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Showing posts with label Young Adult Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Young Adult Fiction. Show all posts

Monday, April 27, 2020

What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume (Book Review and Sale!)



What I Like About Me is a good debut novel about learning to love oneself, all within the context of a hot summer in Australia with family and friends.


Book Details:

Book Title: What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume
Category: YA Fiction, 304 pages
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company
Release date: April 1, 2020
Content Rating: PG-13 (There is some heavy kissing, bad language, underage drinking, implied sex, and nudity.)


Book Description:

You know all those movies where teenagers have, like, THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES? This vacation is probably not going to be that.

The last thing sixteen-year-old Maisie Martin thought she'd be doing over vacation is entering a beauty pageant. Not when she's spent most of her life hiding her body from everyone. Not when her Dad is AWOL and her gorgeous older sister has returned to rock Maisie's already shaky confidence. And especially not when her best friend starts flirting with the boy she's always loved. But Maisie's got something to prove.

As she writes down all the ways this vacation is going from bad to worse in her school-assignment journal, what starts as a homework torture-device might just end up being an account of how Maisie didn't let anything, or anyone, hold her back.

Jenna Guillame’s American debut features a plus-size protagonist with a compelling, funny, and authentic narrative voice. This relatable and charming novel about friendship, confidence, and self-love will draw readers in as Maisie’s realistic emotional journey unveils the importance of embracing one’s body and celebrating one’s self.


My Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

I liked the premise of this book and I was eager to read it. The story is from sixteen-year-old Maisie's point of view as she tells it by writing in a journal, very reluctantly at first, since it's her English class summer homework assignment. She's pretty bummed about it (I'd be too, even if I do like to read and write!) and she uses colorful language, so I wasn't sure as I began reading it as to how this would turn out.

However, Maisie's honesty and her teen voice soon endeared me to her and had me laughing out loud. I like books that make me laugh. It's December in Australia and Maisie is on vacation with her mom at Cobbers Bay at a cabin by the ocean. It's where she's spent her family vacations as a child with the Lee family, who has a boy named Sebastian, now all grown up and who Maisie is secretly in love with.

So much is going on this summer. Her best friend Anna has joined them and caught Sebastian's eye, and Maisie is stuck with Beamer, that annoying boy who teases her mercilessly. Maisie is overweight and lacking self-confidence, but she does have a resilience about her. It will be a summer of changes, a coming-of-age, where Maisie learns to like herself without apologies, where she discovers she is not the only one who runs from her problems, and together with her family she learns to face up to them.

There are so many themes that run through this book: the true value of friendship, sisterhood, forgiveness, first love, self-love, and believing in one's self-worth, and finally, the value of family with all its quirks and imperfections. It was a fun book to read, lighthearted, funny, and full of girl power. I also loved the pop culture references to movies like Dirty Dancing that brought up memories of my own teen years.

However, and this is a bit of a pet-peeve for me in YA books for teens 12-16: there is bad language and f-bombs, closed bedroom scenes where you know kids are having sex, and a house party where parents were seen as cool for allowing the kids to do anything they wanted, such as drinking and having sex in the house. All unnecessary to the theme and plot of the story, I might add. I can understand this in NA books but not so much in YA.

Apart from this, What I Like About Me is a good debut novel about learning to love oneself, all within the context of a hot summer in Australia with family and friends. And it's got a fabulous cover too, so attractive and perfect for this novel.


Disclosure: Thanks to the publicist for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.


The ebook of What I Like About Me is currently on sale for $2.99 for the rest of April

Buy the Book:
Amazon, B&N, Google, Kobo, and Scribd



About the Author:


Jenna Guillaume was editor-at-large for BuzzFeed Australia, where she wrote about very important things like pop culture, identity, feminism, social media, and Chris Hemsworth's biceps. Previously, she spent more than half a decade in the features department of Girlfriend magazine, editing the sealed section (yes, all those questions are real), and writing about everything from bullying and body image to bad kisses and boy bands. She was also a contributor to Girlfriend Life Hacks, an essential guide to navigating a girl's completely-awkward-but-totally-awesome teen years.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Becoming Cinderella by Lecia Crider (Book Review)


A fun retelling for the young teen who loves modern fairytales with a twist!


Book Details:

Book Title: Becoming Cinderella by Lecia Crider
Series: Season One (A The Realm Where Faerie Tales Dwell Series)
Category: YA Fiction, 204 pages
Genre: Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling
Publisher: Fiction Vortex
Release date: Oct 2, 2019
Content Rating: G (There's some kissing)

 Book Description:

There’s no escaping midnight.

High school soccer star and part-time truffle hunter Dani Tucker is having a really bad day. As if being publicly humiliated by her boyfriend and suffering a season-ending injury aren’t bad enough, she also finds out her dad is dating again! When Magic offers her the chance to change it all—to live her own Cinderella story—Dani doesn’t hesitate. With visions of Prince Charming and happily ever after swimming through her head, Dani is completely blindsided when Cinderella’s life twists into her own like a tornado, leaving destruction in its wake. And when her midnight moment comes, she has to decide which life to choose and which to give up... forever.

A modern spin on a classic fairy tale, Becoming Cinderella is a story of friendship, family and magical blessings going awry. Fans of H2O: Just Add Water and Gail Carson Levine’s The Wish will love the high school humor, magical mishaps, and step mama drama.

WHAT IS THE REALM WHERE FAERIE TALES DWELL?

Courageous damsels, conniving dragons, dwarves obsessed with beard grooming… The Realm Where Faerie Tales Dwell is home to them all. Traditional fairy tales from Cinderella to The Princess and the Pea blend with murder mystery and good old fashioned adventure. Join heroines and heroes alike as they save princes from ogres, uncover political secrets, and learn why you should never duel someone who’s sitting down.

OTHER FAERIE TALES SERIES INCLUDE:

Pieces in the Cinders
Rose Red
The Faceless Princess
The Dragon’s Maid
Barley and Rye
Transforming Magic

Discover more at www.FictionVortex.com



My Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

Every so often I long for a fairytale retelling. I'm not sure why, but I guess it's because fairytales do have their charm, like that of Cinderella. Who doesn't like a rags-to-riches story?

Becoming Cinderella was a fun and quick book to read. It's YA fiction but geared to the younger YA (13-14 years). Dani is a 16-year-old teen who plays soccer and loves to go truffle hunting in the forest behind her house. Digging for mushrooms is something her mother taught her to do just before she was killed by a drunk driver. Dani has a close relationship with her dad and also her best friend Livvy. When Dani finds a beautiful mysterious ring in the forest she discovers the world of faeries and of magic. Suddenly, her world changes and puts Dani to the test.

One of the best things about this story is that it explores themes of family and friendship, mixed with a good dose of humor. I loved Dani's relationship with her father and her best friend. The author cleverly intertwined Cinderella's story with that of Dani's, keeping the reader entertained and wondering how it would all end. And the fairy godmother? Well, she was not quite what one would expect but this made it all the more interesting.

A fun retelling for the young teen who loves modern fairytales with a twist!

Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.



Buy the Book:


About the Author:


Lecia is a YA and children's author whose favorite things are being at home, the smell of Barnes and Noble, and currant pie. Unfortunately, currants do not grow well in Mesa, Arizona, where she currently resides, but she remembers them fondly from her Michigan childhood. Lecia is wife to one, mother to five, and confidant to many. Tell her your secrets at leciacriderwrites@gmail.com - they just might pop up in her next book!*
*names will be changed, of course ;)


Friday, December 6, 2019

The Me in Memory by Aspen Bassett (Review)



This is the sequel to A Penny Lost, which I read last year and loved. Check out my thoughts on this second installment of the Penny Lost trilogy!

Book Details:

Book Title: The Me in Memory by Aspen Bassett (Book #2)
Category: YA Fiction, 263 pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: World Castle Publishing
Release date: Nov. 4 2019
Content Rating: G (There's some kissing and some mild violence)

Book Description:

It’s been one month since Penny Grace traveled through time with Stranger, the hottie from next door. One month since she changed the course of the future, developed mysterious control over a dark force, and somehow got erased from time... Now, not even her own sister remembers her.

Penny feels the daily sting of not belonging in her own home, so when Stranger asks for help in preventing his brother Jack's death, she jumps at the opportunity.

But their simple rescue mission soon turns impossible when a darkness named The Shadow offers Penny an impossible choice: win her family back by taking down The Void and restoring the natural timeline, or save Jack and ensure the world’s collapse.

Not one to trust a threat, Penny decides to find The Void herself and demand help. Only now The Void is masquerading as a human with no intentions of risking his freedom to save a dead man. Secrets pile up between Penny and her Stranger as she struggles against an inevitable sacrifice.

If Jack lives, Penny dies. If Jack dies, Penny loses everything.


My Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

After reading the first book A Penny Lost, which I loved and which had a cliffhanger ending, I was anxious to get my hands on this second book. I think if you haven't read the first book, a reader could be lost as there is not much back story included, therefore it's best to read the first book which sets the stage for everything. And yes, this book also has an open ending with questions still unanswered. So I'm assuming (and I hope!) there's a third book on the way.

In the first book, Penny and Stranger were sucked by a black void and transported back in time. Stranger had no memories at the time. But now they have been back for a month. Stranger has his memories back but Penny has been erased from history, hence her family does not know she even exists. They want to go back in time to fix this and to save Jack, Stranger's brother. On a side note, I wish Stranger would have told Penny his name rather than try to have her guess. He was fine as Stranger when he didn't know his own name but once he did, I just thought it was weird to keep calling him Stranger.

Penny can see auras in the form of colours. This makes her quite unique. As in the first book, I found this made the story different and fascinating. In The Me in Memory, we now learn more about the Void and the Shadow. I must admit, the whole plotline that revolved around these entities was hard to follow. It didn't always make sense to me. However, as I progressed further into the book, I could see where the author was going with it. The friendship between Penny and Stranger deepened. The historical aspects of the time travel were interesting. I thought Penny's sister Dinah was annoying and I wasn't always sure who's side she was on. Perhaps this was done intentionally to build up the suspense. She did grow on me by the end of the book.

Overall, this was a good sequel, even though it didn't grip me as much as the first book did. Sometimes this happens with the middle book in a trilogy. Penny seemed a little too superhuman in her emotions. She brushed off very hard situations too easily. I didn't feel her losses as deeply as I felt Stranger's.  

This was entertaining and fun to read. I recommend this series for lovers of time travel fantasy novels. And I look forward to seeing how this story continues and ends. What will Penny have to do to make things right? Will her life ever be the one she most desires? Can't wait for book 3!


Buy the Book:



Meet the Author:


Aspen Bassett works at a library, telling stories and suggesting books. When she's not working, she's usually sipping hot cocoa and wondering what would happen if she had superpowers. She's been published in multiple anthologies including Oomph: A Little Super Goes a Long Way and Inaccurate Realities.

Aspen grew up learning about chakras and auras and the true power of imagination which slips into her writing whether she intends it to or not. In college, when she wasn't busy working on her degree in Creative Writing, Aspen also got her certificate in Women's Meditation (basically general energy work). Now, she's working toward a diploma in Integrated Healing Arts with a certificate in Hypnotherapy.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram


Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Wingless and Beautiful by Jerilee Kaye (Book Spotlight and Giveaway!)



Today I'm spotlighting this YA novel. I was attracted to the book cover and title. Check it out!

Book Details:

Book Title: Wingless and Beautiful by Jerilee Kaye
Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 290 pages
Genre: Romance
Publisher: KIX Creative Publishing House
Release date: November 2019
Content Rating: PG-13 : some curse words and there are kissing scenes. There is one love scene in the end, but non-explicit and non-descriptive.

Book Description:

Beautiful Allison Harley is far from perfect. She was a victim of domestic violence that left her physically scarred and emotionally broken.

Hunter Vaugh was handsome, rich and brilliant. He was a golden boy who thought he was invincible until a tragedy took away his perfect life… along with his ability to see.

When they met, Allison was running away from her nightmares, and Hunter thought he had no reason to undergo the treatments needed to recover his eyesight. He was blind, but he saw how beautiful she was, and she gave him a reason to live… a reason to see again. She was his angel, and he was hers.

Hunter went away with a promise that once he returns, he will be able to see her, protect her… be the guardian angel she deserved. But once he got his eyesight back, can he look past the scars that her nightmares left her? Will he keep the promises he made her? Or will he go back to his perfect life and leave her in the hands of the new angel, who took care of her when he left?


Buy the Book :




Meet the Author:


Jerilee Kaye was born under the sign of Leo in the year 1979. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Legal Management from De La Salle University. She has post-graduate qualifications in the fields of Product Management, Project Management and Procurement. She is a Certified Senior Professional in Supply Management from NLPA, Pennsylvania and is currently working her way to an MCIPS certification from CIPS UK.

She manages a global supplier portfolio for multi-national and government entities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. She is also an entrepreneur, managing a photography and printing company with her husband.

She is married to her first love, Sam, who she's been dating since she was 16. They are blessed with two beautiful angels, MarQuise Justine Jerilee and Sir Alfred IV.

When she's not buried under stacks of paper at work, or engrossed with her writing, she spends some down time playing golf, kicking her husband's butt on a judo match and learning to play the piano.

Connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ twitter ~ instagram





Enter the Giveaway!
Ends Dec 11, 2019


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Tuesday, October 1, 2019

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (Review)


There's been a lot of hype about this trilogy and I wanted to read something different. It was different for sure, but it did not impress me as much as I thought it would.

Book Details:

Book Title: The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black
Category: YA Fiction,  370  pages
Genre: Fantasy, Faerie
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release date: January 2, 2018
Content Rating: PG-13 for violence

Book Description:

By #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, the first book in a stunning new series about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue.

 Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him--and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

My Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

I had a copy of this book in my library that I acquired at BookExpo a few years back. There's been a lot of hype about this trilogy and I wanted to read something different, so I decided to read it. Let me begin by saying that although I enjoy YA fiction I had not read any faerie fiction, so I was looking forward to doing so. Holly Black sure opened up this fantasy world to me and I must say that it was a fascinating world. The world-building was excellent.

Although I enjoyed the novelty of this genre, I cannot say I loved this book. Jude is a complex character and her transformation from a scared mortal to one who learns to manipulate and wield power was well executed. But I could not connect to her relationship with Prince Cardan, who I disliked throughout the novel.  And there were times when I seriously questioned her judgment.

There is brutal violence in this novel, and most of it done without the exploration of what it does to those affected by it. At times the lines between good and bad were blurred, and although I agree that life is never black and white, it's hard to remain ambivalent, which is how this book seemed to want to make me feel. 

In the end, although I was pulled into this fae world, I'm not compelled to continue the series. I don't care enough about the characters to want to know how it all pans out. However, I think that die-hard fans of faeries will enjoy this trilogy with its royal faerie intrigue and touch of romance.



Buy the Book:


About the Author:



Holly Black is the bestselling author of contemporary fantasy novels, including Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale and the #1 New York Times bestselling Spiderwick series. She has been a finalist for the Mythopoeic Award and the Eisner Award, and the recipient of the Andre Norton Award. Holly lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Theo, in a house with a secret library.

Connect with the author: Website


Wednesday, February 28, 2018

The Clock Flower by Barbara Casey (Review & Giveaway!)


Barbara Casey's F.I.G. Mystery series is about three teenage orphans who are prodigies and call themselves FIGs—Females of Intellectual Genius. What adventure awaits them in this book? Read my thoughts and enter to win your own copy.

 Book Details:

Book Title: The Clock Flower by Barbara Casey (Book 3 of The F.I.G. Mysteries)
Category: YA Fiction, 208 pages
Genre: Mystery / Fantasy
Publisher: Gauthier Publications, The Hungry Goat Press Imprint
Release date: February 2018
Tour dates: Feb 26 to March 30, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 (There is light profanity and some threat of violence.)

Book Description:

Dara Roux, abandoned when she was seven years old by her mother. Exceptionally gifted in foreign languages. Orphan. Accepted to Yale University.

Mackenzie Yarborough, no record of her parents or where she was born. Exceptionally gifted in math and problem-solving. Orphan. Accepted to MIT.

Jennifer Torres, both parents killed in an automobile accident when she was sixteen. Exceptionally gifted in music and art. Orphan. Accepted to Juilliard.

The three FIGs—Females of Intellectual Genius—as they are called, have graduated from Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women after returning from New York City where Dara learned why her mother abandoned her all those years ago, and they are now attending universities where they can further their special talents. This means they will be separated from each other and from Carolina, their much-loved mentor and teacher who is “one of them,” for the first time in their young lives. They vow to try living apart for one semester, in the so-called real world that doesn’t include the orphanage; but if things don’t work out, they will come up with another plan—a plan where they can be together once again.

Dara is invited through Yale University to take part in an exciting archeological project in China. Jennifer, once again visualizing black and white images and the unusual sounds of another cadence that seem to be connected to Mackenzie, is engrossed in creating her next symphony at Juilliard. Mackenzie, because of her genius at problem-solving, is personally chosen by a US Senator to get involved in a mysterious, secret research project involving immortality that is being conducted in a small village in China—not too far from where Dara is involved with the archeological site. Once there, however, she finds herself facing a terrifying death from the blood-dripping teeth of an ancient evil dragon. Her best friends, the FIGs and Carolina, rely on their own unique genius and special talents to save her as she discovers the truth of her birth parents.


My Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

I've read several books by Barbara Casey who writes both fiction and non-fiction works. Her F.I.G. Mystery series is about three teenage orphans who are prodigies and call themselves FIGs—Females of Intellectual Genius. I read the first book in the series The Cadence of Gypsies and enjoyed it very much. I did not get a chance to read the second book, The Wish Rider but I just finished the third one The Clock Flower.

Because I read the first book and had already been introduced to the three FIGs, Dara, Mackenzie and Jennifer, I did not feel like I had missed much by not reading the second book. The author mentioned the events in that book throughout the pages of this one and so I knew what was going on. In this third instalment, the three girls have graduated from the Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women and are each going to start on their separate learning paths by attending different universities. But once again, adventure awaits them.

When Mackenzie, the math genius, is invited to be a part of a secret research project involving immortality that is being conducted in China, it all ties in to her birth parents. Connected to this is also Dara's research in ancient languages and Jennifer's musical composition involving Chinese instruments. The author ties in the connection between the three girls and their former teacher Carolina as the plots builds up and the mystery intensifies.

Although this is a very quick read, the author manages to build a satisfying mystery that involves the girls genius skills, their close-knit friendship and love for one another, gypsy culture, and some comical elements on the mischievous nature of these girls. Although this book is considered a stand-alone novel, it would be best to read The Cadence of Gypsies where the reader is first introduced to the FIGs to have a better understanding of all the secondary characters that are also present in this novel. There is definitely a connecting thread throughout all three books.

This YA novel would appeal to readers who like mystery, gypsy culture and books about friendships. Overall, this was an enjoyable read.


To read more reviews, please visit Barbara Casey's page on iRead Book Tours.


Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads


About the Author:



Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels for both adults and young adults, as well as book-length works of nonfiction true crime and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. Her nonfiction true crime book, Kathryn Kelly: The Moll Behind Machine Gun Kelly, has been optioned for a major film and television series. In addition to her own writing, she is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency. Established in 1995, she represents authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. Barbara is also a partner in Strategic Media Books Publishing, an independent publishing house that specializes in cutting-edge adult nonfiction. Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with her husband, and three dogs who adopted her: Benton, a hound-mix; Fitz, a miniature dachshund; and Gert, a Jack Russel terrier of sorts.

Connect with the author:  Website


Enter the Giveaway!
Ends April 7, 2018


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Saturday, March 18, 2017

Nigel Tetley's Two Fat Cows and When Bees Flew in for Breakfast (Reviews)

Today I'm highlighting two books from UK author Nigel Tetley whose writing is imaginative, diverse and humourous. The first one is a children's book and the second a poetry book for teens.


Book Details:

Title: Two Fat Cows by Nigel Tetley
Illustrator: Simon Goodway
Publisher: The Choir Press
Category: Children's Fiction, 20 pages
Genre: Humor
Published: Nov 1, 2016
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

Meet two very greedy cows, Marigold and Petal, and follow them in their madcap plan to eat every blade of grass they can get their hooves on. A new laugh-out-loud rhyming story for young readers.

Buy the Book: Amazon UK ~ Amazon  ~  Add to Goodreads


Our Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani and Son

The first thing that struck me about this book was the cover. The cow on the right has that look on her face. Mischievous and secretive, while the other looks deceivingly innocent. That in itself told me this book would be funny.

Told in rhyme, this is the story of two fat cows stuck in their pen where there is no more grass. They long to get out to eat the long green grass on the other side of the pen but can't get past the gate. So they look for a way to get out. How they finally get out is funny and silly. 

My son was curious at to what the moral of the story was and after reading it several times we came to the conclusion that it's a cute way to use a funny situation to learn new words and build a vocabulary. Overall, this is a fun story to read out loud to young children who will be entertained at the antics of these two fat cows.



Book Details:

Title: When Bees Flew in for Breakfast: Forty Original Poems for Teenage Readers
Author: Nigel Tetley
Publisher: The Choir Press
Category: YA Fiction,  pages
Genre: Poetry
Published: June 10, 2016
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

When Bees Flew in for Breakfast is a collection of forty original poems written specifically for the 11-16 age group. The poems cover a wide range of themes, from nonsense humour to Gothic horror to logical puzzles to the Natural World. The poems are playful, surprising, thought-provoking and intriguing. This is a book that young people will want to read.


Our Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

I used to love poetry when I was a teen, so knowing this poetry book was written especially for teens intrigued me. To begin with, I love the title. It's a phrase that can conjure up different emotions: fear at having bees fly in during one's breakfast; comfort that bees provide honey which has been a staple for breakfast for many years; and humor when picturing bees eating their version of breakfast. I think you get what I mean. Like poetry, the title can be viewed or interpreted in different ways.

This book is filled with a varied selection of poetry, from simple (A Year and a Day) to more complex (Trewyn Subtropical Gardens, St. Ives Cornwall), from short (Summer Moment) to long (The Mystery of Inglebrough Mill), from fun (Colour Contest) to sad (On the Death of a Friend) to reflective (The Wind). I truly enjoyed reading these poems, with their vivid imagery, diversity and myriad of topics. Each poem had a different feel to it. Here is a stanza from the poem The Wind, one of my favorites from this book:

The wind rushes onward from nowhere,
To an end-point that reaches no rest
As it swells like the turbulent ocean,
But its waves have no trough and no crest.

I have two teen kids and neither said they would read this book, primarily because they are both reluctant readers and poetry is not their thing. Having said that, I think that teen kids who love to write poetry or songs will appreciate this book. Furthermore, teachers can use this book in the classroom for reading assignments or poetry discussion. I think the poems are diverse enough that they can interest kids with varied reading tastes. And I think it a great way to build appreciation for poetry. This is a unique poetry book that can be inspiring for young minds attracted to words, songwriting and poetry.


Buy the Book:  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon  ~  Add to Goodreads

About the Author:


Since qualifying as a Religious Studies teacher in 1989, Nigel Tetley has worked in a variety of schools, spanning middle and secondary age groups in both the State and independent sectors. At the beginning of his teaching career, he also spent a year in Greece teaching English as a second language. In 2001, he started writing children's poetry at the suggestion of a colleague. Since then he has also written the texts for three carols: 'Alchemy,' 'Snow,' and 'The Way of Paradox.' (Encore Publications, 2006.)

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Kitty Hawk & the Mystery of the Masterpieces: Book Five of the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series by Iain Reading



This installment is perfect for firing the imagination of readers of all ages.

Book Details:

Kitty Hawk & the Mystery of the Masterpieces: Book Five of the Kitty Hawk Flying
Detective Agency Series by Iain Reading
ISBN: 9781508488866
Published: February 14, 2015
Published by: CreateSpace
Trade paperback: 238 pages
Content rating: G

Book Description:

Kitty Hawk and the Mystery of the Masterpieces is the eagerly anticipated fifth instalment of the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency book series. This series features the intrepid teenage seaplane pilot and amateur detective Kitty Hawk as she continues in the footsteps of Nancy Drew and Amelia Earhart on her epic flight around the world. After meeting up with an old friend in the eternal city of Rome, Kitty Hawk unexpectedly stumbles (almost literally) into a bizarre mystery involving creepy disembodied voices, secret hidden rooms, unbreakable mathematical codes, ominous chain-smoking strangers and an array of plundered artworks by such famous masters as Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro and Vincent van Gogh - all of it wrapped up and entwined in an enigmatic riddle hanging in plain sight right in front of everyone's noses. 

With the help of friends both old and new, Kitty Hawk follows a trail of cryptic clues that leads her on a breathless tour across a quintessentially European landscape - from ancient Roman Italy to the darkest corners of Germany, Austria and beyond. As with the previous books in the series, this new installment is perfect for firing the imaginations of readers of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history, this exhilarating adventure will have armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike anxiously following every twist and turn as they attempt to help Kitty Hawk try and solve the extraordinarily bizarre Mystery of the Masterpieces.

Buy the Book: Amazon


My Review:
Reviewed by Sandra Olshaski

In the words of Sherlock Holmes "the game is on" and, once again, Kitty finds herself in the midst of it, this time in Rome. Kitty has flown herself there in her trust De Havilland Beaver seaplane to meet Charlie, her friend from Book 1. They are almost immediately plunged into a mystery regarding missing paintings and the Nazis. Determined, adventuresome Kitty sets out to find the answers as she travels through Europe.

As usual I admire the author's creativity in both setting the plot and solving the mystery. Who can resist hidden rooms, eerie voices, old-fashioned radio receivers and secret codes in connection with priceless artwork. The reader is not only entertained but also learns so much in the Iain Reading books. In this round, young readers can learn about the concentration camps as Kitty visits Dachau, Germany. Older readers may be captivated by the numbers stations, wherein people broadcast codes over the radio to transmit information. I had never heard of them.

The short 2-page chapters are easy to read and the titles are captivating. For example, Chapter 18 is entitled "Unbelievably, Extraordinarily, Ridiculously, Mind-Bogglingly Difficult." And the book cover is brilliant!

This fast-paced mystery will enchant young and old. I enjoy reviewing Iain Reading's books and highly recommend them to all.

Sandra Olshaski's disclaimer: Thanks to the author for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.


About the Author:


Iain Reading is passionate about Root Beer, music, and writing. He is Canadian, but currently lives in the Netherlands working for the United Nations.

Ian is the author of the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series, The Wizards of Water and the dragon of the month club. To learn more, go to his Amazon page.

Connect with Iain on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Thursday, February 16, 2017

The Sky Between You and Me by Catherine Alene (Review)


The Sky Between You and Me is a captivating and enlightening read. It can help teens, adults and parents become more aware of what it's like for a young person to live with an eating disorder.

Book Details:

Title: The Sky Between You and Me by Catherine Alene
Category: YA Fiction, 496 pages
Genre: Mental Illness / Social & Family Issues
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Published: Feb 7, 2017
Content rating: PG-13 + M for mature subject and a few f-words

Book Description:

An emotional and heart wrenching novel about grief and striving for perfection.

 Lighter. Leaner. Faster.

Raesha will to do whatever it takes to win Nationals. For her, competing isn't just about the speed of her horse or the thrill of the win. It's about honoring her mother's memory and holding onto a dream they once shared.

Lighter. Leaner. Faster.

For an athlete, every second counts. Raesha knows minus five on the scale will let her sit deeper in her saddle, make her horse lighter on his feet. And lighter, leaner, faster gives her the edge she needs over the new girl on the team, a girl who keeps flirting with Raesha's boyfriend and making plans with her best friend.

So she focuses on minus five. But if she isn't careful, she's going to lose more than just the people she loves, she's going to lose herself to lighter, leaner, faster...

My Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

The Sky Between You and Me caught my interest because it deals with mental illness as well as the struggles of a teen girl dealing with friendship issues and the loss of her mother. This is the second book that I read in verse and once again I enjoyed it. It's like a heady mix of poetry and narrative. I was so caught up in the writing and the story that I raced through it.

The Sky Between You and Me is the story of Raesha, a teen cowgirl who is on a Rodeo team and wants to compete at Nationals. Her mother died of cancer a few years back and she lives on her farm with her dad who is away a lot of the time purchasing cattle and taking care of their farm business. Dealing with her mother's absence, her desire to win so that she can honor her mother's memory, and the new girl in town Kierra who befriends both her best friend Asia and her boyfriend Cody, Raesha begins to eat less and less. She struggles with anorexia nervosa and loses respect for herself and blames herself for everything that is happening around her.

As a mother of a teen girl, I truly felt for Raesha. She misses her mom and although she has a good relationship with her dad, he is away a lot and also dealing with the loss of his wife. It was heartbreaking to see her go into this downward spiral alone. Raesha is a teen girl in a lot of pain. The author captures the struggles and inner turmoil of Raesha so well, especially since the story is written from Raesha's point of view and by an author who has fought hard to recover from this eating disorder. 

At the beginning of the book we see a confident Raesha who loves the farm life, which is well described in this book (I'm a city girl through and through) and who loves her best-friend-since-childhood Asia and her strapping cowboy boyfriend Cody. But with the introduction of a new girl who seems perfect in every way, in looks and in cowgirl skill, Raesha's self-worth slips away and she becomes obsessed with losing weight so she can be lighter on her horse for the competition.

As she becomes more sick, it seems that both Asia and Cody are too busy with their own stuff to really notice. I was so frustrated by their lack of caring. These were the two people closest to her and they didn't do anything! None of the adults seemed to notice either. Asia and Cody actually were not pleased with her for not liking Kierra, and their standoffish behaviour only served to make Raesha feel like it was her fault they were distant, which just spiralled her deeper into her illness. Cody wasn't much of a boyfriend. He treated her more like a brother at times, showing some signs of affection, but that's pretty much it. There wasn't much substance to their relationship except that they shared the love of rodeo sports.

I would have liked for some acknowledgement from Asia and Cody that they could have done more to help Raesha. That they were sorry for not truly recognizing Raesha was ill. (Even though she was sickly thin, bruised easily, and fainted in school. Hello? Didn't it occur to them she could have had cancer? Or some other disease that was making her lose her appetite?) Yes, I get that teens can be selfish thinking mainly of themselves and perhaps not knowing enough about mental illness. But what about after learning that Reasha saw a doctor and was now in therapy? I don't want teens reading stories about mental illness thinking that it's okay to ignore blaring signs that their friend is ill. Even talking to a counsellor at school or an adult they trust about their concern for a friend would have been a start. This message has to come out in stories such as this one.

The Sky Between You and Me is a captivating and enlightening read. It can help teens, adults and parents become more aware of what it's like for a young person to live with an eating disorder. As a parent, it reminded me how important it is for me to keep telling my teen girl she is beautiful and worthy.

Disclosure: Thanks to Raincoast Books for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.


About the Author:



Catherine Alene has an MA in teaching, and earned her MFA in writing at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Like the protago­nist in The Sky Between You and Me, Catherine battled anorexia nervosa. Now in recovery, she is actively involved with the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and regularly serves as a recovery speaker, talking to college students and professional groups about her experience living with, and finally recovering from, the disease. Catherine teaches language arts at an alternative high school in central Oregon, where she currently lives with her daughter, horse, cat, and black lab, Herman.

Connect with the Author: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook


Thursday, January 12, 2017

Love, Lies and Spies by Cindy Anstey (Review)


Fans of Jane Austen will be delighted by this witty and charming tale. It's a clean read with romance, mystery and humor.

Book Details:

Title: Love, Lies and Spies by Cindy Anstey
Category: YA Fiction
Genre: Historical / Romance
Publisher: Swoon Reads (Feiwel and Friends)
Published: April 19, 2016
Trade Paperback, 368 pages
Content rating: G

Book Description:

In Love, Lies and Spies, Cindy Anstey's hilarious homage to Jane Austen, a lady with a penchant for trouble finds a handsome spy much more than merely tolerable.

Juliana Telford is not your average nineteenth-century young lady. She's much more interested in researching ladybugs than marriage, fashionable dresses, or dances. So when her father sends her to London for a season, she's determined not to form any attachments. Instead, she plans to secretly publish her research.

Spencer Northam is not the average young gentleman of leisure he appears. He is actually a spy for the War Office, and is more focused on acing his first mission than meeting eligible ladies. Fortunately, Juliana feels the same, and they agree to pretend to fall for each other. Spencer can finally focus, until he is tasked with observing Juliana's traveling companions . . . and Juliana herself.

Buy the Book:  Amazon



My Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

Every so often I love to read a good Regency novel and when it's YA historical, all the better. I didn't quite know what to expect from Love, Lies and Spies, and I am pleased to say I loved it. It was very well-written, with witty dialogue, an intelligent heroine who loves bugs (ladybugs to be exact, she actually studies them) and a swoon-worthy gallant spy.

Juliana Telford was sent by her benevolent father to live with her Aunt so that she can be introduced to the ton for her coming out and hopefully find a suitable husband. However, Juliana is not interested in procuring a husband. She, instead, has researched, along with her father, and documented her findings on ladybugs. Now, she hopes that her stay in London will afford her the time to look for a publisher.

Spencer Northam is a spy for the War Office and he meets Juliana during one of his lookout missions. He is taken in by her wit and lack of apologies for being different from the other young ladies. He too in uninterested in marriage, but his mission requires that he stay close to Juliana and her family and friends. How could he resist her guileless charm?

The author captures so well the feel, speech and setting of the Regency period. It was a delightful story that highlighted the fickleness of the beau monde when it came to proper manners and how quickly one's position can change in a society steeped in gossip and frivolous rituals. Juliana stood out because she was unconventional and dared to pursue a passion for entomology, which was considered unladylike, indeed.

Fans of Jane Austen will be delighted by this witty and charming tale. It's a clean read with romance, mystery and humor. I look forward to reading more from this author as I now count her among my favorite! 

Disclosure: Thanks to Raincoast Books for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.


About the Author:



Cindy Anstey spends her time writing and adventuring around the world. She has lived on three continents, had a monkey in her backyard and a scorpion under her sink, dwelt among castles and canals, enjoyed the jazz of Beale St and attempted to speak French. Cindy loves history, mystery and... a chocolate Labrador called Chester. Love, Lies and Spies is her debut novel. She currently resides with her husband in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Connect with the author: Website ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

The Perfect Tear by Connie Lansberg (Review & Giveaway!)


I was impressed with the author's storytelling. Her ability to create unique characters and take them on a grand adventure was well done.

Book Details:

 Book Title: The Perfect Tear by Connie Lansberg
Category: YA fiction, 324 pages
Genre: Fairytale / Fantasy
Publisher: Rockit Press
Release date: Dec 15, 2015
Tour dates: Oct 31 to Nov 25, 2016
Content Rating: G (This book is family friendly)


Book Description:

 Eleanor, a timid orphan, has no clue to her real purpose, but she also has no desire to become a subservient old maid, like the miserable nuns she is forced to with. Eleanor believes Edward, whom she loves, will save her from being forced to take vows. She knows Mother Superior has no intention of letting her leave–her songs are the only thing keeping the grey mist at bay. Her devastation is complete when she discovers Edward is a prince and heir to the throne, but it is the impetus she needs to leave the safety of the abbey and go in search of her long lost father.

She doesn’t get far before discovering her true destiny. With only her instincts to protect her, she must match wits with a powerful being intent on the destruction of her world. If she does not find The Perfect Tear and release its healing power into the land, she will become an accomplice in the destruction of all she loves.

Buy the Book: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble


My Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I decided to read The Perfect Tear by Connie Lansberg. The fact that it was a fairytale/fantasy mix intrigued me. I was pleasantly surprised how quickly I became immersed in the story and loved Eleanor and her family. The story begins with a science fiction setting as we are introduced to Tsera's world, a powerful other world that functions with music and sound and seems to be above the earth.

The story then shifts to a medieval setting and we come to know Eleanor as a child. She is a lovely little girl who is kind and loves animals, and she has inherited the gift of her mother who is a Singer. This gift allows Eleanor's singing to bring life to the vegetation and to make things grow. But tragedy strikes when her mother dies and her father must leave her with the nuns. Little does Eleanor know that the Earth is slowly being destroyed by Lerion, a being from Tsera's world who is intent on taking Tsera's place. When she turns sixteen Eleanor is the special Singer who is entrusted to find The Perfect Tear so that she can save her world.

When Eleanor embarks on her search there is yet another shift and this time the setting is like an adventure that made me think of Alice in Wonderland. From otherworld beings that travel in light orbs to princes and castles and finally to giant caterpillars, a dragon with copious tears and foul smelling rodents, Eleanor has quite the journey before she makes a beautiful discovery. I was touched by the ending that actually brought tears to my eyes!

I enjoyed the medieval setting the best because I love historical fiction. The shift in settings made it seem like I was reading different stories within the same book at times. I have to say that although I loved the musical theme in the story, I did not understand why Tsera considered it a game and allowed a being from her world to wreak havoc and destruction to Earth with little accountability. Lerion did learn a lesson but not before callously destroying whole villages in his quest to beat Tsera. I did not understand this, nor did I understand their world. It was too vague. The world building of Tsera's world was insufficient for me.

Despite this, I was impressed with the author's storytelling. Her ability to create unique characters and take them on a grand adventure was well done. This book held my attention throughout and I enjoyed it. For readers who like mixed genres and want to read something different, The Perfect Tear is it. The ending is good and opens the way for a possible sequel.

To read more reviews, please visit Connie Lansberg's page on iRead Book Tours.

Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me this book for review. I was not told how to rate or review this product.

 About the Author


Connie Lansberg is a singer/songwriter, scriptwriter and now author with the publication of her first book The Perfect Tear. Connie studied script writing at AFTR and has had songs placed in major Australian TV series. She has just complete an album of songs connected to the book and will be performing these live at her weekly jazz gig in Melbourne.


Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram


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Monday, August 22, 2016

Haven: Chronicles of Warshard by Katherine Bogle (Review, Interview and Giveaway)



Book Details:

Book Title: Haven (Chronicles of Warshard #1) by Katherine Bogle
Category: YA fiction, 208 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Friesen Press
Release date: May 2016
Content Rating: PG-13 (graphic and gruesome violence in the form of battle scenes, death and torture)

Book Description:

Princess Haven was never meant to be Queen.

Her immortality has saved her time and time again, but when the last of her royal family dies at her feet, she is next in line to rule a nation on the brink of war. With no formal training on how to be Queen, Haven must rise to the occasion with the help of her best friends, and personal guard, or risk losing everyone she has ever loved.

With war to the West, and no escape to the East, the evil tyrant Kadia sets her sights on the six kingdoms. Haven's neighbors are quick to fall under the swords of Kadia's shadow soldiers, leaving a sea of bodies and a clear path to Haven's only home. Haven must make a choice; take her people and flee to the foreign Republic across the sea or lead a last stand against a powerful dictator.

Buy the book: Amazon ~ Barnes & Nobles ~ Book Depository Indigo Chapters



My Review

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

Every year I find a few books that are hidden gems. Haven is one of those books for me. It is YA historical mixed in with some fairy tale and magical elements. I was swept away by this story and enjoyed the unique aspects that Katherine Bogle brings out, making me understand why her book won second place in World's Best Story.

Haven is a strong character who becomes queen of her kingdom when her parents and brothers are killed by the evil Queen Kadia. Unlike any of her family members, she is also immortal and cannot be killed, although her enemies have tried. But Haven sees this more as a curse than a blessing until she uses this power to save her people and those of the neighboring six kingdoms.

The author beautifully explores this internal dilemma that Haven faces and we see how she grows from an insecure young woman to a powerful queen who faces her fears even after torture and deep loss. She also allows herself to finally fall in love.

The world-building is well done although I would have liked more details about their journey in the tunnel to Seaburn. The themes of loyalty, friendship and facing one's fears are well explored and I think are essential in a YA novel. This book is filled with action and adventure and the pacing is good. It's a clean novel with no sex or profanity, but there is graphic and gruesome violence in the form of battle scenes, death and torture.

Although this is the first book in a trilogy, the ending was satisfying and it left me with anticipation for the next book, which I look forward to reading. If you like YA historical novels with a strong female protagonist, this one delivers with high-stakes action and plenty of fantastical elements!

To read more reviews, please visit Katherine Bogle's page on iRead Book Tours.

Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me this book for review. I was not told how to rate or review this product.


Our Interview with Katherine Bogle


LCR: Can you describe your book's story in 20 words or less.

KB: Haven must defend her kingdom and only home against an evil tyrant bent on possessing her immortal power.

LCR: Your novel Sanctum placed 6th in the World’s Best Story contest 2014 and Haven placed 2nd in the World’s Best Story 2015. How has this impacted your life as a writer?

KB: Coming so close to winning the World’s Best Story contest 2 years in a row has definitely been an amazing experience. It took me from a wannabe author to a published indie author in only 2 years! Sometimes I still can’t believe it!

LCR: You write YA and NA sci-fi and fantasy novels. What has sparked your love of these genres?

KB: I’ve always been a long time fan of fantasy and sci-fi, from Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit and Narnia, to Stark Trek and Star Wars, I think it was only a matter of time before I dived right in to both genres.

LCR: Do you attend comic-con and who are your favorite authors?

KB: Unfortunately I haven’t had the pleasure of attending comic-con yet! It has been a long time dream of mine, and I do hope to one day be able to attend. My favorite authors currently are Lindsay Buroker, Susan Dennard, Shilin Huang and Kristin Cashore.

LCR: As a writer, what is your advice to aspiring writers?

KB: Just write. It is as simple as that. Whatever free time you have, use it to write as much as you can. Even if you don’t think it’s publishable, even if it’s fan fiction or roleplaying, do it. Those years of writing and story telling will help you develop not only your skill but your career as well.

LCR: If you could travel back in time, where would you go?

KB: Honestly, I’d really love to visit prehistoric times and check out some dinosaurs. I love Jurassic Park and Terra Nova!

LCR: If there was one thing you would want readers to remember about you, what would it be?

KB: I’d want readers to remember I write strong women. I think it is very important to include women in all aspects of literature and showcase how diverse we are. 

LCR: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Katherine!



About the Author



Katherine Bogle's debut young adult novel, Haven, came second in the World's Best Story contest 2015. She currently resides in Saint John, New Brunswick with her partner in crime, and plethora of cats.

​Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook
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