Thursday, March 2, 2023

Book Review - Always Be My Duchess (Taming of the Dukes, #1) by Amalie Howard

 

 

  

Always Be My Duchess by Amalie Howard is a tale of two opposite people who are brought together by a mutual interest in accomplishing their goals. Lord Lysander Blackstone is the Duke of Montcroix, and he only has one goal and interest on his mind. He singularly cares to increase his already considerable fortune in order to surpass his late father’s legacy, and has no interest in finding a “duchess”. After a series of betrayals and broken promises, he finds it easier to keep his emotions in check if he focuses on growing his empire. However, a piece of real estate that he needs for his budding railroad empire is blocked by the eccentric owner of the property. The owner is only willing to sell the property to someone who believes in love and who wants to build and raise a family on the land. Lysander is devastated and annoyed that his cold personality and lack of a love life could jeopardize his business plans. He starts to lose hope for being a candidate the owner will sell to until he crosses paths with the alluring Miss Geneviève Valery.

Geneviève “Nève” Valery once had a promising ballet dancer career and her entire life ahead of her. However, her dreams and career were destroyed when Nève refused to become the mistress of a wealthy patron. Nève is out of work and desperate to find a new job but her scorned lover makes it impossible for her to land any roles. 

Nève crosses paths with the Duke when she saves him from a group of unsavory men when he was in a vulnerable state. He makes her an offer that is hard to resist. Nève is skeptical if the Duke will act honorably given her last encounter with the ton, in which the Duke is a prominent member. After hitting a dead end in job prospects, Nève decides to take up the Duke on his offer to be his fake fiancée. The plan is to help convince the eccentric seller to sell Lysander the property he desires, and Nève would be well compensated if the deal goes through. Nève and Lysander are both only focused on getting their side of the deal, until they realize that they might get more than they bargained for!

Nève and Lysander are both strong characters who are determined to keep their feelings in check but find themselves instantly drawn to each other. It was interesting and fun seeing how the duo tried to ignore their budding feelings for each other but kept finding themselves in compromising situations. The novel was set in the Victorian era but it could have taken place in any era with minor edits to the story. The elements of the Victorian era (other than the class issues) did not really come into play. There were no facts of the era or the time period to build the world in the mind of the reader. It just seemed to be chosen by the author for the romantic aspect of this time period.

I enjoyed the first half of the novel as it showed the pair maneuvering their relationship from two parties with a business arrangement while being romantically attracted to each other. However, towards the middle it got repetitive. Lysander kept making the same mistake of doing something nice but not taking into consideration Nève’s feelings, even though she told him how she felt. This could have been due to ignorance because of his social standing and privilege.  Nève also ran hot and cold. She was not consistent – she was either a fiery firecracker or a damsel in distress. 

The book was mildly reminiscent of “Pretty Woman” but it's not a remake of the story. The novel is a predictable read with no unexpected twists. The ending does leave an opening for another character to get their “happy ending” in the next book in the series. The book had adult content and language, and isn’t for readers who prefer clean romances.

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

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Book Review - I Walk With Monsters: The Complete Series by Paul Cornell

 


Jacey is searching for her brother. Years ago, an "important man" took her brother away from her and that was the last she had seen of both of them until recently. 

Jacey and her friend, David, work together to find people who prey and hurt the weak and vulnerable. David is able to transform and control a terrifying blood lust monster.  When Jacey recognizes the "important man", she and David decide to see if they can find her brother.

The artwork was amazing and brilliantly done. The story started off strong and interesting but then fell apart. The story would switch back and forth between the present and the past without any clear indication. The story was vague and confusing when explaining Jacey's past, David's ability, and why the "important man" was. I felt like the story needed to be fleshed out a bit more and not jump around from past and present so often.


Sunday, February 26, 2023

Book Review - Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado

 

 

Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado is the first book in the trilogy. The compelling international bestseller was recently translated for English readers.  It is also slated to become a major television series in the near future.

Our protagonist Antonia Scott has a brilliant mind. She is the daughter of a prominent British diplomat.  She is able to remember everything she has read and can reconstruct crimes in her mind.  She is able to predict and solve cases before most people can even register the clues in front of them. She isn’t a member of the police force, and most people don’t even know that she exists.  However, she is a member of a secret organization, and is known as the Red Queen. She is well renowned in her field of problem solving and has assisted the police in several high caliber cases without the public knowing. She and her abilities are a well-guarded secret.

Jon Gutierrez is a disgraced detective in Bilbao facing suspension and criminal charges. A mysterious man appears and offers him a clean slate and a chance to save his career if Jon does him a simple favor. Jon needs to convince Antonia to come out of her self-imposed exile after tragedy keeps her isolated. Jon can’t believe his luck and jumps at the chance to save his career. However, Antonia refuses to leave her apartment after witnessing an attack that left her traumatized. Will Jon be able to persuade Antonio to leave her apartment and solve a murder where a body was found without a single drop of blood left in it?

I found Antonia and Jon to be interesting and complex characters. I like that the author gave little snippets of the characters’ history and background as the story progressed. I liked that Jon is a gay police officer and he doesn’t fit into a stereotype. Instead, he and Antonia are well developed characters who struggle with certain situations and try to do their best to solve the case.

I thought the book was a captivating read but I felt that there were some nuances that I may have missed because I am not familiar with Spain’s culture and idioms. For example, it seems that the way the police force is set up, that some branches have more power but, I was confused when Antonia showed them a national police badge and they were not cooperative even though she was a police officer from a higher branch. I am not familiar with all police processes but, what I gathered from watching US based police shows and reading English mystery books, that there are different levels of police but, if a “higher” branch of police comes into play, that the local police give up some control. I do understand that people do have egos with “chips on their shoulders” but, I found it confusing that Antonia and Jon had to almost beg to be included in the investigation. Perhaps, it would have been helpful to include a section/footnote to go into more detail to help readers understand certain nuances.

I didn’t care for the derogatory remarks that were said to Jon because he was gay and/or fat. I thought that repeated use of insults was uncalled for as Jon was a caring and thoughtful detective. Out of all the characters, he was consistent in his behaviors and feelings. I had a hard time connecting with Antonia during certain parts of the book. I felt that her character was a bit inconsistent. She was upset and distant with her father because of something he did in the past but she does the same thing with her son. When she realizes that her son doesn’t like her very much, she gets annoyed by it, instead of working towards a better relationship with him. I hope in the later books that the author addresses these familial relationships in more detail.

The book was filled with action and twists. The book ends with a teaser to the second book to entice readers with something to look forward to. The author included a note in the end explaining his inspiration behind the book. It was a bit sparse but it was a great inclusion. I thought this a great beginning of a thrilling trilogy and I can’t wait to read about Jon’s and Antonia’s next mystery.

 

Friday, February 24, 2023

Book Review - Girl, Forgotten (Andrea Oliver, #2) by Karin Slaughter

 

Girl, Forgotten by Karin Slaughter is the second book in the Andrea Oliver series.  The book has a dual timeline with a murder connecting two characters together. In 1892, Longbill Beach, Emily Vaughn was a high school senior who was getting ready for prom.  She is described as beautiful and was well-liked by peers and by her conservative community, until the unthinkable happened. When it becomes evident that she is having a baby out of wed-lock, the community closes ranks and tries to protect its respected members, because they are afraid that Emily may claim that one of their own is the father. 

Emily tries to navigate her life from being a beloved member of the community to an ostracized high school student. She has a few secrets that she is keeping from her friends and family, including who the father is of her baby. Someone is desperate to keep Emily from telling her secrets and they want to silence her. When Emily leaves prom, someone is following her and they will stop at nothing to keep Emily quiet… 

Forty years later, Emily’s murder is still unsolved and no progress has been made. Her close friends keep to themselves and her family has tried to move on. 

Newly minted U.S. Marshal Andrea Oliver arrives at Longbill Beach with her first assignment. She and her partner, Bible, are to protect a judge who is getting death threats. Andrea knows she should be focusing on her assignment, but she feels a special connection to Emily. She is determined to find what happened to Emily forty years ago. As Andrea digs into the death of Emily, she realizes that not everyone in Longbill Beach is as friendly and forthcoming as they pretend to be. When a new body is discovered and it is eerily similar to Emily, will Andrea be able to figure out who the killer is before they strike again?

The novel is the second book in the series but it can be read as a standalone. However, I do recommend reading the books in order as it will help explain Andrea’s relationship with her mother, and also will give context to her motives for wanting to solve Emily’s murder. I felt that Andrea has grown so much from the first novel. She went from being a useless character who came across like a fish out of water to a strong and smart Marshal.  She progressed into a surer version of herself and she was able to stand on her own two feet. Her keen instincts allowed her to piece together clues before others even more senior to her.

The book was a highly engaging read and kept me on my toes. There were a few unexpected twists that were delightful, but also a few predictable ones. The characters were well developed and complex. The character dialogues were realistic and immersive as Bible and Andrea were trying to put together the clues.  I enjoyed following the dual timelines and trying to figure out how Emily’s story interplayed with the present murder.  I found the book to be an engrossing read and I can’t wait to read more books by the author. I would recommend the novel to any crime or thriller fans.

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Book Review - Direwood by Catherine Yu

 

 


 

In Catherine Yu’s debut novel Direwood, the novel takes place in a small idyllic town in the 1990s. Aja is a sixteen year old Asian girl who feels different and out of place in her community. She is unable to connect with others as easily as her older sister, Fiona. Everything changes when her beloved sister goes missing the day after her birthday party. Days before Fiona disappears, Aja has a foreboding feeling that something bad is going to happen. She sees signs of malice in everyday occurrences such as trees being infected by caterpillars and the rain being the color of blood.


Aja is desperate to find her sister. She receives the answer to her prayers when a vampire, Padraic, shows up to her window one night. Padraic is a chance for Aja to find her sister along with providing her with the opportunity for freedom from her overbearing community. Aja is enthralled with Padraic as he tells her that she is pretty and special, things Aja yearns to hear.  

Aja decides to go with Padraic to his nest deep in the forest with the condition that she can leave whenever she wants. However, Aja isn’t planning to leave without her idolized sister. As Aja spends time with Padraic in the dilapidated church that is surrounded by a deadly fog and bloodsucking butterflies, Aja realizes that Padraic has secrets that he is keeping from her as well. Will Aja be able to find her sister and escape Padraic’s hold on her?


The book had tons of eerie gothic themes that were spellbinding and alluring to read. The author used lush descriptions to describe the scenery and Aja’s inner turmoil. Aja was stuck between being enraptured by Padraic and having a sense of being wanted and belonging with her need to find her sister. It was interesting reading about how Aja was struggling with choosing the best course of action.


Aja was an interesting character. I commiserate with her need of being the odd duck but, at times, her character felt one-dimensional. She came across as selfish, in that she stated that she wanted to rescue her sister, but made little progress in her actual goal. I felt that she was hard on her friend when they were trying to help her. Aja seemed self-absorbed and stuck in her world failing to realize the danger that was around her. When the time came for action, she seemed like a deer caught in headlights. I also didn’t like that she consistently claimed others were ruining her chances to make her escape.


The author created a descriptive and atmospheric read but the novel lacked a strong story line. The days would progress and there would be little to no development in the story. At times, it felt boring and repetitive after reading various inner thoughts of how Aja thought Padraic was hot. I wished there was more world building and explanations.  Some concepts were introduced, such as the caterpillars and butterflies, but were never fully developed. If you like slow burn horror novels, then you might enjoy this book, otherwise I would skip it.

 

Monday, February 20, 2023

Book Review - We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds

 

We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds is a debut novel about a young girl and her mother trying to connect with their dying estranged grandmother. Avery Anderson is a seventeen year old girl who was looking forward to spending her senior year with her friends and touring colleges.  Instead, her parents take her out of school and move down to the deep South (Georgia) to spend time with her grandmother. Avery tries to connect with her grandmother, Mama Letty, but it’s hard when Avery’s mother and Mama Letty are always down each other’s throats. Avery tries to dig deeper and connect with the two women to figure out what drove the two of them apart.

When tempers flare and tantrums are thrown by her avoidant family, Avery is desperate to escape and find her own place to belong. Avery connects with the girl next door, Simone Cole, and also Jade Oliver, the daughter of a prominent family. The trio connect over their own grief and sadness while quickly forming a bond with each other that Avery never had with anyone else. Simone is dealing with the unexpected death of her brother and her sister leaving her family behind. Simone feels trapped because her mother has no one else but her. Jade’s mother was brutally murdered and the case has remained unsolved. 

As Simone and Avery start to spend more time with each other clandestinely, they feel that their friendship is blossoming into something more. However, not everyone in the small Georgia town is open and friendly as Avery wants to believe. The small town of Bardell, Georgia is steep and tainted with a dark history of racism that still ripples through the community.

The novel was a tearjerker read on how people with broken pieces are trying to find a way to amend the damage done by time and hatred. The book was filled with well-developed and flawed characters who were trying their best to navigate life with the cards they were dealt with. However, there were times I felt that Avery was being unreasonable. When she found out the reason behind her family’s disagreement, she took out her anger on her friend without even trying to apologize for lashing out at them. I understand that she was feeling hurt and betrayed but her friend didn’t do anything to her personally and her friend constantly went out of her way to help Avery.

Mama Letty was a vibrant character but I found it hard to like her at times. As she is nearing the end of her life, she still refuses to acknowledge some of the pain and trauma she has caused others until the very last moment. She, like Avery, were both filled with hate about things that were done to their family and instead of moving forward, they lashed out and hurt others which continues the vicious cycle of pain. The novel does have a redemption part but, will the characters be able to heal from the trauma or will it stick to their soul?

I felt that the story dragged on for a while without any plot progression. The story hinted that someone Avery knew might have murdered Jade’s mother but it was hinted at and left to the readers to infer who the killer was. The murderer was never really ousted and it didn’t really have an impact on any of the characters or the story.  I felt like this arc was just thrown in there to try and tie up loose ends, while it could have been developed more. This young adult novel does have LGBT characters and if you love reading about dysfunctional families with past trauma, you might enjoy this slow burn novel.

Saturday, February 18, 2023

February 2023 Empties!

 

I can't believe January has already come and passed. I feel like the year has blown away so quickly.  I did manage to finish a few things this month. I was hoping to finish a few more things but, I am proud that I made progress. I also feel like its a good thing about keeping track of things I have used will help me to realize what I need to use more of and what I have tons of. For example, I have really dry skin and I only finished one bottle of body lotion. For someone who has dry and itchy skin, I should have finished more than one bottle.

I finished three bars of soap which is surprising because I haven't really been leaving the house lately and have been limiting my showering to once a day. The two new soaps I did try were nice and creamy and had a pleasant scents. They were Sunaroma in Eucaltypus  and Sylan Art Cedar Citrus soap. They both had pleasant scents and were creamy. Both brands were new to me and I would get them again.

I finished a few serums that I enjoyed using. The Lancome Renergie H.C.E Serum was amazing. I mean the serum cost a pretty penny but after a few nights of consistent use I saw a visible change in the texture of my skin. It was kind of cool that the serum was made of up three different types of serum.  The Herbivore Nova Brightening Serum had a pretty minimalist packaging. It had a strong turmeric scent and it was very creamy and hydrating. My skin felt so soft and I felt that my skin looked brighter. The only thing I didn't like is that there was some product left on the bottom of the bottle that I couldn't get out. I tried putting the container upside but some was still stuck.

The Han Skin Refining Serum was a bit interesting. It had no noticeable scent. I wasn't sure if there was supposed to be an exfoliating serum or hydrating serum. According to the instruction it has some mild exfoliating action and it leaves skin hydrated. I felt that it barely made a difference to my skin. My skin didn't really feel different after using the product consistently at night. I upped my product usage to twice a day and still didn't notice anything.

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Book Review - The Autumnal by Daniel Kraus

 

Kat Somerville and her daughter, Sybil, goes to Comfort Notch, New Hampshire after the death of her estranged mother. Upon arriving the idyllic and quaint town, Kat forgets how beautiful her childhood home was. The small town offers Kat and Sybil a loving home and environment than the tough and difficult situation they were in Chicago. However, under the beautiful facade, the town is hiding a dark and insidious secret.

The graphic novel is a dark and horror filled read. The graphic novel was beautifully drawn and nicely detailed. The book was an entertaining read but, at times I struggled with the pace and Kat as a character. The story moved along very slowly and felt choppy at times. I believe this occurred when the issue had ended and the next issue starts but, it didn't feel like a smooth transition. Kat was aggressive at times and  was hard to like as a person. As the story progressed, she did find her voice and work on her bond with her daughter and acknowledging her past. If you are a fan of dark horror graphic novels, you might enjoy this one.


Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Book Review - Bleed Them Dry by Eliot Rahal

 

In the year 3333, the Earth is still recovering from being taken over by immortal vampires. Humans and vampires cohabit peaceful among each other until someone is murdering vampires. Harper Halloway is a detective who is in charge of finding the killer.

While Harper investigates the murders, she stumbles on a dark secret and she starts to question everything she believes in. She crosses paths with a ninja vampire hunter, Toyo, who is on a mission to save Earth from the vampires. Will Harper and the vampire hunter be able to work together to find the truth behind the vampires?

The graphic novel was an entertaining read filled with gore and action. However, I felt that the story was underdeveloped. The story hinted that there might be two murderers but, they never went anywhere with that nor did they ever explain the motives of the vampire hunter's antagonist.  I am also not sure who the bad guy is or which character I am supposed to be rooting for. If I was reading the graphic novel for just the action and graphics, this was a solid graphic novel. If you are looking for a graphic novel with a story line, I would look somewhere else.

Sunday, February 12, 2023

Book Review - Shadow Service Vol. 2: Mission Infernal by Cavan Scott

 

In the second graphic novel of the series, Gina joins the supernatural government agency. However, she decides to betray them and she is on the run. Will Gina be able to outrun her colleagues?

The second book in the series was just as entertaining and fun to read as the first. The book does end on a thrilling cliff hanger but, I can't wait to read more. I liked that the author went into some details about each of the characters and their motivation. I felt that it gave you a well rounded idea of each character. I also like that majority of the questions were answered and not dragged out. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!


Friday, February 10, 2023

Book Review - Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks

 

Beverly and her six year old son, Tommie, flee their home during the middle of the night. Beverly is determined to start a new life after leaving her abusive husband behind. She has to be on guard in case, her husband finds her and takes them back home. Beverly becomes on edge when Tommie insists that he is hearing someone call his name and when a mysterious truck keeps parking in her driveway, Beverly will need to act quick if she is planning to escape again.

Colby Mills gave up his career as a musician to run his family's small farm in North Carolina. He decides to take a working vacation and head to St. Pete Beach, Florida to play at a local bar. While playing at the bar, he crosses paths with Morgan Lee and he finds himself falling for her.

Morgan is from an affluent family of doctors from Chicago. She graduated from a prestigious music program and wants to head to Nashville and break into the industry. When she meets Colby, she finds herself falling for him. However, is she willing to give up her dream to be with him?

This was my first time reading a book by the author. I can see why people enjoy his writing but, this book wasn't for me. The book moved so slowly and the surprise ending was predictable. The book dragged on forever until the ending where everything is tied up nicely. I did enjoy reading Beverly's story line but, felt that Colby's and Morgan's was boring. I don't think I will be in a rush to read any of his other books after reading this dud.

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Book Review - Bonding: A Love Story About People and and Their Parasites by Matthew Erman + Giveaway

 

The tale is old as time but, with a twist. This graphic novel is a love story between a man and a woman but, they have parasites attached to them. Marcus has been alone and is new to the dating scene. He is dealing with the trauma of losing his best friend. Laura has been drifting into life and relationship with no purpose. The pair is on their first date and things are going well until Marcus's parasite rejects him as a host and Marcus almost dies.

I normally love reading graphic novels and this one seemed like it would be a quirky fun read. However, this has been one of the most confusing and frustrating graphic novel I ever read. I didn't even make it to the end as it seemed pointless. 

There is no flow and the story jumps back and forth without warning. It's hard understanding what was happening between the characters because they were in the present and then in the past back and forth. Some of the male characters looked alike and it was hard to tell them apart. When Marcus and Laura goes to a club, Laura is confront by a stalker (another story line that went nowhere) that looks exactly like Marcus except that dude had one curl. Then one of the character goes for a drive to think and then finds someone that looks exactly like them but, they are dead. The story then never explains who that dead person was and what the importance was.

The second part of the story is Marcus and Laura's son who is struggling. The story isn't really clear if he is struggling with anxiety or just dealing with teenage drama. He has this crush that he is obsessed with and their story line is even more confusing. He talks about God and stuff that their world is experiencing but, we as readers have no idea as the world building has been so sparse. The only details we know about the world is that everyone has a slug attached to them and if the slug detaches from the host, they both die. This graphic novel had so much potential and failed with it's execution.

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

 

 

About The Book:

Title: BONDING: A Love Story About People and Their Parasites

Author: Matthew Erman, Emily Pearson (Illustrations)

Pub. Date: January 31, 2023

Publisher: Vault Comics

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 208

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/BONDING

“Wear your heart on your sleeve.”  That’s the saying. But in BONDING, people wear their anxiety on their chests – in the form of a  parasite that shows everyone just what you’re feeling on the inside …

WEAR YOUR LOVE ON YOUR CHEST

A man, a woman—and their parasites. Marcus has been alone since the loss of his closest friend and has just recently entered into the dating scene, while Laura has drifted in and out of relationships since high school. They meet, they have a great first date, and Marcus almost dies—because the slug-like parasite that everybody carries in this world nearly rejects him, its host. BONDING is a funny, quirky, and honest look at love, in a world where everyone wears their anxiety, not on their sleeves, but on their chest like big ol' leeches.

Fans of Matthew Erman's work on Vault Comics' WITCHBLOOD and Archaia's JIM HENSON'S THE DARK CRYSTAL: AGE OF RESISTANCE will find lots to love in BONDING. Fans of Image Comics' ICE CREAM MAN VOL. 1, DC Comics' COLLAPSER and even books like THE HOST by Stephenie Meyer and THE PARASITOLOGY TRILOGY by Mira Grant will enjoy this foray into all the stressors of dating...where a parasite is the least of your worries (unless it kills you, that is.)

 

Review:

“Erman and Pearson skewer genre norms in this sweet and casually unsettling comics romance-dramedy…”- Publishers Weekly


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 Emily Pearson:

Emily Pearson is a freelance comic book artist from Davis, California.
She has previously worked for Black Mask Studios; “The Wilds”(2018) and “Snap Flash Hustle”(2018-19), Oni Press’s “The Vain”(2020), and the upcoming “Bonding” coming to Vault Comics in 2022.

In addition to comics series, she drew a short story for the Ringo Award Winning “Mine!” an anthology for Planned Parenthood, Vault Comic’s “Cult Classic Zero Short”“CORPUS” curated by Nadia Shammas, and “Everything is Going Wrong: Comics on Punk & Mental Illness”.
She has illustrated various covers for comic books including: “Stranger Things: SIX” from Dark Horse Comics, “Calexit: Emmie X”“The Devil Within”“Sweet/Vicious”“The Wilds”“Snap Flash Hustle” from Black Mask Studios, “Going to the Chapel” from Action Lab, “Atlantis Wasn’t Built For Tourists” from Scout Comics and many more.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

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

Ends February 18th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

1/16/2023

Sadie's Spotlight

Excerpt/IG Post

1/17/2023

Bookish Trisha

Excerpt/IG Post

1/18/2023

Writer of Wrongs

Excerpt

1/19/2023

The Clever Reader

Excerpt/IG Post

1/20/2023

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt

1/21/2023

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

1/22/2023

Nagma | TakeALookAtMyBookshelf

IG Review

1/23/2023

Jeff_of_allmedia

IG Review

1/24/2023

GryffindorBookishNerd

IG Review

1/25/2023

@bubbles_books09

IG Review/TikTok Post

1/26/2023

travelersguidetobooks

IG Review

1/27/2023

Eli to the nth

Review/IG Post

1/28/2023

Nerdophiles

Review

Week Three:

1/29/2023

@coffeesipsandreads

IG Review/TikTok Post

1/30/2023

Brandi Danielle Davis

IG Review/TikTok Post

1/31/2023

brittreadsalattebooks

IG Post

2/1/2023

Jenguerdy

IG Post

2/2/2023

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

2/3/2023

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic

2/4/2023

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Review/IG Post

Week Four:

2/5/2023

See Sadie Read

Review/IG Post

2/6/2023

Mallory Books

Review/IG Post

2/7/2023

@just_another_mother_with_books

IG Review

2/8/2023

Nonbinary Knight Reads

Review/IG Post

2/9/2023

Novel Novice

IG post

2/10/2023

Two Points of Interest

Review

2/11/2023

The Momma Spot

Review/IG Post

Week Five:

2/12/2023

onemused

IG Post

2/13/2023

@jacleomik33

IG Review

2/14/2023

@thebookishfoxwitch

IG Review