Sunday, July 9, 2023

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano

At the end of the last book, Finlay and Vero found themselves in the sights of Feliks Zhirov, Russian mob boss. He wants her to find out who the killer is that goes by the name EasyClean. All she wants to do is clean up her eating habits, stop having bodies in her minivan, and avoid all men. This addition to her list is not helpful. Especially since she and Vero find themselves in the police academy. And who is one of the trainers? Nick? Oh yea. But also there is EasyClean as well as Finlay's noisy neighbor.

How are they ever going to get through this one?
Very funny, just like the other books. The Nick/Finlay relationship is a little drawn out and something needs to happen soon but otherwise an enjoyable read.

Three and a half stars
This book came out January 31, 2023
Borrowed as ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own

Saturday, July 8, 2023

The Leap to Leader by Adam Bryant

This is  a really interesting book, sort of a mix between self help and interviews with people are considered leaders. I liked a lot of the advice that these leaders gave and that is what the author was trying to do, to get down to the X factors to make you a good leader rather than try and explore every possibility. 
Some of my favorite advice included: Merge into leadership (don't try to make your mark on a place before you see how it works.) I also liked that you need to look at your peer relationships as much as anything else. And the advice that being a leader will completely reshape who you are. 
Bryant also asks people to define their values and make sure that you are consistent in your behaviors, to look at how they live those values at work, identify why they are important to your success, what you would say about your leadership approach and philosophy in order to recruit someone to your team, and whether your team members would describe you in the same way. 
Eminently readable, this book does give a lot of good advice that seems to come from a range of people not just those who had leadership handed to them.

Four and a half stars
This book comes out July 11, 2023
ARC kindly provided by Harvard Business Review Press and NetGalley
Opinions are my own


Friday, July 7, 2023

Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective by Katie Siegel

This book is an absolutely amazing read and I am very much looking forward to reading other books in the series.
What happens when a girl detective grows up? Can they ever actually live up to the potential that they showed when they were younger? That is what Charlotte is wrestling with right now. Everyone else who was in her detecting group has grown up and moved on but she is stuck. What is she supposed to do with her life? It's not like there's much call for a has-been child prodigy. 
This story looks at mental illness, it looks at perception, and it deals with a bit of the grittier things in life. Charlotte has been closing in on herself for the past year and it's affecting her family and friends. She's given another case but is she going to be brave enough to move past her own insecurities?

Four and a half stars
This book came out June 27, 2023
Charlotte Illes #1
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Saturday, July 1, 2023

Cursed Princess Club Vol. 2 by LambCat

In the first volume we met three sisters. The oldest two are absolutely lovely and accomplished. The third, Gwendolyn, is everyone's favorite. She has a giant heart and is an accomplished cook but she is just not pretty. In fact, she is rather ugly. She never knew until her father wants to make an alliance with the Plaid Kingdom by marrying his daughters off to the other king's sons. That's when Gwendolyn found out how other people see her. Luckily, she also discovered the Cursed Princess Club which was open to all princesses (and a prince, because why discriminate?). 
This time, we're seeing some growing pains. Someone is leaving Gwendolyn notes asking her to meet them in the barn. And it's there that she discovers one of the secrets of the club. She also discovers that there is a club for cursed princes. However, the curses may be more of their own making. 
This book ends on a bit of a cliff hanger with the Argyle Prince seemingly attracted to Gwen and asking her out. But are his motives pure?
An absolutely lovely addition to the series. I cannot wait for book three.

Four and a half stars
This book comes out July 4, 2023
Follows Vol. 1
Followed by Vol. 3
ARC kindly provided WEBTOON Unscrolled and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Friday, June 30, 2023

June 2023 Monthly Rereads

Sleep No More by Jayne Ann Krentz 
Three and a half stars
This book comes out January 3, 2023
Followed by The Night Island
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley



The Resurrection Man by Charlotte MacLeod
Three stars
This book was re-released December 2016, originally published April 1, 1992
Followed by The Odd Job

Thursday, June 29, 2023

A Super Scary Narwhalloween by Ben Clanton

Narwhal loves Halloween but Jelly isn't so sure. There are a lot of scary costumes and he's just not on board. But when word comes that there's a terrifying monster and it might have gotten Narwhal, Jelly is ready to come to the rescue. He superfies himself and their friends and sets out to save his friend.
Adorable as always but could have been a little longer. 

Four stars
This book comes out July 4, 2023
Follows Narwhalicorn and Jelly 
ARC kindly provided by Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley
Opinions are my own


Sunday, June 25, 2023

Murder is a Piece of Cake by Valerie Burns

April’s not-quite-ex-husband is back in town and she is positively NOT happy to see him. CJ (Clayton Jackson Davenport) immediately provokes Maddy, our narrator, into a bet wherein, if he wins, she’ll shut down her bakery. And she’s not the only one he’s picking fights with having presented Mayor Rivers’ first wife with the news that the two were never divorced meaning Candy doesn’t own her store either. And right after she had told our narrator that there was a tunnel between the two stores. 
Of course, CJ is the one who ends up dead. Maddy is one of the immediate suspects since their arguments were so public. So she's going to investigate and try to clear her own name as well as that of her friends.
I enjoyed getting to know people in this book but didn't feel like there was much character growth and there were some parts of the story that felt like they were wedged in and not developed (the parts with Leroy.) Still a good story but am hoping for more in the next book. 

Three and a half stars
This book came out June 27, 2023
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own