When I Kill You by B.A. Paris

 

When I Kill You by B.A. Paris - 304 pages

Nell Masters is certain someone is following her. The hairs on the back of her neck rise when she travels to and from work, there are silent calls to her office, and a huge bouquet of flowers arrives without a card. And Nell has a reason to be looking over her shoulder, because she has a secret that she’s hiding from everyone in her life, including her new partner, Alex. But Alex also has secrets of his own.

Fourteen years earlier, when Nell went by the name Elle Nugent, she witnessed a student, Bryony Sanders, getting into a stranger’s car. When Bryony was found murdered, Elle became obsessed with finding the person responsible. She was convinced she knew who it was and her fixation with Brett Parker, the man she accused, led her down a dangerous path . . .

Now, Nell tries to convince herself that this unnerving feeling of being watched is all in her mind. Has someone from her past discovered her new identity? Has the stalker become the stalked? Or is there something even more deadly at play?

This was just "okay", I found the main character, Nell, annoying.  She does a LOT of assuming, causing a lot of issues/inconveniences.  I guess I'm not a fan of a weak, cowering main character.  I know it's the basis of the book but dang, she really is something. But, I will say that despite this, I did want to keep reading b/c I wanted to find out who was stalking Nell.  Overall I'd give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library - Amanda Chapman

 Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman - 358 pages

Book conservator Tory Van Dyne and a woman claiming to be Agatha Christie on holiday from the Great Beyond join forces to catch a killer in this spirited mystery from Amanda Chapman.

Tory Van Dyne is the most down-to-earth member of a decidedly eccentric old-money New York family. For one thing, as book conservator at Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library, she actually has a job. Plus, she’s left up-town society behind for a quiet life downtown. So she’s not thrilled when she discovers a woman in the library’s Christie Room who calmly introduces herself as Agatha Christie, politely requests a cocktail and announces she’s there to help solve a murder -- that has not yet happened.

But as soon as Tory determines that this is just a fairly nutty Christie fangirl, her socialite/actress cousin Nicola gets caught up in the suspicious death of her less-than-lovable talent agent. Nic, as always, looks to Tory for help. Tory, in turn, looks to Mrs. Christie. The woman, whoever or whatever she is, clearly knows her stuff when it comes to crime.

Aided by a found family of unlikely sleuths -- including a snarky librarian, an eleven-year-old computer whiz, and an NYPD detective with terrible taste in suits -- Tory and the woman claiming to be her very much deceased literary idol begin to unravel the twists and turns of a murderer’s devious mind. Because, in the immortal words of Miss Jane Marple, “murder is never simple.”

Weird and Wonderful Nature by Ben Hoare

 

Weird and Wonderful Nature by Ben Hoare - 192 pages

I read this book in preparation for one of my homeschool classes.  It was a really interesting book.  I learned quite a bit about various unusual plants, animals, and fungi. I would definitely recommend this book to kids.

FARTHER THAN THE MOON by Lindsay Lackey

   

Farther than the Moon   by Lindsay Lackey  328 pages

All thirteen-year-old Houston Stewart has ever wanted is to become an astronaut. His dreams feel like they're finally coming true when he's accepted to the highly-competitive Junior Astronaut Recruitment Program -- if only he could bring his little brother, Robbie, with him. Ever since their dad left, Houston and Robbie have been inseparable. It's hard to tell where Houston's love of space ends and where Robbie's begins. But Robbie's cerebral palsy and epilepsy mean he needs medical attention at home, so Houston must take this giant leap for the two of them all on his own. At camp, Houston is quickly drawn into the orbit of new friends, cosmic adventures, and a long-lost grandfather. But as Houston struggles to meet the program's rigorous demands, he’s forced to reckon with the truth that Robbie may never be able to visit space like the brothers have always hoped. But Houston is determined to honor Robbie’s dream, even if it seems like an impossible mission. So, like a good astronaut, he dares to make a new plan -- one that shoots for the stars.

What a great book for children who love outer space.  This author did a lot of research to make this book believable.  She went as far as to include a real life astronaut in the story.  The story includes a child with cerebral palsy as well as an autistic child.  Very well written.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man Vol. 3 by Brian Michael Bendis

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol. 3 by Brian Michael Bendis

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man (2011) #11-18, 120 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Miles Morales, the newly minted Spider-Man, teams up with the Prowler! But wait, isn't the Prowler a bad guy?! Caught in a moral crisis, Miles must choose between battling his uncle-turned-crimelord, or joining him to keep his family safe! What path will the young hero take? And what will be the dramatic consequences? Plus: With the nation at war, Miles Morales decides to become a member of the Ultimates - and he will do absolutely anything it takes to earn that right.

Review
A little bit of a weaker volume, Miles gets thrown into this civil war versus Hydra in the middle, which kind of stops the momentum from the previous volumes. But Miles is just so compelling that he saves it.

Rogue and Gambit #1, Ring of Fire by Kelly Thompson

Rogue and Gambit #1, Ring of Fire by Kelly Thompson

Rogue and Gambit (2018), 112 pages

⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Everybody's favorite X-couple is reunited! And boy, are they not happy about that… Kitty Pryde must send Rogue and Gambit on an undercover mission to find a group of kidnapped mutants. What they discover on this mission will shock them. But will it also bring them closer together…? It's a high-stakes adventure caper that only the two hottest X-Men can deliver!

Review

This was a lot of fun! It leans a little bit more towards a rom-com vibe, but there was still enough action to keep it a superhero story.

The One and Only Family by Katherine Applegate

 

The One and Only Family

272 | 2024

For more than a decade, readers have been enchanted by the modern classic The One and Only Ivan , a Newbery Award winner and a #1 New York Times bestseller, and by its bestselling sequels, The One and Only Bob and The One and Only Ruby . Powerhouse author Katherine Applegate invites readers back into Ivan’s world for one last adventure—his most exciting yet. Ivan has been happily living in a wildlife sanctuary, with his friend Ruby next door in the elephant enclosure, frequent visits from his canine friend Bob, and his mate Kinyani by his side. And in the happiest turn of all, Ivan and Kinyani have welcomed a set of twins to their family! Ivan loves being a papa, even though it can be hard sometimes. But as he navigates the joys and challenges of parenthood, he can’t help but recall his life before the glass walls of the mall circus, his own childhood in the jungle—and his own twin. In the tradition of timeless classics like Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little , the one and only Katherine Applegate has crafted a poignant, delightful, heartbreaking, unforgettable final foray into the world of Ivan, the world’s favorite silverback.