Reviews, Etc.

BOOK NEWS: January 5, 2021

BOOK NEWS: January 5, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy 2021! I hope these first few days of the new year are treating you well. Here are some of the books launching this new year of reading:

Books for Kids – Picture Books

Blanket: Journey to Extreme Coziness – Discover the power of the blanket!
Loki – A Little Golden Book starring Loki
Spring Stinks – Bruce is not impressed with the smells of spring.
Stella’s Stellar Hair – When Stella’s hair isn’t quite right for her big day, she travels the solar system to visit her aunties for some help. A celebration of hairstyles of the African diaspora.
Star Wars The High Republic: The Great Jedi Rescue – The Jedi of the High Republic are on a rescue mission. Set 200 years before The Phantom Menace.
The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall’s Life, Leadership, and Legacy – Picture book biography.
Prince (Little People, Big Dreams) – Picture book biography
What If You Could Spy Like a Narwhal!? – Part of the What If You Had series, this one focused on animal superpowers.

Books for Kids: Early Readers and Transitional Chapter Books

Libby Loves Science: Mix and Measure – Libby is hosting a party and accidentally leaves out an important ingredient for her cupcakes. She and her friends use science to solve the problem.
The Adventures of Allie and Amy: Stars of the Show – Book 3 in the series. Allie and Amy are supposed to perform together for a fundraiser, but Allie gets sick, leaving Amy to wonder if she will have to perform alone.
BunBun & BonBon: Hoppy Go Lucky (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the series. BunBun and BonBon have an epic adventure.
Geeger the Robot: Lost and Found – Book 2 in the series. When the class pet goes missing, Tillie helps Geeger prove he didn’t eat it.
Little Goddess Girls: Persephone and the Evil King – Book 6 in the series. Hephaestus has turned Athena and her dog into treasures and hidden them away. The girls only have 7 guesses to find their friends.
Pixie Tricks: The Greedy Gremlin – Book 2 in the series. A fairy traps Violet’s cousin in a video game.
Society of Substitutes: The Great Escape – First in a new series. When Milton finds out his classroom’s pet ferret is plotting for world domination, he’s grateful to know the Society of Substitutes – including his mom – is there to help. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Star Wars Galactic Storybook – Six illustrated stories.
She Persisted: Harriet Tubman – First in a new line of chapter book biographies of women. Part of Chelsea Clinton’s She Persisted line.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

The Lion of Mars – The latest from Jennifer L. Holm (Babymouse, Squish, and Sunny graphic novel series, The Fourteenth Goldfish – ♥♥♥♥♥). All the adults in Bell’s colony on Mars fall ill with a virus, leaving Bell and the rest of the kids to uncover the truth and save their families. This is going to be fantastic! I can’t wait to read it.
Meow or Never – Part of the WISH line from Scholastic. When Avery gets talked into singing in the school musical and her stage fright threatens to get the best of her, a stray cat tucked away backstage could be the help she needs – as long as no one finds it.
The Sea in Winter – Maisie struggles with her anxieties and dark mood when an injury keeps her from ballet training and auditions.
Star Wars The High Republic: A Test of Courage – One of three new books out today launching the new Star Wars High Republic line of stories that take place 200 years before The Phantom Menace. When the cruiser they are in is bombed, a new Jedi Knight, the young inventor she is supervising, a Padawan, and an ambassador’s son escape in a shuttle, but they have few supplies, and communications are down. I’ll be talking more about this one soon.
Star Wars The Mandalorian Junior Novel – A junior novel of season one of The Mandalorian.
Unplugged – The son of a tech billionaire dropped off at a device-free camp for the summer notices the adults acting strangely. But his reputation as a spoiled troublemaker makes it hard for him to get any of the other kids to take him seriously. In my opinion, you can never go wrong with a book from Gordon Korman!
The World Between Blinks – Two cousins following their late grandmother’s map find themselves in a magical world where lost things – and people – wind up, and where someone wants to keep them from getting back home.
Baseball’s Leading Lady: Effa Manley and the Rise and Fall of the Negro Leagues (Older Middle Grade) – The story of the first and only woman inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Fascinating!!
History Smashers: Pearl Harbor – Explore little-known truths behind the attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath.
Race Against Time: The Untold Story of Scipio Jones and the Battle to Save Twelve Innocent Men  (Older Middle Grade) – A self-taught attorney who had been born enslaved steps up to defend twelve sharecroppers wrongfully sentenced to death. Sounds like an excellent addition to history collections.
Trailblazers: Lin-Manuel Miranda: Raising Theater to New Heights – A biography of the creator of Hamilton.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

The Awakening of Malcolm X – An historical novel about Malcolm X’s adolescence in jail written by his daughter in cooperation with Tiffany D. Jackson (Monday’s Not Coming – ♥♥♥♥½)
Court of Swans – Book 1 in a new Christian historical fiction series for teens and young adults. When her father, an earl, dies, Delia watches his wife accuse her seven brothers of treason and murder just as Richard II is executing anyone who could be a threat to the throne. Delia is their only hope, and a captain of the guard who finds the situation fishy agrees to help her.
Happily Ever Afters – A young writer who has rarely seen herself in a romance novel writes the characters she longs for into her own stories. But when she is accepted into a prestigious creative writing program, Tessa’s words dry up. Her best friend is convinced that the solution is Tessa finding a real life romance of her own.
House of El: The Shadow Threat (Graphic Novel) – First in a new graphic novel series about Superman’s home planet of Krypton. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
Influence – From the author of Pretty Little Liars. Four young women enjoying their moments in the spotlight have no idea they are on the verge of watching everything fall apart.
Monsters Among Us – After one semester of college, Catherine is dealing with the fleeting memories of a night she’s not sure she wants to remember. Days later someone close to her is killed. Then a stranger shows up with clues to the night Catherine can’t quite remember – and to the murder. But what is his angle, and is he actually trying to help?
One of the Good Ones – When Happi’s sister, Kezi, is killed after a social justice rally, she becomes another icon in the fight against police brutality. But Happi and her other sister, Genny, want to remember the real Kezi, not the idealized version in the news. So they set off on a road trip to honor her in their own way.
The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss – By senior year, Evie has worked on her anxiety enough that she might just be ready to enter the national math and physics competition AND to flirt back with the new boy at school. She has no idea her best friend Caleb is in love with her, and he is devastated watching her meet cute with the new guy, so he uses an online forum to get her attention without revealing his identity. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Roman and Jewel – Roman and Jewel is the new hip-hop take on Romeo and Juliet, and Jerzie is desperate to play the lead. She will have to settle for being Cinny’s understudy. And falling in love with the male lead is definitely a no-no. Especially when Cinny has decided she wants him too.
Jesus for You: The Ultimate Answer to Your Deepest Needs (Teen Bible Study) – A Bible study over 8 sessions based on the author’s new book releasing next week.

Books for Adults – Fiction

Active Defense (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Danger Never Sleeps series. A former field surgeon is on the run from a dangerous stalker while a security expert has been tailing her for weeks, watching her back.
Blood Heir (Trade Paperback, January 8) – First in the Kate Daniels World series, a spinoff of the Kate Daniels series. A woman with a new name, new face, and new magic returns to an Atlanta drifting towards apocalypse in order to save her adoptive mother, Kate Daniels.
City of Schemes (Hardcover) – Book 4 in the Counterfeit Lady series. Elizabeth and Gideon’s wedding is in jeopardy from Elizabeth’s past, but she’s also trying to help a wealthy friend who may be the target of a con.
A Double Dose of Love (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Amish Mail-Order Bride series. Impulsive Darla travels to Birch Creek in search of a husband while her responsible twin, Amanda, promises to bring her back home. Darla meets reckless Zeke, and his twin, Zeb, teams up with Amanda to protect their siblings from one another. This sounds convoluted but fun!
Joint Custody (Trade Paperback) – A dog in the midst of a custody battle ups the ante to get his owners to see they still belong together. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Killer Comfort Food (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series. Angie is investigating the case of a missing woman with ties to the soybean processing plant that is trying to edge her out of her Nona’s farm.
Say I Do (Trade Paperback) – A collection of wedding stories from Rachel Hauck, Becky Wade, and Kate Ganshert. All three stories have previously been published in other collections, so be sure to check the titles carefully.
Star Trek Picard: The Dark Veil (Hardcover) – Following the novel The Last Best Hope comes this new Picard-era story starring Will and Deanna Riker and the crew of the Titan. This is at the top of my wish list for the month!
Star Wars The High Republic: Light of the Jedi (Hardcover) – The first adult novel of the High Republic era of Star Wars (taking place 200 years before The Phantom Menace). In the golden age of the Republic, the Jedi are called in to deal with a hyperspace disaster which signals something sinister in the works.

Books for Adults – Nonfiction

100 Days of Prayer (Devotional Journal) – A devotional with dot grid space on the facing page for journaling or art. Part of the series by Shanna Noel.
Book of Genesis Study Guide AND Book of Romans Study Guide (The Passion Translation – Trade Paperback) – Two new studies related to the Passion translation of the Bible.
Depression, Anxiety and Other Things We Don’t Want to Talk About (Trade Paperback) – A Christian exploration of mental health and mental illness.
Elijah: Faith and Fire (Paperback Study Guide) – A new Bible study from Priscilla Shirer.
Fighting Forward: Your Nitty-Gritty Guide to Beating the Lies that Hold You Back (Trade Paperback) – Essay collection of Christian thinking on stress management, empowerment, and pushing through hard times.
Healthy Keto Air Fryer Cookbook: 100 Delicious Low-Carb and Fat-Burning Recipes (Paperback) – Keto-friendly recipes for your air fryer.
How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice (Hardcover) – The latest from Jemar Tisby, the author of The Color of Compromise. Move beyond conversations about racism and into action against it. There is also a study guide that will be available in April.
Sacred Tears: Simple Reminders that God Sees You and Loves You (Hardcover) – Essay collection with art, photography, prayers, and scripture for weary souls.

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: My 2020 Favorites

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: My 2020 Favorites

Posted on by Jaymie

There were moments in 2020 when I despaired of ever finding my reading groove. There were others where reading was the perfect escape. What a unique year in so many ways! Here are some of my reading statistics for 2020. (If you’d like to see my past Year in Review/favorites posts, you can go here.)

2020 Stats

Through the course of 2020 I read 342 books.  There were 35 more that I started but did not finish. I started the year intending to take my time, maybe read FEWER books but really savor them – and maybe even remember them once the year was done. In reality, though, that  didn’t happen. I committed to reading a large number of books for publishers which kept me turning pages all year long.

Of those 342, the break down for target audience is

  • 47% adult
  • 19% teen/young adult (including both prose books and graphic novels)
  •   5% older middle grade for readers 10-14
  • 18% middle grade (standard middle grade prose books as well as kids graphic novels)
  •   8% picture books
  •   2% transitional chapter books and early readers

The main genre breakdown is

  • 24% Fantasy
  • 18% Realistic/Contemporary
  • 18% Romance
  • 21% Mystery
  •   6% Science Fiction
  • 11% Nonfiction in various categories (36 books – My goal was at least one per month, so I exceeded that.)

This year most of the books I read were review copies from publishers – 216 books. (63% of the total – more than double what I read from publishers each of the last two years, and 4x 2017.) I also read 44 books from my To Be Read shelves, including 15 brand new books (read within 2 weeks of acquiring them), as well as  60 books from the library. I also re-read 16 favorites this year – not nearly as many as I wanted to re-read.

In 2020, I had a goal of reading 1 nonfiction book each month, specifically from a stack of spiritual growth resources I set aside for the year. As I mentioned,  I met the numerical goal, but I didn’t get to every book in the stack. (And I added several books, too!) I used the Book Riot spreadsheet (which is customizable!) again, which was super helpful in tracking my books for the year as well as helping me with monthly stats. You can check out the 2021 version here. I already have mine customized and ready to go for my first read of the new year.

In 2021, I need to scale back my ARC reading. While I love discovering new books, new authors, and new series – as well as continuations of my favorite series – I found myself wrestling with what I needed to read vs. what I wanted to read all throughout 2020. I have committed to 80 ARCs already for 2021. That means weeks where I have two or three reviews to post per day in order to stay on track with release dates as much as I can. That becomes a reading obligation, which does not leave room to read whatever I feel like – or to take any time off for a break.

Speaking of breaks, I took 21 days off from reading in 2020. That’s more than double what I did in 2019 when I started keeping track. 2020 was intense at times, and it was hard to get lost in a book some weeks. I liked the freedom to do other things – and discovered I need some new hobbies since reading has become a job in a lot of ways – but it added to the pressure and feelings of obligation when I had fewer days to read the next week’s ARCs. So, in 2021 I am seeking better balance.

2020 Favorites!!

At the end of the year, I go back through my reading log and pull out the titles of the best of the best from the year.  (Not every 5 star review makes it onto the blog, depending on my publishing schedule, but you can find many of the reviews here.) Then I compare them to one another until a list of 10 or so rise to the top. This year there were 53 that made it onto the list. And the results are fascinating. There are two re-reads on the list – my top two books from 2019. And there are two books on the list that haven’t even released yet. So, here are my most favorite favorites from 2020:

12. What’s Your Enneatype? – This is my favorite Enneagram resource from this year. The book is small, and packed with great information and color-coded graphics. I am looking forward to digging into this one again in 2021. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

11. Microphones and Murder – I loved this first-in-a-new-series mystery. Book 2 in the Podcasting Sisters series, Up Next, Murder, is out now. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

10. Undercover Bromance – Book 2 in the Bromance Bookclub series was even better than the fantastic series starter. There are three books in the series so far, and book 4, Isn’t It Bromantic?, will release this summer. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

9. Talk Nerdy to Me – Book 4 in the fantastic Bookish Boyfriends series I have adored since the beginning. Book 4, Get a Clue, releases later this month. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

8. Cast in Firelight – This amazing YA fantasy story will release later this month. It was originally supposed to release in November, so I read it and prepared my review only to discover the release date had been pushed back. This is well worth the wait. Do NOT miss this one! My full review will post in a couple weeks.

 

 

7. Chasing Vines – The second nonfiction book of this year’s list is a fascinating exploration of vines and vineyards and vine growers, both from scripture and from the author’s experience in Italy. Don’t miss this one! You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

6. Gina, the Girl Who Broke the World – This is the second 2021 release on my 2020 favorites list. This one doesn’t release until February. But I adored the first six-book story arc so much, I read this one the second I was approved for the review copy. All of my favorite characters are back, adjusting to the fallout from the earlier books. But this launches everyone right into a new, harrowing adventure with a MAJOR cliffhanger. The only downside to reading this so soon is that I have to wait that much longer for the next book. Put this one on your February list and watch for my review.

 

5. Polaris Rising – It’s probably unfair to include old favorites in the list, but I re-read this one, and the sequel, Aurora Blazing, to get ready to read book three, Chaos Reigning. And it really stands up well to re-reading. I just love it. The perfect mix of science fiction and romance with tons of sass. When I have time, I want to re-read the whole series. This was my most favorite book of 2019. You can read my full review here.

 

 

4. Crush the King – This is the final book in the outstanding Crown of Shards series after Kill the Queen (my most favorite book of 2018) and Protect the Prince. This series was excellent. The spin off series, Gargoyle Queen, launches with Capture the Crown this summer. You can read my full review here.

 

 

3. The Princess Knight – This is book 2 in the Scarred Earth Saga after The Blacksmith Queen, the book that tied with Polaris Rising for my most favorite of 2019.  Both are fantastic (but violent). You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

2. The Blacksmith Queen – My second most-favorite book of 2019 (after a tie with Polaris Rising), and my most favorite re-read on the list. This series is often shelved with romance, but for me it is a straight-up fantasy series, far more violent than what I usually read, but truly fantastic in humor and in storytelling. I have never posted a full review of this one to the blog, but you can see my Goodreads review here.

 

 

1. Crownchasers – Even while I was in the process of reading this book, I knew it had the potential to be my most favorite book of 2020. This was the perfect fit for me as a reader, and I am eager to re-read it as I wait for the sequel. Out of the 340+ books I read this year, this one has consistently stuck in my memory, and in my heart, as exceptional. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

Honorable Mention

For honorable mention here are some other favorites by category:

Most Favorite Picture Books

Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite – This delight will not release until June 1, but you will want to put it on your list.
Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog

 

Most Favorite Middle Grade (that have been released so you can enjoy them now!)

Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor
Hilo: All the Pieces Fit – The final book in the original story arc.
Tune It Out – This is targeted to older middle grade readers between 10 and 14.
Primer

BONUS REVIEW: Ten Rules for Faking It by Sophie Sullivan

BONUS REVIEW: Ten Rules for Faking It by Sophie Sullivan

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Griffin in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Everly’s 30th birthday starts with finding her boyfriend in the middle of cheating on her, it’s just another in a string of awful birthdays and disappointing life moments. But when the story accidentally gets broadcast at her job on the radio, she realizes it’s time for some changes in her life. Her friend Stacey helps her come up with the Ten Rules for Faking It – ways to push herself out of her comfort zone and build the life she wants.

Chris is Everly’s boss, so his intense attraction to her has to be kept in check. With his dad’s ultimatum about Chris’s future with the company, and the key role the radio station plays, he can’t afford any distractions. He has to push the station to a new, more profitable level.

While Chris’ dad sees the debacle of Everly’s birthday story going out on the air as grounds to fire Everly and Stacey both, Chris sees things differently. First, he doesn’t want to fire either of the women. Aside from his feelings for Everly, both women are great at their jobs. Plus, the “debacle” has turned into ratings and social media gold for the station. This isn’t a crisis, but an opportunity. They can leverage the attention Everly’s birthday disaster has garnered to boost ratings and ad revenue.

Chris develops a plan to build a Bachelorette-style segment for Everly based on listener feedback. She chooses some dates, writes social media posts about how they go, and the public gets to vote on who Everly should see again. It’s a good idea – for the show and for Stacey’s and Everly’s careers. But Everly is going to need every one of her new Rules for Faking It to get through it.

Review

This was so fun! I loved Everly from the start. Her relationship with Stacey is lovely, despite the rocky birthday situation. And her chemistry with Chris is excellent.

The Bachelorette dates were a smaller part of the story than I expected. I’ve read similar plots before, and the dates are usually a bigger factor. I loved that they weren’t here. It was obvious from the start that Chris and Everly belonged together. The question was how they would pull that off or if Everly would settle for someone else rather than push through the obstacles in her relationship with Chris. So the focus is more on Everly and her list and her personal growth, and that was just right for me.

There’s an inside joke in “Romancelandia” that readers latch onto any and every secondary character, demanding they all get their own book. This story is a perfect example of that. Whether it’s Stacey, or Chris’ siblings, or the friend with the  bakery, if the author decides to turn this into a series with these characters, I am here for every single spin-off book!

Romance fans should not miss this one. It’s a terrific slow-burn with excellent characters and a story that kept me turning pages almost from start to finish. (Language, sexual references, TW: anxiety, panic attack)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders

REVIEW: Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders

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

Josie Way is on the run. She had a job at the Library of Congress in Washington DC. But something happened there, and now she’s in Wilfred, Oregon, determined to lay low. She’s been hired as the town librarian. But when she gets to Wilfred, she finds out that the library may get torn down to make way for a retreat center.

After only a few days at the library and in Oregon, Josie feels like she is finally where she belongs. The air is fresher, and colors even seem more vibrant. She has an almost magical connection to the library and its collection of books, not to mention the library cat. Josie doesn’t want to walk away from this special place.

But she can’t forget she’s in hiding. And the dead body she finds near the library is unsettling to say the least. Does it have anything to do with the trouble Josie is fleeing? Or does Josie’s new home have sinister troubles of its own?

Review

This is the first book in the new Witch Way Librarian Mystery series, and it is outstanding! The author does a breathtaking job teasing out the story in the early chapters – Josie on the run, the experience on the plane, the change in her perception. Talk about “show, don’t tell.” I was hooked right from the beginning, marveling out loud to my husband about how well crafted the beginning of this book is.

That early high quality carried throughout the whole book – the library, the town, the story of Josie’s life back in DC, her family, the library situation. It was all so well woven together. I loved every bit of it! The mystery is well-constructed, with nice wrinkles and twists along the way.

For me, this was a perfect blend of mystery and fantasy. I love both genres and enjoyed how the author weaves both together. I can’t wait to see what will happen with Josie’s magic in book 2. Seven-Year Witch is scheduled to release in late summer 2021. And I can’t wait to get my hands on it! Paranormal mystery fans should not miss this one! (Magic elements: spells, powers, transfer of consciousness to the cat, tarot cards used as prop by nonmagical character)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce

REVIEW: Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

While Uncle Budrick enjoys being a traveling troubadour, Max would rather be a knight. When Max and Budrick visit Byjovia – Uncle Budrick’s home – they discover that the kind king is presumed dead and his evil brother has taken over. But thanks to some new friends, Max – and the Midknights – might be able to save the day.

Review

This was PURE FUN! I loved the whole story. The characters are delightful. The humor is pitch perfect – funny without beating you over the head with gags. The pacing of the story was excellent – every so often there was a new challenge and a new opportunity or friend.

If there’s a “message” to the story it’s that gender or family history shouldn’t force you into any role. Even though Max is a girl, she should get to train as a knight if that’s what she wants. And if her friend wants to be a writer instead of working with horses like his dad, so be it. But really, the message is secondary to the fun story full of magic and creatures and challenges and chances to be heroic.

I can’t say enough about how much I loved this book. Book 2, Battle of the Bodkins, is out now. Why not pick up both and check them out?!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥=Outstanding! Amazing! Special!

BOOK NEWS: December 29, 2020

BOOK NEWS: December 29, 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

Here’s our final release week of December – and it is chock full of reading goodness! Take a look.

Books for Kids

My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World – A kid who doesn’t like reading has to find his “favorite book” for a school assignment.
Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles – Picture book biography.
Fairylight Friends: Time to Shine – Book 2 in the Fairylight Friends early chapter book series from the folks at Scholastic ACORN. Enjoy 5 magical winter stories with friends Ruby, Iris and Pip.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Julie and the Phantoms: The Edge of Great (Novelization) – The Season 1 novelization of the new Netflix show about a girl who is about to be kicked out of her performing arts school when she starts a new band – with three ghosts. This sounds amazing! I have heard great things about the show.
Otto P. Nudd – When a beloved neighborhood inventor is in trouble, a girl, her favorite bird Otto, and a mother squirrel will team up to save the day. This looks darling!
Wings of Fire: The Dark Secret (Graphic Novel) – The graphic novel version of the 4th book in the original Wings of Fire series.
Show Me History: Harriet Tubman Fighter for Freedom (Graphic Novel) – Graphic novel biography of Harriet Tubman.
What Is the Civil Rights Movement?
Black Canary: Breaking Silence – Book 5 in the DC Icons series after Wonder Woman: Warbringer, Batman: Nightwalker, Catwoman: Soulstealer, and Superman: Dawnbreaker (♥♥♥). An origin story for Dinah Lance. (This story stands apart from the story about Black Canary in the middle grade graphic novel Black Canary: Ignite.) Growing up in the oppressive Gotham City under the rule of the patriarchal Court of Owls, Dinah has never forgotten the time as a child she heard the voice of a woman singing, something forbidden in Gotham. She wonders what it might mean for the city if women could start using their voices. I am very excited about this one! I’ve enjoyed the Icons series.
Just Our Luck – Even though family history says that the Paros family cursed his family, Leo agrees to Evey Paros’ offer to sign him up for a hot yoga class (instead of the self-defense his dad wants him to take) in exchange for a favor. This sounds fun!

Books for Adults

Absence of Alice (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 9 in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series. Sarah’s landlady is kidnapped, and the kidnappers have contacted Sarah with their list of demands.
Amish Secrets (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the River Haven series. When her wealthy new employer faces unusual accidents, Rachel reaches out to the only person she can with her suspicions that the woman is in danger.
Bait and Witch (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Witch Way Librarian Mystery series. A librarian hiding out in Oregon waiting to be the star witness in a corruption case discovers her family history of magic as well as discovering a body in the woods. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
A Catered Book Club Murder (Hardcover) – Book 16 in the Mystery with Recipes series. When their friend doesn’t pick up the elaborate desserts they made for her monthly book club, Bernie and Libby are concerned. They start sleuthing when she is found dead.
Chilled to the Cone (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 12 in the Bakeshop Mystery series. Jules has the chance to open a pop up ice cream shop, but the death of an eccentric town favorite throws everything into disarray.
Fairy Godmothers, Inc. (Trade Paperback) – When the magic of Ever After, Missouri – which is powered by love – starts to dwindle, the three fairy godmothers in charge decide to turn Ever After into a premiere wedding destination. Their first task is to ask their goddaughter to promote a fake wedding to her ex. This sounds so fun! I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Love at the Icicle Cafe (Trade Paperback) – Mina heads to Germany to facilitate a quick sale of her parents’ cafe, but an encounter with her childhood crush – Scott, the cafe’s chef who wants to buy their parents out –  threatens to put an end to those plans.
Swine and Punishment (e-book, December 31) – Book 7 in the Bought-the-Farm Mystery series. When Ivy’s sow is the prime suspect for the latest murder in Clover Grove, her sheepdog Keats is all in to help solve the mystery even though there is no love lost between the dog and the pig. This series sounds so fun!
Ten Rules for Faking It (Trade Paperback) – After a string of bad luck, Everly find herself in the middle of a Bachelorette-style dating situation and the possibility of a relationship with her boss and long-time crush. She hardly knows what to do with all of this attention when she usually strives to avoid people as much as possible. I’ll be reviewing this one soon. I can’t wait!
To Fetch a Felon (Mass Market Paperback) – First in the new Chatty Corgi Mystery series. (How cute is that cover?!) Emma and her talking corgi, Oliver, leave the fast pace of London to settle in Cornwall and open a tea shop. But the woman who owns the building Emma wants to rent is difficult to say the least. When Emma later finds the woman dead, she and Oliver start playing detective. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!
A Wicked Yarn (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Craft Fair Knitters Mystery series. Lia and the Ninth Street Knitters dig into the death of the man who was determined to dismantle their spring craft fair. I’ll be reviewing this one soon as well.
The Case for Keto: Rethinking Weight Control and the Science and Practice of Low-Carb/High Fat Eating – An exploration of the health benefits of a low-carb, high-fat diet. You can read my review here.
Teach Reading with Orton-Gillingham: 72 Classroom-Ready Lessons to Help Struggling Readers and Students with Dyslexia Learn to Love Reading (Professional Book, paperback) – Materials for teachers wanting to incorporate Orton-Gillingham methods into their classrooms.
Win the Day: 7 Daily Habits to Help You Stress Less & Accomplish More (Hardcover) – I wouldn’t expect a productivity and goal-reaching book from pastor and speaker Mark Batterson, yet, here is just that. A spiritual self-help resource. I have liked some of Batterson’s previous work. I’ll be checking this one out.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Posted on by Jaymie

No review to post today so that I can take some time to enjoy a birthday/holiday week with my family.

If you celebrate Christmas, I hope the coming days are a cozy, sweet  season for you with loved ones near and on Zoom.

If you do not celebrate Christmas, I hope any December celebrations you have experienced or are experiencing are a comfort to you as 2020 comes to a close.

BONUS REVIEW: A Deadly Edition by Victoria Gilbert

BONUS REVIEW: A Deadly Edition by Victoria Gilbert

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

Their friend, Kurt Kendrick, hosted a party for Amy and Richard to celebrate their upcoming wedding. It was a lovely event with good food and fine champagne. Both sets of parents were there as well as Amy’s mysterious brother, and many of their friends. There was also an art dealer there by the name of Oscar Selvaggio. He and Kurt were bidding against one another on a rare book, and he happened to show up on the day of the party to try to negotiate with Kurt over the book.

That was unfortunate for the happy couple because before the party was over, Oscar was dead.

Thanks to Kurt’s shady history, he is a prime suspect. But Amy feels if Kurt had really wanted to kill someone, he’d be too smart to have the person die on his own property. But there are other suspects and plenty of researching and sleuthing Amy can do. Kurt is her friend. And the best way to protect her friends and family is to help the police find the real murderer.

Review

This is book 5 in the great Blue Ridge Library Mystery series that definitely should be read in order. I enjoy the characters in this series so much. While book 3 felt uneven to me, and I somehow missed book 4, this felt like the great series I loved from the first two books. The mystery here is layered and twisty. It adds to the history of Kurt’s mysterious past. It also ties back to some of the other events from earlier in the series, which is why I wouldn’t recommend newcomers start with this book.

I enjoyed the inclusion of Amy’s brother, Scott, here. He’s a bit of a plot tease because we never get a full reveal on what his job truly is. But I liked the addition of him to the core group. His love interest gives me hope that he’s going to make an appearance in future books.

Fans of this series should not miss this volume. The wedding-related pieces are lovely and satisfying for series fans. The author does a great job balancing the wedding threads with the mystery ones and keeping everything moving forward. Cozy fans should give this series a try! (LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥=Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Case for Keto by Gary Taubes

REVIEW: The Case for Keto by Gary Taubes

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary and Review

This is an exploration and defense of low carbohydrate, high fat eating, often called “Keto.” The author is not a doctor, which surprised me at first, but instead he is a health and science journalist. The research in this book is top notch. There’s a lot of history regarding health, nutrition, and obesity here. The endnotes and citations were thorough.

The general premise is that obesity and diabetes as well as other health issues continue to rise even though we have had decades of “eat less, move more” advice. That doesn’t work for all body types. Some schools of thought are reluctant to remove any food group from consumption in an effort to remain “balanced.” But if a particular category of foods – high carbohydrate ones, for example – are causing the problems, it would make sense to eliminate them.

The author makes a couple analogies with smoking, alcohol/drug addiction, and allergies, which I found convincing and helpful. We don’t consider abstinence a “deprivation” if the thing someone abstains from is something they are allergic to or something they are addicted to. Thinking of carbohydrates that way can be helpful  for those whose bodies would thrive without them. Following a ketogenic lifestyle to address a metabolic disorder is a way of living, not something you try for awhile before going back to “normal.” You would never recommend an alcoholic celebrate a sobriety milestone with a glass of champagne. If carbohydrates are problematic for a particular individual, they always will be problematic.

This is a dense, technical resource. I was probably not the right audience for this as a consumer. I did a lot of skimming in the early chapters. Still, I found the later chapters on what to eat and what to avoid most helpful along with the anecdotes from people interviewed for the book. Professionals – dietitians, medical professionals – are probably the proper audience for this book. If someone was curious about following a ketogenic diet, this would not be the resource I would hand them for their introduction.

That said, there was a lot here that I found fascinating about obesity, about research methods, and about ketogenic eating. I would highly recommend this for professionals, but I would probably steer the general public to one of the author’s other books (The Case Against Sugar, maybe) or to a different resource that explores a ketogenic diet in a less technical way.

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Good/fine/solid