Monday, August 16, 2021

Review: Wink, Poppy, Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke

My read for the Buzzword Reading Challenge this month. The buzzword was time of day and with both of my picks, I chose the word Midnight. I have not read my second pick and don't think I am going to be able to get to it this month because all of my library holds decided to come in on the same day.

When I first started watching Booktube, this book was so hyped and I heard the author's name everywhere. I have read an anthology that has been edited by this author and she also has a story in that book as well. The anthology is Slasher Girls and Monster Boys and I read that years ago and I really enjoyed it. I think the one that creeped me out the most was written by her.

I ended up finding this book at Dollar Tree and I picked it up. That was a couple years ago and I am a little upset that I didn't pick it up sooner. I ended up giving this book a 4 out of 5 stars. I loved the writing style. It gripped me and it was very whimsical and beautiful. The format of the book also hooked me and I usually don't like this type of format but it worked with this writing.

We follow three teenagers; two girls and a boy. Midnight has just moved into a new house with his father and his new house is located across from the Bell Farm. Wink Bell comes over to say hi in her own weird and childish way. She is into fairy tales and her family is known around town as witches. Midnight immediately becomes enamored with Wink and much to his demise, his ex or fling Poppy shows up out of the blue and takes control.

Poppy is an only child to two doctors and she is spoiled out the wazoo. She wants to be the center of attention and for everyone to follow her lead and do what she says when she says it. She has this gang called the yellows and when she finds out the Midnight is interested in Wink "Feral" Bell, she decides to get even in an abandoned farm house in the Woods.

This book is a magical realism contemporary that is mainly character driven and no real plot. I really enjoyed this and am looking forward to picking up more books by April Genevieve Tucholke.

Friday, August 13, 2021

BLOG TOUR: HUNT THE STORM by Cassie Swindon

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the HUNT THE STORM by Cassie Swindon Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About the Book:

Title: HUNT THE STORM (Golden Chains Book 2)

Author: Cassie Swindon

Pub. Date: August 1, 2021

Publisher: Cassie Swindon

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 347

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle

Raelyn Bell's journey started in "Break the Stone," the first novel in the Golden Chains series. After following the puzzle pieces and escaping dangerous threats, she discovered that her Ma has been alive all these years.

But learning that information came at a cost. In "Hunt the Storm," Raelyn travels across the world to a desert with the goal to bring her Ma home. While dealing with the grief of what she had already lost, Raelyn pushes people away, including her boyfriend, Kody, who only wants to help and support her. An evil overlord in this foreign land stands in her way of saving Ma. Will Raelyn ever find the parent connection she has always searched for? Will her and Kody last through the obstacles they face in the desert?

Praise for BREAK THE STONE:
"I read Break the Stone as a preliminary beta reader. Even with an unpolished copy, I could not put it down. It's a fantastic debut for new author Cassie Swindon, full of suspense and romance." Anna Cackler

"This is a great book that will make you laugh, cry, and keep you in suspense! I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this exciting trilogy!" Marcia Campbell

"This story will make you want to keep reading to til the end to find out what will happen. It's a great book and you will not be disappointed. It does end in a cliffhanger but it's well worth the read and you will want to read the next book just find out what will happen next." Dianna Malone

"A fantastic read from a new author! The mystery and seduction that sucks you in and takes you for an emotional rollercoaster ride. There are many twists and turns that keep you guessing how it will end and leave you wanting more. You will fall in love with Raelyn and join her on the journey to find out what happened to her mother. This is the first book in a trilogy and I cannot wait for book 2." Catherine Kroeger

"Every sentence Cassie writes serves a purpose, each paragraph is carefully detailed, and each scene leaves the reader grateful for the next chapter. With a strong supporting cast of characters, a deepening mystery, and relationships that both challenge and deepen our cultural understanding, Break the Stone is a fascinating and seductive story that will leave you wanting more!" Natalie Proudfoot

Grab BREAK THE STONE now! Free for Kindle Unlimited members!

Pre-order book 3 STOP THE CLOCK now!

REVIEW: coming soon

About Cassie Swindon:

Cassie a fiction Indie author with three novels launching in May 2021, August 2021, November 2021. She lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband, two kids and somehow...4 cats. So, she’s surrounded by fur, legos, Disney music, costumes, and goldfish crackers. If she’s not writing or reading, she’s hiking, kickboxing or crafting.

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon GC courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/7/2021	BookHounds YA	Excerpt
8/7/2021	BookHounds	Instagram Post

Week Two:

8/8/2021	Review Thick And Thin	Review
8/8/2021	@review_thick_and_thin	Instagram Post
8/9/2021	Living in a Bookworld	Excerpt
8/10/2021	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
8/10/2021	Rajiv's Reviews	Instagram Post
8/11/2021	Books a Plenty Book Reviews	Review
8/12/2021	TLC Book Nook	Excerpt
8/13/2021	Lifestyle of Me	Review
8/14/2021	Jaimerockstarbooktours	Instagram Post

Week Three:

8/15/2021	The Momma Spot	Excerpt
8/16/2021	Reveal + Review	Review
8/17/2021	Fire and Ice	Review
8/18/2021	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt
8/18/2021	bookreviewvirginialee	Instagram Post
8/19/2021	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt

Thursday, August 12, 2021

TAG THURSDAY: MAKING WAVES

Happy Tag Thursday. Since summer will be ending soon and I need a beach vacation ASAP, I thought I would do a fun summery tag. I found this tag from Top Ten Tuesday: Making Waves Tag – Rae's Reading World (wordpress.com) Go check this blog out if you have not done so. Also question number one was very difficult to answer because I have no idea when I am going to the beach again, but this seems like a cute book to read while digging my toes in the sand.

1. A trip to the beach: a book I'm planning on having as my beach read this summer

2. Swimming: a story that takes place in or around the ocean.

3. Sunshine: a light hearted read

4. Farmer's markets: a fresh pick/an upcoming release you're excited for

5: Summer rainstorm: a book where you didn't see a plot twist coming

6: Picnic: a book that has a classic feel to it, whatever that means for you

7: Summer vacation: a YA or Middle grade book

8: Road trip: a book involving travel

9. Melting popsicles: a favorite short book or novella

10. Cook out: favorite book involving food

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Side Characters Who Need Their Own Books

HAPPY TAG TUESDAY EVERYONE!!! Hope you are all staying safe and healthy and having fun with the end of summer. Thanks to Jana from That Artsy Reader Girl for hosting Top Ten Tuesday every week.

This week's prompt was difficult at first and once I actually sat down and thought about some of the books I have read, I started remembering characters that I loved with my whole heart or could not stop thinking about. Here's my list.

1. Mags from Catching Fire. I would love to read about her Hunger Games.

2. Joanna from Catching Fire. I loved this character and want to see what kind of trouble she would bring post Hunger Games.

3. Henry from I am Number Four. My favorite actor played Henry in the movie and I think his back story and how he was chosen could be more fleshed out. I have only read the 1st book in this series, so I don't know if that has been written.

4. Harry from City of the Plague God. My heart grew reading that he was smoothing his hair in anticipation of seeing his Betty again. So sad that he was dead and going into heaven.

5. Kronos from Slingshot. I loved reading the chapters because he is not your typical assassin. He was a family man who loved teaching his sons and being a professor.

6. Nick from The Handmaid's Tale. Nick is one of my favorite characters from the show and I was rooting for their relationship in the book.The Handmaid's Tale

7. Prince "King" Caspian from The Voyage of Dawn Treader. I love Ben Barnes and he totally brought this character to life and I would want to read about what he did and how he courted Ramandu's daughter.

8. The Darkling from Shadow and Bone. Once again, I would not have read the book as soon as I did if Ben Barnes did not portray the Darkling. Book Darkling is a massive jerk in the first book and I did not like him. Show Shadow and Bone goes into his backstory a little bit as the black heretic, but not his relationships with his lover or mother. I know there is a novella, but it is not a full length book.

9. Alice from Twilight. I want her origin story so damn bad!! That little bit of her seeing how the events would play out of the end of Twilight in Midnight Sun was the best part of that whole book and I was left wanting more.

10. Stormy from P.S. I Still Love You. I wish she was one of my grandmothers. I loved this character to pieces.

Monday, August 9, 2021

Review: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

I have been meaning to read this book since I finished watching the first season of the show. I needed to know what the Darkling had done and what would happen to Mal and Alina. I got three words to sum up this book.

HOLY FUCKING CRAP!!!!!

I absolutely LOVED this sequel. I wish I would have gotten to it sooner. Watching the show definitely helped me picture the characters and I am also on the Nikolai bandwagon. I was not that into Mal and Alina's relationship, and they are not right for each other. I agree with The Darkling when he said that Mal would never understand Alina. Mal's actions throughout this book showed that he wanted to be controlling and petty and he wanted Alina to give up being a Grisha.

I was shocked when Alina demanded that she be the leader of the second army and take over The Darkling's role. I thought it was a bit of a weird scenario that she didn't fight against the second amplifier when she was so against the stag collar. She was already ingrained with the stags power and she was enjoying it.

I don't know when I will be picking up the third book. I feel that I need to soak in what I have read so far and not have high expectations for the third one just in case.

Sunday, August 8, 2021

BLOG TOUR: Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares by Tehlor Kay Mejia

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the PAOLA SANTIAGO AND THE FOREST OF NIGHTMARES by Tehlor Kay Mejia Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About the Book

Title: PAOLA SANTIAGO AND THE FOREST OF NIGHTMARES (Paola Santiago #2)

Author: Tehlor Kay Mejia

Pub. Date: August 3, 2021

Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 336

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

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents the sequel to Tehlor Kay Mejia's critically acclaimed own-voices novel about science-obsessed Paola Santiago.

Six months after Paola Santiago confronted the legendary La Llorona, life is nothing like she'd expected it to be. She is barely speaking to her best friends, Dante and Emma, and what's worse, her mom has a totally annoying boyfriend. Even with her chupacabra puppy, Bruto, around, Pao can't escape the feeling that she's all alone in the world.

Pao has no one to tell that she's having nightmares again, this time set in a terrifying forest. Even more troubling? At their center is her estranged father, an enigma of a man she barely remembers. And when Dante's abuela falls mysteriously ill, it seems that the dad Pao never knew just might be the key to healing the eccentric old woman.

Pao's search for her father will send her far from home, where she will encounter new monsters and ghosts, a devastating betrayal, and finally, the forest of her nightmares. Will the truths her father has been hiding save the people Pao loves, or destroy them?

Once again Tehlor Kay Mejia draws on her Mexican heritage to tell a wild and wondrous story that combines creatures from folklore with modern-day challenges.

Grab book 1 PAOLA SANTIAGO AND THE RIVER OF TEARS NOW!

REVIEW: Coming soon!!! Currently reading River of Tears and LOVING Paola!

About Tehlor Kay Mejia:

Tehlor Kay Mejia is an Oregon native in love with the alpine meadows and evergreen forests of her home state, where she lives with her daughter. When she's not writing, you can find her plucking at her guitar, stealing rosemary sprigs from overgrown gardens, or trying to make the perfect vegan tamale. She is the author of Paola Santiago and the River of Tears and the YA fantasy novels We Set the Dark on Fire and We Unleash the Merciless Storm. Follow her on Twitter @tehlorkay.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of PAOLA SANTIAGO AND THE FOREST OF NIGHTMARES, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/1/2021	Log Cabin Library	Excerpt
8/2/2021	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt
8/3/2021	Mocha Girls Read	Excerpt
8/4/2021	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
8/5/2021	Feed Your Fiction Addiction	Review
8/6/2021	The Bookwyrm's Den	Review
8/7/2021	@drewsim12	Review

Week Two:

8/8/2021	Lifestyle of Me	Review
8/9/2021	booksaremagictoo	Review
8/10/2021	Emelie's Books	Review
8/11/2021	More Books Please blog	Review
8/12/2021	Books a Plenty Book Reviews	Review
8/13/2021	BookHounds YA	Excerpt
8/14/2021	Locks, Hooks and Books	Review

Week Three:

8/15/2021	Fyrekatz Blog	Review
8/16/2021	Adrianna.reads	Review
8/17/2021	Don't Judge, Read	Review
8/18/2021	A Gingerly Review	Excerpt/IG post
8/19/2021	Midnightbooklover	IG Post
8/20/2021	Discover Elysian	Review
8/21/2021	Abellafairytale	Review

Week Four:

8/22/2021	Little Red Readz	Review
8/23/2021	@pagesofyellow	Review
8/24/2021	popthebutterfly	Review
8/25/2021	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt
8/26/2021	The Momma Spot	Review
8/27/2021	Addicted to Media	Excerpt
8/28/2021	@fictitious.fox	Review

Week Five:

8/29/2021	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt
8/30/2021	Two Points of Interest	Review
8/31/2021	@lexijava_bookish	Excerpt

HELLO AUGUST// SUNDAY POST #6

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

Happy August everyone. Hope that the first week of the month was a good one for everyone. I have been recovering from emergency oral surgery for the past week. I had been having severe toothaches since April and couldn't handle it anymore. Had my surgery on July 31 and thankfully I found a dentist that was open on a Saturday and super lucky that it is walk in only on weekends. I have been sleeping and resting a ton and reading when I can. I am spending a lot of my waking moments planning our first week of school and working. We have one week of summer left and I am kind of glad that I had this toothaches dealt with before school started.