Title: Cruel Winter With You (Under the Mistletoe Collection #1) Author: Ali Hazelwood Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Novella Publisher: Amazon Source: Kindle Unlimited Format: Ebook Release Date: November 12, 2024 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
For two former childhood friends, a blustery winter storm stirs some frosty—and scorching—memories in a delightful short story by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.
All newly minted pediatrician Jamie Malek wants is to borrow a roasting pan for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately, that requires her to interact with Marc—her best friend’s troublemaking brother, who’s now a tech billionaire. He’s the one who got away. She’s the one who broke his heart. Outside, a howling blizzard. Inside, a crackling fire. Suddenly, being snowbound with the man she never expected to see again might not be such a bad way to spend a winter’s night.
Ali Hazelwood’s Cruel Winter with You is part of Under the Mistletoe, a stirring collection of December romances that thrill and tingle all the way. They can be read or listened to in one swoony sitting.
Review:
On Christmas Eve, Jamie Malek’s father sends her to her childhood best friend’s house to borrow a roasting pan. When she gets there, her best friend’s younger brother Marc is the only person there. Since it’s a bad storm and too dangerous for Jamie to walk all the way home, she ends up staying the night, allowing them to confess all the romantic feelings they’ve been holding onto all of their lives.
This was a friends to enemies to friends to lovers romance, and also a bit of a second chance romance. These kinds of romances always feel so emotional to me. The characters and their backstory was well developed in this short novella.
Cruel Winter With You is a perfect holiday novella!
Other books in the series:
Merry Ever After (Under the Mistletoe Collection #2)
All by My Elf (Under the Mistletoe Collection #3)
Merriment and Mayhem (Under the Mistletoe Collection #4)
Only Santas in the Building (Under the Mistletoe Collection #5)
Have you read Cruel Winter With You? What did you think of it?
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!
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?
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.
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!
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
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?
Title: How to Dream: A Motivational Guide to a Life of Hope, Success, and Freedom Author: Deedee Cummings Genre: Nonfiction Publisher: Cummings Consulting Source: iRead Book Tours Format: Ebook Release Date: September 10, 2024 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
How do you dream in a world that actively crushes dreams?
Everything you’ve been told about dreams is wrong. Our dreams have been hijacked. Dreams aren’t just fanciful thoughts; dreams are the very reason we’re here. Yet, we’re constantly told they’re impractical, a waste of time. How to Dream, by best-selling author, therapist, and entrepreneur Deedee Cummings, is your guide to reclaiming the power of your dreams.
In this inspiring and practical book, Deedee uses her expertise and the art of storytelling to help you turn your dreams into reality. Whether you’re just getting started or are well on your way, How to Dream offers doable steps and momentous mindset shifts that will make you unstoppable.
Drawing from her own journey and years of experience helping others achieve their goals, you will
Practical strategies to overcome self-doubt in a world filled with rampant negativityPowerful affirmations to fuel your successActionable steps to put your dreams in motionTechniques to develop a growth mindset and become unstoppablePacked with affirmations, strategies, and practical advice, How to Dream is the essential toolkit for anyone ready to take their life to the next level. If you’re struggling to find direction, seeking to reignite your ambition, or need encouragement to stay the course, this book will inspire you to dream bigger, push harder, find freedom, and create the life you’ve always imagined.
Don’t let another day pass without pursuing your true potential. It’s time to make your dreams a reality-starting now.
Review:
When we’re children, we’re encouraged to dream and told we can become whoever we want to be. However, when we get older, we’re told that we shouldn’t be dreaming and to find practical careers. This book gives great advice on how to find and follow your dream, even if it’s difficult.
I’m a writer, and it’s not easy. My dream is to make a living as a published author, but I’m not there yet. However, I’m not giving up. This book made me feel motivated to keep going, even though it’s difficult most of the time. This is a guide for how to find your dream, if you’ve lost your way, and how to set aside time to make it come true.
How to Dream is a great, motivational book!
Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign.
Favourite Quotes:
“When you find your purpose, you will feel connected to your life, this planet, and to your journey in a way that nothing will be able to replace.”
“Break the cycle of thinking of life as something that happens to you and make it something you actively create. Every day.”
Giveaway:
Author signed copy of How to Dream: A Motivational Guide to a Life of Hope Success and Freedom
Title: The Bad Luck Nickel Author: Matthew Leslie Genre: Young Adult Publisher: Ausable Books Source: iRead Book Tours Format: Ebook Release Date: August 13, 2024 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
When Blair Matthews, teen celeb and son of rock legend, The Blade, shows up at a high school in Montreal amidst rumors of a drug-fueled sex scandal, it’s the most excitement the students at Trudeau High have seen in years.
And when Marco and his twin sister Julianna become fast friends with Blair, it seems like a dream. For Marco, Blair lifts him out of his post-breakup funk, and joins his band, The Bad Luck Nickel, instantly making it one of the hottest groups in town. And for Jules, Blair is her celebrity crush come to life in her living room.
But can Blair leave his past behind and start fresh at Trudeau High? Or will his infamy follow him from LA to MTL?
Review:
Blair Matthews causes a lot of excitement when he moves to Montreal. He’s a teen heartthrob and the son of a famous rock star. He joins Marco’s band, The Bad Luck Nickel, and they finally start booking shows. Blair also starts dating Marco’s twin sister Julianna. However, the scandal that sent Blair to Montreal threatens to come back and ruin his life, bringing his new friends down with him.
This was such a fast paced story. I couldn’t put it down. It started with a bang, with the boys finding a man passed out in the snow and having to give him CPR. The story was so intense. The characters were drinking, doing drugs, and getting into dangerous situations. It was such a page turner.
The Bad Luck Nickel is a fast paced story about teenage drama!
Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign.
Title: The Weirn Books, Vol. 2: The Ghost and the Stolen Dragon Author: Svetlana Chmakova Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Fantasy Publisher: JY Source: Publisher Format: Paperback Release Date: October 15, 2024 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
In the Night Realm, shifters, vampires, weirns (a particular kind of witch), and other night things passing for human may prowl the streets, but school is still in session—and you still have to do your homework!
In The Weirn Books, Vol. 1: Be Wary of the Silent Woods (released June 2020), Ailis and Na’ya are pretty average students, but when a shadow starts looming and a classmate gets all weird, they’re the first to notice. It gets personal, though, when Na’ya’s little brother D’esh disappears. To get him back, she has no choice but to confront the secrets of the forbidden mansion in the Silent Woods!
Just in time for Halloween, The Weirn Books, Vol. 2: The Ghost and the Stolen Dragon (released October 15, 2024) takes readers back to Chmakova’s supernatural world full of magic, adventure, and… dragons! After her terrible adventures in the Silent Woods, Na’ya’s world seems to have returned to normal… that is, except for the nightmares that keep haunting her. What she needs is the power to protect everyone, and she has the perfect solution—she’ll turn into a dragon, once and for all! With help from Ailis and Jasper, everything seems to be going according to plan. But what’s that dark shadow slithering around the spell-casting range?
Review:
Ailis and Na’ya think their lives have returned to normal after defeating The Headmistress in the woods. Na’ya is going to focus on her goal of becoming a dragon. When a spell she casts goes horribly wrong, she accidentally summons a dragon to their town instead. Then, they discover a dark shadow sneaking around their school, so the evil Headmistress may not be gone after all.
This was a great sequel! The story was fast paced and action packed. There was more danger and intensity throughout the story than in the first book. It ended with such a good cliffhanger! I can’t wait to see what happens in the rest of the series.
The Ghost and the Stolen Dragon is a great middle grade graphic novel!
Thank you Publicity Prose and Yen Press for sending me a copy of this book!
Q: What draws you to your signature manga- and anime-influenced art style?
A: It’s just what I love and where I feel most comfortable as a creative, where I can express the widest range with my art—the silly, the profound, the funny, the dramatic, the beautiful, the ridiculous, the horrifying, etc. That whole branch of comics is an incredibly versatile approach to cartooning. Manga was a bedrock formative artistic experience for me, those random issues and volumes I managed to get my hands on were the first comics that made me go ‘this is so cool, I want to do something like that!’ The other formative artistic influence was ElfQuest by Richard and Wendy Pini, reading the first issue of that and then furiously creating something resembling a comics narrative for 4 pages/3 solid hours was the first memorable step in my comics-making journey.
Q: What is your creative process like? Which comes to you first — the story or the visuals?
A: My creative process is pretty messy and it starts with both writing and images—I’ll write down and sketch scenes or character interactions, locations, try to flesh out events with both words and drawings. Once I have enough notes I would start crafting a written script with many visual notes, followed by roughly sketched storyboards/page layouts for the entire narrative. My editor is a very big part of that process—she is my first line of defense against bad story and pacing choices; when I am writing without a proper break it is very difficult to maintain perspective and see what I wrote instead of what I wanted to write, so it’s invaluable to have a fresh set of eyes with the knowledge to recognize the rough spots that need fixing. Once both my editor and I agree that the storyboarded book reads well, I start finishing the designs for places/characters and final page art production starts.
Five (5) winners will receive a paperback set of The Weirn Books, Vol. 1: Be Wary of the Silent Woods and The Weirn Books, Vol. 2: The Ghost and the Stolen Dragon!
Jill's Book Blog 