Posts Tagged: YA

SHATTERED MIDNIGHT by Dhonielle Clayton Tour and Giveaway

26 Jan, 2022 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the SHATTERED MIDNIGHT by Dhonielle Clayton Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours.

 

About The Book:

Title: SHATTERED MIDNIGHT (The Mirror #2)

Author: Dhonielle Clayton

Pub. Date: January 18, 2022

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 304

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle,  Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

The Mirror: Shattered Midnight is the second novel in the innovative four-book fairy-tale series written by Julie C. Dao, Dhonielle Clayton, J.C. Cervantes, and L. L. McKinney, following one family over several generations, and the curse that plagues it.

Zora Broussard has arrived in New Orleans with not much more than a bag of clothes, a beautiful voice, and a pair of enchanted red shoes. Running from a tragic accident caused by her magic, Zora wants nothing more than to blend in, as well as to avoid her overbearing aunt and mean-spirited cousins. Music becomes Zora’s only means of escape, yet she wonders if she should give it all up to remove the powers that make her a target, especially as a Black woman in the South.

But when Zora gets the chance to perform in a prominent jazz club, she meets a sweet white pianist named Phillip with magic of his own, including a strange mirror that foretells their future together. Falling into a forbidden love, Zora and Phillip must keep their relationship a secret. And soon the two discover the complicated connection between their respective families, a connection that could lead to catastrophe for them both. In the era of segregation and speakeasies, Zora must change her destiny and fight for the one she loves . . . or risk losing everything. 

 



Grab Book 1, BROKEN WISH now!


REVIEW: So much to love about this book! Rich details about New Orleans during prohibition– speakeasies, jazz music, beignets, debutante balls and Chicago gangs. You feel as if you are transported to the time and place described. It’s magical. The protagonist. is a strong black young woman with a gift for singing and a mind of her own. Her suitor Phillip is the epitome of a gentleman, protecting her at every turn. The time period is rife with racial tension and prejudice–black and white couples are prohibited by law from marrying. Love wins and is the most important element between Zora and Phillip.The strong family lines and family history pieces as well as the theme of loyalty stood out to me. I also enjoyed how the two women navigate their place in society with their natural talents. This is a tale of familial magic, curses and the hope of a new start. I can’t wait for book three in the series. Book two can be read as a standalone. Thanks so much to Disney Hyperion and Rockstar Book Tours for the complimentary copy for review. All views are my own. Content and trigger warnings: one swear word, moderate violence, domestic abuse, racism.


About Dhonielle:

Dhonielle Clayton is a New York Times Bestselling author of The Belles series, the coauthor of the Tiny Pretty Things duology which debuts as a Netflix original series soon, and the author of the forthcoming MG fantasy series The Marvellers. She hails from the Washington, D.C. suburbs on the Maryland side. She taught secondary school for several years, and is a former elementary and middle school librarian. She is COO of the non-profit We Need Diverse Books, and co-founder of CAKE Literary, a creative kitchen whipping up decadent—and decidedly diverse—literary confections for middle grade, young adult, and women’s fiction readers. She’s an avid traveler, and always on the hunt for magic and mischief. 

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

  

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of SHATTERED MIDNIGHT, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

1/1/2022

YA Books Central

Excerpt

Week Two:

1/2/2022

Simplybeccamee

Review

1/3/2022

The Bookwyrm’s Den

Review

1/4/2022

Kait Plus Books

Review

1/5/2022

Emelie’s Books

Review

1/6/2022

Rajiv’s Reviews

Review

1/7/2022

More Books Please blog

Review

1/8/2022

Cocoa With Books

Review

Week Three:

1/9/2022

Bri’s Book Nook

Review

1/10/2022

@enjoyingbooksagain

Review

1/11/2022

Sometimes Leelynn Reads

Review

1/12/2022

Locks, Hooks and Books

Review

1/13/2022

@moonlight_rendezvous

Review

1/14/2022

@bookisheclectic

Review

1/15/2022

Lexijava_Bookish

Review

Week Four:

1/16/2022

@jypsylynn

Review

1/17/2022

History From A Woman’s Perspective

Review

1/18/2022

The Momma Spot

Review

1/19/2022

thecaffeinated.reader

Review

1/20/2022

onemused

Review

1/21/2022

Lifestyle of Me

Review

1/22/2022

Stuck in the Stacks

Review

Week Five:

1/23/2022

A Bookish Dream

Review

1/24/2022

@drewsim12

Review

1/25/2022

coffeebooksandmascara

Review

1/26/2022

Fire and Ice

Review

1/27/2022

Books a Plenty Book Reviews

Review

1/28/2022

@abackwardsstory

Review

1/29/2022

BookBriefs

Review

Week Six:

1/30/2022

Momfluenster

IG Post

1/31/2022

Popthebutterfly Reads

Review

The Wise One by K. T. Anglehart Tour and Giveaway

12 Aug, 2021 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Wise One
(The Scottish Scrolls #1)
By K.T. Anglehart
Young Adult Fairy Tale, Folklore, Fantasy
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 254 Pages
October 25, 2020 by Kat Biggie Press

Worlds collide for both young and mature readers, who will love the fast-paced thrills, chemistry between characters, and interplay of witchy fantasy, mythology, Celtic folklore, and reality in The Wise One—book one of The Scottish Scrolls series.

Mckenna’s never thought much of her nightmares, but on her seventeenth birthday, a vivid dream of burning at the stake awakens her dormant abilities, thrusting her into a world where faeries are real, spirits hold a grudge, and a High Priestess obsessed with a 16th-century prophecy is tracking her every move.

Now, her overprotective dads, Seán and Andre, are forced to tell her the truth—they know who her birth mother is, and her life is not the surrogate story she’s always been told. Abigail, Mckenna’s mom, is some sort of mystic, and Mckenna a Wise One.

Whatever the hell that means.

With the help of a persistent little wren and company of a newfound friend, Mckenna journeys to Ireland in search of her mother and real answers. Along the way, she learns to harness her innate magic and trust her intuition, as best she can anyway—Cillian, a kind and passionate delegate who crosses her path, is proving much harder to read.

Only her mother could truly help her halt her ill fate and prepare her for what’s to come . . . before she gives in to the darkness she knows is buried deep within.

Author K.T. Anglehart expertly weaves a story set in Ireland that is both timeless and unique, a perfect cross-market read for those searching for the next endearing urban fantasy classic.

Praise for the Book

“A heartwarming coming-of-age story with characters that resonate, rich European folklore, and enchanting details that tickle the senses long after the last page is read.” —V. G. Anderson, author of The Light in the Sound
(Affiliate links included.)

About the Author


Katrina Tortorici Anglehart is a born and bred Italian-Canadian from Montreal. A devoted academic, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism; a graduate certificate in Scriptwriting; and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. After dabbling in TV writing and working as a digital marketing content manager, she left the nine to five to launch her freelance editing and coaching career. Today, she relishes in helping aspiring authors to develop and refine their stories.

Besides English, Katrina speaks French, Italian, and Spanglish. When she’s not writing, diving into magical reads, or Netflixing, she’s travelling with her favourite human–her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband, Andy–and obsessing over her pet bunny, Magic, and newly rescued pup, Nessie. Katrina currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.


Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive a print copy of The Wise One (open to US, CAN and UK)

Ends August 25, 2021

Review

There is so much to love about the Wise One! Urban Fantasy set between the United States, Ireland, England and the Isle of Man. The references to the Isle of Man were my favorite since my ancestors immigrated to the U.S. from there. I’ve read a lot of fiction and this is a place rarely mentioned, so, hats off to the author for including Manx folklore! With tour-like descriptions of landmarks, mystical spots and the lore surrounding the fae, this is one magical tale. I read it all within 24 hours being pulled by the story line as well as the earth based intuitive and empathic main characters. The political messages got a bit heavy at times for me, but the story telling was fantastic. Reading the Wise One makes me want to visit all of these places and see them for myself. I’m glad this is a series, so there’s more to look forward to. I enjoyed the authentic nods to the language, landscapes and folk tales of each region explored. Thank you to Prism Book Tours and the author for a free copy as apart of the official tour!

Content and trigger warnings: parental abandonment, drug trafficking, moderate violence, nudity, gay relationship, swearing.

YOLK by Mary H.K. Choi Blog Tour and Giveaway

11 Mar, 2021 by in YA fiction 1 comment

 

I am happy to be hosting a spot on the YOLK by Mary H.K. Choi Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Enter the giveaway below!

 

About The Book:

Title: YOLK

Author: Mary H.K. Choi

Pub. Date: March 2, 2021

Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 400

Find it:  Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

From New York Times bestselling author Mary H.K. Choi comes a funny and emotional story about two estranged sisters switching places and committing insurance fraud to save one of their lives.


Jayne Baek is barely getting by. She shuffles through fashion school, saddled with a deadbeat boyfriend, clout-chasing friends, and a wretched eating disorder that she’s not fully ready to confront. But that’s New York City, right? At least she isn’t in Texas anymore, and is finally living in a city that feels right for her.

On the other hand, her sister June is dazzlingly rich with a high-flying finance job and a massive apartment. Unlike Jayne, June has never struggled a day in her life. Until she’s diagnosed with uterine cancer.

Suddenly, these estranged sisters who have nothing in common are living together. Because sisterly obligations are kind of important when one of you is dying.

 

 

About Mary H.K. Choi: 

Mary H.K. Choi is a Korean-American author, editor, television and print journalist. She is the author of young adult novel Emergency Contact (2018). She is the culture correspondent on Vice News Tonight on HBO and was previously a columnist at Wired and Allure magazines as well as a freelance writer. She attended a large public high school in a suburb of San Antonio, then college at the University of Texas at Austin, where she majored in Textile and Apparel.

 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon


Giveaway Details:

2 winners will win a finished copy of YOLK, US Only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/1/2021

Westveil Publishing

Excerpt

3/1/2021

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt

3/2/2021

BookHounds YA

Spotlight

3/2/2021

Book-Keeping

Review

3/3/2021

Lifestyle of Me

Review

3/3/2021

What A Nerd Girl Says

Review

3/4/2021

Momfluenster

Spotlight

3/4/2021

Not In Jersey

Review

3/5/2021

Kait Plus Books

Spotlight

3/5/2021

Trapped Inside Stories

Spotlight

Week Two:

3/8/2021

My Fictional Oasis

Review

3/8/2021

Eli to the nth

Review

3/9/2021

The Scribe Owl

Review

3/9/2021

Nay’s Pink Bookshelf

Review

3/10/2021

Lala’s Book Reviews

Review

3/10/2021

The Mind of a Book Dragon

Review

3/11/2021

Odd and Bookish

Review

3/11/2021

Little Red Reads

Review

3/12/2021

Amani’s Reviews

Review

3/12/2021

michellemengsbookblog

Review

Review

Jayne is a Korean born American living in New York and going to school in fashion design. Her sister June lives close by but has always been an awkward embarrassment. Jayne avoids her because she is in with a group of extremely popular, up and coming New York socialites, and their sibling relationship has always been rocky. June is a perfect student with a high paying job and Jayne is living in a roach infested apartment battling an eating disorder and alcohol abuse. Just when you think Jayne will take a break from her self-destructive behaviors, she spirals down into them again. Yolk takes a raw inside look at the cycles of inter-generational abuse and disordered eating. At times it is gut wrenching. It also exposes the insurance problems one faces when trying to continue individual therapy or obtain surgery.

The times she spends with Patrick are the life saver in Jayne’s life. He is a gentleman, honest and kind. His apartment centers Jayne and helps her feel at home. I loved every interaction they have together. In the end, Yoke shows the redemptive power of family and love. Amidst, the mental health and addiction problems, there is hope on the horizon.

Quote: I’ll tell you what, you are only as sick as your secrets. The second you talk about it, it all seems to get a little better. Humans need to share their darkest parts. Unburdening makes you closer to everyone…the truth is we all have the same, boring problems. Sometimes the best thing you can do is talk about it. It makes no sense, but glory if it doesn’t work like a charm.

Content and trigger warnings: Heavy swearing, eating disorder, child abuse, cancer, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, drinking, drug use. Mature- NA or adult read.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

30 Jan, 2021 by in young adult fiction Leave a comment

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Legendborn

on September 15, 2020
Pages: 512
Format: Hardcover
five-stars
Buy the Book • Goodreads
After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC–Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape—until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus.

A flying demon feeding on human energies.

A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down.

And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.

The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night her mother died, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates.

She recruits Nick, a self-exiled Legendborn with his own grudge against the group, and their reluctant partnership pulls them deeper into the society’s secrets—and closer to each other. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur’s knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down—or join the fight.

Review

Wow, just wow. Legendborn was power. Strong and beautiful.

I was sent a copy from Simon and Schuster for Black History Month to review. I never came up for air. This novel was fire!

Set at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Legendborn is rich with Deep South, African American history and secret societies overlaid with Aurthurian legend. Words can not do it justice, it’s a book that must be felt. Tracy Deonn leads you through generational and traumatic grief, chemistry, and bad a* fight scenes.

Bree is seeking answers about her mother’s death while trapped behind a wall of pain. She has to face loss, racism and the rungs of society socialites seeking power.

It’s an explosive adventure with deep meaning about how we connect with our ancestors, and the stories within our roots. Bree delves into the past to seek answers and you go right along with her. The last few chapters are emotionally moving. The layered storylines suck you into a portal, to another time and place.

Absolutely stunning writing! I want to go back and read it again, can not wait for book 2. One of the best YA fantasies I have ever read.

Content: Violence, depictions of slavery, racial comments, “F” word.

Quote:

“Don’t make it about the loss. Make it about the love.”

About the Author

Tracy Deonn is a writer and 2nd gen fangirl. She grew up in North Carolina, where she devoured fantasy books and Southern food in equal measure. After earning two degrees from UNC-CH, Tracy worked in live theater, video games, and K-12 education. When she’s not writing, Tracy panels at SFF conventions, reads fanfic, arranges doggy playdates, and keeps an eye out for ginger-flavored everything.

FROZEN 2: DANGEROUS SECRETS: THE STORY OF IDUNA AND AGNARR Blog Tour and Giveaway

13 Nov, 2020 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment


I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the FROZEN 2:DANGEROUS SECRETS: THE STORY OF IDUNA AND AGNARR by Mari Mancusi Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: FROZEN 2:DANGEROUS SECRETS: THE STORY OF IDUNA AND AGNARR

Author: Mari Mancusi, Grace Lee (Illustrations)

Pub. Date: November 3, 2020

Publisher: Disney Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 352

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org, Order A Signed Copy!

Sixteen-year-old Iduna harbors a dark secret. On the surface, she is an Arendellian village girl, an aspiring inventor, and the best friend of Prince Agnarr, but she is also secretly Northuldra.

Ever since the day the forest fell, Arendellians have despised and distrusted Northuldra with a vengeance. No matter that the Northuldra-along with some of Arendelle’s own-have been trapped in the Enchanted Forest behind an impenetrable wall of mist since the day of the battle.

Iduna doesn’t know why the mist refuses to part, or why it descended to begin with. The only clear thing is that she must keep her identity from everyone, even Agnarr. Her life depends on it.

Fortunately for her, Agnarr doesn’t know that Iduna is the Northuldra girl he saw seemingly flying on a gust of wind all those years ago, the day of the celebration turned disaster. The day Agnarr lost his father, the king. The day Agnarr himself almost died.

What Agnarr does know is that Iduna is a true ally in the face of his royal responsibilities and the expectations of an overbearing council and a well-meaning regent who will rule in Agnarr’s place until he turns twenty-one and assumes the Arendellian throne.

As Iduna and Agnarr grow ever closer, however, friendship is no longer enough. If only falling for each other didn’t mean risking their futures: Iduna’s as a hidden-in-plain-sight citizen of Arendelle, and Agnarr’s as imminent king.

But for a chance at true love, the risk might be worth taking.

“Frozen fans and romance lovers will fall for this endearing tale.” — Kirkus Reviews 

“An…enthralling read; one that left me feeling like there is no other way Iduna and Agnarr’s story could be told.” — LaughingPlace.com

 

REVIEW: I enjoyed reading hte backstory of Frozen II. Iduna and Agnarr have a chance meeting from two very different kingdoms–one of earthy magic and one of a Nordic port town. Fate puts the two together. They have a sweet, loving friendship. There are small references and phrases in the story to the children’s movie, but overall, it feels like a perfect fill for an older audience, Young Adult readers. Highly recommend!


About Mari:

Mari Mancusi is a former Emmy award-winning TV news producer, as well as an award winning YA author. She has published more than two dozen sci-fi/fantasy novels for kids, teens, and adults including The Camelot Code, Scorched, and Dragon Ops. Her series have been chosen as featured selections in the Scholastic Book Fairs and clubs and have been selected by the American Library Association as “Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers” and “Popular Paperbacks.” In addition to writing, Mari is an avid cosplayer, traveller, and gamer. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and their young daughter. She can be found online at www.marimancusi.com. 
 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr | Goodreads




About Grace Lee:

Website

Learn about Grace Lee, Disney Storybook Artist!

Follow Grace Lee on Instagram!

 




Giveaway Details:

3 Winners will receive a finished copy of FROZEN 2:DANGEROUS SECRETS: THE STORY OF IDUNA AND AGNARR, US Only. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

11/2/2020

YA Books Central

Excerpt

11/3/2020

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt

11/4/2020

BookHounds YA

Excerpt

11/5/2020

Allie_reads95

Review

11/6/2020

The Momma Spot

Review

 Week Two:

11/9/2020

Do You Dog-ear?

Review

11/10/2020

Thindbooks Blog

Review

11/11/2020

Rajiv’s Reviews

Review

11/12/2020

The Bookwyrm’s Den

Review

11/13/2020

Fire and Ice

Review

 Week Three:

11/16/2020

Nerdophiles

Review

11/17/2020

fictitious.fox

Review

11/18/2020

booksaremagictoo

Review

11/19/2020

A Dream Within A Dream

Review

11/20/2020

PopTheButterfly Reads

Review

 Week Four:

11/23/2020

Lifestyle of Me

Review

11/24/2020

Momfluenster

Review

11/25/2020

ChristenKrumm

Review

11/26/2020

onemused

Review

11/27/2020

Jenguerdy

Review


Week Five:

11/30/2020

Emelie’s Books

Review

What the Other Three Don’t Know

23 Jun, 2020 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

What the Other Three Don’t Know

What the Other Three Don't Know

on March 3, 2020
Pages: 240
Format: ARC
Buy the Book •
Will I still be loved if I show people who I really am? Four high school seniors. Four secrets about to be told.

"This novel is The Breakfast Club meets 127 Hours. Recommended." --School Library Journal

If Indie had it her way, she would never choose to river raft with three other high school seniors, mostly strangers to each other, from her journalism class.

A loner, a jock, an outsider, an Instagram influencer. At first they can t see anything that they have in common. As the trip unfolds, the unpredictable river forces them to rely on each other. Social masks start to fall as, one-by-one, each teen reveals a deep secret the other three don t know.

One is harboring immense grief and unwilling to forgive after the death of a loved one. One is dealing with a new disability and an uncertain future. One is fearful of the repercussions of coming out. One is hiding behind a carefully curated perfect image on Instagram.

Before they get to the end of Hells Canyon, they ll know the truth about each other and, more importantly, learn something new about themselves.

What the Other Three Don't Know is a poignant and gripping YA novel about the unlikely friends who accept you for who you really are and the power of self-acceptance.

About the Author

Spencer Hyde spent three years of his high school experience visiting Johns Hopkins for severe OCD. He feels particularly suited to write this novel because he’s lived through his protagonists’ obsessions. Spencer worked at a therapeutic boarding school before earning his MFA and his PhD specializing in fiction. He wrote Waiting for Fitz while working as a Teaching Fellow in Denton, Texas. He is currently an assistant professor of English at Brigham Young University. Stories have a way of changing lives–Spencer learned that the first time he picked up a Tom Stoppard play and realized that words can nudge the world and build bridges to hope. Spencer and his wife, Brittany, are the parents of four children.

Fish Out of Water Blog Tour and Giveaway

21 Jan, 2020 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment


I am thrilled to be hosting a stop on the FISH OUT OF WATER by Jennifer Sommersby  Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours! Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:
Title: FISH OUT OF WATER: A Little Mermaid story (The Girl Without a Phone)
Author: Jennifer Sommersby
Pub. Date: December 6, 2019
Publisher: Young Actors Project (YAP)
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 272
Find it:  Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle,  B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Amazon Canada, Amazon India

Be who you were born to be …

Marina Andersen’s structured life is ruled by the Three S’s: Swim. Study. Succeed. But all this routine and order leaves little time for what she really wants to do: SING. Try telling that to her overbearing father, a former rock legend whose personal demons keep Marina’s extraordinary musical talents behind closed doors.

After a chance performance at school drops a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—and a gorgeous young rocker—at Marina’s feet, she’ll have to decide what lengths she’s willing to go to in pursuit of the one thing that reminds her heart to beat.

While navigating the rough seas of managing her father’s expectations and finding her own voice, will Marina summon the courage to show her dad who she really is inside before their family is dashed like a galleon in a storm?

***

Brought to you by the hugely popular YouTube series, The Girl Without A Phone, from the Young Actors Project, in collaboration with YA novelist Jennifer Sommersby, Fish Out of Water is a timeless, heartwarming tale inspired by the beloved Little Mermaid. Join Marina—alongside friends Lily and Sierra—in this fresh new adventure meant to inspire the reader to find their own song.


Review: I enjoyed Fish out of Water, reading it one sitting, start to finish. Marina has a great support network of friends, mentors and extended family to help her navigate her father’s perfectionistic and overbearing control. I love that the author addressed grief and unhealthy dynamics of unresolved issues. I wish we would have seen more in depth interactions between the two love interests. We know they love each other, but it seemed to be wrapped up in a short time frame, with little insight as to why. We had a great opportunity to get a look into their dynamic, but we heard too much about Marina’s swimming career. I would love a follow up or added content which explores a differing point of view and added conversation between the MC and the main love interest. I also sometimes had a hard time telling Marina’s two best friends apart, feeling like we didn’t have a good grip of their differences. I finished in four hours. I appreciated the clean content and the changes which were beginning to surface in Marina’s relationship with her father. It’s a great, safe teen read. Content: sneaking out, child abuse triggers, kissing


About Jennifer:

I am a writer, copy/line editor, bibliophile, and mom of four living in the Great White North.

Represented by Victoria Doherty Munro at Writers House.

Romantic comedies under Eliza Gordon.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads









Giveaway Details: International
5 winners will receive an eBook of FISH OUT OF WATER, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Tour Schedule:
Week One:
1/20/2020
Books,Dreams,Life
Excerpt
1/20/2020
For the Love of KidLit
Excerpt
1/21/2020
Two Chicks on Books
Excerpt
1/21/2020
Fire And Ice
Review
1/22/2020
BookHounds YA
Review
1/22/2020
Precious books world
Review
1/23/2020
Jazzy Book Reviews
Excerpt
1/23/2020
fictitious.fox
Review
1/24/2020
momfluenster
Review
1/24/2020
She Just Loves Books
Review

Week Two:
1/27/2020
Becky on Books
Review
1/27/2020
Not In Jersey
Review
1/28/2020
Jaime’s World
Excerpt
1/28/2020
Novel Novice
Review
1/29/2020
Books and Zebras
Review
1/29/2020
Descendant of Poseidon Reads
Review
1/30/2020
Bookriot_awesomeyou
Review
1/30/2020
Shelf-Rated
Review
1/31/2020
Books a Plenty Book Reviews
Review
1/31/2020
Simply Daniel Radcliffe
Review




10 Blind Dates Blog Tour and Giveaway

24 Oct, 2019 by in Uncategorized 1 comment

Title: 10 BLIND DATES

Author: Ashley Elston

Pub. Date: October 1, 2019

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 336

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD

Sophie wants one thing for Christmas-a little freedom from her overprotective parents. So when they decide to spend Christmas in South Louisiana with her very pregnant older sister, Sophie is looking forward to some much needed private (read: make-out) time with her long-term boyfriend, Griffin. Except it turns out that Griffin wants a little freedom from their relationship.

Heartbroken, Sophie flees to her grandparents’ house, where the rest of her boisterous extended family is gathered for the holiday. That’s when her nonna devises a (not so) brilliant plan: Over the next ten days, Sophie will be set up on ten different blind dates by different family members. Like her sweet cousin Sara, who sets her up with a hot guy at an exclusive underground party. Or her crazy aunt Patrice, who signs Sophie up for a lead role in a living nativity. With a boy who barely reaches her shoulder. And a screaming baby.

When Griffin turns up unexpectedly and begs for a second chance, Sophie feels more confused than ever. Because maybe, just maybe, she’s started to have feelings for someone else . . . Someone who is definitely not available.

This is going to be the worst Christmas break ever . . . or is it?

“This piece-by-piece romance doesn’t need its Christmas theme to sell, but it makes it glitter all the more.”—Booklist

“In a funny holiday romance that has Sophie dog-sitting in a hockey rink, watching porn at a drive-in theater, and playing the Virgin Mary in a middle school Nativity, Elston cleverly reflects the family members’ personalities through their choices of dates for Sophie.”—Publishers Weekly

Review

The cover is perfect. Festive, beautiful photography and design. I enjoyed 10 Blind Dates because of the bond Sophie has with her family. They are a large Italian bunch jammed into one home for Christmas, and taking bets on Sophie’s dating life. There were so many healthy dynamics illustrated, including post partum recovery, cousin love and close bonds with parents, grandparents and extended relatives.

Her neighbor Wes is kind, considerate, and takes good care of the main character as she braves a break up as well as a few sketchy blind date situations. A well rounded plot and endearing characters make this a heart warming, light read. I didn’t enjoy her evil cousins or their date activity. I wish the love interest hadn’t been all but settled until a little further into the book, to build suspense. My only two small complaints. Overall, a fun read!

Parental content: underage drinking, mention of pornography and nudity.

I received a copy from the publisher free as part of a blog tour.

About Ashley:

Ashley Elston is the author of several novels, including THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING (a finalist in the Best Young Adult Novel category of the International Thriller Awards) and THIS IS OUR STORY. She graduated with a Liberal Arts degree from Louisiana State University in Shreveport. Ashley worked for many years as a wedding photographer before turning her hand to writing. Ashley lives in Louisiana with her husband and three sons.

Ashley is represented by Sarah Davies at The Greenhouse Literary Agency.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of 10 BLIND DATES, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/1/2019- BookHounds YA– Excerpt

10/2/2019- Odd and Bookish– Review

10/3/2019- Fictitiouswonderland– Review

10/4/2019- Here’s to Happy Endings– Review

Week Two:

10/7/2019- PopTheButterfly Reads– Excerpt

10/8/2019- Read. Eat. Love.– Review

10/9/2019- Paper Reader– Review

10/10/2019- A Bookish Dream– Review

10/11/2019- Savings in Seconds– Review

Week Three:

10/14/2019- book briefs– Review

10/15/2019- Shelf-Rated– Review

10/16/2019- Smada’s Book Smack– Review

10/17/2019- Do You Dog-ear?– Review

10/18/2019- Wishful Endings– Review

Week Four:

10/21/2019- Southern Girl Bookaholic– Review

10/22/2019- Eli to the nth– Review

10/23/2019- fictitious.fox– Review

10/24/2019-  Fire and Ice– Review

10/25/2019- Two points of interest– Review

Week Five:

10/28/2019- Riddle’s Reviews– Review

10/29/2019- Jena Brown Writes– Review

10/30/2019- Moonlight Rendezvous– Review

10/31/2019- Novel Novice– Review

Scars Like Wings Blog Tour and Giveaway

07 Oct, 2019 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

Title: SCARS LIKE WINGS

Author: Erin Stewart

Pub. Date: October 1, 2019

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 352

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD

Relatable, heartbreaking, and real, this is a story of resilience–the perfect novel for readers of powerful contemporary fiction like Girl in Pieces and Every Last Word.

Before, I was a million things. Now I’m only one. The Burned Girl.

Ava Lee has lost everything there is to lose: Her parents. Her best friend. Her home. Even her face. She doesn’t need a mirror to know what she looks like–she can see her reflection in the eyes of everyone around her.

A year after the fire that destroyed her world, her aunt and uncle have decided she should go back to high school. Be “normal” again. Whatever that is. Ava knows better. There is no normal for someone like her. And forget making friends–no one wants to be seen with the Burned Girl, now or ever.

But when Ava meets a fellow survivor named Piper, she begins to feel like maybe she doesn’t have to face the nightmare alone. Sarcastic and blunt, Piper isn’t afraid to push Ava out of her comfort zone. Piper introduces Ava to Asad, a boy who loves theater just as much as she does, and slowly, Ava tries to create a life again. Yet Piper is fighting her own battle, and soon Ava must decide if she’s going to fade back into her scars . . . or let the people by her side help her fly.

“A heartfelt and unflinching look at the reality of being a burn survivor and at the scars we all carry. This book is for everyone, burned or not, who has ever searched for a light in the darkness.” –Stephanie Nielson, New York Times bestselling author of Heaven Is Here and a burn survivor

Review

Scars Like Wings explores the life of a teen who has lost her family and 60% of her body to fire. Ava is at a particularly difficult time of life to be transitioning to a new school and family situation, her aunt and uncle as new guardians. Peers can be cruel and petty, until she meets both a boy and a girl who see beneath her skin to what really matters. I loved seeing the transformation which occurs with friendship and fun. Piper is just the right medicine, taking healing head on and laughing when she could be suffering. This book addresses grief, trauma and coming to be comfortable in one’s own space. Ava has a long road to travel and is bitter at first, but the author shows how one or two people can make a huge difference in each others’ lives.

Content: the first chapter has the most content for parents pre-reading. Some mentions of adults sexual relations and tension. Bullying triggers.

About the Author

Erin Stewart is the author of SCARS LIKE WINGS, her debut novel. Erin is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern and a BYU undergraduate who works as a freelance writer and editor, as well as a weekly columnist in Salt Lake City.

Erin lives in Utah with her husband and three children. She is represented by the amazing Brianne Johnson of Writers House.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of SCARS LIKE WINGS, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/1/2019- Feed Your Fiction Addiction– Review

10/2/2019- BookHounds YA– Review

10/3/2019- Lifestyle of Me– Review

10/4/2019- Fictitious Fox– Review

Week Two:

10/7/2019-  Fire and Ice – Review

10/8/2019- Moonlight Rendezvous– Review

10/9/2019- Fictitiouswonderland– Review

10/10/2019- Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers– Review

10/11/2019- Here’s to Happy Endings– Review

Week Three:

10/14/2019- Treestand Book Reviews– Review

10/15/2019- Smada’s Book Smack– Review

10/16/2019- Riddle’s Reviews– Review

10/17/2019- Jena Brown Writes– Review

10/18/2019- Book-Keeping– Review

Week Four:

10/21/2019- A Bookish Dream– Review

10/22/2019- Life Within The Pages– Review

10/23/2019- Portrait of a Book- Review

10/24/2019- The Pages In-Between– Review

10/25/2019- Paper Reader– Review

Week Five:

10/28/2019- Southern Girl Bookaholic– Review

10/29/2019- Do You Dog-ear?– Review

10/30/2019- Novel Novice– Excerpt

10/31/2019- Two points of interest– Review