But she doesn’t love how it feels. As she approaches her senior year of high school, the pressure is mounting. Her parents in Michigan are pushing internships and extracurriculars that threaten her time in Florida. Her father’s business in Florida is struggling, and Della keeps butting heads with his teen employee. But as life starts to crumble for one of Della’s younger sisters and she is sent to Florida, Della’s two worlds are about to collide.

Review

This had a slow, slow start for me. It made the book feel twice as long as it really was. I was maybe 1/3 or more into it before things started to click. I needed AJ to get to a place where she was honestly appraising her dual life – and the reasons for it – while also digging into what it was costing her. Once that happened, I was hooked. And once her younger sister arrived in Florida and pushed AJ’s self-evaluation that much deeper, I couldn’t put the book down.

I’m so glad I didn’t give up on this early on. I ended up adoring this book. The characters are a delight – even the one who annoyed me early on. There are fantastic messages woven in about emotional health and maturity, communication, therapy, and identity. The core pieces about family and siblings are lovely. Really, there are almost too many terrific pieces to list them all – romance, humor, self-discovery. So satisfying in the end.

Pick this one up! If it feels slow at first, stick with it. This was so good, I would read it again! (Language, LGBTQ+, sexual references, underage drinking, teen pregnancy)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: Duchess If You Dare by Anabelle Bryant

BONUS REVIEW: Duchess If You Dare by Anabelle Bryant

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

Scarlett Wynn and the rest of the Maidens of Mayhem seek to right wrongs and protect the less fortunate. When Scarlett’s seamstress goes missing, and the search leads to a brothel, Scarlett becomes worried for the young woman.

Ambrose Cross, the Duke of Aylesford, is beside himself over his brother’s irresponsibility. In fact, right after a big speech and cutting off his brother’s funds, Ambrose is summoned to a brothel to bail his brother out of trouble once again.

Soon, Ambrose and Scarlett are both looking for the missing seamstress. Their stations allow them access to different areas of town for sleuthing. But those differences also cause a lot of complication as the two become closer and start to explore the draw they feel toward one another.

Review

This is a good romance/mystery centered around a dark topic – prostitution and the sex trade. This is the first title in a new series – the Maidens of Mayhem. And while we meet the other women, we don’t get a good feel for them in this book. I assume the other women will star in their own future stories. (This has a similar set up to the Wallflowers of West End, although that series, or at least Capturing the Earl, which is the one book I have read so far, has a much lighter tone than this story. )

I appreciated the mystery in this book. The author put together a great set up where the two main characters are at odds with one another while searching for answers on what will amount to the same case. It’s quite clever. But the subject matter is dark and I found it disturbing. It made it difficult to enjoy the rest of the story. The ending for the couple was a happy one, but the heinous crimes of the book were not really resolved in a satisfying way for me.

Historical fiction fans who enjoy stories like this where women defy conventions in order to be themselves and right wrongs and such should check out this series. (Sex, TW: Assault, sex trade)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Good/solid/fine

REVIEW: Animal Instinct by David Rosenfelt

REVIEW: Animal Instinct 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.]

Summary

When Corey Douglas was a cop, one somewhat random case always bothered him. He didn’t usually work domestic violence cases, but he answered this call about a neighbor hearing an escalating fight. The alleged victim refused to press charges, saying she fell. Her boyfriend was far too smug to be innocent. But Corey was powerless to do much more than file the report.

Now, Corey and his former K-9 partner, Simon, are PIs along with a couple other investigators, including Andy Carpenter’s wife, Laurie Collins. When the alleged domestic violence victim is murdered in what looks like a drive by, Corey is convinced the boyfriend struck again. The K-Team agrees to help Corey look into the case.

What seemed simple at first becomes more convoluted than any member of the K-Team could have predicted. And Corey has the most to lose if they can’t puzzle out the truth.

Review

This was excellent! Come for the fantastically plotted mystery, stay for the terrific cast of characters and the sassy tone of the writing. Rosenfelt is in fine form with the second K-Team book. All of my favorite characters are part of the case including Andy Carpenter, the defense attorney from Rosenfelt’s long-running series.

The mystery in this one is exceptionally twisty. I had no clue what was going on, but I was happy to just be along for the ride. The resolution was supremely satisfying!

I don’t know that readers have to read the K-Team books in order or to have read the Andy Carpenter books first. The case here stands solidly on its own. But I think readers will enjoy the characters enough to want to go back and fill in the gaps if they start reading here. David Rosenfelt fans should be sure to pick this one up!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Thornwood by Leah Cypess

REVIEW: Thornwood by Leah Cypess

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

If you went by the standard fairy tales, you might think Sleeping Beauty was an only child. After all, she’s the focus of the story and all you hear about. But Rosalin – Sleeping Beauty – has a younger sister, Briony.

On Rosalin’s 16th birthday, she’s supposed to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and sleep for 100 years along with the rest of the castle. And Briony remembers the start of that day. But when she wakes up in the tower with a spinning wheel and a fairy, she has no memory of the birthday or what happened to Rosalin or the kingdom.

While the prince is there when Briony wakes up, and he wakes Rosalin with a kiss, the Thornwood surrounding the castle is as robust as ever, even trying to grab Briony and pull her in. But when she starts to work on a plan to get out of the castle, Briony discovers that nothing is what she expected – not the curse or the castle or the prince.

Review

This was so fun! I’ve read other “fractured” or re-imagined fairy tales (I love them!), and this one felt fresh and had some nice twists to it.

I liked Briony and her friend Edwin. I found the repeated dismissals of Briony by her family and others in the castle to be frustrating. It fits with the kids fiction emphasis on protagonists who save themselves, which I love. But this felt cruel, and I didn’t like it for Briony.

The reaction of the other folks in the castle to their plight was a clever piece of this story. I don’t want to give anything away, but it was probably my favorite feature. It’s a great example of what makes this story feel fresh and different.

Fans of The Wide Awake Princess series, The Hamster Princess series, The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, and other fractured fairy tales should not miss this one! This is the first book in a new series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BOOK NEWS: April 6, 2021

BOOK NEWS: April 6, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy April! Hope you had a wonderful Passover or Easter (if you celebrate). Here are some of the books kicking off the new month of reading:

Books for Kids

The Little Butterfly That Could – A companion picture book to The Very Impatient Caterpillar (♥♥♥♥). A butterfly learns to persevere through migration challenges.
Labstah Gahden – Two rival lobsters team up to protect their ocean homes when pollution impacts their gardens.
Summer Adventure for Groot! – Rocket and Groot work to incorporate as much fun into their summer vacation as possible.
Max Meow Cat Crusader: Donuts and Danger – Book 2 in the Max Meow series. When Max and Mindy’s evil doubles show up, they cause lots of trouble, but the real Max and Mindy take the blame.
The Secret Explorers and the Smoking Volcano – Book 6 in the Secret Explorers series. Readers get to join Cheng, the volcano expert on the team, in this book where the kids go to watch an eruption and end up on a rescue mission.
She Persisted: Virginia Apgar – An early chapter book biography of the woman who developed the Apgar test for newborn babies.
The Story of Jackie Robinson  – An early chapter book biography of Jackie Robinson.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

  

Almost There and Almost Not (Older Middle Grade) – California has been dropped off with yet another unsuspecting relative, her great-aunt, Monica, who tries to keep California busy by having her research a somewhat-famous relative. A relative that is now a temperamental ghost.
Aru Shah and the City of Gold – Book 4 in the mythology-based Pandava series. Aru and her sisters are searching for their lost mentors in the City of Gold before war breaks out.
Avengers Assembly: Sinister Substitute – Doreen (Squirrel Girl) and her friends team up when a new group of teachers at their super school – including some that seem like super villains – makes it easy for some troublemakers to create chaos.
Buster – Buster is called into Dog Court for breaking their most sacred rule – showing humans how smart they are, including talking to one. But Buster is a therapy dog, and he’s willing to break the rules to help his boy, Tonio.
Dear DC Super-Villains – A companion to Dear Justice League. Kids ask DC villains questions about their lives.
Fearless – First in a new series. Monica has moved to Broadway for her big break, but the theater where she is understudy is in danger of closing. When problems start plaguing their production, Monica and her new friends start looking for a way to break the theater’s curse. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Great Peach Experiment: When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie – Now that they are millionaires, the Peach family is planning to travel the country in a food truck, selling pies. Except none of them knows how to bake. This is at the top of my wish list for this week!
The Last Kids on Earth: Tales from the Tree House (Graphic Novel) – A short story collection from the  Last Kids on Earth series, in a graphic novel format. Includes 6 short stories from their monster/zombie adventures and a set up for book 7 releasing later this year.
The Messengers – Book 3 in the Greystone Secrets series. The Greystones’ friends in the alternate world send mysterious coins to signal that they need help.
Squad Goals – Magic heads to cheer camp hoping for some help in following in the footsteps of her family members who are legends in sports circles. But when it seems Magic didn’t inherit any of her family’s athletic talent, and a group of mean girls try to bring her down, she’ll need her new crew of misfits to make the most of Planet Pom Poms camp.
Switched – When Parker has to dog sit his sister’s chaotic goldendoodle, Boof, the dog does not exactly fit into the orderly life Parker is trying to arrange for himself. And then, when a game of tug-of-war goes awry, Boof and Parker switch bodies.
Thornwood – Book 1 in the Sisters Ever After series. Everyone knows the story of Sleeping Beauty. Briony has been watching her older sister, Rosalin, wait for the curse to kick in as they are powerless to stop it. But when Briony wakes up, it’s up to her to find out what is really going on and save her family and her kingdom. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Unicorn Famous (Graphic Novel/Comics Collection) – Book 13 in the fabulous Phoebe and her Unicorn series.
Whatever After: Good as Gold – Book 14 in the Whatever After series. Abby and Jonah find themselves in the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
History Smashers: Titanic – Book 4 in the History Smashers series from Kate Messner. Read the fascinating truths about the Titanic!
The Outdoor Scientist: The Wonder of Observing the Natural World – By Dr. Temple Grandin. Includes 40 projects for readers to try to learn about the world around us.
What Is the Story of Alice in Wonderland? – The history of Alice in Wonderland.

 

Books for Teens/Young Adults

The Cost of Knowing – A teen who has visions of the future sees something about his brother that sends him into a tailspin. I reviewed this last week. It’s one I highly recommend. You can read my review here.
The Flipside of Perfect – AJ is a controlled, high achieving student at a prestigious high school. Della spends her summers in Florida, footloose, fancy free, and wild. In reality, though, AJ and Della are the same girl, and when AJ’s sister crashes her summer in Florida, the dual life she lives gets a lot more complicated. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Go the Distance – A Twisted Tale, the 11th in the series, based on the Disney movie Hercules. By Jen Calonita. Once Hercules recovers his godship, Meg is told she can’t be with him because she is just a mortal. But Hera gives her a chance to become a goddess and get her happily ever after.
Hello Cruel Heart – The story of a teen Cruella de Vil. (There has been some negative buzz around the idea – not necessarily this book – of an origin story to humanize a villain like Cruella, so YMMV on this one.)
House of Hollow – Three sisters who disappeared for a month as children returned with no memory of their time away. And then they started to change. Now, 10 years later, when the youngest is trying to finish high school, one of her older sisters goes missing, leaving bizarre clues behind. The full description of this is SO intriguing! I have this one on hold at the library already.
The Infinity Courts – Nami has finished high school and has her whole future ahead of her, but she is murdered before she can explore any of it. Then she discovers that an Earth AI has taken over the afterlife as a queen, forcing the dead into servitude. This is on my list, too.
Kisses and Croissants – A girl who longs to be a professional ballerina encounters a ruthless rival, a cruel instructor, and love during her summer of study in Paris.
The Murder Game – Luke was only looking for a hook up in the woods that night, not finding a dead body and investigating whether his roommate might be a murderer. Fans of prep school stories might try this one out.
Pride and Premeditation – First in a new Jane Austen Murder Mystery series. Aspiring lawyer Lizzy Bennet goes looking for a murderer in order to prove herself to the doubters like that awful Fitzwilliam Darcy. I’m not an Austen fan, but the murder mystery element grabbed my attention. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Sky Blues (LGBTQ+) – A gay teen decides to go all out for his senior year and plans the perfect promposal for his crush. But when an anonymous hacker exposes the plan, the whole school chips in to expose the perpetrator. I have this one on hold at the library, too.
The Spy Who Raised Me (Graphic Novel) – A teen with gaps in her memory discovers she has been secretly trained to be a spy. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good – A serious girl with a serious boyfriend with serious plans for his life ducks out for a night of nerdy fun at Dragon Con. I am here for any fan convention story, so I will be tracking this one down.
Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask – A young readers edition of a book about Native Americans, including pieces about social activism and racism.

Books for Adults – Fiction

All that Really Matters (Trade Paperback) – A social media influencer who wants a new gig on a makeover show decides to pad her resumé with some service work with kids aging out of foster care. And the experience changes her perspective. This is on my list for this week, too.
Animal Instinct (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the K-Team series by David Rosenfelt. Corey and the K-Team investigate a murder that ties to a case Corey worked when he was with the police. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Big Little Spies (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Paws & Claws mystery series. Holly is sleuthing when a pet detective is found dead while on the case of a missing pup.
Blackberry Beach (Trade Paperback) – Book 7 in the Hope Harbor series. A grieving coffee shop owner and his secretive new neighbor team up to rehab a home for foster children, and they find love.
Checking Out Crime (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 9 in the delightful Bookmobile Cat Mystery series. Minnie thinks she and Eddie have come across the victim of a hit and run, but when they start investigating, the case just gets more and more complicated.
Deadly Editions (Hardcover) – Book 6 in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. Delaney is drawn into a treasure hunt with a grand prize of a first edition of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. But she didn’t count on a string of robberies, a kidnapping, or a murder being connected to the game.
The Duke Undone (Trade Paperback) – A young artist stumbles across an unconscious, naked man in an alley, so she calls for help. But when she can’t get him out of her mind, she paints him in all his glory. Then, when the rent comes due, she sells the painting. When the Duke of Weston gets word about the scandalous painting that could ruin him, he plans to buy it, burn it, and confront the painter. But when he meets Lucy, he is so captivated by her that he agrees to a scheme that could save them both.
The Intimacy Experiment (Trade Paperback) – The founder of a sex-positive start up and one of LA’s hottest bachelors – who happens to also be a rabbi of a struggling synagogue – team up to host a series on modern intimacy. She’s looking for a path to lecturing at the university level. He has three months to bring in enough congregants to save his synagogue. Neither of them expected to find love. This is such a quirky premise, I might have to check this one out!
Laid Out in Lavender (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Garlic Farm Mystery series. An app developer turned farmer, Mabel is renting out the lavender field for weddings when one of the guests at a wedding is killed.
Life’s Too Short (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Friend Zone series after The Friend Zone (♥♥♥♥½) and The Happy Ever After Playlist (♥♥♥♥½). Since her mother and sister never made it to 30, Vanessa is determined to live each day to the fullest. And she has millions of YouTube followers along for the ride. But Vanessa’s life philosophy never accounted for her half sister leaving Vanessa in charge of her baby daughter. I have absolutely adored the other two books in this series. I will definitely be picking those up for a re-read before diving into this one as soon as I can.
One Thing Leads to a Lover (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Love and Let Spy series after Who’s That Earl? which I have on my TBR pile. A widow looking for a little adventure comes into the possession of a mysterious book that puts her, and the spy who was supposed to receive it, in jeopardy. This is on my list, too.
Phantoms & Felonies (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Haunted Mansion Mystery series after Haunted Homicide (♥♥♥♥). Avery hopes to gain some new members for the Women’s Club by playing host to a local theater troupe, but when the lead is found dead, she and the Club’s ghost, Clemmie, are on the hunt for a murderer.
Star Wars: Skywalker, A Family at War (Hardcover) – A biography of the Skywalker family.
To Love and to Loathe (Trade Paperback) – Jeremy and Diana are so constantly at odds, no one is surprised when things escalate to a wager. Jeremy will wed within the year or Diana will owe him 100 pounds. But in private, Jeremy asks for a different sort of arrangement. His last mistress critiqued his skills in the bedroom. If Diana will help him out, he will improve and she can use the gossip to signal she is in the market for a lover. But they don’t count on this arrangement leading to real feelings between them.

 

Books for Adults – Nonfiction

Book of Hebrews Study (The Passion Translation – Paperback) – A study of the book of Hebrews.
Soundtracks (Hardcover) – The latest book from the fabulous Jon Acuff. Soundtracks are the messages we repeat to ourselves which can either lead to trouble or can be leveraged to help us achieve our goals. I am eager to read this one!
Woman Evolve: Breakup with Your Fears and Revolutionize Your Life (Hardcover) – Become the woman God intended through this look at Eve from the book of Genesis.

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Publishers - Kensington

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Publishers – Kensington

Posted on by Jaymie

Back in February I posted the first of my publisher spotlight posts about Crooked Lane Books. Today I want to highlight Kensington Publishing which also includes Lyrical Press (e-books), Dafina (fiction and nonfiction with a focus on race and identity), Zebra Books (romance), and other imprints.

According to their website, Kensington Publishing Corp started in 1974. They are proud to be an “independent” publisher, meaning they aren’t one of the “big” publishing houses. They are a “family” business and started out publishing historical fiction, but today their offerings run the full range of genres including cozy mysteries, thrillers, westerns, nonfiction, Amish fiction, contemporary romance, etc.

Here are reviews for some of my favorite Kensington titles and series:
The Scarred Earth Saga by G. A. Aiken
The Countess of Harleigh Mystery series by Dianne Freeman
The Rosalind Thorne Mystery Series by Darcie Wilde
The Amish Matchmaker Mystery Series by Amanda Flower
The Amish Candy Shop Mystery Series by Amanda Flower
The Poppy McAllister Mystery Series by Libby Klein
The Cider Shop Mystery series by Julie Ann Lindsey
The Savannah Reid Mystery series by G. A. McKevett
Bait and Witch
Piece by Piece
Portrait of a Sister

From Dafina:
The Cowboys of California series by Rebekah Weatherspoon

From Zebra Books:
The Amish Fairy Tales series by Sarah Price
The Petersheim Brothers series by Jennifer Beckstrand
The Amish Cookie Club series by Sarah Price

From Lyrical Press/Lyrical Underground:
The Trouble With Murder
Capturing the Earl
Paw and Order
Deadly News
Scone Cold Killer
Escape Claws

REVIEW: The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris

REVIEW: The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Alex can see the future when he touches an object. The longer he holds it, the farther forward he can see. He’s learned to shut most of his visions down immediately. (He really doesn’t need to see himself pick up a napkin in his mind and throw it away just before he throws it away in real life.) He’s also learned that he tends to cause more trouble when he tries to fix things or stop things from happening. The thing he tries to fix always happens anyway.

The visions started at the hospital after Alex’s parents died. They are a constant companion, and a constant burden. The anxiety he lives with, braced for the incoming images all the time, is devastating.

But then he has the vision about his younger brother, Isaiah.

Review

Wow. Reading this book over several hours one evening felt like I took a journey. For a long time, the journey was full of anxiety and fear. Then, Alex was able to share his burden with one person. And sharing the load and being seen and understood lessened the weight of it for Alex – and for me. But it was still heavy.

But there was a moment, in the pain and strain of Alex’s journey, where it all clicked. The whole journey, all of time and space of this story came together. It was like someone flipped a switch. Suddenly, I “got” it at a whole new level. I understood the author’s message and her point in a way I just didn’t get until that precise moment. And it is something that has stuck with me since I finished the book. (Be sure to read the author’s note/acknowledgements, too. It’s the perfect closing after finishing the story. You can also read my review of the author’s book. Slay, here. I loved it!)

This was a hard story to love early on. While I adored Alex and Isaiah from the start, and I was engaged with their story, the angst and anxiety and burden of Alex’s visions are tremendous. But there’s a reason, a purpose to it that is not to be missed. The book touches on many issues – racism, gun violence, grief and loss, slavery – but in a way that felt new and fresh for me. And I think the story will stick with readers in ways a more straightforward story might have missed. I highly recommend this one. It would be a fascinating book to discuss with other readers! This book releases NEXT WEEK, April 6th. (Language, TW: anxiety, racism, grief and loss, gun violence)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: Under the Cover of Murder by Lauren Elliott

BONUS REVIEW: Under the Cover of Murder by Lauren Elliott

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

Addie is focused on seeing her friend, Serena, married. The groom’s step-mother has been a terror throughout the planning process, ignoring the wishes of the couple. She cancelled reservations, changed their cake, and ignored their plans for a small gathering, inviting her personal friends. Addie is running interference and trying to keep things from going off the rails. She doesn’t need the distraction of a murder on the beach near where the yacht for the wedding is anchored.

She also doesn’t need the disaster of Lacey Davenport. Lacey causes trouble and chaos wherever she goes. The last time Addie saw her, Lacey stole money from Serena. There’s no way she was invited  to the wedding. But she shows up, and she stirs up trouble anyway.

While Serena and her new husband are able to get away for their honeymoon, the guests who spent the night on the yacht find themselves confined on board when police find a second body connected to the yacht. It’s only a matter of time before Addie starts sleuthing.

Review

This is the sixth book in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery, but it’s the first I have read. I enjoyed the setting for this – guests and suspects confined to the boat during the investigation. It’s what drew me to the story in the first place.

There’s a LOT going on in this book: two murders that may or may not be connected, a book-related mystery which draws Addie in to the investigation, affairs, secrets, suspicious, and relationship drama. There’s also a really large cast for this story. I struggled to track everyone, and at times the case seemed to spin its wheels. Maybe this would have been a better fit for me if I had read the previous books in the series. At least, I would know more of the main characters. That was really the only piece that ever left me feeling lost, even though I picked up in the middle of a series – tracking all the characters. I also struggled with some of the writing choices in this one, at least in the unedited review copy.

The mystery here is satisfying. I think series fans will enjoy this one. I always like seeing characters grow through everyday life events as a series grows, and this book includes Serena’s wedding as well as some relationship developments for a few other characters.

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Good/Solid/Fine

REVIEW: Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher

REVIEW: Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher

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

When Marin’s sister, Sadie, got home from her assignment in China, she looked worn out and thin. Marin, the caretaker and worrier of the pair, agreed to the getaway for Sadie’s sake. Marin had been taking care of Sadie since their mother died. She could put aside her fear of flying and her homebody nature to take a trip with her only sister.

But Sadie missed the flight. Which means she also missed the turbulence. And the storm that re-routed the plane. Sadie also missed every awful, embarrassing moment between Marin and her good looking seatmate, Lucas Tsai. (And really, all that embarrassment was Sadie’s fault! If she had been there, Marin never would have had to sit by Lucas!)

So now, Marin is alone on a beautiful tropical island while her sister is still at home. Marin has never been the adventurous one. She plays things safe. She’s been strangled by fear since their mother died. And this getaway is about to challenge every bit of her safe, quiet existence.

Review

Wow. I was wrecked by this book in all the best ways for a reader. I was expecting something light and funny – and those moments are there. But there are also these beautiful, ugly-crying moments with this stellar cast of characters. I wasn’t expecting the extremes, but I adored them. This book packs and punch, and I am forever a fan.

The author does a fantastic job of balancing the contemporary story with Marin’s backstory. It’s a great way to explain how Marin gets to the point where she’s settled for whatever life hands her instead of living a life she wants. I was engrossed in watching Marin’s journey, cheering for her along the way.

Yes, there’s a beautiful romantic element to this that’s supremely satisfying. But it’s also so much more. Do not miss this one! It will stick with me for a long time. (Language, TW: grief/loss)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Winterborne Home for Mayhem and Mystery by Ally Carter

REVIEW: Winterborne Home for Mayhem and Mystery by Ally Carter

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this from Netgalley, but by the time I was approved, I had already bought a print copy of the published book. I read the print version for this review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

April and her friends are settled in at Winterborne House. Gabriel Winterborne has been “found” and is famous again. April and the other kids thwarted a lot of dark, ugly schemes that could have hurt a lot of people (Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor) and lived to tell the tale.

But Izzy has disappeared and Smithers, the butler, is away, leaving Gabriel in charge of five kids and the house. Things are pretty chaotic when the case worker arrives. Then, a swordsman breaks into the house. And Gabriel goes missing.

Now the kids are dodging the case worker who wants to take them away from their home and from each other. They are searching for Gabriel, afraid he’s hurt or dying – or that he’s just abandoned them. And they are running from guys with guns, desperate to preserve their found family.

Review

WOW! This was fantastic! I squeezed in a quick re-read of book one so the story was fresh in my mind when I started this. And I am so glad. I was able to pick up the action and the characters right away, which was important. This book jumps right into the action! This is definitely a read-in-order series.

While this is April’s story, I adore the full ensemble cast. The kids have really gelled into a team – and a family – by this book. I love them even more this time around.

The story was captivating from start to end. There are a ton of things going on here, but the author never loses the reigns on her story. I flew through this in one breathless sitting because I had to know what happens for everyone. I have my fingers crossed that there will be more stories for these characters in the future. But this book ends solidly with no major cliffhangers.

Fans of book 1, fans of Ally Carter, and fans of middle grade mysteries should NOT miss this excellent series. I’d say the target audience would be older middle grade readers – 10 and up – due to the violence of the story. While not at all graphic, there are sword fights and bullet wounds and stabbings and peril that might not be a good fit for some young readers.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!