March 2019 Reading Wrap Up

I am sorry for the lateness of this post, but I have been dealing with a cold and ear infection for a week and I am just now getting around to finishing this. I also have been having water issues in my home, so that was another major block in my day to day life. Anyways, ya'll are here to see the books I read and if you want to know my thoughts on them, go on over to my YouTube page and watch my video. It is a long one. And be sure to hit Subscribe and thumbs up. 

1. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

2. The Door to January by Gillian French

3. Voices from Chernobyl by Svetlana Alexievich

4. Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant by Tony Cliff

5. Sphinx's Princess by Esther Friesner

6. Delilah Dirk and the King's Shilling by Tony Cliff

7. Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules by Tony Cliff

8. The Star Thief by Lindsey Becker

9. The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton

10. Winger by Andrew Smith

11. This Family of Mine by Victoria Gotti

12. When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

13. Dewey by Vicki Myron

14. Samantha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans by Russell Ginns

Review: Dewey by Vicki Myron & Bret Witter

Before I get into my review, just look at the beautiful boy that graced this cover. So fluffy and poised. Dewey was such a handsome cat and I am upset that I never got to meet him or know about him until now.

This is a nonfiction book about a cat who was found inside a library drop box as a kitten. This library is located in a little podunk town in Iowa, named Spencer. The head librarian who is also the author of this memoir, is the one who found the kitten and nursed him back to help. His paw pads were frostbitten and she gave him a bath and she noticed that instead of a gray kitten, he was a beautiful orange.

This book takes us through his 19-20 years of life as the "king" of this library. How he greeted each patron at the door, how he gave everyone attention. He would chose a person to give extra attention to if they were having a bad day. He loved to climb up in the lights. He would eat all the rubber bands and give the staff a run for their money if he swiped one. As he got older, he became a fan of the Arby's Beef and Cheddar sandwiches and they helped with his constipation due to the high amount of salt in those damn things.

The author also gives her life story of how she was raised on a farm, how she had a daughter and an alcoholic husband. She had to have a hysterectomy and her ovaries and uterus were removed. She had breast cancer and had a double mastectomy. This woman went through so much pain and suffering, but that didn't get her down because she had Dewey beside her. She did raise her daughter all by herself. She got her masters in Library Science and she ran the library for over 25 years. She is the definition of a bad bitch.

The only thing about this book that was a total snooze fest was the town history and the insane amount of descriptions of corn and corn silk and husks. I didn't really care about how the town vetoed having a slaughterhouse and there complaining of a Wal-Mart. That didn't connect to Dewey's story at all. The town history could have been left out or edited majorly.

BLOG TOUR: The Center of the Universe by Ria Voros

So excited to partner with Rockstar Book Tours to host a tour stop for The Center of the Universe by Ria Voros.

Title: THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE

Author: Ria Voros

Pub. Date: April 2, 2018

Publisher: KCP Loft

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 512

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, TBD

SUMMARY: Grace Carter's mother --- the celebrity news anchor GG Carter --- is everything Grace is not. GG is a star, with a flawless wardrobe and a following of thousands, while Grace --- an aspiring astrophysicist --- is into stars of another kind. She and her mother have always been in different orbits.

Then one day GG is just ... gone. Cameras descend on their house, news shows speculate about what might have happened and Grace's family struggles to find a new rhythm as they wait for answers.

While the authorities unravel the mystery behind GG's disappearance, Grace grows closer to her high school's golden boy, Mylo, who has faced a black hole of his own. She also uncovers some secrets from her mother's long-lost past. The more Grace learns, the more she wonders. Did she ever really know her mother? Was GG abducted ... or did she leave? And if she left, why?

Author Ria Voros (Nobody's Dog, The Opposite of Geek) reaches for the stars here, deftly combining mystery with a passion for science and themes of mother-daughter bonds, celebrity, first love and best friendship.

Facts about astronomy and astrophysics are seamlessly woven into the story and are supplemented by an interview with real-life astrophysicist Elizabeth Tasker, making this the perfect book for readers who love STEM. And even readers who don't have stars in their eyes will love this smart, suspenseful, relatable and literary novel.

REVIEW: Grace Carter is obsessed with the stars, well space and science in general. She is very observant of people and there nervous or agitated ticks. She pictures and thinks of everyone as a type of star. Whether it be celestial stars or famous as in broadcasters and actresses like her mother and grandmother. Her mother is a broadcaster who works long hours and can barely spend time with her kids until she goes poof.. GONE. Grace's grandmother is a semi famous actress who tries to be a Canadian Zsa Zsa Gabor. 

This is a fast paced read that will have you asking what the actual hell is going on with GG. You will be wanting to learn more about the universe and exoplanets and black holes and dark matter. 

Ria Voros is a YA and children’s author, teacher, presenter and obsessive reader. Her children’s and young adult novels have been finalists for the White Pine Award, the Rocky Mountain Book Award, and been a Best Books for Kids and Teens selection. She has an MFA in creative writing from the University of British Columbia. When she’s not writing, teaching or eating sweet things, Ria can be found hiking to the tops of mountains or buying too many books at any bookstore she enters. She lives in Victoria, BC, Canada with her husband, daughter and son.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 lucky winners will win a finished copy of THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE, US Only.

Giveaway Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba2907/?

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/25/2019- Sweet Southern Home- Review

3/26/2019- Lifestyle of Me- Review

3/27/2019- Ramblings of a Book Nerd- Review

3/28/2019- Book-Keeping- Review

3/29/2019- Do You Dog-ear?- Review

Week Two:

4/1/2019- Moonlight Rendezvous- Review

4/2/2019- PopTheButterfly Reads- Review

4/3/2019- A Gingerly Review- Review

4/4/2019- Here's to Happy Endings- Review

4/5/2019- two points of interest- Review

BLOG TOUR: Samantha Spinner Series by Russell Ginns

Rockstar Book Tours is hosting a two week tour for the Samantha Spinner series.

Title: SAMANTHA SPINNER AND THE SUPER SECRET PLANS (Samantha Spinner #1)

Author: Russell Ginns

Pub. Date: February 27, 2018

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, audiobook, eBook

Pages: 256

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

Get ready for round-the-world adventure with Sam Spinner and her brother Nipper in the first book in a new hilarious, puzzle-packed series filled with super-secret messages! Perfect for fans of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library and classics like Holes.

SUMMARY: 

Samantha Spinner's uncle Paul disappeared, and here's what he left:

* Samantha's sister got a check for $2,400,000,000.

* Samantha's brother got the New York Yankees.

* And Samantha got a rusty red umbrella with a tag hanging off its worn handle. The tag says "Watch out for the RAIN."

Thanks a lot, Uncle Paul.

After all the strawberry waffles, stories, and puzzles they've shared, how could he just leave without saying goodbye? And what is the meaning of that mysterious message?

The answer is simple. Sam knows in her heart that Uncle Paul is in danger. And if he taught her anything, it's that not everything is exactly what it seems. Which is why we should pay close attention to that rusty red umbrella, and never trust a monkey at a hula-hoop contest.

The RAIN is coming and Samantha Spinner is about to find herself mixed up in some super-important, super-dangerous, super-secret plans.

Praise for Samantha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans:

"A winning mix of fast-paced action, fascinating facts, bathroom humor, and hidden puzzles...[that is] sure to please action-loving middle-grade readers." --Kirkus Reviews

"Full of adventure and survival,...[and with] characters [that] are likable, realistic, and well rounded...[Samantha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans is] great for [readers of] series like The 39 Clues." --School Library Journal.

REVIEW: While reading this, I was thinking that Russell Ginns has brought a female James Bond to the middle grade scene. Samantha Spinner has been gifted a rusty red umbrella from her Uncle Paul who is in trouble. Her sister Buffy and brother Nipper, awesome names by the way, were also gifted more extravagant items. We follow Samantha through out the world while she does crazy battles and solves puzzles to try and find her lost uncle who was a SUPER SECRET explorer. This will be a perfect read for teenage girls who dream big and it gives a great dose of girl power. If you are big fans of A Series Of Unfortunate Events, then the writing style and the witty dialogue will be right up your alley. 

Title: SAMANTHA SPINNER AND THE SPECTACULAR SPECS (Samantha Spinner #2)

Author: Russell Ginns

Pub. Date: March 12, 2019

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, audiobook, eBook

Pages: 416

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

Get ready for more round-the-world adventure with Samantha Spinner and her brother, Nipper, in the second book in this hilarious, puzzle-packed series filled with super-secret messages! Perfect for fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library and classics like Holes.

SUMMARY: 

When Samantha Spinner's uncle Paul disappeared, he left presents for his nieces and nephew. Samantha's sister, Buffy, got $2,400,000,000. Her brother, Nipper, got the New York Yankees. Samantha got . . . a rusty old umbrella.

Wow! So unfair, Uncle Paul.

Well, it seemed unfair--until Samantha discovered that the old umbrella holds the plans for a super-secret network of transit systems that covers the globe. It's the ticket to danger and adventure beyond anyone's wildest dreams.

But Uncle Paul is still missing. And Samantha just received a new gift from him: a pair of strange purple sunglasses. Are they another powerful present? A clue to his whereabouts? Or just a bad fashion choice? Samantha and Nipper need to figure it out fast, because . . . here comes the SUN!

Praise for Samantha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans, Book 1 in the Samantha Spinner series: 

"A winning mix of fast-paced action, fascinating facts, bathroom humor, and hidden puzzles . . . [that is] sure to please action-loving middle-grade readers." --Kirkus Reviews

"Full of adventure and survival . . . [and with] characters [who] are likable, realistic, and well rounded . . . [Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans is] great for [readers of] series like The 39 Clues." --School Library Journal

Russell Ginns is a writer and game designer who specializes in puzzles, songs, and smart fun. He has worked on projects for a wide variety of organizations, corporations, and publications, including Sesame Workshop, Girl Scouts of America, Nintendo, and Scientific American. Russell lives and writes in Washington, D.C. He is the author of Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans and Samantha Spinner and the Spectacular Specs. To learn more about him, visit samanthaspinner.com and follow @rginns on Twitter.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 lucky winners will win a finished copy of SAMANTHA SPINNER Series, US Only.

Giveaway Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba2908/?

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/25/2019- Lifestyle of Me- Review

3/25/2019- BookHounds YA- Excerpt

3/26/2019- Lone Tree Reviews- Review

3/26/2019- A Dream Within A Dream- Excerpt

3/27/2019- Nerdophiles- Review

3/27/2019- For the Love of KidLit- Spotlight

3/28/2019- Brooke's Library- Review

3/28/2019- Literary Gold- Spotlight

3/29/2019- Feed Your Fiction Addiction- Review

3/29/2019- Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers- Excerpt

Week Two:

4/1/2019- Rhythmicbooktrovert - Review

4/1/2019- Kelly P's Blog- Excerpt

4/2/2019- Christen Krumm, Writer- Review

4/2/2019- ❧Defining Ways❧- Excerpt

4/3/2019- Adventures Thru Wonderland- Review

4/3/2019- The Hermit Librarian- Excerpt

4/4/2019- Savings in Seconds- Review

4/4/2019- Twirling Book Princess- Excerpt

4/5/2019- Two Points of Interest- Review

4/5/2019- Dazzled by Books- Excerpt

Review: When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

I have read so many books this month and I think I started this one while I was burning out. I was expecting a cute fun app competition and while it was cute at times, I was just bored and exhausted with trying to keep up with Dimple's revolving feelings toward Rishi. One minute she hates him and then immediately feels guilty.

I loved her sassy attitude at the beginning, but then it just got worse and worse. She did have a selfish attitude but I wish the story revolved more around her app and Dimple and Rishi connecting on that. Rishi was just insta lovey from the very beginning with getting married and having children and providing for them. Dude, you are only 18. Live a little and wait for marriage and kids.

Arranged marriages are a confusing topic for me and I think it is the parents own selfish gain, pop out a couple kids and then eventually sell them off in an arranged marriage LEGALLY.

The friendships were forced in this. I felt no connection what so ever between Dimple and Celia and think she was just put there as a filler.

I also didn't expect Dimple and Rishi to meet so quickly and the author could have made Rishi less creepy and stalker-ish.

I do not know if I will pick up the next two books in this series. I really want to read the newest book coming out this year, There's something about Sweetie. This one focuses on Ashish and a new love interest for him.

Review: This Family of Mine by Victoria Gotti

For my first read of round 3 of the Buzzword Readathon, I chose This Family of Mine by Victoria Gotti. Victoria Gotti is the daughter of the former boss of the Gambino Crime Family. This is her tell all about her parents child hoods, how they met, how her father was introduced to the "underworld" that is the mafia. She goes into detail about her pregnancies and all of her major health issues.

I have always been fascinated by the Mob culture and everything since I was in middle school. The fascination started when I was in a school play for Bugsy Malone. Bugsy Malone took place in the prohibition era and the bad guys were called the Down & Outs. It had the speak easy's and flapper girls. But none of that is mentioned in this story.

We start off the story with learning about John Gotti and how he had 7 siblings, and that they were crammed into a two bedroom apartment and how his father was abusive and a major gambler. Victori also gives insight into her mother's childhood and how her mother's mother put her into a school for girl because she was born out of wedlock and the father wanted nothing to do with her until she was married to John Gotti.

Victoria goes into her siblings births and the death of her brother and her mother's breakdown over that. I was ugly crying at the part where her mother went to the funeral home and covered her son with a blanket because he was cold. My daughters love blankets and I lost it at that.

Another part that made me cry uncontrollably was the birth of her daughter Justine who was stillborn and the baby was placed into her arms dead and she didn't know that her baby had passed. My heart went out to her while reading about her pregnancies and how she fought like hell for her babies when the odds were very much against her and they were life threatening.

I enjoyed getting to know more from the daughter of a infamous mob boss who didn't like the mob life that her father had. Some people may say that it is all lies to cover the truth. Some may say that it is totally factual and may be too little to late to save face.

Review: Winger by Andrew Smith

Wow is pretty much all I can say for this book. I was not expecting to love it as much as I did. It made me laugh out loud multiple times and the humor was very funny. It was a little perverted at times and it owns up to it.

Ryan Dean West is a 14 year old JUNIOR in high school... WHAT??? He goes to this posh school for rich kids, but he has been placed in the O-Hall or "Opportunity Hall for the troubled and delinquent kids who starts fights or hackers. On the first day of the new school year and where we meet Ryan Dean, he is inches away from getting a swirly. If you do not know what a swirly is, it is when some one shoves your head in the toilet and flushes. He talks about how the toilet is freshly cleaned and smelling of lemon scented cleaner.

He talks about all the girls and how super hot they are. The female teacher who supervises the girls hall in O-Hall is a witch who casts spells in Ryan Dean or at least he thinks he does. He tries to get his best friend Annie to kiss him and he becomes best friends with the captain of his rugby team who is also gay and also in O-Hall for fighting.

I enjoyed all the hilarity and jokes and the illustrations throughout the book. The one thing I got annoyed with super quickly is that the sentence "I am such a loser, or I am such a pathetic loser" was on every page or at the end of every chapter. We know you are a loser, you don't have to keep telling us.

The ending did make me ugly sob and I was so upset with how this sweet and friendly character who I will not say the name was killed off like that.