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Published on November 15, 2021 04:16

November 9, 2021

Blog Tour and Giveaway for Out of My Heart (Out of My Mind#2) by Sharon M. Draper

I
am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the OUT OF MY HEART by Sharon M. Draper Blog
Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the
giveaway!

About
The Book:

Title: OUT OF MY HEART (Out of My Mind
#2)

Author: Sharon M.
Draper

Pub. Date: November
9, 2021

Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn
Dlouhy Books

Formats: Hardcover,
eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 352

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Melody faces her fears to follow her passion
in this stunning sequel to the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling
middle grade novel Out of My Mind.

Melody, the huge-hearted heroine of Out of My Mind, is a year
older, and a year braver. And now with her Medi-talker, she feels nothing’s out
of her reach, not even summer camp. There have to be camps for
differently-abled kids like her, and she’s going to sleuth one out. A place
where she can trek through a forest, fly on a zip line, and even ride on a
horse! A place where maybe she really can finally make a real friend, make her
own decisions, and even do things on her own—the dream!

By the light of flickering campfires and the power of thunderstorms, through
the terror of unexpected creatures in cabins and the first sparkle of a crush,
Melody’s about to discover how brave and strong she really is.

Reviews:

“A deeply satisfying and worthy
continuation of a beloved story.” (Kirkus Reviews, STARRED September 15,
2021)

“Melody Brooks, a smart, determined 12-year-old diagnosed with cerebral palsy,
returns in this sequel to 2010’s Out of My Mind. Longing for independence from
her family and daily routines, she persuades her parents to let her attend Camp
Green Glades, a summer camp for kids with disabilities in her home state of
Ohio. With the help of her Jamaican American counselor Trinity and three
cabinmates, Melody navigates new experiences—including zip-lining, horseback
riding, and a first crush. Melody’s voice is as wryly funny as ever, and the
supporting cast, which features kids and adults of various ethnicities and
disabilities, treat her with respect and empathy… it’s impossible not to be
charmed by the witty protagonist’s affirming, frequently ecstatic discovery of
what it means to be part of a community that truly understands her.” (Publishers Weekly *STARRED REVIEW* October 11, 2021)

CHAPTER 2

“Ooh! Look! There’s another one—and another!” my sis-ter shrieked. She raced across the grass of Mrs. V’s front yard, a jar clutched in her hands, trying to convince one of the tiny glowing insects to zoom into it. If my firefly had joined that swarm, I’m sure that he and the others had to be laughing at Penny, sky dancing away from her.

“Come help, Mrs. V!” Penny pleaded. “They won’t listen to me!” She plunked down on the grass, her face scrunched into a frown.

Mrs. V, who was our next-door neighbor and Mom’s best friend, lounged on a padded recliner on her front porch. She winked at me before saying, “Well, maybe they don’t want to live in a bottle—maybe they just want to boogie tonight!”

“Just one?” Penny put on her most pitiful face.

“All right,” Mrs. V replied. “But we’re gonna let it go after we look at it, okay?”

“Fine,” Penny grumbled, folding her arms across her chest. “But why?”

“Would you like to live in a jug?” Mrs. V asked.

Penny laughed. “I’m too big! But a bug in a jug even sounds right!”

“Well,” Mrs. V countered, “what if I found a jug big enough for you to fit in? Would you want to live there?”

Penny seemed to think for a moment. Then she said, “I guess not. I’d feel smooshed and stuffy.”

“Exactly! So, what do you think we should do?”

Penny rolled into a somersault and popped up with an ease I couldn’t help but admire and said, “Okay—

we’ll catch us some bugs, then we let them fly!”

Mrs. V, whose full name was Violet Valencia, turned to me. “Let me go help her before she scares them all out of town!” she said, double-checking to make sure the locks on the wheels of my wheelchair were secure. The two of them whirled across the lawn, laughing and reaching for the tiny lights. I couldn’t join them, but for once I didn’t feel left out—a firefly had already found me.

I could see Mom’s blue SUV pulling into our drive-way next door. Butterscotch, our golden retriever, raised his head in recognition. Mom works at a local hospital as a nurse, her days filled with taking care of people who have diseases or broken bones or heart attacks. She tells me her job is a challenge, but she loves it! She often comes home tired, but still has to take care of me. And, no joke, I’m a handful. An armful! She’s never, ever complained, but sometimes that makes me feel bad.

During the school year, the belching yellow bus used to drop me at Mrs. V’s house after school. But now that we’re on summer vacation, Penny and I spend most weekdays with her.

Every morning she has us do stuff like spelling, math, and language arts, but before I start to feel all bad like it’s summer school or something, Mrs. V

makes it so much fun it hardly seems like schoolwork.

Scrabble equals spelling lessons for me, and easy word puzzles become vocabulary fun for Penny. I learn math from a bingo game and clips from old movies help us learn history. I try to complain, because, duh, it’s summer vacation! But honestly, I really like it—at least for a couple of hours. Then in the afternoon we make Popsicles or play games or watch movies. Once a week we go to the neighborhood library. Penny fiercely chooses her own picture books—she rarely needs anyone to help her.

I’ve got this really awesome computer-like device that attaches to my wheelchair. It’s called a Medi-Talker, but that sounds way too boring and grown-up, so I named it Elvira. It’s how I talk to the rest of the world.

By using my thumbs, when they decide to cooperate—

which, luckily, is most of the time—I can tap or type just about anything that pops into my head, then push the speak button, and Elvira will say it for me. I can do complicated stuff like a book report or a math project, or I can ask any question that might pop into my head, like What makes clouds float? Or Where do farts come from?

Or Why do my armpits smell funky? Instead of answering me, Mrs. V, of course, makes me look up the answer on the internet through Elvira.

At the end of the day, I like to just sit on the porch and chill. But Penny is four and a half and doesn’t know the meaning of chill! That girl only knows two speeds—

go, or sleep. She’s able to run and hop and spin around in a circle until she’s dizzy. She did seventeen somersaults in a row earlier today—she made me count.

As for me? Well, even though my brain blazes, the rest of my body works like a piece of taffy that’s been left in the sun for too long. No somersaults for me, unless I accidentally fall out of my wheelchair. I can’t walk, can’t talk, and can’t use my hands and fingers like most folks do, but Mrs. V helps me shut down the pity party. She knows my mind is a vault full of words and ideas just bursting to be let out. So between our weekly library visits, Mrs. V encourages me to swim through the deep and gurgly waters of the internet to explore just about any subject that I’m curious about. I’ve dived into Egyptian history and discovered the female pharaohs, and I’ve dog-paddled (ha-ha!) through the history of golden retrievers, the mechanics of car engines, and the mysteries of every planet. By the way, I’m pretty sure I’d be able to walk on Mars or Venus, assuming I didn’t get fried by poisonous gases.

So Friday is usually library day—my favorite. First thing Friday mornings, Mrs. V loads me and Penny into her car, and we head to our local branch a few blocks away.

I even love the smell of the place—it smells like history and mystery and book bindings. It’s an old building, so the floors and bookshelves are dark polished wood. Mrs.

V told us that she practically lived there when she was a kid. She knew where they kept the audiobooks as well as old photographs and films, and the rare books. I love audiobooks because I can just put on headphones and listen to anything I want. And hardcover books can be attached to my wheelchair tray with an easy clip.

All those books sit all week on the shelves, silent like me, waiting to speak to me every Friday. Then I grab a new pile of possibilities and place them on my tray.

The librarian, Mr. Francisco, always greets me with a smile and asks me questions about the books I read the previous week as he checks them in, then reloads my bag with the new pile.

Last time I went, I was on a mission. Mr. Francisco, aka Best Librarian in the History of the World, had emailed me that the brochures he’d ordered for me were in! I. Was. Psyched! What brochures, you wonder?

Well, my parents don’t know it yet, but I want to go to summer camp. The last few weeks of school, it seemed like all anyone was talking about was the camps they were going to. Rock-Climbing Camp. Fly-Fishing Camp.

Even Mermaid Camp. Yep, it’s a real thing. Mermaid Makeovers. Underwater Theater. Dancing with Fins.

Girls go there to learn to swim with attached fish flippers.

Seriously. Molly and Claire and Rose went on and on and on about it, how their parents are letting them fly—

alone—from Ohio to Florida to go to . . . Mermaid Camp!

When I tapped and told that story to Mrs. V, she’d snorted out loud with laughter.

“What’s so funny?” I’d asked.

Mrs. V could hardly catch her breath. “When you’re wearing those fake mermaid tails, you can only sit on the beach and look cute in a photo!”

“So?” I didn’t get it.

“Melody, think about it. A person wearing a fish tail can’t walk!! Those kids get rolled around in what the camp calls a royal mermaid chariot. It’s a chair with wheels. . . . It’s . . . it’s . . . a wheelchair!” She exploded with laughter.

I finally got it! See, last year in fifth grade Molly and Claire used to majorly make fun of me because I was in a wheelchair, and now they go and choose to spend their summer pretending to be part fish and not able to walk! Ha ha ha ha!

I sure don’t want to go anywhere to pretend I’m a mermaid, but it got me thinking. Maybe I could go to camp! It sounds really fun and a little scary and totally different. Plus, except for Mrs. V’s house, I’ve never once had a sleepover or been away from my family for even an entire day. I think I want to do something exciting. And unusual. And maybe scary. If those girls can do it, so can I.

But did they even have camps for kids like me? Here’s the thing: people tend to stare at me. Nobody asks out loud, but I know they wonder, What’s wrong with that girl? Why can’t she talk? That freaks me out sometimes, because I can’t tell them what they’re too polite to ask.

I know a little bit about things not said. I’m unable to say actual words like everybody else, and that drives me bananas. I’ve got like a thousand thoughts and questions zooming around in my head. Like. All. The.

Time. But not much opportunity to have a real conversation, or say something quickly, like in an emergency.

The result is some serious frustration.

For example, our family went out to a restaurant a few months ago. We don’t do that often, because my let’s-just-fling-out-any-old-time arms, and my unfailing ability to knock stuff over by accident, are often more than we want to deal with. Soup? Oops, sorry.

Penny’s orange juice? Dang, my bad. So people stare.

Most aren’t judging—just curious. A few whisper to each other. They sometimes point at me. I’m used to it and I ignore them.

But on that day we had ordered our food, and all was going well. Even though we forgot my Medi-Talker at home, which almost never happens, Mom read me the menu, and I hummed when she mentioned something I wanted. Mom spooned applesauce into my mouth, and it was delicious—flavored with cinnamon. When the food and drinks came, I didn’t spill one single drop.

Weird, though—Penny wasn’t eating, and it was chicken nuggets—her favorite. She had been granky all day (that’s our word for a grumpy, cranky Penny), but I guess Mom had figured that maybe a special trip out to eat might cheer her up.

Then I noticed Penny’s eyes were getting glassy, and sweat had popped up along her hairline. She was going to blow! I automatically looked down for Elvira, and, of course, she wasn’t there. So there was no way I could tell my parents that I thought Penny was about to get sick.

And yep, halfway through the meal, Penny scrunched up her face, burst into tears, and threw up all over Mom and most of the food on the table! What a mess!

Dad and Mom apologized to the waitstaff, paid the bill, and left a massive tip. Then we dashed out of there in a hurry. I felt bad that Penny was sick, but secretly I was so glad that for once it wasn’t me making a mess.

We still laugh about that one. What I wasn’t so glad about was that I hadn’t been able to warn my parents that Penny was about to erupt. Yep, serious frustration.

Oddly, I still remember that the bill that night came to $47.47. My brain does that—recalls random numbers, maps, facts, and computations. And don’t mess with me when it comes to trivia—like the average summertime temperatures in Alaska, or Argentina, or Armenia. Or the secret ingredients in the grease that’s used in fast-food places (you don’t want to know), or the shortcut to the final level of just about any online video game. Most of this gets crammed into my head, wandering around with nothing to do. I know mountains of stuff, but I’m pretty much stuck in a valley.

Why can my brain do all that, but not know how to tell my body to move? Or talk? Or give my folks a heads-up that Penny’s gonna throw up?

So I prefer to focus on the things that I can do.

Like, I can communicate with folks through Elvira.

Mom and Dad just had her upgraded to System 9.9.

She’s still clunky, but now she’s smaller, faster, and even waterproof, like an iPad that took its vitamins. Plus, she snaps to my wheelchair in seconds. She’s got apps and a full keyboard, so I can send texts, write out whatever’s on my mind, and check online stuff like everybody else.

But it’s still impossible to type fast enough to bring up everything I wonder about.

She’s got a speaking voice called “Trish.” It’s the closest thing to a real girl’s voice that I could find in the choices. I sure wish her speaking system was better-sounding, though. I think they ought to let me create my own voice for her. Maybe I’d pick a cool accent, or something really glamorous, or perhaps low and mysterious.

Which makes me think—who knows what my voice would have been like? I can actually make sounds—something that comes out sounding like Uhh to others, my family and my teachers know mean Yes. And I hum when I like something—just not real words. Which kinda sucks. Maybe when I go to college, I can major in creating artificial languages. That would be awesome.

Now that I think about it, I’ve also got a sort of sign language, too. I can’t do ASL—that’s got way too many complicated hand motions—but me and my family have adapted a version that works. For example, my sign for “Mom” is my thumb on my chin, with my fingers as straight as I can get them. “Dad” is thumb on forehead with fingers up. And my sign for “Penny,”

even though she’s four and a half and sassy, is both arms hugged together like a baby in a cradle. And I can shake my head to say no, just like everybody else does.

So, it’s a little awkward, but we manage to communicate—sort of.

But right that second, when I saw Mom getting out of our car, I would have simply liked to have an easy way to blurt out what I was thinking. And what was on my mind right then was that I wanted to go to camp.

When Mom came into Mrs. V’s yard, I couldn’t just yell out, Hi Mom! like Penny did, but I didn’t need to spell out anything for my mother—I just hummed, and she knew.

Butterscotch bounded over and yelped with joy as Mom pulled a treat out of the pocket of her scrubs.

Penny was right behind the dog, jumping into Mom’s arms. “Spin me, Mommy! Spin!”

Mom kissed her chubby cheek and spun her around, Penny’s legs pinwheeling out.

“More?” Penny begged when Mom put her back down.

“Penny-girl, Mommy needs a break,” she said, laughing. “Can I say hello to Melody now?” She came up onto the porch and leaned over to hug me tight.

She smelled so good—a combination of talcum powder, alcohol wipes, and bubble gum. She keeps a big bag of Dubble Bubble in a top cabinet—away from Penny. She says chewing gum helps her relax, so Dad makes sure the bag never goes empty.

Random thought—I’d love to be able to chew bubble gum. The smell makes my nose tickle in a good way. I’d probably pop right with it if I could actually blow a real bubble!

“How’s my girl?” Mom asked.

I hugged her back as best as I could and made that hum sound that we both know means I’m good.

“Hey there, Violet,” Mom said as she poured her-self a cup of lemonade. She then collapsed into the other chaise lounge, took a deep sip, and breathed out

“Ahhhh.”

Mrs. V pointed to the firefly show. “Glad you got home in time for a little nighttime magic.”

“Oh, they’re out early tonight,” Mom said.

“Mommy! Mommy! Look at mine!” Penny shouted, running across the yard for her jar and back up onto the porch. She plopped the jar of blinking bugs into Mom’s lap.

“They’re beautiful!” Mom held up the jar. “Even better than the sparkle lights in your bedroom.”

“Mrs. V says I can’t keep them, but they like me! So, can I? Pleeeease? ”

“Well,” Mom said, “let’s think about this. How did you catch them?”

“They just flew into my jar!” Penny told her solemnly.

“And Mrs. V helped me.”

“Do you think some of those bugs might have moms and dads waiting for them in the bushes?”

“Hmm.” Penny pondered this. “Maybe their parents don’t know they’re out playing in the dark. Maybe they snuck out!”

“Well then, we better set them free so they can get home before they get in trouble, okay?”

“Good idea!” Penny agreed.

As Mom opened the jar, Penny whispered, “Hurry home, little bugs!”

And, with a whoosh of the lid, a dozen tiny little light bulbs lifted into the darkness.

About Sharon M. Draper:

Sharon
M. Draper is a three-time New York Times bestselling author
and a recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring her significant and
lasting contribution to writing for teens. She has received the Coretta Scott
King Award for both Copper Sun and Forged by Fire,
and was awarded the Charlotte Huck Award for Stella by Starlight.
Her novel Out of My Mind has won multiple awards and was
a New York Times bestseller for over three years, and Blended has
also been a New York Times bestseller. She taught high school
English for twenty-five years and was named National Teacher of the Year. She
now lives in Florida. Visit her at SharonDraper.com.

Giveaway
Details:

2
winners will win a finished copy of OUT OF MY HEART, US Only.

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

11/8/2021

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt

11/8/2021

Rajiv’s Reviews

Review

11/9/2021

bookblogarama

Excerpt

11/9/2021

Little Red Reads

Review

11/10/2021

Locks, Hooks and
Books

Review

11/10/2021

Lifestyle of
Me

Review

11/11/2021

Bri’s Book Nook

Review

11/11/2021

Sparetimereader

Review

11/12/2021

More
Books Please blog

Review

11/12/2021

OneMoreExclamation

Review

Week Two:

11/15/2021

Wilted pages

Review

11/15/2021

Don’t Judge,
Read

Excerpt

11/16/2021

For the Love of
KidLit

Excerpt

11/16/2021

BookHounds YA

Review

11/17/2021

Eli to the nth

Review

11/17/2021

Two Points of
Interest

Review

11/18/2021

Not In Jersey

Review

11/18/2021

@bookshelfmomma

Review

11/19/2021

Once Upon a
Twilight

Review

11/19/2021

The Momma Spot

Review

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Published on November 09, 2021 04:09

October 23, 2021

Book Tour and Giveaway for Jadie in Five Dimensions by Dianne K. Salerni

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the JADIE IN FIVE DIMENSIONS
by Dianne K. Salerni Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the
giveaway!

About the Book:

Title: JADIE IN FIVE DIMENSIONS

Authors: Dianne K. Salerni

Pub. Date: October 5, 2021

Publisher: Holiday House

Formats: Hardcover, eBook,
Audiobook

Pages: 288

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

A thirteen-year-old girl seeks answers about her past in the
fourth dimension–and beyond–in this think-outside-the-box adventure.

What do you do when it turns out your whole life has been a lie?

Jadie Martin was always told she was abandoned by her parents. Creatures from
the 4th dimension rescued her and placed her with a loving adoptive family.
Now, Jadie acts as an agent for the beings, also known as Seers. She uses the
4th dimension as a short-cut to travel anywhere on Earth, performing missions
calculated to guide the world toward a brighter future.

But then Jadie discovers that her origin story is fake. In reality, her birth family
has suffered multiple tragedies and disasters engineered from 4-space,
including the devastating loss of their baby girl. Her!

Doubting the Seers, Jadie starts anonymously observing her long-lost family.
Why are they so important? What are the true intentions of the Seers? And what
will all-powerful four-dimensional beings do to a rebellious human girl when
they realize she’s interfering with their plans?

A Wrinkle in Time meets Flatland in this thrilling
journey that challenges the meaning of family, loyalty, and our universe at
large.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Reviews:

“Salerni offers a page-turning adventure tale and
adeptly breaks down the math and science elements behind multidimensional
theory for middle-grade readers. The book also has heart, touching on the
emotional lives of two adopted 13-year-olds and the true meaning of
family.”—Booklist

“A thrilling ride through a multidimensional universe and high-stakes
action”—Kirkus Reviews

“A complex, engaging sci-fi adventure that offers a different perspective
on our world, literally from a dimension beyond.”—School Library
Journal

About Dianne K. Salerni:

Dianne K. Salerni has written many books for children
and young adults, including state-award nominated series The Eighth Day and
Junior Library Guild selection Eleanor, Alice, and the Roosevelt Ghosts. She attended
the University of Delaware and the University of Pennsylvania before teaching
fourth and fifth grades for many years. Now Dianne spends her time hanging
around creepy cemeteries, climbing 2,000-year-old pyramids for book research,
and volunteering at her local rescue animal shelter.

Giveaway
Details:

3
winners will receive a finished copy of JADIE IN FIVE DIMENSIONS, US Only.

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/18/2021

Rockstar Book Tours

Kickoff Post

10/18/2021

BookHounds Ya

Excerpt

10/19/2021

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt

10/19/2021

I’m Shelfish

Excerpt

10/20/2021

Jazzy Book Reviews

Excerpt

10/20/2021

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt

10/21/2021

Bibliosini

Review

10/21/2021

Jaime’s World

Excerpt

10/22/2021

Rajiv’s Reviews

Review

10/22/2021

bookblogarama

Spotlight/Excerpt

Week Two:

10/25/2021

@curlygrannylovestoread

Review

10/25/2021

The Reading
Wordsmith

Review

10/26/2021

Nonbinary
Knight Reads and Reviews

Review

10/26/2021

#BRVL Book Review
Virginia Lee Blog

Review

10/27/2021

Little Red Reads

Review

10/27/2021

Nerdophiles

Review

10/28/2021

Books and Zebras

Review

10/28/2021

The Momma Spot

Review

10/29/2021

Two Points of Interest

Review

10/29/2021

Lifestyle of Me

Review

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Published on October 23, 2021 06:10

October 22, 2021

Blog Tour, Author Interview, and Giveaway for Snotlings: The Boogie Monster by Tarryn Mallick

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the SNOTLINGS by Tarryn
Mallick Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the
giveaway!

About the Book:

Title: SNOTLINGS: The Boogie
Monster

Authors: Tarryn Mallick

Pub. Date: October 25, 2021

Publisher: Tarryn Mallick

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 298

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, TBD

Can you survive the snotpocalpyse?

Jackson Hart loves picking his nose. But when he finds a tiny warrior in his
booger, everything turns WEIRD and DANGEROUS! Not only does he have a
civilisation of snotlings up his nose . . . one wants revenge.

Mucuszar and his awful germ army have conquered both nostrils and Jackson’s
world is next!

Can Jackson and his friends stop the snotpocalypse? Or will Mucuszar’s deadly
creation destroy the planet?

INSERT
YOUR POST OR REVIEW HERE!

About Tarryn Mallick:

I became a writer because I had a story to tell. A story
about snot! It may seem strange to write a book about boogers, but growing up,
my little brother tormented me with his snot every… single… day!

I got my degree in Creative and Professional Writing and
studied numerous courses and books, applying everything I had learnt to my
book. It took me a short six years and now Snotlings is nearly ready to be
shared with everyone.

To know that families around the world will squish together
in bed and read my story and laugh- as I did with my Mum and brother- brings me
so much happiness!

Website | Twitter | Instagram
| Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway
Details:

1
winner will receive a SNOTLINGS Book Box with fun goodies and finished copy of SNOTLINGS,
US Only.

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/18/2021

Rockstar
Book Tours

Kickoff Post

10/19/2021

Two
Chicks on Books

Interview

10/20/2021

BookHounds YA

Interview

10/21/2021

Lily
Luchesi’s Blog

Guest Post

10/22/2021

bookblogarama

Spotlight/Excerpt

Week Two:

10/25/2021

Rajiv’s Reviews

Review

10/26/2021

Nerdophiles

Review

10/27/2021

Lifestyle
of Me

Review

10/28/2021

Fyrekatz Blog

Review

10/29/2021

Books
a Plenty Book Reviews

Review

Week Three:

11/1/2021

#BRVL
Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Review

11/2/2021

I’m Shelfish

Spotlight/Excerpt

11/3/2021

The Momma
Spot

Review

11/4/2021

celiamcmahonreads

Review

11/5/2021

Don’t
Judge, Read

Guest Post

Week Four:

11/8/2021

The
Bookwyrm’s Den

Review

11/9/2021

Little Red
Reads

Review

11/10/2021

Locks,
Hooks and Books

Review

11/11/2021

Two Points
of Interest

Review

11/12/2021

@curlygrannylovestoread

Review

11/13/2021

Jaime’s World

Excerpt

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Published on October 22, 2021 05:44

October 8, 2021

Book Tour and Giveaway for Kiss and Tell: A Limited Edition New Adult College Romance Collection

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Kiss and Tell

A Limited Edition New Adult College Romance Collection

What could go wrong when the good girl gets stuck with the bad boy? After all, it’s just chemistry…This limited edition collection takes readers on a whirlwind through new adult college romances where the good girl is stuck with the bad boy and she’s not happy about it, until their chemistry together makes her question everything she thought she knew about him.This collection will include the following stories by the authors listed below:Kings of Study Hall – Mandy Melanson, USA Today Bestselling Author & Colleen KeyJourney to Cheshire Bay – H.M. Shander, USA Today Bestselling AuthorThe Science Club – C.A. King, USA Today Bestselling AuthorStudy Games – Sofia AvesGuarded – Lizzi StoneWhat I Love about You – Kari ShueyMaking the Grade: a Woodbridge Park story – Kira CunninghamHeartbreaker – Amy StephensPlaying for Her – Sienna GrantA Play called Pretend – Ainsley JaymesTruth or Dare – Corinne M KnightImperfect Chemistry – Lynn StevensThe Good Girl Con – Sunny AbernathyRopin’ Her In – TB MannRight Now – Rachel A. SmithTBD – Krista Ames, USA Today Bestselling AuthorLove on Campus Radio – Danielle JacksBroken Lies – C.N. Marie & Lizzie JamesEasy A – Samantha BacaTempting – ZepphoraBad Chemistry – Maci DillonTBD – Lissa Lynn ThomasPrecious Soul – Adina D. GreyCampus Legend – Jennifer SucevicCollision Course – LJC Fynn & Hope Sherrill, International Bestselling AuthorsTBD – Leanne DavisRescuing Griffin – Kaye KennedyTBD – Lexi NoirLoft Mechanics – Rhylie MatthewsHow to Catch the Bad Guy – Helena NovakIn Session – Kay Blake, Award Winning Author

**Only .99 cents!!**

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The Science Club

by C.A. King

The Science Club is out to prove there is one universal equation for love.

It started as a joke. It continued as a tradition. Somewhere along the line, invites became an honour and joining an elite privilege. Now, the all-female member roster is shaking up the status quo.

Ten years after inception, they have a formula. All that’s left is to test their theory and the resident bad-boy just became their lab rat.

I was diagnosed with clinical depression after the loss of my mother, father and husband within three years of each other; all to cancer. 24/7 in-home care, coupled with the loss I felt, left its mark on my psyche.

Depression takes up a lot of my life. Reading and writing are the only things I have found that help (in connection with regular medication), even if only for a short time. To escape to a different world can make a big difference in my mood in real time.

To put things in perspective, when I was at my lowest point, I couldn’t open mail, talk on the phone, or even drive to the store. Walls of sadness surrounded me. As they closed in, tears would fall. There didn’t need to be a reason or trigger.

People ask me why I started writing. My answer is simple: I wanted to create a world into which other people with similar problems could escape. I wanted to share the one place that had helped me for many years.

I have always said that as long as one person finds a little bit of happiness out of my books, I am, in my opinion, an accomplished author. The same is true for every writer out there. Please don’t ever let anyone tell you different.

I read books as well as write them and have visited the worlds many different authors have created. Those worlds not only make me feel better, but give me the strength to face real life again. I want to thank everyone who writes—I want them to know they are making a difference.

Fast forward to today…

C.A. King, USA Today Bestselling Author has over 60 books available across multiple fantasy sub-genres.

Awards include:

Hamilton Spectator Readers’ Choice Award in the Best Local Author category 2017 & 2018 & 2019

Brant News Readers’ Choice Award: Best Local Author 2017

Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards: Best Novella/Short Story 2017 Silver medal

2017 SIBA Awards – Best Novella

2017 SIBA Awards – Best New Adult

2018 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards: Gold Medal in the Fiction – Supernatural genre

2018 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards: Bronze Medal in the Fiction – New Adult genre

2019 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal Winner in the Fiction – Supernatural genre

2019 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal Winner in the Young Adult – Fantasy – Urban genre

City of Brantford Featured Artist February 2020

Burlington Post Readers’ Choice Award in the Best Local Author Category 2020

Toronto Star Readers’ Choice Award in the Best Local Author Category 2020

Cambridge Times Readers’ Choice Award in the Best Local Author Category 2020

Burlington Post Readers’ Choice Award in the Best Local Author Category 2021

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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Published on October 08, 2021 05:00

October 4, 2021

Book Tour and Giveaway for Love is Coming to Town

Love Is Coming to TownA Small Town Christmas Romance Anthologywith stories byRebecca Barton, Dawn Luedecke, Danielle Pays, Alexa Rivers,Kaci Rose, Megan Ryder, Bell Splendor, Kate Stacy, Claire Wilder

What’s a small town Christmas without a little romance?Fake relationships, second chances, friends to lovers, and sexy brother’s best friends.Mix in some small town gossip, meddling matchmakers, and Christmas magic and you have a perfect holiday escape. Finding His Cheer by Claire Wilder He loved and lost. She’s just lost. This Christmas, will love be the thing that finds them both? Operation: Christmas Seduction by Megan Ryder A sexy bartender seduces his crush of Christmas trees, gifts, and cookies. But when the season ends, will their romance too? Second Chance Christmas by Alexa Rivers Breaking down outside her ex’s bar wasn’t part of the plan. Could a Christmas reunion reignite their old spark? Love At Frost Sight by Bell Splendor When two enemies come together, will it be steamy heat, or a melting iceberg of disaster? Captivated by Danielle Pays Needed: One fake boyfriend for the holidays. She never expected her brother’s best friend, aka her crush, to volunteer. Twelve Days by Kate Stacy She’s missing her usual holiday spirit, until a secret admirer gives her twelve days of Christmas she’ll never forget. Christmas at La Villa Rosa by Rebecca Barton Two creatives clashing on a joint project…surely it’s too cold to shut each other out, especially on Christmas Eve? Her Second Chance Christmas by Kaci Rose Her best friend’s Christmas wedding. A family reunion and the man she never thought she’d see again. Kiss Me Under the Mistletoe by Dawn Luedecke The only person who can put Sexy Santa in his place is a pain in the butt, and the perfect Mrs. Claus.

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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Published on October 04, 2021 05:00

September 9, 2021

Book Tour and Giveaway for Dark Secrets by P. Sawyer

Dark Secrets

A Children of Chaos Novella

by P. Sawyer

Genre: YA Paranormal

Eight months after learning about who she was, Sage Pope has adjusted to life as a teenage witch- as much as she can. Continuing to learn and control her powers, learning about her family, and maintaining as much of a normal childhood as possible with her new friends definitely presents its own challenges. As the one-year anniversary of her kidnapping and epic battle with her father approaches, Sage and the Four find themselves thrust into another mysterious threat; one stronger than anything they’ve faced before. Could it threaten to bring down the Circle Sage has been sworn to protect?

**Only .99 cents!**

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P. Sawyer is a romance author that loves to read as much as she loves to write! Fascinated with bringing the “real” version of love to readers, P. strives to show how mess love can be and how happily ever afters aren’t always what they seem.

P. grew up in New England and currently lives with her husband, two children and dog in CT. When she is not creating less than perfect love stories, she can be found reading or watching Hockey.

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$10 Amazon

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Published on September 09, 2021 05:23

September 2, 2021

Book Tour and Giveaway for White Feathers Academy by Phillis Cherry

White Feathers Academy

White Feathers Academy Book 1

by Phyllis Cherry

Genre: Middle-Grade, YA Fantasy

WHAT IF – Somewhere in the galaxy there is a school taught by angels?
WHAT IF – A young person with no special talent finds the one perfect gift?
WHAT IF – Youngsters who failed to survive their first life are given a new life?
WHAT IF – One evil young girl threatens talented students with her greed?

Halo Havens didn’t know that angels had special talents and different jobs.

She’d never met an android, talked to a giant fish or met an angel.

Her life changed the day she skated in front of a car trying to rescue a puppy and was transported to the fantastic world of White Feathers Academy. There she makes new friends, accepts the challenge of a seemingly hopeless job and embarks on the greatest adventure of her new young life, if she can survive the tests.

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Phyllis Cherry writes stories for the Middle-Grade, YT and YA audience. Her books are sought by readers who enjoy fantasy, mystery, coming of age and religious genres. If you enjoy a good read about angels and wannabe angels, you’ll love her White Feathers Academy Series Books I and II (Mystery at Camp Esther, White Feathers Academy Book II, to be released in October 2021, Inkspell Publishing).

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$5 Amazon gift card – 4 winners!

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Published on September 02, 2021 05:00

August 30, 2021

Book Tour and Giveaway for Broken Skies by Theresa Kay

Broken Skies

Broken Skies Book 1

by Theresa Kay

Genre: YA SciFi Adventure Romance

Jax will do anything to save her twin . . . even team up with a teenage alien left behind by the same ship that took her brother.

She agrees to help the alien get back home, and in return, he agrees to sneak her into the alien city to find her sibling.

Too bad it’s not that simple.

Jax soon finds that she’s drawn to the alien boy with bright green hair and jewel-like scales on his back and he’s equally affected by her, the courageous redhead with haunted eyes. But she doesn’t know the alien’s true motives, and he has no idea that she is much more than she seems.

Worse, the connection forming between them has unknown consequences.

The humans and the aliens are both hiding deadly secrets and the forbidden bond linking the two teens threatens to reveal everything. What started as an uneasy alliance and a seemingly straightforward rescue mission could spark an inter-species war.

The Broken Skies series is a completed series filled with action, adventure, aliens, and romance. Perfect for fans of the Lux series, Under Different Stars, and The Fifth Wave.

One click today to dive in!

★★★★★ “A fast-paced and action-packed start to a series that will leave you reeling as you scramble for the sequel.” – Kelly St Clare, USA Today Bestselling Author.

★★★★ “Broken Skies is a captivating read, and its appeal crosses genres. Whether you like sci-fi, dystopian, paranormal, or just anything with a hint of romance, check it out; it’s got something for everyone.”- FicCentral

★★★★★ “I don’t want to give too much away but take an alien/human love story, set it in a post apocalyptic type society, feature a strong but damaged heroine, sprinkle in a compassionate but secretive male lead, add in suspense, drama, shake and you have the wildly entertaining Broken Skies.”-Shannon from Book Crushin

**On Sale for Only .99 cents!!**

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Fractured Suns

Broken Skies Book 2

Almost everything she thought she knew is wrong…

A trip to the city yields some much-needed answers, but Jax is once again forced to leave Lir behind and return to Peter’s cabin where enemies from her past await. But there are bigger things at stake than revenge, and she finds herself traveling with some unexpected companions toward a place she hoped to never see again.

After being imprisoned on the orders of his uncle, Lir hasn’t seen daylight or linked to anyone in weeks, and the pain and loneliness is almost too much to bear. But Jax’s visit gives him renewed hope—and the strength to continue fighting his uncle’s influence over the E’rikon, even when things look hopeless.

While Jax and Lir fight separate battles, their missions have more in common than they realize. It’s a race against time to stop men driven by greed and power. But the ones they trust the most might be the very people working against them—and “family” doesn’t mean what it used to. Will they recognize their friends from their enemies in time to save the people they love…or will they lose each other in the process?

One Click today to continue this young adult science fiction adventure series filled with action, romance, heartbreak, and betrayal!

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Shattered Stars

Broken Skies Book 3

Unexpected allies. Unexpected betrayals. Unexpected abilities.

The last thing Jax ever wanted was to be a weapon. Her abilities are unpredictable at best, but there’s no one else with enough power to take on Jastren and his mental manipulations. She doesn’t have to do it alone, though. Not only can she rely on the unwavering support of Lir, Rym, and her human friends, she also ends up with help from a surprising source.

Meanwhile, her twin brother Jace—his body controlled by Jastren, and the shattered pieces of his mind locked inside—has become a monster. The struggle to hold on to what’s left of his humanity has left him weak and more confused than ever before. Every thought, every impulse, and every memory has the potential to destroy him—and everyone else around him.

The futures of both the humans and the E’rikon are on the line, but as ulterior motives and political machinations are revealed, it becomes clear that the betrayals aren’t restricted to only one species. Can Jax and Lir get everyone to work together in time to prevent the two species from destroying each other? Can Jace find some measure of redemption for all he has done? And will Jax be able to harness her powers without losing herself?

One Click today to read the emotional, action-packed conclusion to this completed young adult dystopian science fiction romance series!

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Theresa Kay writes stories that feature flawed young adult and new adult characters in science fiction, urban fantasy, or paranormal worlds, all with a touch of romance thrown in for good measure. She’s constantly lost in one fictional universe or another and is a self-proclaimed “fangirl” who loves being sucked into new books, movies, or TV shows. Living in the mountains of central Virginia with her husband and two kids, she works as a paralegal by day and spends her free time reading tons of books, binging Avengers movies, anime, and Doctor Who, or playing Tomb Raider and Assassin’s Creed.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$25 Amazon,

Audiobook of Broken Skies,

ebook copy of Magic Bound the first book in my other series (Ravencrest Academy)

– 1 winner each!

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Published on August 30, 2021 05:00

July 29, 2021

Book Tour for Building a Surprise Family by Anna J. Stewart

Building a Surprise FamilyButterfly Harbor Stories Book 10by Anna J. StewartGenre: Clean Contemporary Romance

An instant family…Is life-changing! Pregnant construction supervisor Jo Bertoletti doesn’t need anyone’s help…or another heartbreak. So she’s putting handsome, kindhearted firefighter Ozzy Lakeman firmly into the friend zone. After all, she’s just passing through Butterfly Harbor, and her life is too complicated for a summer romance. But Ozzy feels an immediate connection. Can he convince the woman of his dreams to take a chance on building a forever family with him?