Hey everyone! Today I’m participating in the blog tour, Regal Reads, in honor of Regal Hearts: Season One being released in paperback! I’m super excited about this post today, because not only am I sharing an extra book review this week, but I also get to be a little extra creative. The lovely Livy Jarmusch came up with some super creative tour ideas, and they were all so fun and imaginative! I just had to write and share with you all the things I would do if I were trapped in a Disney movie for a day. So, without further ado, let’s get on with it!
It’s that time of year again!! I’m so excited to be bringing back my Countdown to Christmas blog series this year! For those of you new to the blog, Countdown to Christmas is a weekly feature where I recommend a different Christmas-y book each week to read this holiday season.
My first pick for 2017 is What Light by Jay Asher.
Sierra’s family runs a Christmas tree farm in Oregon—it’s a bucolic setting for a girl to grow up in, except that every year, they pack up and move to California to set up their Christmas tree lot for the season. So Sierra lives two lives: her life in Oregon and her life at Christmas. And leaving one always means missing the other.
Until this particular Christmas, when Sierra meets Caleb, and one life eclipses the other.
By reputation, Caleb is not your perfect guy: years ago, he made an enormous mistake and has been paying for it ever since. But Sierra sees beyond Caleb’s past and becomes determined to help him find forgiveness and, maybe, redemption. As disapproval, misconceptions, and suspicions swirl around them, Caleb and Sierra discover the one thing that transcends all else: true love.
What Light is a love story that’s moving and life-affirming and completely unforgettable.
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
What Light is such a lovely and festive holiday read! It is one of those books that gives you that Christmas-y warm and fuzzies feeling. It just has that all-around Christmas atmosphere. The characters in this book are great and I loved the sweet romance. Not only did I love the romantic love, but the love between friends and family was so nice and prevalent as well. I really appreciated the overall theme of love and forgiveness in this novel. I read this book last year, and I am really hoping to reread it again this year! Also, if you’d like to hear more about my thoughts about What Light, I posted a complete review back in January. You can check it out here!
Have any of you read this book? Let me know what you thought!
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Title: Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie by Anthony Del Col, illustrated by
Pages: 162
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Graphic Novel/Comic (Rating Teen+)
Published by: Dynamite Entertainment (Nov. 28, 2017)
Summary
Volume collects issues 1-6
A Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mystery unlike any other you’ve ever read! When the teenage brothers Frank and Joe Hardy are accused of the murder of their father – a detective in the small resort town of Bayport – they must team up with Nancy Drew to prove their innocence (and find the real guilty party in the process) in a twisting noir tale, complete with double-crosses, deceit, and dames. Writer Anthony Del Col (Assassin’s Creed, Kill Shakespeare) and artist Werther Dell’Edera (Batman: Detective Comics, House of Mystery) bring the iconic teen detectives into the modern age, and redefine noir for a new generation of readers!
What I Thought
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review. A huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!*
I love Nancy Drew! I have around 100 books, all the computer games, and own the movies and TV show. So, I was quite intrigued when I heard about this new comic series earlier this year. I hadn’t gotten around to checking out the individual issues yet though. So, when I found out all six issues of the series were becoming one volume, and that it was available on NetGalley, I was quite excited!
When I read the first issue, I was a bit unsure on how I felt about it. This isn’t the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books from your childhood. That being said, the more I read, the more this story grew on me!
While this mystery is more mature and darker than the books, I really felt like the spirit of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys was there. The characters were edgier, but really their personalities were the same, just amplified, and I really loved that!
The actual mystery, in itself, was really well done. It was a bit difficult accepting the fact that Fenton Hardy was murdered, but ultimately, doing something so risky as to kill off such a prominent character in the original Hardy Boys series really showed what this series was about. I don’t want to give away anything, so Ill just say that The Big Lie was filled with plot twists and suspense, and overall, it was just really good. The artwork was really great too. I absolutely loved how the back of the book featured all the various covers for each individual issue. My favorite cover is issue #3, which was created by Fay Dalton.
Another thing I really appreciated were all the references to other characters from the Stratemeyer Syndicate. You may not be aware, but Carolyn Keene and Franklin W. Dixon were not real people. All the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy books were created by Edward Stratemeyer, as well as several other not quite as well-known series (like the Bobbsey Twins and Tom Swift) and ghost written by various people, under the Stratemeyer Syndicate. So, that was really fun to see those references!
Overall, The Big Lie was really well done. I’m quite new to graphic novels and comic books, so I’m still learning what I like and dislike, but I found this one to be very enjoyable. I plan on buying myself a physical copy to add to my Nancy Drew collection soon! I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, as well as to anyone who is a fan of mystery comics. I look forward to, hopefully, reading more titles in this series in the future!
Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie will be released November 28th, 2017! However, you can check out the first issue for FREE on Amazon Kindle and comiXology now!
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Hello! October is over, and November is halfway over (which is freaking me out since it feels like it just started yesterday), so it is definitely time to share with you all what I was up to last month!
In October, I read 5 books!
BOOKS READ IN OCTOBER
– Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-Doyle (library) \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
– Regal Hearts: Episode 1 by Livy Jarmusch (ebook) \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
– The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (library) \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
– The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Vol. 1 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (library) \\ undecided
– The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken (library) \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STANDOUT BOOK OF THE MONTH
I really loved The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding. This was such an adventurous and fun book. I loved the ending, and it was the perfect October read!
BOOKS REVIEWED
Hopeless by Colleen Hoover \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Once and for All by Sarah Dessen \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris \\ ⭐️⭐️1/2
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
BOOK HAUL
I only bought one book last month, which, if you remember September’s haul, is definitely a good thing! I found The Treatment at Books-a-Million for $4, and I could not refuse it! I really loved The Program when I read it last year, so I’m really looking forward to reading book 2.
MISCELLANEOUS
A lot of fun things happened on the blog in October!
I participated in both the Halloween Read-a-Thon, as well as Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon!
I participated in a few Top Ten Tuesdays, as well as some super fun Halloween tags!
Top Ten Books with Fall/Autumn Covers | Top Ten Foodie Books | Top Ten October/Halloween Books
Hocus Pocus Book Tag | Trick or Treat Around the Block
I also shared my thoughts on the movie The Haunting, based off the book The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, on Movie Monday.
That wraps up October! I feel like, after a few slow months, October was a really good blogging month. I’m looking forward to continuing this in November. The second half of the month, I have some exciting things coming up. I’m going to be participating in a blog tour, as well as my Countdown to Christmas series, which returns on 11/19! So, get excited! lol
Thanks so much for reading, and be sure to let me know how October went for you!
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It’s Top Ten Tuesday again! It’s a weekly bookish list created by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is:
Top Ten Books I Want My Future Children to Read
Nancy Drew
I’m going to start this off with my obvious answer: Nancy Drew! If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know how much I love Nancy Drew. So, naturally, I’m planning on having all my future children read Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. I’m not sure why I connected with these books so much, but they are my forever faves.
The Berenstain Bears
These books were such classics to me as a little kid. They were just so calming to me for some reason, and I remember being so hyped for the show on PBS! I’ll definitely be reading these to my kids some day.
Junie B. Jones
Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket was the very first book that I remember receiving as a gift. I was in 1st grade, and I remember just being so excited to read this book! The Junie B. Jones books will always be so special to me. My future kiddos are going to have to read these books!
Anne of Green Gables
One of my all-time favorite books is Anne of Green Gables, so is it even a surprise at all that I want my future children to read this one?!
Matilda
Matilda is another book that I really cherish, so naturally, I want all my future kids to read this one, too! The love and appreciation of books is just so wonderful. Matilda is such a clever book, that not only do I want my kids to read it, but I want everyone to read it!
Little Critter
The Little Critter series was another one of my favorites growing up. I loved the pictures, and how cute the critters were. These were always such fun books!
Mrs. Piggle Wiggle
The Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books were so much fun! She’s such a sassy character, and always knows how to cure children of their “ailments.” I must admit, though, somehow I got it into my mind that her name was pronouced Piggly Wiggly, and so for the longest time – way longer than it should have been – I thought that was her name. I was so shook the day I realized that it was actually Piggle Wiggle! 😂
The Ramona Books
I absolutely loved the Ramona books. She was such a relatable character to me. Also, I’m pretty sure it was the highlight of my childhood reading life when I read Ramona Quimby, Age 8, when I was 8 years old. You guys don’t even know how pleased and excited I was with myself because of that. 😂
The Boxcar Children
Before Nancy Drew, there was The Boxcar Children. I love, love, loved these books! This is the series that got me into mysteries. The Boxcar Children is such a classic series, in my opinion, and I can’t wait for my kids to discover this series.
The Little House Series
Last but not least, I want my kids to read the Little House series. These books are so well written, and are just so memorable. My parents read them, my sisters read them, I read them. My older sister is even reading them to her kids now. I can’t wait to read them to my someday children.
That wraps up this week’s Top Ten Tuesday! Let me know what books you would add to your list!
Thanks for reading!
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Title: The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken
Pages: 362
Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy/Paranormal
Published by: Disney-Hyperion (Sept. 5, 2017)
Summary
Prosper is the only unexceptional Redding in his old and storied family history — that is, until he discovers the demon living inside him. Turns out Prosper’s great-great-great-great-great-something grandfather made — and then broke — a contract with a malefactor, a demon who exchanges fortune for eternal servitude. And, weirdly enough, four-thousand-year-old Alastor isn’t exactly the forgiving type.
The fiend has reawakened with one purpose — to destroy the family whose success he ensured and who then betrayed him. With only days to break the curse and banish Alastor back to the demon realm, Prosper is playing unwilling host to the fiend, who delights in tormenting him with nasty insults and constant attempts trick him into a contract. Yeah, Prosper will take his future without a side of eternal servitude, thanks.
Little does Prosper know, the malefactor’s control over his body grows stronger with each passing night, and there’s a lot Alastor isn’t telling his dim-witted (but admittedly strong-willed) human host.
From #1 New York Times best-selling author Alexandra Bracken comes a tale of betrayal and revenge, of old hurts passed down from generation to generation. Can you ever fully right a wrong, ever truly escape your history? Or will Prosper and Alastor be doomed to repeat it?
What I Thought
This was such a fun, fall book! There was so much buzz about this book in early September, that I just knew that I had to read it for Halloween. I’m so glad I decided to read The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding.
Hey everyone! I may already have my Christmas tree up, but I still wanted to wrap-up what I read for the 2017 Halloween Readathon hosted by Lauren @ Wonderless Reviews! Sorry this is late, but I’ve been so busy the past few days, that I haven’t had a chance to share with y’all what I read, but I had so much fun participating that I still had to share. So, here we go!
I read the first volume of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which was made up of the first five issues. This was my first time actually reading a comic book/graphic novel, and it was an interesting experience! I do think I’ll check out more graphic novels and comic books in the future, but I don’t know if it will be with this series. I did enjoy it at first, and it was drawn really well, but honestly, it just got too dark and satanic for me. If I want to read more about Sabrina, I think I’ll stick with the classic Archie comics, which I’ve heard are much more like the TV show.
The very first book I read for this readathon was The Haunting of Hill House. I did enjoy it, but I didn’t absolutely love it. I wrote a whole review about it, which you can check out here!
Alongside all my staple, Halloween classics (Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus, Tower of Terror, etc.), I watched The Haunting, which was based off The Haunting of Hill House. It was a pretty good movie, but quite different from the book. I did October’s Movie Monday about this movie. Be sure to check it out here!
Then I read The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding. This book was so perfect for Halloween! There was so much Halloween atmosphere, and it was just really fun to read about. The actual story line was really adventurous and well done, too. I have a review going up for this book tomorrow morning, so please, be sure to check it out then!
I also ended up starting The Halloween Tree, but I was only a little under halfway through, and then Halloween ended, and I lost interest. 🙈 I plan on picking it back up next Halloween, though!
So, in total, I read three books, plus watched a scary movie. However, if you want to count each comic I read individually, that would bring me up to seven books…😏 So, maybe I completed the readathon challenge?! Maybe…🤔
Thanks so much for reading, and Happy [very late] Halloween! 🎃👻🧙♀️🧛♂️🦇
ALSO, sidenote: Y’all can look forward to my Countdown to Christmas series coming back next Sunday! 😏 nothing like talking about Christmas on a Halloween post.😂
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Title: Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
Pages: 357
Genres: YA, Magical Realism, Mystery
Published by: Kathy Dawson Books (Aug. 8, 2017)
Summary
If you’re not careful, you can spend your whole life looking for what you’ve lost.
One stormy summer in a small Irish town, things begin to disappear. It starts with trivial stuff—hair clips, house keys, socks—but soon it escalates to bigger things: a memory, a heart, a classmate.
Olive can tell that her best friend, Rose, is different all of a sudden. Rose isn’t talking, and Olive starts to worry she’s losing her. Then diary pages written by someone named Laurel begin to appear all over town. And Olive meets three mysterious strangers: Ivy, Hazel, and her twin brother, Rowan, secretly squatting in an abandoned housing development. The trio are wild and alluring, but they seem lost too—and like Rose, they’re holding tightly to painful secrets.
When a tattered handwritten spellbook falls into the lives of these six teenagers, it changes everything. The spellbook is full of charms to conjure back that which has been lost, and it lists a part for each of them to play in the calling. It might be their best chance to set everything back to rights, but only if they’re willing to pay the price.
What I Thought
I found out about this book when I was reading about upcoming 2017 releases, and after reading the summary, I just had to read this book! Plus, look at that gorgeous cover! I wish I could say I ended up loving this book as much as I thought I would, but unfortunately, that’s not exactly what happened.
It’s Top Ten Tuesday again! It’s a weekly bookish list created by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is:
Halloween Freebie
For this week, I’ve decided to share ten books that actually take place during October/Halloween! So many Halloween recommendations feature scary books – which are great – but a lot of them happen throughout the year. Sometimes, I want to read a book that actually takes place in the month of October, to really get me in the Halloween spirit. So, here’s ten books that do!
The Fall of Candy Corn
I know I’ve mentioned this book, and its series, several times on the blog, but that’s because it’s so much fun! I just love how each book takes place during a different season, and that the story is actually based around that season. Plus, this series is so underrated, so it deserves some extra love!
The Accident Season
While, I admit, I found this book to be a bit confusing in parts, it really is a great Halloween read! It is such an eerie and atmospheric book. Every October, accidents happen, and the accidents continue to grow more dangerous as the month goes on.
In the Shadow of Blackbirds
I love this book! While its main focus isn’t Halloween, it does take place in October, and Halloween is mentioned. Plus, it’s all about ghosts! This is another book that is very atmospheric, and just gives you a spooky, autumnal vibe. I would definitely recommend this book!
The Halloween Tree
I’m currently reading this book, and completely enjoying it! Ray Bradbury’s writing is so descriptive and atmospheric. This book perfectly captures the feeling of Halloween!
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Another book by Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes is also perfect for Halloween. This book is so spooky and adventurous! It’s got magic, haunted carnivals, and everything else you love about Halloween.
All Her Secrets
This book, while it doesn’t talk about Halloween, still gives all the Halloween vibes, and it takes place in October, so you can definitely feel the fallen leaves and crisp, autumn winds. All Her Secrets is a futuristic, but not too different from our world, thriller. It has some great twists, and it also gives me Frankenstein vibes – perfect for Halloween!
Hallowe’en Party
Okay, I admit, I have not read this one, but it’s on my TBR! Plus, it has Halloween right in the title! 😉 Hallowe’en Party is a spooky, mystery about a murder that takes place during a Halloween party.
The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding
The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding is another book I’m reading, and loving! It is filled with so many details of Halloween, that really puts you in the spirit. From Halloween decorations all over, to Prosper wearing spooky socks and a pumpkin shirt, this book really offers all the classic Halloween vibes!
Halloween Party
Don’t let the cheesy 80’s/90’s cover fool you, this is actually a really good and festive Halloween book! Halloween Party is a really fun and quick book that reads like a horror movie. It’s a little gross at parts, so if blood freaks you out, you might want to skip this one, but if that stuff doesn’t bother you, this book is perfect for Halloween!
Dead of Night
This book is wild, y’all! It is unlike any Nancy Drew or Hardy Boy book I have ever read. Crazy stuff happens, but it’s absolutely perfect for Halloween! It takes place on Halloween night and is filled with lots of spookiness and adventure.
Also, that cover is so cheesy, I just can’t help but laugh when I see it.
There’s my Top Ten Tuesday! Tell me about yours in the comments.
Happy Halloween!! 👻🎃
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Hey everyone! I was tagged by Inga from Lady of Bookland for the Trick or Treat Around the Block book tag. It was originally created by The Bookish Porcupine. Thanks so much for tagging me, Inga! 🙂 This tag looks like so much fun, and I’m so excited to be doing it today!
Okay, let’s get started:
#1 Creepy house on the corner of the street
book with a creepy cover
I think this cover is super creepy, and the book itself is super creepy. It definitely makes a great Halloween read!
#2 Lights out (party poopers)
a book you want to read when you want to escape
Anne of Green Gables is one of my absolute favorite books! I love Avonlea, and all the characters. Someday, I’d love to take a trip to visit Prince Edward Island, so I can pretend I’m Anne for the day. 😉
#3 The house that gives out the cheap candy
guilty pleasure book
These R. L. Stine teen books, and other scary books like them, are so fun and cheesy, and perfect for Halloween! They’re not very well-written, but they’re so much fun to read this time of year.
#4 The house with the best decorations on the block
best haunting/Halloween themed cover
I think this cover of The Haunting of Hill House is so spooky looking! Plus, the orange and black color scheme gives me a definite Halloween vibe.
#5 The house that gives out the best candy
#1 Halloween recommendation.
Y’all! This was so hard to choose just one! I decided to go with The Fall of Candy Corn. It takes place during Halloween, and just gives me that Halloween vibe. I know I’ve talked about this series before, but it is just so cute and festive for every season! This one is the second in the series, and I, personally, recommend reading each book during its designated season.
Speed Round
#1 Corn maze or haunted house?
I’m a chicken, so I don’t know how I’d do in a haunted house. So, I’ll go with a corn maze!
#2 Classic or unique costume?
Classic costumes are fun, but I love unique costumes! I’m usually pretty generic with my costumes (I’ve been a cat so many times I’ve lost count, lol), but I really admire people who come up with and create incredibly unique costumes!
#3 Sexy or scary costume?
Honestly, neither. I’m more interested in being that person that comes in the giant duck suit, or is dressed as a slice of pizza…lol!
#4 Comedy or horror Halloween film?
Definitely comedy! Halloweentown and Hocus Pocus are two of my go-to movies!
#5 Chocolate or sour candy?
Chocolate, chocolate chocolate! Chocolate is bae!
There you have it! This was so much fun to do. I tag anyone who wants to do this!
Thanks for reading, and Happy Halloween! 👻🎃
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