Stacking the Shelves – August 10

This is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

I was approved for a book on NetGalley from Andrews McMeel Publishing:

Bloodlust and Bonnets by Emily McGovern

I was approved for two books on NetGalley from Bloomsbury USA:

Power of a Princess (More Than a Princess #2) by E.D. Baker

The Princess Who Flew With Dragons by Stephanie Burgis

I was approved for two books on NetGalley from Shadow Mountain Publishing:

The Seeking Serum (Potion Masters #3) by Frank L. Cole

Master of the Phantom Isle (Dragonwatch #3) by Brandon Mull

I was approved for a book on NetGalley from St. Martin’s Press:

A Hundred Suns by Karin Tanabe

Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing, Bloomsbury USA, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and St Martin’s Press for these books!

What books did you get this week?

Review: Love at First Like

Title: Love at First Like
Author: Hannah Orenstein
Genre: Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Atria Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: August 6, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Eliza Roth and her sister Sophie co-own a jewelry shop in Brooklyn. One night, after learning of an ex’s engagement, Eliza accidentally posts a photo of herself wearing a diamond ring on that finger to her Instagram account beloved by 100,000 followers. Sales skyrocket, press rolls in, and Eliza learns that her personal life is good for business. So she has a choice: continue the ruse or clear up the misunderstanding. With mounting financial pressure, Eliza sets off to find a fake fiancé.

Fellow entrepreneur Blake seems like the perfect match on paper. And in real life he shows promise, too. He would be perfect, if only Eliza didn’t feel also drawn to someone else. But Blake doesn’t know Eliza is “engaged”; Sophie asks Eliza for an impossible sum of money; and Eliza’s lies start to spiral out of control. She can either stay engaged online or fall in love in real life.

Review:

This was a hilarious romantic comedy!

Eliza accidentally posted a photo of herself wearing an engagement ring from her jewelry store. However, it boosts her sales for their struggling business, so she wants to continue having a pretend engagement online. She keeps getting deeper into her lie when she’s offered a free wedding and accepts! Then, she has to find a fiancé with only five months to spare.

This story is a little extreme, but I can imagine this happening in real life. Social media is addicting, especially when you can see the numbers increasing your business following. Eliza got a little carried away by accepting a wedding without having a groom because she was blinded by her digital numbers. This craving for followers and likes was so relatable.

I highly recommend this new romance!

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

Playing with Matches by Hannah Orenstein

Have you read Love at First Like? What did you think of it?

First Lines Friday – August 9

This is a weekly meme hosted by Wandering Words, where you give the first few lines of a book to hook your readers before introducing the book.

Here are my first lines:

“Breathe. My lungs burned as I pushed myself to go faster up the mountain trail, keeping my eyes fixed on the girl who ran just a few steps ahead of me. Twigs snapped beneath my feet, and my bag thumped against my back with every stride.”

Do you recognize these first lines?

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And the book is… Shatter the Sky by Rebecca Kim Wells.

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Goodreads synopsis:

Raised among the ruins of a conquered mountain nation, Maren dreams only of sharing a quiet life with her girlfriend Kaia—until the day Kaia is abducted by the Aurati, prophetic agents of the emperor, and forced to join their ranks. Desperate to save her, Maren hatches a plan to steal one of the emperor’s coveted dragons and storm the Aurati stronghold.

If Maren is to have any hope of succeeding, she must become an apprentice to the Aromatory—the emperor’s mysterious dragon trainer. But Maren is unprepared for the dangerous secrets she uncovers: rumors of a lost prince, a brewing rebellion, and a prophecy that threatens to shatter the empire itself. Not to mention the strange dreams she’s been having about a beast deep underground…

With time running out, can Maren survive long enough to rescue Kaia from impending death? Or could it be that Maren is destined for something greater than she could have ever imagined?

Have you read Shatter the Sky? What did you think of it?

Review: A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying

Title: A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher: Puffin Canada
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: August 6, 2019
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Monster hunting isn’t for the faint of heart—the first in a brand-new middle-grade series by NYT bestselling author, Kelley Armstrong.

Twelve-year-old Rowan is next in line to be Queen; her twin brother, Rhydd, to be Royal Monster Hunter. Rowan would give anything to switch places, but the rule is, the oldest child is next in line, even if she is only older by two minutes. She resigns herself to admiring her royal monster hunter aunt’s official sword and having tea with dignitaries with her mother, the queen. But a tragic event breaks up longstanding rules, and now Rowan finds herself in hunt of a dangerous gryphon.

Accompanied by a feisty and determined baby jackalope and a giant wolf that barely tolerates her, she sets off on a journey that will see her join forces with other unlikely allies: a boy who has ambitions of his own to hunt monsters, and a girl from a nearby clan with hidden motives for befriending Rowan. It will take all of Rowan’s skills, both physical and diplomatic, to keep this journey on track. The future of the kingdom depends on it.

Review:

This is a great adventure story!

I loved the character of Rowan. She is a strong girl who fought for what she believed in. Even though she was destined to become a queen, she wanted to be a monster hunter. She then had to prove that she was up to the job.

Some parts of this story were a little slow paced. There were long battles between Rowan and the monsters. She also met some monsters over and over again, but it was nice to be reminded of these different beasts.

I really enjoyed this middle grade story!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

Changeling (The Oddmire #1) by William Ritter

The Adventurers Guild by Zack Loran Clark, Nick Eliopulos

Have you read A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying? What did you think of it?

TBR Thursday – August 8

TBR Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly Faye Reads, where you post a title from your shelf or e-reader and find out what others think about it.

My pick this week is Eve of Man by Giovanna and Tom Fletcher.

Goodreads Synopsis:

AGAINST ALL ODDS, SHE SURVIVED.
THE FIRST GIRL BORN IN FIFTY YEARS.
THEY CALLED HER EVE . . .

All her life Eve has been kept away from the opposite sex. Kept from the truth of her past.

But at sixteen it’s time for Eve to face her destiny. Three potential males have been selected for her. The future of humanity is in her hands. She’s always accepted her fate.

Until she meets Bram.

Eve wants control over her life. She wants freedom.

But how do you choose between love and the future of the human race?

EVE OF MAN is the first in an explosive new trilogy by bestselling authors Giovanna & Tom Fletcher.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Review: Teen Titans: Raven

Title: Teen Titans: Raven
Author: Kami Garcia, Gabriel Picolo
Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel
Publisher: DC Ink
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: July 2, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

When a tragic accident takes the life of 17-year-old Raven Roth’s foster mom—and Raven’s memory—she moves to New Orleans to recover and finish her senior year of high school.

Starting over isn’t easy. Raven remembers everyday stuff like how to solve math equations and make pasta, but she can’t remember her favorite song or who she was before the accident. And when impossible things start happening, Raven begins to think it might even be better not to know who she was before.

But as she grows closer to her new friends, her foster sister, Max, and Tommy Torres, a guy who accepts her for who she is now, Raven has to decide if she’s ready to face what’s buried in the past… and the darkness building inside her.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia and first-time graphic novel artist Gabriel Picolo comes this riveting tale of finding the strength to face who you are and learning to trust others—and yourself.

Review:

I didn’t know anything about Raven before reading this graphic novel, but I loved her!

This is a great origin story for Raven. She gets into a car accident right at the beginning, and gets amnesia. Since she can’t remember who she is, she learns about herself along with the reader. This was a great technique to introduce Raven’s powers while not explaining things she already knew.

I loved the illustrations in the book too. It was mostly in shades of black, white, and gray with the exception of Raven. She often had purple accents in her clothes or her hair. This made her stand out. There were some parts in full colour, especially when characters liked each other or went on dates. This was a great contrast in colours.

I loved this graphic novel! I’m excited to read the rest of the series!

What to read next:

Mera: Tidebreaker by Danielle Paige, Stephen Byrne

Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale by Lauren Myracle, Isaac Goodhart

Have you read Teen Titans: Raven? What did you think of it?

‘Waiting on’ Wednesday – August 7

This is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. In this post we highlight a book that’s highly anticipated.

The book that I’m waiting on this Wednesday is Tidelands by Philippa Gregory. The release date is August 20, 2019.

Goodreads Synopsis:

THE BRAND NEW SERIES FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR

England 1648. A dangerous time for a woman to be different . . .

Midsummer’s Eve, 1648, and England is in the grip of civil war between renegade King and rebellious Parliament. The struggle reaches every corner of the kingdom, even to the remote Tidelands – the marshy landscape of the south coast. 

Alinor, a descendant of wise women, crushed by poverty and superstition, waits in the graveyard under the full moon for a ghost who will declare her free from her abusive husband. Instead she meets James, a young man on the run, and shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marsh, not knowing that she is leading disaster into the heart of her life.

Suspected of possessing dark secrets in superstitious times, Alinor’s ambition and determination mark her out from her neighbours. This is the time of witch-mania, and Alinor, a woman without a husband, skilled with herbs, suddenly enriched, arouses envy in her rivals and fear among the villagers, who are ready to take lethal action into their own hands.

What books are you waiting on this week?

Blog Tour Review: The Last Hope (The Raging Ones #2)

Title: The Last Hope (The Raging Ones #2)
Author: Krista and Becca Ritchie
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: August 13 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

A stunning conclusion to the sci-fi romance duology by writing duo Krista & Becca Ritchie, The Last Hope is filled with twists and turns you’ll never see coming.

Sacrifice all you have to survive.

Imprisoned for weeks on an enemy starcraft, Franny, Court, and Mykal have sat with an unfathomable revelation. But as they fight to stay alive, escaping prison means trusting a young mysterious stranger. He knows everything about their lost histories, and when answers aren’t given freely, the bonded trio are forced to join a mission. One that will determine the fate of humanity. 

Legend says, a baby—the first of her species—has the power to cloak and teleport planets. Tasked with retrieving the infant, Court fears the baby is just a myth, and if they fail, they’ll never find the truth about their origins. 

As Court and Mykal grow closer, their linked bond becomes harder to hide, and dynamics change when Franny begins to fall for someone new. Vulnerable and with no choice, the hunt for the baby sends the trio on a dangerous path to Saltare-1: a water world where their enemies can’t die and survival comes at a high cost. 

Review:

I was so excited to read this sequel!

I loved The Raging Ones when I first read it. It had so many twists at the end that I didn’t see coming. This story also had loads of twists. There are so many pieces to the puzzle of how Franny, Mykal, and Court came to be where they were. The story was very complete at the end, with no loose ends.

The ending was also open to a continuation. This series is a duology, but I would love to see what happens in their future.

This is a fun science fiction story that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Thank you Wednesday Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

About the Author:

Krista & Becca Ritchie are New York Times Bestselling Authors and identical twins, one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek. With their shared passion for writing, they combined their mental powers as kids and have never stopped telling stories. Graduates from the University of Georgia in Biology and English & Journalism, the twin writing duo now lives in Atlanta. The Raging Ones is their first young adult novel.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.kbritchie.com/index.html
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KBRitchie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KBRitchie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kbmritchie/

Buy the book:

The Last Hope
The Last Hope
The Last Hope

http://wednesdaybooks.com/galaxies-and-kingdom/the-last-hope/

Thank you to Wednesday Books for letting me participate in this blog tour.

Top Ten Tuesday – Cover Redesigns I Loved

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and it is now hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s theme Cover Redesigns I Loved. I’ve placed the original cover on the left and the redesign on the right. Here’s my list:

1. Kristy’s Great Idea (The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #1) by Raina Telgemeier and Ann M. Martin

2. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

3. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson #1) by Louise Rennison

4. Gimme a Call by Sarah Mlynowski

5. Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

6. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

7. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

8. S.T.A.G.S. by M.A. Bennett

9. Shadow and Bone (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo

10. The Lying Game by Ruth Ware

(All photos taken from Goodreads)

Review: The Tea Dragon Society

Title: The Tea Dragon Society
Author: Katie O’Neill
Genre: Children’s, Graphic Novel, LGBT
Publisher: Oni Press
Source: Owlcrate
Format: Paperback
Release Date: October 18, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

From the award-winning author of Princess Princess Ever Aftercomes The Tea Dragon Society, a charming all-ages book that follows the story of Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she meets as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons. 

After discovering a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Minette, Greta sees how the craft enriches their lives—and eventually her own.

Review:

This is a short and sweet graphic novel.

In the Tea Dragon Society, they harvest tea that grows in the form of leaves on dragons. Their owners have a special bond with the dragons, allowing them to harvest the leaves. The dragons are named after various kinds of tea, such as Jasmine and Chamomile, and they grow those types of tea.

I loved the importance of friendship in this story. The members of the Tea Dragon Society have to form a special friendship with their dragons. The dragons united Hesekiel and Erik, and Greta and Minette. Greta also learns the importance of passing down knowledge to the next generations so skills, such as blacksmithing, are not lost.

I loved this story. I’m excited to read the next book in the series!

What to read next:

The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O’Neill

Princess Princess Ever After by Katie O’Neill

Have you read The Tea Dragon Society? What did you think of it?