Top Ten Tuesday: Halloween Edition

This week's topic is a Halloween Freebie. Over the weekend, I saw some people tweeting about Vampire books and how they wanted them to come back. It made me start thinking of all the ones I loved. So I made you a list. Enjoy.

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish 

YA:

Adult:

 Kids

Review: Wonder Woman

Princess Diana feels like an outsider. She finally has a chance to prove herself, but she spies someone in trouble. Giving up her chance, she rescues the human. Bringing her onto the island causes her people pain. When she realizes what she's done, Diana learn what she must do to reverse her mistake.

Diana and Alia get off the island, but instead of ending up in Greece, the pair end up in New York. For Diana, who's never been outside of her island, the world is very different.

They have a limited time to get to Greece, but Alia isn't convinced of the plan. Until, more people start coming after her and attacking them.

Diana does everything in power to keep Alia safe, but if they don't get to Greece in time, the world could crumble with wars.

My Thoughts: I LOVED this one - for the action, the danger, the loyalty, the awesome female characters kicking butt and taking names. (Let's be honest -mostly for that last part.) I really liked the friendship between Diana and Alia - and the promise they made to each other. I liked the group of friends who traveled with them - and the banter between them.I really loved Nim - and her sense of fashion. I liked the bloodline idea - it reminded me a little bit of the Da Vinci Code. Beside Diana - the rest of the characters are not white. And of course my heart hurt at the one scene, but it eased by the ending. I desperately hope to see these characters again!

Cover Thoughts: Love
Source: My Library
Librarian Recommendation: A must have for school and public libraries! Don't miss this one.

Blog Tour: Renegades

About the Book: The first in a two book set.

Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice. The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both. 

About the Author: MARISSA MEYER is the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles series, as well as the graphic novel Wires and Nerve: Vol. 1, and The Lunar Chronicles Coloring Book. Her first stand alone novel, Heartless, was also a #1 New York Times bestseller. She lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and their two daughters.

My Thoughts:
It took me a chapter or two to get into the book, but once I was in, I was hooked. I really like Nora - I can see where she's coming from. I like how her view point wavers as she gets to know more about the Renegades. I love her team. I really like Max and his world. I found Adrian charming and I want to know more about this mother. I love his power. And his relationships. I liked the banter between him and Nova. I like how Nova tried to be tough, but she starts caring just a bit. I love all the action and the danger and the secrets. And the double crossings. 

And that ending - I didn't see that one coming. At All.

And now I need the second book.

Team Renegades or Team Anarchists?

At the moment, I'm team Adrian. I'm not sure I trust all the Renegades. And I definitely don't trust the Anarchists. 

You won't want to miss this book when it comes out November 7th.

On Your Radar (10)

Title: Before I Let Go

Author:  Marieke Nijkamp

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Publication Date: January 23, 2018

Why it Should be on Your Radar:
Haunting Mystery
The Setting
Friendship
Sexual Orientation
Timeline of the Book
Stays with you long after you close the book
Art
Secrets
Small town drama


Cover Thoughts: Captures the book completely - well done
Source: Reviewed for SLJ
Final Thoughts: A must have for Public and School Libraries

Mini Review: Internet Famous

Madi's life starts spiraling out of control when her mother leaves for a job opportunity overseas. She's helping more around the house, juggling school work, blogging, and dealing with online harassment. 

The Good: She prefers her online personality
Fandoms
Pop Culture and movies
Her interactions at the school
Her blog
The romance
Her relationship with her sister
Sara.

 The Bad: 
 More like a nit picky thing - but if her blog hits were so large, how come she didn't realize the extent of her fan base?

Final Thoughts: Grab this one for both your public and your high school libraries - great read for fandom fans. Plus it's a drama filled read that teens will gobble up.

Card Crafting with Andi

Knowing we are both card makers Jennifer came to me with an idea about us spotlighting each other of our prospective blogs. I don't know why I didn't think of it because it is a fabulous idea. I'm just happy she did. For those that don't know me, I'm Andi from Andi's ABCs. About 2 years ago I really got into planning and paper crafts. Like most crafty things it spiraled into another crafty thing and I found myself making cards and fell in love. I 100% found my craft and I'm so happy about it.

When I first started making cards I had paper crafting supplies and not card making supplies. I made due with what I had and created cards with patterned paper, chipboard stickers, washi tape, and alphabet stickers. As I realized how much I loved card making I started to grow my card making supplies and because of that my card making style has changed.

These three cards are some of my favorites I have made with my new style. I started to have a lot of fun with stamps and inks and dire cuts. I stopped using purchased patterned paper and started to make my own with stamps. And I started to use stronger, sturdier card bases. And because I was happy with where I was going with my cards, I opened up my Etsy shop, Cards by Andrea S.. Currently, I have a variety of cards (birthday, just because, baby) available for purchase.

Holiday cards like these will be coming to the shop soon so make sure you check back in November. If my card making style interests you please check out Cards by Andrea S. on Etsy. I'm giving readers of Jennifer's blog a code to save 10%. Use the code YABOOKNERD10 at check out to receive your discount. And make sure you check out Jennifer's post today on Andi's ABCs!

Top Ten Tuesday: Unique Titles

This week's topic is unique titles. Sometimes I title pulls me towards the story and hooks me before I even know what it's about. Here's a few upcoming titles that I love and make me want to know more about the book.

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish 

Bookish Boyfriends: Could there be a better title? I'm hooked

Honor Among Thieves: Here for the thieves!

Death Below Stairs: Sound very Downton Abbey

Listen to your Heart: always good advice

Other Side of Lost: Finding yourself?

A Very Merry Princess: two of my favorite things: Christmas and Royalty

Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe: Christmas with Darcy and Lizzie. Heck yes!

Payback on Popular Lane: Revenge!

No Covers:

Queen of Sorrow: Why is she so sad?

My So-Called-Bollywood Life: Bollywood! I need to learn more.

Thoughts?

Graphic Novel Review: Jane

An adaptation of Jane Eyre

Jane escapes her family and moves to New York City. She lives in a tiny apartment and begins to dream. She needs a job to stay in art school. Luckily, she finds a nanny position. At first her charge isn't thrilled with another nanny, but Jane makes a connection with Adele.

Adele's father is rarely home, making it easy for Jane and Adele to bond. When Jane finally meets him, she's torn between outrage at his neglect of his daughter and his charm. He's mysterious and cold at times, but wonderful and open at other times. Before long, she's under his spell. But she knows he's hiding something - she just never imagined what it would be.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this adaptation (mostly because the ending is different). I liked the modern twist. I love the way Jane and Adele bonded. The graphics are amazing. I tore through this book. It's perfect for those who like Charlotte Bronte's writing (But maybe not the entire story).

Cover Thoughts: Great
 Source: Sent for Review
Library Recommendation: Grab this one for your public library

Adult Review: You Say It First

 * First in a new series *

Pallas's new  business is struggling. Having inherited it, she's not sure she wants to keep it. She likes planning weddings, but it feels stale. Luckily, she just hired herself a handyman artist who convinces her to think outside of the box.

Nick's in limbo, waiting to hear about an overseas art project. So, he doesn't mind helping out someone in need. Plus, it lets him go back to working with a familiar medium.

Together, the two of them fall into an easy relationship. But Nick doesn't do long term and he's leaving soon. Should Pallas risk her heart anyways?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this spin off of Fool's Gold. I loved seeing the brothers from Fool's Gold and their relationship after the bombshell that changed their lives. I loved watching them create art and dabble in new projects. I really loved Pallas. I loved her loyalty, loved her group of friends, and I loved how she started to take chances. I felt terrible for her in regards to her relationship with her mother, but I love how she started feeling more confident in herself. And the meetings between Nick and her mother were great. A wonderful start to a surefire hit series! 

Cover Thoughts: Perfect
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Grab this one for your romance section!

Review: Dash of Dragon

Lailu graduated as a master chef and finally found someone to back her restaurant. Little does she know that her master made a deal with the devil in order for funding. Now he's come calling and Lailu learns the truth.

If they don't pay  back the loan within a year, they will lose the restaurant and also their freedom. Lailu is not about to let this happen, she'll do anything in power to stop it - even if it means spying for the elves or fighting dragons.

With the help from a friend and one rival, she comes up with a plan to make her restaurant filled with people. She hates depending on her rival for help, but she can't do it without him. Is her pride worth the sacrifice for her future?

My Thoughts: I really loved this book. I loved the banter between Lailu and Greg (her rival). It added humor to the story. I enjoyed the moments between Lailu and her fashion loving friend. I loved the world and understanding the hierarchy. I loved the mystery and the spying (along with with the action and danger of course.) I enjoyed the cooking parts, even if they were dishes I would never eat! I loved Lailu coming up with plans. I really hope there's a sequel in the works! 

Cover Thoughts: Love it!
Source: My Library
If you like:

Library Recommendation: Grab this one for your public library and school library! 

Books and Treats (9)

A new blog idea inspired by Andi @ http://andiabcs.com/2014/08/01/pub-date-1/ with the Pub Date where a few bloggers share book and beer pair ups.  Andi states that the idea is the brain child of Brittany at The Book Addict’s Guide.

https://www.browneyedbaker.com/thick-and-chewy-chocolate-chip-cookies/

Lara Jean spends a lot of time trying to bake the perfect chocolate chip cookie. And it's no wonder that after reading the end of the trilogy that I'm craving chocolate chip cookies. I might have to whip up a batch, although they might not be as good as Lara Jean's....

Top Ten Tuesday: Books with Food

This week's topic is books with food. I read a lot of books with food in them. Yum! Here's the list of books so far I've read with great descriptions of food. 

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish