Book Review - Keyana Loves Her Family by Natasha Tarpley + Giveaway

 

Keyana is filled with big ideas including, her newest idea of hosting a family movie night. She invites everyone over for a fun filled night. Even though, there is a lot to do, Keyana wants to do it all. However, when the night doesn't go as she planned, will Keyana be able to rely on her loved ones?

The picture book is a cute and fun read. The beautiful drawings were bright and colorful. The book teaches little ones how ask and accept help and dealing with disappointment.

 **Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

 

About The Book:

Title: KEYANA LOVES HER FAMILY

Author: Natasha Anastasia Tarpley & Charnelle Pinkney Barlow (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: December 13, 2022

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 40

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, TBD, Bookshop.org

Natasha Anastasia Tarpley returns with a breakout new picture book series all about Keyana, the protagonist of her bestselling title I Love My Hair!, and the people and places she adores.

Keyana’s always full of big ideas. Her latest and greatest plan is to host a perfect family movie night. From aunts to uncles to her five favorite cousins, everyone is invited! She knows the best way to impress her guests is with a fabulous soiree, and there’s a lot on her to-do list. But when the night doesn’t go as planned, she’ll have to rely on a little help from the people she loves most.
 
With warm illustrations by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow, this character-centric new picture book series from Natasha Anastasia Tarpley will give Keyana a fresh, commercial update that's perfect for today's young readers.

 

About Natasha Anastasia Tarpley:

Natasha Anastasia Tarpley started writing when she was seven years old, and from that young age she understood that stories could change the world. She is the author of the bestselling picture book I Love My Hair!, Bippity Bop Barbershop, The Me I Choose to Be, among other titles. Natasha is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship and is the cofounder of Voonderbar! Media, a project seeking to expand the depictions of children of color in media. She lives with her family in Chicago, Illinois. 

Website | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads  

 

About Charnelle Pinkney Barlow:

Charnelle Pinkney Barlow was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, New York. She received her BFA in Illustration from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and her MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Creating images and stories that speak to the hearts of children and those that guide them is her greatest joy. Charnelle currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband. She is the illustrator of Remember to Dream, Ebere, The Real Santa, Just Like Mama, and many other titles.

Website | Instagram | TikTok | Pinterest | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of KEYANA LOVES HER FAMILY, US Only.

Ends December 27^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

12/12/2022	Mythical Books	Excerpt/IG Post
12/12/2022	yabookscentral.com	Guest Post or Excerpt
12/13/2022	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt/IG Post
12/13/2022	@jael_and_jenessa_reads	Review/IG Post
12/14/2022	Bea's Book Nook	Review
12/14/2022	popthebutterfly	Review/IG Post
12/15/2022	Emily Ashlyn	Review/IG Post
12/15/2022	the book near me	Review/IG Post
12/16/2022	onemused	IG Post
12/16/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

12/19/2022	Kim"s Book Reviews and Writing Aha's	Review/IG Post
12/19/2022	@carlysunshinebooks	IG Review
12/20/2022	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic
12/20/2022	One More Exclamation	Review/IG Post
12/21/2022	More Books Please blog	Review
12/21/2022	@allyluvsbooksalatte	IG Review
12/22/2022	@froggyreadteach	IG Review/Read Aloud
12/22/2022	Author Z. Knight	Review/IG Post
12/23/2022	Books with Brandie Shanae	Youtube Review/IG Post
12/23/2022	two points of interest	Review

Book Review - Send Her Back and Other Stories by Munashe Kaseke

 

The novel contains short stories depicting the immigrant experience of black African women in United States with a variety of themes.The stories are told from a female Zimbabwean protagonist view but, none of the stories are related. I found majority of the stories entertaining and relatable. The last story in the book though felt incomplete and it was the only one I didn't enjoy. In a few of the stories, I found that it mimic stories from relatives, friends, and even my own experience as an immigrant. I would be interested in reading more stories by the author as I found this book to be enjoyable.

Book Review - The Pack by Lisi Harrison

 

The girls that board the Charm House or the Center for Human-Animal Reform and Manners, are there because they have an animal light inside them that needs to be tamed. Sadie is the new girl and she just wants to stay out of trouble and blend in with the rest of the students. That is until she learns she has the Lion light and a group of popular girls include her in their group called the Pack.  Sadie finds herself at the center of attention and is consumed by social drama. The Charm school is supposed to be a sanctuary but, someone is targeting the girls. Will Sadie be able to help find the mastermind?

The book was a fun read and had a few unexpected twists. It was interesting seeing Sadie accept her abilities and her powers to lead and not be just a follower. Some of the dialogue between the girls at the school were funny but, might be too much for some children/readers. For example, Lindsey and the other girls remark on each others physical appearance or Sadie gets bullied because her hair doesn't look appealing, it might seem like bullying. Instead of tampering the comments about physical appearance, they seem to enjoy making remarks about it to each other. Overall, it's a fun read and I would read other books in the series.

Book Review - Birds of California by Katie Cotugno

 

Fiona St. James is a former child actor who tried fading from the spotlight after a very public  meltdown. The tabloids love to call her crazy antics and said she lost her mind. Fiona is now in her late twenties, and hopes that her embarrassing past is behind her. She finally gained some privacy while working at her family store and she isn't willing to let anyone mess that up.

Unlike Fiona, Sam Fox, her former cast mate in the popular television show, loves the perks of being a successful Hollywood actor. He loves the attention and the money fame affords him. However, when his current show gets cancelled and his opportunities start to dry up, Sam is desperate for another job. His agent offers him an opportunity to get back on his feet but, he would need to convince Fiona to join.

Fiona is wary of Sam but, against her better judgment she decides to meet with him. The two find being in each other presence tolerable at first but, then they start falling for each other. They both discover a side of each other that they never knew before. As they grow closer, they realized that they are both keeping secrets from each other.

The book started off strong but, then petered out towards the middle and end. The reason behind Fiona's breakdown was hinted at but, when it was finally revealed, the author never talked about the aftermath or what else happened. The author dedicated maybe a few sentences and then the book ended. The description and comments quoted on the book also gave away most of Fiona's secret. So, I am not sure why it took so long for us to "find out" about it and the author chose not to give us a proper resolution.

I had a hard time liking Fiona as a person. She was aggressive and moody while taking out her anger on other people. I had a hard time feeling empathy for her because she was closed off from her friends but, she kept saying that no one wanted to be near her. I don't think anyone would want to be near someone who doesn't trust them enough to open up to them and becomes aggressive instead. I felt like the story moved so slowly without anything really happening except maybe the in-depth sex scenes that seemed out of place. 

I felt like the novel left me with more questions than answers especially with Fiona's history with Jamie. Did something happened to them that lead to her nightmares? Is that why she is obsessed with true crime and Erin's articles? Why is Sam's agent trying to push that one role to Sam? Is Jamie pulling the strings for the remake? Does Fiona finally get to direct since she has a passion for it? Does Fiona go back to school since, she expressed an interest in going back to school? What happens to Sam? Does he get another job or what happens to his dying mother? The book was relatively short so, the author could have added a few more pages to tie everything together in the end. However, the book did made me think of some child stars who did have public meltdowns and who spiraled out of control. It reinforces the fact that people need to be surrounded by people who have their best interest at heart. The novel was an okay book but, it could have been better.

Book Review - Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

 

Under the right conditions, children can disappear and end up in a new magical place. Like most children who went to a magical place, Nancy came back a changed person and she is eager to return back. Nancy joins Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children to cope with her current situation and to find a way back home. When Nancy joins the other kids at the home, there is a darkness around the corner. A tragedy strikes that makes the home no longer safe for anyone.

I thought the book had an interesting premise. I was able to guess the mastermind behind the murders pretty quickly. However, I felt that the book was missing something to make it "great". I found the writing and the characters to be flat and choppy at times. I understand that the author wanted to be inclusive in her writing but, it seems like most her of characters were "different" and that was their main trait instead of being another facet of them. The book had tons of potential but, felt flat to me.

Book Review - Midnight's Budding Morrow by Carolyn Miller

 

Sarah Drayton is excited to spend time at her best friend's Northumberland castle estate. The last thing Sarah wants to think about is marriage during her holiday. Instead, she finds herself forced into a marriage of convenience with her friend's rakish brother.

When James Langley returns to his family's estate, he doesn't have time or the energy to focus on his responsibilities as the heir. The war is raging on and James doesn't want to deal with anything serious but, focus on his fledgling fancies. However, his father makes pushes James into a corner when he declares that James must get married or else he will lose his inheritance. James suddenly finds himself married to a woman he does not love.

Sarah wants a place where she can be belong. James is unable to offer Sarah anything she needs or wants before heading off to war. Everyone at the estate believe that Sarah married above her station and they are not too pleased when she becomes mistress of the house. However, when James returns from the war, Sarah feels that something might be different about him. Will they be able to find their happy ever after?

The book started off interesting but, then moving at a snail pace with nothing happening. I understand that Sarah was grieving but, she seemed to think that she was the only one who was in pain. She bonded with another person over grief but, then spend the entire time thinking "woe is me". I found the book to be boring and I lost interest half way. There was nothing keeping me tethered to this book and I didn't really care for any of the characters.

Empties for November and December 2022!

Ah, it's almost the end of the year! I can't believe it. While it may look like I finished a few things, it's actually a bunch of stuff that I finished over two months and not nearly enough stuff as I bought. There were a few noteworthy items and a few duds. 

Kopari's Tahitian Vanilla hydrating body milk smelled amazing and it was lightweight. It was perfect for the warmer months as it was hydrating but, not heavy and greasy. And the scent was so alluring and stayed on all day. This was my favorite body milk ever and I would definitely buy it again.

Araceli's  Ojos Perfectos liquid eyeliner in  Night is so dark and so easy to apply. It takes a few seconds to try and it doesn't smudge or move. I was literally using this eyeliner everyday and it lasted for months!

Lasncome Absolue Creme Riche cream made my skin feel like the softest of buttery skin. The cream itself was like butter when I smoothed it on. My skin literally drank up every ounce of moisture this cream provided. The cream is very thick and rich. It's too bad this cream costs more than I make in three days otherwise I would get it back in a heartbeat. 

Tropic Labs's Washed Up all in one shower oil was an interesting concept but, a muddled execution. The shower oil supposedly helps cleans and hydrates. Except, it had no foam and it left a residue behind. When I used this product, it didn't feel like I was using anything and that I was just rinsing off my skin with water. I feel like this was more of an in shower hydrator than a cleansing product.

Blesswell Lathering Body Wash in Island Breeze is a product by DJ Khaled. I actually didn't realize it was a men's body wash nor that it was created by DJ Khaled. Overall, the product was pretty mediocre for the cost.  It smells nice but, even though it says "lathering" it had the poorest lather I ever seen for a body wash. I have seen dollar store body washes produce better results than this body wash.

Book Review - The Getaway by Lamar Giles

 

Karloff Country is a well known world class resort. Jay is living within the property with his family and friends. Jay loves Karloff Country and he likes working his after school job at the park. Life isn't great for other people outside of the Karloff Country so, when people come to the theme park, they want to leave it all behind.

Jay's life takes a tailspin when trouble arrives at Karloff. His friend, Connie and her entire family disappears in the middle of the night and no one knows where they went and why. Then a new set of wealthy and powerful families start arriving but, they do not leave after the park closes. Karloff Country has been offering a sanctuary to the wealthy and offered them the best of the best service and lifestyle. To ensure the guest spends the end of days in comfort, the staff will be available at the wealthy clientele's beck and call, whether they like it or not.

 

I thought the book was an interesting read. The book had nonstop twists and gruesome secrets. The characters were well fleshed out and fun to read their interactions with each other. I thought the book was going to be a horror book but, it was more like a thriller and mystery with some "scary" twists. A few times, I didn't know where the book was heading but, it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Book Review - Burntcoat by Sarah Hall

 

In a British city, a virus is spreading through the city and a renowned sculptor Edith Harkness decides to isolate with her boyfriend, Halit, in her immense studio, Burntcoat. As Edith learns more about Halit and herself, the outside world is changing. Together Halit and Edith comes to term with their new norm.

I thought this would have been an interesting read especially, with COVID still ongoing. However, I wasn't fond of the writing style. The narrator switched back and forth from present to past on whim. The prose was interesting but, not worth the effort it took to get through. I read more quite a few pages (around 75ish) and I failed to see the point and plot of the story. If you like artsy books, perhaps you will enjoy this book more than I did.

Book Review - The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy

 

A group of new moms whose babies were born in the same month decide to form a group called the May Mothers. They meet twice a week in Prospect Park to connect. One day, they decide to meet for drinks at a neighborhood bar for a break. It starts off as a fun night until, one of the babies is taken from his crib while his mother is at the bar.

Winnie is a single mom and she was reluctant to leave her six week old son, Midas, with a babysitter.  But, the other May Mothers were insistent that Winnie join them for a fun night out. They hired a babysitter for Winnie to enjoy herself and told her that everything will be okay. Except now, Midas is missing and there are no leads.

The book started off strong then slowly trudged along at a more confusing and slower pace. I felt that the author moved back and forth between the May Mothers' point of views too many times that it got confusing. I had hard time keep tracking of each person and their own backstory and secrets. I felt like the ending was a jumbled mess. It unraveled so quickly that it didn't seem realistic. The person behind the kidnapping was shown one way and then when they were confronted, madness just took over. I am on the fence on whether or not that was completely believable.  The author did sprinkle some evidence pointing to this person but, it was minor details that was easy to gloss over.

Book Review - Closer Than You Know by Brad Parks

 

Melanie Barrick has grown up in the constant upheaval as a child in foster care. As an adult, Melanie has a loving husband, a steady job, and a beautiful baby, Alex. She thought she left her past behind her.

One Tuesday evening, Melanie goes to pick up Alex from childcare only to be told that he was removed by Social Services. Melanie is terrified and she is unable to get any answers. The situation is upsetting but for Melanie it's bringing back back memories of the horror of Social Services. When Melanie arrives home, she finds out that the sheriff has raided her house and found enough cocaine to send Melanie to prison away for years. An overwhelming amount of evidence is against her and if Melanie can't prove her innocence, she will lose her son.

Assistant commonwealth’s attorney Amy Kaye has been assigned to Melanie's case. She is working on a cold case that her boss wants her to keep quiet to avoid public scrutiny.  There is a serial rapist who wears a mask and whispers to his victims. He has victimized dozens of women and has avoided detection by the police for years.

I thought the book was an okay read. The book had a few twists and turns that I didn't expect or see coming. I felt like some of the plot and the twists were a bit far-fetched. The police took the word of a tip and without even having proof of Melanie committing a crime. When the drugs were found in the couple's home, only Melanie got in trouble  for the drugs and for  the social services case. It The novel was an okay read but, nothing really kept me interested in it.

Book Review - Anything But Plain by Suzanne Woods Fisher

 

Lydie Stoltzfus doesn't have it easy being the bishop's daughter. Unfortunately, she isn't like other Amish girls as much as she tries to be. The only thing Lydie is known for is disappointing others and causing trouble. She feels the only way to make things better is to leave the church and her family.

When Lydie gets let go from her last job, her aunt asks her to fill in at the front desk as a receptionist for a few months for her. Lydie feels that taking the job would give her enough time to say goodbye to her friends and family, especially her neighbor, Nathan Yoder. Nathan claims that he's in love with her but, Lydie is afraid that she isn't good enough for him. And if she ever forgets, Nathan's father constantly reminds her.

I thought the book was an interesting read. This was my first time reading an Amish story where a person had a neurodevelopmental disorder. The characters were believable and relatable. I liked reading about Lydie's drawings and how she manages different relationships. I didn't like the ending though, I felt like it ended abruptly. I am not sure if the author plans on writing more books to continue the story but, I wish the story ended better.

 **Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - A Deadly Affair by Agatha Christie

 

 

 

The book is a collection of Agatha's short stories focusing on the theme of love. This was my first time reading one of her works. I can see why many of her characters and stories are beloved by fans. A few of the stories stumped me but, I was able to guess the culprit behind a few of the stories. Even though the stories were short, they were well fleshed out. There were a few stories that I found the text a bit hard to follow along with because of the dated terms and language the characters used. Overall, it was a clever collection for new fans and old.

 

Book Review - The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

 

Out by the Yorkshire Moors, there lives a secret group of people that consume books for food. The book eaters can retain all of the book's content after eating it. Devon is a part of The Family, who are a long line of old and reclusive book eaters. Devon grew up eating stories about princesses and fairy tales while, her brother eats stories of action and glory. Devon learns the hard way that life isn't always so easy or comes with happy endings when her son is born with a gruesome hunger for human minds.

I was conflicting on liking and loving the novel. I thought the book had a lot of interesting parallels along with interesting topics such as love, loyalty, family, and what it means to be a monster. I thought the book told an interesting tale that was woven with unique world building experience. Be wary though, some readers might love this book so much they might consume it in one reading....

Book Review - Next Door to Happy by Allison Weiser Strout

 

Violet Crane feels isolated and lonely because she has no siblings and her father has recently moved out and her mother is struggling with anxiety. Then a family moves next door with five kids. Violet wishes that she was a part of that family as they seem so normal compared to hers.

However, all that changes when Violet overhears a conversation between Reggie and his mother. Reggie's mother tells Reggie that Violet isn't an appropriate friend. Violet is hurt and devastated and feels even more alone.

I thought this book was an okay read. It was interesting to read the challenges Violet was facing with her family and friends and how she overcame them. The author did a good job showing different types of family and friends. I didn't love or hate the book but, I felt the story was missing something.

Book Review - Sweet Sorrow by David Nicholls

 

 

Charlie Lewis is the type of person you would forget about it. He is the average type of person. He doesn't do well in school and he spends most of his day looking after his dad. He spends most of his time thinking that there is nothing in his future.

Then Charlie crosses paths with Fran Fisher and he begins to hope for something better.  However, if Charlie wants to spend time with Fran, he will need to join an acting troupe. He feels that he will lose the respect from his friends and joining the acting theater is akin to joining a cult.

I thought this was going to be an interesting read but, instead it was super boring. I read more than half of the book and I can could sum up the entire thing in less than 4 sentences.The book goes into pages of unwanted details and then has a tendency of switching from the past and the future all willy nilly. I am still trying to understand what the point of the book was. I will say this, if you suffer from insomnia this book will have you yawning in no time flat.

 

Book Spotlight - The Do-Over by Lynn Painter + Giveaway

 

About The Book:

Title: THE DO-OVER

Author: Lynn Painter

Pub. Date: November 15, 2022

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 304

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

In this riotous young adult romp for fans of Recommended for You and A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, a teen girl has the worst Valentine’s Day ever—only to relive it over and over again.

After living through a dumpster fire of a Valentine’s Day, Emilie Hornby escapes to her grandmother’s house for some comfort and a consolation pint of Ben & Jerry’s. She passes out on the couch, but when she wakes up, she’s back home in her own bed—and it’s Valentine’s Day all over again. And the next day? Another nightmare V-Day.

Emilie is stuck in some sort of time loop nightmare that she can’t wake up from as she re-watches her boyfriend, Josh, cheat on her day after day. In addition to Josh’s recurring infidelity, Emilie can’t get away from the enigmatic Nick, who she keeps running into—sometimes literally—in unfortunate ways.

How many days can one girl passively watch her life go up in flames? And when something good starts to come out of these terrible days, what happens when the universe stops doling out do-overs?

Reviews:

"Painter plucks readers’ every heartstring, from writing a sweet love story between two teens with very different views on romance to honestly depicting how Emilie’s parents’ messy divorce has impacted her feelings of self-worth. Italicized confessions at the beginnings of various chapters prove there is a playful side to Emilie that is further brought out by Nick, whose constant teasing leads to flirty banter...unequivocally hilarious and delightful." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Throughout, Emilie struggles to navigate her parents’ acrimonious divorce, and the resulting financial precarity and blow to her self-worth. By combining these personal trials with a lighthearted love story, Painter delivers a thoughtfully elevated romantic jaunt." -- Publishers Weekly

 

About Lynn Painter:

Lynn Painter is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author who writes romantic comedies for both teens and adults. She lives in Nebraska with her husband and pack of wild children, and when she isn't reading or writing, odds are good she’s guzzling energy drinks and watching rom-coms. 

Subscribe to Lynn’s Newsletter!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE DO-OVER, US Only.

Ends December 6^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

11/7/2022	YA Books Central	Excerpt
11/8/2022	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt
11/9/2022	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
11/10/2022	Mindyourshelf	IG Review
11/11/2022	Fire and Ice	Review
11/12/2022	@booksrn_rashi	IG Review

Week Two:

11/13/2022	My.Bookish.Mind	IG Review/TikTok Post
11/14/2022	travelersguidetobooks	IG Review
11/15/2022	@jennareadstuff	TikTok Review/IG Post
11/16/2022	A Court of Coffee and Books	Review/IG Post
11/17/2022	The Page Ladies @jacleomik33	IG Review
11/18/2022	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post
11/19/2022	onemused	IG Review

Week Three:

11/20/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
11/21/2022	Books With A Chance of Traveling	Review/IG Post
11/22/2022	@planwithemm	IG Review
11/23/2022	@just_another_mother_with_books	IG Review
11/24/2022	The Book View	Review/IG Post
11/25/2022	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic
11/26/2022	Lisa Loves Literature	Review/IG Post

Week Four:

11/27/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review
11/28/2022	The Real World According To Sam	Review/IG Post
11/29/2022	@thechattybookworm	TikTok Review/IG Post
11/30/2022	Confessions of a YA Reader	Review
12/1/2022	@lexijava	Review/IG Post
12/2/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post