Monday, May 17, 2021

Book Review - The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup


There is a serial killer that is terrorizing Copenhagen. He leaves a calling card of a "chestnut man". It's a handmade doll composed of matchsticks and two chestnuts. He leaves his calling card at each crime scene.

During a recent murder, the forensics team was able to recover one of his calling cards. They make a shocking discovery. There is a fingerprint that belongs to a young girl who was kidnapped and murdered a year ago.

Two detectives have been assigned to the case. However, they can't stand to be near each other. Will they be able to solve the mystery before its too late?

I have seen "The Killing" and loved it. This book was just as great. The book had tons of suspense and wonderful twists that I didn't see coming. The novel was a bit long and did switch point of views throughout the novel. However, overall it was a good and interesting book for a long weekend read.

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Book Review - Willa of Dark Hollow by Robert Beatty + Giveaway

 

Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran species. They are an ancient race of forest people that have lived in the Great Smoky Mountain since the trees have grown there.  However, a crew of human loggers have arrived and are cutting down and destroying the forest she loves at an alarming rate. Willa feels powerless as she is unable to stop them. She doesn't know how she will be able to stop them as they have powerful machines and she is just one girl.

Willa tries to get a closer look at the loggers and tries to devise a plan to stop the deforestation. She comes across these mysterious creatures that are beautiful and elusive until, she realizes they are hunting humans. Willa struggles to decide if unleashing these dangerous spirits is the only course of action she has to stopping the loggers. She will have to find a way to save the people and animals she loves while taking a stand against the loggers and the darkness that is threatening to destroy her world.

This is the second novel in the series but, I felt that this novel can be read as a standalone. The book is heartbreaking and an exciting read. The book has many great lessons including, respecting nature and focusing on the group mindset instead of thinking of only yourself. I liked all the characters and thought they were beautifully written including, Charka. I hope this isn't the end of the series and that they make a series from the book!

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

  

About the Book:

Title: WILLA OF DARK HOLLOW

Author: Robert Beatty

Pub. Date: May 4, 2021

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 384

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, KindleAudibleB&NiBooks, KoboTBD, Bookshop.org

Young nightspirit Willa discovers an ancient, powerful magic deep in the forest in the enchanting companion to Robert Beatty's instant #1 New York Times best-seller, Willa of the Wood.

This enchanting companion to Robert Beatty's instant #1 New York Times bestseller Willa of the Wood is perfect for any reader who cares deeply about the natural world. 

Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran, an ancient race of forest people who have lived in the Great Smoky Mountains for as long as the trees have grown there. But as crews of newly arrived humans start cutting down great swaths of the forest she loves, she is helpless to stop them. How can she fight the destroyers of the forest and their powerful machines?

When Willa discovers a mysterious dark hollow filled with strange and beautiful creatures, she comes to realize that it contains a terrifying force that seems to be hunting humans. Is unleashing these dangerous spirits the key to stopping the loggers? Willa must find a way to save the people and animals she loves and take a stand against a consuming darkness that threatens to destroy her world.

Praise for Willa of the Wood:

"Willa of the Wood will grip readers from its first page... Willa is... an admirable protagonist."—Culturess

"A moving, atmospheric journey of hope."—Kirkus Reviews

"Beatty conjures up a resourceful, compassionate heroine. Full of atmospheric details and richly described magic... this well-paced tale asks insightful questions about the relationship between nature and humans."—Publishers Weekly

"The heroine is an appealing character... and her anguish is clear as she wavers between frightened self-preservation and her desire to help her friends."—School Library Journal

"Willa is a strong and likable creature of the natural world, and seamlessly represents themes of loyalty, tradition, family, and stewardship of the Earth in this engaging story."—School Library Connection

Accolades:

2018 Goodreads Choice Awards: Middle Grade, finalist

2018 Cybils Award, Elementary Middle Grade Speculative Fiction Nominee

Amazon: Best Children's Books of 2018, ages 9-12

Imagination Soup: Best Middle Grade Chapter Books of 2018

BNKids: July's Best Books for Young Readers, selection (2018)

Brightly: 9 Middle Grade Books for Environmentally Conscious Kids, selection (2018)

PopSugar: The Best books for Kids in 2018, as Voted by Actual Kids and Parents Who Read Them, selection

A Mighty Girl: 2018 Books of the Year, ages 9-12

 


GRAB WILLA OF THE WOOD NOW!

 


Willa of the Wood and Willa of Dark Hollow are being adapted into a multi-season, live-action television series!

 

About Robert:

Robert Beatty is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Serafina series and the Willa of the Wood series published by Disney Hyperion. Loved by young readers and adults alike, the Serafina and Willa books are being taught in over a thousand classrooms nationwide and have been translated into over 22 languages. Robert lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and three daughters. He writes full-time now, but in his past lives, Robert was one of the early pioneers of cloud computing, the founder/CEO of Plex Systems, the co-founder of Beatty Robotics, and the chairman/CTO of Narrative magazine. In 2007, he was named an Entrepreneur of the Year. When asked about the inspiration for his books, Robert said, “The Serafina and Willa books grew out of my desire to write stories about unusual and heroic young girls for my three daughters."

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of WILLA OF DARK HOLLOW, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/1/2021

BookHounds YA

Excerpt

Week Two:

5/2/2021

Log Cabin Library

Excerpt

5/3/2021

jillpiscitello

Excerpt

5/4/2021

YA Books Central

Excerpt

5/5/2021

Nerdophiles

Review

5/6/2021

Jenguerdy

Review

5/7/2021

booksaremagictoo

Review

5/8/2021

Amani’s Reviews

Review

Week Three:

5/9/2021

Little Red Reads

Review

5/10/2021

The Bookwyrm's Den

Review

5/11/2021

A Court of Coffee and Books

Review

5/12/2021

Emelie's Books

Review

5/13/2021

Books and Zebras

Review

5/14/2021

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt

5/15/2021

michellemengsbookblog

Review

Week Four:

5/16/2021

two points of interest

Review

5/17/2021

History from a Woman’s Perspective

Review

5/18/2021

Rajiv's Reviews

Review

5/19/2021

Lifestyle of Me

Review

5/20/2021

Haunted By Books

Review

5/21/2021

The Momma Spot

Review

5/22/2021

Fyrekatz Blog

Review

Week Five:

5/23/2021

The Try Everything

Excerpt

5/24/2021

Musing of Souls

Review

5/25/2021

Popthebutterfly

Review

5/26/2021

more.books.yes.please

Review

5/27/2021

DearRivarie

Review

5/28/2021

Momfluenster

Review

5/29/2021

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt

Week Six:

5/30/2021

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt

5/31/2021

Do You Dog-ear?

Review


Thursday, May 13, 2021

May Haul 2021!

 

I can't believe May is half way over! Although, I am looking forward to Halloween :D Mostly for the candy. I didn't go crazy this month but, I did get a few new things I am excited to use.

I got two new body washes from BBW. I already own the lotion version from of the body washes. I got the Stress Relief and Sleep varieties. I got another Fenty Beauty in Unlocked. It's a beautiful magenta color. I got a nice dark Oxblood color from Stila Cosmetics in Rubino. I got two new MAC lipsticks in Russian Red (I heard this is a fan favorite) and Sweet Sakura. Tarte has a new brand line called Sugar Rush. I got this cute gloss in Passion Fruit, that I am really looking forward to using it.

I have tried a few Bliss skincare items. I got a new rose gold rescue moisturizer. The stuff I have used I had good results with. I got a few new Milk Makeup skincare items. I got another watermelon mask, a new melatonin overnight serum, and a vegan milk moisturizer from their line. I got a new ampoule collection from Babor. I have used one of the other ones from them and loved it. I saw results right away.

Have you gotten anything this month that you are excited to use?


Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Book Review - The Power of Piggie Bear by Mara James + Giveaway

 

The cute illustrated book helps little readers understand and process their feelings in a fun and loving way. Piggie Bear helps little ones recognize their feelings and how to use words to express themselves. The book includes self-calming exercises that they can utilize. I thought the book was a cute and fun read along with being an important resource for little ones. The book will help enable young children to put their feelings into words and help them process their feelings.

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

 

 

About the Book:

Title: THE POWER OF PIGGY BEAR

Author: Mara James, Matthew Mew (Illustrations)

Pub. Date: March 2, 2021

Publisher: Brown Books Kids

Formats: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, B&N, TBD, Bookshop.org

Extraordinary Lives Foundation Founder and CEO Mara James releases her debut children’s picture book to promote Mental Health Awareness and Wellness!

Do you ever feel sad, lonely, or worried? What about angry, or scared? These feelings can be hard to fell, can't they? It would be much easier to just feel happy all the time! But everyone feels these ways sometimes, and it's nothing to be scared or worried about. As long as you know helpful ways to handle your feelings, everything will be OK! And that is what Piggie Bear is for! Piggie Bear shows children everywhere just how amazing they are, each and everyone. And Piggie Bear also shows children different techniques they can use to work through emotions that are hard to feel and understand. The Power of Piggie Bear is an important emotional tool, created for young children to learn how to identify, process, and manage their own feelings in a healthy way.

Mara Reads THE POWER OF PIGGY BEAR

 

 

About Mara James:

Originally from New York, Mara James relocated to California with her husband and her three children in 2007. They established Dr. James’s OBGYN practice, and for seven years, Mara managed the busy office. Then, in 2014, Mara unexpectedly experienced a manic episode and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Through her battle with mental health, many wellness professionals helped Mara heal and transform her life. Mara established the Extraordinary Lives Foundation and created Piggie Bear to promote mental health awareness and provide both children and their parents with the resources needed to pursue holistic wellness. Mara lives with her family in Orange County, California.

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 


About the Illustrator Mathew Mew:

Matthew Mew has been working with children’s books and materials as an author and illustrator for over thirty-five years. After graduating from UCLA with a degree in design, he worked for six years as a character illustrator in the Disneyland Creative Services Department. For the past thirty years, he has been a freelancer, designing and illustrating children’s products and print media for companies both large and small.

 

Website | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will win a finished copy of THE POWER OF PIGGY BEAR, US Only.



Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/3/2021

TravelersWife4Life

Excerpt

5/4/2021

YA Books Central

Interview

5/5/2021

Jill Piscitello

Excerpt

5/6/2021

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt

5/7/2021

cindysloveofbooks 

Review

Week Two:

5/10/2021

Little Red Reads

Review

5/11/2021

Rajiv's Reviews

Review

5/12/2021

@minnesota_mailer

Review

5/13/2021

Midnightbooklover

Review

5/14/2021

two points of interest

Review

Week Three:

5/17/2021

michellemengsbookblog

Review

5/18/2021

Jazzy Book Reviews

Review

5/19/2021

BookHounds Ya

Review

5/20/2021

The Momma Spot

Review

5/21/2021

Momfluenster

Review

Week Four:

5/24/2021

@bookshelfmomma

Review/Spotlight

5/25/2021

She Just Loves Books

Review

5/26/2021

Simply Daniel Radcliffe

Review

5/27/2021

Jaime's World

Excerpt

5/28/2021

I'm Shelfish

Review

Week Five:

5/31/2021

Nerdophiles

Review