Reviews, Etc.

BOOK NEWS: March 30, 2021

BOOK NEWS: March 30, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Wow, I can’t believe the year is almost a quarter finished! Here are some of the new books releasing during this last week of March.

Books for Kids

Who Is Jane Goodall? AND Who Was Jackie Robinson (Board Books) – The Who HQ line (Who Was, Where Is, etc.) moves into board books with these two titles.
Bear Can’t Wait – A new addition to the delightful Bear series. Bear has a surprise planned for a friend, but he finds it hard to wait.
I’m a Gluten-Sniffing Service Dog (April 1) – Chewy is training to be a service dog, but he’s struggling with distraction.
The Critter Club: Ellie Tames the Tiger – Book 22 in the Critter Club series. Ellie and her friends try to keep a new kitten named Tiger under control while Ellie also deals with a dance partner who isn’t very friendly.
DJ Funkyfoot, Butler for Hire – First in a new series which is part of the Flytrap Files. DJ the butler can’t find a job other than babysitter for ShrubBaby who has a taste for adventure.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

All You Knead Is Love – Alba is sent to Barcelona to live with her estranged grandmother while her mother tries to leave Alba’s abusive father. While there Alba discovers a love of bread baking that leads her to take action when her favorite bakery is in danger of closing. This is on my list for this week.
Finn and the Time-Traveling Pajamas (Older Middle Grade) – Book 2 in the Finniverse series. Finn is saved by an older version of himself who needs Finn and his friends to help correct mistakes in the older Finn’s past.
Star Wars The Mandalorian Season 1 Volume 1 Screen Comix – Graphic novel-style retelling of the first four episodes of season 1 of The Mandalorian.
Wilderlore: The Accidental Apprentice – First in a new series. When Barclay breaks his community’s most sacred rule – don’t go into the woods – and bonds with a Beast, he is run out of town. He journeys to a community of Lore Keepers who have also bonded with Beasts to find out what to do next. This sounds fun!
The Death of Nancy Drew (Graphic Novel) When Nancy dies after taking down a crime organization, the Hardy Boys step in to investigate her death.
Prom Theory – In an effort to prove her scientific theories about love and attraction, Iris tries to get a newly single guy at school to ask her to prom.

Books for Adults – Fiction

Back in the Burbs (Trade Paperback) – The one saving grace after Mallory watches her marriage and her work life fall completely apart is inheriting a house in the burbs where she can start over. If only the house wasn’t a complete disaster. This reminds me of the premise of The Restoration of Celia Fairchild, but sassier, and I am here for it!
Bodies and Bows (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Apron Shop mystery series. Iris starts investigating when a local bad boy is killed in a hit and run.
Careless Whispers (Mass Market Paperback) – Part of the Jackson Falls series. Elaina has dreamed of nothing but taking over the family business. Instead, she is fired, and her father hires her nemesis Alex instead. When she tries to launch her own business, though, Elaina will need Alex’s help.
Death at the Salon (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Daisy Thorne Mystery series. When Daisy’s customer – and former high school foe – is found dead, all the evidence points to Daisy as the killer.
Don’t Rock the Goat (e-book) – Book 8 in the Bought-the-Farm Mystery series. Ivy’s rescue farm acquires some baby goats while Ivy acquires a new mystery to solve.
Duchess If You Dare (Trade Paperback) – First in the new Maidens of Mayhem Mystery series. Scarlett’s sleuthing into a missing seamstress brings her in contact with a Duke trying to solve his own mystery. Teaming up would help both of them out, if they can put aside the feelings that are growing between them. This series sounds fun!
Flight (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Texas Murder Files series. Miranda may have hung up her forensic photographer hat in favor of wildlife photography, but when she finds a couple of dead bodies, she can’t help but apply her skills to the case. If only the local detective would take her thoughts seriously.
Fresh Brewed Murder (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Ground Rules Mystery series. Sage’s coffee truck, Ground Rules, is the site of a murder, and she is the prime suspect. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Hiding Place (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Mercy Carr Mystery series. Mercy has her hands full when she inherits a 20-year-old cold case, her grandfather’s murderer escapes custody, her grandmother goes missing, and someone shows up claiming Elvis is *his* dog. I have loved the first two books in this series, so this is at the top of my wish list for this week.
Knitty Gritty Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 7 in the Knit & Nibble Mystery series. Pamela and her friends are investigating another murder when a local farm-to-table enthusiast is killed.
Murder at the Taffy Shop (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery series. Mac and her friends start investigating when the owner of the taffy shop is accused of murder.
Murder at Wedgefield Manor (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Jane Wunderly Mystery series. Jane and her aunt are spending time at Wedgefield prior to their return to America when one of the manor’s mechanics is killed in a car accident that turns out to be murder.
The Museum Murder (e-book, March 31) – Book 2 in the Epiphany Bloom Mystery series. Pip starts investigating when an important dress goes missing from a fashion museum.
Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Desert Flowers Mystery series.  The Desert Flowers Detective Agency is on the case when a social media influencer is killed in a way that reminds Poppy of the Pillow Talk Killer murders from her early days as an actress.
Under the Cover of Murder (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 6 in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series. While Addie is supposed to be serving as the maid of honor at the wedding of the year, instead she is trapped on a yacht, investigating the two bodies that have washed ashore.

Books for Adults – Nonfiction

Emotionally Healthy Discipleship: Moving from Shallow Christianity to Deep Transformation (Hardcover) – New from the author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.  Tackles the issues that undermine serious discipleship. I have read some of the author’s other works, and he’s fantastic. This is on my list for this week.
Everybody Fights: So Why Not Get Better at It (Hardcover) – The Holderness videos have gotten me through some dark moments of the pandemic with a LOT of laughter. I have my fingers crossed that that same humor translates to their first book, Everybody Fights, about marriage and communication.
Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence  (Hardcover) – The author responds to the question she is asked most often, “How can you still be a Christian?” as people wrestle with disillusionment and disappointment with the Church and Church leaders. This one is on my list, too.
The Hill We Climb (Hardcover) – A gift edition of the poet’s inaugural poem from this past January. Foreward by Oprah Winfrey.
Seeing Beautiful Again: 50 Devotions to Find Redemption in Every Part of Your Story (Hardcover) – A new devotional from Lysa TerKeurst, author of Uninvited and It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way (♥♥♥♥½).

REVIEW: Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado

REVIEW: Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Sometimes, Charlie wishes she was more like her best friend, Amelia. She’s stylish, athletic, and popular. Even Charlie’s mom acts like she’d rather have Amelia as her daughter. And Charlie’s crush, Cal, can’t get enough of Amelia, even though she shuts him down, hard, all the time.

Not only does Charlie’s mom seem to like Amelia better, but she’s always on Charlie about her weight.  She gave her an activity tracker so she can track Charlie’s steps. She sells meal replacement shakes online and pushes Charlie about using them. When Charlie’s dad died and her mom focused her grief on losing weight, the dynamic between them shifted dramatically. Charlie chose self-acceptance instead of obsessing about weight, or at least she is trying to.

As Charlie negotiates her junior year, her worsening relationship with her mom, and her first boyfriend, things come to a head that leaves her on shaky ground.

Review

I adored this! It’s absolutely perfect – painful at times, sure, but so enjoyable overall. I loved Charlie! She, Amelia, and Brian made such a fantastic core group of characters. I would have loved a few more chapters with the characters at the end.

The writing and the story and the characters perfectly capture first love – and its sometimes all-consuming nature. The dynamic between Charlie and her mom also felt very real. I liked that, while progress was made, there were no instant solutions or easy answers to their issues (although, honest communication helped).

This is Charlie’s story of self-kindness, self-acceptance, and self-celebration. It’s a story *every* reader could enjoy and learn from. There were several moments where I wanted to mark the page or underline the writing – perfect little nuggets  I wanted to savor. This would make an excellent choice for a book group or discussion group. Don’t miss this one! (Language, LGBTQ+, TW: fat shaming)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BONUS REVIEW: Fresh Brewed Murder by Emmeline Duncan

BONUS REVIEW: Fresh Brewed Murder by Emmeline Duncan

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

Sage and her friend, Harley, just opened their coffee cart, Ground Rules. They’ve been getting to know their neighbors – other food truck owners – and watching the protesters across the street, protesting a development going in.

On what should have been their third day of business, Sage discovers the gate to the square open, the door to her coffee cart ajar, and a dead body. And the murder weapon, a box cutter, was something Sage had been using in her cart for the last two days.

Now Sage is a murder suspect, her business is temporarily closed for the investigation, and she finds out her estranged mother has ties to the case. If Sage wants to be able to focus on the full launch of their business, she’s going to have to clear her name and find a killer.

Review

This was so good! There’s an engaging cast of characters, excellent pacing to both the mystery and the series set up, and tons of great coffee-related moments. For serious coffee lovers, there are lots of little details about what Sage and Harley are doing with their business, both the food cart and the roasting pieces. For those of us who take a more simple approach to caffeine, though, the details are fun but don’t bog things down.

The mystery does a great job of drawing out the details of Sage’s childhood and the situation with her mother in genuine and unforced ways. I was really impressed by how the author used the mystery to share that backstory rather than dumping the information in some other way. This way of crafting the story was one of my favorite parts of the book. Also, the reveal of the killer caught me completely by surprise, which was fun.

I loved the characters in this! Sage will keep me coming back for more books in this series. I was fascinated by the ways her character is self-aware, especially about the impact of life with her mother on her personality now. She does a great job thinking through the boundary between being personable and manipulating people. I hope her romantic life will settle on my favorite of her two suitors. And I’m eager to see how some of her other relationships develop, especially with Harley, who is off-page for a lot of the book. I never got a good feel for her in the book, so I have high hopes that book 2 will dig more into their friendship and business partnership.

This books releases NEXT week, on March 30, 2021.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it ! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Capturing the Earl by A. S. Fenichel

REVIEW: Capturing the Earl by A. S. Fenichel

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

A woman of no title or money, Mercy Heath knows she is likely to wind up a spinster. And the one man who makes her pulse race, the Earl of Castlewick, would never pursue her. She’s nowhere near his level. And she keeps telling herself that, even when he asks her to dance out of the blue, or when he pays her any bit of attention.

Mercy’s best friend, Aurora, Lady Radcliff, is widowed and has no intention of remarrying. Ever. But the Earl of Castlewick has decided to court her. She owns a parcel of land that used to belong to his family. As her husband, the land would return to his family’s holdings. That has been the driving focus of Wesley’s adult life – buying back the land his grandfather lost yeas ago.

Wesley is committed to this plan for the sake of his family and the promise he made to his father before he died. And Aurora is lovely and bright and would make a good wife. But he can’t stop thinking of Mercy and wishing she was the woman he was pursing instead.

Review

This was lovely! It’s book 3 in the Wallflowers of West Lane series. I have the first two books on my TBR, but I haven’t gotten to them yet. After enjoying this so much, I’ll be bumping them up the list. I adored all four of the Wallflowers, and I can’t wait to read the first two stories. (I had no issues jumping into this series with book 3.)

The first thing I loved about this was the quartet of friends. I didn’t have to have read the previous books – The Earl Not Taken and Misleading a Duke – in order to enjoy and understand their bond. They are like sisters in all the best ways – fiercely loyal and protective of anyone in their circle. These ladies are amazing.

I especially liked Mercy as the odd woman out in this book. No title, no money, but fully secure in who she is and in the love of her friends. It was obvious from the start that Wesley was captivated by her. But he stubbornly clung to his plan to marry Aurora, despite his feelings and her clear disinterest. I felt like a stronger case could have been made for why this land mattered to Wesley so much. (I also would have liked much stronger repercussions for something that happens later in the story.) But I liked everything else so much that I didn’t let those pieces distract me from the story.

Historical romance fans who enjoy stories with characters thwarted in their pursuit of love and with excellent, strong women, should be sure to check this book out – as well as the rest of the series. (Sex, TW: sexual assault)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Sherlock Bones and the Sea-Creature Feature by Renée Treml

REVIEW: Sherlock Bones and the Sea-Creature Feature by Renée Treml

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Sherlock Bones is a mystery-solving superstar at the Natural History Museum. Sherlock, the skeleton of a tawny frogmouth, along with his helpers Watts, a stuffed parrot from an exhibit, and Grace, a raccoon, takes on the case of a swamp monster stalking around the museum.

Review

This is book 2 in the Sherlock Bones graphic novel series for kids. As I was reading this, I imagined this was for kids in the 6-9 age range, but the range from the publisher is 8-12. I think any elementary school reader who loves mysteries, quirky characters, and animal facts will enjoy this one. The characters are punny, and the animal facts were interesting. Readers can follow along with the detectives and work out the solutions on their own.

I got a kick out of this! It’s a funny story with unusual characters in a fascinating setting. I would like to go back and read the first one to see how the author sets up this unique team of sleuths. I would happily hand this to a young reader – I think kids will enjoy this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BOOK NEWS: March 23, 2021

BOOK NEWS: March 23, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Let’s take a look at some of the new books out this week!

Books for Kids

Duck Duck Moose – The three friends are playing a quiet game of cards when someone asks them “Where’s Goose?” which turns into an all-day hunt. I am eager to see this one in person.
I Am Not a Dog Toy – A toy bear insists he is a kid’s toy, not a dog toy. When the girl doesn’t want to play with him, but Dog does, maybe Bear will see who his real friend is.
Itty-Bitty Kitty Corn – Kitty thinks she might be a unicorn, but when she meets Unicorn, who is so amazing, she feels pretty plain.
Meanest of Meanies – When you are a MOM, sometimes being “mean” means “I love you.”
The Middle Kid – A middle child shares his story of the ups and downs of his place in his family.
Dog Man: Mothering Heights – Book 10 in the Dog Man series.
Doggo and Pupper – First in a new chapter book series by Katherine Applegate (Roscoe Riley Rules series, The One and Only Ivan, Crenshaw). An older dog adjusts when a new puppy joins the family. This looks sweet!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Disney Monsters Movies in Comics (Graphic Novel) – The Monsters Inc. movies in comics form.
Flash: Legends of Forever – Book 3 in the Crossover Crisis series of the Flash novels where the Legends of Tomorrow help with the mission to save the multiverse.
Sherlock Bones and the Sea-Creature Feature (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the Sherlock Bones graphic novel mystery series starring a skeleton from the Natural History Museum. This time, Sherlock and his friends are hunting down a swamp monster in the museum. I got such a kick out of this! I’ll post a full review soon.
Where We Used to Roam – Emma embraces a summer in Wyoming, away from her brother who has gone into rehab and from her best friend and the things that happened between them. This one is on my list.
Wonder Women of Science: Twelve Geniuses Who Are Currently Rocking Science, Technology, and the World – A celebration of women in STEM.
Fade Away – When a high school basketball star disappears right after winning the big game, the whole town weighs in on what they think happened. I have this one on my list.
Girls with Rebel Souls – The third and final book in the Girls with Sharp Sticks series. The girls of Innovations Academy aren’t done fighting for their futures or their freedom. I have this series on my wish list.
Lost in the Never Woods – When local children start to go missing in the woods, Wendy has to face the past she can’t remember in order to help them.
The Secret Recipe for Moving On – Getting dumped was bad enough. But now Ellie has to watch her ex with his new girlfriend in their life skills class while she is stuck in a group of misfits. This is on my list, too.
The Theft of Sunlight – Book 2 in the Dauntless Path series. Rae is named attendant to the princess which gives her freedom to look into the recent disappearances of local children.

Books for Adults

Midlife CatAstrophe (e-book) – First in the new Meno-paws Mystery series. (I know, the pun is awful. But I have my fingers crossed that the book is good.) Nell is looking for a fresh start after her divorce, but instead she finds a dead body and a talking cat. I’ll definitely be checking this one out.
Murder by Page One (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Peach Coast Library Mysteries series from Hallmark Publishing. Marvey, new librarian in town, teams up with the charming newspaper owner to investigate the body found at the local bookstore. This is another book for my list.
Stealing Time (e-book) – A physicist who invented the technology that terrorists used to steal time from the lives of children has gone into hiding after the thieves were found and the technology destroyed. But now children are going missing  and she has to know if her technology is being used again.
The Enneagram Spectrum of Personality Styles (Trade Paperback, March 25) – The 25th anniversary edition of this introductory book on the Enneagram.
Simple & Free (book AND Study Guide AND Guided Journal) – Jen Hatmaker has revised and updated one of her most popular books, 7. Now called Simple & Free, the book comes with a study guide and a journal. This would be fantastic for group study!

REVIEW: Five Ways to Fall Out of Love by Emily Martin

REVIEW: Five Ways to Fall Out of Love by Emily Martin

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 Webster stood Aubrey up for Homecoming, she was devastated. And the awful things he said to her that night only added to her hurt and confusion. It ruined their friendship much less any chance at it becoming something more.

Between Webster and the disaster that is her parents’ marriage, Aubrey has become pretty cynical when it comes to love. Even when she starts dating Webster’s cousin, Holland, she is always bracing for something to go wrong.

When Aubrey puts all of her energy into examining the ways love could go wrong – both in her life and in the relationships around her, it’s a way to try to manage her fears. But it’s also a great way to make sure everything that matters most to her blows up in her face.

Review

This was a hard story to enjoy. It’s well-written, with engaging characters. But it’s also painful. Aubrey is so young to be so cynical. Her fear and self-protectiveness are understandable, but they are also sad. And they make her a hard character to like. (Webster is hard to like, too.)

I appreciated Aubrey’s journey and the transparency of the novel. Readers may find their own stories and relationships and feelings reflected in Aubrey’s experience. And her story is a great sales pitch for the value of honest communication.

Readers looking for a serious story about romantic relationships in high school, especially seniors considering the next steps of college and career, should pick this one up. (Language, sex, LGBTQ+, drinking)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Solid/fine/good

REVIEW: The Enneagram Goes to Church by Todd A. Wilson

REVIEW: The Enneagram Goes to Church by Todd A. Wilson

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

“If I would have known the Enneagram, I would have been a much better pastor.”

This is the confession that launches this resource about the role the Enneagram could play in the Church. The author comes to the discussion from a standard evangelical background. He works from the assumption that the reader has at least a passing knowledge of the Enneagram – this is not a resource for beginners. There is a chapter on triads, stances, and orientation to time, but it is there to give readers a common background and language for the rest of the book, not as an introduction for novices.

The content includes a look at the nine types as pastors as well as in leadership roles. There’s a chapter on the types related to preaching and teaching as well as chapters on worship, congregational care, and conflict. There’s also a great discussion at the start of the book about whether or not the Enneagram even belongs in the church. The author’s bottom line to readers, especially pastors, is to pursue self-awareness which in turn will help in all aspects of pastoring.

Review

This is an exceptionally good resource. The tone and writing is conversational, and the content is applicable in many settings, not just in churches. (Personally, I though the author came on pretty strong at first, and when he revealed his type in the book, that made more sense. I was quickly able to settle into his writing style, though.) The teaching is solid as it relates to pastors and pastoral roles, but it could also apply to teachers (especially the chapter on preaching) and helping professionals (especially the chapters on conflict and congregational care). I got a TON out of this, and I don’t fit into any of these roles right now.

It was fascinating to me to apply the content to my current and past church experiences. It was easy to see where this information could have helped heal some of the hurts we have seen in our churches over the years.

The material here is challenging in all the best ways. There’s lots of references here to church history, scripture, and Enneagram leaders and teachers, which I enjoyed immensely. This is a must-buy resource for me, and I am looking forward to reading through it again! You can read my reviews of other Enneagram resources here. (There is one use of the word “tribe” in the book as an expression of a like-minded group, which might be offensive to some readers.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

 

REVIEW: Upstaged by Diana Harmon Asher

REVIEW: Upstaged by Diana Harmon Asher

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Shira is ambushed into auditioning for The Music Man. Her best friend, Cassie, thinks it’s a great way for Shira to move past her shyness. All Shira knows is that getting the first tenor part for the barbershop quartet in the play is drawing a lot more attention than she wants.

But being a girl cast in a male role in middle school starts to feel like small potatoes when Shira is asked to also be the understudy for Marian, the female lead in the musical. While Shira’s nervous about dealing with Monica, the 8th grade diva cast in the role, she really understands and identifies with the prim and shy librarian in the play.

But when Monica starts causing problems for Shira and her friends – and the production – Shira has to dig deep and find her voice, for the sake of everything that has become so important for her.

Review

This was so fun!! I had high hopes for this one. I adored the author’s previous book, Sidetracked. And I enjoy The Music Man as well as school stories, so this felt like it would be a good fit for me – and it was!

I think it will help readers if they have seen a production of The Music Man. Even if they don’t know the songs, it will help to understand the plot and especially the main characters. If I was doing something with this book in a classroom – a read-aloud, a book group – I would schedule a viewing if I could. It would be so fun!

Shira’s shyness is not an extreme example; she doesn’t have a paralyzing level of anxiety. She’s comfortable singing in private. And once she meets each new challenge in the story, she gains confidence and keeps moving forward.

There are plenty of middle grade standard elements here – friendship pieces, a mean girl, oblivious school personnel, amazing teachers, some crushes, etc. Any reader who enjoys contemporary middle grade fiction can find something here to love. Theater fans, singers, performers, and Music Man fans should absolutely check this one out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

BOOK NEWS: March 16, 2021

BOOK NEWS: March 16, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

 

Rocket’s Puppy Friends (Board Book) – Rocket and his friends meet five puppies who show them around the farm. The illustrations really make these books shine!
Poojo’s Got Wheels – A sweet story about a dog, born without back legs.
June Almeida, Virus Detective!: The Woman Who Discovered the First Human Coronavirus – A picture book biography.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Agent 9 Flood-a-geddon (Graphic Novel) – From the author of the fun Bird and Squirrel graphic novel series. Agent 9 is one of the best spies, but sometimes Nine’s solutions have unintended consequences. It’s why the agent is on probation when a supervillain takes over headquarters. Now, Nine is the only spy who can help.
The Amazing Beef Squad Never Say Die – A group of pranksters takes on their town’s power players.
The Losers at the Center of the Galaxy – When their father, Lenny Volpe, a former quarterback, disappears, his old team wins for the first time, making all their fans really happy. But no matter how much they say otherwise, the Volpe kids are anything but fine.
Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories – Spooky stories with Rowley Jefferson.
Scaredy Cat – Two former shelter cats, threatened by a bully, decide they aren’t giving up their new home without a fight.
Upstaged – Shy Shira is cast in the barbershop quartet for her school production of The Music Man. She’s also asked to be the understudy for the 8th grade diva playing Marian, a character who inspires Shira. I absolutely adored the author’s previous book, Sidetracked, and I am thrilled to be able to review this one soon.
Exploring Gotham City – I love this infographics-type resource about the world of Batman. The sample pages I have seen look fantastic!
Who Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez? AND Who Is Ken Jennings? – Two new biographies from the Who HQ NOW series that looks at contemporary public figures.
Five Ways to Fall Out of Love – Watching her parents break up and experiencing her own public romantic disaster has left Aubrey pretty cynical about love. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Queen of Gilded Horns – Book 2 in the River of Royal Blood series. Eva is on the run with her sister and rival, Isa, in tow. Eva would rather find a way to peace than kill Isa for the throne, but her sister is less than cooperative.
Sword of Rage – Book 1 in the new Reigning Kingdoms series from the author of the fantastic Knights of the Realm series. Harley is determined to overthrow the traitorous king. Ackley never expected to find a love that would make him question his commitment to a life as an assassin.
That Way Madness Lies – A collection of re-imagined works of Shakespeare.

Books for Adults

Dangerous Magic: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (e-book) – First in a new series. Elizabeth Bennett is forced into an arranged marriage with an arrogant mage named Darcy so that their combined magic can help defeat Napoleon’s mages.
The Dating Plan (Trade Paperback) – Liam needs this fake relationship to be believable so that he can inherit according to the terms of his grandfather’s will. Daisy is in it to get her relatives off her back about her finding love which seems like it will never happen. I adore fake relationship stories, so I am thrilled to be able to review this one soon.
The Disappearance of Emily (e-book) – Book 2 in the Destiny Falls series after the fantastic Falling into Magic. Hayden is living in the secret land of Destiny Falls when someone is killed. A series of mysterious events seems tied to the disappearance of Hayden’s mother. I can’t wait to read this one. I’ll be reviewing it soon.
Drown Her Sorrows (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Bree Taggert series. Bree and Matt investigate a murder that was set up to look like suicide.
Firefly: Life Signs (Hardcover) – Book 5 in the series of original novels tied to the Firefly TV series. When the crew discovers that Inara left because of an incurable disease, they also learn that a doctor with a possible cure is on a hostile prison planet.
Hours to Kill (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Homeland Heroes series. When his estranged wife, a Homeland Security agent, is attacked and left for dead, ICE agent Mack Jordan rushes to her bedside. She remembers nothing of the attack – or of their life together. But when she is attacked again, they start working together to find who’s out to get her.
Mad About Ewe AND Give Love a Chai (e-books, March 18) – The first two books in the Common Threads series. In Mad About Ewe, Dawn and Mike have a second chance at love after both have endured difficult relationships and divorce. In Give Love a Chai, Tia has found love, but in order to marry the new man in her life, she has to track down her childhood best friend and get a divorce after that impulsive trip to Vegas ten years ago. I have both of these on my wish list.
Picture Perfect Frame – Book 12 in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. When a kerfuffle at a wine and painting event seems to turn into murder, Jill starts investigating.
Candlekeep Mysteries (Dungeons and Dragons resource – Hardcover) – 17 D&D mystery campaigns connected to the library fortress of Candlekeep. That sounds amazing!
The Enneagram Goes to Church: Wisdom for Leadership, Worship, and Congregational Life (Trade Paperback) – The pastor author shares how knowing the Enneagram could have helped him in his early years of ministry. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Gospels (Hardcover) – A new translation of the Gospels.