Review: The Secrets of Us by Lucinda Berry

 Thanks to NetGalley for providing a digital copy for me to review. Going into this, the only thing I knew was that it was about two sisters. I really enjoyed this dual timeline and POV. It was very thrilling and mysterious. I had a lot of thoughts and predictions and there was sort of a plot twist that I didn't see coming. 

We follow two sisters Krystal and Nichole. They aren't really sisters, but they are foster kids who were taken away from their mothers due to prostitution and alcholism. Krystal is taken one night and sent to Mrs. Wheeler who becomes her foster mother for the remainder of her childhood. There she meets Nichole and they become inseperable much to the demise of Mrs. Wheeler's daughter Veronica.

Fast forward to the future, Krystal is now a domestic abuse lawyer and Nichole is a school teacher. One day, Krystal gets a phone call saying that Nichole has been put into a psychiatric hospital and that her brother in law is in the hospital. Nichole burned down her house and tried to kill her husband because she thinks someone has taken over his body and made him into a murderer. 

This was very suspenseful. It was a page turner. It flowed nicely through the dual timeline. I wasn't confused at any point and the childhood POV from Nichole was my favorite part of the story because you could understand how they acted the way they did. It also brought up the questions of what actually happened and it was also plot twisty. 

BLOG TOUR: WHAT’S INSIDE A FLOWER?, WOMEN IN SCIENCE, and WOMEN IN SPORTS by Rachel Ignotofsky

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the WHAT’S INSIDE A FLOWER?, WOMEN IN SCIENCE, and WOMEN IN SPORTS by Rachel Ignotofsky Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Books:

Title: WHAT'S INSIDE A FLOWER

Author: Rachel Ignotofsky

Pub. Date: February 2, 2021

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 48

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

From the creator of the New York Times bestseller Women in Science, comes a new nonfiction picture book series ready to grow young scientists by nurturing their curiosity about the natural world--starting with what's inside a flower.

Budding backyard scientists can start exploring their world with this stunning introduction to these flowery show-stoppers--from seeds to roots to blooms. Learning how flowers grow gives kids beautiful building blocks of science and inquiry.

In the launch of a new nonfiction picture book series, Rachel Ignotofsky's distinctive art style and engaging, informative text clearly answers any questions a child (or adult) could have about flowers. 

Reviews:

"The lush, geometric illustrations are the superstars of this adventure, drawing in readers from the front endpapers to the rear . . . A beautiful bloom for the nature shelf." - Kirkus Reviews

"There’s an abundance of detail in this attractive first work in the “What’s Inside” series, but it’s never overwhelming . . . The pages overflow with life." - Booklist

 

Title: WOMEN IN SCIENCE

Author: Rachel Ignotofsky

Pub. Date: July 26, 2016

Publisher: Ten Speed Press

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 126

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

Women in Science highlights the contributions of fifty notable women to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from the ancient to the modern world. Full of striking, singular art, this collection also contains infographics about relevant topics such as lab equipment, rates of women currently working in STEM fields, and an illustrated scientific glossary. The women profiled include well-known figures like primatologist Jane Goodall, as well as lesser-known pioneers such as Katherine Johnson, the African-American physicist and mathematician who calculated the trajectory of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the moon. 

Reviews:

"With the help of eye-catching artwork, Ignotofsky celebrates not just astronauts, but also the engineers, biologists, mathematicians, and physicists who’ve blazed a trail for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields from the ancient to modern world. The book elevates this information with beautiful and instructive infographics that delve into topics like the number of women currently working in STEM fields."– Entertainment Weekly (online)

"With short, inspiring stories and the accessibility of a graphic novel. . .the perfect book to share with the science- and tech-minded people (male and female, young and old) in your life. . . .The must-read, girl-power STEM book."– InStyle.com

"This book of illustrated biographies of scientific pioneers is hands-down gorgeous. . . .Kids will love paging through this, looking at all the detailed drawings, but they'll likely have to rip it out of the hands of the adults who are marveling at each new page of factoids."– Sarah Mirk, Bitch Media

"The book is a beautifully curated collection of personal narratives from female scientists from a wide variety of backgrounds and disciplines, with a dash of whimsy thrown in." – Upworthy

"I applaud Ignotofsky and her publisher for telling these important stories about women through such a rich, visual medium. The world needs more books like this."– ScientificAmerican.com's Symbiartic

". . .an illustrated homage to some of the most influential and inspiring women in STEM. . . .Ignotofsky captures the heartbreaking inequalities that only amplify the impressiveness of these women’s feats."– Maria Popova, BrainPickings.org

". . .a clever introduction to women scientists through history."– Science Friday

 

Title: WOMEN IN SPORTS

Author: Rachel Ignotofsky

Pub. Date: July 18, 2017

Publisher: Ten Speed Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 128

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

Women in Sports highlights notable women's contributions to competitive athletics to inspire readers young and old. Keeping girls interested in sports has never been more important: research suggests that girls who play sports get better grades and have higher self-esteem--but girls are six times more likely to quit playing sports than boys and are unlikely to see female athlete role models in the media. A fascinating collection full of striking, singular art, Women in Sports features 50 profiles and illustrated portraits of women athletes from the 1800s to today including trailblazers, Olympians, and record-breakers in more than 40 different sports. The book also contains infographics about relevant topics such as muscle anatomy, a timeline of women's participation in sports, statistics about women in athletics, and influential female teams.

Reviews:

"Exhaustive and enlightening—don't miss it."– Kirkus Reviews

"This is one of the books we've been waiting for—a compendium of great women athletes and the struggles they faced. As Billie Jean King taught us, ‘Pressure is a privilege.’"– Lesley Visser, Hall of Fame sportscaster

"This luminescent book tells the stories of women and girls who have not only excelled in athletics, but also often changed the world by doing so. I was agog at these lively biographies, and dazzled by the accompanying illustrations that seem to cartwheel, swim, pole vault, and double flip off the page. This is a book for girls who want inspiration on the field, in the pool, or down the track. It’s also for girls who aren’t sporty at all, but love stories of courage, perseverance, sass, doggedness, and fun. And don’t forget the boys, who will be riveted by these rollicking tales and who need to see that girl power has been alive and well for many years, and is alive and well today."– Caroline Paul, author of The Gutsy Girl

"Rachel Ignotofsky's delightful book renders the healthy pleasure of sports for girls and women in buoyant color and form—from Bloomer Girls to Skate Bettys, in calf length skirts or disguised as men—reminding us that no matter if you are nine or ninety-eight, the question to ask is, ‘What is my next victory?’"– Mina Samuels, author of Run Like a Girl

"What an inspiring book! These beautifully drawn portraits cover the triumphs and troubles of fifty athletes—some you've heard of and many you haven't. There's a familiar pattern to these stories: A woman sets her mind on something, someone tells her it can't be done, and she goes ahead and does it anyway, setting records along the way. You'll cheer for these ladies, and for author Rachel Ignotofsky."– Lisa Taggart, author of Women Who Win

 

Review: What's In A Flower:  my youngest is going into 4th grade this year and will be learning about plants and flowers and this got her really interested in nature and flowers and bugs.

Women In Science: The facts of all the extraordinary women throughout history really interested my kids and when a name came up that they heard of they got really excited because they knew what that person was important for. 

Women in Sports: My kids were really happy with this one because they have been watching the Olympics and it just got them really excited and talking about how women are true legends. 

 

About Rachel Ignotofsky: 

Rachel Ignotofsky is a New York Times Best Selling author and  illustrator, based in beautiful Santa Barbara.   She grew up in New Jersey on a healthy diet of cartoons and pudding and graduated from Tyler School of Art in 2011. 

Now Rachel works for herself and spends all day and night drawing, writing and learning as much as she can. Rachel is a published author with 10 Speed Press and Random House Kids. She is always thinking up new ideas.

Check out her books:

What’s Inside A Flower?
The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth 
Women In Science
Women in Art
Women In Sports

Her work is inspired by history and science. She believes that illustration is a powerful tool that can make learning exciting.  She has a passion for taking dense information and making it fun and accessible. Rachel hopes to use her work to spread her message about scientific literacy and feminism.

If you like what you see and would like to have it for yourself, please visit her shop.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tumblr | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of WHAT’S INSIDE A FLOWER?, WOMEN IN SCIENCE, and WOMEN IN SPORTS, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/26/2021	BookHounds YA	Excerpt
7/26/2021	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt
7/27/2021	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt
7/27/2021	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt
7/28/2021	pagesofyellow	Review or Spotlight
7/28/2021	The Phantom Paragrapher	Review or Spotlight
7/29/2021	Feed Your Fiction Addiction	Review
7/29/2021	@ChristenKrumm	Review or Spotlight
7/30/2021	Do You Dog-ear?	Review
7/30/2021	Lifestyle of Me	Review

Week Two:

8/2/2021	100 Pages A Day	Review
8/2/2021	Locks, Hooks and Books	Review
8/3/2021	Jazzy Book Reviews	Review
8/3/2021	The Momma Spot	Review
8/4/2021	Nerdophiles	Review
8/4/2021	Two Points of Interest	Review
8/5/2021	Everyone's Librarian	Review
8/5/2021	Midnightbooklover	IG Post
8/6/2021	onemused	Review or Excerpt
8/6/2021	booksaremagictoo	Review

READATHIN WEEKATHIN VLOG

 

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Books I’d Want With Me While Stranded On a Deserted Island

 Thanks to Jana for hosting Top Ten Tuesday every week. I made this video back in January and these books are ones that I have read and are some of my favorites. I would like to re read these soon, and highly recommend if you have not read any of these or are hesitant. 

Review: The Last Days of New Paris by China Mieville

 

A book that I had high expectations for and it was confusing as hell. Thus us the second book I have read by China Mieville. The first book was a little confusing but it was enjoyable and thrilling. This one was hard to follow. It is dual timeline and it involves surrealist art.

The book start in 1950 in Paris and we follow a guy named Thibaut who is running from Nazi's and manifs that have come to life by an S-blast bomb. The Nazi's are trying to kill the resistance and the manifs. The manifs are killing everyone in their path, and the resistance are killing Nazi's and the resistance. The second timeline is in the 1940's where the war is still raging and it focuses on one guy who makes this box that brings the art and landmarks to life.

If you are confused as hell by my above description, don't worry because I read the book and I don't even know how to properly describe and review it. The afterword makes it seem like this is a somewhat true story and it has description about the art that it included throughout the book. 

If you are into art and know who certain artists are and who painted what, then you may enjoy this. There were chunks in this book where it just listed a bunch of artists names and I skimmed because one, I don't know who the hell they are, and two is that there names were difficult to pronounce and I was not about to waste my time doing that. 

There was a plot twist that I was not expecting because I know nothing about art. 

Coming Up With Titles Is Hard! //Sunday Post #5

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly from the Caffeinated Reviewer.

 I am going to start off this weeks post with the title name. I had no freaking clue what to name this post. I had a good week last week. Got a lot of work done, chores done, summer school went great, but I just didn't want to title this a productive week. Because even though I was productive in some areas, other areas just took a back seat. The main thing that I guess that I am trying to say is that I had a good week and I didn't feel stressed about the things that didn't get done. 

Spent the whole day today working on my Youtube channel and planning out videos and also planning out the next few months TBR's and what readathons I am going to be participating in. My plan for the upcoming week is to vlog my reading since it is a full week left of the month.

1. The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities Anthology by Rick Riordan
2. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Monday: Review: The Last resort by Susi Holliday

Tuesday: TOP TEN TUESDAY: Books I Hope To Read In One Sitting

Wednesday: No Post

Thursday: TAG THURSDAY: Halloween in July

Friday: REVIEW: Heart of the Impaler by Alexander Delacroix

Saturday: SUMMER 2021 BOOK UNHAUL

1. Last Days of New Paris review
2. Top Ten Tuesday
3. Making waves tag
4. The secrets of us review
5. Blog tour post

 This week's book haul is going to be my video of the books I got from Dollar Tree. 

Hope you all have safe and fun week!!

SUMMER 2021 BOOK UNHAUL

 PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE AND COMMENT. 

Thanks for watching.

A summer book unhaul had to be done for all of the books in my most recent book haul. When I get rid of books, I take them to my local little free library and they are usually gone within the week. 

REVIEW: Heart of the Impaler by Alexander Delacroix

 

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early. This book will be released on December 7, 2021. 

I am so excited that I got a e-arc of this because for as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with Dracula and Transylvania. Just a disclaimer that this book has NOTHING to do with vampires and it is the historical fiction of Vlad Dracul, Vlad Dracula and the Wallachia throne. 

If you go into this book knowing nothing of the prince and voivode, then you will probably not like this book. If you go into this book and not wanting a romance, then this is not for you. There is a love triangle between Vlad Dracul, the Grand Boyar eldest daughter Ilona and Vlad's cousin Andrei Mustaf, heir to the Moldavia throne. 

With this book not being released for another couple of months, I definitely don't want to go into much detail and spoilers. There is betrayal, regicide, and executions. It goes into detail the treaty between Wallachia and the Ottoman Empire. It mentions the impaling that Vlad Dracula is famous for. 

Going into this I was reminded of other book series particularly Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games. It mentions a game of thrones and the characteristics between our main love interests scream Peeta and Katniss. 

I absolutely loved this book. I give it a 5. I didn't know what to expect going into it. I wasn't sure I wanted to read about a romance, but I flew through it just for the romance. The ending made me anxious because I was anticipating a death of some characters. 

I hope that there will be a sequel one day.

TAG THURSDAY: Halloween in July

 Over on Booktube, there was a series going on called Summerween. Then this tag popped up and I knew that I had to do it. Halloween is my favorite holiday. I love the atmosphere, the decor that comes out every year, dressing my kids up and taking half of their candy is a plus. Also while thinking about these questions, I realized that I don't read that many creepy books. I have read some this year but the thing with those is that they don't release until the end of this year. So, some of my answers will be short and vague as to not give spoilers. 

1. What book gave you the creeps?

• The Dead and The Dark doesn't come out until next month. I got an e-arc from NetGalley and I was reading this at night when I had time to myself. The content isn't necessarily scary, but I did read this in my pitch dark bedroom with my hubby asleep beside me. When I got to a part where they were digging in a potter's field, my husband said the word NO in his sleep and it scared the hell out of me. So I was creeped out.

2. What book gives you the best Halloween vibes?

• The is the graphic novel adaptation of the novel which I have not read but every October my kids and I watch the movie.

3. What’s your favorite vampire book?

• It's my favorite purely for nostalgia reasons and that I met some of my best friends through this book.

4. What book scared you so much you had to sleep with the light on?

• This book wasn't that scary but I did have some paranoia about shadows every now and then.

5. What’s your favorite book about witches/goblins/ghosts/demons?

• This is about ghosts. A girl "wakes up" to find that her body has been buried in an old cemetery and she has to get along with the residents. It's funny.

6. What book do you wish was scarier than it was?

• The cover is a total con. It looks like it would be a haunted house, but nope.

7. What’s your favorite book that takes place in October?

• No answer for this one.

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Books I Hope To Read In One Sitting

 

HAPPY TUESDAY EVERYONE!!!! I hope you are all having a great summer or winter. Today's prompt from That Artsy Reader Girl is Books that you have read in one sitting or want to read in one sitting if you have the time. I went with the second because I almost never read a book in one sitting due to work and my three womb gremlins. The books I have chosen are what I hope to get to this year and maybe *fingers crossed* can read these in one sitting.