Author: jilljemmett

Jill lives in Toronto, Canada. She has studied English, Creative Writing, and Publishing. Jill is the creator and content producer of Jill’s Book Blog, where she has published a blog post every day for the last four years, including 5-7 book reviews a week. She can usually be found with her nose in a book.

‘Waiting on’ Wednesday – July 3

This is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. In this post we highlight a book that’s highly anticipated.

The book that I’m waiting on this Wednesday is The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen. The release date is July 30, 2019.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A future chieftain

Fie abides by one rule: look after your own. Her Crow caste of undertakers and mercy-killers takes more abuse than coin, but when they’re called to collect royal dead, she’s hoping they’ll find the payout of a lifetime.

A fugitive prince

When Crown Prince Jasimir turns out to have faked his death, Fie’s ready to cut her losses—and perhaps his throat. But he offers a wager that she can’t refuse: protect him from a ruthless queen, and he’ll protect the Crows when he reigns.

A too-cunning bodyguard

Hawk warrior Tavin has always put Jas’s life before his, magically assuming the prince’s appearance and shadowing his every step. But what happens when Tavin begins to want something to call his own?

What books are you waiting on this week?

Review: The Lost Sisters (The Folk of the Air #1.5)

Title: The Lost Sisters (The Folk of the Air #1.5)
Author: Holly Black
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: NOVL
Source: Purchased
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 2, 2018
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Sometimes the difference between a love story and a horror story is where the ending comes . . . 

While Jude fought for power in the Court of Elfhame against the cruel Prince Cardan, her sister Taryn began to fall in love with the trickster, Locke. 

Half-apology and half-explanation, it turns out that Taryn has some secrets of her own to reveal.

The Lost Sisters is a companion e-novella to the New York Times bestselling novel The Cruel Prince by master writer Holly Black.

Review:

This story comes between The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King. It is a great refresher of The Cruel Prince because it gives an overview of what happened in that book from a new perspective.

This story is told by Taryn speaking directly to Jude. It is written in the uncommon second person, because it addresses “you.” I read this story after reading The Wicked King, instead of between the two novels. However, I think I enjoyed it more reading it this way, because Taryn plays a unique role in The Wicked King. This story gave me a different perspective of her character because she was able to tell her side of the story.

I enjoyed this short story. It is great for fans of this series!

What to read next:

The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2) by Holly Black

Tithe (Modern Faerie Tales #1) by Holly Black

Have you read The Lost Sisters? What did you think of it?

Top Ten Tuesday – Childhood Favourites

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and it is now hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s Childhood Favourites. I’m listing my favourite books that I read as a child. Here’s my list:

1. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park

2. Kittens in the Kitchen (Animal Ark #1) by Ben M. Baglio

3. Just Me And My Dad by Mercer Mayer

4. The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food by Stan and Jan Berenstain

5. Amelia Bedelia’s Family Album by Peggy Parish

6. What-A-Mess by Frank Muir

7. Mole and Shrew All Year Through by Jackie French Koller

8. The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword by Anne Mazer

9. Into the Blue by Ben M. Baglio

10. Amber Brown is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger

(All photos taken from Goodreads)

Review: Keeping the Moon

Title: Keeping the Moon (audiobook)
Author: Sarah Dessen, Stina Nielsen (narrator)
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Speak
Source: Library
Format: Audiobook
Release Date: June 11, 2009 (first published September 1, 1999)
Rating: ★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Colie expects the worst when she’s sent to spend the summer with her eccentric aunt Mira while her mother, queen of the television infomercial, tours Europe. Always an outcast — first for being fat and then for being “easy” — Colie has no friends at home and doesn’t expect to find any in Colby, North Carolina. 

But then she lands a job at the Last Chance Cafe and meets fellow waitresses Morgan and Isabel, best friends with a loving yet volatile relationship. Wacky yet wise, Morgan and Isabel help Colie see herself in a new way and realize the potential that has been there all along. 

Review:

I was disappointed in this book.

It was more character driven than plot driven. There wasn’t much that happened to the main character, Colie. The other characters around her were so much more interesting than her. Her mother used to be overweight her whole life, but is now a fitness celebrity. Her neighbour, Morgan, was engaged to a not-so-good guy. Even Colie’s eccentric aunt seemed more developed than her. I think one of the other characters would have been a better main character than Colie.

I listened to the audiobook, which was good. The narrator’s voice was relaxing and easy to listen to. She did some great impressions for the more developed characters, such as Morgan who was a drama queen sometimes. These different voices were entertaining.

I’m glad this wasn’t the first Sarah Dessen book I’ve read. Her storytelling ability has improved a lot over the past 20 years since this book was written.

What to read next:

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Once and For All by Sarah Dessen

Have you read Keeping the Moon? What did you think of it?

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? – July 1

This blog meme is hosted by Book Date. It is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile!

What I just finished:

This weekend I finished Ordinary Girls by Blair Thornburgh.

What I’m currently reading:

I’m currently reading Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane.

What I’m reading next:

Next I will be reading The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu.

What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?

Review: Just Jaime

Title: Just Jaime
Author: Terri Libenson
Genre: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Balzer and Bray
Source: Borrowed from a friend
Format: Paperback
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Another spot-on story of middle school drama and friendship from Terri Libenson, national bestselling author of Invisible Emmie and Positively Izzy.

Friends. Frenemies. Middle school…

The last day of seventh grade has Jaime and Maya wondering who their real friends are.

Jaime knows something is off with her friend group. They’ve started to exclude her and make fun of the way she dresses and the things she likes. At least she can count on her BFF, Maya, to have her back . . . right?

Maya feels more and more annoyed with Jaime, who seems babyish compared to the other girls in their popular group. It’s like she has nothing in common with Jai anymore. Are their days as BFFs numbered . . . ?

Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jennifer L. Holm.

Review:

I really enjoyed this new graphic novel!

This story shows what can happen when kids grow up and grow apart. Jaime didn’t wear make up or want to do the same things as her other friends, so her friends wanted to cut her out of their group. It wasn’t fair to Jaime, but she ended up making new friends. It’s common for friends to drift apart, especially during preteen years, so this book is very relatable.

All of the books in this series have a twist at the end, where you discover something about a character that you never expected. The twist at the end of Invisible Emmie was kind of creepy, but the twist in this book was really clever. I didn’t see it coming.

This is a great story!

What to read next:

Invisible Emma by Terri Libenson

Positively Izzy by Terri Libenson

Have you read Just Jaime? What did you think of it?

Jill’s Weekly Wrap-Up – June 30

Here are my reviews for the week with my ratings:

I did 7 weekly blogging memes:

I also did a book tag:

How was your week? What did you guys read?

Sunday in Bed With… Don’t You Forget About Me

The meme that dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning? Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl.

This Sunday I’m reading Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to rise again…

The hilarious new heartbreaker from Mhairi McFarlane!

If there’s one thing worse than being fired from the grottiest restaurant in town, it’s coming home early to find your boyfriend in bed with someone else.

Reeling from the indignity of a double dumping on the same day, Georgina snatches at the next job that she’s offered – barmaid in a newly opened pub, which just so happens to run by the boy she fell in love with at school: Lucas McCarthy. And whereas Georgina (voted Most Likely to Succeed in her school yearbook) has done nothing but dead-end jobs in the last twelve years, Lucas has not only grown into a broodingly handsome man, but also has turned into an actual grown-up with a business and a dog along the way.

Meeting Lucas again not only throws Georgina’s rackety present into sharp relief, but also brings a dark secret from her past bubbling to the surface. Only she knows the truth about what happened on the last day of school, and why she’s allowed it to chase her all these years…

What book are you in bed with today?

Six for Sunday – Characters I Want To Be Friends With

This meme is hosted by Steph at A little but a lot. The weekly prompts for 2019 can be found here.

This week’s prompt is Characters I Want To Be Friends With. Here’s my list:

1. Hermione Granger

2. Mia Thermopolis

3. Georgia Nicolson

4. Cress

5. Mary Anne Spier

6. Suzannah Simon

Did you write a #SixforSunday post? What was your list of Characters You Want To Be Friends With?

Review: David Bowie

Title: David Bowie
Author: Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Genre: Children’s, Non-Fiction
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: ebook
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

New in the critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of David Bowie, the starman who dazzled audiences with his music. As a child, young David had a head full of songs and ideas. He was inspired by the pop and mod scenes in Britain to pick up the saxophone. After earning his stripes in some of the coolest bands in London, David splashed onto the solo scene. His songwriting talent and musical skill made him one of rock and roll’s all-time greatest artists. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the musician’s life. Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling series of books and educational games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. This empowering series offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. Boxed gift sets allow you to collect a selection of the books by theme. Paper dolls, learning cards, matching games and other fun learning tools provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children. Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!

Review:

I haven’t read any books in this series, but this one was very cute.

This series is great for young kids to learn about important historical figures. This book is about David Bowie and how he became a rock star.

David Bowie was an interesting man. I think his music and costumes would appeal to kids, so this book is a great way to introduce kids to David Bowie.

Thank you Lincoln Children’s Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

Muhammad Ali by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Mahatma Gandhi by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Have you read David Bowie? What did you think of it?