Book Spotlight - A Darkening of Dragons by S.A. Patrick + Giveaway

 

About The Book:

Title: A DARKENING OF DRAGONS (Songs of Magic #1)

Author: S.A. Patrick

Pub. Date: April 1, 2022

Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 400

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

Three accidental heroes encounter one legendary villain in an epic dragon-filled adventure just right for young fans of Terry Pratchett, J.R.R. Tolkien, and How to Train Your Dragon!

13-year old piper Patch Brightwater is a boy in disgrace. Thrown in jail for playing a forbidden spell, he is no one's idea of a hero. But then he discovers a deadly truth – the evil Piper of Hamelyn is on the loose.

With the help of Wren, a girl cursed to live as a rat, and Barver, a fire-breathing dracogriff, Patch must stop the Piper from sparking the biggest battle of them all.

S.A. Patrick’s debut children’s novel is a vivid retelling of one of the darkest legends of all time – the Piper of Hamelyn. Combining fairy tale lore with the very best of modern storytelling and empowerment, A Darkening of Dragons takes fantasy fans on a journey filled with adventure, magic, and the delight of finding friends in unexpected places. Perfect for fans of The Hobbit, Terry Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching books, and How to Train Your Dragon.

A Carnegie Medal nominee. 

About S.A. Patrick:

S. A. Patrick was born in Belfast. When he was a child, he wanted to write video games, become an author, and have magical powers. The first two came true. If he ever does get magical powers, he hopes people like dragons and griffins because there’ll suddenly be a lot of them around. He lives in England.

 

Twitter | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of A DARKENING OF DRAGONS, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/28/2022	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt/IG Post
3/28/2022	@enjoyingbooksagain	Excerpt
3/29/2022	Books a Plenty Book Reviews	Review
3/29/2022	More Books Please blog	Review/IG Post
3/30/2022	The Bookwyrm's Den	Review
3/30/2022	Log Cabin Library	Review
3/31/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
3/31/2022	Onemused	IG Spotlight
4/1/2022	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review/IG Post
4/1/2022	Lifestyle of Me	Review

Week Two:

4/4/2022	Ravenz Reviewz	Review/IG Post
4/4/2022	@coffeesipsandreads	Review
4/5/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review
4/5/2022	One More Exclamation	Review/IG Post
4/6/2022	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post
4/6/2022	BookHounds YA	Review
4/7/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
4/7/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
4/8/2022	Locks, Hooks and Books	Review
4/8/2022	@lexijava	Review/IG Post

Book Spotlight - The Rumor Game by Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra

 

About The Book:

Title: THE RUMOR GAME

Author: Dhonielle Clayton & Sona Charaipotra

Pub. Date: March 1, 2022

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 480

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

All it takes is one spark to start a blaze.

At Foxham Prep, a posh private school for the children of DC’s elite, a single rumor has the power to ruin a life.

Nobody knows that better than Bryn. She used to have it all—the perfect boyfriend, a bright future in politics, and even popularity, thanks to her best friend, cheer captain Cora. Then one mistake sparked a scandal that burned it all to the ground.

Now it’s the start of a new school year and the spotlight has shifted: It’s geeky Georgie, newly hot after a summer makeover, whose name is on everyone’s lips. When a rumor ignites, Georgie rockets up the school’s social hierarchy, pitting her and Cora against each other. It grants her Foxham stardom . . . but it also makes her a target.

As the rumors grow and morph, blazing like wildfire through the school’s social media, all three girls’ lives begin to unravel. But one person close to the drama has the power to stop the gossip in its tracks. The question is—do they even want to?

From Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra, authors of the Tiny Pretty Things duology (now a Netflix series), comes the edge-of-your-seat social thriller everyone will be talking about.

Review:

"A juicy, elegant, absolutely flawless thriller with a twist. It's the diverse Gossip Girl we've been waiting for!"―Tiffany D. Jackson, New York Times best-selling author of Grown and White Smoke

 

 

About Dhonielle Clayton:

Dhonielle Clayton is the New York Times best-selling author of the Belles series, The Mirror: Shattered Midnight, and the coauthor of Blackout and the Tiny Pretty Things duology, now a Netflix original series. She hails from the Washington, DC, suburbs on the Maryland side. She taught secondary school for several years, and is a former elementary and middle school librarian. She is COO of the non-profit We Need Diverse Books, and president of Cake Creative, an IP story kitchen dedicated to diverse representation. She’s an avid traveler, and always on the hunt for magic and mischief. Up next: The Marvellers, her middle grade fantasy debut. You can find her on social media @brownbookworm.

 

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

 

About Sona Charaipotra:

Sona Charaipotra is the author of Symptoms of a Heartbreak and How Maya Got Fierce, and coauthor of the Tiny Pretty Things duology, now a Netflix original series. She earned her master’s in screenwriting from NYU and an MFA in creative writing from the New School. A working journalist, Sona has held editorial roles at People, TeenPeople, ABCNews.com, MSN, and most recently, the Barnes & Noble Teen Blog (RIP), and contributed to publications from the New York Times to TeenVogue. She is a former We Need Diverse Books board member, and co-founder of CAKE Literary, a boutique book packager focused on high-concept diverse titles. Find her on the web talking about books, Bollywood movies, and chai.

 

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

 

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE RUMOR GAME, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/1/2022	For the Love of KidLit	Excerpt
3/2/2022	The Reading Devil	Excerpt
3/3/2022	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post
3/4/2022	BookHounds YA	Review/IG Post
3/5/2022	Lifestyle of Me	Review

Week Two:

3/6/2022	The book review crew	Review/IG Post
3/7/2022	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt/IG Post
3/8/2022	@coffeesipsandreads	Review/IG Post
3/9/2022	Excuse Me, I’m Reading	Review
3/10/2022	Eye-Rolling Demigod's Book Blog	Review/IG Post
3/11/2022	YA Book Nerd	Review/IG Post
3/12/2022	onemoreexclamation	Review/IG Post

Week Three:

3/13/2022	@capturedfiction	Review
3/14/2022	Fyrekatz Blog	Review
3/15/2022	Cindy's Love of Books	Review
3/16/2022	Karen Dee's Book Reviews	Review/IG Post
3/17/2022	Confessions of a YA Reader	Excerpt
3/18/2022	Fire and Ice	Review
3/19/2022	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt/IG Post

Week Four:

3/20/2022	boozybook blog	Review/IG Post
3/21/2022	The Book View	Review/IG Post
3/22/2022	The Girl Who Reads	Review/IG Post
3/23/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
3/24/2022	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt
3/25/2022	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt
3/26/2022	YABooksCentral	Excerpt

Week Five:

3/27/2022	onemused	Review/IG Post
3/28/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
3/29/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review
3/30/2022	@jypsylynn	Review/IG Post
3/31/2022	Momfluenster	Review/IG Post

March 2022 Haul Part 2!

 

I can't believe March is over already. It felt like it took forever but, also went by pretty quickly some days. I am looking forward to brighter days and warmer weather. I think Spring and Fall have the best weather.

I got tons of great goodies this month that I am excited to use. I love eucalyptus so when I saw the shower steamers from Lujobar, I knew I had to get them. I can't wait to take a shower later and use them. I got two new bars of soap which I am so super excited to try. I got one from Megababe called space bar. I believe it's for underarms but, honestly I might use it for all over. I recently discovered stress sweating is a horrible beast and smells 1,000x worse than regular sweating. I am definitely going to start using these during more stressful weeks.

I got a few things from UMM skincare and this brand looks so luxurious. Their "The Bar" smells amazing and it has so many delicious and good for you ingredients. Their hand and body butter has scents of jasmine, sandalwood, and rose. It looks so creamy I can't wait to rub this in. The body oil is so amazing and it has bits of 24kt gold and saffron. Everything I have gotten smells amazing and I can't wait to try them.

I got this $249 cream from Lancome called Absolute Rich Cream. You have to be rich to afford this cream. I am hoping that it both works and it doesn't so I don't get stuck buying more. I got a new facial oil from Herbivore that I am exciting to try. I love facial oils and this one has a cool name!

Is there any you got this month that you are excited to try?

Book Spotlight - It's The End of the World and I'm In My Bathing Suit by Justin A. Reynolds + Giveaway

 

About The Book:

Title: IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AND I’M IN MY BATHING SUIT

Author: Justin A. Reynolds

Pub. Date: April 5, 2022

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 304

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

Twelve-year-old Eddie Gordon Holloway has concocted his most genius plan ever to avoid chores... especially the dreaded L-A-U-N-D-R-Y. If he can wear all the clothes he owns, he'll only have to do the laundry once during his school break.

On the day of the highly anticipated Beach Bash, Eddie's monstrous pile of dirty laundry is found by his mom. And Eddie's day has just taken a turn for the worst. Now he's stuck at home by himself, missing the bash, and doing his whole pile of laundry. But mid-cycle, the power goes out!

With his first load of laundry wet and the rest of his stuff still filthy, he sets out to explore the seemingly empty neighborhood in his glow-in-the-dark swim trunks, flip-flops, and a beach towel. He soon meets up with other neighborhood kids: newcomer Xavier (who was mid-haircut and has half his head shaved), Eddie's former friend Sonia (who has spent her entire break trying to beat a video game and was mid-battle with the final boss), and siblings Trey and Sage (who are dealing with major sibling drama).

As they group up to cover more ground and find out what happened, they realize that their families aren't coming back anytime soon. And as night falls, the crew realizes that they aren't just the only people left in the neighborhood, they might be the only people left... anywhere.

Book Trailer:

Justin talks about IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AND I’M IN MY BATHING SUIT

 

About Justin A. Reynolds:

JUSTIN A. REYNOLDS has always wanted to be a writer. Opposite of Always, his debut novel, was an Indies Introduce selection, a School Library Journal Best Book, has been translated in 17 languages, and is being developed for film with Paramount Players. He hangs out in northeast Ohio with his family and likes it, and is probably somewhere, right now, dancing terribly. His second novel, Early Departures, published September 2020. In spring 2021, he teamed up with Marvel and Graphix to release his debut graphic novel, Miles Morales: Shock Waves. You can find him at justinareynolds.com.

 

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

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AND I’M IN MY BATHING SUIT, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/21/2022	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt
3/21/2022	For the Love of KidLit	Excerpt
3/22/2022	BookHounds YA	Excerpt
3/22/2022	@jael_and_jenessa_reads	Review
3/23/2022	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
3/23/2022	Lifestyle of Me	Review
3/24/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
3/24/2022	Cindy's Love of Books	Review
3/25/2022	Eye-Rolling Demigod's Book Blog	Review
3/25/2022	The Reading Wordsmith	Review

Week Two:

3/28/2022	The Bookwyrm's Den	Review
3/28/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review
3/29/2022	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review
3/29/2022	One More Exclamation	Review
3/30/2022	@drewsim12	Review
3/30/2022	Ravenz Reviewz	Review
3/31/2022	More Books Please blog	Review
3/31/2022	@coffeesipsandreads	Review
4/1/2022	The Momma Spot	Review
4/1/2022	fictionologyst	Review

Book Review - The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

 

Violet is an eighteen year old ballerina that days away from attending Julliard, her dream school. She is worried that something might expose the truth behind her achievement. In the inside of a girls' juvenile detention  center, is Amber, who has been locked up for as long as she can remember.  Tying these two girls together is Orianna who knows Violet's dark secret.

I thought this was going to be an interesting read but, it was such a long and boring read. There were pages upon pages were nothing happened but, they same repetitive and asinine things. I didn't really care for the author's writing style as I felt I had to constantly reread things to understand what she was trying to say. This novel was billed as a horror story but, unless you include the ending which was confusing in it's own right, there was nothing scary or thrilling about this book. There was no guessing who was behind the murders because it was obvious. The characters were all duds and most of the time I was wondering what the point was of some of these characters.

Book Review - Turtle in Paradise: The Graphic Novel by Jennifer L. Holm

 

It's 1935, and eleven-year-old Turtle knows that life will never go as one expects it. She knows better than to expect a Hollywood ending. She knows that money and opportunity is scarce. When her mother gets a job as a housekeeper, Turtle is sent to live with her relatives in Florida. Florida is not what Turtle expected and before long, Turtle starts to come out of her shell.

The graphic novel was beautiful illustrated with bright vibrant colors. The story is sweet and heart breaking at time but, a cute read. Personally, I like graphic novels with humor so, I didn't really care for this story too much. I might be opened to reading other graphic novels by the author.

 

 

March 2022 Empties!

 

 

 Wow, March is almost half over. The year has flown by so quickly! I did manage to finish a few things this month and I am excited to take advantage of new sales!

I finished a few masks that I enjoyed using. I used this sticky Natto mask from VT that was kind of sticky but, super moisturizing. I have used Simply When masks before and I got the illuminate mask. It made my skin feel so soft and glowy. 

I got the April Aromatherapy Mint Eucalyptus Bath Soak from the dollar store and it was pretty decent for the price. The smell did last for a bit and it left my skin hydrated after my bath.  I heard good things about the Summer Fridays CC Me Serum but, I felt that it was mediocre. I didn't really notice a difference using it. I wouldn't buy it again.

Here is everything I finished -

Averelle Acne Cover Patch

Skip the Spa Deep Cleansing Detoxifying Pore Strips Watermelon

Detoskin Lilly Floris Mask

111Skin Rose Gold Illuminating Eye Mask

VT Natto Probiotics Mask

Dermal Charcoal Collagen Essence Mask

Simply When Snow Song Illuminate

Ettang Paper Mulberry

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter

April Aromatherapy Mint Eucalyptus Bath Soak

Summer Fridays CC Me Serum

Osea Atomshere Protection Cream

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Bath & Shower Gel

GoTo Fancy Face Nourishing Oil Cleanser

Davines Oi All in One Milk

Tula Skincare Protect + Plump

Book Review - The Cave Dwellers by Christina McDowell

 

The Green Book was a diary created by the niece of Edith Roosevelt’s social secretary. It only includes the families that are worthy. These families and their aristocratic bloodlines helped build the fabric of Washington - generation after generation. Their power and privileged is on prominent display in the streets of Georgetown, Kalorama, and Capitol Hill. They only socialize with people of their own rank and social circle and ignore the political merry-go-round unless it serves them.

I thought this novel was going to be a thriller and not a political commentary about the elite. I felt like the murders were introduced as a shock value but, we didn't really learn anything about them. Instead we were treated to a boring and pointless story of how the elite use and abuse their power and treat the people around them. Perhaps, if I had known that the novel would be mostly focused on selfish and spoiled people I wouldn't have wasted my time.

Book Review - The Spark of Love (Mesquite Springs, #3) by Amanda Cabot

 

Heiress Alexandra Tarkington flees New York for Mesquite Springs in Texas Hill Country after a spurned suitor threatens her. She flees to Mesquite Springs where her father is building a hotel. Alexandra was hoping for a happy reunion with her father but, instead her father wants her to return to New York. Alexandra is determined to spend time with her father so, she becomes an art teacher at a local school. In her spare time, she spends time with Gabe Seymour, who she met in a stagecoach.

Two men with their own agenda set off to Mesquite Springs to follow Alexandra. Gabe is an investigator that was hired to prove that her father is a swindler. After a series of accidents threaten Alexandra's life, she will need to team with Gabe to find out the truth.

After reading the book summary, I thought this was going to be an interesting read. However, I found the book to be very boring. I also didn't like that the author introduced way too many characters in the first few pages. It was hard keeping track of who and what role they played in the plot. I lost interest half way through the book because there was nothing story wise that kept me interested in reading more.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion** 

Book Review - The Lost Village by Camilla Sten

  

Alice Lindstedt is a documentary filmmaker who has been obsessed with finding out the truth behind "The Lost Village". In 1959, all the residents of the old mining town disappeared including, her grandmother's entire family. No one has been able to determine what happened to the residents and so many questions have been left unanswered.

There were only two survivors from the tragedy - a woman who was stoned to death and an abandoned newborn. Alice gathered a small group of friends to visit the remote village and to make a film on what really happened.

When they arrived to camp, they noticed strange things happening. Equipment is destroyed, people go missing, and they keep hearing noises in abandoned buildings. One thing becomes increasingly clear to the team is that they are not alone.

The book was a suspenseful and entertaining read. I felt like I was among the characters waiting for something to happen because it took awhile before anything happen. The book provided a nice scary dark atmosphere but, didn't really deliver on thrills. I am torn on the ending because I am not sure it's plausible. Overall, I did enjoy the book and I would read more books by the author.

Book Review - I Hope This Finds You Well: Poems by Kate Baer

 

Kate Baer receives over thousands of messages on her posts. Like many other writers, especially women, as her online presence grew, so did the negative messages in her inbox. This book is a collection of some the messages Kate has received. Using their negative (and sometimes, praises) Kate creates erasure poems in response to the messages she received. 

I was never really a big fan of poems because I could never really "get them". However, I found this book of poems to be enjoyable and entertaining. A few poems were thought provoking and stayed with me long after I finished reading them. A few were entertaining and garnered a few giggles. Overall,
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I have a new found respect for poems.

Book Review - The Prince and the Prodigal by Jill Eileen Smith

  

Joseph is the favorite son of his father, Jacob. His older brothers are jealous and resentful over Joseph's status as their father's favorite. So, when the opportunity arises to get rid of him, the brothers take the chance and sell him to slave traders. They told Jacob that Joseph was killed by wild animals. The brothers believe that their troubles are finally over but, for Joseph and his brother, Judah, they are just beginning.

Joseph becomes imprisoned when he is accused of raping his master's wife. Judah tries to escape the guilt of selling his brother into slavery. Decades has passed, when the brothers finally reunite again. Joseph  is in a position of power while Judah begs for mercy. Will the brothers be able to choose forgiveness?

I have read a few books by the author and I liked this book better than the others. I felt like the story flowed more smoothly even though at times, the book felt like it was moving very slowly. There was a lot of sex and scenes of rape that I didn't care for but, I understand that they were needed for certain parts of the story. I like that the story was told from alternating story lines. I like reading about how the brothers were dealing with the past betrayal. While, I know that Joseph is the main character and he  didn't want the preferred treatment of his father, I felt that when he got older he lost some of his humility. Overall, the book will be well received by readers who are  fan of the author's.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion**

March 2022 Haul!

 

 

 

Wow, I can't believe March is already here. I feel like it has flew by so quickly! February was over in a blink. Well, on to the goodies!

I got a few bath salts from Bathorium that look exciting. I love taking baths and these look like they would be so soul soothing and hydrating to use. They were a bit more expensive than I would normally buy for a single use sachet though. My friend is obsessed with SunAroma soaps and I usually love trying new soaps so, I decided to pick up an eucalyptus and a lavender soap to try. The soaps smells so fragrant before I even open the packaging. 

I got a new lip butter mask from Seraphine Botanical that I am excited to try. I usually try to use a lip mask before bed otherwise I wake up with dry and cracked lips. Speaking of dry skin, I am excited to try the Josie Maran body cream. I have tried her other products and other than the nail wipes, I found them to be of quality. I also subscribe to Ipsy and recently they introduced their own line of products. One of the items I got from their "refreshment" line is their lavender deodorant. The packaging is cute and it smells nice. I am hoping it works well too!

Is there anything you got this month that you are excited to try?