Book Review: All the Ice Cream in the Land by Emmy Kastner

-
Image
All the Ice Cream in the Land  by Emmy Kastner  is about a princess, the kingdom she lives in, and her loyal subjects. Full of twists and turns, children will surely delight in this story about ice cream. When I saw the title and cover art of this kid's book, it made me instantly think of my childhood and how I would've loved a book like this one. A huge shout out and thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for approving my request to read this book. I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. The storyline is very easy to follow, making it especially suitable for toddlers, preschoolers, and early readers, particularly children between the ages of two and six. Its straightforward narrative and clear structure make it an excellent choice for read-aloud sessions at home, bedtime stories, or classroom story time. While there is limited character development, which is typical for a picture book format, the princess is still an intere...
Post a Comment

Book Review: Explosive Eighteen (Stephanie Plum, #18) by Janet Evanovich

-
explosive eighteen stephanie plum 18 janet evanovichExplosive Eighteen (Stephanie Plum, #18) by Janet Evanovich finds Stephanie Plum returning home from a dream vacation in Hawaii, but it was everything but a dream. To top things off, one of the passengers is snoring loudly and her seatmate never got back on the plane from their layover in Los Angeles, CA. Upon her arrival in Trenton, Stephanie finds a random photograph in her bag and learns that her seatmate that never returned was murdered. Now, everyone, including the FBI, is trying to retrieve the photo from Stephanie.

When I first began reading Explosive Eighteen, I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy the book or not, but the more I read, the more I enjoyed it. So much so, I spent several hours doing nothing but reading, which was a nice change of pace for me.
Things I absolutely loved about this installment of the Stephanie Plum series was the story behind why the Hawaii vacation went so wrong and caused Stephanie to go home a day early. I love the comic relief Janet Evanovich never fails to provide, and I know that the book will be wrapped up neatly, which is something I need with the pandemic and political divide in the United States. You've heard of comfort food, right? Well, I consider these comfort books.

What I had hoped for was a book that focused on Stephanie on vacation with either Morelli or Ranger . . . my pick being Morelli. I was disappointed that this didn't happen and felt like it was a missed opportunity. Based on the back story of why Stephanie came home early, it would have made for a great story that was a bit different from the usual.

I gave Explosive Eighteen (Stephanie Plum, #18) by Janet Evanovich 5 out of 5 stars because it was like going home again . . . I love knowing that even though I may not like everything that happens or characters may get on my nerves that Janet Evanovich can take my mind off of every day worries and give me an escape from reality.
 
Follow Us On Social Media

https://www.facebook.com/runningbibliophile/https://www.instagram.com/therunningbibliophile/https://www.pinterest.com/therunningbibliophile/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Book Review: The Dare by Natasha Preston

-
Image
The Dare by Natasha Preston is a young adult horror novel centered on Marley and her friends Atlas, Lucia, and Jesse, all seniors in high school. What begins as harmless, lighthearted senior pranks quickly takes a dark turn when Rhett starts assigning dares that are far more serious and dangerous. As the stakes rise, the question becomes whether Marley and her friends will survive the consequences of playing along. A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced readers copy of The Dare by Natasha Preston. The last book I read by this author was well written and engaging, so I was excited to dive into her latest young adult horror story. From the start, the novel feels reminiscent of R.L. Stine’s Fear Street series, which instantly brought back a wave of childhood nostalgia. Unfortunately, that initial excitement didn’t last. Before long, the plot shifts into territory that felt eerily similar to the movie I Know What You Did Last Summer . At that point, my interest started ...
Read more

Book Review: The Writer by James Patterson and J.D. Barker

-
Image
The Writer by James Patterson and J.D. Barker  was published on March 17, 2025. It opens with Detective Declan Shaw at a closed subway station trying to work up the nerve to commit suicide when he receives a call from his partner about a break in and homicide at the home of a true crime author. Shaw makes his way to the crime scene to work the case, and in a turn of events, Declan comes under scrutiny in another case loosely connected to this new case. I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Writer  from NetGalley and Little , Brown, and Company for free in exchange for my honest review. I'm appreciative that my request for this book was approved. With this story opening with the main character trying to commit suicide, I almost didn't go any further with the book. However, I am glad I stuck with it as it took me on a fantastic ride and had my emotions all over the place. There were so many twists and turns that just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was ...
Read more

Book Review: Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich

-
Image
Book Review: Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich is the latest installment in the long-running and beloved Stephanie Plum series, and it opens with Joe Morelli asking Stephanie to dog-sit his famously quirky dog, Bob, while he’s out of town testifying at a trial. As expected, things quickly spiral into chaos when Stephanie has to bring Bob along while attempting to apprehend her usual lineup of FTAs. Between chasing fugitives, dodging danger, and juggling her complicated personal life, Stephanie also finds herself seriously questioning whether marriage is something she truly wants. Each book in the Stephanie Plum series tends to follow a familiar and comforting formula, with everything wrapped up in a neat, tidy bow by the end. That predictability is actually one of the main reasons I keep coming back to these books. I always know Stephanie will get herself into trouble, Ranger or Morelli will step in to help,...
Read more