Friday, April 29, 2022

Book Review - Witchblood (Witchblood Issues, #1) by Matthew Erman + Giveaway

 


Yonna is a witch who is traveling the open road when she comes across a  gang of bloodthirsty biker vampires, The Hounds of Love, who are on the hunt for the source of magic. The vampires know that witch blood can grant them the abilities of the witch whose blood they drank. Yonna tries to mind her own business and continue on with her solo trip but, she soon finds herself in vampires' cross hairs.

I thought the graphic novel was beautifully drawn. I was also interested in reading about vampires and witches. I was torn about the graphic novel at times because it was a bit confusing. Some parts of the story wasn't well fleshed out. And at times, I felt like I was missing a connection in story and with the characters. There was some mentions of a band called "Mannequin Pussy", that was referred too a few times but, I am not familiar with them. Some graphic novel spent a lot of time building up to the story and has no real "meaty" parts to the story. I felt like this book had tons of story and I felt that some of it could have been added to another book so, some parts of the story could have been fleshed out more. I would have love to learn more about Esme and Yonna's relationship and why Yonna is spending all of her time on the road. They mentioned different types of witches and I would have learned to learn about each type and how they related to Esme. I felt like these were important details that were just hinted at but, no details were really given. However, I did think the graphic was a fun read. Yonna was funny and a flawed character and I would be interested in reading more about her adventures.

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


 

About The Book:

Title: WITCHBLOOD: The Complete Series (Witchblood #1-10)

Author: Matthew Erman, Lisa Sterle (Illustrations),Gab Contreras, Jim Campbell

Pub. Date: April 12, 2022

Publisher: Wonderbound

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 128

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, B&NiBooks, KoboTBD, Bookshop.org

A non-stop supernatural action adventure bathed in magic, blood, motorcycles, mayhem, vampires, and an unconventional. 1,000 year-old witch named Yonna.

MAGIC IS IN THE BLOOD

A modern, Wild West road trip about a witch named Yonna cruising the Southwest as a band of bloodthirsty biker vampires, The Hounds of Love, hunt her scattered coven for the source of all magic: witch blood. From the critically acclaimed creators of The Modern Witch Tarot Deck and Long Lost comes Witchblood, a blend of action, lore, and Americana—perfect for fans of Buffy and American Gods.

Reviews:

"Loud and brash and high-energy, the kind of thing that makes readers yearn to see what will come next...[packed with] gripping, stylish thrills." ― Women Write About Comics

"A mixtape in comic form, that blends familiar lore, with the roughness of the Wild West...the creative team has successfully given us a character who although vulnerable, packs some serious attitude, you can’t help but root for her, and with the dangers she has stumbled upon and the revelation of her WITCHBLOOD, we are on our way to be treated to some action-packed, magic in the making." ― Geek Network

"Witchblood #1 is a fun, splashy start to a stylish series." ― AV Club

"Want a chaotic, fun time? Witchblood is just the levels of chaos you need in your life." ― Wandering Nerd Girl

"Witchblood is the most beautiful form of a passion project...This comic really is something special, not just for fans of witchcraft and vampires, but for anyone who loves colour, representation, and the craft done right." ― The Valkyries

Named one of "the comics and graphic novels worth mentioning from 2021" ― THRILLIST

 

About Matthew Erman:

Matthew Erman is a comics writer from Columbus, Ohio. Alongside Lisa Sterle, he co-created the critically acclaimed comic horror series, Long Lost, which was optioned for Film/TV by Producer Jenny Klein (The Witcher, Daisy Jones and The Six). Erman has since worked on the comic book series Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance and graphic novel Power Rangers: Sins of the Future with BOOM! Studios, series Care Bears: Unlock the Magic with IDW, the upcoming  science fiction/ horror / humorous romance original graphic novel BONDING, with artist and co-creator Emily Pearson for Vault Comics, and the smash supernatural action adventure comics series (with artist/co-creator Lisa Sterle) from Vault Comics, WITCHBLOOD. His short work can be found in anthologies such as Corpus (2018), Dead Beats (2019) and Everything is Going Wrong (2019).

 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

About Lisa Sterle:

Lisa Sterle is a Columbus artist with work spanning from comic books to concept design to pop-culture-fueled illustration. Her work is often bright, expressive, and occasionally tinged with horror— marrying her two favorite themes: the beautiful and the grotesque. She has worked with HarperCollins, IDW, Image, Archie Comics, Vault Comics, BOOM! Studios, and many others. She is the co-creator of monthly comics Long Lost and Submerged (Vault Comics), and Witchblood (Vault comics), as well as creator of The Modern Witch Tarot Deck, a modern and diverse interpretation of the classic Rider-Waite tarot deck. Currently she is working on the graphic novel Squad with writer Maggie Tokuda-Hall for Greenwillow Books.

WITCHBLOOD is the first time Lisa Sterle’s wider (witchy/tarot/occult) audience has access to her all-new  book (to be found in book stores in which they frequent), and it is her first creator-owned project since The Modern Witch Tarot.

As the creator of the smash, best-selling, The Modern Witch Tarot, Lisa has a super rabid fan base, and with over 16K Twitter followers, she is known as one of the most “influential witches in the world!”  Further, Lisa was voted by Watkins Body Mind Spirit Magazine as one of the Top 100 Most Spiritually Influential  Living People  (Pope Francis is #1, Dalai Lama is #2; Lisa is #92 – Neil de Grasse Tyson is #93!)

Here’s more about Lisa Sterle’s  diverse, all-female, Modern Witch Tarot:

    • The Modern Witch Tarot has sold over TWO MILLION UNITS since its release on October 1, 2019
    • The Modern Witch Tarot is the #1 Bestselling Tarot in the world – ever!
    • It is the #1 BESTSELLER in Amazon’s Tarot category
    • It is the #2 BESTSELLER in Amazon’s Fortune Telling category
    • It is the #4 BESTSELLER in Amazon’s Witchcraft Religion & Spirituality category
    • The Modern Witch Tarot has over 13,000 reviews
    • The Modern Witch Tarot is rated 5 stars on Amazon
    • The Modern Witch Tarot has been in the TOP 500 Books on Amazon since release
    • The Modern Witch Tarot reinvented the Rider-Waite deck for modern use

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive a finished copy of WITCHBLOOD, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

4/11/2022

Writer of Wrongs

Excerpt or Guest Post

4/12/2022

Wottaread Blog

Excerpt or Guest Post

4/13/2022

BookHounds YA

Excerpt or Guest Post/IG Post

4/14/2022

Sadie's Spotlight

Excerpt or Guest Post/IG Post

4/15/2022

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt or Guest Post

4/16/2022

See Sadie Read

Review

Week Two:

4/17/2022

A Court of Coffee and Books

Review

4/18/2022

@thebookishfoxwitch

Review

4/19/2022

The Momma Spot

Review

4/20/2022

Celia's Reads

Review

4/21/2022

Bri's Bookish

Review

4/22/2022

A Bookish Dream

Review

4/23/2022

Lifestyle of Me

Review

Week Three:

4/24/2022

Fyrekatz Blog

Review

4/25/2022

Eli to the nth

Review/IG Post

4/26/2022

Nerdophiles

Review

4/27/2022

The Clever Reader

Review/IG Post

4/28/2022

Nonbinary Knight Reads

Review

4/29/2022

Two Points of Interest

Review

4/30/2022

Vamplit

Review

Week Four:

5/1/2022

My Fictional Oasis

Review

5/2/2022

Pages_and_Procrastinaton

Review/IG Post

5/3/2022

Bookish Rantings

Excerpt or Guest Post/IG Post

5/4/2022

Emmiepooh2

Review

5/5/2022

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt or Guest Post

5/6/2022

@jaimerockstarbooktours

IG Post

5/7/2022

@lexijava

Review/IG Post


Thursday, April 28, 2022

Book Review - Armadillo Antics by Bill Martin Jr. + Giveaway


 I thought the book was cute and beautifully illustrated. However, I felt like it was missing something. The story felt convoluted, forced, and boring at times. I did like that they include some facts about armadillos.

 

About The Book:

Title: ARMADILLO ANTICS

Author: Bill Martin Jr., Michael Sampson, Nathalie Beauvois (Illustrations)

Pub. Date: April 26, 2022

Publisher: Brown Books Kids

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 32

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, B&NTBD, Bookshop.org

Join the Armadillo on His Nightly Romp!

Children will love the rhythm and rhyme that are hallmarks of the beloved author duo of Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 as they follow the adventurous armadillo through nighttime fun as dawn approaches.

Bill Martin Jr was the beloved author of more than three hundred books for children and teachers, including the classics Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

Michael Sampson taught kindergarten through fourth grade before meeting fellow literacy expert Bill Martin Jr at a conference in Tucson, Arizona in 1978. They established a lifelong friendship and collaborated on many bestselling and award-winning books for children, including Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 and Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?

Reviews:

"A wonderfully musical nighttime romp with stunning illustrations." --Matt de la Peña, Newbery Medal-Winning, New York Times Bestselling Author

"Beauvois, whose elaborately textured, highly dimensional surfaces recognize the paper collage legacy of Eric Carle and Lois Ehlert, creates a series of striking contrasts to the repeating text's simple rhymes. As the mammals appear, ready to "romp and play till the night is done," they're shown in deep jewel tones with patterning reminiscent of a Missoni sweater... tagging along with this self-possessed, graphically stylish critter and chanting its name as it leaps, digs, and dines makes for a memorable outing." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"For a romping night in the life of a roly-poly armadillo, pick up Armadillo Antics!"--Parade Magazine

"This short rhyming story about a night in the life of an armadillo is cozy and soothing. Beauvois's collage-style art, especially the armadillo curled up inside its next, gives Eric Carle vibes. A collection of eight facts on the final page will fascinate kids and grown-ups alike."--Parents Magazine

 
 

About Bill Martin Jr.:

BILL MARTIN JR was the beloved author of more than 300 books for children and teachers, including the classics_ Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, which was illustrated by his friend Eric Carle, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, illustrated by Lois Ehlert. Bill was elected to the Reading Hall of Fame by the International Literacy Association. The Bill Martin, Jr Picture Book Award, which is the Kansas State award for best children’s picture book, was established in his name in 1996. Bill wrote Armadillo Antics with Michael Sampson when he moved to Texas, in honor of the fun, inquisitive creatures that roamed the woods outside his house. Visit Bill Martin Jr and Michael Sampson’s website at billmartinjr.com

 

Website |  Goodreads

 

About Michael Sampson:

MICHAEL SAMPSON taught kindergarten through fourth grade before meeting fellow literacy expert Bill Martin Jr at a conference in Tucson, Arizona in 1978. They established a lifelong friendship and collaborated on many bestselling and award-winning books for children, including_Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3_and_Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? Sampson often speaks at schools, book festivals, and literacy conferences, where he is known for his high-energy, entertaining performances. Dr. Sampson is a Fulbright Scholar and a professor of literacy at St. John’s University in New York City. Visit Bill Martin Jr and Michael Sampson’s website at billmartinjr.com. You can also follow Michael on Twitter and Instagram @michaelsampson.

 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

About Nathalie Beauvois:

NATHALIE BEAUVOIS has a graphic design background in advertising and has also studied industrial design. Nathalie started her career in the art departments of ad agencies and eventually transitioned into freelance illustrating. Since then, she has illustrated dozens of books and hundreds of magazines in countries all over the world. Her creations always start the traditional way — with paper and pencil. Depending on the visual task at hand, she mixes in techniques such as watercolor, collage, vector drawing and Photoshop coloring and texturizing. When not playing with the antics of armadillos, she is happily living and working in Argentina with her family. Visit her website at nathaliebeauvois.weebly.com. You can also find her on Instagram @tanebeauvois_illustrations.

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of ARMADILLO ANTICS, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

4/18/2022

The book review crew

Review/IG Post

4/18/2022

onemoreexclamation

Review/IG Post

4/19/2022

Do You Dog-ear?

Review/IG Post

4/19/2022

Excuse Me, I’m Reading

Review

4/20/2022

Girls in White Dresses

Review

4/20/2022

Little Red Reads

Review/IG Post

4/21/2022

Cindy's Love of Books

Review

4/21/2022

Nerdophiles

Review

4/22/2022

@just_another_mother_with_books

Review

4/22/2022

Just Another Teen Reading Books

Review

Week Two:

4/25/2022

PickAGoodBook

Review/IG Post

4/25/2022

Jazzy Book Reviews

Review/IG Post

4/26/2022

For The Love Of The Page

Review/IG Post

4/26/2022

BookHounds YA

Review/IG Post

4/27/2022

Unconventional Quirky Bibliophile

Review/IG Post

4/27/2022

@mamaisbooked

Review

4/28/2022

Two Points of Interest

Review

4/28/2022

The Momma Spot

Review/IG Post

4/29/2022

Nonbinary Knight Reads

Review/IG Post

4/29/2022

onemused

Review/IG Post


Tuesday, April 26, 2022

April 2022 Empties Part 2!

 

Wow, can't believe April is almost finished! The month has definitely went by so quickly. I am excited that I managed to finish quite a few things though.

I always see Glamglow products being touted as a cult favorite and every time I buy one of their products, I just don't see it. I got their treatment mask and their everyday cleanser and I didn't notice any noteworthy results. The natural beauty store I shop at loves Ilia Lip Wrap but, I can't say I am in love. I feel like it makes my lip super dry and uncomfortable. I feel like I have to constantly reapply.

I love the Winky Lux Disco Kitten Gloss in Far Out. I made my lips a glittery soft pink that went perfect with my skin tone. The Freck Beauty Rich Bitch Cactus + Vitamin C Moisturizer is so thick and creamy that when I apply this at night, I wake up with super soft and hydrated skin in the morning.

I got the Aura Cacia Aromatherapy Mineral Bath - Lavender at Whole Foods when, I was supposedly shopping for food. They had a small section dedicated to things that help promote a more restful sleep. The single use packet was enough for one bath and it did make me feel more restful. I love the sleek packaging of Aster Raine Reverse Serum but, honestly it was one of the most stinkiest serums I ever used. I am not sure if it actually worked but, I was really glad when I finished the bottle. I also loved the Basd body lotion. The peppermint scent was so invigorating in the morning.

Here is everything I finished this month - 

Margot Elena Library of Flowers Willow & Water Body Wash
St. Ives Collagen Elastin Body Wash
Glamglow YouthMud Stimulating Treatment
Dermaxgen Tumeric + Vitamin C Clay Mask Stick
Ilia Lip Wrap
Elishacoy Moist Up Super Hyaluronic Cream
Winky Lux Disco Kitten Gloss in Far Out
Freck Beauty Rich Bitch Cactus + Vitamin C Moisturizer
Klorane Nourishing Shampoo with Mango Butter
Beautaniq Beauty Guardian Angel Revitalizing Eye Gels
Acure Radically Rejuvenating Under Eye Hydrogels
Honey Jarret Super Beau'tea Mask Rose
Beplain Cicaful Calming Mask
Jeju:en You can't Handle This Mask Volcanic Ash
Jayjun Cosmetic Essential Calming Mask
Soo'ae Me Time Self-Heating Eye Mask
Ultru I'm Sorry for My Skin Jelly Mask - Relaxing
Fortify+ Hydrating and Protecting Facial Sheet Mask
The Orchid Skin Foot Mask
Aura Cacia Aromatherapy Mineral Bath - Lavender
Aster Raine Reverse Serum
Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser
BlowPro Weather Girl
Comfort Zone Active Pureness Fluid
UMM The Bar
Basd Body Lotion Invigorating Mint
REN Skincare Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm
Skin & Lab E Plus Moisturizing
Glamglow Gentlebubble Daily Conditioning Cleanser

 


Saturday, April 23, 2022

Book Review - Kiara Fights Back by Marilyn Kaye

 

Kiara is known for speaking what's on her mind. She doesn't hesitate to let other people know what she is thinking. She is happy that she became friends with the girls of the Spyglass Sisterhood who appreciate her observations and judgment. 

When Kiara finds out that a fellow classmate is getting bullied online, she decides to take action. She is determined to find out who is behind the bullying and bring them to justice. She needs to rely on her friends and the magical spyglass to help solve the mystery.

I thought the book was an okay read. I personally got confused with the characters when I first read the book and had trouble keep track of the different girls and their personalities. I can't say I enjoyed Kiara, I found some of her inner commentary to be blunt and sometimes, mean. It made me wonder if she even likes her friends. However, I feel that the book did teach an important lesson about bullying, having empathy, and the importance of words. It also highlights the proper usage of social media along with standing up for others and for standing up and defending for your beliefs.

Friday, April 22, 2022

Book Review - Falling for You (Sapphire Springs #3) by Barb Curtis

 

Faith Rotolo was recently evicted from her place. She thought her luck has ran out until she inherits the family historic mansion in quaint Sapphire Springs. Faith never imagined putting down roots as she usually travels for her job as a yoga instructor.  As she tries to fix her home up, she finds herself becoming attached to the small town life. 

Rob Milan is Faith's grouchy contractor. He is a single dad of two and finds himself drawn to Faith after clashing with her  in the beginning. As Rob and Faith spend more time together and their bond deepens, will they both realize they deserve a fresh start too?

The book was a cute cozy romantic read with a small mystery added in. The characters were well developed and likeable. I liked Faith and Rob's interaction with his children but, found his ex-wife grating on my nerves. This was the third book in the series but, each book could be read as a standalone. I would be interested in reading more books by the author.