Lovely

This is just a great story. What it means to be a family, have dreams (small or big), respecting differences, being kind, and some wonderful magic. If you need a nice, fairy-tale like pick me up, read this.

Books featuring bookstores

I enjoyed every minute of this book.  It does get mixed reviews on Amazon, but I honestly don't understand the low ratings.  I thought of it as a well-written homage to some classic mysteries.

I enjoyed the narrator, and the supporting characters. I had picked it because I found myself seeking out books (particularly mysteries) with bookstores, or bookstore owners as part of the plot.  The first I read was part of my new book club, and was The Bookish Life of Nina Hill which was an enjoyable, and fun read.  The only negative was when the author switched perspectives to the boyfriend inexplicably at times, and the flow just didn't work then. I then read Camino Island written by John Grisham. It is definitely not his usual style, but I enjoyed this first in a series, of what I think of as kind of a borderline cozy.  I have ordered the second, Camino Winds, which should arrive next week.

I then read a true cozy mystery, an ARC via Netgalley (will be published in July). The author of this one is apparently an author who has written numerous books, set in a variety of towns (all cozies), using various names.  Well, based on the one I read, I gather she changes names when people catch on that the writing and plot are pretty awful  I won't name the book here, or the author, because I dislike trashing someone's work, but I will give you a brief outline: a woman goes back to her mom's bookstore, somewhere in N.C after her mother suddenly dies.  When she gets there she gets suspicious that her mom was murdered. Well, once that takes root in all honesty the mystery could have been solved within the hour, but it drags on for weeks prior to the protagonist finally solving it. That, combined with a ridiculous, I meant truly stupid reason, for the protagonist being forced to leave her university job, caused me to find out if this was a debut novel. It isn't, as shared above.  Wow....

I then came across The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires. This was definitely better than the unnamed book above, but wasn't as good, in my opinion, as either Camino Island, or Eight Perfect Murders.  The humor was great in the beginning, and the plot was loads of fun, but there is a weird 3 year gap in the story, that irritated me, and it made me a bit mad at the main characters...I just didn't understand why they waited for 3 years, when the vampire was pretty much known, but I did finish it.  It does get a bit gory, for no real addition to the plot (other than to again make me ponder, if so gross, and obvious, why the 3 year gap?), but...again, the premise was fun.

I will review Camino Winds after I finish it, and this might end my theme of bookstores.  To sum it up: 1st: Eight Perfect Murders Tied for 2nd: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill and Camino Island 3rd: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

Compelling and Fun

I first read Ponti's work, when hosting a student mystery book club, with the librarian at my school.  I read the first few chapters of his Framed series aloud; it hooked me, and it hooked a few others.

This book has the same great captivating writing, with some wonderful characters.  The main characters are kids whose varied skills lend themselves to the spy business.

We are introduced to Sara, when she is brought to a court in NYC.  Sara is a foster child, and she is suddenly represented by an attorney who isn't part of the public defender system.
This introduction, his getting her out of the juvenile justice system, and flying to a new location overseas, starts her new life as a spy.

It is a compelling, yet very fun read, and I highly recommend it for children, and all who love MG or YA books.