The Running Bibliophile

Betrayal (The Secret Diaries, #2) by Janice Harrell picks up where the first book in the series leaves off.  When Casey starts drinking and blackmailing Johanna's group of friends, they start to worry about his well being and whether he will spill the beans about what happened to Laurie Jenkins. This is one of my favorite series from when I was a teenager, and I have to reread it every so often . . . it's that good and in my opinion, has stood the test of time despite none of the kids having cell phones.  Although cell phones were a thing in the early 1990's, they were still expensive to make phone calls on, so not everyone had one, and that is the reason they aren't featured in this story.   Part suspense, part horror, this is a great young adult novel for kids thirteen and up.  It even has some romance in it.  One of the characters does have sex in the book, but it doesn't go into any detail at all about it other than the characters were kissing.  It was...

We All Stir The Pot To End Hunger! by Misty Lee Coolidge with Bobbie Bensur is a thoughtful children’s picture book set inside a food pantry in an unnamed city. Through simple, relatable storytelling, the book shows how people from all walks of life come together to support their community, whether by donating food, volunteering their time, or helping in any way they can. The message is clear and hopeful: everyone has something to contribute, and even small actions can make a big difference in the fight against hunger. I was thrilled when I was approved by NetGalley and Paw Prints Publishing to receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Although it was originally expected to be published on November 15, We All Stir The Pot To End Hunger! was officially released on November 29, 2022, and it was well worth the wait. This children’s book is filled with meaningful life lessons presented in a way that is easy for young readers to understand and connect with....

Never Say Pie (Lexy Baker, 14) by Leighann Dobbs opens with Lexy Baker catering a dinner and pie eating contest at her grandmother's retirement community.  When one of the residents is found face down in one of Lexy's pies for the pie eating contest, Lexy, Nans, and the rest of the gang take matters into their own hands to solve the case. This edition in the Lexy Baker book series is written better than some of the books in the series.  Although I figured out who the killer was right off the bat, I couldn't figure out what the motive was, even though there were clues right in front of my face.  Leighann Dobbs did a great job with adding red herrings to the storyline because at one point I did second guess myself. Since I was in a bit of a rut when it came to reading, Never Say Pie was the perfect book to help me start reading again because it was a fun, entertaining read.  Although, having a writer, who writes books about a baker that solves murders, was a little k...

Exile, Texas by Rachel Caine was originally published in 1993 under her real name of Roxanne Longstreet Conrad.  Megan Leary, a private investigator, returns to her home where everyone thinks she got away with the murder of her mother.  When transplant Deputy Dan Fox pulls her over for speeding, he's not sure what to think about her and is on a mission to learn more about her while he's tasked to protect her from the locals. When I received an email from BookBub.com telling me that Exile, Texas was on sale for $4.99, I knew I had to purchase the book as I'm a huge fan of Rachel Caine and her Stillhouse Lake series, but I hadn't read any of her other works.  Based on her writing of the the aforementioned book series, I felt certain that this novel would be exceptionally written.  I was not disappointed in the least. The storyline was poignant and intriguing.  A page turner to be sure.  I never knew which characters I could trust, and I kept thinking that ...

Thanksgiving Dinner Death (Juniper Holiday, #2) by Leighann Dobbs opens with Juniper Holiday overseeing the preparations for her Thanksgiving dinner party.  When the head police detective face plants into his food and dies, Juniper has to think fast. The second edition of Leighann Dobbs Juniper Holiday Cozy Mystery Series definitely helped put me in the mood for the Thanksgiving holiday.  It's the first time in a long while that I've actually looked forward to it. Like the first book in the series, Thanksgiving Dinner Death (Juniper Holiday, #2) is a quick, fun read, and I've come to love the main character even more if that's even possible, and I really enjoy Juniper's love/hate relationship with Detective Mallard.  What's more is that I foresee her goddaughter, Victoria, and Detective Mallard becoming an item in the near future. This book reminded me a little of the television show Ghosts and little bit of the book/television series The Vampire Diaries . ...

Halloween Party Murder (Juniper Holiday, #1) by Leighann Dobbs is the first book in an all new cozy mystery book series.  Wealthy Juniper Holiday lives in Crescent Cove with her goddaughter and is planning a spectacular Halloween party when a dead body is discovered in the guest house.  How did the body end up there, and who is the murderer? This newest book by Leighann Dobbs was a super fun, quick read.  I absolutely love the main character . . . Juniper Holiday.  She's so spunky and unlike any other characters I've read about.  The paranormal elements in the book were amazing too . . . ghosts and werewolves make appearances adding a spooky element to the storyline. Although there were red herrings throughout the book, I quickly determined who the killer was but couldn't figure out the motive.  However, I should have figured out the motive because there were clues that hinted at it.  Full disclosure, I did second guess myself at one point when it cam...