Happy Halloween!

Hope your day is filled with spooky fun and lots of sweet treats!

 

Graphic Novel Review: Friends Forever

* Book 3 in the Friends series *

Shannon's in 8th grade and now has a solid group of friends. But she's still anxious and insecure. Shannon's figuring out how to be happy, how to be herself, and how to feel "normal."

My Thoughts: I adore this series - it's so thought provoking. Because Shannon goes through tough times. Middle school really is the worst. There are SO many feelings in middle school.  Friendship drama is so hard. Feeling insecure is terrible. It's hard figuring out boys. This book is heart wrenching and sad but also hopeful. I hope that this series continues through high school.

And this illustrations are amazingly good.

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: This is a must have series for your school and public libraries.

Review: Off the Record

 

Josie is a writer - a really good one. She's been a journalist for years, but now she's won an amazing competition. She's going to follow the press tour for a big blockbuster movie and write a celebrity profile on the young movie star. 

Josie's really excited about this opportunity. She gets to travel to big cities and meet movie stars. What could be better?

Than one of the movie stars tells her a secret. A big secret. A secret that she wants Josie to write about. At first, Josie is not sure. But the more she thinks about it and the more she hears, she wants to help. There's a director in Hollywood who is preying on young women. They can't speak up alone, but with Josie's help, they just might be able to expose them. Josie's not sure she's the best person to write the article. But she definitely wants justice for these young people.

My Thoughts: I really loved this powerful #MeToo novel, I love books about Hollywood and this one had a slightly different take than the usual books. But it was a great take. I loved Josie - from her writing abilities to her determination to her interview questions. I loved her moments with Marcus. I enjoyed their getting to know each other. But I also loved Josie questioning his morals - even though that went sideways on her. I loved her moments with actresses. I loved the ending and how everything worked out - lots of anxious moments there. A fantastic feminist read. 

Cover Thoughts: Love it

Source My library

Library Recommendation: A must have for school and public library collections.

Review: 12 Dogs of Christmas

When things in the city go sideways, Ally sees it as a sign to travel to Vermont to her grandparents for the holidays - and maybe even longer. But she's surprised to discover the kennel her grandparents have been running for years in losing it's town funding after the first of the year. And there are still 12 dogs left to find homes.

One of the council members, the town's Grinch, has a change of heart. While he can't help the town budget, he does volunteer to help find the dogs homes before the funding disappears. It doesn't help that his niece (whom he's legally responsible for) has been pestering him for a dog for ages. There just isn't enough time in the day for everything.

At first Ally isn't impressed with Ben, but he grows on her. Ben comes up with great ideas to showcase the dogs. The more time they spend together, the more they realize that it's not a bad thing, and the more the town gossips about them. But for Ben, his niece comes first, and he's not about to take a chance on someone who isn't sure they're staying in Vermont...

My Thoughts: This is the first book in a new series - lots of small town charm. And I love that it's set in Vermont. I loved the dogs in this book - they were all adorable and super cute. To be honest, they stole the book a little bit. I loved Ben's niece Astrid. I loved the banter between Ben and Ally. And how they worked together to find homes for all the dogs. I can't wait to read more books in the series. If you're a Hallmark movie watcher - this book is perfect for you!

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: Gifted

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your romance collection!

Halloween Picture Books (3)

 

A few more fun Halloween Picture Books:

The animals find a pumpkin and they're not sure what to make of it. While this one isn't strictly a Halloween book, it does have a fun party and it's super cute.

A Cinderella story about pumpkins and vegetables. Squasherella isn't scary...until she gains some confidence. A fun twist on the classic tale. 

What you see is what you get! The wheels on the bus song in Halloween form with cute illustrations. Delightful.

No one wants to live in this house - and it makes the house sad and lonely. She's just a little bit creeky, squeaky, and dusty. She tries so hard not to be haunted. But then a wind blows through and she becomes herself. And she Likes it! She really is haunted and she's looking for a family who doesn't mind. A great book about being yourself and finding your family/friends who love you.

* this book was sent for review. 

Halloween Board Books

Today I'm chatting about some delightful Halloween Board Books - some purchased for the library and some sent for review. 

Baby gets ready for Halloween in this super adorable picture book. I love the illustrations here. 

A cute book about what animals say at Halloween. Plus there's a mirror in the back for fun with readers. 

So much fun packed in to this book and so many new words to learn. I loved the showcasing of the Action Words and the Feeling Words. And the illustrations are really cute! I'm looking forward to getting more of these for the library's collection! 

A fun Halloween twist on a classic tale.

* sent for review

This book celebrates all the best parts of fall - including carving pumpkins. These illustrations are charming and adorable. I'm looking forward to the winter story!

* sent for review

Learn how to hide a ghost in this spooky fun story. The Lift the Flaps make this one harder for libraries to circulate. But the book is super fun and would make a great gift. 

* Sent for review

Trick or Treat around this neighborhood of monsters in the spooky adorable book. Again, these flaps are tricky for little fingers and libraries. Again perfect for a gift. I love how the houses are all unique and perfect for the monster inside. I wish there could be a Christmas version of this book because it would also be super cute.

* Sent for review.

Review: Dating Playbook

 

* Book 2 in the Boyfriend Playbook trilogy *

Taylor's personal training business needs serious help. She's amazing at her job, but thanks to a few bad choices, the bills are piling up. Taylor needs a solution and fast.

Luck just might be on her side. Former NFL player Jamar Dixon left professional football due to an injury. He's interested in making a comeback. He hires Taylor to help him get back into shape - if Taylor will keep his plan a secret. Taylor agrees if Jamar will publicly support her business once he makes the team.

What starts off as a business deal quickly becomes complicated when a reporter asks Jamar a tough question. Taylor steps in and tells the world they are dating. Now, they have to fake date and keep their training private. 

It's not hard to fake date a former professional athlete - but it does require a certain amount of skill.

My Thoughts: I loved the Boyfriend Project, so I was really happy to read this one. I loved how the women met in the first book - well, mostly how they stayed friends and kept each other accountable for their goals. I love learning more about Taylor. I enjoyed her fitness tips and her energy. I liked her moments with Jamar - the banter and the getting to know each other. Fake dating is a favorite trope of mine. I'm so looking forward to London's story!

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have trilogy for your library's romance collection.

On Saying Goodbye

 On Monday, we said goodbye to our best friend of almost 13 years.

 

Cabot was named after:

1. A town in Vermont

2. A Vermont company that makes delicious cheese

3. My favorite author.

His Story:

A friend found him on the side of the road and took him home with her. But she was heading off to college and her parents didn't want another dog. She knew we were interested in getting a dog and offered him to us. We didn't really know how old he was - but we guessed about 6 months. That was basically twelve and a half years ago. He would have turned 13 at the beginning of the year.

About a month ago, his back feet started to swell. We learned that he had cancer and there was nothing to be done but keep him comfortable. The vet said days/weeks were left. 

So we stayed close to home. Didn't make many plans for the future because we didn't know the future. We just wanted to spend time with him.

His last days were filled with dog ice cream, bacon, and lots of belly rubs.

But this is why I haven't been chatty lately. It's not something that was easy to talk about. Feelings aren't easy to talk about. And I didn't want to lie when I said that things were ok because they weren't. 

We are heartbroken. 

Thirteen years is a long time. And we have so many happy memories with him. So I'm choosing to remember the good times and the funny quirks thru the many many tears I have cried and will cry.

On a happier note, here are some of my favorite pictures:

Blog-o-versary

 So in typical fashion, I missed my blogging anniversary - which was earlier this month. I just wasn't on my radar this year. 

(You can read tomorrow's post to discover why.)

I just want to say Thank You for being here and reading this blog for so many years. 

I really do appreciate you!

Christmas Book Review: The Girl Who Ruined Christmas

A picture taken at the wrong time has catastrophic results which leaves Brady stuck in a small holiday loving town to pay off her debt - where of course everyone hates her for ruining Christmas.

My Thoughts: This novella was super cute and I loved it. Of course I wanted it to be longer because I didn't want to let go of the characters or the setting. I loved how this took place in a holiday town (something you'd see in a Hallmark movie). I loved the Christmas Tree Farm setting. I enjoyed watching Brady try to fix her mistake and understand the town people's feelings. I admired her persistence. I enjoyed watching her try to mend fences with the three people her age.  Of course I loved reading about the holiday traditions in this one. So much fun. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: ARC sent for review  

Library Recommendation: A fantastic holiday read for your middle grade section - highly recommended.

More Halloween Picture Books

 

Nothing goes right on Crankenstein's favorite day of the year...until it does.

A Halloween tale that will generate empathy over a bad day during all the Halloween fun

This bad seed is upset that none of his costume ideas worked out. What if he could postpone the holiday until he has more time for a better costume?

Another book about empathy and feeling the pressure of holidays - when you just need to be yourself. 

If you're a dinosaur fan - this is a great mash-up of Halloween fun and dinosaurs.

Pumpkins turn into Pumpkin Heads on Halloween night - and each other is a little bit different. 

Lots of different faces in this book. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Tools

 This week's topic is all about bookish tools. These are the ones I use more often.

My library: seriously, 85% of the books I read each year come from the library. 

Goodreads - to keep track of all the books I read over the years and want to read.

A Daily Planner to help plan out the blog posts over the year

Social Media: To talk and learn about upcoming books.

Fun Stuff:

Pencils

Bookmarks

Book Stickers

Notebooks - sometimes I make up book lists.

Etsy (Did you know I have some book inspired merch? Check it out!)

Bookish T-shirts

Blog Tour: The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE OUTLAWS SCARLETT AND BROWNE by Jonathan Stroud Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Be sure to enter the giveaway!

About the Book:

Title: THE OUTLAWS SCARLETT AND BROWNE (The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne, #1)

Author: Jonathan Stroud

Pub. Date: October 5, 2021

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers

Pages: 432

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Action! Humor! Fantasy! This new series opener is a tour de force from international bestseller Jonathan Stroud.

Scarlett McCain is an outlaw, a bank robber and a sharp shooter--a girl of formidable skills. Fueled by a tragic injustice in her past, she travels the broken kingdoms of England alone, carrying out daring heists in the surviving towns and fending off monstrous beasts in the wilds outside their fortified walls. Her life is dangerous, free, and simple--until she finds a wrecked bus on a lonely road. Albert Browne, the sole survivor of the accident, is a seemingly innocent and harmless youth. Against her better judgement, Scarlett agrees to escort him to safety.

This is a mistake. They are soon pursued by men with dogs and guns and explosives. Scarlett is used to running from the law, but these trackers are the most skilled she's ever encountered--and they don't seem to be after her. Just who is this Albert Browne Scarlett must uncover his shocking secrets if either of them are going to survive.

Praise For THE OUTLAWS SCARLETT AND BROWNE:

"Stroud is a genius.” —Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Trials of Apollo

My Thoughts:

Scarlett and Albert make an unlikely pair of friends. But despite the odds: Scarlett's problem with her past and Albert's secrets - they make a good team. After of course they save each other's lives and learn how to trust each other. 

Lots of action and danger make this one a page turner. 

About Jonathan Stroud:

Jonathan Stroud is the author of two internationally bestselling series: the award-winning Bartimaeus Sequence, which has been published in thirty-six languages worldwide, and the critically acclaimed Lockwood & Co., which is currently being adapted by Netflix. His stand-alone titles include Heroes of the Valley, The Last Siege, The Leap, and Buried Fire. Jonathan lives near London with his wife and three children. You can visit him at jonathanstroud.com and follow him on Instagram at @jonathan.stroud and on Twitter at @JonathanAStroud.

 

Website | Twitter | Tumblr | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE OUTLAWS SCARLETT AND BROWNE, US Only.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the Tour:

Week Four:

10/17/2021	The Momma Spot	Review
10/18/2021	YA Book Nerd	Review
10/19/2021	Zainey Laney	Review
10/20/2021	Kait Plus Books	Review
10/21/2021	Little Red Reads	Review
10/22/2021	Lexijava_Bookish	Review
10/23/2021	What A Nerd Girl Says	Pre Made Post

Review: New Pallet Book

 

The New Pallet book has lots of ideas for fun projects from pallets. I've seen pictures on Pinterest - mostly the vertical garden and always wanted to try it. So I was very happy to take a look at this book. So many great looking projects.

There are several that I would love:

Potting Bench

Planter Box

Bookshelf (And Styling the bookshelf was funny to this librarian/book hoarder)

Clock

Book Set-Up:

 Lots of pictures. 

Step by Step instructions. 

The time it takes to complete a project. 

And the level of easiness of the project.

* NetGalley Read

Library Recommendation: Grab this for your DIY section

Series Spotlight: Definitely Dominguita

  

Definitely Dominguita

Book 1: Knight of the Cape

Book 2: Captain Dom's Treasure

Book 3: All for One

There is so much in these fun chapter books. Dominguita doesn't love her name and prefers to be called Dom. She misses her Abuela who moved to Florida. Dom wants to have adventures like the storybooks she and her grandmother used to read together. 

These books contain:

 Knights, Pirates, and 3 Musketeers

Bullies

Friendship

Books and Libraries

A friendly Neighborhood

People coming together and helping each other.

*Books sent for review

Library book recommendation: Grab this series for your school and public libraries - highly recommended. Lots of adventure, friendship, and community feeling. 

Christmas Book Review: Royal Christmas Fairy Tale

Kaylie's not a huge fan of Christmas. Her family celebrates after the holidays and they don't make a big to-do over it. Her sister can't usually get time off and she's happy to volunteer to work so her co-workers with children can spend the day at home.  But changes are coming to the news station where Kaylie works. She's been hoping for her own investigative news program, but instead, she hears the network is under new ownership and her job's been eliminated. 

Stunned, she takes on a freelance assignment her previous boss volunteered her for - without knowing all the details of the story. She's sent to a small county in Europe for Christmas. When she arrives, Kaylie learns she's being hired to write a Christmas Fairy Tale for the princess who's mother died and needs to regain her Christmas spirit.

Kaylie isn't sure she's the best person for the job. She's an investigative journalist not a storyteller. To make matters worse, the princess's father isn't thrilled she's there. The family has a long terrible history with the press. But the Queen stands firm. She knows her son and her granddaughter need to be reminded of the joys of Christmas. She overrules her son, forcing him to show Kaylie their traditions. Soon, they both rediscover some joy in celebrating Christmas - and spending time with each other. 

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I loved the moments between Kaylie and Princess Anna. I also loved the banter between the Prince and Kaylie - when they teased each other, when they made a mess in the kitchen, and when they are with the Princess. I loved the Princess's dog Blitzen - he was adorable. I did enjoy the moments between Princess Anna and her father. They were sweet. Of course, Christmas is hard for both of them missing their wife/mother (especially since she loved Christmas.)  I loved the painting moment between Princess Anna and Kaylie - and how that worked out. I really did enjoy the Queen and how she made everything happen for her family. She wanted a modern world and a traditional one - I think she made it work really nicely. 

A few things I didn't love because they were brought up too many times:

1. too many journalist/Prince moments. 

2. Kaylie's belief that she wasn't the right person for the Fairy Tale job.

I felt cheated that readers didn't get to read the Fairy Tale that Kaylie wrote.

But overall, I really enjoyed this story. It read like a Hallmark movie - which made me really happy. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: NetGalley 

Fun Fact: This book is written by the author of the Netflix movie The Christmas Prince

Library Recommendation: A fun Christmas romance - perfect for your collection. Hand this out to those who love Hallmark Christmas movies. 

Halloween Picture Books

A few new Halloween books came into the library this week:

A witch in your book is making a terrible mess - maybe magic will help clean it up!

I love these books and Tom Fletcher is really popular at my library. These fun interactive books are great for storytimes. 

Creepy monsters won't leave the town alone but Curly Locks might have the solution. 

A little bit creepy but very fun, this cooking book is sure to please readers. 

For anyone who can't get enough of Baby Shark. The ending is cute here!

For those who love We're Going on a Bear Hunt with a spooky vibe!