Sunday, August 31, 2025

Introducing...Midnight Rush

 

Once Upon a Boy Band
Midnight Rush #1
By Jenny Proctor
ASIN: B0CQ76BSK2
Publisher: Jenny Proctor Creative
Publication date: September 1, 2024
Print length: 358 pages 
ISBN-13: 979-8989342266

Publisher’s Blurb:

Once upon a time, she slept with his poster beside her bed. Now he's all grown up, hiding behind a burly beard and lots of flannel ... and she doesn't have a clue.

Eight years ago, Adam Driscoll walked away from his stage name—Deke—and the boyband that turned him into an international star before his eighteenth birthday.

And he never looked back.

It didn’t even matter that everyone blamed him for the band’s breakup. He might miss making music, but he had good reasons for walking. Give him solitude over thousands of screaming fans any day of the week.

These days, the only company he’s truly interested in is that of the vet who works closely with his dog rescue—Dr. Laney Lawson. She’s brilliant, funny, beautiful, and best of all, she has no idea he used to be a pop star.

But then Adam’s bandmates reach out about a one-time reunion concert benefiting a charity that’s close to his heart, and he starts to wonder if some things are worth a little extra attention. He loves the idea of singing again, but saying yes would out him to the small mountain community that has become his refuge. Worse, it would out him to Laney.

But old hurts can’t stay buried forever. And something tells Adam that scary or not, saying yes is the decision he needs to make. He just has to hope he doesn’t lose the life—or the woman—he loves in the process.

Once Upon a Boyband has all the crackling chemistry and sizzling kisses you want in a low-spice, closed-door romcom. Perfect for fans of romantic comedy with a little less heat.

 My thoughts:

Once upon a time, back in the 1970s, I, like so many young girls, had a crush. It wasn’t anyone at school. It was Donny Osmond, the youngest and cutest of the Osmond Brothers. They were what we’ve now come to know as a boy band.

 No, I did not grow up to marry Donny. I did work an evening at Osmond studios, typing the script for their first Miracle Network Telethon. I encountered brother Jay once or twice in other places. But that’s it.

 The difference between the Osmonds and Adam—formerly known as Midnight Rush heartthrob Deke—is that they didn’t drop off the face of the earth, start dog rescues, and fade into welcome obscurity.

 Laney was a huge, huge fand of Midnight Rush back in the day. And Deke was her favorite. She even has boxes full of Midnight Rush and Deke memorabilia. But even she doesn’t recognize Adam as Deke.

 Until she does.

 Adam carries a lot of guilt over how his time in the band ended—both because he let his bandmates down, and because he wasn’t with his mother when cancer took her. But when former bandmate Freddie (hang on…we’ll talk about him more in a minute) shows up to propose a reunion concert, Adam has a hard time saying no. He might have even claimed to have a fiancĂ©e. Named Laney.

 Let the fake-dating trope begin!

 Adam and Laney are actually really cute together. They are both crazy about music of all genres and eras, and it’s fun to listen to them discuss it. And of course, the puppies are cute. Even though we readers don’t actually get to see the puppies, they’re cute.

 While Adam does eventually agree to do the concert, and finds that he really enjoys being with the band again, his lingering guilt becomes too much when management proposed a series of concerts, rather than the one that was supposed to benefit cancer research. And when Adam’s guilt gets too much for him, he disappears. Cuts contact. Goes for a walk around his extensive property.

 This takes the place of a third-act breakup, and the method Laney finds to help him deal with is grief is super sweet and satisfying.

 All in all, this is a tender, funny, sweet romance.

 I do question whether Laney is actually old enough to be out of vet school, based on the timeline presented. Also, they mention the band being on TikTok before they broke up eight years ago. But TikTok didn’t start until 2018. There are a couple of other time glitches that were hopefully cleared up on final.

 There’s also a nod to another Proctor series when Adam wears an Appies hat. This is right and good and as it should be.

 Possible objectionable material:

Past parental death. Lying to friends/family. Speculation over whether a man is gay; another male character has a boyfriend. Adults drink alcohol.

 Who might like this book:

All of us with a boyband crush in our past. Music lovers. Romance fans.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #JennyProctor #RomCom #OnceUponABoyband



One More Made Up Love Song
Midnight Rush #2
By Jenny Proctor
ASIN: B0FKPPQRYQ
Publisher: Jenny Proctor Creative
Publication date: August 29, 2025
Print length: 344 pages 

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Rule #1: Do not fall in love with your very famous boss. Rule #2: See Rule #1.

As the personal assistant of rockstar Freddie Ridgefield, Ivy Conway knows most women would love to have her job. It definitely has its perks. She gets to travel, the pay is great, and she’s among the first to hear Freddie’s new music.

 The only problem? When she got the job, Ivy promised herself she would never fall in love with her boss. And it’s taking everything in her to stay true to her word.

 Then Freddie kisses Ivy—an impulsive move to save himself from a little bit of bad press—and everything changes. Now, the whole world thinks they’re in love.

 Even more significant: Ivy could swear Freddie felt the same fireworks she did when he pressed his lips to hers.

 What starts as an accidental publicity stunt quickly turns into something more, but fame makes everything more complicated. As Freddie’s spotlight grows to include her—and her family—Ivy starts to wonder if the life Freddie can offer her is worth the life she’ll give up. And how she’ll ever survive without him if it isn’t.

 One More Made Up Love Song is a fake-dating rockstar romance with all the crackling chemistry and tension you want in a closed-door romcom. Perfect for fans of romance with a little less heat.

 My thoughts:

This time, it’s Freddie’s turn in the spotlight. We got to know both him and Ivy a bit as secondary characters in the previous book. Freddie absolutely depends on Ivy for just about everything. She lives at his house and keeps his house organized. She’s been working for him for five years, and was hired with the understanding that she would not fall in love with him. Given that she wasn’t even a Midnight Rush fan when the band was together, or a Freddie Ridgefield fan when she was hired, she didn’t think that would be a problem. But, after a few years of close proximity, she definitely caught feelings. So when the book begins, she’s thinking it might be time to move on and move up into a position with a recording label.

 At the same time, Freddie suddenly starts noticing Ivy more, just not her looks, but how interwoven she is into his life. And he likes it. He’s a little bit crushed when she talks about changing jobs, leading him to realize just how attached to her he is.

 When a situation with rescuing Ivy’s sister Carina from a manipulative social media influencer calls for Ivy and Freddie to kiss, paparazzi catch them and the picture is instantly viral. So fake-dating it is. But it’s not as fake as either of them is pretending it is.

 Again, this is sweet and tender. It doesn’t even have a “you’d be better off without me” third act breakup. Once these two decide they’re a couple, they’re committed to each other.

 It’s a nice change.

 Possible objectionable material:

Adults drink alcohol. Freddie has lots of tattoos and a past as a bit of a playboy. Mention of tampons.

 Who might like this book:

Again, anyone who likes music, rock stars, and romance.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #JennyProctor #RomCom #OneMoreMadeUpLoveSong

Saturday, August 30, 2025

Secret penpals

 

Wish You Were Her
By Elle McNicoll
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication date: August 26, 2025
Print length: 352 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1250335562
Reading age: 13 - 18 years
Grade level: 7 - 9

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Allegra Brooks is an eighteen year old actress who is secretly autistic. When a journalist publishes a scathing profile on Allegra, she decides to take the summer off in Lake Pristine, to visit her slightly estranged father. There, she befriends the booksellers of Brooks Books and decides to help them plan the popular Lake Pristine Book Festival. As she gets closer to Simon, the openly enthusiastic and neurotypical of the two, she realizes it's really Jonah, the boy she argues with constantly and finds a bit off-putting, who she's actually more and more drawn to. As the summer wraps up and the festival approaches, Allegra has to make some decisions about what she owes to others, and to herself.

 My thoughts:

She’s been working since she was 13, and everyone’s favorite actress, Allegra Brooks, just wants a rest. So she decides to go stay with her father, whom she hasn’t visited in years, in his smallish town and help with his bookstore and book festival.

 And maybe, meet her anonymous email penpal who works at the bookstore. She really, really hopes it’s funny and charismatic Simon, not grumpy Jonah who insults her on first meeting. Of course, we know it’s Jonah, since this book is told from both of their POVs. (I still love dramatic irony.)

 Honestly, the least believable part of this book is how so many people in the town of Lake Pristine keep Allegra’s visit a secret. She’s there quite a while before the press picks up on. But when the paparazzi arrive…things get bad in a hurry.

 Allegra takes a long time to tell Noah that she is autistic; he had told her of his own autism much sooner. She told others long before she told him. Not realizing she has autism means that Noah assumes some of her intentions—incorrectly. As with any romance, there are miscommunications along the way.

 Many of the side characters are delightful. Some are mean. But they all feel like real people, and add to Allegra’s experience of trying to be more like a normal teenager in her stolen summer. As the story progresses, both Allegra and Noah are forced to break out of their comfort zones, and it’s a good thing.

 Possible objectionable material:

Swearing, including the F word. Mention of same-gender couples. Partying, but the book takes place in the UK (I think—it’s never quite made clear), so the teens are of legal drinking age. Paparazzi. Allegra’s parents are divorced. Description of heavy making out. Later, we get the idea that Allegra and Noah are sexually active. Friend betrayals.

 Who might like this book:

Those who like books about famous people, autistic people, teens finding their purpose.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #ElleMcNicoll #YA #WishYouWereHer #autism #romance #YARomance

Is it real, or is it social media?

 


Influenced
By Sarah Darer Littman and Cindy L. Otis
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication date: August 19, 2025
Print length: 352 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1339038261
Reading age: 12 years and up
Grade level: 7 - 9

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Tenth grade isn’t going according to plan for Lainey. Her twin brother moved across the country to live with their dad and stepmom, leaving Lainey -- and her anxiety -- behind. And Lainey’s starting to realize that maybe most of her friends were really her brother’s friends. Thank god for Bliss.

 Bliss is navigating her own tough sophomore year, determined to find her place. But no matter what’s going on in her life, Bliss is really good about being there for Lainey. She’s confident and fearless, all that Lainey wishes she could be. It seems like Bliss is getting everything she’s ever wanted, including a new boyfriend and becoming the first wheelchair user to land a lead role in the school production.

 What no one knows is that Bliss is struggling. At school it feels like everyone is always watching her, and at home, she’s overwhelmed by her parents’ expectations. When things get worse for Bliss, Lainey stops hearing from her completely. Panicked that something awful has happened, Lainey rushes to find out what’s going on. But when Lainey arrives at Bliss’s apartment, nothing is what it seems, and everything Lainey thought she knew about her friend is a lie...

 My thoughts:

When my daughter was in elementary school, she came to me in tears one day. Her favorite YouTubers, Popular MMOs’ Pat and Jen were getting a divorce, and my poor child was crushed. It’s a great example of what we call a parasocial relationship, in which we feel a connection with public or professional figures, but the relationship is all on our side, or only minimally on the side of the other person.

 This is the case in Influenced.

 Lonely Lainey has been following Bliss on social media, entranced by her talent, uplifted by her positive content, and heartened by Bliss’ replies to Lainey’s DMs. So when Bliss makes a post about being “done”, Lainey rushes to Bliss’ home, urgently trying to save her friend from some kind of self harm.

 Only problem is, Bliss—actually Elizabeth—has no clue who Lainey is. Lainey, who has sent Bliss a gift, and has been knitting her a sweater. Lainey, who has poured out her heart to Bliss through DMs.

 Elizabeth has used an accidental viral moment to re-create herself as Bliss and become an advocate for disability awareness. A wheelchair user, Elizabeth has cerebral palsy, which doesn’t prevent her from dreaming of a career on Broadway.

 It’s in the aftermath of Lainey’s visit that things get really interesting, as she comes to realize the truth of the situation. Elizabeth has her own problems, as her parents have come to depend on her influencer status and endorsement deals for income.

 This book makes a great commentary on the power—both positive and negative—of social media and how easily we fall into parasocial relationships. The ideas of fame and notoriety ring true. Dialogue is natural. You can’t help but feel sorry for Lainey and her social anxiety, but she also is stubborn and blind to her own flaws. Elizabeth finds that her fame is not what she had expected it to be, and also has to confront her parents and make them listen to what she really wants.

 Possible objectionable material:

Parental infidelity, divorce and remarriage. Parental manipulation. Heavy social media use. Manipulative friendships. Lainey doesn’t tell anyone she’s going to find Bliss. Mention of a same-gender couple. I didn’t note any swear words.

 Who might like this book:

Anyone interested in the effects of social media.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #SarahDarerLittman #CindyLOtis #YA #CerebralPalsy #Influenced

Sunday, August 24, 2025

Back to School


 Schooled
By Jamie Sumner
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date: August 26, 2025
Print length: 224 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1534486058
Reading age: 10 years and up
Grade level: 5 - 6

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Eleven-year-old Lenny Syms is about to start college—sort of. As part of a brand-new experimental school, Lenny and four other students are starting sixth grade on a university campus, where they’ll be taught by the most brilliant professors and given every resource imaginable. This new school is pretty weird, though. Instead of hunkering down behind a desk to study math, science, and history, Lenny finds himself meditating, participating in discussions where you don’t even have to raise your hand, and spying on the campus population in the name of anthropology.

But Lenny just lost his mom, and his Latin professor dad is better with dead languages than actual human beings. Lenny doesn’t want to be part of some learning experiment. He just wants to be left alone. Yet if Lenny is going to make it as a middle schooler on a college campus, he’s going to need help. Is a group of misfit sixth graders and one particularly quirky professor enough to pull him out of his sadness and back into the world?

 My thoughts:

As a teacher, I love the premise of a sort of experimental middle school on a college campus. It’s an interesting idea! For Lenny, though, it’s not at all what he wants. He’s dealing with some pretty big grief from his mother’s death, and his father’s distance. It doesn’t help that many of the professors on campus remember his mother—it’s where she and his father went to school.

 Each of the children involved in the school is dealing with some personal issues regarding parental expectations, and they eventually grow together and help each other.

 Lenny’s relationship with VW, a professor, is a sweet moment, and his concern for VW near the end of the book is very touching.

 Eventually, Lenny comes to accept his new life, and he and his father are able to reconnect and, to a degree, work through their grief.

 Although the story focuses on Lenny, the other students, colorful instructors, and side characters are interesting, not just cardboard cutouts filling space.

 Possible objectionable material:

Mention of the “f-word”. One character is kind of new-agey, burning sage, talking about crystals, etc. Mention of a very religious family that doesn’t allow their child to read Harry Potter. Mention of witches and beheading (in the context of fairy tales). Death of a parent and spouse (before the story starts). Two middle schoolers hold hands. Skipping school.

 Who might like this book:

This is a fun story with many different types of kids. Anyone who is interested in an unconventional school.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #JamieSumner #MiddleGrades #Schooled

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Welcome Back to Maple Falls

 After the success of the Love on Thin Ice series (reviewed here), the same authors are back with a second round of hockey romance in the small Washington town of Maple Falls! Once again, there will be seven books; here are the first three.

 So far, the authors have done a good job of incorporating the various characters and locations from both the original seven books and the ones for this go-round.

 I do have a couple of overall concerns before we get into the specific books:

 First, the town itself. Based on the physical descriptions of the town, I was pretty certain it was on the west side of Washington, somewhere west of the Cascade Mountains. That’s the part of Washington most people think of—green, rainy, and lush. If you cross the Cascades to the east, however, the terrain changes. There’s much less green. It’s flatter. And there’s significantly less rain. (Really significant down here in the southeast corner where I am.) So imagine my surprise when I learned this time around that Maple Falls is an hour from Spokane. It’s got to be in the northeast corner of the state, where you do get more mountains and yes, there are some maple trees. It can’t be to the east, because then you’re in Idaho. It can’t really be south or west, because it’s dryer. So Northeast Washington it is! So when the authors talk about Washington’s characteristic rains, they’re not quite accurate. Being the nitpicker that I am, I searched climate averages for a town an hour north-ish of Spokane, and the average annual rainfall is only about two-thirds that of Seattle.

 Second, the passage of time. The first book mentions that Zach and Ellie, from Breaking the Ice, are expecting their third child. This seems a little unreasonable! Based on the ages of Clara’s children (six and eight in the first series, eight and ten in this one), only two years have passed. The bonus epilogue to Breaking the Ice has Zach proposing a year after the events of the original story, so…this just seems wrong. Additionally, when Zach proposed to Ellie, it was the second year of the Ice Breakers being a charity team. Suddenly, a single year after that, there’s an NHL team in Maple Falls? It takes years to create a team from scratch. And to create a major league team in a town an hour from the nearest airport? (And GEG is not a huge airport.) I know, I need to suspend my disbelief and just roll with it. But…

 Finally, and most importantly, the solution to the threat on Maple Falls is different in the first book from in the third one.

 Okay, Picky Vicky-ness aside. Let’s get on with the books.


 
Fake-Off with Fate
Love in Maple Falls #1
By Whitney Dineen
ASIN: B0FKMXYQ88
Publisher: 33 Partners Publishing
Publication date: August 13, 2025
Print length: 242 pages
ISBN-13: 979-8991232869

 Publisher’s Blurb:

She’s a closet designer for the rich and famous and he’s a broken-hearted captain of a pro-hockey team. Neither of them is looking for love.

Ashlyn
An unexpected trip home to Maple Falls gets even more surprising when I inadvertently become acting mayor.
Add a huge crisis and a smoking hot hockey player, and I’m in over my head before I know it.

I’m only here for a short time, so I will not fall for Mr. Tall, dark, and adorable. I don’t care how helpful and kind he is. Long-distance never works, so the answer is no.

Jamie
I’m sick of the press hounding me about my last relationship, so when the opportunity arose to captain a new hockey team in smalltown Washington, I jumped at it.

Too bad I didn't ask more questions before moving here, like, "Are there bears, and will they be living in my backyard?"

Then there's Ashlyn. The last thing I expected was to meet a funny, sassy, and good-hearted woman like her. I swore off love after my last heartbreak, but my heart is acting like it missed the memo.

There’s no way I’m going to pursue her. Unless of course, fate has intervened, and we were meant to be...

***
Fake-Off with Fate is a slow-burn, friends to love, fake-dating small town hockey romcom in the Love in Maple Falls series. Add a town conflict, missing mayor, and bear infestation and you will be laughing and cheering your way to a happy ending!

 My Thoughts:

Once again, Whitney Dineen does a great job of introducing a whole new cast of characters, while simultaneously including, or at least name-dropping, many of the previous characters, both main characters and supporting cast.

 In this case, we have the mayor’s daughter, who returns to town from working with the stars of Los Angeles because she fears her parents’ marriage is about to implode. She buys them a trip to Barbados and convinces her father, the mayor of Maple Falls, that she can keep people from knowing he has left town and take care of his duties for the week. A natural disaster turns that week into a full month—which is good for the developing relationship between Ashlyn and Jamie!

 Jamie is having some trouble with the transition from New York City to little Maple Falls. Especially since there are bears in the woods adjoining his home. He is not too manly to scream when the father bear growls at him, even when Ashlyn is there. It’s a funny moment.

Although she barely knows him, Ashlyn confides in Jamie quite early on about the threat to the town. He’s the only one who knows that her father the mayor is stranded in Barbados. Thus, they have to spend a lot of time together as he supports her in problem solving. Ashlyn has no intention of staying in Maple Falls once she has saved her parents’ marriage. She definitely isn’t looking for love. (When are they ever?) When she is forced to leave town for an emergency, she uses it as an excuse not to continue with Jamie, though she definitely has feelings for him.

 Naturally, she comes to her senses, or we wouldn’t have our happy ending!

 This book has the witty banter and funny events that we expect from Whitney Dineen. A couple of team members are mentioned that are dropped in the following two books, particularly one that is initially presented as an antagonist for Jamie. We get glimpses of the blossoming relationships of other couples to be featured in following books.

 As a teacher, I object to the fact that the school offers extra credit to students who do odd jobs around the town and donate the money they receive. Grades should reflect learning, not fundraising. I’ll get off my soapbox now.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Ashlyn mentions finding things like whips in some of the closets she organizes. Porn is mentioned. Kissing. Deceiving the town about the mayor’s whereabouts. Mention of praying for the victims of a hurricane.

 Who might like this book:

If you like witty banter, humor, hockey, and romance, here you go!

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #RomCom #Hockey #FriendsToLove #FakeDating #WhitneyDineen #FakeOffWithFate

 


Offside and Off-Limits
Love in Maple Falls #2
By Kate O’Keeffe
Publisher: Wild Lime Books
Publication date: August 20, 2025
Print length: 236 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1991378125

 Publisher’s Blurb:

I survived chronic illness and a cheating ex. Surely I can resist one charming hockey player...right?

Clara
Working as the social media manager for a pro hockey team is all fun and games—until you trip into the arms of their biggest flirt during a livestream. Now the fans are shipping us, my boss is thrilled with the engagement, and I’m stuck dodging feelings for Cade Lennox, aka the certified charmer. The problem? My contract says he’s off-limits. My heart, unfortunately, didn’t get the memo.

Cade
I came to this small town to turn over a new leaf. But you know what they say about the best laid plans. All bets are off the second Clara Johnson literally stumbles into my arms and straight into my heart. She’s focused, loyal, and the most beautiful challenge I’ve ever met. All I have to do is prove I’m worth the risk.

My Thoughts:

We first met Clara as Ellie’s sister in The Rebound Play. She has not recovered from her chronic fatigue syndrome, but she is managing it, and she’s the new social media manager for the Ice Breakers. When she encounters Cade, with his past reputation as a playboy ladies’ man, she is determined to keep things professional.

 Cade has other ideas. His playboy days are in the past, and he came to Maple Falls to reinvent himself. He just has to convince Clara that he’s not the man she thinks she knows.

 When they have a moment in a video that wasn’t supposed to be livestreamed, the fans love their chemistry, and Clara’s boss wants her to do many more videos with Cade.

 One thing I liked about this one is that there is no third-act breakup. Although Clara has a non-fraternization clause in her employment contract, she is a grownup and lets her boss know that she and Cade have started a relationship. She does, however, have to wait a few days for official word from up the chain of command on whether that will be okay—which causes a grand gesture from Cade. It wasn’t needed, but it was grand.

 There’s also a subplot with Clara’s online relationship with a fellow chronic fatigue warrior. I had a suspicion of who it might be, and it was completely wrong. It was a great twist and gave Clara a real opportunity to stand up for herself.

 O’Keeffe takes an opportunity in the epilogue to mention characters from her other books who all tie into the families in this one. So you’re probably going to have to add to your TBR.

 There are a few continuity errors in this one. The announcement to the town about the impending problem it faces comes a little too soon (I’m keeping a timeline). Cade mentions at one point that his sister has twins, Oliver and Olivia. In the epilogue, they have completely different names. In the “Drench for Defense” fundraiser, Clara is surprised by a woman who throws water on Asher, but in his book, he has discussed his attraction with Clara and she gave him advice.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Mention of chronic illness and mental health. Kissing. A deadbeat ex-husband. Cade mentions his playboy past and how he took many different women home. Catfishing.

 Who might like this book:

If you like witty banter, humor, hockey, and romance, here you go!

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #RomCom #Hockey #CFS #Forbidden #KateOKeeffe #OffsideAndOffLimits

 

 

Checking Mr. Wrong
Love in Maple Falls #3
By Anne Kemp
ASIN: B0FHTGDWHZ
Publisher: Red Bird Publishing
Publication date: August 27, 2025

 Publisher’s Blurb:

I’m sarcasm with a messy bun. He’s a sweetheart with a slapshot. Sparks were one thing—those fireworks, though? Yeah…no one warned me about those.

 Mabel

Returning to Maple Falls wasn’t part of my five-year plan—or my backup plan. Or any plan, really. But here I am, back in my quirky hometown, dodging my mother’s judgment and trying not to cringe every time someone mentions the viral moment. (Yes, that one. No, I don’t want to talk about it.)

 When my editor sends me to cover the NHL’s shiny new team, the Ice Breakers, I’m all in—until I meet Asher Tremblay. He’s their too-charming defenseman with a knack for wrecking my focus and my sanity. Equal parts infuriating and irresistible, but falling for him? Not on my agenda. Nope.

 Asher

I’ve worked my whole life to make it in the NHL. A new team means a fresh start, and I won’t let anything distract me—least of all a snarky reporter who seems determined to hate me on sight.

 But the more I see Mabel, the more I want to know what’s behind her walls. She’s fire and chaos, and I’ve spent my whole life playing it safe. Maybe she’s exactly what I need. I came to Maple Falls to chase my dream, but now all I want is her.

***

Checking Mr. Wrong is part of the Love in Maple Falls sweet hockey romcom multi-author series. It's a grumpy sunshine story with forced proximity in this small town romance with all the sizzle and chemistry, but none of the spice.

 My Thoughts:

In this “grumpy/sunshine” romance, Mabel is the grumpy one. She’s downright prickly, partially due to her relationship with her mother, town gossip Mary Ellen McCluskey. Mabel has always felt like her mother is too busy doing good for the town to really engage with her, and she’s not pleased to be returning to town to do a feature on the Ice Breakers.

 I’d always pictured Mary Ellen as a little more elderly, and that’s definitely her vibe in the hands of other authors. In this case she has recently married Murry, whom we first met as a janitor in Penalties and Proposals, and who’s kindness and wisdom I had appreciated in that book. He’s just as kind and wise, only now he’s the arena manager for the team.

 When Mabel first meets Asher, she’s cranky and even mad at him—only to find out that he’s one of the players she’ll be interviewing.

 Asher is a total golden retriever happy guy—with obsessive compulsive disorder. Although it is not the focus of this book, how he deals with it is important, as is Mabel’s compassionate acceptance and understanding of his condition. I really liked this element of the story. It wasn’t a surprise; we learned about it in the previous book and see it developed much more here.

 This is particularly crucial when Asher inadvertently causes a fight that leads to hospitalization of the goalie. He completely blames himself and spirals, and the way Mabel helps him through is very sweet.

 There is almost a third-act breakup when Mabel has the opportunity to return to a job in New York that she had been fired from. Asher doesn’t want her to go, but he’s not willing to stand in her way—leading to Mabel being the one to make a grand gesture. I love this! It’s usually left to the male character, so seeing Mabel do this was really satisfying.

 There’s an indication of something with the goalie that we’ll have to wait a couple of books to see developed.

 There is a small continuity error in saying that Cade came to the Ice Breakers from Chicago. He came from New York. I do kind of question Mabel having several weeks in Maple Falls to work on a single story.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Mabel gives a “one-finger salute”. Kissing. Some hockey-related fisticuffs. Mention of a past injury which causes someone to become paraplegic.

 Who might like this book:

If you like witty banter, humor, hockey, and romance, here you go!

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #RomCom #Hockey #GrumpySunshine #OCD #ForcedProximity  #KateOKeeffe #CheckingMrWrong

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Can you fall in love in two weeks?

 

Two Weeks to Fall in Love
By Kat Featherly
Publisher: Wattpad Books
Publication date: August 12, 2025
Print length: 360 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1998854820
Reading age: 13 - 17 years
Grade level: 8 - 12

Publisher’s Blurb:

For fans of contemporary, humorous, clean teen romance by Beth Reekles, Sarah Dessen, and Jenny Han comes a debut novel about uncovering secrets, challenging first impressions, and discovering that love—and people—are far more complicated than they seem.

Noah Archer dates girls for two weeks and then moves on—but none of his exes seem to mind. Skyler Fox can’t figure it out. When her best friend becomes Noah’s latest “victim,” Sky decides it’s time to expose him. Her plan? Be the next girl he dates.

Charming and confident, Noah accepts Sky’s unexpected dating proposal. Beneath his reputation, Noah is searching for something real, driven by a secret. Each short-lived relationship is his way of chasing a connection before it’s too late.

Sky sets out to expose Noah, but the closer she gets, the more she starts to question her motives… and her heart. As their two weeks unfold and Noah’s secrets begin to surface, Sky is forced to confront the one question she never expected: can she be the one to break his two-week streak?

My Thoughts:

Yes, this is another YA novel about a girl with a nearly single-minded focus on a goal. Unlike many, it does not ruin her friendships. In fact, at the end, she finds that she may have more friends than she realized.

The idea of Noah having found a list of questions to ask a prospective romantic partner—and a two-week deadline for determining whether it’s love—is an interesting premise. Despite herself, Sky discovers that Noah is not just a player; he has a lot of depth, and it encourages her to think more deeply about herself and the world as well. She allows herself, sometimes against her better judgement, to get to know and like Noah for the person that he is.

In fact (slight but probably inconsequential spoiler), Sky realizes just how unkind her motives were in dating Noah, and she breaks up with him before the two-week deadline. And is miserable because of it.

However, she finally allows herself to talk to her mother, and their sometimes distant relationship is strengthened because of it. I love that this books allows relationships to deepen, not break apart.

There were some errors that I hope are fixed by publication: first Sky says she and Noah have second period together; later she says their first class together is fifth period. I also question how long the passing periods are in their school. They seem to get an awful lot done during passing time!

Possible objectionable material:

Serial dating, kissing, past death of a parent. LGBTQ+ representation. Cursing, including a couple of f-words. There is an underage party where teens smoke and drink. Sky’s mother talks to her about contraception and safe sex, though not in any specific terms.

Who might like this book:

If you like stories where characters think about their own lives and selves and learn to become better people, this is a good one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

#NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #YA #Romance

A Whole Story Universe


 Maggie and the Story Shadows
By Annabelle Oh
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publication date: August 12, 2025
Print length: 272 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1368114141
Reading age: 8 - 12 years
Grade level: 3 – 7
 

Publisher’s Blurb:

Land of Stories meets From the Desk of Zoe Washington in this fantastical middle grade mystery where three kids' search for a missing mother leads them to a world where every story ever told is real—making a hit web series about their search along the way.

Five months ago, Maggie Woodrow’s mom disappeared without a trace. Now, the world has given up the search and Maggie and her dad may lose their house. But Maggie has a plan: hire a private investigator, find her mom, and everything will go back to normal.

When the private investigator wants $3,000 to take on Maggie’s case, she knows just who to turn to: Griffin, the school’s entrepreneur-influencer. Maggie and her friend Petra approach him for help. Intrigued by Maggie’s mom’s story, Griffin agrees to film the investigation and create a web series, splitting the profits with Maggie.

Except their search takes a totally unexpected turn when they are sucked into a world where every story ever told is real—and so is magic. From Sherlock Holmes to Baba Yaga to terrifying mythical monsters, Maggie and her new friends never know what’s around the corner. Still, they are determined to work together and uncover the truth about Maggie’s mom.

As Maggie, Griffin, and Petra close in on the answers they seek, a mysterious (and dangerous) man known as The Reaper sends increasingly deadly threats after them. Will they find Maggie’s mom? Or will their own disappearance become the latest mystery?

 My Thoughts:

Maggie is a loner. She’s the new kid at school, having had to move after her mother’s disappearance, and she’s tired of being gossiped about, so she’s really not interested in making friends. There is one girl, Petra, who insists on being her friend though. Maggie is also certain that her mother is still alive, though he doesn’t talk to her father about it, and she’s resisted getting counseling.

 Griffin, a business tycoon in the making, is not someone Maggie would choose to befriend, but he’s clever and resourceful and she grudgingly agrees to work with him.

 As the kids come closer to the truth about what happened to Maggie’s mother, they also find themselves in danger from “The Reaper”. Maggie also has to face the truth about how she has judged people around her, and learns to be a better friend to those who have stuck by her.

 This story ends VERY abruptly, and it is obvious that there is more to come. I’ll definitely read the next book!

 Possible objectionable material:

An alternate universe where stories come to life. Adults threatening children. One kid is a hustler—not quite cheating other kids out of money, but close. Some violence. Maggie and her father live in near-poverty and are going to lose their house. Fantasy elements. Lying to adults.

 Who might like this book:

Lovers of the power of story. Those who like stories about developing friendships and solving problems.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #MiddleGrades #Representation