November 2024 – Page 2 – Jill's Book Blog

Review: We All Fall (The Fall Trilogy #3)

Title: We All Fall (The Fall Trilogy #3)
Author: Arden Coutts
Genre: Romance, Suspense, LGBTQ
Publisher: Independent
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: November 12, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

With his infectious smile and optimistic outlook on life, Luke is like a ray of sunshine wherever he goes. James is the epitome of grumpiness, always wearing a scowl and seemingly immune to any form of happiness.

When their mutual friends find themselves in trouble, Luke and James join forces to take down Dimitri, the infamous villain threatening their friends’ safety.

As they work side by side, a surprising bond forms between them. Luke’s positive energy slowly breaks through James’ rough exterior, revealing a vulnerable side that few have ever seen. As for Luke, he discovers that there is more to James than just grumpiness – depth and vulnerability are hidden beneath his tough facade.

However, as their feelings for each other deepen, James grapples with unresolved trauma from his past. The walls he has built around himself sometimes seem impenetrable, making it difficult for him to open up to Luke fully. He wonders if he can ever overcome his past and find happiness again. But Luke isn’t one to give up easily. He stands by James’ side, offering unwavering support and understanding. He shows James that healing from the pain that haunts him is possible with patience and compassion.

Will James find the strength to confront his trauma?

Can Luke wait patiently as James embarks on this journey of healing?

Review:

Luke is the cheerful friend of Gray and Marcus, while James is the serious bodyguard who works with Kee to protect Hannah. Luke and James must work together to finally take down the villain Dimitri, who has threatened their friends for months. Luke is attracted to James, but he must break through James’s tough walls to get him to open up and start a passionate romance.

This was such a great MM romance! It was super steamy at times. The characters faced the most danger and injuries of any other book in the trilogy. I didn’t think they would all make it out alive. It had a satisfying ending, but I’d love to see more from these characters!

We All Fall is a steamy MM romance!

Thank you Arden Coutts for providing a copy of this book!

Content warnings: PTSD, broken bones, gun violence, homophobia (off page)

Other books in the series:

Have you read We All Fall? What did you think of it?

Review: The Sea Train Chronicles: The Call of the Waves

Title: The Sea Train Chronicles: The Call of the Waves
Author: Darian Storm
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher: Parker Publishers
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: August 22, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Every life is a unique tapestry woven from countless threads of experiences, challenges, and triumphs. I am an immigrant from a small island in the Caribbean who took on the challenges of adapting to a new way of life, culture, and lifestyle, all while dreaming of the past. As I sat down to write this story, I was reminded of the moments that have shaped who I am today-the ocean, adventure, and friendships. From the laughter and love of my childhood friends, family, and kids, to the trials and discoveries of my adult years, each chapter of my life has contributed to the person I have become. In these pages, I invite you to walk with me through the pivotal moments, the lessons learned, and the dreams pursued, reflected in the story that the main characters live and endure as they search for the Sea Train. Welcome to the journey. I hope that all of you get to have some fun.

Review:

Four teenage cousins and friends embark on a journey out of their village and find a coded map. It takes them a couple of years to decipher what it means, but they eventually learn that it is a map to the Sea Train. Each of the kids have different skills which they use on their epic journey.

This book began with detailed world building. There was everything from the locations in the town to the festivals that are celebrated throughout the year. I appreciated the attention to detail that the author put in to build this world. These details formed the foundation for the exciting journey that the main characters went on.

The Sea Train Chronicles: The Call of the Waves is a great middle grade fantasy!

Thank you Darian Storm and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book for a paid campaign.

Have you read The Sea Train Chronicles: The Call of the Waves? What did you think of it?

Review: The Good Bracelet

Title: The Good Bracelet
Author: Jasmine Golden
Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary
Publisher: Independent
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: October 23, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

What if a simple bracelet could change your life?

It’s been six months since the accident that turned 12-year-old Jayna’s world upside down. When Jayna receives a bracelet from a mysterious sender that promises to change her life forever, she is skeptical at first. Then good things start happening—coincidences too perfect to ignore. With her best friend, Isa, by her side, Jayna sets out to uncover the bracelet’s secrets:

– Who sent it to her?

– Is it really magic?

– Who is the other girl wearing the same bracelet?

The Good Bracelet is more than just a story—it’s a guide for young girls to discover their inner strength and realize that they have the power to change their lives. Perfect for readers who are ready to explore the magic within themselves, this book will inspire, uplift, and empower.

Review:

Six months ago, twelve-year-old Jayna’s mother died suddenly, leaving Jayna to look after her young sister while her dad works. One morning, she opens the front door and finds a package addressed to her with no return address. Inside the package is a bracelet with the word “good” on it, with a note saying that the bracelet has magic and will allow the wearer to only see the good in every situation. At the same time, another girl named Amanda receives the same bracelet with the same note from her Aunt Hope. When both girls wear the bracelets, their lives start looking up and good things begin to happen to them. They want to figure out the magic of the bracelet and how they can share it with their friends.

This is such a great middle grade story. It’s short and fast paced so I read it in one sitting. It has a great message for young readers. You can change your situation in life by having a positive outlook. The girls believed good things would happen while they wore the bracelets because the notes said they would. Your state of mind and outlook on life can have an influence on your success and happiness.

The Good Bracelet is a great middle grade story with an important message!

Thank you Jasmine Golden and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book for a paid campaign.

Content warnings: death of parent

Have you read The Good Bracelet? What did you think of it?

Review: There Might Be a Magical Unicorn at the End of This Book

Title: There Might Be a Magical Unicorn at the End of This Book
Author: Andy Waters, Mark Kummer (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: July 7, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Prepare for a tale of enchantment and quacky chaos! Join our intrepid narrator as he embarks on a whimsical retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, only to find himself in a feathery frenzy thanks to an inquisitive duck! This feathered mischief-maker can’t help but dive beak-first into the heart of the story, peppering the narrative with uproarious questions and hilariously skeptical speculations about the potential appearance of a majestic unicorn. Will the narrator manage to corral this whimsical waddler and bring the fairy tale to its majestic conclusion, or will the duck-driven disruptions lead to a side-splitting showdown of epic proportions? Get ready for a quacktacular adventure that’s bound to have you giggling, grinning, and dreaming of unicorns! About the There Might Be book series: The There Might Be series from Taffy Tales is silly. It is funny. It is funny and silly. That’s it. It is for every young reader who impatiently wants to rush to the ending of the story, but one who also enjoys some jokes and silliness along the way. Taffy Tales creates best-selling children’s titles that will be cherished and remembered.

Review:

The narrator is reading Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to the duck, but the duck is only interested in finding a unicorn in the story. The narrator told the duck that there might be a unicorn at the end of the story. After the duck gets too excited and rips up the book, the story takes an unexpected turn with seven squirrels appearing and possibly a unicorn.

This was such a fun picture book! The duck was impatient to find out what happened at the end of the story. I’m sure most readers will know that the traditional story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs doesn’t include a unicorn, so the story has to take an unexpected turn to end the way the duck wants. This story reminded me of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, which is one of my favorite picture books!

There Might Be a Magical Unicorn at the End of This Book is a fun picture book!

Thank you Taffy Tales for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read There Might Be a Magical Unicorn at the End of This Book? What did you think of it?

Review: A Curse of Mayhem (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #2)

Title: Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #2)
Author: Sunayna Prasad
Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary, Fantasy
Publisher: Independent
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: February 15, 2020
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

History, like magic, has a habit of repeating itself.

It’s been six months since thirteen-year-old Alyssa McCarthy left magic behind for good. Or so she thought…

Then the enchanted objects that protected her disappear. Now a skeleton named Errol has cursed her with magical powers that keep getting her in trouble. Suddenly strange things are happening with disastrous effects, and if Alyssa can’t remove the magic, she will lose everything she holds dear.

In order to get rid of her unwanted wizardry, Alyssa will have to boost her bravery and confidence and determine who Errol really is. But every time Alyssa uses an enchantment, Errol is one step closer to getting his flesh back and becoming alive, and he will do anything to achieve his goals…even if it means destroying Alyssa’s happiness.

Review:

Alyssa McCarthy has left magic behind since moving in with her godfather, Alex. When the magical items that had been left in her care disappear, Alyssa discovers that she now has magic powers. However, she can’t control them, so she gets in trouble at home and school for using magic. Every time Alyssa uses her magic, an evil skeleton named Errol gets one step closer to getting his body back, so she must quickly figure out how to get rid of her powers.

This is a great sequel in the Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions series. This story was quite different from the first one. Alyssa had new friends in this book, because she had moved from New Jersey to Chicago. I liked that this introduced new characters to help Alyssa on her mission.

A Curse of Mayhem is a great middle grade fantasy!

Thank you Sunayna Prasad and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book for a paid campaign.

Content warnings: death of parents (off page)

Other books in the series:

The Frights of Fiji (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #1)
The New Enchantress (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #3)

Have you read A Curse of Mayhem? What did you think of it?

Happy Pub Day – November 12

Happy Pub Day to these authors!

Time and Tide by J.M. Frey

The Love Interest by Helen Comerford

All’s Fair in Love and Treachery by Celeste Connally

Fortune’s Kiss by Amber Celement

A Queen’s Game by Katharine McGee

Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis

The Davenports: More Than This by Krystal Marquis

We All Fall by Arden Coutts

Thank you Wattpad Books, Bloomsbury YA, Minotaur Books, Union Square and Co., Penguin Teen Canada, and Arden Coutts for providing copies of these books!

What books are you most excited for this week?

Review: DeadEndia: The Divine Order (DeadEndia #3)

Title: DeadEndia: The Divine Order (DeadEndia #3)
Author: Hamish Steele
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: Union Square and Co.
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: April 23, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Eisner Award–winning creator Hamish Steele’s DeadEndia series is Steven Universe meets Adventure Time for fans of Scott Pilgrim, Rick and Morty , Adventure Time , and Pumpkinheads .

In this diverse YA graphic novel, third in the DeadEndia trilogy, Barney, Norma, and friends team up with unlikely heroes to fight a battle for the fate of the universe, all while dealing with their greatest challenge of their love lives.

The battle between angels and demons rages on, and Courtney finds themselves restored to former glory in the realm of the angels with a new bring about a new Divine Order and create a fourteenth plane of existence to keep the demons at bay. On the seventh plane, known to us as Earth, Norma Khan and Barney Guttman have allied with the demons in a search for both freedom and peace. There’s just one thing standing in their the Guttman family reunion. Badyah has joined the resistance as well, honing her martial arts skills and getting ready to protect Norma in battle.

But Pael, the Divine’s lead angel, has tricks up their sleeve that throw everything into chaos as Norma, Barney, and Badyah learn the truth behind everything. The three friends struggle to stop Pael before their lives are changed forever, and a familiar friend returns with a power that just might save them all in this stunning conclusion to the DeadEndia series.

Review:

Barney, Norma, and their friends must begin their final fight to save the world. Their friend Courtney has returned to the angels and is trying to restore Divine Order to try to keep the demons away. Pael, the Divine’s lead angel, throws twists their way that causes chaos in the world, so Barney and Norma have a huge fight on their hands.

This is a great finale to the DeadEndia series. There were unexpected twists, but I really liked how everything came together at the end. This story has great inclusivity, with characters of different gender and sexual identities and cultural backgrounds. I’m excited to go check out the Netflix series that accompanies this series!

I highly recommend checking out the DeadEndia graphic novel series!

Thank you Union Square and Co for sending me a copy of this book!

Content warnings: death, violence

Other books in the series:

Have you read DeadEndia: The Divine Order? What did you think of it?

Review: My Way Home

Title: My Way Home
Author: Holly Heaton
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Independent
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Paperback
Release Date: August 11, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Enter the hidden realm of the Little Folk and follow Kit on a thrilling adventure. Can he reclaim an object precious to his people and return home to the Hollow Chestnut? Using his wits and environment, Kit embarks on this miniature odyssey through a lushly illustrated world.

Review:

When a fox snuck into the home of the Little Folk, he stole their crystal that had ensured they had an abundant harvest every year. Young Kit embarks on an adventure, tracking the wolf to retrieve the crystal for his family.

This is a beautiful picture book. I loved that Kit was clever in outsmarting the fox to get the crystal back. The illustrations were gorgeous. They were coloured in pencil crayons, which gave them a natural effect, reflecting the forest setting.

My Way Home is a beautiful picture book!

Thank you Holly Heaton and iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign.

Giveaway:

Author-Signed Copy of MY WAY HOME
one winner / US and Canada
ends Nov 22
https://gleam.io/G6dKL/my-way-home-by-holly-heaton-book-tour-giveaway

Have you read My Way Home? What did you think of it?

Review: Fall Into Me (The Fall Trilogy #2)

Title: Fall Into Me (The Fall Trilogy #2)
Author: Arden Coutts
Genre: Romance, Thriller, Contemporary
Publisher: CEI Media LLC
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: June 4, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A night of passion, a world of vengeance, and a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Will Marcus and Kee fall for each other or fall to the dangers around them?

Kee and Marcus have been playing a game of emotional cat and mouse and have finally surrendered to their desires. After a passionate night together, they find themselves falling for each other. However, their newfound happiness is abruptly shattered when Marcus disappears without a word.

Confused and hurt, Kee wonders why Marcus would leave her without any explanation or information about his whereabouts. Little does she know, he has embarked on a dangerous mission.

As Marcus plunges into the treacherous world of vengeance, he faces numerous obstacles and life-threatening situations. He relies on his cunning, physical prowess, and unwavering determination to navigate the murky waters of retribution.

Meanwhile, Kee struggles with her conflicting emotions—torn between worrying for Marcus’s safety and feeling betrayed by his sudden departure. She embarks on her own journey of self-discovery as she seeks answers about Marcus’s motives and contemplates the nature of their relationship.

Will Marcus survive the perils he faces along his path of revenge? Will he find redemption and make it back to Kee? And can Kee find it in her heart to forgive him for leaving her in the dark?

Review:

Following the events of Fall Into Midnight, Kee and Marcus have fallen for each other. After a night of passion, Marcus runs away to Russia without telling Kee. He’s on the hunt for his nemesis Dimitri’s daughter, who was connected to Marcus’s father’s murder. Kee joins Marcus’s friends to travel to Russia and save him.

This was such a great sequel in the Fall Trilogy. The characters were all introduced in the first book, so the action started right away. There’s romance but there’s also a lot of danger that the characters face. I’m excited to read the third book soon!

Fall Into Me is a great suspenseful romance!

Thank you Arden Coutts for sending me a copy of this book.

Content warnings: death, kidnapping, torture, blood, sexual assault

Other books in the series:

Fall Into Midnight (The Fall Trilogy #1)
We All Fall (The Fall Trilogy #3)

Have you read Fall Into Me? What did you think of it?

Review: The Frights of Fiji (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #1)

Title: The Frights of Fiji (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #1)
Author: Sunayna Prasad
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher: S.A. Prasad Publishing
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: October 20, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A world of magic and adventure awaits for 12-year-old Alyssa McCarthy. A sorcerer kidnaps her to an enchanted island, filled with magical creatures and technology, but also danger. It is up to Alyssa to defeat the peril and overcome the warlock.

Review:

Twelve-year-old Alyssa McCarthy has lived with her uncle and cousin since her parents died in a car accident five years earlier. One day when she’s doing the chores that her uncle assigns to her, she sees words appear on a window. Alyssa discovers that magic is real, and she’s the key to a dangerous wizard regaining his powers. Alyssa must work with other wizards to save herself and her friends.

This is a great start to a middle grade series! It was fast paced and exciting. I liked that the story was short, so it would be easy for young readers to read it fairly quickly. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy!

The Frights of Fiji is a great middle grade fantasy!

Thank you Sunayna Prasad and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book for a paid campaign.

Content warnings: death of parents, memory loss

Other books in the series:

A Curse of Mayhem (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #2)
The New Enchantress (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #3)

Have you read The Frights of Fiji? What did you think of it?