Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Picture Book Review: Dinosaur Lady


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A picture book biography of Mary Anning - the first female paleontologist. In fact, her discoveries helped to create the field of paleontology. 

I really loved learning about Mary Anning - a woman I had never heard of prior to this book. Women were not allowed to speak or even attend the scientific lectures. But her discoveries changed the world. She was curious, determined, and very impressive. 

Library Recommendation: A must have book for school and public libraries.


Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Top Ten Tuesday: Taylor and Book Quotes

This week's topic is about book quotes. I used to keep track of great lines I've read, but I no longer do. I wish I did at times. Anyways, one of these things I love about Taylor Swift's songs is how they all seem like mini stories. But she also does reference books, reading, and pages. Which of course I appreciate. Ok, so there was no reference in cardigan to librarians, but check out the rest of these.

Photo Credit: Beth Garrabrant
This looks like a great reading place.

Folklore:  Invisible String
Green was the color of the grass
Where I used to read at Centennial Park

Speak Now: Story of Us
I used to think one day we'd tell the story of us
(there are so many in this song).

Speak Now: Long Live:
You held your head like a hero
On a history book page

Speak Now: Enchanted
This is me praying that this was the very first page
Not where the story line ends

Fearless: You Belong with Me
And she'll never know your story like I do

Lover: Paper Rings
Now I've read all of the books beside your bed

Lover: Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince
American stories burning before me

Also, here's an article from Book Riot about her songs' literary references

Monday, September 28, 2020

On Your Radar: Don't Judge Me (46)


Title: Don't Judge Me
Author: Lisa Schroeder
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: November 10, 2020

Don't Judge Me

Reasons It Should Be On Your Radar:
* Feminist Read
* School Dress Codes
* Toxic Masculinity
* Friendship
* Secrets
* Popular People
* Female Power Party
* Finding Your Voice

** ACR sent for review 

Library Recommendation: 
A must have book for your school and public libraries.
A great book to start off discussions about feminism, toxic masculinity, and finding the courage to speak up.

If You Like Pin:

Saturday, September 26, 2020

Movie Review: Love Guaranteed


See the source image

Nick needs a lawyer to help him win a case against an online dating service that claims to guarantee love. Even after the fine print (one must go on 1,000 dates), Nick still hasn't found love. At first, Susan doesn't want to take the case, believing Nick to be suing the company as part of a get rick quick scheme. But she does need the case in order to pay the bills. The more time they spend together, the more they become fond of each other.

My Thoughts:
 Both Nick and Susan have good hearts and are trying to make the world a better place. The online dating service added charm and humor to the story. I enjoyed the secondary characters too - they were sweet, funny, and quirky. 

A cute romantic comedy that's perfect for a night in. 

Friday, September 25, 2020

Adult Review: Recipe for Persuasion

Recipe for Persuasion (The Rajes, #2)
* Book 2 in the Rajes series *

Curried Dreams is everything to Ashna. It's her legacy and right now the restaurant is struggling badly. Ashna has to do something to save it. When her friends offers her a spot in a reality cooking show with celebrity partners, she hesitates.

Yes, it might solver her money programs. But Ashna has emotional baggage tied with cooking. She can't seem to make anything except her deceased father's recipes.

Ashna's has a complicated relationship with her parents and it's tied her up in knots. She gave up the love of her life for her family. And now, Rico's returned. He's her celebrity on the show. Immediately, their meet-cute goes viral and everyone's rooting for them- both on and off the camera. But Ashna needs to square away her past before reaching for future happiness.
My Thoughts: This is a Persuasion retelling. And it was really good. I enjoyed seeing familiar faces from the previous book. My heart broke for Ashna and her childhood. I wanted to wrap her up in a giant hug. I did love her cousins and her aunt and how they looked after her. I enjoyed getting to know Ashna's mother and the story behind her marriage. And I loved the cooking show and the fans. Of course I loved hearing about all that food too! I really hope there are more books with this family in the works. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: A must have series for your library's romance collection - a given since these are Jane Austen retellings!

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Adult Review: The Worst Best Man

The Worst Best Man
Lina's own wedding day didn't go as planned when her fiancé's brother (Max) told her, the groom wasn't going to attend the wedding. Now Lina makes sure other people weddings go off without a hitch. When one of the weddings she manages catches the eye of a powerful woman in need of a wedding/event planner for her hotel, Lina has the opportunity of a lifetime.

Until she walks into the conference room and sees her ex-fiancé and his brother as the marketing team. Of course she does what any woman would do and pretends to have just met them. She's not interested in walking down memory lane.

But she will have to work closely with Max. Can she put aside her feelings and be a professional without trying to kill him - or kiss him?
My Thoughts: I really loved this book. It was funny and sweet. It would make the perfect Hallmark or Netflix movie. I loved Lina and her family. I loved the banter between Lina and Max - and how they played a few pranks on each other before talking out their issues from the past. I like how they broke down the walls between them. I enjoyed them working together and seeing them bounce ideas off each other. A lot of great moments - I loved the couples therapy weekend. I loved how Lina stood up for herself when talking about her emotions and how as a woman of color, she wasn't allowed to be angry or emotional. And of course that changes a person. This would make a great Hallmark or Netflix movie. A fantastic enemies to lovers story. 

Cover Thoughts: Awesome
Source: My library
Library Recommendation: A must have for your public library's romance collection.

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

THE ALPHABET'S ALPHABET Blog Tour



I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE ALPHABET'S ALPHABET by Chris Harris and Dan Santat Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title:
 THE ALPHABET'S ALPHABET
Author: Chris Harris and Dan Santat (Illustrator)
Pub. Date: September 29, 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 48

For fans of P is for Pterodactyl comes this groundbreaking spin on the ABC's from an acclaimed, bestselling author and artist pairing!
Here's a totally twisted take on the alphabet that invites readers to look at it in a whole new way: An A is an H that just won't stand up right, a B is a D with its belt on too tight, and a Z is an L in a tug-of-war fight! Twenty-six letters, unique from each other -- and yet, every letter looks just like one another! Kind of like...one big family.
From two bestselling masters of wordplay and visual high jinks comes a mind-bending riddle of delightful doppelgängers and surprising disguises that reveal we're more alike than we may think. You'll never look at the alphabet the same way again!

My Thoughts: A really unique way of looking at the alphabet that will make readers smile, laugh, and want to read it again. Who knew that the alphabet could be so fun? Or that it was one big family? The message about how everyone's connected to each other is both sweet and timely. The art work is fantastic with bright colors and funny moments. This picture book is perfect for someone just learning the alphabet or someone who's learned their letters already; it's simply pure fun!

Library Recommendation: A must have for your school and public library!


About Chris:


Chris Harris is the New York Times bestselling author of I'm Just No Good at Rhyming: And Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-Ups, illustrated by Lane Smith. He has been an executive producer for comedies including How I Met Your Mother, and a writer for The Late Show with David Letterman. His pieces have appeared in the New Yorker, Esquire, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and on NPR. He lives in Los Angeles.





About Dan:

Dan Santat is a #1 New York Times Best Selling Author author/illustrator of over one hundred titles which include “The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend” which won the prestigious Randolph Caldecott Medal in 2015. Other titles include, Are We There Yet? and After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again)  He is also the creator of the Disney animated hit, The Replacements. Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and various pets.


Giveaway Details:
3 winners will receive a Finished Copy of THE ALPHABET'S ALPHABET, US Only.


Follow the Tour:

9/21/2020
Spotlight
9/22/2020
Spotlight
9/23/2020
Review
9/24/2020
Review
9/25/2020
Review


Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall TBR list

It's that time of year again - for the fall TBR list! Fall TBR lists make me so very happy because they always include a large amount of Christmas romances! Fall books for me include those books out September - October - November months. 
Buckle up, it's going to be a Long list.


Kids and Middle Grade:
Serena SaysPremeditated MyrtleCloser to NowhereMaya and the Rising DarkThree Keys (Front Desk, #2)
The Vanderbeekers Lost and Found (The Vanderbeekers, #4)Shelly Struggles to Shine (The Derby Daredevils Book #2)Eleanor, Alice, & the Roosevelt Ghosts
BunheadsWhere Is Our Library? (A Story of Patience & Fortitude, #2)Short & Sweet

Graphic Novel:
Measuring UpClass Act (New Kid, #2)Jo: A Graphic NovelFlamerBunbun & Bonbon: Fancy Friends
The Witches of Brooklyn

YA:
Rent a BoyfriendRebel Rose (The Queen's Council, #1)Love & Olives (Love & Gelato, #3)A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and TomorrowInstant Karma
Charming as a VerbThis Is All Your FaultOne Way or AnotherThe Code for Love and HeartbreakSmash It! (Smash It! #1)
Far from NormalThe Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games, #1)Recommended for YouMajesty (American Royals, #2)

Adult:
Written in the StarsFortune and Glory: A NovelMistletoe in ParadiseThe Christmas Backup PlanCrazy Stupid Bromance (Bromance Book Club, #3)
In a HolidazeSnapped (Playbook, #4)The Twelve Dates of ChristmasA Princess for ChristmasSimmer Down
A Christmas to RememberOne More for Christmas: A NovelChristmas CharmsChristmas at Holiday HouseSpoiler Alert
The Talented Miss FarwellHappily This Christmas: A NovelChristmas Cupcake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #26)A Most English PrincessWell Played (Well Met, #2)
The Duke Who Didn't (Wedgeford Trials, #1)The Paris SecretThe Night Portrait: A Novel of World War II and da Vinci's ItalyOne for the Books (Library Lover's Mystery, #11)A Rogue of One's Own (A League of Extraordinary Women, #2)

Any of these on your reading list?