Book Spotlight - Delphine and the Dark Thread by Alyssa Moon + Giveaway

 

About The Book:

Title: DELPHINE AND THE DARK THREAD (Delphine and the Silver Needle #2)

Author: Alyssa Moon

Pub. Date: August 30, 2022

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 320

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

This sequel to Delphine and the Silver Needle delivers action, adventure, and magic in the most unexpected places.

Fresh off the heels of King Midnight's rat-army invasion at the Winterberry Ball, Delphine, Alexander, and Cornichonne are on the run, making their way through the far reaches of Peltinore. Unlikely allies pop up at every turn, but so do new enemies. While evading the rats hot on their tails, the trio uncovers new clues about the legendary Threaded tailor mice, including surprising discoveries about Delphine's magical needle. And as Delphine's powers grow stronger, she realizes she may need to head straight into Midnight's lair and confront the villain herself.

Will Delphine solve the mystery of the Threaded and save the kingdom from the nefarious rat king before it's too late?

Grab book 1, DELPHINE AND THE SILVER NEEDLE Now!

 

 

About Alyssa Moon:

Alyssa Moon grew up in the Pacific Northwest, which explains her undying enthusiasm for rainy weather. She does her best writing in tea shops, independent bookstores and at home under her grapefruit tree. She lives in Southern California with her husband and her cat, Picklepop, along with three other cats who are a little grumpy at the fact they weren’t also given roles in this book. Delphine and the Silver Needle is Moon’s debut novel.

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

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of DELPHINE AND THE DARK THREAD, US Only.

Ends September 20^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/22/2022	Ya Books Central	Excerpt
8/23/2022	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt/IG Post
8/24/2022	Lisa-Queen of Random	Excerpt/IG Post
8/25/2022	BookHounds YA	Excerpt/IG Post
8/26/2022	WOTTAREAD BOOKS BLOG	Excerpt
8/27/2022	@jael_and_jenessa_reads	Review/IG Post

 Week Two:

8/28/2022	Books a Plenty Book Reviews	Review
8/29/2022	Celia's Reads	Review/IG Post
8/30/2022	hauntedbybooks	Review/IG Post
8/31/2022	Lifestyle of Me	Review
9/1/2022	GryffindorBookishNerd	IG Review
9/2/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
9/3/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post

 Week Three:

9/4/2022	@books_carry_dreams	IG Review
9/5/2022	One More Exclamation	Review/IG Post
9/6/2022	@jodieangell_author	IG Review
9/7/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review/IG Post
9/8/2022	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post
9/9/2022	@allyluvsbooksalatte	IG Spotlight
9/10/2022	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt

Week Four:

9/11/2022	Laurenreads._	IG Review
9/12/2022	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt
9/13/2022	Write. Read. Live	Review/IG Post
9/14/2022	PopTheButterfly Reads	Review/IG Post
9/15/2022	@jacleomik33	IG Review
9/16/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
9/17/2022	Books with Brandie Shanae	Youtube Review/IG Post

Book Review - Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly

 

For most people. life is what you make of it. For Dixie Wheeler, her story was chosen for her when her father murdered her family before taking slashing a knife across his own throat. Dixie was the only one spared from the family massacre. She became infamously known as Baby Blue because of the song that was left playing during the aftermath of the murders.

Twenty-five years later, Dixie yearns for a connection with the family she can't remember. When Dixie sees that her childhood home goes on sale, Dixie feels herself drawn to the house. When Dixie moves in against her better judgment, she sees the ghosts of her family taken up residence in the house too. Dixie begins to question her sanity as strange things start happening. She wonders if her father is haunting her or if its an demon of her own making.

Dixie decides to reach out to the original detective who investigated the murders to unravel the truth. As she investigates the murders she realizes that someone else might have committed the murders. Dixie will need to find  a way to prove the truth behind her family's murder and save her loved ones before it's too late.

I thought the premise of the book was interest but, towards the middle of the book I lost interesting. I felt like the story was plodding along. I felt like the story was very unrealistic and the writing was chopping. I didn't find any of the characters and didn't really care what happened to any of them. It was an okay book but, I won't be in a rush to read anymore books by the author.

Book Review - Deception by Patricia Bradley

 

Madison Thorn had to kill an FBI agent who went rogue. He was threatening her mission and she had no choice but, to kill him. She decided she no longer wants to work in violent crimes and made a move to the fraud and cyber division instead. She likes working with numbers as they do not lie. However, when a white collar crime turns violent, Madison is forced to work with a childhood nemesis, park ranger Clayton Bradshaw.

A woman who looks like Madison is attacked the same night Madison's grandfather is shot. Madison fears that something bigger is going on and that she might be in danger.  Will Madison and Clayton be able to work together to figure out the truth?

I thought this was an okay read. I didn't really like any of the characters and had a hard time bonding with them. They felt flat and two-dimensional.  I felt like the book also had too many characters and side plots. I felt that this detracted from the original story and made it hard to lose focus and trying to remember what was going on. Perhaps, this would have been better if it was a movie as it would be easier to keep track of things in that format but, in a book format it was just too confusing and eventually, boring.

Book Review - Flesh Eating Cheerleaders from Outer Space by James Mascia + Giveaway

 

A meteor crashes near the Pullman University campus. The students at the campus didn't realize that they were begin invaded. The alien lifeforms have the ability to take over humans and devour them. A group of cheerleaders become the new hosts for these outer space visitors.

I found the comic to be very vulgar and sexual in nature. There were a lot of lewd and graphic photos. We were never introduce to any of the characters so, it was hard to differentiate between them. The comic was relatively short and had almost no story than people were having secret relationships and two people became hosts to the aliens. The few moments of actual story building were rare and most of the conversations (and there were very few) was fluffy. I also found some of the comments the characters made to be very stereotypical and boring. For example, one student's coach had died and the other student said "she must be PMSing" for her to act that way. Or perhaps, that student was dealing with grief. Or a boyfriend proclaiming that "he will protect his girlfriend because she is his woman". And then the girl did something and he calls her a "crazy bitch". It went from zero to hundred really quickly.  I feel like the target audience is males (or females) who have a zombie/alien cheerleader sexual fetish would enjoy this.  Otherwise, there were no story just a minor buildup, juvenile dialogue, and graphic images.

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

 

About The Book:

Title: FLESH EATING CHEERLEADERS FROM OUTER SPACE #1

Author: James Mascia & Felipe Obando (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: June 22, 2022

Publisher: Dren Productions After Dark

Formats: Paperback (only available on the Dren Productions site), eBook

Pages: 29

Find it: Goodreads, Dren Productions Website, Amazon

When a meteor crashes in the middle of campus, the students at Pullman University didn't realize that they were being invaded. These space creatures are able to inhabit and take over the human body. So, what happens when a group of cheerleaders are caught in the middle? They become these flesh-eating cannibals, of course.

Soon, the problem isn't going to be the creatures, it's going to be the monsters that these cheerleaders become.

About Dren Productions After Dark:

We are a publishing company, specializing in everything fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. We have books, comics and games. Something for everyone. So come on in and check all all the awesomeness!

Website | Kickstarter | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of FLESH EATING CHEERLEADERS FROM OUTER SPACE, US Only.

Ends September 6^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/22/2022	Bookhounds	Excerpt/IG Post
8/23/2022	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt
8/24/2022	@jaimerockstarbooktours	IG Post
8/25/2022	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt
8/26/2022	@see_sadie_read	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

8/29/2022	Wanderingwitchreads	Tik Tok Review/IG Post
8/30/2022	The Real World According to Sam	Review/IG Post
8/31/2022	GryffindorBookishNerd	IG Review
9/1/2022	@thebookishfoxwitch	IG Review
9/2/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review

Book Review - Palace of the Drowned by Christine Mangan

 

In 1966, Frankie Croy decides to take a trip to Venice and stay in her friend's empty palazzo. She needed a break after her recent novel didn't garner as much as success and attention as her first novel. After a scathing review was published, and having a public breakdown, Frankie decides she needs a change of scenery.

In Venice, Frankie crosses path with Gilly. Gilly is a young admirer and is eager to become friends with Frankie. Gilly tries to insinuate herself in Frankie's exiled time in Venice. As Frankie spends more time with Gilly, she feels that Gilly is hiding something from her.

This entire novel was a complete waste of time. The author left a lot of questions unanswered but, answered a few random ones. I also don't understand why Frankie kept entertaining and spending time with Gilly when she was having her own reservations about the girl. Frankie mentioned that she felt uneasy around her but, yet she continue to spend time with her. I also didn't like how the author sprinkled Italian words without giving context to their meanings. I can't say I liked any of the characters and I am struggling to find a story/plot for this novel.

Book Review - And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling

 

Two teenagers decide to break into a house on a remote lake in search of prescription drugs. It started out as a simple burglary but, instead turns into a nightmare to everyone involved. Emmett Burr has a secret he has been keeping in his basement for over two decades and he will stop at nothing to keep it hidden from others. When Emmett gets an upper hand on the burglars, the lines between victim and abuser becomes blurred.

Police officer Ben Packard returns back to the small Minnesota town of Sandy Lake for a fresh start after a personal tragedy. Packard is leading the investigation into the missing teens because he is related to one of them. Packard is struggling to find a clue to the teens' whereabouts as time is running out. Will Packard be able to find them before it's too late?

I thought this was an okay read. I found the book to be predictable and boring at times. The title of the book gave away most of the story and the bad guy was revealed very early on. I didn't really connect with any of the characters except, the few bits of humor that Gary, the dog trainer, provided. I didn't like that the author teased about Ben's past but, didn't really delve into it. I assumed that the book would be made into a series but, I wasn't really that interested in this novel to read more books by the author.

Book Review - When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole

 

Sydney Green was  born and raised in Brooklyn but, her beloved neighborhood seems to keep changing everyday. Neighbors who she knew her entire life are disappearing, for sale signs are popping up, and new condos are sprouting up everywhere. Sydney feels that her community is losing it's past and present. She decided to create a walking tour to encourage others to learn about the community's history. She finds an unlikely assistant in one of the new arrivals to the block and her neighbor, Theo. As Sydney and Theo begin to research the community's history, they realize something darker is lurking beneath the surface.

I thought this was going to be an interesting book but, it turned out to be a flop. The book took forever to get to the plot. I read more than sixty percent of the book and I decided that the book was no longer worth the effort. The author slowly builds up the story and starts to hint where the story goes but, it just took to long to get there. I didn't care for any of the characters and didn't like that Sydney was mean to Theo when he was trying to be nice to her.  Theo did do some silly things but, I don't think some of it warranted Sydney's venom at times. I thought the author's writing style was off-putting during some parts of the novel.  However, I did like learning the interesting facts about Brooklyn and I actually ended up researching it some more and taking my own walking tour.

Book Review - Monogamy by Sue Miller

 

Graham and Annie seem like a golden couple to their friends and acquaintances. They been married for nearly thirty years and have a seemingly effortless devotion to each other. Graham is a bookseller who loves life. He is a big man who loves to entertain people and is eager to please. Annie is a photographer and is the more reserved one in the relationship.

After a six year lull, Annie is about to have her first gallery show. She was worried that her best years of her career has passed. The pair has two adult children; Lucas, Graham's son from his previous marriage and Sarah, who lives in San Francisco. Frieda was Graham's first wife and remains an integral part of the couple's life. While, Annie loves Frieda, Annie knows that she will be Graham's last and greatest love.

When Graham suddenly passes, Annie is lost because Graham had a strong presence in her life. She tries to figure out how to exist without him. While she is mourning Graham, she discovers a secret that makes her question if she ever truly knew Graham.

Honestly, I picked this book because of the cover. I thought it was quite beautiful and I didn't even bother to read the complete blurb for the book. I am sorely disappointed in myself for not taking the time to read the blurb because this book was an utter waste of time. This book was long winded and boring. I felt like there was absolutely no story and it was just rather pointless. I am genuinely surprised this book so many rewards and mentions as this entire book is a long drawn out conversation from someone you would ignore because they go into pointless details about everything.

Book Spotlight - The Seven Hungers: Rise of the Crimson King by Morgan Quaid + Giveaway

 

About The Book:

Title: THE SEVEN HUNGERS : Rise of the Crimson King

Author: Morgan Quaid

Pub. Date: April 20, 2022

Publisher: Morgan Quaid

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 357

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle

Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited membership!

"Jaw-Dropping action, a great blend of investigation and horror, I've never quite read anything like it!"

Censured Crown sorcerer Ambrose Drake is hired to investigate a bizarre emergence in a city halfway across the world from his native London. Drake soon learns that a being from one of the Seven Hungers beneath our world is attempting to cross over. Flanked by his ex-lover and betrayer, Agent Karen Winter and a young acolyte with a severe lack of magical ability, Drake must plunge once more into the depths to save humanity.

The Seven Hungers is a fast-paced fantasy thriller which blends sorcery, horror elements and the exploration of dark new worlds with intense emotional struggle.

Perfect for fans of Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files, Charles Stross's Laundry Files, and the Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka.

 

About Morgan Quaid:

Morgan Quaid is an Australian-based writer of speculative fiction, fantasy and horror, specializing in fast-paced page turners set against expansive fantasy backdrops. Quaid writes comics, graphic novels, short stories volumes and novels.

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

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive a finished copy of THE SEVEN HUNGERS, US Only.

2 winners will receive an eBook of THE SEVEN HUNGERS, International.

Ends September 6^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/1/2022	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt
8/2/2022	@jaimerockstarbooktours	IG Spotlight
8/3/2022	Beers Books Boos	Excerpt/IG Post
8/4/2022	@allyluvsbooksalatte	IG Spotlight
8/5/2022	BookHounds	Guest Post/IG Post

Week Two:

8/8/2022	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt
8/9/2022	Writer of Wrongs	Excerpt
8/10/2022	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
8/11/2022	Lisa-Queen of Random	Excerpt/IG Post
8/12/2022	@jael_and_jenessa_reads	Review/IG Post

Week Three:

8/15/2022	Epic Book Society	Review/IG Post
8/16/2022	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post
8/17/2022	@jodieangell_author	Review/IG Post
8/18/2022	@enjoyingbooksagain	IG Review
8/19/2022	Lifestyle of Me	Review

Week Four:

8/22/2022	@jypsylynn	IG Review
8/23/2022	GryffindorBookishNerd	IG Review
8/24/2022	Wanderingwitchreads	TikTok Review/IG Post
8/25/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
8/26/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review

Week Five:

8/29/2022	@jacleomik33	IG Review
8/30/2022	History from a Woman’s Perspective	Review
8/31/2022	Locks, Hooks and Books	Review

August 2022 Empties Part 2!

 

I think it has been a while since I did an empty post but, I managed to finish a few things this month. Most of the stuff I finished though were okay but, a few things I did like and I  would buy back on sale.

I bought a set of soaps from Ilya and they were creamy and left my skin feeling soft. The bars were a bit smaller than my normal bars of soap. I believe the soaps are made in Turkey and they are hand made. I got these off Amazon and I am surprised by the quality since a few no name branded items were sketchy in quality and performance. 

I got a body scrub from Olivia in Coco Champagne. The scrub smelled nice and rubbed in easily. It left my skin soft and hydrated but, it was on the oily side and made my tub a danger zone after washing off the scrub.

Corpus shower gel in Vert smells so good and lathered so well. A small squirt lasted so long and the scent stayed on my skin. It smelled like I was wearing perfume even if I wasn't. The  only downside is that the shower gel wasn't very moisturizing and I wasn't sure if it was because of the extreme heat  but, I noticed product would bubble up towards the top of the dispenser.

I bought two different shampoos from the brand Otaci Labs from Amazon. I have their conditioner that I am still currently using but, most of the shampoo and conditioners have this luxurious herbal scent that reminds me of the spa. Although, compared to traditional drugstore brands these were more expensive and I had to use more product to get similar results. I would still re-purchase them though if they were on sale again.

Year round I get itchy and scratchy skin. I have used Boscia products before so, I was excited to try their Cica Soothing Universal Cream. The cream can be used both on the body and the face. I have tons of face products so, I thought I would use it on body mostly. The cream had a pleasant scent and it had a gel cream texture. It applied easily but made my skin feel a bit tacky which I didn't care for. 

Is there anything you finished this month that you enjoyed?

Book Review - Just One Look by Lindsay Cameron

 

Cassie Woodson feels like her life is adrift after a mistake causes her to lose her prestige job at a law firm.She has to take a temporary job to help her pay her bills at another law firm. As she reviews the correspondence in a fraud suit, she realizes that her life is lacking stability, love, and friends. Her new job leaves her with time on her hands which  she spends ruminating on how she ended up in her current position.

While doing her daily mindless task of reviewing emails, something catches her eye and heart. She reads a tender and intimate exchange between a partner at the law firm, Forest Watts, and his wife, Annabelle. Cassie knows that she should be ignoring the message but, she can't help looking and finding herself entranced with their lives.

Everyday, Cassie looks forward to reading more emails between Forest and Annabelle. As Cassie falls deeper into their world, she finds a renewed purpose and happiness. She follows their lives with a fine tooth comb and decides to greedily follow their lifestyles. Cassie feels that she knows everything about Forest and Cassie.

Her admiration of the couple turns into a full blown obsession.  She wants to have their lives and she believes if continues to follow them, that it will turn into a reality. When Cassie tries to meet Forest in person, she realizes that Forest and Annabelle's marriage might be in trouble. Cassie is devastated to learn her fantasy is shattering. She decides that she will take Annabelle's place.

The book was boring and had almost no twists. I didn't care for any of the characters. The story slowly moved around and had too many eye roll moments for it to be enjoyable for me to read. The book had too much filler before it got to the main point of the story.