Tag: siblings

REVIEW: My Rogue to Ruin by Erica Ridley

REVIEW: My Rogue to Ruin by Erica Ridley

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Black sheep of the family, Adrian sneaks back into town hoping to avoid his father, the Marquess, and his brother, the Earl. But he hopes to reconnect to the beloved sister he had to leave behind 7 years ago. Instead of rebuilding their relationship, though, Adrian stumbles into a trap – and becomes a counterfeiter against his will, working for a crook he had swindled. His options are to forge the currency or else he’ll meet a slow and painful end.

Marjorie is probably the quietest of the Wynchesters. An artist’s soul with some hearing loss, it can be easer for her to withdraw from crowds to her studio.  But someone is passing counterfeit currency to the neediest of people, leaving them in even worse circumstances. Marjorie’s philosophy is that art is meant to IMPROVE lives, not ruin them. So she vows to find the forger.

Review

This was my first foray into the Wild Wynchesters series – and I’m sorry I waited so long. This found-family is delightful, and I’m going to have to go back and read all of the previous books. I’ll also be diving into book 5, Hot Earl Summer, which released earlier this fall.

Adrian and Marjorie’s story was stressful at times. They were trapped by a villain, and there seemed to be no way out. But the clever and connected Wynchseters are determined to find a way.

I enjoyed the romantic storyline for the two leads. Each was searching for significance and acceptance, and they found it with each other first and then with an extended family. Quite satisfying!

Fans of the series will want to watch Marjorie shine in her featured story. Obviously, like me you can start here. But I think the creative and clever Wynchesters will have you hunting down the earlier books as well. (Some language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln

REVIEW: The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Twins Page and Turner love going to the New York Public Library. In fact, one day they take their father’s rare copy of Dracula to the library for some research.  Page feels like their dad spends more time with his collection than he does with his kids. Taking his book feels like “revenge.” But when the rare – and expensive – book CRAWLS away and disappears in the library, the twins need help.

They meet the Night Librarian and discover that books, especially old books, have magic. And their characters can sometimes leave their stories! And Dracula, and others, have done just that.

Page and Turner team up with some other book characters to see if they can find the escapees, especially Dracula, before their parents get home.

Review

I loved the artwork in this graphic novel, and the magical library premise is a lot of fun. I was frustrated at times, though, when the main plot – the lost book and escaped characters – took a long backseat to establishing the world building. In addition to significant world building, the author is also trying to establish the character dynamics for the twins and their parents. It’s an ambitious undertaking. I loved it in principle, but didn’t always like it in execution.

Page is hard to like, and Turner’s negative self-talk and low self-opinion even makes him hard to root for at times. The escaped book characters are mostly fun, and the choices of books to highlight in the story were good. There’s one moment where the storytelling hits a hiccup – a twist in the story that is “told” rather than “shown.” It felt abrupt, and like a missed opportunity to develop Turner’s character a bit more. Thankfully, the final solution, while similar in it’s suddenness, was laid out in a more satisfying way.

So this was uneven for me in a lot of ways. Would I suggest it to kids? Sure. Graphic novel fans, book lovers, library lovers, and fantasy lovers may all find something enjoyable here. But I personally didn’t love it enough to pick up a sequel if there ever is one.

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Good, solid, fine

REVIEW: The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

REVIEW: The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Anna and Liam used to be married – in college, and in name only. Just to qualify for married student housing. She was friends with Liam’s brother, Jake, who came up with the plan that helped both Anna and Liam out of a jam. When they graduated, they divorced and went their separate ways.

Except there was no divorce. Because Liam being married triggered a family inheritance. And he needed to stay married for 5 years to keep it. So what Anna thought were divorce papers instead was an agreement to stay married until the 5 years were up. But 4 months before that deadline, Liam is forced to attend a family event. And his “wife” has to come with him.

Liam is desperate enough to pay Anna a lot of money for her time. And playing along with his wealthy, dysfunctional family is worth what Liam’s money will do for Anna and her family. But the stakes for keeping their secret are higher than almost anyone understands.

Review

Wow! This was SO good! I’ve been surviving a 2-month reading slump with re-read after re-read. But this felt like running into an old friend. I zoomed through it in two days, staying up past my bedtime on  a weeknight just to know how it was all going to wrap up.

This was the second book in a row that I read with toxic parents, and it’s not a trend I want to maintain. Those story threads are stressful! But the creation and execution of this particular toxic family is stunningly “good.” Wow!

There are fascinating interpersonal dynamics through the book. And the authors call it all out – the toxicity, the narcissism, the gaslighting, the “brokenness.” But there are also these fantastic moments between Anna and many of the book’s characters. And that’s because Anna is such a fantastic character. I loved her – her sass, her no f’s to give, her focus on caring for her father, her groundedness. She really sees people, and in the Weston family that’s unheard of, at least in positive ways.

While Anna brings a fantastic relationship dynamic to the whole destination wedding, it’s her relationship with Liam that really shows off who she is. I adored Anna and Liam together! I was so grateful for the extended epilogue to see what happens to these characters. The whole story is supremely satisfying! If you love fake relationships stories like I do, you won’t want to miss this one. And if you are a long-time Christina Lauren fan like I am, I’m sure you already have this on your TBR. Bump it to the top of the pile, friends, because you won’t regret picking this one up! If you haven’t tried a Christian Lauren story yet, I highly recommend starting here – this was excellent! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

REVIEW: The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Grayson is drawn to Phoenix to help the younger sisters he has never met. But the line between helping them in their current circumstances and protecting them from the truth gets hard to walk. If necessary, he’d rather have them hate him in order to keep his secrets – for everyone’s sake.

Jameson’s father draws him into a challenge he can’t resist. Make his way into a secret gaming establishment and retrieve what his father lost. Jameson’s never been one to walk away from a challenge – especially if it can connect him to the family he’s never known.

Two of the four Hawthorne brothers might be running personal missions – but they are never alone. Avery, Nash, and Xander are always ready to lend a hand.

Review

This is a continuation of the Inheritance Games series – and readers really need to have have read that whole series for this to make sense. In fact, I wish I had at least re-read Final Gambit for a refresher before diving into this.

The emphasis here is on the brothers rather than Avery (although she does play a part). I have never connected with Jameson in the earlier books, so him telling half the story here really made it hard for me to get into this initially. Grayson’s story was a little easier for me to enjoy.

By the end, though, I was completely in the groove. I loved any time the four brothers were all together. (Xander is my favorite by far – I *need* a Xander-focused story!) The ending of both stories was great, and the next book is set up nicely at the very end. Fans of The Inheritance Games should absolutely pick this up to continue the story of these characters.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter

REVIEW: The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

A woman wakes up on the snowy ground, looking up at the Eiffel Tower.  But  she doesn’t remember her name, how she came to be in Paris, or even why her head hurts. It’s all troublesome. But nothing compared to the men with guns. One of them calls her Alex. That must be her name. But it doesn’t ring a bell or bring back anything else.

Jack Sawyer is a spy – an “operative” – and he’s worked with Alex for years. She’s supremely competent (and annoying), so it doesn’t take long for him to figure out this is NOT Alex.

Alex is a spy gone rogue, and everyone is after her – her bosses at the CIA, and the bad guys. And Jake didn’t manage to find Alex like he was trying to – he found her twin sister. A person he always assumed didn’t actually exist. And now everyone after Alex will make the same mistake he did. So Alex’s twin – whatever her name and story is – is in life-ending kinds of trouble.

Review

I had a lot of fun with this one. I laughed often and read funny sections to my husband. I enjoyed the banter and got a kick out of the bumbling-into-success way of the main character. I would read this again and will definitely give the sequel a try – although with some hesitation. The hinted POV character was not a favorite for me in this one.

That said, this felt more like my favorite YA stories (Prince in Disguise, 10 Blind Dates) than my favorite adult romances (The Bodyguard, Undercover Bromance) – and not just because this is a “closed door” romance. The main character comes off as young. And my favorite banter-y moments at times felt like a different book when compared to the parts where f-bombs are dropping and bullets are flying.

So, YA fans – especially fans of the author’s YA and Older Middle Grade novels – who are not looking for a spicy romance may find a lot here to enjoy – I did! But for die hard adult romance fans, YMMV.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay

REVIEW: Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Samantha says she is on Martha’s Vineyard for the summer to watch her teenaged half-brother, Tyler, while his parents are on an extended vacation. But in reality, she quit her job as a chef in Boston when she was passed over for a job. She needs a soft place to land and re-group.

Sam did not count on meeting a handsome stranger on the ferry. She knew Ben was bookish because she accidentally knocked his book into the ocean. But he’s also a librarian. She’s not sure what to make of all of that bookishness. Sam’s dyslexia means that reading is a tremendous challenge. There are just too many other things she’d rather do instead. Things that don’t fill her with shame.

But the chemistry between them is undeniable. And Ben doesn’t seem to think Sam has anything to be ashamed of. But Sam has lost boyfriends and jobs over her dyslexia in the past, so she’s not sure she can trust him long term. But a summer fling might be all right, if she can keep herself from falling head over heels for him.

Review

That summary really doesn’t do this book justice, but if I try to explain all of the magic of this story, I will end up spoiling it. And this is too perfect to risk spoiling it.

I. Loved. Everything.

All of the characters are fantastic. And the set up – the family things, the reading things, the romance, the setting – is all perfect. There are funny moments and swooning moments and heart-tugging moments and angsty moments. And I adored them all. This was definitely a book I wanted to hug when I was done.

The author’s note about dyslexia and the choices she and the publisher made in the production of this novel were icing on the cake. I loved how that aspect of the story was handled. I can’t wait to see this book in person to see the dyslexia-friendly font they chose and other accommodations.

Finally, there’s a teaser for a companion novel focusing on another character – and I need it in my hands immediately!

Jenn McKinlay has never failed me before, and she certainly hasn’t here. Fans of her other romances – and fans of her mysteries if you  also like books with some spice – should absolutely pick this up. She really hits this one out of the park. Highly recommend! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Stink: Superhero Superfan by Megan McDonald

REVIEW: Stink: Superhero Superfan by Megan McDonald

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Stink discovers a box of comics in the family garage and becomes a super-fan of Super Gecko. He plans to study Super Gecko’s powers at Saturday Science Club when they have Superhero Science Day.

When Stink finds a mysterious note signed “Super Gecko,” he starts investigating to see if his new favorite hero could be real.

 

Review

This was delightful! This may be Stink’s 13th book, but this brings back the joy of his earliest adventures.

There’s a fun mash up here of science, mystery, and comic books, and I loved all of it. This could be a fun class read aloud or a bedtime read. There are some fun tie-ins here for Free Comic Book Day or science classes/clubs. It’s a winner all the way around!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Daisy Woodworm Changes the World by Melissa Hart

REVIEW: Daisy Woodworm Changes the World by Melissa Hart

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Daisy is a semester away from the shift to high school and the ground beneath her feet has never felt less stable. Her parents have launched a dog poop business, trying to stay afloat after her mom was laid off. And as her parents use every spare moment to secure their own footing, Daisy has to step up at home, including helping her older brother, “Squirrel,” who has Down syndrome.

When Squirrel endures several crushing disappointments in a row, Daisy decides she’s going to help him achieve his dream – to be a YouTube celebrity. Even though her parents have forbidden him from all social media after the #EligibleBachelor incident.

Review

This was quietly amazing. I was hooked by the characters early on, but was starting to feel the stress of the impending doom. You know it’s all going to explode at some point. One minute I was braced for disaster and ready to skim ahead. The next I was wiping away tears, and reading every word. This is SO GOOD.

Like most of my favorite middle grade and older middle grade books (this one is for readers 10-14), this has an excellent teacher at the edges of the story, encouraging and cheering on his students.

If you can work around a few uses of the word “ass” in the text, this would be an excellent class read aloud – or a family/bedtime read aloud. I could also see this being a fantastic book club selection for upper elementary or middle school students.

If you love books with great characters, personal and family growth, and a triumphant ending, don’t miss Daisy’s story! (Includes some examples of online trolls/bullying)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

REVIEW: The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Avery has not only solved several of the Hawthorne puzzles, but her one year at Hawthorne House is almost done. But before she can start thinking about her 18th birthday celebration and what she might do first after her inheritance becomes official, the whole Hawthorne world is turned upside down.

A new Hawthorne puzzle.
Dead girl look-alikes.
Kidnapping.
And a race against the clock for someone important to the family.

Review

I know that summary is a bit thin, but I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn’t read the first two books. I know there are folks who will only read a series when the whole thing has been published so they can blitz through it from start to finish. And this is a fantastic series to do that with. I zoomed through a re-read of The Inheritance Games and The Hawthorne Legacy (♥♥♥♥♥) before I started this, and the whole series is supremely satisfying.

Having read all three recently, I have to say this book has a more serious tone than the earlier books. The stakes are higher than ever. You may need to carve out time to read this in one sitting. I didn’t want to put it down.

I was thrilled with this final installment. It delivered on almost everything I wanted – and on several things I didn’t know I needed. Like the epilogue and bonus story in my Barnes and Noble Exclusive edition!

I believe strongly that this series should be read in order. It’s the best way to work through the puzzles, mysteries, and reveals. This is a not-to-be-missed conclusion. And since this published in September, the author has revealed there will be a couple more books set in this world, so watch for those! (This book includes couples sharing bedrooms, but no specific references to sex.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: The Cryptid Club: Bigfoot Takes the Field by Michael Brumm

REVIEW: The Cryptid Club: Bigfoot Takes the Field by Michael Brumm

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Lily is looking for a big story for the school paper, she decides to investigate the rumors of a Bigfoot on the school grounds.

Review

This was fun! The graphic novel layout is something kids will enjoy. The team up between Lily, her younger brother, and the neighbor she babysits makes for some funny moments. The sibling bickering is familiar and yet at moments also endearing. And the young neighbor is the source of some of the gross humor some kids enjoy.

The Bigfoot mystery is light and fun. I’d read more in this series, and I think kids will enjoy them, too!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great!