Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy #1)

Title: Shiver 
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: Ya fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Published: 2009
Chapters: 67
Pages: 390

Summary: the cold.

Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf her wolf watches back.

The heat.

Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace....until now.

The shiver.

For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human and Grace must fight to keep him even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.


Review: It has been forever since i've read this book so I'm just going off memory here. I do have the book sitting beside me though. I really loved this book. Granted i love stories about wolves and vampires and things. This book was an absolute fantastic read. I really need to get with it and read the next three in the series though. I'm not sure if i have a favorite part of this book. I guess when they first meet is my favorite, but im honestly not picky. It was a really good read and one of my favorite books. I will also have a review up soon on my youtube channel, as soon as i can get my mini book tour filmed and posted, i will work on book reviews.

Rating: I would give this book a 3 on my rating scale. On a normal scale i would give it around a 4.5 to 5 since its so good. 

Author Bio:

Maggie Stiefvater is the author of Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception and a sequel, Ballad: The Gathering of Faerie. Cynthia Leitich Smith, author of Tantalize, called Maggie's writing "musical, magical, and practically radiating romance....perfect for engaging sharp minds and poetic hearts." Maggie lives in rural Virginia with her husband and their two children. You can visit her online at www.maggiest

Important Announcement

I have found that i want to start a booktube and kust see where it goes. I just want to have fun with it. My question being, who would watch if i did and do you think a video of me organizing and cleaning my book room would be a first good video after an introduction one?

The Night Realm Blog Tour

The Night Realm
Annette Marie
(Spell Weaver #1)
Published by: Dark Owl Fantasy Inc.
Publication date: October 20th 2017
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Clio is good at all sorts of things. As a nymph, she’s great at outdoorsy nature stuff. As a nymph living in exile, she’s got the “blending in with humans” thing down pat. As a nymph living in exile because she possesses the rare ability to mimic magic, she’s had to pick up some unique survival skills.
But stealing from the most dangerous spell weavers in the Underworld? Not so much.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what she has to do to earn a ticket back home. Conning her way into the night realm may have gone pretty well, but now she’s got a new problem. His name is Lyre and he’s a sinfully alluring incubus, a dangerously skilled spell weaver, and the only thing standing between her and stealing some damn magic.
Maneuvering around him without blowing her cover shouldn’t be that difficult, but chaos has been dogging her every step, monsters hide behind beautiful faces, and Lyre keeps saving her neck even though they’re enemies. Kind of enemies? Either way, her mission is getting complicated fast, and in the Underworld, even one mistake could prove fatal.

Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. So thank you to Xpresso Tours for sending me a copy. If you love  fantasy then this book is for you. I find that I can relate to Clio somewhat. I really can't wait to read the next in the series. I hope you guys enjoy this book as well i as i did. Let me know in the comments if this is something you'll consider reading.

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:
Annette Marie is the author of the Amazon best-selling Steel & Stone series, which includes Goodreads Choice Award nominee Yield the Night, and fantasy trilogy Red Winter. Her first love is fantasy, but fast- paced urban fantasy and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it's not quite that bad) with her comparatively sensible husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry, cat—Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon

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The Dead Girls Of Hysteria Hall Review

Title: The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall
Author: Katie Alender
Page Count: 329
Chapter Count: 33
Format: Hardback
Genres: Ghost Story, Horror Fiction
Setting: Hysteria Hall
Published: 2015
Publisher: Scholastic INC.
ISBN: 978-0 545- 63999-6    

                                                             

My heart racing, I scrambled backward, running into the bed and knocking something loose behind me. I turned around to see that I had dislodged a leather strap, complete with buckles, bolted to the bed frame. Lifting the bedspread, I found more straps one for each wrist and ankle, and a big one that would fit perfectly across a torso.
 
Don't freak out, I told myself. Just go. Get your things and go.

Summary:
  
In this Asylum your mind plays tricks on you all the time....

Delia's new house isn't just a house. Long ago it was the Piven Institute for the Care and Correction of Troubled Females--- and insane asylum nicknamed "Hysteria Hall." However, many of the inmates were not insane, just defiant and strong willed. Kind of like Delia herself.

But the house still wants to keep "troubled girls" locked away. So, in the most horrifying way, Delia gets trapped.

And that's when she learns that the house is also haunted.

Ghost girls wander the halls in their old-fashioned nightgowns. A handsome ghost boy named Theo roams the grounds. Delia finds that all the spirits are unsettled and full of dark secrets. The house, as well, harbors shocking truths within its walls---truths that only Delia can uncover, and that may set her free.

But she'll need to act quickly, before the house's power overtakes everything she loves.

From master of suspense Katie Alender comes a riveting tale of twisted memories and betrayals, and the meaning of madness.

Review: The first thing I ever read was the blurb of the back of the book, which I put at the top right before the summary. If that doesn't freak you out then most likely the book wont, although its still a possibility that it could. I finished this book in one afternoon. Katie Alender knows how to weave a creepy tale. I was definitely surprised by this book in  a good way. I loved reading it. Too bad its not a series because I think that would be amazing. I would love to find out more about The Piven Institute for the Care and Correction of Troubled Females when it was in service. I would also like more of the characters back stories. I think each girl should have her own book which could be part of the series. I really hate drawing my own conclusions. Not to say the book wasn't finished, because it was. I just would have liked more. I didn't want it to end, and I didn't want to put the book down. Sometimes I think I possibly had more questions then the book answered, but that's most likely because my mind thinks super fast some of the time. Most of my questions were answered, but some remain unanswered after reading the book. Katie gives a little bit of background info for the story, but its mostly Delia's Story and what happens to her and how she overcomes certain obstacles. There's some mystery too it and a little bit of romance, but its mostly a ghost story or a horror story. If this is the kind of stuff you like then you should most definitely read this story. Even though parts seemed incomplete too me, its still a really good read, and I personally enjoyed it. I hope you guys will enjoy it too.

Characters: There may be some spoilers here, so if that's ok with you then read on. If not you can skip down to the rating.

Delia- She's the main character of the story and the house belongs to her. I find that I can relate to Delia at times. She is most definitely a troubled female and the house seems to like troubled females. It won't let her leave and she winds up trapped there. She does make a few friends though.

Penitence- She is a Piven and related to Delia. She is also the former wardess of the Institute. When you first meet her, she is always knitting or working in the same spot where she's been for years. Until Delia told her, she didn't know that she could move. While alive, after she was institutionalized she kept asking to see her daughter. She also killed her father, with poisoned cake. Her father was the one that admitted her to the institute.

Florence Beauregard- At first she seems like such a sweet girl. Later on you find out that she has tapped into something evil that's in the house. She never wanted to leave the house because she liked it there, so she hung herself. She likes good girls, but if you don't behave she will hurt you.

Eliza Duncombe- She was admitted to the Institute for killing her brother and sister. It was an accident but we don't really find out too much about what happened. She wants to do good to make up for the mistakes that she caused in her lifetime.

Maria- A sweet little 10 year old girl, whose just misunderstood. She tried to do what Florence wanted for awhile, until one day she didn't. When she told Florence no, Florence hurt her. It was said that she electrocuted herself and Nurse Carlson in one of the bathrooms, but that was just a cover up. Both her and Nurse Carlton died by eating the same Poisoned cake in the kitchen. The staff then tried to cover it up. She is also Penitence's daughter.

Cordelia- Delia's great aunt  who willed her the house after her death. She was hoping that Delia could solve the mystery of the house.

Shadow Creatures- They belong to Maxwell Piven. They are sorta like his minions that only come out when the living are in the house. They were what killed Delia.

Rating: You can read about my rating system here, if you're new to my blog. Anyways, I really enjoyed this book. I would give it a 3 on my scale. On a normal rating scale it would go way past a 5 since its so good, but since the stars only go to five I guess I will have to rate it as a 5. I personally would give it 10 stars or more. I hope you guys really enjoy the story.

Buy Links:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Scholastic Inc
Books-A-Million


Author Bio: Katie Alender is the acclaimed author of several novels for young adults, including Bad Girls Don't Die; From Bad to Cursed; Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer; and Famous Last Words. A graduate of the Flordia State University Film School, Katie now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their daughter. She enjoys reading, sewing, and eating delicious high-calorie foods. To find out more about Katie, visit www. katiealender.com

Next Read: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Escape From Asylum Review

Title: Escape From Asylum
Author: Madeleine Roux
Page Count: 340
Chapter Count: 47 with a Prologue and Epilogue
Format: Hardback
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Mystery, and Horror Fiction
Setting: Brookline Asylum, 1968
Published: 2016
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 978-0-06-242442-6


Before Dan, Abby, and Jordan ever entered the asylum....

When its evil warden was still crafting his plan....

One teen learned that to save himself, he would have to escape.

This haunting prequel to the asylum series  can stand on its own for new readers or provide missing puzzle pieces for series fans.

Summary: The Nightmare is just beginning......

Ricky Desmond doesn't belong in the Brookline Asylum. His parents sent him here because they think he's a deviant and that can be cured but Ricky knows there's no cure for what he has.

Soon he arrives, Ricky learns that being locked up against his will is only the beginning of his problems. Rumor has it that the Brookline warden authorizes treatments that aren't entirely...humane. That he's a butcher, and a monster. And if the screams Ricky hears coming from the basement are any indication, the rumors are an understatement. Now, with the help of a nurse who feels just as trapped in Brookline as he does, Ricky must escape before the asylum claims his sanity or his life.

Madeleine Roux returns to the world of her New York Times bestselling Asylum series with this page-turning prequel novel, set in the days when the asylum's legacy of terror  was not a history but a reality. With haunting found photographs of real Asylums, Escape From Asylum is a mind-bending and scary installment in the Asylum series that can stand on its own for new readers or provide missing puzzle pieces for series fans.

Review: I absolutely love Madeleine Roux books. I have a fair few of them including the rest of the Asylum series. Granted I read Asylum first before I ever knew there was a prequel book. The book is so good and one of my absolute favorites. The pictures are super creepy as well. To me all the pictures make the book. The fact that some of the pictures came from real Asylums make this book even creepier. Madeleine Roux knows how to weave a creepy story. If you love horror books, then this is the one that most definitely read. Ricky is the main character and this is his story. I couldn't put the book down once I had started it. I read it in just a few hours last night. I really didn't want to give spoilers cause that's not how I work. If you don't want to read the spoilers then then stop reading here and skip down to where they end. If you would rather read the spoilers then go right head.

***Spoilers Here***

Ricky is sent to Brookline Asylum because his parents didn't know of any other way to help him. Eventually he learns that he's to be the wardens patient zero. At first look you would think that the Asylum is filled with a bunch of crazies, but that's not the case. Most of the kids that have been admitted are perfectly normal. They're are a fair few patients that seem like they have been there forever, which in some cases they probably have. Patty is one such example of a normal person, the only thing wrong with her is that she likes to randomly burst into song where ever shes at. After being there for so long Ricky discovers that his mother and stepfather lied to him about his real father. It turns out that his real father was a patient at Brookline too. The warden had him killed because he couldn't do what he wanted. That's how Ricky got there, the warden kept sending mom and stepdad pamphlets about the Asylum. Eventually Ricky finally escapes, but to know how you'll just have to read the book.

***Spoilers end here***

Hopefully you'll enjoy the book as much as I did. I will have buy links posted down at the bottom if the book is something you're interested.

Rating: If you don't know much about my system you can find out Here. As for the rating for this book I would give it 3 stars, at least for my rating system. For a regular rating system I would give it 5 stars.

Quotes: Some of my absolute favorite quotes are:

" The warden said he would start my "treatment" soon but he hasn't talked to me at all since then. I see him watching me. He's always watching me. What is he waiting for?"

" The warden is a butcher. The warden is a monster. There, Nurse Ash, I wrote it down so I can't forget it. Happy now? Next time answer my questions before you turn chicken and run away."

"So I've seen her. She's real. The girl from my nightmares is here and on the other side of the wall. I can't sleep tonight. Jesus, I don't know if I'll ever sleep again."

"If he was mad and hallucinating this moment, it would make more sense, he decided, reading the name over and over again.
Desmond, Pierce Andrew
Self-admitted
Insomnia, MPD, Restlessness, Suicidal Ideation
Deceased, 1967
And on the back Closet."
"Ain't too much sadder than the tears of a clown when there's no one around....That's it. That's all I can remember. It's all going. I live at 335 Hammond Street, my mother is Kathy Anne. My father is...My father is. I don't know. I remember Butch. I remember mom. Where did it go? These aren't things you forget. Nurse Ash told me not to forget. She told me not to trust. But I just can't remember everything, it takes too much energy and when I try it puffs into smoke."

"I just want to sleep. I wish he would let me sleep."

"But he didn't lie about Dennis, did he? He was dangerous. He was a killer and you didn't listen and now Jocelyn is dead."

Author Bio: Madeleine Roux is the New York Times bestselling author of Asylum, which has sold into nine countries around the world; its sequels, Sanctum and Catacomb; and the Asylum Novellas: The Scarlets, The Bone Artists, and The Warden. Madeleine is also the Author of Allison Hewitt Is Trapped and Sadie Walker is Stranded. A graduate of the Beloit College MFA program, Madeleine now lives in Southern California.

Buy links:

Books-a-million

Amazon

Barnes and Noble 

Disclaimer: I am so sorry that I haven't posted in forever. I've been busy with work and life and other things. I will try to be better about reading and posting. I hope this makes up for not being active in awhile.

The Longing and The Lack Book Tour

The Longing and the Lack
C.M. Spivey
(The Unliving #1)
Publication date: September 19th 2017
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal

“Gothic curses, deadly love affairs, and vengeful ghosts combine to make this paranormal mystery a compelling page-turner.” — Tina Connolly, Nebula-nominated author of Ironskin
Lucinda Hightower is no stranger to death.
Since she was a child, Lucinda has been haunted by rabid dogs, suicidal crows, and the ghost of a woman in white. All are omens signaling someone’s imminent demise—except Lucinda’s friends and family are still breathing.
The omens follow her to Ireland and the quiet university in her father’s hometown, increasing in strength and frequency once she meets Damien Reed. A handsome third year student, Damien thrusts himself into Lucinda’s life almost immediately and caresses away the unsavory reputation that shadows him.
It’s not until the ghost sinks her nails into Damien that he reveals his secret: the death omens are for him.
They’re the manifestations of a curse that claims the life of the eldest Reed son every generation. Damien’s time is nearly up. If Lucinda is to save him, she must solve the mystery of her family curse, and lay a spirit’s rage to rest.
A dark romance for fans of Diane Setterfield and the TV show Supernatural, The Longing and the Lack is a Gothic story for the modern age.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Reveiw: I absolutely loved this book. If anyone loves young adult books, then this one is a perfect read. It's so easy, I read it in one setting. This is one really well written paranormal book. I normally do two ratings but today I am just doing one because this book blew me away. My rating for this blows my normal rating system out of the water. I would give this book a 5plus because it's so amazing.

Disclaimer: I got this book from xpresso book tours. I would like to thank them for the opportunity to read it. I would also like to apologize for getting this post up so late. 

Author Bio:
C.M. Spivey is a speculative fiction writer, author of high fantasy FROM UNDER THE MOUNTAIN and the paranormal series, “The Unliving”. His enduring love of fantasy started young. Now, he explores the rules and ramifications of magic in his own works—and as a trans, panromantic asexual, he’s committed to queering his favorite genres. In his spare time, he plans his next tattoo (there will always be a next tattoo) and watches too much Netflix. Anything left over is devoted to his tireless quest to make America read more. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his darling husband Matt and adorable dog Jay.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Fate of the Stars

September 4th
–Love Books Group
–Us Girls and a Book
–Splashes Into Books
–anie’s blog: diary of a wannabe writer
–Slytherin book lady
–Don’t Judge, Read
September 5th
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–Angelic Book Reviews
September 6th
–Book Huntress’ World
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September 7th
–All Things Dark & Dirty
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September 8th
–Another Book Hangover
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September 9th
–Perspective of a Writer
–The Avid Reader
–Creative Therapy
–Movies, Shows, & Books
–books with keri
–Meet Your New Favorite Book

This is the first sci-fi book that I've read in years. Arwen Paris spins an amazing tale that will make you fall in love.  
At first it seemed to start a little slow for me and I wasn't too sure what was going on. I wound up loving it though and I couldn't put it down. There's so much to learn and so much going on in this story. I couldn't put the book down. I found myself torn between Stephen whose human and Katok whose part of an Alien race known as Vongjar. I can also find myself relating somewhat to Allison, who doesn't really know what she's doing. She tends to wing things a lot, but in my opinion that's exactly what made the book. Although Sci-fi isn't something I would normally read, I find myself being a huge nerd and hoping for a second book and so on to finish out the series.

Some of my absolute favorite quotes came from Allison and  few came from Katok. What I really liked about this book is that it had so many different things happening and that once it picked up and got going that it was never short of action. I'm normally not big on action books, but to me this one had just enough romance and action that I found myself loving it. I really hope that it's made into a movie. I would most definitely be one of the first in line to watch it, if its ever comes into theatres. I would watch it over and over again.

If your interested in the different races in the book, you can find them below. You can also find the cast of Characters below and what I liked about each one.
Characters:

Alson Delaney- Although she is human with a Xeenci symbiont inside her, she still retains her feelings. I think that makes her stronger and it helps her in the long run. 

Valerie Isabeau Delaney- She is Allison's mom. There wasn't really too much about her in the book, but no matter what was going on she always told Allison that she loved her. 

Becca Anderson- I find myself torn here, I can't make up my mind because she runs hot and cold towards Allison because of Stephen. 

Stephen- I don't like him as much as I do Katok, but he does protect Allison and he'll do anything for her because he likes her. 

Eenoki- is a xeencci symniont who resides within Allison. He or it trys to help her with her missing as much as possible. 

General Katok- probably my favorite out of all the aliens. I would love to see him and Allison as a couple if there are more books, which i hope there are. 

Voxchi- he will tell you the way things are. He's also blunt, and I think he can grow to like Allison. 

Tarem- he stood up for Allison as soon as he knew there was meeting her. He knew there was something special about her. 

Kiobaan-there's not much I like about her.

General Z'iram- he's smart but that's about it. He's part of the bad guys in my opinion. 


The Alien Races:  (Taken straight from the book because i couldnt habe said it better myself. Ma'tiok ("Ma-tee-ok")- Small rubbery black creatures that run on all fours like a cheetah. They have long necks, a thick hide and a ring of needle like fangs. The non-sentient Ma'tiok often snort like a pig before they attack. An oily black residue oozes from the wounds they inflict. Vongjar ("Vong-Jar")- These sentient humanoid aliens are burly and tall, most stand seven feet tall. Their fur although thin varies in color, similar to human hair; individual eye color also varies, the most common being gold and green. Small tufts of fur tip their ears and curl out from their elbows. They have a leopard-like nose, flattened, wide and hairless, thick feet that have claws. The Vongjars have two hearts. A spacefaring race, they communicate telepathically and verbally. Honor and duty to one's pride and the high priestess are hallmarks of their culture. The Vongjars serve the alliance as warriors and priests. Vongjars warriors wear blood-red chest plates that have glowing orange runes near their shoulders while the other priests wear white hooded robes that have blue runes near their shoulders. Xeenci ("Keen-See")- Non-corporal beings that appear as light energy. They exist to save life. Xeenci live symbiotically with a host. Once bonded, the new being can release it's powers in the physical realm, including the ability to heal, manipulate energy, and communicate telepathically. Hytan ("High-tan")- Reminiscent of giant muscle-bound werewolves. They have blood-red eyes, short hair, and a mottled muzzle. They are taller than the Vongjars; male hytans are typically eight and a half feet, while females range from six to seven feet tall. The Hytans are a spacefaring race that communicate verbally. One of the newest alien races to join the alliance, Hytans prefer a simple winner-take-all lifestyle. Before they joined the alliance, the hytans were ruled by their strongest person, the alpha.
The Vongjar Alienn race kind of reminds me of the aliens from the movie Earth girls are easy. That might be why I like them so much.

Sorry that this post is so long. I tend to do that when I really enjoyed a book. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes to read sci-fi and dystopians.

Rating: For the purpose of this being a blog tour I will have two ratings. My normal rating system and then a rating of 1-5.

My normal rating would be a three. I work with the Michelin star system. You can read more about my regular rating system here.

The other rating I would give this book is 4.5 5 stars. I chose this rating because I feel like there will be another book, or at least I hope there will be. There were a few parts that made me mad or pulled at my heartstrings. I really feel like Allison and Katok should be together.

Author Bio:

I'm the YA Author of Sci-Fi, Urban Fantasy & Fantasy novels. Fate of the Stars, my debut young adult sci-fi urban fantasy, was the Second Place winner of the 2016 Pages From The Heart Contest.

I'm excited to announce Fate of the Stars will be available on September 1, 2017!

The action packed pages of my novels are filled with characters who are forced to face fears they never expected. I live in Washington state with my amazing husband and five fantastic kids and work full time in sales, writing in all my spare time.

Disclaimer: I got this book from Xpresso Books. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book. I didn't get the link to the giveaway or I would have it posted as well. If you guys would like to enter then I suggest going to one of the other blogs during the tour and entering the giveaway there.

 

 

 

 

Terriluvsbooks Corner Review of Silver Blood

Silver Blood (Series of Blood Book 1) I think it is getting harder to spin the urban fantasy trope. This author created a futuristic world with a completely new twist. Supernatural humans are actually hosts for supernatural beings who have taken over the world. Some relationships are mutual and some are adversarial. Of course, there is a governmental committee that tries to oversee everything, but as in most worlds infested with supernatural beings, there is an unknown group who REALLY controls what happens. The characters are strong and well- rounded. The world building is complete and I believe it will develop more as the series develops. The plot drives the story forward. This is one of those stories my family does not like because I tend to ignore them a little bit so I can finish it. :) I wanted to keep going. I wanted to get to the end. I want to read the next book. This is a great start to this series. Blurb: Two hundred years ago, our world changed forever. Two realms combined in an explosion of magic. One morning everything was normal and the next? Every human body was host to another magical creature who had thoughts and a mind of its own. However, with power comes darkness. Someone wants to wipe this earth clean and will stop at nothing to consume it. SHE IS NOT A HERO Or so she thought. Wren had grown up with another voice in her head but had never considered herself magical. She doesn't have the talents other people have. She certainly doesn't have the abilities anyone else has. But she is charming and manages her business quite well. She deals in emotions and makes people happy. It's a simple life, but it's hers. HE THINKS SHE COULD BE Burke was a bodyguard first and always. He had been sent to collect her and deliver her in person to the most powerful creatures in their world. But the moment he steps through the broken door of her shop, his world changes forever. She's strange. She's uncomfortable. And she's so damned beautiful. He is convinced she is part of a prophecy that can save their world. But how to convince her?


File Size: 1399
KBPrint Length: 274 pages
Publication Date: September 29, 2016


 Author bio: Emma Hamm grew up in a small town surrounded by trees and animals. Her imagination was fostered by the sound of waves and Grimm Fairytales ringing in her head. Much of her work will feature similar
stories to the classics that we all know and love.

Library of A TwentySomethings World: Review of This is Just My Face Try Not To Stare

This Is Just My Face Try Not To Stare by Gabourey Sidibe

Back Cover Synopsis:

           Gabourey Sidibe - the Oscar-nominated Precious star and Empire actress - has a voice like no other. She is wise, complex, smart and funny - just as likely to make you cry with laughter as to see the world differently. In This Is Just My Face, she shares a one-of-a-kind life story in a voice as fresh and challenging as many of the unique characters she's played onscreen. With full-throttle honesty, Sidibe paints her family life growing up with a polygamous father and a gifted mother who supports her two children by singing in the subway. Sidibe tells the engrossing, inspiring story of her first job as a phone-sex "talker." And she shares her unconventional (of course!) rise to fame as a movie star in Precious, alongside "a superstar cast of rich people who lived in mansions and had their own private islands and amazing careers while I lived in my mom's apartment."

           Sidibe's memoir hits hard with clear-eyed dispatches on friendship, depression, haters, celebrity, fashion, race, and weight. Irreverent, hilarious, and untraditional. This Is Just My Face will resonate with anyone ho has ever felt different, and with anyone who has ever felt inspired to make a dream come true.

Kristen's Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kristen's Review:

What I liked:

• I really enjoyed the level of honesty that Gabby added to her memoir, it seems that nothing embarrassing, or otherwise was left out.
• This memoir was very funny, I laughed at the sarcasm and jokes that peppered the pages, all while it handled some very challenging experiences. 
• I applaud Gabby for going after what she wanted and think that her story is an amazing one that played out in a roundabout way to achieving her dreams.
• I liked the way the text read with realism for the struggles her and her family encountered while she was young all the way through being a poor movie star. 
• I think that her story is an inspiring one, that makes me as a reader reappraise my life and my dreams.

What I didn't like:

• Is there really a way to dislike someone's honest story? Not really, I did not dislike this book. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the wit and sarcasm that accompanied this memoir. It is also the reason that I decided to pick up and read Push by Sapphire, which was completely worth it (despite its explicitness). I think this book is good for readers looking for inspiration and validation for themselves. Gabby's confidence is contagious and can teach many self-conscious readers to love themselves.

Followed By: This is a stand alone, but I would be interested in reading any further books that Gabby publishes in the future.

If you liked this try: Push by Sapphire

Genre(s): Memoir, Non-Fiction

Perfect Tea Pairing: Pina Colada, a rooibos tea with pineapple and coconut pieces, this is one relaxing drink. Purchase it here.

Hie To The Hunters

Title: Hie To The Hunters

Author: Jesse Stuart
Page Count: 265
Format: Hardback
Genre: Young Adult
Published: 1950, 1978, and 1988
Publisher: The Jesse Stuart Foundation
ISBN: 978-0945084068

Summary: The Sparks family--salty old Peg Sparks, his wife Arn, and their sixteen year old son Sparkie-- live in the Plum Grove Hills in a one room cabin. They don't have a lot, but they would not turn a stray hound dog away from their door and certainly not a stray and certainly not a stray boy like pale, spindly Didway Hargis, who has run away from his wealthy home in town.
The boy from Greenwood, Did Hargis and the boy from the Plum Grove Hills, Sparkie, become good friends. Did learns to love the life of the hill people, as he becomes one of the sparks family. , he and Sparkie sleep in the hayloft, each with a hound dog for warmth.  At night they hunt foxes and possums, and Did learns the difference between the long, slow "trail bark" of the hounds, and the rapid, excited bark that means the hound has treed a possum. He learns how to shake a possum from a tree, and how to set traps. By the day the boys work on the farm. Did learns how to chop firewood, how to plow with mules, plant corn, and strip tobacco. The boys reminisce about last week's barn dance, and look forward to next week's moonlight cornshucking. As Did becomes accustomed to the world of Plum Grove, and as he comes to love the sparks family and their neighbors, who are generous and kind, he grows strong, brown, and happy.

But Did and Sparkie's Appalachian idyll is interrupted by a feud between the hill-folk and a group of townfolk, led by Did Hargis' father, who comes to take Did home. Events leading up to a gala midnight cornshucking that turns into a pitched battle in the Plum Grove Hills, and the battle's after math, all make fast-moving, exciting reading.

Review: I remember the first time I ever heard of this book. I was in sixth grade and my sixth grade teacher would read part of this book us daily as soon as we got back from lunch. It happened to be her absolute favorite book. As soon as she got done reading, I had to go to the library to check it out for myself. This book is a great coming of age story for anyone that wants to read it. I would classify this as a young adult but anyone who is interested in hunting and a good coming of age story should read this book. It really makes you think about how much better we have it today then the way that it used to be back forever ago. This story puts multiple things in perspective for anyone that is interested in barn burnings and hunting. As the characters in the book grow, so do you. Did and Sparky are relateable boys and you will fall in love with the characters. You can feel their emotions as they grow and change.


About the Author: Jesse Hilton Stuart (August 8, 1906 – February 17, 1984) was an American writer, school teacher, and school administrator who is known for his short stories, poetry, and novels as well as non-fiction autobiographical works set in central Appalachia. Born and raised in Greenup County, Kentucky, Stuart relied heavily on the rural locale of northeastern Kentucky for his writings. Stuart was named the poet laureate of Kentucky in 1954.

Rating: I would give this book a rating of three. I really enjoyed this book and I'm hoping that you guys do too.

Disclaimer: I got lucky when I found this book. If you would like to read I suggest checking your library first because when you buy this book its going to be super expensive. I found a fairly cheap copy on amazon, but I think it was the only one at that price.

Cover Reveal for My Hot Boss

RELEASE BOOST

Forever Valentine PR and More is proud to bring you the release boost for Betty Shreffler's My Hot Boss!

Title: My Hot Boss

Author: Betty Shreffler

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 15, 2017

Synopsis

Emma

From the moment I met Grayson Cole, I knew he was someone I wanted to let in my panties and maybe, even in my heart. One night, one sexy-as-sin kiss, and several drinks later, our incredible evening turns into a disaster and I’m apologizing for the vomit spatter on his fancy, black shoes. I never thought I’d see him again after that, no matter how many nights I spent wishing I would. Until a month later, he waltzes into my office as—MY NEW, HOT BOSS. I’m so screwed. 

Grayson

She was meant to be a fun f*ck. That’s all I wanted. That’s all I needed. But Emma Williams could never be just that for me. The quirky, brunette vixen challenges me at every opportunity. My desire to have her has me working for her affections, like I’ve never done before. What is this woman doing to me? Not only am I her Boss, but I don’t do feelings. There’s only one way I see this ending. I’m f*cked for sure.

Purchase Links

Amazon US: http://a.co/2UOsr14

Amazon UK: http://amzn.eu/aqMvAAk

Amazon CA: http://a.co/72E2Jqe

Amazon AU: www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07334DNT9

Teasers

About the Author

Betty Shreffler is a self-proclaimed nerd and nature enthusiast obsessed with folklore, photography, writing, reading, movies, board games, hiking, gardening and spending time with her husband and five fur babies. Not necessarily in that exact order though. During her outdoor adventures she’s been face to face with an alligator, a bear and a coyote, making for some of the most memorable experiences of her life. She loves to capture and share the world’s beauty through the lens of her beloved Nikon camera. Her work experience has been diverse from working as a Ranger for the National Park Service to management positions in Fortune 500 companies. She’s lived in four different states and moved homes twelve times. She received a BA in organizational management and minor in sociology, although her heart has always belonged to writing and photography. Growing up, she read romance or supernatural novels and jotted down poems and short stories to express her emotions and alleviate the characters’ voices in her head. Not much has changed, only now her stories are lengthier and her characters more interesting.

Author Links

Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorbettyshreffler/

Readers’ Group: www.facebook.com/groups/AuthorBettyShreffler/

No spam Bookmail: https://goo.gl/forms/jMs0sniF9ipc36om1

Follow me on Amazon: amazon.com/author/bettyshreffler

Twitter: https://twitter.com/betty_shreffler

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betty_shreffler/

Website and purchase signed paperbacks: https://bettyshreffler.wordpress.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15195534.Betty_Shreffler

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I personally can't wait to read this book. The cover looks amazing and its sounds like such a good read. I can't wait to get this book for my personal collection and read it. I imagine that this will be a book that I read over and over again, once I get it.

Night School

Title: Night School

Author: CJ Daugherty

Page count: 454 

Genre: YA Fiction, Thriller

Published: January 1, 2012

Publisher: Bookouture

ISBN: 9781907411212

Format: E-book

Bio: 

Allie Sheridan's world is falling apart. Her brother's run away from home. Her parents ignore her, and she's just been arrested. 

Again.

This time her parents have had enough. They cut her off from her friends and send her away to boarding school, far from her London friends. 

But at Cimmeria academy, Allie is soon caught up in the strange activities of a secret group of elite students.

When she's attacked late one night the incident sets off a chain of increasingly violent events. As the school begins to seem like a very dangerous place, she finds out that nothing at Cimmeria is what it seems to be.

And that she is not who she thought she was.

Review: This series of books along with the six episode web series that go along is possibly one of my favorite series to read. I love any boarding school series and have multiple series like this, but I think this one has to be my favorite. Although this book is about a love triangle and other things I think my favorite couple has to be Allie and Carter. I can almost relate to Allie when she first starts at Cimmeria and has almost noe friends. She thinks her parents are unfair and she wonders just what is going on and why those she trusts aren't telling her everything. This book, when I first read it i didn't realize that it was a series. After reading it, I wondered why it left the ending open and then I found the next few in ebooks. In had checked the hardback out of my library. I will link the web series below so you guys can check that out as well. CJ Daugherty has become one of my favorite authors to read. The way she writes puts you into the books and makes you either want to scream and yell and throw the book out the window or you get that warm fuzzy feeling that everything is right with the world. Here  is a link to all six web episodes of Night school. They kinda go along with the books. https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYQG7VSe67bujG3RA4UgMInhHj_EQInzG

About the Author: 

International bestselling author Christi Daugherty is a former newspaper and crime writer. Her Night School series written as (CJ Daugherty) has been translated into 24 languages, and has been a bestseller in multiple countries.

 

Rating: I would give this book a rating of three stars mainly because its just so good. Although it deserves three stars because it will put you in the school and let you see in your mind what Allie and Carter and Sylvain and the others are like. You are able to relate to the characters in the story and that alone is worth the read.

 

 

The Tea Planter's Wife

Title: The Tea Planter's Wife
Author: Dinah Jefferies
Page Count: 413
Chapter Count: 35 plus a prologue
Format: Paperback
Published: 2015
Publisher: Broadway Books
ISBN: 978-0-451-49598-3

Summary: In this lush, atmospheric page-turner, nineteen-year-old Gwendolyn Hooper has married Laurence, the seductively mysterious owner of a vast tea empire in the colonial Ceylon, after a whirlwind romance in London. When she joins him at his faraway tea plantation, she's filled with hope for their life together, eager to take on the role of mistress of the house, learn the tea business, and start a family. But life in Ceylon is not what Gwen expected. The plantation workers are resentful, the neighbors and her new sister-in-law treacherous. Gwen finds herself drawn to a local Sinhalese man of questionable intentions and worries about her new husbands connection to a brash American businesswoman. But most troubling are the unanswered questions surrounding Laurence's first marriage. Why won't anyone discuss the fate of his first wife? Who's buried in the unmarked grave in the forest? As the darkness of her husband's past emerges, Gwen is forced to make a devastating choice, one that could destroy their future and Gwen's chance at happiness.

Review: This book is absolutely wonderful. I love the rich vivid history of it. When reading it takes you into the store and on to the plantation in Ceylon. You can definitely imagine living back in that time and everything that happens to Gwen. I really enjoyed this book and I think anyone that reads it will as well. I would definitely read anymore of Dinah Jefferies books. This book was absolutely spellbinding and very descriptive.

Rating: I would give this book 3 stars. I think it deserves three because its just so well written and in my world 3 is equivalent to five because I use the Michelin Star rating system. You can find out all the info you need to know on my rating system here and you can also find out about my blog and other info on this page here. I hope you guys are enjoying this and i'm so sorry its taken me forever to update.

Disclaimer: I would like to thank Blogging For Books for the chance to read and review this book. I really enjoyed it.

Terriluvsbooks Corner Graceling Review

GRACELING by Kristen Cashore

Thank you, Sierra, (Slytherin book lady if you would rather) for inviting me to hop over here and share with your readers a review for a book I recently read. A friend recommended this book to me because she knows I love fantasy and strong female characters. The story starts off as Katsa masterminds a rescue for the grandfather of a neighboring king. The story starts fast and never seems to stop. The characters evolve throughout the story allowing the reader to really connect. It is not uncommon to have a warrior in a fantasy novel who is all about fighting. Katsa is more about becoming a better person and helping those around her than she is killing and fighting. The author does a great job creating a world that only enhances the plot, but also allows the reader to be a part of the scenes almost like a "fly on the wall."

Blurb:

Kristin Cashore’s bestselling, award-winning fantasy Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable-yet-strong Katsa, a smart, beautiful teenager who lives in a world where selected people are given a Grace, a special talent that can be anything from dancing to swimming. Katsa’s is killing. As the king’s niece, she is forced to use her extreme skills as his thug. Along the way, Katsa must learn to decipher the true nature of her Grace… and how to put it to good use. A thrilling, action-packed fantasy adventure (and steamy romance!) that will resonate deeply with adolescents trying to find their way in the world. 

About the Author:

Kristin Cashore grew up in the northeast Pennsylvania countryside as the second of four daughters. She received a bachelor's degree from Williams College and a master's from the Center for the Study of Children's Literature at Simmons College, and she has worked as a dog runner, a packer in a candy factory, an editorial assistant, a legal assistant, and a freelance writer. She has lived in many places (including Sydney, New York City, Boston, London, Austin, and Jacksonville, Florida), and she currently lives in the Boston area. Graceling, her first book, was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Fire is her second book.

About Me:

Terri considers herself a writer, blogger, editor, and recycled hippie. Her first book, Let the Shadows Fall will be out next year. You can find out more by reading her blog terriluvsbooks.

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