Friday, September 27, 2019

Book Spotlight - Watt O'Hugh and The Innocent Dead + Giveaway





Series: Memoirs of Watt O'Hugh the Third (Book 3)
Paperback: 284 pages
Publisher: Chickadee Prince Books LLC (September 1, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1732913935
ISBN-13: 978-1732913936


Praise for WATT O'HUGH AND THE INNOCENT DEAD

“Touching tragedy, dead-pan comedy and a time-roaming cowboy? Part three of Drachman’s epic fantasy series is indeed fantastic!” ―David David Katzman, award-winning author of A Greater Monster (Bedhead Books)

“[An] engaging tale of Western science fiction and amazing fantasy … Fast-paced, energetic and fun; a dime novel for modern intellectuals.” ―Kirkus Reviews

"The third entry in Drachman'sseries (after Watt O'Hugh Underground) dives right into a complex world of time travel, lost love, faith, war, and the afterlife. The titularRoamer -- a time traveler with cowboy flavor -- is hoodwinked into getting good and dead. He wakes up in the Hell of the Innocent Dead, a place of Chinese myth devoted to those unjustly dead whose murderers still walk free.... VERDICT: Genre mashup devotees should get some good laughs and thrills from this Western/adventure/sf/fantasy blend." ―Nicole Steeves, Library Journal


On the morning of Wednesday, September 24, 1879, I awoke in a prison in Montana.

I did not imagine that evening might find me sprawled beneath a great and ferocious sand crab on a rancid beach, deep in the Hell of the Innocent Dead.

But that is indeed where I wound up.

The moral, if there is one: never plan your day too inflexibly.

THE WAIT IS OVER: THE CLASSIC ADVENTURE CONCLUDES....

In this, the final book of the trilogy, Watt O'Hugh, the dead/not-dead, time Roaming Western gunman, travels the length and breadth of the sixth level of Hell, recruiting a shadowy army that might storm the borders of the Underworld, free humanity and the inscapes from the clutches of the Falsturm and his Sidonian hordes, and stave off the Coming Storm.

He'll need a little luck.


You can purchase Watt O'Hugh and the Innocent Dead at the following Retailers:
        

Photo Content from Steven S. Drachman

Steven S. Drachman is a writer and critic whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Village Voice, The Boston Phoenix, The Chicago Sun-Times, and Entertainment Weekly. He has also written on the Middle East for the IsraelPalestinePeace e-zine and in the Kindle single, Enough Already: A Framework for Permanent Peace, which was the the basis for a Ted Talk in 2014.

His first novel, a Western sci-fi historical fantasy entitled The Ghosts of Watt O'Hugh, was named one of the Best of 2011 by Kirkus Reviews, and Winner, Best Fantasy Novel by Indie Excellence Book Awards 2012. Book 2 of the Watt O'Hugh trilogy, Watt O'Hugh Underground, was published by Chickadee Prince Books in 2014, to equivalent acclaim. The final book of the trilogy is Watt O'Hugh and the Innocent Dead.

    
PART ONE
SEPTEMBER 23rd MONDAY Movies, Shows, & Books GUEST POST
SEPTEMBER 24th TUESDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW
SEPTEMBER 25th WEDNESDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 26th THURSDAY BookHounds INTERVIEW 
SEPTEMBER 27th FRIDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW 

PART TWO
SEPTEMBER 28th SATURDAY TTC Books and More GUEST POST
SEPTEMBER 28th SATURDAY Stephanie's Life of Determination REVIEW 
SEPTEMBER 29th SUNDAY Insane About Books REVIEW 
SEPTEMBER 29th SUNDAY Sabrina's Paranormal Palace REVIEW

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Book Spotlight - Who Put This Song On? by Morgan Parker + Giveaway


 
Photo Credit - Amazon

WHO PUT THIS SONG ON? ASSETS
About the Book:
Title: WHO PUT THIS SONG ON?
Author: Morgan Parker
Pub. Date: September 24, 2018
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 336
Find it: GoodreadsAmazonKindleAudibleB&NiBooksKoboTBD

In the vein of powerful reads like The Hate U Give and Girl in Pieces, comes poet Morgan Parker's pitch-perfect novel about a black teenage girl searching for her identity when the world around her views her depression as a lack of faith and blackness as something to be politely ignored.

Trapped in sunny, stifling, small-town suburbia, seventeen-year-old Morgan knows why she's in therapy. She can't count the number of times she's been the only non-white person at the sleepover, been teased for her "weird" outfits, and been told she's not "really" black. Also, she's spent most of her summer crying in bed. So there's that, too.

Lately, it feels like the whole world is listening to the same terrible track on repeat--and it's telling them how to feel, who to vote for, what to believe. Morgan wonders, when can she turn this song off and begin living for herself?

Life may be a never-ending hamster wheel of agony, but Morgan finds her crew of fellow outcasts, blasts music like there's no tomorrow, discovers what being black means to her, and finally puts her mental health first. She decides that, no matter what, she will always be intense, ridiculous, passionate, and sometimes hilarious. After all, darkness doesn't have to be a bad thing. Darkness is just real.

Loosely based on her own teenage life and diaries, this incredible debut by award-winning poet Morgan Parker will make readers stand up and cheer for a girl brave enough to live life on her own terms--and for themselves.

Morgan Parker is the author of the poetry collections Magical Negro (Tin House 2019), There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé (Tin House 2017), and Other People’s Comfort Keeps Me Up At Night (Switchback Books 2015). Her debut young adult novel Who Put This Song On? will be released by Delacorte Press on September 24, 2019. A debut book of nonfiction is forthcoming from One World/ Random House. Parker received her Bachelors in Anthropology and Creative Writing from Columbia University and her MFA in Poetry from NYU. She is the recipient of a 2017 National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship, winner of a 2016 Pushcart Prize, and a Cave Canem graduate fellow. Parker is the creator and host of Reparations, Live! at the Ace Hotel. With Tommy Pico, she co-curates the Poets With Attitude (PWA) reading series, and with Angel Nafis, she is The Other Black Girl Collective. Morgan is a Sagittarius, and she lives in Los Angeles.




Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive finished copies of WHO PUT THIS SONG ON?, US Only.

Rafflecopter link:



Tour Schedule:
Week One:
9/2/2019- Becky on BooksExcerpt
9/3/2019- A Dream Within A DreamExcerpt
9/4/2019- Lifestyle Of MeReview
9/5/2019- Life of a Simple ReaderExcerpt
9/6/2019- jade writes booksReview

Week Two:
9/9/2019- Kait Plus BooksExcerpt
9/10/2019- Here's to Happy EndingsReview
9/11/2019- Jena Brown WritesReview
9/12/2019- Country Road ReviewsExcerpt
9/13/2019- Paper ReaderReview

Week Three:
9/16/2019- Eli to the nthReview
9/17/2019- Book-KeepingReview
9/18/2019- The Layaway DragonReview
9/19/2019- Wishful EndingsExcerpt
9/20/2019- Kati's Bookaholic Rambling ReviewsExcerpt

Week Four:
9/23/2019- BookHounds YAReview
9/24/2019- Confessions of a YA ReaderExcerpt
9/25/2019- dwantstoreadExcerpt
9/26/2019- Two Chicks on BooksExcerpt
9/27/2019- two points of interestReview

Week Five:
9/30/2019- Bookish RantingsExcerpt

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Book Review - Hall-O-Ween! by Tia Perkin + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon
My favorite day of the year is coming soon! Hall-O-ween is almost here! And what better way to celebrate than to read a spooky book under a blanket surrounded by sweet treats. The book is filled with fun rhymes and beautiful illustrations. It's the perfect treat for your little ghoul!


**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**
On Tour with Prism Book Tours


Hall-O-Ween!
By Tia Perkin
Children's Picture Book
Paperback & ebook, 38 Pages
October 1st 2018

"Hall-O-Ween!" is a spooky little rhyming book about all the sweet bites and fun frights on Halloween day and night.

(Affiliate link included.)

About the Author


Tia Perkin is a three-time Emmy-Nominated Graphic Artist turned stay-at-home mom and freelancer. Her first children's book, "Two!", was written for her now seven-year-old twin sons - partially as a gift and partially as a coping mechanism for a double-helping of toddler hijinx! She is continuing on the series and has most recently released "Hall-O-Ween!".


Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive a Halloween Trick-Or-Treat Tote Bag filled with the following "Hall-O-Ween!" goodies (US only):
- "Hall-O-Ween!" Button
- "Hall-O-Ween!" Color & Activity Book
- Set of 10 Crayola Markers
- "Hall-O-Ween!" Sticker
- "Hall-O-Ween!" Bookmark
- "Hall-O-Ween!" Postcard
- "Hall-O-Ween!" Kid's T-Shirt (Size Small)
- Green and Black Striped Kid's Halloween Socks

Ends October 2, 2019

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Book Review - Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley + Listicle - Circus Character Names



Photo Credit - Amazon
Micah Tuttle knows magic is real. He needs to believe in magic if he is going to save his dying Grandpa Ephraim. When his grandfather takes a turn for the worst, his great-aunt Gertrudis steps in to help take care of Micah and Grandpa Ephraim. Micah believes the stories of the magical Circus Mirandus of the invisible tiger protecting the circus, a woman who flies with birds, and the Man Who Bends Light. One day, Grandpa Ephraim lets Micah on a secret, the Circus is real! And the Lightbender owes Grandpa Ephraim a miracle. Micah believes the miracle will save his grandfather except, the Lightbender doesn't want to keep his promise. With the help of his friend Jenny Mendoza, Micah will need the Lightbender to keep his word.

Ah, this book...I loved it! I love books with themes of magic and circuses. It just makes me feel even though the world is crumbling around you, believing in something will make it better. Most of the characters were lovable though flawed. There was a scene that was slightly disturbing about a child having their belief questioned and then they got hurt. However, I found the book enjoyable and can't wait for the sequel!

Topic - Fun Circus Names -

I thought it would be a fun treat to create a few imaginary circus names! After all, who doesn't love a fun + silly name?! Leave your favorites in the comments!

- Ivy Flowers
- Snow Melt
- Tsumani
- Fire Eater
- Whirlwind
- Creepy Curlie Charlie
- Reptile Ralph
- Flaming Aces
- Hairy Albert
- Gwen the Gnome
- Vesper the Sand Maker
- Fierce Bob


  **Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Monday, September 23, 2019

Book Review - Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris

Photo Credit - Amazon

Sixteen-year-old Cilka is taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp in 1942. There a commandant is taken by her beauty and she is separated from the other women prisoners.  Cilka quickly realizes that any bit of power she has will help her survive. When the war is over, Cilka is charged as a collaborator for sleeping with the enemy. As a result, she is taken to a Siberian prison camp. 

In Siberia, Cilka faces similar challenges and does her best to survive including avoiding the unwanted attention of guards. Cilka crosses path with a kind female doctor who takes Cilka under her wing. Cilka begins to help tend to the ill while, avoiding her own brutal living conditions. As Cilka grows into her role, she discovers her own inner strength to help others while opening up herself to love.

The novel was an interesting read but, I felt like it missing something. What that something is, I am not sure. Cilka's story of enduring and surviving harsh and brutal conditions is heart numbing.  I feel like we were just given a very small glimpse into her extraordinary life. I feel like I would have enjoyed the novel more if we knew more about Cilka. Overall, the novel was a good read for fans of the author.




 **Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Book Review - Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

Photo Credit - Amazon


Finn and Layla are a young couple who went on vacation to celebrate their love. On the way home, Finn decides to use the restroom at a nearby service station. He leaves Layla in the car and locks the doors behind him. When he returns, Layla is gone. That was the story that Finn told the police after Layla's disappearance. However, that isn't the whole story.

Ten years after Layla's disappearance, Finn is engaged to Layla's sister, Ellen.  They share each other's grief over Layla's disappearance. Even though they are engaged, Finn feels that he doesn't know everything about Ellen. There is something about her that he doesn't trust.

After running an ad announcing their engagement, one of Finn's old neighbors claims he saw Layla.  Then a memento from Layla's past shows up on their doorstep. Shortly email comes in claiming to know secrets from Finn's past. Is Layla still alive? What secrets is Finn keeping?

This was my first novel from B.A. Paris and it was quite disappointing. I didn't really care for much of the characters. I thought the ending to be far fetched and some parts were predictable. None of the main characters really appealed to me. I thought most of them to be dull and annoying.  I might give her other books a try but, maybe after the sour taste of this book is gone.

 **Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**