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Tuesday, October 20, 2015

LORD FENTON'S FOLLY by Josi Kilpack Blog tour and giveaway!

Lord Fenton's Folly (1)



I love Josi Kilpack! She's one of the nicest people plus she's an excellent writer and she gives so much to the writing community. I would recommend any of her books! And here I am recommending her newest one!
 Regency Romance! And just in time to read this book curled up by a fire. 

I've enjoyed Josi Killpack's books in the past and this one does not disappoint. Lord Fenton needs to marry or be disinherited. Alice has had a crush on him since they were young, so she's ecstatic when he asks her to be his wife. Until she finds out it is a marriage of convenience. 
A good, clean book full of wit, humor, twists and romance. 






Lord Fenton's FollyLord Fenton's Folly by Josi Kilpack Lord Fenton is a gambler, a dandy, and a flirt-and he must marry or else he will be disinherited, stripped of his wealth and his position. He chooses Alice Stanbridge for two simple reasons: he once knew her as a young girl, and she is the least objectionable option available to him. However, Alice has harbored feelings for Fenton since their first meeting ten years ago, and she believes his proposal is real. When she discovers it is not, she is embarrassed and hurt. However, a match with the most-eligible bachelor in London would secure not only her future but that of her family as well. Determined to protect herself from making a fool of herself a second time, Alice matches Lord Fenton wit for wit and insult for insult as they move toward a marriage of convenience that is anything but a happy union. Only when faced with family secrets that have shaped Fenton's life does he let down his guard enough to find room in his heart for Alice.






  Excerpt

 Fenton groaned and put his saucer back on the tray, making an instantaneous decision that eased his mind quite a lot. To look at every woman he met as a potential wife was irritating, and after only two weeks he was quite tired of it. Perhaps the solution was to orchestrate a match that would not lay all aspects of matrimony at his feet all at once. Perhaps treating it as a business arrangement would help it to be exactly that, thereby freeing him from all the discomfiting realities he was not yet prepared to face. "I leave for Fentonview on Tuesday and shan't be back for a week. Courting is such a boring prospect, and you yourself said that to become infatuated with anyone might become a complication." He paused, considered one last time what he was going to say next, and decided he felt as good about it as could be expected. "You like Alice Stanbridge and feel she would make a good wife for me?" 

Lady Chariton looked confused and perhaps a bit concerned. "I do, but-"

 "Then that is good enough for me," Fenton said, rising to his feet and smiling broadly at his mother, who stared back at him in surprise. "I do find her appealing and what's more she is not a silly little thing without a practical thought in her head."

 His mother's eyes widened and her eyebrows rose upon her forehead. Fenton struck a pose of consternation, with his thumb and forefinger on his chin as he looked toward the window a moment, then nodded crisply and turned back to his mother who still looked shocked by his pronouncement.

 "Yes, I think that Alice Stanbridge is exactly what I should like in a wife, and so I shall see to it before I leave for Hampshire-I see no reason to wait until Michaelmas and might as well get it over with." He leaned in and kissed his mother's hand. "Thank you for your help, Mama. I shall let you know how she responds to my proposal."


Josi  add to goodreads Author Josi Kilpack Josi S. Kilpack hated to read until her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond when she was 13. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and credits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began writing her first novel in 1998 and never stopped. Sheep's Clothing won the Whitney award for Mystery/Suspense in 207 and Wedding Cake, book twelve in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery series won in 2014. Josi was also the Best of State winner in Fiction for 2012. Josi currently lives in Willard, Utah, with her husband, children and super-cute - but not very friendly - cat.


$25 Blog Tour giveaway






  $25 Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon eGift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 10/29/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com eGift Card or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, October 2, 2015

The Caretaker's Guide to Fablehaven by Brandon Mull illustrated by Brandon Dorman

This guidebook to the Fablehaven magical preserve is filled with everything a new Caretaker might need to know in order to survive. There are entries detailing important information about artifacts large and small, a complete bestiary of creatures (from fairies to trolls to satyrs), a guide to identifying demons, dragons, and wizards as well as valuable insights into the other magical preserves.

Immerse yourself into the secret knowledge that has been handed down through the generations by reading the updates and notes written in the margins by the former Caretakers of Fablehaven, including Grandpa Sorenson, Kendra, and Seth. Fully-illustrated, this unique encyclopedia has gathered the world of Fablehaven into one volume.

Scattered throughout the book are colorful fairies that also mark some of the characters, artifacts, and creatures that will be featured in the upcoming sequel series, Dragonwatch.


Have you read the Fablehaven books? Have any of your children? This book is a FANTASTIC addition to the Fablehaven series! 
First off, I loved the series. I loved the magic and the creatures and the humans. And I really loved the lessons Kendra and Seth learned as they helped their Grandpa take care of the magical creatures and places in Fablehaven. 
Second, this new book is fun! Full of facts about the magical reserves and the creatures. The pictures in this book are awesome! I received an ebook for a fair and honest review and the pictures were excellent. I can't wait to get my hands on the actual book! 
Third! Brandon is writing another series based on this trilogy! There are clues in this book about it.

Thank you Brandon Mull and Brandon Dorman for continuing to spark your readers imaginations! 
The Caretakers Guide to Fablehaven comes out the middle of October. 




Caretakers Guide to Fablehaven (1)



The Caretaker's Guide to Fablehaven by Brandon Mull This guidebook to the Fablehaven magical preserve is filled with everything a new Caretaker might need to know in order to survive. There are entries detailing important information about artifacts large and small, a complete bestiary of creatures (from fairies to trolls to satyrs), a guide to identifying demons, dragons, and wizards as well as valuable insights into the other magical preserves. Immerse yourself into the secret knowledge that has been handed down through the generations by reading the updates and notes written in the margins by the former Caretakers of Fablehaven, including Grandpa Sorenson, Kendra, and Seth. Fully-illustrated, this unique encyclopedia has gathered the world of Fablehaven into one volume.



Fablehaven Caretakers Excerpt from Introduction

 If you are in possession of this book you are assumed to be the caretaker or an apprentice caretaker of Fablehaven.
By now you’ve been introduced to the world of mythical and magical creatures.

However, there is still much to learn. Previous caretakers of Fablehaven thought it would be helpful to create a Caretaker’s Guide specifically for those tasked with the job of nurturing, protecting, and surviving this preserve and its inhabitants. Do not be fooled. Fablehaven is an unpredictable and dangerous place. However, the collective knowledge gathered within the pages of this bestiary will give you the knowledge and wisdom needed to not only survive but to thrive. The creatures of Fablehaven are either light or dark, not necessarily good or evil. In order to be good, one must recognize the difference between right and wrong and strive to choose the right. To be truly evil one must do the contrary. Being good or evil is a choice.

This is not so with the creatures of Fablehaven. What they are largely governs how they act. Some are inherently builders, some are nurturers, some are playful. Some are inherently destroyers, some are deceivers, some crave power. Some love light, some love darkness. But change their nature, and without much resistance, their identities follow. Like a fairy becoming an imp, or an imp regaining her fairyhood. Much counsel and advice has been passed down through generations and given to the new caretakers of this preserve. Perhaps the most invaluable piece of advice that has ever been given is this: Those who are careful to cause no mischief, work no magic, and inflict no harm are protected by the foundational treaty of Fablehaven.

This truth alone may be your strongest ally and your only defense. One final note. The signs leading up to the front gate were not always there. In the late eighteenth century, before the guest register that controls access to Fablehaven was created, two poachers entered the property in search of big game. Needless to say, they found it. Or it found them. Many days later, the resident caretaker found them as well. Or at least he found their bodies of petrified stone. And thus the first signs outside the gates of Fablehaven were posted. As caretaker you have accepted a most noble assignment. Keep your eyes open. Obey with exactness. Take risks only as the last resort and you will have a better chance at seeing another sunrise. Welcome to Fablehaven.


Brandon


Author Brandon Mull Brandon Mull is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling Beyonders and Fablehaven series. Brandon resides in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife and four children. He spent two years living in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile where he learned Spanish and juggling. He once won a pudding eating contest in the park behind his grandma’s house, earning a gold medal.




$25 Blog Tour giveaway



$25 Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon eGift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 10/28/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com eGift Card or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE
From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, the beautiful, stunningly ambitious instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where he works as the master of its thousands of locks. When she is six, Marie-Laure goes blind and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great-uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.

In a mining town in Germany, the orphan Werner grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments, a talent that wins him a place at a brutal academy for Hitler Youth, then a special assignment to track the resistance. More and more aware of the human cost of his intelligence, Werner travels through the heart of the war and, finally, into Saint-Malo, where his story and Marie-Laure’s converge.

Doerr’s “stunning sense of physical detail and gorgeous metaphors” (San Francisco Chronicle) are dazzling. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, he illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, a National Book Award finalist, All the Light We Cannot See is a magnificent, deeply moving novel from a writer “whose sentences never fail to thrill” (Los Angeles Times)


I've been trying to post only 5 Star reviews here but this one deserved to be here. I gave it 4 Stars because of a certain scene and the swearing kicked in toward the end. I wish I could write like this!!!!

This book! There is so much to think about this story that I'm having a hard time getting my thoughts straight.

What I loved:
The characters, even the evil ones were human and had flaws.
The different view points.
The different viewpoints converging through out the story.
The tension waiting for the convergence.
The way people can still be good and kind, even in the middle of war.
The storyline.
The plot.

What I didn't love:
The soldiers raping women and the women expecting it and not fighting back (not a graphic scene, just disturbing).
I tried at least twice to read this book and I just couldn't get into it. Finally, I downloaded it from Audible. I'm so glad I did!
The bleakness of war. 
The way war brings out the evil in people.

I gave this book 4 stars because of the rape scene. 
This book is better for older readers and adults.

V: Not graphic but it is set in WWII
L: More toward the end.
S: Rape scene

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

SOUL OF SMOKE by Caitlyn McFarland

On a hike deep in the Rocky Mountains, Kai Monahan watches as a dozen dragons—actual freaking dragons—battle beneath a fat white moon. When one crashes nearly dead at her feet and transforms into a man, Kai does the only thing a decent person could: she grabs the nearest sword and saves his life.

As the dragon/man, Rhys, recovers from the attack, a chance brush of skin against skin binds him inextricably to Kai. Becoming heartsworn to a human—especially such a compelling one—is the last thing Rhys wants. But with an ancient enemy gathering to pit dragons against humanity and his strength nearly depleted, Kai has just become the one thing Rhys needs. A complete bond will give him the strength to fight; a denied bond means certain death.

Kai is terrified at the thought of allowing any dragon into her mind…or her heart. Accepting the heartswearing and staying with the dragons means sacrificing everything, and Kai must decide if her freedom is worth risking Rhys's life—a life more crucial to the fate of humanity than she could possibly know.
 


I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. I even had to resist the urge to read it during church. LOL
Kai is independant, strong and driven. She knows the outdoors and how to survive. The book starts out with Kai and her roommates hiking a mountain when they find an injured woman. Kai stays with the woman while the roommates go for help. When the woman awakes, she becomes hysterical about helping her brother. 
What Kai doesn't know is that the person she is helping, and the brother, are not from Kai's world, kind of. 

Enter dragons! I loved the way Caitlyn wrote the dragons; the descriptions, the personalities, the countries they came from. It was awesome. 
Caitlyn's writing kept me intrigued and in the story. The romance, the fighting, the story, the twists and turns, all of it kept me reading. I can't wait to read the next book. 

I would recommend this book to older teen readers and up. While there is no graphic scenes, it does have a lot of sexual tension, but it's clean. Kai likes "hell" and uses it quite a bit. 

Ratings:
V: fighting among dragons
L: Some
S: No, but lots of tension

5 Stars


I received this read for an honest review.







Monday, July 20, 2015

FIRES OF INVENTION by J. Scott Savage

Trenton Colman is a creative thirteen-year-old boy with a knack for all things mechanical. But his talents are viewed with suspicion in Cove, a steam-powered city built inside a mountain. In Cove, creativity is a crime and “invention” is a curse word.

Kallista Babbage is a repair technician and daughter of the notorious Leo Babbage, whose father died in an explosion—an event the leaders of Cove point to as an example of the danger of creativity.

Working together, Trenton and Kallista learn that Leo Babbage was developing a secret project before he perished. Following clues he left behind, they begin to assemble a strange machine that is unlikely anything they’ve ever seen before. They soon discover that what they are building may threaten every truth their city is founded on—and quite possibly their very lives.


Ok. I already love Savage's storytelling so I may be biased...BUT this was another great read from this awesomesauce author.
I loved the world, the creativity and inventions but "creativity" is a naughty word and inventing is against the law. The world is totally opposite of SKY JUMPERS by Peggy Eddleman, where inventing is honored and if you can't invent, you're an outcast.
Good word-building, deep characterization, and great villains, as well as twists and turns and... can't tell ya. You'll have to read it to find out!

Good, clean book, perfect for a summer read! I'm going to buy one for my son.

V: a couple of scenes, not graphic
L: no
S: no. Well, maybe cheek kiss

4 STARS

Thanks netgalley for the read!

Monday, July 6, 2015

LORD FENTON'S FOLLY by Josi S. Killpack

Lord Fenton is a gambler, a dandy, and a flirt—and he must marry or else he will be disinherited, stripped of his wealth and his position. He chooses Alice Stanbridge for two simple reasons: he once knew her as a young girl, and she is the least objectionable option available to him.

However, Alice has harbored feelings for Fenton since their first meeting ten years ago, and she believes his proposal is real. When she discovers it is not, she is embarrassed and hurt. However, a match with the most-eligible bachelor in London would secure not only her future but that of her family as well.

Determined to protect herself from making a fool of herself a second time, Alice matches Lord Fenton wit for wit and insult for insult as they move toward a marriage of convenience that is anything but a happy union. Only when faced with family secrets that have shaped Fenton’s life does he let down his guard enough to find room in his heart for Alice. But can Alice risk her heart a second time?


Ah! Regency Romance! And just in time to read this book on the beach. 
I've enjoyed Josi Killpack's books in the past and this one does not disappoint. Lord Fenton needs to marry or be disinherited. Alice has had a crush on him since they were young, so she's ecstatic when he asks her to be his wife. Until she finds out it is a marriage of convenience.

A good, clean book full of wit, humor, twists and romance.


Thanks netgalley for the read!!


Monday, June 22, 2015

RISING STRONG by Brene Brown

The physics of vulnerability is simple: If we are brave enough often enough, we will fall. The author of the #1 New York Times bestsellersDaring Greatly and The Gifts of Imperfection tells us what it takes to get back up, and how owning our stories of disappointment, failure, and heartbreak gives us the power to write a daring new ending. Struggle, Brené Brown writes, can be our greatest call to courage, and rising strong our clearest path to deeper meaning, wisdom, and hope.


When I read a self-help book, I realize not all of it will apply to me or I will take what I need at that moment. This book is no different BUT I took a lot of notes. It was intriguing and interesting. The book is full of stories to help the reader see the point Brene is trying to make. 
I used some of her ideas the next day and honestly felt better about my day and communication with the people around me. I grew up in a home that did not deal with emotions nor did we talk about hard things at all. Now I'm married, I need to be able to understand my emotions that I tend to keep buried and "safe" and I need to communicate better with my husband and children. I would recommend this book just for the help of thinking in a different way. 

4 1/2 STARS

Thanks netgalley for the read!!

Monday, June 8, 2015

THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH by Ali Benjamin

After her best friend dies in a drowning accident, Suzy is convinced that the true cause of the tragedy was a rare jellyfish sting. Retreating into a silent world of imagination, she crafts a plan to prove her theory--even if it means traveling the globe, alone. Suzy's achingly heartfelt journey explores life, death, the astonishing wonder of the universe...and the potential for love and hope right next door.

I loved reading this book! Different chapters, different point of view, science, jellyfish, middle school ugliness, friends, lack of friends, unexpected friends, and trying to find peace with death, all wrapped up in an intriguing and moving story.

A good, clean read for any age, especially sixth grade and up. (A gay brother but it's very subtle.)

V: No
L: No
S: No

4 STARS
(4 stars because I skimmed a lot of the facts about jellyfish, but I know other readers will love it!).

Thanks, Netgalley for the read!!

Saturday, May 23, 2015

A TImeless Romance Anthology: California Dreamin' Collection

Amazon #1 Bestselling series in *New Release* for Clean Romance ~ Know why it's #1? Because every single story is awesome. Seriously. I loved every story. 
These novellas come out just in time for summer reading. 

Six brand new contemporary romance novellas with bestselling and award winning authors.

In the sweet novella TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE by Heather B. Moore, Gwen uses her wedding photography business to keep her life simple and focus on something other than her own broken heart. When Jack, a guy too handsome for his own good, helps her clean up after a photoshoot, then asks her out, she doesn’t know if she can handle dating again. But Jack’s charm wins her over, and she agrees to meet him for dinner. The more she gets to know Jack, the more she likes him, but everything about him seems too good to be true. 

GONE FISHING, a charming novella by Kaylee Baldwin, follows Claire as she tries to convince her dad to leave his start-up company as a boat guide and come back home to Colorado. He’s the only one who can defend Claire against her domineering mother. But when she arrives at the San Diego harbor, she’s met with more than one surprise. First, that her dad is truly living his dream and has never been happier, and second, she’s unexpectedly attracted to his business partner, Miguel.

In THE PIER CHANGES EVERYTHING, an enchanting novella by Annette Lyon, Alexandria has one last task to perform for her late husband, who died much too young: scatter his ashes in the Pacific Ocean. She goes to the Santa Monica Pier to do just that, but her plans get sidetracked after meeting Michael and feeling an immediate connection to him. They grab lunch, and the more time they spend together, the more they discover that they have in common—including past romantic hardships. As the day wears on, Alexandria begins learn that her heart just might be able to find love again.

In Jennifer Moore’s captivating novella A HERO’S SONG, AnneMarie’s career as a romance novelist is skyrocketing and her agent books her on a late night talk show. The host gets her to admit that she was in love once, with a guitar player. Moments after her segment, Lance Holden appears on the same stage, to perform his newest song. Is it a terrible coincidence? AnneMarie hasn’t seen Lance ever since he broke her heart ten years ago, and she has refused to think about him again. Their lives are worlds apart, but as Lance tries to reconcile with AnneMarie, she finds herself taking a second chance. 

In STAY WITH ME, an endearing novella by Shannon Guymon, Jolie moves to L.A. to take on a nanny position for the summer, since apparently having a degree in art doesn’t translate to getting a job as a graphic designer. When Fitz, the family’s chauffeur, picks her up at the airport, she wonders if every man in LA is model-gorgeous. When Jolie meets her two charges, she finds them adorable and needy. But it’s harder to hold onto her job than she thought with a hostile Mrs. James and her spoiled brother. Fitz becomes both the silver lining of her job and the man who just might convince her to stay in L.A.

In the delightful novella, A PLACE TO CALL HOME, by Sarah M. Eden, Ada is the best realtor around. The best. She prides herself in matching each client with the house that will fit all of their needs. She hasn’t failed yet. So when Craig hires her to find him the perfect condo for him and his son, Ada is up for the challenge. What she may not be prepared for is her unforeseen attraction to Craig, her immediate attachment to his nine-year-old son, and her heart telling her that it’s okay to take another chance.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

THE FIRE SERMON by Francesca Haig

When Zach and I were born our parents must have counted and recounted: limbs, fingers, toes. We were perfect. They would have been disbelieving: nobody dodged the split between Alpha and Omega.
Nobody.

They were born together and they will die together.

One strong Alpha twin and one mutated Omega; the only thing they share is the moment of their death.

The Omegas live in segregation, cast out by their families as soon as their mutation becomes clear. Forced to live apart, they are ruthlessly oppressed by their Alpha counterparts.

The Alphas are the elite. Once their weaker twin has been cast aside, they're free to live in privilege and safety, their Omega twin far from their thoughts.

Cass and Zach are both perfect on the outside: no missing limbs, no visible Omega mutation. But Cass has a secret: one that Zach will stop at nothing to expose.

The potential to change the world lies in both their hands. One will have to defeat the other to see their vision of the future come to pass, but if they're not careful both will die in the struggle for power.


After a catastrophic blast to the Earth, all pregnancies resulted in twins; boy and girl, Alpha and Omega, one strong, one weak, one born perfect the other with a weakness or deformity. The Alphas run the government, which is a bloody mess. The Omegas have been banned from society and live in the outskirts and are treated as parasites. And here is an interesting twist: if one twin is sick or dies, the same thing happens to the other twin. So the Alphas can't get rid of the Omegas. 
A few of the Omegas are seers, which no one trusts, and that is the case with the main character, Cass. She believes the two worlds can live together in peace. But what can she do about it?
The world building was well done as were the characters. Sometimes Cass came off as a bit "poor me! I'm nothing" person and I wanted to see more of her taking charge. There were a few good twists and I only guessed one of them, well, part of one. :) 
I found myself thinking about the story and then telling my own boy/girl twins about the plot. 
This was a good, clean, intriguing story!

Thanks to netgalley for the read

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

NOT IN THE SCRIPT by Amy Finnegan

Millions of people witnessed Emma Taylor’s first kiss—a kiss that needed twelve takes and four camera angles to get right. After spending nearly all of her teen years performing on cue, Emma wonders if any part of her life is real anymore . . . particularly her relationships.

Jake Elliott’s face is on magazine ads around the world, but his lucrative modeling deals were a poor substitute for what he had to leave behind. Now acting is offering Jake everything he wants: close proximity to home; an opportunity to finally start school; and plenty of time with the smart and irresistible Emma Taylor . . . if she would just give him a chance.

When Jake takes Emma behind the scenes of his real life, she begins to see how genuine he is, but on-set relationships always end badly. Don’t they? Toss in Hollywood’s most notorious heartthrob and a resident diva who may or may not be as evil as she seems, and the production of Coyote Hills heats up in unexpected—and romantic—ways.

This novel in the deliciously fun If Only romance line proves that the best kinds of love stories don’t follow a script.
 



Need a fun, witty, clean romance with a viewpoint from both the male and female love interests? Amy Finnegan has written it for you! Find it. Read it.

Good, clean romance. I'd recommend this book to any romance reader, teen or adult. 

4 STARS


Thursday, March 26, 2015

IN THE SHADOWS by Kiersten White and Jim Di Bartolo

From the remarkable imagination of acclaimed artist Jim Di Bartolo and the exquisite pen of bestselling author Kiersten White comes a spellbinding story of love, mystery, and dark conspiracy, told in an alternating narrative of words and pictures. 

Cora and Minnie are sisters living in a small, stifling town where strange and mysterious things occur. Their mother runs the local boarding house. Their father is gone. The woman up the hill may or may not be a witch. 

Thomas and Charles are brothers who’ve been exiled to the boarding house so Thomas can tame his ways and Charles can fight an illness that is killing him with increasing speed. Their family history is one of sorrow and guilt. They think they can escape from it . . . but they can’t.



This book was part prose and part graphic novel and kept me reading and reading. And trying to figure out how the pictures fit in with the story. Two short-ish stories in one, who can resist?

The book is about five teens who meet under unusual circumstances and soon find themselves in trouble. There is action and danger and evil and, to balance it all, romance.

The graphics tell another side story possibly involving one of the characters or a parent of on of the characters. The ending of the pictures gives an ah-ha moment to the story and is a good twist.

I don't remember any swearing. I think there is one kiss. Overall, a clean read that is intriguing because of the interaction of the graphic novel.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

The Boardwalk Antiques Shop ~ A Tangerine Street Romance


Another great, romantic anthology by fabulous writers. The first story sets the scene with Jennifer inheriting an antiques shop she didn't want but grows to love. She falls for the Studly realtor as well. 

Abbie is an impulsive antique buyer and can't help herself when she sees something in the shop window that reminds her of her childhood. The only problem is when the Corporate walks in and demands the same items. Abbie isn't one to back down though and words soon fly. Who will end up with the items? And who will fall in love?

The story is about a sewing machine, two grandmas and, what else? Love!
The stories are well-written, the characters are easy to love and root for and the writing is superb. 

Want a good, clean romance to read over the weekend? Boardwalk Antiques is your book. Three different writers, three different romantic stories. I give it FIVE stars!

I received an ebook for an honest review. And honestly, I love this anthology!


The Boardwalk Antiques Shop
 A Tangerine Street Romance (a novel in three parts)

 Welcome to Tangerine Street Tangerine Street is a must-see tourist stop with a colorful mix of one-of-a-kind boutiques, unique restaurants, eclectic museums, quaint bookstores, and renowned bed-and-breakfasts. The Boardwalk Antiques Shop is an exclusive shop where every antique has a story, and each story possesses the gift to match true love. The customer who buys an antique also buys its story and soon discovers that its story unites the past with the present, creating an unexpected romantic future… “Where Every Antique has a Story”

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE: Jennifer is newest owner of The Boardwalk Antiques Shop, inherited from her aunt. When Jennifer arrives in Seashell Beach, her first priority is to meet with a realtor to sell the place. She laughs out loud when she discovers the realtor’s name is Mr. Studly. But the more Jennifer gets to know Paul Studly, the more she finds reasons to stay and run the antiques shop herself.

SOLVING FOR X: Abbie is only a little bit obsessed with antiques, okay, a lot. So when Holden, an out-of-town business executive, tries to purchase the tin soldiers that Abbie’s had her eye on, Abbie refuses to back down. The antiques shop owner issues a challenge: whoever comes up with the best story for wanting the soldiers, will become the new owner. Abbie isn’t about to let some fancy executive beat her out, no matter how charming he is.

 A STITCH IN TIME: When Cate learns that antiques dealer Henry Lancaster has purchased the sewing machine left to her by her grandmother, Cate is determined to get it back. What she isn’t counting on is that Henry has just as much claim as Cate. And it doesn’t help that Henry is good-looking and apparently single. Getting to know Henry becomes an unexpected surprise, sending her life into a sudden detour. 

Other books in the Tangerine Street Romance series: The Fortune Café Links to The Boardwalk Antiques Shop:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Boardwalk-Antiques-Tangerine-Street-Romance-ebook/dp/B00OOGGCW6/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-boardwalk-antiques-shop-julie-wright/1121029753?ean=2940150266605

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23293471-the-boardwalk-antiques-shop?from_search=true

iBooks on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id957382523

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-boardwalk-antiques-shop

 Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/252348590/The-Boardwalk-Antiques-Shop-A-Tangerine-Street-Romance-2

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Only One Hundred Forty One

That's how many books I read in 2014. I think I've already posted that figure but still it's amazing to me and a record I probably won't break forever!

Here is the link to all the reviews I did last year. It was a fun year of reading!

My Year in Books

Thursday, January 8, 2015

My Favorite Reads of 2014!

I read over 140 books in 2014. One hundred and forty! That's an all time high for me. And will probably be the record forever. Out of those books, I've picked my top ten favorite reads (in no particular order). 
What were your favorite reads of this year?



UNRAVELED: A TALE OF TRUE LOVE by Julie Daines
Folklore, romance and magical shoes. What girl can pass up magical shoes? Oh! And a prince!



ELEVATED by Elana Johnson
I loved this book and not just because my daughter is on the cover. I wish I could write in verse in a way that grabbed readers and pulled them into a story that made them think about it long after they shut the book.




LEGEND by Marie Lu
Why did it take me so long to read this series? Why? Fast paced, intriguing, suspenseful, I had a hard time putting this book down and getting back to reality.


THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US by Kasie West
I loved the characters. I loved the setting. I loved the romance.





CLICKOLOGIE: Elevating Your Photography From Beginning to Pro by Erin Summerill
Awesome book on bettering your photography. From how to pose, to using light to equipment. Loved it.


NOAH'S RAINY DAY by Sandra Brannan
I have not read any books by this author, but I might start now. Here is the opening line:
"The good news is I think I broke my leg. The bad news is I don't know if anyone at school would ever believe how it happened. Or worse, I'm not sure it anyone will ever figure out how I got here."





THE WINNER'S CURSE by Marie Rutkoski
It's been a while since I've read a book with such a unique world and history.





OUTLINING YOUR NOVEL: MAP YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS by K. M. Weiland
I'm a total pantser and editing is hard! I wanted to try outlining and this book helped see that I can outline.




THE LANGUAGE OF RECOVERY by Gordon Bruin
This is a great, short, informative book for anyone who knows someone with an addiction.






THE ORCHARD by Krista Lynne Jensen
I love PERSUASION by Jane Austen. So I couldn't help but love this book.