Bruja Born (Brooklyn Brujas #2) by Zoraida Córdova

Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova

My Rating: ★★★★

Lula is struggling with the aftermath of her sister, Alex, attempted to get rid of her magic and accidentally banished her entire family from the mortal world instead. Left with facial scars and a fear of noises and shadows, Lula has become bitter and very unlike herself. She still has the love of her life, Maks, in her life… or so she thought. She and Maks become two victims of a terrible bus crash that kills nearly everyone on the bus. Lula survives, but Maks is left in a coma marked for Death herself, but Lula has other plans. Defying the rules of magic and the balance between life and death, she defies Death by bringing Maks back to life with a terrible cost.

I absolutely love the first book in the series, so I was extremely excited when I finally picked up the second one. I love the characters, the story, and the world they live in. One of the most notable differences between the first and the second book is that they’re narrated by different sisters. The first book was narrated by Alex, and now we’re following her sister Lula as she struggles with the events of the first book. She struggles a lot with the physical scars that she’s been left with and talks a lot about how she was always considered very beautiful and now she has scars across her face. This certainly does not help with the emotional aftermath.

One of the things I love about this book is the unconventional take on zombies. Maks and the other characters that are dead are anchored to the living world by Lula, which begins with memory loss and an insatiable hunger for human hearts. We watch Lula and her sisters struggle to figure out how to end it, and Lula battle with her heart and reality as Maks regains his memory and becomes more and more vicious. These aren’t the average take on zombies, so it was interesting to see the zombies struggle with what they are and eventually embrace it, becoming less like their former selves.

The story itself lost me a little somewhere around the middle, but it picked up soon after. Of course, the middle was when it seemed most apparent that the three sisters would’ve agreed to confess to their parents because it was clearly starting to get out of hand. It just got repetitive and a little petty around the middle, which really took me out of the story until it got back into the swing of things. I did love the variety of new characters that we met, including a friendly vampire who doesn’t take anyone’s crap among other characters and supernatural beings.

I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series and see what happens as we follow Rose. Hopefully Rose doesn’t make the same accidental mistake as her two sisters did, but we’ll see! Either way, I know we’re in for another great book.

Deep Cosmos by Project Kyle

Deep Cosmos by Project Kyle

My Rating: ★★

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

David, aka Nerd, hides behind a mask after a serial killer paid to have David take the blame for his crimes. As Nerd, he’s dree to be a space explorer who takes on missions that can and will save others but he’s willing to throw caution to the wind to save a young warrior, Sophia, targeted by the man whose crimes he’s been forced to take the blame for. Once he’s in the clear, he and Sophia tango with the madman once again and end up with another crew member, a space hoodlum named Henry, and take on a new mission pitting them against one of the most dangerous man in the galaxy.

The premise of this book sounded interesting so I knew I had to read it. There’s so much action that there’s never a dull moment. If you don’t like something, it’ll probably be done with soon unless it’s one of the main plot points. Nerd and his crew are constantly on the go and just when things seem to be getting boring, they’re on the run for their lives all over again. This book has some pretty interesting characters and worlds and it reads a bit like an action movie. Something is always going down and someone always needs saving.

I will say that it was rather confusing for a good bit. The action makes up for the lack of world building in the opening, but I do feel like I started on a second or third book because the world that these characters live in aren’t introduced in a way that tells me about how this world works. There are major events that are referenced like it was a major plot point in a past book. Unfortunately, the confusion that occurs in the first few chapters continues to crop up again and again as the story continues because the world building is lacking. I think that there is a lot of potential here and that it just needs some extra work to get it to what it could be.

I like the characters, but I do wish that there was more character development. It seemed like a lot of what we learn about these characters come from observations from other characters. There are also a few moments where the main three characters that we follow have some out of character experiences, but I’m not sure if it’s one of those things that it could be in character but I simply don’t know enough about them for these moments to make sense.

Like I said, there is a lot of potential here and I could see this book making an excellent movie or mini-series. It just needs some extra attention paid to world building and character development.

Are u ok?: A Guide to Caring for Your Mental Health by Kati Morton

Are u ok?: A Guide to Caring for Your Mental Health by Kati Morton

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Perseus Books, Da Capo Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Taking care of your mental health sounds scary, but it’s important to take care of yourself and Kati Morton breaks down the what and why of mental health and therapy. She also takes a bit of the fear out of going to therapy. I know I’ve been on the fence about seeing a therapist and she took a lot of the fear out of that with her book, which is, in part, why this book exists.

Everyone struggles with mental health issues and there’s a societal stigma against taking care of our mental health compared to our physical health. Morton talks a bit about this and why it’s important to take care of our mental health. Not only is it a part of us and our body, but it can also physically affect us depending on what’s going on. She also explains the different parts of treating mental health and what each practitioner in the field does, such as the different between a therapist, psychologist, and psychiatrist.

One of the things that I like about the book is that it helps take some of the unknown out of seeking treatment. What does a first appointment with a therapist generally look like? What should one look for in a therapist? How does one look for a therapist? There’s explanations and answers to questions that I didn’t even think about, such as deciding on what to look for in a therapist based on one’s comfort level and how to figure out what type of person one wants to see. The information she shared will help others know what to expect and what to look for.

I found Morton to have a very positive personality through her writing, which makes it easier to digest the information she shares and take some of the fear out of imagining what a therapist might be like. It took me back to college because it was a combination of important information as well as relatable information and examples. I felt like I was sitting through a lecture with a cool professor with my text book propped open next to my notebook. It wasn’t scary, the information is valuable and useful, and there’s some technical information.

All in all, I highly recommend this book for people who want to learn a little more about treating mental health and for people who are on the fence about seeking treatment. Morton shares so much information in a way that isn’t overwhelming while also making her readers feel comfortable. There’s a lot of fear around mental health as well as seeking treatment, especially when one doesn’t know what seeking treatment will look like or has no idea what seeing a therapist or anyone in the field will look like because it’s just not talked about most of the time. This is a book I’ll refer back to as I step out of my comfort zone and seek a therapist and I think it can help many people whether or not they read it for themselves or someone else.

My Brother's Husband, Volume 2 (Otouto no Otto #2) by Gengoroh Tagame

My Brother's Husband, Volume 2 by Gengoroh Tagame

My Rating: ★★★★★

As Yaichi comes to term with his twin brother’s death, he also finds that he cares about his brother-in-law and faces his views on homosexuality and realizes that he has changed. Sadly, he did not get to welcome his late brother with open arms after he grows to realize his former views may have hurt him, but he can welcome Mike into his family now and in the future. In this heartfelt final volume, we watch Yaichi and his family spend time together and hope for a better future.

After reading the first volume, I could not wait until I could read volume two. While I’m sad that it’s the final volume, I’m really happy that this story came into my life and touches everyone who reads it. I loved watching Yaichi realize that it was he who changed after Ryoji came out, and that he has changed again for the better. I love seeing him realize that he would accept his daughter if she found love with another woman and hopes that she wouldn’t be afraid to tell him. I also love that Yaichi grows proud to have his brother-in-law there and finds that it’s prejudiced people who should be ashamed of their views, not his family. He also starts to realize how society views the LGBT community and starts a discussion on the topic with his ex, who is very open and accepting.

This is such a touching story that I will have to reread sometime in the future. I love the characters, their stories, and watching each of them grow as the story progressed. It’s such a heartwarming tale that also demonstrates that hate and prejudice is learned as we watch Kana accept Mike from the start and see how other people, including her peers, views change depending on their parent’s views. I definitely recommend this series to all.

Inkmistress (Of Fire and Stars 0.5) by Audrey Coulthurst

Inkmistress by Audrey Coulthurst
My Rating: ★★★★

Asra has lived a sheltered life on an isolated mountain. She’s content to spend her life as quiet as possible as the local town’s healer because she has a dangerous secret: she’s a demigod whose blood can do a number of things, including dictate the future. If anyone knew what Asra can do, she’d be a huge treasure for people with nefarious wishes. Unfortunately for Asra, she shares too many of her secrets with the mortal woman she loves, Ina. When Ina asks for help, Asra decides to help her girlfriend by using her blood to write the future. Asra’s blood magic accidentally triggers a terrible tragedy that drives Ina to reveal her true nature as she strives to take revenge on the king. Asra is forced to leave the comfort of her secluded mountain to stop Ina, which triggers a journey of self-discovery.

I absolutely loved Of Fire and Stars, so when I saw that there was a prequel, I knew I had to read it. The fun thing about this prequel is that it takes place 200 years before the first book in the series, so what happens in this story deeply affects society as well as how magic works long before Denna and Mare are born. That said, it’s a completely different story that doesn’t have any of the same characters. I do wonder if a certain character at the end turns out to be one of Denna’s ancestors, but as of right now, that’s a question for another time.

Like the first book, I love how complex the characters are. We get a pretty good idea that things are not what they seem early on. Asra is sheltered and she grew up believing that she’d have to spend her life alone and single. Through her journey, Asra discovers that life cannot be viewed through the lens she did when she was living a smaller life. She learns about herself and her abilities in ways that she might not have had she never set off on a journey to stop Ina. Asra also travels through cities that she had never dreamed of and meets all kinds of people, both good and bad. Along the way, she also discovers that she doesn’t have to be alone and that she can trust some people. While this takes place in a fantasy world, I think that it is relatable to anyone who was sheltered until they broke away and explored the life they didn’t know that they could have.

In addition to Asra, we have characters like Ina who isn’t necessarily evil, but is definitely somewhere in the gray area. She cares about people and has her hopes and dreams that are dashed, which then creates new motives and a harsh shell. We also see that she does soften a bit and that, at her core, she does care about others even though she chooses a violent and deceptive path.

There are a variety of characters that we meet along the way. We see sweet, guarded, sad, angry, distraught, and naive characters. I think that it’s important to see characters like these in books because not everyone is perfect and sometimes those who mean well don’t always make the best choices. In fact, some people eventually become soured by their life experiences, like one of the character’s sisters was. Then there are people who are too trusting and others that do not trust enough, and those are just small parts of who they are.

The story did drag a little around the middle, and Asra’s romantic struggles overshadowed the big picture at some point, but I did enjoy the book. Overall, it’s a wonderful book and I am looking forward to see what book two has to bring and how various parts of this prequel will impact the story.

Control (Control #1) by Lydia Kang

Control by Lydia Kang
My Rating: ★★★

In 2150, Zelia and her sister, Dylia, are used to packing up and moving often. Their father’s work has never allowed their family to set down roots. However, there’s something different about their last move. They’re moving on extremely short notice and their father keeps looking over his shoulder. Zelia and Dylia don’t think much of it until their world turns upside down after they’re in a terrible accident that literally tears their father to pieces. Now orphans, they discover that they never really knew their father, and that there’s a whole secret society that they’re members of. You see, one of them was born with unknown abilities because someone tampered with their DNA. The sisters are torn from each other and enter a nightmare that leaves them questioning everything.

I’ve read two of Lydia Kang’s books and saw that she wrote some YA novels, so I thought, hey. I love Lydia and YA, so I have to check out these books! I love the world that Lydia built. It’s a futuristic dystopia novel involving people with special abilities. However, unlike say X-Men, Heroes, or any other story involving people with special abilities, these abilities are not the result of evolution. Instead, they are the result of science and people tampering with human DNA. At the point that the novel starts, it’s illegal to tamper with DNA, so these people are living in secret rather than being killed. One of the things that I like about the book is that there’s a lot of science involved. Zelia’s father got her into science and she spends a good portion of the book working on matching DNA and finding a way to replicate a particular person’s abilities. It helps build the world that she lives in as well as her as a character.

I also love that there’s a range of useful to useless abilities, and the useless ones aren’t glossed over. Instead, the people with abilities that aren’t exactly useful or aren’t things that some would not want to replicate aren’t shoved in a corner and forgotten. It’s also interesting to see how each ability has drawbacks. We get to know these characters as people rather than their abilities, and there’s quite a bit of character development with everyone Delia comes to see as an extension of her small family.

There’s also a quite a bit of question about what freedom is for these characters. There are two factions for people with abilities: Carus and Aureus. Both live freely in secret, but are they truly free? Carus is safe but sheltered. Each person living in Carus feels trapped in a prison of safety. The people of Aureus come and go as they like, but they have to follow strict orders and they can and will be submitted to some form of torture if they don’t fall in line. Is anyone truly free? Personally, I’d stick with Carus because at least you’re free to do your own thing as long as you stay inside so the outside world doesn’t get you.

I didn’t care for the romance between Zelia and Cy. I knew that he was going to be her love interest when we first met him. He’s quiet, broody, and bad tempered. Once the romance is full steam ahead, Cy becomes much softer. I wish that there was some discussion as to how and why he’s changing as he becomes happier compared to being full of self-loathing and regret. I understand why he started out one way and ends much softer than before, but there’s little to no discussion about these changes between the characters.

I also didn’t like that Zelia becomes very unlike herself toward the end of the novel. I actually sat back and thought about how it seemed like someone swapped bodies with her. I appreciate how much she was willing to sacrifice to save her sister, but it seemed like that was the only part of her that stayed the same. I also don’t understand why she has so much faith in Micah aka Kw when he more than proved that he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He’s obviously not going to keep his end of the bargain, so why not put more faith into your new family in Carus? I questioned her faith in him the second he was a bodiless voice in the static offering her so-called help. It just seemed ridiculous that she didn’t sit down and come up with a legitimate plan with her newfound friends and family instead of destroying their trust in her to do her own thing.

All in all, I did enjoy the book, and I hope to see Zelia return to herself again in the second and final book in the series.

My Lady's Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel by Kitty Curran, Larissa Zageris

My Lady's Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel by Kitty Curran, Larissa Zageris

My Rating: ★★★★★

I have loved choose your own adventure books since I was a kid, so I always get excited when I come across them. This book did not disappoint! Readers are the nameless protagonist in a historical romance set in the 18th century. There are several different paths that we can choose with a variety of characters ranging from eligible men, a few supernatural beings, and widow butting heads with her ex. Just when I thought the book couldn’t get any more hilarious, I took yet another path that had me in stitches.

One of the things that I love about this book is that it doesn’t take itself seriously and pokes fun at tropes found in romance novels. I love a good trashy romance novel, but it was so much fun taking different paths and going on different adventures that had hilarious twists and turns and the occasional surprise ending. I kept going back to the beginning to discover new paths over and over. I do wish that it had more LGBT paths, but I’ll live. I would love to see another choose your own path book from the same authors in the future!

Carnality, A Naughty Whodunit by S.P. Aruna

Carnality, A Naughty Whodunit by S.P. Aruna

My Rating: ★★★★

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Frederick Stevens is an extremely crooked man. When he’s not charming his way into his latest conquest’s bed, he’s revealing who he really is to the people around him as he plots and steals. Frederick is a twisted man who leaves nothing but chaos in his wake. He’s also man who has made many enemies, which includes his wife, step daughter, business rivals, and past conquests. Unfortunately for him, several of his enemies want him dead. Some plot to kill him while others hire professionals to do the terrible deed for them, but when he turns up dead, no one knows who took him out.

I don’t usually see romantic or erotic mystery novels around, so this book caught my attention because I love when two genres that don’t usually go together are paired to create a story. Once I got into the story, I found that it’s a bizarre soap opera involving a lot of scheming people who are all angry with one person: Frederick Stevens. Told in the first person perspective, we follow several narrators and watch all the pieces of the story slowly come together.

The story was a little confusing at first because there are so many characters and there are moments when the narrator suddenly changes without warning. It was puzzling for the narrator to change in the middle of an event without warning. It just abruptly switched perspectives with no page break or any other indication that the story was about to switch to another character’s view. I got into the story once I became more familiar with the characters and was used to the sudden change in perspectives, but I do think that there needs to be some improvement on when and how the story will change narrators.

That said, I rather enjoyed the story. Many of the characters were interesting to follow and I liked how we got to see exactly why each person hated Frederick. It was dramatic, bizarre, and sometimes funny how the group of characters lived their lives and moved about as the story continued. At some point, the characters start to collide with one another and that’s when I knew things were going to get even crazier very soon. It was a fun read and I’m interested in seeing where the story goes as the series continues.

The Knitter's Dictionary by Kate Atherley

The Knitter's Dictionary by Kate Atherley

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from F + W Media through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m an avid knitter and I always keep an eye out for knitting books and videos so that I can recommend them to any friends who want to pick up knitting or are otherwise new to the craft. I also find it good to own some of these books myself for when I have a question or need to jog my memory on a stitch or something in that realm. One thing that I really like about this book is that it has information about what to look for in a yarn based on the type of project one is buying yarn for. It’s not something that I see often and it has some really good information on this topic, which is also extremely useful for people new to knitting.

The book has a nice layout that makes it easy to find what one may be looking for. It has a combination of written terms and graphs depending on the subject. It has a lot of useful information for new and old knitters alike. The only thing that I found it lacking was information on plant fibers and acrylic, especially since many people frequently use one or both. It’s not a problem for me, but it might be for someone who is interested in having that information all in one book.  That said, I rather like this book and will definitely add it to the list of useful books that I recommend to others.

A Crafter Knits a Clue (A Handcrafted Mystery #1) by Holly Quinn

A Crafter Knits a Clue by Holly Quinn

My Rating: ★★★

I received a copy from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sammy recently moved back to her hometown to take over her late best friend’s craft store, Community Craft, rather than allow it to close down. Just when she’s getting into the groove of running a shop and trying to keep her late bestie’s spirit alive, she makes a grim discovery: the owner of the town’s local yarn shop has been murdered. Sammy is reeling from the discovery and decides to dust off her old amateur sleuthing hat off and get to the bottom of the murder.

I love crafting cozies, so I thought this book would be right up my alley. However, I had a hard time getting into the story and I think that is because Sammy doesn’t have much of a connection with the victim, Ingrid. Because of this, I found it hard to believe that Sammy was willing to put herself at risk multiple times to find out who the killer was. I didn’t really get into the story until around halfway through when her sister and cousin became more involved. I really like how they work as a team and seeing how they play off each other as friends and family as well as fellow amateur sleuths.

While I had a hard time getting into the story, there are things that I liked from the start. For example, I love that Sammy and the people she’s close to are very family oriented. They’re the type of people who are close as family as well as close enough with friends that those friends are like family. Even Sammy’s reason for keeping the Community Craft shop going is in the same bracket. The shop was her best friend’s passion for crafting come to life in a way that brings people together, and Sammy wants to keep it alive as well as the memory of her dear friend.

I love crafting, so I enjoyed seeing various people come together at Sammy’s shop as well as seeing Sammy work on the shop and what’s popular with its customers behind the scenes. I hope to see crafts make a bigger splash at some point as the series continues. It’s always fun to imagine what the characters are making and what their inspiration behind their projects are.

The mystery itself was semi-interesting. I found myself more interested in who Ingrid was and the secrets that were being discovered than I was in the murder mystery. I think that Quinn did a good job revealing bits about Ingrid in a way that made it seem like her life was the real mystery. That really caught my attention and I really enjoyed how she demonstrated that several people were holding their cards very close to their chest. I am looking forward to seeing how the series develops as more installments come out.

Aru Shah and the End of Time (Pandava Quartet #1) by Roshani Chokshi

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

My Rating: ★★★★★

Aru Shah has never fit in with her classmates. She makes up elaborate stories about her family and their extravagant trips in an attempt to fit in with all the rich kids at her school. One day, those stories finally catch up with Aru when three classmates corner her at home, which just happens to be the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture. Dared to prove that her stories are real, she gets pushed into lighting the cursed Lamp of Bharata unless she wants her lies to be exposed for all to see. To everyone’s surprise, the lamp really is cursed, and Aru has to race to save everyone from the evil man, the Sleeper, that she just released into the world.

I absolutely love this book. It’s a hilarious and heartwarming story that had me glued from start to finish. The book ties Hindu mythology into the plot, which is wonderful. I knew a little bit about Hindu mythology before I started the book, but I learned a lot more as the story continued and I googled anything I didn’t know beforehand. There’s also a glossary at the end for anyone who needs it as they read.

The story follows two 12-year-old girls, Aru and Mini. Aru is a self-conscious kid who wants to fit in but has always found herself on the outside. Even at home, her mom seems to always have her mind on something else. In fact, her mom never even told her about her destiny. When Aru accidentally releases the Sleeper, she discovers that she’s one of the legendary Pandava brothers who have been reincarnated to save the world from the Sleeper in this lifetime. While she’s self-conscious, she has a heart of gold and she’s got a sense of humor that can make anyone laugh until they cry. Aru is friendly, witty, and strong, but she doesn’t realize it yet because she’s a pre-teen on the cusp of figuring out who she is.

On the flip side, we have Mini, who is Aru’s soul sister and also one of the Pandava brothers reincarnated. Mini is self-conscious, but she’s smart, kind, and worries a lot. She grew up believing that she’d never be a heroine while aware of the secret world that most people have no idea really exists. Mini is ready to embrace her destiny as soon as she becomes aware of who she is and what she’s meant to do, but she’s also hilarious and worried about all the mundane things that might kill her. One of my favorite lines is from Mini shortly after she meets Aru:

“I hope you don’t have a bee allergy. I only have one EpiPen. But I guess we could share? I’ll stab you, you stab me?”

Mini means well, but she might spook you with the different ailments that one can contract. I love how much she and Aru grow to support each other in the short amount of time they are together on their first big adventure. They quickly embrace each other and become fast friends in addition to soul family.

I also loved the pacing of the story. I felt like I was in the story with the characters and was just as surprised when a day or two passed without Aru and Mini realizing it. My only complaint is that there are moments where Aru and Mini seem like they’re at least 16-years-old rather than two 12-year-olds, but I’ll live. I’ll chalk that up to them being a little ahead of their time at various moments thanks to their first great adventure. I will definitely be back for the second book!

P.S. I Miss You by Jen Petro-Roy

P.S. I Miss You by Jen Petro-Roy

My Rating: ★★★★

Evie’s parents are strict Catholics and they find it highly embarrassing that their oldest daughter, Cilla, is pregnant out of wedlock. After several fights, Cilla finally agrees to move out, put the baby up for adoption once they’re born, and enter an all girls Catholic private school. Upset that she didn’t even get to say goodbye, Evie starts writing her big sister letters every day and doesn’t get a single letter in return. As the new school year starts, Evie begins to wish that Cilla was around more than ever as she tries to figure out her sexuality and what it means for her family. If her parents rejected Cilla as a sinner for getting pregnant, she can only imagine how her parents will react when they find out that she’s a lesbian.

This is an absolutely wonderful story that’s told through a series of letters that Evie writes to her older sister. We watch Evie struggle with loneliness after her biggest confidant and sister is sent away. Evie has friends, but there’s a hole in her life now that her sister is gone. She can’t visit or talk to her on the phone, but she can write letters, so that’s what she does. Petro-Roy truly captures how close siblings can be, and how it feels when they’re suddenly apart. Even when Evie was mad at Cilla, I could tell that she loved her far more than she was angry with her. I love that Evie also saw her sister as this cool person who is a bit of a role model because it’s so common for one to view an older sibling as really smart and cool.

As the book continues, Evie begins to realize that she’s never had a crush on a boy and that she feels something more than a friendship toward her new friend, June. I’m glad that this book exists because I think it’ll help kids realizing that they’re not straight become aware that there are others going through the same things that they are. As readers, we like to see bits of ourselves appear in what we read because it’s relatable, so it’s important that LGBT characters are brought to life in books geared toward middle schoolers and young adults. It’s wonderful to see Evie go from concerned that there’s something wrong with her to realizing that there’s nothing wrong with her and that being a lesbian is normal. We also see her become afraid of what her parents might say or do if they knew based on how they reacted to Cilla’s pregnancy and how they respond to seeing gay couples. Whether or not they will accept her or send her away weighs on her mind, and she hopes to get advice from Cilla about what to do.

There are so many important themes and topics covered in a realistic way that I cannot praise it enough. Guilt and grief is present throughout the book. We see how several of the characters deal with guilt and grief in different ways as well as how their reactions affect one another. Secrets are a huge theme that becomes more apparent as the story continues. It’s really interesting to see why each character chose to keep their secrets. In Evie’s case, she’s afraid of how people will react when she tells them that she’s a lesbian, so it’s understandable as well as important that she share this part of herself on her own terms. Her parents keep secrets in an attempt to protect her, which appears to be a choice made out of grief and denial. Cilla kept secrets because she knew her parents would react badly about her pregnancy let alone her decision to have premarital sex.

This is such a wonderful book. I highly recommend it and I will definitely keep an eye out for future books by this author.

Catch Me if Yukon (Passport to Peril #12) by Maddy Hunter

Catch Me if Yukon by Maddy Hunter
My Rating: ★★★★

I received a copy from Midnight Ink through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Emily and her husband have taken their group of world traveling seniors and a small book club to Alaska where they’re sure everyone will survive the trip. After whale watching goes well, the trip quickly takes a turn when a tour member is murdered on a hiking trail. Once it appears that Emily’s father caught the legendary Big Foot on film, everyone questions whether or not it was Big Foot or a member of the tour that murdered their fellow traveler. Emily believes that Big Foot is just a legend, but is it possible that he really exists and attacked a poor unsuspecting hiker? Watch Emily slowly unravel the mystery in the latest installment of this hilarious series!

I am so excited about this installment. Big Foot? Sign me up! Being introduced to this series is probably one of the best things that’s happened because it’s such a fun and heartfelt series that’s also unbelievably hilarious. Just when you think Maddy Hunter has done it all, she brings us another entertaining installment that will leave you in stitches.

This time around, Emily’s parents are traveling with her and her group of regulars as well as the new characters that are a part of a book club. Emily’s mom, Margaret, is usually a bit irritating but she wasn’t so bad this time around. She also has one of the best lines in the novel:

“It’s Bob’s creature. It’s gone on a killing spree!” – Chapter 8

I always love Emily’s father, Bob, and that didn’t change this time around. In fact, he’s a man of little words, but this is probably the most he’s spoken during the series. The regulars are back and continuing their shenanigans with taking pictures and trying to get the most social media hits. I love that something always happens to Bernice. This time around, she gets ignored and has one of her social media posts mistaken as something that Bob posted.

I also love that Big Foot is a mysterious addition to the book. Bob accidentally caught what appears to be Big Foot, or a funny looking tree, in one of his photos, which causes a media frenzy. No one knows if Big Foot is really in the photo, especially because Big Foot has never been confirmed to exist. So many people are questioning their existence, if they killed a member of their tour, and if it was really just a funny looking tree or a wild animal caught in the photo. Funnily enough, who or what Bob caught on camera is confirmed at some point during the book and I love it.

While many of the books in the series can be read in any order, I think this one might be a little harder for people new to the series to follow because of the amount of characters. There are the regulars that are in each book, Emily’s parents, the book club, a tour guide, a bus driver, two detectives, and the unseen spouses of two members of the book club. Plus, there’s Jackie via phone and the members of her tour. I think that it’s easier for fans of the series to follow because we already know the characters that have appeared in past installments, so the new characters are easier to recognize and put a name to. If this was the first book that I ever read from the series, I would’ve had a hard time following along because of the amount of characters. As someone who occasionally starts a series by picking up a random installment, I think that anyone who chooses to start with this book will have a hard time following along.

That said, I cannot recommend this book enough. It’s fun, heartwarming, and bound to make you laugh several times. Emily didn’t do as much investigating as she usually does, but it was still fun to see her come to her own conclusions, which are always wrong. I didn’t figure out who the killer was until it was right in my face, just like Emily. The signs were there but I didn’t put two and two together! Instead, I developed a crack theory of sorts toward the end that was totally wrong. Emily and I were in the same boat on that front! As always, I can’t wait until the next installment.

Engaged in Danger (Jamie Quinn Mystery #4) by Barbara Venkataraman

Engaged in Danger by Barbara Venkataraman

My Rating: ★★★★

Jamie Quinn is just getting comfortable when life decides to kick up some dust. Her loving boyfriend, Kip, is taking off to Australia to save and preserve northern hairy-nosed wombats for three months. Plus, she gets in a fight with her best friend right as they team up on a huge and difficult divorce case. To top things off, someone is trying to sabotage her, a small case she took as a favor is blowing up, and someone just tried to frame her for murder. Just when she thinks that things can’t get any crazier, she falls straight into a trap when all she wants to do is get to the bottom of her two biggest cases and make up with her bestie.

One of the things that I love about this series is that there are multiple mysteries occurring at once. This time around, Jamie is working on a major divorce case involving a threatening man. Plus, she’s helping her neighbors find the info they need so that they can start a case against whoever is at fault for a plane crash, which soon becomes a much bigger case than anyone realized. These books always involve her work mysteries and personal mysteries, first with Jamie’s father and now with her lovely neighbors. It’s an extra touch that I love. I look forward to seeing how these dual mysteries continue to present themselves as the series continues. 

Plus, it was fun seeing this great cast of characters return for another installment. Jamie is such a fun character. She doesn’t like conflict, which makes her a reluctant lawyer, and she’s got a big heart that she wears on her sleeve. Jamie can also be a bit lippy about dating, which gets her in trouble with her best friend, Grace. I also enjoyed seeing Duke again. Not only is hilarious, but he has a great name. Marmaduke! I always enjoy the banter that goes on between him and Jamie and seeing what kind of shenanigans he will get up to. I also love Jamie’s cousin, Adam. He’s such a wonderful character and I love seeing him again.

While I love Kip, we didn’t see him much this time around as he was in Australia for majority of the book. Maybe next time, Kip! I also love Grace, but I’ve come to realize that she’s a bit immature in regards to her romantic relationships. Between Grace viewing her boyfriends through rose tinted shades and Jamie’s strong opinions on said boyfriends, the two are always at odds about dating. I couldn’t believe how immature Grace was this time around. She was working on a huge case with Jamie all while refusing to communicate with her unless by e-mail through her assistant. While Jamie could zip it up a little, even about Grace’s exes, I think Grace has some growing to do.

I haven’t covered all of the characters, but all of them, including the new ones, were fun to see as the story unfolded. I’m excited to see where Jamie and the rest of the characters will go from here. I’m hoping that we can see Jamie’s father in the near future. My fingers are crossed for the two of them!

Woven in Wire: Dimensional Wire Weaving in Fine Art Jewelry by Sarah Thompson

Woven in Wire: Dimensional Wire Weaving in Fine Art Jewelry by Sarah Thompson

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from F+W Media through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been making jewelry since I was a kid and I got into wire weaving after taking a class on wire weaving rings with my mom. I jump back into wire weaving on and off and mainly make rings and pendants, so I got excited when I saw this book. The cover is beautiful and I could tell that Sarah Thompson is very talented at what she does. Naturally, I was interested in what she has to say and what kind of wisdom she is sharing with everyone.

This book is more of a guide than a step by step book for beginners, which is cool because there are step by step instructions that slowly become more in depth as the projects and techniques become more complex. Thompson intends for this book to be a guide to help people new and old to wire weaving to learn or develop new techniques. In the process, we also get wonderful pictures of the beautiful pieces that she has created, which gives readers an idea of the kind of things that they can make as they become more experienced.

While the projects are not marked as beginner, intermediate, and advanced, it’s pretty easy to tell based on looking at the project and the graph that accompanies it. I think it’ll be pretty neat for people new to wire weaving to see and experience how simple it is to create items that appear a lot more complex than they are. This book is also great because Thompson covers all of the tools and other supplies that she uses, what they are for, and the pros and cons of the different types of wire that one can craft with. Not all of the tools are a must, but she explains what she recommends and what one might buy based on what they plan on making. I want to dig out my wire weaving supplies and get crafting after reading this book. I’ve never made a bracelet and I want to give it a go!

Tough Mothers: Amazing Stories of History’s Mightiest Matriarchs by Jason Porath

Tough Mothers: Amazing Stories of History’s Mightiest Matriarchs by Jason Porath

My Rating: ★★★★

When I heard that Jason Porath had another book coming out, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Tough Mothers, which focuses on badass mothers in history, is a bit different because it only includes women who were mothers and it does not include anyone whose existence cannot be confirmed. Like Rejected Princesses, Tough Mothers has color coded trigger warnings at the beginning of each chapter so readers can decide if they will be reading the chapter. Each chapter also lets you know if it has mature content in it so that people who are reading the book with their children can skip chapters based on their kid’s age groups.

Starting each chapter with beautiful artwork, Porath has done it again and provided a wonderful book that also serves as a starting for anyone looking to learn about badass women in history that they have not heard of. From there, one can do their own research and learn about these badass ladies. He also notes when there’s conflicting stories about the person in question and urges readers to continue their own research after putting down his book. As a history buff, I enjoy when he notes some of the reasons why rumors were spread about each person and why some may have been selected to record in history.

Porath’s is skilled at mixing history, humor, and imagery, which is a clever way to catch reader’s interest. I also like that he talks a bit about the inspiration behind the artwork at the very end of almost every chapter. As a former art major, it’s always interesting to read about what an artist drew from, and in this case, what artistic liberties he took and why.

The Impossible Girl by Lydia Kang

The Impossible Girl by Lydia Kang

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cora Lee is one of the top resurrectionists in New York. Anatomists are desperate for cadavers and are willing to pay a pretty penny for the newly dead. Living a double life, she scouts her latest specimens as Cora by day and digs their bodies up by night as her identical twin brother, Jacob. There’s more to her profitable job than just money. Cora has a secret: she was born with two hearts. She wants to make sure that her finger is on the latest gossip among the resurrectionists so that she knows when they’re looking for her. Sadly, that time has come. Someone is murdering people with medical anomalies and Cora’s now a wanted woman.

This is my second book from Lydia Kang and she is absolutely brilliant. One of the things that I liked about A Beautiful Poison is that it’s well researched, and The Impossible Girl is no different. It’s clear that Kang did a lot of research into the era and the history of resurrectionists, or grave robbers, early on. It really set the tone and helped me feel like I was right beside Cora as the story unfolded. There’s even an extra bit of info about the era and the inspiration behind the story at the end of the book, which I love.

The story and its characters are extremely compelling, which left me wishing that I could binge it every time I had to put the book down. Cora is such a complex character who is fun to follow. Born with two hearts, she was raised as Jacob until her caretakers decided it was time for her family to believe he died. Once they made the move, she took on a new life as a resurrectionist until she made enough money to retire, move, and start over. Living a double life, Cora is able to move through society as a man and a woman. I thought it was interesting that Cora preferred to live as Jacob, but I understood her reasons. As a woman, she’s expected to be light of heart, not have complex interests, and eventually settle down. As a man, she can express herself however she wants, is free to have complex interests, and freely move through town until there’s a price on her head. In the mid-1800s, I don’t blame her for preferring to move among society as Jacob.

There are many fascinating characters throughout the story. Dr. Blackwell is a character that I wish we saw more of because she’s a doctor in this era, which is frowned upon. I love how her relationship with Cora unfolds and how she eventually became immersed in her predicament. Cora’s cousin, Suzette Cutter, surprised me once we got to know her. Cora’s team of resurrectionists are a fun bunch who truly care for her as much as she cares for them. Then there’s Cora’s self-made family, Charlotte, Leah, and Alexander, who seemingly love her both too much and not enough in their own ways. There isn’t a single character that doesn’t leave an impression.

I cannot praise this book enough. It has fascinating characters, a compelling mystery, and an overall wonderful story that has left me a big fan. I’m a mystery buff and I love the way that Kang writes her mysteries. She stunned me with a major reveal yet again! I called some things and figured out some plot elements before they were fully revealed, but I definitely did not see the big twist coming. One of my favorite things to do is reread a story that left me blindsided, so I’m excited to reread this in the future.

Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3) by Rachel Hawkins

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

My Rating: ★★

It’s Sophie’s lucky day. The Prodigium Council has put a spell on her that prevents her from using magic right when she needs them the most. Sad, worn out, and defenseless, Sophie makes her way to the Brannicks so that she can meet up with her mother only to discover a lot more than she bargained for at this unconventional safe haven. You see, they think that Sophie is going to be one powerful and badass demon that will prevent all hell from breaking loose in the budding magical war. The only problem? She’s completely powerless… or is she?

I absolutely love this series, so it’s sad for me to say that this installment was a bit disappointing, especially when compared to the others. I still enjoyed the story; it just wasn’t as good as the others. Sophie’s sarcastic remarks seemed out of place for a good portion of the book because it was laid on a little too thick. I know that it’s how she protects herself while also being her go-to defense when she’s nervous, but it was just a bit too much this time around. She could’ve been a little more serious and thrown around less sarcastic remarks. The term “awesome” kept taking me straight of the story as well for some reason, but it might just be me.

There were some aspects of the story that were a little drawn out when it could’ve been shorter so that the battle to come could’ve been fleshed out more than it was. There were sections that went on for too long while important sections were condensed. I wish that there was more of a focus on the shorter but more important aspects of the story, but I’ll live. I also wish that the love triangle was resolved earlier in the book since it had already run its course by the end of the second installment.

That said, I did enjoy the story. I loved finally meeting the Brannicks and learning about their background as well as seeing some of unlikely characters joining forces for the greater good. It was interesting to see these characters interact with one another and seeing them struggle with their beliefs and what they know is the right thing. This installment also touched on more mythical aspects of the world Sophie lives in, so that was nice to see. The story is resolved by the end, but I do see that there’s one more installment, so I am interested in seeing how that plays out.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

My Rating: ★★★★

Tristran Thorn lives in Wall, which is a small town where he’s lived his life as the odd one out. He doesn’t mind since it’s all he’s ever known. One day, Tristran works up the nerve to ask the woman of his dreams to marry him. This young lady is not interested in him, but she does jokingly take him up on his offer to marry him if he brings her back the star they watched fall from the sky. It is this moment that sends him on the journey he was destined to take past the stone wall into a land full of magic in wonder. It is here where he discovers himself and falls in love with a fallen star.

I saw the movie adaptation for the first time not long ago. One of my friends told me that it’s based on a book and I knew I had to check it out. I absolutely loved it! It’s rare for me to like a movie adaptation more than the book it’s based on, but the book is just as lovely but somehow just a smidge less magical. That said, the book does contain different magical elements that was fun to read as Tristran traveled. It’s also a little darker than the movie, which is pretty interesting but not surprising since it is a Neil Gaiman story.

I loved following Tristran on his journey and watch him grow as a person. He starts out as a stubborn but caring young man who is blinded by what he desires, which is how he ends up taking off to find a fallen star. By the end, he is a solid man whose eyes have been opened about the world as well as who he is and how his actions can impact others. I also loved Yvaine, the fallen star, who is outspoken, kind, funny, and an all-around delightful character. She’s also different from her movie counterpart because she’s a lot worldlier and is aware of what being knocked out of the sky means.

It was also interesting seeing all the magical creatures and elements once Tristran left Wall. There were magical animals, many different mystical beings, and of course, witches. Tristran himself is a mystical being, so it was fun to see him come into his own and unknowingly embrace parts of himself that he didn’t know existed. All in all, it’s a wonderful book and I highly recommend checking it out.

Poison Study (Poison Study #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

My Rating: ★★★★★

On the day of her execution, Yelena is offered a second chance at life: she can either become the Commander of Ixia’s food taster and live on borrowed time or get on with the execution as scheduled. After deciding to become a food taster, she undergoes training and quickly discovers that being poisoned by food meant to kill the Commander is the least of her worries. She has powerful enemies with seemingly endless resources and they are hell-bent on making sure she dies. Just when she thinks her plate is full, she becomes aware of her growing magical abilities, which wouldn’t be a problem if it wasn’t an offense punishable by death in Ixia.

I first read this series about a decade ago and I love it now as much as I did back when I first discovered it. The story drew me in as much as it did a back when I first read it and I can honestly say that this book has aged well. Yelena is such a wonderful character with a horrible past that we slowly learn as the story unfolds. She’s a survivor who is quick on her feet, selfless, and fiercely loyal to those who earn her trust. While her decisions don’t always make sense, she usually means well and any negative actions weigh heavily on her mind even if she did what she had to so she can continue to survive.

In addition to Yelena, there’s an array of wonderful characters that I loved seeing again. It was fun to revisit Valek with a new perspective many years after I last read the series. Then there’s the loyal, hilarious, and rambunctious duo, Janco and Ari. I always thought I’d be friends with them if they were real people. There are quite a few characters that I looked forward to seeing again as well, such as Maren, Irys, and Commander Ambrose. It’s lovely how even the minor characters have layers that are peeled away as the story continues. There are so many characters that are truly a delight that I think everyone can find at least one to love.

The way that the magical aspect of this world slowly unfolds is also interesting. At first, we learn why Commander Ambrose outlawed magic. As the story continues, we see signs of magic and encounter magicians on opposite sides of the spectrum. Plus, there are signs that Yelena possesses at least some magic abilities that become increasingly noticeable as time goes on. I look forward to continuing my reread and checking out the newer books in the series that came out some time later.

Sheets by Brenna Thummler

Sheets by Brenna Thummler

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Diamond Book Distributors through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Marjorie feels invisible. Since her mom died, she’s been in charge of the family business while her dad is depressed and in seclusion upstairs. At home, she faces an array of customers including a few vicious ones and a man who is trying to sabotage her family’s business. At school, she’s lonely and often the target of a few mean girls. Feeling out of place in life, a ghost named Wendell makes his way into her home. After accidentally causing more harm than good, he quickly becomes close with Marjorie and makes her feel like she’s not alone.

This is such a sweet and heartwarming story about a girl trying to find her place in the world while Marjorie mourns her mother. There’s depression, loneliness, difficulty finding your place in school, being targeted by classmates, and working hard all while not seeing results. These are all realistic things that occur every day, and we watch her and her family go through them as the light finally starts to shine through at the end of the tunnel. Not only does Marjorie befriend ghosts, but the people around her start to show support in their own ways. It’s light enough that it still makes a great story for kids, but heavy enough that it’s meaningful for all age groups who read it.

I love the way the ghost world is presented. All ghosts are sheets and they have a whole world with rules, support meetings, and various activities and jobs that are different but similar to the living world. I also love the way that the world of the living and the dead come together to help and befriend one another. It is such a beautiful story combined with gorgeous artwork that I can see people from all age groups loving it.

The One Hundred Nights of Hero (Early Earth #2) by Isabel Greenberg

The One Hundred Nights of Hero by Isabel Greenberg

My Rating: ★★★★★

In the Empire of Migdal Bavel, there is a woman named Cherry who lives with her maid and love of her life, Hero. Together, the pair concocts a plan to outwit Cherry’s husband, Jerome, and his friend, Manfred. You see, Jerome has challenged his good friend. If Manfred can seduce Cherry in 100 nights, he can have Jerome’s castle, so Hero distracts him by telling gripping tales each night.

This is such a beautiful book full of tales and women empowering women. Between the artwork and the stories, I was sad whenever I had to put the book down because I just wanted to keep reading. Each story was wonderful and compelling as well as detailing women standing together, sharing stories, and helping each other. Even when these characters stood against each other, it was fun to see the narrator note that she didn’t like telling stories where women were against each other, but it is how the story unfolded. It’s such a compelling book that made me feel like I’ve been inducted into The League of Secret Story Tellers. I don’t want to say too much because I’m afraid I might spoil the story, but know that I’m raving about it.

Demonglass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

My Rating: ★★★

Sophie Mercer’s magic always goes haywire, but at least she means well and often uses it to help other people. Imagine her surprise when a magic spell gone wrong at prom leads to her being sent to the magical version of juvie if it was a boarding school. It’s even more surprising when she found out that she’s not a witch like she always thought, but instead a third generation demon. Afraid of hurting others, she decides to go through a ritual that will strip all magic from her very core, which takes her to England with her dad for the summer. Her dad is hell-bent on changing her mind, so he convinces her to agree to think about it so she can learn about what it really means to be a demon. It’s there that she learns the truth about her family, including things not even her father knew, and her world is turned upside down yet again.

I love these books. Is it full of clichés and stereotypes? Yes. Is there a love triangle? Yes. However, that doesn’t stop me from loving them. Hex Hall was such a fun read that I knew I had to continue with the series. If you can look past the clichés, high school stereotypes, and the love triangle, you’ll discover that it’s an entertaining series. The clichés and the love triangle can get old real quick, but I love the characters and the story itself.

Sophie is a teenager who has spent her life constantly moving around with her mom and knowing that people finding out what she was could be bad news. She’s also lonely and uses sarcasm as a shield. Once someone burrows their way into Sophie’s heart, they discover that she’s a secret softy and extremely loyal. Sophie may be naive and make some questionable choices, but she has a heart of gold and is fun to follow. I also enjoy reading about her close friend, Jenna. She’s well written, fun, and can be a voice of reason when Sophie is running amok. I also enjoyed learning more about Cal, Sophie’s father, and the magical world as a whole.

The story itself is extremely entertaining. I found myself having a hard time putting this book down. I loved reading about the magical world as Sophie learned more about it. There are all kinds of different magical beings who pop in and out, which helps flesh out the world that Sophie lives in. This time around, we learn a lot more about demons and why there are so few of them. Plus, Sophie and her friends are hilarious. The banter between them never fails to crack me up. It makes for a perfect light read, and I can’t wait to read the next installment.

The Boy on the Bridge (The Girl With All the Gifts #2) by M.R. Carey

The Boy on the Bridge by M.R. Carey

My Rating: ★

I absolutely love The Girl With All the Gifts. It’s such a fresh and compelling take on the zombie genre. Naturally, I was excited about finally reading the second and final book in the series. Sadly, it was a miss for me. Its saving grace is the epilogue, but even that cannot save this lackluster prequel.

The prequel takes place on the Rosalind Franklin (Rosie), which is the special tank, RV, and lab that was seemingly lost to time and shrouded in mystery when it was discovered in The Girl With All the Gifts. We follow the lives of a group of scientists and military personnel who were specially selected and sent out to collect and study samples from the “hungries” a decade into the zombie apocalypse. Living in close confinement for several months, the crew of the Rosie is pushed to their limits before things start to go south, which is where the story begins.

Unfortunately, lightening does not strike twice with this prequel. One of the main problems is that there’s a classic stereotypical mystical autistic character, Stephen Greaves. He’s the smartest person present on Rosie. At some point he was actually fixing a part of Rosie based on a manual he once read and some questionable instructions from another character. Not only did he fix it, but he fixed it so fast that he had plenty of time to collect samples and return before anyone knew he was up to something. Stephen is a scientist, mechanic, midwife… you name it and he’s probably it.

The other problem is that so much of what goes on doesn’t make sense for a group of highly intelligent characters living in a small space. So much could’ve been prevented by simply communicating with one another. Plus, everyone but Stephen is unbelievably unobservant. I find it hard to believe that so much would go unnoticed, especially in such a small living and working space. I believe that they would get on each other’s nerves, grow sick of one another, and start fighting over petty things. What actually occurs doesn’t even make sense for these characters.

There are some good things about this story, such as the group of second generation hungries. The story expands on the social structure, how they operate, and how they are also friends and family rather than a random cluster of zombie kids on the move. However, it was slow going and I wish that Carey devoted more time to this since we were revisiting the second generation. It would’ve been interesting to have a couple chapters from the perspective of one of these kids.

I also enjoyed the epilogue, which sends us twenty years into the future, and let me know the fate of some of the surviving characters I grew to love in both installments of the series. Again, I wish that we could’ve seen how the second generation hungries, who are a combination of human and zombie, evolved over time. I’ll settle for the epilogue, which gives us a glimpse of how both species of humanity have survived and evolved over twenty years.

A Body in the Trunk (Myrtle Clover Mysteries #12) by Elizabeth Spann Craig

A Body in the Trunk by Elizabeth Spann Craig

My Rating: ★★★★

When one of Myrtle’s neighbors goes missing, she’s quick to aid his distraught wife in the search only to find him dead in the trunk of his car. With a new murderer on her hands, Myrtle and Miles investigate the life and death of their late neighbor and follow the clues the killer has left behind. Before they know it, the killer strikes again, pushing the duo to hurry up and find the murderer before he or she targets another poor soul.

I love this series. Myrtle’s antics never fail to make me laugh. Plus, the great cast of characters that make up her small town have been hilarious since the moment I started this series some time ago. We have Myrtle’s son, who irritates her more than usual because he thinks she’s having money troubles. Erma and her never ending ailments never fail to make me laugh, especially because she reminds me of my younger brother. Miles cousin and resident psychic, Wanda, is always a great addition. I love that she has been featured much more than I ever thought she would when I first started the series. There are so many wonderful characters in this book that I could go on about them for some time. They’re such a fun and goofy cast that I’ll miss when the series eventually comes to an end.

In addition to the characters, I love Myrtle’s hilariously large gnome collection that takes over her lawn every time she’s irritated with Red. It’s even more fun now that her gnome collection has been spruced up by some questionable gardening in another one of her daughter-in-law’s new hobbies. I think it’s wonderful that the gnomes have been getting some extra love in the last few novels. I wouldn’t mind if she had another temporary art installation done with them in the future.

The mystery itself was another good one. I figured out who it was around halfway through the book, which didn’t take away from the story. It was still interesting to watch Myrtle and her sometimes reluctant sleuthing partner, Miles, investigate as well as continuing to live their lives. They have such a wonderful friendship and Miles tries his best to hold Myrtle back when he can. I like that we visit characters and locations that we see in past novels as well as slowly venture into different areas of Myrtles life as the series continues. I can’t wait to read the next installment when it drops!

Murder on the Green by H.V. Coombs

Murder on the Green by H.V. Coombs

My Rating: ★★★★

I received a copy from Avon Books UK through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ben Hunter is running himself down while running his restaurant when he gets a surprise offer from a celebrity chef, Justin McCleish. Justin wants to hire Ben to join his temporary kitchen at the local opera festival only to reveal that he really wants to hire Ben as his muscle. You see, Justin is being blackmailed and word is that Ben will find the blackmailer and put the hurt on them for a price. Disappointed, Ben takes the offer because the money is good without the intention of roughing anyone up. As he looks into the blackmailer, it quickly goes from blackmail to murder, throwing him into the arms of danger.

Coombs brings us a variety of characters that are interesting to meet and follow throughout his story. Ben is an interesting character that I wasn’t sure if I was going to like at first. He’s stubborn and very stuck in his ways, but he’s also activity working to make positive changes. The main thing that he’s working on is his anger management issues, which we watch him struggle with on and off throughout the book. It’s also the main reason why he is disappointed in the real reason Justin approached him. Ben’s staff is wonderful and caring, and then there’s Justin’s staff, which are each complex once Ben digs below the surface. I also loved meeting many of the characters that pop in and out of the story, like the coven of witches and Slattery.

The mystery is an entertaining one as well. What starts out as a simple case of blackmail quickly turns into a murder mystery, which then transforms into yet another mystery that throws Ben through a loop. It was so much fun watching the twists and turns unfold as well as how the characters deal with it. Every time Ben thinks he’s got a handle on things, something new gets tossed his way and we get to watch him hunt down new leads and come up with theories.

My only complaint is that there are a few passages that reference something that occurred in the past. These passages made it seem like there was a previous book rather than something that is just backstory to these characters. It was enough to make me check to see if there was a previous book because I seriously questioned whether or not I accidentally started on the second in a series. All in all, it’s a funny and entertaining book that takes on some serious subjects in addition to the murder, such as drug abuse and physical violence. If this is something up your alley, I highly recommend picking up this book.

Spell on Wheels, Vol. 1 (Spell on Wheels) by Kate Leth, Megan Levens, Marissa Louise, Jen Bartel, Nate Piekos

Spell on Wheels, Vol. 1 by Kate Leth, Megan Levens, Marissa Louise, Jen Bartel, Nate Piekos

My Rating: ★★★★★

When Andy, Jolene, and Claire’s place is broken into by a jealous ex who is being aided by an unknown powerful entity, the three witchy friends embark on a magical road trip to retrieve their belongings and face off with those who wronged them. We learn about the trio, their relationship with one another, and their magical abilities as we follow them on their journey. Along the way, we meet a variety of interesting characters who unknowingly purchased their stolen goods and learn more about the magical world.

I was excited to finally start reading this graphic novel and it did not disappoint! I loved the three main characters, Andy, Jolene, and Claire, as well as learning about how they became friends and their magical abilities. It was so much fun following them as they used their abilities to track their stolen items and get closer to cornering Claire’s foul and jealous ex. Not only are the main characters fun and interesting, but the people they meet along the way are as well. I love that each person they tracked down were full of surprises as well as unique and memorable. I’m excited to hopefully meet at least one of these characters again in future volumes, should there be any.

It’s also wonderful that the cast of characters introduce us to a variety of people from different walks of life. There are LGBT relationships, mystical beings, supportive friendships, and members of the occult. I love that the story reflects reality because there have been so many cases of all white stories when that’s just not the way life works, so it’s a huge plus when stories include people of color and that they aren’t stereotypes. There’s also feminist themes, a lot of humor, and it really takes a dig at emotionally abusive relationship and supports positive relationships.

Plus, the artwork is absolutely stunning. Every single panel is gorgeous and I loved looking at the sketches and concept art featured at the end of the volume. It was a joy to admire.

Say No Moor (Passport to Peril #11) by Maddy Hunter

Say No Moor by Maddy Hunter

My Rating: ★★★★★

In an attempt to expand the client list for their travel agency, Emily and her husband offer big discounts to the bloggers who travel with them to Cornwall, England. The only thing the bloggers have to do is cover their travels on their respective blogs. Emily hopes this will be the trip that will go off without a hitch, but things quickly go awry when two of the bloggers bump heads, a pipe bursts at the inn, and someone gets murdered all on the first day of the trip. Stressed about the blogger’s coverage of their trip, Emily strives to make everything right when she’s suddenly expected to run the inn and one of the travelers go missing.

While Emily and the gang are in England, they spend most of their time at the inn with some exploring and touring thrown in. I promise you that it is the furthest thing from boring. I found myself laughing so hard that I had to put my book down and dab my eyes with tissue. Hunter did it again and busted out yet another hilarious installment. The entertaining cast of characters worked well with the new characters that popped in and out throughout the story. I loved the interactions we got between the bloggers, although we seemed to only see a couple of them most of the time. It was a fun new addition to the cast of usual characters.

Speaking of the bloggers, I wish that we saw a little more of them than we did. Only three of the bloggers were distinctive and had their roles in the story expanded. The others popped their heads in every so often and that was that. I know that it’s likely these aren’t characters we’ll see again in the future, but I wish we saw a little more of the ones who were barely there because they didn’t make much of an impression on me. However, I think I’ll be okay with it because Jackie was featured a lot more than usual and I loved it. She’s one of my favorite characters, so I’m always excited when she appears.

I will say that the murder mystery is a secondary storyline, but that doesn’t bother me. I was having so much fun reading the series of hilarious events unfold that it doesn’t seem farfetched for the mystery to be secondary. We have the bloggers and the shenanigans going on between two of them, a theft, natural disasters, Emily and Wally having to man the inn, and nana showing off her cooking skills. Plus, one of the regulars goes missing, which adds yet another crisis to the mix.

All in all, Hunter does not disappoint. This is yet another sidesplitting installment that did not fail to entertain. It’s action packed, fun, and heartwarming. I’m looking forward to the next book!