Christmas Picture Book Review: Maple and Willow's Christmas Tree

Named after trees, sisters Maple and Willow can't wait to have their first ever real Christmas tree. They cut it down and bring it inside. They couldn't be more excited to decorate it - until they realize that Maple is allergic to pine trees. Will Christmas be ruined?

My Thoughts: I adore this series. The sisters are charming and even though they fight a bit in this book (what sisters don't?), they come back together for a sweet ending. The pictures are amazingly fun. Just a wonderful Christmas story for readers of all ages.

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for all school and public libraries.

Contemporary Reading Challenge

Check out the details here and sign up too!

I'm attempting the 

Grand Slam: read 21+ books

Challenge

Mostly because I adore Contemporary romances and I read a boatload each year. I'll be reading both YA and adult for this challenge. I'm really excited to get started!

Top Ten Tuesday: Holiday Gift Guide

This week's topic is the top 10 books to buy your YA contemporary romance fan. I'm choosing books I've read this year, because I've read some really good ones!

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish 

Tween Tuesday Review: Queen of Likes

Karma's wildly addicted to Snappypic - she loves posting pictures and interacting with her thousands of fans. But her family isn't thrilled with all the time she's spending on her phone. After her mom catches her on it during an event, she decides it's been one too many times. Her parents take Karma's phone away and delete her account.

Now Karma feels like a part of her is missing. She no longer has the ability to take pictures. Plus she was almost asked to be chair of publicity for their grade's spirit week by the popular girls. What's a girl to do?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this read. I love Karma's interactions with her brother and her family. I like how she branched out from taking photos with her phone to using a digital camera. I loved reading about her taking photos; it made me want to take more photos. I really enjoyed her volunteering at the historical society. She had a lot of friendship drama and it was hard to read them treating each other so badly, but I'm glad it all came together in the end.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: Gifted by my #otspsecretsister

Final Thoughts: A really fun book that's perfect for anyone addicted to their phone! Recommended for public and school libraries.

In My Shop (2)

The Holiday season is upon us. I'll be showing off a few items every week in my shop just in case you're in need of some gift ideas.

First I want to say that I still have some handmade Christmas/Holiday cards left.

I'm a big sports person, played a lot of sports growing up and I still do. I love to watch the Celtics play. It's always fun to get excited about a good game. So I have some fun sporty earrings for that sports fan in your life!

Football Earrings

Spirit Earrings

Go Team Earrings

Baseball Earrings

Play Score Love Earrings

Don't have the sport you're looking for, shoot me a message, I have others in the works!

And don't forget to enter my coupon code: BOOKNERD16 

Top Ten Tuesday: Thankful

This week's topic is things you're Thankful for, so here's my list of things that happened this year that I'm thankful happened. Of course I'm thankful for the roof over my head, the warmth from the pellet stove, plenty of food, and my sweet husband and adorable puppy.

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish 

I went back to work full time in the library world

I have an awesome librarian who I love working with and who rocks at her job

My boss is super supportive 

My co-workers are really nice

I just signed up to be an SLJ reviewer, my first assignment is due in three weeks

I paid off one major debt 

Crafted some new ideas

While I hated the results of the election, I feel people coming together to move forward

All the publishers, authors, and reader interactions over the year

And of course, I'm thankful that you all are still reading this blog eight years later!

Tween Tuesday Review: Lodestar

 * Book 5 in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series *

Sophie and her friends might have saved the battle from being fought, but the war isn't over yet. Plus now the elves have split down the middle and the ones Sophie loves are in danger. Once again, it's time for action.

The Good:
The plot twists
The action and the danger
The friendships
The possible romance
The betrayals
Learning more about this world.

The Bad:
That ending! (It was a good ending but a huge cliffhanger)
And waiting until the next book.

Final Thoughts: Rush to the library if you haven't read this series yet, it's amazing!
Cover Thoughts: Love it!
Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: This series is a Must Have for public and school libraries.

Mini Review: Dead House

Kaitlyn rules the night and Carly holds on to the day. Two personalities in the same body, almost like sister, but never in the same place. People died and a school burned down. Could one of them be responsible?

The Good:
Told in alternate formats: series of diary entries, transcripts, interviews, camera footage, and even medical notes.
The evidence raises more questions
Creepy plot twists: Kaitlyn's traumatized - is she hallucinating? or disturbed? Are these things actually happening to her?

The Bad:
Story took place 25 years ago, but seems modern
I wish Mala (the religion/belief) was explained better, I feel like I didn't understand it enough.
It was hard to keep things straight because of the timeline and understanding of keep ideas

Overall Thoughts: A entertaining creepy read. I wish it was a little deeper, but most teens will enjoy the read. Recommended for public libraries.

*I can't comment on the art, because the ARC didn't have any. I feel like this would have enhanced the story.

In My Shop

The Holiday season is upon us. I'll be showing off a few items every week in my shop just in case you're in need of some gift ideas.

First I want to say that I still have some handmade Christmas/Holiday cards left.

But if your person is into animals, I have some earrings you might like.


Owl and Owl


Giraffe and Monkey


Hedgehogs and Foxes


Turtles and Dolphins

Plus don't forget my coupon code: BOOKNERD16

And coming soon: Elephants, Lions, Dogs, oh my!

Adult Review: Sunset in Central Park

 * Book 2 in the from Manhattan with Love series *

Ever since Frankie's parents' divorced and her mother became that woman, she's had trouble trusting men.  Thus she's never been in a real relationship. Still her best friend's brother makes her weak at the knees. When Matt confides that he wants to be more than friends, all bets are off.

At first they begin with no strings attached, but the more time they spend together, the more they fall for each other. Is there any way Frankie can let happiness take over and trust in love?

My Thoughts: I adored this novel. I really liked seeing pieces of Frankie's former life and how that shape her adult life. I love it when she finally went back home after all those years away and discovered nothing was how she remembered it. I loved their moments on the island. I like how Matt was patient with her. I love seeing the three best friends together again. I'm so happy that Eva will have the Christmas story, I can't wait to read it!

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for all romance sections - along with previous Sarah Morgan novels. 

Christmas Book Review: Twelve Days of Christmas

Julia can't figure out why her neighbor Cain is so grumpy. But when he steals her newspaper right in front of her, she realizes that she must do something!  While complaining to her best friend, her friend suggests that she kill him with kindness and blog about it for her potential job promotion.  She starts small by bringing up his newspaper in the morning, buying him a cup of coffee, and always giving him a great big smile.

At first, it doesn't appear to be working, but cracks appear in his grumpiness, especially after she accuses him of stalking her. He begins to count on her cheerful mornings, more than he would like.

Can Julia bring a new outlook to Cain just in time for the holidays?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this story. Julia and Cain had wonderful moments together with great banter playing off her cheerfulness and his grumpiness. I like how annoyed he appeared to be with her but at the same time couldn't stop thinking about her. I love how Julia wanted to do good in the world - and volunteered for various organizations. I like how their feelings started to change towards each other. I really enjoyed Cain's grandfather. I love the turning point of the book, when both the characters ended up sick and the outcome. If you're looking for a Christmas romance, this one is perfectly wonderful.

The Message: With all Julia's do gooding and reading this right around the election, this book made me think about becoming more active and doing more things for the community.

Cover Thoughts: Charming, but doesn't really match the book
Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must purchase for public libraries; it's not the Christmas Season without a holiday story from Debbie Macomber!

Say Hello

To I Hope you Forgive Me, a new project by Liza Wiemer, author of 2015's HELLO? (Which I Adored! Check out my review here.)

IHYFM is a revolutionary website that asks teens and adults to anonymously share moments from their teen years they wish they could ask forgiveness for but have never had the courage to. Until now.

All stories shared are anonymous - no telling details save for details you provide are shared publicly. The goal is the bring people together and help today's teens realize they are not alone by reading the experiences of others.

Wanted: Your teen story.
How: Share it. Anonymously.

Check It Out

Webpage: http://ihopeyouforgiv eme.com

Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/ ihopeyouforgiveme

Twitter: https://twitter.com/i hopeuforgiveme/

Instagram: https://www.instagr am.com/ihopeuforgiveme/

YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com /watch?v=bl8lBJ7nsww

Facebook video—when you post on Facebook, please use this one so that we can keep track of the views: https://www.facebook.co m/ihopeyouforgiveme/videos/125 7224227664923/

Giveaway: 
To Celebrate, Liza's gifting 3 - $25 Amazon Gift Cards

Books I'm Dying to Read: January Edition

By now, snow is usually a blanket on the ground and our pellet stove is in full force. The nights are long and are the perfect time to snuggle in with a great book. So here's what I'm looking forward to reading.

Kids/Middle Grade:

NewsPrints: A graphic nove about an orphan undercover with everything to lose
Case of the Counterfit Criminals: Fun, smart, series with determined young ladies with dinosuar bones and a kidnapped dog
Jolly Regina: 2 Bland sisters kidnapped by a group of women pirates
Crushing It: Boy Trouble, friendship drama, and the boy next door.
Stef Soto, Taco Queen: Stef's family livelihood needs her help, but she hates being known as the taco queen.

YA Books

By Your Side: Locked in the library for the weekend with a bad boy
Empire Games: 2 countries, one revolution, and plenty of spies
History is All You Left Me: How do you get over the death of your first love?
Heart Stone: Pride and Prejudice with dragons and monsters
You Don't Know My Name: What happens when you train your whole life for one outcome but then fall in love and desire something comepltely different?

More YA Books

Wayfarer: Excited to see how this time travel romance turns out.
Whenever I'm With You: A road trip during the winter in Alaska - what could go wrong?

Adult Books

 
On Second Thought: Always read the new Kristan Higgins book
Dawn Study: I NEED to know how this turns out, adore this series
Dead Cold Brew: Coffee and murder are a deadly combination in this fun series