Book Review - Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega

 

Marlene likes her cool aunt Ruby and her best friend, Camila. However, according to her mother, Paola, Marlene needs to focus on school and growing up. A part of growing up means that Marlene must spend every weekend straightening her hair so, she can look presentable and look like she has "good hair".

Marlene despises being in the salon for such an extended period of time. She doesn't understand why her curls are not considered pretty by those around her. Marlene is determined to love her hair and herself as exactly as how she is.

I thought the graphic novel was a lovely and endearing read. I wish people would be a bit more understanding how their words and actions can affect children. I also wish people would stop using the phrase "good hair", no one has good hair and any hair can be good hair. For example, Marlene's curls were big and beautiful but, because she didn't know how to properly take care of her hair, it looked unkempt. Overall, I thought the book was a lovely read.

Book Review - No Admissions by Brittany Geragotelis + Giveaway

 

Frankie discovers one of her classmate's inventions is stolen the day before a school wide competition, the renown international thief promises to make it right. She works her skills to help retrieve the project for her classmate. Frankie thought her mission was a completed but, she finds out that there's more to the story.

A group of wealthy parents are using their influence and money to guarantee that their kid gets into the most exclusive schools regardless of their kids' ability. They will stop at nothing to guarantee that their kids are set up for success.

The case seems easy to Frankie until she gets to know the parents and their kids. She then realizes that not everything is so black and white. Frankie decides to set her bar higher, and take down the mastermind who has been hired to get the kids into their schools.

This is the third book in the series and it follows the similar pattern of the other two previous books. The book can be read as a standalone. In this book, Frankie is still learning to "play nice" with others including, Ollie and her uncle. It was interesting seeing Frankie, who is normally calm under pressure be vulnerable with her feelings and trying to have empathy with others. While, Frankie still has ways to go before she can understand Ollie and her uncle, she has made great progress in this novel including, understanding that Ollie wants and needs to be an equal say in their antics. If you enjoyed the two previous books, you will enjoy this book. 

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

 

About The Book:

Title: NO ADMISSIONS (The Infamous Frankie Lorde #3)

Author: Brittany Geragotelis

Pub. Date: October 18, 2022

Publisher: Pixel + Ink

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 304

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

A group of parents looking to buy their less-deserving children into elite schools is about to learn a thing or two from a criminal mastermind in the third book in the Infamous Frankie Lorde series, perfect for fans of Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls and Heist Society.

When Frankie discovers that a classmate’s invention has been stolen the day before a school-wide competition, the once-renowned international thief figures she might as well flex her skills to steal it back. But just when Frankie’s about to call her mission a success, she learns there’s more to the story than she’d originally thought.

A group of wealthy Greenwich parents are using their influence -- and wallets -- to guarantee that their kids get into the most exclusive institutions on the East coast, no matter how undeserving their kids are, or how far they have to go to ensure success. 

Easy peasy for Frankie to crack.  Until she gets to know these classmates of hers...and their parents...and everyone's real motivations and issues.  Frankie sets the bar higher, to take the scam down from the top.  The guy who's been hired to get the kids into their desired schools: "Mr. Admissions."  

Reviews:

"The action sequences are fun. . . ."—Kirkus Reviews

 

Grab the first 2 books in THE INFAMOUS FRANKIE LOURDE Series now!

 

About Brittany Geragotelis:

Brittany Geragotelis, a former Olympic-bound gymnast and magazine editor, is a self-professed pop culture junkie turned author. Her paranormal action book Life’s a Witch received 18 million reads on the writing site Wattpad.com. What the Spell is the first published book in the series, followed by Life’s a Witch and The Witch Is Back. The Infamous Frankie Lorde is her first series with Pixel+Ink. Brittany lives in Los Angeles with her awesome husband, two clever boys, one scaredy-cat, and a crazy dog.

 

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

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win a finished copy of NO ADMISSIONS, US Only.

Ends October 25^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/10/2022	Mom with a Reading Problem	Review/IG Post
10/10/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
10/11/2022	GryffindorBookishNerd	IG Review
10/11/2022	Lifestyle of Me	Review/IG Post
10/12/2022	Forthenovellovers	Review/IG Post
10/12/2022	BookHounds YA	Review/IG Post
10/13/2022	@hodophile_z	IG Review
10/13/2022	hauntedbybooks	Review/IG Post
10/14/2022	Ya Books Central	Excerpt
10/14/2022	Books and Zebras	IG Review

Week Two:

10/17/2022	Brandi Danielle Davis	IG Review/TikTok Post
10/17/2022	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt/IG Post
10/18/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
10/18/2022	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt/IG Post
10/19/2022	A Backwards Story	Review/IG Post
10/19/2022	@coffeesipsandreads	IG Spotlight
10/20/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
10/20/2022	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post
10/21/2022	@jacleomik33	IG Review
10/21/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review

Book Review - Verse Book 1: The Broken Half by Sam Beck

 

Fife planned to leave home and become an expert swordsmith. However, his plans are interrupted when he meets a girl named Neitya. Fife has never met anyone like her before, because she has amnesia and horns. Fife thought Neitya was one of the Vel who attacked and hurt innocent people. When Fife is attacked by the Vel, Neitya unleashes a magic force to protect them. The decide to travel together to find out more about Neitya and her special abilities.

The graphic novel was an enjoyable read. I loved the illustrations but, some panels were too dark even though I was reading in a well lit room. The graphic novel was an engaging read and I love the world building elements. I would have liked if they had a more detailed appendix that explained a few more things but, the story was easy enough to follow along.

Book Spotlight - The Summer of No Regrets by Katherine Grace Bond + Giveaway

ASIN: ‎B007PUT3JW
Publisher: ‎Sourcebooks Fire (May 1, 2012)
Publication Date: ‎May 1, 2012
Language: ‎English

Praise for THE SUMMER OF NO REGRETS

"Brigitta...was incredibly unique" Blogger Ambur, Burning Impossibly Bright " —Burning Impossibly Bright

"This is an utterly sweet, captivating book that will charm you, make you think, and maybe even make you shed a tear." —Cupcake's Book Cupboard

"an interesting look at all that can change in the summer of a young woman's life." —YA Bibliophile

"The story line immediately captured my heart " —Charming Chelsey's

"...a novel of identity, true love, and the meaning of death; all told in the voice of a bright, thoughful, and passionately self-contradictory teenage girl." —Book Talk

"...fun summer read with a little bit of a serious twist...You'll laugh, you'll tear up, and you'll be on the hunt for a celebrity lookalike crush in no time" —Fiction Folio

"...the sort of book that should top your "to reads" list." —Letters Inside Out

"...a delightful tale of self-discovery and of burgeoning romance." —Allison Can Read

"The meaningful relationship that is created only makes you want more" —Books With Bite

"Readers can expect romance, drama, and incredible emotion" —A Cupcake and A Latte 

The summer Luke came into my life, I decided to keep him a secret. Even from my celebrity-obsessed best friend. Maybe he *was* a dead-ringer for notorious Hollywood bad boy Trent Yves. And it was possible that everything he told me was a lie. And yes, I was probably asking for trouble. But all I saw was Luke--sweet, funny, caring--someone who would let me be the real me.

But which was the real him?

You can purchase The Summer of No Regrets at the following Retailers:

        

Photo Content from Katherine Grace Bond

Katherine Grace Bond wants to heal the rifts in our culture and in ourselves. She writes on writing, race, family, and relationships on Medium, and is at work on a time-travel fantasy, for which she spent a couple of months in France trying to chase down Manet. Her books include The Summer of No Regrets, about finding the meaning of life and death when the boy next door may be a movie star in hiding, and The Legend of the Valentine, illustrated by the awesome Don Tate. Her poetry collections include Considering Flight, about the uneasy dance between father and daughter on the razor’s edge of mental illness. When she’s not writing, she plays fiddle in an Irish band called The Scuppermonkeys.

        

WEEK ONE

OCTOBER 10th MONDAY CBY Book Club EXCERPT

OCTOBER 11th TUESDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

OCTOBER 12th WEDNESDAY Movies, Shows, & Books EXCERPT

OCTOBER 13th THURSDAY Insane About Books GUEST POST

OCTOBER 14th FRIDAY #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee EXCERPT

WEEK TWO

OCTOBER 17th MONDAY Casia's Corner REVIEW

OCTOBER 18th TUESDAY Crossroad Review REVIEW

OCTOBER 19th WEDNESDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW

OCTOBER 20th THURSDAY Haney Hayes PR REVIEW

OCTOBER 21st FRIDAY TTC Books and More REVIEW

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Book Review - Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

 

In the early 1800s, Isobel Gamble leaves Scotland with her husband, Edward, carrying generations of secrets with her. Edward was an apothecary who fell under the spell of opium and racked up more debt that he could pay. It forced them to flee Edinburgh and head to the New World to start a new life. Within days of arriving in Salem, Edward decides to join a departing ship as a medic while leaving Isobel alone and penniless in a new strange country. Isobel is forced to make her way and survive by any means possible.

Isobel tries to use her sewing abilities to make her name for herself in Salem. She crosses path with a young Nathaniel Hawthorne, and she finds herself drawn to him. He is haunted by the sins of his ancestors, who sent innocent women to the gallows. Isobel is a gifted seamstress that is troubled by her own gifts. As the weeks pass and Edward safe returns seems unlikely, Nathaniel and Isobel finds themselves growing closer.

I thought this was an interesting read. It was fun to see which parts of Isobel could have inspired Hester. I did feel that parts of the story did drag at times and felt repetitive. While I like reading about Isobel and Nathaniel I felt that there were too many "side stories". For example, in between the main story there were vignettes from the past that at times, I couldn't figure out the character or the relevance. I felt like it was just thrown in there and it ruined the flow of the main story. I did like that the author included some references to the original Hawthorne but, I wish they included more "proof" as to why "The Scarlett Letter" could have been derived from his life experience. Overall, it was an interesting retelling of a classic. I would read more books by the author.

Book Review - Sunburst (Sky King Ranch #2) by Susan May Warren

 

Ranger Kingston is a former Navy SEAL and a lifelong bachelor dedicated to his job. When he was called upon to rescue his brother, Colt, who has been kidnapped by terrorists in Nigeria, he never imagined he would come across the one woman who he could never forget.

Noemi Sutton was attempting to reunite a young girl with her family in Boko Haram territory. However, she finds herself and the girl taken hostage, along with several others.  Ranger is able to get the hostages away from their captors, but he will need Noemi's help if they want to leave Nigeria unharmed.

Noemi suggests that they pose as husband and wife. When her uncle finds out, he insist that the pair do a traditional Nigerian wedding, binding the two to each other. As Noemi and Ranger try to find a way to safety, they discover the real reason why she was kidnapped and no one around her might be safe.

This was the second book in the series but, it can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed the first book of the series but, I didn't really like this book as much. I felt like Noemi was supposed to be trained in the field but, she kept doing things and letting her feelings get the better of her causing them to be in trouble. I did like that she was witty and I liked their back to forth banter. I didn't like that this book had tons of switches from the future to the present as sometimes, it wasn't very clear. I did like learning about Nigerian customs and the cultural norms. The story does end in a cliffhanger and leads way to the next book in the series.

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

Book Review - The Secrets We Share by Edwin Hill

 

Natalie Cavanaugh and Glenn Abbott do not look like sisters. Natalie is a Boston cop and acts like a cop off duty too. She prefers to shy away from the spotlight and wear unassuming clothing. Her younger sister, Glenn, lives for the attention. She likes to be dressed to the nines and camera ready. Glenn has spent many years cultivating her baking blog and the publication of her new book. She feels that her hard work is finally going to  pay off.

Twenty years ago, their father's body was found in the words behind their house. They believed their mother might be guilty of the crime but, someone else takes blame for it. Glenn prefers to move forward and ignore her darker past. However, someone who is reading her blog seems to know something and have been leaving anonymous ominous messages. A few unsettling coincidences occur that involve Glenn and her family and it that throws them in the cross hairs of the police and someone from their past.

As Natalie digs into the murders, she wonders about the people close to Glenn and how much she knows. Natalie believes that her father was murdered by their neighbor, with who he was having an affair with.  However, if the current events are connected with the past, there might be things that Natalie needs to uncover before it's too late.

This is my second book by the author and I enjoyed this book more than the other one. The book was suspenseful and had a few twists that I wasn't able to guess. The characters were well developed and each had secrets that were waiting to be discovered. At times, the novel was a bit overwhelming when I was trying to keep track of all the different characters and how they overlap. I also liked that Hester made a guest appearance in this book. I would be interested in reading other books by the author.

Book Review - Good Luck with That by Kristan Higgins

 

Emerson, Georgia, and Marley became best friends when they met at a weight-loss camp as teens. Emerson unexpectedly passes away and leaves one final wish for her friends. She wants them to complete a list they made as teens.

Emerson's wish for them means something different for each of them. Marley is trying to overcome her survivor's guilt that she had since her twin sister died. She is also trying to find romance and love with someone who wants to be with her. Georgia is struggling to learn how to stop trying to live up to her family's expectation of her and learn to accept the love from her ex-husband.

I thought the book was a fun and interesting read. I love reading Emerson's journal entries as they felt so raw and realistic. I love reading how Georgia and Marley work through their list while learning how to love themselves. I would be interested in reading other books by the author.

Book Review - Zara's Rules for Finding Hidden Treasure by Hena Khan

 

Zara loves taking bike rides with her friends. She is so excited to ride her new bike but, she is devastated when it is stolen from the park. Her parents refuse to get her a new bike unless she earns the money herself to buy it. Zara decides to start a business with her friends to sell unwanted knickknacks from their basements. Zara is excited when her business is a hit with the neighbors but, after a mistake she ends up having to shutter her budding business.

I thought the book was a good read and had a few enjoyable moments. It was fun to watch Zara learn from her mistakes and grow. The book had themes of religion, working together, being fair, being persistent,  and taking personal responsibility. It was also interesting to read how Zara helped the people around her grow from her mistake. The book is a delightful read for children of all ages with an important message of accountability while learning about different faiths.

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

About The Book:

Title: ZARA'S RULES FOR FINDING HIDDEN TREASURE

Author: Hena Khan

Pub. Date: October 18, 2022

Publisher: Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 144

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

From the beloved author of Amina’s Voice comes the second book in the delightful Zara’s Rules middle grade series following Zara as she starts her own business!

Zara lives for bike rides with her friends—so when her shiny, brand-new bike goes missing from the park one day, she’s crushed. After her parents insist she earn the money for another one herself, Zara’s determined to start a business. But what kind? A lemonade stand? Not profitable enough. Selling painted rocks? Not enough customers.

Zara’s starting to get discouraged when she and her friend Naomi finally come up with the perfect idea: The Treasure Wagon, a roving garage sale that unloads knickknacks from the Saleem family basement and makes money all at once! But when a mix-up gets Zara in hot water again, will she have to give up everything she’s earned toward her new bike?

Grab the other books in the ZARA’S RULES Series now!

 

INSERT YOUR POST OR REVIEW HERE!

 

About Hena Khan:

Hena Khan is a Pakistani American writer. She is the author of the middle grade novels Amina’s Voice, Amina’s Song, More to the Story, and the Zara’s Rules series and picture books Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns, Under My Hijab, and It’s Ramadan, Curious George, among others. Hena lives in her hometown of Rockville, Maryland, with her family. You can learn more about Hena and her books by visiting her website at HenaKhan.com or connecting with her @HenaKhanBooks.

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

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of ZARA'S RULES FOR FINDING HIDDEN TREASURE, US Only.

Ends October 18^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/3/2022	@booksrn_rashi	IG Spotlight
10/3/2022	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt
10/4/2022	@jaimerockstarbooktours	IG Spotlight
10/4/2022	BookHounds YA	Excerpt/IG Post
10/5/2022	The Clever Reader	Excerpt
10/5/2022	@jael_and_jenessa_reads	Review/IG Post
10/6/2022	@callmekaare	IG Review
10/6/2022	@coffeesipsandreads	IG Review
10/7/2022	Ya Books Central	Excerpt
10/7/2022	Ogitchida Kwe's Book Blog	Review

Week Two:

10/10/2022	Kelzstarr_bookstarr	Review/IG Post
10/10/2022	My Cat Reads	Review/IG Post
10/11/2022	One More Exclamation	Review/IG Post
10/11/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
10/12/2022	@marilynjgon	IG Review
10/12/2022	Little Red Reads	Review/IG Post
10/13/2022	@froggyreadteach	IG Review/Read Part of Book Aloud
10/13/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
10/14/2022	@just_another_mother_with_books	IG Review
10/14/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review