Review/ Pashmina

Review/ PashminaPashmina by Nidhi Chanani
Published by First Second on October 3rd 2017
Pages: 176
Goodreads

Priyanka Das has so many unanswered questions: Why did her mother abandon her home in India years ago? What was it like there? And most importantly, who is her father, and why did her mom leave him behind? But Pri's mom avoids these questions--the topic of India is permanently closed.
For Pri, her mother's homeland can only exist in her imagination. That is, until she find a mysterious pashmina tucked away in a forgotten suitcase. When she wraps herself in it, she is transported to a place more vivid and colorful than any guidebook or Bollywood film. But is this the real India? And what is that shadow lurking in the background? To learn the truth, Pri must travel farther than she's ever dared and find the family she never knew.
In this heartwarming graphic novel debut, Nidhi Chanani weaves a tale about the hardship and self-discovery that is born from juggling two cultures and two worlds.

You have probably read this before on my blog but one of the best things about blogging and taking part in blog tours is being exposed to books that you might not normally hear about otherwise and I have to say that this was the case with this book. I didn’t really hear anything about this book until I got the email from Rockstar Book Tours and after reading the description I knew I wanted to read it.

Thank you Rockstar and First Second for allowing me to be on the tour and sending me a e-copy of the book to read. I really enjoyed reading this.

I also have to say that I normally don’t buy finish copies of a book after reading Arcs or eArcs because I am one that doesn’t keep her books after reading them because I know I won’t reread the book but this is the exception to the case. I really enjoyed reading it and can see myself picking it up several times to reread this.

I should begin by saying that this is a graphic novel, something that I don’t read a lot of but when I do I do enjoy them.

I realized that during reading this I didn’t know a lot about the Indian culture or India in fact but after this I want to learn some more about it because I think it would be interesting to learn.

One of my favorite things apart from the illustrations was the fact there was a section in the back with glossary terms so reading this was enjoyable because it added to the story and for me having this it made everything make sense.

Speaking of the illustrations can I just saw wow. I loved that it was all done in black, grey and white but when Priyanka found the pashmina the whole world exploded into color and i thought that it brought a whole new aspect to the story line. I was impressed with the colors and they just added to the book. Then when she took it off it went back to black and white.

I loved Priyanka she was head strong and determined and I think more books need to have that kind of character in them.

Growing up Priyanka has always tried to ask her mother about India and her father but her mother always tried to stay off that topic. Priyanka was curious to know about where she came from and who her family really is. So Priyanka has grown to only imagine what it is like. When she finds the pashmina she sees India in a whole new light and begins to wonder if its really like that. This makes her determined to actually go but her mother keeps insisting its not safe and they don’t have the money. Will Priyanka ever make it to India to see for herself? If she goes will it be everything that she thought it would be?

This was such a fun read and I look forward to picking it up again to reread.

 

Blog Tour/ The Way to BEA

 


About the Book:

Title: THE WAY TO BEA

Author: Kat Yeh

Pub. Date: September 19, 2017

Publisher:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 352

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Find it: AmazonB&NiBooksTBDGoodreads

With a charming voice, winning characters, and a perfectly-woven plot, Kat Yeh delivers a powerful story of friendship and finding a path towards embracing yourself.


Everything in Bea’s world has changed. She’s starting seventh grade newly friendless and facing big changes at home, where she is about to go from only child to big sister. Feeling alone and adrift, and like her words don’t deserve to be seen, Bea takes solace in writing haiku in invisible ink and hiding them in a secret spot.

But then something incredible happens–someone writes back. And Bea begins to connect with new friends, including a classmate obsessed with a nearby labyrinth and determined to get inside. As she decides where her next path will lead, she just might discover that her words–and herself–have found a new way to belong.

 

About Kat:

Kat grew up reading, doodling, and scribbling in Westtown. She worked for many years in advertising and sports marketing, while writing children’s books in the wee hours of the night. She currently lives on Long Island where she can see water every day and explore all the bay and harbor beaches with her family.

 

Website | Twitter |Instagram| Pinterest | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE WAY TO BEA, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/18/2017- Jennifer Mary G.– Interview

9/19/2017- YAYOMG!– Review

9/20/2017- BookHounds YA– Guest Post

9/21/2017- Word Spelunking– Review

9/22/2017- Little Red Reads Interview

Week Two:

9/25/2017- Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook– Review

9/26/2017- YA Book Madness– Review

9/27/2017- La La the Library– Review

9/28/2017- The Autumn Bookshelf– Interview

9/29/2017- Cindy’s Love of Books– Review

 

 

Review/ The Way To BEA

Review/ The Way To BEAThe Way to Bea by Kat Yeh
Format: eARC
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on September 19th 2017
Pages: 352
Goodreads

With a charming voice, winning characters, and a perfectly-woven plot, Kat Yeh delivers a powerful story of friendship and finding a path towards embracing yourself.
Everything in Bea's world has changed. She's starting seventh grade newly friendless and facing big changes at home, where she is about to go from only child to big sister. Feeling alone and adrift, and like her words don't deserve to be seen, Bea takes solace in writing haiku in invisible ink and hiding them in a secret spot.
But then something incredible happens--someone writes back. And Bea begins to connect with new friends, including a classmate obsessed with a nearby labyrinth and determined to get inside. As she decides where her next path will lead, she just might discover that her words--and herself--have found a new way to belong.

Before beginning my review I quickly want to thank Rockstar Book Tour for allowing me to be on this tour and to Little Brown for sending me an eArc of the book to read for my review.

If you are a reader of my blog you would have noticed that I spoke about this book briefly when I was wish listing the books I heard about that were going to be at BEA this year and The Way to BEA actually made my wishlist of books that I wanted to read when it came out so I was thrilled when I got the email from Rockstar Book Tour saying they were looking for tour host, you can best believe I quickly replied to be a part of the tour and I was thrilled when I got the confirmation that I was on the tour.

Kat Yeh has written two picture books and another middle grade novel that I will be checking out very soon because this one was really good and I enjoyed reading it.

As I was reading this I thought this would be the perfect book for kids to read just before going back to school especially grade seven like the main character Bea is as I think they could relate to her and the situation she is in.

Bea is a bright, inspiring 12 year old girl going into seventh grade and her and her BFF have made these amazing plans to be something this year and to shine, well things don’t go according to plan. Something that I am sure a lot of kids do the summer before grade seven. They want to be cool, liked and popular. I know I sure wanted to do that but then reality quickly sets in right?

Just before school starts Bea goes to Taiwan with her family and she comes home excited to see her friends only to realize her friends are no ignoring. She realizes she has no one to talk to because both her parents are busy with work. You can see her struggling and my heart broke for her.

Bea’s parents are both successful and involved with their work but they do love Bea. I just wish they would have taken a moment to see that she was struggling instead of being so into their work. One thing about Bea is that she is really good at hiding things and deflecting things so to her parents defence they didnt’ really notice anything unusual in Bea.

Its not easy being a girl going into grade seven with no friends, being ignored, because you are in a whole new playing field but I loved how as much as Bea was in pain she showed the readers that no matter what you can do it and over come this. I wish I had this book when I was going into grade seven. Bea was a strong and courageous girl in my opinion.

Cover Reveal/ Haven

Today Mary Lindsey and Rockstar Book
Tours are revealing the cover and an exclusive excerpt for HAVEN, which
releases November 7, 2017! Check out the gorgeous cover and enter to win an ARC!
On to the reveal! 



 

Title: HAVEN
Author: Mary Lindsey
Pub. Date: November 7, 2017
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Formats: Hardcover,
eBook
Pages: 400
Sometimes beauty is the beast…
“We all hold a beast inside. The only
difference is what form it takes when freed.”
Rain Ryland has never belonged anywhere.
He’s used to people judging him for his rough background, his intimidating
size, and now, his orphan status. He’s always been on the outside, looking in,
and he’s fine with that. Until he moves to New Wurzburg and meets Friederike
Burkhart.
Freddie isn’t like normal teen girls,
though. And someone wants her dead for it. Freddie warns he’d better stay far
away if he wants to stay alive, but Rain’s never been good at running from
trouble. For the first time, Rain has something worth fighting for, worth
living for. Worth dying for.
Early Praise:
“Dangerous, dark and a definite
page turner. Mary Lindsey rocks this book.”
– New York Times bestselling author C.C. Hunter
“A smoking hot hero and spine-chilling
mystery = total win.”
– #1 New York Times bestselling author, Jennifer
L. Armentrout
“This electrifying tale will take
you on an unexpected journey into a secret world of witchcraft and shape
shifters. Romance, adventure, and magic! Lindsey leaves you breathless and
wanting more.”
– Adriana Mather, #1 New York Times bestselling
author of How to Hang a Witch
“This is not your mama’s
paranormal! Sexy, dark and intense. Unputdownable!”
– Sophie Jordan, New York Times bestselling
author of Firelight
“Lindsey writes a hero with fire
and gasoline. Then she lights a match with break-neck pacing, and scorches a
path to readers’ hearts. Don’t blink for a moment.”
– Victoria Scott, bestselling author of Fire
& Flood
“Gripping and gritty, HAVEN had me
glued to the pages from beginning to end! Rain is the best kind of hero —
tough, sexy, sweet, loyal. He charges through this action-packed tale that had
me tearing up more than once, and I was
perfectly happy to follow!”
– Pintip Dunn, New York Times bestselling author
of Forget Tomorrow.
“An utterly gritty and satisfying
resurrection of the monster genre.Rain is an intense narrator and you won’t
know whether to scream or swoon. Haven is an instant classic!”
– Courtney Moulton, author of Angelfire
“Darkly compelling and deliciously
chilling, Haven hooks you from the first line and never lets up. Gritty,
spine-tingling, and full of nail-biting tension.”
– Amalie Howard, bestselling author of
Bloodspell
“Dark, different, sexy, and
edge-of-your-seat intense.”
– Shawna Stringer, bookseller
Exclusive Excerpt!

When Rain turned back to Freddie, he bit
down a gasp of surprise. She’d stripped off her shirt and tipped her face to
the moon, eyes closed, like one would do to the sun at the beach. And here he’d
thought the landscape was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
The air was still. Eerily still, and her
smooth skin appeared to glow from inside in the moonlight—her black lace bra
sheer enough to make him a little dizzy.
Without opening her eyes, she said,
“Take off your shirt.”
No way in hell was he going to argue
with that. He yanked off his shirt, clutching it in his fist, waiting for his
next instruction.
He forgot how to breathe when she opened
her pale eyes and moved toward him. Her gaze wasn’t focused on his face,
though. It was on his chest. Stopping in front of him, she traced her fingers
over the ink.
“Raindrops?” she asked, finger outlining
one of the shapes.
“Tears,” he replied, again light-headed
as she ran her fingertips over his pec.
“For your mom?”
“No. For all of us.”
She stepped back and, for a long time,
stared at the tattoo comprised of dozens of drops in a random pattern over his
chest, spilling down his ribs.
She traced a scar on his side with the
tip of her finger. One of many marring his body from fights. “Your life has
been sad.”
And so had hers recently. Maybe that was
why he felt so connected to her. Their shared grief, their shared stand against
a harsh, unfeeling, screwed-up world. Their shared solitude.
She turned back to the moon and raised
her arms. “Do you feel it?”
Well, that was a wide-open question. He
was feeling lots of things.
“The moon,” she said. “It’s like aloe
when you’re sunburned. Try it.”
He imitated her posture, head back, arms
out, but felt nothing other than the throbbing hardness he always felt around
her.
“So, what do you think about that legend
your aunt told you?” she asked.
He opened his eyes to find her studying
him. “That the rock can turn men into beasts?” His mind raced, wondering what
would prompt that question and what answer she was looking for. Men were
beasts. Horrible monsters at times. He’d seen it firsthand. “I believe we all
hide a beast inside. The only difference is what form it takes when freed.”
There it was again. That strange warm
pull in his chest while she studied him. Like she totally got him—something no
one else had ever bothered to do. He’d never been understood or accepted.
People saw his size and found out his background and immediately wrote him off
as dangerous or not worth the trouble. Not Freddie.
She obviously found his answer
acceptable, because she wound her fingers in his hair and hauled him against
her for another kiss. Raw, open-mouthed, and hungry. He’d never met anyone like
this, who made him burn so hot he thought he might die from need. Recovering
from surprise, he placed his hands on either side of her bare rib cage, feeling
her body expand and contract with each quick breath. Bones and hard muscle
working beneath smooth, soft skin. Skin he wanted to touch all over.
“I like you, Rain Ryland,” she said,
dragging her nails down his back.
“Like” didn’t even come close. He was on
fire for her. Had thought of her night and day since he first saw those eerily
pale eyes and badass attitude. She was smart, strong, and terribly, terribly
dangerous, which turned him on like crazy. “I like you, too.”
“How much?”
Something was going on here. Something
other than foreplay. “More than I’ve ever liked anyone.” Which was true and
unexpected. This was more than physical, which was a terrifying thought for
him. Maybe this time he could stay. Maybe this time he’d actually found a home
and wouldn’t have to leave everything behind.
He kissed her again, not wanting to
think about legends, or leaving, or anything else for that matter. He wanted to
just live in this moment as long as it lasted. Running his hands lower, his
thumb brushed the unmistakable shape of a condom in her back pocket. He froze,
and she smiled against his lips.
“You scared, Sprinkles?”
“Yes.”
“Of me?” It was like she wanted him to
fear her.
“No.” He pulled back, amazed at how her
eyes reflected the moon like clear glass. “Of this.” He gestured to the space
he’d put between them. “Of whatever this is.” The intensity of it. The urgency.
And worse, much worse—the potential loss of it. He’d never feared losing
something before because he’d never had anything worth keeping. This girl,
though. She was different. And he wanted her.






About Mary: 

 

Mary Lindsey is a multi award-winning,
RITA® nominated author of romance for adults and teens. She lives on an island
in the middle of a river. Seriously, she does. When not writing, she wrangles
her rowdy pack of three teens, two Cairn Terriers, and one husband.
Inexplicably, her favorite animal is the
giant anteater and at one point, she had over 200 “pet” Madagascar
Hissing Cockroaches. The roaches are a long story involving three
science-crazed kids and a soft spot for rescue animals. The good news is, the
“pet” roaches found a home… somewhere else.
 

Website | Twitter
|
Facebook
|
Instagram
| Pinterest |  
Goodreads









Giveaway Details:
5 winners will receive an ARC of HAVEN,
US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review/ The Lost Causes

Review/ The Lost CausesThe Lost Causes by Alyssa Embree Schwartz, Jessica Koosed Etting
Format: ARC
Published by Kids Can Press on September 5th 2017
Pages: 344
Goodreads

They're the kids that no one knows --- or no one wants to know. The rich depressive, the OCD chick, the hypochondriac, the drug abuser, the athlete with anger management issues. All chosen for intensive group therapy because they're out of other options. They're lost causes, the therapist tells them. She promises this support group will help them heal.
There's only one problem. She's not a therapist. And that water she offers? It contains a dangerous serum that gives each of the kids a psychic power.
Suddenly, they can think clearly, speak to ghosts, see the past, even move objects with their mind. Their earlier problems have vanished, but their new freedom comes with a price. Sabrina, Gabby, Z, Justin and Andrew are to help the FBI solve the grisly murder that has rocked their small town. Their new powers will help them uncover clues and follow leads that have eluded the authorities. Their outsider status gives them the perfect cover.
But the same traits that make them top investigators also make them vulnerable. As they close in on the murderer, they expose a much larger conspiracy that puts them directly in harm's way and makes them wonder who --- if anyone --- they can trust.

You probably have noticed that I have been doing quite a bit of reading once again and I have to thank blog tours for getting me back into reviewing as I need to review the books so its been a win win situation.

Before beginning this review I quickly want to thank Rockstar Book Tours for allowing me to be on the tour stop for The Lost Causes and to netgalley for allowing me to download this book and finally  to kids Kids Can Press for approving me to read this.

When I started to read this I quickly thought of my all time favorite movie, The Breakfast Club with the mix of quirky characters who probably wouldn’t be thrown into a situation like this. I should say this is in no way a remix of the movie but when you read it you instantly think of it.

I really enjoyed reading the book. It was a pretty quick read and did it with a few days. I have to say that that I don’t know if this is something I would have picked up on my own because I didn’t hear much about this book before seeing it in my email but once I read the description I had to give this book a try and I am happy that I did. Plus this book was right up my alley with the mystery and suspense.

As I was reading the book I loved how you were kept in suspense because you had no idea what was coming next and I love books like this because as you are reading its nice not having the predictable things happen. I thought it was the perfect pace and one that you can absorb it all before something happens.

The Lost Causes is centered around 5 teenagers who are from all walks of a normal high school life, the jock with serious anger issues, a rich depressive, an OCD chick, the hypochondriac and the drug abuser. This kids might pass each other in the hall and not really pay attention to each other until the FBI brings this group together to help them solve the mysterious death of a local resident.

Can this group manage to help the FBI solve this mystery?

Each of the characters are far from perfect and I think that as once of the nice things about the book because even though you have the jock who has it all in reality he doesn’t and I think that makes the book more relatable to the teens who will read this.

I really hope that there is a book two coming out because there was so many things I am left questioning and I still have a lot of feelings about the characters in the book. I want to know what happens next.

 

 

Release Blitz/ Zero Repeat Forever

 

I am so excited that ZERO REPEAT FOREVER by Gabrielle Prendergast is available now and that I get to share the news!
 
If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Gabrielle Prendergast, be sure to check out all the details below.
 
This blitz also includes a giveaway for a signed hardcover of the book courtesy of Gabrielle and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.
About the book:
Title: ZERO REPEAT FOREVER
Pub. Date: August 29, 2017
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 496
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Find it: AmazonB&NAudibleiBooksTBDGoodreads
He has no voice, or name, only a rank, Eighth. He doesn’t know the details of the mission, only the directives that hum in his mind.

Dart the humans. Leave them where they fall.

His job is to protect his Offside. Let her do the shooting.

Until a human kills her…

Sixteen year-old Raven is at summer camp when the terrifying armored Nahx
invade, annihilating entire cities, taking control of the Earth. Isolated in
the wilderness, Raven and her friends have only a fragment of instruction from
the human resistance.

Shelter in place.

Which seems like good advice at first. Stay put. Await rescue. Raven
doesn’t like feeling helpless but what choice does she have?

Then a Nahx kills her boyfriend.

Thrown together in a violent, unfamiliar world, Eighth and Raven should feel
only hate and fear. But when Raven is injured, and Eighth deserts his unit,
their survival comes to depend on trusting each other… 
Book
Trailer:

About Gabrielle: 
Gabrielle is a writer, teacher and designer living in Vancouver, Canada.  You can read about her books here.
She is represented by Barbara Poelle at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency.
In 2014 she was the Writer in Residence at Vancouver Public Library. In 2015 she was nominated for the BC Book Prizes and chosen to tour the province to promote BC Books. In 2017 Gabrielle took part in the TD Canada Children’s Book Week Tour. She has also been nominated for the White Pine Awardand the CLA Award.
Gabriellewon the Westchester Award for Audacious. Audacious was included in CBC’s list of 100 YA Books That Make You Proud to be Canadian. A poem from Capricious was
chosen for the 2014 Poetry in Transit Program. Pandas on the East Side was chosen as an Ontario Library Association Best Bet for Junior Fiction in 2016. It was also nominated/shortlisted for the Chocolate Lily Award, The Red Cedar Award, the Diamond Willow Award and the Myrca Award.
 Ways to connect with the author:
Giveaway Details:


(1) winner
will receive a signed finished copy of ZERO REPEAT FOREVER, US Only &
Canada.
(3) winners will
receive signed postcards and bookmarks ZERO REPEAT FOREVER, US Only &
Canada.
Ends on September
19th at Midnight EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Blitz/ Allerleirauh by Chantal Gadoury

I am so excited that ALLERLEIRAUH by Chantal Gadoury is available now and that I get to share the news!
 
If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Chantal Gadoury, be sure to check out all the details below.
About The Book:
Title: ALLERLEIRAUH
Author: Chantal Gadoury
Pub. Date: August 22, 2017
Publisher: The Parliament House 
Pages: 236
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Find it: AmazonB&NiBooksGoodreads
Once Upon a Time…

In the kingdom of Tranen, a king makes a promise to his dying wife that he’ll only remarry a woman who possesses her golden hair. In time, the king’s eyes are turned by his daughter. Realizing her father’s intentions, Princess Aurelia
tries to trick him by requesting impossible gifts: dresses created by the sun, moon and stars, and a coat made of a thousand furs. But when he is successful, Aurelia sacrifices her privileged life and flees her kingdom, disguised by the cloak and a new name, Allerleirauh.

She enters the safe haven of Saarland der Licht, where the handsome and gentle
Prince Klaus takes her under his care. Hoping not to be discovered by her
father’s courtiers, Allerleirauh tries to remain hidden under her new identity
when she finds unexpected love with Prince Klaus, even though his arranged
marriage to the princess of a neighboring kingdom approaches. Risking
everything, Allerleirauh must face her troubled past and her fears of the
future along her journey to self-acceptance in this triumphant retelling of the
classic Grimm Fairy Tale.
Excerpt:
“I won’t ever let them near you again, Aurelia. I swear it,” he promised
as his grief-filled eyes met mine. “You must know I love you. It never mattered
to me whether you were a princess or not. It matters not to me if you think you
are soiled, because to me . . . you are more . . . You are more than what has happened
to you, and you always shall be,” he said softly as his hand slid to my cheek.
Carefully, his thumb wiped a tear away. “You are this wonderful, head-strong,
and brave woman,” Klaus continued. “No one has any right to ever try to take
such a thing away from you. It should only ever be admired and cherished.”
 
More tears began to spill over my cheeks as relief flooded me. Klaus
would not turn me away; instead, he accepted me. I rested my forehead against
his shoulder, as I felt his arms slowly wrap around me.
 
“Tell me what you wish for me to do, my sweet Aurelia, and I will do it.”
 
 
About Chantal:

 

Chantal Gadoury is a young author who is originally from the countryside of Muncy, PA.
Chantal likes anything Disney, plays a mean game of Disney trivia, enjoys painting and has a interest in British History. Chantal first started writing stories at the age of seven and continues that love of writing today. As a
recent college graduate from Susquehanna University, with a degree in Creative Writing, writing novels is a dream come true.
 
Giveaway Details: o:p>
 
(1) winner
will receive A Paperback of ALLERLEIRAUH, US Only
(5) winners will
receive eBooks of ALLERLEIRAUH, International.
Ends on August
22nd at Midnight EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway