Book Review - The Transatlantic Book Club by Felicity Hayes-McCoy

 

Cassie Fitzgerald decides to follow her recently widowed grandmother home to Ireland. Cassie hopes to find a way to cheer her grandmother over her recent loss. She decided to persuades her friend, Hanna, at the local library to set up a book club. The book club will allow readers from Ireland's Finfarran Peninsula and the US town of Resolve, to connect with each other.

After much back and forth between the club members, they finally decide to read a detective novel. However, the book club pick ends up exposing buried secrets, old conflicts, and hidden love affairs to light. As the secrets are being exposed, Cassie worries that she might have caused more harm than intended.

I had a hard time following some portions of this book when I initially started reading it. I wasn't used to the writing style and the way the characters spoke. I found that I had to re-read the same sentences a few times. I am not sure why the book is named after the book club when it seems that the book club was more of an after note. I felt like the novel moved very slowly. However, if you are a fan of cozy reads, then you might enjoy this book.

 **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.**

January 2021 Haul Part 2!

 

 

Ahhh, January is almost done and gone! I can't believe how fast the days go but, when I am working the hours and minutes move by so slowly. I been trying to keep my makeup spending to a minimum but, honestly, I have no self control. I have no idea why I buy so many palettes and use the same one over and over. I really can't refuse a good sale. I am trying not to buy everything on sale but, limiting myself to only a few sale items so that I can have more in my spending account for the "good" end of the year sales.

I bought a boatload of new facial masks. I got this oatmeal mask from Purenskin that I am really excited to try. I have tried a basic oatmeal mask and it really soothe my skin. I hoping this one has similar or even better results. I got a few Facetory branded masks from their new lines and I am really excited to try them. I got the chamomile and artemisia ones that look pretty awesome.

I got two new bar soaps that I found from TJ Maxx. I got one Peony scent and another Bourbon and Pine scent that has a nice winter-y scent. I love trying new bar soaps because it can make an ordinary moment more special.

I got a few more lip products that I am excited to try them...at home. I got the beloved Ruby Woo MAC lipstick that heard has a cult following. I love lip products and the color red. I got a new Juice Beauty lip product in Gwyneth and NYX lip oil in Sheer Blush. I heard of people liking both of these products and I can't wait  to try them.

I got a few new Korean facial care products that I am excited to try. I got this clay ampoule cleasner by Lala Chuu that looks interesting.  The cream version of the Facetory's Artemisia line and a few facial oils from Keep Cool, Pixi beauty and Akar Skin.

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

Book Review - Matriarch by Adam Wing + Giveaway

 

 

About The Book:

Title: MATRIARCH

Author: Adam Wing

Pub. Date: December 1, 2019

Publisher: Adam Wing

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 124

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

Read For FREE With A Kindle Unlimited Membership!

The story is over. It’s already too late.

At the end of the Turkish War of Independence, a British soldier disobeys orders to return home. Setting out to explore a country he had only known as trespasser, he uncovers danger, mysteries, and magic—adventure, obsession, and true love.

One hundred years later, the soldier’s great-granddaughter sits at her great-grandmother’s deathbed while the old woman recounts this very tale; it is the last she will ever tell.

Secrets are revealed as past and present collide, and as one woman’s future draws toward its inevitable close, another finds hers thrown into uncertainty.

MY REVIEW:

During the end of the Turkish War of Independence, a British solider decides to disobey his orders to return home. He wants to stay in Turkey longer because he feels that his soul is searching for something.  He decides to explore the country as as visitor instead of an invader. As he begins his journey, he discovers secrets about magic and mysterious adventures. 

One hundred years later, the soldier's wife is lying in a hospital bed. She is dying and she decides that she will share the tale of how they met. This was the first time she ever spoke about their meeting and it might be the last time she could share it. However, as the she begins her story, secrets of the past start to collide with the future. As one woman's life is at the end, another finds herself in peril.

The author weaved an intricate and interesting story of two people meeting. I thought the story could use a bit of editing but, it was an entertaining read. I felt like the novella had a lot of promise to become something more. I wasn't fond of the ending as I don't like stories where the reader has to guess what will happen next. Overall, this was a good read and I look forward to reading other stories by the author.

About Adam: 

Man of many hats: teacher, engineer, editor, scholar, mountain climber, bar tender, student, world traveller, and through and above it all, writer, Wing has dedicated most his life to the craft of writing fiction.

Wing's published works include the novel, Icarus, and a book of short stories, Apoca Lypse Sink Ships, and he has fantasy work on the way.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will win a finished copy of MATRIARCH, US/Canada Only.

2 winners will win an eBook of MATRIARCH, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

1/4/2021	Two Chicks on Books	Guest Post
1/4/2021	Rockstar Book Tours	Excerpt
1/5/2021	Jaime's World	Excerpt
1/5/2021	JaimeRockstarBookTours	Instagram Post
1/6/2021	BookHounds	Excerpt
1/6/2021	BookHounds	Instagram Post
1/7/2021	Books A-Brewin'	Excerpt
1/7/2021	Books A-Brewin'	Instagram Post
1/8/2021	Fire and Ice	Review
1/8/2021	Fire and Ice	Instagram Post

 

Week Two:

1/11/2021	I'm Shelf-ish	Excerpt
1/11/2021	Three gals and plenty of books	Excerpt
1/12/2021	@minnesota_mailer	Review
1/12/2021	100 Pages A Day	Review
1/13/2021	Westveil Publishing / @thewestveilarchives	Guest Post
1/13/2021	Westveil Publishing / @thewestveilarchives	Instagram Post
1/14/2021	Adrienne Woods Books and Reviews	Excerpt
1/14/2021	Books and Zebras @jypsylynn	Review
1/15/2021	She Just Loves Books	Review
1/15/2021	Two Points of Interest	Review

Book Review - The Reading House Series by Marla Conn + Giveaway

About The Books:

Title: THE READING HOUSE SETS 1-5

Author: Marla Conn

Pub. Date: January 5, 2021

Publisher: The Reading House

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: Each book is 120 pages

Find it:  Goodreads

Buy The Books:

Set 1: Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Set 2: Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Set 3: Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Set 4: Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Set 5: Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

 

The Reading House Sets 1–5 (on sale January 5, 2021) include The Reading House Set 1: Letter Recognition A–L and The Reading House Set 2: Letter Recognition M–Z, which help young readers identify lower- and upper-case letters and identify beginning sounds; and The Reading House Set 3: Introduction to Short Vowel Sounds, The Reading House Set 4: Short Vowel Clusters and Sight Words, and The Reading House Set 5: Short Vowels and Reading for Fluency, which introduce children to short vowels sounds, clusters, and sight words, as well as short vowel word families. THE READING HOUSE Sets 6–8 and 9–12 will publish in March and round out the program.

My Review:

The Reading House sets are small booklets that help little readers read and understand the alphabet. The first two sets are for letter introductions to upper and lowercase letters. The next books in the series help young ones become more proficient in reading by introducing vowels. The booklets were beautifully illustrated with cute animals to help guide little ones. This is the perfect reading resources for young children.

 

About Marla: 

Marla Conn is a reading and literary specialist with a masters of science in elementary education and reading. She has worked with HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, and many others, and is the creator of Dear Dragon Developing Readers, based on the work of Margaret Hillert. These leveled readers enable emergent readers to build early literacy skills in decoding, fluency, and reading comprehension.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of THE READING HOUSE SETS 1 & 2, US Only.

Rafflecopter Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21210/?

 

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

1/4/2021	Jazzy Book Reviews	Review
1/5/2021	Pick a good book	Review/Instagram Stop
1/6/2021	100 Pages A Dat	Review
1/6/2021	@bookshelfmomma	Review/Instagram Stop
1/7/2021	onemused	Review/Instagram Stop
1/8/2021	Midnightbooklover	Review/Instagram Stop
1/8/2021	Little Red Reads	Review

 

Week Two:

1/11/2021	The Momma Spot	Review
1/11/2021	The Momma Spot	Instagram Stop
1/12/2021	She Just Loves Books	Review
1/12/2021	@minnesota_mailer	Review/Instagram Stop
1/13/2021	BookHounds YA	Review
1/13/2021	BookHounds YA	Instagram Stop
1/14/2021	Books and Zebras @jypsylynn	Review/Instagram Stop
1/15/2021	Two Points of Interest	Review
1/15/2021	I'm Shelf-ish	Review