Blog Tour & Giveaway: Lucky Caller by Emma Mills

Book Blurb:

LUCKY CALLER by Emma Mills

Pub. Date: January 14, 2020

Publisher: Henry Holt & Company

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 336

With the warmth, wit, intimate friendships, and heart-melting romance she brings to all her books, Emma Mills crafts a story about believing in yourself, owning your mistakes, and trusting in human connection in Lucky Caller.

When Nina decides to take a radio broadcasting class her senior year, she expects it to be a walk in the park. Instead, it’s a complete disaster.

The members of Nina's haphazardly formed radio team have approximately nothing in common. And to maximize the awkwardness her group includes Jamie, a childhood friend she'd hoped to basically avoid for the rest of her life.

The show is a mess, internet rumors threaten to bring the wrath of two fandoms down on their heads, and to top it all off Nina's family is on the brink of some major upheaval.

Everything feels like it's spiraling out of control―but maybe control is overrated?

Goodreads | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | TBD

My Review:

5 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Heart, Romance, Hysterical, Teen--

Nina has one more semester left before she graduates from High School, but first she has to get through her radio broadcasting class. What she expected as an easy A turns into something much more complicated and brings up things from her past she would rather stay in the past- including her neighbor Jaime. Nina needs to figure out how to pass her class, deal with her changing family dynamic and come to terms with what Jaime really means to her.

I have a confession- this is my first Emma Mills book! I own a few of her backlist titles and so many people rave about how cute they are so I had good intentions to read her books I just have not had a chance yet- until now. Lucky Caller was fantastic, so sweet and adorable and yet funny at the same time. I devoured this book, sad when I had to put it down and I ended up reading it over the course of just a few days. I found the story to be so approachable, easily to get lost in and with characters that I rooted for, flaws and all. As someone who listen to the same radio show every morning, the radio dynamic felt perfect, at times as if I was listening to the radio instead of reading a book.

The main point of this book is relationships, be it familial, friendship or romantic. Sure there is a purpose to the story, to make the radio show work out, but it was so much more than that- it was to show the dynamics between the characters and the overall growth of Nina, and that each moment matters, no matter how big or how long it lasts (wipe a tear). I absolutely loved the slow burn love with the most honest and decent of boys, I shipped them so hard from the first awkward encounter (the special cake was a winner for sure!). The friendships were fun to watch develop, strangers who work together for a cause that end up being "bros" (don't ask, just read) who care and root for each other. And finally, the familial love was so wonderful, the support and friendship between the sisters was sweet but also the acceptance of The Dantist melted me just a little bit. I kinda feel like reading this was like getting the best, most supportive hug possible.

The formatting of the story was hands down my favorite part of the book though. The overall plot takes places over the course of one semester in high school, but mixed in were random chapters that helped to give backstory as well as character development- and sometimes just random humor. We get chapters with Nina's dad's radio show transcripts, Nina's radio show transcripts, classmate's radio transcripts, as well as memories of certain moments in the past that were important to Nina. Putting all the pieces together you get a cohesive flow that made for a delightful read.

I can't wait to finally dive into the other books by this author I already own because if they are even a fraction as entertaining as Lucky Caller I know I will love them. I highly recommend this for anyone who likes Ya contemporaries, family drama, slow burn romance, great relationship dynamics overall and relatable realistic characters- and if a radio show has every been important to you.

Author Bio:

Emma Mills is the author of First & Then, This Adventure Ends, Foolish Hearts, Famous in a Small Town, and Lucky Caller. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, and has recently completed a PhD in cell biology.

Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Week One:

1/6/2020- Mary Had a Little Book Blog- Review

1/6/2020- onemused- Review

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1/7/2020- Do You Dog-ear?- Review

1/7/2020- BookHounds YA- Interview

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1/8/2020- Kait Plus Books- Review

1/8/2020- Nerdophiless- Review

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1/9/2020- Not In Jersey- Review

1/9/2020- She Just Loves Books- Review

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1/10/2020- Lifestyle of Me- Review

1/10/2020- Eli to the nth- Review

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Week Two:

1/13/2020- Smada's Book Smack- Review

1/13/2020- Wonder Struck- Review

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1/14/2020- Fictitiouswonderland- Review

1/14/2020- A Dream Within A Dream- Guest Post

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1/15/2020- The Heart of a Book Blogger- Review

1/15/2020- Fire and Ice- Review

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1/16/2020- DJREADSBOOKS- Review

1/16/2020- A Bookish Dream- Review

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1/17/2020- Rants and Raves of a Bibliophile- Review

1/17/2020- Two Chicks on Books- Interview

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Review tour provided by Rockstar Book Tours

Review: Prince in Disguise by Stephanie Kate Strohm

Book Blurb:

Someday I want to live in a place where I never hear “You’re Dusty’s sister?” ever again.

Life is real enough for Dylan—especially as the ordinary younger sister of Dusty, former Miss Mississippi and the most perfect, popular girl in Tupelo. But when Dusty wins the hand of the handsome Scottish laird-to-be Ronan on the TRC television network’s crown jewel, Prince in Disguise, Dylan has to face a different kind of reality: reality TV.

As the camera crew whisks them off to Scotland to film the lead-up to the wedding, camera-shy Dylan is front and center as Dusty’s maid of honor. The producers are full of surprises—including old family secrets, long-lost relatives, and a hostile future mother-in-law who thinks Dusty and Dylan’s family isn’t good enough for her only son. At least there’s Jamie, an adorably bookish groomsman who might just be the perfect antidote to all Dylan’s stress . . . if she just can keep TRC from turning her into the next reality show sensation.

My Review:

5 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Hysterical, Romance, Teen--

Ronan seemed nice, but he was probably insane. You don’t marry someone you just met. Did they not have Frozen in Scotland?

This is my second book by Stephanie and I can now confirm that I will happily read anything she wants to write. Her stories are the most adorable books and legitimately fill me with joy. I found myself laughing out loud while reading this as well as feeling warm and happy with the sweet scenes that also unfolded. I found so many quotes that I wanted to share to sum up the book, it was so hard to narrow it down to just a few to put in this review. The absurd situations and witty banter were the real winners here, to be fair.

“No offense, but I can’t imagine anything I’d like to touch me less than the hands of a baby angel.” I shuddered.

“Not even a giant squid?” Jamie asked.

“Hands of a baby angel is creepier. Why is the angel a baby? Why is it touching me? Am I dead? If the giant squid is touching me, I’d assume it was by accident. Like, I swam into its space.”

Not only was this the cutest, most awkward love (more like than love which was nice for a teenager) but it also focused heavily on family relationships and self growth. The relationship between Dylan and her older sister Dusty starts rocky, but over the course of the book, Dylan realizes what her true feelings are towards her sister and that was the best relationship discovery in the book for me. Dylan, who has never been kissed, finds herself in the strangest position of liking a boy and having him like her back just as much. Over the course of a few weeks, she realizes she is in a relationship, a totally unrealistic one that can never last for many reasons. Both the characters come to the same conclusion, but decide to enjoy their time together and not freak out that it might end- and it was not even angsty for a minute, which I enjoyed.

“I have no experience with real-life romance, Dylan, but quite a bit with love stories. You are the first girl I’ve ever asked out,” he admitted shyly. “And I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted Jane Austen to wet herself at the romance of it.”

“Jane Austen would have peed all over this date.”

“That is a truly horrifying mental image.”

I loved Prince in Disguise and highly recommend it for anyone who loves cute YA romantic comedy, Scottish castles, reality television and drama. I have already picked up my next read by this author and I can't wait to begin. Side note, Kit Kirby totally deserved his own spinoff show, I don't seek out reality television but I would watch that hot mess with the baby sized Casanova!

“TRC wants the audience to think you waltzed up here all…you…and waltzed right back on down all Princess Barbie.”

“Like Hermione at the Yule Ball.”

“Yes, nerd.” She rolled her eyes.

“Harry Potter is not nerdy!” I cried. “He is a universally beloved boy wizard!”

“You’re not helpin’ your case, Dilly.”

Audiobook Tour & Giveaway: The Dark Lands (Angelbound Origins #6) by Christina Bauer

Book Blurb:

The Dark Lands (Anglbound Origins #5)

by Christina Bauer

Genre: YA Supernatural

Monster House Books

Nineteen-year-old Myla Lewis is loving life–she’s now a wife, mother, and Queen of the Thrax. Oh yeah, and being a super-powerful demigoddess who moves souls into Heaven or Hell doesn’t suck, either. In fact, everything is pretty much awesome. Until something craptastic happens.

Her honorary older brother Walker enters the Dark Lands, home to the rule-loving ghouls, and vanishes without a trace.

Now it’s up to Myla to solve the mystery of Walker’s disappearance. Of course, Myla likes interacting with ghouls about as much as elective dental surgery. To make matters harder, everyone thinks that Walker is simply taking a well-deserved vacation. But Myla and her Angelbound love, Lincoln, both suspect that a new criminal called the Viper took Walker in order to release Lucifer, the ex-King of the Angels and a bloodthirsty killer.

Long story short, Myla and Lincoln have only twenty four hours to rescue their good friend and stop Lucifer from taking over the after-realms. Even for them, this may be a too-tall order, especially when Lucifer’s mysterious past with Myla’s father threatens the very future of the after-realms.

Goodreads | Audible | iTunes

My Review:

5 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Angels, Another-World, Hysterical, Mystery, Royal-Court, Supernatural, Suspense, Hysterical--

“You’ll be interviewed by our new host . She’ll ask you fun questions about your baby and that’s it. There’s no way she’ll ambush you with some surprise just so she can get an exclusive.”

“What a very specific thing for her not to do,” says Lincoln dryly.

Myla feels like life is exactly what she wants it to be- that is until a televised interview goes very wrong, and all signs point to her close ghoul friend Walker. After hunting down Walker, Myla realizes that he is in more trouble than she ever could have guessed, the kind of trouble that could end the world as they know it. With a timeline that is not nearly long enough, Myla and Lincoln must enter the Dark Lands to find the truth.

This is actually my second time reading this book, but the first time on audio. I can honestly say that it was just as good the second time, maybe even better since the author, Christina, has easily become one of my favorite narrators. She narrates all her books and I highly recommend that you listen to this series since Christina has added voices and emotions, making her characters come to life even more than her words alone did.

I loved how much action there was crammed in the pages of this book, it was so jammed packed there was never a dull moment and I had to keep reading to see how everything would play out. If it is not battling crazy fans of the "Scala Mother", strange worm farming brothers, or a scary lava angel who is basically indestructible, it just would not be a regular day for Myla. Side note here, I love that this plot was something so very different from the rest of the books in the series, unpredictable and random and I loved the mission, the new characters and the change of worlds and problems. Mad props to Christina for mixing up the adventure level, while at the same time keeping Myla and Lincoln together (couples that battle together stay together?).

Folks say that a romantic dinner with candlelight and champagne is the sign of true love. I disagree. In my opinion, if you find a guy who’ll pick valuables off a dead body for you, that’s a keeper.

I like that there were interactions with baby Maxon in the story, even while on a very short time frame to save Walker, we get a small dose of Myla and Lincoln's reality. And he was hysterical and so sweet, the scenes with him in it or about him were my favorite and so human and real (yes, half demons and half angels can be human, shush you!). The dynamic between Myla's badass Archangel father and grubby, busy little Maxon was hysterical- who knew a banana could do so much damage? I find Maxon's whole development to be interesting and crazy so I look forward to seeing what will be in store for the couple and their baby next.

Lucifer: bloodthirsty psychopath and yet, talented armor designer. Who knew?

Yet again this series is one of my favorite, full of personality, action, supernatural randomness and the characters that I have come to root for. The internal monologues full of snark that spill out of Myla make everything worthwhile and I can't help but to laugh all the way through the book. There is no doubt that I will read any and all books in this series, they really are just too much fun for me to resist.

Author Bio:

Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.

Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway You can follow the audiobook tour for The Dark Lands HERE

Blog Tour provided by YA Bound Book Tours

Review: Little White Lies (Debutantes #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Book Blurb:

"I'm not saying this is Sawyer's fault," the prim and proper one said delicately. "But."

Eighteen-year-old auto mechanic Sawyer Taft did not expect her estranged grandmother to show up at her apartment door and offer her a six-figure contract to participate in debutante season. And she definitely never imagined she would accept. But when she realizes that immersing herself in her grandmother's "society" might mean discovering the answer to the biggest mystery of her life-her father's identity-she signs on the dotted line and braces herself for a year of makeovers, big dresses, bigger egos, and a whole lot of bless your heart. The one thing she doesn't expect to find is friendship, but as she's drawn into a group of debutantes with scandalous, dangerous secrets of their own, Sawyer quickly discovers that her family isn't the only mainstay of high society with skeletons in their closet. There are people in her grandmother's glittering world who are not what they appear, and no one wants Sawyer poking her nose into the past. As she navigates the twisted relationships between her new friends and their powerful parents, Sawyer's search for the truth about her own origins is just the beginning.

Set in the world of debutante balls, grand estates and rolling green hills, Little White Lies combines a charming setting, a classic fish-out-of-water story, and the sort of layered mystery only author Jennifer Lynn Barnes can pull off.

Find out more about the book at Goodreads

My Review:

5 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Heart-Wrenching, Hysterical, Mystery, Suspense, Teen--

Oh my geez, this is such a fantastic book! Right from the first page where four girls in ball gowns are arrested, I knew that this was the book for me. This was hysterical and intriguing and interesting and all the other amazing adjectives that I can't think of at this moment. I have always enjoyed Jennifer's books so I wanted to read this when I first discovered it, regardless of what the content was (which I had no idea). Well, let me tell you that this was the best mix of southern charm, mystery (two mysteries to be exact!) and humor. The best news I discovered after I finished reading and was in a sad, dejected book hangover, wondering how I was suppose to move on was that this is the first book in a series! There will be more Sawyer, so I don't need to move on!

"Splendid is good, good is okay, and okay and fine are horrendous."

The delivery of the story was great, starting with the perspective of a rookie cop completely in over his head with four female prisoners in ball gowns and then switching to 9 month month prior from Sawyer's point of view. The story keeps going back in forth from the police officer with his criminals in present time to all the events that occurred to Sawyer over the months leading to the present situation. It was perfect, but at this point I might be fangirling.

I loved that there was almost an instant relationship between Sawyer and her cousin Lilly. I was a little concerned that they would hate each other or there would be hostility, but that was not this book. Instead they became allies and then tentatively friends and then good friends and family and I loved watching them interact. This was a great book for female friendships, they had each other's backs and jumped right into mischief together, no questions asked. PS can I have more hysterical Boone and totally clueless sweet Sadie Grace next book??

I will say that the last third of the book took a darker more sad turn than what I was expecting. I have no idea how everything will continue and I am all twisted up in knots over what will happen to Sawyer next. That being said, I will 100% be back for more in this world and with Sawyer (who I love).

Review: Trying to Hate the Player: A Sweet Basketball Romance (Love on the Court) by Tia Souders

Book Blurb:

She was a professional.

She never meant to fall for him.

Jinny has just scored her dream job as a sports therapist for her hometown team. Everything is looking up until she discovers that her first patient is none other than, Emmett Hall, a.k.a. the team’s notorious player.

Emmett’s life was looking up, until he tore his ACL. Now he’s being cared for by his best friend’s little sister and the one girl who has piqued his interest.

But the rules were set.

A relationship is off limits.

Which they can handle…until the biting comments and witty retorts aren’t enough to hide their feelings.

If you love a misunderstood hero and a witty heroine, you’ll love Trying to Hate the Player. Full of laugh out loud moments with swoon worthy kisses. Perfect for the romantic in all of us.

Find out more about the book on Goodreads and pick up a copy from Amazon

My Review:

5 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Hysterical, Romance--

Jinny just finished her years of school and hard work and landed her dream job of being a physical therapist for the professional team, the Pumas. But the bad news is that her first patient is her arch-enemy, Emmett. Emmett has nothing but respect and a secret attraction to Jinny, but he was warned off by his best friend and teammate, Dean- who is also Jinny's older brother. Emmett masks his feelings with rude comments, creating a combative relationship between the two. When Emmett realizes he can't keep his feelings to himself, he just just hopes Jinny can forgive his previous behavior...

**Keep in mind this is the second book in a series, each can be read as a standalone, but references are made to the previous book and relationship and the characters cross over. Feel free to read this one by itself, but you don't want to miss out on the wonderfulness that was the first book Fake Dating Her Best Friend's Brother (you can read my 5 star review of that HERE).

"It was soft and gently. It was like...kissing a dang-butterflies wings. It was the kind of kiss that makes your stomach swoop and your breath catch. The kind of kiss you want to lean into, to grasp with two hands and hold on to. The kind of kiss you give to someone you've been wanting to kiss for a long time. Not the kind of kiss you give to someone you hate or to prove a point."

Callie gasped and pressed a palm to her mouth, her eyes glittering with amusement. Jinny grunted. "That's not helping!"

"Sorry."

"And now I hate him even more. Because I won't be able to unkiss him. I can't just go back to BK."

Callie scrunched her face. "BK?"

"Before Kiss. Follow along. Haven't you been listening?"

I love this book so much! I was 100% committed to Dean and Callie's story in the first book in the series, Fake Dating Her Best Friend's Brother, and I had no idea how any other book could live up to that. Well, Trying to Hate the Player was just as good, but in a totally different way. Both books had super cute romances with characters I easily fell in love with and the ability to make me not put the book down (both books are easily read in a single sitting because they are fast, engaging reads that are hard to stop). But while Fake Dating made me so emotional and teary eyed, like my heart was potentially going to be ripped out, Trying To Hating the Player had me laughing (out loud, in public!) at the character's antics the entire book- plus the most swoony of HEA (I am a sucker for the epilogue!). Emmett might have stolen my previous Dean-love with his actions and determination. .

Now after having read multiple stories by Tia, I feel very confident in saying she writes my very favorite romance books. I would gladly read any more she wants to create and I would love if she continues this series (for completely selfish reasons because I want to see more Callie-Drew and Jinny-Emmett moments). In case you can't tell, I highly recommend this series for anyone who loves a sweet romance that is high on the feels and low on the sexual content.

I reviewed a complimentary copy of this title.

Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Delilah Dirk Graphic Novel Series by Tony Cliff

Book Blurb:

DELILAH DIRK AND THE TURKISH LIEUTENANT (Delilah Dirk #1) by Tony Cliff

Pub. Date: August 27, 2013

Publisher: First Second

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 176

Lovable ne'er-do-well Delilah Dirk has travelled to Japan, Indonesia, France, and even the New World. Using the skills she's picked up on the way, Delilah's adventures continue as she plots to rob a rich and corrupt Sultan in Constantinople. With the aid of her flying boat and her newfound friend, Selim, she evades the Sultan's guards, leaves angry pirates in the dust, and fights her way through the countryside. For Delilah, one adventure leads to the next in this thrilling and funny installment in her exciting life.

A little bit Tintin, a little bit Indiana Jones, Delilah Dirk is a great pick for any reader looking for a smart and foolhardy heroine... and globetrotting adventures.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iBooks | TBD

My Review:

5 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Graphic Novel, Historical, Hysterical, Suspense--

I was so entertained my Mr. Selim, Delilah's unwilling companion. The conversation between the two was hysterical and his random daydreams were so detailed and ridiculous I could not help but be rooting for him. I also loved how gender roles were switches in this story, Delilah was this amazing, competent, confident warrior woman and Selim was a mind mannered, hesitant, inadvertent sidekick who stayed out of the fray and made the best cup of tea (which I too can appreciate in a man). They were the best example of opposites making a good team, the planner and the impulsive doer. I do have some questions about the Great Space Goose though...

I loved all the mischief and adventures that Delilah purposefully and inadvertently got into. The entire graphic novel was a non stop adventure of what Delilah was capable of, and her skills really were legendary! I found it interesting and very unique that the story was narrated by Mr. Selim but focused on the mayhem he was involved in through Delilah- it was kind of like a journal of her adventures but told by another.

I had never heard of this graphic novel series before I saw this blog tour but I am so happy I discovered it. Delilah Dirk was the best mix of action/adventure, humor and history, ending up with a captivating story that I loved and I would easily recommend it to any and everyone. I can't wait to continue the adventure with the ridiculous and impressive Delilah and I wonder at what other traveling companions she acquires along the way!

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Check out the rest of the Delilah Dirk Series!

Book Blurb:

DELILAH DIRK AND THE KINGS SHILLING (Delilah Dirk #2)by Tony Cliff

Pub. Date: March 8, 2016

Publisher: First Second

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 272

Globetrotting troublemaker Delilah Dirk and her loyal friend Selim are just minding their own business, peacefully raiding castles and traipsing across enemy lines, when they attract the unwanted attention of the English Army. Before they know it, Delilah and Selim have gotten themselves accused of espionage against the British crown!

Delilah will do whatever it takes to clear her good name, be it sneaking, skirmishing, or even sword fighting... But can she bring herself to wear a pretty dress and have a nice cup of tea with her mother? Delilah Dirk may be defeated at last. By tulle...in Tony Cliff's Delilah Dirk and the King's Shilling.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iBooks | TBD

Book Blurb:

DELILAH DIRK AND THE PILLARS OF HERCULES (Delilah Dirk #3) by Tony Cliff

Pub. Date: August 7, 2018

Publisher: First Second

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 249

Having survived a close shave in England, where she was falsely accused of spying for the French, Delilah has set out with her companion Selim for more agreeable adventures in central Asia. But when she stumbles on an artifact that may be a clue about the location of the legendary third pillar of Hercules, Delilah and Selim are drawn back to Europe on an Indiana-Jones-style archeological caper that pits her against a ruthless enemy . . . and forces her to team up with the most unlikely partner of all time: her sworn enemy, Jason Merrick, the man who framed her for espionage!

From vast forgotten underground cities to an elaborate and shocking double-cross, Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules brings all the drama and excitement that fans of the series crave.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iBooks | TBD

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Author Bio:

Tony Cliff – a life-long resident of Vancouver, British Columbia – began his comics work as a contributor to the Flight series of anthologies. His first major published work, Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant, is a NYT Bestseller, a Publishers' Weekly Best of 2013, and was nominated for Eisner, Shuster, and Harvey awards. Delilah Dirk and the Third Pillar of Hercules will be the third book in the series, following 2016's similarly well-received The King's Shilling. He is strongly opposed to bios that conclude with one quirky attempt at humour.

Website | Delilah Dirk Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr | Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Week One:

3/8/2019- Character Madness and Musings- Interview

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  Week Two:

3/11/2019- Eli to the nth- Review

3/12/2019- Lifestyle Of Me- Review

3/13/2019- Novel Novice- Review

3/14/2019- A Dream Within A Dream- Excerpt

3/15/2019- The Layaway Dragon- Review

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  Week Three:

3/18/2019- Smada's Book Smack- Review

3/19/2019- BookHounds YA- Excerpt

3/20/2019- Adventures Thru Wonderland- Review

3/21/2019- Christen Krumm, Writer- Review

3/22/2019- Bibliobibuli YA- Interview

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  Week Four:

3/25/2019- Kelly P's Blog- Excerpt

3/26/2019- Hauntedbybooks- Review

3/27/2019- Lone Tree Reviews- Excerpt

3/28/2019- Twirling Book Princess- Excerpt

3/29/2019- Lisa-Queen of Random- Spotlight

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Review tour provided by Rockstar Book Tours

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Meet Me in Outer Space by Melinda Grace

Meet Me in Outer Space
Melinda Grace
(Swoon Reads)
Publication date: March 12th 2019
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Smart and unflinching, this #OwnVoices debut contemporary novel stars an ambitious college student who refuses to be defined by her central auditory processing disorder.

Edie Kits has a learning disability. Well, not a learning disability exactly, but a disability that impacts her learning. It isn’t visible, it isn’t obvious, and it isn’t something she likes to advertise.

And for three semesters of college, her hard work and perseverance have carried her through. Edie thinks she has her disability under control until she meets her match with a French 102 course and a professor unwilling to help her out.

Edie finds herself caught between getting the help she needs and convincing her professor that she isn’t looking for an easy out. Luckily for Edie, she has an amazing best friend, Serena, who is willing to stitch together a plan to ensure Edie’s success. And then there’s Hudson, the badly dressed but undoubtedly adorable TA in her French class who finds himself pulled into her orbit…

Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan’s young adult imprint Swoon Reads, Meet Me in Outer Space is a sweet, heartachingly real story of love and college life by debut author Melinda Grace

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

My Review:

4 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Hysterical, New Adult, Romance, Teen--

Edie is one class away from living her dream of fashion design in France- but that one class could cost her the dream. Edie needs to pass her second semester of college French but with her learning disability she is struggling way more than normal. When her cute French TA Hudson steps up to help her, it may be just what she needs- or the perfect kind of disaster.

The interactions and banter between Edie and Hudson were spot on the most perfect way to my heart. Between the awkwardness, the snark and sarcasm and the flat out rejections that were easily ignored, I just could not get enough of the scenes between the two of them. I can't help but snicker at the dad jokes Hudson throws around, and celery really takes on a new meaning. I mean really, how could you not love this?

“So I was online, and I found a very scientific way to create a code name. I did yours for you,” he smiled.

“How very generous of you…”

“Yours is Pink Peony,” he said with a smug look. “Mine is Sergeant Style.”

...

“You seriously tried to get ahold of me for an hour about this, and then when you couldn’t you somehow celery stalked me to a locked building and then got into the building just to tell me this?”

Not only was the cute, slow developed relationship between Hudson and Edie perfect, but the relationships that Edie has in general really helped to makes this book. Keep in mind that the driving force of the story is the detailed, engaging, flawed characters more than anything else. Her friend Serena was another great character that pushed and encouraged Edie in the best of ways, making me want to go back to college and have a chance to live in a dorm to have this kind of lifelong bestie experience.

Random comment here also- both Edie and Hudson are described as real people with overweight regions and interesting style choices, not cookie cutter Barbie doll/Ken types and yet they rock what they have with confidence and find the other so attractive, flaws in all, and I loved that about the book! Go team regular people being rock stars! And we totally need more YA college books like this out in the world!

I found this YA contemporary romance to be a quick read, perfect for losing your self in for a few hours of delightful escapism. Add in the fact that fashion and design play a role in Edie's character and I could not stop reading. I can't wait to check out more from Melinda to come!

Author Bio:

Melinda Grace wrote her first piece of fiction in middle school, but didn’t write a complete story until an introduction to creative writing course at SUNY Oswego, where she earned a BA in human development. She went on to earn a MS E.D. in counseling and currently works as a school counselor. When she’s not guiding the youth of America, she’s planning her next vacation to Disney World, laminating anything she can get her hands on, and binge watching Netflix. MEET ME IN OUTER SPACE is her debut novel, publishing March 2019.

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Corpse Whisperer (An Allie Nighthawk Mystery Book 1) by H.R. Boldwood

Book Blurb:

Welcome to the world of Allie Nighthawk, corpse whisperer and badass zombie hunter.

“If you raise deadheads, you’d better be able to put ‘em down. Nobody said it was pretty. But in this day, when vampires aren’t just for breakfast anymore, and the dead are disposable pawns for necromancers, someone has to ante up. Looks like I won the lotto. Imagine my delight. You should thank me, really, because the world is batshit crazy.”

When the zombie population spikes and no one knows why, it’s up to Allie to solve the mystery. But there’s a hitch. She’s stuck babysitting Leo Abruzzi, a zombie-bitten gangster who’s turning state’s evidence. But the mob and a powerful necromancer will stop at nothing to take Leo and Allie down.

Allie Nighthawk is Anita Blake on steroids, with a fondness for leather and Jack on the rocks. She has a healthy dose of Stephanie Plum and Rachel Morgan in her, too, though she’d never admit it.

The battle between good and evil just got wicked fun.

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My Review:

4 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Hysterical, Mystery, Scary, Supernatural, Suspense, Urban Fantasy, Zombies--

Allie Nighthawk has principles, but she also likes to eat and feed her pets so when the police hire her to raise help babysit/protect an FBI informant who is in the process of turning zombie, she takes the job. Allie knows nothing about witness protection, the Mob, following orders or protocol, or using a filter- but she does know her way around raising and stopping zombies. When she finds herself in over her head and all the facts she knows thrown out the window, Allie is going to fight for the truth- even if it costs her a job- and maybe her life.

This was totally like the well-meaning madcap misadventures of Stephanie Plum meets the scary, gory supernatural of what Anita Blake use to be. There was a mystery that needed to be solved, there was some creepy/gory supernatural zombie action, some surprising amount of heart and feels, and the terrible yet hysterical antics and situations that Allie kept finding herself in (sometimes without her even meaning to) such as brains in the morgue or a nosy neighbor training birds to say "appropriate" comments. I blew through this story in a day, it was easy to read and stay engaged. I would go so far as to say this is a fun, lighthearted, zombie gory cozy mystery (if such a thing can exist).

I was a little confused about the world and the whole zombie situation, it was way more complicated that any other zombie story I have read (and I have read a lot- I love zombies!). There are so many types of zombies and reasons for zombies that kept being added as the book progressed I feel a little like I needed a spreadsheet to keep track of the whys and hows. I am hoping that the next book will build on what this story hinted at.

The main mystery aspect that Allie was hired for in this book was resolved but there was an underlying mystery going on that I would love to know more about. The ending hinted at a much more complicate world that I am so down for learning more about it! Count me in for the next Allie Nighthawk mystery (and I am hoping for some romance with a certain partner!).

I reviewed a complimentary copy of this title.

Author Bio:

H.R. Boldwood is a writer of horror and speculative fiction. In another incarnation, Boldwood is a Pushcart Prize nominee and was awarded the 2009 Bilbo Award for creative writing by Thomas More College. Publication credits include "Killing it Softly", "Short Story America", "Bete Noir", "Everday Fiction", "Toys in the Attic", "Floppy Shoes Apocalypse II", "Pilcrow and Dagger", "Quickfic", and "Sirens Call".

Boldwood's characters are often disreputable and not to be trusted. They are kicked to the curb at every conceivable opportunity. No responsibility is taken by this author for the dastardly and sometimes criminal acts committed by this ragtag group of miscreants. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads

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Blog Tour provided by Silver Dagger Book Tours