A Face For Picasso by Ariel Henley REVIEW

 A Face For Picasso

by Ariel Henley

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Synopsis

I am ugly. There's a mathematical equation to prove it.

At only eight months old, identical twin sisters Ariel and Zan were diagnosed with Crouzon syndrome -- a rare condition where the bones in the head fuse prematurely. They were the first twins known to survive the disease.

Growing up, Ariel and her sister endured numerous appearance-altering procedures. Surgeons would break the bones in their heads and faces to make room for their growing organs. While the physical aspect of their condition was painful, it was nothing compared to the emotional toll of navigating life with a facial disfigurement.

Ariel explores beauty and identity in her young-adult memoir about resilience, sisterhood, and the strength it takes to put your life, and yourself, back together time and time again.

Review

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

A Face For Picasso is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. Throughout the book we travel through Ariel's journey with her sister Zan who also has Crouzon Syndrome through Ariel's perspective. We learn of what she hoped for, what she was afraid of and the struggles that made her who she is today.

I was drawn into this book with its captivating writing and heart warming story. I found it read like fiction in the best way. I was completely captivated by this story of two loving sisters dealing with this horrible condition and they had no one to understand what they were dealing with but each other. I can honestly say I have never loved a memoir the way I love this one. There are so many reasons to read this book. There is so much hope and strength held within its pages despite all the pain and suffering Ariel and Zan suffered through.

If you only read one nonfiction book this year, I recommend it be this one.

A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay REVIEW

A Head Full of Ghosts

by Paul Tremblay

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Synopsis

The lives of the Barretts, a normal suburban New England family, are torn apart when fourteen-year-old Marjorie begins to display signs of acute schizophrenia.

To her parents' despair, the doctors are unable to stop Marjorie's descent into madness. As their stable home devolves into a house of horrors, they reluctantly turn to a local Catholic priest for help. Father Wanderly suggests an exorcism; he believes the vulnerable teenager is the victim of demonic possession. He also contacts a production company that is eager to document the Barretts' plight. With John, Marjorie's father, out of work for more than a year and the medical bills looming, the family agrees to be filmed, and soon find themselves the unwitting stars of The Possession, a hit reality television show. When events in the Barrett household explode in tragedy, the show and the shocking incidents it captures become the stuff of urban legend.

Fifteen years later, a bestselling writer interviews Marjorie's younger sister, Merry. As she recalls those long ago events that took place when she was just eight years old, long-buried secrets and painful memories that clash with what was broadcast on television begin to surface--and a mind-bending tale of psychological horror is unleashed, raising vexing questions about memory and reality, science and religion, and the very nature of evil.

Review

I had such high hopes for this one! Based on what I heard, I had expected to be scared to death while reading it. Unfortunately, that was far from the case. While I admit there were a couple pages where I thought we were about to get creepy it just never hit that fear factor for me. In real life, I am genuinely freaked out by the paranormal so I thought this would really scare me. Instead I just ended up bored and ready to DNF about halfway through. I ended up switching to the audiobook. That was a little easier to get through. By the end I was just like "okay cool" and ready for it to be over.

This is the second book I've read by Paul Tremblay. Both have been 3 star reads for me. There's nothing else by him that I'm actually excited to read so unless that changes I won't be back for more.

Bad Girls Never Say Die by Jennifer Mathieu REVIEW

 Bad Girls Never Say Die

by Jennifer Mathieu

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Synopsis

1964. Houston, Texas.

Evie Barnes is a bad girl. So are all her friends. They’re the sort who wear bold makeup, laugh too loud, and run around with boys. Most of all, they protect their own against the world. So when Evie is saved from the unimaginable by a good girl from the "right" side of the tracks, every rule she's always lived by is called into question. Now she must redefine what it means to be a bad girl and rethink everything she knew about loyalty.

In this riveting story of murder, secrets, and tragedy, Jennifer Mathieu reimagines S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders from a female perspective. Bad Girls Never Say Die has all the drama and heartache of that teen classic, but with a feminist take just right for our times.

Review

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

Bad Girls Never Say Die is a genderbent retelling of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and I am here for it! Evie is a bad girl, her friends are bad girls and the last thing those girls would ever do is be caught hanging around a tea-sipper good girl. Until one night when Evie is saved by one of the good girls and their whole lives get thrown upside down. With big secrets and new friendships forming on every page, Bad Girls Never Say Die will have your heart pounding and your eyes full until it's done.

I adored this book. I loved the storyline, I love how everything played out. The ending shook me but I feel like it fit and the book wouldn't have been the same without it. The writing is emotionally charged and powerful. Jennifer Mathieu has this way of sparking emotion that just gets me fired up. I wanna start a riot! I wanna start a revolution! 

Bad Girls Never Say Die is a story of friendship and sisterhood. It's the story of five girls who stuck by each other no matter how ugly things got. And it's a story about love and family and how sometimes the strongest love you have is from the family you create.

⭐⭐⭐

If you would like to read a book about real women who were forced to surrender their children I recommend reading The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe V. Wade by Ann Fessler. I read these two books basically at the same time and was shocked by how much they fit together. It's a perfect pairing of fiction and non-fiction.

The Dance of The Snow Tractors

The Dance of the Snow Tractors

illustrated by Shannon Wilvers

Synopsis

When we hear snowy day we imagine sledding, snow angels, and hot chocolate. Siena, who lives in Ottawa, also thinks of dance! Why? Because, when the snow comes down the plows show up and perform what she calls the Dance of the Snow Tractors.

Join Siena on her porch with a mug of something warm and enjoy the show. You'll never see snow plows quite the same way again.

Purchase Links:

https://www.motherbutterfly.com/authors/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dance-Snow-Tractors-Sienas-Stories-ebook/dp/B09DP43F11
https://www.amazon.com/Dance-Snow-Tractors-Sienas-Stories-ebook/dp/B09DP43F11

https://www.amazon.ca/Dance-Snow-Tractors-Sienas-Stories-ebook/dp/B09DP43F11

Review

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources for having me on this blog tour. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Dance of the Snow Tractors is a cute, quick book about winter in Ottawa, Canada. Throughout the book we follow Siena as she shows us what fun things can be done in the snow. Among these fun things are different ways that snow is removed throughout the city and how interesting watching the snow removal can be.

This is a fairly quick and simple read that can be enjoyed by smaller children as well as slightly older children. The artwork is so adorable. The bright colors and fun illustrations bring the story to life. If you're looking for a fun snowy book to read with the kids, this could be exactly what you're looking for.

Illustrator Bio

Shannon Wilvers is a Canadian illustrator who loves drawing things on her computer. While she mostly draws and colours digitally, she also likes to experiment and play with different mediums such as watercolour.

In her spare time, she enjoys learning new things and watching cartoons. She is currently based in New Brunswick where she lives with her dog, Lucy.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MotherButterflyBooks
Instagram: motherbutterfly_books
Twitter: @MButterflyBooks

The Dwelling of All Souls by Brandann R. Hill-Mann REVIEW

 The Dwelling of All Souls

(The Hole in the World Series #3)

by Brandann R. Hill-Mann

Synopsis:

Everyone has secrets.

Innes has one he can’t wait to share with his best friend.

Kahrin has one she can’t wait to lay bare to her best friend.

Other secrets aren’t theirs to keep, but they refuse to stay buried all the same, and the magical fallout has dire consequences.

A grisly message sends the pair on a road trip to Kahrin’s parents’ past. A past they worked hard to hide and hide from. Innes and Kahrin go expecting a fight. What they find are friendly people, a deeper world of magic, and family they never asked for.

If the last five years taught them anything, it’s that magic isn’t always righteous, coincidences are often anything but, and sometimes heroes don’t live forever.

Review:

A huge thank you to the author for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Well folks, Brandann has done it again. 'The Dwelling of All Souls' is the third book of The Hole In The World Series. There is still 1 more book left to the series and honestly I can't wait.

We once again to follow Kahrin and Innes on an unexpected adventure. Kahrin's Da has fallen ill and they are determined to find out what exactly is going on. Secrets are revealed, lovers are united and magic is in the air.

'The Dwelling of All Souls' gave me all the thrills I've come to expect from Brandann. The fabulous writing has once again taken me on a roller coaster of emotions. I am completely invested in this series. I can't wait to see how everything gets wrapped up.

As I said this is the third book in a series so I don't recommend starting with this one. I would recommend starting with book 1 'The Hole In The World' as certain things are referenced in this book. I mean it's not totally necessary but I strongly recommend it.

Horrid by Katrina Leno REVIEW

Horrid

by Katrina Leno

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Synopsis

Following her father's death, Jane North-Robinson and her mom move from sunny California to the dreary, dilapidated old house in Maine where her mother grew up. All they want is a fresh start, but behind North Manor's doors lurks a history that leaves them feeling more alone...and more tormented.

As the cold New England autumn arrives, and Jane settles in to her new home, she finds solace in old books and memories of her dad. She steadily begins making new friends, but also faces bullying from the resident "bad seed," struggling to tamp down her own worst nature in response. Jane's mom also seems to be spiraling with the return of her childhood home, but she won't reveal why. Then Jane discovers that the "storage room" her mom has kept locked isn't for storage at all — it's a little girl's bedroom, left untouched for years and not quite as empty of inhabitants as it appears....

Is it grief? Mental illness? Or something more...horrid?

Review

Horrid is deliciously creepy. It is so atmospheric and dreamy. I don't usually get creeped out by books, however this one had me totally creeped out. I was reading it while in bed and had to put it down until the morning. I could just be a big baby but I was creeped out! I loved how I wasn't sure how everything was going to play out. It seemed like it could have went in just about any direction.

Jane was a magnificent main character. She's a mystery lover, kind of odd, slightly creepy and she's also the new girl so none of her new friends know her enough to throw the reader any clues on if she is going crazy or really experiencing something paranormal. Jane is quick to anger although we don't know if that is a normal part of her personality or a result of losing her dad and having to suddenly move far away from everything she's ever known. Along with her mother, she ends up living in her mother's childhood home. A run down creepy house that Jane doesn't know anything about and her mother never wanted to revisit.

If you're looking for a book to slightly freak you out that you can just chill and enjoy during spooky season then give this one a try. I really enjoyed it and think it's a great October read.

Sorry For Your Loss by Joanne Levy REVIEW

Sorry For Your Loss

by Joanne Levy

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Synopsis:

Evie Walman is not obsessed with death. She does think about it a lot, though, but only because her family runs a Jewish funeral home. At twelve, Evie already knows she's going to be a funeral director when she grows up. So what if the kids at school call her "corpse girl" and say she smells like death? They're just mean and don't get how important it is to have someone take care of things when your world is falling apart. Evie loves dusting caskets, polishing pews, and vacuuming the chapel--and on funeral days, she dresses up and hands out tissues and offers her condolences to mourners. She doesn't normally help her parents with the grieving families directly, until one day when they ask her to help with Oren, a boy who was in a horrific car accident that killed both his parents. Oren refuses to speak and Evie, who is nursing her own private grief, is determined to find a way to help him deal with his loss.

Review:

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

Sorry For Your Loss is a very sweet middle grade book that is guaranteed to hit you right where it hurts. It will break your heart with the pain and grief of its characters and then slowly mend it back together with love and friendship. Evie is a sweet child, she has some difficult things going on in both her personal and school life. Oren is suffering a heavy loss and struggling to deal with his grief. When these two not-friends end up spending a lot of time together an unlikely not-friendship starts to emerge and with it healing for them both. The friendship between Evie and Oren is truly sweet and special. 

The storyline was incredibly well thought out. The writing was beautiful. We are given a story about death and grief and get to watch it transform into a story about hope and healing. The pacing of a story is a major thing for me, and I have to say this one is paced perfectly. The author manages to somehow slow everything down for a maximum emotional impact, yet keep the story progressing so nothing is overdrawn. You can feel the emotions of the characters as you progressed through the story. Their grief becomes yours; their healing becomes yours. The emotional impact is high. This book is absolutely incredible. I highly recommend it.

Don't Poop in the Tub by Colin F. Murphy REVIEW

Don't Poop in the Tub

by Colin Murphy

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Synopsis

When my bubble bath for one

becomes a bubble bath for two,

it's time to lay down some rules

of what pirates do and don't do!

Come join our adventure,

across the wide soap sea,

I know you'll love it too,

just you wait and see.

Review

Thank you to the author for a free review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

First of all, this book is hilarious! Second of all, it's adorable and if you have kids I'm pretty sure they would love it.

In "Don't Poop in the Tub" we have an older sister who is taking a bath when her mom puts her little sister in the tub with her. Big sister is fine with that but only if little sister doesn't poop in the tub.

I know what you're thinking.. that sounds cute and funny. Well, it is and it's even funnier and cuter than it sounds. The story is told in rhymes that flow perfectly. The pictures add so much to the story. The facial expressions on the characters bring the story to life. It's a literal perfect pairing between the story and the pictures.

I would recommend this book to kids of any age, especially if they have younger siblings. The story is fun enough entertain just about anybody. My daughter and I really enjoy reading and rereading this book together. Don't Poop in the Tub is a must have for every child's library.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Dont-Poop-Colin-Fabian-Murphy/dp/B092L3GL59/

The Christmas Miracle (Christmas on The Close #6) by Stephanie Wood REVIEW

The Christmas Miracle

(Christmas on The Close #6)

by Stephanie Wood

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Synopsis:

You are invited to spend CHRISTMAS ON THE CLOSE where each of the neighbours are celebrating in their own special way.

Diane always enjoys baking special festive treats, which she happily delivers to her friendly neighbours on The Close as Christmas approaches.

When she decides to seek closure with a romantic matter from her past, she unexpectedly finds herself on an emotional journey she isn’t prepared for.

Her granddaughter, Emma, has all the technical know-how to assist in the search for answers, but is distracted by an intense - and highly unsuitable - romance of her own.

The two women must deal with unsettling issues as they begin to face the reality of their situations, but their familial bond helps to provide the security and support they need to answer the questions they face.

The sixth standalone episode of ‘Christmas on The Close’reveals how it may be easier to allow the head to make all the decisions, but the heart will never stop fighting for what it really wants.

Purchase Link:

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08CT3LRR6

US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CT3LRR6

CA - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08CT3LRR6

Review:

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and the author for having me on this blog tour. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Christmas Miracle is an adorable second chance, later in life romance. It is incredibly sweet and will warm your insides right to your soul.

It is a very short read and can be finished within a couple hours as there is just enough detail and background about the characters to ensure the reader understands the situation. However, I absolutely love that; it's a big positive for me as I find it keeps the story moving forward.

This bite size beauty is perfect for when you want a simple quick read with all the feels and none of the info dump. I will note it's #6 in a series. This is the first book I've read from the series and it didn't affect my enjoyment or understanding of the story at all. So if you haven't already then go add this one to your tbr.

Author Bio:

Stephanie Wood writes contemporary fiction in the form of novels, novellas and short stories and you can find the running order of her titles on the first page of any book.

She published the AEGEAN SUN series of books as a fly-on-the-wall vision of life in a Greek resort during the summer season, using her extensive experience as a holiday rep to bring some unusual incidents to life on the page. The series began as an exploration of the various ways in which tourists make the most of their holidays and how they interact with the locals while they are visiting. The later books in the series have taken a closer look at the locals themselves and show how their lives and relationships are sometimes changed by the regular influx of seasonal visitors.

The CHRISTMAS ON THE CLOSE series is set in a British suburban cul-de-sac over the festive period and visits each house individually to discover how the neighbours who live there celebrate the season in their own special way.

Stephanie lives in Lancashire where, apart from reading and writing, she loves gardening and cycling and is a huge fan of the soaps Emmerdale and Neighbours.

Social Media Links:

Website: www.stephaniewood.co.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephaniewooduk & https://twitter.com/TheCloseSeries

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieWoodAuthor/

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix REVIEW

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

by Grady Hendrix

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Synopsis

Patricia Campbell had always planned for a big life, but after giving up her career as a nurse to marry an ambitious doctor and become a mother, Patricia's life has never felt smaller. The days are long, her kids are ungrateful, her husband is distant, and her to-do list is never really done. The one thing she has to look forward to is her book club, a group of Charleston mothers united only by their love for true-crime and suspenseful fiction. In these meetings, they're more likely to discuss the FBI's recent siege of Waco as much as the ups and downs of marriage and motherhood.

But when an artistic and sensitive stranger moves into the neighborhood, the book club's meetings turn into speculation about the newcomer. Patricia is initially attracted to him, but when some local children go missing, she starts to suspect the newcomer is involved. She begins her own investigation, assuming that he's a Jeffrey Dahmer or Ted Bundy. What she uncovers is far more terrifying, and soon she--and her book club--are the only people standing between the monster they've invited into their homes and their unsuspecting community.

Review

I really enjoyed this book although I didn't find it creepy at all. It was interesting enough to keep my attention throughout the entire story. I didn't like how much the story was dragged out. If it had of been shortened I think it would have seemed less dragged out.

The characters were well fleshed out , although I can't say I actually liked any of them. While I still can't say I liked her, I did feel bad for Patricia. It was very frustrating the way everyone, especially the men, would dismiss her like she had lost her mind. I mean I get that calling someone a vampire would be something most people would dismiss, it was just the way it was done that irritated me.

This is my second novel by Grady Hendrix, the first one being My Best Friend's Exorcism. Unfortunately, I found that one to be much better than The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires. I would still like to read more books by Hendrix in the future. 

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox REVIEW

 The Holiday Swap

by Maggie Knox

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Synopsis:

When chef Charlie Goodwin gets hit on the head on the L.A. set of her reality baking show, she loses a lot more than consciousness; she also loses her ability to taste and smell--both critical to her success as show judge. Meanwhile, Charlie's identical twin, Cass, is frantically trying to hold her own life together back in their quaint mountain hometown while running the family's bustling bakery and dealing with her ex, who won't get the memo that they're over.

With only days until Christmas, a desperate Charlie asks Cass to do something they haven't done since they were kids: switch places. Looking for her own escape from reality, Cass agrees. But temporarily trading lives proves more complicated than they imagined, especially when rugged firefighter Jake Greenman and gorgeous physician's assistant Miguel Rodriguez are thrown into the mix. Will the twins' identity swap be a recipe for disaster, or does it have all the right ingredients for getting their lives back on track?

Review:

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book is so cute and sweet! It's like a Hallmark movie in book form. Grab your blanket, your hot cocoa and get cozy because this book is sure give you the warm and fuzzies!

Charlie Goodwin is a co-star of her own reality baking show. One day she has a mishap that results in a bad concussion causing her to temporarily lose her taste and smell. Cass, Charlie's twin sister, lives in the girl's hometown helping their parents run the family bakery. She has lots to take care of with the days leading up to Christmas which is made even harder by an ex that just won't take the hint. Charlie convinces Cass to switch places with her while they sort out each others problems. Cass will take over for Charlie on the show, while Charlie will deal with Cass' ex-boyfriend once and for all. Can they pull it off or will everything turn to disaster right before Christmas?

Charlie and Cass are such lovable main characters. I adored their relationship and their willingness to jump into each others lives to help one another. There is something about them that is just so wholesome and lovable. The cast of characters was the perfect size for the story. Each character was needed, perfectly placed and expertly written.

The story was truly wonderful and the writing was simply superb. There was the perfect amount of conflict and resolution. It had a steady flow with no drags or info dump. The Holiday Swap is the perfect story to just snuggle up and enjoy.

If you're a fan of wholesome clean Christmas romances, give this a try. If you're a fan of stories where identical twins pull a switcharoo for awhile, give this one a try. If you want just a nice family Christmas story, give this one a try. Seriously, give it a try.