Review: Faraway Inn

 

Calisa travels to Vermont to spend the summer with her great aunt at her B&B. She needs to get out of New York City and away from the boy who just broke her heart. When she arrives, the B&B is more rundown than she imagined. Worse, her aunt isn't interested in her help. In fact, she's only allowing Calisa to stay for three days. 

Calisa is determined to make herself useful in hopes that it will prolong her stay. There aren't many guests, but she begins with making pancakes, cleaning rooms, and bringing back the afternoon tea time. 

Strange things start happening that Calisa can't explain. No one is answering her questions. In fact, her great aunt told her not to ask questions. But Calisa can't help but wonder if something more is happening here...

Why I read this book: I love Sarah Beth Durst's books and come on, look at that cover!

My Thoughts: I loved this book. I loved that it's set in Vermont. I love the setting and the description of nature. I enjoyed getting to know the guests, the quirks of the B&B, and the magic behind it all. I loved the relationship between Calisa and Jack, the groundskeeper's son. I couldn't put this book down, but I also didn't want it to end. This was a cozy read that wrapped you up like a warm hug.

Cover Thoughts: Charming and gorgeous

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your school and public teen library section

Review: Most Likely to Murder

When the yearbook comes out, there's something funny about it. Instead of the usual senior superlatives, there are ways people die. People believe it's the work of Martina and Rick - best friends who have pulled some epic pranks. But they swear it's not them.

Mostly people see this as a joke until their guidance counselor goes missing. He turns up in a lake - and his superlative said he'd be sleeping with the fishes. Maybe it wasn't a prank after all. Maybe this is real. The other people named in the superlatives get together to share information. Could there really be someone out to get them?

My Thoughts: I Loved this thriller. It was clever and smart. I loved how the group came together to share information. I loved how they looked after each other. I loved the friendship between Rick and Martina - and how it connected their families. I loved Rick's crush on Nika and how that worked out. A fantastic thriller with a strong friendship core, a little romance, and lots of twists and turns. 

Cover Thoughts: Love it - very clever

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A Great thriller for your school and public library. Highly recommended. 

Picture Book Wednesday: Helping Daddy

 

Daddy has lots of jobs - and baby wants to help. Sometimes Baby's help means more work, but Daddy doesn't seem to mind. Daddy and Baby have a fantastic day together.

I love how this story is simple with word count and yet conveys so much. The illustrations are sweet and charming. A fantastic slice of life moment between a father and child.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Still Excited to Read

 This week's topic is books we were excited to read but still haven't...yet

Sadly this happens to me often, but I still plan to read these books.

Ok, I just put this on hold at my library

This one has been on hold at my library - just waiting for it to be sent

I did check this one out - but it was overdue and I had to return it before I had a chance to read it

Also had to give back to the library before reading

Currently have this book - just need to read it

Currently checked out of the library and on my shelf

Just placed a hold on it at my library 

Somehow I didn't realize this had come out yet.

Always interested in a good Jane Austen novel

Loved the first book - here for this one. Currently checked out of the library.

It's possible I have too many books checked out of the library - and that's chronic issue for me.  I never have enough time to read all the books I want to...

Middle Grade Monday: School Dance

* Book 3 in the Brinkley Yearbook series * 

The Snowball Soiree is fast approaching and Milo is nervous. Whenever he dances, something bad happens. While he wants to go, he doesn't think that he should. His father is a great dance and tries to help. Taking dance lessons might work - but the only person who can take him is his grandmother who's not supposed to drive without one of his parents. Keeping secrets is making him more stressed. Can he relax and find his rhythm?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book - there's a lot of drama and friendship. There's even a little romance. I loved the group of friends. I loved Milo's grandmother and her desire for freedom, even though it's hard. She made me miss my grandmother! I loved their relationship. I loved how everything turned out. I hope there are many more books in this series.

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

 Library Recommendation: A must have series for your school or public library. 

Review: Bake it Off

 

If you're a Swiftie and a baker, this book is for you.

This book contains recipes from the Eras with cute names, great photographs, and tons of easter eggs. Some of them are inspired by Taylor's bakes. They look wonderful.

There are a few I'm excited to test out. 

Christmas in July: Board Books

It's Christmas in July Week on the blog! Here are some cute Christmas board books.

These cats are getting ready for Christmas in the most adorable way - love the photographs here. 

Mouse is decorating the Christmas tree - and counting the ornaments. This is a cute story with a fun ending. 

Gerald is dancing as Christmas approaches - can everyone dance as he does with abandonment and freedom? This one might be hard to read aloud as the songs change midway through the book.

The reindeer (and three friends) might make different sounds if you tickle them. In addition to the sound, this book has different furs to touch. There's not much to this book, but I bet the kids will love it regardless. 

What is the sound of joy? There are so many possibilities, but this book highlights the joy behind Christmas with the birth of Jesus. A nice way to introduce kids to Jesus.

Review: Love in 280 Characters or Less

 

Sydney is headed off to college - she's excited but nervous. Her best friend Malcom seems to be hitting it out of the park. But she's struggling to make friends, to connect to her roommate, and to figure out what she wants.

Sydney loves writing and fashion. She writes an online blog and is active on twitter. The book is composed of her blog posts, tweets, and texts. Life isn't all that it's made up to be online - it gets messy.

Why I read it: I love college books and epistolary novels.

My Thoughts: I really loved this book - for the format, for the drama, and for Sydney's struggles. I like how she doesn't immediately fit in at school because it's more realistic. I love how she found an audience who admired/supported her writing. I love how Sydney's TA supports her but also guides her to different reading materials. There is a racial incident that shakes her world and changes everything. I wouldn't mind a sequel five years from now and seeing Sydney in the adult world.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public library's collections.

Review: The Shippers

 

JoJo's ex-best friend crashes her wedding. He tells her she's making a mistake marrying Pearce. But to JoJo, Pearce is the first boy she's ever dated that she didn't dump. In fact, JoJo chased him. He didn't seem that interested in getting married. They took forever to figure out a date and plan the wedding. Even then, JoJo didn't get anything she wanted - his mother planned the whole thing, right down to the itchy wedding dress. JoJo is no longer sure of anything. So, she does what Cooper suggests - she faints and then calls off the wedding.

Six weeks later, her sister is getting married on a cruise ship. Her sister decides that JoJo should date their recently single child neighborhood friend - the one JoJo had the biggest crush on. The one she shared her first kiss with. Only he doesn't remember her. Still, the plan must go on. JoJo and Allison are determined to use this week to make him fall in love with her.

Since Cooper showed up, JoJo enlists his help. Things are awkward and funny, but they also just might seem to be working....

My Thoughts: I liked this one, but I didn't love it. I think it's because I didn't connect much with JoJo. She was forcing too much and made too big a deal out of getting together with Finn. I did like Cooper. And I need to know why they stopped talking all those years ago. Also, I wanted more about the cruise ship - the events on board, the food, the ship itself. I read this one quickly because it was a good read, but there was something missing for me. I do really like this author's work, and I'll read more of her books.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: my Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your romance collection 

Picture Book Review: Nature Books

Just a few picture books about Nature.

When life gets crazy and overwhelming, sometimes one needs to escape into nature. 

Nature grounds us and lets us remember to slow down, breathe deeply, and be present. I love how there are little Nature Knows moments in the book. 

* Book sent for review

A journal reflecting two types of butterflies, this book is chock full of information.

The illustrations are amazing; I love the set-up of this book.  The timeline goes through June to September.  There are several pages of notes about journaling, sketching, and butterflies. This book is fantastic for any nature lover and older readers 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Recommend

 This week's topic is books that live in your head - but I'm changing it to books I recommend - which I think is mostly the same thing. As I work in a library, I LOVE recommending books to kids and teens. I love sharing favorites with adults too, but primarily I work with kids and teens.

Here are some kids chapter books I recommend often:

Have you read any of these?
What other kids books do you recommend? 

Middle Grade Review: Three Sisters

 

Harper and her two sisters are stuck going on a hiking trip with their father to bury their mom's ashes. Harper doesn't want to climb the mountain, but nothing will stop her father. The mountain is where their father proposed. 

The Three Sisters are part of a mountain range that is a volcano. Activity has been recorded in the area, but the park rangers are furloughed. Harper thinks she feels some rumblings, but their father presses on. When they are finally at the top, there's a rockslide. 

Things get dicey. The volcano erupts. ash is everywhere. No one is making good choices. Injuries start piling up. Is it possible to get down from the mountain?

Why I picked this up: I love survival stories

My Thoughts: I loved this book. Yes, it's a book about grief but also about survival. The sisters bickered the entire book. The father was the worst. Ryker is a genius who shares information, even if it's better to keep it to yourself. Jentry wants to be a doctor and has a lot of medical knowledge that comes in handy. This one is a real page turner because you want to find out if/how they get off the mountain. I liked how the story was "interrupted" by reports about the volcano and more. 

Cover Thoughts: Great

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public library

If we were having tea

 

I'm trying to be a little more personal on the blog, so for the second time in a month, let's chat honestly.

I'm still deep in Summer Reading. The summer is half over and it's been really busy. But it's also been full of meaningful moments and getting to see some favorite families now that they have more time. It's nice to catch up with everyone. Who do you need to catch up with?

It's the family reunion week and because of work obligations and being down a full-time person, I'm not attending this year. I will miss the ocean and catching up with all the people and the ice cream. Guess it's time to take a trip to Mel's! What's your favorite ice cream flavor?

It's almost Christmas in July and that makes me want to get started on crafting ideas for the holidays and making Christmas cards. I might have listened to a few Christmas songs recently. I make my Christmas cards, and I send out a lot to family and friends and author friends, so I get started early because they can take a long time. I just bought some new stickers/washi tape and I'm eager to play with them. When do you start holiday crafting?

I've also started reading Christmas romance books - from Netgalley and I'm pretty excited about all the ones coming out this year, especially the number of YA books. I'm not trying to rush over fall (which is my favorite season), but Christmas in July does hit me. Plus, there are so many great looking ones, I never get a chance to read them all. Do you read Christmas romances books all year round or save them for the holiday season?

The produce scare has been changing up my eating habits. I did pick blueberries from a local orchard last weekend. And I used the last of them to bake blueberry buckle (a favorite treat my grandmother used to bake for me). I'm not sure regular berries are safe and I love having berries in my cereal in the mornings. It's also rough because this is the best time of the year for fresh produce. I love strawberries and blueberries in cereal, raspberries in baked goods, and melons. What kind of fruit is your favorite?

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

* This idea was taken many years ago from Jamie over at The Perpetual Page Turner

Fresh Fiction Reviews (23)

I haven't done one of these posts since last year. And I have quite a few books to share.

"From Burnout to Belonging: A Satisfying Final Visit to Rome, Kentucky"

"Calling all Anne girls"

"A Typewriter. A Wish. Consequences No One Saw Coming."

"Tennis Anyone?"

"An insider's look at Buckingham Palace"

"So much love for the library cozy series"

"Fun Fresh Rom-Com"

"Murder in a Small Town"

"The Perfect Summer Read"

"Fantastic start to a new series"