Sunday, August 23, 2020

Book Review - The Suicide House by Charlie Donlea


Photo Credit - Amazon

Indiana's elite Westmont Preparatory High School is well known for its strict rules and high expectations. Students are expected to follow their highly enforced rules. However, behind the campus is an abandoned house in the woods that is a late-night hangout for students. At the abandoned house, the students play a game called "Man in the Mirror" and they have one rule: don't let your candle go out.

One year ago, two students were brutally murdered one night. The case became well known and became the focus of a hit podcast, The Suicide House. While a teacher was convicted of the murders, there are still many mysteries and questions surrounding the case. One chilling mystery is why the survivors of the horrible night all return to the boarding house to kill themselves.

Rory is an expert at finding clues on cold cases. She is working with her partner, Lane to solve the mystery behind the murders. They try to recreate the night to find answers that were missed.  As they begin to dig into the case, they discover dark secrets and someone willing to stop at nothing to get what they want.

This was my first book by the author and I am hooked. I already added his other books to my reading pile. The novel was thrilling and kept me entertained until the end. I wasn't a fan of the writing style though. I am guessing the author formatted the chapter to feel like short bursts but, it felt annoying after awhile. Overall, I loved the book and can't wait to read more 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 extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Friday, August 21, 2020

Book Review - Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton




Photo Credit - Amazon

S.T. is a domesticated crow who enjoys the simple pleasures of life. He likes hanging out with his owner Big Jim, insulting the wild college crows of Seattle, and eating delicious human food such as Cheetos. 

S.T.'s day started like every other day until one day, Big Jim's eyeball falls out of his head. S.T. tries to do everything to make Big Jim feel better. He tries to feed him food and beer but, nothing seems to work. After being nearly attacked by Big Jim, S.T. and Dennis set out to the new world in hopes to find a new home.  They discovered that mankind has succumbed to this deadly virus and is now consuming each other. With the top predator from the food chain gone, local wildlife is taking over Seattle along with new dangerous predators. The human race is becoming extinct and S.T. is determined to do something about it.

Oh, this book had me going through a rollercoaster of emotions. At first, it took me a bit longer to get into the book but, after halfway in I was glued to the book. The novel had me laughing throughout the book and also rolling my eyes at S.T. (in a good way). I didn't like that at times the novel didn't seem to be going anywhere and the author had these long run on lists. I felt like this took away from the novel. We read this as a buddy read and we had a lot to talk about. This isn't usually the type of books we would normally read but, I am glad I did read it.

**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 extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Book Spotlight - All Eyes on Her by L.E. Flynn + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

About the Book:

Title: ALL EYES ON HER
Author: L.E. Flynn
Pub. Date: August 18, 2020
Publisher: Imprint
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Pages: 320

You heard the story on the news. A girl and a boy went into the woods. The girl carried a picnic basket. The boy wore bright yellow running shoes. The girl found her way out, but the boy never did….

Everyone thinks they know what happened. Some say Tabby pushed him off that cliff— she didn’t even like hiking. She was jealous. She had more than her share of demons. Others think he fell accidentally—she loved Mark. She would never hurt him…even if he hurt her.

But what’s the real story? All Eyes On Her is told from everyone but Tabby herself as the people in her life string together the events that led Tabby to that cliff. Her best friend. Her sister. Her enemy. Her ex-boyfriend. Because everybody thinks they know a girl better than she knows herself.

What do you think is the truth?


About L.E.:
Laurie Elizabeth Flynn is a former model who lives in London, Ontario with her husband and children. She is the author of three young adult novels: Firsts, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults pick, along with Last Girl Lied To and All Eyes On Her, under the name L.E. Flynn. She is also the author of Wattpad featured series The Boys Tell All.

Her adult fiction debut, The Girls Are All So Nice Here, will be published in 2021. It has been optioned for a TV series by AMC.

When she’s not writing, you can likely find her hiking in the woods, perusing thrift stores for vintage dresses, or bingeing on reality TV.




Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of ALL EYES ON HER, US Only.

Rafflecopter link:


Tour Schedule:
Week One:
8/10/2020
Character Reveal
8/10/2020
Character Reveal
8/11/2020
Character Reveal
8/11/2020
Review
8/12/2020
Review
8/12/2020
Review
8/13/2020
Review
8/13/2020
Review
8/14/2020
Review
8/14/2020
Character Reveal

Week Two:
8/17/2020
Review
8/17/2020
Review
8/18/2020
Review
8/18/2020
Review
8/19/2020
Review
8/19/2020
Review
8/20/2020
Review
8/20/2020
Review
8/21/2020
Review
8/21/2020
Review

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Book Spotlight - Chasing Starlight by Teri Bailey Black




Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen (August 11, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0765399512
ISBN-13: 978-0765399519


Praise for CHASING STARLIGHT

"Chasing Starlight dazzles with richly drawn characters, a breathtaking mystery, and a vivid 1930s Hollywood setting. Black masterfully evokes the glamour and darkness of a mesmerizing era steeped in secrets, lies, and dreams." ―Cat Winters author of The Raven's Tale

"Miss Fisher meets Tinseltown in this addictive mystery full of Old Hollywood glamour and slow-burn secrets. Chasing Starlight is the journey of aspiring-astronomer-turned-reluctant-sleuth Kate as she works not only to solve a murder but find her place in the world after a tumultuous past. Come for the gossipy glam of old Hollywood; stay for a cast of charmingly quirky characters and a mystery that will have you guessing until the end." ―McKelle George, author of Speak Easy, Speak Love

"Chasing Starlight is a mystery as alluring as old Hollywood itself―and fun! Teri Bailey Black’s story has a historical-yet-modern feel, and the setting is so creative and cinematic you’ll feel as if you’re sitting on a film set. With a cast of dream-chasers who showcase both the glamour and the grit, Chasing Starlight is delightful from the first scene to the last." ―Jodie Lynn Zdrok, author of Spectacle

“Black delivers an atmospheric mystery with cinematic flair that’s chock full of period detail, highlighting women’s roles in front of, and behind, the camera during Hollywood’s golden age. A captivating crowd pleaser.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“This complex tale featuring blossoming romance, an edge-of-your-seat murder, and a host of characters to love and hate is recommended for collections where mysteries are popular.” ―School Library Journal

“Entertainingly conveying the glitz of Kate’s Hollywood life and romantic interests, this breezy whodunit is a fun historical escape with satisfactory twists.” ―Publishers Weekly

“A thrillingly romantic dive into Old Hollywood that will appeal to cinema and history buffs alike.” ―Booklist


Movies, mansions, and murder in the Golden Age of Hollywood! Teri Bailey Black's Chasing Starlight is a historical mystery from the award-winning author of the Thriller Award for Best Young Adult Novel.

1938. The Golden Age of Hollywood. Palm trees and movie stars. Film studios pumping out musicals, westerns, and gangster films at a furious pace. Everyone wants to be a star―except society girl and aspiring astronomer Kate Hildebrand, who’d rather study them in the night sky. She’s already famous after a childhood tragedy turned her into a newspaper headline. What she craves is stability.

But when Kate has to move to Hollywood to live with her washed-up silent film star grandfather, she walks into a murder scene and finds herself on the front page again. She suspects one of the young men boarding in her grandfather’s run-down mansion is the killer―maybe even her grandfather. She searches for clues.

Now, Kate must discover the killer while working on the set of a musical―and falling in love. Will her stars align so she can catch the murderer and live the dream in Old Hollywood? Or will she find that she's just chasing starlight?


You can purchase Chasing Starlight at the following Retailers:
        

Photo Content from Teri Bailey Black

Teri Bailey Black is happiest when she's creating things, whether it's with words, fabric, or digging in the garden. Her debut novel, Girl at the Grave, won the Thriller Award for Best Young Adult Novel, and the Whitney Award for Best Debut and Best Young Adult Novel. Her second novel, Chasing Starlight, will be published June 2020. She and her husband have four children and live in Orange County, California.

        
WEEK ONE - REVIEW & INTERVIEWS
AUGUST 10th MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW
AUGUST 11th TUESDAY A Court of Coffee and Books REVIEW
AUGUST 11th TUESDAY MetalPhantasmReads REVIEW
AUGUST 12th WEDNESDAY BookHounds YA REVIEW & INTERVIEW
AUGUST 12th WEDNESDAY Movies, Shows, & Books EXCERPT
AUGUST 13th THURSDAY Gwendalyn's Books REVIEW
AUGUST 13th THURSDAY PopTheButterfly Reads REVIEW
AUGUST 14th FRIDAY Twirling Book Princess EXCERPT
AUGUST 14th FRIDAY J Long Books REVIEW

WEEK TWO - REVIEWS
AUGUST 17th MONDAY Ya It's Lit REVIEW
AUGUST 18th TUESDAY Rajiv's Reviews REVIEW
AUGUST 18th TUESDAY Book Briefs REVIEW
AUGUST 19th WEDNESDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW
AUGUST 19th WEDNESDAY Here's to Happy Endings REVIEW
AUGUST 20th THURSDAY Nay's Pink Bookshelf REVIEW
AUGUST 20th THURSDAY Port Jericho REVIEW
AUGUST 21st FRIDAY A Dream Within A Dream REVIEW
AUGUST 21st FRIDAY Reading Adventures of a Book Dragon REVIEW


*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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