Wednesday, January 18, 2017

The Piper's Price by Audrey Greathouse

#review #missaudreyjoy






The Piper's Price by Audrey Greathouse
Pages: 300
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing
Source: Author Newsletter
Format: ePub
Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

summary:
Peter is plotting his retaliation against the latest bombing. Neverland needs an army, and Peter Pan is certain children will join him once they know what is at stake. The lost boys and girls are planning an invasion in suburbia to recruit, but in order to deliver their message, they will need the help of an old and dangerous associate—the infamous Pied Piper.
Hunting him down will require a spy in in the real world, and Gwen soon finds herself in charge of locating the Piper and cutting an uncertain deal with him. She isn't sure if Peter trusts her that much, or if he's just trying to keep her away from him in Neverland. Are they friends, or just allies? But Peter might not even matter now that she's nearly home and meeting with Jay again.
The Piper isn't the only one hiding from the adults' war on magic though, and when Gwen goes back to reality, she'll have to confront one of Peter's oldest friends… and one of his earliest enemies.


Purchase

My Review
Gwen is back in Neverland. The adults have a couple devices that they have been using to attacking anyone/anything that happens upon them. Peter has holed up in a tree house coming up with a plan. Finally he let's Gwen in on it. They need to find the Piped Piper. A task that Gwen is given.

I liked this second installment (admittedly not as much as the first one). Gwen is still in her inbetweeness. It was touched on but never fully explored but it is obvious, at least to me, that she is in Neverland for two reasons. The first one being her sister and the second being Peter. Though I'm not sure if is i a romantic feeling she has for Peter she certainly seems to desire his approval. Anyway, I found that most of this book had a slower pace. It does pick up and get better at the end of course. We are introduced to a new character besides the Piper.

Good book and probably a must read if you plan on reading the third book. Which I am actually looking forward to because she left a door in which the Piper may come back as well as that other character I mentioned. The third book has the potential to have more





About the Author
Audrey Greathouse is an active member of the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators and seven-time winner of the National Novel Writing Month challenge. Her BA in English Language and Literature comes from Southern New Hampshire University, where she completed her honors thesis on Victorian children's literature.


Author Links
Facebook  -  Twitter  -  Website  -  Goodreads



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Monday, January 2, 2017

Bout of Books 18


#boutofbooks18 @boutofbooks 

So I'm try bout of books again. Y'all know I love readathons even if I hardly ever reach my goal. :)

Challenges/Giveaways
**This is the overall list for the challenges offered during Bout of Books 18. Make sure you check the blog each day of the read-a-thon for instructions and details on how to complete the daily challenges**

Monday 1/2
Introduce Yourself #insixwords
Reader, blogger, knitter, and creative lady

Tuesday 1/3
2017 in a Picture

Wednesday 1/4
Book to Movie

Thursday 1/5
Book Spine Poetry

Friday 1/6
If you like this, try this...

Saturday 1/7
FREE DAY!

Sunday 1/8
FREE DAY!


Twitter Chats
(chats last approximately one hour)
TZC = Time Zone Conversion

Monday: 8pm CST (TZC)
Saturday: 10am CST (TZC)


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Sunday, January 1, 2017

Retellings Reading Challenge 2017

#readingchallenge2017

The Retellings Reading Challenge is back again for 2017, and this time it's bigger and better! Thanks to a lovely bunch of publishers, this year's challenge will come with monthly giveaways* for UK entrants!

The Challenge:

    For readers to read retellings of stories we know well from their chosen level in 2016:
        Easy: 1-4 retellings
        Medium: 5-8 retellings
        Hard: 9-12 retellings
        Difficult: 12+ retellings

The Rules:

    You must sign up to the challenge below.
    You must share your thoughts/reviews on the retellings you read for the book to count. You can post anywhere: your blog, YouTube, Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Tumblr, etc.
    As you review the books, update the monthly link up post with a link to your review. This is important, as each book you review will be an entry into that month's giveaway.
    You can sign up any time between now and 31st December 2017.
    Use the hashtag #RetellingsRC2017 so we can follow your participation in the challenge!

Which Books Count:

    You can read retellings of any of the following (if I've left anything out, please let me know!):
        Classics & Children's Classics
        Fairy Tales
        Myths and Legends
        Folk Tales
        Retellings of real, well known people's lives - I.E. Becoming Jane by Kevin Hood about a young Jane Austen, and And I Darken by Kirsten White, a gender bent retelling of Vald Dracul's teen years, both count
        I will also accept origin stories/prequels/sequels - I.E. Dorothy Must Die series by Danielle Paige is a sequel series to The Wizard of Oz, Heartless by Marissa Meyer is a prequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, the origin story of the Queen of Hearts, and both would count.
        Reimaginings that aren't strict retellings would also count - I.E. Kody Keplinger's novels Shut Out and A Midsummer's Nightmare are both reimaginings, the first of the Greek play Lysistrata by Aristophanes, and the second of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, both of which would count.
    You can read any retellings you want, they do not need to be recent releases to count.
    Feel free to re-read any retellings! They will also count, as long as you review them somewhere.
    All age categories are accepted; middle grade/young fiction, YA, NA, adult.
    All books count; physical books, audiobooks, eBooks.
    ARCs/Proofs count, as do self-published books.

To Sign Up:

    Write a blog post/page, record a video, or upload a photo to Instagram about your participation in the challenge. This is important, you must do this. (If you're using Goodreads, Amazon, or any other platform that doesn't allow you to do this, in the link up below, just link to your public profile.)
    If you wish, in that post/page/video you can compile a list of retellings that you hope to read and review for the challenge - but this isn't compulsory. Also, the titles you list do not have to be set in stone. If you'd like some inspiration, Goodreads has a number of lists on retellings you can browse.
    Submit your link in the widget below to show your participation. If you have a blog/channel/Instagram, please make sure the link you add goes directly to your sign up post/page/video/photo and you mention your blog/channel/Insta name/screen name. If you're participating via Goodreads or Amazon, etc, please put your "screename @ platform" - I.E. If I was participating via Goodreads, I would put "Jo @ Goodreads"

I'm going to try for the easy level. My books will be listed below

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Challenge Corner Playlist Challenge 2017

#readingchallenges2017 #booksandmusic


This month Goodreads' group Challenge Corner is having a Playlist challenge. My playlist is below as usual I will fill in the books as I read them.

1) You Are the One that I Want by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (song released in birth year) - book set in Alabama or by an Alabama author

2) Bad by Michael Jackson (Earliest favorite) - read a book with a bully character

3) Thank U by E40 ft Willy Will (Current favorite) - book released in 2017

4) If It Isn't Love by New Edition (My Choice) - read a romance novel

5) Something in My Heart by Michel'le (My Choice) - heart on the cover

6) Blow a Check by Diddy (My Choice) - street lit/urban fiction

7) White Wedding by Billy Idol (My Choice) - book about a wedding/getting married

8) Knuck If You Buck by Crime Mob (My Choice) - read a dystopian novel

9) Always and Forever by Atlantic Starr (My Choice) - read a fairy retelling

10) Baby by Brandy (My Choice) - book with a baby on the cover

11) Father Figure by George Michaels (My Choice) - book with a male lead

12) Musicology by Prince (My Choice) - book with a musician/singer as a character

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Happy New Year 2017





Hey everyone! Long time no hear from huh? I have been busy the last few weeks of last year. This starts a slow season for retail so hopefully I can do some catching up and some planning ahead. Which brings me to my new year's resolutions. They are the same ones y'all have seen before but you know the saying if at first you don't succeed try again.

My main goal is to put up a regular schedule of review posts. There will still be arc's but I am going to read more books that I own this year as well as books that have been released this year. I wasn't really able to do that last year but this year I am in a house (yay!) and will be getting bookcases soon. Bookcases means I can start buying books again.

I will also try to post more random but still book related posts. They may be a few memes or just things on my mind. The most important resolution though is to just keep having fun doing this blog. I don't receive many comments but I get a fair share of views that I am really thankful for. I appreciate y'all and look forward to what the new year bring. Now I'm off to stalk y'all blogs :)

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Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Book Blitz: The Boyfriend Whisper by Linda Budzinski

@lindabudz @xpressoreads #giveaway #bookblitz 
 

The Boyfriend Whisperer
Linda Budzinski
Published by: Swoon Romance
Publication date: November 15th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Sports
As President and CEO of Boyfriend Whisperer Enterprises, Lexi Malloy is Grand View High School’s undercover Cupid. One problem: She’s stuck in the friend zone when it comes to her own crush, Chris Broder. She and Chris have been best friends since the third grade, and he doesn’t even seem to realize she’s is a member of the opposite sex.
When pretty and popular cheerleader Lindsay LaRouche hires Lexi to whisper Chris, she has to decide whether to place her commitment to her company—and Chris’s happiness—before herself.
EXCERPT:
Principal Cho calls my teammates out one by one at the pep rally. He announces my name last, and I dribble across the court, through a tunnel made up of the cheer squad as well as both the boys’ and girls’ teams, and stop at the top of the key to throw Chris an alley-oop.
He sails toward the basket, his muscles rippling as he reaches out, snatches the ball out of the air, transfers it from one hand to the other, and stuffs it through the rim. Magnificent.
I remember the precise moment I fell in love with Christian Broder. It was this past October when a bunch of us decided to play a pick-up game at the courts down at Claymore Park. It was a warm day, and Chris took off his shirt. I vaguely wondered when he’d developed pecs. I tried to defend against him on a drive to the basket, but it seemed he’d gained six inches on me overnight. He swerved around, up, and past me, and … wham. His first dunk shot.
It was perhaps the most beautiful move I’d ever seen on a basketball court. Or anywhere. Ever. I could barely breathe. Had to fake a cramp in my leg and take myself out of the game. Now, watching him soar through the air again, I have that same gut reaction. I struggle to pull myself together as he runs up and gives me a high-five.
“Nice toss, Malloy.”
“Nice tip in, Broder.”
He laughs. “Yeah, right. Tip in. I hear you.” He drapes his arm across my shoulder. “I have a great feeling about this weekend.”
I nod, unable to form words, and the rest of the pep rally swirls by in a whirlwind of pompoms and victory chants.


Author Bio:
My young adult novels, EM & EM (2015) and THE FUNERAL SINGER (2013), were both published by Swoon Romance YA. My upcoming novel, THE BOYFRIEND WHISPERER, scheduled for publication in fall of 2016 by Swoon, received the Romance Writers of America Young Adult Chapter’s 2015 Rosemary Award and the Virginia Chapter’s 2015 Fool for Love Award.
I live in Northern Virginia with my husband, Joe, and our feisty chihuahua, Demitria (also known as Dee Dee, The Puppy, and Killer). I’m a sucker for romance and reality TV and have been known to turn off my phone’s ringer when watching “The Bachelor.”
My favorite flower is the daisy, my favorite food is chocolate, and my favorite song is “Amazing Grace.”
When I’m not writing, I work in nonprofit management. I’m represented by the amazing Andrea Somberg of Harvey Klinger Inc.

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Monday, November 14, 2016

Double Tour: Christmas with the Sheriff & Snowbound with Mr. Wrong


Christmas with the Sheriff

by Victoria James A Shadow Creek, Montana Novel Publication Date: November 7, 2016 Genres: Adult, Entangled: Bliss, Holiday, Romance

 

BUY:

Synopsis: After fleeing her beloved small town five years ago, Julia Bailey is back to spend Christmas with her family. Returning is hard, but keeping the devastating secret about her late husband is even harder. Her place isn’t in Big Sky Country any longer…but the more time she spends with the irresistible Sheriff who saved her once before, and his adorable little daughter, the more Julia starts wishing she could let go of the past and start a new life.
Single dad and county Sheriff Chase Donovan had been secretly in love with his best friend’s wife for years. But after her traumatic loss he knew Julia needed to get away from Shadow Creek, even though helping her leave was the last thing he wanted to do. Now she’s home and he doesn’t intend to lose her a second time. Chase is going to prove to Julia just how good they can be together this Christmas…and forever.

 My Review:

Good Christmas story. Book start off with a very sad scene that added some drama to the book. If you cry while reading you'll need to have some tissues nearby. Julia has dealt with one of the most heart wrenching events possible.

Five years after the accident, she has survived but it still with her. However, she's ready to go home for the holidays. everyone welcomes her back with open arms and it turns out that this Christmas is the season for starting over and second chances.

This is a read quick and a good start to your holiday reading.


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ABOUT VICTORIA JAMES




Victoria James is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. Victoria always knew she wanted to be a writer and in grade five, she penned her first story, bound it (with staples and a cardboard cover) and did all the illustrations herself. Luckily, this book will never see the light of day again. In high school she fell in love with historical romance and then contemporary romance. After graduating University with an English Literature degree, Victoria pursued a degree in Interior Design and then opened her own business. After her first child, Victoria knew it was time to fulfill her dream of writing romantic fiction. Victoria is a hopeless romantic who is living her dream, penning happily-ever-after’s for her characters in between managing kids and the family business. Writing on a laptop in the middle of the country in a rambling old Victorian house would be ideal, but she’s quite content living in suburbia with her husband, their two young children, and very bad cat. Sign up for Victoria’s Newsletter to stay up to date on upcoming releases and exclusive giveaways, follow her blog for daily antics and insight into her daily life, and get to know her on twitter and Facebook. She loves hearing from readers!

Snowbound with Mr. Wrong

by Barbara White Dailee A Snowflake Valley Novel Publication Date: November 7, 2016 Genres: Adult, Entangled: Bliss, Holiday, Romance

BUY:

Synopsis: Worst. Day. Ever. After Lyssa Barnett’s sister tricks her into reprising her role at Snowflake Valley’s annual children’s party, she doesn’t think anything can be worse than squeezing into her too-small elf costume. Then tall, dark, and way too handsome Nick Tavlock shows up to play Santa…and an unexpected storm leaves them snowbound in the isolated lodge. The last thing Nick wants is to spend a cozy Christmas Eve with a trio of kids and the woman who dumped him. But as much as Lyssa frustrates him, he can’t stop thinking about her. And soon, he’s fighting very un-Santa-like thoughts of kissing a certain sexy Miss Elf under the mistletoe. As Nick starts to fall for Lyssa all over again, he knows it will take nothing short of a miracle to have Lyssa in his arms on Christmas Day.

My Review:
A story with the one that got away theme. I couldn't really into either character. I found that I wasn't at all rootng for the couple to get together, in fact I wouldve probably liked the story better if they decided to just be friends. 

I felt like the kids in the story were unnecessary. I don't know it just didn't gel with me. Not a bad read, you may find that you like the characters more than I did. I would say that you can put in on your list but maybe not in your stocking.
 

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ABOUT BARBARA WHITE DAILLE



From the time she was a toddler, Barbara found herself fascinated by those things her mom called “books.” Once she learned the words between the covers held the magic of storytelling, she wanted to see her words in print so she could weave that magic spell for others. After much hard work at her craft, she achieved her longtime dream when she began selling romance and mystery fiction to national and regional publications. Not long after, she received “The Call” from Harlequin Books and sold her first two novels. Since then, her books have garnered many positive reviews, appeared on numerous bestseller lists, and won a number of awards. Originally from the East Coast, award-winning author Barbara White Daille now lives with her husband in the warm, sunny Southwest, where they don’t mind the lizards in their front yard but could do without the scorpions in the bathroom. Barbara hopes you will enjoy reading her stories and will find your own storytelling magic in them!

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*This is an ARC review
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