Book Spotlight - Take Me With You When You Go by David Levithan and Jennifer Niven + Spotlight

 About The Book:

Title: TAKE ME WITH YOU WHEN YOU GO

Author: David Levithan & Jennifer Niven

Pub. Date: August 31, 2021

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 336

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

From the New York Times bestselling authors of All the Bright Places and Every Day comes a story of hope, family, and finding your home in the people who matter the most.

Subject: You. Missing.

Ezra Ahern wakes up one day to find his older sister, Bea, gone. No note, no sign, nothing but an email address hidden somewhere only he would find it. Ezra never expected to be left behind with their abusive stepfather and their neglectful mother - how is he supposed to navigate life without Bea?

Bea Ahern already knew she needed to get as far away from home as possible. But a message in her inbox changes everything, and she finds herself alone in a new city - without Ez, without a real plan - chasing someone who might not even want to be found.

As things unravel at home for Ezra, Bea confronts secrets about their past that will forever change the way they think about their family. Together and apart, broken by abuse but connected by love, this brother and sister must learn to trust themselves before they can find a way back to each other.

 

About David Levithan:

David Levithan’s many acclaimed novels include Someday, Another Day, Every Day, Two Boys Kissing, and Boy Meets Boy. His bestselling collaborations include Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist and Sam & Ilsa’s Last Hurrah (both written with Rachel Cohn) and Will Grayson, Will Grayson (written with John Green). In 2016, David was named the recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for his contribution to YA literature. You can learn more about him at davidlevithan.com and follow him on Twitter at @loversdiction.

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

 

About Jennifer Niven:

Jennifer Niven is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of All the Bright Places and Holding Up the Universe. Her books have been translated in over 75 languages, and have won literary awards around the world. When she isn’t working on multiple book and TV projects, Jennifer also oversees Germ, a literary web magazine for high school age and beyond. Jennifer divides her time between coastal Georgia and Los Angeles. Find her at jenniferniven.com and on social.

 

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

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a Finished Copy of TAKE ME WITH YOU WHEN YOU GO, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/23/2021	Pick A Good Book	Excerpt
8/24/2021	YABooksCentral	Excerpt
8/25/2021	@Curlygrannylovestoread	Review
8/26/2021	Do You Dog-ear?	Review
8/27/2021	Everyone's Librarian	Review
8/28/2021	Ruei's Reading Corner	Review

Week Two:

8/29/2021	Books and Zebras @jypsylynn	Review
8/30/2021	Eli to the nth	Review
8/31/2021	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
9/1/2021	booksaremagictoo	Review
9/2/2021	Fictitiouswonderland	Review
9/3/2021	Momfluenster	Review
9/4/2021	onemused	Review

Week Three:

9/5/2021	celiamcmahonreads	Review
9/6/2021	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review
9/7/2021	Lifestyle of Me	Review
9/8/2021	BookHounds ya	Review
9/9/2021	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt
9/10/2021	@coffeebooksandmascara	Review
9/11/2021	hauntedbybooks	Review

Week Four:

9/12/2021	Midnightbooklover	IG Post
9/13/2021	BiancaBuysBooks	Review
9/14/2021	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review
9/15/2021	Zainey Laney	Review
9/16/2021	@ChristenKrumm	Review
9/17/2021	Two Points of Interest	Review

Book Review - I Am Margaret Moore by Hannah Capin

 

Each summer the Marshall Naval School opens its door to the girls of Deck Five. They learn how to sail, march on the drill fields, and earn honors and accolades. Each summer they push each other to their limits and they come back stronger together.

The girls have a bond that's stronger than blood; they are bounded by something stronger. One by one Margaret's friends start to vanish one by one because of the lies she told last summer. Will the secrets she kept be her downfall?

I thought the book summary was interesting and I was looking forward to reading this book. However, I didn't enjoy this novel at all. I hated the writing style. It was written to be lyrical but, it was confusing and gave little about the story. I had a hard time getting into the story because most of the words were just useless fluff or the author included too many technical naval terms. I lost interest in the book and didn't finish it.

Book Review - Nice Girls by Catherine Dang

 

Mary was a nice girl. She was well known as "Ivy League Mary" in her small town of Liberty Lake, Minnesota. She was expected to leave the small town behind and make it into the big leagues. Mary had transformed from a chubby teen with a scholarship to a thinner and cynical failure who was kicked out of Cornell in her senior year. She returns home to work at a local grocery store and watches as her life takes a sharp downward spiral.

As Mary's life takes a dip, her once best friend, Olivia Willand, disappears. She was a rising social media star and beloved by everyone except Mary. Mary knows behind the girl next door vibe is a mean and manipulative girl with sharp edges. As the town obsesses over Olivia, Mary believes that her disappearance might be tied to another missing person, nineteen-year-old DeMaria Jackson, who people thought she ran away. As Mary begin to investigate the disappearances, she is forced to face the truth about herself and others.

I thought the book was an interesting read. I was a bit disappointed in the ending. I thought the reason for the disappearances was going to be a bit more sinister even the reason for her being expelled was overblown. I am surprised that Mary wanted to keep her head down but, kept doing things that throws her into the limelight. It was an okay read and I would be opened to reading other books by the author.

September 2021 Haul!

 

Ah September is here! I am so excited for the Fall season but, also disappointed that the year has already gone by. I feel like that I have blinked and another year has gone by. 

I love fancy soaps and when I came across the brand Finchberry Soapery, I knew I had to get a few of their soaps. I decided to get their 8 piece sampler and the soaps smell amazing and look so pretty! I am a little shocked at how expensive they are though.

I got a few new sheet masks that I am excited to try. There is this one step Hanaro Modeling mask that has the same results as other modeling masks but it come pre-mixed without any additional steps needed. I think this is pretty cool because modeling masks are cool but, can get messy and unfortunately, they need to be mixed right before using. I had picked up a few sheet masks last week at this local beauty store in the city. Their packaging looks fun and I hope they perform well.

I heard good things about the brand Herbivore and I think I have tried them in the past. However, I saw they had a facial oil called Emerald and I knew I had to get it. I also got a new facial oils from Graydon and  Bybi that I am excited to try.

I remember being in love with Lancome's Juicy tubes so, when I saw L'oreal had a similar one called Colour Juice, I knew I had to try it. I got it in this beautiful rose pink called Panther Pink. I heard good things about Tarte's Jelly Glaze so I got it in toasted coconut. I was debating what color to get it in but, then realized I spend most of my day behind a mask. I ended up going with a soft brown neutral color.

Did you get anything this new that you are excited to try?

Book Review - Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

 

Nitta Sayuri tells her story of her life as a geisha as she reminisces in her old age. Her story began in 1929 in a small poverty filled fishing village. She was nine-year-old girl with beautiful unusual colored eyes. Her father made the decision to sell her and her sister into slavery to a geisha house. There she transforms from a young girl into a young woman learning the rigorous arts of being a geisha.  She learns the art of dance and music while entertaining her clients. While at the geisha house she has to learn to deal with a dangerous rival who will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

The book was an enchanting read and it felt like we were getting a glimpse of a previously unknown world. The novel did move a bit slowly in the beginning and it felt a bit rushed in the end but, I thought it was an enjoyable read. I liked reading about Sayuri's journey but, towards the end of the novel I didn't care for her. I understand that she was trying to take control of her life but, I felt like she treated people like pawns. Overall, I can see why this book is a fan favorite.

Book Review - The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter

 

Delta Dawn spends most of her day photographing the perfect lives of the wealthy people in NYC. She has a special gift of transforming stiff hugs and tear-stained faces into ones of joy during parties. When Delta is invited to Natalie Straub's eleventh birthday party, she finds herself yearning to be a part of the family instead of an outsider. She wants to be includes in the family's daily lives.

Delta decides that she will find a way to make herself a part of the family. She offers to babysit for Natalie while befriending Amelia. She also tries to offer emotional support to Fritz so, she can be ingrained in every aspect of the family's life. Soon she finds herself a fixture at the home and they soon realizes photos are not the only thing Delta is good at manipulating.

The novel is a claustrophobic read and it made me second guess every single person I have invited into my life. I had a hard time believe that no one called Delta out on behavior but, from the looks of it she probably doesn't have much friends. The ending left me wanting more though because it felt rushed and incomplete.

 

Book Review - Beyond the Tides by Liz Johnson

 

Meg Whitaker is devastated when she learns that her father is selling the family's lobster-fishing business to her high school nemesis. Meg is determine to prove she should be the rightful owner of the family business. She had no interest in running a lobster boat or even getting on a boat due to her persistent seasickness. However, she doesn't want Oliver Ross to have her family business especially, since he ruined her dreams of a science scholarship and entry to an Ivy League school.

Oliver is ashamed of the kid he used to be. He was angry and sad that his father had walked on his family. He lashed out on Meg who was an innocent bystander in his path of fury. However, Oliver is desperate to own Whitaker's fishing business because it would provide for his family and give him opportunities he wouldn't have otherwise. He isn't going to walk away from the chance of a lifetime because Meg wants him to.

The book was an okay read. It was a predictable and moved a bit slowly for my liking. I felt like there was a lot of unnecessary details that just bogged  down the story. The author did hint to other at characters being the main stars for the next book in the series. However, I am not sure if I am vested enough to be interested in reading more books in this series.

**I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey

 

Maud is an elderly woman dealing with the early stages of dementia. As she is slowly losing her memory and her grip on everyday life, she is certain that her best friend has disappeared. Her search for Elizabeth goes back decades and she refuses to give up about her friend.

No one believes Maud, not even her daughter, Helen or her caretakers and the police. Maud has her handwritten notes that she leaves for herself while she searches for the truth. However, she can't fight the overwhelming feeling that Elizabeth is in dire need of her help. Maud resolves to find out the truth about her friend.

As Maud begins focusing on Elizabeth, her obsession leads to her rapidly being more forgetful while leading her to remember about her sister, Sukey. Her sister had vanished shortly after World War II and was never heard from again. As she remembers vivid memories of Sukey, she wonders if it ties into Elizabeth's disappearance.

I thought the book had an interesting premise of an elderly woman with cognitive issues trying to solve two disappearances. However, I found the novel to be boring and incredibly repetitive after awhile. We would gleam a nugget of information on either Sukey or Elizabeth and then Maud would forget. I also didn't like that Maud clearly needed to be institutionalized and that having her living alone was dangerous to her well-being. Even though she was a fictionalized character, I kept worrying about her safety every time she was hungry or left her house. I stopped reading the book one third of the way because it started getting too repetitive and had to much detail about Maud's everyday life than the actual "disappearance".

Book Review - The Curse of the Mummy: Uncovering Tutankhamun's Tomb by Candace Fleming + Giveaway

 

The novel tells the story of the search for Tutankhamun's tomb. Many people believed that the dig unleashed a curse. The treasures found within the tomb was heavily debated who owned them and whether or not foreigners should be digging for them.

The boy pharaoh Tutankhamun ruled and died young and his followers had prepared him for the afterlife. His tomb was filled with treasure and goodies that he would need for the afterlife. His tomb was raided a few times but, then the sands from the Valley of the Kings had buried the tomb and it was lost to time.

Centuries has passed while the tomb has sat under the sand and sun undisturbed. Europeans were obsessed with Egypt and two Brits decide to try their hand at hunting for the lost tombs in Egypt. One was a rich earl who likes to gamble and the another is an archeologist who no one wants to work with. The pair worked together for years to find and open Tutankhamun's tomb.

I found the book to be an engrossing and thrilling read. The book is marketed towards young readers but, I found myself  to be spellbound while reading it. The author did a good job at keeping readers charmed and engrossed with the book. I loved that the author included photos and little breaks in the chapters that told of "weird" coincidences. I am definitely open to reading more books by the author.

**Disclosure - I received an unedited version of the book in exchange for an honest opinion** 

 

About the Book:

Title: THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY: Uncovering Tutankhamun's Tomb

Author: Candace Fleming

Pub. Date: September 7, 2021

Publisher: Scholastic Focus

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 304

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

Award-winning and critically acclaimed author Candace Fleming presents the edge-of-your-seat true story of the search for Tutankhamun's tomb, the Western public's belief that the dig was cursed, and the battle for ownership of the treasures within.

During the reign of the New Kingdom of Egypt, the boy pharaoh Tutankhamun ruled and died tragically young. In order to send him on his way into the afterlife, his tomb was filled with every treasure he would need after death. And then, it was lost to time, buried in the sands of the Valley of the Kings.

His tomb was also said to be cursed.

Centuries later, as Egypt-mania gripped Europe, two Brits -- a rich earl with a habit for gambling and a disreputable, determined archeologist -- worked for years to rediscover and open Tutankhamun's tomb. But once it was uncovered, would ancient powers take their revenge for disturbing and even looting the pharaoh's resting place? What else could explain the mysterious illnesses, accidents, and deaths that began once it was found?

  

About Candace:

Candace Fleming awarded herself the Newbery Medal in fifth grade after scraping the gold sticker off the class copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond and pasting it onto her first novel—a ten-page, ten-chapter mystery called Who Done It? She’s been collecting awards (her own, not Elizabeth George Speare’s) ever since.

Today, Candace is the versatile and acclaimed author of more than forty books for children and young adults, including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize honored The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of the Russian Empire; Boston Globe/Horn Book Award-winning biography, The Lincolns; the bestselling picture book, Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!; the Sibert-Award-winning Giant Squid; and the beloved Boxes for Katje. She contributed the chapter on Katharine of Aragon to Fatal Throne. Photo credit: Michael Lionstar.

 

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

 

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/24/2021	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt
8/25/2021	The Momma Spot	Review
8/25/2021	Lifestyle of Me	Review
8/26/2021	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt
8/27/2021	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
8/27/2021	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
8/28/2021	YABooksCentral	Interview

Week Two:

8/29/2021	Log Cabin Library	Excerpt
8/29/2021	BookHounds ya	Review
8/30/2021	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt
8/31/2021	Little Red Reads	Review
8/31/2021	Jaime's World	Excerpt
9/1/2021	Locks, Hooks and Books	Review
9/2/2021	@lexijava	Excerpt
9/3/2021	Two Points of Interest	Review
9/4/2021	hauntedbybooks	Review
9/4/2021	Enjoyingbooksagain	Review

Week Three:

9/5/2021	The Bookwyrm's Den	Review
9/6/2021	Books and Zebras @jypsylynn	Review

August 2021 Empties Part 2!

 

Wow August is gone! I can't believe its only 4 more months before the end of the year. The year has flown by and once again I felt like I didn't do anything really productive with my life....I guess though this month was productive because I did finish quite a few things this month.

I started using this new lip mask from Fresh Rose Lip Cream and found it leave my lips soft without being greasy. I used the new Facetory Oats My Bananas mask and loved it. I am excited that they are expanding their own offerings and that they are very affordable. I am adding both masks to my night time routine. 

I been using waterproof mascara a lot more lately because the heat has been so oppressive lately. I started using the Yensa CBD Superfood Dual Cleansing Oil to remove the mascara more easily from my eyes. The cleansing oil does have some foaming action but, not my favorite cleansing oil.

I suffer from insomnia so, I was intrigued when I saw Milk Makeup Melatonin Overnight Lip Mask. I thought it was okay and I would get it again if it was on sale. I do think that it did last longer than other overnight lip mask. The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask had a sweet scent and had a bit of sticky/tacky base. I liked putting it on but, I noticed that when I drank water the mask would come off. I would definitely use less than more with this product.

I started using this new hair mask called Virtue Restorative Treatment Mask and thought it was interesting. It definitely left my hair smelling nice and feeling soft and shiny. I liked my Akar lip balm so, when I saw their face oil I decided to get it. I thought it was okay. I have tried other face oils that had better results. I felt that the oil just sat on the top and didn't really absorb into my skin.

Have you finished anything that you loved recently?

Here is everything I finished this month -

Fresh Rose Petal Soft Lip Balm

Burt's Bees Baby Bee Buttermilk Bath

Shangpree Spa Care System Gold Black Pearl Eye Mask

Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb

Honey Jarret Super Beau'tea Mask Rose

Feel Brilliant Bamboo Charcoal Facial Sheet Mask

Facetory Everyday Charcoal Mask

Gangbly Jeju Canola Honey Nutri Mask

VT Cosmetics Gold Probiotics Mask

Facetory Oats My Bananas

Simply When Cosmic Calm Soothe

Carees Tahitian Renewal Silkening Body Wash

Yensa CBD Superfood Dual Cleansing Oil

June Jacobs Spa Collection Neroli Hydrating Mist

Sunday CEO Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream

Milk Makeup Melatonin Overnight Lip Mask

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

Burt's Bees Nourishing Lip Balm with Mango Butter

Botanic Farm Black Soybean Milk Pudding Sleeping Pack

Virtue Restorative Treatment Mask

Rituals of Sakura Celebrate Each Day Body Scrub

Steam Cream Coquette

Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt

Akar Skin Soothe Face oil

TonyMoly Vital Vita 12 Poresol Ampoule Vitamin H

Thisworks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray

Knours Skin Mediation

Elemis Superfood Blackcurrant Jelly Exfoliator

ESPA Clarifying Clay Mineral Mask

Rahua Voluminous Conditioner for Body and Bounce

Julep Rock Star Hand Creme

Exuviance Rejuvenating Treatment Masque

Pur x Barbie Glitterally Brightening Peel Off Mask

Ceramedx Restoring Body Lotion