The Fairview Review
Reviews and news about books and media.
Monday, July 7, 2025
Spring Reading 2025 Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus: The Graphic Novel
Fall Reading 2024 A Killer Clue (A Hunter and Clewe Mystery)
Retired university librarian Jane Hunter enjoys her new job working for the rich, but socially awkward Cameron Clewe. They have already solved one murder case where Cam himself was the chief suspect. Now Eloise, the owner of a local bookshop, comes to them requesting help in a cold case. Her father was killed years ago and her mother died in prison, convicted of his death. Now she wants them to help prove her mother's innocence, but before they can even get started the original detective on the case turns up murdered in Eloise's bookshop. The cold case is heating up and it seems that someone is determined to keep old secrets buried.
Of course, there is never just their mystery hobby to deal with. There could be a bit of romantic chemistry going on, in more than one direction. Jane's daughter comes to town for a visit and it seems Cam might be crushing on her. Or he could be attracted to Eloise instead (or is it just the lure of the mystery?). And there is also his faithful assistant Lauren, who is incredibly attractive, yet Cam never seems to notice. Add in the ongoing search for information about Cam's biological father, and there is never a dull moment around this pair of amateur sleuths.
I enjoy the characters of Jane and Cam for many reasons, including that they have a shared interest in books and research, they make an intriguing "odd couple" detective duo, and they have such different outlooks on life - which definitely helps balance their perspective on a case.
Fans who already enjoy Victoria Gilbert's Book Lover's B&B Mystery series and Blue Ridge Library Mystery series will be pleased to have yet another set of stories featuring characters who have a love of books and the determination to find the truth.
I read this last fall, but ... life... and so I am posting about it a bit late. It was published September 24, 2024 - so you should be able to find it in bookstores and libraries. I read a review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Virtual Book Tour The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris
ABOUT THE BOOK
Written by Ali Barclay and Sofie Wells
Illustrated by Sanna Sjöström
Ages: 3-7 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Kendam Press (2025) | ISBN: 979-8-9900050-3-7
Publisher’s Book Summary: Charlie Wags is a seemingly ordinary pup. He asks for belly rubs, plays fetch, and uses his “I’m innocent” look when he is in fact guilty.
But Charlie has an extraordinary secret. He loves to travel the world and has a special trick to do so: his wagging tail can whisk him away to far-off places.
This time, he’s off to Paris, France!
Embark on a panoramic tour of Paris led by ever-curious pup, Charlie Wags! From the elegant art in the Louvre to the sparkling Eiffel Tower, Charlie explores the City of Lights before returning home for bedtime.
Wherever you may be, The World Is Just a Wag Away ™
PURCHASE LINK
MY REVIEW
Charlie seems like a typical pet dog. He lives with a family in a house with a white picket fence. But Charlie also has a special ability to give his tail a wag and travel anywhere in the world - including Paris, France. A map with numbered stops on it helps readers track all the iconic landmarks that he visits in the City of Lights. Rhyming text describes the adventures of the day - having a croissant at a sidewalk cafe (while wearing a stylish French beret), enjoying a cruise down the Seine, and visiting the Palace of Versailles. Watercolor style illustrations show Charlie peering down from the top of the Arc de Triomphe and admiring the stained glass windows in the cathedral of Notre Dame. As he stops to see the Eiffel Tower all lit up for the evening there is a matching twinkle in his own eyes. When Charlie returns home, readers see him adding a photo of the tower to a group of images hanging on the wall of the house which includes Big Ben and the pyramids. Has he really visited all the places that are shown? The back of the book contains a helpful section with thumbnail images of all the landmarks and brief descriptions. A question that will encourage readers to make a personal connection to the story accompanies each description. For instance, the entry on the Mona Lisa and the Louvre asks, “If you got to have your own masterpiece in the Louvre, what would you paint?” A fun introduction to the sights of Paris for young readers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sister-author duo Ali Barclay and Sofie Wells form the writing team behind The Tales of Charlie Wags picture book series. The series offers young explorers a conversational understanding of the world’s most famous cities.
As daughters of immigrants, their family heritage exposed the sisters to the importance of cultural diversity early on. Their parents prioritized showing them the world, even on a tight budget. This instilled in them the idea that travel is one of the best forms of education.
Recognizing that not all children had the chance to explore the world firsthand, Sofie and Ali saw an opportunity to share their travel experiences with other families and children through charming stories that make far-off places accessible.
For more information, check out charliewags.com
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ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Sanna Sjöström, also known as Sannadorable, is based in Sweden and creates stunning digital watercolor illustrations.
Sanna has loved art her whole life and has plenty of experience painting with watercolor. When she had children, she didn’t have the time or energy to pull out all the necessary supplies to paint. She found that her iPad was accessible in just seconds; so, she started mimicking watercolor digitally.
She now illustrates for children’s books, but also creates posters, cards, and digital illustration tools. Her biggest inspiration comes from flowers and nature. Sanna’s mission is to brighten your day and make you smile through her art.
TOUR SCHEDULE
Monday, June 9, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Thursday, June 12, 2025 Book Spotlight on The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Friday, June 13, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Monday, June 16, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Thursday, June 19, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Friday, June 20, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Monday, June 23, 2025 Author Interview with Ali Barclay and Sofie Wells |
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Thursday, June 26, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Friday, June 27, 2025 Author Interview with Ali Barclay and Sofie Wells |
Monday, June 30, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Tuesday, July 1, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Wednesday, July 2, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Thursday, July 3, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Monday, July 7, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris |
Monday, June 9, 2025
Virtual Book Tour I Don't Think So!
ABOUT THE BOOK
I Don’t Think So!
Written by K. Joyner
Illustrated by Asha Butler
Editing and Art Direction by Monica Violet Joy
Ages: 3-8 | 34 Pages
Publisher: BookBaby (2025) | ISBN: 979-8218567026
Publisher’s Book Summary: Mia is a precocious kindergartner with two loving parents. She lives in a wonderful and colorful city, surrounded by curious characters. Mia seems to have it all. Unfortunately, try as she might, little Mia is terribly shy and it can be a real hindrance for any child to find the confidence they need to tackle new, scary challenges, like school! Luckily for Mia, she has her best friend Cody, and inspiring teacher, Ms. Doodlebee to help bring her out of her shell, and show her that the world is a wonderful, inspiring place, brimming with adventure, and fun!
PURCHASE LINK
MY REVIEW
Mia is a little girl with decided opinions. She likes her room “just so.” And there are some things she doesn’t like - trying new foods, getting too close to the animals at the zoo, or starting kindergarten. Every time the teacher invites her to participate, Mia responds with “I don’t think so!” No matter what activity the class is doing, Mia does not join in. She sits huddled up with her arms around her knees at the back of the rug during circle time. She stays at her desk when everyone else is singing or writing their ABCs on the chalkboard. But Mia is paying attention. She notices that her classmate Cody isn’t afraid to try new things and seems to be having a great time. He plays and paints and even pretends to be a T-Rex. When he invites Mia to jump over a puddle with him one rainy day, she gives her usual response of “I don’t think so!” But Cody convinces her that it is actually a moat outside a castle, so she gives it a try. Each time he asks her to try the monkey bars or reading books, he always makes it a fun game of make believe and Mia slowly joins in. The illustrations show Mia and her family as brown-skinned with brown hair. The rest of their neighbors and her classmates are pictured in a range of skin tones and hair colors and textures to create a diverse community on the page. Mia’s personality comes through with her facial expressions and body language. And after seeing Mia conquer her aversion to new things, readers may decide they agree with her that “trying new things is not so bad. All it takes is a little bit of courage and a whole lot of imagination!” A great story to read with a youngster who is a bit reluctant to try something new or is nervous about the first day of school.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelli Joyner (also known as K. Joyner) graduated from the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a B.S. Degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering. In 2020, she retired as a Vice President (VP) of Industrial Engineering from a Fortune 500, Atlanta-based company. Problem-solving, effective leadership, and strong communication skills were the characteristics that set Kelli apart from her peers, resulting in eighteen years of VP-level experience over her thirty-six-year career in industrial engineering with the company.
As a writer, she was drawn to great stories in both books and films as far back as she can remember, and knew she wanted to pursue a writing career at some point. Her first book, Unimaginable Loss…Godly Transformation was released in August of 2023. It is a memoir that recounts her childhood, her personal story of loss, and includes a guided grief journal. In 2024, Kelli wrote two young adult novels that are currently awaiting representation and adapted one into a screenplay.
I Don’t Think So! is Kelli’s debut children’s book. She plans to expand it into a series, called the Doodlebees, focused on instilling positive social skills and self-confidence in young children, while igniting their imagination and sprinkling in a bit of humor. In addition to writing, Kelli enjoys collecting miniature dollhouses and furniture, reading, traveling, and having fun with her family. Kelli resides in an Atlanta suburb, along with her husband. They have two young adult children.
To learn more, check out kjoynerbooks.com.
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ABOUT THE EDITOR AND ART DIRECTOR
Monica Violet Joy is an acclaimed creative, renowned for developing and producing the beloved hit, CoComelon. She’s created series for athletes like Tony Hawk, and for revered toy companies such as Magna-Tiles as well as Build-A-Bear Workshop. She was a Consulting Producer on Netflix’s Go Dog Go!, a writer on Bubbles and Friends, and for Future Chicken. Monica has also worked as a writer, in development and production on: Blue’s Clues, Bubble Guppies, Kamp Koral, SpongeBob, Team Umizoomi, Wallykazam, Nimona, Ferdinand, Spies in Disguise, Ice Age V, and The Peanuts Movie. Her work has received Academy Awards, Annie Awards and Women of Inspiration Awards. Monica holds a Bachelor in Film Studies and Art History from the University of East Anglia, and a Master in History from the University of Birmingham.
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ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Asha Butler is an acclaimed artist from Atlanta, Georgia. Asha holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Animation from Kennesaw State University. She is an accomplished children’s book illustrator and animator. Inspired by her travels and playful moments with her beloved Shiba Inu, Kimi, Asha brings lively imaginative characters and worlds to life in her art.
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TOUR SCHEDULE
Monday, June 9, 2025 Book List Featuring I Don’t Think So! |
Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Book Review of I Don’t Think So! |
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 Book Review of I Don’t Think So! |
Thursday, June 12, 2025 Book Review of I Don’t Think So! |
Friday, June 13, 2025 Book Review of I Don’t Think So! |
Monday, June 16, 2025 Author Interview with K. Joyner |
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 Book Review of I Don’t Think So! |
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 Book Review of I Don’t Think So! |
Thursday, June 19, 2025 Book Spotlight on I Don’t Think So! |
Friday, June 20, 2025 Book Review of I Don’t Think So! |
Monday, June 23, 2025 Book Review of I Don’t Think So! |
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Book Spotlight on I Don’t Think So! |
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Book Review of I Don’t Think So! |
Thursday, June 26, 2025 Author Interview with K. Joyner |
Friday, June 27, 2025 Book Review of I Don’t Think So! |