Tag: five star review

REVIEW: I Am Batman by Brad Meltzer

REVIEW: I Am Batman by Brad Meltzer

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

From the folks who created the delightful Ordinary People Change the World series comes a new series called Stories Change the World. I Am Batman and I Am Superman kicked off the series last year, and this week I Am Wonder Woman released.

The book tells the story of young Bruce Wayne and his journey to becoming Batman. There are references to some of Batman’s most famous associates – Alfred, Robin, Batgirl (Brad Meltzer – I NEED a Batgirl book!!), and Commissioner Gordon.  We also get to see some of his most recognizable foes – Riddler, Penguin, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, and the Joker.

And through it all, the book focuses on Bruce’s character – just like the Ordinary People books do. This is everything I have come to love and appreciate about the original series, but with a shift from biographies of famous people to an exploration of a fictional character. I cannot wait to see what other stories this series explores. (Maybe, like the Who HQ, these will explore the Star Trek universe!)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

 

REVIEW: What Is the Story of Captain Picard? by David Stabler

REVIEW: What Is the Story of Captain Picard? by David Stabler

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

The Who HQ line of nonfiction books for kids adds the story of Jean Luc Picard to their line which also includes What Is the Story of Captain Kirk? This book includes some basic Trek history – from the timeline for TOS (The Original Series) to side bars about Rodenberry, Trek captains, and Picard’s hobbies – as well as background on the actor who plays Captain Picard, Sir Patrick Stewart. Then Picard’s story is told in highlights from key Next Generation (TNG) episodes.

Review

This is really well done! The author does a great job of synthesizing 7 seasons worth of TNG episodes to build a cohesive biography for Picard. A biography for a fictional character! Something not easy to pull off.

There’s no info dump here – nothing bogs the reader down. Tidbits of info are offered (with some spoilers) while the author moves quickly through highlights of Picard’s journey. (Although I did take issue with one instance where the author’s summary of the captain’s motives in a situation didn’t match the episode in my opinion). The book is current through initial planning and discussions of Picard season two.

I’m impressed by how deftly the author moves between reality – box office numbers, series actors, the larger Trek universe – and fiction with the life of Picard and to a lesser extent that of some of his friends. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and highly recommend it for Star Trek fans and newbies alike.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: The Comeback Summer by Ali Brady

REVIEW: The Comeback Summer by Ali Brady

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Libby and Hannah inherited a PR firm from their beloved grandmother, but they are struggling to keep it afloat. Then Lou, a self-help guru, walks in.

Lou is vetting PR firms for the launch of a new product line. In order to compete, Hannah and Libby have to follow Lou’s system to break out of comfort zones so they can work from that experience if they get the job. Hannah is challenged to go on 12 first dates, and Libby has to do a fitness challenge.

While both women work on their programs – with significant help from one another – the process leads them to revelations, and love, they weren’t expecting.

Review

This was excellent! I usually enjoy dual point-of-view books, and this does an excellent job with the voices and insights of both sisters. And the set up with the 12 week challenges was fantastically done.

I liked both Hannah and Libby and was completely engrossed in their surface stories – the lost love/reconciliation, the physical challenges, the business challenges. But when both women get to the deeper parts of their individual journeys, I was riveted. I didn’t want to put the book down.

This was a delight from start to finish. I loved every bit of it. This was the perfect book to kick off my summer reading season – I recommend you give it a try. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: The Night in Question by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson

REVIEW: The Night in Question by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson

Posted on by Jaymie

I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book will release on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.]

Summary

Alice and Iris and their friends are with everyone who’s anyone at the Sadie Hawkins dance at Levy Castle. The history of the castle – including the mysterious death of movie star Mona Moody – is something Castle Cove takes very seriously. But two of Alice’s old friends, Kennedy and Park, seem more concerned with contemporary drama rather than history. They have a very public fight in the middle of the dance.

Then there’s the screaming.
The blood.
Kennedy is gravely injured. Park runs.
The students are trapped at the Castle due to a storm-caused mudslide – and the authorities struggle to get there.

It’s like one of Alice’s Agatha Christie novels! While Kennedy is soon taken to the hospital, and the students can finally leave the Castle, the questions over what really happened aren’t going away any time soon. So Alice, Iris, and their friends start investigating.

Review

I absolutely adored The Agathas when I first read it a year ago. In fact, it was one of my top 10 most favorite reads of 2022. Halfway through the book I was begging the universe to make this a series. I was so excited when I heard there would be a sequel!

This was outstanding! The story blew me right out of the water. Alice and Iris are back, better than ever – with a real friendship with ups and downs but a core connection and loyalty that keeps them together. The mystery is layered, and each piece is solid and meaty on its own. There’s a LOT going on here – and I loved all of it! There are real stakes here, too, which added to the tension and to my enjoyment. There were several moments when I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough.

I blitzed through The Agathas in a day before I started this so I would have the characters fresh in my mind. I am glad I did so I could jump right into this new story.  Newcomers should absolutely start with book 1, if for no other reason than the ending is “spoiled” here in book 2. You’ll be happier if you read these in order. Fans of book one should snap this up immediately – it was terrific! I can’t wait to see what comes in book 3.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Damsel by Evelyn Skye

REVIEW: Damsel by Evelyn Skye

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Lady Elodie Bayford, eldest daughter of the Duke of Inophe, loves her home. Yes, the country is poor and barren. Their people must rely on trade with one another and the generosity of the duke to get by. But Elodie is devoted to the people and the land. She would do a lot for her people. But the arranged marriage still took her by surprise.

Elodie would be marrying Prince Henry of Aurea, and her marriage in turn would save her country. But while excited about the match – and her future on the gorgeous and lush Isle of Aurea with the handsome and charming Henry – she is puzzled by what the prosperous country is getting in return for this arrangement.

And then she finds out about the dragon.

Review

This is a novel based on a screenplay which will be a Netflix movie this fall (October 13, 2023). And it is AMAZING!

I loved Elodie from the beginning. I was rivetted from the first few pages as I was watching for Elodie to discover the dragon and role she is to play in Aurea in exchange for resources to save her people. And once she knew the whole arrangement, I couldn’t put the book down until the end. This is going to make an amazing movie!

When I first picked this up and realized I had read this author before (Circle of Shadows was fantastic!), I was even more excited to read this. And Evelyn Skye did not disappoint. I was concerned that because Elodie was going to be alone, trying to survive the dragon, for a large portion of the book, that there would be a lot of long, dry sections of description. The sorts of things I usually skip over to get to the dialogue. But that wasn’t the case at all. This is super engaging, and I felt like I couldn’t skip past anything because I had to know it all. This is simply excellent.

Fantasy fans, there’s so much here to love – dragons, royalty, secrets, family, betrayal. I think this works for both adult readers and YA readers. And the bonus material at the end was FASCINATING – do not skip that part! I can’t recommend this highly enough – don’t miss this one! (Some language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Robin by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Robin by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Raven and Gar have broken free from HIVE and are on the run with Max and Damien. They meet up with Max’s mom to regroup – and train for whatever comes next.

Meanwhile, Dick Grayson is tracking Damien. They got off on the wrong foot when Bruce introduced them. Dick is determined to find his brother and help him.

While Damien would love to send Dick packing, the group knows they have a lot to overcome if they want to be ready for HIVE’s next move. And Dick could be an asset.

Review

I love this series more and more with each book. I really enjoyed watching the growth of the two couples. But the relationship between Dick and Damien was my favorite part of this one. I wanted to read this again as soon as I finished. I also loved the cover tease for book five, which is a must-read for me.

DC fans, Teen Titan fans, and graphic novel fans should not miss this series. There are some dark and occultish elements in Raven’s story (her demon father, astral projection, talking to and raising the dead) that might not work for sensitive readers. But there’s nothing else in this series that has raised any red flags for me. I re-read the whole series before letting myself dive into this one, and it was so satisfying. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway by Ashley Schumacher

REVIEW: The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway by Ashley Schumacher

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

Madeline has grown up on the Ren Faire circuit, and she’s at her favorite Faire, Stormsworth. But all the ways it feels different, starting with (1) Mom isn’t here because she died last year, are too many to count. There are new owners, a full castle on the grounds, and there’s even a moat. And then there’s the bard – a boy her age who is entirely too perky and insists on following her and calling her Gwen.

The bard is Arthur, and his dads are the new owners of the Faire – the ones who have changed so much of what was her mother’s last and favorite Faire.

Arthur’s sunny disposition and relentless chatter, initially so off-putting, start to wear her down as she opens herself up to the Faire and a friend. But the pain of Maddie’s loss is still so sharp and ever-present, it’s left her to put up walls to keep anyone from getting too close. Because if she cares about anyone, she exposes herself to future pain and loss.

Review

Two years ago I read a stunningly good book called Amelia Unabridged. And it set a high bar for all other books. It was my favorite of 2021. Last year I read the author’s follow up. And while the characters and writing for Full Flight were excellent once again, the plot did not work for me. I wasn’t sure what that might mean for future books – was Amelia a fluke of a perfect book for me? Or was Flight just not a story made for me? And then I read this. And it was another perfect story for me.

I happened to be reading this on the anniversary of my own mother’s death. And the author’s depiction of Maddie’s wrestling through her grief and loss – and the approaching 1st anniversary of her own loss – was spot on. I love how Maddie’s thinking and coping are portrayed here. Her whole journey was perfect.

I’d have been happy with just Maddie’s story. But Arthur is my FAVORITE sort of sidekick/romantic interest in books like this. Confident, but not perfect. Fond of grand gestures. Funny! But also insightful and observant.

There was a thread of the story that the author pulled forward at the end that was the exclamation point on the perfection of this book for me. If it hadn’t happened, I would have still loved this book. But this extra little pay off was the cherry on the sundae that was this reading experience. Exactly the finishing touch I wanted to make the reading payoff just a bit sweeter.

Schumacher has done it again for me. Her writing is consistently top notch – I highlighted multiple passages as I was reading (I will definitely be tabbing this book the next time I read it once my personal print copy gets here!). Her characters are favorites I would be friends with. There’s a great balance of humor (one scene at the end had me cackling!) and heart. Combine that with a plot that grabs my attention (grief, books, authors in Amelia; Renaissance Faire, grief, self-esteem/confidence, body positivity in this one), and it’s going to be a winner!

Do not miss this one! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Tell Her Story by Nijay Gupta

REVIEW: Tell Her Story by Nijay Gupta

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary and Review

Dr. Gupta explores the women named in the New Testament as leaders of the early Church, but first he goes back to the Old Testament to review the Biblical record of Deborah and the creation story. As he moves forward in time to examine roles of women in the Roman world, he explores evidence of a full range of responsibilities from wife and mother to business owner to cult priestess. Then he looks at the women in Jesus’ life before moving on to the women who help launch the Church.

I had a teaser of some of this material a couple years ago when I heard the author speak. I was fascinated by what he shared and eager to hear more. The writing here is super engaging. There are plenty of reference notes for those approaching this topic and material as scholars. But there’s tons here to enjoy if you just picked this up to augment your own Bible study. I did a lot of underlining as I read, and came across references to other resources I might want to look at on my own.

Reading this made me want to pull a group of women together with this book and an unmarked Bible to dig into the passages with fresh eyes. I think it would be a moving, memorable study experience. I highly recommend this whether you are looking for a text book or reference for academic work or if you are looking for something for personal study.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Never Rescue a Rogue by Virginia Heath

REVIEW: Never Rescue a Rogue by Virginia Heath

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Giles has been keeping the secret surrounding his birth for years because he knows the consequences of the truth getting out are too dire. Possible jail for him and the Duke. And a different heir who would destroy the legacy and everyone who counts on it.

But something has spooked the Duke into shoring up his lineage. Before he can take any action, though, he’s dead and Giles is left holding both the estate and the secret. He needs help.

Diana is thriving in the independence granted her by her sister’s marriage. And she’s certain there’s only bickering and one-upmanship between herself and Lord Bellingham. But he’s in a place where he could use a friend – especially one as adept at investigation as Diana is. So they team up, each resistant to the pull between them, determined to free Giles from his trouble and then return to their constant bickering.

Review

What a fantastic sequel to the delightful Never Fall for Your Fiancée! This is all I hoped for after I finished the first book. I enjoyed the shift to Diana’s story and the bickering and banter with Giles. The mystery they team up to solve is also supremely satisfying. I was completely captivated by it to the point of being oblivious to everything going on around me until I finished. Logically, Vee’s story will be next, and I am here for it, first because this series has been exceptionally good, but also because of the hints at a possible direction for that story. I can’t wait!

Historical romance fans, and fans of the first book should not miss this one! I think newcomers can start here. You’ll be missing some of the family context, but the central story can stand alone. But you will definitely want to read both books in this great series! (sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

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!