Kid Konnection: I'm a Gnome!

Every weekend, I host Kid Konnection -- a regular weekly feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a silly picture book with some enchanting characters!

Summary: Fans of Mo Willems and Dev Petty’s I Don’t Want to Be a Frog will love this humorous tale about one gnome’s journey to prove he is unlike the other magical creatures in the forest.

Join Gnome (that’s spelled G-N-O-M-E–don’t ask why the G is silent!) as he travels through the magical forest to attend the annual Gnome Festival.

Along the way he encounters elves, dwarves, trolls, and fairies. But don’t be mistaken. He is NOTHING like those magical creatures. Well, maybe he is . . . but only a little bit!

When Gnome finally arrives at the festival, he realizes that all the traits he thought made gnomes different from the others actually made them alike–and that’s just fine. -- Crown Books for Young Readers

I'M A GNOME! by Jessica Peill-Meininghaus and illustrated by Poly Bernatene is too darn cute from its cover, to its endpaper, to its characters, to its story! I can't help but smile every single time I take a look at this picture book. I mean how cute is this cover?

I'M A GNOME teaches kids about all things gnomes... and fairies and elves and dwarves and so on. The book begins with a gnome traveling through the enchanted forest on his way to show readers the Gnome Festival. Along the way, he introduces readers to all of the characters in the forest who can sometimes be mistaken for elves. But he makes it very clear that gnomes are quite different... or are they?

I'M A GNOME is a very fun book that's perfect for reading out loud. As I read this book to myself, I couldn't help but want to read it to a little one. As the gnome travels through the forest, he tries to stress to the reader that gnomes are very special indeed. However, he quickly learns that it's not as easy to describe a gnome as being unlike any other magical creature. It's extremely cute with lots of humor, and I'm certain that parents and kids alike with enjoy reading this picture book over and over again. Plus, there might be a nice message or two about stereotypes and inclusivity!

I'M A GNOME is absolutely adorable. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Review: Sunset Beach

Summary: Pull up a lounge chair and have a cocktail at Sunset Beach – it comes with a twist.

Drue Campbell’s life is adrift. Out of a job and down on her luck, life doesn’t seem to be getting any better when her estranged father, Brice Campbell, a flamboyant personal injury attorney, shows up at her mother’s funeral after a twenty-year absence. Worse, he’s remarried – to Drue’s eighth grade frenemy, Wendy, now his office manager. And they’re offering her a job.

It seems like the job from hell, but the offer is sweetened by the news of her inheritance – her grandparents’ beach bungalow in the sleepy town of Sunset Beach, a charming but storm-damaged eyesore now surrounded by waterfront McMansions.

With no other prospects, Drue begrudgingly joins the firm, spending her days screening out the grifters whose phone calls flood the law office. Working with Wendy is no picnic either. But when a suspicious death at an exclusive beach resort nearby exposes possible corruption at her father’s firm, she goes from unwilling cubicle rat to unwitting investigator, and is drawn into a case that may – or may not – involve her father. With an office romance building, a decades-old missing persons case re-opened, and a cottage in rehab, one thing is for sure at Sunset Beach: there’s a storm on the horizon.

Sunset Beach is a compelling ride, full of Mary Kay Andrews' signature wit, heart, and charm. -- St. Martin's Press

I always look forward to reading a novel by Mary Kay Andrews every summer. This year was no exception. Her latest book is titled SUNSET BEACH, and it is perfect for beach or pool reading. This book is a terrific mix of mystery, family dynamics, and romance. What more could you ask for in a summer book?

SUNSET BEACH tells the story of Drue Campbell, a woman who is in a bit of bind. She's out of work and recovering from an injury that keeps her living life to the fullest, and then her mother dies. Things really take a turn when her estranged father shows up at the funeral, and he's married to a former friend of Drue's! She's not exactly in a good place if you know what I mean.

So when her father, who also happens to be a personal injury lawyer, offers her a job, Drue isn't sure she wants the help. However when she learns that she inherited a beach bungalow, she decides to stay in Sunset Beach and make some money to help her fix up the house she always loved. She hates working with her father and his wife (her ex-friend!), but she finds herself intrigued in a case after a suspicious death occurs with ties to her father's firm.

Drue decides to dig in and she what she can uncover about this case, and in the process also discovers a few secrets about her parents' past. With a mix of sleuthing, romance, and home improvement, Drue finds herself with more than enough on her plate to keep busy... and maybe even in a little trouble!

I thoroughly enjoyed SUNSET BEACH. The novel is a pageturner with quite a few surprises, and it also showcases what I've come to know and love about a Mary Kay Andrews' story -- charm and wit with memorable characters. At first, I wasn't too sure about Drue; however, I came to understand her rough-around-the-edges exterior and even grew to like her a lot! She was a fantastic main character who not only was determined enough to dig into these mysteries, but she also had a personal back-story that made her interesting.

I also appreciated the mysteries in SUNSET BEACH. There were a few story lines about mysteries that Drue was pursuing. It was interesting to see how everything came together at the end of the novel, and I have to say that I didn't see much of it coming. Ms. Andrews got her start in writing mysteries as Kathy Hogan Trocheck (whose books I also loved!), and her skills as a mystery writer were apparent in this novel.

SUNSET BEACH really is an ideal summer read. I realize that there isn't much time left in the summer, but if you're going to pick up one last summer book, then I highly recommend SUNSET BEACH. It's got a little something for everyone -- mystery, romance, friendship, beach setting, and charm!

Thanks to Tandem Literary and the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Kid Konnection: Up Up Up Down

Every weekend, I host Kid Konnection -- a regular weekly feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you an adorable picture book from an author that has already received a starred review from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly for her book THE CLASS!

Summary: Follow an energetic toddler’s day with Dad that’s full of opposites – up and down, make and break, yum and yuck, and more.

From his first demand to be picked up and then immediately put down, opposites pop up all day long for this energetic boy. Breakfast is no, no, no, yes! At the sandbox, it’s make, make, make, break! And jumping into the pool goes from can’t, can’t, can’t, to can!

Kimberly Gee’s expressive illustrations emphasize the loving connection between a boy and his father in this clever concept book about everyday highs and lows that is sure to entertain little (and big!) members of the family. -- G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers 

UP UP UP DOWN by Kimberly Gee is a cute book that takes readers through a day-in-the-life of a toddler and his father. The book begins when the baby wakes up and wants, "Up, Up, Up" and then "Down!" It then follows the toddler through his day as he eats breakfast, gets dressed, swims, and more. The story demonstrates how the toddler initially demands one thing and then after he gets it, he immediately wants something else. Sound familiar, parents?

I liked the simplicity of this book and that it's perfect for even the most active toddlers. However, I also liked the humor in the story as well as the illustrations. I especially appreciated how the author was able to show the special relationship between the child and parent. 

UP UP UP DOWN is too cute! It's a picture book that toddlers and parents alike will want to read again and again!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Review: The Escape Room

Summary: Welcome to the escape room. Your goal is simple. Get out alive.

In the lucrative world of finance, Vincent, Jules, Sylvie, and Sam are at the top of their game. They’ve mastered the art of the deal and celebrate their success in style—but a life of extreme luxury always comes at a cost.

Invited to participate in an escape room as a team-building exercise, the ferociously competitive co-workers crowd into the elevator of a high rise building, eager to prove themselves. But when the lights go off and the doors stay shut, it quickly becomes clear that this is no ordinary competition: they’re caught in a dangerous game of survival.

Trapped in the dark, the colleagues must put aside their bitter rivalries and work together to solve cryptic clues to break free. But as the game begins to reveal the team’s darkest secrets, they realize there’s a price to be paid for the terrible deeds they committed in their ruthless climb up the corporate ladder. As tempers fray, and the clues turn deadly, they must solve one final chilling puzzle: which one of them will kill in order to survive? -- St. Martin's Press

I've been excited to share THE ESCAPE ROOM by Megan Goldin with you for many months. I actually read this book when I traveled to Florida for the Penn State bowl game (obviously I had no idea when the publication date was!) And then, I was lucky enough at this year's Book Expo to participate in an escape room challenge with bloggers and none other than Ms. Goldin herself! I also had a drink with the group later in the evening and even sat next to Ms. Goldin. Of course, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to ask her a few questions about the book... and I was so glad that I had read it earlier!

THE ESCAPE ROOM tells the story of four co-workers who find themselves trapped in an elevator after they are called to work to participate in a team-building exercise. Each one of them is extremely competitive and wants to prove that he or she is deserving of kudos and maybe even a promotion. However, they quickly realize that this is one very unique team-building exercise because they are stuck in an elevator in the dark; and it seems like they are in a fight for their lives!

Much like an escape room challenge, these four must work together to figure out the clues, but there are definitely larger stakes. The co-workers are forced to work together, but they also are pitted against each other. These individuals are incredibly selfish and greedy, and their worst traits are gradually brought to light as they become more desperate. Just how far are they willing to go to save themselves?

I really enjoyed THE ESCAPE ROOM. It's a tense suspense story that definitely played on one of my biggest fears -- being stuck in an elevator; and it also a page-turner. The novel alternated between the four co-workers' saga in the present and the story of another employee which takes place in the past. The back-and-forth story sets up a dramatic conclusion; and even though I wasn't totally shocked, it was a well-crafted story!

I will be the first to admit that each of the four co-workers was more despicable than the next. I really couldn't stand any of them, but I loved how the author used these individuals to show the true meaning of greed. They really were willing to do anything to protect themselves and their reputation (not to mention their wealth!).

There are also quite a few twists in the novel that brought the story to the next level for me. Because I thoroughly enjoy mysteries and puzzles, the challenges the characters faced in the elevator were especially intriguing to me.

THE ESCAPE ROOM is a not-to-miss thriller. Highly recommended for fans of mysteries and suspense!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Kid Connection: How Do You Dance?

Every weekend, I host Kid Konnection -- a regular weekly feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a cute picture book that celebrates all things dance!

Summary: There are so many ways to dance! You can jiggle or wiggle or stomp. You can bop or bounce or go completely nuts. You can dance at the market or the bus stop, with your fingers or your face. You can dance because you’re happy or even because you’re sad. 

But, what’s the best way to dance? 

Exactly how you want to! 

In How Do You Dance?, author-illustrator Thyra Heder explores dance in all of its creativity, humor, and—most of all—joy, in a picture-book celebration of personal expression that will inspire young and old readers alike to get up and get moving. -- Abrams

HOW DO YOU DANCE? by Thyra Heder is coming out on Tuesday, and it's one of those picture books that just makes you feel good. It's almost been awarded a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, and it's no wonder why. This book explores the wonder of dance and celebrates all of the different ways you can do it!

I adore HOW DO YOU DANCE? This picture book is so cute and I absolutely love each page shows a different way to dance. But I also appreciated how the one little boy is reluctant to dance. The ending has a cute little surprise about his dancing preferences that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face!

The illustrations in this books are nothing short of terrific. I love how the author shows not only the variety of dances and places to dance, but she also includes all shapes, sizes, and colors of people! She somehow manages to also capture the joy in their faces as they let loose and express themselves with movement.

HOW DO YOU DANCE? is a beautiful (and fun!) celebration of dance. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Kid Connection: Just for Me

Every weekend, I host Kid Konnection -- a regular weekly feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a picture book that teaches kids the importance of sharing!

Summary: The adorable and spunky Ruby learns a new life lesson about sharing: “just for me” isn’t nearly as much fun as “just for us!”

When Ruby has something special, she likes to say “just for me!”

That includes everything from her dolly to the colorful candy sprinkles she uses to decorate her cookies. But when a friend comes over for playtime, Ruby takes her mantra just one step too far, and a precious toy is broken. Just when it looks like playtime has been ruined, Ruby realizes that having a friend is much more fun than having everything to herself.

“Sharing is caring” has never felt so spot-on as it does in Just For Me. With sparse text and bright, bold illustrations, this is the perfect story for parents to share with their little readers–and for readers to share with their friends! -- Viking Books for Young Readers

JUST FOR ME by Jennifer Hansen Rolli is an adorable picture book with a very important message. Ruby is a pretty typical toddler... or at least I can relate with my kids! Ruby loves to say, "Just for me!" She uses this term for her dolly, sunshine, sprinkles on her cookies and even a new friend. But Ruby also uses this term when she's playing with her friend, and she gets quite adamant. It takes a little intervention from her dad, with a kind explanation about sharing, for Ruby to realize that she can have even more fun when she shares with a friend.

I loved JUST FOR ME. It goes without saying that the lesson on sharing is one that almost every young child needs. However, I also loved how Ms. Rolli presented the information. She used few words while definitely getting the message across to the reader. In addition, she had delightful and colorful artwork of Ruby and her new friend. Her illustrations of the children's (and dad's) facial expressions brought the story to life as well!

I was pleasantly surprised by the little twist at the end of the story. I assumed that it would end with Ruby and her friend learning to share with each other... and it did. But it also showed that there are a few special things that are just for Ruby -- like her parents! It was a sweet surprise that also shows children that it's okay to sometimes have special things just for themselves!

JUST FOR ME is a wonderful book that should be a must-read for parents and preschool teachers alike. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Kid Konnection: The Evil Princess vs. The Brave Knight

Every weekend, I host Kid Konnection -- a regular weekly feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a picture book from a dynamic brother/sister duo!

Summary: For every parent tired of telling their kids to PLEASE JUST GET ALONG, this hilarious and imaginative new picture book–from the beloved creators of Babymouse–is here to help. Sort of.

Meet the Evil Princess and the Brave Knight. She casts terrible spells, while he fights dragons. He rescues cats in distress, while she makes mischief. No wonder there isn’t much peace in this kingdom! But is the Evil Princess really so evil? And is the Brave Knight truly as chivalrous as he seems? Children and parents will laugh at seeing familiar family dynamics play out in this charming and imaginative new story. -- Random House Books for Young Readers

THE EVIL PRINCESS VS. THE BRAVE KNIGHT by Jennifer L. Holm vs. Matthew Holm is too cute for words! This entertaining picture book demonstrates sibling rivalry at its best. Kids will find themselves laughing out loud at the way this brother and sister find ways to irritate each other!

The "evil princess" isn't truly evil, just mischievous and a little mean; and her brother, the "brave knight" does his best to live up to his hero reputation. She practices casting spells and he practices fighting dragons and saving cats. However despite working towards their individual goals, they always seem to find a way to not get along!

I'm certain THE EVIL PRINCESS VS. THE BRAVE KNIGHT will resonate with kids and parents alike. I love the battle between the brother and sister, and I especially appreciated the surprise twists in the story. Let's just say that things might not be like they initially seem!

THE EVIL PRINCESS VS. THE BRAVE KNIGHT is terrific! Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Kid Konnection: I Will Race You Through This Book!

Every weekend, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekly feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a cute picture book that is guaranteed to bring out the competitive nature in your budding reader!

Summary: See if you can beat Book-It Bunny in a reading race!

In this story designed to engage early readers, charming characters combine with simple text, lively illustrations, and laugh-out-loud humor to help boost kids’ confidence and create lifelong readers!

This easy-to-read adventure breaks the fourth wall as Book-It Bunny challenges the reader to race her to the end of the story. But with distractions and tricks up her sleeve along the way, the competition becomes both fierce and funny at the same time. On your mark, get set, read!

Exciting, easy-to-read books are the stepping stone a young reader needs to bridge the gap between being a beginner and being fluent. -- Penguin Workshop

I WILL RACE YOU THROUGH THIS BOOK! by Jonathan Fenske is a picture book that makes reading fun for early readers. Join Book-It Bunny as she races through the book trying to beat the reader!

I WILL RACE YOU THROUGH THIS BOOK! is adorable. I love the character of Book-It Bunny, and she definitely makes turning the pages rewarding. Book-It Bunny is hilarious as she tries to come up with ways to get to the end of the book first. She fakes and distracts as she tries to slow the new reader down.

As cute as this book was, I also really appreciate how this book encourages children to read. The illustrations are funny, and the text on each page is simple enough not to overwhelm beginning readers. I WILL RACE YOU THROUGH THIS BOOK! is a page-turner (in the literal sense of the word!), and I think it's a great way to introduce independent reading to your child.

Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Review: Mrs. Everything

Summary: Do we change or does the world change us?

Jo and Bethie Kaufman were born into a world full of promise.

Growing up in 1950s Detroit, they live in a perfect “Dick and Jane” house, where their roles in the family are clearly defined. Jo is the tomboy, the bookish rebel with a passion to make the world more fair; Bethie is the pretty, feminine good girl, a would-be star who enjoys the power her beauty confers and dreams of a traditional life.

But the truth ends up looking different from what the girls imagined. Jo and Bethie survive traumas and tragedies. As their lives unfold against the background of free love and Vietnam, Woodstock and women’s lib, Bethie becomes an adventure-loving wild child who dives headlong into the counterculture and is up for anything (except settling down). Meanwhile, Jo becomes a proper young mother in Connecticut, a witness to the changing world instead of a participant. Neither woman inhabits the world she dreams of, nor has a life that feels authentic or brings her joy. Is it too late for the women to finally stake a claim on happily ever after?

In her most ambitious novel yet, Jennifer Weiner tells a story of two sisters who, with their different dreams and different paths, offer answers to the question: How should a woman be in the world? -- Atria

I can't really explain why I feel the need to read everything Jennifer Weiner writes. Like many of you, I loved her first novel GOOD IN BED; however, I feel like I've been reading her books for almost twenty years trying to capture that same feeling again. I can say that I've enjoyed a few of her books and that I've been meh about quite a few, but I think she's really found her voice again with her latest novel MRS. EVERYTHING.

MRS. EVERYTHING is a big novel that tells the story of the Kaufman sisters, Jo and Bethie (Little Women?), from their childhood through much of their adult lives. They novel begins in the 1950s when their family moves to an idyllic neighborhood in the Detroit suburbs. Jo is the smart tomboy while Bethie is the pretty one who loves being on stage. The girls have pretty normal lives until a family tragedy occurs that turns their lives upside-down.

The novel follows Jo and Bethie through their high school years and then their college ones as they face the changing times our of country including Vietnam and Woodstock. Both girls continue to experience life, and some hard times, as they discover who they truly are (or aren't!). Jo winds up married with daughters of her own, while Bethie becomes a bit of a wild flower child. Ironically, neither woman is actually living the life they had once hoped for.

After everything these woman have experienced in their lifetimes, can Jo and/or Bethie finally make the tough decisions and find happiness?

I found MRS. EVERYTHING to be a very interesting read and probably Ms. Weiner's most important novel. I enjoyed the story of these two sisters who lead very separate lives but are ultimately there for each other, and I definitely appreciated what Ms. Weiner set out to do with this book. I grew to really like these women, although I did get frustrated with them many times; and I found the story to be both touching and uplifting.

What I think I enjoyed the most about MRS. EVERYTHING, though, was how the novel explored women from the 1950s to present-day. It's kind of amazing of how much we've changed and how far we've come since serving the role of wife and mother and living in the suburbs. While it's apparent by the end of this novel that women have made huge strides in being equal, the novel still shows that women have a ways to go.

If I have one slight issue with the novel, it's that I think maybe Ms. Weiner tried to do too much with the story. It seems like every major event and every issue that a woman could experience made some sort of appearance in this book. Having said that, it might have been necessary so she could truly show how the roles of women have evolved through time -- I'm not entirely sure...

What I am 100% sure of is that MRS. EVERYTHING would make a great book club pick. There truly is so much to discuss about these two sisters' lives as well as the roles of women in general. Check out this reading guide with twelve discussion questions as well as some ideas to enhance your book club.

All in all, I'd say that MRS. EVERYTHING is the best Jennifer Weiner novel I've read since GOOD IN BED. I think fans of women's fiction will find a lot of like and think about with this story.

I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher on Edelweiss.

Kid Konnection: Bunny's Book Club Goes to School

Every weekend, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekly feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you an adorable picture book about a bunny and his friends!

Summary: Bunny and his forest friends from Bunny’s Book Club are back! And this time they’re heading to class to make sure their young friend has the best first day of school ever.

Bunny and his forest friends meet at the town library every Saturday morning for book club. But one summer day, their library buddy Josie confesses to Bunny that she’s nervous about starting school. Bunny has an idea: He’ll go with her! Soon, Bunny’s friends Bear, Raccoon, Bird, Porcupine, Squirrel, Mole, Mouse, and Frog decide to join him—and Josie’s first day of school turns into a critter-filled adventure!

For any child starting school, here’s a comforting, funny, and very fuzzy celebration of friendship that will make everyone excited to hit the books. -- Doubleday Books for Young Readers

BUNNY'S BOOK CLUB GOES TO SCHOOL by Annie Silvestro and illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss is a wonderful book about the power of friendship. Bunny and his friends from the forest want to help their friend Josie on her first day of school. They all head to the school to find her, but they discover that it's bigger than they expected. They look everywhere for Josie and discover some fun along the way... all while showing what it means to be a true friend.

I thought BUNNY'S BOOK CLUB GOES TO SCHOOL was so sweet. I love Bunny and his assortment of forest friends, and I was especially happy to see how they were willing to go the extra mile for their friend Josie. This picture book reinforces what it means to be a friend and how support from those close to you can make things better. (It also begins by showing how wonderful libraries are with all of their offerings, so there's that too!) 

Not only does this book have a terrific message about friendship, but it also is a great book to help get your children ready for school (or any new adventure). Josie admits that she's nervous about her first day of school; and BUNNY'S BOOK CLUB GOES TO SCHOOL shows that it's okay to be scared. As the cast of animal friends look for Josie, they find all of the great things that a school has to offer like a cafeteria, an art room, a gym, a playground and even a library! I think this "look" at a school might help to ease youngsters concerns and show that starting a new school can be exciting!

BUNNY'S BOOK CLUB GOES TO SCHOOL is a sweet story about starting a new school with the help of friends. Highly recommended for summer reading, especially for kiddos who are starting school in the fall!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Review: Very Valentine - Take Two!

Summary: Poignant, funny, warm, and red hot, Very Valentine is a wonderful treat for Adriana Trigiani fans—a “delightful” (Boston Globe), “romance-soaked novel” (Marie Claire) from much adored playwright, screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, and New York Times bestselling author of The Shoemaker's Wife, All the Stars in the Heavens and The Supreme Macaroni Company. The adventures of an extraordinary and unforgettable woman as she attempts to rescue her family’s struggling shoe business and find love at the same time, Very Valentine sweeps the reader from the streets of Manhattan to the picturesque hills of Italy. Here is yet another novel from the incomparable Trigiani that will steal your heart. -- Harper

I realized last week when I re-read VERY VALENTINE by Adriana Trigiani on my train ride to New York and Book Expo that it's been 10 years since it first came out. That's kind of hard to believe, but I wanted to re-read this novel before the movie comes out. Yes -- you read that right! Very Valentine the movie will be on Lifetime this Saturday (June 8th) at 8:00 pm EST!!!

I looked back at my review of VERY VALENTINE from February 8, 2009; and much of what I said then is still true today. The book definitely stands the test of time, and it's a fantastic coming-of-age story about a late twenty-something woman. I'm not going to rehash my thoughts since they are still relevant... so if you want to learn more, then click through the link above. But suffice it to say that they novel is about family, love, food, wine, Italy, shoes! And it's written like only Adriana can do. What more can you really ask for?

One thing I do want to mention is that VERY VALENTINE would be a perfect book club selection. There is a reading guide with twenty-two questions (that just might be a record), and I promise that there is plenty to discuss. Some of the themes you might explore include family dynamics, aging, finding one's self, sibling rivalries, secrets, traditions and love. Plus, you could totally serve lots of wine and Italian food. It would definitely be a book club meeting for the ages!

Over the last ten years, Adriana has written a lot of books including two more in the Valentine series -- BRAVO, VALENTINE and THE SUPREME MACARONI COMPANY. I have adored all of these books and grown to love these characters, and I'm so excited to see Valentine (and her family and boyfriends) come to life on the screen! And rumor has it that there will be more Valentine books made into movies.  Adriana is one of my very favorite authors (and truth be told, people) in the entire world, and I just love that her books are finally being shared to an even wider audience. It's just so exciting!

Just last week, Kathy (Bermudaonion) and I were lucky enough to visit Adriana over coffee and pastries. Do I even need to say that it was the highlight of Book Expo for us? We talked books, movies, kids, and more as we always do; however, this time Adriana gave us lipstick lessons! She's known for her gorgeous lips and lipstick colors, and she provided much needed help with colors and application methods to Kathy and me. Seriously though, this woman can do anything and everything -- she's amazing! Check out Kathy and me (and Adriana) after our makeup lesson!

I can barely wait until Saturday evening to see Very Valentine at 8:00 pm EST on Lifetime. It's going to be an amazing movie! Make sure you also get a copy of the movie tie-in paperback -- it includes recipes!!!!

Kid Konnection: Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Make Waves

Every weekend, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekly feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a fun picture book that's perfect for summer reading!

Summary: It’s summertime, and you’re invited for a rollicking day at the pool with Charlie and his pet dragon (and best friend!), Rosie. But be careful—swimming with a dragon can be, um, challenging. As Rosie and Charlie blow bubbles (don’t forget your umbrella!), practice flutter kicks (watch out for tidal waves!), and offer shoulder rides (hang on tight!), Rosie proves that dragons make the most fun pets ever. Now if only Charlie can keep Rosie’s attention focused on the rules at the pool and NOT on her gummy snacks (you know, the ones that cause stinky dragon breath!)…Grab your towels and sunscreen and join Rosie and Charlie for a fun-filled summer adventure! -- Two Lions

ROSIE THE DRAGON AND CHARLIE MAKE WAVES by Lauren H. Kerstein and illustrated by Nate Wragg is a cute picture book about what happens when a little boy Charlie and his pet dragon Rosie go to the swimming pool. As you can certainly imagine, there are some challenges associated with taking a dragon to a community pool!

Charlie does his best to treat Rosie like a normal friend at the pool. Rosie practices blowing bubbles and kicking (much to the dismay of the other people swimming). However, Rosie only has eyes for her gummy snacks... which just happen to give her stinky dragon breath! It's a fun day at the swimming pool for these two friends.

ROSIE THE DRAGON AND CHARLIE MAKE WAVES is a funny book that kids will love. Rosie and Charlie aren't exactly typical friends, but they do manage to have a great time at the swimming pool. Kids can follow their adventures as Rosie practices blowing bubbles in the kiddie pool and causes major waves when she jumps into the pool. The pictures of the reactions of the other people at the pool are hilarious, especially when they need umbrellas to protect themselves. But the truly funny part is when Rosie manages to "sneak" her gummy skunks!

I really appreciated the illustrations in this book. The characters are adorable and the pictures are bright and colorful. My favorite picture is when Rosie surprises Charlie with her bad breath. The look (and color) on Charlie's face are so funny!

I think ROSIE THE DRAGON AND CHARLIE MAKE WAVES is a great book about two unlikely friends... and it's ideal for summer reading!

Thanks to Blue Slip Media for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Review: Waisted

Summary: In this provocative, wildly entertaining, and compelling novel, seven women enrolled in an extreme weight loss documentary discover self-love and sisterhood as they enact a daring revenge against the exploitative filmmakers.

Alice and Daphne, both successful and accomplished working mothers, harbor the same secret: obsession with their weight overshadows concerns about their children, husbands, work—and everything else of importance in their lives. Scales terrify them.

Daphne, plump in a family of model-thin women, learned only slimness earns admiration at her mother’s knee. Alice, break-up skinny when she met her husband, risks losing her marriage if she keeps gaining weight.

The two women meet at Waisted. Located in a remote Vermont mansion, the program promises fast, dramatic weight loss, and Alice, Daphne, and five other women are desperate enough to leave behind their families for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The catch? They must agree to always be on camera; afterward, the world will see Waisted: The Documentary.

The women soon discover that the filmmakers have trapped them in a cruel experiment. With each pound lost, they edge deeper into obsession and instability...until they decide to take matters into their own hands. -- Atria

I had extremely high hopes for the new novel WAISTED by Randy Susan Meyers. I have read all of Ms. Meyer's books, and I think she's an amazing author. Plus, this novel's description totally appealed to me. I have to admit that I enjoyed this novel (more on that later!), but I'm not sure it lived up to my expectations.

WAISTED tells the story of two overweight women, Alice and Daphne. Even though both women are successful working moms, their unhappiness over their appearances seem to take center stage. Alice was extremely thin when she married her husband is concerned that her marriage can't survive her weight gain, and Daphne has always been anxious about not living up to her mother's expectations of thin. Trust me when I tell you that weight is an all-consuming concern for both of them!

The two women meet at Waisted, an in-patient program in rural Vermont where they hope to drastically lose weight... and improve their lives. They also have agreed to have the entire weight loss journey filmed for a documentary. As much as this seems to make sense for both women, they quickly learn that Waisted is much, much more intense than they even thought -- maybe even bordering on abusive. These two strong women (with a little help from some others!) decide it's high time to save themselves and take charge of what's happening to them!

As I mentioned earlier, I did like WAISTED quite a bit but I didn't love it. There were just a few scenes in an otherwise strong story that didn't set right with me. That's all I'm going to say on the matter because I don't want to focus on that... or provide spoilers! Rather, I would like to focus on the powerful messages in this novel that will resonate with all sorts of women in today's society!

I definitely appreciated what the author set out to do with WAISTED -- it really does an excellent job of exploring women's issues with their bodies and how these issues spill over into the rest of their lives. Both Alice and Daphne were incredible women, truly successful in so many aspects of their lives; however, they couldn't really love or accept themselves the way they were. It was so sad because they let their weight define them, and in the process, lived their lives with so much guilt and embarrassment. It truly broke my heart just how desperate they were.

However, I have to be honest and say that I could totally relate to so many of their thoughts and feelings. And actually, I think that's the beauty of this novel. Women will get this book! In today's society (and probably since the beginning of time), women are constantly judging themselves. And most of the time, it's harsher than how others see us. So many times our moods and behaviors are based on our weaknesses (or perceived weaknesses) rather than our strengths.

What I did enjoy about this story is that Alice and Daphne realized that they didn't deserve to be treated poorly just because they were heavy. (And let me tell you this was quite the journey!) When they decided to pull together all of their smarts and overcome the adversity that was WAISTED, they accomplished great things. And while they weren't miraculously cured of all their issues by the end of the novel, I do think they gain a lot of perspective. I guess it goes to say that we are all a work in progress!

I think I've touched upon a lot of great things about WAISTED, so it's no surprise that I am going to recommend this book for book clubs. There is truly so much to discuss, and there's a reading group guide to help stimulate conversation. Some of the themes you might want to explore include self-confidence, body issues, identity, relationships, confidence, guilt, parenting styles, and revenge. It also would be interesting to discuss how these characters move forward with their lives after the last page of the book!

I think WAISTED touches upon some incredibly relevant issues for women in today's society, and I guarantee that this novel will make you think and feel!

Thanks to the publisher and Get Red PR for providing a review copy of this novel.

Review: Daisy Jones & The Six (Audio)

Summary: Everyone knows DAISY JONES & THE SIX, but nobody knows the reason behind their split at the absolute height of their popularity . . . until now.

Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it’s the rock ’n’ roll she loves most. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things.

Also getting noticed is The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she’s pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road.

Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes that the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend.

The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a talented writer who takes her work to a new level with Daisy Jones & The Six, brilliantly capturing a place and time in an utterly distinctive voice. -- Random House Audio

I could barely contain myself when the novel DAISY JONES & THE SIX by Taylor Jenkins Reid showed up in Volumes. I absolutely love Ms. Reid's novels and this one sounded like it was right up my alley. I am not a huge listened of audio books, but I made an exception for this one. The cast was absolutely amazing, and I was hearing some pretty special buzz about the audio version.

DAISY JONES & THE SIX tells the story of the 1970s mega rock band, Daisy Jones & The Six. The band split up when they were the biggest rock band in the country, and no one knew why. This novel, written as an oral history of the band, finally tells that story.

Daisy was a young girl growing up in L.A. in the late sixties. From the time she was a teen, she was sneaking into bars and clubs, sleeping with famous singers, and even dabbling in drugs. She also figured out that she wanted to be a performer. She started to get buzz for her sexy voice, but it didn't hurt that she was absolutely drop dead gorgeous too!

Meanwhile, the band The Six, led by Billy Dunne and his brother, were also getting some attention. Right before the band was ready to head out on their big tour, Billy learned that his girlfriend was pregnant. Billy wasn't quite sure how to handle this news, and he ended up going a little wild. That's actually an understatement. Billy began drinking and doing drugs and actually missed the birth of his first daughter.

When a producer decided to introduce Daisy and Billy, the history of rock music was forever changed. These two had major chemistry... and I don't just mean on-stage! As the band began to gain fame, the bandmates, especially Daisy and Billy, had to deal with many issues and make some difficult choices about the band's and their own future.

I loved, loved, loved DAISY JONES & THE SIX! I felt as if these characters were real, and Ms. Reid brought their stories to life in the very best possible way. I adored both Daisy and Billy and their complicated lives (even though I felt like hitting them upside the head a few times), and I thought the supporting cast was equally well developed. The way the author captured the time period and the dynamics of the band were just so good! I honestly didn't want their story to end... although I admit that I loved how everything was wrapped up.

However, I think what really made this book extra-special to me was the performance of the narrators. I almost can't believe I'm saying this, but I know I preferred the audio version to the written one. This audio book will go down as one of my favorites ever because of performances by Jennifer Beals, Pablo Schreiber, Julia Whelan, and Judy Greer...although every narration was spot on. This was an amazing production, and I'd like to just list the entire cast because it was so special:

Daisy Jones, read by Jennifer Beals
Billy Dunne, read by Pablo Schreiber
Graham Dunne, read by Benjamin Bratt
Eddie Loving, read by Fred Berman
Warren Rhodes, read by Ari Fliakos
Karen Karen, read by Judy Greer
Camila Dunne, read by January LaVoy
Simone Jackson, read by Robinne Lee
Narrator / Author, read by Julia Whelan
Jim Blades, read by Jonathan Davis
Rod Reyes, read by Henry Leyva
Artie Snyder, read by Oliver Wyman
Elaine Chang, read by Nancy Wu
Freddie Mendoza, read by P.J. Ochlan
Nick Harris, read by Arthur Bishop
Jonah Berg, read by Holter Graham
Greg McGuinness, read by Brendan Wayne
Pete Loving, read by Pete Larkin
Wyatt Stone, read by Alex Jenkins Reid
Hank Allen, read by Robert Petkoff
Opal Cunningham, read by Sara Arrington

Book clubs should so read DAISY JONES & THE SIX! I am happy to say that there is an excellent discussion guide with 15 thought-provoking questions. Some of the themes you might want to explore include sacrifice, the role of women in society, drugs, addiction, family, finding one's self, sibling relationships, commitment, faithfulness, and memory. I truly think you could talk about this novel and these characters for hours!

I adored DAISY JONES & THE SIX and highly recommend it to fans of women's fiction!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy on Volumes.

Review: The Better Sister

Summary: Though Chloe was the younger of the two Taylor sisters, she always seemed to be the one in charge. She was the honor roll student with big dreams and an even bigger work ethic. Nicky—always restless and more than a little reckless—was the opposite of her ambitious little sister. She floated from job to job and man to man, and stayed close to home in Cleveland.

For a while, it seemed that both sisters had found happiness. Chloe earned a scholarship to an Ivy League school and moved to New York City, where she landed a coveted publishing job. Nicky married promising young attorney Adam Macintosh and gave birth to a baby boy they named Ethan. The Taylor sisters became virtual strangers.

Now, more than fifteen years later, their lives are drastically different—and Chloe is married to Adam. When he’s murdered by an intruder at the couple’s East Hampton beach house, Chloe reluctantly allows her teenage stepson’s biological mother—her estranged sister, Nicky—back into her life. But when the police begin to treat Ethan as a suspect in his father’s death, the two sisters are forced to unite . . . and to confront the truth behind family secrets they have tried to bury in the past. -- Harper

I have to say that Alafair Burke is one heck of a writer, and if you haven't read any of her novels, then you are definitely missing out! Her latest novel, THE BETTER SISTER, just might be my favorite one yet. This book is both a domestic novel and a mystery... and it happens to succeed so very well on both levels.

THE BETTER SISTER tells the story of Chloe Taylor, a successful editor, whose husband Adam is found murdered in their East Hampton Beach house. There are a few strange things about this story like Chloe is married to her older sister's ex-husband, bringing up her son Ethan, and has virtually no contact with sister. And there's also the weirdness surrounding the murder. It initially seems like a stranger is responsible; however, Chloe's step-son quickly becomes the main suspect... which brings Chloe's long-lost (and very troubled) sister Nicky to town. Needless to say, these two women are forced together under difficult circumstances -- trying to free the son they both love.

I absolutely loved everything about THE BETTER SISTER! Ms. Burke's writing is stellar (as usual!), and her portrayal of the sisters is so good. The family dynamics between the Chloe, her husband and her son is strong enough to make a great domestic novel, but the murder mystery brings it to the next level. I never really thought Ethan was guilty and I was pretty sure I knew where the story was going, but nope - I ended up being surprised! I definitely loved the twist at the end, and it was executed so well. (I know I keep saying that, but I didn't even feel manipulated... and that happens all too much with surprise endings!)

THE BETTER SISTER is an excellent novel of suspense with fully developed characters and an intriguing mystery. Run (don't walk) and get this novel -- you won't be disappointed!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Kid Konnection: Hug Me Finger Puppet Books

Every weekend, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekly feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you two adorable picture books that would be perfect for Easter baskets!

Summary: Share your love with this huggable finger puppet book! The sweetly reassuring stories in this brand-new series celebrate all the things a parent's arms can do for their child, from playing games to sharing a treat and—best of all—showing their love with a hug. Adorable illustrations and two plush finger puppet arms make for a cozy, interactive reading experience for babies and their loved ones. -- Chronicle

Summary: Share your love with this huggable finger puppet book! The sweetly reassuring stories in this brand-new series celebrate all the things a parent's arms can do for their child, from playing games to sharing a treat and—best of all—showing their love with a hug. Adorable illustrations and two plush finger puppet arms make for a cozy, interactive reading experience for babies and their loved ones. -- Chronicle Books

HUG ME LITTLE BUNNY and HUG ME LITTLE BEAR are two interactive board books that are ideal for little ones. These finger puppet books are too cute with the animals' soft arms and hands, and kids are sure to love the way they move during storytime!

I thought the text in these books is as sweet as the characters themselves. Each book describes the things that a parent's arms can do for their child. For instance, a parent's arms can catch a child when they fall, tickle them on the belly, pick flowers, and of course provide hugs! In addition to having a very special message, these books are small enough that young ones can hold them comfortably but sturdy enough that they would be hard to damage.

I think this new Hug Me series is so darn adorable! Highly recommended for shower gifts, new baby presents, and more!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Review: Run Away

Summary: A perfect family is shattered in RUN AWAY, the new thriller from the master of domestic suspense, Harlan Coben.

You’ve lost your daughter. 

She’s addicted to drugs and to an abusive boyfriend. And she’s made it clear that she doesn’t want to be found.Then, by chance, you see her playing guitar in Central Park. But she’s not the girl you remember. This woman is living on the edge, frightened, and clearly in trouble. 

You don’t stop to think. You approach her, beg her to come home. 

She runs. 

And you do the only thing a parent can do: you follow her into a dark and dangerous world you never knew existed. Before you know it, both your family and your life are on the line. And in order to protect your daughter from the evils of that world, you must face them head on. -- Hachette

It's probably not a surprise for those of you who are already fans of Harlan Coben, but I love his books! No matter what I seem to pick up, I can't put it down... and that includes his latest novel RUN AWAY. This book is pretty darn entertaining with lots of twists!

RUN AWAY has a fantastic premise. Simon has been secretly trying to find his drug addicted daughter. She is definitely not in a good place between the drugs and her abusive boyfriend; and when Simon sees her performing in Central Park, he knows that something is seriously wrong with the daughter because she seems like a different (and scared) person. When Simon approaches her to offer help, she takes off and Simon ends up following her. This split second decision takes him into a terrifying world of drugs and crime, and ultimately puts his family and himself at risk!

I loved RUN AWAY. As I mentioned earlier, I flew through this book and that's really saying something for me because my reading rate has taken a hit! I loved the characters and the storyline, and I was quickly caught up in Simon's desperate desire to save his daughter. What parent couldn't relate a bit to the drastic means Simon was willing to go to get his daughter back?

RUN AWAY has action-packed to say the least, and I'm having a hard time "talking about" this book without giving away too much of the suspense. What I can say is that Simon, a well-to-do Wall Street broker, never imagined himself engaging with drug dealers and other nefarious criminals; however, he rose to the occasion and ended up being a great heroic lead for a thriller. I not only appreciated how he "solved" the mysteries surrounding his daughter, but I also loved that Mr. Coben made him a genuine character -- a dad who just wanted to save his daughter and the rest of his family.

What I enjoyed this most about this novel, though, was the ending. Talk about a surprising finish! I wasn't exactly sure where the novel would go between Simon, his daughter, the drug lords, the private investigator, and the cult members. And even though I did pick up a few clues about a certain plot point, I still ended being surprised with other things in this novel... things I didn't even know to be looking for! It was entertaining to say the least!

I definitely recommend RUN AWAY to Harlan Coben fans as well as other readers who enjoy thrillers!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a Netgalley review copy of this novel.

Kid Konnection: Most Marshmallows

Every weekend, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekly feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a picture book that I've been dying to review because it is such a cute concept!

Summary: Most marshmallows are born into marshmallow families, play with marshmallow friends, and go to marshmallow school where they learn to be squishy. Most marshmallows read a book before bed and then fall asleep to dream ordinary marshmallow dreams. Is this book about most marshmallows? It isn't. Because Rowboat Watkins knows that just like you, some marshmallows have big dreams, and just like you, these marshmallows can do anything they set their minds to. This sweet and silly book is an inspiring reminder that by being true to ourselves each of us can be truly extraordinary. -- Chronicle Books

MOST MARSHMALLOWS by Rowboat Watkins isn't available for another month (the end of April), but I have been wanting to share it with you ever since I got a copy in the mail! This picture book is adorable -- just look at the cover.

MOST MARSHMALLOWS are pretty normal marshmallows. They are born to parents (one or two!), they live in homes, they play with other marshmallows, they go to school to learn marshmallow things, and they even fall asleep and dream about nothing. But some marshmallows secretly know that all marshmallows can do anything or be anything they dare to imagine!

I adore this picture book for so many reasons. First of all, how darn adorable are the illustrations? I can't get over how cute these little marshmallows are. You really have to see this book to appreciate how precious the characters are whether they are dressed as acorns or wearing party hats. I am now a big fan of Mr. Watkins (he also has a pretty cool name too, right? ), and I definitely need to check out his other books including RUDE CAKES which received many starred reviews.

But what I like the most about MOST MARSHMALLOWS is the message -- that even though kids might seem to be just like everyone else, they don't have to be. As long as they stay true to themselves, they have the chance to be something truly special!

I think MOST MARSHMALLOWS is definitely a winner! Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this picture book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Review: My Lovely Wife

Summary: Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in this wildly compulsive debut thriller about a couple whose fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting…

Our love story is simple. I met a gorgeous woman. We fell in love. We had kids. We moved to the suburbs. We told each other our biggest dreams, and our darkest secrets. And then we got bored.

We look like a normal couple. We’re your neighbors, the parents of your kid’s friend, the acquaintances you keep meaning to get dinner with.

We all have our secrets to keeping a marriage alive.

Ours just happens to be getting away with murder. -- Berkley

Wow! I picked up MY LOVELY WIFE by Samantha Downing not knowing how seriously twisted this book is. I should have known when the description compared it to Dexter that it would be quite the ride, but I honestly still can't believe the premise of this book! And I'm not sure what this says about me, but I seriously enjoyed it!

MY LOVELY WIFE tells the story of a husband and wife team who prey upon and then eventually kill women. Yes -- you read that right! I don't want to give too much of their backstory away because the reader is (gently -- haha!) eased into their story; but at its simplest, these two people fell madly in love, had kids, and struggled with money issues like any "normal" family. The only difference is that they got bored and found that killing people was exciting for their marriage!

I had such a good time with this novel. The characters are intriguing to say the least, and there are so many plot twists that will keep you not only guessing but totally shocked. I appreciated that the husband (who went unnamed) was the narrator of the story because his voice really added a whole other dimension to this book. It was really interesting to get inside his mind and see how he could be so normal at times and then so absolutely deceptive (i.e. he even pretended to be deaf so he could "get to know" women.)

The dynamics of their marriage and family were also really interesting. On one hand, the were like any upper middle class family -- balancing kids' schedules, making evening dinners, and finding ways to pay the bills. However underneath all of that, they were kind of a mess. Their teenage son kind of figured out that something with his dad wasn't quite right (although he didn't exactly realize the extent of his behavior!), and the younger daughter was a total mess due to the stress of women's disappearances and murders (and she didn't even realize it was her parents' who were responsible!)

Along with the character development, I also really liked the twists in this story. When a few things started to go wrong with the murders, this couple decided that they could outsmart the police. They both worked together (although I'd argue that they both kind of did their own thing too) and set up a man who had been released years ago for some suspicious crimes and subsequently disappeared. Pretty smart, right? I don't want to reveal what happens, but suffice it say, that things didn't go exactly as this husband and wife team planned!

The pacing of the novel is excellent -- this book is definitely a page turner, and I appreciated how the book worked up to its insane ending. Just based on the rest of the novel, I had a feeling that it was going to be a doozy... and it most definitely was. And just when I thought it couldn't get any crazier, it did! Now doesn't that make you want to pick up this book?

As you can tell, I really enjoyed MY LOVELY WIFE. Highly recommended for fans of twisted thrillers!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Kid Konnection: I Used to be Famous

Every weekend, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekly feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a picture book with a main character that I just love!

Summary: Kiely’s been famous her entire life, but when a baby sister appears on the scene, she feels like a has-been. Now Kiely has to figure out how to gain back the attention of her adoring fans (her family), even if it means sharing the spotlight. -- Albert Whitman

Last year, right around this time, I reviewed the adorable picture book I AM FAMOUS by Tara Luebbe and Becky Cattie with pictures by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff. I thought Kiely was a great character, and I loved the authors' take on Kiely being "famous" -- I mean she had paparazzi taking her picture all of the time, right?

I'm excited to say that Kiely is back in I USED TO BE FAMOUS, and my how her life has changed. She now has a baby sister, and suddenly she's a has-been! Can Kiely get the much-deserved attention she craves or is she all washed up?

Once again, I love Kiely and her special take on her life. She reminisces about being famous and how much her standing has changed since she became a big sister. The funny part of Kiely's story is that she can't understand how the baby is getting so much attention when she has no fashion sense, she smells and her singing is more like crying.

It's sweet to see that Kiely eventually comes around to appreciate her little sister. She even takes her under her wing and acts as her mentor... because Kiely knows a thing or two about being famous! I absolutely love how I USED TO BE FAMOUS combines the humor of Kiely's celebrity ego with the responsibility that comes with being an older sister.

I think I USED TO BE FAMOUS is a wonderful book for little girls who are new (or soon to be new) big sisters! Highly recommended!

Thanks to Blue Slip Media for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!