tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83823910032184254332024-03-18T11:12:46.517-06:00The Page Walkerjaunting through booksLouize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.comBlogger431125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-19412191930513990912024-03-18T07:00:00.057-06:002024-03-18T11:12:14.133-06:00Blog Tour | A SWIFT RETURN by Fiona Barker<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiT_BkY-mM9D5IQmfa77uZZK-84Byn-zFrBkvV8AYseo-gOETHadQBb9vNSTPIrdRE7JRzJp59MQSkOSXjEcvAUXUT6WaXBTU7MCUwb2Q5qHOn3Sj550bZU_J7Dmd7P3pG7VsP-PYlvLOZ7Td4FAYr-qRoS5qK7TcAPJwWaU6qPDwjR3rKK837RNK3u4D/s500/A%20Swift%20Return%20Cover.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiT_BkY-mM9D5IQmfa77uZZK-84Byn-zFrBkvV8AYseo-gOETHadQBb9vNSTPIrdRE7JRzJp59MQSkOSXjEcvAUXUT6WaXBTU7MCUwb2Q5qHOn3Sj550bZU_J7Dmd7P3pG7VsP-PYlvLOZ7Td4FAYr-qRoS5qK7TcAPJwWaU6qPDwjR3rKK837RNK3u4D/w640-h480/A%20Swift%20Return%20Cover.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #d7a196; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>A SWIFT RETURN</b><br />
by Fiona Barker<br />
<b>Illustrator:</b> Howard Gray<br />
<b>Publication: </b>February 2024<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Tiny Tree<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Children’s Picture Book<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★</span><br />
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Aria has her head in the clouds. Yusuf keeps his feet on the ground. But when they work together to save a bird who has lost her way, something magical happens. When Swift loses her way on her epic migration. Aria and Yusuf come to her rescue and are inspired to think big about looking after the sky above their city. Inspired by Fiona and Howard’s love for wildlife of all kinds, A Swift Return is the follow-up to Setsuko and the Song of the Sea. Howard’s beautiful illustrations evoke a strong sense of place, strengthened by the beautiful Arabic text distilled by Maysoon AbuBlan.</span></div>
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This is such a wonderful book.<br /><br />
In a world where pollution threatens the beauty and balance of nature, 'A Swift Return' stands as a poignant reminder of our collective responsibility. This story, through its serene illustrations and succinct language, underscores the urgent message that we must all contribute to reducing our carbon footprints. It's a call to action for each of us to aid those who suffer the consequences of environmental damage. Aria and Yusuf, despite their tender age and differing passions, unite for a noble cause: rescuing an injured bird. Their journey is a testament to the power of collaboration in the face of adversity and highlights the imperative to recognize and act upon the duties we owe to our planet.<br /><br />
This book is an essential read for parents eager to inspire environmental stewardship in their children. I recommend.<br /><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">About the Author:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuj47iN8BeXdAvCEWMP3Nn82vEzJKldOBu0OWh1bm44NB3kiXMHvsxTotXez3AG8PxpHWOpQg3A6KqH7M1bZu2TlrPlycDKJMtZOkQXqFPQIloGFOj3RtYnvsA0Kof-Pm_tDMjmdlEFikB6pVfcC0pEqdqOHAkwTocDNLOJ6URRjYqqXgdJwSMT1yGqbZ/s450/Fiona%20Barker.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuj47iN8BeXdAvCEWMP3Nn82vEzJKldOBu0OWh1bm44NB3kiXMHvsxTotXez3AG8PxpHWOpQg3A6KqH7M1bZu2TlrPlycDKJMtZOkQXqFPQIloGFOj3RtYnvsA0Kof-Pm_tDMjmdlEFikB6pVfcC0pEqdqOHAkwTocDNLOJ6URRjYqqXgdJwSMT1yGqbZ/s200/Fiona%20Barker.jpg" width="200" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>Fiona is a middle-aged, married mum of one. She is positively potty about picturebooks; reading them and writing them. When writing, she longs for alliterative loveliness but is reluctant to rhyme. When reading, she looks for a marriage of words and artwork and loves anything that is fun to read aloud.<br /> <br />
Fiona loves doing school author visits and speaking to adults about picture books and children's publishing.<br /> <br />
Visit www.fionabarker.co.uk for details of forthcoming events.<br /><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #b88526; font-family: Lora; font-size: small;">*Thanks to <a href="https://www.thewritereads.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@TheWriteReads</a> for the ebook in exhange for this unbiased review.
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Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com0Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-59925288868434719242024-03-13T07:00:00.011-06:002024-03-17T01:00:48.108-06:00Book Review | COMPASS AND BLADE by Rachel Greenlaw
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<span style="color: #d7a196; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>COMPASS AND BLADE</b><br />
by Rachel Greenlaw<br />
<b>Publication: </b>February 29, 2024<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Inkyard Press / HarperCollinsCa<br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA Fantasy<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★½</span>
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<b>This world of sea and storm runs deep with bargains and blood.</b><br /><br />
On the remote isle of Rosevear, Mira, like her mother before her, is a wrecker, one of the seven on the rope who swim out to shipwrecks to plunder them. Mira’s job is to rescue survivors, if there are any. After all, she never feels the cold of the frigid ocean waters and the waves seem to sing to her soul. But the people of Rosevear never admit the truth: that they set the beacons themselves to lure ships into the rocks.
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When the Council watch lays a trap to put an end to the wrecking, they arrest Mira’s father. Desperate to save him from the noose, Mira strikes a deal with an enigmatic wreck survivor guarding layers of secrets behind his captivating eyes, and sets off to find something her mother has left her, a family secret buried deep in the sea.<br /><br />
With just nine days to find what she needs to rescue her father, all Mira knows for certain is this: The sea gives. The sea takes. And it’s up to her to do what she must to save the ones she loves.</span></div>
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I enjoyed reading Compass and Blade, a YA fantasy adventure, and the first book in an expected trilogy. The book follows Mira, a young wrecker who lives on a remote island where the villagers lure ships to their doom and scavenge their cargo. Mira has always felt a connection to the sea, but she also longs for something more than her harsh and dangerous life. When her father is captured by the watch, the ruthless enforcers of the mainland, Mira decides to risk everything to save him. She teams up with Seth, a mysterious survivor of one of her wrecks, and embarks on a perilous journey across the ocean. Along the way, she discovers secrets about her past, her family, and the true nature of the sirens that haunt the waters.<br /><br />
Rachel Greenlaw has a knack for creating a vivid sense of place and time, making me feel like I was sailing along with Mira on her quest. The Fortunate Isles are full of wonders and dangers, and Greenlaw describes them with rich details and poetic language. I could almost smell the salt in the air, feel the wind in my hair, and hear the waves crashing on the rocks. The world building is impressive and immersive, revealing new aspects of the history, culture, and magic of this fantasy world as the story progresses. The plot is fast-paced and full of surprises, keeping me hooked until the end.<br /><br />
However, I also had some issues with the book, mainly with the characters and the romance. Mira is supposed to be a brave and adventurous heroine, but she comes across as naïve and passive most of the time. Then again, it may be the author’s intention for this first installment. <i>Which reminds me of Meghan Chase from The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa, and how much I want to smack her in the head in Book 1, then completely fell for her by Book 3.</i> The romance between Mira and Seth is also underdeveloped and unconvincing. They fall in love too quickly and easily in my opinion. I would have liked to see more tension, conflict, and development between them, making them more complex and realistic. I didn't feel invested in their relationship.<br /><br />
COMPASS AND BLADE is a captivating read for fans of fantasy and adventure, with a stunning setting and a thrilling plot. I look forward to the next book.
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About the Author: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8wTdfIz_H84kLP-nIxi0Hxryr0Lzwm9w8_P13XFnOa7QuuR-yEEiUr0kA90JnCu0KZAnJ-UwcHwmEjqV4EXUhyphenhyphen5pa-ARg8G_-1Klhz9b-kfgS4u4vfBFoQWSYHre1Yra2wo6DE7Bgy9w_9ryUGBMpADR5iDtGgQf9mkihXLu53A3CLeWPl8n4NkO669p/s218/x145.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="145" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8wTdfIz_H84kLP-nIxi0Hxryr0Lzwm9w8_P13XFnOa7QuuR-yEEiUr0kA90JnCu0KZAnJ-UwcHwmEjqV4EXUhyphenhyphen5pa-ARg8G_-1Klhz9b-kfgS4u4vfBFoQWSYHre1Yra2wo6DE7Bgy9w_9ryUGBMpADR5iDtGgQf9mkihXLu53A3CLeWPl8n4NkO669p/s200/x145.jpg" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Rachel Greenlaw lives on an island in the middle of the Atlantic, with all the allure of tropical palm trees in the summer and spine-tingling storms in the winter. Her debut women’s fiction novel, One Christmas Morning, was published in 2023. The Compass and Blade trilogy is her first YA fiction series.<br /><br />
@rachelgreenlaw_ | www.rachelgreenlaw.com</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: small;"><i>*Thanks to HarperCollins CA / Inkyard Press for the printed ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.</i></span></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">About the Book:</span></h3><br />
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by Rebecca Schmid<br />
<b>Publication: </b>12 October 2022<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Schara Reeves Press<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Fantasy, Romance<br />
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<b>Tales of Redemeré: Book I<br />
ASKEFISE</b><br />
<i>n. One who blows on ashes to bring them to flame.</i><br />
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In a time before the Great War has ravaged the land, two sisters stumble across a lone traveler who calls himself Tyron. They tell him that they’re just passersby. He tells them that he’s nobody.<br /><br />
They’re all lying.<br /><br />
When the sisters begrudgingly agree to take Tyron with them to safety, they have no idea what they set in motion. One thing’s for certain: The world of Eatris will never be the same.<br /><br />
For once Tyron has started, there’s no turning back.
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<span style="font-family: Lora;"><i>"The story is splashed with action and romance, has simple but well done political intrigue, and includes thoughtful disability representation. It also pictures complex familial relationships and how trauma shapes us as we grow up. It got me engaged all the way through."</i><br />
-<a href="https://tinyelfarcanist.com/2024/03/05/askefise-rebecca-schmid-review/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tiny Elf Arcanist</a><br />
<i>"it's a very well written book with a very solid storyline and characters that you can't help but root for."</i><br />
-<a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/a9f745e2-0e25-4f9d-9b5c-37d55cb9f56b" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patricia</a><br />
<i>"Overall, this is a great book for fantasy fans, with flawed but likeable characters in a detailed and fascinating world. Bring on book 2!"</i><br />
-<a href="https://bookscatsetc.wordpress.com/2024/03/03/book-review-askefise-by-rebecca-schmid/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Books, Cats, Etc.</a><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">About the Author:</span></h3>
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Rebecca Schmid is an author and pianist from upstate New York. She credits her parents for fostering her love of books and writing. With their encouragement, she has been writing since she was a teenager (though she cringes at the thought of those early drafts) along with her best friend and sister-in-law, Niamh Schmid. Together, they co-authored the series, A Daughter’s Ransom, debuting their first book in 2020. Both have continued to explore the TetraWorlds in solo works as well as joint projects.<br /><br />
While books and music take up most of her time, Rebecca enjoys dabbling in many other hobbies such as painting, horse riding, history, archery, hiking, martial arts, and more. If anyone asks her why she needs so many past times, her excuse is simple: “I’m researching…for my book, of course.”<br /><br />
You can find her on many different social media platforms under her imprint name, Schara Reeves Press (@ScharaReeves)
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</span></div><br /><br />Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com0Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-2463423418270713052024-03-06T07:00:00.001-06:002024-03-06T07:00:00.136-06:00Blog Tour | The Djinn's Apple by Djamila Morani
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">About the Book:</span></h3><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://neemtreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/The-Djinns-Apple-scaled-wpv_479x0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="479" height="640" src="https://neemtreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/The-Djinns-Apple-scaled-wpv_479x0.jpg" width="418" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d7a196; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>The Djinn's Apple </b><br />
by Djamila Morani<br />
<b>Publication: </b>February 29, 2024<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Neem Tree Press<br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA Fiction<br />
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<b>Winner of an English PEN Translates Award (Winter/Spring 2021).</b><br /><br />
Historical fiction meets crime fiction in <a href="https://neemtreepress.com/book/the-djinns-apple/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Djinn’s Apple</a>, an award-winning YA murder mystery set in the Abbasid period—the golden age of Baghdad.<br /><br />
A ruthless murder. A magical herb. A mysterious manuscript.<br /><br />
When Nardeen’s home is stormed by angry men frantically in search of something—or someone—she is the only one who manages to escape. And after the rest of her family is left behind and murdered, Nardeen sets out on an unyielding mission to bring her family’s killers to justice, regardless of the cost…<br /><br />
Full of mystery and mayhem, The Djinn’s Apple is perfect for fans of Arabian Nights, City of Brass, and The Wrath and the Dawn.<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Djinns-Apple-Djamila-Morani/dp/1911107852/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JC4Y0URZY0O1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vZuYNqeObf7tBxQp6D1yVnbuR8TtjBQy1k153KxBx1m_dmoZm5eKLJh2G9MtGHLjlkcQEkhjjgyNNTu_jTlUomCdgkwKIGQJKlBIOKC8Bvpm9uVbz3bmxkerHM2ZGtpz.gpfpsqgiqeU8JlYhrzk35uVMS0osuqzc4qSUyntNdnw&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+djinn%27s+apple&qid=1708694083&sprefix=the+djinn%27s+apple%2Caps%2C174&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200244545-the-djinn-s-apple?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=VyPRzTYr5K&rank=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Lora;"><i>"The themes of political turmoil, trust, feminism, grief and family secrets are well handled and will promote a lot of discussion and debate."</i><br />
-<a href="https://bethsbookcase.org/2024/02/27/the-djinns-apple-by-djamila-morani-translated-by-sawad-hussain/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Beth's Bookcase</a><br />
<i>"From the bustling streets of Abbasid Baghdad to the quiet corners of Nardeen's world, every detail is meticulously crafted and thought out."</i><br />
-<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lockheartlibrary/p/C34vFLsMpM-/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Piper</a><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">About the Author:</span></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIbnBAinB8WotX1JcZDEINjtV5aKJF_tFZVAzseK3rDOXcdQBPveLqt0J_12u2llxdri3vLBKVGCzOwAVLvtBQ1y1QVQgl3ea-o63Nprud3ZdbVPEZYlGBt_MVUoxUGn2asnKNGffcjecr9QDj1wotyqQNGZWsFZb1XGyaqezfEq8cPKHkK54H-agOl6j/s602/Author.jpeg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="479" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIbnBAinB8WotX1JcZDEINjtV5aKJF_tFZVAzseK3rDOXcdQBPveLqt0J_12u2llxdri3vLBKVGCzOwAVLvtBQ1y1QVQgl3ea-o63Nprud3ZdbVPEZYlGBt_MVUoxUGn2asnKNGffcjecr9QDj1wotyqQNGZWsFZb1XGyaqezfEq8cPKHkK54H-agOl6j/s200/Author.jpeg" /> </a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Djamila Morani is an Algerian novelist and an Arabic language professor. Her first novel, released in 2015 and titled Taj el-Khatiaa, is set in the Abbasid period (like The Djinn’s Apple), but in Kazakh- stan. All of her works are fast-paced historical fiction pieces. She is yet to have a full-length work translated into English.</span></div><br /><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRH5NVT15y9EMxMjD-McRFflaqe7EyT2xg3-1Pk1O3hFqSLx4ja9aLc2SGKqJ7Y5dj04ZpHEilmZqi2sRgVAoFozIdRLRBsc3MuZOjoSo2MZ8WTtqUNLZ0TVmQk0dLOpEXGjyV1NfYUV7I44ns9qcEnmT6or4SQGngYdky6p-lDnyBwQvvoFg0rWQSg/s200/The%20Write%20Reads%20Transparent.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="200" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRH5NVT15y9EMxMjD-McRFflaqe7EyT2xg3-1Pk1O3hFqSLx4ja9aLc2SGKqJ7Y5dj04ZpHEilmZqi2sRgVAoFozIdRLRBsc3MuZOjoSo2MZ8WTtqUNLZ0TVmQk0dLOpEXGjyV1NfYUV7I44ns9qcEnmT6or4SQGngYdky6p-lDnyBwQvvoFg0rWQSg/s1600/The%20Write%20Reads%20Transparent.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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</span></div>Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com0Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-12522633957433979212024-03-05T07:30:00.006-06:002024-03-17T01:00:08.678-06:00Book Review | AFTER ANNIE by Anna Quindlen
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFQkN2KcixGvRNDpoSHppXqWQGL54kKquUblzgXn6lJc6Zvv9SDFy0A5liIhz_nnqLV1M2PDM-g9IE9XtmuyapBxcfD7f_9SrRCfB9ZtrLGfi2GdHe81Jn95Bxyhkv-QfjuJOPdltKM1Y7ag_YSvXAWgKwuJmofIMSfbRWHSaYK5GtwO5Pj1LYp16gir9/s1080/Quindlen_AfterAnnie_HC_1080x1080_DSC00326_vF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFQkN2KcixGvRNDpoSHppXqWQGL54kKquUblzgXn6lJc6Zvv9SDFy0A5liIhz_nnqLV1M2PDM-g9IE9XtmuyapBxcfD7f_9SrRCfB9ZtrLGfi2GdHe81Jn95Bxyhkv-QfjuJOPdltKM1Y7ag_YSvXAWgKwuJmofIMSfbRWHSaYK5GtwO5Pj1LYp16gir9/w640-h640/Quindlen_AfterAnnie_HC_1080x1080_DSC00326_vF.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d7a196; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>AFTER ANNIE</b><br />
by Anna Quindlen<br />
<b>Publication: </b> February 27, 2024<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Random House<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Women's Fiction<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★★</span><br />
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<b>Anna Quindlen’s trademark wisdom on family, friendship, and the ties that bind us are at the center of this novel about the power of love to transcend loss and triumph over adversity, by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Still Life with Bread Crumbs and One True Thing.</b>
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When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her children, and her closest friend are left to find a way forward without the woman who has been the lynchpin of all their lives. Bill is overwhelmed without his beloved wife, and Annemarie wrestles with the bad habits her best friend had helped her overcome. And Ali, the eldest of Annie’s children, has to grow up overnight, to care for her younger brothers and even her father and to puzzle out for herself many of the mysteries of adult life.
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Over the course of the next year what saves them all is Annie, ever-present in their minds, loving but not sentimental, caring but nobody’s fool, a voice in their heads that is funny and sharp and remarkably clear. The power she has given to those who loved her is the power to go on without her. The lesson they learn is that no one beloved is ever truly gone.
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Written in Quindlen’s emotionally resonant voice and with her deep and generous understanding of people, After Annie is about hope, and about the unexpected power of adversity to change us in profound and indelible ways.
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Set in a small town, Annie Brown lived a life that was both lovely and reliable. She married young, had four children, and worked tirelessly as an aide at a nursing home. Despite the challenges, Annie found contentment in her role as a wife, mother, and friend. But when she dies suddenly of an aneurysm, her family and closest friend are left to grapple with grief and find a path forward.<br /><br />
Annie's husband, Bill Brown, is overwhelmed by the loss. Her best friend, Annemarie, struggles without Annie's steadying hand. And their 13-year-old daughter, Ali, steps into the role of caretaker for her younger siblings and even her father. As they navigate their grief, each character meets difficult facts about adaptability and resilience.
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Anna Quindlen masterfully weaves Annie's story with the lives of her survivors. With her sudden death, Annie remains a vibrant presence throughout the novel. Quindlen’s writing captures the complexities of human relationships with grace and insight. Whether exploring loss or celebrating love, she invites readers to quietly reflect on their own lives through her poignant narratives. Her characters are well-drawn, their emotions sharp and authentic.<br /><br />
This book touched me deeply as I lost my mother to cancer recently. I could not help but cry at some parts, as they reminded me of my own loss. However, I also felt that this book helped me process my grief in a healthy way. The novel's emotionally resonant voice captures the essence of loss while leaving room for hope. As Bill reflects at one point: "Maybe grief was like homesickness—something that wasn't just about a specific person but about losing that feeling that you were where you belonged." So, yes, this book will lean heavily on your emotions, so prepare yourself to cry along.<br /><br />
AFTER ANNIE is a beautiful novel that celebrates love's ability to transcend time and triumph over adversity. It's an emotionally satisfying and absorbing story. As we witness Annie's loved ones grow stronger in her absence, we're reminded that even in loss, there is resilience—and perhaps even unexpected joy.<br /><br />
This is also available in audiobook, narrated by Gilli Messer. If you've enjoyed Anna Quindlen's previous works or appreciate stories about love, family, and community, this novel is sure to resonate with you.
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Aboth the Author: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCwVbw-use1URokl3C_ReiI_AXVIM5ihs01qQbqLwyV0s-DlSxSx0X4dY6otSDFNMVuuMTC6N2g3WXxohdHo28OEZW_aduqbmcf6do6GuPJfqQXS8Gg6rjLWE1y5tvnSiRgqUlQFGEkSAxxfs8iAqK8zuQlh8R2XAs2am8JVlERKW85O5iI0PMIIA8i4e/s450/24734.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="351" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCwVbw-use1URokl3C_ReiI_AXVIM5ihs01qQbqLwyV0s-DlSxSx0X4dY6otSDFNMVuuMTC6N2g3WXxohdHo28OEZW_aduqbmcf6do6GuPJfqQXS8Gg6rjLWE1y5tvnSiRgqUlQFGEkSAxxfs8iAqK8zuQlh8R2XAs2am8JVlERKW85O5iI0PMIIA8i4e/w156-h200/24734.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>Anna Quindlen is a novelist and journalist whose work has appeared on fiction, nonfiction, and self-help bestseller lists. She is the author of many novels: Object Lessons, One True Thing, Black and Blue, Blessings, Rise and Shine, Every Last One, Still Life with Bread Crumbs, and Miller’s Valley. Her memoir Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake, published in 2012, was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Her book A Short Guide to a Happy Life has sold more than a million copies. While a columnist at The New York Times she won the Pulitzer Prize and published two collections, Living Out Loud and Thinking Out Loud. Her Newsweek columns were collected in Loud and Clear.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: small;"><i>*Thanks to Penguin Random House eARC in exchange for this unbiased review.</i></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/s320/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="320" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/w200-h104/Picture1.png" width="150" /></a></div><br />Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com0Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-83890390403821946782024-02-14T07:00:00.060-06:002024-02-25T17:38:53.172-06:00Blog Tour | Adiel and the Führer by Elyse Hoffman<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">About the Book:</span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1691329054i/195794644.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" height="640" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1691329054i/195794644.jpg" width="429" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d7a196; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>Adiel and the Fuhrer </b><br />
by Elyse Hoffman<br />
<b>Publication: </b>April 20, 2024<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Project 613 Publishing<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Historical Fiction<br />
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A chance to prevent the rise of Hitler… but at what cost?<br /><br />
Adiel Goldstein has a good life. Despite the anti-Semitism he faces as a German Jew, he has everything he wants. A dream job as an art professor, good friends, a loving father, and a precious nine-year-old daughter, Kaia. But his life is about to be upended. An old comrade from his time fighting in the Great War is gaining power: a man named Hitler. Adiel’s father insists that they need to leave the country before Hitler becomes the leader of Germany.<br /><br />
Adiel and his family plan to move to America, but before they can even pack their bags, he and Kaia make a shocking discovery. Adiel’s father, Natan Goldstein, is from the future. A Holocaust survivor who lost his family to unspeakable tragedy, Natan was given the chance to go back in time and take the life of Adolf Hitler. But when he failed to kill the future Führer, he devoted himself to his new family and awaited the inevitable.<br /><br />
Natan can’t face the Holocaust again, but Adiel’s unique connection to Hitler means he might be able to succeed where his father failed. Adiel now has a choice: escape as planned and let history repeat itself, or sacrifice everything to stop the Holocaust before it can begin.<br /><br />
Award winning author Elyse Hoffman has crafted a thought-provoking and daring work of historical fiction which will tug at your heartstrings.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195794644-adiel-and-the-f-hrerow/62027879-war-of-the-wind" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adiel-F%C3%BChrer-Thought-Provoking-Alternate-History-ebook/dp/B0CB6JF515/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br><br />
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<span style="font-family: playfair display;"><i>"Employing characters both factual and fictional, Elyse Hoffman riffs off one of Chaplin’s greatest films to drive the plot to a bitter-sweet conclusion, whilst never glossing over the horrors of the Holocaust and how it affected those that survived. </i><br />
-<a href="https://www.fantasybooknerd.com/2024/02/the-write-reads-book-tour-adiel-and.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fantasy Book Nerd</a><br />
<i>"There have been times that the reader is able to predict what is to come in the next few pages but what one couldn’t be ready for is the ultimate plot twist that came halfway through the book that brought the curious me to flip pages quickly."</i><br />
-<a href="https://pjwalebaabu.wordpress.com/2024/02/15/blog-tour-adiel-and-the-fuhrer-by-elyse-hoffman/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Murtaza Kuwarawala</a><br />
<i>"This fourth book in the Project 613 series is a hell of a whopper. Each book can be read as a standalone, but characters do cross over, so reading the other books makes this book a richer reading experience."</i><br />
-<a href="https://imavoraciousreader.blogspot.com/2024/02/adiel-and-fuhrer.html#more" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I am A Voracious Reader</a>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">About the Author:</span></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kEsUvC6i_qvo-M8LkRVLJ7fjlZJYard_H8UYJaG94ITY6UyvO5-nN48J8KVUDPMvv9aIN-9XwMAeNLqlhkSesW-ZabJ2RA87o1h68t94OxoffFaPlsCz8U9D0yyz-Wb6yQDOERO8NNrtMsSPVkFYMdMiz83PR9u5hrpb7n9AbVEAjktSBR2UQUGAqahk/s253/20851312.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kEsUvC6i_qvo-M8LkRVLJ7fjlZJYard_H8UYJaG94ITY6UyvO5-nN48J8KVUDPMvv9aIN-9XwMAeNLqlhkSesW-ZabJ2RA87o1h68t94OxoffFaPlsCz8U9D0yyz-Wb6yQDOERO8NNrtMsSPVkFYMdMiz83PR9u5hrpb7n9AbVEAjktSBR2UQUGAqahk/s200/20851312.jpg" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kEsUvC6i_qvo-M8LkRVLJ7fjlZJYard_H8UYJaG94ITY6UyvO5-nN48J8KVUDPMvv9aIN-9XwMAeNLqlhkSesW-ZabJ2RA87o1h68t94OxoffFaPlsCz8U9D0yyz-Wb6yQDOERO8NNrtMsSPVkFYMdMiz83PR9u5hrpb7n9AbVEAjktSBR2UQUGAqahk/s253/20851312.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kEsUvC6i_qvo-M8LkRVLJ7fjlZJYard_H8UYJaG94ITY6UyvO5-nN48J8KVUDPMvv9aIN-9XwMAeNLqlhkSesW-ZabJ2RA87o1h68t94OxoffFaPlsCz8U9D0yyz-Wb6yQDOERO8NNrtMsSPVkFYMdMiz83PR9u5hrpb7n9AbVEAjktSBR2UQUGAqahk/s253/20851312.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></a></div>
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Elyse Hoffman is an award-winning author who strives to tell historical tales with new twists. Having studied WWII since the age of thirteen and with interests in fantasy and Jewish folklore, she loves to combine them in her writing. Elyse started writing novels at fourteen and finished her first historical fiction work at fifteen. She has published eight books: five in a series called The Barracks of the Holocaust, and three novels, including The Book of Uriel, Where David Threw Stones, and Fracture. In her spare time, she loves to read, work on pretty keyboards, and hang out with her co-authors - her Goldendoodle Ari and her ex-feral cat, Echo.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRH5NVT15y9EMxMjD-McRFflaqe7EyT2xg3-1Pk1O3hFqSLx4ja9aLc2SGKqJ7Y5dj04ZpHEilmZqi2sRgVAoFozIdRLRBsc3MuZOjoSo2MZ8WTtqUNLZ0TVmQk0dLOpEXGjyV1NfYUV7I44ns9qcEnmT6or4SQGngYdky6p-lDnyBwQvvoFg0rWQSg/s200/The%20Write%20Reads%20Transparent.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="200" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRH5NVT15y9EMxMjD-McRFflaqe7EyT2xg3-1Pk1O3hFqSLx4ja9aLc2SGKqJ7Y5dj04ZpHEilmZqi2sRgVAoFozIdRLRBsc3MuZOjoSo2MZ8WTtqUNLZ0TVmQk0dLOpEXGjyV1NfYUV7I44ns9qcEnmT6or4SQGngYdky6p-lDnyBwQvvoFg0rWQSg/s1600/The%20Write%20Reads%20Transparent.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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</span></div>Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com0Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-81197202579985893882024-02-08T00:04:00.000-06:002024-02-21T15:46:37.388-06:00Book Review | CHAMPION OF FATE by Kendare Blake
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<span style="color: #d7a196; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b> Champion of Fate</b><br />
by Kendare Blake<br />
<b>Publication: </b>September 19, 2023<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> HarperCollinsCA / Quill Tree Books<br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA Fantasy<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★</span>
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<b>Behind every great hero is an Aristene.</b><br /><br />
Aristene are mythical female warriors, part of a legendary order. Though heroes might be immortalized in stories, it’s the Aristene who guide them to victory. They are the Heromakers.<br /><br />
Ever since she was an orphan taken in by the order, Reed has wanted to be an Aristene. Now, as an initiate, just one challenge stands in her way: she must shepherd her first hero to glory on the battlefield. Succeed, and Reed will take her place beside her sisters. Fail, and she’ll be cast from the only home she’s ever known.<br /><br />
Nothing is going to stop Reed--until she meets her hero. Hestion is fiery and infuriating, but what begins as an alliance becomes more, and as secrets of the order come to light Reed begins to understand what becoming an Aristene may truly cost. Battle looming, she must choose: the order and the life she had planned, or Hestion, and the one she never expected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">CHAMPION OF FATE by Kendare Blake is the first book in the <i>Heromaker</i> duology, and it follows Reed, a young woman who survived a brutal attack on her village and was taken in by a group of legendary warriors called Aristene. Reed has one chance to become an immortal Aristene herself: she must guide a chosen hero to glory.<br /><br />
I loved Reed's character and her story. She's fierce, loyal, smart, and determined, but she also struggles with her past, her identity, and her feelings for Hestion, the hero she's supposed to help. She's not perfect, but she's relatable and admirable. I also enjoyed the dynamic between her and Hestion, who is kind, brave, and charming, but also has his own secrets and challenges.<br /><br />
The world that Blake created is rich and fascinating, with a lot of history, mythology, politics, and magic. I liked how the story incorporated different cultures, religions, and perspectives, and how it explored the role of the Aristene in shaping the fate of others. The plot was engaging and suspenseful. <br /><br />
Overall, I think Champion of Fate is a fantastic start to the Heromaker duology, and I can't wait to read the next book. If you're a fan of slow-burn and immersive YA fantasy, you should definitely give this book a try.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">Book Trailer courtesy of Epic Reads. <br /><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">About the Author:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://i.harperapps.com/authors/42835/x145.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="145" height="200" src="https://i.harperapps.com/authors/42835/x145.jpg" /> </a></div> Kendare Blake is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series. She holds an MA in creative writing from Middlesex University in northern London. She is also the author of Anna Dressed in Blood, a Cybils Awards finalist; Girl of Nightmares; Antigoddess; Mortal Gods; and Ungodly. Her books have been translated into over twenty languages, have been featured on multiple best-of-year lists, and have received many regional and librarian awards. Kendare lives and writes in Gig Harbor, Washington. Visit her online at www.kendareblake.com.</span><br /><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: small;"><i>*Thanks to HarperCollinsCa and Netgalley for the egalley <br />in exchange for this unbiased review.</i></span><br /><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cHXgO-D7bk4jKRsuO1U_mWWaZW3U0HTxqYKtyv7nK7GHb2VZ_3IqlUheQXXGekJyLjeiUsusextCeNgQKBOtXBqw2w5xLVpyM_WgRlqjrgUbjlsC8Gq3ZOgQyK07pZXRYtHZh5lR_pXEWTEBIo34Ed6-eFKRj0yYtJX4B-ySSz-U_nVREltA7_aAVDqp/s320/Picture1.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cHXgO-D7bk4jKRsuO1U_mWWaZW3U0HTxqYKtyv7nK7GHb2VZ_3IqlUheQXXGekJyLjeiUsusextCeNgQKBOtXBqw2w5xLVpyM_WgRlqjrgUbjlsC8Gq3ZOgQyK07pZXRYtHZh5lR_pXEWTEBIo34Ed6-eFKRj0yYtJX4B-ySSz-U_nVREltA7_aAVDqp/s200/Picture1.png" width="200" /></a></div>Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com0Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-18201607201662333622024-02-07T18:29:00.000-06:002024-02-07T18:29:34.321-06:00Book Review| THE SCARLET VEIL by Shelby Mahurin<p> </p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs2eSy6F4q_CgZkvaTHU_BD3RuWxeYCC_b2wxUsaRERMOQwWjEtcfFc5MzMEesMQPTwewaT4Dsz2shhNIxJvcK75iJoEWQJqsgw-OQhIFMvBPaYsJSG1OULPAL2GKrun3kM8kPN2vcwIyFnYZAc_KoO7UysDUJUHd3rtwy27kQjJmUstqXtLTHbCtHjyY/s3545/sv1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2836" data-original-width="3545" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs2eSy6F4q_CgZkvaTHU_BD3RuWxeYCC_b2wxUsaRERMOQwWjEtcfFc5MzMEesMQPTwewaT4Dsz2shhNIxJvcK75iJoEWQJqsgw-OQhIFMvBPaYsJSG1OULPAL2GKrun3kM8kPN2vcwIyFnYZAc_KoO7UysDUJUHd3rtwy27kQjJmUstqXtLTHbCtHjyY/w640-h512/sv1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d7a196; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b> The Scarlet Veil</b><br />
by Shelby Mahurin<br />
<b>Publication: </b>September 26, 2023<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> HarperTeen<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult Fantasy<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★</span><br />
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<b>This dark and thrilling vampire romance—set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Serpent & Dove series—is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas!</b><br /><br />
Célie Tremblay has always been a good girl: kind and beautiful, a daughter of whom every parent would be proud. She surprises the entire kingdom when she defies tradition to become the first huntswoman—including her new captain and fiancé, Jean Luc, who rules the huntsmen with an iron fist. He isn’t the only one concerned for Célie’s safety, however. Though her friends try to protect her from the horrors of her past, mysterious whispers still haunt her, and a new evil is rising in Belterra—leaving bodies in their wake, each one drained of blood.<br /><br />
Determined to prove herself in her new role, Célie tracks the killer to the lair of Les Éternels—ancient creatures only spoken about in nursery rhymes—and catches the attention of their king, a monster who hides his plans for her behind beautiful words and sharp smiles. Now Célie has new reason to fear the dark because the closer he gets, the more tempted she feels to give in to his dark hunger—and her own.</span></div><br /><br />
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This is a thrilling read! The Scarlet Veil is a spin-off of Serpent and Dove, but with a new character development and a whodunnit mystery plot. I loved meeting Célie Tremblay, a fierce and determined heroine who wants to prove herself as a Chasseur. She must deal with a lot of challenges, including her overprotective fiancé Jean Luc, her past, and a deadly murder mystery that puts Belterra in danger.</span><br /><br />
I admit I was a bit confused at the beginning, since I have not read Serpent and Dove, but it got better as I read on. It’s fun having no expectations and being taken by surprise. I loved Celie's character arc, how she defies expectations and shows everyone what she's capable of. The book has it all - action, adventure, slow burn romance, and mystery. It was a thrilling ride and ended with a juicy cliffhanger. I recommend it to fans of Serpent and Dove or anyone who loves a good story with strong characters and a captivating plot.</span></div><br /><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">Book Trailer courtesy of Epic Reads. <br /><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">About the Author:
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://i.harperapps.com/authors/48969/x500.JPG" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="360" height="200" src="https://i.harperapps.com/authors/48969/x500.JPG" width="133" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shelby Mahurin is the New York Times bestselling author of the Serpent & Dove trilogy. She grew up on a small farm in rural Indiana, where sticks became wands and cows became dragons. Her rampant imagination didn’t fade with age, so she continues to play make-believe every day—with words now instead of cows. When not writing, Shelby watches The Office and reads voraciously. She still lives near that childhood farm with her very tall husband and semiferal children. Visit her online at www.shelbymahurin.com.</div></span></div><br /><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: small;"><i>*Thanks to HarperCollinsCa / HarperTeen and Netgalley for the egalley<br /> in exchange for this unbiased review.</i></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div>
<center><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cHXgO-D7bk4jKRsuO1U_mWWaZW3U0HTxqYKtyv7nK7GHb2VZ_3IqlUheQXXGekJyLjeiUsusextCeNgQKBOtXBqw2w5xLVpyM_WgRlqjrgUbjlsC8Gq3ZOgQyK07pZXRYtHZh5lR_pXEWTEBIo34Ed6-eFKRj0yYtJX4B-ySSz-U_nVREltA7_aAVDqp/s320/Picture1.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="320" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cHXgO-D7bk4jKRsuO1U_mWWaZW3U0HTxqYKtyv7nK7GHb2VZ_3IqlUheQXXGekJyLjeiUsusextCeNgQKBOtXBqw2w5xLVpyM_WgRlqjrgUbjlsC8Gq3ZOgQyK07pZXRYtHZh5lR_pXEWTEBIo34Ed6-eFKRj0yYtJX4B-ySSz-U_nVREltA7_aAVDqp/w200-h104/Picture1.png" width="200" /></a></div></center>Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com0Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-50504969566969061592024-01-25T12:03:00.001-06:002024-03-17T00:59:08.678-06:00Book Review | THE ANTIQUE HUNTER'S GUIDE TO MURDER by C.L. Miller
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_zCOM6Ox6pMiYfh7TJRD60ZPwxpH91KKYblyz0IBLedwW5uUMxf3MNQ1hXfkUVzNEInoQwah4NwbLm2cWsnLxlUnA9lav9mD1FdASAGxSJOCyA1EHf1oN6gMWJ_I93RdISCqG8cTKXb9B07j0PxAKrPPUHsSFGRz4D9MkXDoNR6wgFUs_OwoKkusgatl/s2772/Antique%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2772" data-original-width="1980" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_zCOM6Ox6pMiYfh7TJRD60ZPwxpH91KKYblyz0IBLedwW5uUMxf3MNQ1hXfkUVzNEInoQwah4NwbLm2cWsnLxlUnA9lav9mD1FdASAGxSJOCyA1EHf1oN6gMWJ_I93RdISCqG8cTKXb9B07j0PxAKrPPUHsSFGRz4D9MkXDoNR6wgFUs_OwoKkusgatl/w458-h640/Antique%202.jpg" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #d7a196; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b> The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder</b><br />
by C.L. Miller<br />
<b>Publication: </b>February 6, 2024<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Atria<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Mystery<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">In this irresistible and thrilling debut novel, a former antique hunter investigates a suspicious death at an isolated English manor, embroiling her back in the dangerous world of tracking stolen artifacts.<br /><br />
<i>What antique would you kill for?</i><br /><br />
Freya Lockwood is shocked when she learns that Arthur Crockleford, antiques dealer and her estranged mentor, has died under mysterious circumstances. She has spent the last twenty years avoiding her quaint English hometown, but when she receives a letter from Arthur asking her to investigate—sent just days before his death—Freya has no choice but to return to a life she had sworn to leave behind.<br /><br />
Joining forces with her eccentric Aunt Carole, Freya follows clues and her instincts to an old manor house for an advertised antiques enthusiast’s weekend. But not all is as it seems. It’s clear to Freya that the antiques are all just poor reproductions and her fellow guests are secretive and menacing. What is going on at this estate and how was Arthur involved? More importantly, can Freya and Carole discover the truth before the killer strikes again?</span></div>
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Are you a fan of <i>whodunnit</i> cozy mysteries with a twist of adventure? Then you might want to read THE ANTIQUE HUNTER'S GUIDE TO MURDER by C.L. Miller. It's a new book that introduces Freya Lockwood, a former antique hunter who gets tangled in a deadly mystery.<br /><br />
Twenty years ago, Freya was forced to give up her antique hunting career after a terrible incident, but when her mentor, Arthur Crockleford, who was also her auntie's best friend, passes away, she must pay her respects. When she arrives, Freya finds out that Arthur died under suspicious circumstances, and that he left her a mysterious message: "Freya, it's down to you to finish what I started."<br /><br />
Freya soon discovers that Arthur was working on a secret project. What it was is part of the big mystery. All the clues lead Freya to attend a weekend antique party at Copthorn Manor. And everyone at this weekend event is a suspect, including the housekeeper, and the mysterious gardener. With the help of her eccentric Aunt Carole, Freya must use her hunter’s instinct, follow the clues, and catch Arthur’s killer.<br /><br />
I loved this book. It was well-written, fast-paced, and full of surprises. C.L. Miller does a great job of creating tension and fun. The book is easy to read, with short chapters that keep the story moving at a fast pace. I liked the main character, Freya, who was clever, courageous, and realistic. I also liked the setting, which was both spooky and charming. I look forward to every chapter’s quotes. They were often a clue, but it made reading and guessing more fun. The book was a captivating read that kept me on my toes until the end. I hope there will be a sequel!<br /><br />
You should read <span style="color: #d7a196;">THE ANTIQUE HUNTER'S GUIDE TO MURDER</span>. It's coming out on February 6 at your local bookstores and online retailers.</span></div>
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Aboth the Author: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWx80O3ODUSuYYmQ5Zn9tzlJ7Z2dsIpoNbxqEFkepjG-WwKCQBaR8vQnD8l3nAn6emXLlvS2E4w7MGN5_AZ0ghxGseJU864xJSpfMMG1YGPwDKZfgf4YPhErdyo3iQJKkxxOZqm19faKlWU5fI37MdLEY8T89taZp03kFHyQRjGHOTicJgwn8a8f0RrzG/s250/c-l-miller-204956368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="167" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWx80O3ODUSuYYmQ5Zn9tzlJ7Z2dsIpoNbxqEFkepjG-WwKCQBaR8vQnD8l3nAn6emXLlvS2E4w7MGN5_AZ0ghxGseJU864xJSpfMMG1YGPwDKZfgf4YPhErdyo3iQJKkxxOZqm19faKlWU5fI37MdLEY8T89taZp03kFHyQRjGHOTicJgwn8a8f0RrzG/w134-h200/c-l-miller-204956368.jpg" width="134" /></a></div>C. L. Miller started working life as an editorial assistant for her mother, Judith Miller, on The Miller’s Antique Price Guide and other antiquing guides. After she had children, she decided to follow her long-held dream of becoming an author and began concentrating on her writing full-time. She was an Undiscovered Voices 2022 and in the UV 2022 anthology. She lives in a medieval cottage in Dedham Vale, Suffolk, with her family. Photograph © Dan Kennedy</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: small;"><i>*Thanks to Simon & Schuster CA / Atria for the printed ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.</i></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/s320/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="320" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/w200-h104/Picture1.png" width="150" /></a></div><br />Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com0Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-50745108414916805712024-01-17T00:41:00.002-06:002024-02-14T16:58:28.762-06:00Blog Tour: Betrothal and Betrayal by Janet McGriffin<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora;"><span style="color: #777777;">About the Book:</span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ESz6tM307C1-i7hjJ3ljgzjiLduuyhHJLy9rXwMbPLQutEgo33-sJwE8yc0R5w0B3zkx0ce8T7EPwSi7GzsVeLGD4DQdsY7b9ntg0YF06dy9Obj3-kM7CJBbMuaWBXYDjkuA3_WsVsRoEZGvadk2mgOgNJYCtk-TkgWDPr7wEfjrXlpoiZ2fhaQ2VMbh/s1000/Betrothal%20and%20Betrayal.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="653" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ESz6tM307C1-i7hjJ3ljgzjiLduuyhHJLy9rXwMbPLQutEgo33-sJwE8yc0R5w0B3zkx0ce8T7EPwSi7GzsVeLGD4DQdsY7b9ntg0YF06dy9Obj3-kM7CJBbMuaWBXYDjkuA3_WsVsRoEZGvadk2mgOgNJYCtk-TkgWDPr7wEfjrXlpoiZ2fhaQ2VMbh/w418-h640/Betrothal%20and%20Betrayal.jpg" width="418" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d7a196; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>Betrothal and Betrayal </b><br />
by Janet McGriffin<br />
<b>Publication: </b>August 1st, 2023<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult<br />
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Seventeen-year-old Thekla needs her quick wits and knife to track down her betrothed, a soldier who has left her at the altar for the third time. Elias the monk travels with her to Constantinople where she meets Irini of Athens, an extraordinarily beautiful orphan her same age who has been brought by powerful Emperor Constantine to marry his son, Co-Emperor Leon. The two women join forces to survive this vigorous capital of the Roman Empire of the East which is rocked by religious and political strife. But will Thekla help the ambitious and ruthless Irini of Athens find the power that she craves?</span></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Lora;"><i>"While I think the book shines most in the immersion, historical research and general description, the characters are certainly engaging enough to keep you invested."</i><br />
-<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6170160450" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GoodReadsMob</a><br />
<i>"I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series."</i><br />
-<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6135993325?book_show_action=false" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Helen Byles</a><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora;"><span style="color: #777777;">About the Author:</span></span></h3>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHovfBqL603yEfnszcoB4Is6EPSdBwZEBH5EYezCZGuF7zejEkW-qctHVUGb1k9AhFuNY8SFy-L1GDa7e8sZ1yroQ3o9-DoNjGNZvW_L__hURR_XMiOdMDT7jZA4W6Psd3m3ioD6JX8E9Q3M8p_USKxERjNzf6nIsQS-6WN-hyx4CMgfANpTpoWlHVDp32/s450/Janet%20Mcgiffin.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHovfBqL603yEfnszcoB4Is6EPSdBwZEBH5EYezCZGuF7zejEkW-qctHVUGb1k9AhFuNY8SFy-L1GDa7e8sZ1yroQ3o9-DoNjGNZvW_L__hURR_XMiOdMDT7jZA4W6Psd3m3ioD6JX8E9Q3M8p_USKxERjNzf6nIsQS-6WN-hyx4CMgfANpTpoWlHVDp32/w200-h200/Janet%20Mcgiffin.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Janet McGiffin divides her time between her apartment in Manhattan, her family in Washington State, and her friends in Athens, Greece. She was born in Fairfield, Iowa into a newspaper family and learned to write copy as a teenager by writing obituaries for the Ellensburg Daily Record in Washington state. After university, she worked for the Milwaukee Health Department where she gained first-hand knowledge for her best-selling mystery series published by Fawcett Press, NY, featuring Doctor Maxine St. Clair, an ER doctor in an inner-city hospital. She worked as a press officer for the Washington state senate, then moved to Athens, Greece where she wrote grant proposals for small non-profit women’s organizations in Mediterranean countries. She also wrote a humor column for the Athens News newspaper with field archaeologist Adrian Vrettos, wrote two English language easy readers for Cambridge University Press, UK, and a series of hiking articles for greecetravel.com. She researched her Byzantine-era Empress Irini Series through extensive travel in Greece, followed by six months of research at the Bodleian libraries in Oxford, England. She enjoys hiking in Greece, England, Wales, and Scotland.
Instagram: @janetmcgiffinauthor</span></div><br /><br />
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</span></div>Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com1Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-39857715688734188682023-12-06T15:36:00.014-06:002024-02-14T16:58:56.604-06:00Blog Tour | OUR DARKEST HOUR by Gabriella E. Mari
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora;"><span style="color: #777777;">About the Book:</span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnYUQuetcxLgzQBp07Bl5NlxtZLUDUHLGLoK1DpO8WF1JGRdiEY-L7NIsYHCwvpuPJcEpL0g4mtZaIisBRK8An7eyOQaD7FHhZ4t0QpFR2kyPYcR0K8JW6DAFgvzW9iWO3ORaEUC3Q2HlJd3orEgxXBBQMRSygzBmU-VCnaEspPUzruREKmrKEmmkYt_G/s398/darkhour.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="318" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnYUQuetcxLgzQBp07Bl5NlxtZLUDUHLGLoK1DpO8WF1JGRdiEY-L7NIsYHCwvpuPJcEpL0g4mtZaIisBRK8An7eyOQaD7FHhZ4t0QpFR2kyPYcR0K8JW6DAFgvzW9iWO3ORaEUC3Q2HlJd3orEgxXBBQMRSygzBmU-VCnaEspPUzruREKmrKEmmkYt_G/w512-h640/darkhour.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #d7a196; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>Our Darkest Hour</b><br />
by Gabriella E. Mari<br />
<b>Publication: </b>October 2022<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Paranormal<br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">‘<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Our-Darkest-Hour-Gabriella-Mari-ebook/dp/B0BHXLQVDJ/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1TLMR2AVXPKG0&keywords=our+darkest+hour&qid=1701537335&sprefix=our+darkest+hour%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Our Darkest Hour</a>’ is a gay love story centred around paranormal investigations. It features ghosts, demons, and one psychic who is slowly but surely coming to terms with his powers... and the feelings he develops for one of his colleagues.
<br /><br />
Coming into his psychic powers by accident, Adrian Sinclair finds he has the ability to see and communicate with spirits yet zero understanding of how anything works. So when the YouTube-famous Crossroads Paranormal Research Society offers to take him under their wing, he knows he is in no position to refuse.<br /><br />
As Adrian learns what it means to be a paranormal investigator and how to navigate his newfound online celebrity status, he discovers that psychics are quitting en masse, and there are only vague rumours as to why...<br /><br />
... until something beyond his reach starts stalking him.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5l_nm-MiMGR61yEX8ep2PKKTEyvi7DuIs-g_38jaXxv49t0j84oaN0j-vS1edkA7gXCr4DbzkDORQmhCdVD_es_Y0KuENrCRzOMAObFPsJbSOQxqVyV6g2SxTLaGwHUZSmL_AyOIRKEloRpqXoTDmrAnZg2MAFtHfplXunBFhHL1dtEJAZo72E5I2l3P_/s1600/unnamed.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5l_nm-MiMGR61yEX8ep2PKKTEyvi7DuIs-g_38jaXxv49t0j84oaN0j-vS1edkA7gXCr4DbzkDORQmhCdVD_es_Y0KuENrCRzOMAObFPsJbSOQxqVyV6g2SxTLaGwHUZSmL_AyOIRKEloRpqXoTDmrAnZg2MAFtHfplXunBFhHL1dtEJAZo72E5I2l3P_/s400/unnamed.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lora;"><i>"I think the romance was sensitive and well done and really hit me in the feels."</i><br />
-<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6028311974" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LisaReadsPages</a><br />
<i>"...presented with a good dose of wit and layered plot lines."</i><br />
-<a href="https://tealeavesandbookleaves.blogspot.com/2023/12/our-darkest-hour-by-gabriella-e-mari.html?spref=tw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tea leaves and Book leaves</a><br />
<i>"All in all its a very well written an entertaining read if a little lengthy and slow burning in spots with some very steamy bits!"</i><br />
-<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6023081211" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">
GoodReadsMob</a></span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lora;"><span style="color: #777777;">About the Author:</span></span></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Born in Illinois, Gem originally wanted to become a storm chaser before settling on writing. Coming up with stories since the age of 10, she first cut her teeth on fanfiction, gaining quite a following for her unique takes and overall ability to create believable characters and scenarios.<br /><br />
She studied Creative Writing at university and earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree. She works on exclusively original content these days. As a bi author, her main genres are a mix of gay (male) romance, fantasy, and reality, presented with a good dose of wit and layered (and sometimes darker-than-expected) plot lines.<br /><br />
Website: https://www.gemandibooks.com/<br /><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRH5NVT15y9EMxMjD-McRFflaqe7EyT2xg3-1Pk1O3hFqSLx4ja9aLc2SGKqJ7Y5dj04ZpHEilmZqi2sRgVAoFozIdRLRBsc3MuZOjoSo2MZ8WTtqUNLZ0TVmQk0dLOpEXGjyV1NfYUV7I44ns9qcEnmT6or4SQGngYdky6p-lDnyBwQvvoFg0rWQSg/s200/The%20Write%20Reads%20Transparent.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="200" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRH5NVT15y9EMxMjD-McRFflaqe7EyT2xg3-1Pk1O3hFqSLx4ja9aLc2SGKqJ7Y5dj04ZpHEilmZqi2sRgVAoFozIdRLRBsc3MuZOjoSo2MZ8WTtqUNLZ0TVmQk0dLOpEXGjyV1NfYUV7I44ns9qcEnmT6or4SQGngYdky6p-lDnyBwQvvoFg0rWQSg/s1600/The%20Write%20Reads%20Transparent.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: small;">*Content sent by <a href="https://www.thewritereads.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@TheWriteReads</a> for this blog's publication. This is a free ad.
</span></div></center></center>Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com0Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-9066833769963015342023-11-29T16:31:00.005-06:002024-02-14T16:59:21.035-06:00Blog Tour | JIDDY VARDY by Ruth Estevez
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora;"><span style="color: #777777;">About the Book:</span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZ7368n6ZFxHxd5Zb7bFG5HL73MPjZqvc7a_qFrCX7pKcuRrS7UcZUAV5bB3VRjXarnapKgbRV0QyqeiVZgQuX7v6BQFBIMGYCxuLuvlokzS8HjsR7tdk7Yk7xB-pBHOLwkV4N4-cDFXRwXRHQvS7cyYgj6RrW2oZb27gJ7zoLewZkl5LMLsGIewtpphn/s1000/Jiddy%20Vardy%20Cover.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="666" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZ7368n6ZFxHxd5Zb7bFG5HL73MPjZqvc7a_qFrCX7pKcuRrS7UcZUAV5bB3VRjXarnapKgbRV0QyqeiVZgQuX7v6BQFBIMGYCxuLuvlokzS8HjsR7tdk7Yk7xB-pBHOLwkV4N4-cDFXRwXRHQvS7cyYgj6RrW2oZb27gJ7zoLewZkl5LMLsGIewtpphn/w426-h640/Jiddy%20Vardy%20Cover.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #d7a196; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>JIDDY VARDY</b><br />
by Ruth Estevez<br />
<b>Publication: </b>ZunTold Publishing<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Historical Fiction for Young Adults<br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>1779</b><br /><br />
On tumultuous waters a girl is born as pirates board the ship . . .<br /><br />
Jiddy Vardy is a survivor.<br /><br />
Rescued at birth, she grows up in Robin Hood’s Bay, a community which harbours a dangerous secret that could get you killed.<br /><br />
Always the outsider, with her dark skin and hair, at sixteen Jiddy is clever, brave and headstrong, soon risking her life and freedom to play her part in the Bay’s clandestine activities.<br /><br />
Then, just as romance blossoms and Jiddy finally feels like she belongs, figures from the past threaten to tear her world apart, and she has to decide where her loyalties truly lie.<br /><br />
A thrilling tale of one girl’s search for identity and love, set against a backdrop of wild seas, smuggling and violence.<br /><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTzLo3luw7pjLmshfA_aplxe-oknWRluZoevc79QqTXNnVHOxbuHo9sHOCrqsqWhkwxI-Lwbk5BQO3dhIaQedAZ4BsQp5iyuV3CwUH342lHGN7ePinK_eGD-xJiJGuBVVCRgQX1t5INpGMgzu1topfKmM8XHcRYJ1gbCgolaXvvPl71vXumvHYKoA46cc/s1600/Jiddy%20Vardy%20banner%201.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTzLo3luw7pjLmshfA_aplxe-oknWRluZoevc79QqTXNnVHOxbuHo9sHOCrqsqWhkwxI-Lwbk5BQO3dhIaQedAZ4BsQp5iyuV3CwUH342lHGN7ePinK_eGD-xJiJGuBVVCRgQX1t5INpGMgzu1topfKmM8XHcRYJ1gbCgolaXvvPl71vXumvHYKoA46cc/s400/Jiddy%20Vardy%20banner%201.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lora;"><i>"Captivating, highly descriptive, and unflinching, <br />this is a book you will not want to put down."</i><br />
-<a href="https://bonniereadsandwrites.com/2023/11/28/blog-tour-and-book-review-jiddy-vardy-by-ruth-estevez-historicalfiction/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bonnie Reads and Writes</a><br />
<i>"The author has a good way with words and a nice writing style."</i><br />
-<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6008297710" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Steph</a></span> <br /> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">*Start reading the series now, before the series finale 'Jiddy Vardy Full Sail' comes out on December 2nd! </span></div> <br />
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lora;"><span style="color: #777777;">About the Author:</span></span></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihD0ZBORmH9FuKEmUcF-mpsBXS1Y5TWQplF9_0R90GrqencuNQYmb0cR1fGTE4VsK_8u1wswmHNHVVSIi6YVO1RB0ZTCPC2Zirw8VDlELFVVnHZ40qtJqwHFhDu1UR-vbZnebDcdlLiE9f29qNXaZJH4EIH5T-Wi9FPA-oF-HqR-4TNVtVDd9NVzr7JrB8/s4896/Ruth.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4896" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihD0ZBORmH9FuKEmUcF-mpsBXS1Y5TWQplF9_0R90GrqencuNQYmb0cR1fGTE4VsK_8u1wswmHNHVVSIi6YVO1RB0ZTCPC2Zirw8VDlELFVVnHZ40qtJqwHFhDu1UR-vbZnebDcdlLiE9f29qNXaZJH4EIH5T-Wi9FPA-oF-HqR-4TNVtVDd9NVzr7JrB8/w200-h133/Ruth.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Ruth Estevez was born in Yorkshire. Often the much-loved landscape is a third character in her novels. A career in theatre, TV and a subscription library have influenced her work. Script writing for Bob the Builder morphed into novel writing. Very much a Northern writer with Latin touches. Interested in social differences, the outsider and finding our place in the world.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRH5NVT15y9EMxMjD-McRFflaqe7EyT2xg3-1Pk1O3hFqSLx4ja9aLc2SGKqJ7Y5dj04ZpHEilmZqi2sRgVAoFozIdRLRBsc3MuZOjoSo2MZ8WTtqUNLZ0TVmQk0dLOpEXGjyV1NfYUV7I44ns9qcEnmT6or4SQGngYdky6p-lDnyBwQvvoFg0rWQSg/s200/The%20Write%20Reads%20Transparent.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="200" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRH5NVT15y9EMxMjD-McRFflaqe7EyT2xg3-1Pk1O3hFqSLx4ja9aLc2SGKqJ7Y5dj04ZpHEilmZqi2sRgVAoFozIdRLRBsc3MuZOjoSo2MZ8WTtqUNLZ0TVmQk0dLOpEXGjyV1NfYUV7I44ns9qcEnmT6or4SQGngYdky6p-lDnyBwQvvoFg0rWQSg/s1600/The%20Write%20Reads%20Transparent.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Lora; font-size: small;">*Content sent by <a href="https://www.thewritereads.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@TheWriteReads</a> for this blog's publication. This is a free ad.
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<br /><br /></center></center>Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com3Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-49303848146818589622023-11-29T15:47:00.002-06:002024-02-14T17:00:03.837-06:00Blog Tour | Arvia: Wings of the Wild (Tales of Arvia #4) by D. H. Willison<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lora;"><span style="color: #777777;">About the Book:</span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDtN-anMdiICtJi9SXRwZZ4mWG8v42Y2Shc_YjSZUUtCHVcykankwNOK6bHtxaqS6J2tl2pIHO9zL_oCX2HYt66txnelShYFpPBvFPPLivaWO9wEo7FgmDtVeQJELdZQRpSEePOmjwlX2ZVP2cSdagoGgVhe2G51FSYjZmPze_IX2UPU2PtUZKTePW4PL/s2137/Wings%20of%20the%20Wild%20Cover.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2137" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDtN-anMdiICtJi9SXRwZZ4mWG8v42Y2Shc_YjSZUUtCHVcykankwNOK6bHtxaqS6J2tl2pIHO9zL_oCX2HYt66txnelShYFpPBvFPPLivaWO9wEo7FgmDtVeQJELdZQRpSEePOmjwlX2ZVP2cSdagoGgVhe2G51FSYjZmPze_IX2UPU2PtUZKTePW4PL/w450-h640/Wings%20of%20the%20Wild%20Cover.jpg" width="450" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #d7a196; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>Arvia: Wings of the Wild (Tales of Arvia #4)</b><br />
by D. H. Willison<br />
<b>Publication: </b>22nd November 2023 <br />
<b>Genre:</b> Fantasy<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
It’s easy to stand up for your friends. What about anonymous creatures nobody else cares about?<br /><br />
With their homes apparently safe from the magical storms, Darin and Rinloh venture to an isolated elven village and another ancient mystery: ruins of an imperial city whose entire population vanished centuries ago.<br /><br />
The duo befriend a host of eccentric new characters, from a chipper ogress and hipster troll to a deadpan griffin. Yet the Forest of Nightmares challenges them as never before. Merciless carnivorous trees, subterranean horrors, ethereal creatures no mortal weapon can slay… and most sinister of all, the greed and ambition lurking within the human heart.<br /><br />
Darin and Rinloh’s empathic connection grows stronger the deeper into the wilderness they go, but will it be enough to stop a dark conspiracy from ravaging the land?<br /><br />
Arvia: Wings of the Wild challenges the harpy-human duo with their grandest adventure yet. They must balance their deepening relationship as they sharpen their skills and work together as never before to unravel a deadly new plot.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOM0q3beHtl3CmbfUy-VNdBo0HuYz87s9lVHENoG8gLzzmapbCby56yR6xWLZcXp100hDCQ81m5x1bwukJ5HIIxHZUSHnNkI8iSkMFqyzJSOeKFlW4jXgSFBbpsniJBkM4HO5mCDnFRCbbIdCFY6BIi6SQbUliHOH_7CQWPqNDPjF8ER6o_7C024TzdPAF/s1600/wings.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOM0q3beHtl3CmbfUy-VNdBo0HuYz87s9lVHENoG8gLzzmapbCby56yR6xWLZcXp100hDCQ81m5x1bwukJ5HIIxHZUSHnNkI8iSkMFqyzJSOeKFlW4jXgSFBbpsniJBkM4HO5mCDnFRCbbIdCFY6BIi6SQbUliHOH_7CQWPqNDPjF8ER6o_7C024TzdPAF/w400-h225/wings.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lora;"><i>"Willison populates Arvia with quirky creatures <br /> that do not follow the standard monster tropes."</i><br />
-<a href="https://scintilla.info/2023/11/27/book-review-arvia-wings-of-the-wild-d-h-willison/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">scintilla.info</a><br />
<i>"The humour also kept me laughing and entertained."</i><br />
-<a href="https://www.justbooktalk.com/2023/11/arvia-wings-of-wild-tales-of-arvia-4-by.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Just Book Talk</a></span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Lora;"><span style="color: #777777;">About the Author:</span></span></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UPDloZ7zkYXeemYKOmP4_1drJ1acn7-Mn2CliJt-J7wEZJ6kSOWR_xlNR7DaA2MR2oSP41_43iZv89blXIGGf1K5xi4FqOoLosYgf3DOjXFBFFy999SWh50aNVHP-DCQeiBoDsdQGK7tQ2AoXchzcXFrQmOB4P65YHbrSZK5chUAvDMDH75a5a9BlzXz/s200/D%20H%20Willison.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UPDloZ7zkYXeemYKOmP4_1drJ1acn7-Mn2CliJt-J7wEZJ6kSOWR_xlNR7DaA2MR2oSP41_43iZv89blXIGGf1K5xi4FqOoLosYgf3DOjXFBFFy999SWh50aNVHP-DCQeiBoDsdQGK7tQ2AoXchzcXFrQmOB4P65YHbrSZK5chUAvDMDH75a5a9BlzXz/s200/D%20H%20Willison.jpg" width="200" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">D.H. Willison is a reader, writer, game enthusiast and developer, engineer, and history buff. He’s lived or worked in over a dozen countries, learning different cultures, viewpoints, and attitudes, which have influenced his writing, contributing to one of his major themes: alternate and creative conflict resolution. The same situations can be viewed by different cultures quite differently. Sometimes it leads to conflict, sometimes to hilarity. Both make for a great story.<br /><br />
He’s also never missed a chance to visit historic sites, from castle dungeons, to catacombs, to the holds of tall ships, to the tunnels of the Maginot Line. It might be considered research, except for the minor fact that his tales are all set on the whimsical and terrifying world of Arvia. Where giant mythic monsters are often more easily overcome with empathy than explosions.<br /><br />
Subscribe to his newsletter for art, stories, and humorous articles (some of which are actually intended to be humorous).<br /><br />
You may get his new book <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Arvia-Wings-Wild-Tales-Book-ebook/dp/B0CNDCXHRK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QNQAEC36CQUW&keywords=arvia+wings+of+the+wild&qid=1700837779&sprefix=arvia+wings+of+the+wild%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />
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</span></div></center></center>Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com1Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-83047596418113368732023-11-24T07:00:00.008-06:002024-01-25T12:03:19.765-06:00Book Review | BINDLE PUNK BRUJA by Desideria Mesa
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM63JTBO5uQX2qs8XT4VxzXs3w7w1G1RlV64J5fbeZr4B8hN5D7zjY9FR0puT4HPZG4L2A_kw8QusVkIhTN-d1sc6Rk7BGWyu6yGPSGZbSCh7nWd_2V6i_noKVuQF1qqv4-SA8MwOEPUAKEL6IAZtnclVDljWYMqQYuoA3coWrNFAimMKYE25943KHW5qG/s4080/BPB.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM63JTBO5uQX2qs8XT4VxzXs3w7w1G1RlV64J5fbeZr4B8hN5D7zjY9FR0puT4HPZG4L2A_kw8QusVkIhTN-d1sc6Rk7BGWyu6yGPSGZbSCh7nWd_2V6i_noKVuQF1qqv4-SA8MwOEPUAKEL6IAZtnclVDljWYMqQYuoA3coWrNFAimMKYE25943KHW5qG/w480-h640/BPB.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>Bindle Punk Bruja </b><br />
by Desideria Mesa<br />
<b>Publication: </b>September 13, 2022<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Harper Voyager<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Historical Fantasy<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: playfair display;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: playfair display;"><b>A part-time reporter and club owner takes on crooked city councilmen, mysterious and deadly mobsters, and society's deeply rooted sexism and racism, all while keeping her true identity and magical abilities hidden --inspired by an ancient Mexican folktale.</b><br /><br />
Yo soy quien soy. I am who I am.<br /><br />
Luna--or depending on who's asking, Rose--is the white-passing daughter of an immigrant mother who has seen what happens to people from her culture. This world is prejudicial, and she must hide her identity in pursuit of owning an illegal jazz club. Using her cunning powers, Rose negotiates with dangerous criminals as she climbs up Kansas City's bootlegging ladder. Luna, however, runs the risk of losing everything if the crooked city councilmen and ruthless mobsters discover her ties to an immigrant boxcar community that secretly houses witches. Last thing she wants is to put her entire family in danger.<br /><br />
But this bruja with ever-growing magical abilities can never resist a good fight. With her new identity, Rose, an unabashed flapper, defies societal expectations all the while struggling to keep her true self and witchcraft in check. However, the harder she tries to avoid scrutiny, the more her efforts eventually capture unwanted attention. Soon, she finds herself surrounded by greed and every brand of bigotry--from local gangsters who want a piece of the action and businessmen who hate her diverse staff to the Ku Klux Klan and Al Capone. Will her earth magic be enough to save her friends and family? As much as she hates to admit it, she may need to learn to have faith in others--and learning to trust may prove to be her biggest ambition yet.</span><br /><br />
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I was excited to read BINDLE PUNK BRUJA, a book that promised to combine 1920s glamour, gangsters, politics, and magic with a Latina heroine. Unfortunately, the book didn't live up to my expectations to deliver a coherent and engaging story. The book follows Rose/Luna, a bruja who runs a speakeasy in 1920s New York and must deal with racism, sexism, and probably everything else in between.</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">The premise sounded amazing, but the execution was lacking. The book felt like a mess of different plot threads that never came together or made sense. The pacing was uneven, the characters were underdeveloped, and the magic system was vague and inconsistent. It took me several starts and stops, with weeks apart, to finish the book.</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">The only thing I liked about the book was the representation of a woman of color in a historical fantasy setting. I enjoyed the historical setting and the atmosphere of the 1920s, with its jazz, speakeasies, and social changes. I appreciated the author's attempt to portray the struggles and challenges that Rose/Luna faced as a biracial woman in a hostile society. I appreciated the representation of her culture and heritage, and how it influenced her choices and actions. I also liked the idea of her having two identities: Rose, the glamorous and successful club owner who passes as white, and Luna, the powerful and rebellious bruja who embraces her heritage. However, I felt that this aspect was not explored enough or explained well. I was confused about how Rose/Luna's magic worked and what it meant for her personality and relationships. I wanted to know more about her family, her culture, and her history.</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Overall, I think this book wasted a great opportunity to tell a compelling and original story. It had a lot of potential, but it failed to deliver on its promises.</span><br /><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
About the Author:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMe9cdZU-UxGL7oETeCa5rPRJF10DJyegiF_-pWzyueQoDid1wAeD3vgHr9nvc89jF44qdff_6nF6ceqQUG4NASqUPBmhHEe7sy7XJKjM_M_UHJwtG1_yrSwL5TpYBlVBK88CKmLu3tTMxErx_H0TojthSk28mxSdk0A53yTgQnSNlzgBIMUtwUTyqJZuU/s540/Desideria%20Mesa.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="360" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMe9cdZU-UxGL7oETeCa5rPRJF10DJyegiF_-pWzyueQoDid1wAeD3vgHr9nvc89jF44qdff_6nF6ceqQUG4NASqUPBmhHEe7sy7XJKjM_M_UHJwtG1_yrSwL5TpYBlVBK88CKmLu3tTMxErx_H0TojthSk28mxSdk0A53yTgQnSNlzgBIMUtwUTyqJZuU/w133-h200/Desideria%20Mesa.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />Desideria Mesa is often found getting lost in a historical, sci-fi, or high fantasy novel or crafting her own stories, of course. Aside from churning out novels, she enjoys writing songs, poetry, and short stories. Follow @DesideriaMesa on Twitter for writing discussion, slightly inappropriate jokes, and more information on her historical fantasy debut, Bindle Punk Bruja. </span></div><br /><br />
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<i>*Thanks to Harper Voyager for the printed ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.</i></span></div>
<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/s320/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="320" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/w200-h104/Picture1.png" width="150" /></a></div><br />Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com0Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-27857029377195853562023-11-22T07:00:00.018-06:002024-02-14T17:00:18.341-06:00Blog Tour | WILD COURT by Matthew Samuels
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #e06666;">About the Book:</span></span></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4HTIWSNEpW06aawLPNidLIp72esj2ZjCJRKlb-CmqBiV6B2WZQ-q5xRrBrA5r9rf3YLqEQZfqEm7UVaq4l50KV8EIDshlwfjL29qVj-xgOO5wxbhVrWAeIXo7YN7s7_Y9JU3D9sVOZflc-aQ0isXeLg9XSxHxhs61TB2FJsqbdh8dh81m_yTAv64RmtX/s466/wc.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="305" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4HTIWSNEpW06aawLPNidLIp72esj2ZjCJRKlb-CmqBiV6B2WZQ-q5xRrBrA5r9rf3YLqEQZfqEm7UVaq4l50KV8EIDshlwfjL29qVj-xgOO5wxbhVrWAeIXo7YN7s7_Y9JU3D9sVOZflc-aQ0isXeLg9XSxHxhs61TB2FJsqbdh8dh81m_yTAv64RmtX/w418-h640/wc.jpg" width="418" /></a></td></tr><tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>Wild Court</b><br />
by Matthew Samuels<br />
<b>Publication: </b>March 12th 2023<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Fantasy<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">A secret organisation is losing the battle to maintain the empathy levels that sustain our planet’s barriers against the nightmare worlds."<br /><br />
Meanwhile, a young aristocrat safeguards a terrible secret, sponsoring an archaeology graduate obsessed with biblical artefacts. An all-knowing orphan worshiped by a cult joins a textbook exemplar of toxic masculinity and an introverted librarian. Together with a retired demon hunter, they’ll face the apocalypse.<br /><br />
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<span style="font-family: playfair display;"><i>"It's really fast-paced, well written, and full of tension. Highly recommended."</i><br />
-<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5989968308" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Steph</a><br />
<i>"It's a really unique concept that I have not only not seen anywhere before..."</i><br />
-<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5992376466" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Book Dude</a></span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #e06666;">About the Author:</span></span></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">I’m Matthew Samuels, a science fiction and fantasy writer based in London, UK. I’m the author of the Sci-Fi Hopepunk adventure books Parasites and Dusk, the first two books in the Navigator Series, which you can buy on </span><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Parasites-Matthew-Samuels-ebook/dp/B07RTYFZBJ/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=5glYC&content-id=amzn1.sym.3413293e-3815-4359-96ba-1ec5110e0b30&pf_rd_p=3413293e-3815-4359-96ba-1ec5110e0b30&pf_rd_r=258-4106585-9766400&pd_rd_wg=f7xvE&pd_rd_r=295e4ec6-907c-460e-848a-20bc9605b7a0&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"> or read more about on Goodreads (Parasites, Dusk), and urban fantasy titles, Small Places, which you can buy and read about </span><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Small-Places-Matthew-Samuels-ebook/dp/B092W7TTF4/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=5glYC&content-id=amzn1.sym.3413293e-3815-4359-96ba-1ec5110e0b30&pf_rd_p=3413293e-3815-4359-96ba-1ec5110e0b30&pf_rd_r=258-4106585-9766400&pd_rd_wg=f7xvE&pd_rd_r=295e4ec6-907c-460e-848a-20bc9605b7a0&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">, and Wild Court, which you can read and buy </span><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BYB931R6/" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">.</span></div>
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</span></div></center></center>Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com0Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-87009704578711746332023-11-08T07:30:00.003-06:002024-01-25T12:03:35.412-06:00Book Review | NORTH WOODS by Daniel Mason
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn98H8Pi_VGZRxHdW7gpn0fzoEx7oyqjcD_W0KtFfTJk6X0vaGQYozSrn5RUwm1xriEF3mVoamdrUG35Z6uOKRBB144FsFLd_xfKw_X0GDOowdPrEXpjPpbhAs3Z75l8Xb-dB_yMf5OhrFZyaMJpMR57Gjr1hQZwu7QVQW3f0Wi49iY4_eDe3OayoUTOb_/s3512/northwoods.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3512" data-original-width="2195" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn98H8Pi_VGZRxHdW7gpn0fzoEx7oyqjcD_W0KtFfTJk6X0vaGQYozSrn5RUwm1xriEF3mVoamdrUG35Z6uOKRBB144FsFLd_xfKw_X0GDOowdPrEXpjPpbhAs3Z75l8Xb-dB_yMf5OhrFZyaMJpMR57Gjr1hQZwu7QVQW3f0Wi49iY4_eDe3OayoUTOb_/w400-h640/northwoods.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b> North Woods </b><br />
by Daniel Mason<br />
<b>Publication: </b>September 19, 2023<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Penguin Random House<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Historical Fiction<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★</span><br />
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<b>A sweeping novel about a single house in the woods of New England, told through the lives of those who inhabit it across the centuries—a daring, moving tale of memory and fate from the Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Piano Tuner and The Winter Soldier.</b><br /><br />
When a pair of young lovers abscond from a Puritan colony, little do they know that their humble cabin in the woods will become home to an extraordinary succession of inhabitants . An English soldier, destined for glory, abandons the battlefields of the New World to devote himself to apples. A pair of spinster twins survive war and famine, only to succumb to envy and desire. A crime reporter unearths a mass grave, but finds the ancient trees refuse to give up their secrets. A lovelorn painter, a conman, a stalking panther, a lusty as each one confronts the mysteries of the north woods, they come to realize that the dark, raucous, beautiful past is very much alive.
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Traversing cycles of history, nature, and even literature, North Woods shows the myriad, magical ways in which we’re connected to our environment and to one another, across time, language and space. Written along with the seasons and divided into the twelve months of the year, it is an unforgettable novel about secrets and fates that asks the timeless how do we live on, even after we’re gone? - PRH<br /><br />
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North Woods is not your typical historical fiction, but rather a brilliant collection of interrelated stories that take place in the same patch of land in Massachusetts, from centuries ago to the present day. Each story introduces a new set of characters, each with their own voice and perspective, and each facing their own challenges and dilemmas. Some stories are told in prose, some in verse, some in dialogue, some in reportage. Some stories are realistic, some are fantastical, some are mysterious, some are tragic. But they all share a common thread: the presence and influence of the North Woods, a place that seems to have a life and a will of its own.</span><br /><br />
Mason is a master storyteller who can switch from one style and tone to another with ease and skill. He creates memorable characters that you can empathize with, even if you only spend a few pages with them. He also weaves subtle connections and clues between the stories, making you want to go back and reread them to find the hidden links. He explores themes such as love, death, freedom, justice, faith, and nature, showing how they change and endure over time. And he does it all with beautiful language and imagery that transport you to the different eras and atmospheres of the North Woods.<br /><br />
NORTH WOODS is a novel that will make you think and feel deeply about the human condition and our relationship with the natural world. It's a novel that may surprise you, perhaps. It's a novel that deserves to be read.<br /><br />
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About the Author:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YmYOmeyyoaON7YPoI1ntJIYo97WIHv2gdpCgQqOPTe0VcgVpmFhBgKDbqbwg2R0R32qjaumiAFSTB_22JQUf2LX69rh-HO6g2JZvz1u1CPIT96g_s0C3-4BjyI3Azz5p0nieFpCq_O5bJq6Gk3n0ijQbBEmUcB-_rKzcIW9K_UZslFY6oYqkVvSIEjWP/s450/dm.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YmYOmeyyoaON7YPoI1ntJIYo97WIHv2gdpCgQqOPTe0VcgVpmFhBgKDbqbwg2R0R32qjaumiAFSTB_22JQUf2LX69rh-HO6g2JZvz1u1CPIT96g_s0C3-4BjyI3Azz5p0nieFpCq_O5bJq6Gk3n0ijQbBEmUcB-_rKzcIW9K_UZslFY6oYqkVvSIEjWP/w133-h200/dm.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
Daniel Mason was born and raised in Northern California. He studied biology at Harvard, and medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. His first novel, The Piano Tuner, published in 2002, was a national bestseller and has since been published in 27 countries. His other works include A Far Country, The Winter Soldier, and A Registry of My Passage Upon Earth, and his writing has appeared in Harper's Magazine and Lapham's Quarterly. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.<br /><br />
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<i>*Thanks to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.</i></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/s320/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="320" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/w200-h104/Picture1.png" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com2Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-67560938044089940822023-11-05T16:08:00.004-06:002024-01-25T12:04:08.737-06:00 Book Review | THE BREAKAWAY by Jennifer Weiner
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgB_xdA6pIwFDUyAF4OTUbJ1alkNndKp73uo0z7U4wQbBj7MAJj35VQaZRea4HzO5PkZA7KKieCaTrBYq-7ynPV5OH_5lWpEw5F1SnIncI7JGNxXINy4CZy-qz71QpF-GfgX1ybTL-tzeGDm7ZWGZY1ZtSfe1d8p3PtRiRTBY37b8nU29pWaaiK_aT5m3/s3521/thebreakaway.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2201" data-original-width="3521" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgB_xdA6pIwFDUyAF4OTUbJ1alkNndKp73uo0z7U4wQbBj7MAJj35VQaZRea4HzO5PkZA7KKieCaTrBYq-7ynPV5OH_5lWpEw5F1SnIncI7JGNxXINy4CZy-qz71QpF-GfgX1ybTL-tzeGDm7ZWGZY1ZtSfe1d8p3PtRiRTBY37b8nU29pWaaiK_aT5m3/w640-h400/thebreakaway.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>The Breakaway </b><br />
by Jennifer Weiner<br />
<b>Publication: </b>August 29, 2023<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Atria Books<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Romance<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
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<b>From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner comes a warmhearted and empowering new novel about love, family, friendship, secrets, and a life-changing journey.</b><br /><br />
Thirty-three-year-old Abby Stern has made it to a happy place. True, she still has gig jobs instead of a career, and the apartment where she’s lived since college still looks like she’s just moved in. But she’s got good friends, her bike, and her bicycling club in Philadelphia. She’s at peace with her plus-size body—at least, most of the time—and she’s on track to marry Mark Medoff, her childhood sweetheart, a man she met at the weight-loss camp that her perpetually dieting mother forced her to attend. Fifteen years after her final summer at Camp Golden Hills, when Abby reconnects with a half-his-size Mark, it feels like the happy ending she’s always wanted.
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Yet Abby can’t escape the feeling that something isn’t right...or the memories of one thrilling night she spent with a man named Sebastian two years previously. When Abby gets a last-minute invitation to lead a cycling trip from NYC to Niagara Falls, she’s happy to have time away from Mark, a chance to reflect and make up her mind.<br /><br />
But things get complicated fast. First, Abby spots a familiar face in the group—Sebastian, the one-night stand she thought she’d never see again. Sebastian is a serial dater who lives a hundred miles away. In spite of their undeniable chemistry, Abby is determined to keep her distance. Then there’s a surprise last-minute addition to the trip: her mother, Eileen, the woman Abby blames for a lifetime of body shaming and insecurities she’s still trying to undo.<br /><br />
Over two weeks and more than seven hundred miles, strangers become friends, hidden truths come to light, a teenage girl with a secret unites the riders in unexpected ways...and Abby is forced to reconsider everything she believes about herself, her mother, and the nature of love.<br /><br />
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I read my first book by Jennifer Weiner, The Breakaway, and I have to say I am not disappointed.</span><br /><br />
Weiner has a knack for writing engaging and realistic characters. The Breakaway is about a woman who leads a group bike trip from New York City to Niagara Falls, and has to deal with some unexpected guests along the way: her mother, who has always criticized her weight, and her former one-night stand, who might be more than just a fling.<br /><br />
Abby Stern credits cycling for helping her overcome her childhood trauma of being sent to weight-loss camp every summer by her mother, who never accepted her as she was. Now, as an adult, Abby is in a stable relationship with Mark, a fellow former camper who has lost half his weight and supports Abby unconditionally. He seemed set on spending forever with Abby, but she feels something is missing in their relationship. Maybe it's the fact that he won't touch sugar or learn to ride a bike with her. Maybe it's the fact that she still struggles with her self-esteem and body image. <br /><br />
When Abby gets the opportunity to lead a 12-day bike tour through New York, she jumps at it. It's a chance to do what she loves most, and to clear her head away from Mark. But she doesn't expect two surprise riders to join her: Sebastian, a charming and handsome man she had a one-night stand with before meeting Mark, and Eileen, her mother, who claims she wants to reconnect with Abby after years of estrangement. As Abby and Sebastian get closer on the road, Abby starts to question her feelings for Mark and wonder if Sebastian is the one for her. But can she trust him, especially after learning that he became famous on TikTok for sleeping around Brooklyn? And can she forgive her mother, who still triggers Abby's insecurities?<br /><br />
This is a delightful and heartwarming novel that explores themes of body acceptance, self-love, family, friendship, and romance. Abby is a relatable and likable protagonist, who grows as a person throughout the story. Weiner does a great job of portraying the complexities of Abby's relationship with her mother, as well as the chemistry between Abby and Sebastian. The secondary characters are also well-developed and add humor and depth to the story. Weiner also switches perspectives occasionally to give us a glimpse into their thoughts and feelings. <br /><br /><span style="color: #e06666;">
THE BREAKAWAY</span> is a perfect book for anyone who enjoys a good romantic comedy with a dose of realism and social commentary. <br /><br />
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About The Author:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcNPyiCpv4uVZAMn1adDsO39UkPtn9qievKd4e4HtQbMQQSGdp9GFsYgDc94pLW3vBt8z0JlBrTGkaspWjgMYPyV4zb8KCx-L5lU6ojeE0Ajh-YckkirdCvGTczFgQv3H5_ZnLjlAHEfhBrdpEJ0H9nNqk143WbQ_Of8mx2a24cvPhqHbyqVGhGJCMkFu/s250/jennifer-weiner-1930733.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="250" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcNPyiCpv4uVZAMn1adDsO39UkPtn9qievKd4e4HtQbMQQSGdp9GFsYgDc94pLW3vBt8z0JlBrTGkaspWjgMYPyV4zb8KCx-L5lU6ojeE0Ajh-YckkirdCvGTczFgQv3H5_ZnLjlAHEfhBrdpEJ0H9nNqk143WbQ_Of8mx2a24cvPhqHbyqVGhGJCMkFu/w200-h134/jennifer-weiner-1930733.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Jennifer Weiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-one books, including The Summer Place, That Summer, Big Summer, Mrs. Everything, In Her Shoes, Good in Bed, and a memoir in essays, Hungry Heart. She has appeared on many national television programs, including Today and Good Morning America, and her work has been published in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, among other newspapers and magazines. Jennifer lives with her family in Philadelphia. Visit her online at JenniferWeiner.com. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Andrea Cipriani Mecchi<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: playfair display; font-size: small;"><i>*Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.</i></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/s320/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="320" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/w200-h104/Picture1.png" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com2Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-27754276861569778442023-10-25T22:46:00.005-06:002024-01-28T18:35:21.450-06:00Book Review | TIME OUT by Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner, Carlyn Greenwald
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UKLadtn64Shq85DhNcyr4zSwnJs1BeS0kglyCTXYKucBIo0piszisGc9A5e-qChWjRRaxyF_TSVSjwDpENI7_T0v6X5p4YR04YaGLKFZCeZ3pujzrNTMhSIbqrhaBe6SUZSl4ZEI2d4phWmV6sQWqd6c0vRt8fSfdNFCx6ugantxycWD-OLs6hhSu3Fz/s5314/TO.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5314" data-original-width="3981" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UKLadtn64Shq85DhNcyr4zSwnJs1BeS0kglyCTXYKucBIo0piszisGc9A5e-qChWjRRaxyF_TSVSjwDpENI7_T0v6X5p4YR04YaGLKFZCeZ3pujzrNTMhSIbqrhaBe6SUZSl4ZEI2d4phWmV6sQWqd6c0vRt8fSfdNFCx6ugantxycWD-OLs6hhSu3Fz/w300-h400/TO.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>TIME OUT </b><br />
by Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner, Carlyn Greenwald<br />
<b>Publication: </b>May 30, 2023<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Simon & Schuster<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Teen Fiction / Coming-of-Age<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★</span><br />
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Heartstopper meets Friday Night Lights in this “seamless, engrossing” (Publishers Weekly) coming-of-age story about a teen hometown hero who must find out who he is outside of basketball when his coming out as gay costs him his popularity and place on the team.</span><br /><br />
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In his small Georgia town, Barclay Elliot is basically a legend. Here basketball is all that matters, and no one has a bigger spotlight than Barclay. Until he decides to use the biggest pep rally in the town’s history to come out to his school. And things change. Quickly.</span><br /><br />
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Barclay is faced with hostility he never expected. Suddenly he is at odds with his own team, and he doesn’t even have his grandfather to turn to the way he used to. But who is Barclay if he doesn’t have basketball?</span><br /><br />
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His best friend, Amy, thinks she knows. She drags him to her voting rights group, believing Barclay can find a bigger purpose. And he does, but he also finds Christopher. Aggravating, fearless, undeniably handsome Christopher. He and Barclay have never been each other’s biggest fans, but as Barclay starts to explore parts of himself he’s been hiding away, they find they might have much more in common than they originally thought.</span><br /><br />
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As sparks turn into something more, though, Barclay has to decide if he’s ready to confront the privilege and popularity that have shielded him his entire life. Can he take a real shot at the love he was fighting for in the first place? -<i>Simon & Schuster</i></span><br /><br /></div>
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I was pleasantly surprised by Time Out, a YA novel about a gay basketball star who faces homophobia and corruption in his small town. I was even more delighted when I learned that one of the authors is <i>Sean Hayes</i>, the actor who played Jack in <i>Will & Grace</i>. He and his co-authors did a great job of creating a realistic and engaging story that tackles some serious issues.</span><br /><br />
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Time Out grabs your attention from the first page, when Barclay comes out as gay in front of his whole school. This sets the stage for a story full of drama, romance, and activism. I loved how Barclay's character grew throughout the book, as he faced the challenges of being out in a homophobic town. He made some mistakes, he struggles with his own ego and insecurities, which lead him to make some bad decisions that hurt the people who care about him. Along the way, he learned to be more confident and supportive of his friends and family. He had a great arc that made me root for him.</span><br /><br />
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The book also did a great job of creating a realistic small-town vibe, with Barclay knowing everyone and everything that was going on. The plot was fast-paced and engaging, with short chapters that made me want to keep reading. The romance between Barclay and Christopher was slow but sweet, and I enjoyed seeing them get closer over time. They had a lot of chemistry and cute moments. I also enjoyed the friendship between Barclay, Amy, and Christopher, who form a loyal and fun trio. The book had a strong political theme, as Barclay and his friends campaigned for their town's elections and encouraged people to vote. I liked how the book showed the importance of civic engagement and standing up for what you believe in.</span><br /><br />
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TIME OUT is a book that balances humor, heart, and hope. It is a book that celebrates diversity, courage, and acceptance. It shows the importance of being true to yourself and standing up for what is right. It also shows that being gay does not define you or limit you in any way. It's a great read for anyone who likes books with diverse characters, social justice, and adorable love stories.</span><br /><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">
About the Authors:</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">
<b>Sean Hayes</b><br /> Sean Hayes is an Emmy Award–winning actor, best known for his role as Jack McFarland on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace. He is also a writer, comedian, and producer. In addition to his credits in television and film, he has also found success on Broadway. He lives with his husband, Scott Icenogle, in Los Angeles. Sean is the author of picture book Plum and young adult novel Time Out. </span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">
<b>Todd Milliner</b><br /> Todd Milliner is an Emmy Award–winning producer and writer who cofounded Hazy Mills Productions with Sean Hayes in 2004. He has produced over 400 episodes of television, including hit NBC drama Grimm and the TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland. He lives with his husband, Michael Matthews, in Los Angeles. </span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">
<b>Carlyn Greenwald</b><br /> Carlyn Greenwald writes romantic and thrilling page-turners for teens and adults. A film school graduate and former Hollywood lackey, she now works in publishing. She resides in Los Angeles, mourning the loss of ArcLight Cinemas and soaking in the sun with her dogs. Find her online on X (previously known as Twitter) @CarlynGreenwald and Instagram @Carlyn_Gee.</span></div><br /><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: playfair display; font-size: small;"><i>*Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.</i></span><br /><br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/s320/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="320" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/w200-h104/Picture1.png" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com6Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-83119535566424334112023-10-19T02:57:00.004-06:002024-01-25T12:04:32.567-06:00Book Review | LISTENING STILL by Anne Griffin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiserjh9V5m253FUl7Xqv8xnPbExdEw2K6_7MfXDVITbz-23XhQIU21DEHwQilHY8-srC6f0FLu1yhwdTSF3fdZ2E6S6lZL48lFToi3w4XDFDy6Igv6Xj0w4l8SsXqSrzRNkhIORqvZuTRamAK1rYqcj7Nnz_Bo2IV-wX3xZ4_KYF2njwyz0kQF_C5aXTVL/s4698/LS.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4698" data-original-width="3356" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiserjh9V5m253FUl7Xqv8xnPbExdEw2K6_7MfXDVITbz-23XhQIU21DEHwQilHY8-srC6f0FLu1yhwdTSF3fdZ2E6S6lZL48lFToi3w4XDFDy6Igv6Xj0w4l8SsXqSrzRNkhIORqvZuTRamAK1rYqcj7Nnz_Bo2IV-wX3xZ4_KYF2njwyz0kQF_C5aXTVL/w458-h640/LS.jpg" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>LISTENING STILL </b><br />
by Anne Griffin<br />
<b>Publication: </b>01 Mar 2022<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> St. Martin Press<br />
<b>Genre:</b> General Fiction<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★★</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: playfair display;">Jeanie Masterson has a gift: she can hear the last words of the dead.<br /><br />
Passed down from generation to generation, this gift means she is able to make wrongs right, to give voice to unspoken love and dying regrets. She and her father have worked happily alongside each other for years, but now he's unexpectedly announced that he wants to retire early and leave the business to her and her life is called into question.<br /><br />
Does she really want to be married to the embalmer, or does she want to be with her childhood sweetheart, off in London? Does she want to have children, and pass this gift on to them? And does she want to be stuck in this small town, or is there more of the world she wants to see - like the South of France, where she's discovered a woman who shares her gift?<br /><br />
Tied to her home by this unusual talent, she begins to question: what if what she's always thought of as a gift is a curse?</span></div><br /><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you are looking for a captivating and
emotional read that explores the power of words, secrets and family, you might
want to check out <i>Listening Still by Anne Griffin</i>. This is her second novel,
after the acclaimed <i>When All is Said</i>, and it follows the journey of Jeanie
Masterson, a young woman who inherits her father's funeral home and his unusual
ability to hear the last words of the dead.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jeanie has always helped her family with
the business, listening to the final confessions, regrets and wishes of the
departed and passing them on to their loved ones. But when her parents retired
unexpectedly, she finds herself alone with this burden and a business to run.
She also must deal with her own life, dreams, and regrets.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #e06666;">LISTENING STILL</span> is a beautifully written
and engaging novel that transports the reader to the rural Ireland. It is not
only a compelling story of one woman's quest for happiness and fulfillment, but
also a celebration of the Irish culture, history and tradition. The
setting is richly described and full of life.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anne Griffin has a gift for creating vivid
and authentic characters that you care about and root for. She also tackles
some of life’s big questions, while blending humor and heartache, realism and
magic, in a way that makes you feel both enchanted and enlightened.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Listening Still is a novel that will make
you laugh, cry, think and feel. It is a novel that will stay with you long
after you finish reading it. It is a novel that will make you want to listen
more closely to the voices around you, and to your own voice within.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLz_vLYDPqiiPaJHMRjQN-tcLhZaZylcqpJLbIpkwRuwbc8L6mRiUGcsG2pX9f-q4mZfkOAFhSEcnglVFTgHjZXVaJd4-OgLZFIi1-0dwzQo_WzlvtBw4olq2X4sN00CsyYFjKVo2pYUZyjeY8ez_1fBrxitzy55cUZPpKZNDDFIbcf1N1XKWThKfzgTXX/s900/ListeningStill_EWbanner_900x200%20%281%29.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="900" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLz_vLYDPqiiPaJHMRjQN-tcLhZaZylcqpJLbIpkwRuwbc8L6mRiUGcsG2pX9f-q4mZfkOAFhSEcnglVFTgHjZXVaJd4-OgLZFIi1-0dwzQo_WzlvtBw4olq2X4sN00CsyYFjKVo2pYUZyjeY8ez_1fBrxitzy55cUZPpKZNDDFIbcf1N1XKWThKfzgTXX/w400-h89/ListeningStill_EWbanner_900x200%20(1).png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">About the Author:<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pH0-y5114AfNzQbghxorjMbeu2V5shjy5r4jaT67lLCmIqUNvqA7r93gsFVdb48k7lsFiY5s9ZgsGjiQVgAoRh19gGG7CMpjYS0H9y1XzFO-vrrDSKLBTYxTvq8cB3mynqxxWS4TmpaFGUC3JVqSiPkxhzpawwjIx4jXKpC_pOBfEe2TaZOT3nAtl-JY/s870/200068600.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="870" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pH0-y5114AfNzQbghxorjMbeu2V5shjy5r4jaT67lLCmIqUNvqA7r93gsFVdb48k7lsFiY5s9ZgsGjiQVgAoRh19gGG7CMpjYS0H9y1XzFO-vrrDSKLBTYxTvq8cB3mynqxxWS4TmpaFGUC3JVqSiPkxhzpawwjIx4jXKpC_pOBfEe2TaZOT3nAtl-JY/w200-h200/200068600.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Anne Griffin is the author of the Irish No. 1 bestseller ‘When All Is Said’. Winner of the Newcomer of the Year Irish Book Awards 2019 and longlisted for the Dublin Literary Award 2021. Her second novel, ‘Listening Still’ was published in 2022 and her third, ‘The Island Of Longing’ will be published on May 4th, 2023.<br /><br />
Anne’s books have been translated into several languages and recorded as e-audiobooks.</span></div><br /><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: playfair display; font-size: small;">*Digital ARC provided by St. Martin Press and Netgalley in exchange for this unbiased review.</span></div><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/s320/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="320" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/w200-h104/Picture1.png" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<br />Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com2Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-63736020934592215602023-10-12T00:18:00.001-06:002024-02-14T17:00:45.285-06:00Blog Tour | FEAST OF ASHES by Victoria Williamson<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #e06666;">About the Book</span></span></h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxqNtEDEVPAIKIzj96LA2dUla3nLalIdH6OaeZWaeLWvQYHLFSpxzI08vlc7dRmfaCHYEGeYpE3Q8t6GmWNfKlUTpj5sJNC4f6SG3PsNHHv1KIYy_4f5rW9WH5JdQzv4Sy0eWl0sXMmvBR9lVuKEL36EfdYr18_VexPn761JQb5HFxz6WubONFuhZdURk/s2339/cover.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2339" data-original-width="1524" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxqNtEDEVPAIKIzj96LA2dUla3nLalIdH6OaeZWaeLWvQYHLFSpxzI08vlc7dRmfaCHYEGeYpE3Q8t6GmWNfKlUTpj5sJNC4f6SG3PsNHHv1KIYy_4f5rW9WH5JdQzv4Sy0eWl0sXMmvBR9lVuKEL36EfdYr18_VexPn761JQb5HFxz6WubONFuhZdURk/w416-h640/cover.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>Feast of Ashes </b><br />
by Victoria Williamson<br />
<b>Publication: </b>5th October 2023<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Neem Tree Press<br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA, Dystopian Fantasy<br /></span>
</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Earth's ecosystems have collapsed and only ashes remain. Is one girl's courage enough to keep hope alive in the wastelands?</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">It's the year 2123, and sixteen-year-old Adina has just accidentally killed fourteen thousand seven hundred and fifty-six people. Raised in the eco-bubble of Eden Five, Adina has always believed that the Amonston Corporation's giant greenhouse would keep her safe forever. But when her own careless mistake leads to an explosion that incinerates Eden Five, she and a small group of survivors must brave the barren wastelands outside the ruined Dome to reach the Sanctuary before their biofilters give out and their DNA threatens to mutate in the toxic air.</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">They soon discover that the outside isn't as deserted as they were made to believe, and the truth is unearthed on their dangerous expedition. As time runs out, Adina must tackle her guilty conscience and find the courage to get everyone to safety. Will she make it alive, or will the Nomalies get to her first?</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7UOTA0FjCO5s2pW7torR59mf-yTrfP8wX-egv2smNm4k8D30SuG4Xlnhp7Vnw4B9wWr5IlFEOofzd2khieMpmUDrSXxpJsDEdvAXjkH6gCsZnsm5bwNPJFlpLXnEAySY5fLlgDEpeUa59MZUXIGYbo6lhDbuyFt4nX9hHJCpv7iiRc53rKclPlx6iWbC/s1080/group.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7UOTA0FjCO5s2pW7torR59mf-yTrfP8wX-egv2smNm4k8D30SuG4Xlnhp7Vnw4B9wWr5IlFEOofzd2khieMpmUDrSXxpJsDEdvAXjkH6gCsZnsm5bwNPJFlpLXnEAySY5fLlgDEpeUa59MZUXIGYbo6lhDbuyFt4nX9hHJCpv7iiRc53rKclPlx6iWbC/s320/group.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: playfair display;">
<i>"I know this is going to be an incredible series for Young Adults, and look forward to what is to come..."</i>
<br />-<a href="https://samjdthomas.home.blog/2023/10/03/feast-of-ashes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BookBound</a>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: playfair display;">
<i>"I liked the powerful themes that Williamson brought into this novel, I loved the novel being set in Africa."</i> <br />-<a href="https://www.acascadeofbooks.com/2023/10/blog-tour-feast-of-ashes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Cascade of Books</a>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: playfair display;">
<i>"I can imagine Feast of Ashes being a big screen movie in the same way as Hunger Games, Maze Runner and Divergent."</i> <br />-<a href="https://anitaloughrey.blog/2023/10/07/blog-tour-feast-of-ashes-by-victoria-williamson/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Much To Do About Writing</a>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: georgia;">About the Author<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4_SGMndnIWVjfhrYuvdMb_yVHbegBDzWfKdlz7tL_yRAc2LQGLR3tuon4I2SYKbEr34sewI9KV6KNOJMYJYGMHIpQ0d7r_YSJRfEhyphenhyphen90pWPhEb89uERpdaAlVScozTMbj6mRn2MR8Z52pu9G0WEsS-sGF8-Whbq4WRZzNaQ1y9dGZzJ5d8ozSKpIZu0_/s203/Victoria%20Williamson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="200" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4_SGMndnIWVjfhrYuvdMb_yVHbegBDzWfKdlz7tL_yRAc2LQGLR3tuon4I2SYKbEr34sewI9KV6KNOJMYJYGMHIpQ0d7r_YSJRfEhyphenhyphen90pWPhEb89uERpdaAlVScozTMbj6mRn2MR8Z52pu9G0WEsS-sGF8-Whbq4WRZzNaQ1y9dGZzJ5d8ozSKpIZu0_/s1600/Victoria%20Williamson.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></span></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Victoria Williamson is an award-winning author who grew up in Scotland surrounded by hills, books, and an historical farm estate which inspired many of her early adventure stories and spooky tales. After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real-life adventures, which included teaching maths and science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with additional support needs in the UK. Victoria currently works part time writing KS2 books for the education company Twinkl and spends the rest of her time writing novels, and visiting schools, libraries and literary festivals to give author talks and run creative writing workshops.</span></div><br /><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Victoria’s previous novels include The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, The Boy with the Butterfly Mind, Hag Storm, and War of the Wind. She has won the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award 2020/2021, The YA-aldi Glasgow Secondary School Libraries Book Award 2023, and has been shortlisted for the Week Junior Book Awards 2023, The Leeds Book Awards 2023, the Red Book Award 2023, the James Reckitt Hull Book Awards 2021, The Trinity School Book Awards 2021, and longlisted for the ABA South Coast Book Awards 2023, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2020, and the Branford Boase Award 2019.</span></div><br /><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Her latest novel, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, is a middle grade fantasy inspired by classic folklore. Twenty percent of the author royalties for this book are donated to CharChar Literacy, an organisation working to improve children’s literacy levels in Malawi.</span></div><br /><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com</span></div><br /><br />
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</span></div>Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com0Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-90397783832405035852023-09-18T11:52:00.001-06:002024-01-25T12:05:00.846-06:00Blog Tour | THE WHISTLERS IN THE DARK by Victoria Williamson
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCW2cEQGOOXLESXfxO9D7kT3IBQrD_j5P28MNTI-_dOKzS8GcQzaaRKW4cIKNNPfCTcAVHPxjtS50LrzYVqk_Y2wUlw_n2ULGh5CE9IoEMJaObzRtOMnA1nm0kt-lQoTuLfs9BDFJ059uLmz-hUfjA_doEe4-U1bmsEWV_Ye7ZgUVe_tLTgt73mNkqmMNt/s2339/The%20Whistlers%20in%20the%20Dark%20cover.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2339" data-original-width="1535" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCW2cEQGOOXLESXfxO9D7kT3IBQrD_j5P28MNTI-_dOKzS8GcQzaaRKW4cIKNNPfCTcAVHPxjtS50LrzYVqk_Y2wUlw_n2ULGh5CE9IoEMJaObzRtOMnA1nm0kt-lQoTuLfs9BDFJ059uLmz-hUfjA_doEe4-U1bmsEWV_Ye7ZgUVe_tLTgt73mNkqmMNt/w421-h640/The%20Whistlers%20in%20the%20Dark%20cover.jpg" width="421" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>The Whistlers In The Dark</b><br />
by victoria Williamson<br />
<b>Publication: </b>September 21, 2023<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Middle-Grade Fiction<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★</span><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
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Scotland, 158 AD, is a divided country.<br /><br />
On one side of the Antonine Wall, thirteen-year-old Felix is trying to become a good Roman soldier like his father. On the other, twelve-year old Jinny is vowing revenge on the ‘metal men’ who have invaded her Damnonii tribe’s homeland. At the Damnonii’s sacred circle of standing stones, her planned attack on Felix goes badly wrong, awakening a legend that threatens to bring fire and destruction down on them all.<br /><br />
Can Jinny and Felix overcome their differences and soothe the stones back to sleep before it’s too late?</span></div><br /><br />
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If you are looking for a historical fantasy that will transport you to ancient Scotland, you might want to check out The Whistlers in the Dark by Victoria Williamson. This is a Middle Grade novel that follows two young protagonists, Jinny and Felix, who live during the Roman occupation of Scotland, near the Antonine wall. Felix and the fort must deal with the threat of the local tribes, who are not happy with the Roman occupation, Meanwhile, Jinny is vent on revenge and keeping the Romans off their land. Until the standing stones came alive one night.<br /><br />
THE WHISTLERS IN THE DARK is a story of friendship, forgiveness, and adventure. Jinny and Felix have different backgrounds and motivations, but they learn to overcome their prejudices and work together to face their enemies. The novel is based on historical facts and legends, and it gives a vivid picture of life in Roman Britain and the culture of the Scottish tribes. The author also incorporates some elements of fantasy, such as the whistlers, who are inspired by Scottish folklore and add a touch of magic and mystery to the plot.<br /><br />
I enjoyed reading this novel because it was engaging, entertaining, and educational. I liked how the author balanced the historical and the fantastical aspects, and how she created realistic and relatable characters. I also appreciated how she addressed some important themes, such as revenge, loyalty, courage, and tolerance. The Whistlers in the Dark is a novel that will appeal to readers who love history, fantasy, and adventure. It is a fun and exciting read that will make you curious about Scotland's past and present.</span></div><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: playfair display; font-size: small;"><i>*Huge Thanks to @The_WriteReads / @WriteReadsTours for letting me join this blog tour.</i></span><br /><br />
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About the Author<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZ-W5bqZvEETnfK04RsKLKuxOOjPpYMk35chjEwTLwiXJfLlX4cfoZcLFPkCxKLtoLyN-6Do7GL8MkEFfOFfXnzO7Rv8AMZ2ZZ2PzmOWH1mDcHuTzxYMRC4Cc6ImEygjpBM9oHjrO2B3k3-g7z592cjbZeE-x2qpNP1GWKgmrufq93D-Pb5zNlyPgZ5gK/s203/Victoria%20Williamson.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZ-W5bqZvEETnfK04RsKLKuxOOjPpYMk35chjEwTLwiXJfLlX4cfoZcLFPkCxKLtoLyN-6Do7GL8MkEFfOFfXnzO7Rv8AMZ2ZZ2PzmOWH1mDcHuTzxYMRC4Cc6ImEygjpBM9oHjrO2B3k3-g7z592cjbZeE-x2qpNP1GWKgmrufq93D-Pb5zNlyPgZ5gK/w197-h200/Victoria%20Williamson.jpg" width="197" /> </a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Victoria Williamson is an award-winning author who grew up in Scotland surrounded by hills, books, and an historical farm estate which inspired many of her early adventure stories and spooky tales. After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real-life adventures, which included teaching maths and science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with additional support needs in the UK. Victoria currently works part time writing KS2 books for the education company Twinkl and spends the rest of her time writing novels, and visiting schools, libraries and literary festivals to give author talks and run creative writing workshops.<br /><br />
Her latest novel, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, is a middle grade fantasy inspired by classic folklore. Twenty percent of the author royalties for this book are donated to CharChar Literacy, an organisation working to improve children’s literacy levels in Malawi.<br /><br />
You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com<br /><br />
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<br /><br />Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com2Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-58104943613998109982023-09-13T14:31:00.005-06:002024-01-25T12:05:20.546-06:00Book Review | THE THEORY OF (NOT QUITE) EVERYTHING by Kara Gnodde
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBh9R1gpeHqPjEs-vtoUq8MHE_IJ_Fb0yzPji-f5KT0IqgrQlfsm6HI8ptWgFEu2-OxGfShmHsLOlry8SoKBe1Bp_lOlGLGxUUciFHG3HXMOVURXRlE9RHuQ2FKZ4KaubthL-RpzBvI4tKoz3qt2u5zTTrxcApI3Ciy1hXUGTD56uAjjzmGRGRNqXZo2f/s3060/KG.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3060" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBh9R1gpeHqPjEs-vtoUq8MHE_IJ_Fb0yzPji-f5KT0IqgrQlfsm6HI8ptWgFEu2-OxGfShmHsLOlry8SoKBe1Bp_lOlGLGxUUciFHG3HXMOVURXRlE9RHuQ2FKZ4KaubthL-RpzBvI4tKoz3qt2u5zTTrxcApI3Ciy1hXUGTD56uAjjzmGRGRNqXZo2f/w640-h512/KG.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything </b><br />
by Kara Gnodde<br />
<b>Publication: </b>March 7, 2023<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> HARPER<br />
<b>Genre:</b> General Fiction<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "playfair display";">With the offbeat charm of The Rosie Project and generous warmth of The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot, a wry, moving debut novel about a pair of unforgettable siblings and a love triangle of sorts—one with math as its beating heart. One of Cosmopolitan's Best Books of 2023 Meet Art and Mimi Brotherton. Devoted siblings and housemates, they’re bound together by the tragic death of their parents. Mathematical genius Art relies on logic, while Mimi prefers to follow her heart. When Mimi decides she needs more from life than dutifully tending to her brilliant brother, she asks for his help to find love. Art agrees, but on one that she find her soulmate using a strict mathematical principle. Things seem promising, until Mimi meets a romantic, spontaneous stargazer who’s also a mathematician. Despite Mimi’s obvious affection for the quirky Frank, Art is wary of him from their very first encounter. As Art's mistrust of Frank grows, so do Mimi's feelings, and the siblings' relationship is brought to a breaking point. Something about Frank doesn't quite add up, and only Art can see it . . . The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything is a tender, intelligent and uplifting novel about brothers and sisters, true love in all its forms, and how the answers to life’s biggest questions follow a logic of their own.</span></div>
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I would like to apologize to Ms. Gnodde and HarperCollins for the delay in writing this review. I had a hard time getting into this book, but once I did, I was moved by its emotional depth. I didn't expect it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The book tells the story of Mimi and Art Brotherton, adult siblings who live together. Art is a neurodivergent mathematical genius who is working on solving the greatest mathematical enigma and saving the world. Mimi is his devoted sister who has sacrificed her own life to take care of him after their parents' death. Art's eccentricities make every day a challenge for Mimi, especially when it comes to finding love. And although Art has a mathematical solution for that too, Mimi manages to meet Frank on her own. Mimi falls head over heels for Frank, but, Frank doesn't quite fit Art's equation. <i>Facts and Truth</i> are always big variables for Art and Mimi.</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666;">THE THEORY OF (NOT QUITE) EVERYTHING</span> is a novel that explores the complex relationship between siblings, the nature of love and grief in many forms, but what struck me the most was the trauma of abandonment and the monopoly of truth and how people cope with them. Having lost both of my parents, especially my mom whom I lost just recently, I felt for Mimi and Art, and their struggles.</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite the heavy themes, it’s a story that will make you laugh, cry and think. The words are exquisite and beautiful. The characters are realistic and relatable, and the plot is full of twists and surprises. This book made me want to send warm hugs to both my parents in heaven and to my siblings far away.</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Readers need not be big fans of math to enjoy this read. If you're looking for a book that is quirky, heartwarming and intelligent, you should give this one a try.</div></span><br />
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About the Author:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqIfctls3R8v4x2u11B1j9wJfgaCOEIK_P8ZMrzxdxbAD2bxFm9q5Sjov2-4qRGneUqWqyphOXWzOtnES2OqO2rfrBUT1ikINFHTqPTod-VvxIjBC5JmIPAvwi48LES7CdKCm9W6Ck4PGZBsp4BWWowal0Fzmso8K65scinYbdxfuqn7tkc8ZRwL1ZAGS/s174/x145.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqIfctls3R8v4x2u11B1j9wJfgaCOEIK_P8ZMrzxdxbAD2bxFm9q5Sjov2-4qRGneUqWqyphOXWzOtnES2OqO2rfrBUT1ikINFHTqPTod-VvxIjBC5JmIPAvwi48LES7CdKCm9W6Ck4PGZBsp4BWWowal0Fzmso8K65scinYbdxfuqn7tkc8ZRwL1ZAGS/s16000/x145.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to the source.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Kara Gnodde was born in Johannesburg and raised on a diet of Dr. Seuss and no TV. After graduating from the University of Cape Town, she joined Saatchi & Saatchi in London as a strategic planner -- work that required head and heart, her favorite kind. She lived in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore before settling back in the UK with her husband and three children. A discussion on the radio about a math problem that could change the world, or perhaps just help keep her desk tidy, gave her a place to start The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything, her debut novel. - HarperCollins.ca</div></span><br />
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<br /><div style="text-align: right;"><i style="font-family: "playfair display";"><span style="font-size: small;">*Printed ARC provided by HarperCollins Canada in exchange for this unbiased review.</span></i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/s320/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="320" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/w200-h104/Picture1.png" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com0Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-62231095745866423082023-08-30T22:50:00.003-06:002024-01-28T18:36:42.999-06:00Blog Tour | NORAH’S ARK by Victoria Williamson
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMxNbc_tgZJmoC4we7WnxNcpoCrLITfE-y7WsG4tLdPNzSIV0OJjlSAfUsgl-2KQ8ckYn3w-N-osrDZFbhxGwzZgY0f9nvYF6B78-pJgC-4sirrX7G8mhmedEr98fj8haO90p8E1EHykNB5N9d82TgqUOnEschO8Fwtsx66cPnFUHGOu0vy6LQJyEnAlS/s3264/NA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="3264" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMxNbc_tgZJmoC4we7WnxNcpoCrLITfE-y7WsG4tLdPNzSIV0OJjlSAfUsgl-2KQ8ckYn3w-N-osrDZFbhxGwzZgY0f9nvYF6B78-pJgC-4sirrX7G8mhmedEr98fj8haO90p8E1EHykNB5N9d82TgqUOnEschO8Fwtsx66cPnFUHGOu0vy6LQJyEnAlS/w640-h360/NA.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">
<b>NORAH’S ARK</b><br />
<b>by Victoria Williamson</b><br />
<b>Publication:</b> August 29, 2023<br />
<b> Publisher:</b> Neem Tree Press<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Middle-Grade<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★★<br /></span><br />
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<div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "playfair display";">Two very different lives. One shared hope for a brighter future. No time to waste. The flood is coming...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: playfair display;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Eleven-year-old Norah Day lives in temporary accommodation, relies on foodbanks for dinner, and doesn't have a mum. But she's happy enough, as she has a dad, a pet mouse, a pet spider, and a whole zoo of rescued local wildlife to care for. Eleven-year-old Adam Sinclair lives with his parents in a nice house with a big garden, a private tutor, and everything he could ever want. But his life isn't perfect - far from it. He's recovering from leukaemia and is questioning his dream of becoming a champion swimmer. When a nest of baby birds brings them together, Norah and Adam discover they're not so different after all. Can Norah help Adam find his confidence again? Can Adam help Norah solve the mystery of her missing mother? And can their teamwork save their zoo of rescued animals from the rising flood? Offering powerful lessons in empathy, Norah's Ark is a hopeful and uplifting middle-grade tale for our times about friendship and finding a sense of home in the face of adversity.</div></span>
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I owe the privilege of reading this book from @The_WriteReads / @WriteReadsTours, and Neem Tree Press. This is my stop for NORA’S ARK Blog Tour.</span><br />
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am a huge fan of Middle-Grade books. They can help pre-teens in processing their emotions and developing empathy. And books like Norah’s Ark are not only for kids, it’s for adults too. That’s why I cannot recommend it highly enough. Middle-Grade books are game changer for parents and guardians. It holds up a mirror, we can see how our kids view us.</span></div>
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eleven-year-olds</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Norah and Adam, have an affinity for animal rescue. However, while Adam lives in the affluent side of the community, life is hard for both Norah and her dad. Renting a temporary room at a B & B, living on government assistance and food banks, they are keen on waiting when “luck” will come their way again. The Sinclair’s is not a happy nest either. After months of fighting with leukaemia, Adam’s family has drifted apart, and Adam wants nothing more than to stitch his family back together again.</span></div>
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I love that this is a first-person narrative, coming from both Norah and Adam, because it becomes more personal and sincere. I am currently living in a city where homelessness and food bank shortages is a current big issue. And I am grateful to this book for spreading awareness. With such hard-hitting topics, I commend Victoria Williamson for making this book a light and easy read.</span></div>
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My recommendation is that YOU gift yourself with a copy of this book, NOW.</span><br /></div>
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About the Author: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJywqZLaDjJVl-XSw7qU-q7Jq8Zj_9GVzoJYbwtU7bX5b961Gy4F6zMAaO9Pyt0wjiV7KxIHmej0D3DdpHxhgXlgOXTWJxeNIedknqFdd8BrR-DYU6i_qRYZ7KeIpEF01cjX_7gsTpeKgM0BdHWELE2pJh3UZf9CK-eGWONyfvjGbkHkxs2jlcGVBXGQQU/s300/VictoriaWilliamson.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="150" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJywqZLaDjJVl-XSw7qU-q7Jq8Zj_9GVzoJYbwtU7bX5b961Gy4F6zMAaO9Pyt0wjiV7KxIHmej0D3DdpHxhgXlgOXTWJxeNIedknqFdd8BrR-DYU6i_qRYZ7KeIpEF01cjX_7gsTpeKgM0BdHWELE2pJh3UZf9CK-eGWONyfvjGbkHkxs2jlcGVBXGQQU/w100-h200/VictoriaWilliamson.jpg" width="100" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Victoria Williamson is an award-winning author who grew up in Scotland surrounded by hills, books, and an historical farm estate which inspired many of her early adventure stories and spooky tales. After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real-life adventures, which included teaching math and science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with additional support needs in the UK. Victoria currently works part time writing KS2 books for the education company Twinkl and spends the rest of her time writing novels, and visiting schools, libraries and literary festivals to give author talks and run creative writing workshops.</div>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Victoria’s previous novels include The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, The Boy with the Butterfly Mind, Hag Storm, and War of the Wind. She has won the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award 2020/2021, The YA-aldi Glasgow Secondary School Libraries Book Award 2023, and has been shortlisted for the Week Junior Book Awards 2023, The Leeds Book Awards 2023, the Red Book Award 2023, the James Reckitt Hull Book Awards 2021, The Trinity School Book Awards 2021, and longlisted for the ABA South Coast Book Awards 2023, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2020, and the Branford Boase Award 2019.</div>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Her latest novel, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, is a middle grade fantasy inspired by classic folklore. Twenty percent of the author royalties for this book are donated to CharChar Literacy, an organisation working to improve children’s literacy levels in Malawi.
You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/s320/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="320" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzfCuoHJPBF33BoYBZxHsSz1Yc-cj93EPgWEdNRQZS0z74OYE9PdKQqGdaZDk4Chb5RxAGcHnWX2DAfqu2TzRppEh5kI6rxGvSwiYRVTUDYmonGoy8RIfI09SBisGyUIb_SYX8NhFS_IPf-5jfDkRiF_eLZOUT9zXR6zeYMHfKzW8hKqGs2og6SqnRiC4/w200-h104/Picture1.png" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com0Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-29808430563814489872023-06-20T00:28:00.001-06:002024-02-14T17:02:14.479-06:00Blog Tour | GATHERING OF THE FOUR by A. E. Bennett
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About the Book:</span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAvI0i9u5G_A1bjg4UsfCoH0h33vcxpsjkBbrc36m9fP6Uo139kUFXNB2w5Mx8FRiD6Yj3vXhZyHLr_a1EugUENRjhjte-MmiGeRyDbqar6Ud3FYpHy4eefhZv1YpgXBMyGTXWfw8kH44nJsyexy3fHOwdwY_2baxWMBSSDTuj5jdFSR_Z1hD6ArT99Ml/s462/Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="308" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAvI0i9u5G_A1bjg4UsfCoH0h33vcxpsjkBbrc36m9fP6Uo139kUFXNB2w5Mx8FRiD6Yj3vXhZyHLr_a1EugUENRjhjte-MmiGeRyDbqar6Ud3FYpHy4eefhZv1YpgXBMyGTXWfw8kH44nJsyexy3fHOwdwY_2baxWMBSSDTuj5jdFSR_Z1hD6ArT99Ml/w426-h640/Cover.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">
<b>GATHERING OF THE FOUR</b><br />
by A. E. Bennett<br />
<b> Publication: </b>2nd April 2021<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Fantasy<br /><br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
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<b>"In the Realm, every citizen knows their place."</b><br /><br />
<i>Leora of Mae is a young woman orphaned at birth and raised on a remote farm. As a wielder of Xanthcraft, her abilities set her apart from her adoptive family and the other villagers.<br /><br />
Shortly before her twentieth birthday, she learns of her family’s plot to sell her into servitude. Fearing for her life, she flees from the only home she’s ever known—defying societal conventions and breaking the edicts of the Realm.<br /><br />
As she runs, Leora meets Roland Shallowbrook, a traveler on the Thieves’ Road; Lady Aurora Verte, daughter of a powerful member of the gentry; and the White Rider Leopold, a soldier with a secret.<br /><br />
Together, this found family will have to band together to survive.</i><br /><br />
Set in the distant future during the return of the Hale-Bopp comet, Gathering of the Four is the first book in The Serrulata Saga.
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: playfair display; font-size: large;">About the Author:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>A.E. Bennett </b> lives in Washington, D.C. She is originally from North Carolina.
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<div style="text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRH5NVT15y9EMxMjD-McRFflaqe7EyT2xg3-1Pk1O3hFqSLx4ja9aLc2SGKqJ7Y5dj04ZpHEilmZqi2sRgVAoFozIdRLRBsc3MuZOjoSo2MZ8WTtqUNLZ0TVmQk0dLOpEXGjyV1NfYUV7I44ns9qcEnmT6or4SQGngYdky6p-lDnyBwQvvoFg0rWQSg/s200/The%20Write%20Reads%20Transparent.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="200" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRH5NVT15y9EMxMjD-McRFflaqe7EyT2xg3-1Pk1O3hFqSLx4ja9aLc2SGKqJ7Y5dj04ZpHEilmZqi2sRgVAoFozIdRLRBsc3MuZOjoSo2MZ8WTtqUNLZ0TVmQk0dLOpEXGjyV1NfYUV7I44ns9qcEnmT6or4SQGngYdky6p-lDnyBwQvvoFg0rWQSg/s1600/The%20Write%20Reads%20Transparent.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: playfair display; font-size: small;">*Content sent by <a href="https://www.thewritereads.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@TheWriteReads</a> for this blog's publication. This is a free ad.</span></div>Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com0Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382391003218425433.post-13431530540039535852023-06-14T20:25:00.006-06:002024-01-25T12:05:56.676-06:00Book Review | THE PAWNSHOP OF STOLEN DREAMS by Victoria Williamson
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUg1DvBiNoFfF8eh6lgQxEy_EKUKlBmgoSTf75Uk-vi63M0B8vsjf3ZC0gxkv9UaLS9X6cHhkwgRsYhELH_Ucq5NZ2mlEIXUXZXU5N9vbLFm_RCkyuxvVY8z-hz3i3dW_Ih3PzmQkMOGuXKwLMo_gnZKWfYNvpk1k0yuz6taIrofhMOBEnlpae8cLhRQ/s277/download%20(7).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="182" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUg1DvBiNoFfF8eh6lgQxEy_EKUKlBmgoSTf75Uk-vi63M0B8vsjf3ZC0gxkv9UaLS9X6cHhkwgRsYhELH_Ucq5NZ2mlEIXUXZXU5N9vbLFm_RCkyuxvVY8z-hz3i3dW_Ih3PzmQkMOGuXKwLMo_gnZKWfYNvpk1k0yuz6taIrofhMOBEnlpae8cLhRQ/w421-h640/download%20(7).jpeg" width="421" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b> THE PAWNSHOP OF STOLEN DREAMS </b><br />
by Victoria Williamson <br /><b>Publication: </b> May 11, 2023<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Tiny Tree Books <br />
<b>Genre:</b> Middle-Grade Fantasy<br />
<b>Rating:</b> ★★★★★</span><br /><br />
</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: playfair display;">In a strange little village called Witchetty Hollow, eleven-year-old Florizel is the first to run into the curious visitors who've come to open a brand-new Daydream Delicatessen and sack-baby factory. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: playfair display;">At first, it seems the daydream confection and cheap sack children are the best things that could have happened to the poor folk of the Hollow - after all, who has the money to rent their child from Storkhouse Services these days? But after a few weeks, Florizel starts to notice something odd happening to the adults of the town. First, they seem dreamy, then they lose all interest in their jobs and families. Soon they're trading all their worldly goods in the newly opened Pawnshop for money to buy daydreams. With no money for rent payments, the children of Witchetty Hollow are being reclaimed by Storkhouse Services at an alarming rate. Florizel needs to act.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: playfair display;">A magical tale of intrigue and adventure from award-winning children's author Victoria Williamson.</span>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">THE PAWNSHOP OF STOLEN DREAMS</span> follows the adventures of eleven-year-old Florizel, as she uncovers the sinister business established by Gobbelino Corporation at Witchetty Hollow. </span></div>
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Victoria Williamson weaves an eerie tale of adventure, friendship, and everything thought-provoking. In this richly imagined world, daydreams are a commodity and children are rented out to families. Only the rich can afford the talented and promising kids, and so, Florizel must play dull-witted to keep the rent low and remain with Gammer Oakenshaw. Being bullied for her low grades, unkept clothes, and strange lunches for school, she has always kept her head down… until Burble, an actual sack-boy.</span></div>
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For a Middle Grade, this book challenges some very intense topics. And yet, Williamson never strayed from her whimsical prose. This book is like Matilda on one hand, and Pinocchio on the other. After so many years, I didn't realize I could adore another made-believe boy. 'Tis absolutely hard to review without giving away any spoilers. With its unique concept and (absolutely) brilliant cover, this story will stay with the reader for a long time. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you keep a list of eerie books for Middle Grade like <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CKdMByTAbpx/" target="_blank">Coraline</a>, <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/athoughtoneachpage/10891644635/a-monster-calls-by-patrick-ness-an-october-buddy?source=share" target="_blank">A Monster Calls</a>, or <a href="https://www.thepagewalker.com/2019/12/the-book-of-lost-things-by-john-connolly.html" target="_blank">The Book of Lost Things</a>, I highly recommend that you add this book too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: playfair display; font-size: small;">*Big thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/The_WriteReads?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@TheWriteReads</a> and Tiny Tree Books, for letting me join this blog tour and for giving me access to an e-book in exchange for this honest opinion. </span>
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About the Author:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJvShM6woX-QwraT_1Vrx_I8h-mzFKr8Z1HzXkqzqfMSmzbgMUxKQ-58BpQQCK7eC9fkRurjIE88UyF6iqMhXSYoRndlbJPRBWj5XGyzyDgACuE1_TO60NQSjXKWnwfnyAv0F_-SMx1n-CAo4c2DYGvfvAnEgR_3I5hC2_8u4ng6aREaCRYUykd4HJg/s300/jrs8epjg74mnrpl62bsuevmck2._SY300_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="150" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJvShM6woX-QwraT_1Vrx_I8h-mzFKr8Z1HzXkqzqfMSmzbgMUxKQ-58BpQQCK7eC9fkRurjIE88UyF6iqMhXSYoRndlbJPRBWj5XGyzyDgACuE1_TO60NQSjXKWnwfnyAv0F_-SMx1n-CAo4c2DYGvfvAnEgR_3I5hC2_8u4ng6aREaCRYUykd4HJg/w100-h200/jrs8epjg74mnrpl62bsuevmck2._SY300_.jpg" width="100" /></a></div>Victoria Williamson is an award-winning author who grew up in Scotland surrounded by hills, books, and an historical farm estate which inspired many of her early adventure stories and spooky tales. After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real-life adventures, which included teaching maths and science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with additional support needs in the UK. Victoria currently works part time writing KS2 books for the education company Twinkl and spends the rest of her time writing novels, and visiting schools, libraries and literary festivals to give author talks and run creative writing workshops.</span><br />
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Victoria’s previous novels include The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, The Boy with the Butterfly Mind, Hag Storm, and War of the Wind. She has won the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award 2020/2021, The YA-aldi Glasgow Secondary School Libraries Book Award 2023 and has been shortlisted for the Week Junior Book Awards 2023, The Leeds Book Awards 2023, the Red Book Award 2023, the James Reckitt Hull Book Awards 2021, The Trinity School Book Awards 2021, and longlisted for the ABA South Coast Book Awards 2023, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2020, and the Branford Boase Award 2019.</span><br />
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Her latest novel, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, is a middle grade fantasy inspired by classic folklore. Twenty percent of the author royalties for this book are donated to CharChar Literacy, an organization working to improve children’s literacy levels in Malawi.<br />
<br /> You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com</span>
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<div style="text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRH5NVT15y9EMxMjD-McRFflaqe7EyT2xg3-1Pk1O3hFqSLx4ja9aLc2SGKqJ7Y5dj04ZpHEilmZqi2sRgVAoFozIdRLRBsc3MuZOjoSo2MZ8WTtqUNLZ0TVmQk0dLOpEXGjyV1NfYUV7I44ns9qcEnmT6or4SQGngYdky6p-lDnyBwQvvoFg0rWQSg/s200/The%20Write%20Reads%20Transparent.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="200" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRH5NVT15y9EMxMjD-McRFflaqe7EyT2xg3-1Pk1O3hFqSLx4ja9aLc2SGKqJ7Y5dj04ZpHEilmZqi2sRgVAoFozIdRLRBsc3MuZOjoSo2MZ8WTtqUNLZ0TVmQk0dLOpEXGjyV1NfYUV7I44ns9qcEnmT6or4SQGngYdky6p-lDnyBwQvvoFg0rWQSg/s1600/The%20Write%20Reads%20Transparent.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br /></div>Louize DGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01496246255985810805noreply@blogger.com0Canada56.130366 -106.34677127.820132163821157 -141.503021 84.440599836178848 -71.190521