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.

Review: Jughead Vol. 3

Title: Jughead Vol. 3
Author: Ryan North, Derek Charm, Ian Flynn, Mark Waid
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: Archie Comics
Source: Library
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 25, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

It’s magic, music, mayhem and ZOMBIES (of yeah, and hamburgers — plenty of hamburgers!) in this third volume of the Eisner-nominated Jughead series, collecting issues #12-16.

Review:

This is another funny volume in the Jughead series.

The volume is split into two storylines by two different authors. I love Ryan North’s writing style because he puts little notes at the bottom of the page which comment on the comics. They’re so funny. In the second story, written by Mark Waid and Ian Flynn, they also comment on the bottom of a couple of pages to copy Ryan’s style.

I didn’t really like the first part of the story as much as the rest of it, because it was centered around Reggie. All of the gang had a video game competition, which ended in Reggie winning the title of king. However, the results of that story led to the problems in the rest of the comics, which were all about Jughead.

I enjoyed the comics and I can’t wait for the next one to come out.

Have you read Jughead Vol. 3? What did you think of it?

‘Waiting on’ Wednesday – December 19

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 Riverdale: The Day Before by Micol Ostow. The release date is December 26, 2018.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Based on the massively successful CW show, Riverdale, this prequel novel explores what the gang was doing before Season One. 

Why did Jughead and Archie have a falling out? What did Veronica’s life look like in the Big Apple? And how long has Betty really been in love with Archie? 

Told from multiple POVs, your favorite characters tell their story their way.

What books are you waiting on this week?

Review: We’ll Always Have Christmas

Title: We’ll Always Have Christmas
Author: Jenny Hale
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Bookouture
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 29, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

An enchanting story about the magic of Christmas, the importance of family, and the joy of falling in love during the most romantic season of the year… 

Christmas has always been a special time for Noelle Parker. Winter evenings spent with family and friends, drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies at her family’s cozy bakery have shaped her love for all things festive. But this year everything is changing… 

The beloved bakery is facing closure and Noelle needs a miracle to save Christmas. 

Determined to raise funds for the family business, Noelle sets about revamping the bakery while juggling a surprise new job, caring for the elderly and cantankerous William Harrington in his luxurious, sprawling mansion. 

As Noelle melts the frostiness of the house with cake baking, snowball fights and glittering decorations, she helps William to reconnect with a romance that has spanned decades and unexpectedly finds herself falling for his grandson – the gorgeous but mysterious Alexander Harrington… 

In the countdown to Christmas, can Noelle save the bakery, reunite a family and create some magical memories of her own along the way?

Review:

This is a great holiday romance. This story was predictable and comforting. I could tell what would happen to the main character, Noelle, since it was a holiday romance. Once Noelle met Alex, I suspected there would be some romance between them. However, Alex was a stubborn man, so it wasn’t a smooth ride. Some of the parts were slow because there was a lot of time spent baking treats in the bakery. I would have liked to see more action with the characters so the story moved forward, but that is just my personal preference. This is a cute story, perfect for reading during the holidays.

What to read next:

Coming Home for Christmas by Jenny Hale

Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses by Jenny Hale

Have you read We’ll Always Have Christmas? What did you think of it?

Top Ten Tuesday – Winter 2018 TBR

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 theme is Winter 2018 TBR. Here’s my list:

1. On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

2. Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus

3. King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

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

5. The Black Coats by Colleen Oakes

6. An Affair of Poisons by Addie Thorley

7. Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds

8. Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody, Joanne Rendell

9. Slayer by Kiersten White

10. You’d Be Mine by Erin Hahn

(All photos taken from Goodreads)

Review: If The Shoe Fits (Whatever After #2)

Title: If the Shoe Fits (Whatever After #2) 
Author: Sarah Mlynowski
Genre: Middle Grade
Publisher: Scholastic
Source: Library
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 1, 2013
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Once upon a time my brother and I found a magic mirror…

Tonight the mirror swept us into Cinderella’s fairy tale. Now, we are NOT messing this story up. No way. Cinderella is going to marry her prince just like she’s supposed to.

Uh-oh.

Cinderella broke her foot, and there’s massive swelling. The glass slipper won’t fit, the prince won’t know she’s the one for him, and they won’t live happily ever after. And it’s all our fault!

To save the day we’ll need to:
– Learn how to use a dustpan
– Stay out of jail
– Find Cinderella a job
– Make sure true love finds its way

We just have to get it all done before the clock strikes twelve and the chance for a happy ending is gone . . . forever! 

Review:

Abby and Jonah return to the fairytale world in this second book in the series. Instead of going back to Snow White’s world, they enter Cinderella’s story.

Cinderella’s story changes when they enter it, just like Snow White’s did in the first story. Abby and Jonah have to fix the story so that Cinderella still gets her happy ending. However, she learns how to be independent along the way. This story gives an important message: that the princess doesn’t need a prince to save her at the end. She can make her own happy ending.

I loved this book and I’m so excited to read the rest of the series!

What to read next:

Sink Or Swim (Whatever After #3) by Sarah Mlynowski

Bras and Broomsticks (Magic in Manhattan #1) by Sarah Mlynowski

Have you read If the Shoe Fits (Whatever After #2)? What did you think of it?

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? – December 17

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 We’ll Always Have Christmas by Jenny Hale.

What I’m currently reading:

I’m currently reading My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life by Rachel Cohn.

What I’m reading next:

Next I will be reading What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera.

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

Jill’s Weekly Wrap-Up – December 16


Here are my reviews for the week with my ratings:

I did 7 weekly blogging memes:

I also did three additional posts:

How was your week? What did you guys read?

Litjoy Unboxing – September 2018

Here’s my unboxing post of the September 2018 Litjoy box!

I love these little tea lights! They’re battery operated. We love using battery operated candles at my house, and these ones are so cute.

This is a gorgeous infinity scarf. It has pictures of the patronuses from Harry Potter. The picture doesn’t do it justice, because it really is beautiful, and it it super comfy too!

It took me a minute to realize what this bag is a picture of, but I loved it when I figured it out. It is the Peverell brothers defeating deaths with the Deathly Hallows from Harry Potter.

This is a beautiful picture of Zelie from Children of Blood and Bone. 

And here is the book: For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig. I had never heard of this book before but it looks awesome!

I love the trading cards in the Litjoy boxes! These ones are characters from Daughters of Smoke and Bone.

Did you get this Litjoty box? What did you think of it?

Sundays in Bed With… We’ll Always Have Christmas

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 We’ll Always Have Christmas by Jenny Hale.

Goodreads Synopsis:

An enchanting story about the magic of Christmas, the importance of family, and the joy of falling in love during the most romantic season of the year… 

Christmas has always been a special time for Noelle Parker. Winter evenings spent with family and friends, drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies at her family’s cozy bakery have shaped her love for all things festive. But this year everything is changing… 

The beloved bakery is facing closure and Noelle needs a miracle to save Christmas. 

Determined to raise funds for the family business, Noelle sets about revamping the bakery while juggling a surprise new job, caring for the elderly and cantankerous William Harrington in his luxurious, sprawling mansion. 

As Noelle melts the frostiness of the house with cake baking, snowball fights and glittering decorations, she helps William to reconnect with a romance that has spanned decades and unexpectedly finds herself falling for his grandson – the gorgeous but mysterious Alexander Harrington… 

In the countdown to Christmas, can Noelle save the bakery, reunite a family and create some magical memories of her own along the way?

What book are you in bed with today?

Review: The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories

Title: The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories 
Author: P.D. James
Genre: Mystery, Short Stories
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Source: Library
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 4, 2016
Rating: ★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

As the acknowledged ‘Queen of Crime’ P.D. James was frequently commissioned by newspapers and magazines to write a special short story for Christmas. Four of the very best of these have been rescued from the archives and are published together for the first time. P.D. James’s sparkling prose illuminates each of these perfectly formed stories, making them ideal reading for the darkest days of the year. While she delights in the secrets that lurk beneath the surface at enforced family gatherings, her Christmas stories also provide enjoyable puzzles to keep the reader guessing. 

From the title story about a strained country house gathering on Christmas Eve, another about an illicit affair that ends in murder, and two cases for James’s poet-detective Adam Dalgliesh — each treats the reader to James’s masterfully atmospheric story-telling, always with the lure of a mystery to be solved.

Review:

This is a festive collection of murder mysteries. This is the second collection of P.D. James stories that I’ve read, and I find her stories a little disappointing. I find that many of her stories don’t end in justice being served. That was the case in some of these stories.

I didn’t like the ending of The Mistletoe Murder, because I thought it was too obvious. The Boxdale Inheritance was very complicated, and I think it would have been better as a full novel because there were so many characters. The Twelve Clues of Christmas was anticlimactic, even though it was about an unusually, staged suicide on Christmas. I liked A Very Commonplace Murder the best because it was unpredictable, and I couldn’t guess the ending.

If you like P.D. James, I’m sure you will love this collection. However, it didn’t work for me.

What to read next:

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

Cover Her Face (Adam Dalgliesh #1) by P.D. James

Have you read The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories? What did you think of it?