June Confessions

The warm weather is here (finally) and that means patio reading, poolside reading, and beach reading season are here! I'd like to say that I read a lot this month, but sadly, I really didn't. I was very busy with end of the school year activities with my oldest son, sports for both of them, and weekend trips to the Pocono Mountains as well as the beach.  Busy, busy, busy! I better find more time to read next month, especially while I am on vacation.  Did you guys find more time to read this month or do you find that the summertime is just too busy?


Books Read in June:
1.  Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews (Adult Fiction) - 3.5 out of 5 stars
2.  The Husband Hunters by Anne de Courcy (Audio Book/ Non-Fiction) - 4 out of 5 stars
3.  The Monster Catchers by George Brewington (MG Fiction) - 3.5 out of 5 stars
4.  Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand (Adult Historical Fiction) - 4 out of 5 stars (Review to come!)

Chapter Books:
1.  Ramona the Brave by Beverly Clearly

1.  Favorite Book: Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand is my favorite book of the month. It's a fantastic beach read and you guys know I love my historical beach reads.  I'm hoping she continues writing historical fiction, because I thought she captured the time period very well.

2.  Biggest Surprise: The Husband Hunters by Anne de Courcy was a big surprise for me. I listened to it as an audio book and since it's non-fiction I thought I wouldn't be as engaged as the other audio books I've listened to this year. That was definitely not true! This was very interesting and there's a lot of juicy details to keep you entertained.

3.  Biggest Disappointment:  Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews ended up being just an ok read for me. I was expecting so much more, but it was more of a mystery than of a beach read, which took me by surprise. I mean look at the cover?! The last novel I read by her was like this as well, so perhaps this is her new thing?

4.  Favorite Post: Blog Tour and Giveaway: Montauk

5.  Favorite Part of June: We love visiting the shore on the weekends and spending time with family, but we tried something new this month. We took the kids to the Pocono Mountains as they have never been there. It was a lot of fun to try something new, enjoy the lakes, and the mountain life. Have you visited the Poconos before?

What was your favorite book you read this month? Which one was disappointing? Let me know your thoughts!

Friday Five and a Giveaway (50)

It's Friday and I'm kicking off the weekend with a fun beach read giveaway and sharing my current favorite things that aren't necessarily book related. Welp, most of them are.  Let me know what you think!

1.  The Spanish Princess on Starz - Guys, I loved Philippa Gregory's The Constant Princess which focues on a young Catherine of Aragon and this show is based on that book.  I remember I read it on the beach years ago and devoured it. It brought a whole new light to Catherine instead of this matronly curmudgeon that I envisioned, thanks to Anne Boleyn, she was once a powerful young woman.  The show on Starz truly captures this and although the first few episodes were pretty rough, it definitely got better. I am excited to hear that there will be a season two. Did you guys watch the show? Have you read the book?

2.  Elin Hilderbrand + TV - Did you guys hear that a few of Elin Hilderbrand's beach reads are going to be adapted for TV? I am thrilled! They are adapting The Identicals, The Matchmaker, and The Blue Bistro, but I haven't read any of these! I have The Matchmaker on my shelf, so I may start there. Did you guys hear this news? Have you read these books? Let me know your thoughts.

3.  Favorite Book of the Summer (so far!) - I loved Hilderbrand's Summer of '69, Dessen's The Rest of the Story, Christina Lauren's The Unhoneymooners, and Tracey Garvis Graves' The Girl He Used to Know. I have read so many amazing novels so far and I look forward to reading more beach reads this summer. What's been your favorite book of the summer so far?

4.  Beatriz Williams + TV - I also heard that Beatriz Williams' The Summer Wives will be adapted for TV, which is THRILLING. If you know me, you know I am a huge Beatriz Williams fan. I really enjoyed this book, so it will be fun to watch it come to life. Have you read it? What do you think about this news?

5.  Beach Read Giveaway - I want to kick off the weekend with a giveaway for a beach read. One winner will pick one of the ARCs from my stash.  

• ARC of Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett
• ARC of The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves
• ARC of You, Me, and the Sea by Meg Donohue 
• ARC of Uncharted by Erin Cashman

This giveaway is open to US residents only and please refer to my giveaway rules. Good luck!

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Have a great weekend,

Audio Book Review: The Husband Hunters by Anne de Courcy

Genre: Non-Fiction/Audio Book

Pub. Date: August 7, 2018

Publisher: MacMillan Audio 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "A deliciously told group biography of the young, rich, American heiresses who married impoverished, British gentry at the turn of the twentieth century – The real women who inspired Downton Abbey  Towards the end of the nineteenth century and for the first few years of the twentieth, a strange invasion took place in Britain. The citadel of power, privilege and breeding in which the titled, land-owning governing class had barricaded itself for so long was breached. The incomers were a group of young women who, fifty years earlier, would have been looked on as the alien denizens of another world - the New World, to be precise. From 1874 - the year that Jennie Jerome, the first known 'Dollar Princess', married Randolph Churchill - to 1905, dozens of young American heiresses married into the British peerage, bringing with them all the fabulous wealth, glamour and sophistication of the Gilded Age.  Anne de Courcy sets the stories of these young women and their families in the context of their times. Based on extensive first-hand research, drawing on diaries, memoirs and letters, this richly entertaining group biography reveals what they thought of their new lives in England - and what England thought of them."

This non-fiction audio book was just as riveting as some of the fictional tales I've listened to lately.  De Courcy focuses on the Victorian and the Edwardian eras and the American heiresses who married into the British aristocracy.  I was worried a non-fiction audio book wouldn't work for me and that I'd be lost. However, not once did I get confused; de Courcy brings it all to life in an easy way to understand. The Husband Hunters was deliciously addicting, especially for fans of this time period as well as Downton Abbey.

I needed a Downton Abbey fix and The Husband Hunters was the perfect solution.  Anne de Courcy didn't just focus on American women, she also focused on the time period and how difficult it was for women at times.  She goes over gender roles, expectations, money issues, class issues, social issues, American women vs, British, and so much more. I feel like I have a stronger grasp on the time period and how its impact on women, especially those seeking to marry into the British aristocracy.

The Husband Hunters focuses on a few important women, but the ones who stood out for me were Jennie Jerome (Winston Churchill's mother), Consuelo Vanderbilt, and the "marrying" Wilsons.  I had just read a few novels featuring some of these women, so this was a perfect followup.

The Husband Hunters is narrated by Clare Corbett and her voice is absolutely perfect for this audio book. She was clear, easy to understand, and really brought the facts to life in a way that made it entertaining.  It is easy to see how Corbett has a successful career on the stage as her voice is outstanding; in fact, she may be one of my favorite narrators second to Davina Porter.

If you are interested in the time period or you love Downton Abbey, check out The Husband Hunters.  It was not only educational, but it was juicy at times. The truth is often stranger than fiction and that is definitely the case here.  

Perhaps I should listen to more non-fiction audio books in the future. Are you a fan of non-fiction audio books? If so, let me know some of your favorites.

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Wicked Redhead

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

The Wicked Redhead by Beatriz Williams

Pub. Date: December 10, 2019

Goodreads says, "In this follow-up to The Wicked City, New York Timesbestselling author Beatriz Williams combines past and present in this delicious Jazz Age adventure featuring a saucy redheaded flapper, the square-jawed Prohibition agent who loves her, and a beautiful divorcee trying to remake her life in contemporary New York.  New York City, 1998: When Ella Gilbert discovers her banker husband is cheating on her, she loses both her marriage and the life she knew. In her new apartment in an old Greenwich Village building, she's found unexpected second love with Hector, a musician who lives upstairs. And she's discovered something else, just as surprising—a connection to the mesmerizing woman scandalously posed in a vintage photograph titled Redhead Beside Herself.  Florida, 1924: Geneva "Gin" Kelly, a smart-mouthed flapper from Appalachia, barely survived a run-in with her notorious bootlegger stepfather. She and Oliver Anson, a Prohibition agent she has inconveniently fallen in love with, take shelter in Cocoa Beach, a rum-running haven. But the turmoil she tried to leave behind won't be so easily outrun. Anson's mother, the formidable Mrs. Marshall, descends on Florida with a proposition that propels Gin back to the family's opulent New York home, and into a reluctant alliance. Then Anson disappears during an investigation, and Gin must use all her guile and courage to find him.  Two very different women, separated by decades. Yet as Ella tries to free herself from her ex, she is also hunting down the truth about the captivating, wicked Redhead in her photograph—a woman who loved and lived fearlessly. And as their link grows, she feels Gin urging her on, daring her to forge her own path, wherever it leads.

Did you guys see Beatriz Williams has another novel coming out and it's a follow-up to The Wicked City. Although I didn't love The Wicked City as much as her other novels, I am intrigued. She is an auto-buy author for me. What do you guys think?

Book Review: Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews

Pages: 432

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date:  May 7, 2019

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: The Weekenders
and The High Tide Club

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars 

Goodreads says, "Drue Campbell’s life is adrift. Out of a job and down on her luck, life doesn’t seem to be getting any better when her estranged father, Brice Campbell, a flamboyant personal injury attorney, shows up at her mother’s funeral after a twenty-year absence. Worse, he’s remarried – to Drue’s eighth grade frenemy, Wendy, now his office manager. And they’re offering her a job.  It seems like the job from hell, but the offer is sweetened by the news of her inheritance – her grandparents’ beach bungalow in the sleepy town of Sunset Beach, a charming but storm-damaged eyesore now surrounded by waterfront McMansions.  With no other prospects, Drue begrudgingly joins the firm, spending her days screening out the grifters whose phone calls flood the law office. Working with Wendy is no picnic either. But when a suspicious death at an exclusive beach resort nearby exposes possible corruption at her father’s firm, she goes from unwilling cubicle rat to unwitting investigator, and is drawn into a case that may – or may not – involve her father. With an office romance building, a decades-old missing persons case re-opened, and a cottage in rehab, one thing is for sure at Sunset Beach: there’s a storm on the horizon.  Sunset Beach is a compelling ride, full of Mary Kay Andrews' signature wit, heart, and charm."

Things haven't been going well for Drue Campbell.  Her mother has recently died, she has injured herself windsurfing, she has a car that won't start, and she finds herself without a job after an incident at work.  Her estranged father, Brice Campbell, shows up at her mother's funeral.  He is pretty much the opposite of Drue. He's is a successful injury lawyer and has recently remarried one of Drue's friends.  Yes, her former friend! While talking with her father, she finds out that she inherited her grandparents' beach cottage in Sunset Beach, Florida.  True has so many memories of visiting this cottage with her beloved grandparents and her mother; she is shocked and overjoyed that it is now hers despite the fact that it needs a lot of work. Brice also sees that Drue needs some help and offers her a job at his law firm.  Drue begrudgingly takes it and decides to move into the beach cottage, which isn't that far from the law office.  Between learning the ins and outs at work, dealing with her ex-friend Wendy who works there and getting the beach cottage in order, she is really busy.  But when a case comes across her desk involving a missing person from ten years ago, she is intrigued despite her father telling her to not look into it.  Drue begins digging and finds out this missing case might involve people she knows! Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews is a good combination of a relaxing beach read and a thrilling mystery.

Drue isn't someone I initially gravitated to in Sunset Beach, but I was rooting for her. How could I not? Her life isn't going so well, especially after her injury and botched surgery.  Her relationship with her father is a seriously challenging one that isn't made easier by the fact that he remarried, Wendy, her friend from childhood.  Wendy also works at the law office, so this complicated things tremendously as she is office manager and a general pain in the butt.  Once Drue starts to become interested in the missing person case, I found myself a bit more intrigued by the plot line, especially when it would flash back to the past.

Since I a big lover of beach reads, I really enjoyed the setting of Sunset Beach, on Florida's Gulf Coast, and the ramshackle cottage that has been in her family for years. I loved that Drue moved in and rehabbed it as well as her own life.

The missing person mystery in Sunset Beach, although interesting, sometimes got a little drawn out and I wish Andrews would have focused a bit more on the beach read side of the story and Drue's life.  I liked Drue as a make-shift detective, but at times it was a little unbelievable.

Nonetheless, you can always count on Mary Kay Andrews to give you a beach read that is laid back and fun.  So, if you like your beach reads with a side of an unsolved mystery, check out Sunset Beach this summer.

Stacking the Shelves and Giveaway Winner (100)

Book Review and Giveaway: The Monster Catchers by George Brewington
Can't Wait Wednesday: House of Blood and Earth

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Two Little Golfers Being Positive

Book Review: You, Me, and the Sea by Meg Donohue

Coming up I'll be sharing my thoughts on my latest audio book, The Husband Hunters, which is a non-fiction book about the American heiresses that infiltrated the British aristocracy...think Downton Abbey! I was very entertaining if you are an Angliophile like me.  I will also be sharing my thoughts on Mary Kay Andrew's latest beach read, Sunset Beach. I'll be kicking off the weekend with a fun giveaway for a beach read, so be on the look out!   

 

The Other Windsor Girl by George Blalock - Thanks to William Morrow and Edelweiss

10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston - Thanks to Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley

 

You Were There Too by Colleen Oakley - Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley

The Echo Park Castaways by M.G. Hennessey - Thanks to HarperCollins

The winner of Montauk by Nicola Harrison goes to......

Michele

Congrats! I hope you love the book!

Have you read any of these books? Are they on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts. This meme is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. Thanks for visiting!

Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Monster Catchers by George Brewington

Pages: 288

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction/Fantasy

Pub. Date: March 5, 2019

Publisher: Henry Holt

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

Goodreads says, "A father-son monster hunter duo must save the Bay Area from an evil villain in The Monster Catchers, a madcap middle-grade fantasy debut from George Brewington.  If there's something strange in the neighborhood, who you gonna call?Buckleby and Son!  Whether it's a goblin in the garden or a fairy in the attic, Bailey Buckleby and his dad can rid your home of whatever monster is troubling you—for the right price. But when Bailey discovers that his dad has been lying—their pet troll Henry is actually a kidnapped baby sea giant—he begins to question the family business. Enter Axel Pazuzu, criminal mastermind, who will stop at nothing to make a buck. With everyone and everything he loves in peril, it's up to Bailey to save his family and set things right in this funny, fantastical adventure."

Bailey Buckleby lives an interesting life in San Francisco, California with his father.  They run a monster catching business and a souvenir store that features some of San Francisco's most strange things.  Bailey, and a few others, know the secret that is in the back room of their store: monsters! Monsters are everywhere; in fact, one of Bailey's pets is a Swiss Troll, so his dad says, that he often dresses up like a human and takes for a walk to the beach.  Also, Bailey accompanies his monster hunting father on trips to rid monsters from people's homes.  He isn't able to share this secret with anyone until he meets Savannah, a fellow seventh grade student, who knows about the presence of monsters.  As the story progresses, Bailey meets Axel, part human/part dog, and he wants to take down Buckleby and Sons and also keep Henry, the supposed Swiss Troll, for himself.  Axel starts making Bailey question things his father has told him in the past, especially about Henry and the untimely death of his mother.  His interaction with Axel really highlights the differences between Bailey and his father.  Can the father and son duo defeat Axel and his clan? Is Henry truly a Swiss troll or are there are more secrets Bailey's father is keeping from him and what exactly happened to Bailey's mother?  George Brewington's debut, The Monster Catchers, is an adventurous tale for children who love imaginative stories filled with monsters, action, and heroic children.

Bailey Buckleby is such a fun character and his interest in monsters is heartwarming in The Monster Catchers. Bailey doesn't necessarily agree with his father that they should catch monsters, put them in cages and sell them for profit. This doesn't sit well with Bailey and he starts to realize that monsters have feelings just like he does and perhaps not all are bad.  This is a good message to the story that can lend itself to discussion.  I really enjoyed Bailey and the fact that he was caring, brave, and very smart....not to mention his awesome frisbee skills!

I also really enjoyed the fact that the father and son duo in The Monster Catchers worked together and that Bailey was such an integral part of the team.  What fun! My son loves all things monsters, so he couldn't want to find out what the Bucklebys were up to next.  His father, Dougie, was the polar opposite of Bailey, but I liked that the characters were foils for each other.  While I usually didn't agree with Dougie, I was still rooting for the Buckleby family in the end.

If you have an upper elementary child or a middle grade child at home that loves high fantasy as well as monsters, give The Monster Catchers a try this summer. My son was glued to the pages when I read this book aloud to him and he kept asking me to read more.  The unusual monsters, the interesting characters, and the world that Bailey lives in kept my son excited.  What more could you want from a summer read?

Thanks to Henry Holt, I am hosting a giveaway for an ebook of The Monster Catchers by George Brewington. This would be the perfect ebook to load onto your child's e-reader this summer or to share as an engaging read-aloud.  This giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only. Please refer to my giveaway rules. Good luck!

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Can't Wait Wednesday: House of Earth and Blood

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

Pub. Date: January 28, 2020 

Goodreads, "Half-Fae, half-human Bryce Quinlan loves her life. By day, she works for an antiquities dealer, selling barely legal magical artifacts, and by night, she parties with her friends, savouring every pleasure Lunathion—otherwise known as Crescent City— has to offer. But it all comes crumbling down when a ruthless murder shakes the very foundations of the city—and Bryce’s world.  Two years later, her job has become a dead end, and she now seeks only blissful oblivion in the city’s most notorious nightclubs. But when the murderer attacks again, Bryce finds herself dragged into the investigation and paired with an infamous Fallen angel whose own brutal past haunts his every step.  Hunt Athalar, personal assassin for the Archangels, wants nothing to do with Bryce Quinlan, despite being ordered to protect her. She stands for everything he once rebelled against and seems more interested in partying than solving the murder, no matter how close to home it might hit. But Hunt soon realizes there’s far more to Bryce than meets the eye—and that he’s going to have to find a way to work with her if they want to solve this case.  As Bryce and Hunt race to untangle the mystery, they have no way of knowing the threads they tug ripple through the underbelly of the city, across warring continents, and down to the darkest levels of Hel, where things that have been sleeping for millennia are beginning to stir..."

I absolutely love Sarah J. Maas and can't wait to try this new series for adults although I still need to get caught up on her Court of Thorns and Roses series. What do you guys think? Are you excited for this one?

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Two Little Golfers Being Positive by Jenn Holt

Summertime is a great time to get little ones excited about reading and I've got a new picture book to share with you guys today. I have been on the hunt for picture books that include sports and sadly, there aren't too many that include the sport of golf.  

So, when I was asked to be a part of the blog tour for the publication of Two Little Golfers Being Positive by Jenn Holt, I knew I had to! A picture book about golf? Finally! Plus, the author, Jenn Holt, is an LPGA teaching professional, so she really knows her stuff.  The overall message of Two Little Golfers Being Positive explains how a good attitude is a wonderful thing to have and how it can have a positive impact on sports as well as your life. I love this message!

About Two Little Golfers Being Positive:

Publisher’s Synopsis: "Coach Jenn takes Alice and Izzy on the golf course to show them the value of positive self talk,  a positive attitude, and to never give up, no matter how hard it gets. The story is told with some cute illustrations, and is great for all sports kids."

Ages 0-7 | Publisher: Outskirts Press | October 29, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1977201263

You can buy this book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound. You can also learn more about Jenn Holt by visiting her website and on Facebook.  

The Giveaway: 

I have partnered with The Children's Book Review and Jenn Holt to share with you guys a fun giveaway that's absolutely perfect for summertime.  You can enter to win a signed copy of Jenn Holt's Two Little Golfers Being Positive along with one dozen pink golf balls and pink tees. 

Also, two winners will receive a signed copy of the book. The giveaway begins June 10, 2019 and ends July 10, 2019 at 11:59 PM PST.  The giveaway is open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 17 and older. Jenn Holt is responsible for prize fulfillment. Please refer to my giveaway rules. 

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Good luck and thanks for visiting,

Book Review: You, Me, and the Sea by Meg Donohue

Pages: 368

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date:  May 7, 2019
Publisher: William Morrow
Source: Publisher for review
Other Books By Author: All the Summer Girls
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "To find her way, she must abandon everything she loves…  As a child, Merrow Shawe believes she is born of the sea: strong, joyous, and wild. Her beloved home is Horseshoe Cliff, a small farm on the coast of Northern California where she spends her days exploring fog-cloaked bluffs, swimming in the cove, and basking in the light of golden sunsets as her father entertains her with fantastical stories. It is an enchanting childhood, but it is not without hardship—the mystery of Merrow’s mother’s death haunts her, as does the increasingly senseless cruelty of her older brother, Bear.   Then, like sea glass carried from a distant land, Amir arrives in Merrow’s life. He’s been tossed about from India to New York City and now to Horseshoe Cliff, to stay with her family. Merrow is immediately drawn to his spirit, his passion, and his resilience in the face of Bear’s viciousness. Together they embrace their love of the sea, and their growing love for each other.  But the ocean holds secrets in its darkest depths. When tragedy strikes, Merrow is forced to question whether Amir is really the person she believed him to be. In order to escape the danger she finds herself in and find her own path forward, she must let go of the only home she’s ever known, and the only boy she’s ever loved.... 

Merrow lives in a remote coastal area of Northern California along with her father and her brother.  They live on a dilapidated farm and it barely yields enough crops for them to get by.  Her older brother, Bear, doesn't look out for her in the very least as he is a disturbed individual and treats her very cruelly.  One day her father brings home an orphan, Amir.  Amir is the son of his deceased wife's best friend, so he can't just let him go into foster care again.  This thrills Merrow completely as she has wanted a friend and a playmate practically her whole life.  Merrow and Amir spend blissful days exploring Horseshoe Bluff, the farm, swimming in the ocean, and avoiding Bear at all costs.  As they get older, Amir slowly changes from being her best friend to something more while they both weather the many storms of that come into their lives.  Meg Donohue's You, Me, and the Sea is a heartfelt story about family, friendship, the call of the ocean, and star-crossed love. 

Merrow is truly a memorable character in You, Me, and the Sea. Her childhood at idyllic Horseshoe Cliff should be magical, and it is at times, but there is a dark cloud that follows her wherever she goes and that ominous cloud is Bear. He is a cruel and horrible person that not only abuses Merrow physically at times, but also emotionally.  Her father doesn't always catch his misdeeds, as he has many troubles of his own and is often away, so Merrow must really learn to fend for herself.  Thankfully, Amir enters her life and she not only has a sidekick, but she also has someone to count on, which becomes even more important later in the story.  Her friendship with Amir truly tugged on my heartstrings and I was rooting for them to overcome all the obstacles in their way, especially when it came to dealing with Bear. He was infuriating!

I don't want to give too much of the plot away, but if you are familiar with Wuthering Heights, then you will enjoy this modern retelling.  A lot happens to Amir and Merrow as they get older and I was completely invested in Merrow's story and hoping for the best for both her and Amir.

The idyllic setting of Horseshoe Cliff in You, Me, and the Sea is so memorable and it made this delightful story perfect for summertime.  Morrow's love of the ocean and her appreciation of it is felt throughout the entire story. 

You, Me, and the Sea isn't your usual beach read; it is smart and has so much heart! So much so that it made me cry and I haven't cried over a book in ages. You'll want to throw in in your beach bag this summer! 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Knowing

I have joined up with The Children's Book Review and Brit Lunden to share with you guys an exciting giveaway today.  We are celebrating Brit Lunden's The Knowing, which is a young adult paranormal novel that was published in March.  It's book one from the Bulwark Anthology; it is being described as supernatural love story that takes place on a Georgia farm.  Who doesn't love to curl up with a thrilling paranormal romance, especially in the summer? 

Do you want to learn more about The Knowing?

Publisher’s Synopsis: "Bulwark- a wall or stockade that protects or sometimes hides the truth from the outside world. Bulwark, Georgia, isolated, hidden. Who knows what strange things can happen when the rest of the world can’t see you? JB Stratton is alone in the world, and all he has left are the memories of his beloved Ellie. Dirt poor JB and wealthy Ellie feel an instant connection that is as intense and primal as the blood red earth of their home. Unseen roots connect them, pulling them into an impossible relationship. Will the memories of past lives help or hinder the path of their love? Based on the original novella Bulwark, by Brit Lunden, The Knowing continues the story of a town isolated from the rest of the world where the impossible becomes plausible, and logic is determined by reality."

Ages 17+ | Publisher: Chelshire | March 13, 2019 | ISBN-13: 978-1947188990

You can purchase The Knowing at  Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound. Also, visit Brit Lunden at her website and on Facebook. You can also find her on Twitter.

The Giveaway

Thanks to The Children's Book Review and Brit Lunden, one lucky winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and an autographed copy of The Knowing. Four lucky winners will receive an autographed copy of The Knowing.  The giveaway begins June 3, 2019 and ends July 3, 2019 at 11:59 PM PST.  The giveaway is open to residents of Canada and the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 17 and older.  Brit Lunden is responsible for prize fulfillment.


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Good luck and Happy Friday,

Can't Wait Wednesday: Twice in a Blue Moon

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren

Pub. Date: October 22, 2019

Goodreads says, "As an adventurous send-off to her childhood, eighteen-year-old Tate Jones travels with her grandmother from their small town in Northern California to London. But the vacation of a lifetime is wonderfully derailed by the appearance of two charming Vermont farmers: grandfather Luther and his handsome grandson Sam.  Sam and Tate fall hard and fast. For two glorious weeks, the couple share their hopes, dreams, and secrets. Sam admits he suspects his grandfather is dying and that this could be the last trip they take together, and Tate reveals that she is the hidden daughter of one of the biggest film stars in the world—a secret she’s never told anyone before.  But when Tate is exposed by a crush of cameras and reporters, she knows she's been betrayed by the one person she thought she could trust. She is forced to decide whether she will return to her quiet life or embrace being in the public eye. So when Sam reappears in her world more than a decade later, can Tate forgive the past and rekindle the passion they shared on their magical trip abroad? And does she even want to?"

Ahhh! A new Christina Lauren novel is hitting shelves this fall! I have absolutely loved their last two novels, The Unhoneymooners and Love and Other Words, so I can't wait to check out this one. Their books are so light, enjoyable, and funny! What do you guys think? 

Book Review: The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen

Pages: 400

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pub. Date: June 4, 2019

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Along for the Ride, Dreamland,
Just Listen, Keeping the Moon, Lock and Key, 
Once and For All, Saint Anything, Someone Like You, 
The Moon and More and The Truth About Forever 

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Emma Saylor doesn’t remember a lot about her mother, who died when she was ten. But she does remember the stories her mom told her about the big lake that went on forever, with cold, clear water and mossy trees at the edges.  Now it’s just Emma and her dad, and life is good, if a little predictable…until Emma is unexpectedly sent to spend the summer with her mother’s family—her grandmother and cousins she hasn’t seen since she was a little girl.  When Emma arrives at North Lake, she realizes there are actually two very different communities there. Her mother grew up in working class North Lake, while her dad spent summers in the wealthier Lake North resort. The more time Emma spends there, the more it starts to feel like she is divided into two people as well. To her father, she is Emma. But to her new family, she is Saylor, the name her mother always called her.  Then there’s Roo, the boy who was her very best friend when she was little. Roo holds the key to her family’s history, and slowly, he helps her put the pieces together about her past. It’s hard not to get caught up in the magic of North Lake—and Saylor finds herself falling under Roo’s spell as well.  For Saylor, it’s like a whole new world is opening up to her. But when it’s time to go back home, which side of her will win out?"

Emma Saylor hasn't lived an easy life by any means despite the fact that she lives in a nice house in a good neighborhood and has many friends.  She lost her mother to addiction and her father has been busy with his career as a dentist.  Also, her Nana has helped raise her, but Emma still suffers from anxiety.  Her father has remarried and is planning on taking a honeymoon this summer.  Emma is ok with this as she will be staying at her best friend's house. But things happen and plans change and now Emma finds herself with no place to go during her dad's honeymoon.  Her Nana suggests she stay with her mother's family who lives in a resort town by North Lake.  Emma hasn't been back there since she was four years old, so this would give her an opportunity to reconnect with family, but it's, well, awkward.  Her mother's family run a motel by the lake and she has a ton of cousins, but she hasn't connected with them in years.  So, Emma agrees to go, because she doesn't want to be the reason her father can't go on a honeymoon. While she is there, Emma learns more about her past, her mother, and finds herself loving a family she never knew she had.  Sarah Dessen's The Rest of the Story tackles that one important summer in a teenager's life. It's going down as one of my favorite Dessen novels.

Emma Saylor is a memorable character and one that I think many people can relate to in The Rest of the Story.  My heart went out to her as she had a lot to deal with regarding her mother and addiction.  Even though she lives in an expensive neighborhood and in a luxurious house, she still has problems that haunt her. When she is uprooted from her cushy life to North Lake, which is a working-class neighborhood, I thought she would struggle. But she takes to family life and working at the motel easily. Once acclimated she really blossomed. I could appreciate Emma's experience as an only child and then having the opportunity to spend time with a larger extended family. I think Dessen captured the dynamics of that very well and the fact that Emma had to be reacquainted with many people from her childhood.

While there, Emma Saylor is reunited with Roo, one of her friends from childhood.  Roo's father was also good friends with Emma's mother, so there was that history too. I absolutely loved their relationship.  I loved the back story, the friendship, and how it evolved and how good Roo is. So often in YA lit, we encounter bad guys or guys who are jerks. It's so nice to come across Roo who is a down to Earth good guy.  He is definitely swoon-worthy in The Rest of the Story.

The dynamics of North Lake and Lake North (the richer resort town) are also well done. It think every lake or beach community has this type of hierarchy and Dessen captures it very well. I enjoyed Emma going on the many adventures by the lake with her cousins and friends.  It was the perfect summertime setting.

There's something that Dessen does very well that no other YA author that I have come across can do. She captures the easy summertime life as a teenager; she lets the story evolve organically. It's not that a whole lot happened in the first half of the book, but she develops the characters to the point where I feel like I know them and could be friends with them. The Rest of the Story is a quiet story that truly resonates and it's going down as not only one of my favorite books of the summer, but also one of my favorite Sarah Dessen novels and if you know me that is saying a lot.

Can we all agree that Sarah Dessen can do no wrong? If you want a summertime read that is memorable, heartwarming and real, pick up The Rest of the Story this summer.