Review: Nightbird by Alice Hoffman!

Title: Nightbird
Author: Alice Hoffman
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: March 10th 2015
Source: Wendy Lamb Books


Book Description via Goodreads:

“I love the way Alice Hoffman creates the most ordinary people and then turns their lives magical. . . . [Nightbird] is like reentering a wonderful dream that you vaguely remember.” —Lois Lowry, two-time Newbery Medal–winning author of The Giver


In her first novel for middle-grade readers , bestselling author Alice Hoffman tells a bewitching story of love and friendship that is truly magical.

Twig lives in Sidwell, where people whisper that fairy tales are real. After all, her town is rumored to hide a monster. And two hundred years ago, a witch placed a curse on Twig’s family that was meant to last forever. But this summer, everything will change when the red moon rises. It’s time to break the spell.

What Other Authors Are Saying
"I loved Nightbird. Such a clever mix of fantasy and reality; the fantasy is so persuasively meshed with the story that the reader accepts everything. Alice Hoffman enters brilliantly into the twelve-year-old mind and winds her account of a disordered family into the twists and turns of an elegantly crafted narrative in which past and present unite to solve a magically intriguing problem of witches, feathers and owls." —Penelope Lively, winner of the Carnegie Medal and the Booker Prize

Review:

★★★★★

Wow. I don't know what I was expecting entirely, but I know that this book blew me away.

What I perhaps liked best of all was the tone with which this story was told. It's slow and dreamy like the summer days that Twig spends in the orchards. It's slow without being boring, the space is filled with absolutely beautiful prose. Hoffman describes everything in the scene from the clothes the characters wear, to the delicious pink apple pie that they eat, to the look of the sky at the present moment with precision and fluidity. It's easy to be swept up into the scenes, as I found myself to be.

Then there are the characters, who I also loved. Twig is a loner by force, because her mother insists that it is what is best for the family. Because of this, Twig is a bit shadowy and mysterious, but not nearly as much as her secret brother James that no one in town knows about. Because of a curse inflicted hundreds of years earlier, he is "cursed" with beautiful blue-black feathered wings. James was perhaps my favorite character. He's torn between wanting to be normal and fit in, and the love and need for freedom and the open sky. Things get more complicated when the long-abandoned house next door gets occupants- descendants of the witch who cursed them. James becomes smitten with the neighbor girl, Agate and their romance was beautiful to read about. It's sweet and forbidden and complex, but I couldn't help but to cheer them on. There's also a brilliant cast of side characters, including a friendly journalist, a sweet historian, and a kid almost forgotten from Twig's past.

This book is written with a very realistic sense of fantasy. That is, I could (at least while I was reading the book) completely believe that somewhere out in Massachusetts there exists this small, cozy town wherein lies a mysterious winged figure that no one can quite glimpse or understand. The places described, like the orchards behind Twigs house, the town's prized forest, and even the diner that helps to sell Twig's family's pies and treats, they all felt incredibly real.

This is a middle grade level book, but I definitely believe adults and teens can enjoy it too. After all, I'm in my 20s and I loved it. I recommend it to fans of books such as Matilda, or anyone who wants a little more magic in their reading list. This was my first reading experience by Hoffman (despite the fact that I know I own at least two other titles), but it definitely will not be my last.

Thank you to Wendy Lamb Books who provided me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Soul Keeper Series by L.A. Starkey!

Title: Deceived, Destroyed & Descent (Full Series)

Series: The Soul Keeper Series

Author: L.A. Starkey

Publication Date: March 16, 2015



They say a soul is the immaterial essence, the animating principle, the actuating cause of an individual life.
But what if you had to share yours with the one person you hated the most?
The soul mate principle states that for every one soul there is another that will recognize its match, hence creating the perfect union.
But what if you had two soul mates, which would you choose?

What if your choices had eternal ramification?

 

 

 

Author Bio:


L.A. Starkey is the author of the upcoming Soul Keeper Series, a supernatural young adult series, and The Liarus Detective Series, a supernatural middle grade series.


She is a CPA by trade, a church planter and entrepreneur at heart; however, writing and reading are passions she just can't help but indulge in. With more ideas than one person should be allowed, she is blessed to have a muse that doesn't seem to take a vacation and more energy that one might consider healthy.






She writes under the following pen names:


L.A Starkey - YA/MG Paranormal


Kate Thomas - NA/Adult Paranormal


Isabella James - Sci-fi/Fantasy


Lauren Elizabeth - Adult Contemporary Romance

Author Links:

Goodreads | Twitter | Website

 

 

 

 
GIVEAWAY



a Rafflecopter giveaway


 

This tour was organized by Good Tales Book Tours.

Book Blitz, Excerpt, & Giveaway: Bone Dry by Cady Vance!

Check out the promo event for the first book in Cady Vance's paranormal series. 

Series: Soul Shamans #1
Release date: February 3rd 2015
Publisher: Sagan Press

Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:



Sometimes it isn’t as easy as choosing right or wrong.

Sixteen-year-old Holly Bennett is a comic book nerd, a con artist, and a shaman. Most days Holly wishes she could trade in her power of spirit communication for something more useful--like fireballs or Wolverine claws. She knows spirits aren't exactly Casper the Friendly Ghosts. They're dangerous beings from Lower World who snack on human life, and messing with the magic from their world is an express ticket to big trouble. But when a shaman sticks her mom's mind between their world and ours, Holly becomes the unexpected breadwinner in the family. She uses her burgeoning shaman powers to set up fake hauntings and "banish" the so-called ghosts from her wealthy classmates' bedrooms. For a fee, of course.

When actual spirits start manifesting, Holly discovers that other shamans have come to town, summoning life-sucking spirits for their own ends. And the newcomers may just hold the clue Holly's been looking for--the one that can release her mom's mind from its Lower World prison. With the help of both a cute web comic artist and her partner-in-con, Holly plots to take them down, throwing her into a whirlwind of speedboat getaways, breaking and entering, and astral projections into the spirit world. And as her mom's mind slips further away, Holly has to fight to save her, and the rest of the town, before they get sucked into Lower World permanently.

EXCERPT

There are times when I listen to the moralistic words of the angel on my right shoulder rather than the wicked whispers of the demon on my left. With Kylie Wilkinson leaning across the cafeteria table, eager to hand over cash I so desperately needed, I couldn’t help but smack the halo off that perfect little angel.

“Two hundred bucks,” I said, holding my hand palm up. The eagerness on Kylie’s heart-shaped face fell into a scowl. She tucked a stray strand of glossy hair behind her polka-dotted headband and shifted in her seat.

“You’ve got to be kidding me, Holly.”

I pulled back my hand, closed my fingers into a fist and pretended to be interested in my bologna sandwich. That move got them every time. The din of cafeteria chatter rose up around us as we sat in silence. Girls laughed, plates clattered and sneakers squeaked. Five seconds passed before Kylie cleared her throat.

“Okay, wait.” She reached into her Eddie Bauer backpack and pulled out her wallet. 

I kept my attention on my sandwich, nibbling away while she anxiously counted the cash. She had exactly four fifties which made me think she already knew what I charged and had been playing me to see if I’d go lower.

A guy walking by our table stopped to watch the transaction. I turned to raise my eyebrows at the tall, thin figure towering over us. Nathan Whitman, Kylie’s ex-boyfriend. He flashed a grin at me, his dark, wavy hair curling on his forehead, his high cheekbones carving a V on his otherwise boyish face. I smiled around my sandwich and hoped I didn’t have bits of meat stuck between my teeth.

“Is our friendly, neighborhood ghostbuster in action again?”

I’d taken a case for Nathan last year. He’d thought he was being haunted—they all did. Before that day, I’d considered Nathan just another bland guy navigating the Seaport High popular crowd. A preppy sailor only interested in country clubs and stock points. But after seeing the stacks of comic books in his room, I decided there might be an interesting guy hiding behind the polo shirts.

Not that I’d ever had the time to find out.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cady Vance is the author of YA and NA speculative fiction. After growing up in small-town Tennessee, she decided to embark on a grand adventure by packing up her bags and moving to NYC. Now, she studies for her PhD in the UK and dreams of seeing the world.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | MAILING LIST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Authentic Amish Cookbook by Norman Miller

Title: The Authentic Amish Cookbook
Author: Norman Miller
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: March 1st 2015
Source: Harvest House Publishers


Book Description via Goodreads:

Now you can enjoy genuine Amish recipes from the Amish themselves. From the members of the Evart, Michigan, Amish community comes this collection of 450 family favorites, including... salads and dressings (24-Hour Potato Salad, Italian Macaroni Salad, Overnight Fruit Salad) meats and main dishes (Honey-Mustard Baked Chicken, No-Fuss Lasagna, Taco Quiche) desserts (Apple Cream Cheese Pie, Rhubarb Torte, Raspberry Swirl)

Several miscellaneous recipes (jerky, play dough, finger paint...) and large-quantity recipes (for wedding receptions and other large events) are followed by many healthy recipes for folks who are watching their diet. A generous collection of tips and hints provides extra help in making your duties in the kitchen and throughout your home flow smoothly.

With popular Amish hymns and inspirational thoughts sprinkled throughout, The Authentic Amish Cookbook provides everything you need to enjoy your meal preparation and to bless your family and friends with table times they'll never forget.

Review:

★★

I love cooking and eating, especially of those cultures that are outside of my own. I picked this book out because I have been to "Amish country" quite often, as I live not too far from Shipshewana, Indiana. I've eaten some truly amazing things made by the Amish, and I hoped that by having this book, I would be able to replicate some of these things.

I was left really, really disappointed. I was expecting a collection of made-from-scratch home cooking, but that's not what this book includes. On the first page alone, there are ingredients like Velveeta cheese, frozen juice from concentrate, Cool Whip, and canned soup. There are so many store bought, processed foods in this book, from candies to food colorings. I was definitely not expecting so much dependency on store-bought ingredients. I assume this is due to a large volume of recipes mixed with the Amish belief system which limits technology, but I was also disappointed that there were no pictures in this book.

It reminded me of one of the spiral bound cookbooks from a girl scout troop or PTA or mother's club that you can pick up at a garage sale. It's not a bad collection per se, but for me the title is definitely a misleading one.

That being said, there are definitely still recipes in this cookbook that I would totally make. I also really like the weaving of blessings, kind thoughts, and religious songs that are tied into the recipes. It helped to remind me that it is in fact an Amish collection. A few of the recipes that I would like to try are Sadie Glick's Shoo-Fly Pie, Feathery Light Dumplings, Little Girl Pies, Pizza Meat Loaf, and Venison Bologna.

I think this is an okay cookbook, but not what I was anticipating based on the title and description. There's a lot of recipes here that are good for big families or parties.

Harvest House Publishers provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review- Mug Meals: Delicious Microwave Recipes by Dina Cheney!

Title: Mug Meals: Delicious Microwave Recipes
Author: Dina Cheney
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: March 4th 2015
Source: Taunton Press


Book Description via Goodreads:

The secret to fast and easy meals cooked from scratch is hiding in plain sight in your kitchen. The microwave oven is not just for reheating leftovers and making popcorn anymore. With pantry ingredients, a mug and a microwave, you can create a meal in minutes that rivals those cooked in the oven or on the stovetop. Mug MEALS! is the perfect solution for new cooks, busy families, singles, college students, teens, seniors or anyone who just wants a hot meal without all the cleanup.


Make a meal for any time of day. Breakfast options include Lox and Bagel Strata, Double Berry French Toast; for lunch try Moroccan Pumpkin and Chickpea Stew, White Bean Gratin with Olives and Lemon or Double Carrot Soup. Dinner entrees include Chinese Chicken with Noodles and Black Bean Sauce, Classic Shepherd's Pie and Lasagna; dessert selections feature Mango Coconut Crumble, Molten Chocolate Cake with Truffle Filling, Peach and Cornbread Stuffing and more.

Review:

★★★

I was really excited to stumble upon this cookbook. I am a college student who lives in the dormitories on campus. That means I have limited space and equipment to cook a meal. I do however have a mug and a microwave, so this book sounded perfect to me. All in all it's an okay book, but I was left a bit disappointed.

This book is organized in such a fashion that the recipes are grouped by course. In my opinion, the dessert and breakfast sections are on point: there are a lot of useful recipes that I would certainly use in my dorm room. My troubles with this cookbook were with the Lunch/Dinner section. There are a lot of recipes that call for things such as cooked rice, cooked noodles, cooked ground beef, and fresh vegetables. While these ingredients are simple, they are not things that I have on hand. If I had the equipment available to me to cook beef, for instance, I would just make a proper meal. As for the fresh ingredients, I have a mini fridge and a budget. Those aren't a common staple to me, sadly. Believe me, I wish they were. Speaking of a budget, a lot of these would be hard to do if you're on one, unless you happened to have the ingredients leftover or in your pantry. But I know that I don't have things like shrimp, seaweed, and goat cheese in my mini fridge.

That's not to say this is a bad book or anything- it's not. It just isn't what I anticipated. If I were a teenager or a busy mom with a full sized kitchen at my disposal, this book would be awesome. Almost all of the recipes that are included in this book have a picture to accompany them, which is a huge plus to me. I love seeing how my cooking is supposed to turn out. There are also a lot of healthy recipes in here, including ingredients like tofu, quinoa, and brown rice. The author also makes notes on how to make dishes vegan or vegetarian, so it's a book that's easy to adapt to your own personal tastes.

A few of the dishes that I'm likely to make in my designated living space include Black Forest Cake with Cherry Preserves and Coconut, Pumpkin-Orange Soup with White Beans and Sage, and Double Berry French Toast.

I'd recommend this to teens who have to cook for themselves, those with limited cooking skills who still want to eat well, and those who are too pressed for time to cook a large meal. This is also handy for those who are cooking for one. However, if you're in the dorms like me and have limited access to ingredients and equipment, I'd skip the middle chapter of this book and stick to the breakfasts and desserts.

I was provided a copy of this book by Taunton Press in exchange for my honest review.

Book Blitz, Excerpt, & Giveaway: The Secret Diamond Sisters Series by Michelle Madow!

The Secret Diamond Sisters (The Secret Diamond Sisters #1)

by Michelle Madow 

Release Date: 02/25/14

Harlequin Teen

381 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton.

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite.

Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

Excerpt:

COURTNEY DIAMOND

The fireworks started before either of them could say anything more, bursts of light shooting into
the desert sky, bigger than any firework show Courtney had seen in Fairfield. It was impossible
to ignore the electricity bouncing between the inches of space separating her and Brett, dancing
across her skin with each boom overhead. She couldn’t stop glancing at him from the corner of
her eye. He looked lost in thought, although sometimes she swore she caught him watching her,
too. This went on for twenty minutes, and then came the finale—shot after shot of fireworks
exploding, without a second’s break between them. Some sored into their air like comets and
others spread like meteor showers, filling up miles of sky.
When it was over, Courtney was sitting so close to Brett that their arms were an inch from
touching.
“How did you like it?” he asked, not making an effort to move away.
“I loved it,” she replied. “Thanks for bringing me.”
Her head felt fuzzy, and she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her arm brushing his. She
stilled at the touch, and he looked at her with more intensity than he had the entire night.
“Are you two ready to leave?” Dawn destroyed the moment, standing up and brushing invisible
dust off her jeans.
Courtney jerked backward, torn out of her trance. If the others hadn’t been there, what would
have happened between her and Brett? She’d never kissed a guy before, but from the way he was
looking at her, she felt like he’d wanted to kiss her. And if he had, she wasn’t sure she would
have stopped him.
She shook her head at the thought. Courtney had never broken a rule in her life.
Whatever had just occurred between her and Brett could never happen again.

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | Book Depository | iBookstore

Praise:

"Sexy and often electrifying ... Gossip Girl meets The Princess Diaries in a city that never sleeps." 

--Booklist

"This quick and entertaining read is filled with glitz and glamour ... get ready for one crazy and fabulous ride." 

--RT Book Reviews

Book Two:

Diamonds in the Rough (The Secret Diamond Sisters #2)

by Michelle Madow 

Release Date: 10/28/14

Harlequin Teen

448

Summary from Goodreads:

All-access doesn't mean no problems.

The three Diamond sisters survived the summer in style after coming to live with their long-lost billionaire father. But making a place for themselves at their exclusive new Las Vegas private school is throwing them any number of gold-plated curves. Savannah's YouTube stardom turns into a Sweet Sixteen reality show extravaganza—with complimentary enemies on the side. Dangerous flirtations don't keep Peyton from a gamble that will risk far more than she planned to bet. And when Courtney and the sisters' archenemy, Madison, uncover two explosive secrets, it will rock even this town of glittering illusion—and turn their lives upside down all over again.

Sisterhood, first crushes, and scandalous secrets explode in book two of Michelle Madow's riveting series, The Secret Diamond Sisters.

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million| Book Depository | iBookstore

About the Author

Michelle Madow was inspired to write The Secret Diamond Sisters series while walking through her favorite hotel in Las Vegas. The next book in the series, Diamonds in the Rough, launches in October. Prior to The Secret Diamond Sisters, she successfully self-published The Transcend Time Saga. A tireless promoter of her work, Michelle is active on social media networks and has toured across America to promote her books and encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing. A graduate of Rollins College, Michelle lives in Florida ... but she loves going to Vegas.

To chat with Michelle and other fans about her books, joinMichelle Madow's Street Team on Facebook!

Author Links:

   



GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by:

Review: Pure Pork Awesomeness by Kevin Gillespie & David Joachim!

Title: Pure Pork Awesomeness: Totally Cookable Recipes from Around the World
Author: Kevin Gillespie & David Joachim
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: March 31st 2015
Source: Andrews McMeel Publishing


Book Description via Goodreads:

Highly respected Atlanta chef and season six Top Chef Fan Favorite Kevin Gillespie shares his unbounded passion for pork in 100 unique recipes with global flavors. Everything you need to know about selecting, cooking, and enoying pork is included within.

"Like Bubba Gump and his shrimp, I have a million ways to cook pork because I love it so much. If I had only one animal to eat forevermore, I would eat pigs. You could have a pork chop one day, pulled pork another, and cured bacon the next day, and they'd all taste completely different. You can't do that with chicken. Chicken tastes like chicken no matter what part of the animal you eat. And I love beef and lamb, but they don't have the amazing versatility of pork. Pork can be the star of the show or a background flavor. But no matter where it shows up, pork is always welcome on my table."
---from the introduction, Kiss a Pig

On Bravo TV's season six of Top Chef, Kevin Gillespie became known for his love of pork. He literally wears it on his sleeve with his forearm tatoo. His first book, Fire in My Belly, a James Beard Award finalist, included his famous Bacon Jam. Now he shares his passion and love of pork in a book devoted entirely to the subject. Pure Pork Awesomeness celebrates pork's delicious versatility with more than 100 easy-to-follow recipes. Dig into everything from Bacon Popcorn and Bourbon Street Pork Chops to Korean Barbecued Pork Bulgogi, Vietnamese Spareribs with Chile and Lemongrass, and Banoffee Trifle with Candied Bacon. Organized like the pig itself, recipes use every cut of pork from shoulder and tenderloin to pork belly and ham. Find out how to buy the best-tasting pork available, differences among heritage breeds of pigs, and what to do with new cuts like "ribeye of pork". . . all from a witty, talented chef who knows the ins and outs of cooking pork at home.

Review:

★★★★★

This cover drew me in from the title alone: Pure Pork Awesomeness. I love cooking with pork. Whether it's bacon, ham, chops, smoked, grilled, or fried, I have to agree with Gillespie: it's pretty awesome. This book pays homage to the wonderful animal that is the pig with 100 recipes that all incorporate pork in some form or another.

This book is divided by cut or style of meat, making it really easy to navigate if you already have pork to use in your fridge and you're looking for something delicious to do with it. The pictures that are included in this cookbook are amazing looking, but I wish there had been more of them. This book includes a lot of tips on how to best make and use the ingredients listed, and even includes recipes for basic starting items like stocks and rubs. There's also information about each cut of meat, and each recipe is paired with an anecdote from the chef about why the recipe is included in the book.

The tagline for this book says that this book has recipes from "around the world", and I was honestly surprised on how well this book delivered on that concept. There are so many different cultures and cooking styles represented here. Off the top of my head, just to name a few, are German, Chinese, Mexican, Vietnamese, Korean, and American. There's a diverse mix of recipes here, so there's sure to be something for everyone (vegetarians obviously excluded).

Some of the dishes that I am most looking forward to trying (sampled from a long, long list of awesome sounding recipes) include: Lemon-Ricotta Tortellini in Ham Broth, Grilled Pork Belly with Pickled Apples and Smoked Peanut Butter, and Pork Minute Steaks with Potato Pancakes and Pumpkin Butter. On a personal note, I really appreciated that Sheboygan brats were referenced in this book. My girlfriend lives there and I spend a lot of time there, and I cannot stress enough how much everyone should just put them in their face, all the time.

In short, I think this book is a must have for anyone who loves pork as an ingredient. There are recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert that all incorporate this lovely meat candy into it in some fashion. It's a book that I'll certainly be getting for my kitchen.

Thanks so much to Andrews McMeel Publishing who provided me with a copy via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Series Review: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency by Iain Reading!

A few months back, I reviewed the first book in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency, Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold. I really enjoyed it, and you can read my review by clicking here. The author was awesome enough to send me the rest of the books in the series. I'll talk a little about what I liked about each book, but because I read them all in a row, I'm doing a series rating.

I give the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency series:

★★★★

Four stars!


Title: Kitty Hawk and the Hunt for Hemingway's Ghost
Series: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency #2
Author: Iain Reading
Format: Kindle Edition, 339 pages
Pub. Date: September 10th 2013
Source: Author


Book Description via Goodreads:

Kitty Hawk and the Hunt for Hemingway's Ghost is the exciting second installment in a new series of adventure mystery stories that are one part travel, one part history and five parts adventure. This second book in the series continues the adventures of Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenage pilot who has decided to follow in the footsteps of her hero Amelia Earhart and make an epic flight around the entire world. After flying across North America Kitty's journey takes her down south to Florida where she plans to get a bit of rest and relaxation before continuing on with the rest of her long and grueling flight. As Kitty explores the strange and magical water world of the Florida Keys her knack for getting herself into precarious situations sweeps her headlong into the adventure of a lifetime involving mysterious lights, ancient shipwrecks, razor-toothed barracudas and even a sighting of the great Ernest Hemingway himself. This exhilarating story will have armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike anxiously following every twist and turn as they are swept across the landscape and history of the Florida Keys all the way from Key West to the strange and remarkable world of Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas.

Kitty Hawk and the Hunt for Hemingway's Ghost is a perfect book to fire the imaginations of readers of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history this book will inspire anyone to learn about and experience as much of our amazing world as they can - just like Kitty Hawk herself.

Review:

★★★

In the second chapter of Kitty Hawk's series, we're taken away to the Florida Keys on an adventure. This one is probably my least favorite of the series so far, but it is still an enjoyable and educational read.

This book is encouraging of learning, that is, there is a ton of information in the story that is true. From the specific locations that Kitty visits or flies over, to some of the people she meets, to the animals that she encounters, there is a ton of real life knowledge threaded into the story that ensures that, whether you want to or not, you're going to learn a thing or two.

Kitty Hawk is a character that more kids should read about. She's independent and strong, and so very smart. She keeps her cool in the toughest of situations and uses her brain (mixed with skill and some luck, of course) to save herself and anyone else in trouble too. She's a good role model to have.

The setting of this one is really gorgeous. I'm sure that most people who read this book will enjoy the back drop of the Florida Keys and the waters around them. It's well described and vivid, and it definitely lured me in a bit since when I was reading it, I was in my own freezing back drop of Illinois.

Long story short, if you liked book one, you'll enjoy book two well enough. It's an adventure book that can be read by itself, but I recommend book one too, for a middle grade or young adult audience.

Title: Kitty Hawk and the Icelandic Intrigue
Series: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency #3
Author: Iain Reading
Format: Kindle Edition, 306 pages
Pub. Date: April 19th 2013
Source: Author


Book Description via Goodreads:

Following in the footsteps of her hero Amelia Earhart, Kitty Hawk sets off on an epic flight around the world and arrives in Iceland's capital city of Reykjavik where she finds herself immersed in a beautiful alien world of volcanoes, Vikings, elves and trolls. Before she knows it Kitty is plunged head first into an amazing adventure that sweeps her across a rugged landscape where humans and nature exist side-by-side in an uneasy truce and magical realms seem to lie just out of sight beneath the surface.

Kitty Hawk and the Icelandic Intrigue is the dazzling third installment of the Flying Detective Agency series featuring Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenaged seaplane pilot with boundless curiosity and a knack for getting herself into - and out of - all kinds of precarious situations.

This is a perfect book to fire the imaginations of readers of all ages - armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike. From dangerous criminals and corrupt government officials to mystical beings and clashes with the elemental forces of nature, this book has it all. Come and join Kitty Hawk as she experiences the strange and extraordinary world of the Icelanders, and unravels the Icelandic Intrigue.

Review:

★★★★

This third book in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency picks up the next chapter of Kitty's flying adventure. She finds herself in Iceland in a new story of action and this time, even fantasy.

I have a fascination with Icelandic custom as well as the country as a whole. It's so pretty looking, and is a place that I would love to go visit, so I was drawn in immediately by Reading's descriptions of the landscapes. I learned a lot, as can be expected from all of the books in this series. There is a cornucopia of information in this book that helps you learn more about what Kitty is going through as you move across the plot itself.

A plot which I really enjoyed. The first two books had fantasy elements, of course. Though this book series is an informative one they are still works of fiction. However, this book had my own personal preference of fantasy. That is, just below the surface, there is a land of magic. Kitty's new adventure involves plots involving Vikings and elves and trolls, all set in this gorgeous Iceland scenery. The plot was exciting and well paced, and kept my attention.

Kitty continues to be the tough heroine that she's proven herself to be throughout, with her head on her shoulders and her heart set and determined on her goals. I found that the character development was a bit weaker in this book than in the ones previous, but it didn't hinder me too much from reading it.

My one critique of this book is how it ended. I won't go into details, but it made the book end on a bit of a low note for me. The series doesn't end here, but it did put a bit of a damper on my reading.

I think this book will appeal to anyone who likes a young adult fantasy adventure, and those who liked the first two books are sure to enjoy this one as well.

Title: Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic
Series: Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency #4
Author: Iain Reading
Format: Kindle Edition, 321 pages
Pub. Date: February 16th 2014
Source: Author


Book Description via Goodreads:

Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic is the thrillingly cryptic fourth installment of the exciting Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series featuring the intrepid teenage seaplane pilot Kitty Hawk and her various adventures of mystery and intrigue as she follows in the footsteps of Amelia Earhart on an epic flight around the world.

This fourth book in the series brings Kitty to the emerald hills of Ireland where she meets a handsome stranger and is quickly swept up in a perplexing hundred-year-old family treasure hunt involving secret codes and puzzling clues that lead her on a fast-paced adventure that carries her from Dublin to London - from the decks of the ill-fated ocean liner Titanic to the temples of ancient Egypt and the streets of Jack the Ripper - until she finally unlocks the mystery and discovers the long-hidden treasure.

Much like the earlier books in this series, Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic is a perfect book to fire the imaginations of armchair detectives of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history the reader will find themselves immersed in brand new worlds that are brought to life before their very eyes as Kitty Hawk experiences the stories and history of a doomed ocean liner and unravels the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic.

Review:

★★★★

This is the fourth book in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency series by Iain Reading. These are adventure books that follow young pilot Kitty Hawk on a series of mysterious adventures that launch her all over the world in order to solve them all and learn along the way. The fourth book is an enjoyable addition to the rest of the Kitty Hawk lineup.

I was drawn in immediately by the cover and title. There are a few points in history by which I am fascinated. Somewhere near the top of that list, is the sinking of the Titanic. I was excited to see that this book deals with the ship. I knew a lot of the information already because of this fascination, but there was still things I didn't know previously and a lot of information to boot. This book weaved in stories of Jack the Ripper and the Titanic among other things, but did so in a way where it didn't seem encyclopedic. As usual, the book was descriptively written and made me want to travel, just as all the other books in the series have. From Ireland to England and even to Egypt, this adventure spans all over and I would love to travel with Kitty, despite all the strange mysteries she gets herself into.

For the first time in this series though, the characters fell short for me. I didn't connect or cheer for Kitty Hawk as much as I had in the first three books previous. She made a few decisions that set me aback a bit. She was still likable enough, but she wasn't quite as admirable in my eyes, and I hope this gets remedied in a future KHFDA book.

This will sure to be fun for young adult fans of mystery and adventure, or even just those who are as fascinated by the Titanic as I am.

Book Blitz, Excerpt, & Giveaway: Bittersweet by Michele Barrow-Belisle!

Bittersweet
(Faerie Song Trilogy, #2)

by Michele
Barrow-Belisle 

Release
Date: 03/24/15

Summary
from Goodreads:

To save the Faery world and her mother’s
life, Lorelei sacrificed everything, and the dangerous bargain she made in
Nevermore had lasting repercussions. Now safely back in her own world, Lorelei
seems the same to her highschool friends and her supernatural boyfriend. Yet
love across dimensions is complicated, especially when an invisible Veil
between the two worlds—the only bridge that links the pair, is sealing,
threatening to separate Lorelei and Adrius forever.

Determined to find a solution, Lorelei
resorts to using her new found powers. But when her friends succumb to the same
mysterious illness that nearly took her mother’s life, Lorelei can’t help but
wonder if her own dark magic is responsible. Still, the nightmares from
Nevermore continue their icy hold. Someone from Adrius’s past arrives,
determined to destroy Lorelei’s world starting with those closest to her, and
Lorelei is forced to choose between her family and friends and a love that was
ill-fated from the start. 

Excerpt:

My music teacher had described my voice as a beautiful, clear soprano with a haunting lilt. While my mother and others agreed— none of them knew it was because of Zanthiel. My dark faerie of music. He no longer controlled my voice. Yet here I was, on stage sweating at the possibility that I’d been wrong.

The pianist played the intro and I waited for my cue. My hands began to sweat and my heartbeat accelerated. Finally it arrived, and despite my reservations and the nausea that accompanied every stage performance, I began to sing. As the notes swelled the music inside me took hold and for a time I forgot where I was. The melody of “Think of Me” filled my soul, pushing all thoughts of Adrius and the veil and Venus aside. There was only me and the music. Each note in perfect pitch and every lyric remembered.

Mr. Smythe nodded his approval repeatedly, gesturing for me to expand and give even more.

I pushed myself further, and as I did, I felt another presence. As sure as I felt my own. The music took on a shape, a form, and though no one else could tell, I knew that I was no longer alone on stage. Zanthiel was here with me... inside me, adding his touch to my performance, and a depth to my voice. The back door of the auditorium opened and swung closed. Venus strolled in, and slid into a seat in the back row.

Immediately, I stopped singing.

Venus caught my gaze, her emerald glare pierced through me.

The power surged, lights flickered and went dead. The auditorium was pitch dark and soundless. Then footsteps approached. They came closer and slower. Then stopped.

Seconds later the light came back and Venus was nowhere in sight. Things looked just as they had before. Except, I couldn’t shake the tremble in my hands.

I stayed rooted in the middle of the stage as the spotlights clicked back on, temporarily blinding me. What would it take for a fire drill right now? I’d even settle for the real thing if it meant escaping this torture.

“That’s showbiz folks, and the show must go on. Adrius, I wonder if you would indulge me.” Mr. Smythe shuffled his pages and consulted with the pianist. He peered up from over his glasses and motioned for Adrius to join me on stage.

“Could we try the duet, ‘All I Ask of You’? I’d like to get a feel for your range. Lorelei?”

I nodded, swallowing back nerves. The only thing worse than performing was performing a song I’d never rehearsed. At least not outside my bedroom.

I sang the first chorus, the melody clear but tentative. Then Adrius came in with his part as Raoul. I was about to continue, when I heard a disembodied voice in my head.

“I’ve given you my music.”

A cold chill rippled through me and I stopped singing. The words literally stuck in my throat, sounding like someone choked a frog mid croak.

Snickers and giggles erupted backstage. I ignored them. The deep melodic tone resonated inside my body, though I would have sworn it came from backstage. Impossible. No one had been cast as the Phantom yet, no one else seemed to have heard it, and no one had that depth of tenor. Except…

The doors at the back of the auditorium opened and shut in quick succession. With it came a gust of air that scattered the pages of Mr. Smythe’s score. I peered into the darkness. Only our music teacher was visible, bent over collecting and sorting his papers. But someone else was out there. I felt them.

Buy Links:

Amazon│Amazon CA│Amazon UK│Kobo Books│Smashwords

Book One:

(cover linked to Goodreads)

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes
& Noble│Kobo
Books│iBooks│Smashwords│Amazon
CA│Amazon
UK

About
the Author

Michele
Barrow-Belisle is chocoholic author and artist living in southern Ontario,
Canada with her super-sweet husband, brilliant son and a ridiculously
affectionate cat. Often told by teachers to stop dreaming and get her head out
of the clouds, Michele still spends much of her time lost in make-believe
worlds, populated with fascinating and occasionally terrifying characters. Her
passion for fantasy extends beyond her writing into her clay figure sculpt-ing,
creating miniaturized replicas of the paranormal beings she writes about.
Michele is as passionate about reading as she is about writing. When she’s not
reading or writing, she can be found sculpting tiny fairy desserts in polymer
clay. She also loves mocha lattes and watching fireflies at twilight. Did we
mention she loves chocolate?

Author Links:

   



GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by: