Adult Review: Every Last Breath

* 1st in a trilogy *

Maddox has nothing to lose, making her the perfect operative. An operation goes sideways after it's cut short because she's needed elsewhere does nothing for her self esteem. She's supposed to stop the sale of a deadly virus. And the only person who can help her is someone from her past - someone she thought was dead.

Now she's racing against the clock and trying to keep her emotions in check. The past keeps coming back and she must find a way to deal with it in order to move forward. Can she and Cole save the world and save each other?

My Thoughts: I'm a huge fan of spy novels and movies - so I've been waiting to read this book since I heard about it. It was one of the first books I requested when my library's hold system opened back up. I loved the operations. I loved the team. I'll be happy to read more about them. I enjoyed the emotional struggles between Cole and Maddox and how they worked through things. Lots of action, lots of danger, and lots of emotions in this adventure. I didn't want to put the book down because I had to see how everything would turn out and of course there was a cliff-hanger ending of sorts and now I need the next book in the trilogy!

Cover Thoughts: Awesome
Source: My library
Library Recommendation: A fantastic romantic thriller - highly recommended for public library's romance collections.

Cozy Review: Pumpkin Spice Peril

* Book 12 in the Cupcake Bakery series * 

Mel and Angie are serving cupcakes at their friend's art opening. But her friend's husband has a talk with Mel. He's worried about his wife. When Mel stops by the art gallery to talk about the cupcakes, things go terribly wrong.

Rene is not herself and it's more than just exhaustion from deadline. Mel starts to worry about her. And with good reason. She discovers that Rene's been murdered. And the list of suspects is long - and it includes her.

On top of that, there's someone in the Police Department who's questioning her involvement in previous cases.

My Thoughts: Catching up with old friends is always a treat! Even when those friends have big changes. Nothing will be the same after this book, which is both exciting and a little sad. Because change is hard. I loved the art talk in this book, especially the blown glass details. I felt terrible for Rene and everything that happened to her. Of course I wanted to test out all the cupcakes mentioned. This series always makes my mouth water - and makes me want to bake cupcakes. Can't wait to the next book.

Cover Thoughts: Perfect for Fall
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: A fantastic series for your cozy mystery section - highly recommended.

Review: You Should See Me in a Crown

Liz Lightly, a self proclaimed wallflower, has her life figured out. She's going to her mother's alma matter on a scholarship. And she's going to let herself shine in college, not her small hometown.

But when the scholarship falls through, she's devastated. Sure, she has a back-up plan, but that's not really going to cut it.

Then her brother gives her a piece of advice. Run for Prom Queen and win. There's a scholarship attached to it. The more she things about it, the more she realizes it's her only option. She's going to have to go from wallflower to the spotlight. She's not sure she's ready for that, but luckily she has some friends willing to help.

My Thoughts: I really loved this book. I admired Liz for stepping out into the spotlight and going after her future. I loved how she fixed a broken friendship during her volunteer hours for the running. I did like how the prom team had to volunteer a certain number of hours. And I loved Liz's prom slogan. I admired her for confronting racism. And how that turned out. I enjoyed her family, especially her brother.  And I adored her new friendship (and more) with Mack. I loved their story. There's so much in this book to love. I can't wait to see what Leah Johnson writes next!

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: A must have f/f romance for your school and public library collection!

If You Like:

Picture Book Wednesday: Dozens of Doughnuts

One bear is excited to eat the baked donuts before sleeping for the winter. 

But her the smell of her doughnuts cause all her friends to stop by - and they eat every last crumb. Poor Bear!

I really loved this book (and not just because it's about doughnuts). I loved the message of sharing with friends and kindness. I love how everyone came together for a party before hibernation and how everything turn out. One sweet story!

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public libraries!

Top Ten Tuesday: Cover Freebie

This week, I'm sharing covers of snow. I'm ready for colder weather (not that I want to skip fall, but I do love the first snow of the season). Here are some beautiful snowy covers!

I could spend a week at any of these locations - drinking hot chocolate, soaking up the holiday décor, and playing in the snow.

Book Blast: My Life in the Fish Tank

Grade Level : 4 - 8
ISBN-10 : 1534432337
ISBN-13 : 978-1534432338
Hardcover : 320 pages
Publisher : Aladdin (September 15, 2020)
Language: : English

Praise for MY LIFE IN THE FISH TANK

“I loved My Life in the Fish Tank. Once again, Barbara Dee writes about important topics with intelligence, nuance and grace. She earned all the accolades for Maybe He Just Likes You and will earn them for My Life in the Fish Tank too.” —Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, author of Fighting Words and Newbery Honor Book The War That Saved My Life

”I felt every beat of Zinny Manning’s heart in this authentic and affecting story. Barbara Dee consistently has her finger on the pulse of her middle grade audience. Outstanding!” —Leslie Connor, A Home for Goddesses and Dogs and The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle (National Book Award Finalist)

“Barbara Dee offers a deeply compassionate look at life for twelve-year-old Zinny, whose older brother faces mental health challenges. This touching novel will go a long way in providing understanding and empathy for young readers. Highly recommended.” —Donna Gephart, award-winning author of Lily and Dunkin and The Paris Project

“My Life in the Fish Tank rings true for its humor, insight, and honesty. Zinny is an appealing narrator, and her friendships with supporting characters are beautifully drawn.” —Laura Shovan, author of Takedown and A Place at the Table

"MY LIFE IN THE FISH TANK is a powerful portrayal of a twelve-year old dealing with her sibling’s newly discovered mental illness. Author Barbara Dee deftly weaves in themes of friendship, family, and secrets, while also reminding us all to accept what we can’t control. I truly loved every moment of this emotional and gripping novel, with its notes of hope that linger long after the last page." —Lindsay Currie, author of The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street and Scritch-Scratch.

From acclaimed author of Maybe He Just Likes You and Halfway Normal comes a powerful and moving story of learning how to grow, change, and survive.

When twelve-year-old Zinnia Manning’s older brother Gabriel is diagnosed with a mental illness, the family’s world is turned upside down. Mom and Dad want Zinny, her sixteen-year-old sister, Scarlett, and her eight-year-old brother, Aiden, to keep Gabriel’s condition “private”—and to Zinny that sounds the same as “secret.” Which means she can’t talk about it to her two best friends, who don’t understand why Zinny keeps pushing them away, turning everything into a joke.

It also means she can’t talk about it during Lunch Club, a group run by the school guidance counselor. How did Zinny get stuck in this weird club, anyway? She certainly doesn’t have anything in common with these kids—and even if she did, she’d never betray her family’s secret.

The only good thing about school is science class, where cool teacher Ms. Molina has them doing experiments on crayfish. And when Zinny has the chance to attend a dream marine biology camp for the summer, she doesn’t know what to do. How can Zinny move forward when Gabriel—and, really, her whole family—still needs her help?

You can purchase My Life in the Fish Tank at the following Retailers:

 

Photo Credit: Randy Matusow

Barbara Dee is the author of eleven middle grade novels published by Simon and Schuster, including My Life in the Fish Tank, Maybe He Just Likes You, Everything I Know About You, Halfway Normal, and Star-Crossed. Her books have earned several starred reviews and have been named to many best-of lists, including the The Washington Post’s Best Children’s Books, the ALA Notable Children’s Books, the ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List, the NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, and the ALA Rainbow List Top Ten. Barbara lives with her family, including a naughty cat named Luna and a sweet rescue hound named Ripley, in Westchester County, New York.

       

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Picture Book Review: Ways to Welcome

I know it's not Wednesday, but this was a super awesome picture book that I wanted to share.

And even though it isn't about going back to school, the message still applies.

Small acts of kindness can go along way as shown here. 

This picture book has an amazing message that's perfect for any time of year. I love the idea of spreading love and friendship. And the art is also great with lots of bright colors and diversity.