Lifestyle Of Me

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

BLOG TOUR: Battle of the Bullies by Fenyx Blue

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the BATTLE OF THE BULLIES by Fenyx Blue Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About the Book:

Title: BATTLE OF THE BULLIES

Author: Fenyx Blue

Pub. Date: October 28, 2020

Publisher: Wisdom Works

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 313

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, TBD, Bookshop.org

Read for FREE With A Kindle Unlimited Subscription!

Ebony, Eris, and Emani Robertson have been through so much more than most high school freshmen. When they were younger, they survived a school shooting that killed their friend and left their oldest sister unable to speak. After giving homeschooling a try, they enroll in a promising new academy, hoping for the best.The Robertsons soon discover, however, that their new classmates are anything but kind. A mysterious group of bullies known as the Dimes rules the hallways and spreads fear everywhere they go. All three sisters end up being targets of the gang and have to find a way to defend themselves.The triplets couldn’t be more different, but their loyalty to each other and to their school never fails. Along with diverse group of friends, the Robertsons do everything they can to uncover the identity of the Dimes and restore order to the school.As if their lives weren’t complicated enough, they also get sucked in to a much bigger game—discovering who was responsible for the attack on their old school. Can they bring down the Dimes and bring the murderer to justice, all while trying to make it through ninth grade?

Praise for BATTLE OF THE BULLIES:
“Bullying is a topic that needs to continue to be discussed, and I’m so happy to see these types of stories being written. This was an interesting mix of high school drama, bullying, and sisterly relationships.”― She Just Loves Books

“As someone who dealt with many bullies in school, I was a little nervous about reading this, but knew I needed to. I honestly wish I'd been able to read this book back then. It might be a young adult book, but it has a depth and complexity to it that I wasn't expecting. Bullies, racism, friendship, love, and family populate this story. I highly recommend this to any teens struggling with bullies and to anyone who has dealt with them in the past.” ―Goodreads Review

“Tackling violence in schools is a challenge, but Battle of the Bullies does so with strong, optimistic characters that embrace life a refuse to take a back seat in conflict.” ―A Dream Within A Dream

REVIEW COMING SOON!!

About Fenyx Blue:

If author Fenyx Blue actually had a tattoo, it would be a heart. Ms. Blue has written every book with love. Blue is a teacher, coach, mentor, and motivational speaker focused on women and youth empowerment. She has written a young adult novel about bullying entitled Who Failed Johnny?, a poetry book about purpose named The Blue Ink Movement, and a children's book about the power of a solid father daughter relationship called Worth the Weight.

Fenyx believes in service to the community. After being chosen as teacher of the year for her school district, she continued to mentor teenagers and facilitate discussions about controversial topics like drugs, sex, violence, cyberbullying and mental health. She has been a guest poet for several women's retreats and workshops and loves the energy she receives from a live audience.

Throughout her years as an educator and youth ministry leader, Blue created Team Bully-Free Forever, a poetry team for her school, and a mentoring group called D.I.V.A.S to address the needs of young people. She is dedicated to teaching the next generation to follow their dreams and feels it is her mission to equip them for the future. Ms. Fenyx Blue is a proud mother of three beautiful children who inspire her to write each day.

You can follow Ms. Fenyx Blue @FenyxBlueInk on Instagram and Youtube.

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win a $10 Amazon GC, International.

1 winner will win a $10 Starbucks GC, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/17/2021	Drunk On Pop	Excerpt
5/18/2021	Jill Piscitello	Excerpt
5/19/2021	YA Books Central	Pre-made Guest Post
5/20/2021	Living in a Bookworld	Pre-made Guest Post
5/21/2021	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
5/22/2021	BookHounds YA	Interview

Week Two:

5/23/2021	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt
5/24/2021	Haunted By Books	Review
5/25/2021	Lifestyle of Me	Review
5/26/2021	The Reading Wordsmith	Review
5/27/2021	Lady Hawkeye	Pre-made Guest Post
5/28/2021	Fyrekatz Blog	Review
5/29/2021	Chrikaru Reads	Review

Week Three:

5/30/2021	Midnightbooklover	IG Spotlight
5/31/2021	whatissheupto	Review
6/1/2021	Diary Of A Bookgirl	Review
6/2/2021	Here's to Happy Endings	Review
6/3/2021	Jenguerdy	Review
6/4/2021	Momfluenster	Review
6/5/2021	Jaime's World	Excerpt

Week Four:

6/6/2021	The Keysmash Blog	Review
6/7/2021	Musing of Souls	Review
6/8/2021	Amani's Reviews	Review
6/9/2021	Fire & Ice	Review
6/10/2021	two points of interest	Review
6/11/2021	@pagesofyellow	Review

TOP TEN TUESDAY: My Favorite Book Quotes

Today's TTT prompt is quotes that fit a theme. I am deciding to share my 10 favorite quotes because every time I think of a certain topic, my mind goes blank. So this feels sort of like a cop out but whatever. Also, make sure you click the follow button on the left hand side so you don't miss future top ten Tuesday posts.

1. Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay

* "You love me. Real or not real?"

2. Claire Kann, Let's Talk About Love

* "Lagging sent her into a cataclysmic rage and buffering was her absolute kryptonite."

3. Kiersten White, Chosen

* "You know how Americans feel about King George's tea."

4. George R.R, Martin, A Game of Thrones

* "When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives."

5. Hannah Capin, I Am Margaret Moore

* "I believe in monsters with wide smiles, beautiful and bright, that live in grand old Victorians; that push girls into the mud; that take our voices and tell us what we are."

6. Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess

* "Woolsey bites on occasion, and I'm concerned."

7. Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples, SAGA Volume 7

* " As my mother used to say, kids is a drag."

8. Candace Fleming, Ben Franklins in My Bathroom

* "I shall strive to control the whirlwinds in my bowels."

9. Mary H.K. Choi, Yolk

* "You, I thought I'd get to keep, my smallest blood clot."

10. Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games

* "HAPPY HUNGER GAMES, and may the odds be ever in your favor."

Monday, May 24, 2021

Review: I Am Margaret Moore by Hannah Capin

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read I Am Margaret Moore before it is released out into the wild. The release date is October 12th.

SYNOPSIS: Each summer the girls of Deck Five come back to Marshall Naval School. They sail on jewel-blue waters; they march on green drill-fields; they earn sunburns and honors. They push until they break apart and heal again, stronger.

Each summer Margaret and Rose and Flor and Nisreen come back to the place where they are girls, safe away from the world: sisters bound by something more than blood.

But this summer everything has changed. Girls are missing and a boy is dead. It’s because of Margaret Moore, the boys say. It’s because of what happened that night in the storm.

Margaret’s friends vanish one by one, swallowed up into the lies she has told about what happened between her and a boy with the world at his feet. Can she unravel the secrets of this summer and last, or will she be pulled under by the place she once called home?

I ended up giving this book 2 stars because I just didn't like the writing style whatsoever. It jumped from summer to summer and it was hard to keep it in order. The characters were all the same and I constantly had to stop reading and think of character names because they were so unforgettable. It was also very repetitive and boring. The first half was a jumbled mess and the second half puts everything in order and way too long.

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Review: Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cahoe

Thanks to Netgalley gor sending me an e-arc of this amazing book. The release date for this is October 26, 2021. I was drawn to this book by this gorgeous cover and it gave me Great Gatsby vibes. Bright Ruined Things is a YA historical fiction fantasy. The historical fiction genre could be loosely interpreted by the items that are mentioned and a notable figure, Bessie Coleman.

We follow a girl named Mae who lives on this mysterious island that has a ton of magic. The family that "founded" the magic is the Prosper family. They are wealthy snobs who control the magic. Lord Prosper is the one who found the island and colonized the spirits who didn't utilize the magic. One day, Mae notices one of the house spirits laying on the ground leaking and dying. It is a shock to her because the spirits can't die. She gets another shock that she is being given to the eldest Prosper grandson and heir to the Prosper magic and money. If she refuses, she will get kicked off the island because she is not family. She is the former caretaker's daughter who requested that Mae stay on the island until she was of age.

The magic system was my favorite part of the whole story. I was intrigued, anxious, annoyed and heartbroken. Mae was annoying with her thoughts and this story was somewhat predictable because it has the obvious snobby rich family who can't think of anything but themselves. The ending was not what I expected and I kind of hope there will be a sequel or a companion because the last line could pave the way for another story.

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

BLOG TOUR: Willa of Dark Hollow by Robert Beatty

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the WILLA OF DARK HOLLOW by Robert Beatty Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About the Book:

Title: WILLA OF DARK HOLLOW

Author: Robert Beatty

Pub. Date: May 4, 2021

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 384

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

Young nightspirit Willa discovers an ancient, powerful magic deep in the forest in the enchanting companion to Robert Beatty's instant #1 New York Times best-seller, Willa of the Wood.

This enchanting companion to Robert Beatty's instant #1 New York Times bestseller Willa of the Wood is perfect for any reader who cares deeply about the natural world.

Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran, an ancient race of forest people who have lived in the Great Smoky Mountains for as long as the trees have grown there. But as crews of newly arrived humans start cutting down great swaths of the forest she loves, she is helpless to stop them. How can she fight the destroyers of the forest and their powerful machines?

When Willa discovers a mysterious dark hollow filled with strange and beautiful creatures, she comes to realize that it contains a terrifying force that seems to be hunting humans. Is unleashing these dangerous spirits the key to stopping the loggers? Willa must find a way to save the people and animals she loves and take a stand against a consuming darkness that threatens to destroy her world.

Praise for Willa of the Wood:

"Willa of the Wood will grip readers from its first page... Willa is... an admirable protagonist."—Culturess

"A moving, atmospheric journey of hope."—Kirkus Reviews

"Beatty conjures up a resourceful, compassionate heroine. Full of atmospheric details and richly described magic... this well-paced tale asks insightful questions about the relationship between nature and humans."—Publishers Weekly

"The heroine is an appealing character... and her anguish is clear as she wavers between frightened self-preservation and her desire to help her friends."—School Library Journal

"Willa is a strong and likable creature of the natural world, and seamlessly represents themes of loyalty, tradition, family, and stewardship of the Earth in this engaging story."—School Library Connection

Accolades:

2018 Goodreads Choice Awards: Middle Grade, finalist

2018 Cybils Award, Elementary Middle Grade Speculative Fiction Nominee

Amazon: Best Children's Books of 2018, ages 9-12

Imagination Soup: Best Middle Grade Chapter Books of 2018

BNKids: July's Best Books for Young Readers, selection (2018)

Brightly: 9 Middle Grade Books for Environmentally Conscious Kids, selection (2018)

PopSugar: The Best books for Kids in 2018, as Voted by Actual Kids and Parents Who Read Them, selection

A Mighty Girl: 2018 Books of the Year, ages 9-12

GRAB WILLA OF THE WOOD NOW!

Willa of the Wood and Willa of Dark Hollow are being adapted into a multi-season, live-action television series!

REVIEW: COMING SOON!

About Robert:

Robert Beatty is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Serafina series and the Willa of the Wood series published by Disney Hyperion. Loved by young readers and adults alike, the Serafina and Willa books are being taught in over a thousand classrooms nationwide and have been translated into over 22 languages. Robert lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and three daughters. He writes full-time now, but in his past lives, Robert was one of the early pioneers of cloud computing, the founder/CEO of Plex Systems, the co-founder of Beatty Robotics, and the chairman/CTO of Narrative magazine. In 2007, he was named an Entrepreneur of the Year. When asked about the inspiration for his books, Robert said, “The Serafina and Willa books grew out of my desire to write stories about unusual and heroic young girls for my three daughters."

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of WILLA OF DARK HOLLOW, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/1/2021

BookHounds YA

Excerpt