Picture Book Review: Evelyn Witch Gets a Pet

It's Release Day for:

Take a look at the video:

* Book sent for review

Top Ten Tuesday: Re-Reads for the first time

 This week's topic is books we wish we could read again for the first time because they were just that good.

This amazing series

This book was perfect

This intense series

Bridgerton series!

All of Sarah's books

A favorite from my teen years

A classic - read in high school

Emily - I've always loved the Emily books more than the Anne books.

But the Anne movies are chef's kiss (minus the third)

This whole series was hilarious! 

I loved these so much! 

This middle series was everything I needed.

The English version only....

Maybe there's a re-read in my future

Middle Grade Review: Into the Rapids

Addy's excited to attend survival camp, especially to meet new friends for school next year. She doesn't really have any friends in this small town. She and her mother live on the outskirts of town. They're pretty isolated. A storm comes through and wipes out the bridge leaving the village in trouble.  

Addy's worried she won't be able to make it to camp. She keeps running into Caleb. She's not a fan of him after he teased her leaving their classmates to call her nickname. The more they see each other, the more they talk. They begin to understand each other. Could Caleb help Addy get to camp?

My Thoughts: This wasn't the book I thought this was - but I really loved it. I loved the slow friendship build-up between Addy and Caleb. I loved how Addy and her mom slowly became part of the town. I love how the community comes together to help each other after the storm. I did love the survival moments of the book - and the reason that Addy's afraid of water. A really great read.

Cover Thoughts: Fantastic

Why I read this book: I love survival stories (which I thought this was)

Library Recommendations: Highly Recommended for your middle grade collection

* fictional town in Vermont

TBR Check In: 1st half of the year

 

Last week, we shared the books we're most excited to read the second half of the year. 

If you missed it, here's my post.

Which made me wonder, how I've done reading the first half of the year...

Let's take a look:

Read:

The Crash review

Reviews: Onyx Storm

The Dressmakers of London

The Rose Bargain

I can't find this one anywhere, no libraries have it. I might have to break down and purchase it:

Just checked this out and I can't wait to read it:

The other three, I have no progress on. Overall, I feel pretty good about the list.

Review: What Happens in Amsterdam

Dani loses her boyfriend and her job. She decides to take a job in Amsterdam and moves halfway around the world. It doesn't go as planned.

First her apartment is horrid.

Second, her job is worse.

Her apartment floods

The tech company goes bankrupt

She literally runs into someone on her bike.

She discovers she knows him. He broke her heart when she was 17 and he was a foreign exchange student who lived with her family for a year.  Could fate be giving them a second chance?

My Thoughts: This second chance romance turned out to be a marriage of convenience book. I felt so bad for Dani and how she struggled to find her place in Amsterdam. She had some horrible moment, funny but horrible. I like how she reconnected with Wouter. She and Wouter had some very cute moments together. I love how they did touristy things together. I loved Dani's relationship with her sister. I didn't want this book to end. I confess, now I want to visit Amsterdam. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your romance section

Hand this to: arm chair travelers, those who love fish out water stories, and readers of Hallmark movies

Review: When We Go Missing

 

What if you found evidence of a crime, but no one believed you?

Seventeen-year-old Willow always has a camera around her neck. She volunteers as a photographer at Finding Home animal shelter. When Willow stumbles upon a lost camera memory card, it’s filled with hundreds of photos of teenage girls. Some are smiling, others unaware, and a few seem terrified.

The police tell her taking photos in public isn’t a crime. But Willow can’t seem to let it go, especially after she finds her own photo on the card. Willow teams up with new volunteer Dare to figure out what happened to the girls. - Summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: I really loved this book. It's creepy and had me turning the pages. Although I did have to stop when it got too close to bedtime, so I wouldn't have nightmares. I loved the time at the shelter with the animals and watching the behind-the-scenes moments. I felt bad for Dare for what he went through (and I'm still coming to terms with it.) I feel for Willow with her home life situation. This book was so fantastic.

Cover Thoughts: Eye-catching

Source: My Library

Why I read this book: The author

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public library

Hand this book to: thriller readers and animal lovers

* There is an animal death, which happens before the story takes place.

Picture Book Wednesday: Cousins

There's nothing better than spending the day with your large family, especially cousins. 

I love how the cousins have such fun together. Even cleaning together is fun. I loved the bit about the pie - I'm not sure I could choose my favorite type of pie either. The day seems magical - loud, full of adventure, and most of all family. Sure, they squabble, but at the end of the day, they are family.

* book sent for review

Top Ten Tuesday: Taylor Swift

 This week's topic is a Freebie - so I'm using it to showcase Taylor Swift books. I love it when my fandoms overlaps.

Read:

Can't wait to read:

 

I love that there are so many Taylor books for readers! 

Middle Grade Monday: Cincinnati Lee, Curse Breaker

Cincinnati Lee's family is cursed.

It all started with her great-great-great Grandfather. He "discovered" lots of artifacts for museums. But the artifacts weren't his to take. Now Cincinnati believes if she could return the items, she could break the family curse. But it's not going to be easy.

When she learns about the Spear of Destiny, she believes she might have found a way. But she's not the only one after the spear. And she'll have to solve the clues to discover its location. Maybe her new friends can help her...

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I loved Cincinnati's beliefs - that artifacts should not be stolen. I admired her determination. I loved her two friends - and the struggles they had. There's a great nod to Indiana Jones, which was funny. I enjoyed Cincinnati's relationship with her mother. This book had lots of action and lots of danger and a whole lot of fun. I hope there's a sequel coming to this one. 

Cover Thoughts: Loved it

Why I Read This Book: The cover sold me but also, I loved the premise

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public library

Hand this to Reader: who like action and adventure stories - especially those who enjoy the Rick Riordan Presents line 

If We Are Having Tea

I haven't done one of these posts in a long time...but here goes.

If we were having tea, I'd tell you:

It's the first full week of Summer Reading programs. I really love the moments I get to spend with families in the summer (and the rest of the year too). We have lovely conversations about books and reading, but also personal tidbits. These moments are special, and they make my day.

But I do have to be honest, summer reading is hard. My library hosts multiple programs a day for different ages. Programming is rewarding, but it's also stressful - especially when I don't read emails right and realize that the library and the performer are talking about two different days. That happened this week; I felt terrible all night and had so many dreams about it.  It turned out fine the next day, but what a mistake to make. As an introvert, summer reading is hard because there are so many interactions; I need a lot of time to recharge. Which is why it's nice to go home to my dogs and relax. I would ask you, what do you do to relax?

I'm reading more this year that I have done recently - some because it's been graphic novels and some because Knightley is getting older and more mature. He doesn't need so much supervision. I never get a chance to read ALL the books I want to, but I've been reading so many great books. I've been trying to read more teen books lately, I feel that I've skewed into adult romances so much that I haven't been reading the teens ones too much. So, I've tried to change that and writing an article for SLJ didn't hurt. I would ask you, what books you've been reading lately that was a five-star read?

I write up a notebook for year, a two-page spread for the month. This year I'm trying to focus on more adventures and moments. I usually use the notebook for half the year and then forget about it. I'm sticking with it so far. Going back to fill in items still counts, right? I would ask, how to you keep track of your big and small moments of the year?

I finally started to take vacations during the summer (summer reading remember?). I just got back from Acadia. That is our happy place - we go there everything two or three years. If you missed, the pictures, take a look. We had such a fun time. I would ask, do you have a vacation spot you visit often? Or do you enjoy traveling mostly to new places?

I would ask, what's new with you. What do you want to share?

Vacation Photos: Food in Bar Harbor

Last week, I shared a bunch of photos of Maine and hiking and views.

This week, it's all about the food.

I will also say that we are creatures of habit, and we go to the same restaurants often. 

West Street Cafe - this was our second time here and it was magical both times.

I love the decor; there are so many plants.

I forgot to take pictures of the food, but the seafood mushrooms and the lobster mac & cheese are impressive 

Testa's Bar and Grill 

(picture taken from website)
We went to this restaurant for the seafood alfredo.

I'm a big fan of lobster. 

Pink Pastry Shop 

(picture taken from website)

Their peanut butter cookie is to die for. I had to go back for seconds. 

Rosalie's Pizza

This is a favorite pizza spot. 

The eggplant is my favorite. If you're lucky enough to get a table, it's so worth it. 

The crust is great. The tunes are even better

Route 66
(Picture from their website)

Pulled pork with mashed potatoes - I was not expecting this kind of meal here.

It was delicious! 

We go to CJ's Big Dipper every night for dessert when we are in town:

Peanut Butter

Campfire S'mores

This was a delicious trip and I recommend all these places to eat.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.