Blue Skies by Alana Oxford REVIEW

Blue Skies

by Alana Oxford 

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Synopsis:

Life isn't always a walk in the park, but when Patrice takes her Pomeranians to the park after a rough day at the office, fate steps in. An unlikely hero comes to the rescue when one of her dogs gets loose. Short, pale, and kind of cute, Seth doesn't have a lot of confidence with the ladies, but he hits it off with Patrice.

But some things might be too good to be true. While Patrice wonders if Seth could possibly be "the one", fate steps in again with a horrible twist. Will it be a deal breaker or just a storm before bright blue skies?

Purchase Links:

US - http://amzn.to/3gWzAvy
UK - http://amzn.to/2E12wUf

Review:

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and Alana Oxford for a free copy of this book in echange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

When Patrice takes her dogs for a walk in the park she isn't expecting fate to step in and bring her a man who may possibly be the one. However, fate takes another shot at her leaving her thinking maybe she hasn’t found Mr. Right at all.

This was a short and sweet romance but still managed to put me on edge. The twist of fate in this one really got me. It really hit me and had me asking myself "omg what is she going to do??" I was so happy with how everything happened.

The writing was so enjoyable. I found Blue Skies to be an enjoyable read. It's the kind of story you can just lose yourself in. Patrice was a great main character. She was interesting and I found myself really enjoying being a fly on the wall.

I'd recommend this one to anyone looking for a short and sweet romance. 

Author Bio

Alana Oxford is a Michigan author of romcoms, sweet romance, and humorous women's fiction. She wants her stories to bring sunshine and smiles to her readers. She enjoys improv comedy, moody music, everything book related, and has an ongoing love affair with the United Kingdom.

Social Media Links:
Twitter: @AlanaOxford
Instagram: http://instagram.com/AlanaOxford
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlanaOxford/

2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge

2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge

Hi everyone! I am super excited to finally be finished the 2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge! For those who don't know what that is, it's a yearly reading challenge that is issued by Popsugar. It runs for the entire year, January 1 to December 31. There are usually about 50 prompts, 10 of which are advanced prompts. I think that's really all you need to know, however I'm going to place the 2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge link here in case you'd like to check it out. 

So without further delay here is my completed reading list:

A book that's published in 2020
> How To Break A Heart by Maria Padian 

A book by a trans or nonbinary author
> Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

A book with a great first line
> The Greenbecker Gambit by Ben Graff

A book about a book club
> The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe

A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics
> Her Dark Knight's Redemption by Nicole Locke

A bildungsroman
> May by Kelli Green

The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed
> All We Shall Know by Donal Ryan

A book with an upside-down image on the cover
> The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

A book with a map
> Empire's Exile by Marian L. Thorpe

A book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club
> The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

An anthology
> Eat The Sky, Drink The Ocean by Kirsty Murray

A book that passes the Bechdel test
> Far From The Tree by Robin Benway

A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it
> The One by John Marrs

A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name
> White Cat by Holly Black

A book about or involving social media
> Pretty Things by Janelle Brown

A book that has a book on the cover
> Esme's Wish by Elizabeth Foster

A medical thriller
> The Stand by Stephen King

A book with a made-up language
> Empire's Hostage by Marian L. Thorpe

A book set in a country beginning with "C"
> The Murder of Minnie Callan by Tom Gruchy

A book you picked because the title caught your attention
> Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender

A book published the month of your birthday
> The Living Dead by George A. Romero & Daniel Kraus

A book about or by a woman in STEM
> The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

A book that won an award in 2019
> The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

A book on a subject you know nothing about
> The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics
> Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay

A book with a pun in the title
> To Kill a Mocking Girl by Harper Kincaid

A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins
> Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character
> Cress by Marissa Meyer

A book with a bird on the cover
> The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
> Long Walk To Freedom by Nelson Mandela

A book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title
> Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel

A book by a WOC
> Hunger by Roxanne Gay

A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads
> Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

A book you meant to read in 2019
> Children of Eden by Joey Graceffa

A book with a three-word title
> Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison

A book with a pink cover
> Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

A Western
> The Gunslinger by Stephen King

A book by or about a journalist
> Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Read a banned book during Banned Books Week
> Animal Farm by George Orwell

Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

- A Book About A Family
> The Third Twin by C.J. Omololu

Advanced

A book written by an author in their 20s
> Carrie by Stephen King

A book with "20" or "twenty" in the title
> Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

A book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement (a nod to 20/20 vision)
> The Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling

A book set in the 1920s
> The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics
> I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn

A book by an author who has written more than 20 books
> The Cannibals of Candyland by Carlton Mellick III

A book with more than 20 letters in its title
> The Museum of Second Chances by A.E. Warren

A book published in the 20th century
> The Island of Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

A book from a series with more than 20 books
> The Bungalow Mystery by Carolyn Keene

A book with a main character in their 20s
> Soul City Salvation by Jonathan LaPoma

If you're still with me this far I'd love to know if you've read any of these? If so, what are your thoughts? Are any of these on your TBR? Did you participate in this or any other yearly reading challenge? If so, what was your favorite prompt?

Thanks for reading! See you on the moon! XO

The Living Dead by George A. Romero & Daniel Kraus REVIEW

The Living Dead

by George A. Romero

& Daniel Kraus

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Synopsis:

George A. Romero invented the modern zombie with Night of the Living Dead, creating a monster that has become a key part of pop culture. Romero often felt hemmed in by the constraints of film-making. To tell the story of the rise of the zombies and the fall of humanity the way it should be told, Romero turned to fiction. Unfortunately, when he died, the story was incomplete.

Enter Daniel Kraus, co-author, with Guillermo del Toro, of the New York Times bestseller The Shape of Water (based on the Academy Award-winning movie) and Trollhunters (which became an Emmy Award-winning series), and author of The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch (an Entertainment Weekly Top 10 Book of the Year). A lifelong Romero fan, Kraus was honored to be asked, by Romero's widow, to complete The Living Dead.

Set in the present day, The Living Dead is an entirely new tale, the story of the zombie plague as George A. Romero wanted to tell it.

It begins with one body.

A pair of medical examiners find themselves battling a dead man who won’t stay dead.

It spreads quickly.

In a Midwestern trailer park, a Black teenage girl and a Muslim immigrant battle newly-risen friends and family. On a US aircraft carrier, living sailors hide from dead ones while a fanatic makes a new religion out of death. At a cable news station, a surviving anchor keeps broadcasting while his undead colleagues try to devour him. In DC, an autistic federal employee charts the outbreak, preserving data for a future that may never come.

Everywhere, people are targeted by both the living and the dead.

We think we know how this story ends.

We. Are. Wrong.

Purchase Links:

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Living-Dead-George-Romero/dp/1250305128/

US: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Dead-George-Romero/dp/1250305128/

Review:

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Books for a review copy of this book. All thought and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Living Dead was started by George A. Romero and then finished by Daniel Kraus after his passing. I'm unsure where George's writing ends and Daniel's begins. The two parts are blended perfectly.

If you've read many of my reviews before then you probably know I am not a fan of slow burns. Sometimes, however, I find one that is so well written and engaging that I just get lost within the story. The Living Dead by George A. Romero and Daniel Kraus is one of the most enjoyable slow burns I've ever read. It did still have an occasional part or two that dragged but overall I really enjoyed it.

This book was everything I needed to give my love of zombies a boost. I am so satisfied with how the whole story played out. I loved the ending. It was just great all around.

So I have to admit zombies are my favorite so I may be a little biased. However, if you're a zombie lover I recommend checking this one out. It's long so it is a bit of a commitment but it's so good! 

Christmas at the Farmhouse by Rebecca Boxall REVIEW

 Christmas at the Farmhouse

by Rebecca Boxall

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Synopsis:

As the anticipation of Christmas builds in the Nielsen family’s cosy farmhouse, Jo, Magnus and their grown-up children begin to congregate for a hybrid Danish-Jersey festive season, each with a surprise of their own – though the surprise that arrives over Christmas is the most life-changing of all.

Fifty years earlier, in 1969, Susan Jones finds herself being pursued by Mr Jenners, her former English teacher, and at the age of seventeen is packed off to a Home for Unmarried Mothers in London by her uncompromising father. As Christmas approaches, all she can do is desperately hope to be rescued, but will anyone be able to reach her in time?

The two timelines of this festive story gradually weave together in a tale that examines whether love and hope can eventually triumph over even the deepest sadness.

Rebecca Boxall is the award-nominated author of five bestselling novels – Christmas at the Vicarage, Home for Winter, Christmas on the Coast, The Christmas Forest and Christmas by the Lighthouse.

Purchase Links:

CA - https://www.amazon.ca/Christmas-Farmhouse-festive-author-Vicarage-ebook/dp/B08J7S6SZV/

US - https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Farmhouse-festive-author-Vicarage-ebook/dp/B08J7S6SZV/

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Farmhouse-festive-author-Vicarage-ebook/dp/B08J7S6SZV/

Review:

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and Rebecca Boxall for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Christmas at the Farmhouse is a dual timeline story that will leave you with a smile on your face and cozy a feeling in your heart. We alternate perspectives from Susan in 1969 and Jo in 2019 until finally both stories intertwine just in time for Christmas. 

This certainly was a heartwarming story of love and loss. As I drank it down I found myself having all the feels. Susan's story made me so sad while I was reading it. I found myself really hoping things were going to turn out different for her. The writing is simply beautiful. Boxall paints a beautiful picture of family, pain and finally healing. I absolutely adored this book. 

I feel like fans of feel-good Hallmark Christmas movies would enjoy this book. 

Author Bio

Rebecca Boxall was born in 1977 in East Sussex, where she grew up in a vicarage always filled with family, friends and parishioners. She now lives by the sea in Jersey with her husband, three children and Rodney the cat. She read English at the University of Warwick before training as a lawyer and also studied Creative Writing with The Writer’s Bureau. She is the bestselling author of  Christmas at the Vicarage, Home for Winter, Christmas on the Coast, The Christmas Forest and Christmas by the Lighthouse and was nominated for the Romantic Novelist Association Awards in 2020.

Social Media Links:

Website: www.rebeccaboxall.co.uk
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/christmasatthevicarage

The Ticklemore Christmas Toy Shop by Liz Davies REVIEW

 The Ticklemore Christmas Toy Shop

by Liz Davies

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Synopsis:

You're never too old to fall in love...

There is a disturbance in the force and octogenarian Hattie Jenkins can feel it in her water. Still active and spritely, she guesses that the miserable-looking gentleman sitting morosely in the café where she works, might be the reason.

Widowed Alfred Miller has recently moved in with his daughter because she is worried that he's becoming too frail and forgetful to look after himself. And he's not in the least bit happy about it, especially since his home is soon be cleared and sold.

But when he enlists Hattie's help to save some of his precious belongings, he doesn't realize that Hattie's mission is to save more than a few sticks of furniture. She's on a mission to save him, too.

Purchase Links:
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ticklemore-Christmas-Toy-Shop-warming-ebook/dp/B08H5V7Z74
US - https://www.amazon.com/Ticklemore-Christmas-Toy-Shop-warming-ebook/dp/B08H5V7Z74

CAN - https://www.amazon.ca/Ticklemore-Christmas-Toy-Shop-warming-ebook/dp/B08H5V7Z74

Review:

Thank you to Liza Davies and Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This story couldn't have gotten any sweeter! When Alfred has to move in with his bossy and controlling daughter, he is upset about having to give up his home and belongings. Things are looking bleak for Alfred when he meets Hattie in a café. The two slowly become friends and maybe a little bit more just in time for Christmas.

Alfred and Hattie are delightful main characters. I really enjoyed getting to know them and seeing their relationship progress. Their relationship was refreshing and adorable. I really enjoyed reading a romance that featured older characters. The writing was fun and entertaining. The pace was good for the story, it wasn't dragged out or rushed, it was just right. 

What I disliked most about the book was Alfred's daughter. I hated the way she spoke to her dad. It kept being passed off as just her being worried but I still thought she was just the worst. She was controlling and rude in an extreme way. With that being said, I think Liz Davies did a great job on creating a consistent and believable character. 

Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone looking for an adorable, clean, Christmas romance. I really enjoyed this one and I think others will too.

Author Bio

Liz Davies writes feel-good, light-hearted stories with a hefty dose of romance, a smattering of humour, and a great deal of love. She’s married to her best friend, has one grown-up daughter, and when she isn’t scribbling away in the notepad she carries with her everywhere (just in case inspiration strikes), you’ll find her searching for that perfect pair of shoes. She loves to cook but isn’t very good at it, and loves to eat-she’s much better at that! Liz also enjoys walking (preferably on the flat), cycling (also on the flat),and lots of sitting around in the garden on warm, sunny days. She currently lives with her family in Wales, but would ideally love to buy a camper can and travel the world in it.

Social Media Links:
Website: https://lizdaviesauthor.wixsite.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizDaviesAuthor1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizdaviesauthor

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix REVIEW

 My Best Friend's Exorcism

by Grady Hendrix

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Synopsis:

Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since fifth grade, when they bonded over a shared love of E.T., roller-skating parties, and scratch-and-sniff stickers. But when they arrive at high school, things change. Gretchen begins to act….different. And as the strange coincidences and bizarre behavior start to pile up, Abby realizes there’s only one possible explanation: Gretchen, her favorite person in the world, has a demon living inside her. And Abby is not about to let anyone or anything come between her and her best friend. With help from some unlikely allies, Abby embarks on a quest to save Gretchen. But is their friendship powerful enough to beat the devil?

Purchase Links:
CAN - https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B014BQVMGE
US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014BQVMGE

Review:

First, I want to take a minute to appreciate that cover! The cover and the title that had me wanting to read this book from the moment I laid my eyes on it.

While I can honestly say that I really enjoyed this book, I didn't find it creepy. I found myself to be grossed out more than scared. I mean the story itself was actually really good, it just wasn't scary for me. I really enjoyed the writing. The detailing was perfect as I was able to visualize the story without it being too much. The pace was perfect! I know I mention pace a lot in my reviews but it's a "make or break" thing for me.

Abby and Gretchen's friendship was so beautiful. I love how it was far from perfect right through their lives, but they stuck together. The ending of the book had me in tears because of these two.

This is would make a good read for Halloween if you're looking for something in a creepy setting that won't scare you too much.

This was my first time reading Grady Hendrix and I was not disappointed. I ended up adding some of his other books to my TBR. 

Titanlord: A Thousand Ashes by M.G. Darwish REVIEW

 Titanlord: A Thousand Ashes

by M.G. Darwish

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

Synopsis:

No one thought the Gods would descend. Plucked from his reality, Griffyn never thought that the Gods would be so terrified of him even when a Titan stood before them. The Red Hand entrusted him with the only sword that allows him to fight back: the Masamune.

Now that the Gods have sworn to eliminate humanity, the Empire has fallen, ravished and turned to dust. The Magmars are no more, and he alone holds the key to salvation.

He has endured many losses, but will he succumb and accept his fate? Or will he rise from beneath a thousand ashes?

To win, he must quell the Titans within him and tame them. But every time he uses their power, he risks losing himself.

Book 2 of the Titanlord Series. A direct sequel to Titanlord: of Death & Sacrifice

Purchase Links:

CAN - https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08GJ8NP5W/
US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08GJ8NP5W/

Review:

Thank you to M.G. Darwish for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Last year I read Titanlord: Of Death and Sacrifice, book 1 in the Titanlord series. I absolutely loved it. It ended up being in my top 10 reads of 2019. I have been anxiously waiting this sequel ever since so when I got an email with an offer of an advanced copy I may have had to do a small happy dance before responding.

I am thrilled to say that Titanlord: A Thousand Ashes exceeded my expectations! Packed with tons of action and epic battles, Darwish took me on another adventure that had me at the edge of my seat. I was truly captivated within the story and managed to read it in two sittings. It would have been one but I had to sleep.

I absolutely love Griffyn! He has changed so much throughout this series. I'm looking forward to what happens in the next book.

Overall, I loved this book! It was so well written. Darwish is an amazing storyteller and I can't wait to get my hands on his next book!

They Threw Us Away by Daniel Kraus REVIEW

 They Threw Us Away

by Daniel Kraus

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Synopsis:

Welcome to The Teddies Saga, a gripping new middle grade trilogy from New York Times-bestselling author Daniel Kraus.

When Buddy wakes up in the middle of a garbage dump, filled with a certain awareness: he’s a teddy bear; he spent time at a Store waiting for his future to begin; and he is meant for the loving arms of a child. Now he knows one more thing: Something has gone terribly wrong.

Soon he finds other discarded teddies―Horace, Sugar, Sunny, and Reginald. Though they aren’t sure how their luck soured, they all agree that they need to get back to the Store if they’re ever to fulfill their destinies. So, they embark on a perilous trek across the dump and into the outer world. With ravenous rats, screeching gulls, and a menacing world in front of them, the teddies will need to overcome insurmountable challenges to find their way home.

Equal parts Toy Story and Lord of the Flies, They Threw Us Away is the unforgettable start of a captivating series.

Purchase Links:
CAN - https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1250224403
US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250224403

Review:

Thank you to Daniel Kraus and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

They Threw Us Away is the first book in The Teddies Saga. It's a dark middle grade story about five teddies who wake up to find themselves at the dump. Buddy is the first teddy we meet and he becomes the leader of the small group of teddies. We soon meet Sunny, Horace, Sugar and Reginald and our adventure begins. 

You would think a story about little teddies would be sweet, this one isn't. This book has a dark twist infused throughout a lost teddy bear story.

I have to say I really enjoyed it. There's nothing more delicious than a dark fairytale. It got a little "creepy" (I guess would be the best word) at times but it was really enjoyable. It was like being in the dark side of childhood. I wouldn't call it graphic but there are some teddy deathsq that are... let's just say not quick and painless. I would say it would be good for kids ages 9-12 but of course that depends on the child and what they are reading already.

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson REVIEW

 All Boys Aren't Blue

by George M. Johnson

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

Synopsis:

In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.

Both a primer for teens eager to be allies as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of color, All Boys Aren't Blue covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy. Johnson's emotionally frank style of writing will appeal directly to young adults.

Review:

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

All Boys Aren't Blue is a YA memoir by activist George M. Johnson where he tells us stories about his life as he grew up. From coming home beat up as a child to finding a frat house that gave him brotherhood, Johnson takes us through his personal journey of ups and downs. It's one I think everyone should read.

What I loved most about this book is that it isn't a collection of stories from a boy who didn't have love and support from his family. Although I believe those are also important, these are stories from a boy who was loved by his family but still had struggles, showing that love and money can't stop someone from suffering. Johnson talks about the struggles of being queer, being black and being queer and black. I think he did a fabulous job telling his story. I think it's so important to show that these struggles can come at you even if you do have the support and love your family. Johnson was blessed, yet he struggled.

I absolutely can't recommend this book enough. I can't even think of anything bad to say about it. I smiled, I cried and I was captured for every minute of this book.

There are sensitive topics discussed in this book so if you're someone who needs trigger warnings here they are: sexual manipulation, teenage sex between minors with questionable consent.