Reading: OCEAN MEETS SKY - Terry Fan & Eric Fan/The Fan Brothers

Prose (Story): Finn is a young boy who's always loved and lived by the sea, where his beloved grandfather always told him many stories ... and of the place where the ocean meets the sky. With his grandpa passed on now, stories are all Finn has left - until he decides, one beautiful sunny day, to build a boat and honor his incredible grandfather by setting out to find where ocean meets sky himself.

Don's (Thoughts): This was my introduction to the Fan Brothers, and I can't believe it took me this long to find them. The story here - of a boy finding peace after the death of his much-loved grandpa - is simple yet deeply felt in Finn's need to find closure. But wowsy-WOW the illustrations here - the genuine, frame-able artwork that is nearly every page of this brilliant picture book, is what will keep both kids and adults going back to read it over and over again. The colors, intricate detail, even imagination put into each rendering of Finn's journey is breathtaking, and after reading it once I went back a second and third time just to really look at every wave of the sea, creature Finn meets, even the wonderful library island of books (not to mention some things the brothers drop in, here and there, I hadn't caught the first time around). The sweet/bittersweet ending might go over the heads of some younger children, but is equally charming and lovely as the book itself. Can't wait to dive into more of the genuine art the brothers Fan so loving create. 5/5 stars

Reading: OLLIE'S BACKPACK - Riya Aarini (author), Virvalle Carvallo (illustrator)

Ollie is a happy school kid with a vivid imagination, who carries his trusty backpack with him all the time. The backpack is as light and carefree as Ollie is, until a bad day at and after school finds the young boy tossing extras into it (a paper with a bad grade, an extra granola bar his classmate turned down, a wheel broken off his bike, a dried-up sunflower he'd been trying to grow) - each item metaphorically representing a burden - a letdown - Ollie has taken on his own shoulders emotionally. Even a singing trophy he's just won - great news! -- still only weighs down his already overburdened backpack, and when Ollie finally rests under the shade of a huge tree, his backpack so heavy now he needs a breather, it's there the frowning kid gets his sunshine back, when he learns that sometimes you just have to let things go (both physically and emotionally) - even find the right place for the good things, like a shiny new trophy - if you want to keep your load (and step) light. It's a big, kind of heady topic for a picture book for early readers, but author Riya Aarini and illustrator Virvalle Carvallo create a wonderful, upbeat spirit in Ollie and his world via colorful, lively illustrations and talking animals and trees that help steer Ollie in the right direction. While some parents might feel the message a bit over the heads of real young kids, the fact Aarini doesn't talk down to her readers makes the book perfect for parents and their children to interact and discuss the message of knowing when to release life's burdens that lies within these pages. (Available July 12)  3.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: THE ODDMIRE, BOOK 2: THE UNREADY QUEEN - William Ritter

Possibly the best gratification you can get, when reading the sequel/second-in-a-series to a good book, is when the sequel actually surpasses the original. My fanboy-ship of William Ritter's work began with Jackaby - to this day in my top-five YA books of all time - and from that series alone Ritter became one of my few auto-buy authors. When I read The Oddmire, Book 1: The Changeling - his middle-grade novel featuring trolls, goblins, pixies and the Wild Wood's mysterious Queen of the Deep Dark (among other creatures, and humans) - I found myself completely caught up in the story of twin brothers Cole and Tinn, and their quest to find out which of them was a genuine human boy and which had been born a goblin. Very well-written, full of action and suspense, and characters (human and otherwise) you really care about ... and this follow-up, in which the young brothers try to help their friend Fable - daughter of the Queen of the Deep Dark, unsure of her own future abilities to rule - when a very bad guy with an even worse agenda seeks to start a war between the simple townsfolk of Endsborough and the creatures of magic that inhabit the bordering Wild Wood. Good as book one was, book two really expands on story, characters, and the world-building of both the human and creature realms. Tinn, Cole, their mom Annie, Fable, even the Queen have all grown since their previous adventure, even as the kids still put doing what they feel is right over listening to their mothers, all as Fable tries to find where - if anywhere - she fits into it all (truly a wonderfully funny, humane character ... especially for a future queen). We also meet new friends and new enemies, (the lines sometimes blurring between which is which), and as battle lines are drawn the reader will find affection for members of both sides, making for an even more tense final confrontation. William Ritter is terrific; never more so than in this fast-moving, action-packed tale that also tackles the meaning of friends and family - and those who become both. A wonderful sequel, better than its predecessor, and this reader couldn't be more tickled that a hint of book three even popped up by The End.  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

May/June Wrap-Ups: On the Road Again

Apologies that it's been a hot minute since I did a wrap-up, but was without a laptop for over six weeks, during which everything from updating my blog to being able to apply for work pretty much put a big chunk of my life on hold (as if COVID-19 wasn't enough). Back up and running - to a degree - as you can probably notice by a handful of new reviews (expect more in coming days), but it's been a real slog.

May SUCKED, reading-wise; only four books (three of them for kids) because the month was nothing but a mess of turmoil and ... honestly, depression. Home, work, health situations; it was a month where pretty much nothing went right, and I was glad to see it go (although the mystery novel I finished was a corker and I hope to see more in that series; check out my My Fair Latte review!)

June? Better. With the help of some truly beautiful, generous friends I was able to get my head on straighter, lessening the stress that heightened the health issues, and also monetarily held a "fundraiser" of sorts to pull me out of this black hole - which also helped a bit, thanks to some amazing people who did everything from send encouraging words to PayPal-ing their support/belief in me. It continues to be genuinely humbling.

Reading-wise? MUCH better! Read what is so far my favorite read of the year (The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires), a mystery whose thrilling ending made up for an "okay" middle (The Guest List), a cozy mystery with more depth and pathos than you'd normally find in a cozy (Game of Dog Bones), and a coming out story about a teenage girl with so much heart, it ended up one of the best middle-grade novels I've read since my own childhood (In the Role of Brie Hutchens). Any reviews you don't see for these titles, check back; will be up shortly (and click on either image to enlarge, if needed)!

Also finally got back into the movie game in June as well, thanks to a 7-day free trial of Disney+ - again, reviews to come - also on Netflix watched all 12 episode (about a half-hour each) of a very intriguing Japanese TV drama called "Erased", about a pizza delivery guy who can briefly go back in time to right wrongs ... but must do more than that to change things when his own mother is murdered. Again, reviews to come with all.

July is off to an okay start (think I have a work-from-home job that starts 3 August!), except somehow with next to no money I have to find a new place to live by the end of the month. Considering all options, while trying not to consider the ones the depression side of my mind sometimes dwells on. All I can say is ... never trust anyone, even family. Especially family.

But if it all works out, hopefully will see you again in about a month. Still trying to fundraise my way to getting life back on track, just asking $5-$10 each from anyone who can help, via PayPal at showbizbuff@gmail.com if you are so inclined!

If not, no worries - am just glad you are here and care enough about what I write, read, and watch to come back. Here's to July!

Out Now from Carina Adores: JUST LIKE THAT by Cole McCade!

Summer Hemlock never meant to come back to Omen, Massachusetts.

But with his mother in need of help, Summer has no choice but to return to his hometown, take up a teaching residency at the Albin Academy boarding school—and work directly under the man who made his teenage years miserable.

Professor Fox Iseya.

Forbidding, aloof, commanding: psychology instructor Iseya is a cipher who’s always fascinated and intimidated shy, anxious Summer. But that fascination turns into something more when the older man challenges Summer to be brave. What starts as a daily game to reward Summer with a kiss for every obstacle overcome turns passionate, and a professional relationship turns quickly personal.

Yet Iseya’s walls of grief may be too high for someone like Summer to climb…until Summer’s infectious warmth shows Fox everything he’s been missing in life.

Now both men must be brave enough to trust each other, to take that leap.

To find the love they’ve always needed…

Just like that.

In Just Like That, critically acclaimed author Cole McCade introduces us to Albin Academy: a private boys’ school where some of the world’s richest families send their problem children to learn discipline and maturity, out of the public eye.

Reading: IN THE ROLE OF BRIE HUTCHENS - Nicole Melleby

(BLOG TOUR SPOTLIGHT)
Brie Hutchens - outspoken 13-year-old 8th-grade soap opera superfan  and actor wannabe, attending the small Our Lady of Perpetual Help in her New Jersey hometown - is nearly busted by her mother looking at racy photos of her favorite soap actress online. Only a huge lie - that Brie has been chosen to crown Mary at her school's upcoming May crowning - distracts the attention of her mom, a devout Catholic, just in time, but now it's up to Brie to make the lie true; not an easy task, especially when the honor goes to the student who writes the best essay, and Brie has never tried too hard at school. No, those kind of honors usually go to a super-student like the pretty and popular Kennedy Bishop, pretty much Brie's mortal enemy ... until Brie's recent realization that maybe she likes girls manifests in nothing less than an all-out crush on none other than Kennedy. Add to this Brie's determination to land a role in the 8th-grade play - her acting debut! - as well as audition for a performing arts high school her parents probably can't afford - and even for a stubborn, single-minded 13-year-old dealing with her new/confusing feelings and how they can co-exist with her devout mother and her own shaky faith, the rest of the school year seems determined to come packed with more drama than Brie's favorite soap. Not since Harriet the Spy when I was eleven years old (several decades ago) have I come across a middle-grade heroine worth rooting for more than the very average yet very special Brie Hutchens. This Own Voices novel about Brie's confusion, fears, and desires in coming out, trying to accept herself even as she worries about the reactions of her friends and family (especially her mom) while also dealing with her first crush, is poignant, at times both heartbreaking and funny but always exceptionally real. So much so, both young people struggling to come out/accept themselves and the parents raising them could equally benefit from this touching, funny, ultimately uplifting novel. An unexpected gem.  5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review

Reading: GAME OF DOG BONES - Laurien Berenson

Twenty-five books in, Laurien Berenson's Melanie Travis Canine Mysteries series remains as fresh as if this were book one, as Melanie's Aunt Peg - poodle breeder and all-around dog expert (though she sometimes comes off as an expert on pretty much anything) - is presented with the opportunity to act as a judge at no less than the Westminster Dog Show in New York City. Also in attendance, unfortunately, is Victor Durbin - possibly the most disliked poodle breeder on the entire east coast, and a longtime nemesis of Aunt Peg's who started his own club for poodle owners/breeders after being thrown out of the group he and Peg were in, due to questionable ethics. A con man, womanizer, and businessman with zero scruples or morals, it's almost no surprise when Victor shows up stabbed to death in a men's room at Madison Square Garden ... and when Aunt Peg virtually tops the list of suspects, it's up to Melanie to clear her name and find a killer not many people are all that anxious to find, Victor being such a scuzzball. Berenson opens this one with a great amount of info on Westminster, the epitome of dog shows, and how that show and the judging is done, but it never feels like an info dump as the facts are incorporated into the story in a way that's not just informative but will immediately draw in any dog lover. As always, once Melanie starts poking around readers are treated to a variety of potential suspects as Victor is proven to be an even more odious person than even Melanie at first thought, making her job as sleuth that much harder. It's a well-plotted, tightly-written, with Melanie and her family and friends coming fully to life on the page - but what blew this jaded reader away this time, more than anything, was the finale. Not only does the final confrontation play out perfectly on the page, full of suspense, wholly believable and without one word wasted, but the mystery's resolution comes with a surprising level of pathos and depth not usually associated with what we've come to think of as the "lighthearted" cozy. And boy, does it work well as a solution, delivering a true punch at the end. That said, this highly entertaining mystery also comes with its share of humor, light moments, and dogs - many dogs naturally - but the addition of the more complex solution, as well as a subplot involving a gay male couple (good friends of Melanie's and her family) and their upcoming wedding, truly gives Game of Dog Bones an unexpected level of resonance not often found in this genre.  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: ALONG THE TAPAJOS - Fernando Vilela (author), Daniel Hahn (translator)

Originally published in Brazil, this picture book is an intriguing, one-of-a-kind look at a pair of children - brother and sister Caua and Inae - whose town must evacuate when the rainy season arrives. Far from unusual, this is the norm here; the kids live with their parents right on the Tapajos River, where all the houses/buildings are on stilts and even a rides for supplies or to school are done in a boat - and the coming rains necessitate the move to higher ground until the season passes and the waters recede. This time out, however, the siblings realize - after the move - that they've left behind their pet tortoise Titi! Unlike turtles, tortoises cannot swim, so even though forbidden to go back, that night Caua and Inae sneak out under the cover of darkness to rescue their beloved friend. Along the Tapajos is a terrific glimpse into another lifestyle and culture that most children, especially in the States, would probably otherwise not be so readily exposed to, and for this reason alone it belongs in any kid's library. Better still, both story and pictures bring the "wow factor" necessary to draw any kid into this world - even not counting the idea of a pair of kids risking it all to save their pet from harm! Really great as both entertainment and education.  4.5/5 stars

Reading: CHECK, PLEASE! BOOK 1: #HOCKEY - Ngozi Ukazu

Webcomic series sensation-turned-graphic novel, Check, Please! Book 1: #Hockey follows vlogger and figure skating pro Eric Bittle, as he leaves small-town Georgia life behind to start college at Samwell, his choice college because of the school's reputation for 1) its awesome hockey team; and 2) its open acceptance of LGBT+ students. Originally setting up his vlog as a platform for college life and his #1 passion (baking), volume one of this two-volume set covers Eric's freshman and junior years of college in total, in which he learns that college hockey comes with "checking" (something that Eric's never experienced and is terrified of: direct contact on the ice with another player) - as well as an ornery hockey team captain, Jack, who comes with his own baggage and very little patience for Eric's checking issues. The artwork here is beautiful, feeling very much like an animated series come to life on the page, and Eric is a genuinely funny, engaging, bighearted guy who - though it takes awhile - finally begins to come to terms with the fact he's falling for his very hetero-appearing team captain. For all its strengths, however, for me I found my attention wandering sometimes while reading it. Maybe because of reading it as one volume instead of as a webcomic, but for me the book was more all about hockey, the blooming crush/love story between Eric and Jake fairly non-existent until very close to the end of the book. Also, as open and tolerant as Samwell University is in these pages, I found it unrealistic that never, within the course of the entire story, does Eric run into so much as a negative comment about gays or the LGBT+ community. Not that I wanted him to, but story-wise it makes for zero conflict or tension, and comes off not very true-to-life - so between that and the potential romance that doesn't come up until toward the end, outside of hockey and pie-making and depictions of frat house life, there just isn't a lot of story here to propel a reader forward; to hold your interest and keep reading, unless maybe hockey is your passion. That said, the characters are wonderful, and book one does end on a cliffhanger that more than propels you into book two. Which I will be following up with, as it seems Eric's junior and senior years are where the meat of this story lies.  3/5 stars

Reading: THE GUEST LIST - Lucy Foley

While I can't buy too much into the Agatha Christie comparisons (beyond this story of a group of people trapped on a secluded island with a dead body), The Guest List is a good, serviceable mystery-thriller that starts with a scream that results in the discovery of a body on the evening of one of the biggest, most exclusive weddings of the year ... before going back in time to narrate for readers how the whole mess came about in the first place (all while the reader is supposed to guess not only the identity of the killer, but also the corpse). The bulk of the book is laid out via first-person multiple POVs from five of the wedding participants - Jules, the demanding bride; Olivia, her milquetoast half-sister and bridesmaid; Hannah, the "plus one" who's arrived on the island with her husband - Jules's long-term best buddy (and possible ex?); Johnno, the best man and groom's slovenly slacker of a best friend; and Aoife, the wedding planner who, along with her chef husband, owns and runs the wedding venue on this rocky, desolate island off the coast of Ireland. Each chapter is short and does its best to end with at least a minor cliffhanger, occasionally interspersed with an even briefer "flash-forward" chapter bringing us back to the wedding night for more clues as to what's going on - all during which we slowly learn that each narrator has his or her own guilty secret, and/or hidden agenda for attending. My only real complaint about the book is that the constant change of perspective with each chapter, along with the cliffhanger teases at the end of each, eventually grows a bit old and tropey; so much so, at times in the middle of the book I found myself not as enthusiastic as I should have been to pick it up again. Thankfully I kept at it, because the end reveal of killer and victim - and how everything and everyone got there - was so good, so worth it, I nearly forgot getting bogged down a bit on the way there! Ultimately more mystery than thriller, The Guest List ended up a pretty solid treat, the solution/ending alone easily bumping up what could have been a three-star read by at least another star. Most definitely worth your time.  4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from Goodreads and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: THE SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB'S GUIDE TO SLAYING VAMPIRES - Grady Hendrix

Grady Hendrix has been on my radar for awhile - in fact, I think I have three of his books on my Kindle now - but between this brilliant title and the "Steel Magnolias meets Dracula" (which, actually, is loosely accurate) tagline, this seemed THE place to start. When you begin, the tone of this book immediately comes off very retro - old-school 1950's - but the novel is set in present day, and I soon realized the "bygone-era" feel of the book could be attributed to the story being set in/near Charleston, South Carolina, where a group of friends and bored housewives/mothers - "genteel southern ladies" - have formed a sort of underground book club where they read virtually nothing but true crime. Patricia Campbell, mother of a teen and pre-teen and wife to a workaholic, is maybe the most unassuming of the ladies; she spends her days taking care of her senile mother-in-law, who lives with them, and pretty much being ignored by her family. Longing for something more, some kind of real adventure in her humdrum upscale suburban life, Patricia gets more than her wish when one night while taking out the trash she is viciously attacked by an elderly neighbor in her own yard, the old woman seemingly gone insane or rabid to the point she even bites off part of Patricia's ear. Patricia survives, but the neighbor dies days later in the hospital - and soon after Patricia meets and becomes friends with her attacker's live-in nephew, James Harris, a handsome, well-built and enigmatic man with all his southern manners in place; indeed, he won't even enter Patricia's home for the first time until formally invited in. At first intrigued by the attention and adventure James brings to her life, as the man also ingratiates himself into the lives of her family and friends, after a couple of disturbing incidents Patricia starts piecing together clues that make her wonder if James is really the person her claims to be - or if, indeed, he may even be a person at all. And when she learns that children from the poorer side of town are starting to act strangely - even committing suicide after severe behavior changes - Patricia sets out to prove James Harris is behind the deaths, even at the risk of her own. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires is a slow burn at first, Hendrix rightly setting up both characters and story so well, the reader is fully hooked into both narrative and people by the time the crazy-grisly set pieces begin. For sure, the book is not for the fainthearted; for those who can't handle very descriptive scenes of horror. If you can? WOW, what a roller-coaster ride this puppy is, the book going off on a few unexpected paths, making the bad guy seem unstoppable against this group of "genteel southern ladies" - who must somehow come together and be anything but. Visceral, emotional, riveting, darkly funny, bloody as heck, superbly-written, and - as of this writing - my favorite read of 2020.  5/5 stars

Reading: MY DAY WITH GONG GONG - Sennah Yee (author), Elaine Chen (illustrator)

Young May is less than thrilled to learn her mother is taking her to spend the day with her grandfather. He's not a bad guy, but Gong Gong speaks little English and May knows no Chinese, so what proposes to be a long, dull day barely promises any adventure even when Gong Gong decides the two of them should venture out to Chinatown. Sure enough, the little girl seems unable to communicate to her grandpa when she's tired or even hungry, and indeed as they come across friends and vendors of Gong Gong's in the neighborhood, it doesn't take knowing Chinese for May to feel her grandpa's friends are teasing her. But when Gong Gong gives a special gift to his little granddaughter, May realizes that not only has her grandpa been paying attention all along, she also learns how little words are needed when gestures and smiles come from the heart. With equally gentle, kindhearted illustrations by Elaine Chen, My Day with Gong Gong is a charmer of a picture book about transcending language and generations to connect with someone you love; a beautiful addition to any picture book collection. (Available 9/8/20)  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: LITTLE BIG NATE: NO NAP! - Lincoln Peirce

How I love Big Nate, one of the funniest and snarkiest kid comic characters I've ever read. This, the second in the Little Big Nate board book series, is something I'd snap up in a heartbeat if I had a niece or nephew the proper age; here we find Big Nate in his early days of snark, at school and determined - no matter what the teacher says - that he is not going to lie down for his nap ... until he does, of course, and soon finds his imagination more than making up for the boring real world. Little Big Nate books are not just good for kids, but are lively and colorful and comically-illustrated enough to make for great interactive fun for the parents (who will also get/enjoy the sense of humor), too. Like pretty much anything Peirce does with this sardonic, very funny little boy, at any age, this one is highly recommended. (Available 9/1/2020)  4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: THE INFAMOUS RATSOS CAMP OUT - Kara LaReau (author), Matt Myers (illustrator)

I have barely a handful of "auto-buy" authors, but Kara LaReau is one of them. Introduced to her fiction for young readers by one of the books in her Bland Sisters middle-grade series - which was an homage to Agatha Christie, my all-time favorite writer, no less - after falling for those two strange little girls, it was a no-brainer to try her chapter-book series featuring the famous (or in this case, infamous) Ratsos Brothers. Have read them all, the latest (and fourth) in the series, The Infamous Ratsos Camp Out, finding our siblings Louie and Ralphie taking a break from city life by teaming up with their friends for their first-ever camping trip. Their dad, Big Lou, is leading the Big City Scouts expedition, although when they arrive at the Friendly Woods Campground a surprise awaits in the form of Grandpa Ratso, who was Big Lou's scoutmaster when he was a little camper, who will co-lead (actually, sort of take over) things from Big Lou. But Grandpa Ratso, the young scouts soon learn, is a bit rusty in his scouting skills, leading the troop into a spot of trouble that will require each member of the troop to not only rely on his or her self - but also to help each other, or ask for help when it's needed. In both her terrific series, LaReau's skills at combining a dry sense of humor with positive messages about self and family (that won't hit young readers over the head) are razor-sharp, but what makes her truly stand out is her ability to create larger-than-life characters - even in talking animals - that ring 100% true on the page. Combine this with the hugely-talented Matt Myers's (as always) equally warm and upbeat art, and volume four of the Ratsos Brothers continuing story is another standout in kid-lit - perfect for young readers, or maybe even better for adults reading to the kids; sharing these adventures aloud that emphasize the core values of friendship and family. Either way, this is another winner in the series kids should read - and re-read - with smiles on. (Available 5/12)  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: MY FAIR LATTE - Vickie Fee

Departing from her delightful Liv & Di in Dixie cozy mystery series, writer Vickie Fee has found an equally endearing - dare I say plucky? - heroine in ex-barista Halley Greer, who's recently inherited a broken-down old-fashioned movie palace in Utopia Springs, Arkansas from an uncle she hadn't seen since childhood. A lover of classic films, Halley - upon visiting the theater - makes the radical decision to keep and restore it (including the upstairs apartment, which gives her a new home at the same time), doing a quick, budget-friendly renovation to try and get the Art Deco theater close to its former glory as she can, in order to re-open it up as a wine and coffee bar that shows old movies. Making friends right off in a fellow business owner of an escape room, as well as an older couple who were solid with her uncle, Halley also discovers an enemy she didn't know she had when a man who'd previously tried to buy the theater from her uncle is found dead in his theater seat, in the middle of opening night for My Fair Lady! The cops settle on Halley as their #1 suspect when it's learned the dead man had also vandalized the theater during its renovation, forcing Utopia Springs's newest resident, working with her new neighbors and friends, to try and find motive and killer herself. As always, author Fee's skills at characterization make Halley and even the most minor secondary characters come fully to life from page one; something vital in a mystery where you need to care about people even when you suspect them. At first I was thrown by the victim's dying completely "off-screen" as it were, without even actually having an "on-screen" time in the novel to gauge his personality or how he acted/reacted with other characters, in order to gauge their motives as suspects - again, something normally vital in a mystery. But Halley's not-always-subtle (in a good way) investigation also give a face and voice to the dead man, making up for any "face-time" in the book, and not only was the killer's reveal a good surprise, but the way in which Fee plays out how and when Halley figures it all out - just in time to confront said killer - generates real tension/suspense on the page, as well (something lacking in some cozies these days). With the future of Henery Press's (publishers of this first-in-a-series) mystery lines in limbo, as of this writing, one hopes that common sense will prevail and readers like me - who've fallen for Halley and her friends already - won't have to wait long for book two in this charming new mystery series.  4.5/5 stars 

April Wrap-Up: BOOKS - The Addiction AND The Cure

Only seven reads to report for the month, half of those books geared more toward kids (though, actually, some great reads there) - but to be fair, I did finish another on May 1st (Vickie Fee's latest cozy mystery, My Fair Latte, just missing the deadline), and am halfway through another I am trying hard not to DNF because it's just not ... good, but I want to finish it. So the reading's been there, somewhat, just a matter of finishing. And everything aside, reading remains the one thing keeping me sane. 

I couldn't understand it at first, but have now started becoming one of those people who - between the self-isolation and stay-at-home orders - are finding concentration difficult when it comes to curling up with a good book. Fortunately I read some goodies in April; Death of an American Beauty turned out to be a crackerjack of a historical mystery, set in Gilded Age New York City, while The Sun Down Motel came through nearly 100% on its promise of the kind of chills I'd been looking for in a book in some time. Raina Telgemeier took me on a warm yet sometimes harrowing journey of life as a teenager with braces (thankfully something I never had to go through) with her graphic novel Smile, and I both managed a trip to the beautiful country of India via a very cool kids book that was surprisingly chock-full of information but never boring (Tiny Travelers India Treasure Quest) as well as learned how to draw the characters of the latest Pixar hit Onward ... before going back to the Great Chicago Fire and one true-life family's escape from the blaze (complete with pet goat) in Fiery Night. Last but not least, I had the joy of reading (and re-reading) possibly the funniest, most snarky picture book for kids (that adults would love too) in My Best Friend, which I think belongs on every shelf no matter what your age.

REVIEWS TO COME, as always (still owe one for the awesome Night of the Living Ted from March, egad), and please click on the images here to enlarge, if necessary.

Sigh, no films again this year, but did catch the first episode of the BBC's "Dracula". Very well-done, but holding judgment until I've seen all three.

June HAS to be better, pandemic and all, right? Meanwhile, keep your May happy and healthy and safe! And hopefully always with a book nearby!

Reading: LEARN TO DRAW DISNEY/PIXAR ONWARD - Walter Foster Jr. Creative Team

The coronavirus may have relegated Disney-Pixar's latest to streaming services over a theatrical release, but the Walter Foster Jr. Creative Team has scored another winner for fans of Pixar's newest animated classic with this full-color, fully-illustrated and thoroughly fleshed-out, step-by-step guidebook for creative kids. Even the youngest artists, here, should be able to flesh out a reasonable likeness of Ian, Barley, Blazy, the Manticore - all their favorite characters from New Mushroomtown featured in their favorite new movie, Onward. Starting with a list of easy-to-get tools and art supplies the kids can put together with a grown-up, each child can then easily flip to their favorite and, starting with a few simple lines, bring that character to life on paper. Walter Foster how-to arts and craft books have been around a lot of years; it's nice to see, once again, that the "junior team's" current crop of books for young artists are just as inspiring and creative as the classics; this one should keep its readers busy, and creative, for hours.  4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: TINY TRAVELER'S INDIA TREASURE QUEST - Steven Wolfe Pereira & Susie Jaramillo (writers), Melyee Tan & Abigail Gross (illustrators)

Starting in New Delhi, this brilliant, colorful, and highly educational board book for young children could equally aid adults as an illustrated primer to one of the most vibrant, diverse countries of the world. Through detailed illustrations featuring a search-and-find element on each page for little ones to discover a hidden treasure, readers young and old - for such a compact volume - are given an amazingly in-depth look at India, from the Bollywood film industry in Mumbai ... to a safari in Ranthambore ... via a Holi festival, a game of cricket, even chutney as just one element of the vast array of dishes and cuisines India has to offer ... readers are even treated to an Indian wedding and the art of henna as the new bride's hands are decorated for the ceremony. But it doesn't stop there; India is huge, after all, so Tiny Traveler readers also get to climb the Himalayas, ride on a shikara (houseboat) on Dal Lake in Kashmir, and visit the Taj Mahal - again, all while collecting a new treasure at each site. The words accompanying the lush and lively illustrations - in verse, no less - convey a tremendous amount of information while keep descriptions super-brief (as, really, the images speak for themselves), yet also perfectly serve as signposts spotlighting the historical and cultural importance of India as a nation. Amazing, especially for a small board book, and though this is my first visit with a volume from the Tiny Traveler's Treasure Quest series, if this is any indication of the justice each volume does to the country it's focused on, corny as it sounds I'd say the entire collection deserves a place of honor in any child's library; certainly for their first-class educational value, but also because they are simply that entertaining to look through, even on repeated readings. (Available 5/26)  5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading: MY BEST FRIEND - Rob Hodgson

The most hilarious kid's picture book I've ever read - with a terrific level of snark to it that any adult would appreciate wholeheartedly - is a simple tale of friendship narrated by Mouse, a white rodent who's recently met his new best friend, Giant Owl, when the big bird picked him out (up, actually) from anyone else to be friends with. In bold, funny illustrations we watch Mouse and Giant Owl playing chasing games, as well as the generous owl bringing his new buddy sugar-enriched treats even though they tend to fatten up Mouse - err, that is, make him put on weight. In fact, Giant Owl is such a good friend, he evens gets Mouse his own little home, complete with shiny white bars. But what happens when Mouse suddenly wakes up in an enclosed, moist, dark place with his new best friend nowhere to be found might just be a revelation Mouse isn't ready for. With its wonderfully wicked, sarcastic sense of humor chronicling the friendship between one clueless little mouse and his big, hungry feathered friend, this picture book is a winner for both young and old alike that - no worries - plays out to a satisfying but kid-friendly/G-rated conclusion, the reader enjoying a few laugh-out-loud moments along the way. (Available May 19)  5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading DEATH OF AN AMERICAN BEAUTY - Mariah Fredericks

(BLOG TOUR SPOTLIGHT)
Book three in the Jane Prescott mystery series, set in Gilded Age New York City, was my introduction to Mariah Fredericks's plucky (and I mean that in the nicest way) ladies'maid heroine, who this go-round has her vacation interrupted when murder strikes too close to her former home. Abandoned by her father at the age of three, Jane arrived in New York to live with her uncle in a former brothel he now runs as a refuge for women trying to start a new and better life. Even with her rather stern uncle, Jane's memories of her childhood home are good ones - though in recent times the refuge finds itself under siege by a band of pious "Christians" determined to shut down the place; so determined, in fact, they allude to Jane's uncle having more than a Christian interest in the women he boards there for free. Things go from bad to worse, however, when one of the more rambunctious of the lady residents is found murdered in an alley not too far from the refuge, her face butchered nearly beyond recognition, and - while also trying to help her employer work on costumes for a huge festival coming up at one of New York's largest/most renowned department stores for women - Jane finds herself playing detective to track down the killer when suspicion falls squarely on her uncle for the crime. My recent experience with mysteries has been more along the "cozy" lines, and that's definitely not what this is; Death of an American Beauty is a pure-blood historical mystery that fares a bit bloodier and randier in subject matter than any cozy. 

My interest in the book stemmed from my love of New York City and wanting to check out the author's "feel" for how it was back in 1913, and I have to admit that I was captivated by the city - as much a character itself - and its denizens as I was by Jane and the supporting cast, in 
what ended up being one of my favorites mystery reads in awhile, as well. Jane fixates quite quickly on who she thinks the killer is, the novel not so much about her detection and chasing down suspects (which may throw some mystery junkies, though it made me love the book that much more) as it is about her working through, by process of elimination, who could fit the bill. Even then, for me at least the ending was a surprise - and quite a suspenseful one; I didn't realize, until almost the end of the final confrontation (so to speak), that I'd been chewing on my bottom lip the whole time I was reading. Suspenseful, very well-written - so that you are put into the time and place of NYC 1913 immediately - and with a wholly likable cast of characters (including Jane's employer, male crime reporter friend, former mentor and hat-making friend from the refuge, and potential piano-playing suitor), though this was my introduction to Jane Prescott and her world, I most certainly can't wait to jump back to read the first two, to be able to catch up in time for book four. Very well-done.  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading: THE SUN DOWN MOTEL - Simone St. James

Harder and harder as it gets to find a thriller that lives up to its marketing, The Sun Down Motel - though technically not a thriller - is a breath of fresh air that is an engrossing, often creepy mystery that gets under your skin and tries to stay there. Flipping back and forth between two timelines, readers learn upfront that in 1982 a young woman named Viv Delaney, working the overnight shift at the rundown Sun Down Motel in upstate Fell, New York, mysteriously disappeared in the middle of her shift, leaving purse, coat and even keys behind, her body never found. Flash forward to 2017, when college student Carly Kirk arrives in Fell. Carly, who's always had an obsession for true crime stories anyway, is more obsessed than ever with this one because Viv Delaney was her aunt; Carly's mother, who'd been haunted her entire life over the disappearance of her older sister Viv, died without answers and unable to even talk about her sibling. So Carly is in town to find answers, her search leading to the Sun Down Motel, where she finds herself taking on the same overnight shift her aunt worked 35 years ago. Eerily, virtually nothing has changed at the Sun Down in the three-plus decades; not the decor, the old-school multi-line office phone or sign-in guestbook ... not, as Carly sooner learns, even the ghosts. This genuinely creepy novel moves back and forth between 1982 and 2017, detailing what happened to Viv Delaney even as we also watch Carly unknowingly travel down a very similar path in trying to find the truth. A couple of very cool plot twists/surprises make good on the promise of the an awesome premise, and while I would have liked just a bit more punch to the very end of the tale, The Sun Down Motel is still one of the most engaging, "skin-crawliest" supernatural suspense stories I've read in a very long time.  4.5/5 stars

March Wrap-Up: What the Hell Happened??

Wow, the difference one month can make. Looks like I made it back to the Midwest, to reconnect with family, just in time to have to isolate myself from family (well, most of them; temporarily staying with my baby sis, who is awesome personified). I won't really comment on the pandemic because I am assuming that - like me - you're just as sick of hearing about it every day/all day, but suffice to say I hope that whoever reads these words, that you are PLEASE taking the isolation orders seriously - as well as taking care of you and yours until this crisis is over, and the world slips back onto its axis.

Only six books read in March (and no films, which stings like crazy); am seriously sort of beating myself up for just six, as most BookTubers claim to read that in a week (though I think most of us know that most of them skim instead of read, or listen to audiobooks on 2.5 speed and call that "reading"; what a joke). Still, on the extremely positive side there wasn't a single dud in the six, plus the variety was good, so am all for it (click image to enlarge, if you can't see the covers so well). Even better, got most of the reviews for March up already (scroll down to read); in fact, I think I am only missing the review for the last book read for the month, Night of the Living Ted, so will get that posted asap (spoiler alert: loved it!). 

Not much else to report, just trying to stay positive and not go nuts having to stay put. Worrying, also, about my friends, family, and friends-who-are-family, and hoping this all passes faster than the experts are now predicting. I have to say, though, getting lost in the world of books - as always - is an amazing short-term cure, so for you I hope that you will keep reading and keep the faith! MAY, where are you???

Reading: NIGHT OF THE LIVING TED - Barry Hutchison (writer), Lee Cosgrove (illustrator)

Lisa-Marie and her older bully of a stepbrother Vernon are small-town suburban kids who don't really get along; Lisa-Marie being too smart for her own good, and Vernon resenting being saddled with a kid sister. When each is given cash to buy Lisa-Marie's dad/Vernon's stepdad a birthday gift, the kids end up at the local build-a-bear type store, where they discover a special is going on: any customer can make themselves a teddy bear in honor of the upcoming Halloween holiday to keep, free! Her dad being an Elvis fanatic makes Lisa-Marie's choice easy, but with no interest in the freebie and only wanting to add his name to Lisa-Marie's gift so he can keep the money, Vernon slaps together a mish-mash of Halloween costumes and accessories and body parts to form a monster bear he doesn't even have an interest in taking home. It's a decision both kids will come to regret however, when soon afterward all the Halloween bears come to life all over town, turning on their makers/owners, robbing and hurting them, and before long the streets are filled with (among others) witch teddies that can fly and do magic ... zombie teddy bears seeking brains alongside vampire bears seeking a meal ... alien teddies in space suits complete with death rays ... all forms of monsters, and all making their way back to the teddy bear store and their leader - none other than the evil, sadistic, biggest and baddest teddy bear of all: Vernon's hybrid monster-bear! Can a smart little girl, her doofus of a stepbrother, and one lone, goodhearted teddy bear in  a white-sequined jumpsuit and black pompadour - complete with Memphis accent - thwart out an entire horde of evil teddies determined to take over their town, if not the world? Night of the Living Ted is part of a newer, funny, very well-written middle-grade series featuring equally-funny illustrations by Lee Cosgrove that hint the books would make a good animated series. And this one, complete with stalwart heroes, formidable villains, and kid-friendly Halloween spookiness, will leave readers anxious for the next in the series,Revenge of the Living Ted, due in September. I know I am! (Available May 19)  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading: THE ACCURSED INHERITANCE OF HENRIETTA ACHILLES: BOOK 1 (A HOUSE DIVIDED) - Haiko Hörnig (writer), Marius Pawlitza (illustrator)

After losing her parents in the great war, young Henrietta Achilles tries adjusting to life in an orphanage when she suddenly finds herself, instead, shipped off to the small, very very odd village of Malrenard, as the only living relative to a recently-deceased uncle she never knew named Ornun Zol. Malrenard is a bizarre place, to say the least, full of angry and bitter people with a lot of that negatively seemingly directed toward Ornun Zol and his tower-like castle, which now belongs to Henrietta. When a shady lawyer rushes Henrietta into taking ownership of the castle and accepting her inheritance, the girl's signature barely dry on the legal form, the girl is immediately and unceremoniously dropped off at her new home, where she quickly learns why all that resentment from the local towns people probably exists; not only was her Uncle Ornun a notorious wizard, but his home is full of thieves and soldiers and a bizarre variety of creatures that have turned the castle into a battleground, everyone fighting with each other to find a secret vault, hidden somewhere on the premises, that supposedly holds the source of all of the great wizard's power. I expected to enjoy this graphic novel - the first in a series - but what I didn't expect was to completely fall in love with the Looney Tunes-like artwork, action and story of this funny, snarky, addicting and yes even intriguing romp; an over-the-top page-turner that should leave you - like me - smiling and flipping back for a re-read immediately, already hungry (HINT!) for volume two. (Available April 7)  5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: ONLY MOSTLY DEVASTATED - Sophie Gonzales

California teen Ollie is spending his pre-senior-year summer in North Carolina, where his family has temporarily relocated to help Ollie's Aunt Linda - who is fighting cancer - and her family. What Ollie didn't expect, beyond babysitting his aunt's kids, was a summer fling, which comes in the form of fellow high schooler Will Tavares, a hunky basketball player whom Ollie shares a blissful romance with. The end-of-summer goodbyes are painful, but even more painful is when Ollie learns his parents have rented a home in Aunt Linda's town indefinitely, and he will be spending his senior year in North Carolina away from his friends and having to adjust to a brand-new school, due to Aunt Linda's condition becoming worse. Biting the bullet, Ollie - openly-gay but with no idea how that may roll in NC - arrives guarded and edgy his first day for classes, but quickly meets a trio of girls who befriend him; so much so, he comes out to them and even shyly tells them about his summer romance (well, he was dying to tell someone!). One of the girls, Lara, invites Ollie to go with them to a back-to-school party that night at a friend's house ... where Ollie is shocked to find that Lara has actually set him up, for who else should be at that same party but Will! Will, along with a gaggle of Will's very hetero basketball team buddies, and when his summer love gives Ollie the cold shoulder it becomes obvious that Will is freaked (not happily so) by Ollie's presence as the newest kid in school ... and even more obvious that this year just might be more torturous for the broken-hearted Ollie than even he had ever dreamed. Only Mostly Devastated is a loose retelling of Grease that works very well on the page, largely due to its wonderful, endearing lead character; we've all felt Ollie's confusion and pain of first love, and writer Sophie Gonzales keeps his fresh, funny voice one that always (thankfully) falls short of becoming annoying or whiny. Openly-out Ollie's ups and downs with a closeted Will come across very authentic on the page, as does Will and the engaging supporting cast of characters that make up the boys's friends and family. The subplot of Aunt Linda's cancer plight and how Ollie deals with that as well pulls at the heartstrings without ever becoming maudlin or melodramatic. Best yet, when you think you know how and when things will develop with Ollie and Will, the book still manages a wholly believable, touching finale that may seem too pat for some but brought a tear to this jaded reader's eye. Wonderfully done, my only (very minor) complaint being the author's use of the occasional British word or phrase, in Ollie's voice (the book is told from his POV), that would throw me right out of the story by not sounding like a typical California/American teen's verbiage. That's a small bump-in-the-road, though, to a wonderful, humorous, and romantic love story whose main characters leap from the page to find a place in your heart.  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: NATSUMI'S SONG OF SUMMER - Robert Paul Weston (writer), Misa Saburi (illustrator)

This sweet, charming picture book set in Japan follows a little girl named Natsumi - born in summer and with a love or the season beyond all the others - who is nervous about the arrival of her visiting cousin from America, a girl her own age, who may or may not share Natsumi's love for summer and the various beautiful and multi-colored insects that brighten and enliven the season. Thankfully, when Jill arrives Natsumi learns the two little girls have a lot in common - a love for the warm summer weather, the beach, fireworks - and Natsumi is even delighted to introduce her cousin to the music of the cicadas, which Jill has never known before but to Natsumi symbolizes the entire season. The gentleness of the story - told in a series of traditional Japanese tanka poems (similar to haiku) - is married beautifully to the watercolor-toned artwork that reflects the book's Japanese themes and location, and is as warm and inviting to experience as summer itself. (Available May 12)  4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: WONDER WOMAN VOLUME 1: BLOOD - Brian Azzarello (writer), Cliff Chiang & Tony Akins (illustrators)

Though normally I would definitely not be one to argue for messing around with the back/origin story of a major character - especially one as major, and beloved, as Diana Prince, aka Wonder Woman - but admittedly,  this graphic novel (a collection of the first six issues of the 'New 52' DC/Wonder Woman series) treads some new and genuinely intriguing ground when Diana learns that her mother, Queen Hippolyta, lied many years ago about the origin of Diana's birth, revealing who Diana's father really is with news that literally rattles the gods. And it actually works here, somehow adding more depth to Wonder Woman's background as well as intelligently tying her story into Greek mythology. It's news that shatters Diana, of course, setting her to rethinking her whole life as well as her place in this world, and combined with the exceptional - even brilliant - and beautiful artwork of Cliff Chiang and Tony Akins, it's a book you can't take your eyes from even as you find yourself enmeshed with its story as well. While unsure of how hardcore, life-long DC/WW fans would accept this revamping of the iconic character's origins, I genuinely loved reading this book, my only complaint being that it ended with a serious cliffhanger and I had no volume two ready to continue on.  4.5/5 stars

Reading: EGG DROP DEAD - Vivien Chien

Book five in the Noodle Shop mystery series finds Lana Lee's first foray into catering hindered by the death of her client's young nanny, found drowned in a pool. Donna Feng is a family friend who's somehow already survived one scandal with her high society standing intact, but feels the fallout of suspicion again as it was she who'd verbally chewed out her nanny earlier that evening, in the middle of the party and her guests, not long before the young woman was found dead. Entrusting Lana with a mysterious flash drive full of Donna's deepest secrets the society matron is potentially being blackmailed with, Lana agrees to help and begins an investigation that will lead back to Donna's hidden roots in China, and put her own life in danger as she edges ever closer to unmasking a killer with enough to hide to kill again. Author Vivien Chien's skills at characterization made getting back to Lana, her family, and even the Mah-Jong Matrons feel like going home from page one. The mystery is developed nicely, as is Lana's growing/evolving relationship with her detective boyfriend, her interviews with suspects and deductions organically growing from the story as Lana follows one lead to the next up to a truly suspenseful finale that will having you racing through the final pages. Another winning entry in the series that even finds Lana teaming up with a hard-boiled private eye, who promises to reappear in future installments and also provides a bit of comic relief as well as diversity for the investigation. If anything, my only two caveats here are minor - the first being my own fault, which was that I began reading this series mid-run, without realizing when starting book five that this novel is a sort of follow-up to the events of the first book in the series, where we are introduced to Donna Feng ... and therefore is a complete spoiler-smasher for the first book, so if you don't want to know the details and "whodunnit" of book one, definitely do NOT read this one first! My only other hiccup in the book was even more minor: I simply would have liked to have more of Lana's family and friends appear in this one. That may be just a personal thing; I really love Lana's parents (especially mom) and sister, as well as Peter and other workers/friends from the Asia Village shopping plaza, all of whom do appear here but just not as prominently as in, say, the previous book in the series. Caveats aside, Chien's plotting, writing, and characters, as well as the growth of Lana as both a character and investigator, are more than ever solidified for this fan with book five, making the Ho-Lee Noodle Shop still one of my favorite places to visit - and the Noodle Shop Mysteries still one of my top five cozy mystery series being written today. 4/5 stars

February Wrap-Up: Fab Feb/Back on Track?

Spring is coming! Wow, February was quite the month; relocated back cross-country to be closer to my amazing baby sister and other family (met my 3-year-old great-nephew, Andrei, for the first time!) - and thanks to the move even have a Greyhound bus ride story to tell that I may try selling to Stephen King for his newest novel. The hard part, so far, has been working on adjusting to being back to true winter-like temperatures/weather for the first time in several years, but it's already March so here's hoping ...

But amidst all that? Fourteen books and two films in February! And, as usual with me, talk about variety! But the variety turned out particularly nice for leap year month: adult novels, graphic novels, some awesome picture and kid books celebrating Black History Month; even a brilliant historical novel showcasing none other than Abraham Lincoln that I loved so, so much. Even more shocking - many reviews from February's reads are already up! Please scroll down from this post to find them, and come back as I get the rest posted, as well. Also, as always, clicking on any image here will enlarge it, if you want to better see what I read - and please, especially check out my review of Courting Mr. Lincoln; I was especially honored to be a part of that blog tour!

Even managed to sneak in an Oscar-winning "tie-in" read for February, per Matthew A. Cherry's Hair Love! Though I do believe the book came first, the story and artwork here are both beautiful, in a picture book celebrating dads and daughters that went on to become the Oscar-winning short film of the same name just weeks ago! 

But February was a great month for reading, period; Dover Two is one of the most enjoyable mysteries I've read in years, The Women in Black transported me right back to the more innocent 1950's, and even reading about a grumpy wolf who wears only underpants in the middle of winter was a standout. OH, and yes, this was my first time watching The Exorcist, like EVER, so made sure to catch the "extended director's cut" (review to come)!

Hope your reading and film viewing February is only surpassed by an even better March, as well; one that sees happy, healthy and warm - and reading, especially with spring about to ... well, spring. Check back often for reviews/posts, and happy reading/viewing!