Title: Empire of Billions Author: E. Masson Genre: Romance, Thriller Publisher: Author E. Masson Source: Bookinfluencers.com Format: Ebook Release Date: August 13, 2024 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Amazon Best Seller. Book Lovers would truly enjoy reading this Novel. A Must Read Novel Today.
Revenge may be a dish best-served cold. But love can melt the hardest heart.
The Roberts family are super rich. But everyone knows that money can’t buy happiness. And they should know. Losing their parents at a young age meant they had to rely on each other.
The four boys and their little sister had been taught that rules keep you safe. And what the brothers say goes. But what if the heart wants something else?
Elizabeth may be the youngest but now she’s all grown up. And her heart yearns for Henry Kinkaid — a man her brothers hate.
This just makes her more determined for their forbidden love to flourish. Only when she learns her lover’s dark secret does her heart threaten to shatter.
But how long can she keep Henry out of her life? Especially as she’s carrying a piece of him with her.
The Roberts brothers have strict relationships Keep emotions out of it.
But will the patter of tiny feet melt their materialistic hearts? And will they bury old wounds before it’s too late?
Review:
This book is about multiple generations of a wealthy American family. They leave a trail of murders and trauma throughout their family tree. The story was exciting and intense. I would have liked to see more action and more description of the characters. This was a fast paced story that kept me intrigued until the end!
Empire of Billions is a great family saga thriller!
Thank you Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!
Content warnings: death, death of parents, car accident, gun violence, domestic violence, murder
Have you read Empire of Billions? What did you think of it?
Title: The Reunion Author: Beth Reekles Genre: Romance, Contemporary Publisher: W by Wattpad Books Source: Publisher Format: Paperback Release Date: January 14, 2025 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Ten years after graduating, the class of 2014 are back at Tisdale Comprehensive for the reunion, packed into a school gym full of familiar faces – and plenty of new secrets.MOST LIKELY TO END UP TOGETHER – Shaun and Steph were each other’s first love. Now, they’re settled and planning the perfect wedding – to other people. Could reconnecting spark a new romance?MOST LIKELY TO BECOME FAMOUS – Bryony was supposed to travel the world, rule the West End, have a dazzling career as a TV actress… Now, she’s a drama teacher who’s exaggerated her whole life on Instagram, and is desperate to save face.MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED – Hayden was told he’d achieve great things, like be on the cover of TIME, win a Nobel prize… or, the accolade his daughters just awarded World’s Best Dad. Is it too late for him to turn things around, and more importantly, does he even want to?MOST LIKELY TO KILL EACH OTHER – Ashleigh was an A* student, and Ryan the star of the school rugby team. After years of putting each other down, they left school each convinced they would have the better life. Now, that old rivalry finds them drawn back together in a new, intoxicating way – one they’re both determined to hide.With an evening of power cuts, fire alarms, sneaking off to explore classrooms in the dark, stolen kisses and heated fights – it’s like they never left at all.
Review:
This story follows 6 friends at their 10 year high school reunion. They were each voted as a “Most Likely To…” at the end of high school, but none of them fit the person who they have become. It’s hard to believe in the moment during high school that we won’t be the same person 10 years later. We think we’ll be that same teenager once we’re an adult, but we change a lot. There were some funny and unexpected moments in this story that made it a fun read!
The Reunion is a great story!
Thank you Wattpad Books for sending me a copy of this book!
Have you read The Reunion? What did you think of it?
Title: I Will Love You Forever Author: Katya Zolina Genre: Children’s, Board Book Publisher: Taffy Tales Source: Publisher Format: Hardcover Release Date: December 12, 2024 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
The newest addition to the Love You Forever series, I Will Love You Forever delights the reader with a playful exploration of the relationship between mother and child that balances humor with heart-felt sentiment. “Mama, do you love me?” It asks . . . and answers, and the art invites the reader to linger on each page, to share in the emotion, and it succeeds on all fronts.
Review:
I Will Love You Forever is a cute board book. The baby bear asks his mom lots of questions like “Do you love me?” and “Why do you love me?”. The mother’s answers are given in rhyming verses. There were beautiful illustrations of different animals at the baby’s party, as well as places they will travel to when he grows up.
I Will Love You Forever is a cute board book for early readers!
Thank you Taffy Tales and Bookinfluencers.com for sending me a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!
Have you read I Will Love You Forever? What did you think of it?
Title: The Queen’s Spade Author: Sarah Raughley Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult Publisher: HarperCollins Source: BookSparks Format: Hardcover Release Date: January 14, 2025 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
In this riveting historical thriller that’s loosely inspired by true life events, The Count of Monte Cristo meets Bridgerton as revenge, romance, and twisted secrets take center stage in Victorian England’s royal court when Sally, a kidnapped African princess and goddaughter to Queen Victoria, plots her way to take down the monarchy that stole her from her homeland.
A young lady can take only so many injuries before humiliation and insult forge a vow of revenge . . .
The year is 1862, and murderous desires are simmering in England. Nineteen-year-old Sarah Bonetta Forbes (Sally), once a princess of the Egbado Clan, desires one thing above all else: revenge against the British Crown and its system of colonial “humanitarianism,” which stole her dignity and transformed her into royal property. From military men to political leaders, she’s vowed to ruin all who’ve had a hand in her afflictions. The top of her list? Her godmother, Britain’s mighty monarch, Queen Victoria herself.
Taking down the Crown means entering into a twisted game of court politics and manipulating the Queen’s inner circle—even if that means aligning with a dangerous yet alluring crime lord in London’s underworld and exploiting the affections of Queen Victoria’s own son, Prince Albert, as a means to an end. But when Queen Victoria begins to suspect Sally’s true intentions, she plays the only card in Victorian society that could possibly cage Sally once again: marriage. Because if there’s one thing Sally desires more than revenge, it’s her freedom. With time running out and her wedding day looming, Sally’s vengeful game of cat and mouse turns deadly as she’s faced with the striking revelation that that the price for vengeance isn’t just paid in blood. It means sacrificing your heart.
Loosely inspired by the true story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, Queen Victoria’s African goddaughter, The Queen’s Spade is a lush and riveting historical thriller perfect for fans of A Dowry of Blood and Grave Mercy.
Review:
The Queen’s Spade is a fast paced and suspenseful story. Sally, an African Princess who is now Queen Victoria’s goddaughter and ward, takes revenge on all the people who have wronged her. Sally was clever and strong, and she was underestimated by the people in power around her. This story showed a darker side to the monarchy than is usually presented. I know this will be one of my favourite books of the year!
The Queen’s Spade is a powerful story!
Thank you BookSparks for sending me a copy of this book as part of the Winter Reading Challenge 2025!
Content warnings: death of parents (off page), gun violence, drug use, racism, child abuse, drowning, slavery, stabbing
Have you read The Queen’s Spade What did you think of it?
Title: Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound Author: Brian Anderson Genre: Graphic Novel, Children’s Publisher: Marble Press Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: October 15, 2024 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
From the creator the much-loved webcomic, “Dog Eat Doug,” Sophie is a hilarious new graphic novel series,a sendup of family life from the perspective of one snarky dog who wants nothing more than to have everything—without ever having to share.
Life is good when you’re a dog and you have humans all to yourself. But what about when a new baby enters the picture . . . along with a couple of cats intent on taking over the world?
Full of mini adventures, pop culture spoofs, sharp jokes, adorable illustrations, and a sneaky dose of heart, Jurassic Bark and Frankenstein’s Hound are the perfect introduction to these characters and their world. Just right for the pet-obsessed among us no matter the age, while simultaneously appealing to the kids who love to giggle at Big Nate, Dog Man, Garfield, and Snoopy.
Review:
This is another adorable graphic novel about Sophie the chocolate lab and her human baby brother Doug. There were some new pets added to the family including two cats and foster dogs. The cats were hilarious. They were always plotting to take over the world. This book was even funnier than the first one.
Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound is a funny kids graphic novel!
Thank you Marble Press for providing a digital copy of this book!
Title: Dasher Gift Set Author: Matt Tavares Genre: Children’s, Picture Book Publisher: Candlewick Press Source: Publisher Format: Hardcover Release Date: September 24, 2024 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Celebrate five years of Matt Tavares’s holiday classic with a beautifully designed gift set featuring four press-out keepsakes.
Dasher is an adventurous young reindeer with a wish in her heart and whose life is forever changed when she meets a man in a red suit with a horse-drawn sleigh. New York Timesbest-selling author-illustrator Matt Tavares channels the spirit of the season—and leaves us with a heroine to root for—in a pair of picture book odes to giving, kindness, and holiday magic. Included are two specially designed paper ornaments, two standees as well as two hardcover classics:
Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas
Review:
This gift set had two hardcover picture books about the reindeer Dasher. In Dasher, she lives with her family in a traveling circus. Her mom has always told her stories about living at the North Pole, so when Dasher gets a chance, she runs away. Dasher meets Santa who is struggling to pull his sleigh with his horse, so Dasher helps him.
In Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas, Dasher now lives with her family at the North Pole. She loves Christmas Eve, and one year she can’t wait for it to arrive, so she runs away the night before Christmas Eve to see the Christmas lights and hear carols. However, she gets lost and needs the help of a child to get home.
These are two beautiful Christmas picture books. I love that they are new origin stories about Santa’s reindeer, but they fit with the traditional story of Santa and his reindeer. This gift set also comes with some ornaments and decorations on a card that can be used for the holidays.
Dasher and Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas are beautiful books for the holidays!
Thank you @penguinrandomca and @tundrabooks for providing a copy of this book. This book was gifted to me from Penguin Random House Canada as part of the Holiday Book Magic Campaign! The Holiday Book Magic books are a curated list of books that are perfect for gifting and enjoying all year long!
Have you read Dasher or Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas? What did you think of it?
Title: How to Be a Color Wizard Author: Jason Logan Genre: Nonfiction, Science, Art Publisher: MIT Kids Press Source: Publisher Format: Hardcover Release Date: September 10, 2024 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
In a bountiful book combining art and chemistry, a celebrated ink maker invites kids to become color wizards—by foraging and transforming natural materials to make their own paint and artistic creations.
In this book you will find secret recipes, magic formulas, and wild experiments that will delight your friends, intimidate your enemies, and turn you into a color wizard.
What colors might await in a leafy forest, a berry-stained back alley, a seaweedy beach, or even the dark corners of an ordinary fridge? With this book as a guide, curious young wizards can make natural confetti, unlock the hidden color power inside a leaf, and craft a paintbrush wand. They’ll brew magic potions from beets and acorn caps to produce their own colors, from the darkest black to the palest pink to invisible ink, then share their discoveries with friends, family, and the whole color-hungry human race. With whimsy and infectious enthusiasm, master ink maker Jason Logan explains the science of color while presenting “quests,” recipes, and hands-on activities using materials kids can find in their own homes and neighborhoods. Featuring both photographs and the author’s own gorgeous homemade-ink illustrations, How to Be a Color Wizard is an ideal blend of art and science—plus a little bit of magic.
Review:
This book teaches kids how to combine chemistry and art to create ink and paint. There are secret recipes and magical experiments for kids to complete and become a color wizard. Each experiment represents a “quest,” and when they’re completed, the wizard reader can level up.
I love the way this book combines science and fantasy to make foraging in nature a game. This book is simple to follow, since most of the materials used in the experiments can be found in the kitchen or outside. I would have loved this book when I was a kid, because most of the science books I had used expensive materials that I would have had to buy. This book is perfect for kids ages 10+.
How to Be a Color Wizard is a great science book for kids!
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra Books for providing a copy of this book. This book was gifted to me from Penguin Random House Canada as part of the Holiday Book Magic Campaign! The Holiday Book Magic books are a curated list of books that are perfect for gifting and enjoying all year long!
Have you read How to Be a Color Wizard? What did you think of it?
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!
Title: Fall into Midnight (The Fall Trilogy #1) Author: Arden Coutts Genre: Romance, LGBTQ, Thriller Publisher: CEI Media Source: Author Format: Paperback Release Date: September 30, 2023 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Gyrating to the beat and downing shots isn’t Dr. Hannah Winter’s cup of tea. But when a good friend drags her out of the sanctuary of her sunroom for a rare night out at Club Midnight, a chance encounter with an enigmatic bouncer ignites an undeniable spark of passion she can’t resist. Working at Club Midnight comes with a heavy price that Gray Alexander has grown weary of paying. But even as the treacherous underworld associated with her work threatens to destroy her, the love of a sweet-faced, ginger-haired doctor may be her saving grace. As Hannah and Gray seize their unexpected chance at love, they quickly realize the very place that pulled them into each other’s orbit may inevitably tear them apart…
Review:
Dr. Hannah Winters goes to Club Midnight one night with her best friend and her two bodyguards. Despite not wanting to be there, Hannah has a chance encounter with one of the security guards, Gray, and she can’t get her out of her mind. Gray’s job at Club Midnight also involves getting into dangerous situations with her boss. Hannah and Gray quickly fall for each other, but their relationship is tested when their lives are threatened.
This was such a great, intense romance. Gray and Hannah had steamy chemistry. There was a surprising twist at the end of the story that I didn’t see coming. I’m so glad there are more books in this series because I loved these characters!
Fall into Midnight is a great start to the Fall Trilogy!
Thank you Arden Coutts for sending me a copy of this book!
Content warnings: stabbing, drugging, sexual assault, shooting
Other books in the series:
Fall Into Me (The Fall Trilogy #2)
We All Fall (The Fall Trilogy #3)
Have you read Fall into Midnight? What did you think of it?
Title: This Was Written For You Author: Anonymous Genre: Philosophy, Contemporary Publisher: Explore Unguided Source: Bookinfluencers.com Format: Ebook Release Date: November 1, 2024 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
WHAT IF THERE WAS A PART OF YOU THAT YOU KNEW NOTHING ABOUT?
“This was written for you”, is a story that was found in the possessions of a wealthy book collector after their death.
It was a discovery that captivated those who made it.
Typed in a leather journal and discovered next to first editions of very well known works of literature, no other copy of this specific text is known to exist. *This is the first time it has been made available to the public…* Don’t miss your opportunity to read it.
This eBook is an exact transcript of what was discovered in the leather journal – a wild philosophical adventure about an imaginary version of yourself who is jealous that you are real.
Determined to be real too, they begin a journey that takes them to the enchanting fields of an eccentric cult and onwards into a manipulative and dangerous experiment that blurs the boundaries between body and mind. As they discover more about the limits of their existence, they learn something about themselves. Something very strange. Something that they struggle to believe, even though it’s clearly true.
This magical book delves into the profound human desire to understand who we are. Maybe, just maybe, we are far more extraordinary that we ever dared to dream.
“This was written for you” is an extraordinary example of literature that breaks down the barriers between fiction and reality – a story, within a story, where there is no separation between the reader, the writer, the narrator or the characters. Everyone is in the action together and it is written by whoever is reading it, as they read. For some, it is a supernatural book. For others, it is a literary experiment of the most remarkable kind.
Review:
This story is a philosophical journey that happens in the reader’s imagination. The narrator is the reader’s imagination who meets other people who are in the reader’s mind and represent people in their real life. The narrator must figure out who they are and what their purpose is in life.
This was a unique story. The narrator speaks in the second person often, addressing the reader as “you.” The narrator was going on their own self discovery journey, which involved drug experimentation and war. This story will make you think about how your mind works.
This Was Written For You is a fascinating philosophical story.
Thank you Michael Roberts and Bookinfluencerscom for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!
Content warnings: rape, drug experiments, drug addiction, torture, poisoning
Have you read This Was Written For You? What did you think of it?
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