Review | The Weirn Books Vol 1: Be Wary of the Silent Woods by Svetlana Chmakova

November 6, 2020November 6, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

In the Night Realm, vampires, shifters, weirns, and other night things passing for human prowl the streets… but they still have to go to school! Ailis and Na’ya are pretty average students (NOT losers), but when a shadow starts looming and a classmate gets all weird, they are the first to notice. It gets personal, though, when Na’ya’s little brother D’esh disappears-It’s time to confront the secrets of the forbidden mansion in the Silent Woods!

I have read some of Svetlana’s previous works and absolutely loved them, so I was excited to have the chance to read her newest one. This is set in the same supernatural world as her Nightschool series and features some young Weirn teens who are not only living in their night world, but also dealing with some of the insecurities and difficulties that young teens face. The adventure that the two cousins go one while trying to solve the mystery before them is fun and has the perfect amount of spooky elements.

Chmakova’s art style is beautiful and the color palette perfectly suited the story and characters. I really enjoy how she depicts astrals especially and how each one of them had a different personality and look.

I think people of all ages would enjoy this story and it’s great if your looking for a light spooky read for younger readers. Svetlana Chmakova writes amazing stories for the middle grade age range and I recommend checking out any of her works if you think you might like her artwork or style.

Thank you again to the publisher for reaching out and sending a copy of this book to me!

Happy reading!

Review | The Getaway by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

November 5, 2020November 5, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

In this short thriller from number one New York Times best-selling authors Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, a young woman’s dream getaway becomes her worst nightmare.

Prepare yourself for a transformative experience. Sometimes, life’s setbacks contain hidden gifts. Here at Lakewood, you’ll find the space to unwrap them.

A weekend at the Lakewood Retreat is exactly what Chloe Powell needs. Freshly unemployed after her boss loses a reelection campaign, the former press secretary desperately wants a break from the bustle of Washington DC. A flier posted at her yoga studio leads her to the getaway, which looks amazing: organic meals, celebrity testimonials, and a serene private property within driving distance of the city.

It’s so perfect, in fact, that Chloe’s barely bothered by the intensely personal questions she’s asked in her application, or the unnerving social experiments her enigmatic host, Sebastian, imposes on her once she arrives at his remote cabin. But when a mysterious new guest shows up, Chloe can no longer suppress her rising panic: This place is not at all what it seems.

A pulse-pounding story from the first minute to the last, The Getaway explores the weight of the small choices we make every day, and their staggering, unintended consequences.

If you’re looking for a short thriller that has a couple decent twists, then this one is a great example. At first I was definitely unsure of where it was going, but the reveals definitely snuck up before the pieces fell into place. I did enjoy the dual timelines that slowly converged to tell the story. As with a lot of short stories, especially those with lots of twists, I did find myself wanting a little more character depth and backstory. What was written was sufficient to tell the story, but I definitely could have enjoyed it longer if there was a little more to it.

Happy reading!

Review | Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie Vol 1 by Keigo Maki

November 2, 2020November 2, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

Shikimori seems like the perfect girlfriend: cute, fun to be around, sweet when she wants to be… but she has a cool dark side that comes out under the right circumstances. And her boyfriend Izumi loves to be around when that happens! A fun and funny high school romance with a sassy twist perfect for fans of Nagatoro-san and Komi Can’t Communicate!

Shikimori and Izumi are high school sweethearts. They hold hands walking home from school, they flirt in the halls, they tease each other. But Shikimori knows what she wants, and how to get it, and she can turn from cutie to cool in an instant.

This manga was so adorable! This is definitely heartwarming and humorous as we follow Izumi and his girlfriend Shikimori. To the general populace Shikimori is seen as a very cute girl, but she has a side to her that is more ‘cool’ as the manga says. Her boyfriend often sees this side of her when she protect him from different things. This was a super fast read that left me both smiling and laughing at their antics. They both want to do things for each other and Izumi is always floored by how Shikimori acts. If you’re looking for a cute pick me up that will make you laugh this is a great start.

Happy reading!

Blog Tour | Rescue You by Elysia Whisler | Review

November 1, 2020November 1, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

She needs a fresh start. He’s got scars that haven’t healed. With the help of some rescue dogs, they’ll discover that everyone deserves a chance at happiness.

After a year of heartbreak and loss, the only thing keeping Constance afloat is the dog rescue she works at with her sister, Sunny. Desperate for a change, Constance impulsively joins a new gym, even though it seems impossibly hard, and despite the gym’s prickly owner.

Rhett Santos keeps his gym as a refuge for his former-military brothers and to sweat out his own issues. He’s ready to let the funny redhead join, but unprepared for the way she wiggles past his hard-won defenses.

When their dog rescue is threatened, the sisters fight to protect it. And they need all the help they can get. As Rhett and Constance slowly open up to each other, they’ll find that no one is past rescuing; what they need is the right person—or dog—to save them.

As soon as I started this book I was immediately sucked in by the writing and the introduction to the sisters. I was almost instantly invested and really had a hard time putting the book down. There was so much that was both heartwarming and heartbreaking in this book as the characters worked through their own personal struggles. You could really tell that Whisler either heavily researched what she was writing about or has personal knowledge on some of the subjects. The characters were full of depth and fleshed out really well, so I definitely found myself cheering for them through the ups and downs of the book.

Extra points for talking so in depth about animal rescue and the difficulties/events that can happen with it, it’s something I have a soft spot for. Based on the writing style and how three dimensional this story was I will definitely be checking out more of Whisler’s writing in the future!

Elysia Whisler was raised in Texas, Italy, Alaska, Mississippi, Nebraska, Hawai’i and Virginia, in true military fashion. Her nomadic life has made storytelling a compulsion from a young age.

She doubles as a mother, a massage therapist and a CrossFit trainer and is dedicated to portraying strong women, both in life and in her works. She lives in Virginia with her family, including her large brood of cat and dog rescues, who vastly outnumber the humans.

Happy reading!

Review | Dryad Vol 1 by Kurtis Wiebe

October 30, 2020October 30, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

The Glass family has spent thirteen years hiding peacefully in the sleepy forest settlement of Frostbrook where Morgan and Yale planted roots and raised their twins, Griffon and Rana. But secrets never stay hidden, and the entire Glass family find themselves the target of an unearthly attack on Frostbrook.

Now on the run from Muse Corp., they must flee to the massive city of Silver’s Bay to hide in plain sight. Rana and Griffon find themselves uprooted and answering for their parents’ mistakes. But, they’ll soon find that the past has a way of finding you, no matter where you run.

Though I haven’t read all of Rat Queens, I did enjoy what I have read of it – so I was eager to see this new series by the same writer. It would have been nice to get a little world set up, or backstory, but the world and story kind of unfolds as you read – so you’re learning about it along with some of the characters.

The art is great and suits the world and characters really well, I especially liked the color palettes used, especially in the different settings. I will definitely be checking out further volumes to see what happens to the Glass family in the future.

Happy reading!

Review | Delicates by Brenna Thummler

October 29, 2020October 29, 2020 DeAnne1 Comment

Marjorie Glatt’s life hasn’t been the same ever since she discovered a group of ghosts hiding in her family’s laundromat. Wendell, who died young and now must wander Earth as a ghost with nothing more than a sheet for a body, soon became one of Marjorie’s only friends. But when Marjorie finally gets accepted by the popular kids at school, she begins to worry that if anyone learns about her secret ghost friends, she’ll be labeled as a freak who sees dead people. With Marjorie’s insistence on keeping Wendell’s ghost identity a secret from her new friends, Wendell begins to feel even more invisible than he already is.

Eliza Duncan feels invisible too. She’s an avid photographer, and her zealous interest in finding and photographing ghosts gets her labeled as “different” by all the other kids in school. Constantly feeling on the outside, Eliza begins to feel like a ghost herself. Marjorie must soon come to terms with the price she pays to be accepted by the popular kids. Is it worth losing her friend, Wendell? Is she partially to blame for the bullying Eliza endures?

Delicates tells a powerful story about what it means to fit in, and those left on the outside. It shows what it’s like to feel invisible, and the importance of feeling seen. Above all, it is a story of asking for help when all seems dark, and bringing help and light to those who need it most.

Having read and enjoyed Sheets I was excited when I saw it was getting a sequel and I have to say I enjoyed this one even more than I enjoyed Sheets. I think in this one we saw a lot of growth in Marjorie, as well as her learning who are really friends and who are not. Definite trigger warnings for bullying, suicidal thoughts and some of the behavior that is way too common in young teens. This one really tackled those difficulties head on and Marjorie gets kindof stuck in the middle having to decide if she will take sides or stay silent. There are a bunch of important lessons in here and I thought they were handled really well!

Happy reading!

Review | Candy Hearts by Tommy Siegel

October 28, 2020October 28, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

A devastatingly funny view of how romantic couples are not on the same page

Tommy Siegel’s single-panel “candy hearts” cartoons are sharp-edged yet lighthearted observations of human romantic relationships. Each one brilliantly depicts the many ways in which lovers deceive each other and hide their true feelings from the world. In Tommy Siegel’s capable hands, this simple premise is incredibly relatable and very, very funny.

I picked up this one because the premise sounded humorous and like it would be a good palette cleanser from some of the other stuff I’ve been reading lately, and it was exactly that. These single page comments of candy hearts saying what they are really thinking and feeling in the moment. Be forewarned that there is some language, but if you’re looking for a very relatable laugh, this is a great one for it.

Happy reading!

Review | The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero

October 25, 2020October 25, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

What begins as a clever, gothic ghost story soon evolves into a wickedly twisted treasure hunt in The Supernatural Enhancements, Edgar Cantero’s wholly original, modern-day adventure.

When twentysomething A., the unexpected European relative of the Wells family, and his companion, Niamh, a mute teenage girl with shockingly dyed hair, inherit the beautiful but eerie estate of Axton House, deep in the woods of Point Bless, Virginia, it comes as a surprise to everyone—including A. himself. After all, he never even knew he had a “second cousin, twice removed” in America, much less that the eccentric gentleman had recently committed suicide by jumping out of the third floor bedroom window—at the same age and in the same way as his father had before him . . .

Together, A. and Niamh quickly come to feel as if they have inherited much more than just a rambling home and a cushy lifestyle. Axton House is haunted, they know it, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the secrets they slowly but surely uncover. Why all the suicides? What became of the Axton House butler who fled shortly after his master died? What lurks in the garden maze and what does the basement vault keep? And what of the rumors in town about a mysterious gathering at Axton House on the night of the winter solstice?

Told vividly through a series of journal entries, scrawled notes, recovered security footage, letters to Aunt Liza, audio recordings, complicated ciphers, and even advertisements, Edgar Cantero has written a dazzling and original supernatural adventure featuring classic horror elements with a Neil Gaiman-ish twist.

Even as I’m writing this review I’m still thinking about how I feel about this book. It was recommended to me because I like mixed media format books and I enjoyed Meddling Kids by the same author, so I was happy to pick it up. There were definitely some twists and turns that surprised me, especially towards the end, but I really loved the way the puzzle pieces slowly fall into place as you read – even though you are often left with more questions than answers. Also, I will always appreciate appropriate uses of the word ‘defenestrate’ which is a favorite of mine.

I love how the story pieces together through mostly diary entries, letters and video transcriptions – it made it a super fast read and kept my attention the whole time.

Happy reading!

Review | Gudetama: Surviving the Holidays by Wook-Jin Clark

October 24, 2020October 24, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

Inspired by the worldwide hit Sanrio character and animated series star!

The holidays are tough! Between trying to find the perfect (affordable!) gift for your eccentric aunt, to reconciling this year’s failed New Year’s resolutions, to surviving air travel during the busiest time of year…we could all use a little help.

Thankfully, Gudetama, the apathetic egg, is here to help guide us navigate these treacherous times…even if you’re a bit lazy!

When I saw this one pop up I just had to give it a read since I had enjoyed the previous installment where Gudetama hilariously gave love advice, while also trying to catch up on his napping. This one was very similar in that this time he was giving people holiday advice, ranging from how to make the holidays great for others to new year’s resolutions and more. There’s a lot of good sentiments and of course some of the storylines are hilarious as well as heartwarming. Though Gudetama just seems lazy and like he wants to nap, he still takes time to help the people who ask him to, even if it is just a few words of advice.

Happy reading!

Blog Tour | After Hours Redemption by Kianna Alexander

October 22, 2020October 22, 2020 DeAnneLeave a comment

Their red-hot reunion is off the charts!

They made passionate music together. Has this heartbreaker changed his tune?

Songwriter Eden Voss had the perfect man—sexy, charming, talented and hers. Until record executive Blaine Woodson broke her heart to save his fledging label. Now music’s bad boy is back, begging for her songwriting skills in his studio…and her lovemaking skills after hours. Eden vows to keep things strictly business this time. But there is nothing professional about the heat still between them…

Second chance romances can be a bit hit or miss for me but when I saw that this one was set within the music industry I knew I wanted to give it a go. I really enjoyed it and found it to be a really quick read. I loved Eden and how strong she is and really felt her voice was great throughout the story. The pacing of Alexander’s writing was fantastic and easily made this a book read in one or two sittings.

I did really like how this second chance romance progressed, though I would have liked Blaine to come around to realizing things about the past and his actions. Saying that, his being oblivious could be reasonable too – sometimes people have blind spots that they don’t see. All in all it was a great story and an enjoyable romance.

Like any good Southern belle, Kianna Alexander wears many hats: loving wife, doting mama, advice-dispensing sister, and gabbing girlfriend. She’s a voracious reader, an amateur seamstress and occasional painter in oils. Chocolate, American history, sweet tea, and Idris Elba are a few of her favorite things. A native of the TarHeel state, Kianna still lives there with her husband, two kids, and a collection of well-loved vintage 80’s Barbie dolls.

Happy reading!