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Yesterday's Gone by Kelly Pawlik

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Darius and his family have recently moved from Boston to a small Pacific Northwest town and he’s itching for a mystery to solve — just like his Hardy Boys heroes. When he overhears some other kids talking about an abandoned house, he think he might have found his answer, but Darius and his new friends might have bitten off more than they can chew. Their investigation takes some dark turns and reveals much more than just a spooky house.   The premise drew me in: Kids exploring a haunted house and stumbling upon their very own mystery. Unfortunately, the execution left a lot to be desired. While technically sound, with great use of sensory language, the plot was Swiss cheese and the characters were sorely underdeveloped. Once I sifted my way through all of the “D” names, I wanted a lot more depth, a lot less telling, and a lot more showing.   Great writing uses the setting (both place and time) as almost another character. As a teacher, I often ask, “If this were set somewhere/...
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People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

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If When Harry Met Sally taught us anything, it's that men and women cannot just be friends. But Poppy and Alex can, of course. Best friends since college, and living in different cities, their diverging personalities unite every summer for The Summer Trip . From Canadian communes, to the mountains of Colorado and the beaches of Florida, Poppy and Alex make their own adventures with the people they meet along the way. But their last trip has changed all that. After a two-year hiatus, Poppy is determined to win back her best friend -- and she has less than a week to convince Alex.  I typically don't read "trending" books. Usually, I find that they don't live up to the hype and I'm just disappointed. There was NOTHING disappointing about this read. The past and present narration kept the story moving and the tension building. Poppy and Alex were both equally flawed and endearing, and real . The vacation adventures were fun without being over-the-top. The dynami...
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The Celluloid Sentry by Anna Elliott & Charles Veley

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Our band of homespun heroes and heroines is at it again, but this time on a film set. When a film crew tasked with creating a patriotic propaganda piece arrives in Crofter's Green, Evie, Harry, and the gang hope that the most hazardous things they'll have to manage are entitlement and disruption. But, could the film's cast and crew have something more sinister planned?  This edition gave new meaning to "divide and conquer". While Evie and Harry tag-team to investigate a local burglary attempt, Nigel is on a special assignment, and it's left to the rest of the crew to pick up the pieces. I loved that everyone was actively involved in thwarting this plot, from growing-more-courageous Dorothy to heavily pregnant Katherine.  The first half of this book seemed to drag in uncharacteristic fashion, and I found the film cast and crew a little hard to keep track of. But the action seemed to pick up in part two and it was heartening to see even Harry getting to roll aro...
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The Saint Mary's Cipher by Anna Elliott & Charles Veley

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The Homefront Sleuths are at it again, this time with their own church on the line. While Evie and Nigel travel on a dangerous over-channel mission to rescue an old ally, it's up to Harry and the rest of the gang to keep Crofter's Green safe from a bomb threat.  One of the things I love most about this series is the way multiple perspectives and clues all seem to meld into one story in the end. For some reason, this one just never quite came together the same way for me. The team seemed to lack their normal cohesion and the plot felt a little disjointed. In some ways, I almost felt that Harry and Nigel swapped roles; and the ladies (except Evie, of course) seemed more ornamental than useful in this case.  Nigel and Evie continued to be my favorite power duo, but Katherine and Blake felt a little flat this time. I loved the addition of Alfie's perspective. As usual, the vast historical knowledge was on full display, but not in an overwhelming or unnatural way. Any visit to C...
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Captivation Creek by Claire Kingsley

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  In this latest Haven brothers tale, we get Theo's story. After a football career-ending injury, Theo is home in Tilikum, coaching and teaching at the local high school alongside his work bestie, Penelope. But when work friends become roommates, and the two conspire to solve a mystery, sparks start to fly.  I was excited to return to Tilikum -- home of the Baileys and the Havens -- and more excited to get Theo's perspective, since he was the brother I felt like I knew the least. But even after plowing through this book, I still feel like I don't know him all that well. Contrary to her normal style, Kinglsey's characters felt a little flat in this edition. I appreciate that she weaves a good mystery into her stories, but this one felt like more of an afterthought and was fairly anticlimactic.  The friends to lovers trope worked well and the characters were likable -- just not very deep. The squirrels were MIA, as were many of the beloved characters from the other books,...
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One & Only by Maurene Goo

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Cassia's business is love. Literally. She and her powerhouse tribe of matriarchs own One & Only: a match-making service that pairs "fateds" using the art of face-reading and a touch of Korean magic. But when Cassia's long-held belief in fate gets tested by free will, her world and her livelihood are forever altered.  This read has everything you could want in just the right proportions -- strong family bonds, spicy (but not too spicy) romance, friendship goals, a love triangle, a swoon-worthy setting, and just the right amount of character growth. While I kind of wanted not to like Cassia is the beginning, her self-deprecating humor, cool-auntie vibe, and vulnerability won me over. There's really nothing not to like here.  One & Only: ★★★★★
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Jane Austen's The Watsons by Claudia Gray

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  Color me impressed! While Jane Austen was the narrator of my early adulthood, Claudia Gray was a new author for me.  Ms. Gray picked up where Ms. Austen left off, with the Watson family. Youngest daughter, Ada has returned to her family after being raised since age six by her aunt and uncle. The family dynamics are realistic and very Austen-esque, with each daughter looking to secure a good marriage and save their family from financial ruin. Where matters of the heart are concerned, both Austen and Gray stick to their belief in love-matches -- though Ada must fight a harrowing battle against herself and her society if she hopes to secure her own.  Ada represents another strong heroine in the Austen collection and might be perhaps the most outspoken of the lot. The siblings were everything one could hope for in a classic tale, each markedly different, flawed, and delightful. While there were moments of semi-modernity that crept in, I was most impressed that there was no ...
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