Book Blitz & Giveaway - Gabriel's Album by Sian Ceinwen

Gabriel’s Album

(Cruise Control Heroes, #1)

Author: Sian Ceinwen

Publication Date: March 14th, 2021

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

The rock star always gets the girl…

I’m living my dream. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a rock star. And now here I am, about to start my first big tour, when she comes along.

Ariana.

From the second we meet, she’s all I can think about.Asking her to come on tour with me is easy. But she’s shy, insecure, and the paparazzi scare her. We live in two completely different worlds.

I love her and I know that she’s worth fighting for. The problem is, I’m not sure if love is enough.

Gabriel’s Album is the first book in the Cruise Control Heroes series. It’s the companion novel to The Album. Fall in love with Gabriel and Ariana all over again as Cruise Control embarks on their first world tour. 

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

BOOK REVIEW: Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach and Mateo Finds His Wow by Gabi Garcia

Stupid Fast
Author: Geoff Herbach
Publication Date: 1st June 2011
Genre: YA Coming of Age / Sports Fiction

Book Description:
I, Felton Reinstein, am Stupid Fast. Seriously. The upper classmen used to call me Squirrel Nut, because I was little and jumpy. Then, during sophomore year, I got tall and huge and so fast the gym teachers in their tight shorts fell all over themselves. During summer, three things happened all at once. First, the pee-smelling jocks in my grade got me to work out for football, even though I had no intention of playing. Second, on my paper route the most beautiful girl I have ever seen moved in and played piano at 6 a.m. Third, my mom, who never drinks, had some wine, slept in her car, stopped weeding the garden, then took my TV and put it in her room and decided she wouldn’t get out of bed.

Listen, I have not had much success in my life. But suddenly I’m riding around in a jock’s pick-up truck? Suddenly I’m invited to go on walks with beautiful girls? So, it’s understandable that when my little brother stopped playing piano and began to dress like a pirate I didn’t pay much attention. That I didn’t want to deal with my mom coming apart.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

Felton Reinstein is an unpopular 15-year-old kid with one friend - possibly two if you count Peter Yang, who he's not a big fan of - until one day, he discovers he can run fast. Suddenly, he's the talk of the school and everyone wants his attention. Despite his increasing popularity, however, Felton's home life takes a turn for the worst when his mother's mental health starts to decline, and his younger brother starts to rebel. The focus of all their issues is Felton's father, who committed suicide a decade ago. Felton can't understand why his mother destroyed everything that belonged to his father and refuses to talk about him. He wants answers, and she's not willing to cooperate. Feeling lost and confused, Felton slowly starts to isolate from his family but soon realises that there is only so far one can run from his problems, especially when the problem and the solution might be one and the same.

I've had this book on my shelf for a long time, and I decided it was high time I read it, and I am glad I did. From the get-go, I felt Felton's anxiety, and his character just sucked me in. I don't know how to describe this character other than to say he was a nice blend of Holden from Catcher in the Rye, Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Christopher from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The narrative voice was very inviting. The action started to feel repetitive halfway through, so the story started to lag in place where it appeared there was no progression. It just seemed like it took forever for the truth about Felton's dad to be revealed that the actions of the characters just felt repetitive and everything just felt stagnant. The story picked up again in the final few chapters and managed to recapture my attention. Many of the secondary characters felt somewhat flat and underdeveloped, but I found Felton to be such an engaging character that the lack of the other characters' presence didn't both me too much.

I don't know if it's because this book was written almost a decade ago but the characters appeared somewhat younger than I imagined. Even when they rebelled it felt controlled and quite restrained. Although it wasn't confirmed, I often found myself wondering if Felton was a person with autism. He often referred to himself as a retard or stupid, which was sad because I think this was more his portrayal of how he viewed himself rather than an objective portrayal. It could just be me, but his speech and mannerism suggested he might have developmental disability, and if that be the case, then this would definitely add more authenticity to his character in the way in which he communicated and interacted with other characters. His chemistry with Aleah Jennings didn't do much for me as she didn't particularly seem significant in terms of him developing as a character. I think Cody had more of an effect on his growth as a person than she did.

The family dynamic and interaction between Felton and his family was key in the development of plot and character and I really wanted to see more in terms of the cause of the breakdown. We experienced a lot of the effect of Jerri's meltdown (Felton's mother, who he calls by her first name) and how it changed Felton's and Andrew's behaviour (Felton's younger brother), but most of the time, they just avoided one another and refused to address the issue so we get to experience the dilemma on the surface instead of delving deeper into the heart of the matter. The frustration felt restrained, and we never really got a climactic moment we were waiting for. There was a lot of shouting and no screaming.

Overall, it was a good read. I enjoyed it, mostly because of Felton, but I still enjoyed it all the same.

VERDICT

Rating: 3 Star

Source: Own copy

Mateo Finds His Wow

Author: Gabi Garcia
Publication Date: 29th April 2019
Genre: Children's Picture Book

Book Description:
It’s easy to get stuck focusing on what’s going wrong. WE ALL DO IT.

It can take time, but there is a way to get unstuck.

Follow along as Mateo discovers that focusing on what’s right in front of him can help turn the page on a grumpy day.

Nurturing wonder and gratitude in your child supports their happiness, well-being and sense of connectedness. And best of all, they can learn to practice it— ON PUPOSE!

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

It's Saturday, and it's raining, which means Mateo is stuck inside with nothing to do. Feeling bored, he throws a tantrum until a bird outside catches his attention and sparks an idea that has him forgetting about everything that's wrong about his day and finding joy in the little things around the house, things he often takes for granted.

While reading this book, that famous Ferris Bueller line popped into my head: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." This line summed up this book for me. You start to appreciate the things we all take for granted. Sometimes the smallest and most mediocre event can brighten your day.

I loved the illustrations and the cultural elements used to represent Mateo's background. This was a fun read. Sometimes you just have to appreciate the little things in life.

VERDICT

Rating: 5 Star

Source: Own copy

Book Blast & Giveaway - The Tiger's Nest (Explorer Academy #5) by Trudi Trueit

The Tiger's Nest

(Explorer Academy #5)

Author: Trudi Trueit

Publisher : Under the Stars (January 5, 2021)

Language : English

Hardcover : 216 pages

ISBN-10 : 1426338627

ISBN-13 : 978-1426338625

Book Description:

Praise for the EXPLORER ACADEMY Series

“Inspired by the adventures and research of real-life National Geographic explorers, Explorer Academy is exciting and smart. Readers get to meet a diverse, capable, curious crew as well as their amazing instructors. A dangerous side mission adds to the thrills!” —Karen Bokram, Editor-in-Chief, Girls’ Life

"Explorer Academy is sure to awaken readers' inner adventurer and curiosity about the world around them. But you don't have to take my word for it, check out Cruz, Emmett, Sailor, and Lani's adventures for yourself!" —LeVar Burton, host of Reading Rainbow and LeVar Burton Reads

"Inspires the next generation of curious kids to go out into our world and discover something unexpected.” —James Cameron, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and acclaimed film-maker

On an island nation in the Indian Ocean, the explorers venture through a vast underwater world and take part in a friendly robotics competition. But the tides of good fortune change quickly. Suddenly, Team Cousteau jumps into action to rescue a faculty member from the brink of death. Meanwhile, the team follows Cruz's mother's clues to a magnificent tomb and center of spirituality precariously perched on the side of a cliff. There, Cruz is confronted by a familiar foe who's determined to stop him from completing his most important mission of all: Retrieving the final pieces of his mother's cipher. In this life-or-death showdown, Cruz witnesses the ultimate sacrifice and uncovers a hidden message that makes him question his own mortality.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK ¦ B&N ¦ Book Depository

Book Blitz & Giveaway - City of Spells by Alexandra Christo

City of Spells

(Into the Crooked Place #2)

Author: Alexandra Christo

Published by: Feiwel & Friends

Publication Date: March 9th, 2021

Genre: YA Fantasy

Book Description:

City of Spells, the follow-up to Alexandra Christo’s gritty YA fantasy, Into the Crooked Place, finds the world on the brink of war and four unlikely allies facing sacrifices they had never imagined.

After the loss of Wesley and the horrifying reveal that Zekia is helping the Kingpin of her own free will, Tavia, Saxony, and Karam flee to Saxony’s home to rebuild their rebellion. Meanwhile, trapped in the Kingpin’s darkness, Wesley must fight against the deadly magic that invades his mind and find a way back to his friends before it’s too late.

As the Kingpin’s dark magic spreads and his army conquers Creije, these four unlikely friends have to decide just how far they’ll go—and how much they are willing to sacrifice—to win.

Praise for Into the Crooked Place:

“With its gangland details, creative magical caste system and surprisingly brutal characters, Into the Crooked Place is very much its own thing. And that thing will likely be a story you can’t put down.” —Culturess

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK ¦ Barnes & Noble ¦ iBooks ¦ Kobo ¦ Google Play

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Lost in Nowhere by Barbara Pietron

Lost in Nowhere

(Legacy in Legend, #3)

Author: Barbara Pietron

Publication Date: April 20th, 2021

Genre: YA Paranormal

Book Description:

Jeni has fully accepted her spiritual ability, and yet she’s unnerved by the apparition of Marielle, the ghost of a pioneer girl asking for help. As the ghost’s tragic love story unfolds in her dreams, Jeni’s resistance melts and she resolves to save the soul of Marielle’s lost love. When she discovers her own impulses cause Marielle to act uncharacteristically, Jeni believes she can change the past. Despite warnings against meddling with time, Jeni’s convinced she can save the soul of Marielle’s lover. Deep inside a dream and intent on her quest, Jeni is lured into a trap that binds her soul to Marielle’s. With no allies, no knowledge about crossing through time and with limited 18th century resources, Jeni is terrified: failure will leave her soul trapped in the past, or worse . . . lost in nowhere.

Buy Links:

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March Group Promo - FREE & Discounted eBooks

Welcome!

Enter the March Giveaway for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card and 1 of 3 kindle copies of Talisman Of El (Arcadia, Book 1).

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Happy Reading!

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Book Blitz & Giveaway - It's a Zin to Tell a Lie by Pamela Gibson

It’s a Zin to Tell a Lie

(Love in Wine Country)

Author: Pamela Gibson

Publication Date: February 3rd, 2021

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

Emma Bradford, world class pianist, is tired of living out of suitcases and wants to change her career. When she returns to Napa to consider her options and play for a friend’s wedding, she discovers a nasty surprise. The man who called off their engagement two years ago will also be there and there’s no way to avoid him.

Antonio Reynoso is a dissolute playboy living on a Caribbean island. At least that’s what he’s let his family believe. He’s purposely stayed away so he won’t be tempted to break a promise and try to win back the only woman he’s ever loved.

But when he and Emma are unexpectedly thrown together during a violent storm, Antonio’s resolve begins to weaken and he wonders if leaving her had been a mistake. His wine country family says yes, and with a little well-intentioned meddling, he and Emma might just get a second chance.

Buy Links:

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Book Blitz & Giveaway - Thieves by Greg Jolley

Thieves

(Obscurité de Floride Trilogy, #1)

Author: Greg Jolley

Publication Date: February 15th, 2021

Genre: Adult Suspense

Book Description:

From Tropea, Italy to Michigan and Florida, the thieves Molly and April Danser are on the run, trying to escape from an enraged ex-US Marshal. He is hell bent on stopping them once and for all, his twisted black heart fired up for revenge and their total destruction. Will the sisters elude his blood-soaked hunt? They have their smarts and resource but have never faced a pursuit like this.

Can they somehow put an end to his blood lust?

Buy Links:

 Amazon US ¦ UK ¦ Barnes & Noble ¦ iBooks ¦ Kobo

March Giveaway - Win a $10 Amazon Gift Card

March Giveaway

March 1st - March 25th

I'm giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky winner.

I'm also giving away 3 kindle ebook copies of Talisman Of El (Arcadia, Book 1) to three lucky winners.

Open to entrants 13+ worldwide.

Winner must respond to email within 48 hours to claim their prize or another entrant will be selected.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Something Wicked by Emery Nicolson

Something Wicked

(Lockhart Legacy, #1)

Author: Emery Nicolson

Publication Date: March 1st, 2021

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romancec / Urban Fantasy

Book Description:

Something wicked this way comes…

You’d think being the descendant of powerful witches would grant me the power to sort out my life, right? But you’d be wrong. I’m stuck in a rut, disdained by my family, and my romantic life is a disaster. Oh, and did I forget to mention that I have no magic?

When a cursed heirloom is stolen, I should stay out of it and leave the retrieval to those better equipped but everything seems to lead back to me…

With the help of an enigmatic bounty hunter, I may be able to clear my name and retrieve the artefact before death and chaos are unleashed upon my beloved city but doing so could cost me everything — including my life.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK ¦ CA ¦ AUS

BOOK REVIEW: Mommy, What Do You See When You Look At Me? by Candace V. Haynes and When I Feel Frustrated by Michael Gordon

Mommy, What Do You See When You Look At Me?

Author: Candace V. Haynes

Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publication Date: 16th January 2021

Book Description:

Mommy, What Do You See When You Look at Me is an endearing story of true love expressed between a mother and daughter. An inquisitive daughter challenges her mom to answer her questions. She receives her mother's adoring words describing the characteristics that make her daughter a unique and special person. There are beautiful attributes about the daughter that are easy to see. But this mom helps her daughter see the characteristics that are beyond exterior beauty. Readers will take a journey with characters who express the purest form of love in existence; it is the love between a parent and child. This story will leave moms and daughters with a yearning to share an embrace and a desire to have a similar conversation of their own. This is a perfect bookshelf item for any young girl. Mothers and daughters will love reading this story together again and again. This story is a great confidence booster for girls and will help them understand that there is so much more to a person than what the eyes can see. This book is ideal for moms and daughters to read together and will appeal to those who share this special type of bond. About the Author:Candace Haynes is a mom of five, and more specifically, a mom of three beautiful girls. She is a 25-year career educator who has stepped into a growing field of writers who choose to bring more African American characters to life in children’s books. The many students she has encountered throughout her career as a teacher and administrator are a source of great inspiration. It is important to Candace that the characters in her stories are relatable, realistic, and helpful to others. These characteristics are prominent in all of her work.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

This was a very enjoyable read. Essentially, it's a story about acceptance, of both one's self and others. A young girl questions her mother on various aspects of her appearance to establish how her mother perceives her. It's about accepting yourself for who you really are and appreciating that everyone is different and unique in their own way, which is what makes us all special and beautiful. The story highlights the fact that a person's nature/character cannot and shouldn't be judged based on appearance because a person is more than what you see on the outside.

I loved the bond between mother and daughter and the confidence the mother instils in her daughter by the way she answers her daughter's questions. Loved the illustrations. It's an all-round great book.

VERDICT

Award: Platinum

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Source: Own copy

When I Feel Frustrated

Author: Michael Gordon

Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publication Date: 21st September 2019

Book Description:

Self-Regulation Skills Series 6

Life doesn't always go as planned. Sometimes we fail and feel frustrated. 

* Frustration itself is normal—and in fact necessary to learn and grow

* Help children learn how to become more resilient

* Help kids develop coping strategies to manage frustration and anger

* Feeling upset is not a reason to give up

It has a great message:

“Love the illustrations in this children’s book. I read this to my grandchildren (ages 3 5). ” - Anne

“A beautiful book an all ways. Great for preschoolers!“ - Ashley

Explains anger management & frustration:

“Love this kids book! Read it to my 3 yo daughter a few times and she liked it a lot! “ - Lizzie

“A wonderful story about anger, frustration, and resilience. Both of my sons adored it! ” - Kathryn

And

* Cute illustrations with a nice rhyming story

 * Not too long, grabs kid’s attention

GET IT NOW and get the ebook for FREE!! 

Add this amazing kids book to your cart and ENJOY! 

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

This is the first book I've read my Michael Gordon, but it certainly won't be the last. I loved the narrative voice. It's very reassuring, which is necessary with picture books and getting messages across to children, who, for the most part, have a short attention span, so you have to do well to maintain their interest, which I think this book will have no trouble doing.

From the wonderful illustrations down to the message of the story, kids and parents alike will love this story. What I enjoyed most was that it wasn't condescending or belittling. Getting frustrated is inevitable, so there's no point of trying to prevent it, instead, learn how to control your emotions and how to better utilise your time and energy to identify the problem and find a solution. Great message. I think a lot of people can learn from this book, so I would recommend it to everyone. It certainly put a smile on my face. A jolly good read indeed.

VERDICT

Award: Platinum

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Source: Own copy

Book Blitz & Giveaway - The Silent Speak by Val Collins

The Silent Speak

Author: Val Collins

Publication Date: February 23rd, 2021

Genre: Adult Thriller

Book Description:

“There’s a lunatic out there who butchered five innocent people and nobody is looking for him.” 

Aoife Walsh has plenty keeping her busy—finalising her divorce from her manipulative husband, settling into her still-new relationship with Detective Conor Moloney, and trying to win the trust of his teenage son. So for the moment, her fledgeling career as a freelance journalist has been put on hold.

Then comes the horrific news that an entire family has been slaughtered in their own home. Aoife is shocked to discover two of the victims were members of her on-again-off-again book club. Even more disturbing is the revelation that the police believe it was a murder-suicide.

That’s when Aoife receives a tantalising offer. Lisa, the main suspect’s sister, will grant Aoife access to the victims’ extended family for an exclusive news story—if Aoife will help find the real killer. Moved by Lisa’s unwavering belief in her brother’s innocence, Aoife agrees to help.

As she digs into the secrets of her fellow book club members, Aoife discovers potential suspects everywhere: people having affairs, a jealous husband, and a power-hungry business partner who’s clearly hiding something.

Aoife keeps pulling at the threads of the story, untangling more and more deception. Is the killer really dead and buried? Is it someone Aoife already knows? Could the lunatic be closer than Aoife ever imagined?

You won’t be able to put down this twisty thriller from international bestselling author Val Collins.

Buy Links:

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Book Blitz & Giveaway - Tristan by Jennie Lynn Roberts

Tristan

(The Hawks, #1)

Author: Jennie Lynn Roberts

Publication Date: February 22nd, 2021

Genre: Adult Fantasy / Romance

Book Description:

His redemption might be her downfall…

Tristan has nothing left to lose. His best friend’s betrayal cost him everything. Now, he’s going to take it back. All he has to do to get the Hawks reinstated to their rightful position at the palace is track down the traitor’s younger sister and turn her over for execution. But Nim’s not the girl Tristan left behind years ago; she’s a stubborn, loyal, beautiful woman, and he can’t stop himself from wanting her.

Nim fled with nothing when the king’s favorite came for her. All she has left is the conviction that her brother is innocent—and her determination to free him. She’ll do anything…even if it means convincing Tristan to help her. But the man he’s become is a far cry from the boy she fell in love with so long ago. He’s formidably stern and deeply untrusting. She’ll just have to hope he still has a heart under that battle-scarred exterior.

When love and duty collide, will Tristan follow his orders or follow his heart?

Tristan, book 1 in The Hawks series, is a sexy, steamy, adult fantasy romance full of swords, shifters (kind of), and tons of action. But fair warning: This book is intended only for readers who love slow burn romance, fast-paced adventure, soul mates and found family—and characters who curse when they fight for survival. If that’s you, happy reading.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Decide to Live by Shirley Anne Edwards

Decide to Live

(Finding the Strength, #3)

Author: Shirley Anne Edwards

Publication Date: February 14th, 2021

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

When it hurts too much to live, how does one find the strength to stay alive and find hope again?

Reiko Nakano has a charmed life. Not only does the twenty-three-old come from a life of luxury because of her celebrity parents and supermodel sister, she’s best friends with the biggest brother and sister pop duo in the world- Gio and Gem Grove. But what the public assumes is wrong different because of what Reiko suffers in private. She feels she’s an outcast in her own family because of her ptosis and her social anxiety. She then makes the biggest mistake of her life and tries to turn her lifelong crush on Gio into something more. His cruel rejection after she lets him take her virginity leaves her heartbroken.

Reiko hides in the least likely of places- the small town of Albee, Pennsylvania. There she enjoys her anonymity and enrolls in summer classes at Maison University. She hopes she can fit in as a student, but life continues to play tricks on her when she’s hit in the face by a football from one of the most popular boys on campus, Will Forest. But this accidental but memorial meeting will help heal her fragile emotions because Will shows her how special she is to those she meets, including him.

She isn’t sure what to make of Will. He’s too nice and sweet, and treats her like gold. She accepts his attempts at romance even though it’s only temporary. But as the summer flies by, she doesn’t want to give Will up, who doesn’t know the truth about her “vacation”. And when Gio arrives in town, and threatens to out Reiko, she has some hard choices to make. Does she come clean to Will so she can decide to finally live on her own terms and embrace the amazing woman Will thinks her to be?

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK ¦ Barnes & Noble ¦ iBooks ¦ Kobo ¦ Google Play

February Group Promo - FREE and Discounted eBooks

Welcome!

Enter the February Giveaway for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Check out all the free and discounted ebooks and giveaways on offer below. Sharing is caring. I truly appreciate your support. Have a great weekend!

Happy Reading!

FREE & DISCOUNTED EBOOKS

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