Hereafter ~ Review

Hereafter
The Lost Princesses #3
By Jody Hedlund

Emmeline has always known she was one of the lost princesses of Mercia. For the last 18 years, she has been raised by the very people who saved her and her sisters from the blade of King Ethelwulf. But the time has come to leave all she's known and join with her sisters in their attempt to reclaim the throne that rightfully belongs to Queen Adelaide Constance. But Emmeline fears that she hasn't the courage to face the coming war, she wants nothing more than to continue living the life she has always known. But change is coming whether she wants it to or not.

Prince Ethelrex (Rex), as the elder son of King Ethelwulf, is heir to the throne of the united Kingdom of Bryttania. But to secure his position and to stop the rebellion, Rex has been tasked by his father to secure the remaining princess and marry Emmeline upon capturing her. But finding this hidden away princess is no easy task as he is in a race against Queen Adelaide's rebels in securing her and her key to the ancient treasure of Solomon.

Forced into a marriage she doesn't want Emmeline wonders if this is her purpose to be a means to bring peace to the land and avoid the bloodshed war is sure to bring. Or is she merely a tool to be manipulated by King Ethelwulf to destroy her sisters? And Rex's promise that he meant his marriage vows - manipulation or truth? Emmeline's future and her heart depend on who Rex truly is.

Hereafter is the conclusion to the Lost Princess series and it is a series that must be read in order as each book builds upon what came before. For those who have read Always, we get to catch up on the life that Felicia and Lance took to protect the three princesses. The book and series end in such a way that it should prove satisfactory to almost everyone. And yes this book continues the clean YA standard those familiar with Jody Hedlund's YA works expect and appreciate. This is one series you don't want to miss.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

The third lost princess. 

The final key to the treasure. 

And a battle for the throne.

Growing up deep in the forest as a poor charcoal burner’s daughter, Emmeline has always known her identity as a princess of Mercia, and she lives in fear of being caught and killed. When her adopted father returns from town with news regarding the imminence of war, Emmeline has no wish to join the rebellion against King Ethelwulf.

Prince Ethelrex, the strongest warrior in the land, has done everything he can to prove his loyalty to his father, including searching for the last lost princess. When Ethelrex finally captures Emmeline, the king commands his son to marry the princess in order to win the support of the people and undermine the rebellion.

Forced into marriage, Emmeline has one goal—to escape. But Ethelrex takes his marriage vows seriously, including his promise to love and cherish his wife, and has no intention of letting Emmeline get away. As the battle for the throne rages, will the prince be able to win the battle for Emmeline’s heart?

Thirst ~ Cover Reveal

Anyone who is familiar with Jill Williamson's work has most likely heard or read her Safe Lands trilogy. And if you have read it, you, like me, have wondered about the outbreak that brought about this world. Well, wonder no more as we are about to be introduced to this world.

Thirst by Jill Williamson is coming soon and we are about to see the cover of the first book in the prequel duology. 

But first a little about the book and then the cover.

The end of the world is only the beginning. A waterborne disease has contaminated the world’s freshwater, decimating the human race. Seventeen-year-old Eli McShane and his friends flee the chaos and violence in Phoenix and journey north toward the rumored location of a safe water source. They add several to their number, including the mysterious Hannah, who is being hunted by a dangerous man. Desperation brings out the worst in many of the travelers, infecting even those closest to Eli. When division comes, will he be able to hold his group together or will each fall victim to their own thirst for survival. 

Join some old friends from Glenrock and Jack's Peak in this thrilling first book of the Thirst Duology. Best-selling author Jill Williamson has brought back the breathtaking suspense of The Safe Lands series in this chilling prequel that will leave readers panting for the next installment.

And now the cover which Jill has been kind enough to share. 

You can preorder at http://jillwilliamson.com/thirst  

It is coming in November!

#thirstduology #jillwilliamson #coverreveal #coverlove #yabookstagram #ireadya  

Evermore ~ Review

Evermore
The Lost Princesses #1
By Jody Hedlund

Adelaide has a life that she loves though since Uncle Whelan's death life has been more difficult. And with Aunt Susanna's deteriorating health Adelaide's life is about to change especially when the truth about who she is is revealed. The long-lost Princess Constance didn't die when King Ethelwulf seized the throne of Mercia instead she was hidden away at Langley for the last 17 years and the time to lay claim to her throne has come.

But Adelaide has no desire to change her life and claim what she doesn't know. But when she sees the suffering of the people that she should be queen over she knows that she has little choice in the matter. She owes it to those who her parents ruled to become the ruler that they desired her to be.

But King Ethelwulf is determined to hold onto his united kingdom of Bryttania (the reunion of Mercia and Warwick) and he will do whatever he can to keep Adelaide from laying claim to what he believes is his and his family's by right. And the "cousins" who love her will do all in their power to keep her safe even if it costs them everything. Christopher wants Adelaide to lead the rebellion that has grown over the years, the rebellion that he left home 5 years ago to join. While Mitchell wants to protect Adelaide and fulfill the vow he made upon his mother's deathbed.

Evermore is the first book in the Lost Princesses series but it isn't the beginning, to learn how Adelaide escaped from King Ethelwulf you will need to read the prequel novella Always. But Always isn't necessary to read and enjoy Evermore, though knowing the backstory is always nice. Evermore is the beginning of the quest to restore what was lost and the first step is Adelaide laying claim to the throne that was stolen and then to find the sisters she has lost uniting with them to find a long lost treasure. Evermore is the first step and it is a delightful book that is complete in itself and one can anticipate the next book without being left hanging from a cliff. One knows more is coming but it is a satisfying ending.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

An ancient key. 

A secret treasure. 

And a princess destined to use them both to fight evil and restore peace. 

Raised by a noble family, Lady Adelaide has always known she’s an orphan. Little does she realize she’s one of the lost princesses and the true heir to Mercia’s throne…until a visitor arrives at her family estate, reveals her birthright as queen, and thrusts her into a quest for the throne whether she’s ready or not.

Unable to tolerate King Ethelwulf’s cruelty and lawlessness, Christopher Langley left Mercia years earlier, training a group of rebels in neighboring Norland. When he returns home after his mother’s death, he discovers that not only is Adelaide all grown up, but she’s also the rightful queen of Mercia.

When King Ethelwulf discovers Adelaide’s location, he’ll stop at nothing to capture her and the key she holds to the ancient treasure. Christopher is just as determined to protect Adelaide so she can lead the growing rebellion. When feelings ignite between the two old friends, forces threaten to destroy their love and rip them apart forever.

Always ~ Review

Always
The Lost Princesses: Prequel
By Jody Hedlund

King Ethelwulf of Warwick has determined that the Kingdom Mercia is rightfully his and nothing will stand in his way. And King Ethelwulf will show no mercy having employed the fierce and fearsome Saracens to fight against the Mercian troops.

As Ethelwulf lays siege to the castle Queen Aurora accepts Lady Felicia's vow to save the lives of her children - 3-year-old crown princess Constance, and the twin daughters that she has just birthed. At just 17 years Felicia is unsure how she will accomplish such a task but she has pledged everything to fulfill her promise to the dying queen.

King Francis of Mercia has entrusted the safety of his family and the future of Mercia into the hands of his most trusted member of the Elite Guard - Lance. Lance has been entrusted with the princesses and the means of proving their heritage when the time to reclaim what has been lost is upon them. Equipped to battle the enemy Lance has no skills with caring for children much less just born babes. And the noble young woman who has the princesses isn't about to hand them over.

With the enemy just behind them, Lance and Felicia must make their escape from the castle and reach a place of safety to protect their charges. But Ethelwulf wants none left alive who may make a claim to the throne of Mercia and so escape may be more challenging than they are prepared for. And are they willing to give up all that they have known for three princesses who may never reclaim their heritage?

Just a warning the ending will leave you wanting more - fortunately, the first book of the series releases just a few days later so there won't be a long wait. This is yet another lovely read for the YA audience who wants clean reading. Those familiar with Jody Hedlund's previous YA series Noble Knights will love this new world that is opening with this novella. With a nod to medieval history as the setting this is a unique story that will keep the reader's attention. This is one of those just one more chapter books that one just can't put down until the last word.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.



About the Book:

A fierce elite guard. 

A loyal lady in waiting. 

They must work together to save 

three princesses from certain death.

On the verge of dying after giving birth to twins, the queen of Mercia pleads with Lady Felicia to save her infant daughters. With the castle overrun by King Ethelwulf’s invading army, Lady Felicia vows to do whatever she can to take the newborn princesses and their three-year old sister to safety, even though it means sacrificing everything she holds dear, possibly her own life.

Gravely wounded in battle and knowing all is lost to his enemy, the king of Mercia tasks Lance, one of his fiercest elite guards, to protect his family along with keys to an ancient treasure. As Lance makes plans to sneak the princesses out of the capital city, he doesn’t need or want Lady Felicia’s help.

With the dark enemy in pursuit, Lance and Felicia must put aside their differences to outrun King Ethelwulf and prevent him from killing the princesses. In a desperate attempt to hide the young girls, Lance and Felicia agree to a marriage of convenience, a decision that will change their lives—and hearts—forever.

Coding for Kids: Scratch ~ Review

Coding for Kids: Scratch 
Learn Coding Skills, Create 10 Fun Games, and Master Scratch
By Matthew Highland

Coding for Kids is aimed at kids 6 years and older. The basics of coding and Scratch are laid out in easy to understand language that assumes you are starting this book with no previous knowledge from which to draw upon. Younger kids will need a parent (or another adult) to help them out when they first start using Scratch - but with this book, even the coding novice parent will be able to help their child navigate this new world,

I really think this is easiest to understand book on coding I have ever picked up and examined. If you can only get one book this is the one to go with. The text is straightforward and not confusing and the numerous illustrations allow you to verify that you are indeed on the right track with what you are doing.  I like that there is a glossary of terms in the back of the book - mark it with a tab - trust me you will make frequent trips to this page until the terms become familiar. The knowledge that you gain from this book is well worth the price.

*You will need access to a computer or tablet with an internet connection so if you don't have this at home check with your local library as many offer public access computers that you may be able to use and as your work in Scratch is saved in your account you will be able to use it anywhere.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Learn to code and make awesome games with Scratch!

Learn coding concepts and skills and start creating your own games right away! Coding for Kids: Scratch is a complete guide that makes mastering this programming language fun and easy for children (ages 6+).

From sprites and code blocks to scripts and scorekeeping, Coding for Kids: Scratch helps you discover everything you need to know to create 10 amazing games that you and your friends can play. Watch your confidence grow with step-by-step instructions and clear directions that keep things simple―even as the games you’re making get more challenging. Game on!

Coding for Kids: Scratch includes:

• Coding for kids―Learn Scratch terms and concepts, then use them to build games you can start playing immediately.
• Create 10 games―Cake Clicker, Dino Hunt, Crystal Keeper, and more―code, play, and share 10 cool games.
• Master Scratch―Simple directions, full-color screenshots, and projects that get more difficult make mastering Scratch a breeze.

The Lady and the Wish ~ Review

The Lady and the Wish
Faraway Castle #4
By J.M. Stengl

Lady Gillian Montmorency is determined to win a prince's heart. So far all her plans have gone awry but this year will be different - this year she won't lose to a maid or a mermaid - this year she'll win the heart of a prince. This year her target is Prince Fidelio - there is just one little problem people keep interfering with her plans. First, there is Fidelio's cousin, whose name escapes her thanks to that monstrosity of a bird's nest that he calls a beard! Then there is Prince Max who is anything but charming and so obnoxious, acting as if she is nothing more than an expensive and naturally gorgeous accessory to be obtained.

But when everything goes wrong and the wrong man proposes Gillian is shocked that she has become the bartering piece in saving her family from ruin and scandal. Of course, no one bothered to inform her of anything until it is too late. Now her refusal is costing her a year - a year in which she'll play companion to an old eccentric lady who lives far from the social life Gillian has grown accustomed to. But to save her family and her own future Gillian agrees to serve as a companion for a year.

Lady Beneventi is not what Gillian expected - there is something mysterious going on at her villa and Gillian is not exactly sure what it is but it seems to have taken a dislike to her. There are doors that disappear, multiplying dogs, and other things that are but shouldn't be. This is going to be a very long year!

Those who have read the previous books in the Faraway Castle series will remember Gillian and not have fond memories of her and her less than kind antics. Well, this time we get to really meet Gillian and at the beginning of the story, she's just as unlikable as she appeared to be. But as the story progresses Gillian begins to grow as a person. Being without what was familiar allows her to see the world differently, allows her to people as who they are rather than what they are. Who knew a Lady could become friends with those in positions of service? Well, this is just one of the many things Gillian is about to discover. And she just might find a heart that will lead her to her future rather than the ambitions that before controlled her every action and thought.

Another enjoyable read from J.M. Stengl that provides a contemporary twist on a beloved fairytale that is appropriate for all but the youngest readers. This book has some humorous scenes that just have to be read to be believed. If you are looking for something that will take you out of your ordinary for a few hours you've found it with The Lady and the Wish.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but my honest feedback - all thoughts expressed are my own. In full disclosure, I have since purchased a copy of this book as the copy I read was a prerelease edition.
   


About the Book:
Gillian set her heart on marrying a prince.

Lady Gillian Montmorency is determined to win Prince Fidelio’s heart, but her plans are crashing around her ears. First, Fidelio’s older cousin with a beard like a bird’s nest proposes to her. Next, intimidating Prince Max insists she will be his next trophy.

But the worst of all, her parents reveal a financial scandal. To pay off her father’s debt, Gillian must agree to work one year as companion to an old lady at some remote and ramshackle villa.

Fine. She’ll go. But she doesn’t have to like it.

Something strange is going on at Lady Beneventi’s villa. Ghostly people appear, doors vanish, statues come to life . . . and the old lady herself despises Gillian. With the help of a handsome but hostile construction worker, can Gillian solve the mystery of the wishes and return to her proper place in high society? Can she finally snare a prince to marry?

Or might love play a part in changing her plans?

A King Thrushbeard Romance

To Best the Boys ~ Review

To Best the Boys
By Mary Weber

Rhen Tellur has never been like other girls her mind is consumed with matters of intelligence and thinking (GASP!!!) And she wants nothing more than to continue her education but higher education is only for boys. But Rhen is determined to find the cure for the illness that the poor of her town are succumbing to.

As more of the Lowers fall ill the Uppers act as if their disease is due to lack of basic cleanliness and that poverty is just another symptom of their substandard intelligence. But Rhen knows if those in power and with the means to fund the research would listen this growing danger could be cured.  But as a young woman, her voice is just ignored by the Upper men.

This year Rhen is going to make everyone take notice and listen to her concerns - this year she is going to best the boys and win the scholarship to Stemwick University, an all-male institute. She is going to get the education she needs and find a cure to the crippling illness before time runs out for her mother. But to do this she'll need to disguise herself as a boy and hope no one notices her before she enters the labyrinth. And then there is a little matter of surviving the labyrinth which is a test of one's intelligence, knowledge, common sense, ability to think under pressure, and character. Does hiding your identity count as a strike against character? Only time and the labyrinth will tell.

To Best the Boys is an exciting fantasy read that will keep the reader turning the pages as the story progresses. This is a blend of realistic with factors that tend towards superstition and old wives tales - sirens and ghouls which I have to say are more than a little creepy.  There is also a class dispute brewing between the Lowers and the Uppers and Rhen is in the middle of it thanks to her background which has her in both worlds and yet in neither. Actions have consequences and nothing can remain hidden forever as Rhen is about to discover firsthand.

Change is coming to the kingdom of Caldon...and it is about to start in the Labyrinth.

I received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.     



About the Book:

The task is simple:

Don a disguise.

Survive the labyrinth.

Best the boys.

In a thrilling new fantasy from the bestselling author of the Storm Siren Trilogy, one girl makes a stand against society and enters a world made exclusively for boys.

Every year for the past fifty-four years, the residents of Pinsbury Port have received a mysterious letter inviting all eligible-aged boys to compete for an esteemed scholarship to the all-male Stemwick University. The poorer residents look to see if their names are on the list. The wealthier look to see how likely their sons are to survive. And Rhen Tellur opens it to see if she can derive which substances the ink and parchment are created from, using her father’s microscope.

In the province of Caldon, where women train in wifely duties and men pursue collegiate education, sixteen-year-old Rhen Tellur wants nothing more than to become a scientist. As the poor of her seaside town fall prey to a deadly disease, she and her father work desperately to find a cure. But when her mum succumbs to it as well? Rhen decides to take the future into her own hands—through the annual all-male scholarship competition.

With her cousin, Seleni, by her side, the girls don disguises and enter Mr. Holm’s labyrinth, to best the boys and claim the scholarship prize. Except not everyone is ready for a girl who doesn’t know her place. And not everyone survives the deadly maze.

Welcome to the labyrinth.

Between Before and After ~ Review with Giveaway

Between Before and After
By Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Sometimes the Most Important

         Story to Discover Is Your Own

Molly Donnelly's life is changing yet again and her mother is slipping further into a depression that is somehow linked to the secrets of her past. A past that her father has declared would bury her unless she buried it first. Molly is determined to discover the past her mother has so closely guarded and why she declares that she wasn't "beautiful and good" like her mother who died from the plague known as the Great Flu of 1918.

Elaine Fitzgerald was fourteen years old when influenza changed life for most of the nation and for her family. She lost her mother, her baby sister, her aunt, and though he didn't die she lost her father. Keeping her family together was what mattered most and providing as normal a life as possible for her eight-year-old brother Stephen takes precedence. But in 1919 Brooklyn life is not easy especially without her mother to be a wall between them and their father.

In 1955 Molly is fourteen, the same age her mother was when her life was forever altered. But searching for clues to the past isn't easy when San Jose is a so far removed from Brooklyn. And when Uncle Stephen is linked to a miraculous healing life takes another twist that further threatens the normal life Molly longs for. Molly's search into the past will have unexpected results that she never imagined.

Between Before and After is a most engaging book that is told from both Elaine and Molly's perspectives. There are approximately 35 years between the before and the after of this book. This is a story of family, despair, hope, loss, betrayal, faith, and love. In other words, this is a book that looks at life and embraces it in all its facets good or bad. This is a story of mothers and daughters and of brothers and sisters and the bond that exists between them. This is most definitely a book for teens (or older) readers and not middle-grade readers. It is interesting to see just how different life in 1919 and 1955 differs from what we experience today - in no way is simpler (technologically speaking) easier.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through TLC Book Tours with no expectation but that I offer my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

“The carnage began with the roses. She hacked at their ruffled blooms until they dropped into monstrous drifts of red on the parched yellow lawn … Only two things kept my mother grounded to us: my uncle Stephen and stories.”

Fourteen-year-old Molly worries about school, friends, and her parents’ failed marriage, but mostly about her mother’s growing depression. Molly knows her mother is nursing a carefully-kept secret. A writer with an obsession for other people’s life stories, Elaine Donnelly is the poster child of repressed emotions.

Molly spends her California summer alternately watching out for her little brother Angus and tip-toeing around her mother’s raw feelings. Molly needs her mother more than ever, but Elaine shuts herself off from real human connections and buries herself in the lives and deaths of the strangers she writes about. When Uncle Stephen is pressed into the limelight because of his miracle cure of a young man, Elaine can no longer hide behind other people’s stories. And as Molly digs into her mother’s past, she finds a secret hidden in her mother’s dresser that may be the key to unlocking a family mystery dating to 1918 New York—a secret that could destroy or save their future.

Told in dual narratives between 1918 New York City and 1955 San Jose, California, Between Before and After, by award-winning author Maureen McQuerry, explores the nature of family secrets, resiliency, and redemption. This is a historical coming-of-age Young Adult story about the complex bonds between mothers and daughters.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes and; Noble

About the Author:  

Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Maureen McQuerry is an award-winning poet, novelist, and teacher.  Her YA novel, The Peculiars is an ALA Best Book for YA 2013, Bank Street and Home Book recommended book. Her MG fantasy duo, Beyond the Door and The Telling Stone, were a Booklist Top Ten Fantasy/SciFi for Youth and a finalist for the WA State Book awards.  Her poetry appears in many journals and anthologies.  She lives in Washington State.

Connect with Maureen

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Maureen’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS

Monday, February 4th: @girlsinbooks

Tuesday, February 5th: @the_readers_nook

Wednesday, February 6th: Blooming with Books

Thursday, February 7th: Books and Cats and Coffee

Monday, February 11th: A Bookish Way of Life

Tuesday, February 12th: Write Read Life

Wednesday, February 13th: @read.write.coffee

Thursday, February 14th: 100 Pages a Day

Monday, February 18th: @prose_and_palate

Tuesday, February 19th: From the TBR Pile

Tuesday, February 19th: Rockin’ Book Reviews

Wednesday, February 20th: @createexploreread

Monday, February 25th: Run Wright

Tuesday, February 26th: @librarycutie

Wednesday, February 27th: Jessicamap Reviews and @jessicamap

Thursday, February 28th: Book Fidelity

Friday, March 1st: What is That Book About

Pretty in Punxsutawney ~ Review

Pretty in Punxsutawney
By Laurie Boyle Crompton

   Wake up. ✅
             Go to school. ✅
    Fall in love. ✅
                       Repeat. ✅

Andie's senior year of high school is about to start and she has high hopes for the coming year - hopes that include maybe her first ever kiss. And she knows just the boy she hopes to get it from. The one whom she has been not so secretly crushing on since she and her family moved to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Yup, the home of the king groundhog is now Andie's home.

To celebrate the coming school year Andie and her mother watch Pretty in Pink. Andie is finally ready for the classic in her mother's opinion and Andie is totally for it as she'll finally get to experience the movie for which she's named for. But when morning comes around Andie is surprised to discover that she missed the ending by falling asleep on the sofa. Whoops, the first day of school is off to a roaring start especially with the thrift store vintage pink dress that her mother purchased as her fashion of the day, she didn't mean to fall asleep in it.

Sure that she's made a less than stellar first impression at her new school by first losing Colton and then putting her foot in her mouth more than once she's more than a bit down. But when she begins day two by repeating day one she's hopeful that she can erase the mistakes of the day before, or rather the mistakes of today will never happen.

But this is just the start of an endless cycle of repeating the same day over, and over, and over. As Andie tries to break this curse she gradually discovers just how messed up the school is with all its little cliches dividing the student body from one another. Slowly she makes connections within each group, though none of them remember it when the day resets. And when she realizes that through each reset there's only been one person who has accepted her for who she is no matter how she dressed or acted she comes to understand that she too needed to see beyond the surface to who each person truly is. And she'll have plenty of time, she just may never graduate or have her next birthday anytime soon, but other than Andie who's counting the number of first days of school this year will have.

This book is quite engaging once the first introductory chapters have set the stage. And Andie's antics are at times over-the-top. And personally, I never got what she saw in Colton from the start but the scene where they met was rather amusing (take away from the book -avoid smuggling Whoppers into theaters - just saying). I'd probably disappoint Andie as I was totally uninformed about most of the movies that she and her mom were enjoying. And if you are unaware of what a cute-meet is you won't be after reading this one.  It is nice to have a book where the family gets along (my pet peeve in books is the often explosive relationship between tween/teens and their parents) and cares about each other. This is a fun book and one that I would highly recommend to tween and teen readers.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through TLC Book Tours with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

A Groundhog Day meets Pretty in Pink mashup from author Laurie Boyle Crompton, Pretty in Punxsutawney tells the tale of a girl willing to look beneath the surface to see people for who they really are.

Andie is the type of girl who always comes up with the perfect thing to say…after it’s too late to say it. She’s addicted to romance movies—okay, all movies—but has yet to experience her first kiss. After a move to Punxsutawney, PA, for her senior year, she gets caught in an endless loop of her first day at her new school, reliving those 24 hours again and again.

Convinced the curse will be broken when she meets her true love, Andie embarks on a mission: infiltrating the various cliques to find the one boy who can break the spell. What she discovers along the way is that people who seem completely different can often share the very same hopes, dreams, and hang-ups. And that even a day that has been lived over and over can be filled with unexpected connections and plenty of happy endings.

Hardcover: 304 Pages

Publisher: Blink (January 15, 2019)

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

Laurie Boyle Crompton is the author of several YA books, including Adrenaline Crush and Love and Vandalism. Laurie graduated first in her class from St. John’s University with a BA in English and Journalism. She has written for national magazines like Allure, survived a teaching stint at an all-boy high school, and appeared on Good Day New York several times as a toy expert. And yes, “toy expert” is an actual profession. She grew up in a small town in western PA and now lives near NYC with her family and one enormous and very fuzzy “dog toy expert” named Baxter Bear.

Connect with Laurie

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Laurie Boyle Crompton’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, January 14th: Bookmark Lit

Monday, January 14th: @bookish_nel

Tuesday, January 15th: Books Before Bedtime and @booksbeforebedtime

Wednesday, January 16th: A Bookish Way of Life

Thursday, January 17th: @the_readers_nook

Friday, January 18th: Rockin’ Book Reviews

Monday, January 21st: Run Wright

Tuesday, January 22nd: 100 Pages a Day

Wednesday, January 23rd: Book Fidelity

Thursday, January 24th: Blooming with Books

Friday, January 25th: @katielmae

Monday, January 28th: From the TBR Pile

Wednesday, January 30th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Thursday, January 31st: Kahakai Kitchen

Friday, February 1st: Books a la Mode

Saturday, February 2nd: @love_my_dane_dolly

Monday, February 4th: Christian Chick’s Thoughts

Tuesday, February 5th: Write Read Life

Wednesday, February 6th: Helen’s Book Blog

The Rose and the Briar ~ Review

The Rose and the Briar
Faraway Castle #3
By J.M. Stengl

Rosa Bravo is the head gardener at Faraway Castle who uses her magical skills to give a special touch to all her work. But she also uses her skills to hide away a secret one that has been kept by her family for one hundred years. A secret that has given her a dread and distrust of princes for hidden within her garden sleeps the Princess Zafira. A princess cursed by her own ambitions to sleep until awakened by the kiss of a prince.

When Geoff Bryant takes over the now open position of Magical-Creature Controller Rosa has an almost instant dislike of the young man. For some reason, she just doesn't trust him especially as he has the ability to see past her magic. But Geoff is more than he seems and when Rosa discovers just who he is she's is not going to be happy at all!

When Prince Javier of Evora comes to Faraway Castle Rosa is worried - could he know her family's secret? And will he reveal her true identity to her friends? As Javier works to discover just what Rosa knows Geoff does his best to keep Rosa safe from the Prince's devious schemes, schemes that just might unleash Princess Zafira on an unsuspecting world if he succeeds.

The Rose and the Briar is an all-new twist on the tale of Sleeping Beauty which readers will love. A prince in disguise, a power-hungry princess hid away in an endless sleep, magical creatures and an old nemesis - what's not to love?  Get ready to see this sleeping beauty get what she truly deserves!

This is an appropriate read for middle grade and up. There are no inappropriate scenes to make readers or parents cringe. I would classify this as a gentle read and a fairy tale. It is an easy read that can be enjoyed over a weekend with a pot of tea and comfortable corner to curl up in.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but my honest review - all opinions expressed are my own.



About the Book:

Power-hungry princes are Rosa's greatest dread.

Deep within the gardens of Faraway Castle sleeps a secret Rosa the gardener has sworn to protect with her life--the legendary princess Zafira. For three years she has hidden the princess almost in plain sight. But two nosy princes threaten to undo the work of a century.

When asked to take his sister's old job as Faraway Castle's Magical-Creature Controller, Prince Briar leaps at the chance to disguise himself as a commoner, earn a place in the magical world, and be trained by the mysterious Gamekeeper. Nothing works out the way he'd expected, and he is far too busy working to gain Rosa's trust to bother about uncovering her secrets. 

Until dashing Prince Javier of Evora pursues Rosa . . . and Briar suspects the rival prince of dark motives. Can Rosa and Briar learn to trust each other soon enough to prevent a magical disaster? 

Will the kiss of a prince really awaken true love?

The Mission League series ~ Cover Reveal

The Mission League series is coming to an end. 

Today the final book cover of Jill Williamson's series is revealed.

Are you curious?

I'm sure you are.

First I'll let you in on a little secret...

The title,

after all, every book needs a name.

The Profile Match

Yes, I can see that you are intrigued.

You're wondering just what sort 

of mission Spencer Garmond

is about to get caught up in this time.

Well, wonder no more

because

here

is 

the 

book

synopsis

When Spencer Garmond’s friend is kidnapped, the young Mission League agent-in-training decides he’s had enough. Determined to stop the criminals he suspects are responsible, he petitions the Los Angeles Field Office to give him the lead on the case. Now he’s investigating his favorite actress, the movie director who pretended to be his dad, and even his own uncle. Weird much?

As he struggles to find the connections between this unlikely group of suspects, he uncovers a clue that could create a worldwide scandal. When the Field Office steps in, Spencer realizes he’s not really in control of the investigation at all. Can Spencer trust God to bring about justice, or will his need to be in control jeopardize the very people he's trying so hard to protect?

Don’t miss this final installment in the award-winning Mission League series by author Jill Williamson.

Are you sufficiently intrigued?

Well 

here 

is 

the

cover.

Amazon.com pre-order page: https://amzn.to/2Ny3lEa

The ebook is on a pre-order sale for $2.99 for the month of September so don't delay.

Add the book to your Goodreads to be read list: 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41570561-the-profile-match