The Running Bibliophile

Baker and Taylor and the Mystery of the Library Cats by Candy Rodo is a fun, entertaining children's picture book that makes learning about New York City fun.  The story is about two library cats who go on an adventure to see the library cats at the NYC Library. I'd like to thank NetGalley, Baker & Taylor, and Paw Prints Publishing for the free copy of Baker and Taylor and the Mystery of the Library Cats in exchange for my honest review.  I was drawn to read this book as I love cats, and this book would have been right up my alley as a kid. Author Candy Rodo did a great job in writing this children's book and making it fun for little ones to learn about some of the things to do and see in New York City.  It gives parents a perfect opportunity to take their kids on vacation there to see some of the sites mentioned.  I also like the fact that the main two characters are very different but are still best friends . . . that's an important life lesson right there fo...

Freddie Mercury (Little People, BIG DREAMS) written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrated by Ruby Taylor is a non-fiction children's book about the singer Freddie Mercury.  Told in simple sentences with amazing illustrations, this book is perfect for children between the ages of five and eight.  I'd like to thank NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group, and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the free, advanced copy of Freddie Mercury in exchange for my honest review. The author does a fantastic job of telling the life of Freddie Mercury in simplistic terms for children.  She does tell about how the musician has AIDS, once had a girlfriend, and ended up with a boyfriend without going into the nitty gritty details that children may not necessarily need to know at their age.  I like the fact that it gives parents the opportunity to answer any questions their children may have. As an adult, I already knew the facts provided in the book, but I love the fact that i...

Who Slayed The Santas? (Juniper Holiday, #3) by Leighann Dobbs was published on December 15, 2022 and opens with Juniper Holiday decorating her Crescent Cove mansion for her Christmas party.  When the Santas she's interviewing for the party start showing up dead on the property, Juniper is determined to find out who the murderer is before the party is ruined. The Juniper Holiday series is fast becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series.  It just keeps getting better!  All of the characters are such a trip, especially the main character named Juniper Holiday.  Although Who Slayed The Santas? deals with murder, it's such a fun, entertaining read that made me even more excited for Christmas.  This is the perfect book for those who are in a reading rut or looking for a beach read. Five out of five stars is what I give Who Slayed The Santas? (Juniper Holiday, #3) by Leighann Dobbs.  I hope the author keeps writing additional stories for this series.

Camp Creepy (Sinister Summer, #3) by Kiersten White has an expected publication date of January 3, 2023 and is the third book in a middle grade series.  The Sinister-Winterbottoms are in pursuit of Edaren't and find themselves at a summer camp that is as mysterious as it is very normal.  When all the campers begin acting strange, and Theo decides to investigate. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Delacorte Press for the advanced copy of Camp Creepy (Sinister Summer, #3) by Kiersten White.  I was excited to be approved to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review. Not having read the other two novels in the Sinister Summer book series, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I thought this being a children's book, it would be relatively easy to garner the back story and keep the characters straight.  I did have trouble connecting the dots as far as the back story goes, but I eventually got the gist of it.  And, it did take me a few c...

How The Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss opens with the Grinch being tired of the Whos of Whoville being happy while making all their preparations for Christmas.  He decides all this merriment must stop and decides to dress up as Santa Claus and steal Christmas from the citizens of Whoville. For whatever reason, my parents never bought me any books written by Dr. Seuss.  When a friend posted a Christmas game on Facebook utilizing the book of How The Grinch Stole Christmas! my family decided to play that particular game on Christmas Eve.  So, of course, we needed to purchase a copy of the book, which I did.  After it came, I decided I needed to read it. The life lesson of the book is that it is always better to give than to take, and that something doesn't come from a store.  It's a super cute book to read before Christmas to put you in the spirit.  I don't know what I expected, but I did expect more.  I gave How The Grinch Stole Christmas! three...

Christmas, Cabernet, and Chaos (A Sally and Pearl Adventure, #2) by Wendy Day opens with Sally and her best friend Pearl going off to sing karaoke the night before Thanksgiving.  The next day, Sally learns that none of her children will be home for Christmas, she becomes depressed.  Shortly there after, Sally receives a phone call, and Pearl and her are off to spend the Christmas holidays with their friend Mike in the idyllic Christmas town of McKenzie Bridge where a local woman claims someone is trying to murder her. I'd like to thank NetGalley for the free copy of Christmas, Cabernet, and Chaos (A Sally and Pearl Adventure, #2) by Wendy Day in exchange for my honest review.  The title of the novel caught my attention as I wanted a book centered around Christmas to read.  I was excited to learn that I had been approved to read this book. When I requested to read this book, I didn't know it was the second book in a series, but that was okay as the author did a fabu...

Is A Worry Worrying You? by Ferida Wolff and Harriet May Savitz, Illustrated by Marie Le Tourneau is a children's picture book that addresses worries that kids have with humor and gives kids a way to cope with their fears.  I'd like to thank NetGalley and Tanglewood for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was absolutely enchanted by this book.  Everyone worries, and I love how the authors dealt with this topic.  The main take away for kids is that there is always something you can do about the worry.  Is A Worry Worrying You? gives parents the perfect opportunity to discuss the topic with their children and should be on every child's bookshelf.  It even gives children the power to get rid of their worries themselves.  The illustrations were fantastic and were reminiscent of something that Tim Burton would do, which is a great thing in my opinion as I love his work. This book turned out to be so much more than what I was expecting....

Knot A Game (Yarn Retreat Mystery, #9) by Betty Hechtman opens with Casey Feldstein meeting with one of the owners at the Vista Del Mar to discuss an upcoming retreat.  Madeline has come up with an idea of combining a murder mystery game with the typical yarn retreat that Casey normally does.  When one of the guests ends up being murdered, things go awry. I'd like to thank NetGalley and and Beyond the Page Publishing for approving my request to read this novel.  The synopsis including a bit about a murder mystery game that sounded similar to playing the board game Clue really intrigued me. Having never read a book written by Betty Hechtman before, I wasn't sure what to expect as cozy mystery novels have always been hit or miss with me.  However, I was pleasantly surprised to find Knot A Game to be well written, engaging, and an all around fun read.  I enjoyed it so much that I'm looking forward to purchasing all the other books that came before this one in th...

Karen's Worst Day (Baby-Sitters Little Sister, #3) by Ann M. Martin opens with Karen Brewer starting her day off wrong when she has a nightmare and falls out of bed.  Things go from bad to worse for Karen, and she's sure nothing will go right. This series is perfect for kids who aren't old enough to read The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin, and it's also perfect for children who have divorced parents since the main character has parents who are no longer together. As for this edition of the Baby-Sitters Little Sister book series, it gives kids a chance to see that if they're having a bad day that it can and will get better, and if parents read it as well, it gives them the perfect opportunity to discuss the topic with their child or children.  With that being said, nothing really happens in Karen's Worst Day .  It's just a day in the life of a six year old girl.  The best lesson of the book is that Karen apologized to the people she treated poorly. I d...

I'm Not Scared No Way! by Kimberly Pattinson, Illustrated by Zeynet Dural was published on September 18, 2022 and is about a little boy getting his first haircut. Thank you to NetGalley and Books Go Social for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book goes through the emotions a child might go through when getting their first haircut.  It's great for a child that might be two or three, but most kids don't remember getting their first haircut.  I sure don't remember mine.     Personally, if a child is getting upset about their first haircut beforehand, I think it has more to do with the parents getting upset about it, and the kids feeding off of their parent's emotions.  That's not to say that once they get to a hair salon that the noises from hair clippers or seeing scissors come towards their head isn't upsetting because I am sure it is.   What I would've liked to see in the book is more of the actual haircut and the...

Santa's Countdown to Christmas by Kim Thompson, Illustrated by Elodie Duhameau was published on October 2, 2017 and is a book format of an advent calendar.  Told from the perspective of Santa Claus, the storyline chronicles what Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, the elves, and the reindeer do in preparation of Christmas on each day of December leading up to Christmas Day. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Crackboom! Books for giving me a copy of Santa's Countdown to Christmas in exchange for my honest review.  I was thrilled to be approved to read this book because I love Christmas and am a kid at heart. This picture book was well written and engaging.  The illustrations were phenomenal as well.  I even enjoyed reading it as an adult.  I wish I had kids of my own so I could buy it for them, but I guess I'll have to settle for buying it for family members and friends who have kids that believe in Santa Claus.  I'd recommend this book for babies through eight years old....

The Summer Party by Rebecca Heath is a psychological thriller due out on January 5, 2023 and opens with Lucy Ross coming back to her childhood summer home in Queen's Point, Australia to pack up her grandmother's belongings.  When a dead body is found coincides with Lucy's return, she finds herself and her wealthy childhood friends being questioned in the murder. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the Advanced Readers Copy of The Summer Party by Rebecca Heath.  I was thrilled to be approved to receive this book for free in exchange for my honest review. Told from alternating time lines, this book started off slowly for me, but as I got further into the story, it really picked up for me.  I found myself wanting to rush through the novel to see the who, what, when, and how, especially since I was leaning towards one of two people being the murderer.  There were quite a few red herrings, but when it came down to who the murderer was, I was a bit shocked ...

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...

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead (Finlay Donovan, #2) by Elle Cosimano opens where the last book left off.  Finlay is struggling with her next novel and trying to find out who put a hit out on her ex-husband and father to her children.  On top of that, Finlay's nanny, Vero, is keeping secrets.  Will Finlay get everything done? This is the second novel in the Finlay Donovan book series and is a lot better than the first book.  I can't wait to read the third book in the series.  I don't have any complaints about Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead .  I found it to be fun and entertaining.  What I found to be interesting is that yet again Finlay's agent and editor are bugging her for her novel and wanting her to put the cop back into it.  This felt very autobiographical to me. I loved the the romance aspects of the story, but I hope it doesn't turn into a love triangle like the Stephanie Plum books do.  I hope Finlay does pick one of them and eventu...

I Don't Want To Move by Carolyn Watkins is a children's picture book about the pitfalls of moving, going to a new school, and making new friends.  It's a great book for children between the ages of three and six. First and foremost, I'd like to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of I Don't Want To Move by Carolyn Watkins.  I loved the cover art of this picture book and was excited to be approved to read and review this book in exchange for my honest review. Although this book does a fairly good job at explaining the moving process on a child friendly level, I felt like it made it seem a little too easy.  I also found some of the transitions to be a bit choppy. All in all, I think this is a great book for parents to buy for their young children when they are going to move.  It opens the door for the parents to have a dialogue with their children about moving and what to expect.  I gave I Don't Want To Move by Carolyn Watkins f...

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is about the friendship between Emily and Chess.  Friends since elementary school, their friendship has become strained now that they're in their thirties.  When a trip to Italy is suggested by Chess, Emily leaps at the chance to get away and work on their relationship.  However, the villa they rent has a dark past. I'd like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital review copy of The Villa by Rachel Hawkins.  I haven't read any of the author's works before, but I have heard glowing reviews of her novels.  I was ecstatic when I was approved to receive a copy of Hawkins' latest novel in exchange for my honest review. Told from two different perspectives and times, The Villa by Rachel Hawkins was an interesting read with things that I loved and disliked.  I loved the two different storylines told in the present by Emily and in the past by Mari.  However, there were times I had trouble switching back and fort...

Adam and His Tuba by Ziga X Gombac and illustrated by Maja Kastelic is a beautifully illustrated story that follows a young boy named Adam who travels from place to place with his lively circus family. While his relatives eagerly perform their acts and embrace life in the spotlight, Adam struggles to find his own place and doesn’t share their enthusiasm for performing. This children's picture book that has been translated by Olivia Hellewell with an expected publication date of February 28, 2023. I would like to thank NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review. The title immediately stood out to me, and the cover art was eye-catching and full of personality. As someone who is always searching for thoughtful and visually appealing children’s books to gift to friends and family with young children, I was excited for the opportunity to read this translated picture book. It seemed like it had the potential to b...

The Prisoner by B.A. Paris opens with Amelie losing her father to cancer and striking out to make it on her own as she doesn't want to be a ward of the state.  She eventually marries billionaire Jed Hawthorne, but one night, Amelie is awakened and finds herself and Jed being kidnapped.  Why are they being kidnapped, and who are her captors? A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the Advanced Readers Copy of The Prisoner by B.A. Paris in exchange for my honest review.  This author is one of my favorite authors, so I was ecstatic that my request to review this book was approved. The first thing that struck me about The Prisoner were some of the similarities between this book and The Family Game by Catherine Steadman.  Both books feature a main character that has been orphaned and a handsome, wealthy man who is isn't who you think he is.  However, that is where the semblance ends.  With that being said, there were times that I was getting t...

The Family Game by Catherine Steadman is a novel about a rich, eccentric family and traditions that may be deadly.  Harriet "Harry" Reed, a novelist, and her fiance Edward Holbeck are in love.  Edward's estranged family wants Harry's help in bringing back into the folds of their family, but when their strange family traditions make Harry uneasy, she starts to rethink her decision. A big shout out and thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballatine Books for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Family Game by Catherine Steadman.  I requested to review this book because of the cover art and the synopsis.  To say I was excited to be approved to receive this book for free in exchange for my honest review would be an understatement. This was the perfect book to put me in the mood for Halloween even though the majority of the book takes place in November and December.  An intense, dark book, the first quarter of the novel was a bit slow but qu...

The Shop on Royal Street (Royal Street, #1) by Karen White is the first book in a spin off series from the Tradd Street book series.  Nola Trenholm is looking for a fresh start in New Orleans after having some hiccups in her personal life.  However, that's proving to be more difficult than she realized it would be with her house renovation. This book was the October book selection for the book club I belong to.  After hearing a couple of people say it was a little slow in the beginning, I was worried that I wouldn't like the book.  When I finally sat down to start reading The Shop on Royal Street , I had to agree that it was slow to start.  However, once I got two or three chapters in, the storyline really started to pick up making it hard for me to put it down, and I can't wait for the next installment to come out. I loved the fact that this book took place in New Orleans, Louisiana.  It's one of my favorite cities to visit.  Add in the paranormal el...

Berry the Evidence (Cranberry Cove, #7) by Peg Cochran takes place in Cranberry Cove, where it's autumn.  Things start to get toasty when Monica's stepmom, Gina, arrives at her house and is frantic.  Gina had fallen asleep in her realtor's car.  When she woke up, Rip was dead from a gunshot, and Gina refuses to go to the police.  Monica decides to investigate in hopes of keeping her stepmom safe. A big thank you goes out to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for the Advanced Readers Copy of Berry the Evidence (Cranberry Cove, #7) by Peg Cochran.  I was happy to receive this ebook for free in exchange for my honest review. I wasn't familiar with the author, Peg Cochran, prior to reading Berry the Evidence , so I wasn't sure what to expect.  However, I was pleasantly surprised.  The novel was well written and paced perfectly.  I felt like I was right there in the town as I read the book.  Although it's the seventh book in the series, Be...

Music From The Dead by Bebe Faas Rice is a young adult horror novel that was originally published in April 1997. The story follows Marnie and her cousin Peter as they drive to Stonycraig, a sprawling mansion that Marnie’s father has rented for the summer. Arriving ahead of her father, the cousins begin settling into the grand, mysterious home. Marnie is immediately uneasy when she thinks she sees a shadow in one of the windows, and her unease grows when she starts hearing a woman crying late at night. Are the ghost stories surrounding Stonycraig true, or is there another explanation for the strange occurrences in the mansion? I first read this book as a teenager and remember being captivated by both the story and the writing. Recently, I decided to revisit Music From The Dead as an adult to see if it lived up to my memories, and I was thrilled to discover that it exceeded them. The book remains exceptionally well-written and completely unputdownable. Even though certain plot points c...