Murder Outside the Lines Book Review

 

Murder Outside The Lines

By: Krista Davis

Kensington Books

Kensington

Publish Date 28 September 2021

#MurderOutsidetheLines#NetGalley

I would like to first thank Kensington and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity for reading and reviewing this book.

I gave this book 4 stars. It is the third book in the Pen & Ink Mystery. For the most part I was able to catch on for not having read the first two books in the series. I actually read this book fairly quickly and enjoyed myself while reading. The book is barely over 300 pages.

The main character is a manager, Florrie at a bookstore called Color Me Read. This story takes place in Washington DC during October. The owner of the store, Professor Maxwell receives an odd package in the mail. This package has a human skull and a mirror. The package came from a friend, Ellis Willoughby the Fourth.

The store has a reading one night and the author, Hilda Rattenborst is known for physic abilities. She sees something just before her reading and is a little weirded out. She is able to go on with her reading and then something else happens during this time that she actually faints. She tells everyone that there is evil in the room. And she also tells them that she saw a foot rolled up in a rug. Florrie is wondering if this is just a roost to sale more of her books.

Fat forward a few days and Florrie does find a foot rolled up in a rug in a neighbor's yard. It ends up being the employee of the bakery shop where she buys things for the bookstore. Who killed him and why is he buried the front yard of the neighbors? There also ends up being another murder and this one is Ellis who sent the skull to Maxwell. Again, why is he killed? Do the two murders connect or are they separate? What is happening to their small town?

There are a lot of characters in this story, and it was hard to figure out if they have any reason for being in the story. Some did even if they had a small part. Everyone seems to know everyone. The setting of Halloween really made this story because it gave it a spooky vibe.

I will be reading more about these characters and will back track to the first book for more background on the characters.

The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities Book Review

 

The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities

New Stories about Mythic Heros

By: Rick Riordan

Disney Publishing WorldWide

Rick Riordan Presents

Children’s Fiction/Middle-Grade

Publish Date 28 September 2021

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I would like to thank both Disney Publishing and NetGalley for approving me to read this e-arc for my honest opinion.

Good Reads Synopsis

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents ten new stories–including one of his own–about beloved heroes that sprang from the imaginations of some of the best middle grade authors working today.

A cave monster . . . an abandoned demon . . . a ghost who wants to erase history . . . a killer commandant . . . These are just some of the challenges confronting the young heroes in this highly entertaining anthology.

All but one of the heroes previously starred in a popular book from Rick Riordan Presents. You”ll be reunited with Aru Shah, Zane Obispo, Min the fox spirit, Sal and Gabi, Tristan Strong, Nizhoni Begay, Paola Santiago, Sikander Aziz, and Riley Oh. Who is the new hero? Read Rick Riordan”s short story to find out!

Ten bestselling and award-winning middle grade authors contributed to this collection: Roshani Chokshi, J.C. Cervantes, Yoon Ha Lee, Carlos Hernandez, Kwame Mbalia, Rebecca Roanhorse, Tehlor Kay Mejia, Sarwat Chadda, Graci Kim, and Rick Riordan, who also served as the editor.

The cultures represented by these own-voices stories are: Indian, Mesoamerican, Korean, Cuban, Black American, African, Navajo, Mexican, Mesopotamian, and Celtic.

There”s something for everyone in this collection of fast-paced and funny adventure stories that show what it takes to be a hero in any time, setting, and universe.

Read more about the heroes in these best-selling books:

Rick Riordan Presents: Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Rick Riordan Presents: The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes
Rick Riordan Presents: Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
Rick Riordan Presents: Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
Rick Riordan Presents: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
Rick Riordan Presents: Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
Rick Riordan Presents: Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Rick Riordan Presents: City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda
Rick Riordan Presents: The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim

Book Review.

I gave this book 3 stars overall. There are ten stories in this book, and some received a 4 star and some a 3 star. Now for the stories and the rating I gave them.

1. Calamity Juice By: Carlos Hernandez. I gave this story 4 stars. I haven’t read any of his books but this story fun to read. I now want to go the other stories he wrote with these characters. The characters are able to go to other universes by just relaxing and thinking their way there. This is about them going to find a fellow classmate who was kidnaped by a rainbow unicorn.
2. Beware the Grove of True Love By: Roshani Chokski. I gave this story 3 stars. It was actually the shortest story in the book. This is about Aru who is being taught that love can go the distance but can also be forgotten.
3. The Cave of Doom By: J. C. Cervantes. I gave this story 3 stars. This is about two girls who go on a vacation to spend a few days together before one has to help her father. On their way they go check out an area that is said to have a human child who is being held and no one seems to know about it. They go investigate and find out it is a human at but a demon. They have an interesting time trying to get reid of the demon.
4. The Initiation By: Yoon Ha Lee. I gave this story 4 stars. I actually like this story better than the book. This is where the main character goes to a school to learn how to fight but has to keep her ghost brother a secret and the fact that she can shape shift into a fox. Her trials start before she evens get into the school. Upon her arrival things go hay wire in the dock. Then on day three things really go hay wire. Things are revealed and they learn how to work together to solve them.
5. The Gum Baby Files By: Kwame Mbalia. I gave this story 3 stars. This is about Gum baby who goes on a field trip with two children and then notices a ghost like figure following behind. This is ghost is stealing things to change history. Gum Baby is determined to stop this ghost but doesn’t know how.
6. The Demon Drum By: Rebecca Roanhorse. It is Pow Wow Day, and everyone is going to this big event. All you can hear this one drum, and it is making thing taste funny and people are getting into fights. What is causing all this angry. They discover one of the drums is making a different sound. How is this mystery solved and why is the drum doing this. I gave this story 4 stars.
7. Bruto and the Freaky flower By: Tehlor Kay Mejia. I gave this story 4 stars. Paola’s dog Bruto is sick, and he needs this flower to heal him. This flower is on the banks of a river near her home. It seems like an easy task to retrieve this flower but of course nothing seems as it should.
8. The Loneliest Demon By: Sarwat Chadda. I gave this story 4 stars. This demon was left over from the battle. The gates closed before she could return home. There is no one there to help her return. She goes to the boy who sent them all back to ask for his help. He does try but isn’t able to. She tries on her own and things happen.
9. My night at the Gifted Carnival By: Grace Kim. I gave this story 4 stars. This is about two sisters who go to the carnival for the gifted. All the witches are out, and things happen. They have to save some children before they are taken to the underworld to live the rest of their lives.
10. My Life as a Child Outlaw By: Rick Riordan. I gave this story 3 stars. This is about a boy who is raised by two women out in the forest because his father is killed, and his mother remarries but her new husband doesn’t want him around. He is being chased by his father’s killer and finds himself on the run several different times. On these runs he learns new skills and meet some interesting people.

I enjoyed the book over all even though I usually don’t read short stories. I have read most of these authors before and for the ones I have not I will be picking up the full novels about the characters they talked about.

The Totally Not Boring Book of Feelings Book Review

 

The Totally Not Boring Book of Feelings

By: Jolie Taylor

Publish Date: September 3, 2024

Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing/Shadow Mountain

Children's Fiction/Poetry and Verse

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Book Review:

This book was just ok for me. I gave it 3 stars. I am thinking my experience is because my e-arc didn't download correctly. I had a difficult time with the format of the e-arc, and this made it hard to read. What I did like was the way that the author talked about the different feelings a person could have and that those feelings where ok. She gave cute examples of each one and had pictures for them. She had the illustrator show different animals and things that children love to show these feelings. Some of the verse made me cringe but again I was not the intended audience for the book. Kids love those things. 

Harlem Shuffle Book Review

 

Harlem Shuffle

A Novel

By: Colson Whitehead

Doubleday Books

Doubleday

Historical Fiction/Literary Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers

Publish Date 14 September 2021

#HarlemShuffle#NetGalley

First I would like to thank Doubleday for choosing me as one of the people to review this book.

Good Reads Synopsis:

“Ray Carney was only slightly bent when it came to being crooked…” To his customers and neighbors on 125th street, Carney is an upstanding salesman of reasonably priced furniture, making a decent life for himself and his family. He and his wife Elizabeth are expecting their second child, and if her parents on Striver’s Row don’t approve of him or their cramped apartment across from the subway tracks, it’s still home.

Few people know he descends from a line of uptown hoods and crooks, and that his façade of normalcy has more than a few cracks in it. Cracks that are getting bigger all the time.

Cash is tight, especially with all those installment-plan sofas, so if his cousin Freddie occasionally drops off the odd ring or necklace, Ray doesn’t ask where it comes from. He knows a discreet jeweler downtown who doesn’t ask questions, either.

Then Freddie falls in with a crew who plan to rob the Hotel Theresa—the “Waldorf of Harlem”—and volunteers Ray’s services as the fence. The heist doesn’t go as planned; they rarely do. Now Ray has a new clientele, one made up of shady cops, vicious local gangsters, two-bit pornographers, and other assorted Harlem lowlifes.

Thus begins the internal tussle between Ray the striver and Ray the crook. As Ray navigates this double life, he begins to see who actually pulls the strings in Harlem. Can Ray avoid getting killed, save his cousin, and grab his share of the big score, all while maintaining his reputation as the go-to source for all your quality home furniture needs?

Harlem Shuffle’s ingenious story plays out in a beautifully recreated New York City of the early 1960s. It’s a family saga masquerading as a crime novel, a hilarious morality play, a social novel about race and power, and ultimately a love letter to Harlem.

Book Review:

I so wanted to really enjoy this book but unfortunately I didn’t. I gave this book 2.75 stars and rounded it up to 3 stars on good reads.

This book is about a man named Ray and it goes through several years of his life in Harlem. He owns a used furniture store that he bought or inherited from a former employer. Business is slow at the beginning and he has to go to people who are saling off things either because they money or a family member has passed away. He is so worried about following in his footsteps. He has a wife who is pregnant and a daughter. He does want to do better by them. His in-laws really don’t like him because he is a furniture sales man even though he owns his own store.

As the story goes on it tells about him always being there for his cousin who is constantly in trouble. He allows his cousin to do this to him. This causes him to actually follow in his father’s footsteps.

Those were some of the things I didn’t like. Now the things I learned and were interesting. Harlem is a rough area and blacks had it rough even in this area. Cops and drug lords or gang leaders required you to make a weekly pay off to keep your business safe. Learning about Harlem and how people survived and interacted back then was an eye opener.

In conclusion, I like his writing style because once I opened up the book I was able to read quickly. The wanting to open the book was the problem it just didn’t draw me to it. I enjoyed his book The Underground Railroad so I will continue to read his books.

Pahua and the Soul Stealer Book Review

 

Pahua and the Soul Stealer

By: Lori M. Lee

Disney Publishing Worldwide

Rick Riordan Presents

Children’s Fiction/Middle Grade

Publish Date 07 September 2021

#PahuaandtheSoulStealer#NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for letting review this book.

Good Reads Synopsis:

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Lori M. Lee’s middle grade debut about a lonely Hmong girl who discovers she’s a powerful shaman warrior in this fantasy inspired by Southeast Asian mythology.

“I love the adventures Pahua has in this book. I also love the sense of humor, the clever plotting, and the fantastic cast of characters. But most of all I love Pahua: her courage, her kindness, and her love for family.”–NYT best-selling author Rick Riordan

Pahua Moua has a bit of a reputation for being a weirdo. A lonely eleven-year-old Hmong girl with the unique ability to see spirits, she spends her summer days babysitting her little brother and playing with her best friend, a cat spirit no one else can see.

One day Pahua accidentally untethers an angry spirit from the haunted bridge in her neighborhood–whoops. When her brother suddenly falls sick and can’t be awoken, Pahua fears that the bridge spirit has stolen his soul. She returns to the scene of the crime with her aunt’s old shaman tools, hoping to confront the spirit and demand her brother’s return. Instead, she summons a demon.

Thankfully, a warrior shaman with a bit of an attitude problem shows up at the last minute and saves her butt. With the help of this guide, Pahua will have to find her way through the spirit worlds and rescue her brother’s soul before it’s too late. Little does she know she’ll have her own discoveries to make along the way. . . .

With its unforgettable characters, unique nature-based magic system, breathtaking twists and reveals, and climactic boss battle, this story based on Hmong oral tradition offers everything a fantasy lover could want.

Book Review:

I gave this book 4 stars. I love learning about different culture’s myths. I don’t know much about Asian culture so this was a great way to learn.

Pahua is 11 years old and takes care of her younger brother while her mom works. Her Dad left them a few years ago. Pahua doesn’t have any friends to speak of except for a cat which she is the only one who can see it. In fact, Pahua sees a lot of spirits. She has been able to spirits since she was around 4 years old.

One day while waiting for her brother to finish his summer school class she is invited to go a bridge which is haunted. She really doesn’t want to go but she has never been invited to anything before so she goes. While they get closer she can feel the spirit by the bridge. The spirit is a young girl. Pahua feels sorry for her and gets closer, not a good idea. By doing this she somehow releases the spirit into her world.

This spirit is causing some problems and the number one problem is that she is taking over young children’s souls which make them go into comas. One of the children is her own brother. She needs to find a way to fix this problem that she unknowing caused.

By returning to the bridge to try and fix the problem she causes a bigger one by calling different ones who happen to be very strong and want her for some reason. She is saved from the first one by a young Shaman Warrior.

They both go on an adventure to prove themselves and to save her brother and the children. Are they successful? Who is the big wig who wants her?

You will have to read the book to find out.

Sticks and Scones Book Review

 

Sticks and Scones

A Bakeshop Mystery

By: Ellie alexander

Published Date: August 20, 2024

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books

Mystery and Thriller

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Book Review:

This is the first book I have ever read from Ellie Alexander. My oldest daughter loves these books. This is the 19th book in the series. With that being said I didn't feel like I was missing anything as I read this book. I wish I did know more about each character by reading the other books, but it didn't stop my enjoyment. I gave this book 4 stars.

In this book The Taming of the Shrew is being played at the theater.  Jules is part owner along with her friend Lance. After this first showing the main actor is find dead in the tasting room of the restaurant. Jules finds him with a corkscrew in his neck. Who killed him and why? Jules needs to know and there are many people who could have done it. This actor was not a nice guy. Also, Jules isn't feeling well and decides she needs to probably slow down and have her staff do more and possibly hire more help. As Jules looks into the murder, she gets so much information and can't narrow down the who done it. It seems like when she thinks she the person more information comes to light and it's impossible to figure out who done it.

I love the family and friends in this story and can't wait to go back and the other books in this series.

Escape for this Escape Book Review

 Book Information:

Escape: The Story of the Confederacy’s Infamous Libby Prison and the Civil War’s Largest Jail Break

By: Robert P. Watxon

Rowman & Littlefield

Nonfiction (Adult)

Publish Date 15 August 2021

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Good Reads Synopsis:

Robert P. Watson provides the definitive account of the Confederacy’s infamous Libby Prison, site of the Civil War’s largest prison break. Libby Prison housed Union officers, high-profile foes of the Confederacy, and political prisoners. Watson captures the wretched conditions, cruel guards, and the story of the daring prison break, called “the most remarkable in American history.”

My Book Review:

First, I would like to thank NetGalley and Rowman & Littlefield for approving the e-arc of this book.

Escape is only 336 pages, but it is full of information. I usually read a book this size in one to two days, but this book took a lot longer because of the amount of information involved, and the way the book made me feel. Despite the time it took me to read, I gave this book 5 stars. I know a book is good when it can make me feel what the people in the story are going through.

I have heard of the Libby Prison before, but I know a lot of people have not heard of her, but they do know about Andersonville. The author talks about the prisons in the south with enough detail that you can picture them in your mind and imagine how the prisoners were treated in each place.

The author goes into detail about the beginning of the war, and most of the prisoners in the prison. Of course, he couldn’t mention everyone because that would really make a long book! He mostly talks about the people who were involved in the prison break. He also tells you about the people in charge of the prison break.

If you love history and the civil war, I highly recommend that you read this book. But remember, it is not a quick read, but it is worth the time if you really want to learn.

The Robin's Greeting Book Review

 

The Robin’s Greeting

Amish Greenhouse Mystery #3

By: Wanda E. Brunstetter

Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Shiloh Run Press

Christian/Mystery & Thriller/Romance

Publish Date 01 March 2021

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Good Reads Synopsis:

For the past two years Belinda King, along with her two grown daughters and teenage son, has been struggling to keep the family greenhouse running. Despite disconcerting events that have threatened to put them out of business, they have survived two growing seasons. And now Belinda can focus on the two suitors vying for her attention. Herschel Fisher, a new acquaintance, makes her feel relaxed, and Monroe Esh, an admirer from her past, reminds her of her youth.

But just when Belinda thinks she can choose between her suitors, life throws more trials her way. Her son, Henry, becomes bitter about the idea of her dating anyone. Her daughter-in-law finds her missing mother. Belinda gets sick. And attacks on the greenhouse start again.

When can Belinda hope to experience the peace and love her weary heart longs for?

My Review:

I would like to thank NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for giving me this book as an e-arc for my honest review.

I gave this book 4 stars. I really enjoyed this whole series.

This book is about the mother, Belinda. She has two suitors and must chose between the two. She really isn’t interested in courting, but is okay with having some time with two friends. One suitor is a very quiet and relaxing widower. The other is a loud ex-boyfriend from her youth. One is comforting, the other makes her feels young but anxious. Does she choose one of these men, or will she remain a widow?

We also find out who is causing all the problems on the farm and in the greenhouse. Belinda doesn’t want to involve the police and thinks if they pray hard enough, and continue as if things were normal, the problem will go away. Her friends and family want her to notify the police, but she won’t. Who is causing the problem and why? Will she get the police involved?

I was a little annoyed at the beginning of the story when she also wouldn’t report the incidents to the police. She is way too nice and easy-going, and doesn’t believe harm is meant to them. Another thing that annoyed me was the loud suitor. He just got under my skin with his boldness, and how he just assumed she would pick him because of their past relationship and his money. He brought these things up all the time.

Once she made her decision about the suitors, the story went better for me. At that point, I was able to up my rating to the 4 star rating. The ending was good, because I never imagined the person who was doing the vandalizing. It was a great ending for a mystery!

I would recommend the series if you are looking for a good, clean, mystery.

For Which We Stand Book Review

 

For Which We Stand

By: Jeff Foster

Scholastic Books

Good Reads Synopsis:

Discover everything you ever wanted to know about how the government really works with this accessible, highly designed and illustrated handbook from Marjory Stoneman Douglas AP government teacher Jeff Foster.
Now more than ever, it’s so important for everyone to understand our government: where it came from, how it works, and how we can bring about change. And, after all, in the words of author and government teacher Jeff Foster, “If you don’t participate, you can’t complain.”

This book is a comprehensive and entertaining guide that answers questions like: What is the Constitution? What are the branches of the government? What is the Electoral College? What are the political parties? What are the different responsibilities of the city, state, and federal governments?

Plus, discover the complete backstory on some of our government’s most important moments, like why we wrote the Declaration of Independence, and how people since then have worked with — and protested against — the government to improve the lives of all Americans.

Each spread features a mix of black-and-white and full-color art, including infographics, charts, maps, political caricatures, and other engaging visual elements that will be fun and easy for kids to understand.

Includes a foreword from an inspiring, change-making activist, plus lots of amazing back matter about how kids can participate and get involved.

Review:

I want to first thank Amazon Vine for sending me this book to review.

I am glad I read this book because I have forgotten a lot of what learned in high school. This is a great book to have on hand to review and refresh your mind on our government and how it is run. Foster did a great job breaking it all down to easy terms for anyone to understand how our government works.

I gave this book a 4-star rating. I recommend that you are reading this book to learn about government, but just to enjoy. The pictures are fantastic, and Foster did everything in short blurbs, so you don’t get overwhelmed with information.

Closet Confidential Book Review

 

Closet Confidential

A Charlotte Adams Professional Organizer Mystery #4

By: Mary Jane Maffini

Beyond the Page Publishing

Humor/Mystery & Thrillers

Publish Date 17 August 2021

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Good Reads Synopsis

Fourth in the series featuring organizer and amateur sleuth Charlotte Adams, following Death Loves a Messy Desk. A friend hires Charlotte to organize her closets and prove that her daughter’s accident was murder. And now Charlotte has to get a house-and her suspects-in order.

Review:

I first want to thank NetGalley for letting me review this book. This book is not new, but it is being re-reviewed for republication with the new book cover.

I had a blast reading this book, so I gave it four stars. I haven’t read a cozy mystery that deals with organizing your home, so this was a new twist. There are organizing tips at each chapter heading which leads into the subject of the chapter, which I found fun and helpful. This book deals with organizing closets.

As the synopsis’ says a friend ask Charlotte to help organize his wife’s many closets. Their daughter died a few months earlier and it has been deemed an accident. His wife is having a hard time dealing with this and insist her daughter has been murdered.

Charlotte says she will look into this death because she isn’t sure if it was an accident herself, as she was in Paris at the time. Her other friends want her to leave it alone, but Charlotte thinks that if she can prove it was an accident it will help her friend, and his wife move on. Charlotte’s own life is in order (as you’d expect from a professional organizer), but looking into this accident has put her life in disarray. There are too many questions and not enough answers. Did the daughter die by accident or was it murder? Why is her friend insisting it was an accident, but why is his wife insisting it wasn’t? Will they find closure? Will the closets ever get organized? You will have to read the book to find out!

Until next time, keep reading!