Review: Save the Date

Charlie's older sister is getting married; giving the family one last weekend at the family home before it's sold. Things are changing and Charlie doesn't like change. She's not thrilled about movie. She's sad that her mother's comic strip is ending. She's not sure she wants to leave town for college. She does know that she wants this weekend to be perfect - to be just like old times.

But of course things don't run smoothly and Charlie spends the weekend putting out small fires. The end of the weekend will change everything, but Charlie's holding on to the past as tight as she can

My Thoughts: I adore Morgan Matson books and honestly I could have read many more pages about this family. I really loved it. I saved it to read on vacation and it was such a fun read. I loved the wedding drama, the family drama, and the moments between the siblings. I enjoyed the comic strip and learning more about how that changed things in the family. So many laughs and cute moments in this book from the borrowed dog to the donut runs to the capture the flag moment. Charlie grows during the weekend - learning things about herself and her family. Another sweet story from Morgan Matson - and I can't wait to see what she writes next. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: Book sent for review - plus I attended a signing by Morgan Matson (finally meeting her)
Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for school and public libraries

Review: Wedding Cake Crumble

* Book 10 in the Cupcake bakery series *

Angie and Tate are getting married in just a few short days. While our running wedding errands, Mel and Angie stumble across a dead body. This time it's the wedding photographer. Later they discover the limo driver has also been murdered - and it's obvious the connection between the two is Angie and Tate. Is someone trying to keep their wedding from happening?  No one is resting until this case is solved, giving Angie and Tate their day in the sun.

My Thoughts: I really love this series. I enjoyed the wedding planning and watching Angie's family come together to support her. I always find the brothers entertaining. I really liked the famous author's book and how it was like a train wreck that you couldn't stop reading. Another tasty mystery from Jenn McKinlay.

Cover Thoughts: Cute as always
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: If you don't already have this series at your public library - go buy it.

Blog Tour: Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding

About the Book:

The date is set and arrangements are being made for royal amateur sleuth Georgie Rannoch’s wedding! At last, she will wed the incredibly charming, always mystifying Darcy O’Mara. With a dress in the works and a royal wedding party ready to waltz her down the aisle, Georgie’s next affair is finding a place to live with her betrothed after the big day.

But alas—house-hunting is harder than it seems! After visiting a series of less-than-glamorous lodgings, Georgie’s luck finally turns around when she’s invited by a close family friend to live in his grand estate in the English countryside. Georgie expects a life of luxury and elegance, but is met with a very different reality…

At Eynsleigh Manor, Georgie finds a gaggle of incompetent servants and a run-down estate. And when she wakes up in the middle of the night to find a gas tap running in her bedroom, Georgie suspects something rotten is afoot…will she have the chance to walk down the aisle, or will death get in the way of her happy ever after?

About the Author: 

Rhys Bowen is the New York Times Bestselling Author of the Royal Spyness Series, Molly Murphy Mysteries, and Constable Evans. She has won the Agatha Best Novel Award and has been nominated for the Edgar Best Novel. Rhys’s titles have received rave reviews around the globe.

My Review: This is book number 12 in the series and I've enjoyed reading them all. I loved this one for the wedding talk, especially the conversations about the dresses - and the princesses. I loved the moments between Lady Georgiana and her grandfather, he's a favorite character of mine. I also love Queenie; she's come into her own later in the series and I appreciate her.  I enjoyed learning more about Eynsleigh Manor - both the good and the bad. Of course I enjoyed the moments with the Queen and Fig. I can't wait to read what happens next!

If you haven't read these book, you're in for a treat.

Review: Wedding Date

Alexa meets Drew in an elevator at a hotel - that shuts power when the power goes off. They start chatting. She's there to meet her sister and celebrate a milestone achievement. He's there to attend the wedding of his ex-girlfriend and good friend. In a moment of craziness, he acts her to be his date and fake girlfriend to the wedding. And she says yes. They have a great weekend together, but all to soon he's leaving. Could this weekend be the start of something much more?

My Thoughts: I've been waiting for ages to read this book - it had a bunch of holds on it at the library. I kept hearing so much buzz about it. And the buzz wasn't wrong - it was delightful. I loved the meet cute. I loved that Alexa was smart, strong, and spoke her mind. I love how she didn't hide talking about being Black and how she called Drew out on his privileged life. I loved the moments between the sisters - even though they were difficult at times. I loved that both Drew and Alexa were so passionate about their jobs. I really liked Carlos. Of course I enjoyed the pop culture references - especially Anne of Green Gables. I love how they ate all the time - it made me hungry! For a debut novel, Jasmine Guillory knocked it out of the park; I can't wait for her next book which also looks amazing.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: A must have for public libraries

Adult Review: You Say It First

 * First in a new series *

Pallas's new  business is struggling. Having inherited it, she's not sure she wants to keep it. She likes planning weddings, but it feels stale. Luckily, she just hired herself a handyman artist who convinces her to think outside of the box.

Nick's in limbo, waiting to hear about an overseas art project. So, he doesn't mind helping out someone in need. Plus, it lets him go back to working with a familiar medium.

Together, the two of them fall into an easy relationship. But Nick doesn't do long term and he's leaving soon. Should Pallas risk her heart anyways?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this spin off of Fool's Gold. I loved seeing the brothers from Fool's Gold and their relationship after the bombshell that changed their lives. I loved watching them create art and dabble in new projects. I really loved Pallas. I loved her loyalty, loved her group of friends, and I loved how she started to take chances. I felt terrible for her in regards to her relationship with her mother, but I love how she started feeling more confident in herself. And the meetings between Nick and her mother were great. A wonderful start to a surefire hit series! 

Cover Thoughts: Perfect
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Grab this one for your romance section!

Adult Review: About a Dog

 * First in a new series *

Mac left her hometown directly after her wedding that wasn't and she hasn't returned. Now her best friend is getting married and she's the maid of honor. She can't wiggle her way out of this one. to make matters worse, Emma has asked her to look after her brother during the wedding week. What the bride doesn't know is that Mac and her brother has a romantic past.

Mac isn't thrilled about being thrown together with Gavin, especially given their history. But she's making the best of it. She's happy to see her aunts, she's happy to be back with her friends, and she's even happy to see Gavin. Even if her is off limits and even if he isn't giving up.

My Thoughts: I adored this start of a series and I can't wait to go back to Bluff Point and read more. I loved the small town charm. I loved the bridal party and their moments together. I loved their banter and easy friendship. I adored Gavin. I like how he didn't give up. I love the aunts and their outlook on life. I loved Tulip, she stole the book in some ways. I really enjoyed Mac and how she changed a bit over the course of the book. I enjoyed her moments with arch nemesis. A entertaining read with great friendships, strong family ties, and a fun romance. September can't come soon enough! 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable
Source: My Library
Next Book: Barking Up the Wrong Tree due out in September

Library Recommendation: Get this one for your public libraries! 

Children's Book Review: Cupcake Cousins

Willow and Delia can't wait until their family vacation this summer!  Their aunt will be getting married. Right now they're stuck wearing hideous dresses as flower girls, but they hope to be allowed to make the wedding cake.

But when they arrives, they find a chef already installed in the kitchen. To make matters worse, every time they try to help, things become a disaster. But when an emergency strikes, can they help save the day?

My Thoughts: I really liked this book and I'm eager to read more in this series. I loved the cousins being together. I loved the busy house with all the people coming together. I wasn't crazy about the two girls getting into trouble every time something went wrong - it wasn't always their fault, but I can see how it was needed. I loved the animals, especially the dog. As a younger sister, I remember those days where the older ones knew more, so I'm glad to see the younger ones take control. A fun read with great illustrations and girls with big hearts.

Cover Thoughts: Really cute
Source: My Library

Library Recommendations: Great for your children's department for both public and school libraries.

Mysterious Saturday Review: Wedding Cake Murder

 * Book 19 in the  Hannah Swensen series * 

Hannah's getting married and competing in a dessert food challenge on television. It's hard juggling both, especially when the dessert challenge reschedules for an earlier date.

Hannah and Michelle (her sous chef) come up with a plan for the competition. They fly to New York City for the first leg. Whoever wins the first competition, will have the competition moved to their town.

When one of the judges dies - murder, the heat is on to catch a killer and to finish the competition to the best of their abilities. With everything going on, it will be a miracle if everything works out.

My Thoughts: I really like this series (and the movies based on the series). I loved the food competition of this novel - seeing the other contestants interact, watching the food entries, and watching the judges reaction to their tastings. I loved the conversations revolving around Hannah's dessert entries. 

I wish we learned a little more about Ross. I hope that he comes up more in the next few books. I feel like we have limited knowledge of him and I'm not sure if I actually like him. The relationship between him and Hannah seems based in the past. They don't have the best communication moments...yet. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library

Final Thoughts: Another fun read in this series with small town charm and amazing baked goodies. 

Mysterious Saturday Review: Bodice of Evidence

 * Book 2 in the Perfect Proposals series *

Pepper's sister is getting married and she's looking for the perfect dress. After three shops, Felicity is feeling discouraged. The sisters and their mother take a quick break before heading to their last appointment.

When they arrive late, they're surprised to see no one in the shop. Pepper goes searching for anyone to help them and discovers the owner lying in the alley - murdered.

She struggles to understand the reason for the murder. Pepper convinces her sister to return to the store for another appointment. She has some questions to ask.

With Pepper's new business starting to take off, she doesn't have much time for snooping, but she doesn't let that stop her. Could she find out something that will land her in hot water?

My Thoughts: I really love this series. I love the relationship between Pepper and her sister. I liked seeing the women of the family shop for wedding dresses together. I love that Pepper's starting up her own business and I love watching it grow. It was interesting to see the wedding business from both the dress side and the proposal side (maybe the next one will take place in a bakery). I enjoyed the relationship that Pepper has with the police detective and wonder how that will start to change. I really like Gage and watching his relationship with Pepper grow. He seems smart, sweet, and willing to wait for her to find herself. I love that she's not just jumping into another relationship, that she's taking some time to find herself after her last relationship. 

Cover Thoughts: Love it
Source: My Library

Final Thoughts: A great new series to start with a young character finding her way in the world, one wedding proposal (and murder) at a time.

Tween Tuesday Review: Revenge of the Flower Girls

Dawn, Darby, and Delaney aren't happy with the way theirs summer's been going. Their big sister is getting married.

And they don't like the groom.
He doesn't make Lily happy the way her ex-boyfriend did. In fact, Lily hasn't seemed like herself since they broke up. So they come up with a plan to ruin the wedding.

They think Lily deserves better. Plus, if she sees her ex-boyfriend again, maybe she'll fall back in love with him. He's perfect for her. The triplets are willing to do Whatever it takes (even if it's humiliating) to stop Lily from making a huge mistake.

My Thoughts: I really really enjoyed this book. I loved the triplets and their quirks, especially their love for Presidents and how each one has ambitious goals. 

I love the family dynamics and how they're willing to do anything to make their sister happy. I loved the Harry Potter love, shopping for flower girl dresses, and their pranks.

I really liked how the family banded together over Lily's soon to be mother-in-law who attempted to hijack the wedding. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute - I like the sneakers. While it doesn't match the book, it matches the attitude.
Source: Book sent for review

Final Thoughts: If you haven't read this one yet, do so now. It's sweet and highly entertaining. I can't wait to read more about these triplets.