Marsupial Literature

Maybe We're Electric  Author: Val Emmich Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers  ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 Maybe We're Electric follows Tegan, who is hiding out in her town's Thomas Edison museum after an an unfortunate falling out with her mother. She is soon joined by her classmate, Mac, who is also seeking refuge and is in need of Tegan's help. The two find a common bond in their family issues, though a secret may threaten their new and fragile relationship. Maybe We're Electric is mostly written over the course of 24 hours and jumps between current time and earlier in the day. It's amazing how much is packed into this book for such a short timeline, and it made it hard to put down. I adored Tegan and how the author portrayed her complicated relationship with her current family dynamic. And the way her story contrasted with Mac's yet drew them together, it just made the plot so interesting in my opinion. Even as I'm writing this review, I keep thinking of more...

A Calculated Whisk  Author: Victoria Hamilton Publisher: Beyond the Page Publishing  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Calculated Whisk is the tenth book in the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series. Jaymie is stunned by the suspicious death of Jace Vance, and looks to help solve the case. But when prime suspect Alicia Vance is murdered a short time later, Jaymie quickly finds herself in over her head. She will not leave a single stone left unturned, even if the search may leave her in danger. A Calculated Whisk is the first book that I have read in the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series and I found it easy to read as a standalone novel. I am still new to the mystery novel genre, and I enjoyed reading this book. The story was darker than I expected, and I mean this as a positive note; the fact that it is based on a true story likely adds to this feeling. I liked Jaymie's character and found her to be rather relentless when it came to solving this case...even when people asked her to stop. The twists will also keep...

On Christmas Avenue  Author: Ginny Baird Publisher: Hallmark Publishing ⭐⭐⭐⭐ On Christmas Avenue is a Christmas novel about a struggling small town and two leads who will do what it takes to turn things around. Evan is the county sheriff of Clark Creek who knows all the ins and outs of the town's troubles, especially because is mother is the mayor. Enter Christmas consultant Mary, who is brought in to organize a large parade as a fundraiser for the town. Evan may not like the idea of the parade, but the two will have to work together to help save Clark Creek. On Christmas Avenue is another sweet Hallmark Publishing novel set to publish just in time for the holiday season. I mean, where else would you find a book that involves a Christmas consultant? The small town setting of Clark Creek is great and really helps the reader get into the spirit of the story. I liked both main characters and enjoyed reading how Evan and Mary's relationship progressed as the parade drew closer. The...

Where No One Should Live  Author: Sandra Cavallo Miller Publisher: University of Nevada Press ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Where No One Should Live follows Maya, a doctor at Arizona Public Health, as she works on a number of health issues affecting the local area, namely a new motorcycle helmet law. She often crosses paths with her coworker Alex, and the two quickly become partners when trouble starts to hit the facility. Angry bikers, a mysterious illness, and daily perils of living in a desert region all encompass the issues they face, and may end up drawing them closer in a number of ways. Where No One Should Live is a refreshingly new story to me; I feel as though I have not read many books quite like it before. The style of the book is smart and well written, and it has a number of great storylines, plot twists, and some humorous moments as well. Both Maya and Alex are interesting characters with good depth, and I enjoyed reading all of the different events that they encounter in the book.....and the...

When Sparks Fly  Author: Helena Hunting  Publisher: St. Martin's Press  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ When Sparks Fly is friends to lovers story between longtime friends Avery, who is basically one of the guys, and Declan, a ladies man with little interest in relationships. A mix up followed by a car crash leaves Avery injured and Declan feeling indirectly responsible, so Declan volunteers to care for Avery as she recovers. Even though they have been friends forever, the proximity may just change their relationship. When Sparks Fly is a great combination of romance and humor, with a lot of life in the book. I liked the relationship between Avery and Declan, enjoyed their continuous banter, and found it easy to get lost in their story. The bumps in the road kept the plot interesting, and it is easy to stay with the book until the end. Loved all of the sassy and opinionated supporting characters as well. When Sparks Fly is a fun book, pick it up if you like a good friends to lovers romance.  T...

There's Something About Molly  Author: Christina Hovland Publisher: Entangled Publishing  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ There's Something About Molly is the story of (you guessed it) Molly, a dating coach and single mom who despite her credentials has been unlucky in love. Molly is determined to win a matchmaking competition but has one problem: she needs a significant other. Enter Gavin: single, attractive, and oh right, her friend's ex-husband. The two begin a fake relationship that may turn out to be more real than either of them expected. Can I please start off talking about how great the cover of this book is? Absolutely hilarious and just about sums up Molly's life. Yes, There's Something About Molly is a funny and lighthearted book, but there is also more to it. There is some really great character development, especially the incorporation of single parent life for both Molly and Gavin. I liked the back and forth, will they or won't they nature of their relationship, and it helpe...

Chasing the Stars  Author: Melanie Hooyenga ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Chasing the Stars is the second book in the Campfire Series and follows the story of Naomi and Hunter. Naomi runs a podcast with her brother and is not a big believer in love at first sight. Hunter is incredibly focused on his future and doesn't have time for distractions, including romance. But when they finally meet on a family camping trip, sparks fly and the stars may just align for these two. One thing I absolutely LOVE is a book with a good cover, and that is the number one reason I went out of my way to try to get an ARC of Chasing the Stars (a big thanks again to the author!). The second thing I can't get enough of is a book with a camping/outdoor/nature setting. So two big boxes checked for this book. I liked the dual POV telling of the story, and enjoyed reading the book from both Naomi and Hunter's perspectives. The romance aspect is told in a very age appropriate manner, and I have to say I really appreciated this...

Where Tomorrows Aren't Promised  Author: Carmelo Anthony  Publisher: Gallery Books ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Where Tomorrows Aren't Promised is the autobiographical story of Carmelo Anthony's life up until the 2003 NBA draft. Anthony chronicles growing up in the housing projects of Red Hook and Murphy Homes, losing loved ones, and overcoming incredible odds time and time again. The book covers his high school and college basketball years, along with his experience in the draft. Where Tomorrows Aren't Promised is a story of beating the odds over and over again. Anthony details numerous difficult stories and how he overcame them to get to where he is today. As hard as the book was to read at times, it will help the reader understand him more as a person beyond just basketball. I was most impressed with his descriptions of experiencing depression before it was widely talked about and his struggles with feelings of needing to get help: this was an exceptional part of the book in my opinion. Whi...

The Kaepernick Effect: Taking a Knee, Changing the World  Author: Dave Zirin Publisher: The New Press ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Kaepernick Effect documents the impact of Colin Kaepernick taking a knee in protest of police brutality, and follows the stories of other athletes inspired to do the same. Separated into sections for high school, college, and professional sports, those interviewed for the book discuss the motivation behind their decision to kneel and the resulting reactions they received in the aftermath. I have read a couple of Zirin's prior books, and looked forward to reading and having the opportunity to review The Kaepernick Effect. The purpose of the book is clear in the title and very straightforward throughout the book. I liked the layout of the book and the style of how it was written, with the author really taking a backseat and letting the athletes tell their stories. These are voices that may have otherwise been unheard or misconstrued based on the politicization of this issue,...

The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times  Author: Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams  Publisher: Celadon Books  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times is an interview-based book with conversations between Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams covering current topics and reasons to still have hope. Goodall discusses her Four Reasons for Hope, giving a much needed counterpoint to the constant negative news headlines. The Book of Hope is a call to action for readers to not only work to addressing pressing current issues, but to also look at the future in a different way. The Book of Hope is a breath of fresh air when it comes to books that discuss current events. As a reader with a degree in Environmental Studies, I have certainly read my fair share of books on climate change and other pressing topics. My biggest complaint is that most of those books spend so much time discussing all of the problems, but give very little coverage in the way of solutions....

Meet Me in the Stars Author: Elizabeth J.M. Walker ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Meet Me in the Stars is a NA sci-fi novel and is the story of Anna. After Anna's boyfriend Colin leaves on a spaceship, Anna goes her own route by taking a job as a space waitress on the Andersen Explorer. Anna is a bit stunned that the ship is being piloted by a new young captain named Cass, and may find herself interested in him as well. The quest is not all smooth sailing, and soon Anna finds herself dealing with many unexpected challenges. Seriously, this cover. I cannot get enough of the cover on this book, it's just gorgeous. I have not read a NA sci-fi book in quite awhile, and picking up Meet Me in the Stars was a lot of fun. I was impressed at how well the author created this detailed outer space world in a novella format and found the book to be detailed and well-written. I did like Anna as a main character and enjoyed reading along with all of her adventures. This book is full of twists and turns around every co...

The Stillness Before the Start  Author: Jennifer Ann Shore  ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 The Stillness Before the Start is the story of Harper, who has her whole life planned out and wants to include her best friend, James, in every part of it. Against her better judgement, Harper finds herself drawn to Dylan, her rich classmate and enemy of her best friend. What starts as a request for Harper to Dylan turns into Harper being challenged to look at her life in a different light and start to make changes for herself.  The Stillness Before the Start is my third book by this author and is yet another great YA read. I liked Harper as the main character of this book and enjoyed reading how she progressed throughout the story. The relationship between her and Dylan is unique; I like how he is totally cocky, yet at the same time wants to help Harper become the best person that she can be. This book was engaging enough for me to finish within a day, and it had a ton of great quotes throughout that I en...

Perfect Little Flaws  Author: Jennifer Ann Shore ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Perfect Little Flaws follows Maren, who is dealing with the death of her brother and often hides behind her photography to cope. When she finds out that Vince Novak is transferring to her school and posing a threat to her brother's legacy, she is obviously less than thrilled and wants to avoid him at all costs. Yet she somehow continues to find herself drawn to him, and may find him to be someone can relate to her flaws. I am always nervous to request a second ARC from an author when I did not necessarily engage with the first book I read from them (please note, it was a middle of the road review just because I wanted more from the book). But I am so happy to have had the opportunity to read and review Perfect Little Flaws because not only was it a good book, but it really helped me understand and appreciate the author's writing better. Perfect Little Flaws is great YA storytelling, plain and simple. It's the kind of boo...

Cuttle Author: Chelsea Britain  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cuttle is the story of Nora, a biologist who has spent the better part of the last ten years in a lab studying cuttlefish. Now that her research is complete and her cuttlefish are ready to retire, Nora is left with the realization that she has missed a lot. She begins to navigate the dating scene again and tries to embrace life in her thirties. I am on a serious roll with books by debut authors this year. I was initially drawn to Cuttle based on the cover and description (and it probably doesn't hurt that my husband has a marine biology background). Cuttle is such a fresh and fun story that I easily read the book in one day. I adored Nora's character and the way that the author wrote her internal monologue, often relating her experiences in the dating world to the world of marine life. Nora is written on the spectrum, and I found this topic to be handled well throughout the book. Her relationships with her friends and potential love interest...

Anthology: Love Stories Inspired by Country Music  Author: Sonja Heisinger ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Anthology: Love Stories Inspired by Country Music is a collection of short stories based on twelve country songs. The stories take the reader all over the map, combining the author's personal inspirations with beloved songs. All of the stories share the common theme of love, and present it in various forms. As a fan of country music, I was immediately drawn to this book simply based on the title and concept. I followed the suggestion of other reviewers and read the lyrics of each song before reading this book, and I will also pass along this advice because it really compliments the book. The stories are all lovely and well-written, and the author's love for the music shined through the entire collection. I did enjoy some of the stories more than others, with Austin being a clear favorite. A fun and swoon-worthy book, I would recommend this book to any country music or romance fan. Thanks to BookSire...

Snowflakes Over the Starfish Café  Author: Jessica Redland Publisher: Boldwood Books ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Snowflakes Over The Starfish Café is a story of grief, hope, and finding love. Hollie took over the Starfish Cafe after the death of multiple family members; she loves the business but would give anything to have her family back. Jake has had his own share of loss and tragedy, and copes by staying closed off to others. When the two meet over a shared love of scones and a dog with a silly name, they start to see the silver lining in life again.  I had a lot of ideas of what Snowflakes Over The Starfish Café would be like just based on the cover and title, and was completely wrong in a very good way. Wow, is this book well written. Talk about characters with depth! Both Hollie and Jake have suffered tremendous loss that shape the way they act and think. Reading how the two bond over this deep understand made this book so great. I loved the underlying theme of hope that went along with all o...

The Cafe Between Pumpkin and Pie  Authors: Marina Adair, Kate Angell, and Stacy Finz  Publisher: Kensington Books ⭐⭐⭐ The Café between Pumpkin and Pie is a collection of three stories intertwined in the same location of Moonbright, Maine during Halloween. Love Over Easy, Love Rising, and Romance on Tap follow three love stories that are draped in a local legend: a woman will marry the man they see in the mirror on Halloween. Each woman's journey is unique in it's own right, and there is plenty of small town charm and romance to go around in each section of the book. I was initially drawn to The Café between Pumpkin and Pie based on the premise, my prior reading of some of the authors' books, and the promise of sweet treats and love stories. The general setting of the book was lovely: who wouldn't want to be in this adorable small town during this time of the year? The authors did a great job making each story it's own, while still carrying the main themes throughout...

Meet Me at the Summit  Author: Mandi Lynn Publisher: Stone Ridge Books ⭐⭐⭐💫 Meet Me at the Summit follows Marly's journey of coping with the loss of both of her parents. To help her deal with her grief, her uncle and roommate coordinate a cross country trip for her in the mother's renovated van. Marly begins to reconnect with the things she loved before, and starts to face the struggles she has been trying to bury for the past nine months.. The cover for Meet Me at the Summit was an immediate draw for me, and it made me very interested in reading this book. Marly's struggle with her grief is prevalent throughout the book, and the fact that it is not easily resolved makes it feel more authentic. My favorite part of this book has to be the road trip, with all of the detail put into Marly's hiking and camping adventures; I also appreciated the additional information on the hikes provided by the author in the afterward. My main criticisms are that the plot felt a bit slow ...

Country Music Cowboy  Author: Sasha Summers Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca  ⭐⭐⭐ Country Music Cowboy is book three in the Kings of Country Music series. Travis is a successful country singer that needs to clean up his image. Enter his new singing partner Loretta, who is less that trusting of her new collaborator because of issues in her past. As their music begins to come together, so does their attraction for one another. As noted in a few of my prior reviews, I am a huge fan of country music, so the title and description of Country Music Cowboy was enough to draw me to this book. The plot is solid, and Travis and Loretta as main characters make for an interesting story. I liked how the romance aspect developed, from only physical attraction to something more. The music theme is prominent throughout the book, and holds the story together. While I liked the book as a whole, I had a difficult time staying engaged throughout the entirety of the story and just wanted a little ...