Christmas Book Review: Christmas Cookie Bookshop

 

First in a new series 

Noemi's had a rough go of it the past couple of years. Her mom gave her the bookstore and moved into an assisted living facility. Her best friend's husband died unexpectedly. She stopped making Christmas cookies - her favorite thing as punishment. 

Now she realizes she has until the end of the year to save the bookshop and maybe herself. People don't seem to be coming around to the side of town the bookshop is on. But the community there is strong. She's determined to find a way. 

When an adventure shop opens next door, Noemi isn't sure what to think, Shay dresses in outrageous outfits. He promises his clients an adventure. Noemi is annoyed at the insinuation that his adventures are better than book adventures. Shay seems to appear wherever she is. She's so irritated with him. Could there be something more between them? Could Noemi have a happy Christmas this year?

My Thoughts: Books and baking are my favorite - which is why I read this book. I loved the baking moments. I loved the bookstore moments. I loved the shop owners. They were quirky. They were funny. They stuck their nose in each other's business, but they also had each other's back. I loved Noemi's relationship with Daniel. This enemies to lovers was a charming story set in England. The banter between Shay and Noemi was adorable. I loved their relationship. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: Netgalley

Library Recommendation: A fantastic holiday romance for your public library collection. Hand this to all your readers who love Hallmark movie watchers. 

Picture Book Review: What's On Your Mind?

If your mind is busy, Todd Parr has some ideas for you to help calm it down.

I love Todd Parr books. I love how this one focuses on Mental Health. It's important to talk about mental health early and I love his suggestions. There's a section about how one might be feeling and to share your thoughts with someone. The illustrations are classic Todd Parr - bright and colorful. A fantastic book to start talking about mental health for kids. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Perfect Day

 This week's topic is Perfect Day - it varies between a day alone and a day with people. But I'm going to pick the day alone to share. 

When I work on a Saturday, I get Friday off. Usually, my husband is at work.

This is a typical day:
Walk the dogs early
Go to the gym
Eat breakfast

Bake cookies
Check social media

Blog for a bit with a mug of tea

Generally, I do a few chores (laundry/dishes)

Chat with family

Write some more blogs or do some planning of blogs

If the day is nice, read on the porch with the dogs

Eat lunch while watching an episode of TV 

Lunch is a sandwich, chips, and cookies I baked earlier in the day

Spend some time in the afternoon crafting

Read on the porch with the dogs until my husband gets home

Head out on a dinner (Family Pizza) and ice cream date (Mel's Downtown Creamery)

Hang with the dogs and watch something on TV 

Read a little before bed

Bedtime is early because of the early morning dog walks

What makes up your perfect day?

Middle Grade Review: The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society

 

Merrick is now homeschooled. Her grandmother had to move in with her and her mother after the medical bills became too high. There wasn't enough money left over for Merrick's private school. Now she facetimes with her friends but misses them. She never thought she's miss wearing a uniform and going to school, but she does. Her school is in the staff area of her mother's bookstore.

One afternoon, an ice storm hits. The weather turns bad quickly. There's a fender bender between Merrick's Grandmother and her friends. Everyone hurries into the bookstore where they discover a man with his face in a cake - dead. 

The bookstore is connected to an Inn - which gives everyone a place to stay to weather out the storm. But it also means that Merrick and her friends are stuck with a killer on the loose - or so they think. They decide to form a club and sus out the murderer. Merrick's Grandmother overhears them and becomes part of the club. Can they solve the death?

My Thoughts: I'm so happy that this is the start of a new series. I loved this book. I really enjoyed the moments between Merrick and her grandmother. They were sweet.  I loved the group of friends. They all have their strengths and quirks. I loved how the club formed. I loved that they had a notebook for all their clues and would update it. I loved the methodical way they investigated and how different detectives were mentioned along the way. I enjoyed the setting of the inn and the different themed rooms. I loved how this took place in 24 hours because of the storm. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Cover Thoughts: Fantastic

Source: My library

Library Recommendation: A must have mystery for your school and public library collections

Hand this to readers who love The Sherlock Society

Picture Book Review: Summer Books

 

These picture books are perfect for a nice sunny day and hanging outside:

Neighbors of Acorn Village decide to have a cozy summer day - doing ALL the things they love about summer. 

I love the illustrations in this book - there are so many details. Just look at that lazy river! If you like this one, there's also a winter story too. I hope there are Spring and Fall stories in the works.

Three siblings have the time of the lives at the lake with their dogs and their moms.

This is such a cute story about a date full of love and fun! And there's also a winter story. The illustrations are soft and wonderful. It makes me want to spend a day at the lake too.

A tiny hiker is so excited to hike. She loves seeing everything in the forest. But it's a hard hike - will she be able to make it?

I love the excitement about being outdoors and looking at everything. And I know how she feels being tired and cranky. I'm that way often up when I hike up a mountain. I love the ending. The illustrations are charming. 

Spike and Roscoe have an adventure planned - but nothing goes that way it's supposed to. Is there day ruined?

I love how the two friends made the best of things. The ending is very sweet - there's nothing like good friends.

 Mama likes to have all kinds of adventures, but Oliver is unsure. Lots of times things go wrong and you can never be too prepared. But sometimes things are just right.

If they didn't go on adventures, there are things that Oliver would miss. I like how he lists them all. Maybe it's not so bad after all.

Where do you want to go on an adventure?

Review: School for Woodland Creatures

 

* Book 3 in Our Friend Hedgehog series * 

Annika Mae is headed off to school and the animals feel left behind.  She will learn new things and make new friends. What if she forgets all about them? 

It's boring without their friend. Owl comes up with the brilliant idea that they should form a school. Each of them can teach a subject they're an expert in. Hedgehog doesn't know what she will teach. She's not an expert at anything. 

My Thoughts: I Love this series - it's all about friendship and support and helping each other. This addition is cute. I love that the animal friends want to host their own school to learn something but also to make the day speed by faster. I felt bad for Hedgehog and her struggles to find something that she's an expert in - in order to teach. The lessons did not go as planned, but that ending was perfect. The illustrations are amazing. Lauren Castillo is one of my favorite illustrators. I hope there are many more books in this series to come! 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have series for your school and public libraries 

Fall Romance: Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow

 

First in a series

Willow's home and family farm is in serious trouble. They have a great turn out in the spring and summer months, but the rest of the year is empty for the farm. There's still a lot of work to be done, but no income is coming in. When Willow realizes her father has a meeting with a developer, she panics. Surely there's something she can do to save the farm.

Then she comes up with a brilliant idea. She can create a pumpkin patch to save the farm. But she has no pumpkins and only six weeks to make it happen. Willow makes a bargain with her father. If at the end of six weeks, the pumpkin patch hasn't saved the farm, they can talk about selling to Dylan and his brother. She makes a pact with Dylan - that he spends the next six weeks learning about the farm and lending a hand as needed. If she doesn't pull this off, they will sell the land to him.

Willow doesn't think Dylan will last even one week on the farm; he's too much of a city boy. However, they are both determined to get their way and the challenge is accepted. Will these next six weeks make or break the farm? And Willow's heart?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I loved the fall vibes, the setting, and the town. I get that this is an enemies to lovers story, but that seemed overly shared. I felt bad for Willow and how her idea initially got little to no support from her friends and family. I'm surprised she also didn't have an idea for Christmas at the farm too, although maybe that's in the next book. I did want to go to a pumpkin patch after reading this book.

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A great fall romance for your collection - perfect for readers who love Hallmark movies.