Book Review - The Last Book Party by Karen Dukess

Photo Credit - Amazon

It is the summer of 1987 and 25-year-old Eve Rosen is an aspiring writer who is stuck in a low-level assistant job. She is unable to get her writing career off the ground and she's been stuck in her brilliant brother's shadow growing up. When she feels her professional options are being limited, she jumps at the chance to attend a summer gathering at Cape Cope hosted by the famous New Yorker writer Henry Grey and his poet wife, Tillie.

She finds herself dazzled by the guests and has a crush on Franny Grey, Henry, and Tillie's son. She is excited when she receives an offer to become Henry's research assistant. Eve is excited when she is invited to the exclusive and famed "Book Party", where guests are invited to dress as literary characters. However, the night of the party turns uncomfortable when Eve discovers the truth behind the people she became involved with.

I am very disappointed with this book. I didn't find myself liking any of the characters and found them to be selfish and full of themselves. Eve was committing acts of adultery more than once but, was overcome with grief and misery when someone else did it. The novel was predictable and I found it to be rather pointless.

**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.**

Book Review - South of the Buttonwood Tree by Heather Webber + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Blue Bishop has a special ability to find things that are lost. In her small town of Buttonwood, Alabama, she has a knack of finding lost objects such as pets, wallets, keys, and occasionally, trouble. One day during her walk, Blue discovers an abandoned newborn baby in the woods, just south of a magical buttonwood tree.

Sarah Grace  Landreneau Fulton is facing a tough decision. She was always taught by her mother to be perfect and do better. Sarah Grace has always tried to do the right thing even if it isn't what her heart wants to do. She fears how her family might react to her secrets.

With the appearance of the baby, both Blue's and Sarah Grace's lives will change forever. Together they will have to learn to fight for what they want in life and who they love. As they begin to live their true selves, they discover secrets that might reveal who they are.

Oh, this book was such a joy to read! The characters were all well developed and I couldn't wait to see if they got their happy ending. I also like that the romance in the novel didn't have a lot of childish back and forth but, characters who display their true feeling. The book was such an emotional rollercoaster, you can feel each of the characters' pain and joy. I can't wait to read other books by the author.

**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.**

 

Forge Books
Tor/Forge
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Forge Books (July 21, 2020)
Language: English
On Sale: 07/21/2020
ISBN: 9781250198563

Praise for Heather Webber's MIDNIGHT AT THE BLACKBIRD CAFE

"Full of family secrets, undeniable charm and that particular touch of magic so often found in the South, MIDNIGHT AT THE BLACKBIRD CAFE is a heartfelt and redemptive tale of a daughter looking to move forward in the place her mother couldn’t wait to leave behind. Heather Webber creates a town as dynamic and real as her characters—and a story so compelling that it will stay on readers’ minds long after the final page. I savored every word." —Kristy Woodson Harvey, national bestselling author of Slightly South of Simple

"Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe is an enchanting gem of a novel, brimming with charming characters, heartwarming connections, old secrets, and a southern setting that makes you want to move there. As refreshing as a glass of blackberry tea, this is truly magical realism at its best!" —Karen White, New York Times bestselling author

"Family, fate, and magic intertwine in this endearing Southern tale of long-held secrets, homemade pie, and building one's future from the remains of the past. A tantalizing, delicious delight, through and through. Heather Webber writes with so much detail and imagination that I’ll be craving some Blackbird Cafe pie—and the comfort that comes with it—for a long time to come." —Kristin Harmel, international bestselling author of The Room on Rue Amélie and The Sweetness of Forgetting

Blue Bishop has a knack for finding lost things. While growing up in charming small-town Buttonwood, Alabama, she's happened across lost wallets, jewelry, pets, her wandering neighbor, and sometimes, trouble. No one is more surprised than Blue, however, when she comes across an abandoned newborn baby in the woods, just south of a very special buttonwood tree.

Sarah Grace Landreneau Fulton is at a crossroads. She has always tried so hard to do the right thing, but her own mother would disown her if she ever learned half of Sarah Grace's secrets.

The unexpected discovery of the newborn baby girl will alter Blue's and Sarah Grace's lives forever. Both women must fight for what they truly want in life and for who they love. In doing so, they uncover long-held secrets that reveal exactly who they really are--and what they're willing to sacrifice in the name of family.

You can purchase South of the Buttonwood Tree at the following Retailers:

        

Photo Content from Heather Webber 

HEATHER WEBBER is the national bestselling author of more than thirty novels--including Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, the Lucy Valentine novels, and the Nina Quinn Mysteries--and has been twice nominated for an Agatha Award. She loves to spend time with her family, read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, watch cooking competition and home improvement shows, crochet, and bake. Heather lives in southwestern Ohio and is hard at work on her next book.

        

WEEK ONE

JULY 20th MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

JULY 21st TUESDAY Movies, Shows, & Books EXCERPT

JULY 22nd WEDNESDAY TTC Books and More INTERVIEW 

JULY 22nd WEDNESDAY J Long Books REVIEW

JULY 23rd THURSDAY Reading Adventures of a Book Dragon EXCERPT

JULY 23rd THURSDAY Day Leitao INTERVIEW

JULY 24th FRIDAY Nay's Pink Bookshelf REVIEW

WEEK TWO

JULY 27th MONDAY Ya It's Lit REVIEW

JULY 28th TUESDAY BookHounds REVIEW & INTERVIEW

JULY 29th WEDNESDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW

JULY 30th THURSDAY Captivated Reading REVIEW

JULY 30th THURSDAY Gwendalyn's Books REVIEW 

JULY 31st FRIDAY J.R.'s Book Reviews REVIEW 

JULY 31st FRIDAY My Fictional Oasis REVIEW

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

July 2020 Haul Part 2!

Ahh, July is almost over! Thank God, and can you please take this unbearable heat wave with you (and COVID virus with you too -- please and thank you!)?

Another month into lockdown and one would assume that my skin would be amazing with all the extra time I am devoting to taking care of it...Nope! I am getting so many breakouts along my jawline and it's leaving ugly acne scars and dark spots. I have double down on the skincare and hopefully, it works and I just don't sweat it off.

I bought some more masks from Facetory. I like that they have a wide range of masks available at affordable prices. I am really excited to try the watermelon mask by Holika Holika. I bought a few lip products from Bite Beauty, Too Faced, Fluide, and Huda. I love lipsticks but, the last two lipsticks I opened melted and fell on to the floor. Argh! Brand new lipsticks all over the cream-colored carpet. I guess I am sticking to liquid products for right now. 

I restocked the Nivea In-Shower wash off lotion because right now it's just too hot for my skin to even come into contact with anything. I just can't. I bought a few new body washes from Red Flower and Skin & Co. I hope the fragrance lasts on my skin past the shower.  I have used a few body washes lately that have no staying power and that's exactly what I need when my skin starts to smell less than perfect.

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know your thoughts! Hopefully I will have finished a few of these in the next 2-3 months :)

Book Spotlight - Scorpion by Jeff Sweat + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

About the Book:

Title: SCORPION (Mayfly #2)

Author: Jeff Sweat

Pub. Date: June 23, 2020

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 432

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

In Scorpion, the sequel to Jeff Sweat's YA futuristic thriller Mayfly, Jemma, Lady, and Pico all left the Holy Wood to seek answers to the End, and when they find the Old Guys—the only adults to have survived the original wipeout of everyone over the age of seventeen—they think they've found help at last.

But there's a lot the Old Guys aren't telling them. In fact, some of them don't seem interested in solving the End at all and just want Jemma and her friends to leave. Meanwhile, war is brewing among the tribes of the rest of the Children. Jemma's old home has fallen into disorder, and is far from prepared for battle. It won't be long before the fighting reaches Jemma and the Old Guys, if they even live to see it.

Haven’t started the series yet? Grab book 1, MAYFLY now!

About Jeff:

Jeff Sweat has made a living from words his entire career, starting out as an award-winning tech journalist for InformationWeek magazine and moving into marketing.

He led the content marketing team for Yahoo and pioneered its use of social media. He directed PR for two of the top advertising agencies in the country, Deutsch LA and 72andSunny. He now runs his own Los Angeles–based PR and marketing agency, Mister Sweat.

He grew up in Idaho as the middle of eight children—seven boys and one girl—and attended Columbia University in New York. Jeff lives in a big blue house in Los Angeles with his wife Sunny and their three kids, two cats, and a racing greyhound.

He loves to travel and writes everywhere he goes, even when there's not a desk. He likes karaoke, motorcycles and carpentry. He was once shot in the head with a nail gun, which was not a big of a deal as it sounds. But it still hurt like crazy.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive a finished copy of SCORPION, US Only.

Rafflecopter Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21119/? 

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/13/2020	For the Love of KidLit	Excerpt
7/13/2020	JaimeRockstarBookTours	Instagram Stop
7/14/2020	Jaime's World	Excerpt
7/14/2020	The Try Everything/jenifer_reads	Excerpt
7/15/2020	Lifestyle of Me	Review
7/15/2020	Jazzy Book Reviews	Excerpt
7/16/2020	Fire and Ice	Review
7/16/2020	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
7/17/2020	popthebutterfly	Review
7/17/2020	TheReadingCornerforAll	Review

Week Two:

7/20/2020	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
7/20/2020	Rajiv's Reviews	Instagram Stop
7/21/2020	BookHounds YA	Interview
7/21/2020	Hurn Publications	Excerpt
7/22/2020	Two Chicks on Books	Interview
7/22/2020	Momfluenster	Instagram Stop
7/23/2020	Books and Zebras @jypsylynn	Review
7/23/2020	Buried Under Books	Review
7/24/2020	Two Points of Interest	Review
7/24/2020	Eli to the nth	Review

Book Review - Orphan Eleven by Gennifer Choldenko + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Four orphans eagerly wait for an opportunity to escape from the Home for Friendless Children. Lucy, one of the orphans, used to love to talk and sing. Now, she no longer speaks as she believes silence is the only way to protect herself.

After a tumultuous journey, the orphans find work and new friends aboard a traveling circus. Lucy loves being able to take care of the elephants but, for her to secure the job of the elephant handler, she will need to speak to the elephants and warn others of danger. If Lucy doesn't cope with her fear of speaking, she will lose her chance to join the circus. Meanwhile, the matrons of the orphanage are eager to get Lucy back at the orphanage.

The book was a fun and cute read. It was nerve-wracking following the orphans' journey for a home and a place to belong. I liked that the author included a section about notes on the book. It was shocking to find out how much of Lucy's story was based on horrifying events. The novel was a heartwarming and enjoyable read and perfect for fans of the author.

**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.**

 

 

About the Book:

Title: ORPHAN ELEVEN

Author: Gennifer Choldenko

Pub. Date: May 26, 2020

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 320

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

Four orphans have escaped from the Home for Friendless Children. One is Lucy, who used to talk and sing. No one knows why she doesn't speak anymore; silence is her protection.

The orphans find work and new friends at a traveling circus. Lucy loves caring for the elephants, but she must be able to speak to them, and to warn others of danger. If Lucy doesn't find her voice, she'll be left behind when the circus goes on the rails. Meanwhile, people are searching for Lucy, and her puzzling past is about to catch up with her.

About Gennifer:

With more than 2 and a half million books sold, Choldenko’s best known Tales from Alcatraz series, has been called “A cornerstone series in contemporary children’s literature.” Al Capone Does My Shirts—the first book in the series—was a Newbery Honor Book and the recipient of twenty other awards. All four books in the series were Junior Library Guild selections and garnered many starred reviews. Gennifer’s newest novel: Orphan Eleven will be out May 26. Publisher’s Weekly has said this about Orphan Eleven: “This uplifting tale of hope, survival and belonging has all the ingredients to become a beloved middle grade book.” Gennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her loyal husband and naughty dog.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of ORPHAN ELEVEN, US Only.

Rafflecopter Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21120/?

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/13/2020	Twirling Book Princess	Excerpt
7/13/2020	Forever Lost in Literature	Excerpt
7/14/2020	For the Love of KidLit	Excerpt
7/14/2020	Trapped Inside Stories	Excerpt
7/15/2020	Little Red Reads	Review
7/15/2020	Jazzy Book Reviews	Excerpt
7/16/2020	JaimeRockstarBookTours	Instagram Stop
7/16/2020	Jaime's World	Excerpt
7/17/2020	TheReadingCornerforAll	Review
7/17/2020	Two Chicks on Books	Interview

Week Two:

7/20/2020	Lifestyle of Me	Review
7/20/2020	popthebutterfly	Review
7/21/2020	Do You Dog-ear?	Review
7/21/2020	Krisha's cosy corner	Review
7/22/2020	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
7/22/2020	BookHounds YA	Interview
7/23/2020	Two Points of Interest	Review
7/23/2020	Log Cabin Library	Excerpt
7/24/2020	Books and Zebras @jypsylynn	Review
7/24/2020	Hurn Publications	Excerpt