February 2025 – Jill's Book Blog

Review: Mit Out Sound

Title: Mit Out Sound
Author: Rick Lenz
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Chromodroid Press
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: February 25, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Would-be movie producer Emily Bennett didn’t believe the legend of a lost movie, starring James Dean and John Wayne. But when she meets two uncannily talented celebrity impersonators-Jimmy Riley and Tom “Duke” Manfredo, and stumbles upon the elusive film editor who stole the master negative of Showdown, it dispels her doubts, fills her with a courage she didn’t know she had, and she sets out to complete the movie.

But as Emily and her stars prepare for day one of shooting, they find themselves entangled in a complex love triangle with Oedipal undertones, mirroring their own past lives and off-screen dynamics. As doubts about their ruthless director, Solange Borugian, surface, Jimmy’s and Duke’s friendship is turned upside down, while Emily and her brother Ben, struggle with their own unresolved issues and are forced to confront their dying father.

On location in Arizona, amidst Apache holy grounds and the magic of day-for-night shooting, the lines between past and present blur and the flawed characters’ backstories intertwine into a tumultuous finale that exposes their hidden animosities, demons, and loves.

Review:

This book gives an interesting look at filmmaking in the 1970s. Emily had a lot of work to do to finish an old film starring John Wayne and James Dean with impersonators. There was a lot of personal trauma that connected the characters, and they had to figure out how to cope with it to finish the job. I think fans of John Wayne and James Dean will like this novel!

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: death, murder, cancer, child abuse, car accident

Have you read Mit Out Sound? What did you think of it?

Happy Pub Day – February 25

Happy Pub Day to these authors!

The Wildest Things by Andrea Hannah

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor

The Kiss Bet, Vol. 1 by Ingrid Ochoa

Thank you Wednesday Books, Penguin Teen Canada, and Wattpad Books for providing copies of these books!

What books are you most excited for this week?

Review: Empire of Billions

Title: Empire of Billions
Author: E. Masson
Genre: Romance, Thriller
Publisher: Author E. Masson
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Ebook
Release Date: August 13, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Amazon Best Seller. Book Lovers would truly enjoy reading this Novel.
A Must Read Novel Today.

Revenge may be a dish best-served cold.
But love can melt the hardest heart.

The Roberts family are super rich. But everyone knows that money can’t buy happiness.
And they should know. Losing their parents at a young age meant they had to rely on each other.

The four boys and their little sister had been taught that rules keep you safe. And what the brothers say goes. But what if the heart wants something else?

Elizabeth may be the youngest but now she’s all grown up. And her heart yearns for Henry Kinkaid — a man her brothers hate.

This just makes her more determined for their forbidden love to flourish. Only when she learns her lover’s dark secret does her heart threaten to shatter.

But how long can she keep Henry out of her life? Especially as she’s carrying a piece of him with her.

The Roberts brothers have strict relationships Keep emotions out of it.

But will the patter of tiny feet melt their materialistic hearts?
And will they bury old wounds before it’s too late?

Review:

This book is about multiple generations of a wealthy American family. They leave a trail of murders and trauma throughout their family tree. The story was exciting and intense. I would have liked to see more action and more description of the characters. This was a fast paced story that kept me intrigued until the end!

Empire of Billions is a great family saga thriller!

Thank you Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Content warnings: death, death of parents, car accident, gun violence, domestic violence, murder

Have you read Empire of Billions? What did you think of it?

Review: Janie’s Hope (Southport #3)

Title: Janie’s Hope (Southport #3)
Author: S.R. Fabrico
Genre: Thriller, Contemporary
Publisher: SRF Creations
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: February 11, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Award-Winning author of The Secrets We Conceal, Call Her Janie, and Keeping Janie.

Janie’s Hope is a powerful and heartwarming conclusion to the Southport Series, set in a charming small town where secrets run deep, and love can heal the deepest wounds. Janie, a strong neurodivergent heroine raised by a reclusive billionaire, is finally ready to step beyond her sheltered world and uncover the truths of her past. Following whispers of her late mother, she journeys to Southport, where her father’s warnings of hidden dangers only strengthen her resolve.

Her existence has been shaped by stories of her mother, Lizzie Levine, and the fleeting moments they shared in Southport. Eager to uncover her past, Janie is determined to follow in her mother’s footsteps, even as her father’s warnings of danger loom large.

Enter Noah, the sweet and adorkable cinnamon roll with hidden abs and quiet confidence, who falls for Janie almost immediately, captivated by her fiery spirit. But hidden truths linger in the shadows, including Janie’s secret identity, complicating their growing connection.

In this emotional journey of self-discovery and love, Janie’s Hope will sweep you away into a world where second chances and found family collide, proving that sometimes, the strongest bonds are forged in the most unexpected ways.

Janie’s Hope will sweep you into an emotional journey of self-discovery, romance, and the unexpected strength of a found family. S.R. Fabrico’s storytelling captivates with suspense, passion, and unforgettable moments, making this finale a must-read for fans of heartfelt romance and compelling mysteries.

Review:

This book is the finale to the Southport series. I haven’t read the first two books, but this one can be read as a stand-alone. However, there were some complicated relationships that happened in the first two books, so it might be helpful to read them first. This was a thrilling read. It was fast paced and difficult to put down. Everything came together very well in the end so I think it’s a great ending for a series!

Janie’s Hope is a great thriller!

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Content warnings: death, parental death (off page), kidnapping (off page), gun violence, cancer

Other books in the series:

Call Her Janie (Southport #1)
Keeping Janie (Southport #2)

Have you read Janie’s Hope? What did you think of it?

Happy Pub Day – February 18

Happy Pub Day to these authors!

Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli

Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff

Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson

Thank you Wednesday Books, St. Martin’s Press, and Penguin Teen Canada for providing copies of these books!

What books are you most excited for this week?

Review: Forever the One.com

Title: Forever the One.com
Author: Connie Y. Harris
Genre: Romance, Thriller
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Ebook
Release Date: May 6, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

No stranger to trouble as a Texas Game Warden, Mariah Michaels fearlessly enforces the laws that protect wildlife. However, when an unknown stalker imperils her life, she’ll need help neutralizing the threat.
Plagued by the limitations of his disability, Marine veteran-turned-security specialist, John Armstrong, joins an online dating site in search of love and an end to his loneliness. But he gets more than he bargained for when the woman of his dreams responds to his profile as a perfect match.
While they pursue a long-distance relationship, blazing a trail from Florida to Texas, the stalker’s actions escalate, putting Mariah and everyone close to her at risk. In over her head, she’s counting on John, who must face his worst fear and rise above his disability to save her, but will her faith in him be enough?

Review:

This was a very suspenseful romance. I liked the inclusion of different abilities. John was a veteran who used a wheelchair and a service dog. It was interesting to see how he was able to do everything himself with some assistance from special devices. Mariah’s mother had dementia, which added some complications to their investigation. This story was intense and fast paced, and it had me on the edge of my seat the whole time!

Forever the One.com is a great suspenseful romance!

Thank you The Wild Rose Press for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: stalking, PTSD, animal abuse, fire, dementia

Have you read Forever the One.com? What did you think of it?

Review: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo (Inbound #1)

Title: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo (Inkbound #1)
Author: Philippa Leathley
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Contemporary
Publisher: Frenzy Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: January 28, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Enter an extraordinary magical adventure about family, fate and finding the courage to be truly yourself – perfect for fans of Nevermoor and The Swifts.

On her tenth birthday, Meticulous Jones–known to her friends as Metty–receives her fate, as all children do, in the form of a magical tattoo on her hand. She hopes that her ink will reveal something exciting: a tattoo that will symbolize travel, or discovery, or adventure. What appears is a skull, balanced in the palm of a violet glove.

Metty’s fate is to become a murderer.

Metty is swiftly hidden away by her father, Moral Jones, in a remote Welsh farmhouse, with only a miserable housekeeper (who’s terrified she’ll become Metty’s first victim) for company. But when Moral goes missing, his sister, Aunt Magnificent, arrives to sweep Metty off to the glittering city of New London. Metty is mesmerized by the magic and enchantment she discovers there. But when she starts to hear rumors of a mysterious and dangerous organization known as the Black Moths, she wonders if they might be connected to her father’s disappearance–and to her own fate. . . .

Review:

This was such a fun fantasy story! There was a distinct magical world, but it was similar and alongside our real world. I loved that kids found out what their “fate” or magic was through a tattoo on their hand. There were some exciting twists that I didn’t see coming. I’m excited to see what happens in the next book!

Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo is a great middle grade fantasy!

Thank you Frenzy Books for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo? What did you think of it?

Review: Goodnight, Teddy Pear

Title: Goodnight, Teddy Pear
Author: Mirko Filippi
Genre: Children’s, Board Book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Board Book
Release Date: December 12, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis:

Teddy bears are cute and cuddly. Teddy bears are the favorite stuffed animal or toy of many children, and of many adults, looking back with fondness at their own childhood experiences. We need to throw that teddy bear out the window, because there is a new toy sherrif in town–Teddy Pear. Teddy Pear is not a big talker–that’s true–and . . . he doesn’t really do a lot . . . that’s also true . . . actually, will he ever do or say anything? In the end, we’ll have to read the book to find out.

Review:

In this board book, a little boy is getting ready to go to sleep with his giant Teddy Pear, a toy that takes up half of his bed. He keeps talking to the Teddy Pear to try to get him to respond. It reminded me of playing with my stuffed toys when I was a kid. This book also reminded me of the nursery rhyme Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear.

Goodnight Teddy Bear is an adorable board book for kids!

Thank you Taffy Tales for sending me a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Have you read Goornight, Teddy Pear? What did you think of it?

Review: Picture a Garden

Title: Picture a Garden
Author: Linda Hornberg
Genre: Middle Grade, Nonfiction
Publisher: Peanut Butter Publishing
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Paperback
Release Date: January 28, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

What springs to mind when you hear the word GARDEN? Would it surprise you to learn that the world just outside your door is overflowing with art, science, humor, drama, intrigue, and colorful personalities? Nature has you surrounded. It’s time to come out with your hands gloved and your feet galoshed, ready to sow some spinach, pick a peony, mulch a maple, root a rose, graft a grape, stake a spruce, water a walnut, and hug a hemlock.

Set down your screens and take up your trowel.

Adventure awaits!

The stories inside this book are nearly all true. I have never actually seen a chorus line of worms decked out in feather boas, but I can guarantee that there are plenty of real-life larvae out there merrily chewing up the scenery. You can turn orange from eating too many carrots, and there really is a tiny plant island called a liverwart–although there probably are no tiny castaways living on it. Welcome to gardening for smarties. Never stop thinking, wondering, and digging, and you’ll never be bored. Have fun.

Review:

This book is all about plants, from the history of plants to how to design your own garden today. It was incredibly detailed, with illustrations on every page and some little jokes too. All the words are handwritten, which gives it a personalized feel, as if it was written directly to the reader.

Picture a Garden is a great book for kids who are interested in science or plants!

Thank you iRead Book Tours and Linda Hornberg for providing a copy of this book for a sponsored campaign.

Have you read Picture a Garden? What did you think of it?