Tag: fathers and daughters

REVIEW: Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova

REVIEW: Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Ariel del Mar and her sisters – Siren Seven – have fulfilled their part of the deal with their record label – and their father. They’ve been performing for years. And now all of the girls get a break to do what they want – to just “be” for awhile. Except for Ariel. Her father wants her to “strike while the iron’s hot” and launch a solo career.

When Ariel meets Eric, lead singer of Star Crossed, as her true self, Melody, instead of her stage persona, he has no idea who she is. And some freedom and anonymity sounds like all she’s been craving. So she signs on to be his band’s merch person on their tour.

With her sisters providing cover with their dad, Melody has a chance to rediscover who she is – what’s really her and what’s just the character she’s been playing on stage. But real feelings start to bloom between Melody and Eric. What will happen when he discovers the truth? Or when her father finally tracks her down?

Review

This is book 3 in the Meant to Be series of fairytale retellings after If the Shoe Fits and By the Book. Each is written by a different author. This is the first one I have read – the plot summary was so amazing I couldn’t pre-order this fast enough. But I will absolutely be checking out the rest.

This was excellent! The author does an excellent job with Little Mermaid touches throughout the book. Yet the story is original and allowed to stand on its own without being forced into a template by the movie.

I loved the characters in this! Melody and Eric are great, and the secondary characters really add a lot to the story. I would have loved to see more of the sisters together – they were great!

I did have to remind myself, often, that the characters here are adults, not teens. There’s a YA vibe to the story that worked for me until something happened (like drinking alcohol) to remind me these were adults.

If you like fairytale retellings like I do, don’t miss this one. This is a stand alone story, so you don’t have to have read any of the others to enjoy this. (Language, off-page sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read

REVIEW: Begin Again by Emma Lord

REVIEW: Begin Again by Emma Lord

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

Andie has pulled off the impossible – a mid-year transfer to Blue Ridge State. It’s going to be perfect – she can experience all the things she has grown up hearing about. And she’s going to surprise her boyfriend, Connor, with the news that they will be at Blue Ridge State together.

Except nothing goes as planned.

Her first class is a disaster. She loses the pivotal ribbon in the scavenger hunt that was the primary reason for pushing to transfer mid-year. And then Connor announces his own surprise – he’s transferred home to go to the local community college with Andie.

As Andie tackles her first semester at Blue Ridge State, some of her expectations – for her relationship with Connor, for her quest to connect with her late mother by being at BRS, and for herself get challenged and leave her wondering what path she wants to be on after all.

Review

I have been a huge fan of Emma Lord for awhile. When You Get the Chance, You Have a Match, and Tweet Cute are some of my favorite YA stories of recent years. This story was a bit “quieter” for me – more introspective – but also a great read.

I connected with this story in a way I haven’t with the author’s earlier books. As a student of the Enneagram, I saw a lot of Type 2 thinking and behaving in Andie. This drew me to look at the story a bit more clinically rather than being able to just fall into the story. It’s good – and spot on. Just a different reading experience for me.

This is more Andie’s story than it is a romance. Oh, the romance is there – and it’s good! But Andie’s on a journey of personal growth and self-discovery that will have to take precedence over everything else. And the journey is so well done. I loved that the Andie is in college. It’s the perfect setting for her journey. There’s tons to love – from the dorm to the relationships to Bagelopolis. It’s all lovely.

There were several laugh-out-loud moments in this – as I’ve come to expect from the author – as well as great characters, and an engaging story. Emma Lord fans should not miss this one. And if the author is new to you, go ahead and pick up her backlist, too, because you are going to want to read them all! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Off-Limits by Helen Yoon

REVIEW: Off-Limits by Helen Yoon

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

Dad takes a work break and his daughter slips in to his office to explore.

This is one of the most delightful picture books I have read in awhile!

First there’s the joy of office supplies. That alone caused me to buy the book after reading only the first few pages. Then there’s the art – the portrayal of the child’s glee and the way she plays with everything from tape to binder clips to post-its is fantastic!

And then there’s the surprise ending. Absolutely outstanding! Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: A Counterfeit Suitor by Darcie Wilde

REVIEW: A Counterfeit Suitor by Darcie Wilde

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

When Rosalind Thorne’s father’s crimes and schemes caught up with him, he fled with his oldest daughter, Charlotte, abandoning his wife and youngest daughter. But Rosalind has made the most of the rotten hand she was dealt. She’s been able to keep her own house and help elite families negotiate debuts and avoid scandals, putting them in her debt.

Then her father escapes Charlotte’s close supervision and semi-confinement, which has been for his own good – as well as his daughters’. But an old enemy of Rosalind’s is pulling her father’s strings, looking to destroy her. The tables are soon turned, though. Rosalind’s father, Sir Reginald, is found dead. And her enemy, Russell Fullerton, stands accused of his murder.

It’s pretty audacious for Fullerton to ask Rosalind for help proving his innocence. It would be all too easy to let him suffer for his many sins. But she can’t help dig for the truth, no matter what she might turn up along the way.

Review

Yikes, this was twisty! I could not puzzle this one out for myself. I had to just watch the story unfold.

I so enjoy Rosalind and her friends, and it was a treat to spend time with them again. I didn’t love this story as much as I have some of the earlier mysteries. But I am all in on these characters!

I found the resolution of the situation with Rosalind and her family satisfying. I’m curious to see how her life changes now that she no longer has to fear her father’s return and the trouble that would inevitably follow if he did.

Fans of the series should not miss this latest installment. I truly love the cast, and the slow burn between Rosalind and Adam is fascinating. The potential love interest for Alice was an interesting addition to the series. I’m curious to see how that evolves over the course of future books. I highly recommend newcomers start this series from the beginning to enjoy all of the character arcs fully and to best understand what the return of Rosalind’s father means.

While I debated between a rating of 3.5 (Good+) and 4 (Great!), I am going with 4 because the characters in this series keep me coming back. Historical mystery fans should check this series out. (LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Primer by Jennifer Muro and Thomas Krajewski

REVIEW: Primer by Jennifer Muro and Thomas Krajewski

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Ashley’s been in multiple foster homes as well as a group home before she goes to live with the Nolans. Mr. Nolan is an artist and a professor. He’s funny and relatable and down to earth. His wife is a scientist. Ashley’s convinced Dr. Nolan doesn’t like her.

Ashley notices Dr. Nolan acting suspiciously. She thinks that the box Dr. Nolan puts in the family safe must be her birthday present. She has no idea that Dr. Nolan has stolen this box from her job because what’s inside it is dangerous. She doesn’t want it to fall into the wrong hands.

What Ashley thinks is just a kit of body paint for fun is actually a military project. Each paint color gives Ashley a different power. When a group of villains calling themselves the Night Knights starts trouble, Ashley uses the paints to fight them. She likes being a superhero. And she chooses her own hero name – Primer.

Review

This was so fun! I loved Ashley and the Nolans. They are pretty chill about her new super hero life – more relaxed than you think parents would be – but otherwise I loved the interplay with the three of them.

Ashley’s biological father, who is in jail, is far more alarming with his psychological abuse than the villain of the larger story here. This book only teases at this father/daughter relationship, but it will be a bigger focus of future stories. I will definitely be reading any sequels to see what the writers decide to do with that creepy relationship, especially as Ashley grows more attached to the Nolans.

The art wasn’t completely finished in my review copy, but what I saw was terrific. I can’t wait to see this one in person. DC has graciously provided a few sample pages so you can see the art for yourself:

The story here falls neatly between the light plots in the DC Super Hero Girls graphic novels and the more serious teen titles like Oracle Code and Raven. You can read my other DC reviews here. Hand this one to fans of Black Canary: Ignite and Batman Overdrive. I think they will love it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: No Place Like Here by Christina June

REVIEW: No Place Like Here by Christina June

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Ashlynn has finished her junior year at boarding school – punishment for some trouble she got in the year before. But she’s followed the rules, and her grades have been top notch. Now she’s ready to go home for the summer and to convince her father to let her stay home for her senior year.

But in typical fashion, Ashlynn’s father has his own plan in place. He’s being arrested for tax evasion. He’s going to prison, and Ashlynn’s mom is going into treatment for depression. Ashlynn has to stay with her aunt and uncle and work at a retreat center for the summer. And in the fall, her dad tells her, she will be going back to boarding school. He leaves no room for discussion. And Ashlynn accepts her fate as she always does.

So Ashlynn heads to Sweetwater Overlook Retreat Center with a cousin she barely knows. She only hears from her parents through letters, approved phone calls from the prison or the treatment center, and occasional trips to see her father in person.  She’s working for a careless, disorganized boss who is only too happy to dump tasks on Ashlynn who never speaks up for herself. But maybe a summer at Sweetwater is just what Ashlynn needs for this season in her life.

Review

This was terrific! The author does an amazing job with the descriptions of Ashlynn’s life under her father’s thumb – his ultra critical voice in her ear, his high expectations, and his crippling demands. But the summer away – free in a way she hasn’t experienced even with a year of boarding school – really lets Ashlynn examine her life and her choices in a new way. This thread was my favorite part of the book!

The retreat center pieces and the relationships Ashlynn experiences there are a great context for all of the personal work Ashlynn is doing. I expected the conflict with her boss would be bigger and uglier, but this isn’t that sort of story. This is a look at Ashlynn’s personal journey. The rest is setting and context and support. And it really works well!

I loved the quotes Ashlynn uses for her own comfort, growth and encouragement. It’s a fun angle to the story. It’s a nice contrast for Ashlynn’s quest to find – and use – her own words and her own voice. Fantastic!! Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥