Review: Pretty in Punxsutawney

Pretty in Punxsutawney

"A Groundhog Day meets Pretty in Pink mashup from author Laurie Boyle Crompton, Pretty in Punxsutawney tells the tale of a girl willing to look beneath the surface to see people for who they really are.

Andie is the type of girl who always comes up with the perfect thing to say…after it’s too late to say it. She’s addicted to romance movies—okay, all movies—but has yet to experience her first kiss. After a move to Punxsutawney, PA, for her senior year, she gets caught in an endless loop of her first day at her new school, reliving those 24 hours again and again.

 Convinced the curse will be broken when she meets her true love, Andie embarks on a mission: infiltrating the various cliques to find the one boy who can break the spell. What she discovers along the way is that people who seem completely different can often share the very same hopes, dreams, and hang-ups. And that even a day that has been lived over and over can be filled with unexpected connections and plenty of happy endings."

Author: Laurie Boyle Crompton
Length: 304 pages

What put Andie in a time-warp?

Was it the pink couch, the pink dress or Pretty in Pink?

How does she get out?

This book is seriously one of my favorite books I've read in 2018! It put me in all the feels. I haven't even seen most the movies that were mentioned in this book, but it made me want to grab my mama, pop some kettle corn and binge watch all the old movies!

I loved the premise of this book so much! Something about the "idea" that we could get a do-over day until we get it perfect is next level unicorn imagination. AND I LOVE IT!

Normally YA contemporary is NOT my thing, but this one was a wild flower in a field of roses. 
I really liked all of the characters in this book...like every. single. one of them.

Seeing each clique's perspective change throughout the story, and every wall that broke between them as the story went one was fun to watch. 
Each group was SO much deeper than anyone else gave them credit for, and I really enjoyed getting a glimpse into each one.

Tom's crew seemed FABULOUS and I would love to hang out with them for a day. 😆
Okay, but also Tom was just fabulous. His character was my absolute favorite! 😍😍

I really enjoyed the assisted living/retirement home aspect that came into the book. I don't feel like that's something we see much in fiction, especially YA. I have fond memories of spending many hours at assisted livings growing up, just visiting with the people who lived there.
Seeing it in such a positive way really made my heart happy!

I truly loved every aspect of this book, so much so that I stayed up until 2 am to finish it. I could not put it down. I seriously cannot wait to have a finished copy on my shelf!
I rated it a 5/5 stars!

*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*

Review: Mind Games

Mind Games

"Kaely Quinn's talents as an FBI behavior analyst are impossible to ignore, no matter how unorthodox her methods. But when a reporter outs her as the daughter of an infamous serial killer, she's demoted to field agent and transferred to St. Louis.

When the same reporter who ruined her career claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a string of murders, ending with Kaely's, the reporter's ulterior motives bring his claim into question. But when a body is found that fits the poem's predictions, the threat is undeniable, and the FBI sends Special Agent Noah Hunter to St. Louis. 

Initially resentful of the assignment, Noah is surprised at how quickly his respect for Kaely grows, despite her oddities. But with a brazen serial killer who breaks all the normal patterns on the loose, Noah and Kaely are tested to their limits to catch the murderer before anyone else--including Kaely herself--is killed."

Author: Nancy Mehl

Length:336 pages

Series: Kaely Quinn Profiler (book 1)

Six little elephants start this little game... 

Anyone who knows me knows I love the show Criminal Minds. So to read a book with a BAU agent was so exciting. This book was NOTHING like the show, however I did still find it intriguing. 

It takes QUITE a bit for a suspense author to transport me so deep into the book I have to watch puppy videos before I go to sleep. I can normally pick out the "bad guy" in a book pretty quick.  But I have to give props to this author because I was a bit surprised when he was revealed! The author did a great job covering her tracks.

Kaely was an interesting character! She was super awkward and a little on the weird side, but it added to her charm. It made her unique.

I actually really enjoyed her "system". It was wacky and unsettling all at once. Not something I'd ever seen done before. I thought it was very interesting.

I'm anxious to see how her character develops. She had her "normal" moments, but also some straight up "psycho" moments. I'm waiting with bated breath for the cliff-hanger/plot twist to be addressed. 

I also liked Noah's character. He definitely screamed "FBI agent". He reminds me a bit of an onion and I'm excited to watch all his layers get peeled away. He's a very complex, yet closed off character with a lot of skepticism and doubt. He has a curiosity that will make reading about his eyes opening to things super fun.

I think these two will make great work partners and life partners in the end...once they get over a few more bumps in the road.

The writing style itself was not my favorite. However I did enjoy the story within.

I rated this book a 3.5/5 stars.

*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*

Blitz: Silent Days Holy Night

Let's all get in the mood for Christmas with this blog tour and giveaway for Silent Days, Holy Night by Phyllis Clark Nichols, hosted by JustRead Tours.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Silent Days, Holy Night  

Author: Phyllis Clark Nichols  

Publisher: Gilead Publishing  

Release Date: October 30, 2018  

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction/Christmas  

The sounds of Christmases past echo through a silent house...  

Everyone in town knows Emerald Crest, the green granite mansion atop the highest hill: the legendary, lavish Christmas festivities that used to light up the nights— and the silence that followed when the parties abruptly stopped many years ago. And everyone has heard whispers about the reclusive, mysterious master of the manor, Henry Lafferty the Second . . .

When eleven-year-old Julia Russell steps into the great house for the first time and meets Mr. Lafferty, the entire course of her life is altered. She meets a man who is nothing at all like the rumors she’s heard from neighbors and classmates. He’s kind and extraordinarily talented—he also happens to be deaf and uses a wheelchair. And when she overhears a secret about him, Julia decides it’s time for the town to bring Christmas back to Emerald Crest—an act that will change them all forever.


PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | CBD | Book Depository


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EXCERPT

Dad sat down on the edge of my bed. “Time for lights out, my number one daughter.”

“I’m sorry if I disappointed you today. I didn’t mean to. I just couldn’t help myself.”

“So, your curiosity got the best of you? You might remember what it did to the cat. But everything turned out all right for you. Not so much for the cat. And Mr. Lafferty did seem to enjoy your playing.”

“Will you take me back with you when you go to see him? Mr. Lafferty asked me to come and play again.”

“We’ll see.”

“Is Mr. Lafferty’s special gift talking with his hands? It surely looked like a gift to me.”

“No, that’s just his language, one of the ways he communicates. You’ll know his special gift when you see it, because you have never, and I mean never, seen anything like it. Maybe next time.”

“So that means I get to go back to Emerald Crest?”

“Sounds like it, but you need to remember that you’re not to talk about meeting Mr. Lafferty. He’s a very private man and doesn’t want people knowing anything about his business. We need to respect that. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.” Dad prayed with me, kissed me goodnight, and turned off my bedside lamp. As soon as he closed my door, that’s when the light came on—the light in my brain.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Phyllis Clark Nichols’s character-driven Southern fiction explores profound human questions using the imagined residents of small town communities you just know you’ve visited before. With a strong faith and a love for nature, art, music, and ordinary people, she tells redemptive tales of loss and recovery, estrangement and connection, longing and fulfillment . . . often through surprisingly serendipitous events.

Phyllis grew up in the deep shade of magnolia trees in South Georgia. Born during a hurricane, she is no stranger to the winds of change: In addition to her life as a novelist, Phyllis is a seminary graduate, concert pianist, and cofounder of a national cable network with health- and disability-related programming. Regardless of the role she’s playing, Phyllis brings creativity and compelling storytelling.

She frequently appears at conventions, conferences, civic groups, and churches, performing half-hour musical monologues that express her faith, joy, and thoughts about life—all with the homespun humor and gentility of a true Southern woman.

Phyllis currently serves on several nonprofit boards. She lives in the Texas Hill Country with her portrait-artist husband.  


CONNECT WITH PHYLLIS: website | Facebook | Twitter

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive (US only):

• a print copy of Silent Days, Holy Night by Phyllis Clark Nichols
• a print copy of Sleigh Bells Ring by various authors

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight December 10, 2018 and last through 11:59pm December 17, 2018. US only. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.


Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Review: Mark of the Raven

Mark of the Raven

"Lady Selene is the heir to the Great House of Ravenwood and the secret family gift of dreamwalking. As a dreamwalker, she can enter a person's dreams and manipulate their greatest fears or desires. For the last hundred years, the Ravenwood women have used their gift of dreaming for hire to gather information or to assassinate.

As she discovers her family's dark secret, Selene is torn between upholding her family's legacy--a legacy that supports her people--or seeking the true reason behind her family's gift.

Her dilemma comes to a head when she is tasked with assassinating the one man who can bring peace to the nations, but who will also bring about the downfall of her own house.

One path holds glory and power, and will solidify her position as Lady of Ravenwood. The other path holds shame and execution. Which will she choose? And is she willing to pay the price for the path chosen?"

Author: Morgan L. Busse
Length: 352 pages
Series: Ravenwood Saga book 1

He was a threat to her house.

Her mission was to kill him.

Will the Light chase away the darkness?

Fun fact, I actually got to meet Morgan at the Christy Awards. She is the sweetest soul, and she's a blast to talk to!

Anywho. On to what you're actually here for...the review. 😉

The first book in a fantasy series is normally really focused on WORLD BUILDING. 
This book was no exception. From the first page until about the last hundred pages was a lot of world building. The author works to draw you into this world of dream assassins and evil plots, with an imagination like that OF COURSE it's going to take a while to build everything up.

First books in series are always a little hard for me to get into because of everything I have to retain in mah brain. So getting into a rhythm with this book took me a little bit. 

HOWEVER! Once I got it down I flew through this book and I need book 2 in my hands ASAP! 

This book had a great cast of characters. Each person played their respective parts beautifully! 
There was a wonderful blend of villain to hero. And we ever got a mixture of both in one character. 

Selene is this strong young woman on the outside, but inside she is searching for something. She knows her family was not given the ability to dreamwalk for the evil purpose it was used for. Though she hides all her feelings under the perfect mask of ice and indifference.

Insert Damien. A follower of the Light and a threat to the House of Ravenwood. Even burdened by the responsibility of being grand lord at such a young age, he was a level-headed man with a heart to save the hurting. Plus he smells like clove, cinnamon and sandalwood...😍🤤 (It's in the book I promise!)

I really enjoyed Selene and Damien, separate and together. I am anxious to see their love story pan out over the course of the series! 
THEY GET THROWN TOGETHER! If that isn't the greatest thing in a book I don't know what is.
(...okay, so it totally helps they have a TON of chemistry!)

I'm interested in seeing how the author reveals the Light to Selene...🤔

Guys I'm just ready to see this series continue!! I really really liked it.

*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*

Quotes:

"You have a big heart. And it hurts to see the pain in this world. But that's not a weakness. It is your hidden strength. Never forget that."