Book Review - The Pack #2: Claw and Order by Lisi Harrison

 

Sadie thought joining the Pack would be the hardest thing but, it turns out the year has just gotten started.  Sadie is trying to manage her school work, while working through her feelings for her crush, and managing her powers. Sadie is also keeping a secret from her friends that can alter their friendship.

This was the second book in the series but, I think the first book was better. There were a lot of cringe worthy situations in this book. For example, Sadie is mad that Beak is spending a lot of time playing football and she made a comment that her dad does the same thing. Then Sadie ignores his calls and messages but, gets annoyed when he doesn't respond right away. It seems Sadie keeps slipping back with her growth and making the same silly mistakes over and over instead of learning from them. This wasn't my favorite book in the series but, I will still read the other books to see how the series ends.

Book Review - Perfect Little Children by Sophie Hannah

 

Beth was supposed to take her son to his soccer game, watch him play, and then they return home together. Except, Beth has other ideas and decides to drive past her ex-best friend's house because she lives near the field and Beth wants to get a peek at Flora.

It's been twelve years since Beth has seen Flora. And Beth isn't so sure she wants to see Flora again. However, Beth is too curious to let it go and decides to stop by for a visit. Beth parks outside the gates of Flora's house, and watches as Flora arrives with her two children, Thomas and Emily.

Except something looks wrong, Flora looks the same but, only older. Her children, Thomas and Emily look exactly the same as they did twelve years ago. Beth is confused because how could they have not grown or changed at all in the twelve years that have past?

I thought this was going to be a horror or thriller but, instead this book was an absolute bore. The same thing gets repeated over and over. I also couldn't stand Beth and found majority of the characters completely dense. Instead of telling each other the information ahead of time or when they figured something out, they drag it out for pages and pages. For example, if Beth notices something, she won't tell anyone right then and there. She will mentioned she noticed something and not say what. When she finally does tell the other person, she drags it out for pages on pages. I read over 100 pages and nothing was added to the story or changed. Then they have so many boring side stories that are not even relevant to the story. I feel like the entire book could have been half of the size. I felt like the author had a great idea but, perhaps had to have a specific word count and decided to stretch a few things instead of adding to the story.

Book Review - Fox Creek (Cork O’Connor #19) by William Kent Krueger

 

Henry Meloux is an old Ojibwe healer and he has recently been having visions of his death. He walks the Northwoods in solitude to prepare himself for the end of his long life.  However, he doesn't know if his vision are tied to the hunters who are seeking a woman named Dolores Morriseau. Dolores is a stranger who came to seek guidance and shelter from Henry about her marriage.

Henry, Dolores, and his great niece, Rainy, must escape deep into the Boundary Waters to escape the deadly mercenaries. Henry knows that they will stop at nothing to get what they want but, he fears that this might be his last journey on his beloved land.

Cork is trying to identify the hunters and why they are pursuing Dolores. Cork begins tracking the hunters when he fears that they might harm Rainy, his wife, and Henry. As he tracks the hunters in the wilderness, Cork gets hit with a late season snowstorm. He fears with each passing minute, time is running out for his people.

This is book is a part of a series but, I was able to read it as a standalone and follow along. I thought the book started off as good but, got slow towards the middle and started picking up again towards the end. The book was straightforward and didn't really have any twists or unexpected turns.  I felt like the book was an easy and straightforward read.

Book Review - What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jimenez

 

For the Ramirez family, their lives revolve around their missing middle daughter, Ruthy, who was thirteen years old, when she disappeared. Ruthy disappeared after track practice without leaving a trace. Twelve years later, Jessica, the eldest, spots a woman on TV that looks very familiar to their Ruthy. Jessica rushes to tell her youngest sister, Nina, about her findings. The woman on TV has dyed her hair red and calls herself Ruby. Ruby also has a very similar beauty mark under her left eye just like Ruthy.

Life hasn't been easy for the Ramirez family when Ruthy disappeared. Their mother, Dolores, still struggles with the loss and their father has passed which, they believe was due to the stress from Ruthy's disappearance.  Jessica is struggling to juggle the demands of a newborn with her hospital job and Nina after just graduating from college is struggling to find meaningful employment.

After seeing Ruthy, Jessica and Nina decide to plan a trip to the show to see if that's their sister. However, when their mother finds out, she insist on joining along with her best friend, Irene. During their road trip, they realize they must come to terms with what they find and how they will need move forward with or without Ruthy.

I thought the book was an interesting read and it was fun reading about Staten Island. I connected with a few of their stories and landmarks since, I grew up in Staten Island. A few times though, I was wondering where this book was heading because I couldn't figure out if it was just about a family in grief over their missing sister or was there a thriller/mystery aspect to the book. The ending was a bit unexpected and it will have you wondering about the "what ifs" possibilities.  Overall, I thought it was a good debut novel and I look forward to reading more books  by the author.

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**