Review: Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake

 

Title: Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World
Author: Ashley Herring Blake
Publication Date: March 6, 2018

Blog Tour: YOU'D BE HOME NOW Excerpt & Giveaway

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the YOU'D BE HOME NOW by Kathleen Glasgow Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

Spotlight: More Than the Game

Who loves bad-boy, Sport Romance?

We're celebrating the release of Jenni Bara's latest novel, More than the Game! Read on for more details and a chance to win a $25 Amazon e-gift card!

More Than the Game (Becoming and Evans #1)
Publication Date: September 14th, 2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Sport Romance

Review: For Today I Am A Boy by Kim Fu

 

Title: For Today I Am a Boy
Author: Kim Fu
Publication Date: January 14, 2014

Review: Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

 

Title: Fun Home
Author: Alison Bechdel
Publication Date: June 8, 2006

Review: Heart Trouble by Jae

 

Title: Heart Trouble
Author: Jae
Publication Date: September 21, 2016

Spotlight Post: BEASTS AND BEAUTY: DANGEROUS TALES

I am so excited to get to be apart of this tour by Turn the Page Tours. I absolutely love fairy tale retellings. And with a cover that looks like that...how can it possibly be anything less than amazing?

Check out information and links relating to the book and author below. Also, there's a giveaway at the bottom of the page.

 

About The Book:

Title: BEASTS AND BEAUTY: DANGEROUS TALES

Author: Soman Chainani

Pub. Date: September 21, 2021

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genres: Fantasy, Retelling, Short Stories

Pages: ~336

Purchase Links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
Indiebound

You think you know these stories, don’t you?
You are wrong.
You don’t know them at all.

Twelve tales, twelve dangerous tales of mystery, magic, and rebellious hearts. Each twists like a spindle to reveal truths full of warning and triumph, truths that capture hearts long kept tame and set them free, truths that explore life . . . and death.

A prince has a surprising awakening...
A beauty fights like a beast...
A boy refuses to become prey...
A path to happiness is lost....then found again

About Soman Chainani: 

Soman Chainani's first novel, THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL, debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List, has been translated into 26 languages across six continents, and will soon be a major motion picture from Universal Studios. The sequels, A WORLD WITHOUT PRINCES and THE LAST EVER AFTER, debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List as well. Together, the books of the series have been on the print and extended NYT lists for a total of 33 weeks. As a writer and film director, Soman's films have played at over 150 film festivals around the world, winning more than 30 jury and audience prizes, and his writing awards include honors from Big Bear Lake, New Draft, the CAPE Foundation, the Sun Valley Writer’s Fellowship, and the coveted Shasha Grant, awarded by a jury of international film executives. When he’s not telling stories orteaching in New York City, Soman is a die-hard tennisplayer who never lost a first-round match for ten years . . . until he started writing THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL. Now he loses all the time.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

About Julia Iredale: 

Julia Iredale is an artist who works as a freelance illustrator for clients around the world. Her work is informed by her love of mythology, dark fantasy, and human psychology, weaving these together to create beautiful, mysterious characters and worlds. She lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

 

Giveaway Details:

Enter for your chance to win one (1) finished copy of BEASTS AND BEAUTY: DANGEROUS TALES by Soman Chainani! Open USA only.

Giveaway starts: Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Giveaway ends: Tuesday, September 28, 2021

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: WELCOME TO DWEEB CLUB Review & Giveaway

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the WELCOME TO DWEEB CLUB by Betsy Uhrig Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: WELCOME TO DWEEB CLUB

Author: Betsy Uhrig

Pub. Date: September 28, 2021

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 272

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

What if a school club changed your life forever?

In the second week of seventh grade, Jason Sloan signs up for the brand-new HAIR Club. He and his friends have no idea what it’s about, but since they’re the first to sign up they figure they’ll be in charge in no time. The club turns out to be super weird: using fancy new equipment donated by a mysterious benefactor, the members are supposed to monitor school security footage. Their first assignment: find out what is stealing the cafeteria’s croutons.

Instead of the expected dark cafeteria, the computers show the club members something else entirely: actual footage of themselves as high school seniors, five years in the future! What on earth could be happening? Is it some kind of time warp, or alternate reality? Or is it just an un-funny prank? As they scramble to solve the mystery, they can’t help but notice something else—none of them like what they see five years from now. Is there any way to change the future—and their fates? 

  

My Review:

This book is probably one of the weirder books that I’ve ever read, but also one of the most fun books too. It’s not a book that takes itself too seriously or tries to teach overly important lessons to the reader. There are things that the character learns throughout the story, but it’s not preachy or anything like that. It’s just the character coming to terms with not being a perfect person.

I love how this book is written. Jason is our main character, and he was made Historian of the H.A.I.R club. This book is written as his form of notes from the club meetings and other events. The first line of each chapter even switches to a more handwritten font. I thought it was a really good way to show the story. It’s a first-person story but it’s not written in a way where it feels like the character is constantly thinking through everything in their life, it feels like someone who just writes in a journal a lot. I really enjoyed it, even if my previous ramblings don’t make much sense.

I really liked most of the characters in this book. I’ll be honest and say that Alice was really the only character that I didn’t like. Other than that, only Jason got on my nerves and that was very rarely. My only big issue with Jason was that sometimes he felt like he was dragging himself down farther than necessary. These characters are middle-schoolers, and they act like it. They’re sometimes conceited and trying to find a balance between being liked and what they like. They’re rude and speak without thinking. I loved them. They also had a really great dynamic with each other. It was fun, but they’re middle schoolers so there’s still some pettiness and meanness.

The plot…I don’t really know what to say about the plot of this book. It was weird but also very interesting. I don’t read mystery books because I’m not very good at figuring out mysteries. This one was fun to watch develop. Of course, there are hints as to who created Prescient, but it never seemed like the answers were just handed to the reader.

I have one word that I use to describe this book: fun. This book was fun to read. It was an absolute joy. I need more books like this. Books that aren’t rife with drama or life lessons that need to be hammered in. Books that are a bit silly with fun characters.

I really enjoyed this book. I would honestly recommend it to a lot of people, because it was a lot of fun.

 

About Betsy Uhrig: 

Betsy Uhrig was born and raised in Greater Boston, where she lives with her family and way more books than you are picturing. She graduated from Smith College with a degree in English and has worked in publishing ever since. She writes books for children instead of doing things that aren’t as fun. Betsy is the author of Double the Danger and Zero Zucchini and Welcome to Dweeb Club. Visit her at BetsyUhrig.com for more information about her books and her cats.

 

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of WELCOME TO DWEEB CLUB, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/13/2021	I'm Shelfish	Excerpt
9/14/2021	Nay's Pink Bookshelf	Review
9/15/2021	A Dream Within A Dream	Guest Post
9/16/2021	Jazzy Book Reviews	Excerpt
9/17/2021	celiamcmahonreads	Review
9/18/2021	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review

Week Two:

9/19/2021	Locks, Hooks and Books	Review
9/20/2021	Perusewithcoffee	Review
9/21/2021	Cindy's Love of Books	Review
9/22/2021	The Momma Spot	Review
9/23/2021	@Curlygrannylovestoread	Review
9/24/2021	Midnightbooklover	Review
9/25/2021	Nerdophiles	Review

Week Three:

9/26/2021	Pick a good book	Review
9/27/2021	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
9/28/2021	YA Books Central	Interview
9/29/2021	Lifestyle of Me	Review
9/30/2021	Don't Judge, Read	Interview
10/1/2021	Fyrekatz Blog	Review
10/2/2021	Onemused	Review/IG Spotlight

Week Four:

10/3/2021	BookHounds YA	Guest Post
10/4/2021	booksaremagictoo	Review
10/5/2021	Book-Keeping	Review
10/6/2021	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt
10/7/2021	The Pages In-Between	Review
10/8/2021	Two Points of Interest	Review

Review: Truth Behind the Mask by Lesley Davis

 

Title: Truth Behind the Mask
Author: Lesley Davis
Publication Date: August 1, 2008

Favorite Book of the Month

Hi, again!

Four more months have passed and I've read about 90 books in that time span! How time flies when you're having fun. That means it's time for my second round of Favorite Books of the Months. This post will show my favorite books from May through August. There were some harsh contenders for these places. If you ever want to know about some of my other favorites during these months drop a comment or hit me up on one of my social media sites. With that, let's begin!

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Review: Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst

 

Title: Of Fire and Stars
Author: Audrey Coulthurst
Publication Date: November 22, 2016

Review: Going Viral: A Socially Distant Love Story

Going Viral: A Socially Distant Love Story by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Finished on July 24, 2021

Favorite Scene/Quote: "I feel annoyed all over again. Annoyed that these Internet strangers aren't satisfied with what I gave them, annoyed that I know that they're right. Annoyed that I'm letting them get to me, and especially annoyed that I gave in to their requests."

4.5/5 rounded down

A sapphic story during COVID quarantine with a hint of misunderstandings. I was hooked by this description. I had some initial wariness about possibly hating the COVID part of the story, but it turned out to not really bother me. I was lucky enough to be sent an uncorrected ARC from Scholastic in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Blog Tour: BATTLE DRAGONS #1 Review & Giveaway

I wanted to read this book solely based off the cover and title. I didn’t really need a description, it looked awesome enough to drag me into it. I consider myself extremely lucky to be apart of the tour for CITY OF THIEVES (Battle Dragons #1) by Alex London Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: CITY OF THIEVES (Battle Dragons #1)

Author: Alex London

Pub. Date: September 21, 2021

Publisher: Scholastic

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 272

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

In a modern mega-city built around dragons, one boy gets caught up in the world of underground dragon battles and a high-stakes gang war that could tear his family apart.

Once, dragons nearly drove themselves to extinction. But in the city of Drakopolis, humans domesticated them centuries ago. Now dragons haul the city’s cargo, taxi its bustling people between skyscrapers, and advertise its wares in bright, neon displays. Most famously of all, the dragons battle. Different breeds take to the skies in nighttime bouts between the infamous kins―criminal gangs who rule through violence and intimidation.

Abel has always loved dragons, but after a disastrous showing in his dragon rider’s exam, he's destined never to fly one himself. All that changes the night his sister appears at his window, entrusting him with a secret...and a stolen dragon.

Turns out, his big sister is a dragon thief! Too bad his older brother is a rising star in Drakopolis law enforcement...

To protect his friends and his family, Abel must partner with the stolen beast, riding in kin battles and keeping more secrets than a dragon has scales.

When everyone wants him fighting on their side, can Abel figure out what's worth fighting for?

Reviews:

"Battle Dragons is the riproaring opener to a surefire hit series. Alex London has envisioned a world as enthralling as it is dangerous―a society much like our own if it was built on the backs of giant fire-breathing dragons. Readers are sure to burn through the pages as they follow Abel through the shadowy underbelly of Drakopolis, dodging dragon-rider street gangs and a ruthless secret police to save his family. Abel is an endearing and relatable hero struggling under expectations as the youngest of three siblings, and his journey in building self-confidence is sure to ring true with young readers. Above all, cutting through the action is a moving tale of friendship and family, which is at the heart of this thrilling fantasy."- Soman Chainani, author of The School for Good and Evil series

 

"A rip-roaring loop-de-loop of action and adventure, Battle Dragons will keep readers at the edge of their seat as they cheer on Abel and his friends."- Kwame Mbalia, author of the Tristan Strong series

 

My Review:

The characters were one of the things that I really loved about this book. It wasn’t even just the main characters. I want a spinoff book just to delve more into the stories of these side characters. Characters like Shivonne, Ally, Jazinda, and others. I just want more of these characters. Plus, I love the main characters. Abel is a great character who gets thrown into a mess but finds a way to deal with it. I adore Roa. They are just absolutely amazing. I just love them.

I absolutely adore everything surrounding the dragons in this world. The description of the various dragons is amazing, and I want one for myself. The concept of the dragons being tamed and used for menial jobs was brilliant and I absolutely love the idea of my school bus being a dragon.

The best thing regarding the dragons: the battles. The way London described the training and actual battles was amazing. There was a good amount of detail that allowed the reader to picture what tricks the dragon was being put through. It was honestly amazing and easily my favorite part of the book altogether. The dragon battles didn’t feel unrealistic in the given environment, nor did they feel like something that I would see in any old dragon movie. There were weapons and tricks, and it was clear that people had to actually work through what they were doing. Dragon battles are a race, a heist, and a duel.

This book, in my personal opinion, makes me think of a video game in the best way possible. A younger chosen one who has to train a dragon and keeps being pulled into more and more dangerous situations. It’s gold and I really wish there was a companion video game that I could play while reading it.

The only thing I would even classify as slightly a problem is how quickly Abel seemed to get his training. He wasn’t a genius and didn’t get everything quickly, but I wish there had been more time devoted to him trying and making mistakes.

I really enjoyed this book. It seems like it’s going to be a series and I for one absolutely cannot wait for more in this world.

 

About Alex London: 

ALEX LONDON is the author of over 25 books for children, teens, and adults with over 2 million copies sold. He’s the author of the middle grade Dog Tags, Tides of War, Wild Ones, and Accidental Adventures series, as well as two titles in The 39 Clues. For young adults, he’s the author of the acclaimed cyberpunk duology Proxy, and the epic fantasy trilogy, The Skybound Saga. A former journalist covering refugee camps and conflict zones, he can now be found somewhere in Philadelphia, where he lives with his husband and daughter or online at

www.calexanderlondon.com.

 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of CITY OF THIEVES (Battle Dragons #1), US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/13/2021	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review
9/13/2021	YA Books Central	Excerpt
9/14/2021	celiamcmahonreads	Review
9/14/2021	Don't Judge, Read	Review
9/15/2021	Nerdophiles	Review
9/15/2021	The Bookwyrm's Den	Review
9/16/2021	Book-Keeping	Review
9/16/2021	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
9/17/2021	Locks, Hooks and Books	Review
9/17/2021	booksaremagictoo	Review

Week Two:

9/20/2021	The Momma Spot	Review
9/20/2021	Lifestyle of Me	Review
9/21/2021	Books a Plenty Book Reviews	Review
9/21/2021	Two Points of Interest	Review
9/22/2021	Fyrekatz Blog	Review
9/22/2021	Bibliosini	Review
9/23/2021	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Review
9/23/2021	Books and Zebras @jypsylynn	Review
9/24/2021	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
9/24/2021	BookHounds YA	Excerpt