Freda and the Blue Beetle by Sophie Gilmore

Freda always listens when the other townsfolk tell her what to do. Yet that doesn’t stop her from setting off on her own adventures, and one day she discovers an injured blue beetle. After taking him home and naming him Ernest, he soon thrives and grows huge—as does his appetite. When a prized ewe goes missing, the townsfolk suspect Ernest and complain until Freda finally listens and forces him away. However, after a sudden emergency, Freda knows Ernest is the only one who can help—but will he hear her?

A Friendly Favorite Lines Friday

Happy Friday, everyone! The week is winding down, so what better time than now to usher in the weekend with a Favorite Lines Friday? This week my reading has focused a lot on literary friendships—the good, the bad, and the tragic—and I was reminded of one of the strongest-written set of friends I’ve ever come across.

Can’t Wait for Carolyn Haines’s The Devil’s Bones

Tuesday is gone and Thursday hasn’t arrived, so that must mean it’s time for Can’t-Wait Wednesday. This week I’ve been thinking a lot about long-running series. There’s something so nice about finishing a book I love only to realize there are ten, twenty more just waiting for me to jump into. Even better than that? When the author has a brand new addition coming right around the calendar corner.

Hidden Gems: Ten Middle Grade Novels With Fewer Than 1,000 Goodreads Ratings

Over one million new books are published every year—a number that continues to grow with the steady rise of self-publishing. With so many new works to choose from, it makes sense that one or two—or nine hundred ninety-nine thousand—will escape the attention of the average reader.

A Favorite Lines Friday in a New Place

Happy Friday, everyone! The week is winding down, so what better time to usher in the weekend with another edition of Favorite Lines Friday? This week I’ve been looking for a bit of an escape—a reading journey to somewhere new—and I think I found the perfect place in Ballybucklebo. If only I could find out how to get there…

Twisted Twenty-Six by Janet Evanovich

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is back catching skips, but it’s her family who are embroiled in the real drama. When Grandma Mazur’s husband Jimmy dies after a very brief marriage, she’s more than happy to take on the role of grieving widow. However, not everyone is keen on paying her condolences—especially Jimmy’s unsavory business cronies, who are convinced she holds a special key that’ll unlock major fortunes. The trouble? Grandma doesn’t know anything about a key. As Jimmy’s pals lose patience, it’s up to Stephanie to help track down the key and protect her family.

Abby Collette’s A Deadly Inside Scoop

It’s the middle of the week, which means it’s time for Can’t-Wait Wednesday. The temperatures are finally trickling up from freezing around here, and I’m starting to believe we might be headed toward traditional spring temperatures. And with the newfound heat comes the season for one of my favorite treats—and a book that would pair perfectly with it.