#MidnightOnTheRiverGrey #NetGalley

Title: Midnight on the River Grey
Author: Abigail Wilson
Publish day: July 2, 2019 
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Description via Netgalley:

She knew the house was keeping secrets. If only the darkness would speak . . .

After her elder brother’s mysterious death, Rebecca Hunter vows to expose the man she believes responsible: Mr. Lewis Browning—known by the locals as the Midnight Devil and by Rebecca as her new guardian.

Summoned to his reclusive country estate to await her London season, Rebecca plans her own secret investigation among the darkened corridors of the mysterious Greybourne Hall. Yet Lewis Browning is not as she once imagined, and his motivation is horribly unclear. Recurrent nightmares and Rebecca’s restless feelings are further complicated by the shadow of her mother’s prior descent into madness and wondering if she, too, will follow the same heartbreaking path.

Even as midnight rides, strange injuries, and further murders lead back to Mr. Browning, Rebecca can’t ignore the subtle turn of her heart. Has she developed feelings for the man she swore to see hanged? And moreover, can she trust him with her uncertain future?

Review:

This is DNF book. I was drawn in by the description and the bookcover. Felt like something that would interest me — I like historical, romances, and murder mystery of sorts.

For me, the dialogue caught me off guard and felt unnatural. Other reviews found this an enjoyable read something that caught them from the start. However, that didn’t happen to me and it felt like a chore to get through.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley — free to read in exchange for an honest review.

LittleWhiteFishAndHisDaddy #NetGalley

Little White Fish and His Daddy by Guido van Genechten

Cute short picture book. Will be a cute dad gift! Downloaded thanks to the Clavis publishers thru netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

#LiteraryPlaces #NetGalley

Posted on March 17, 2019 by Spoonsnbooks

 
Name: Literary Places

Author: Sarah Baxter

Publish Day: March 5, 2019

Downloaded from: Netgalley (I’m auto-approved with quarto publishing) these are all free in exchange for honest reviews.

Description:

Inspired Traveller’s Guides: Literary Places takes you on an enlightening journey through the key locations of literature’s best and brightest authors, movements, and moments—brought to life through comprehensively researched text and stunning hand-drawn artwork.
Travel journalist Sarah Baxter provides comprehensive and atmospheric outlines of the history and culture of 25 literary places around the globe, as well as how they intersect with the lives of the authors and the works that make them significant. Full-page color illustrations instantly transport you to each location. You’ll find that these places are not just backdrops to the tales told, but characters in their own right.
Travel to the sun-scorched plains of Don Quixote’s La Mancha, roam the wild Yorkshire moors with Cathy and Heathcliff, or view Central Park through the eyes of J.D. Salinger’s antihero. Explore the lush and languid backwaters of Arundhati Roy’s Kerala, the imposing precipice of Joan Lindsay’s Hanging Rock, and the labyrinthine streets and sewers of Victor Hugo’s Paris.
Delve into this book to discover some of the world’s most fascinating literary places and the novels that celebrate them.

My review:
It’s a short book with description of famous places in literature. Great for someone who absolutely loves reading about certain books. I’ve only read a few of the books that are mentioned in this book.
Covers Les Mis, Ulysses, A Room with a View, Crime and Punishment, Wuthering Heights, The Kite Runner, To Kill a Mockingbird — and more!
A great guide for someone who is familiar with most of the literary locations. I am only familiar with a handful.

#TheThornQueen #NetGalley

Posted on March 21, 2019 by Spoonsnbooks

The Thorn Queen

Title: The Thorn Queen
Author: Elise Holland
Publisher: SparkPress

Is the entire Above-world here?” She whispered.
“Yes,” the tree whispered back.
Page 1, The Thorn Queen by Elise Holland

Description

Welcome to Glendoch! Hidden to most, this glacial world once crackled with alchemy. Now it waits for war—divided and bound by strict rules. So when twelve-year-old Meylyne falls from a tree onto Glendoch’s sickly prince, she must flee or face imprisonment in the Shadow-Cellars. The only way she may return home is with a cure for the prince’s peculiar disease.

Convinced she will perish, Meylyne and her companions embark on their journey—and before they know it, they are knee-deep in a plot to sink Glendoch into shadow, like other worlds before it. Poisoned guardians, cursed wizards, and cunning witch-spirits bound into wands are just some of the dangers that dot the way of their travels.

And behind it all is the Thorn Queen. Mysteriously magnetic (or murderously vengeful, depending on whose side you’re on), she is always one step ahead of them . . .

My Review:

Downloaded from Netgalley in exchange for a free honest review. I’ve linked to where you can purchase a copy, the author’s website for this book and the publisher.

An interesting middle-grade level story. Definitely not for my age range. I plan on purchasing a physical copy for my niece who ..will enjoy this a lot more than I did. It was not the point of this story to appeal to me but to the age range. I feel this book did it well.

 

#Jkrowling #NetGalley

https://spoonsnbooks.blog/2019/03/31/jkrowling-netgalley/ 

Title: Boss the Bestselling List like J.K. Rowling
Author:Caroline Moss
Illustrated by: Sinem Erkas
Publisher:
Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Childrens
Publish Day: March 5, 2019

Informative children’s book about the famous author J.K. Rowling.

She’s known for her Harry Potter series and her retconning information about them.
However, she’s still pretty famous and this is an adorable book containing information to hopefully inspire young readers to writers.. or very least help them with a report on a famous writer.

Definitely recommend for the classroom library! The artwork used in here will help draw in students to the story about J.K. Rowling. It goes over who she was and is today. Simple, easy to read that fits right for child size reading. Downloaded through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

#IllBeOkItsJustAholeInMyHead #NetGalley

https://spoonsnbooks.blog/2019/04/13/illbeokitsjustaholeinmyhead-netgalley/

 

Title: I’ll Be OK, It’s Just a Hole in My Head.

Author: Mimi Hayes

Publisher: Animal Media Group
Genre: entertainment, humor
Downloaded from Netgalley, auto-approved for Animal Media Group books there. Honest reviews as always.

Description

Don’t Worry, I Have a Hole in My Head: A Memoir on Heartache and Head Injury is a humorous and thoughtful cross between Jill Bolte Taylor’s My Stoke of Insight and Jenny Lawson’s Furiously Happy. Shocking and funny, Hayes’ memoir shares the true story of a sudden brain hemorrhage at the age of twenty-two – and the heartache and strength that it took to overcome it.

…There I go again. Trying to turn my life into a Hollywood blockbuster. It’s a very bad habit I’ve developed, you guys.
from this book by Mimi Hayes

For the topic it is a very easy read. You feel like she’s sitting next to you and telling you every word.

#TheFilth #NetGalley

The Filth

Duncan MacLaughlin, William Hall

Thistle Publishing

Biographies and memoirs, true crime

Publish day: August 23, 2018

 I don't usually read true crime and cannot tell you why I requested this. 

Very interesting though not my cup of tea. I'm not going to rate spoons because well, I feel like .. since this isn't something I usually read it's not fair to rate. Downloaded from Netgalley in exchange for free review full of my opinions. 

#DatersHandbook #NetGalley

Dater's Handbook

Cara Lockwood

Hallmark Publishing

Romance, Women's Fiction

Publish day: May 15, 2018

Review:

Fast, easy romance based off a hallmark movie. Decent enough. If you've watched Hallmark Original Movies... you know what you're walking into. Downloaded free from netgalley in exchange for free review. Three spoons for this one. 

#AbsoluteDarkness #NetGalley

I thought that I already post this? I thought I already submitted my review for this book. Oh my.

Title: Absolute Darkness
Author: Tina O'Hailey
Romance, Scifi/Fantasy
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Publish Day: Jun 28, 2018

Description

A thrill ride through time that will make you hold your breath.

Sitting by the campfire, Brandy admitted a secret to her friends. She swore she saw a ghost when exiting a cave earlier that day. Was she seeing things? Did they believe her? The next day, breaking a cardinal rule, she snuck back to the cave alone. No one knew where she was. What if she fell or was trapped? There would be no rescue.

For ten thousand years Alexander had kept the time streams of this universe safe from an eternal destructive force that continually threatened to tamper and destroy all. Locked in an unremitting battle, the two foes become sidetracked by an unexpected visitor. An entangled journey begins with chilling twists and turns until becoming locked into an inescapable death in a submerged cave.

Who will come out of the watery depths alive?

Review: Interesting to read and in my opinion different enough. I enjoyed it. Downloaded from Netgalley . Reviews get shorter the more the RA is messing with my hands. Thanks for reading. 

#TheOutcasts #AlexaBlack

Title: The Outcasts
Author: Alexa Black
Publisher:  Bold Strokes, inc
LGBTQIA, Romance

Publish Day: July 17, 2018

Rating:🥄🥄

Review: [spoiler] The character discovers aliens on another planet. The twist in this is that it's not aliens but demons who ..are in hell? But no one is too worried about being in hell.

Lesbian erotica without emotional attachment with the characters makes this a two for me. May be stereotypical but I want to feel for the people and who, what and why they're doing what they're doing...thank you muchly.

I understand that the characters aren't two humans but there still needs to be something there. I read many Sci-fi / fantasy with characters of different species/unfamiliar with one another that.. feel more connected to one another. Maybe that is what this author was going for was the alien - unattached to one another feel of things..but meh.

Based on the reviews on Netgalley it's a extremes of not enjoying the content and really liking the story/content.

Downloaded from Netgalley for free in exchange for a free review filled up with only my opinions.

#ShadowOfTheFox #NetGalley

Title: Shadow of the Fox

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Publish Day: Oct. 2, 2018

Rating:🥄🥄🥄

Description:

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.

Review: This was a good read. Downloaded from Netgalley in exchange for a free review. Apologies for the smallness of this review. I'm dealing with bronchitis AGAIN.

#AscendantRevolution #NetGalley

Title: Ascendant Unrest
Author: Matthew S. Cox
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Publish Day: July 24, 2018



Two weeks after Maya tried to change the world, little has changed. Little, except for a nine-year-old’s building fear that her ex-mother’s revenge waits around every corner.

When her face appeared on every still-working video monitor along the Eastern Seaboard, streaming her plea and her evidence all over the planet, she thought they’d won, but her fairy tale dream died. The Authority did not become noble overnight, no longer simple thugs for Ascendant. Her ex-mother did not face punishment for her crimes. The lack of any retribution, or even any effort on the part of the Brigade to hide her, only fans the flames of her worry.

To make matters worse, her best friend Sarah is hiding a painful secret.

Maya’s fears come to fruition in the middle of the night. In a hail of gunfire, she flees into the dangerous streets of the Habitation District, rife with dosers, street gangs, corrupt Authority officers, chased by an unknown enemy worse than Ascendant.

They don’t want to kidnap her―they want her dead.

Review: This is a sequel -- the first is called Heir Ascendant . The cover that is for the official book is prettier .. I know we don't read for pretty covers but it is different than the one on Netgalley.

Ch.1
"Unease had moved into Baltimore Habitation District. It became the awkward neighbor lurking in every shadow, acknowledged by cautious vigilance and knowing glances among the locals, but never challenged aloud."

Good read, interesting post-world focused on Maya. The only thing I have negative to say is...kidnapping? Again? Whhyy? Lol. Otherwise, good story.

This is available as an eBook on Amazon -- can buy or read through Kindle Unlimited. I was able to download through Netgalley freely in exchange for free review. Thanks

#DeathKnell #NetGalley

Title: Death Knell
Author: Hailey Edwards
Publisher: Platkus
Genre: Scifi/fantasy

Publish Day: Dec 4, 2018
Rating: 🥄🥄🥄🥄

Description:

This is the third book in the Foundling Series with another on the way.

After her two worlds clashed apocalyptically, Luce Boudreau needed some time out. But Destiny had other ideas. When bodies begin washing ashore down the Mississippi River, Luce discovers they are part of a gruesome, lethal message. Her final sister, Death, is trying to break through.

Every sign is clear: the end is coming, but earth will be destroyed - quite literally - over Luce's dead body, even if that means she'll be battling her own nature. And her coterie will stand with her, though Cole keeps standing one step too goddamn far away. Her mysterious new partner, Adam Wu, on the other hand, seems determined to keep her close at all times. And the more Luce learns about the new world she's part of, the deeper the secrets go. Who - if anyone - can she really trust?

As the final pieces of an ancient war come together, Luce's chance to fight back comes sooner than she expected. Death can come at her . . . she's eager to return the favour.

My Review:

I enjoyed the continuation of this story. It keeps growing and hasn't felt  stale or that it is going to fall off story-wise. For me, the way it is written it felt as if I was re-entering a TV show or someone's actual life.

In this one it expands away from her hometown and her human life (which are spoilery so I won't add here). There is a tug at a love triangle but it isn't annoying and a rival that is interesting and not  -- for me anyway-- reasons to roll my eyes so hard that I end up throwing down the book.

Downloaded through Netgalley free in exchange for a free review.

#OlympianChallenger #NetGalley

Title: Olympian Challenger

Author: Astrid Arditi

Publisher: Astrid Arditi 

Publish Day: July 3, 2018

Rating: 🥄🥄🥄🥄

Description:

A hero’s tournament. A defiant contender. Does one girl have the courage to take on Mount Olympus?

Hope’s world doesn’t have room for heroes. She barely has time for schoolwork, swim team, and taking care of her ailing mother. But when she’s invited to a mysterious tournament, the all-powerful hosts won’t take no for an answer.

Transported to Mount Olympus, Hope comes face to face with her new trainers—the pantheon of Greek gods. While other contenders train hard to gain a fighting edge, Hope searches for a way out. Instead, she finds a gorgeous shadow god who may just convince her to stay…

As each round unfolds, the ultimate prize draws closer—the granting of her heart’s deepest desire. If she survives the final challenge, her mother’s cure would be within reach…but only if Hope can ignore the tournament’s dark purpose.

Olympian Challenger is the first book in a bold YA urban fantasy trilogy. If you like Greek mythology, forbidden romance, and feats of courage, then you’ll love Astrid Arditi’s heroic coming-of-age tale.

My Review: Enjoyable YA that involves Greek mythology. Downloaded from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Can be purchased: BN | Amazon | Indie If you have Kindle Unlimited it's available through that as well.

#TheEndOfAllStories #NetGalley

Title: The End of All Stories

Author: Julia Rosenthal

Publisher:  Less Than Three Press

Publish Day: Jun 27, 2018

On a quest for truths that his books can't provide, Vael leaves the golden spires of his safe home to travel north, to the territories of the tribes there. But he gets far more than he bargains for when he is bound to Kayan, a chieftan's son, in a mating ritual performed by a mysterious priestess.

According to her, it is their destiny to save all of Badal'Shari from a terrible cataclysm. And though Vael has serious doubts about fate, and even more doubts about Kayan, he agrees to embark on a so-called journey to save their world...






















My review: Good quality story. This is a first in a series so there will be more! Downloaded freely on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks.

#HowRude #NetGalley

Title: How Rude!
Author: Clare Helen Welsh, Olivier Tallec
Publisher:  Quarto Publishing Group - words & Pictures
Publish Day: October 16, 2018

Review:

It's a book about manners. Duck is the rude guest that Dot is hosting.

This would be a great story to use to show the do's and don't behavior in class or at home. It's a good discussion piece that are great for a classroom setting.

I'd recommend it as part of your book collection on manners.

Downloaded through Netgalley -- I'm auto-approved for this publisher in exchange for an honest review.

#DcSuperHeroGirlssearchForAtlantis #NetGalley

DC Super Hero Girls: Search for Atlantis

by Shea Fonta  published by DC Entertainment, children's fiction -- graphic novel

Publish day October 2, 2018 -- ready to be purchased!!

Description by Netgalley: Things are going swimmingly for new students Mera and Raven, until the girls go on a field trip to Mera's hometown of Atlantis and find that the underwater city has vanished! Batgirl, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Bumblebee, Raven, Miss Martian and Starfire discover that Atlantis has been shrunk and bottled by the powerful villain Brainiac!

  Review:  I love comic books especially those that are female focused. 

I downloaded from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks so much! Great read.

#Queen #NetGalley

Title: Queen
Author:  Martin Popoff
Publishing: Quarto Publishing Group/ Voyageur Press
Pub Day: November 13, 2018- already out!

Rating: 🥄🥄🥄🥄

Description from Netgalley: A thoughtfully curated and gloriously illustrated retrospective of the band’s studio releases, Queen, comes just in time for the 45th anniversary of their debut LP and biopic.

Formed in 1970, Queen went on to become one of the most popular—and most successful—rock bands of all time. Even following the untimely death of beloved and magnetic frontman Freddie Mercury, and nearly 50 years after their formation, interest in the band has continued, evidenced by scores of reissues, arena tours with surviving members, and a feature-film biopic.

In this new installment in Voyageur Press’s Album by Album series, rock journo Martin Popoff convenes a cast of 20 Queen experts and superfans to discuss all 15 of the band’s studio albums (including their soundtrack for the 1980 film Flash Gordon). Panelists include Queen experts, rock journalists, musicians, and record industry figures. The results are freewheeling discussions delving into the individual songs, the circumstances that surrounded the recording of each album, the band and contemporary rock contexts into which they were released, and more. Throughout, the beautifully designed book and engaging text are illustrated with rare live performance and candid offstage photography as well as scads of rare Queen ephemera.

The Album by Album series is a unique approach to the rock bio, injecting the varied voices of several contributors. The results have even the most diehard fans rushing back to their MP3 players (or turntables) to confirm the details and opinions expressed!

My Review:

This is definitely something for the die hard fan out there. The book is a massive written interview about the band Queen with images thrown about the pages.

Downloaded through Netgalley freely in exchange for my honest review

#TheSkiesAboveMyEyes #NetGalley

Title: The Skies Above my Eyes

Author: Charllotte Gullain

Publisher: Quarto Publishing

Publish Day: August 14, 2018 -- out ready for purchase!!

Downloaded from: Netgalley

Description:

Have you ever looked up and wondered what's going on high up in the skies above your eyes? Take a journey up into the air, through the atmosphere, way out into space, and back down to Earth in this richly illustrated concertina book. Readers will zoom past the technology that fills our skies, from helicopters, fighter jets, weather balloons, and satellites, hang-gliders and hot-air balloons. They'll also discover the insects and animals that whizz through the skies, explore the layers of the atmosphere, and travel through the solar system and out to the galaxies far beyond. Following on from The Street Beneath My Feet, which dug down to the center of the Earth, this expansive concertina book opens out to an impressive 8 feet long, perfect for inquisitive young minds.

Review: Kid friendly, fun illustration and facts. Good book to put in with other STE(A)M book collections in classroom or at home.

MiniRvw:#TheRedeemed #NetGalley

Title: The Redeemed -- Roadhouse #2
Author: Matthew S. Cox
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Romance, Sci Fi / Fantasy

Publish day: December 19, 2017

Description from Netgalley: The Redeemed is the second installment of The Roadhouse Chronicles

The worst part about chasing one’s dream is catching it.

Six months ago, Kevin opened a Roadhouse of his own. No longer the idiot braving the dangerous post-nuclear highways of 2073, he thought he’d finally grow old and happy selling bullets, beds, and booze to those still foolish enough to get behind the wheel.

Then, he’d met her.

The white-haired outcast from the xenophobic Enclave crashed into his life, becoming the conscience he never wanted and everything he desired. She couldn’t save the world from the Virus, but she could save Kevin’s dream.

A biker gang calling themselves the Redeemed starts shooting up Roadhouses in flagrant disregard of the Code, shattering the serenity of his humble waystation. When the long-vaunted retribution of Amarillo’s army fails to materialize, Kevin feels more like a sitting duck than he ever did on the road―but it’s not his ‘house he fears losing.

Determined to protect her, he takes it upon himself to enforce the unwritten law of the Roadhouse.


SUPER SHORT REVIEW: Interesting , fast read! I like his writing -- hopefully I can write a longer review when I get the time. Cheers!

Downloaded through Netgalley in exchange for a free review. Just note that this is a sequel not the first in the story (in case couldn't tell, lol).