Jane Litte's Blog, page 76

What Janine is Reading: April and May of 2022

The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison

I was a huge fan of The Goblin Emperor but not as keen on The Witness for the Dead, the first book in the spinoff Cemeteries of Amalo series about detective/priest/medium-of-sorts Thara Celehar. Hope springs eternal, though, so I requested book two in that series, The Grief of Stones.

Set in Amalo, the same steampunkish industrial city where its prequel takes place, The Witness for the Dead, The Grief of Stones opens when Thara is called to the home of ...

REVIEW: Big Wild Love Adventure by Julianna Keyes

After being ditched at the altar, Emmy Shaw’s heart, like her dented food truck, is definitely not open for business. Deeply in debt to her parents and evicted from her apartment, she takes a friend’s drunken dare and fills out an application for a new dating-adventure reality show. She never expects to be chosen—or to get a chance at the show’s huge cash prize, which could put her life back on track.

But when she’s abandoned in the middle of the jungle two months later wearing only a bathing sui...

Jayne’s Cat Book List

The differences between cats and dogs have never been funnier! In this hilarious story from the illustrator of I Don’t Want to Be a Frog, a little girl really, really wants a dog . . . but gets a cat instead!

“Look what I got for my birthday! A pet dog!” says a little girl holding a . . . cat? Rocky doesn’t listen or obey like all the other dogs. (Because Rocky is a cat.) And Rocky hates her leash and doesn’t seem to like other dogs. (Probably because Rocky is a cat.) And rather than play fetc...

What Janine is Reading: Claire Kingsley’s Bailey Brothers Series, Part I

Back in April I took advantage of my free Kindle Unlimited trial membership to speed through Claire Kingsley’s Bailey Brothers series, which follows the romantic relationships of five brothers in a small (Oregon? Washington? I already forgot) town. The books were recommended here by commenters DiscoDollyDeb and commenter/former reviewer Rose (I may have forgotten someone else, and I apologize if so). These contemporary romances are nothing spectacular IMO, but they are addictively breezy and I s...

REVIEW: Lola and the Single Dad by Kelly Hunter

When love comes to town…

Artisan blacksmith Ned Harrow lost his wife and gained a son, all in the space of a day. Since then, he’s been caring for his son, Ollie, and working to rebuild his business. When his neighbour’s visiting goddaughter offers to help, she’s a lifeline and so much more. Ned knows the beautiful and fun-loving Lola isn’t staying long, but she’s impossible to resist and his heart is cracking wide open.

Actress Lola Darcy has never hit the big time and she’s beginning to wond...

REVIEW: The Fossil Door by Celia Lake

Enjoy this kind and gentle historical fantasy romance set in the magical community of Great Britain after the Great War.

Rathna has a gift for doorways.

When a portal in the Scottish Highlands stops working, she is one of the only Portal Keepers able to travel to investigate. On the other hand, the location presents some challenges. As a London-born Bengali woman, she’s nothing like the villagers.

And of course, there’s the worrying question: why did this portal stop working? It shouldn’t have...

REVIEW: The Frequency of Aliens by Gene Doucette

Annie Collins is back!

Becoming an overnight celebrity at age sixteen should have been a lot more fun. Yes, there were times when it was extremely cool, but when the newness of it all wore off, Annie Collins was left with a permanent security detail and the kind of constant scrutiny that makes the college experience especially awkward.

Not helping matters: she’s the only kid in school with her own pet spaceship.

She would love it if things found some kind of normal, but as long as she has cont...

REVIEW: Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle

Dear Ebony LaDelle,

I don’t t recall how your debut Young Adult novel came to my attention, but I liked the eye-catching cover and the premise sounded interesting. A bit gimmicky (a high school boy tries to get a girl to fall in love with him in three dates) but fresher than many these days–no rivals to lovers, no fake dating–so I requested the ARC.

Prince Jones is only a high school senior and already a radio DJ in a Detroit station (his uncle helped him get the job after he’d had him on as a ...

REVIEW: Stick and Stone Explore and More by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Kristen Cella

Two stories in one graphic novel perfect for beginning readers, based on the bestselling STICK AND STONE series by Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld. Go on a scavenger hunt, set out on a trip for ice cream, and even visit the beach with these lovable best buddies.

Join Stick and Stone as they get swept up in scavenger hunt. Accompany them to a campfire calamity. And laugh along with them in this new graphic novel series starring two best buddies and a whole cast of new characters. Each story has ...

REVIEW: Stick and Stone: Best Friends Forever! by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

This ode to unconditional love is a brand new adventure for New York Times best-selling BFFs Stick and Stone, in which Stick searches for his family tree and discovers the importance of found family and forever friends.

Stick has always wanted to find his family tree. It’s probably big and beautiful! Is it an oak? A maple? What other sticks might he meet?

Stone is happy to accompany his friend on the journey to find the tree he comes from—until it gets dark, and a bit scary in the forest . . ....