Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Book Review - The Address: A Novel by Fiona Davis

Photo Source - Amazon

After a failed sewing apprenticeship and consistently disappointing her mother, Sara Smythe has worked her way up to the head housekeeper at a posh London hotel. When an accident occurs, Sara crosses path with Theodore Camden, one of the architects of the grand New York apartment house, the Dakota. Grateful for her help, Theo offers Sara a job as a manager of the Dakota.  Excited about the opportunity to start over and filled with possibility, Sara decides to take the position as the manager of the building. Sara loves that Theo understands her like no one else but, Theo is a married man with three young children.

Bailey Camden is fresh out of rehab and she is eager to start over. She is homeless, jobless and without a penny to her name. Baily is desperate for any opportunity to help showcase her decorating skills. Her grandfather was the ward of Theo Camden but, without the genetic match, Bailey won't be able to get a  part of the Camden's estate. Her cousin, Melinda is Camden's biological great-granddaughter who will inherit everything. When Melinda offers Bailey the job to renovate her lavish Dokata apartment, Bailey jumps at the chance to prove herself. However, the pair has different views on the renovation of the apartment. Melinda wants to make the apartment more modern, while Bailey wants to keep the historic charm.
 
Sara and Bailey lived over a hundred years apart but, both are tempted and struggle again the excess of their world. Sara struggled with the opulent world ruled by the rich while Bailey struggled with free-flowing drinks and drugs. They both take refuge at the Dakota to find peace.  When Bailey finds a chest with secrets from the past, she realizes everything she thought she knew about her family might be wrong.

I found the book to be an entertaining and easy to read. I love the details about the Dakota and the historic details.  While the book was a good read, I found the story to be a bit predictable. This would be an ideal book for readers who like historical fiction but, not for readers who want to be in suspense.

**Disclosure - This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Book Review - Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World by Vashti Harrison + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

 This beautifully illustrated book features true stories of 40 women creators all over the world. The women featured ranges from inventors, artists, scientists, and writers who inspire and educates people.  The book includes the famous architect Zaha Hadid, actor Hedy Lamar, physicist Chien-Shiung Wu, and many others.  
The book was artistically done and written beautifully. I found the book to be inspiring and enjoyable to read. However, I found the book to focus a lot on women who had an impact on the arts and creative fields. I would have loved to read more about women who made an impact in the STEM field. Overall, a good book for young girls to let them know everything is possible. And, I found it a good read for any adult who needs a bit of inspiration in their life.


**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**



About the Book:
Author: Vashti Harrison
Pub. Date: November 6, 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 96
Find it: GoodreadsAmazonAudible,  B&NiBooksTBD

From the New York Times bestselling author of Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History comes the highly anticipated follow-up, a beautifully illustrated collectible detailing the lives of women creators around the world.


Featuring the true stories of 40 women creators, ranging from writers to inventors, artists to scientists, Visionary Women Around the World inspires as it educates. Readers will meet trailblazing women like Mary Blair, an American modernist painter who had a major influence on how color was used in early animated films, actor/inventor Hedy Lamar, environmental activist Wangari Maathai, architect Zaha Hadid, filmmaker Maya Deren, and physicist Chien-Shiung Wu. Some names are known, some are not, but all of the women had a lasting effect on the fields they worked in.

The charming, information-filled full-color spreads show the Leaders as both accessible and aspirational so reader knows they, too, can grow up to do something amazing. 




About Vashti:
Part author - illustrator - filmmaker, Vashti Harrison is an artist originally from Onley, Virginia. She has a background in filmmaking and a love for storytelling. She earned her BA from the University of Virginia as a double major in Media Studies and Studio Art with concentrations in Film and Cinematography. She then went on to receive her MFA in Film and Video from CalArts where she snuck into Animation classes to learn from Disney and Dreamworks legends. There she rekindled a love for drawing and painting. Now, utilizing both skillsets, she is passionate about crafting beautiful stories for children and young adults in the film and kidlit worlds.


Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of LITTLE DREAMERS: VISIONARY WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD, US Only.


Rafflecopter link:


Tour Schedule:

Week Two:
11/12/2018- YA Books CentralExcerpt
11/13/2018- Two Points of InterestReview
11/14/2018- Adventures Thru WonderlandReview
11/15/2018- Novel NoviceReview
11/16/2018- Do You Dog-ear?Review


Monday, November 12, 2018

Book Review - The Knitter's Dictionary: Knitting Know-How from A to Z by Kate Atherley

Photo Credit - Amazon

Knitting is like it's own unique language. There are tons of techniques, patterns, and abbreviations. This reference guide is a comprehensive resource for understanding the language. It can be used as a guide for experienced knitters or new learners. The dictionary has over 150 beautiful and easy to understand illustrations to help knitters. It includes information such as taking measurements, how to use and understanding gauging, and fabric and fiber care instructions. The information-packed guide is filled with tips and tricks to make knitting fun and enjoyable.

I recently started trying to knit and to be honest, I thought it was going to be easier. I have seen a few Youtube videos where they make it look so easy. My scarf I attempted to knit, didn't look very nice or usable. However, I found it very fun and relaxing to knit, at least, when I had an inkling on what I was doing. When I came across this book, I thought it would be a good resource. It was very informative, however, I found it to be a bit overwhelming especially for a new knitter like myself. Although, I am looking forward to trying the new techniques the books illustrates to hopefully become a better knitter.


**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Book Review - An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Barclay Pearce was once London's top thief, however, he knows uses his skill to help his country during the war. After he rescues a clockmaker's daughter, he begins to question his life and wonder what his future might hold. 

Evelina Manning has always fought for independence. However, she didn't expect to inspire her finance to end their engagement and join the war efforts.  When Barclay Pearce visits her father to study clockwork repair, Evelina finds herself drawn to him.  As England plunges deeper into war, Evelina and her father will have to rely on Barclay to help them escape when their safety becomes compromised.

I have read the first book in the series and enjoyed it. This book was also a good and easy read. I found the characters to be enjoyable and relatable. I like how the author showed the bonds of friendship and family. Overall, another good read by the author.


**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

About the Book

Once London’s top thief, Barclay Pearce has turned his back on his life of crime and now uses his skills for a nation at war. But not until he rescues a clockmaker’s daughter from a mugging does he begin to wonder what his future might hold.

Evelina Manning has constantly fought for independence but she certainly never meant for it to inspire her fiancé to end the engagement and enlist in the army. When the intriguing man who saved her returns to the Manning residence to study clockwork repair with her father, she can’t help being interested. But she soon learns that nothing with Barclay Pearce is as simple as it seems.

As 1915 England plunges ever deeper into war, the work of an ingenious clockmaker may give England an unbeatable military edge—and Germany realizes it as well. Evelina’s father soon finds his whole family in danger—and it may just take a reformed thief to steal the time they need to escape it.


About the Author

Roseanna 2018 
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Roseanna is giving away a grand prize of a signed book, a London mug, and a 48-pack Twinings tea sampler!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d570/an-hour-unspent-celebration-tour-giveaway


Saturday, November 10, 2018

Book Review - Watching You by Lisa Jewell



Photo Credit - Amazon


Joey returns home after working aboard for four years to live with her brother and sister-in-law. She and her new husband is adjusting to their new life together.  However, Joey finds herself drawn to the married man next door. He is the headmaster at the local school, who is almost double her age. While Joey's attraction to the next door neighbor grows, she starts to realize something is not quite right with the family next door.

I have read another book by Lisa Jewell and enjoyed her work. However, I found this book to be very predictable. I thought some of the characters to be a bit creepy and stalkerish. I am guessing it leads to the idea that even small towns have questionable characters. Overall, a good read but, I wish there was a bit more going on.


**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Friday, November 9, 2018

Book Review - The Truth About Martians by Melissa Savage + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Mylo Affinito believes that he missing essential parts, such as bravery, muscles, and facial hair. When there is a rumor of aliens crash landing near their home in Roswell, New  Mexico; Mylo and his friends set out to discover more about the Martians.  Mylo never believed in aliens but, when he starts hearing a voice pleading for help, he decides to follow his heart. Together with his friends, they set out on an epic adventure to investigate the crash and find out who is calling for help. However, what they discover, might change their lives forever. 
 This book gave me all the feels. It was a great and interesting read from start to finish. All of the characters were flawed but, trying to become better and do better. However, when someone they care about needs help, they put aside their feelings and fears to help. Overall,  I found it to be an enjoyable read.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**


About the Book:
Author: Melissa Savage
Pub. Date: October 2, 2018
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 336
Find it: GoodreadsAmazonAudibleB&NiBooksTBD

A boy and his best friends set out to discover the aliens who crash-landed next to their Roswell, New Mexico, farm in this charming novel packed with adventure and heart, perfect for fans of Ali Benjamin's The Thing About Jellyfish and Jennifer L. Holm's The Fourteenth Goldfish.

Mylo never really believed in Martians, unless they had a starring role in one of his comic books. But then a flying saucer crash-lands next to his Roswell, New Mexico, ranch, and he starts to hear voices--like someone is asking for his help.

With his best friend Dibs and crush Gracie by his side, and his Cracker Jack superhero membership card, a slingshot, and a small American flag--for peace--in tow, Mylo sets out on an epic adventure to investigate the crash and find the Martians. But he and his friends end up discovering more about the universe than they ever could have imagined.





About Melissa: 

Melissa D. Savage’s first book, The Lost Pony, premiered in her second grade classroom, winning high praise from critics such as her mom. Although the book was hand written and self-illustrated in Crayola Crayons, it was this experience that began her love of writing and to this day she still believes was one of her best works. Melissa continued to create stories growing up, writing different adventures for friends to read and later completed a Master’s Degree in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Hamline University in Minnesota. She was privileged to be able to receive guidance from amazing authors, educators, and fellow writers who shared their wisdom, experience, and support. Most recently, Melissa’s debut book, Lemons has been recognized by the American Booksellers Association on their Independent Booksellers’ debut picks of the season list, Indies Introduce Winter/Spring 2017.  Additionally, Bigfoot, Tobin & Me (The UK/Commonwealth version of Lemons published by Chicken House Books) has been recognized as Children’s Book of the Month with WHSmith.

Melissa is a writer and a child and family therapist. She has worked with families struggling with issues of abuse, trauma and loss/bereavement. She believes that expressing oneself through writing can be a very healing process when struggling with difficulties in life.  In addition it can be a vehicle in which to honor, celebrate and continue to share the spirits of the special people who have left us too soon. Melissa lives in Minneapolis with her family. You can follow her on Twitter at @melissadsavage.



 
Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE TRUTH ABOUT MARTIANS, US Only.

Rafflecopter Link:

Tour Schedule:
Week Two:
11/5/2018- The Desert BibliophileReview
11/6/2018- Good Choice ReadingExcerpt
11/7/2018- Jaime's WorldExcerpt
11/8/2018- ParajunkeeExcerpt
11/9/2018- Two Points of InterestReview