Sunday, October 27, 2024

Book Review - Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson

 



Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson is about a teenager, Pip, investigating the disappearance of one of her friends, Jaime Reynolds. After the first season of her viral podcast, Pip decided to stop playing detective with police cases. The last case she investigated, the murder of Andie Bell, has left lasting trauma on her.

When one of her friends’ brother, Jaime, goes missing, the Reynolds family is desperate for answers. They ask Pip for help but Pip tells them she is done with investigations. She directs them to the police, but when the police don’t take Jaime’s disappearance seriously, Pip has no choice but to help the family and her friend. Jamie was last sighted the night the town hosted a memorial for the deaths of Andie Bell and Sal Singh. Will Pip be able to find Jaime before it’s too late?

This is the second book in the series. The book can be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading it in order. Some scenes happened in the first book that plays an important role in the second book. The book does move slowly like the previous book. However, this time I found Pip to be a bit annoying at times. I believe it’s because there were so many emotions at play, especially with the trials of the character's from the previous book.. I am trying to be patient with her but, it is trying at times.

The book does have a few twists and turns that kept me guessing. I do like that the author tied in previous scenes from the first book in the series. There were new characters introduced and also some of the supporting characters from the previous book have a smaller supporting role in this novel. Cara and Ravi had a more active role in the first book, however were more like a passing thought here. While this book isn’t marketed as a romance novel, I have a hard time believing Ravi and Pip are in a relationship. They seem to be more like friends or close friends than dating. Overall, I did enjoy the book and I would be open to reading more books in the series.

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Book Review - A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

 

 

 A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is about a senior high school student, Pip, who decides to investigate a closed murder case. Everyone who lives in Fairview is familiar with the case of Andie Bell. She was a popular and pretty high school student. She was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself over the grief.  Five years later, the tragedy still haunts her small town, and everyone can’t stop talking about it.

Pip feels that there is more to what happened that day. She knew Sal as a kid, and he was always kind to her. She feels that the police have pinned the crime on the wrong person, and she is determined to find out the truth behind the murder. She decides to investigate the murder as her capstone project for school. As she dwells deeper into the case, she discovers dark secrets that someone is desperate to keep hidden. Will Pip be able to find out the truth behind the Andie Bell murder?

The novel is geared towards young adults and could seem juvenile to some readers. I thought it was a good read and it had multiple twists. I found the plot to be interesting and kept me entertained until the end of the book.  The book did have a lot of fillers and I felt that the book did drag at times.  I am looking forward to the other books in the series.

 

Sunday, October 20, 2024

Book Spotlight - HOUSE OF ELEPHANTS by Claribel A. Ortega + Giveaway

 

About The Book:

Title: HOUSE OF ELEPHANTS (Witchlings #3)

Author: Claribel A. Ortega

Pub. Date: October 1, 2024

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Formats:  Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 432

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/HOUSE-OF-ELEPHANTS 

From New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Claribel A. Ortega: The third bookin the spellbinding Witchlings series!

It's been months since the end of the Golden Frog Games, and a cure for the hex that turned young witches to stone still hasn't been found. Seven and Thorn want nothing more than to find a way to heal their friends, but everything they try ends in failure.

When the Black Moon Ceremony arrives earlier than expected, Seven and Thorn take it as a chance to welcome any new Spares into their coven. But rather than welcoming a few Spares like they thought, all the witchlings in the ceremony are chosen to enter the Spare coven!

The new Spares are met with anger from the Hill Society. They create more unfair laws that ban Spares from using magic and being equals in Twelve Towns society! On top of all that, Spares start disappearing. And no one seems to care.

As Seven and Thorn struggle to find a cure for the stone hex and to stop the Twelve Town's unfair treatment of Spares once and for all, they discover a piece of hidden history that will change everything-if they can get anyone to listen to them.

 

Grab the first 2 books in the WITCHLINGS series now!

 

About Claribel A. Ortega:

Claribel A. Ortega, New York Times bestselling author of Ghost Squad, Witchlings, and Frizzy (Pura Belpre Award-winner), is a former reporter who writes middle grade and young adult fantasy inspired by her Dominican heritage. When she's not busy turning her obsession with eighties pop culture, magic, and video games into books, she's cohosting her podcasts Write or Die and Bad Author Book Club and helping authors navigate publishing with her consulting business, GIFGRRL. Claribel has been featured on BuzzFeed, NPR, Good Morning America, and Deadline. You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok at @Claribel_Ortega and on her website at claribelortega.com. 

Sign up for Claribel’s newsletter!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Pinterest | Tumblr | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of HOUSE OF ELEPHANTS, US Only.

Ends October 31st, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/30/2024

Daily Waffle

Excerpt

10/1/2024

Fire and Ice Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

10/2/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt/IG Post

10/3/2024

onemused

IG Post

10/4/2024

Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt/IG Post

10/5/2024

bookloversbookreviews

IG Post

Week Two:

10/6/2024

@_lbee2ndl_

IG Review

10/7/2024

@katherinebichler

TikTok Post

10/8/2024

Nonbinary Knight Reads

Review/IG Post

10/9/2024

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

10/10/2024

foxingontheedges

Review/IG Post

10/11/2024

@thepagelady

IG Review

10/12/2024

@parkhopandpages

IG Review

Week Three:

10/13/2024

@mjreadsmagic

Review/IG Post

10/14/2024

thefashionistfiles

Review/IG Post

10/15/2024

@callistoscalling

IG Review

10/16/2024

avainbookland

IG Review

10/17/2024

FUONLYKNEW

Review

10/18/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Review/TikTok Post

10/19/2024

Two Points of Interest

Review

Week Four:

10/20/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

10/21/2024

The Litt Librarian

Review/IG Post

10/22/2024

Deal sharing aunt

Review/IG Post

10/23/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

10/24/2024

One More Exclamation

Review/IG Post

10/25/2024

@pagesforpaige

IG Review


Friday, October 18, 2024

Book Review - Death Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley

 


Death Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley is about a cook, Kat Holloway, who discovers a dead body in her pantry. Kat Holloway recently started working for Lord Rankin’s household. The members of the household are composed of a few oddballs but Kat doesn’t mind if they stay out of her way and her kitchen. Things take a turn for the worse when Kat discovers her young Irish assistant dead in the pantry.

Kat is determined to find out who killed her kitchen maid. She turns to her friend, Daniel McAdam, to help solve the mystery. Daniel is adept at discovering secrets while assuming different personas. Kat also enlists the help of Lord Rankin’s sister-in-law, who is a mathematical genius. Will the trio be able to figure out who is behind the murder?

The book is the first in the series, but it hints at a back story between Kat and Daniel. It was a bit annoying at times because the author didn’t give much detail and I felt like I was missing something between the two characters. This didn’t feel like the first book in the series but maybe the second book.  I liked the detail Kat gave while cooking. Other than that, I felt that the book was boring and lacking. There were times when nothing would go on and then suddenly something would happen, but it wasn’t always relevant to the murder at hand.  If you enjoy a light cozy murder mystery with a focus on cooking, you might find this book to be an enjoyable read.

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Book Review - Five Years After: A John Matherson Novel, book 4 by William R. Forstchen

 

Five Years After: A John Matherson Novel, book 4 by William R. Forstchen is about the fallout from an EMP attack that happened five years earlier.  John Matherson is struggling to hold together the makeshift government that he helped create after the EMP attack on the United States. The government, now called the Republic, is facing threats from multiple fronts. The budding government is trying to control the remaining colonies but faces insurgents who want power for themselves. After living a few years quietly, John is pulled back into the fray when he receives news that the President is dying, and he needs to help negotiate with a new military power that was hidden from the rest of the world.

I thought the book was an okay read. I didn’t realize it was a part of a series but, I was able to read it and follow along with most of the story as a standalone. I also didn’t care for the premise of the book. I don’t like the “end of days” type of storyline. The book was also very predictable, and most of the storyline seemed ripped from the headlines. I also felt that for the amount of pages nothing was  happening, and it was a bit boring. I felt it was an okay book though I am in no rush to read other books by the author.

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Book Review - Not Nothing by Gayle Forman

 

Not Nothing by Gayle Forman is about a young boy, Alex, who is sentenced to volunteer at a retirement home.  Twelve-year-old Alex did something really bad that landed him in trouble with the law and in front of a judge.  The  judge sentenced him to spend his summer volunteering at a retirement home.  There he meets an annoying do-gooder named Maya Jade. She spends the entire day bossing Alex around.

Alex just wants to serve his sentence without any issue. He misses his mom and hasn’t seen her in a year. He feels that his aunt and uncle don’t want him. They don’t make him feel welcome and constantly complain about how much of a burden he is. The residents seem like zombies to him and don’t seem to have much going on.

Josey is 107 and he is ready to die. He has managed to evade death many times during his lifetime. He survived being in the Nazi ghetto and a concentration camp. He managed to escape because of a brave woman named Olka and his ability to sew. Now, he spends his day in Shady Glen, refusing to speak to anyone and waiting to die. That is until Alex knocks on his door and Josey decides to tell Alex about his story. Alex finds himself drawn to Josey and comes back every day to hear more of Josey’s story.  Alex must decide if he will rise to the occasion, even if it means confronting the worst thing he has ever done.

I found the book to be a heartwarming and emotional read. I enjoyed the book and found it to be a quick read. I found myself crying and rooting for Alex and Josey. The book teaches young readers many important lessons like not judging others, forgiveness, hope, and compassion. I like that the book does take a heavy topic but makes it suitable for young readers. I loved reading the book and would be open to reading other books by the author.

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Book Review - The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings

 


The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings is about a young boy, Perry, who is trying to save his beloved city. New Orleans is a city that is filled with magic and wonder. NOLA is the city where ghosts can be seen dancing the night away. For others, New Orleans might be strange but, to most of its inhabitants, it’s known as home.

Perry knows Nola and all its quirks. So, when the city’s Great Magician starts popping up in random and odd places and well-known songs are being forgotten, Perry knows something is wrong. The nine songs of power escaped from the piano that maintains Nola’s beat and without them, New Orleans will fall. Perry is unwilling to watch his home get destroyed and he is willing to do whatever it takes to recover the nine songs.

I found the novel very hard to get into. I couldn’t tell what was real and what was imaginary.  For example, a ghost that appears randomly and plays music. Is this a person’s imagination or did that happen or is it a part of the book’s reality? I found the slang and writing style hard to follow along with. I had re-read the same thing a few times and sometimes, I got confused about what was going on. I decided to stop reading the book since I was willing to do everything else in the world, including cleaning, then reading this book.

Saturday, October 5, 2024

Book Spotlight - Beyond Real: The Complete Series by Zack Kaplan


 

About The Book:

Title: BEYOND REAL: The Complete Series

Authors: Zack Kaplan & Fabiana Mascolo, Toni Fejzula, Dennis Menheere, Vincenzo Riccardi, Jorge Corona, Liana Kangas, Luana Vecchio, and Jordie Bellaire (Illustrators)

Pub. Date: September 10, 2024

Publisher: Vault Comics

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 160

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/BEYOND-REAL

 

The Matrix meets The Wizard of Oz in BEYOND REAL: The Complete Series, a mind-bending psychedelic journey through the nature of reality – and who we really are.

QUESTION REALITY.

When struggling artist June is injured in a severe car accident that leaves her boyfriend in a coma, she begins to experience strange visual phenomena. When June discovers that the world she considers “reality” may be a computer simulation, she must set out on a journey of possibility and peril into the metaphysical layers of the simulation to reach the world’s creator and save her true love from death.

Beyond Real explores simulation theory, the creative spirit, the nature of reality, and the struggle for self-determination.

Are we real – or are we living in a computer simulation?
What is reality? Is death an illusion?
Enter the world that is … Beyond Real.

Beyond Real, written by Zack Kaplan (MINDSET from Vault Comics) is joined by a slate of spectacular artists including Fabiana Mascolo, Toni Fejzula, Jordie Bellaire, Vincenzo Riccardi, Dennis Menheere, Jorge Corona, and Liana Kangas.

Collects the entire six-issue mind-altering and acclaimed series!

For fans of: Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Matrix, Alice In Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, What Dreams May Come (Richard Matheson), Promethea (Alan Moore & J.H. Williams III), The Invisibles (Grant Morrison), Flex Mentallo (Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely), Ghost in the Shell, Nonplayer (Nate Simpson),Permutation City (Greg Egan), Sea of Tranquility (Emily St. John Mandel), The Restoration Game (Kevin MacLeod), The Peripheral , Agency,and Neuromancer (William Gibson) ,Tomorrow, And Tomorrow, And Tomorrow (Gabrielle Zevin), and Neil Gaiman,

"Visually arresting. Unlike anything ... seen before. 10/10" - Kabooooom!

"As close to perfect as my be possible. 10/10" - The Pullbox

"A visual feast. 9.5/10" - AIPT

"Mind-blowing and visually stunning. 9/10" - Capes and Tights

"A sci-fi mindf*uck in the best possible way. 9/10" - Derry Comics


 

About Zack Kaplan:

Zack Kaplan is a break-out science fiction comic writer and creator of such comics and graphic novels as ECLIPSE, PORT OF EARTH, THE LOST CITY EXPLORERS, JOIN THE FUTURE, BREAK OUT, METAL SOCIETY, FOREVER FORWARD and MINDSET. He has worked with publishers such as Image/Top Cow, Dark Horse, Aftershock, Vault, Humanoids, Scout Comics and DC Comics. His first three series were all optioned for TV adaptation, with PORT OF EARTH currently being developed by Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment and Amazon TV Studios. Zack has taught screenwriting and storytelling at the International Academy of Film and TV, located in the Philippines. He currently lives in Los Angeles.

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

 

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive finished copies of BEYOND REAL: The Complete Series, US Only.

Ends October 8th, midnight EST.

Rafflecopter Code:

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Rafflecopter Link:

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/9/2024

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

9/10/2024

Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt/IG Post

9/11/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt/IG Post

9/12/2024

Daily Waffle

Excerpt

9/13/2024

Fire and Ice Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

 

Week Two:

9/16/2024

Comic Book Yeti

Excerpt

9/17/2024

@evergirl200

IG Review

9/18/2024

@sparks_books

IG Review

9/19/2024

@heyashleyyreads

IG Review/TikTok Post

9/20/2024

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

 

Week Three:

9/22/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

9/23/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

9/24/2024

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

9/25/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Review/TikTok Post

9/26/2024

Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Review/IG Post

9/27/2024

@callistoscalling

IG Review

 

Week Four:

9/30/2024

The Momma Spot

Review

10/1/2024

Edith's Little Free Library

IG Post/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

10/2/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

10/3/2024

Rajiv's reviews

Review/IG Post

10/4/2024

Two Points of Interest

Review