Tag: sisters

REVIEW: Behind the Frame by Tracy Gardner

REVIEW: Behind the Frame by Tracy Gardner

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Carson has won the privilege of hosting the area Art in the Park Festival for this year. As an artist and art teacher, it makes sense for Savanna to be on the planning committee.

The first sign of trouble is the damage to a statue at the community park. It’s tagged with “Never Carson,” and the head of town founder, Jessamina Carson, has been severed from the body of the statue.

Then one of the other committee members, local councilman John Bellamy, is killed. When a family friend is arrested, Savanna and her sisters are certain the man could not have committed this heinous crime.

The question is, who did? And why? Is it tied to the art event? Folks from the town that hosted the last three years seem testy about the change of venue. And John did disqualify an entry for the $50,000 scholarship and other prizes. Or maybe it has something to do with Bellamy’s run for mayor. Or could it have been Bellamy’s son, back in town after a falling out with his father years ago?

Savanna and her sisters are fully invested in finding the killer, clearing their friend, and ensuring the festival goes off without a hitch.

Review

This was fun! I love Savanna and her sisters. It’s not often that I read a cozy that uses a team of sleuths, and I really enjoy the change up. Savanna is primary, but she and her sisters work together to bring different skills to the case. Also, the local LEO walks the fine line between cautioning the sisters and embracing their input and insights. I love it. And I thoroughly enjoyed the developments in Savanna and Aidan’s relationship. There are several fun developments on the personal side for all three sisters.

The mystery was great and had me guessing all the way to the end. The escalation was nicely paced. I could absolutely see this story play out on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries on TV.

Book one in the series is Out of the Picture (♥♥♥♥½). I really enjoyed both books. And I hope there are going to be more. This is the style of cozy I love – great characters and community balanced with a well-plotted and engaging mystery. Do not miss this series. Other mysteries from Hallmark Publishing so far are Dead-End Detective and The Game Changer.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥= Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: How to Live on the Edge by Sarah Lynn Scheerger

REVIEW: How to Live on the Edge by Sarah Lynn Scheerger

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Cayenne and Saffron lost their mother 14 years ago when they were 4 and 3 respectively. Since then, they’ve lived with their Aunt Tina and her family. Cayenne is about to finish high school, but she has no plans beyond that. It’s hard to be excited about your future when you know you are going to die early like every other woman in your family.

Cayenne and her boyfriend are adrenaline junkies, train jumping and cliff diving for thrills. Cayenne especially is looking for ways to feel “alive.” In her grief, she has even imagined a personification of death who feels like she is always lurking, coming for Cayenne one of these days.

Cayenne’s mom left some videos for the sisters to watch together before Cayenne graduates as a way for them to know her and for her to communicate some things to them as they become adults. Cayenne initially wants no part of them.

But when the girls’ aunt announces she has the BRCA gene and plans to have a preventative mastectomy, Cayenne is forced to face her fears about the family “curse” and the potential fate of the women she loves most.

Review

This is a realistic look at how people might respond to the weight of cancer risk. Cayenne believes the family history means she is going to die anyway, so she takes tremendous risks like she is daring Death. Saffron’s loss has left her afraid of losing someone else. And Aunt Tina is willing to do whatever it takes to reduce her risks in order to have as many healthy years with her family as possible. All of this felt realistic, and it all wove together so well.

Cayenne is the point-of-view character, so she’s the one we get to see grow the most. And her arc is tremendously satisfying. But the videos from their mom and their aunt’s genetic risk impact both of the girls over the course of the book. While Cayenne’s story is more dramatic, I preferred Saffron’s. I connected more with her character and her ways of coping. But the whole book is really well done.

I highly recommend this one for readers who want an emotional punch in their stories as well as readers who want to explore a story with a medical risk like cancer or grief and loss issues. This is a well-crafted story with tons to think about! (References to sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥ – Great!

 

BLOG TOUR: Puppy Kisses by Lucy Gilmore

BLOG TOUR: Puppy Kisses by Lucy Gilmore

Posted on by Jaymie

Welcome to the Blog Tour for book 3 in the Forever Home series, Puppy Kisses. [I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.] This book will release next Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

 

Summary

It started with a car chase and a lie.

Dawn and Zeke had stolen – rescued – the puppy from an abusive owner who chased them with a shotgun. Their high-speed getaway caught the attention of the sheriff. Zeke was about to lose his license, and Dawn’s flirting was doing no good. So she said the puppy was a service dog in training for Adam.

Zeke’s brother, Adam, went along with the story once he put most of the pieces together. He’d do almost anything for Dawn, not that he’d tell her that. But once the sheriff was gone and the local vet had checked out the puppy, Adam was attached and refused to let her go.

Dawn had been rescuing the puppy for herself. She had other animals at the kennel that would work as a service animal for Adam. Training the right puppy – and getting her rescued puppy back – would be a great excuse for spending more time with Adam. She didn’t know why he insisted on pushing her away. They were combustible when they were together. She would just have to keep pushing until he saw the potential they had together like she did.

Review

This was a great addition to a fun series! The characters – both human and canine (and bovine!) – are terrific. The dogs in this book are especially delightful. I adored Uncle from his first appearance. And I laughed every time Adam called the new puppy Methuselah.

There are lots of laughs in this book. I loved the snappy dialogue between the various characters. The animals added great humor to this too, especially the rogue cow.

Adam and Dawn are fascinating protagonists. Dawn is so in-your-face for most of the book, yet a lot goes unsaid between her and Adam. Both of them could have avoided some conflict with better trust and communication as well as fewer assumptions. Adam gets some benefit of the doubt on the communication pieces because his visual impairment means he misses any visual cues from Dawn’s facial expressions or body language that might have clued him into her true feelings. Dawn is also working through some identity things as the person she wants to be and the person people assume she is don’t always line up.

There was a moment at the end of the book that seemed to be headed one way and then absolutely didn’t go where I thought it would. Which was fine – it was a great shift. But it didn’t feel resolved by the end, which left me feeling off-kilter going into the great epilogue. This was the only blip in a thoroughly delightful story. I have enjoyed this whole series from the start. Be sure to check out book one, Puppy Love (♥♥♥♥) and book 2, Puppy Christmas. (You can read my review of Puppy Christmas here.) I would love to read more books with these characters if the series is going to continue or spin off in any way. Each of the three sisters have had a book, though, so I’m not sure if there will be more Forever Home stories in the future. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

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If you have enjoyed one of Lucy Gilmore’s books before, or if you want to know more about her, you can explore her website here.  While you are there, you can see the other names she writes under and check out those books as well. It looks like she has plans for some new stand-alone puppy-related romances coming in 2021! I even picked up a few books from her other pen names, thanks to the website. Be sure to check it out!

As part of the Blog Tour you can enter a giveaway for copies of the first two books in the series!  You already know I loved them. Check out the giveaway here.

REVIEW: The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan

REVIEW: The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Edelweiss+ and William Morrow in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Bill Sweeney passed away, it was big news. He was famous in the literary world. And he had been working on a new memoir. The one about his deceased wife had been extremely well-received. The publishing world could only dream of what Bill might share next from his personal life.

The Sweeney sisters come home for the funeral: dutiful Liza who lives nearby, flighty and emotional Maggie the artist, and Tricia, the baby – the most controlled and put together of the bunch.

The Sweeney sisters have generally had good relationships with one another. Different circumstances bring out different pairings and alliances. But in a crisis like burying their father, handling the estate, and finding his final missing manuscript, they pull together. But their father’s death raises a new, unforeseen wrinkle.

There is a fourth Sweeney sister.

Thanks to a DNA test, Serena discovers Bill Sweeney was her biological father. This leaves the original Sweeney sisters reeling and wondering what agenda Serena might bring to their task of managing Bill’s estate. Will Serena capitalize on the scandal with a book of her own? Is she only there for whatever money she can squeeze from the estate? And what might the missing memoir have to say about Bill’s infidelity and his surprise heir?

Review

I enjoyed this novel about sisterhood and legacy. The blurbs promised me “belly laughs” and something “uproarious.” But I didn’t find much hilarity in this. It’s touching and nuanced as it explores the five main characters of the story – the sisters and their father.

The core of the book is the father’s death and what the loss means for the family, from dealing with the house to the search for the missing memoir. And there’s a good bit here about legacy. Those pieces of the story were good and engaging.

But the best part of the story for me was the exploration of sisterhood. The three main sisters have distinct personalities and bring a good amount of personal baggage into the grief journey. On their own, they are all dealing with something – Liza’s rocky marriage, Maggie’s flighty personality and work ethic and penchant for drama, and Tricia’s new romantic relationship. But in addition to their individual journeys there’s a great layer of sisterhood over the top.

The sisterhood pieces were fascinating to Serena as an outsider. She longs to be part of that dynamic, but she know she doesn’t really fit. I loved how she found her own way to step into the sisterly dance the other three already have going.

Readers who enjoy contemporary women’s fiction, family stories, and books with literary elements should not miss this one! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: Untwisted by Elise Allen

BONUS REVIEW: Untwisted by Elise Allen

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Kaloon has changed. Magic is allowed now. And to help foster a positive relationship between Mages and the general population, the teens of Kaloon will attend Maldevon Academy together (along with any Magical Animals of appropriate developmental level).

The transition to accepting magic came with a high price. The Battle for Unification was a terrible war between the kingdom and Dark Mages. It was only after Kaloon won that the kingdom’s twin princesses, Flissa and Sara, could truly live as individuals instead of pretending to be one Princess Flissara (see Twinchantment for the whole story).

Sara is far more excited about starting school than Flissa. While Flissa’s great with all the academics, the social scene stresses her out completely. Flissa would be happy to stay at home.

School doesn’t turn out like either of the girls expected. Sara keeps saying the wrong thing and offending her new classmates. And she freezes up in front of the magic teacher she wants to impress. Flissa is actually the one who makes a friend on the first day.

Soon the girls’ personal experiences are secondary as they watch the various groups on campus strike out at one another. Kids and teachers are still fighting the magic vs. non-magic war, just in more secretive ways. Is there any chance of Kaloon truly being unified?

Review

I liked this one even more than the first book! The integration storyline with magical and nonmagical factions was fascinating. Even better was the way the relationship between Sara and Flissa evolved! For the first time, the girls get to publicly be themselves. But they’re still discovering who they are after having a shared identity for so long. I loved this aspect of the story!!

There’s a great mystery here, too. Who is trustworthy? Who is working a secret agenda? The relationship between the princesses gets fractured over these questions. Sara is determined to uncover the truth. And her suspicions include some of Flissa’s new friends. For the first time there’s a wall between the sisters – literally and figuratively.

Fans of middle grade fantasy should be sure to check out this series! I think the books are better enjoyed if they are read in order. You can see my full review of Twinchantment here. I’m hopeful that there will be more stories starring Sara and Flissa and all their friends.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Freaky in Fresno by Laurie Boyle Crompton

REVIEW: Freaky in Fresno by Laurie Boyle Crompton

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Ricki is into classic horror movies, monster makeup and saving the Starlight drive-in theater with her crush, Jake.

Lana is an online/social media influencer with her makeup videos. She has an online competition with another influencer who calls herself Her Highness, and an online relationship with Erik who has his own prank show. Lana is preparing for a huge appearance at Digifest in LA.

The girls are cousins. Their Aunt May announces she is giving them a joint gift – a Buick Skylark convertible. She knows the girls have been growing apart, so she insists that they learn to share the car, hoping it will help their relationship.

Lana is convinced that if she drives the car onto the stage at Digifest, it will launch her to the next level of stardom. Ricki is certain Lana is being selfish and will try to keep the car for herself. So she refuses to give Lana the car so that she can drive it to the Starlight’s grand re-opening. As the girls physically fight over control of the car, they get shocked and everything around them goes crazy. When everything goes back to normal, they shake off the weirdness and head home. But the next day, each wakes up in her cousin’s body.

Review

This was so fun! It made me want to watch both of the Freaky Friday movies; it’s been ages since I have seen them. This was a fantastic homage to the movies while standing on its own with contemporary conflicts. At first, I was frustrated with both girls, and I didn’t like either one. But as the story developed and we saw more of the girls’ inner lives, I came to appreciate them both.

My favorite moments were when Ricki experienced Lana’s anxiety. She didn’t know what that heavy feeling was at first. Lana loved the feeling of freedom she had while living in Ricki’s body. This whole piece of the story was well-done.

I was fascinated that the author chose to have Ricki tell the whole story rather than tell this with dual perspectives. In some ways, Lana had a LOT more to process, and the reader is able to dig into that through Ricki’s perspective. I’m not sure there would have been as much story to tell from the other direction, unless the author wanted to address how Ricki felt watching her mother connect so much with Lana. The story really didn’t directly address that dynamic.

If you enjoyed Pretty in Punxsutawney, if you love Freaky Friday stories, or if you just like novels that explore identity, fame, mental health and anxiety, and changing perspectives, you should check this story out.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Conceal, Don't Feel by Jen Calonita

REVIEW: Conceal, Don’t Feel by Jen Calonita

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Elsa is the 18-year-old princess of Arendelle, and she is being trained to someday take over the running of the kingdom. As an only child, there were no other kids in the castle to play with when she was growing up. She’s lonely, focused always on her studies and the work of the kingdom.

Anna is the 15-year-old adopted daughter of the village baker in Harmon, a small town up the mountain from Arendelle. She’s an energetic, talkative girl who makes amazing snowman cookies. And she longs to head to the city for an adventure. When her mom’s best friend, Freya, comes to visit every couple of months, she tells Anna about the city. At her last visit, she said it might be time for Anna to visit Arendelle and meet Freya’s husband and 18-year-old daughter.

After Elsa’s parents die in an accident, she discovers magic hidden in her hands that is leaking out because of her grief. She’s been trying to control it for a few years, but in a moment of panic before her coronation, her life and kingdom are changed forever. And while Elsa’s world is icing up and falling apart, Anna can’t help feeling like someone in Arendelle desperately needs her help.

Review

This is book 7 in the Twisted Tale series, but it’s the first one I have finished. The story is maybe 75-80% the original Frozen movie. But one moment in the story, one thread of the tale, is changed. That leads to a small set of changes in how and where the girls are raised. That in turn changes how Kristoff, Olaf, and Prince Hans figure into the story.

I enjoyed this version of the story. I’m not sure it fundamentally changes anything. The twist doesn’t have any impact on Hans or Kristoff of course, so their characters are consistent with the movie. I don’t feel like I walked away from this book with new insights into the characters or Elsa’s magic. Frankly, I think the movie is stronger in the ways it addresses the emotions of the conflict – Elsa’s trapped feelings, her struggle for control, Anna’s desperation to help her sister, etc. This may present a stronger case than the movie for how essential Anna is to Elsa and to her control of her magic.

Fans of Frozen may enjoy spending time with the characters again or debating the merits of each version of Elsa’s story – I did. But readers looking for NEW content about Elsa and Anna, or new dimensions to their relationship might be disappointed. It seems like the folks at Disney didn’t give the author a lot of wiggle room to change the movie plot in any significant way. Readers might instead find something new to enjoy in some of the Frozen II books that released earlier this month.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The McAvoy Sisters Book of Secrets by Molly Fader

REVIEW: The McAvoy Sisters Book of Secrets by Molly Fader

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

After all those years away, it only takes one phone call to pull Lindy back home.

It’s great timing. She’s temporarily homeless and jobless. And her mother needs her. Apparently she’s had a stroke – not that anyone told Lindy. And her mom’s also having memory issues – another surprise.

The cop who calls for her mom – and old high school… friend – tries to excuse Lindy’s sister, Delia, for not passing any of this news along. She’s been busy with the new baby – something else Lindy knows nothing about. Well, it has been 17 years since they last spoke.

But now Lindy is back. And Delia does have her hands full with the family business (that was supposed to go to Lindy), their mom, her rebellious teen and a newborn. So Lindy can step in, help out, carry some of the load. But her return to the family could dredge up a lot of old history the McAvoy women have swallowed and ignored for decades. Will their secrets survive Lindy’s return home?

Review

Wow, this was good. It took me awhile to warm up to Delia, but I clicked with Lindy and her mom and Delia’s teen daughter Brin quickly. Watching these four women dance around each other was fascinating. And while it was obvious the history and the secrets would be significant, the author held onto them for a good while, letting us get to know the women on their own. There are several excellent passages about secrets and dealing – or not dealing – with emotions. They felt therapeutic. If I was reading this for a book club, these would be the passages I would mark and want to talk about with a group.

Even before the secrets are told, the reader can see the role each person plays in the family – the buttons they push, the interpersonal patterns that have been at work for decades. But this isn’t a dry or navel-gazing sort of story. There’s activity and movement to keep you engaged while the emotional work is being done. It’s so well written – I really enjoyed this!

Discussion questions at the end make this great for book clubs. Don’t read the questions first in order to avoid spoilers. I will give a TRIGGER WARNING but won’t give details to avoid spoiling the story, but if you have sensitivities for what you read, go into this one with a pinch of caution. (Some language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Boy Next Story by Tiffany Schmidt

REVIEW: The Boy Next Story by Tiffany Schmidt

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Rory and her older sister, Merrilee, got into Hero High, it was supposed to be this “great opportunity.” Their oldest sister, Lilly, was marrying into a senator’s family, and the senator used her influence to get the girls into Reginald R. Hero High. Nevermind that her influence led to some resentment by some students and administrators about the girls skirting the rules and procedures. While Merrilee had negotiated a lot of that, and emerged triumphant, Rory was dealing with her own struggles.

Rory’s early weeks at Hero were not filled with a lot of academic success. It’s hard to be the little sister to someone as brilliant – and as personable – as Merri. And the one place that should have been a safe haven for Rory – the art room – was a bigger minefield than any of her academic classes. In Advanced Art, the freshman and “new girl” stuck out. And the resentment of the older students meant her easel was always under “accidental” assault. Her projects were “lost” or “destroyed” constantly. School was one disaster after another for Rory.

Even her life outside school was filled with complications. Her forever-crush, Toby, was her next door neighbor. There was no avoiding him. That meant she also couldn’t avoid seeing how he looked at Merri. Toby’s affection for Merri was at war with his hurt at seeing her fall for someone else. It was painful for Rory to watch while her own feelings of longing were obviously never going to be returned.

Two reading assignments for the mysterious Ms. Gregoire stir up a lot of questions and feelings for Rory as she considers her school woes, her family relationships, and her crush. She’s embarking on a life and literature adventure she won’t ever forget.

Review

When book 1, Bookish Boyfriends: A Date with Darcy released last year, there was no way I wasn’t going to read it. Books, romance and a possibly magical teacher pulling strings to use literature to instruct her students on life? SIGN ME UP! And book one was a DELIGHT in all ways – characters, story, heart. And I re-read it before starting this one so all the story details would be fresh for me.

That re-read actually made me a little nervous about reading this book. I loved Merri in book 1.  Her voice is a huge part of why I enjoyed that first story. Since this is Rory’s story, I was concerned I wouldn’t connect with her like I did with Merri.

Rory’s voice and story is EVEN BETTER!

I almost don’t have words for how much I adored this book. I think chapter 3 was when I started crying and fell in love with Rory. All the sharp, snarky attitude and behavior in book 1 suddenly made complete sense. I could see all the ways Rory developed to protect herself – from feeling “not enough” or left out or “settled for.” And this is a young woman who should never feel like she is second fiddle to anyone – no one should. I bookmarked more than 40 spots that were just magical for me in this story. Actually, I wasn’t even 1/4 through the review copy when I set it aside to pre-order my own copy. I am a fanatic for this story!

Just like with Merri’s story, Rory works through two books with Ms. Gregoire – The Great Gatsby and Little Women. As with book 1, I’ve only read one of those books, but I was completely able to follow the action here anyway. I almost felt like I was reading two whole books because of the depth of Rory’s story related to both of these classic novels. The author does not skimp through the arc of the first to get to the second. Both were important – to the story and to Rory’s growth.

I gushed at the author on social media because I just could not contain how much I was adoring this story. (It was too early to talk about it online because it wasn’t going to release for another month or two.) She told me book three will be Talk Nerdy to Me (2020), and she’s already at work on book 4. This series is now firmly on my “must buy” list. The richness in the characters and the stories are not to be missed. At every page turn, my heart sang, “I LOVE this book!” I could not have asked for a more perfect book for me.

I feel like there’s a lot for readers to learn here from Rory – what happens for her when she speaks her truth, how her feelings have driven her behavior, what role she should play when she’s unhappy in a relationships, etc. You do NOT want to miss this book – be sure to check out A Date with Darcy and then scoop up The Boy Next Story too. Perfect for summer reading. I can’t recommend this highly enough.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

REVIEW: Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart

REVIEW: Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Serina has trained all her life it seems to be a Grace. The Superior of Viridia has chosen three women of beauty and refinement to be his Graces every three years for ages. And now it is his oldest son, Malachi, the Heir’s turn.

Nomi is wild where her sister is meek. Their culture holds little value for women. They aren’t allowed to go to school or learn to read. They have no real choices in their own lives. And Nomi hates it. How could Serina choose the empty, shallow life of a Grace? Nomi has a duty to her family to be Serina’s handmaiden, but she doesn’t have to like it or do it without complaint.

Things with the Heir don’t go at all like Serina expected. One heated exchange in a hallway with Nomi and he chooses HER to be one of his Graces. Serina is relegated to handmaiden status. And if that’s not bad enough, Nomi is keeping a secret that could get their whole family in trouble. But Serina is caught and blamed instead.

Now Nomi is alone at the palace, unsure of who she can trust and desperate for any scrap of news about what happened to her sister. And Serina has been given a punishment usually reserved for the worst female offenders – prison on the volcanic island Mount Ruin.

Review

This was excellent! Initially I wanted more world building and character development up front. The rules for the world were unclear, and the action starts immediately. But I only felt off kilter for a couple chapters before everything was clear. And once I hit that point I couldn’t put the book down until I was finished.

The characters are great. I was furious with Nomi whose own carelessness and rebellious nature ruined her sister’s life. But the evolution of Serina through her trials was fantastic.

The story was riveting – the fight for survival, the alliances and betrayals, the secret source of the misogynistic culture of Viridia. And the action runs clear up to the final page with no happily-ever-after in sight. I loved it!

I saw one of the twists coming only because it’s been done before in another series I read. But the author really did a great job setting it up. Readers who have read that other series might recognize the set up, too. But others will be delightfully caught off guard. I have no complaints for this – just praise. This is fantastic. I’ll be counting down the days until the sequel! (Violence)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥