Tag: Reviews

Review: Fawkes

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Title:  Fawkes

Author: Nadine Brandes

Page count: 448

Published: July 10th 2018

Publisher:  Expected Publication

Genre: Teens/YA

Received: Netgalley

Purchase: Amazon

Rating: 3.75/5

Summary:

Thomas Fawkes is turning to stone, and the only cure to the Stone Plague is to join his father’s plot to assassinate the king of England.

Silent wars leave the most carnage. The wars that are never declared, but are carried out in dark alleys with masks and hidden knives. Wars where color power alters the natural rhythm of 17th century London. And when the king calls for peace, no one listens until he finally calls for death.

But what if death finds him first?

Keepers think the Igniters caused the plague. Igniters think the Keepers did it. But all Thomas knows is that the Stone Plague infecting his eye is spreading. And if he doesn’t do something soon, he’ll be a lifeless statue. So when his Keeper father, Guy Fawkes, invites him to join the Gunpowder Plot—claiming it will put an end to the plague—Thomas is in.

The plan: use 36 barrels of gunpowder to blow up the Igniter King.

The problem: Doing so will destroy the family of the girl Thomas loves. But backing out of the plot will send his father and the other plotters to the gallows. To save one, Thomas will lose the other.

No matter Thomas’s choice, one thing is clear: once the decision is made and the color masks have been put on, there’s no turning back.

My Thoughts: I love the cover of this book. when I saw it, I thought of a masquerade ball. This book is set in the 17th century London. It is a take on a group of men that organised the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. This isn’t one that I would normally read because it is a historical fiction. This one really intrigued me because you get to wear a mask that gives you the ability to communicate with colours. (Cool right?) There is a King and two different groups the Keepers and Igniters that are wanting one another gone. This was a really unique story. Thomas was a great character, he goes through some things that made him seem very relatable, by the end of the book he becomes very likeable. In the beginning he wasn’t as much, I like that he had a great development. He goes to get a test to see what mask he will get and he doesn’t end up getting one. So, he runs off to London in search of his father so that he can help him. After reading this book I think that I’m going to have to dive into this genre a bit more. If there are more books like this? Then I’m defiantly missing something.  *I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. *

[New Post] Review: A Cowboy’s Sweetheart

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Title:  A Cowboy’s Sweetheart

Author: Crista Mchugh

Page count: 164

Published: June 25th 2018

Publisher: Expected Publications

Genre: Teens/YA

Received: Netgalley

Purchase: Amazon

Rating: 3/5

Summary:

Pampered New York Socialite and dressage rider, Kensington Pope, has been exiled by her jet-setting parents to her aunt’s Rodeo Academy in Wyoming. She wants nothing to do with the rough and tumble students there, especially one particularly handsome cowboy, Javier. But she won’t be there for long. She has a plan in place to break out after her next international competition.

Javier Cruz takes one look at the spoiled city girl and instantly dismisses her. The school of tough knocks has already educated him on what the important things in life are, and he has bigger things on his plate. He’s counting down the days until his eighteenth birthday when he can pull his younger siblings from the foster care program and reunite his family. But as he gets to know Kensi, he sees a kindred spirit and discovers there’s more to her than meets the eye.

Kensi begins to question her desire to flee the ranch as her relationship to Javier deepens and she learns the importance of family. But when he discovers her escape plan, will he be able to trust her again? And when tragedy comes to the ranch, will Kensi be able to step up and take her place in the family?

My Thoughts:
I was able to read this book in one sitting. It was cute but lacked something. Kensi is from NYC and has to move to Wyoming with her aunt and uncle in the middle of nowhere because if a party she had. Javier is one of the family’s workers who’s working his behind off so that he can get custody of his brothers. This book was your typical teen romance. I wasn’t really intrigued with there story. I felt there was a big chunk missing, I’m not sure what exactly. Maybe more backstory or more in depth into the characters I just left like something was missing. I will have my review for this book up on my blog in a few days. Thank you to Netgalley and Victory editing for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review

Review: Hocus Pocus & The All New Sequel

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Title:  Hocus Pocus & The All New Sequel

Author: A.W. Jantha

Page count: 560

Published: July 10th 2018

Publisher: Freeform

Genre: Teens/YA

Received: Netgalley

Purchase: Amazon

Rating: 4/5

Summary:

Hocus Pocus is beloved by Halloween enthusiasts all over the world. Diving once more into the world of witches, this electrifying two-part young adult novel, released on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 1993 film, marks a new era of Hocus Pocus. Fans will be spellbound by a fresh retelling of the original film, followed by the all-new sequel that continues the story with the next generation of Salem teens.

Shortly after moving from California to Salem, Massachusetts, Max Dennison finds himself in hot water when he accidentally releases a coven of witches, the Sanderson sisters, from the afterlife. Max, his sister, and his new friends (human and otherwise) must find a way to stop the witches from carrying out their evil plan and remaining on earth to torment Salem for all eternity.

Twenty-five years later, Max and Allison’s seventeen-year-old daughter, Poppy, finds herself face-to-face with the Sanderson sisters in all their sinister glory. When Halloween celebrations don’t quite go as planned, it’s a race against time as Poppy and her friends fight to save her family and all of Salem from the witches’ latest death-defying scheme

My Thoughts:
When I first saw this book, I knew I had to read it. I have loved Hocus Pocus since I was a kid. I watch it every Halloween and now has become a tradition with my daughter. This is also an amazing cover. I totally love it.

The book comes in 2 parts the first part is like the movie with a few added bits and pieces so that you’ll understand the second part a bit more. The second part being set in 2018

I loved the pictures that were added into the book. I felt like it added a special something to the book.

One thing that I really enjoyed was how some of the original characters made an appearance in the sequel.

I absolutely adored how the author made the second half relatable to today. I think that kids that haven’t seen the movie will be able to understand the fantasticness of this book.

**I was given this book by Netgalley and Disney Book Group in exchange for an honest review**

Review: Body Swap

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Title: Body Swap

Author: Sylvia McNicoll

Page count: 284

Published: October 9th 2018

Publisher: Dundurn

Genre: Teens/YA

Received: Netgalley

Purchase:

Rating: 3.5/5

Summary:

A fatal collision — who’s to blame? Two bodies, two souls switch in search of justice.

When fifteen-year-old Hallie gets knocked flying by a Hurricane SUV, her life ends without her ever having kissed a boy. At an otherworldly carnival, she meets and argues with the eighty-two-year-old driver, Susan. Both return to life, only with one catch — they’ve swapped bodies.

Now Hallie has wrinkled skin and achy joints while Susan deals with a forehead zit and a crush on a guy who’s a player. Hallie faces a life in a long-term care residence. Susan gets picked up for shoplifting.

As they struggle with technology, medications, and each other’s fashion foibles, they start to understand and maybe even like each other. But can they work together to prove that a defect in the Hurricane caused the deadly crash? Or will their time run out

My Thoughts:

I had requested this book because the idea of a book that was like Freaky Friday sounded really interesting to me. This was a really quick cute read.

82yr old Susan and 15-year-old Hallie they ended up in a car accident.
Hallie is your typical teenager where Susan is an elderly woman who’s dealing with her own life.

I love that the author made this such an interesting read. Having 2 people swap bodies with such an age gap now knowing they have a better understanding of one another.

I did feel like the book was a bit rushed in bits but all around I enjoyed the book.

** I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **

Review: Summer Constellations

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Title: Summer Constellations

Author: Alisha Sevigny

Page count: 264

Published: May 1 2018

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Genre: Teen/Ya

Received: Netgalley

Purchase: Amazon Kobo

Rating: 4/5

Summary:

ulia Ducharme is ready for a fresh start. Her little brother has finally recovered from a serious illness, and now she just wants to enjoy peak season at the campground her family owns. Maybe this will be the year her annual summer fling with Dan Schaeffer becomes something more?

But her summer dreams are quickly shattered. First, Dan arrives for vacation with a new girlfriend in tow, and then Julia discovers this may be her last summer in the only home she’s ever known.

Crushing medical bills have brought her single mom to the brink of bankruptcy, and a wealthy developer is sniffing around the campground. He sees what Julia sees: lush woods, a pristine lake, miles of trails for adventure. Unlike Julia, he thinks this is the perfect spot for a casino resort.

Heartbroken and afraid, Julia looks to the stars for some perspective. Taking her telescope down to the dock one night, she has a chance encounter with a guitar-playing boy who offers some helpful advice. Too bad this handsome stranger is the developer’s son, Nick Constantine.

As plans for a resort move forward, Julia is desperate to find a solution that doesn’t mean leaving the lake. Nick, in turn, is desperate to separate himself from his father’s aggressive business tactics. He promises that, together, they can thwart the sale.

But can Julia trust him to conspire against his own father? And could she ever she trust him with her heart?

My Thoughts:

This was a cute summer read, I finished it in one sitting. I could see myself reading this on the beach with a nice tall glass of iced coffee.

This book follows a 17-year-old Julia who just finds out that her home that her grandfather had may be getting sold.

While she is on a dock looking at the stars she meets a guy named Nick, his dad is the one that wants to buy her Granddads home. (horrible right? )

Nick and Julia begin to fall for one another an in doing so they try to figure out a way to help Julia keep her home.

This was a light an easy read. I recommend this book to you if you love summer books.

** I was given this book by NetGalley and Kids Can Press in exchange for an honest review. **