Category: Reviews

REVIEW: Murray the Viking by Adam Stower

REVIEW: Murray the Viking by Adam Stower

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Murray and Bun walk through the magical cat flap and find themselves in a hall full of Vikings. They are going to hunt trolls and try to find a missing Viking named Eggrik on Troll Island.

The trolls are nicer than Murray was expecting. But they have a hairy, scary, smelly problem that they need Murray to solve. Maybe, if he’s lucky, there will be more snacks along the way.

Review

This is officially the first book in the Murray and Bun! series, and it’s a cute intro to the series. While I was tickled by book 2, Murray the Knight, this was a bit simpler and more straightforward of a story. It’s still got the fun premise with the magical cat flap and the adventure for Murray and Bun. The artwork is fun, and Murray is adorable! Be sure to get both books for the chapter book fan in your life – I think Murray the Knight is the stronger of the two. I will definitely be watching for more of these! Pair this with some Magic Bone books for the dog lovers – there are some great parallels between the series.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Dogged Pursuit by David Rosenfelt

REVIEW: Dogged Pursuit 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

A nearly-30 year old Andy Carpenter is three months into his new career as a defense attorney where he’s had 1 client so far. He’s taking the plunge and adopting a golden retriever named Tara even though his estranged wife, Nicole, has been lukewarm about the idea at best. Tara has bonded with a beagle at the shelter, Sonny. Andy’s willing to take Sonny, too, but Sonny’s owner has been arrested so Sonny has to stay at the shelter until his owner’s case is adjudicated.

Sonny’s owner is Ryan Tierney, and he’s up on multiple murder charges for a car bomb that took out the boss who had recenlty fired him. And Andy decides to take on Tierney’s defense. He hires a former-cop turned-PI, Laurie Collins, to help with the case.

Soon, Andy is on the receiving end of threats and violence as he tries to prove his client’s innocence and save Sonny’s owner from a murder conviction.

Review

This was so much fun! I loved this Andy Carpenter “origin story.” The reader gets to see Andy work a case like he usually does, but they also get his perspective as he’s doing it for the first time. You get to see his relationship with his dad. Readers see Sam, Pete, and Laurie early in their relationship with Andy and his defense practice. I think these aspects will be lost on new readers. They are special because I already have a relationship with the characters.

The case feels pretty typical for Andy for 90% of the book. And then everything turned upside down for me. I wasn’t looking for a “payoff” at the end to make it all worthwhile – I was all in from page one. But the wrap up here was stellar – icing on the cake for me!

Andy Carpenter fans will love this! Newcomers CAN start here, but you’ll easily miss 25% of the charm of the story without the context of the larger series. I recommend reading at least a few of the earlier books in the series before diving in here. (Language)

Book #32, And to All a Good Bite, will release in October.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Earl & Worm: The Big Mess and Other Stories by Greg Pizzoli

REVIEW: Earl & Worm: The Big Mess and Other Stories by Greg Pizzoli

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summaries

While helping Earl clean out his “too much stuff,” Worm makes her own “mess” from things Earl doesn’t want anymore. And THAT makes her feel happy because it gives her things to clean up too!

Then, Earl finds a “lucky” penny – and lots of BAD luck.

And finally, Worm gets tired of watching sunsets and decides she wants to stay up all night to watch a sunrise instead.

Review

This is a darling collection of friendship stories! The artwork is terrific – even to the end papers. I haven’t read the first book in the series – The Bad Idea and Other Stories – but I imagine it is equally adorable. Hand these to your favorite picture-book reader who wants to start exploring “chapter” books. The collection of stories here will make it easy to say “yes” to any request for “one more.”

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: The Last Second Chance by Lucy Score

REVIEW: The Last Second Chance by Lucy Score

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Jax has been back in Blue Moon for awhile, but he’s made little progress in getting Joey back. She’s said she can’t fogive him for disappearing after the accident. She’s carved out a solo life. It’s a bit more Pierce-adjacent than her anger and hurt might have chosen. But she loves the rest of the Pierce family and the life she’s built on their farm with the horses.

Over time, Jax’s constant presence, his way with his family, and his gestures of love – and apology – start to thaw her heart towards him. While she might not be ready to commit to him again, she’s open to seeing if they still have chemistry.

Then, just when she starts to think maybe they could – eventually – have a future together, the full truth of what happened when they were teenagers comes out. And Joey may lose more over it than just Jax.

Review

I’ve been waiting for the truth of Jax and Joey’s story for two books now. And while I guessed most of it, I loved how it all played out on the page. I spent two books watching him pine and her shut him down time and again. This book gave both characters enough space to “breathe” and develop before everything fell apart. Even with the predictable Hallmark-esque beats to the book, I loved riding the wave of the love story here.

The supporting cast continues to delight. I would gladly start the series over and read these three books again. Thankfully, there are several more books in the series, so I don’t have to leave Blue Moon just yet.

These books can probably be read in any order – I read book 2 first of the three – but I found this story more satisfying after watching Jax and Joey over the previous two books. Lucy Score fans should be sure to check out the whole crew from Blue Moon! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: The Love Haters by Katherine Center

REVIEW: The Love Haters by Katherine Center

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

In an effort to save her job, Katie agrees to take on a Coast Guard recruitment video assignment. Yes, her supervisor throws it at her so he can avoid the subject of the video who happens to be his brother. And it requires her to lie about knowing how to swim. Unexpectedly, it also triggers a variety of phobias and quirks she’s been hiding from most of her life.

But little by little, Katie faces each quirk, each fear, each trauma from her past. Along the way, she gets to know her subject, Hutch, his aunt, and her friends. And she’s thriving. But then a moment of vulnerability shows her why Hutch refuses to do the extra Day in the Life videos Katie needs to save her job. And with the whole story, Katie is equally adamant about not doing the project.  When Hutch finds out what’s riding on it, he agrees to do it. Because that’s what heroes do. But Katie is determined to protect Hutch and his story, no matter the cost.

Review

What a delight! The love story here is terrific, with a swoony hero, a female main character you are rooting for from the start, and a sweet Great Dane you just want to snuggle. The setting – the Florida Keys – is lovely. The Coast Guard aspect is unusual and fascinating. and there are parts of this that had me cackling!

But none of that was my favorite part.

Katie’s personal journey – her relationship with her body, facing her fears and past struggles – was stunning. I wasn’t expecting that aspect of the story at all. It’s brilliantly woven in, and I found myself highlighting almost every section describing this journey of hers. It’s something I will be thinking about for years to come.

Center fans should absolutely pick this up. It’s a stand-alone story, perfect for vacation reading. The Florida setting gives it a nice summery vibe, perfect for reading right now. If you love your romance books with a captivating personal journey for the female main character, you need to pick this up. (Some language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy

REVIEW: Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Sully is on the brink of getting everything they’ve always wanted – getting OUT of Hearst, getting to New York City, a fashion internship – and the freedom to embrace every part of themself. They are tired of being mis-gendered, called names, laughed at, or outright dismissed. They can almost taste the freedom!

But the morning of their flight to New York, Sully wakes to an email that the Junior Assistant role is no longer needed. What are they supposed to do now? They’ve already sold their car to “Bread” and quit their job at their safe space, the thrift store Yesterday’s Today.

Then, Sully stumbles across a rare vintage handbag in a donation box at Yesterday’s Today. And the bag is home to a ghost! Rufus struggles to remember who he was in life. Sully can only piece together snippits – lived in Hearst in the 1950s, performend in women’s clothes, and was in love with another man. And newly without plans for the summer, Sully vows to help Rufus remember his life, love, and maybe even his death.

Review

Absolutely stunning!

This is one of those books where you know – as you are reading it – this is something special. Your brain is split where most of it is engrossed in the story but a small part is marveling at and cataloging all of the things that set this book apart. The voice is fun and genuine. The new crush moments are sweet. And Sully grows to first see and then appreciate the people in their life who love them as they are.

But what truly took this to a whole other level for me was the history. Rufus’s struggle to remember his life and find out what happend to his lost love is at times chilling and heart wrenching. (The FAMILY TREE?! IYKYK) Sully knows intellectually that life for queer folks in the 1950s was a whole other level of bad. But they’ve really only sat with how hard their experience has been in Hearst. And while the book never dismisses or diminishes Sully’s experience, Rufus’ experience is so much darker in comparison.

While there are plenty of these wrenching moments, this is a fun story. I loved Sully and his mom and Brad and the other core characters. And then there’s the ending. Chef’s kiss perfection that brought me to tears. DO NOT miss this book! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding

No More Secrets by Lucy Score

No More Secrets by Lucy Score

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Summer heads to Blue Moon Bend to spend a week on an organic farm. She’s going to experience life on the farm and interview the gorgeous farmer in charge of it all. Then she’ll turn her research into an article for the magazine she works for. And she’ll be one step closer to her professional dreams coming true.

She’s not prepared for how Carter Pierce impacts her. Before long, she’s not only fallen for Carter but also for the farm, the Pierce family, and the whole Blue Moon community.

But there are things in Summer’s past no one knows – and she can’t pretend they aren’t real. So rather than take the risk, she runs away from Blue Moon, and from Carter.

Review

Lucy Score saves the day – again. I have been struggling to get through some of my ARCs lately. I just don’t have the emotional bandwidth to press through certain kinds or levels of “drama.” But picking this up felt like coming home. And not just because I’ve already been to Blue Moon before with Fall Into Temptation which I reviewed earlier this month. Lucy Score’s romances are my jam these days.

I loved getting to read Summer and Carter’s story and getting the first introduction to the whole Pierce family. It made me want to read Beckett’s story again before diving into book 3, The Last Second Chance.

If you are looking for a romantic summer escape, check out the Blue Moon series from Lucy Score – you will not be disappointed! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Come As You Are by Dahlia Adler

REVIEW: Come As You Are by Dahlia Adler

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

With a name like Everett Owen Riley, it was inevitable that at some point someone was going to think Evie was a guy. But getting housed in the men’s dorm at her new booked-to-capacity boarding school was less than ideal. And it leads to a lot of unwanted attention. Evie’s “fresh start” is off to a rough beginning.

So she makes a deal with one of the guys in her new dorm. Salem will help her ditch her goody-two-shoes/doormat vibe, and she’ll help him not getting kicked out of another school.

But fresh starts are hard, even without the housing drama. And having your trust recently eviscerated can make a new start even harder. So when Salem seems to be thriving from her help, but Evie feels as hurt and powerless as ever, she might end up pushing away all of the people who could have become true friends.

Review

This was a lovely breath of fresh air. I loved the main characters – the sass, the banter, the real care for others. The stakes here are fairly low, and the book made me laugh out loud often. And the gooey, sweet (but still sassy) romance was the cherry on top of a delightful reading experience.

The “challenge” or “pact” at the core of the story – Evie and Salem helping eachother – wasn’t as strong as I think it could have been as a driving force. Evie helping Salem was the clearer portion of the two. And while I loved the places where Evie tried to be bolder and to push back instead of letting people walk over her, the “pact” portion could have been stronger. I also kept thinking the characters were in college. Between the dorm living, and the focus on sex, the whole cast sometimes felt older than high school.

Those two factors are more observations than criticisms. I really enjoyed so much of this grumpy/sunshine story! I think this would make a great beach read/vacation read/summer read. This is (mostly) light and funny and FUN. Check it out! (Language, references to sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great. Might re-read.

REVIEW: One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman

REVIEW: One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman

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

Natasha Mason meets Julia Mann at a 12-step meeting. Julia is back in recovery after an arrest for a DUI and with no memory of the dead man in her pool that night. Natasha – “Mason” – volunteers to be Julia’s interim sponsor.

Between bantering and bickering, Mason somehow becomes Julia’s personal assistant. And together they decide to try to find a murderer. Julia already went to jail, wrongly convicted (according to her) of killing her husband. She doesn’t want to go through that again.

Before long, Mason is helping Julia investigate two murders which puts her in very interesting places, including the hospital when she is attacked. Someone is determined to see Julia and Mason out of the “detective” business.

Review

I have been an Abbi Waxman fan since I read The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. So I was thrilled to have a chance to read her latest book. But when I started reading, I was immediately struck by how different this was from previous books. As always, there were strong female leads, but this is a mystery first and foremost. And the tone is harsher or darker – more serious. From the recovery/sobriety angle to the no-nonsense main characters, I was overwhelmed by how different this feels from other Waxman novels.

I was also COMPLETELY in love with it!

I love a good mystery, so that was immediately something I was excited about – seeing a favorite romance author take on my favorite genre. And this was a delightfully twisty mystery!

But even more than the great mystery, it was Julia and Mason who captivated me. I LOVED these women. I loved the  grit and sass and no f’s to give that was at the core of both leads, even though those qualities were presented differently by the two women. And then Waxman dropped these dynamic, delightful characters into a quirky little “family”/team for the case, and I couldn’t get enough. The recovery aspects of the book are woven in beautifully. It felt like a natural part of the characters and the story while not being too “insider-y” for folks who might only have a passing understanding of recovery.

I hope these characters will be getting some more page time in the future because I am here for more Mason and Mann. Highly recommend!! (Language, TW: Suicide, recovery)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: But Where Do Sea Turtles Live? by Elina Ellis

REVIEW: But Where Do Sea Turtles Live? by Elina Ellis

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary and Review

Alex’s friends in the Curious Explorers Club want to learn about sea turtles, specifically where they live. And while Alex knows the answer, her friends want to explore and find the answer for themselves.

As they ask questions and wonder, Alex shares facts from her field guide – like the various kinds of sea turtles, what they eat, and the risks they encounter in the wild. The book includes information about how kids can start their own Curious Explorers Club as well as a list of resources about sea turtles and ways we can care for the sea turtles’ home, the ocean.

This is another great book in this series, book 3 after books about elephants and tigers. I loved learning about sea turtles with Alex’s friends. The illustrations here are lovely! But my favorite pages are the ones from Alex’s field guide. The field guide pages are colorful and fun while also being beautifully organized and informative.

These books would be great for classroom or homeschool animal studies projects, and easily could be used as mentor texts as students create their own field guides. Parents looking for summer activity ideas could use these as a guide for their kids to do a deep dive into their favorite animals.  Newcomers to this series can definitely start here. These books easily stand alone – but animal fans will want the WHOLE series!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.