Top Ten Tuesday: Books set in England

 This week's topic is setting. I picked books set in England. It's one of my favorite settings. 

Read this year:

Read Last Year:

Read in 2023:

What other books set in England/Britian should I read?

Middle Grade Review: On Thin Ice

 

The twins are having a rough time of it - Dexter is cut from the hockey team and Phoebe's ice-skating partner is injured. Dexter's pranks have gotten him in trouble one too many times with the coach. Phoebe's hoping to medal at an upcoming competition.

Their mom makes a deal with Dex: he will become Phoebe's new skating partner and in return, she will buy him the new hockey skates that he desires. Dexter isn't thrilled with the idea, but he agrees. Plus, figure skating might help his footwork when he gets back on the hockey team. Can they skate together without killing each other?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I loved the sports moments. This book snuck in so many other moments: grief, friendship, romance, and family drama. The twins' father died recently and they're still processing their grief. They're also learning how to talk with their mother and ask for help. All of them are bottling up their emotions, but they do learn to let them out. There were a lot of growing moments here. I liked the dual POV between the siblings. The ending works well. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

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

Summer Love in SLJ

 

The most recent SLJ (School Librarian Journal) came out last week and inside includes an article I wrote about Summer Romances.

I LOVE summer romances and there have been so many great YA ones.

You can read my article here even if you don't get the magazine.

Picture Books Review: Books about Books

You know there's nothing I love more than books about books

Henry isn't into books. But Griselda knows he just hasn't found the right one. The bookstore has Halloween vibes and it's just perfect for Henry. 

The colors of this story are from the Halloween palette. While this could be a Halloween book, it will better as a year-round book. I love the message that there's a perfect book for everyone. 

There's a cat who loves books. When she spies the library, she knows it's a magical place. But the library worker won't let her inside. But she has a plan. Once she's inside, there's a child who reads to her. She's the happiest she's ever been. 

Such a wonderful book about libraries and reading aloud. It's a magical moment. The palette is 70s colors, but it works. The library is a warm fantastic place.

Review: The Crash

Tegan is eight months pregnant. She has money trouble, but she's supposed to be coming into a windfall of money. But that falls through. She decides to drive to her brother's house for a little R&R.

But she's not able to leave before the storm hits. Her car swerves on the road and hits a tree. With all the snow coming down, she's terrified that no one will find her. But a man in truck comes to her rescue. She's injured and would like to go to a hospital, but the roads are too bad. 

Luckily her rescuer has a nurse for a wife. Tegan's hoping that her ankle isn't terrible and that she can make it to the hospital tomorrow. Will the snow let up or will she be stuck there?

My Thoughts: This was a similar read to the author's other books - lots of twists and turns. I love her books because you never know what to expect. I read this in one sitting - because I needed to keep turning the pages. This one ended really well. 

Cover Thoughts: Perfect

Source: My Library

Why I Read this Book: This author is a new favorite

Library Recommendation: A must have author for your public library's collection. 

Review: Bulletproof Barista

 

* Book 20 in the Coffeehouse Mystery series *

Claire Cosi is excited that her coffeehouse will host a smash TV hit, Only Murders in Gotham. The show will use their coffeehouse on location - and their baristas will have background acting jobs. When a man collapses on the sidewalk, Claire learns it's not the first accident on the set. 

But the star actor doesn't want to talk about it. He sweeps everything under the rug and labels it an accident. Claire isn't so easily swayed. She's got her eyes and ears open. With so much going on, she's not about to let anything happen to her staff. 

My Thoughts: This is one of the longest series I've been reading. I love the foodie bits - all that talk about pastries and coffees make me crave a hot chocolate and goodie. I would love to hang out at this coffeeshop in real life - but maybe not with all the bodies. I loved the TV show scenes in this book. I loved learning more about the production of show. This show sounds a lot of like Only Murders in the Building. I'm already looking forward to the next book.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A highly recommended series for your public library's collection. 

Picture Book Wednesday: We Cannot be Friends

Duckie meets Crocodile. She wants to be friends, and it just might have worked. Until a crocodile parent comes by and says that they eat Duckies. Not a good way to start a friendship, but that's not the end...

This is a fun book about friendships and finding new foods to eat. Ame's books are always funny and this is no different. Another winner of a book.