THE LOST ORPHAN BY STACEY HALLS [ARC REVIEW]

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts and review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

A mother’s love knows no bounds…

London, 1754. Six years after leaving her newborn, Clara, at London’s Foundling Hospital, young Bess Bright returns to reclaim the illegitimate daughter she has never really known. Dreading the worst—that Clara has died in care—the last thing she expects to hear is that her daughter has already been reclaimed. Her life is turned upside down as she tries to find out who has taken her little girl—and why.

Less than a mile from Bess’s lodgings in a quiet town house, a wealthy widow barely ventures outside. When her close friend—an ambitious doctor at the Foundling Hospital—persuades her to hire a nursemaid for her young daughter, she is hesitant to welcome someone new into her home and her life. But her past is threatening to catch up with her—and will soon tear her carefully constructed world apart.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Georgian London, The Lost Orphan explores families and secrets, class and power, and how the pull of motherhood cuts across them all.

 

My Rating:

This book was an intriguing story and overall was a book I quite enjoyed! It was a beautiful tale of motherhood and shows a fascinating and more in-depth look at London and the Foundling Hospital in the 1750’s. The whole premise of someone having claimed another woman’s child as their own and then searching for that child. Only to then find out you know the woman who has claimed your child as their own! But from there it fell flat for me as it’s then just a story of a child torn between two women! Which is totally fine but I found that I wasn’t expecting more and kept waiting for a bit more than that.  But overall this is a enjoyable historical fiction novel.

 

 

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FAITH TAKING FLIGHT BY JULIE MURPHY [ARC REVIEW]

Hello Lovelies! It’s time for a book review!

First up I’m just going to let you all know that I received a Digital ARC of this book from Edelweiss from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. Everything I share here are my own thoughts and opinions on the book I’ve read.

PLEASE NOTE THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOME SMALL SPOILERS FROM THE PROLOGUE OF THE BOOK

SYNOPSIS:

Faith Herbert is a pretty regular teen. When she’s not hanging out with her two best friends, Matt and Ches, she’s volunteering at the local animal shelter or obsessing over the long-running teen drama The Grove.

So far, her senior year has been spent trying to sort out her feelings for her maybe-crush Johnny and making plans to stay close to Grandma Lou after graduation. Of course, there’s also that small matter of recently discovering she can fly….

When the fictional world of The Grove crashes into Faith’s reality as the show relocates to her town, she can’t believe it when TV heroine Dakota Ash takes a romantic interest in her.

But her fandom-fueled daydreams aren’t enough to distract Faith from the fact that first animals, then people, have begun to vanish from the town. Only Faith seems able to connect the dots to a new designer drug infiltrating her high school.

But when her investigation puts the people she loves in danger, she will have to confront her hidden past and use her newfound gifts—risking everything to save her friends and beloved town.

 

MY REVIEW

I was so excited when I saw this book was available as an ARC. I really have come to like Julie Murphy’s writing and I really appreciate the normalcy Murphy brings with fat/plus size characters in her books! As a curvy plus size person myself books like hers were something I wish I had when I was a little younger because yes, you see that slight discomfort and such with their bodies (like every human has once in a while) in her stories but most of all its acceptance and loving who they are and not changing that for anyone. Its just normal and I love it. Because everyone has different bodies and thats ok!

RATING: 3 Stars

That being said my overall rating for this book is only 3 stars and here is why.

I really enjoyed the book but I’m not sure it’s something I would read again. The characters were great (I LOVE Faith so much) and the world setup was well done and believable! The book also had its fair share of intense and even creepy, heart racing scenes (no spoilers on that here). But my biggest issue with the book unfortunately was the superhero plot element in itself. The Prologue drew me in like a mouse to cheese. It  was a case of insta-love with Faith and her adorable, nerdy self. We go from an intense prologue where Faith believes she is being recruited to learn more about her superpowers but in all reality it turns into this scenario where she is stripped of her name and hidden from the rest of the world and is now an experiment! Crazy right? It made me so excited for the rest of the book and excited for what would happen but then it just stopped? The next thing that happens is almost like a genre switch. We get crazy strong superpower beginning then it goes to Faith living her life as a pretty much normal teenager. Which normally yes, cause she doesn’t want people to know about her powers. But that element didn’t just come across right and the plot fell flat because of it. It just unfortunately felt like two stories meshed together and they ALMOST work but it doesn’t quite fit. For the most part the novel is a super cute coming of age story about a bisexual, plus size, nerdy girl in her senior year of high school who meets her celebrity crush and they fall in love. Which is GREAT and super cute but it felt like the superhero element was an afterthought where it was this beautiful coming of age story but then at random points it was like ‘Oh and I can fly but I can’t tell anyone’ and thats it and its not until the last 8 or so chapters that we begin to see a lot of that superhero plot line. We do have some parts throughout filling in gaps about what happened between Chapter 1 and the Prologue but I just wish there was more to it.

So OVERALL. Super cute coming of age story with a plus size, bisexual high school senior who is trying to figure out her life but it just fell flat when it came to the superpowers.

 

 

Coral by Sara Ella [Book Review]

** I was given a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts/review**

This book was marked as a DNF at 30% of the book completed – Okay so the whole premise of this book had me beyond intrigued and once I started reading I was really disappointed! Which is sad because I wanted to like it but no matter what I just couldn’t connect with the characters and the situation. I found that from what I had read the writing came across as vague at points, I think the approach was to be that of sparking curiosity in the mysterious (an example being the ‘Red Tide’ which is introduced in the first chapter and not explained until the end (I looked ahead)) but it fell flat.

I do appreciate the author’s approach and intent with the theme of Mental Health discussions and representation in this piece and I feel that Sara Ella did a good job focusing on that in her story but there was just an emotional disconnect with the character’s in that regard which I REALLY didn’t want to happen.

 

Girl Wash Your Face – Book Review

Hello Lovelies! I’ve got another book review for you and trust me, this is a book you do not want to pass up.

[I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion]

I will admit that I was on the fence about this book. I had heard so many amazing things and nearly gotten a copy so many times and let me just say I will be purchasing my own physical copy of this book!

This book is AMAZING and something all women, both young and old, should read! Although it is more directed towards mothers and wives in some chapters, the takeaway can be for anyone. The way this book was written is for both married or single, old and young, as the chapters all have their own point. For example, I did start to read the chapters directed towards motherhood but found I just couldn’t relate so I skipped them but the nice thing about this book and some of the chapters is simply this: If it doesn’t apply to you it’s made in a way that you can either read it or just move on without missing crucial information or points!

Right from the start I knew this book was going to be amazing. How? Well I encountered a quote like this in the opening letter:

            “The truth? You, and only you, are ultimately responsible for who you become and how happy you are. That’s the takeaway.”

I just love that! Getting right to the point before the book has officially started! The way Hollis has structured the book and the chapters is brilliant! I love the whole approach of ‘here is a struggle that I, and many other women, have but this is how to deal with it!’ and at the end of each chapter she provides ways that helped her or would have helped her in these moments in her life!

 

Man, Myth, Messiah

Hello Readers!

Iiiiiii am back with another book review for you! Today I’m going to be reviewing one of the books I received from BookLook Bloggers and that book is called ‘Man, Myth, Messiah’ by Rice Broocks

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5 Stars

Review: I first heard of Man, Myth, Messiah in the movie God’s Not Dead 2 and I was instantly intrigued as to what it was about. So I was quite excited to have been able to read this as a review copy. “Man, Myth, Messiah” is a great book that shows you how and talks about defending your own faith and what you believe about God. As well, the book explores the proof behind who Christ is, why Christians believe in him and it backs it up, with proof, from not only scripture but also proof from history. I found it both shocking and amazing how many other sources, aside from scripture, pointed to proof that Christ exists. I mean I myself know that everything in creation points to Christ but even sources that were supposed to lead away from any proof of Christ’s existence still pointed to him anyways.

I would encourage everyone to read this book. Especially if you have questions about who Christ really is and are maybe on the fence about if He exists or not. It is an intrersting and intriquing read and if you are someone who likes books with a lot of facts and helpful information you can use in your everyday life, this is definitely a book to check out!

Book Review – The Sound of Emeralds

Hello Readers!

I’m back with another book review! It might be the last one for a couple weeks cause I won’t have much reading time but I promise I’m working through like 3 books right now…

So, with that said. Lets get on to this review!

 

What once was blazing hatred has turned to lasting love, but could the union of a wild heart with that of a lady ever result in more than heartache?

With the help of an old friend with uncertain loyalties, Dirk inches ever closer to clearing his name. Gwyneth throws her faith into good tidings and the promise of a future as a family. But an old evil comes to call, just as tragedy rips apart a fledgling truce. Enemies from the past and grief for the future threaten to tear asunder what God had brought together…

As the date of Dirk’s trial approaches, his fate and his family hang in the balance. Will he be proven innocent of Gwyneth’s parents’ murders—or separated from her forever? How much pain does it take to erode a love steadfast?

 

So basically this book broke my heart, then broke it again…..then broke it AGAIN.

Rachelle has this wonderful way of making you feel the pain and emotions these characters feel even though you may never have felt it before. She just gives this insight that radiates off the characters that you can’t help but sympathize for them and feel their pain and sorrow…or even their joy and happiness too! I just LOVE how Rachelle’s stories are just so true and filled with love and a true picture of what that really is. Especially during hard times and grief. (as this novel captures perfectly.) Honestly, the story was fabulous but what I keep going back to was the emotion and the accurate portrayal of true love and what it actually is. I feel like most novels can twist the idea of love into some almost – impossible, once in a lifetime thing and if you miss it, well too bad. Not to mention love and relationships where two people are in love is conveyed as absolutely flawless and perfect. I mean I’m no expect with love and relationships but to me that seems wrong. But do Rachelle’s books have any of that wrong-ness? NOPE.

Many tears were shed and much heartbreak occurred while reading this book and I was honestly afraid for how it was gonna end (Can I just say the end/epilogue was PERFECT! ❤ ) but in the end my heart wasn’t as broken and I was able to glue and sew as many pieces together as possible. The feels in this book were absolutely insane and sad and heartbreaking ok?

and what rating do I give a book that completely shattered my heart?

5 stars of course!

 

Honestly this entire book series should get a million and one stars because it is by far one of the best Historical novel series I’ve ever read. I mean…I haven’t read much in this genre but what I’ve read in this genre, The Steadfast Love Series is by far the best…so If you haven’t read it yet you probably should.

BookLook Bloggers

Hello Lovelies!

Just popping in to talk about something called BookLook Bloggers. Basically BookLook Bloggers is a website where, once you have a certain amount of blog followers, you can request books (physical copies and ebooks) for review. Pretty cool right?

Something even cooler (yeah yeah, I know thats not used properly) is that I finally applied today and got accepted!

I kept meaning to apply for a while now but have been crazy busy!  But now I finally just sat down and did it and already I’ve requested some paper back books to read! So, it will be a little while before they come (3-4 weeks cause I’m in Canada but YES they ship worldwide!) but by then I should have life together somewhat and I’ll be almost done school at that point which means REVIEWS AND BOOK READING ALL OVER THE PLACE!

….Or maybe. I know it will for sure be more often because I’ll be free from the clutches of High School. From there I’ll be working but minor details my friends, minor details.

Is this something you’re interested in and want to check out? Well you can click the link I provided above or (hopefully if this works) click this blog button and it should take you to the website.

 

At this point I’m off to my nannying job but I just had to come tell you all because I’m excited! I’ll let you know what books I requested in another post 😉

Until Next time!

Adriana G.

 

Book Review – Tuesdays with Morrie

Hello Readers!

So its been a while since I’ve written a proper and full book review so I am going to apologize now for the possible mess of a review this could turn out to be. BUT moving on from that warning, Today I am going to review Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom.

Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, and gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it. For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years ago.

Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded. Wouldn’t you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you?

Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man’s life. Knowing he was dying of ALS – or motor neurone disease – Mitch visited Morrie in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final ‘class’: lessons in how to live.

Tuesdays with Morrie is this years novel study for my 30-2 English Class. I’m happy to be graduating but SUPER sad that it means I won’t be able to attend my favourite teachers English Class anymore and just like last years novel study (My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok) I ADORE it.

I’ve really come to enjoy non-fiction novels more and more over the last year – so tell me some of your fave non-fiction! – and a bit as it kind of gives you a peek into the lives of other amazing people AND you always come away learning something. Not that you don’t learn something or aren’t impacted by works of fiction (All The Bright Places anyone?) but it is a different effect and approach in non-fiction vs. fiction.

But anyways, I fell in love with Tuesdays with Morrie. When I first got the book in the mail (online homeschooler, yo. ) I looked at it and kinda frowned at it. I was very hesitant and unsure of the book at first so I wasn’t too keen to start it because there is NOTHING worse than having to do a novel study on a book you hate. But it was short so I figured that, either way I would just read it and get it over with. BUT THEN I WAS VERY SURPRISED GUYS!

Myself and Ms. Dunn at the Graduation Retreat I went to in March.

A few says before we started the novel study my English teacher Ms. Dunn spent a lot of the class talking about how much she loved the book and was excited for us to read it and then I got really excited! Because I could tell her excitement and love for the book was genuine. (and the whole time there was part of me who was also pretty sure the book was good from the start as well cause Ms. Dunn and I like a lot of the same books and yeah she’s pretty cool so..)

I swear that I was in LOVE with this book by the first page I probably finished that book in a span of 3 days I think and right now my copy I borrowed from the school is covered in Dalek Sticky Notes to mark my favourite chapters, pages, and quotes. This book was definitely one of those amazing and impactful books that more or less changes your outlook on life. Basically I’m needing my own copy at this point so I can highlight and underline and then give the book to others to borrow.  Amazing book with some WONDERFUL life lessons.

5 Star Rating!

 

Castle of Sighs Blog Tour! Book Review + Quote Stop

Hello Readers!

Welcome to the blog tour for Jennifer Murgia’s Castle of Sighs! In today’s post I’m gonna share some info about Jennifer’s new upcoming novel, my own mini review, some other praise for the novel, a giveaway, AND more bog tour related stuff. It’s cool and you are gonna want to stick around for this.

~Adriana G.

 

ABOUT THE BOOK
Castle of Sighs
Author: Jennifer Murgia
Release Date: September 15th, 2015
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

 

SYNOPSIS:
In this sequel to FOREST OF WHISPERS, Some secrets cannot be kept—in life or in death. Months have passed since Rune has heard a single whisper from her long-dead mother, the great witch of Bavaria. But the absence of one evil has only made room for another.
After rightfully inheriting her ancestral home, Pyrmont Castle, Rune settles into a quiet life taking care of two orphans left in the wake of the terrible witch hunt that claimed dozens of lives in the nearby village. As the days grow colder, the castle’s secrets beckon and Rune finds herself roaming where no one has set foot in a long time. In the bowels of the fortress is a locked room full of memories that hang like cobwebs—shelves stacked with jars, strange specimens, putrid liquids, and scrolls of spells. Rune is undeniably drawn to what she finds there, and she begins to dabble in the possibilities of magic, hoping to find a cure for the strangeness overwhelming the castle.
As secrets unspool, the delicate thread of Rune’s world is threatened when she realizes the key may lie in the dark forest she once called home and the boy she thought she knew
BOOK LINKS
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

 

ADRIANA GABRIELLE’S REVIEW

What a wonderfully chilling sequel to Forest of Whispers!!

This book gave me a crazy case of paranoia related feels and many chills. There were many times I would actually glance over my shoulder just because the chills I got from this book are simply unreal. If you want a good Halloween read with witches and ghosts, this is your book.
I’m still just as in love with the characters as I was in book one. One element I loved in this story wasn’t the creepiness of the story but the stronger element of mystery. I liked how even though not always in the spotlight that sense of mystery remained in the novel and I feel it just added to the creepiness and suspense of the whole witches, plagues, ghosts and other horrors much more than with Forest of Whispers. I applaud Jennifer Murgia for another chilling, brilliantly written sequel.

 

QUOTE STOP!

PRAISE FOR FOREST OF WHISPERS
“Murgia’s dual narration makes this historical fantasy a compelling read. The plot-driven text quickly moves the story forward, and the vivid descriptions of 17th-century southwestern Germany pull readers in . . .  the pacing and narrative are absorbing. A solid novel for fans of historical fantasy that are looking for a fast-paced, action-filled tale.” ~ SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

“FOREST OF WHISPERS drew me in from the very first page! Rune is a capable and empathetic heroine who had me rooting for her from the start. Fans of witch and rune-lore will enjoy this darkly woven tale.” ~Amalie Howard, author of critically acclaimed Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kids’ INDIE NEXT title.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Murgia writes moody fiction for teens—from paranormal fantasy (Angel Star, Lemniscate, The Bliss), to contemporary gut-punchers (Between These Lines). Her latest, Forest of Whispers, a 17th century historical mystery (about witches!) was a School Library Journal Fall 2014 HOT TITLE, and a 2014 Moonbeam Children’s Literature Award Winner. Look for the sequel,​Castle of Sighs, to hit shelves 9.15.15 from Spencer Hill Press. In 2012, Jennifer Co-Founded YA FEST with YA author/friend, Cyn Balog. She coordinates this unique annual festival, bringing teens and fellow Young Adult authors together at her hometown library in Easton, PA.
WEBSITE | EMAIL | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

Publicity inquiries: brooke@spencerhillpress.com

 

GIVEAWAY
1 Winner will get a $20.00 Amazon Gift Card + Kep Necklance

Must be 13+ To Enter | Open Internationally

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3cb06a6e363/

 

 

Tour Schedule
October 12th: A Leisure Moment ~ QUOTE STOP
A Dream Within A Dream ~ REVIEW
October 13th: The Librarian Files ~ REVIEW + QUOTE STOP  <— THAT’S HERE! 😀
October 14th: Me, My Shelf and I ~ QUOTE STOP
October 15th: Her Book Thoughts ~ REVIEW + QUOTE STOP
October 16th: Books Are Metal ~ QUOTE STOP
Zach’s YA Reviews ~ REVIEW

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share The Love || A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Hello Readers!

Finally! I got around to a book review! Are you as excited as I am? Okay you probably aren’t but whatever. Let’s do this thing.

The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming…

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth.

 

So, I was given a copy of this book by my Secret Sister who goes by the name of ‘Ariel’ and I finished the book a couple days after I got it. (Granted I didn’t start it until a few days after haha 😛 ) I’m seriously in LOVE with this book! ❤

After reading this book I will, without a doubt, be reading more of Patrick Ness’s works. This was the first book of his I read and if I said I didn’t enjoy it would be a big fat lie! Not only was the story amazing and intriguing but Patrick Ness’s writing style is beautiful ok? It was gorgeously amazing and flowed so well almost like poetry. I loved it.

I loved the emotions I could just feel radiating off the pages as I read. I felt fear and suspense when the monster showed itself. I also really connected with the MC Connor as well. All his emotions I could feel. At points it felt like it was me as the main character and it was just truly magical. Such amazing writing, let me tell you that.

I enjoyed this book so much and was blown away by it. I honestly don’t think I’ve read such a beautiful book before. It was an outstanding novel. If you haven’t read it then do it now. Ok? Take my word on this.

 

I rate this book: 5 Diamonds

I like using diamonds instead of stars. Don’t judge me 😛

 

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts on it? Did you love it? Why or why not?

 

Until Next Time,

Adriana G.

 

Also look at these amazing illustrations for the book by Jim Kay