Review: Cogheart by Peter Bunzl

January 4, 2019January 4, 2019 DeAnneLeave a comment

There are a number of words or topics that I would consider buzzwords for me, one of them being steampunk. Any books that include steampunk elements can peak my interest, so I was very excited to receive a copy of Cogheart by Peter Bunzl from NetGalley. Though I had never heard of this book, the synopsis was enough to draw me in. This middle grade steampunk adventure was full of twists and turns and interesting characters.

Cogheart follows Lily Hartman, the daughter of a famous inventor who has gone missing in an airship crash. Very quickly the reader is made aware of nefarious characters having ulterior motives towards Lily and her father. Lily is a feisty girl who pines for adventure and to be the heroine of her story. Throughout the book she is accompanied by her new friend Robert and her mechanical fox, Malkin, whose quick wit and sharp tongue made me laugh more than once.

The story itself was a tad predictable regarding the final outcome, but the journey to get there was worth it and full of character building and depth. Bunzl’s descriptions of settings, vehicles, different people and mechanicals were rich and full of the whimsy that I love to associate with steampunk in general. With such vivid details it was easy to see the story play out in one’s mind and made the read even more enjoyable.

If you’re looking for a fun middle grade adventure that is sure to suck the reader into a unique and whimsical world I would definitely recommend picking this up. I greatly look forward to getting the opportunity to read the following stories as well.

Cogheart is being released by Jolly Fish Press on February 12, 2019, be sure to check it out!

Happy reading!

Review: Hidden Heartbreak

January 2, 2019January 2, 2019 DeAnneLeave a comment

I used to follow @HiddenHeartbreak’s posts on Instagram as the art and story intrigued me, so when I found out that much of that story had been compiled into a book I was excited to take a look.

I was a little disappointed that it didn’t seem to include much art that was new, though it was nice to see the entire story, or healing process, in one continuous stream.

Hidden Heartbreak is a graphic representation of the author’s relationship and where it went wrong. It does take a look at insecurities some people may have, as well as glimpses of a toxic relationship and how the author worked her way back from it.

I probably would have gotten much more out of this book if I wasn’t already familiar with the art, of if there had been more that was brand new, but I felt that this was a great collection of the art from the instagram account.

Hidden Heartbreak comes out January 8, 2019 from Andrews McMeel Publishing. If it’s something that interests you, check it out!

Happy reading!

Bookish Goals for 2019

January 2, 2019 DeAnne1 Comment

I don’t know about everyone else, but 2018 went by super fast for me. I felt like I accomplished a lot regarding reading and writing, but it was also a whirlwind. This year and some of 2017 really felt like the first years I was back to being myself reading wise since my father died in 2013.

I ended 2018 with a total of 283 books read. They were a balance between audio books and physical/e-books and I won’t deny that the ability to listen to audio books at work really allowed me to listen to more.

While I would like to read that amount or more in 2019 and really tackle my TBR, I’ve set my Goodreads goal to 100. I have some other goals that I am setting for myself with books in mind.

giphy

Make decent headway on the physical books on my TBR – currently my physical TBR is, shall we say, a tad out of control. I have 1.5 bookcases in my bedroom that purely contain unread books, plus a couple stacks. I have made some progress on some of those far down on my TBR by listening to their audiobooks, but I need to concentrate more on this backlist more than I have been. Last year only 58 of the 283 books I read were books that I already had a physical copy of, which is 20%. If I truly want to bring down my physical TBR I need to up this percentage.
Finish some of the series I have started – I have a good amount of duologies/series which I have started, but haven’t completed and in many cases I do own the other books. I’m going to strive to finish 5 of these active series in 2019.
Continue to keep track of my books added to my TBR, books read and other stats in my bullet journal – this was the first year I tried out a bullet journal and I kept it very simple. I had a page for books read, books added, and number of books per month as well as a couple other small graphs. This really helped me curb my buying as I had a physical representation of just how much I was bringing in. I made a goal to not add more books in a month than I read and I only failed that twice (one of which was my birthday month so…).
Ahem, be better about posting here – this blog is new for me but I am really enjoying it; however, with a full time job that requires a lot of my mental energy, it can sometimes be hard to get myself to do anything on my time off. I’m really going to make an effort to post more and be more regular about the content here.

And a bonus writing goal – I hope to once again participate in Nanowrimo in November. I did it this year for the 2nd time and while I didn’t enjoy it as much as I did in 2017, I made a lot of progress and reached my goal. I’m hoping to continue the trend for a 3rd time in a row.

So far that’s the main goals I have planned for myself and I will be more than happy if I can accomplish them. What are some of your goals for 2019?

Happy reading!

Review: Book Love by Debbie Tung

December 2, 2018 DeAnneLeave a comment

Oh my god, if ever I thought an author was watching my life and using it for inspiration, this would be it. Book Love is a graphic novel by Debbie Tung coming out in January. This is the perfect portrayal of book lovers in so many different ways. I loved seeing all the different quirks, emotions and habits of book lovers which I can definitely identify with. The flow of the book was quick and fun, often interchanging from humorous to meaningful. The art style was a beautiful sketch style that inserted just enough detail to make each character unique and each setting recognizable.

If you are a book lover or know someone who is a book lover this is a wonderful book to enjoy and share. It captures so much that is true about those of us who enjoy immersing ourselves in reading and books.

Book Love comes out on January 1st, 2019 through Andrews McMeel publishing. Be sure to check it out or get the book lover in your life a copy! You can also find Debbie Tung on Twitter at @WheresMyBubble.

Happy Reading!

Review: Loading Penguin Hugs

November 25, 2018 DeAnneLeave a comment

Pretty much anyone who knows me knows that I love penguins, so when I saw Loading Penguin Hugs available on NetGalley I had to pick it up and see what it was about.

This was quite possibly the most adorable and uplifting book I’ve read all year. This is definitely the type of book you would want to keep on your desk or nearby and pick it up from time to time to flip to random pages. The artwork is bright and colorful and each graphic suits the simple message on each page. Any page in this book could be a poster or inspirational message. It’s a very quick book, but will give anyone who reads it a quick smile and could completely change their mood if they need a pick me up.

I know I’ve seen Chibird’s (Jacqueline Chen) art before here and there but never connected who the artist actually was. I loved the experience of seeing each of the pages in this books and her simplistic but fun art style, it’s a perfect example of how so much can be said with so little.

Loading Penguin Hugs was published by Andrews McMeel Publishing on November 13th, so be sure to pick up a copy for yourself! Also, be sure to check out more of Chibird’s art by following her at @chibirdart on twitter, instagram or facebook.

Happy reading!

Review: Haunted Hearts

November 16, 2018 DeAnneLeave a comment

I originally requested this book from Netgalley purely because the subject seemed interesting and I usually like most things with a paranormal spin. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but it was a very fun and enjoyable read. This story follows Callie who has recently inherited a house and decided a change of scene is just what she needs. Turns out, that house comes with a history that’s known to everyone but her. Watching her discover the secrets of the house and her ancestors was wonderful, though part of me wished for more.

The chemistry between Callie and Carter was great and it was always fun to watch them spar. There were certainly parts of the book that were predictable, and once I got to 80% I had figured out what the climax/twist was going to be, but I was pleasantly surprised it took that long for me to see all the clues fall into place. I felt that supporting characters were well defined enough to be individuals, though I would have loved to have more details about the town and locations. Though this appears to be set up as a stand alone, I would definitely enjoy getting more books set in the town and reappearances by many of the side characters.

The scenes where we see the point of view of Callie’s ancestor were well written and there was no mistaking the personality and individuality of this person. In fact, the different personalities of all of the characters were some of my favorite parts of the book, I found myself falling in love with some of the characters and secretly wanting more.

The writing and pacing seemed to fluctuate a little, but not to the point that it was off putting and the read itself was well paced on average. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it would be great for anyone who enjoys paranormal romance. If you want to pick up your own copy of Haunted Hearts, it is out now and clicking on the cover image will take you to the Amazon page for it. Check it out if you like ghost stories, romance or just a fun and dynamic story. If you want to find out more about Kimberly Dean, check out her website at https://kimberlydean.com/ – I know I will definitely be checking out more of her books.

Happy Reading!

Review: Scream and Scream Again

November 1, 2018November 1, 2018 DeAnneLeave a comment

Being an 80s/90s kid, I was ecstatic when I heard that a new anthology was being released by none other than R.L. Stine, full of scary stories. I was determined to pick it up and make it one of my reads during October. Scream and Scream Again is an anthology of 20 spooky stories that either begin or end with a scream – or both.

I was a little disappointed that none of the stories were truly scary, but I was entertained none the less. Every story had a unique concept and setting. These stories are definitely middle grade and are perfect to feed your Goosebumps or Are You Afraid of the Dark? cravings. While it wasn’t exactly what I expected, it was still enjoyable and a fun time.

Some of my favorite stories in the collection were Kamikaze Iguanas by Alison McMahan, Area Code 666 by Carter Wilson and The Unknown Patriot by Chris Grabenstein.

I hope this is just one in a long line of new stories and books from R.L. Stine. For me this book was more nostalgic than anything else. It took me back to the times when I read Fear Street and similar books as a teen. Be sure to check it out if slightly spooky and funny stories are what you are looking for!

Happy reading!

Author Spotlight: Ellie Alexander

October 14, 2018 DeAnne2 Comments

Earlier this year while browsing Booktube I was introduced to the Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. I was instantly intrigued as this series was set in Ashland, Oregon, which is a place near and dear to my heart. I have many fond memories of Ashland and the Oregon Shakespeare festival throughout my life, going to the Shakespeare Festival was a tradition for my dad and I. Needless to say, I was both excited and cautious when I picked up the first book in the series, Meet Your Baker.

This series centers around Juliet, who has recently returned home to Ashland, Oregon to help her mother at their bake shop, Torte. Obviously murder and mayhem ensues and soon Jules is knee deep in the mystery.

I was pleasantly surprised by how vividly Ellie Alexander painted Ashland and how accurate the descriptions of this section of the city were. After reading this first book I was completely hooked. Her writing is descriptive and rich, with humor and playfulness woven in. While reading this book I was completely immersed, not just because of the story but because of how perfectly she painted the atmosphere of Ashland itself. It’s one of my favorite places so I readily admit I’m biased, but that may have also made me a harsher critic if it wasn’t as perfect as it is.

I immediately started collecting the next couple books in the series but as of yet hadn’t had a chance to continue (the TBR struggle is real). I added not only the books from the Bakeshop series to my wish list, but also her other series both under Ellie Alexander, but her other name Kate Dyer-Seeley.

This past week I got an email from my favorite local bookstore, Oregon Books, notifying me of an author event they were having. Imagine my surprise (and delight) when it was Ellie Alexander. My internal fangirl did a little dance and I immediately put it on my calendar. I didn’t know what to expect, but was just excited that I would get to meet a local author whose work I truly enjoy. The event was amazing, the intimate setting allowed us to have a great discussion about her different series, how they came to be, her writing process and more. If I didn’t already want to read everything she had written, this would have definitely made me want to. It was obvious that she puts some of herself into each story she writes and that serves to make her work more inviting and full of depth. Listening to her talk about the places she writes about (all of which she has visited) made me want to visit them all, even those I’ve been to many times throughout my life. I was able to get books from a couple of her other series which I can’t wait to pick up.

I would have recommended her books before meeting her, but after meeting her and getting to spend time with her I want to recommend her even more. If you are looking for a new cozy mystery, definitely check her out. If a bakeshop/food centered mystery isn’t your thing, she has three other series available that focus on other themes. There’s the Pacific Northwest Mysteries (her first series) which center around Meg, who wants to be a serious investigative reporter but ends up working for an outdoor magazine – even though she doesn’t know much about outdoor activities. Her Rose City mystery series centers around a floral shop in Portland, Oregon where our main character Britta works with her aunt Elin. Last (but definitely not least) is the Sloan Krause Mystery series, set in Leavenworth, Washington with a theme of brewing craft beers.

(All cover images link to the Amazon pages for the books)

Be sure to also check out Ellie on her website and her new youtube channel.

Happy Reading!

Review: Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa

October 2, 2018October 1, 2018 DeAnne1 Comment

Release: October 2nd

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Goodreads Link / Amazon Link

One thousand years ago, the great Kami Dragon was summoned to grant a single terrible wish—and the land of Iwagoto was plunged into an age of darkness and chaos.

Now, for whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, a new wish will be granted. A new age is about to dawn.

Raised by monks in the isolated Silent Winds temple, Yumeko has trained all her life to hide her yokai nature. Half kitsune, half human, her skill with illusion is matched only by her penchant for mischief. Until the day her home is burned to the ground, her adoptive family is brutally slain and she is forced to flee for her life with the temple’s greatest treasure—one part of the ancient scroll.

There are many who would claim the dragon’s wish for their own. Kage Tatsumi, a mysterious samurai of the Shadow Clan, is one such hunter, under orders to retrieve the scroll…at any cost. Fate brings Kage and Yumeko together. With a promise to lead him to the scroll, an uneasy alliance is formed, offering Yumeko her best hope for survival. But he seeks what she has hidden away, and her deception could ultimately tear them both apart.

With an army of demons at her heels and the unlikeliest of allies at her side, Yumeko’s secrets are more than a matter of life or death. They are the key to the fate of the world itself.

I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. Kagawa’s writing is so beautiful and rich. This is not something I would call a fast read, but not because it was slow in any way. I found myself needing to absorb chunks of it before continuing. The descriptions were well developed and I felt each of the main characters (or semi-main) were well fleshed out with individual personalities. Exploring Yumeko and Tatsumi’s personal relationship growing and forming was a joy to watch, even if you knew certain things had to happen that may affect it. As each new character became more central it was wonderfully woven so that they seemed natural and weren’t out of place or unwanted. They all had their own journey to add to the story and I can only imagine where they may go in the next book.

This is the first time I have read one of Kagawa’s books and after reading this I definitely want to not only get the sequel as fast as humanly possible but I may pull out the few of her books I have on my TBR shelf and read them sooner rather than later. I was captivated by her writing style and just loved the pacing and language so much.

I could see some things within the story that other people may have issues with, but for me this was just perfect. I did not want the story to end and found myself not wanting to finish it simply so I could prolong it somehow. For me that is always a good sign but also a little heartbreaking because I need more. I won’t lie, books set in Asian settings are some of my favorites, but this one was amazing.

The details and cultural/mythological references were so well done and well developed in the story. There’s just enough explanation that I immediately knew and could envision what was going on.

All in all this was one of my favorite reads of this year and I CANNOT wait for more in this story. Shadow of the Fox is out today, so go pick up your own copy and enjoy the adventure.

Happy reading!

Anthology Appreciation

September 2, 2018September 2, 2018 DeAnneLeave a comment

Not everyone enjoys anthologies, but they are some of my favorites. I’ve always been a lover of the short story and that love was fostered by some teachers who also thought they were a great medium. In some ways they can be more difficult to write as they must be much more concise and concentrated than a full length novel. In this post I’m going to talk about a few I’ve recently read as well as some of my favorites. All pictures of the covers will be linked to the book’s Amazon page so that you can pick them up if you want to.

Recently I was given the opportunity through NetGalley to read two anthologies which recently came out. They were very different genres and subjects, but I thoroughly enjoyed both of them.

Toil and Trouble: 15 Tales of Women and Witchcraft, which was edited by Tess Sharpe and Jessica Spotswood, included stories that represented a number of cultures, mythologies and genres. My detailed review of each story is on my Goodreads so I won’t rehash that here, but I can say that while there were some stories I didn’t enjoy as much as others it was an enjoyable read. It would be perfect for reading not only around Halloween, but anytime during the year.

The other anthology I received on NetGalley was Fresh Ink, which was done in partnership with We Need Diverse Books. Having already read Flying Lessons, I was super excited to be able to read this one ahead of time. I wish there were more anthologies like these two as they explore topics and situations that often need to be explored and discussed by wider audiences. Again, I didn’t love every story in this anthology, but it exposed me to a number of authors I had not previously read. That’s another great thing about anthologies, you get to read stories from so many authors who you often may not have read from before.

I have a number of anthologies on my bookshelves, so picking out favorites is not always an easy task. I have anthologies in different genres and with different subject matter, but I’ve chosen a few that I really loved when I read them. My True Love Gave to Me and Summer Days & Summer Nights are collections which were edited by Stephanie Perkins. One has love stories based in the winter while the other is set during the summer (bonus, the story in Summer Days & Summer Nights by Perkins is a continuation of the story she wrote for My True Love Gave to Me and I LOVED them both).

Slasher Girls and Monster Boys and Unnatural Creatures both tackle darker subjects and were both amazing. They are perfect to read closer to Halloween and each have a spooky vibe that I enjoyed immensely. There are some stories in them which are definitely not for the faint of heart. I especially loved that Unnatural Creatures was edited by Neil Gaiman. A lot of the stories in these two anthologies had great twists and were very addictive.

Meet Cute is an anthology purely about the initial interactions between characters that lead to a romance, or the “Meet Cute.” There are some stories in this one that are absolutely amazing and each one leaves you wanting more, but in a good way.