Review | Ghosted in L.A. by Sina Grace, Siobhan Keenan and Cathy Le

Daphne Walters moves to Los Angeles and finds that the only ones who can help her find love and live life to the fullest are the ghosts of her new home!

In Los Angeles, finding an apartment is killer—unless you live with the dead. Daphne Walters moves to Los Angeles for her boyfriend Ronnie, ready to live her happily ever after. But when happily ever after turns into happily for a month, she’s stuck in a strange city with no friends, family, or prospects for fun. Desperate to escape the lingering ghost of Ronnie’s presence everywhere, Daphne sets out to explore the city—and ends up encountering ghosts of a more literal kind! Rycroft Manor is abandoned, beautiful, and haunted. Will the dead be able to help Daphne find the life she’s been missing in the big city? From GLAAD Award-nominated Sina Grace (Iceman) and illustrator Siobhan Keenan (Jem and the Holograms) comes a story about learning how to make friends, find love, and live life to the fullest with a little help from some friends whose lives didn’t end at death.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

When I picked this one up I was pretty sure it would make me laugh and I was right. There definitely could have been more setup to the relationships that were already existing, but for the most part it is explained throughout the story. The end of the first volume definitely leaves a lot of things up in the air and questions unanswered, so it’s even more reason to pick up future volumes. I found the art style to also be very dynamic and easy to read, so it was a super fast read.

Happy reading!

Kindle Deals | 4/19

Hey all! Today’s my birthday, so I was naturally perusing some kindle deals to see if there was anything I wanted to spend birthday money on and I happened to find some great finds. As always make sure you check the prices before buying as they could be different in your region or have changed.

Heartstopper Vol 1 ($1.99)Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. A sweet and charming coming-of-age story that explores friendship, love, and coming out. This edition features beautiful two-color artwork.

Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to rugby player Nick Nelson in class one morning. A warm and intimate friendship follows, and that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who doesn’t think he has a chance.

But Nick is struggling with feelings of his own, and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understand the surprising and delightful ways in which love works.

Lumberjanes Vol 1 ($2.99) – What’s to Love: Lumberjanes is the hit series from the BOOM! Box imprint that features five rad ladies who fight monster baddies with the power of friendship! Written by Noelle Stevenson (Nimona, Adventure Time) and newcomer Grace Ellis, and illustrated by Brooke Allen (A Home for Mr. Easter), this new series has taken comics by storm and placed on many Best-of-the-Year lists, including Comics Alliance, Entertainment Weekly, and Comic Book Resources.What It Is: At Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types, things are not what they seem. Three-eyed foxes. Secret caves. Anagrams! Luckily, Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are five rad, butt-kicking best pals determined to have an awesome summer together…and they’re not gonna let a magical quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! The mystery keeps getting bigger, and it all begins here. Presented as the Lumberjanes Field Manual featuring a cover gallery and early character designs by Noelle Stevenson and Brooke Allen.

The Princess Saves Herself in This One ($0.99)From Amanda Lovelace, a poetry collection in four parts: the princess, the damsel, the queen, and you. The first three sections piece together the life of the author while the final section serves as a note to the reader. This moving book explores love, loss, grief, healing, empowerment, and inspiration.

the princess saves herself in this one is the first book in the “women are some kind of magic” series.

Happy reading!

Review | Grimoire Noir by Vera Greentea and Yana Bogatch

Beautiful, spooky, and utterly enchanting, Vera Greentea and Yana Bogatch’s Grimoire Noir is a charming graphic novel about coming to terms with your own flaws and working past them to protect those dear to you.

Bucky Orson is a bit gloomy, but who isn’t at fifteen?

His best friend left him to hang out with way cooler friends, his dad is the town sheriff, and wait for it―he lives in Blackwell, a town where all the girls are witches. But when his little sister is kidnapped because of her extraordinary power, Bucky has to get out of his own head and go on a strange journey to investigate the small town that gives him so much grief. And in the process he uncovers the town’s painful history and a conspiracy that will change it forever.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I was intrigued by the synopsis and my initial flip through of this book so I picked it up and flew through it immediately. I loved the art style and the way it really had that Noir feel, while also being mystical and spooky in some ways. I thought the way the story was woven and the characters that were featured really added to not only the main storyline, but also to the other secrets and mysteries that were revealed. The final twist was a total surprise and not something I suspected at all, so it was really well done. If you’re looking for something spooky and full of paranormal themes, with a touch of noir, check this one out.

Happy reading!

Review | Greek Myths: Meet the Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of Ancient Greece by Jean Menzies

Journey into a world of gods, goddesses, heroes, extraordinary creatures, and fantastic monsters with this beautifully illustrated introduction to Ancient Greek mythology for kids.

Perfect for children aged 7 to 9, this collection contains enthralling new retellings of favorite myths as well as some you might not have heard before.

Including the saga of Theseus and the Minotaur, the 12 labors of Herakles, and the escapades of Jason and the Argonauts, each myth is told in engaging modern language, making them easy for children to understand while still retaining the humor and intrigue of the original tales. Each one is brought to life with stunning illustrations by multi-award-winning artist Katie Ponder, which breathe new life into these classic stories.

Additional feature pages and maps delve deeper into the mythical world, including profiles of the gods and a map detailing Odysseus’ long, monster-filled voyage home from the Trojan War. The reference section provides key background information to the stories, such as Ancient Greek storytelling and the incredible beasts of the myths, including centaurs and unicorns.

Greek Myths is the perfect gift for children to explore by themselves or as bedtime stories and will be treasured forever.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I’ve been excited to pick this one up ever since it came out, so I’m glad I was able to get to it. I’ve always enjoyed Greek myths and myths in general, so while I knew a lot of these myths, it was great to read them in a modern language and somewhat simplified. I loved the way that important details were included in these versions. Though it is written for younger readers I feel like it is something that readers of all ages can enjoy. The writing style combined with the artwork was a perfect fit and I loved how bold the artwork was. I’m excited to see what else Jean Menzies publishes as this was such a perfect volume not only sharing famous Greek figures (such as Gods, Goddesses and Heroes) but also talking about the culture of Ancient Greece and what shaped their beliefs and culture.

Happy reading!

Writing Update | 4/16

Well friends, I do not come with good news today. I was excited to get into April and get some good writing done but here we are halfway through the month and I’ve written a few paragraphs. To be fair at the end of March my family was dealt a blow and we lost a family member, so that definitely contributes to my lack of writing.

I’ve also been gaming. Probably more than I should, but it’s stress relief.

So really it’s just been a month that I’ve been doing some other things and dealing with larger issues. Because of this my muse has decided that they are taking a vacation and have only been appearing when I absolutely cannot write. -_-

I’m still going to do my best to write what I can, but I don’t foresee me reaching my goal for Camp Nanowrimo. You can only do what you can and I’m obviously having to concentrate on other things.

How’s everyone’s month going writing wise?

Happy writing!

Review | Midway Relics and Dying Breeds by Seanan McGuire

“The trouble with wanting to do the right thing is that frequently the right thing today is the wrong thing for tomorrow, or the wrong thing for the people who are standing between you and your perfect, platonic future. The wild was the wrong place for our elephant, just like the recycler was the wrong place for Billie, and the cities were the wrong place for me.”

A tale of bioengineering, a carnival, and the cost of finding one’s right place.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I really enjoyed the way McGuire built this world, which was a futuristic look at Earth when bioengineering and changes due to things such as climate change border on the extreme. Beyond that there was also the theme of this carnival and the carnival life within the family that ran it. It was the perfect length for the story it was trying to tell and I could see it as part of a bigger story, but it did move at a pretty slow pace for me. At times it felt like the language just didn’t flow as well as McGuire’s writing typically does, so that did bring down my enjoyment a bit.

Happy reading!

Can’t Wait Wednesday | 4/14

Can’t Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings based on the meme Waiting on Wednesday by Breaking the Spine. In this weekly post people share a book that they’re excited about being released.

Today was a hard day with the fact that my cat had to have a procedure done at the vet (she’s fine), so I felt like looking for some upcoming releases that I could share and add to my want to read list. This one comes out in June and sounds like it would be a fun read!

Two girls on opposite sides of a war discover they’re fighting for a common purpose–and falling for each other–in Zoe Hana Mikuta’s high-octane debut Gearbreakers, perfect for fans of Pacific Rim, Pierce Brown’s Red Rising Saga, and Marie Lu’s Legend series.

We went past praying to deities and started to build them instead...

The shadow of Godolia’s tyrannical rule is spreading, aided by their giant mechanized weapons known as Windups. War and oppression are everyday constants for the people of the Badlands, who live under the thumb of their cruel Godolia overlords.

Eris Shindanai is a Gearbreaker, a brash young rebel who specializes in taking down Windups from the inside. When one of her missions goes awry and she finds herself in a Godolia prison, Eris meets Sona Steelcrest, a cybernetically enhanced Windup pilot. At first Eris sees Sona as her mortal enemy, but Sona has a secret: She has intentionally infiltrated the Windup program to destroy Godolia from within.

As the clock ticks down to their deadliest mission yet, a direct attack to end Godolia’s reign once and for all, Eris and Sona grow closer–as comrades, friends, and perhaps something more…

Happy reading!

Blog Tour | The Bookstore on the Beach by Brenda Novak | Review

For fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Mary Kay Andrews, comes New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak’s newest standalone work of women’s fiction, a big, sweeping novel about family and the ties that bind and challenge us. In this novel, three generations of women from the same family share a house and work together at a bookstore in Colonial Beach over the course of a summer.

How do you start a new chapter when you haven’t closed the book on the last one?

Eighteen months ago, Autumn Divac’s husband went missing. Her desperate search has yielded no answers—she still has no idea where he went or why. After being happily married for twenty years, she can’t imagine moving forward without him, but for the sake of their two teenage children, she has to try.

Autumn takes her kids home for the summer to the charming beachside town where she was raised. She seeks comfort by working alongside her mother and aunt at their quaint bookshop, only to learn that her daughter is facing a life change neither of them saw coming and her mother has been hiding a terrible secret for years. And when she runs into Quinn Vanderbilt—the boy who stole her heart in high school—old feelings start to bubble up again. Is she free to love him, or should she hold out hope for her husband’s return? She can only trust her heart…and hope it won’t lead her astray.

BUY LINKS | Bookshop.org | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository | Walmart | Target

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I was very excited about the premise of this book when I read it, let’s be honest almost anything featuring a bookstore could pull me in, but I finished this one with a feeling of wanting more and yet, also wanting less. It felt like there were too many different plots and sub-plots to be able to concentrate on any of them fully, and in some instances it felt like there were holes. It would have been nice to have some backstory on her missing husband, since he’s already missing at the beginning of the book. While I did enjoy the story overall, I would have liked some things to be paired down and refined, while I would have liked more from the ending. That being said there were a lot of things I did enjoy in this book, such as the characters and some of the threads being woven in the plots. It was an enjoyable read overall.

Brenda Novak, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, has penned over sixty novels. She is a five-time nominee for the RITA Award and has won the National Reader’s Choice, the Bookseller’s Best, the Bookbuyer’s Best, and many other awards. She also runs Brenda Novak for the Cure, a charity to raise money for diabetes research (her youngest son has this disease). To date, she’s raised $2.5 million. For more about Brenda, please visit http://www.brendanovak.com.

SOCIAL | Twitter @Brenda_Novak | Facebook @BrendaNovakAuthor |
Instagram @authorbrendanovak | Goodreads

Happy reading!

Cover Reveal | Worn Out Places by R.H. McMahan

Worn Out Places
R.H. McMahan
Publication date: September 1st 2021
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

I can’t answer that question. I can’t tell him I’ve spent my whole life trying to disappear. I can’t tell him that I was born a drug addict. Or that I’ve been in foster homes so terrible I wished I didn’t exist. And I can’t tell him that last year ended any ambition I had to make it somewhere better in this world.

Drug addict parents. The foster care system. Living on the streets of New York City.

Zoie Cruz is used to an unflinching world that takes without giving back. But at seventeen she isn’t used to Northern Michigan, a family that wants her to succeed, and sobriety.

Everything changed on Christmas morning last year. Her social worker calls it a tragedy and her weekly Narcotics Anonymous meeting wants her to open up. All Zoie wants is to be left alone to get high.

When she meets local golden boy Dean, he’s determined to pull Zoie out of her darkness. And she’s determined to keep her walls sealed shut.

In a whirlwind struggle to stay clean, Zoie’s secrets can only stay hidden for so long.

Add to Goodreads


Author Bio:

R.H. McMahan a.k.a. Mickie is a Puerto Rican and Irish YA/NA author. She was born and raised in Chicago – and yes she thinks it’s important that you know that. In June of 2020, she graduated with a BA in English Lit and Creative Writing and is currently pursuing her MFA in Creative Writing.

Mickie dreamt of becoming an author since she started telling stories on the playground in first grade. Ever since then it is rare to find her without a notebook and a pen. Her book baby, Worn Out Places, debuts on September 1st and she cannot wait to share it with the world.

If she’s not writing she’s doing other creative things like singing, dancing, and drawing.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram


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Review | The Medusa Quest by Alane Adams

Phoebe Katz is back on a new mission to save Olympus and undo the fallout from her first visit. Damian has troubling news—the epic mythology stories in the books are changing. Instead of Perseus slaying Medusa and becoming a hero, the books now say he’s turned to stone. Worse, thanks to Phoebe slaying the Nemean lion and the Lernean hydra to complete the Eye of Zeus, Hercules failed his first two trials—which means he’s not the immortal hero he’s supposed to be. After speaking with the oracle who brought her to New York, Phoebe learns that without great heroes, the entire fabric of Greek mythology is in peril. She must go back to Olympus and right the history she wrecked. To do that, she must embark on a quest to collect the items she will need to help Perseus defeat Medusa, including the curved blade the Argus Slayer, the winged shoes of Hermes, and Hades’s Helmet of Invisibility, and convince Hercules to complete his new trials without giving up—despite the efforts of a powerful force that will stop at nothing to see the demi-god children of Zeus destroyed. Can Phoebe collect the items she needs and save Olympus once again?

Rating: 4 out of 5.

After finishing The Eye of Zeus I almost immediately picked up the Medusa Quest as I was eager to see what Phoebe and her friends got themselves into this time. I liked the element of Phoebe having to face repercussions of her actions and it was great again to see her and her friends learning and growing as they went on their quest to correct things. I again really loved Adams’ writing style and the way the story flowed naturally. Yes there were immature moments, but that’s suitable for the age range this series is intended for. All in all I’ve really enjoyed both books in the series so far and will definitely read more from Adams.

Happy reading!