Sage Nestler's Blog, page 58

Fandom of the Month Club – Gryffindor Special Edition Box Review

Rating: 4/5

Fandom of the Month Club is a monthly box that sends you jewelry pieces and accessories based on a certain fandom each month.  This review is for the special edition Gryffindor box that they offered as a one time purchase for $16.98

One of the best things about this box is that the owners design all of the jewelry and have it made specifically for the box.  That means that the pieces you receive are one of a kind and are only available through them.  For this particular box you could choose which Hogwarts house you wanted your jewelry based on, and these were the items that were included:

An adorable sorting hat print that was designed specifically by the creators for the box.  The print reads:

“There’s nothing hidden in your head that The Sorting Hat can’t see, so try me on and I will tell you where you ought to be.”

A unique magnet designed by the company of the Gryffindor crest.  I particularly like that this has the red background to intensify the house colors.  This magnet is paper thin and works beautifully as a magnet, or small poster.  I put mine on the glass door of my bookcase as a small poster.

A custom Gryffindor bag that holds all of the jewelry included.

A three chain necklace that includes plaques that read “BRAVE”, “DARING”, and “GRYFFINDOR”.  I particularly liked this necklace, but since it is a three-chain necklace it gets tangled up very easily and is hard to undo.

A sword of Gryffindor that is wrapped to function as a ring.  It is adjustable, and one of my favorite pieces from the box.

A pair of gold Gryffindor lion earrings.  These studs are adorable, and are settle, but classy.

A Gryffindor themed charm bracelet.  This is by far one of the best items in the box.  The bracelet itself is adjustable and and has a red jewel charm, a gold bead charm, a sorting hat charm, and a Gryffindor saying charm that reads:

“You might belong in Gryffindor where dwell the brave at heart, their daring nerve and chivalry, set Gryffindors apart.”

Overall, this box was well worth the $16.98 paid. The pieces can’t be found elsewhere, and that makes this box one of a kind.  You can purchase their limited edition boxes once in a while when they are released, or you can choose to subscribe to their box and receive jewelry from a different fandom each month.  This box is perfect for those who love fandom themed jewelry, and for those on a budget.

*The only problem was that the necklace is hard to keep untangled.*

 

Growth Spurt by Roxie Prince

Title: Growth Spurt

Author: Roxie Prince

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

Two years after the end of The Way We Go, the debut novel by Roxie Prince, Growth Spurt picks back up with Katie Sterling and her friends as they turn thirteen and enter the confusing era of their lives wherein they are unsure whether to start growing up or to cling tightly to their childhoods.

Katie grapples with her boycrazy peers, and her inability to connect with them. As a member of the Young Debutante Society, she has her “coming out” party to prepare for, but her friendships and her identity come into question as the event approaches.

Michaela’s family is in turmoil over her parents’ divorce, and she and her brother rebel. Michaela tries to find solace in chaos, but her desire to grow up too fast puts her in a terrible position, leaving her feeling more alone than ever before.

Rachael and Aubrey struggle to find their place in their new dynamic. Aubrey’s strong Mormon faith and head-in-the-the-clouds personality separates her from her friends. Rachael struggles to assert herself and form an identity of her own while balancing the excitement of her first, secret, boyfriend.

All four girls have a lot of growing up to do; whether they do it together or not is what they’ll have to decide.

Review:

One thing that I love about Roxie Prince’s writing is that she can write from the perspective of thirteen year olds, and still make her writing fit for readers of all ages.  As someone in my 20s, I adored this book due to the heavy topics that were discussed, and I adored how Prince didn’t sugarcoat the pre-teen experience.  All of the characters that she chose to be in her cast were raw and real, and I found myself confused and hurting along with them.

Most books that I read that do involve characters in their pre-teens are dumbed down to the point where no one outside of the age range would be able to enjoy the writing.  This genre definitely needs more books like Prince’s to show that young people don’t need books that sugarcoat their experience, but help them to fight through their struggles and experiences with characters who know what they are going through.  Books that don’t shy away from tough experiences are the most valuable of all, and Growth Spurt is one of them.

Even though this novel is a sequel to Prince’s first book, The Way We Go, it can stand by itself and the reader doesn’t need to have knowledge of the first novel.  Growth Spurt just follows the main character’s sister from The Way We Go as she enters her teen years and struggles with feelings that she is not used to.  Prince did an excellent job of following three main pre-teens, while also showing insight from their parents and peers to intensify the story.  Her writing grapples with homosexuality, drug abuse, divorce, eating disorders, and so much more.  As someone who has struggled with multiple of these issues, I found myself connecting to each of the characters that struggled throughout the book, and I even felt that the book was healing to myself after all of this time.

The fact of the matter is, Prince deserves a wider audience.  Her books could easily be taking over the bookshelves of bookstores nationwide, and that is my honest opinion.  She knows her audience, but also knows how to write books that can be enjoyed by all.  Anyone who is in their pre-teens, or has grown up as a woman, needs to read this book.  It will change you.

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM:   Book Review Request Form

*Book reviews are free, but I am only accepting paperback copies as of right now.  My e-book review list is full.*

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX:   Go Indie Now!

 

Go Indie Now! Bibliotherapy Box FLASH SALE

Hello Everyone!

As a thank you for all of our supporters we are holding a FLASH SALE until September 20 at Go Indie Now!  Use the code “FLASHSALE” at checkout to receive $5 off of any plan or one time item from our shop, including our Celtic Lore: Myths & Legends – Limited Edition Box!

Thank you to everyone who has supported our box!  We are truly blessed to be able to share with you great up and coming indie authors as well as items to help you relax and escape from your troubles each month.

Shop Now!

Much Love,

Ashley

Weekly Update – 09/12/16 – 09/18/16

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

I apologize for this late post!  This week I already reviewed The Way We Go by the very talented Roxie Prince, and I will be reviewing Growth Spurt by Roxie later this week.

This week is also shipping week for Go Indie Now!, which is why I have been so busy!  Yay!  All September boxes are going out this week, and October boxes are now ready to order.  I am insanely excited to announce our October themes for the very first time, so here they are!

General Fiction Box: Shadows Linger – A bibliotherapy session for adults who wish they could still trick or treat (gothic/supernatural genres)
Romance/Erotica Box: Tainted Love – A bibliotherapy session for those who would like a taste of the darker side of romance
Poetry Box: Hopes and Fears – A bibliotherapy session to celebrate all of the darkness and light that is present in our lives (Our poetry box will feature an XL poetry themed blanket by Lazy Shift Linens!)

And, as always, 10% of every purchase benefits Knitted Knockers, and NAMI – The National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Y0u can use code “GIMMENOW” for 10% off of your first month!  Go Here to Order

I hope that you all have a beautiful week, and remember that you are all valuable and important.  Don’t let anyone tell you anything different!

Much love,

Ashey

 

The Way We Go by Roxie Prince

Title: The Way We Go

Author: Roxie Prince

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

Lindsay Picou is sixteen going on thirty. She’s been forced to not only take care of herself, but to raise her little sister, too, because their mother, Gloria, is a part-time prostitute and a full-time wanderer. Then, Gloria meets Ben. He not only changes her life for the better, but Lindsay’s, too. These changes come with a set of challenges Lindsay isn’t equipped for; she has to learn to be a student, a friend, and a daughter. In short, she has to learn how to be herself in a completely new world, and she is forced to learn things about the people in her life that both hurt and free her. Just when she starts to feel like she’s getting a handle on things, she meets Micah, Ben’s best friend, and things get a lot more complicated.

Review:

I am always looking for great novels that realistically portray the human experience, and The Way We Go does just that.  Roxie Prince doesn’t sugar coat the late teen experience, or the reality of growing up in a broken family with a parent who is not reliable.  I felt connected to Lindsay, the heroine, in so many ways, and my heart was broken and mended constantly throughout the novel.

What I loved most about Prince’s writing, however, was how she was able to mix artistic language with remarkable descriptions and observations.  A great example of this is:

“Locks of glossy black hair fell across her face, and Lindsay couldn’t help but notice how beautiful her mother was and think how it had been a curse rather than a blessing.”

Through that quote Prince breaks the traditional belief that all characters who are pretty have the easiest lives.  She turned all of these stereotypes on their head and revealed the truth that most of us want to avoid.

“All she knew for sure was that she wanted to be strong and powerful and in control of her own life, whatever position she may be in.  She hoped, when she was all grown up, she would be.  Being a kid was unfair; you controlled nothing about your own life.”

I admire Prince as an author, and compare her to other great writers who write on the human experience, such as Jodi Picoult, my favorite author.  Her work is for young adults and adults alike, and many could learn from the experiences that she writes about.

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM:   Book Review Request Form

*Book reviews are now free, but I am only accepting paperback copies as of right now.  My e-book review list is full.*

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX:   Go Indie Now!

 

Slave to a Vampire Trilogy by Katrina Kahler

Title: Slave to a Vampire Trilogy

Author: Katrina Kahler 

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

A thrilling vampire romance set in the mid-1600’s in the Caribbean. Follow Catherine’s journey across the seas to the hands of a vampire…where all is not what it seems. Bastian the vampire master falls in love with Catherine and she with him. Their love is real and strong, surely nothing can rip them apart. And that is when Victoria returns with an evil mission.

Review:

Most vampire-themed novels these days tend to be cheesy and too light for the mythology involved, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that Slave to a Vampire was brutal and dark.  That is exactly how I like my vampire novels to be.

Katrina Kahler did an excellent job of researching the 1600s Caribbean culture that she chose as a setting for her trilogy, and I adored the historical fiction aspect of it all.  Her writing was vivid and detailed, but not overdone, and I found myself entangled within the theme early on in the novel.  I wanted to be a part of the action, and I felt as though I had travelled back in time.  Kahler knows how to mix history, romance, and suspense into one great collection, and I was pleasantly surprised to finally find a vampire collection that did the mythology justice.

Kahler is a brilliant author in the way that she knows how to create worlds that are entirely her own, but are grown from reality and our past.  She is able to warp history in a way that is believable, and that is a sign of a true author.  I highly recommend this collection to anyone looking for a gritty vampire story that doesn’t shy away from dark circumstances but involves some romance elements as well.  This collection is equal parts horror and romance, and it is all I could have ever asked for in a vampire-themed collection.

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM:   Book Review Request Form

*Book reviews are now free, but I am only accepting paperback copies as of right now.  My e-book review list is full.*

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX:   Go Indie Now!

Shadow Fall by Audrey Grey

Title: Shadow Fall

Author: Audrey Grey

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: 

The asteroid hurtling toward the earth will kill billions.

The Emperor and his Gold Court will be safe in their space station, watching from the stars. The Silvers will be protected underground. But the Bronzes must fight it out at the Shadow Trials for the few remaining spots left on the space station.

When an enigmatic benefactor hands Maia Graystone a spot in the Trials, she won’t just get a chance at salvation for her and her baby brother, Max: She gets to confront the mother who abandoned her in prison, the mad Emperor who murdered her father, and the Gold prince who once loved her. But it’s the dark bastard prince she’s partnered with that will make her question everything, including her own heart. With the asteroid racing closer every day, Maia must trust someone to survive. 

The question is who?

Review:

Shadow Fall by Audrey Grey is by far one of the best books that I have read this year.  It has everything that I look for in a Science Fiction/Fantasy novel, and the most of its power lies within its groundbreaking heroine, Maia.

Audrey Grey knows how to make vibrant characters that know how to hold their own, while also throwing at them obstacles that they can’t help but tackle.  From the first page, I was able to become fully consumed in Grey’s writing, and that is not something that I see very often in today’s literature.  Grey knows how to paint pictures instead of telling the reader what is going on, and her genius is unsurpassed.  She has made science fiction beautiful, instead of hard and untouchable, and that is a gift that I have not found in any other science fiction novel.

But one of the best aspects of this novel was that it heavily surrounded the family structure and the bonds that connect us at birth.  So many novels today focus only on the romantic connection that humans have with one another, but Grey proved that familial bonds are just as strong, if not stronger, than romantic ones.  Maia reminded me of Katniss from the Hunger Games with how passionate she was about her family and caring for others, and her survival skills were just as intense.  When this book ended I did not want the story to end, and I have started to read it for the second time which is not something that I do very frequently.

Shadow Fall will be released November 22, and if you haven’t already pre-ordered your copy, then I highly suggest that you do.  This book, while featuring elements that connect it to others in its genre, is a one of a kind gift to today’s literature.

*ARC provided by Blaze Publishing in return for an honest review

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM:   Book Review Request Form

*Book reviews are now free, but I am only accepting paperback copies as of right now.  My e-book review list is full.*

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX:   Go Indie Now!

 

The Perfect Tear by Connie Lansberg

Title: The Perfect Tear

Author: Connie Lansberg

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

Eleanor is a singer. Her songs keep nature in balance, but when they are stolen from her, a grey mist descends and her world fails to thrive. This timid orphan is thrust into a course of action she never asked for, nor envisioned. Set against a backdrop of abandonment, loss and betrayal, she must find her way through strange and dangerous landscapes in her desperate search for the Perfect Tear, a dark crystal which holds the future of her world. But, Eleanor is no savior. She is a simple girl with strong instincts and she must learn to trust them. Just like the notes of song must connect to create a melody, Eleanor must discover the connections needed to create the harmony required to truly save her world.

Review:

The Perfect Tear is a perfect fantasy novel.  Not only was the writing edited perfectly, but the story itself was phenomenal.  The Perfect Tear is a novel about loss and survival, and those are aspects of life that we all have to master at some point.

Connie Lansberg’s writing reads like watercolor art.  The words flow together seamlessly, and her story reads like a dream.  I felt connected to each character, and I found myself lost in the book as soon as I read the first few pages.  Lansberg’s fantasy novel is clean and crisp, the best refreshing elements to a fantasy novel, and she knew how to keep the reader grounded but lost in her story all the same.

The Perfect Tear is a great starter novel for those interested in getting into the fantasy genre since it isn’t hard to understand, and how Lansberg has mastered the world that she created.  I highly suggest this novel for those wanting to get lost in a novel.  You will not be let down.

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM:   Book Review Request Form

*Book reviews are now free, but I am only accepting paperback copies as of right now.  My e-book review list is full.*

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX:   Go Indie Now!

 

Trusting the Currents by Lynnda Pollio

Title: Trusting the Currents

Author: Lynnda Pollio

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

Some moments change everything you become.

Author Lynnda Pollio’s life as a busy New Yorker abruptly changes when she unexpectedly heard the mystical, elderly voice of Addie Mae Aubrey, a Southern, African American woman. Her first words, “It’s not what happened to me that matters,” begin a spirited remembering of her teenage years in the late 1930s rural South and the learned wisdom she asks Lynnda to share. As women from different times and different places, they embark on an uncommon journey together.

Narrated by Addie Mae Aubrey, Trusting the Currents is a spiritual story of self-discovery–of faith, courage, forgiveness, and the uneasy search for one’s place in life. Beginning at age eleven with the unexpected arrival of beautiful, mysterious cousin Jenny and her shadowy stepfather, Uncle Joe,Trusting the Currents explores Addie Mae’s reluctant awakening. As Jenny, the story’s mystical center, introduces Addie Mae to the spiritual world, a caring teacher, Miss Blanchard,guides with the power of reading. Romantic love enters her life for the first time with Rawley, and we experience how Addie Mae’s emerging sense of self compels her to a life-altering decision.

Throughout the story, her mother remains an unwavering source of love, even when fear and evil shake their lives. Unfathomable loss and rising trust in the “Invisibles” not only transform Addie Mae’s budding life, but leads to the author’s own spiritual awakening.

There are three levels to the book: Addie Mae’s powerful story,universal life messages woven throughout the book, and high energeticfrequencies embedded in the writing that expand the reader’sconsciousness.

Addie Mae reveals how life blossoms when we have the courage to not only accept but also learn from mistakes and sorrow. Her story may belong to one woman, but the lessons it teaches belong to everyone willing to open their hearts and listen to the truth within their souls.

Trusting the Currents represents a new literary genre of Visionary Fiction, engaging high spiritual frequencies that resonate with the reader’s heart, guiding them deep into their own truth and transformation.

Review:

Trusting the Currents is a remarkable novel.  It was originally sent to me by Lynnda Pollio for consideration in my Go Indie Now! Bibliotherapy Box, and I immediately knew that the book would change my life.  Through this book Pollio has created a new genre of Visionary Fiction, and embedded in the writing are energetic frequencies that help to expand the reader’s consciousness.  Reading a novel should always be an experience, and Pollio’s writing has taken it to the next level.

I connected with Addice throughout the novel due to all of the life changes that she was experiencing and how small events in her life changed who she was.  Reading is truly a form of healing, and by transporting the reader into the novel Pollio was able to heal them simply by having them read her words.  Spirituality is all around us just waiting to be grasped, and Trusting the C urrents is a great door opener to those who are interested in learning about spiritual awakening and the power that is in all of us.

Winner: 2014 Nautilus Book Awards Gold Medal in Fiction

Winner: 2015 IPPY Gold Medal in Visionary Fiction

Winner: 2015 National Indie Excellence Awards Gold Medal in Visionary Fiction

Winner: 2015 International Book Awards Gold Medal in Visionary Fiction

Winner: 2015 Readers Favorite Gold Medal in Inspirational Fiction

Winner: 2015 USA Book News Best Book Awards top Winner in Visionary Fiction

Winner: 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in Inspirational Fiction

Winner: 2015 Los Angeles Book Festival, Honorable Mention in Spirituality

Winner: 2015 Writer’s Digest Book Awards, Honorable Mention in Inspiration

Winner: 2015 B.R.A.G Medallion

Winner: 2016 Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards, Red Ribbon Winner in Fiction (England)

Winner: 2016 Selected as a 5-Star Awesome Indie, a list of quality independent fiction curated by publishing professionals

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM:   Book Review Request Form

*Book reviews are now free, but I am only accepting paperback copies as of right now.  My e-book review list is full.*

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX:   Go Indie Now!

 

Weekly Update – 09/05/16 – 09/11/16

Happy Tuesday, Lovelies!

This week I will be reviewing:

Shadow Fall by Audrey Grey
Slave to a Vampire by Katrina Kahler

Saturday is also the last day to order any of our Go Indie Now! Bibliotherapy Box September boxes!

Our Romance/Erotica Box theme is:

Longing for the Ocean

Our Poetry Box theme is:

Space and the Galaxy

Our General Fiction Box theme is:

Alternate Realities: Steampunk & Dystopian

Have a beautiful week, everyone!

Much love,

Ashley

FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM:   Book Review Request Form

*Book reviews are now free, but I am only accepting paperback copies as of right now.  My e-book review list is full.*

IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com

SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX:   Go Indie Now!