Book Review - Heartless Prince by Angela De Vito + Giveaway

 

 

A power hungry witch has destroyed Evony's kingdom and has left her an orphan. Prince Ammon is drawn to her ability to sense familiars, who are servants to the witches, if they are near the kingdom's shield.  Evony has always had a crush on Ammon and dreams of the day they spend it together.

Prince Ammon is desperate to prove himself to his family and the kingdom. He decides to take Evony outside the borders to fight the familiars. This was everything Evony dreamed of happening until they are captured by the witch Aradia. The witch steals Ammon's heart and leaves his body to turn into a familiar.

Then Ammon's sister, Nissa, is then taken hostage by Aradia's daughter. Evony is determined to bring back the royal family safe and sound. She descends the mysterious Witchlands to retrieve Ammon's heart and save Nissa. Evony comes across another witch that tells her about her past that will change everything.

I thought the graphic novel was a beautifully done and had an interesting story. I am not sure if the authors plan on continuing the story but, the story felt short. There wasn't much back story given to Evony's history and it has the same story line as other novels. I would be interested in reading more about the characters. 

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

 

 About The Book:

Title: HEARTLESS PRINCE

Author: Leigh Dragoon & Angela De Vito (Illustrator)

Pub. Date:  November 2, 2021

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 160

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

A fierce warrior must save the heart of her beloved prince before it's too late in the first book of a new YA fantasy-adventure graphic novel trilogy, perfect for fans of Noelle Stevenson's Nimona and Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet

Evony is an orphaned princess from a kingdom destroyed by a power-hungry witch. Prince Ammon has recently been drawn to her, or at least he’s drawn to her uncanny ability to sense when familiars—servants to the witches—are approaching his kingdom’s borders. And Evony, well Evony has always longed for something more with Ammon. Wanting to prove himself to his kingdom and parents, Ammon takes Evony outside the borders to fight the familiars head-to-head. All is well until they’re captured by witch Aradia, who steals Ammon’s heart and leaves his body to turn into one of her familiars. What’s worse, his sister Nissa has been taken hostage by Aradia’s daughter. Evony makes it her miss onto retrieve Ammon’s heart and save Nissa, taking her into the mysterious Witchlands. There, she will discover a secret about her past that will change everything.

Reviews:

An enchanting, intense tale of mystery and magic - this book reveals both the vision and vibrant, young talents of Angela and Leigh throughout dense and rich pages full of visual delight and narrative wit.―Matias Bergara, illustrator of CODA

The Heartless Prince is a romantic and thrilling fantasy with strong characters and compelling twists.―Victoria Ying, author of City of Secrets

With a palette of whimsical hues and a heartful cast of characters, HEARTLESS PRINCE is a fantastic read full of witches, adventure, and destiny. I can't wait to devour the sequel!
―Hafsah Faizal, NYT bestselling author of WE HUNT THE FLAME

 

About Leigh Dragoon:

LEIGH DRAGOON was raised in a log cabin in the Adirondacks, where she developed an early love of reading and writing. She became a fan of Little Women at age nine, after Beth’s demise made her bawl herself to sleep. This led to a lifelong appreciation of the book. After years of annual rereads, she became fascinated with learning about Louisa May and her family. She adapted both Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy and Marie Lu’s Legend series into graphic novel scripts. She has also written two prose Adventure Time novels: Queen of Rogues and The Lonesome Outlaw.

Website  |  Twitter  | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | BookBub

 

About Angela De Vito:

ANGELA DE VITO is a freelance animator, storyboard artist, and character designer working in NYC. She graduated from the School of Visual Arts with a BFA in Animation in 2014. Since then she has worked on animation for commercials and series pitches. Angela has worked for such studios as Hornet, Inc.; Titmouse, Inc.; Aardman Nathan Love; Click 3X; CHRLX; and Disney Digital Network. She also animation directed Comedy Central Digital’s Loafy, created by Bobby Moynihan. She lives with her family and her two adorable, rambunctious cats.

Website  | Facebook  | Twitter  | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of HEARTLESS PRINCE, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

11/1/2021	For the Love of KidLit	Excerpt
11/2/2021	BookHounds YA	Excerpt
11/3/2021	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt
11/4/2021	Book-Keeping	Review
11/5/2021	Books Are Magic Too	Review
11/6/2021	Nerdophiles	Review

Week Two:

11/7/2021	ZaineyLaney	Review
11/8/2021	The book review crew	Review
11/9/2021	History from a Woman’s Perspective	Review
11/10/2021	A Backwards Story	Review
11/11/2021	celiamcmahonreads	Review
11/12/2021	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
11/13/2021	More Books Please blog	Review

Week Three:

11/14/2021	A Bookish Dream	Review
11/15/2021	@more.books.yes.please	Review
11/16/2021	lexijavabookish	Review
11/17/2021	Once Upon a Twilight	Review
11/18/2021	A Court of Coffee and Books	Review
11/19/2021	Don't Judge, Read	Review
11/20/2021	Bri's Book Nook	Review

Week Four:

11/21/2021	@momfluenster	Review
11/22/2021	The Momma Spot	Review
11/23/2021	Emelie's Books	Review
11/24/2021	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review
11/25/2021	The Bookwyrm's Den	Review
11/26/2021	Eli to the nth	Review
11/27/2021	Lifestyle of Me	Review

Week Five:

11/28/2021	Two Points of Interest	Review
11/29/2021	onemused	Review
11/30/2021	popthebutterfly	Review

Book Review - The Rooster Bar by John Grisham

 

Mark, Todd, and Zola decided to attend law school for their own different reasons. They are now third-year students who feel duped by the system. They borrowed eye dropping amounts of money to attend a low tier for-profit school that is so mediocre that its graduate rarely pass the bar exam or get any profitable jobs. The trio later find out that their school is a chain of for-profit schools owned by a shady businessman who also owns a bank specializing in student loans. They realize they are one of many  victims of "The Great Law School Scam".

They begin to feel hopeless and that they have no way out. They decide to concoct a plan that they can escape their debt, expose the scam along with making a few bucks in the process. However, they realize for their plan to work they would need to leave law school a few months shy of graduation.

This was my first John Grisham novel and I was excited to read it. However, I found the novel to be very boring and slow. I read more than one third of the book before I had to stop reading it. I had a hard connecting to any of the characters and I didn't care for the one female character. It was hard to feel sympathetic with characters who complain about being ripped off and then goes ahead and rips off other struggling people. They were also upset about being duped but, it looks like they didn't really do proper due diligence and feel angry that they are being taken advantage of. Apparently, the school has a wide reputation of being horrible, wouldn't they have figured that out by the first year? I felt like Zola was just made into a prop and rarely served a purpose. I felt like most of the book is ripped straight from the headlines with little addition from the author other than his social commentary.

Book Review - A Double Life by Flynn Berry

 

Claire is a simple hardworking doctor living a quiet life in London. However, she is a hiding a secret. She is the daughter of a notorious murder suspect and no one knows it.

Thirty years ago, Claire and her brother was sleeping upstairs when a brutal crime was committed in their family's townhouse. The next morning, her father's car was founded abandoned with bloodstains on the front seat. Her mother insists that she saw him in the house but, his powerful and privileged friends insist that he is innocent. Her father was the first lord accused of murder in more than a century.

Claire's life begins to fall apart when the police tells her that they have found him. She doesn't know if her father is guilty or innocent. Claire will have to decide how far she go to find out the truth.

I read reviews that the book would be a page turner but, I felt like this book was a cozy read. I felt like most of the novel plodded along until the last few pages of the book. The ending comes out of nowhere without alerting the reader the possibility of this character or the ending. I felt like the ending was a disjointed and disappointing.

November 2021 Empties!

 

 

I can't believe November is almost over! Wow, it just feels like the days flew by. I finished a few things this month that I liked. 

I like the lip whip by Kari Gran. It leaves  my lips super soft and hydrated. It was such a treat to put on. I heard and have used a few of Herbivore stuff but, it was years ago. I recently got the Herbivore Pink Cloud Soft Moisture Cream and applied it during the night and woke up with super soft skin. The Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm was my first time using a cleansing balm and thought it was pretty cool. It removed most of my mascara and makeup and it was fun to use. I did have to follow up with an oil cleanser to get rid of the most annoying mascara traces.

I tried a new serum called Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ and it was a whopping $149 for one ounce. It was creamy and absorbs quickly but, I am not sure I saw that much results that I am willing to fork over that much money again. I also liked the Graydon Putty Super Soothing Face Cream because it's really thick and cream. It left my skin super soft after applying it.  I tried this new hand cream called Serumkind A Precious Serum of The Royal Black Tulip and it smells amazing. It feels so luxurious and usually I use a cheap hand lotion that I have to constantly reapply. 

Here is everything I finished - 

Lip Whip by Kari Gran - Peppermint

Herbivore Pink Cloud Soft Moisture Cream

Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+

Juara Candlenut Hydrating Shower Gel

MediHeal Line Friends Teatree Care Solution Essential Mask EX.

Frienvita Perfect Skin Adhesion Firming Gold Glow Mask

Facetory Ace that Face Collagen Mask

Bling Pop Face Mask Aloe

Graydon Putty Super Soothing Face Cream

The Body Shop Cranberry Joy Shower Gel

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Comptoir Sud Pacifique

It's a 10 Miracle Daily Conditioner

H20+ Hydration Oasis Nourishing Gel Cream

Serumkind A Precious Serum of The Royal Black Tulip

Yonka Intense Hydration Repairing

Biorace Pore Tightening Pearl Clay Mask

Hey Honey Walk the Walk Proplis Foot & Heel Cream

Book Spotlight - Out of My Heart by Sharon M. Draper + Giveaway

 

About The Book:

Title: OUT OF MY HEART (Out of My Mind #2)

Author: Sharon M. Draper

Pub. Date:  November 9, 2021

Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 352

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

Melody faces her fears to follow her passion in this stunning sequel to the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling middle grade novel Out of My Mind.

Melody, the huge-hearted heroine of Out of My Mind, is a year older, and a year braver. And now with her Medi-talker, she feels nothing’s out of her reach, not even summer camp. There have to be camps for differently-abled kids like her, and she’s going to sleuth one out. A place where she can trek through a forest, fly on a zip line, and even ride on a horse! A place where maybe she really can finally make a real friend, make her own decisions, and even do things on her own—the dream!

By the light of flickering campfires and the power of thunderstorms, through the terror of unexpected creatures in cabins and the first sparkle of a crush, Melody’s about to discover how brave and strong she really is.

 

Reviews:

"A deeply satisfying and worthy continuation of a beloved story." (Kirkus Reviews, STARRED September 15, 2021)

“Melody Brooks, a smart, determined 12-year-old diagnosed with cerebral palsy, returns in this sequel to 2010’s Out of My Mind. Longing for independence from her family and daily routines, she persuades her parents to let her attend Camp Green Glades, a summer camp for kids with disabilities in her home state of Ohio. With the help of her Jamaican American counselor Trinity and three cabinmates, Melody navigates new experiences—including zip-lining, horseback riding, and a first crush. Melody’s voice is as wryly funny as ever, and the supporting cast, which features kids and adults of various ethnicities and disabilities, treat her with respect and empathy… it’s impossible not to be charmed by the witty protagonist’s affirming, frequently ecstatic discovery of what it means to be part of a community that truly understands her.” (Publishers Weekly *STARRED REVIEW* October 11, 2021)

Grab the first book in the series now!

 

About Sharon M. Draper:

Sharon M. Draper is a three-time New York Times bestselling author and a recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring her significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens. She has received the Coretta Scott King Award for both Copper Sun and Forged by Fire, and was awarded the Charlotte Huck Award for Stella by Starlight. Her novel Out of My Mind has won multiple awards and was a New York Times bestseller for over three years, and Blended has also been a New York Times bestseller. She taught high school English for twenty-five years and was named National Teacher of the Year. She now lives in Florida. Visit her at SharonDraper.com.

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

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will win a finished copy of OUT OF MY HEART, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

11/8/2021	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt
11/8/2021	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
11/9/2021	bookblogarama	Excerpt
11/9/2021	Little Red Reads	Review
11/10/2021	Locks, Hooks and Books	Review
11/10/2021	Lifestyle of Me	Review
11/11/2021	Bri's Book Nook	Review
11/11/2021	Sparetimereader	Review
11/12/2021	More Books Please blog	Review
11/12/2021	OneMoreExclamation	Review

Week Two:

11/15/2021	Wilted pages	Review
11/15/2021	Don't Judge, Read	Excerpt
11/16/2021	For the Love of KidLit	Excerpt
11/16/2021	BookHounds YA	Review
11/17/2021	Eli to the nth	Review
11/17/2021	Two Points of Interest	Review
11/18/2021	Not In Jersey	Review
11/18/2021	@bookshelfmomma	Review
11/19/2021	Once Upon a Twilight	Review
11/19/2021	The Momma Spot	Review

Book Review - Hush Little Baby by R.H. Herron

 

Jillian Marsh has been a survivor her entire life. She escaped her toxic upbringing from her religious mother as a teenager and then she hit rock bottom in her twenties because of alcoholism. She has gotten her life together after getting sober and building a successful marriage and medical career. However, she is struggling to make amends for her past mistakes during her drinking days.

A decade later, things are going down hill for Jillian. Her wife, Rochelle, has cheated and left her for someone else while Jillian is pregnant with Rochelle’s biological child. Jillian feels unsettled being alone at home especially, when weird things are happening. Even the members of her mommies-to-be group are no longer offering the solace it once was especially, when secrets are being unraveled.

As missing items starts turning into threats, Jillian starts to question everyone around her. She is afraid that someone close to her wants to hurt her. The only thing Jillian knows for sure is that she is willing to do anything to protect her baby.

I thought the book was an okay read. The book was a bit slow but, the ending was a whirlwind and made it hard to seem believable. There wasn't anything in this book that set it apart from other book with similar premises. I would be opened to reading other books by the author but, I wouldn't be going out of my way to read them.