Christmas Book Review: Falling Like Snow

* Bramble Falls book 2 * 

The Fall Festival was so popular that the mayor is looking to capitalize on it with a Snow Festival.  Sloane was hoping to travel to New York City with her cousin for the school break, but when her mom asks for her help creating a Snow Festival, she can't say no.

Now she's trying to get into the season; it hits different since her father died. Luckily her best friend Asher knows how to help. Everyone's always asking if Sloane has feelings for Asher. But just because they're best friends doesn't mean she has feelings for him.

In fact, when another boy starts paying attention to her; it changes everything. Maybe Sloan can recapture some of the Christmas joy that's been missing the past two years.

My Thoughts: This book was magical. I read it on a plane, and it just gave me the warm fuzzies. I didn't want this book to end, but I'm super happy there's a third book on the way. I love this small town and it's festivals. I would be excited to attend events from this festival. I love how the town pitched in to help. I loved Sloane and Asher. They had some really cute moments together. I did enjoy the friends to lovers moments as they finally found their way to each other. 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: Sent for Review

Library Recommendations: A must have romance trilogy for your school and public library.

Book 3: 

Is that cover impressive?

Out in June!

Picture Book Review: books for Dinovember

 

Just a few books for Dinovember

There is one dinosaur who is different that the others - one who only eats pizza. In fact, all he enjoys is Pizza. The other dinosaurs think they are special too, but pizzasaurus gets all the attention. But what happens when the dinosaur shares:

Cute and funny; kids are going to love this book. This book sets everything up for a sequel. 

A hen feels like a T-Rex - one of her ancestors. She states some ways they are similar and different.

This is a funny book with an author's note in the back with more facts. I loved the bit about the arms/wings. This book might spark some interest in research. 

Penelope Rex is used to be the only dinosaur in school - but one day, that's no longer true. And the new kid is better at her in almost every way...

It's hard not to compare yourself to other people. I love the message that there are people with bigger talents than us, but that we also have our own talents. I love how the two were able to find a way to connect. As always, these books are funny and charming.

Top Ten Tuesday: One Word Reviews

 This week's topic is one word reviews for the last books we've read.

From newest to older at the time of writing this post:

Cute

Unique

Fantastic

Charming

Flirty

Perspectives 

Fascinating

Nostalgic 

Delightful

Beginning

Have you read any of these?

Middle Grade Review: Fearless

* Book 2 in The Taylors series *

They Taylors can't believe their luck when they learn the class trip is headed to Nashville! Hello Taylor Swift!!!! There's so much to do before the trip:

1. Figure out their roommate arrangements

2. Sign up for events

3. Plan their outfits

4. Make the friendship bracelets

But it's not all fun and game - in fact, most of it makes the four friends anxious. Two might not even join the trip. There's only three people to a room. There are secrets being shared. All this drama is wreaking havoc on the girls.  Will this trip be everything they hope it will be?

My Thoughts: I really love how this is both a middle grade and a YA book. I love seeing how the girls get to their future books. I do hope there are more books in both the middle grade and the YA world. There's so much drama in this book leading up to the trip. I do wish we had a little more meat to the trip, but also I'm happy to read this series forever. And I do understand there's a word limit. I do love how the girls start branching out here. I love how the girls used Fearless to help them conquer their own fears. Obviously, I love the Taylor Swift moments! 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have for all your younger Swifties.

Board Books

 

Just a few new to me (and the library) board books:

Perfect for all those tea loving librarians - there's lot to eat and lots to drink. Which would you like?

This rhyming board book shares the fun of riding bikes and going on an adventure.

 

This rhyming board book shares how the team of rescue vehicles work together to save the day,

 

These board books are perfect for animal lovers. They showcase how bunnies and puppies grow and change during the first few weeks of their lives. There is also an author's note at the end of the book with some more information. The illustrations are very sweet and soft here. 

Both of these books celebrate the parent/child role with animals. These rhyming books are sweet and adorable with charming illustrations. 

Graphic Novel Review: Bite Me

Poe is excited when she realizes she walking home behind her crush - Jolie. They even had a moment last year. Now if she can just think of the perfect line, maybe they can get together. But before she can say anything, two guys jump her and bite her.

They're vampires. Jolie is a vampire hunter. She stakes on of the vampires. Her mentor stakes the other one. Jolie tries to kill Poe, but it doesn't work.

Poe wakes up in a coffin. She goes back home where she realizes everyone's mourning her. She changes and grabs somethings. She heads off to her memorial where Simon discovers her. He will answer her questions if she leaves with him. He takes her to the nest of vampires - where a bunch of them live together. 

There Poe begins to understand what the rest of her life means. But everything changes when she realizes she was turned on purpose. Who is turning people into vampires and why?

Why I read this book: I enjoy this author's novels. And I like vampire books

My Thoughts: This is a great graphic novel for Halloween - full of vampires, mystery, and secrets. I love stories with found family. There's a lot of action and danger. The art is great. If you're a Buffy fan, make sure to read this one.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My library

Library Recommendation: A great graphic novel for your public library.

Review: Practically Magic

 

Kat Hadley for once would just like to outshine her perfect sister. She and her sister used to be really close, but that was before Harriet left for college. Kat and her family come from a long line of witches. Every Halloween, a couple from the family renew the wards against the town.

This year Kat's dying to perform the ritual. It doesn't matter that she doesn't have a boyfriend. She's planned everything down to the last detail. Her parents are headed out of town. She makes sure her aunts are occupied. She's throwing the perfect Halloween party - where the boy she's crushing on will realize that he likes her too. And then they will perform the ritual together. 

What could possibly go wrong?

My Thoughts: This was such a cute and charming read. I loved the premise of the family of witches making the town safe. I love that that ritual has to be done every year. I like how the sisters questioned why it has to be a couple and not just powerful witches. The sister relationship was perfect - I love how we had little snippets before knowing the whole story. the monsters popping up in town added humor to the story and a touch of urgency. I loved the romance. I'm so excited that Harriet's book is next and there is more to the story! 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A perfect Halloween romance for your school and public library collection.