BLOG TOUR / REVIEW FOR - CHECK ME OUT - BY BECCA WILHITE

“Borges: ‘Paradise will be a kind of library.’ Don’t wait for heaven! Go to the Library #SaveFranklinLibrary” (from “Check Me Out” by Becca Wilhite, page 264)

Welcome to my stop on this tour.  I opened with this quote from the book because it is my favorite.

DESCRIPTION:

Taken fromshadow mountain

Greta loves her job as assistant librarian. She loves her best friend, Will, the high school civics teacher and debate coach. She even loves her mother despite her obvious disappointment that Greta is still single.

Then she meets Mac in the poetry section of the library, and she is smitten. Mac is heart-stoppingly gorgeous and showers her with affection, poetic text messages, and free hot chocolate at the local café where he works. The only problem is that he seems to be a different person in his texts than in his face-to-face conversation.

When the Franklin Library is threatened with closure, Greta leaps into action. She arranges for a “battle of the bands” book jam, hosts a book signing by a famous author, and finally, stages a protest that raises more than a few eyebrows.

Through it all, she slowly realizes that it is Will, not Mac, who she turns to for support and encouragement. Mac has the looks; Will has the heart. How can she choose between them?

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

I don’t think there is any book in The Proper Romance Collection that could be bad!  This book was so cute, and so entertaining.

Greta works in a Library, that is facing extinction.  She is putting all her efforts into way to save her beloved library.  There is just something so magical about libraries.  I have to admit I don’t check out from libraries, but sitting in them is magical.

This is a book that had a lot of “oh my gosh, how stupid are you” moments coming out of my mouth, and then the next sentence would be “oooohhhhhh”.  Wilhite brought out a lot of emotions for me in this beautiful, and passionate love story.

Gretta had a great passion for her work, and her friends.  Especially Will.  He has always been her saving grace in every stage of life.  Then walks in Mac.

The ONLY thing I didn’t like about this book was how often Will was referred to as “large”.  I wish we could only meet people through knowing their heart first before ever actually seeing them.  There would be a lot less judgment in the world.  Being a good person is what we should all be, and Will was a great example of that.

Having said all that, Will is by far my most favorite character in this book. He is one of the most swoon worthy men I have read about in a long time.  He has so much love to give, he is kind, he is compassionate, and he is a poet…. mmmmmm.

There are moments in this book when I wanted to throw my book, but had to see what was going to happen next, so I had to wait 😊. 

Pick this book up, you won’t regret it.  It was a pleasure reading from beginning to end.

Source:  I was given this book as part of a blog tour, in return for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way for my review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

    

  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from shadowmountain.com

Becca Wilhite, author of Bright Blue Miracle and My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions, is a happy wife, and a mom to four above-average kids. High school English teacher by day, writer by night (or very early morning), she loves hiking, Broadway shows, food, books, and movies. You can find her online at beccawilhite.com.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Sarah Cobabe @ shadow mountain for allowing me to be part of this awesome tour!

BLOG TOUR / REVIEW FOR: FINDING BEAUTY IN THE BEAST – BY – JESSILYN STEWART PEASLEE

Welcome to my stop on this tour for this super cute book.

description taken from cedarfort.com

DESCRIPTION:

Corbin’s simple rose was supposed to drive the princess away. He never wanted her to choose his gift—or him. After all, no one would choose to marry a beast. With her fiery temper, though, Princess Rose isn’t so perfect herself. Corbin and Rose might be stuck living with each other, but no one can force them to fall in love.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

I love fairy tales, and this re-telling of Beauty and the Beast is wonderful.  Beauty and the Beast is hands down my favorite.  I am sure I have said that about others, but it really is the greatest story.

When Corbin is turned away by his true love for an opportunity to marry a Prince, he packs up and leaves town.  Hoping to find a better life for himself, and start over new.

When Corbin arrives in Laurel, he is able to take over a Blacksmith’s shop, where the owner had either abandoned it or died….  He was quickly busy with work, not that the town finally had a capable Blacksmith.

The bread maker told him that it was a giving day.  All eligible men in the town had to give a gift to the Princess.  Whoever gift she accepted would become the King. 

This was the last thing on Corbin’s mind since he left his life behind.  His heart had just been broken and now he has to give a gift to a Princess that he hears is a terror.

This book brings out all the feels.  Love, hate, anger, disappointment, determination, and romance.  I did not expect the book to be gender bent.  I have to admit I loved that the “Beast” was the Princess, and not the Prince.  We get to see the gentle side of Corbin, and how he deals with this new life that he did not choose.

He finds answers to a long unanswered question.  He tames the beast, and saves her.  It is such a sweet story.  I love it when we get to see men be more vulnerable.  If you like retelling this is a great one to pick up.  Plus, “Who could love a Beast?”.  (from Beauty and the Beast) One of my favorite quotes ever.

I was given this book as part of a blog tour in return for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

EXCERPT:

“A beast. That was what they called her.
When she was in a good temper, Princess Rose’s face was deceptively sweet, even beautiful. Her large emerald eyes could appear tender, her rosebud lips touched with softness. There was a time, some would say, that her voice was warm and full of life and, though no one believed it, that she used to laugh.

But today, there was no hint of softness, no trace of tenderness. Her eyes blazed like green fire and she pursed her lips until they became indistinguishable from her pale skin. The freckles she painstakingly tried to hide glared angrily across her nose and cheeks—cheeks deep crimson from humiliation. No tears would escape her eyes, no quivering would touch her lips. She sat—cold and aloof—her gaze fixed straight ahead, glaring at the opposite wall of the swaying carriage.”

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

       

A SPECIAL THANKS TO:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jessilyn Stewart Peaslee was born the fourth of seven children into a family of avid readers, music lovers, movie quoters, and sports fans. Jessilyn graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in English. She loves going on dates with her husband and playing with her five adorable, rambunctious boys. Jessilyn grew up in the beautiful high desert of Southern California and now resides in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. As you read this, she is probably folding laundry . . . or should be. Current Residence: Saratoga Springs, UT

Be sure to follow the tour here:

“Finding Beauty in the Beast” Blog Tour Schedule

Jan 16
Jan 17	My Love for Reading Keeps Growing
Jan 17	Blooming with Books
Jan 17	Reading for Sanity
Jan 18	Katie’s Clean Book Collection
Jan 19	Kindle and Me
Jan 20	Making Life a Bliss Complete
Jan21
Jan 22	Mel’s Shelves
Jan 22	Literary Time Out
Jan 23	Geo Librarian
Jan 24
Jan 25	Life is What it’s Called
Jan 26
Jan 27
Jan 28
Jan 29	My Book a Day
Jan 29	Bookworm Lisa
Jan 29	One Day at a Time
Jan 30	Aimee Brown
Jan 30	Bookworm 2 Bookworm

BLOG TOUR / REVIEW FOR: POTION MASTERS - THE ETERNITY ELIXIR - BY FRANK L. COLE

Welcome to my stop on this fabulous tour:

pic and description taken from shadowmountain.com

DESCRIPTION:

For hundreds of years, all of our medical findings, our technological advancements, and even our weapons are a direct result of magical potions. Few people know about the truth because few people are aware of the hidden potion community known as B.R.E.W.–the Board of Ruling Elixirists Worldwide.

Twelve-year-old Gordy knows all about the importance of cauldrons, flasks, and Bunsen burners. He has an extensive knowledge of hundreds of ingredients including Toadflax, porcupine quills, and catfish eyes because Gordy’s mother is the Director of B.R.E.W., and he is an apprentice potion master with a secret lab in his family’s basement.

When the world’s most powerful potion–the Eternity Elixir–disappears and then mysteriously ends up in Gordy’s possession, he must use all of his skills to protect the “forbidden potion” before enemies of B.R.E.W. find and use it to destroy the world as we know it.

Gordy recruits his two best friends, Max and Adeline, to assist him while his mother leaves to confront the most powerful elixirist of all time-the great Mezzarix-who happens to be Gordy’s grandfather.

The Eternity Elixir is the first book in the Potion Masters trilogy.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

Let us just start with the cover.  It's awesome.  I always fall in love with a cover before I even look at what the book is about.  Sometimes that is a good thing, and sometimes not.  This time it is definitely a good thing.  This book was so much fun to read. 

This is great book for any age reader, but will probably be particularly good for middle grade.  Although I am no longer in middle grade, and I loved the book...so I guess it's good for old people too :).

I read that this book was about potions, so I just assumed it meant it was about magic as well.  I was wrong.  I guess I just assumed they went hand in hand.  Well, we all know what assuming does.  I am happy to say that this is just about potion brewing, and it was so exciting.  We all know how powerful potions can be.....and in this book we get to explore the world of potion making with Gordy.  His love for brewing sends us on an exciting adventure.

Gordy is a 12 year old boy and is already a master potions-maker just like his mom Wanda.  Wanda is an Elixirist, Fourth Class, and one of the greatest concoters of potions in the country.

Gordy learns that his mom works for B.R.E.W. and gets to visit work with her.  There Gordy learns what his mother really does for work.  When, Wanda gets an urgent message during Gordy's visit, they return home, and his mother leaves immediately.  

Gordy has two great friends that accidentally learned about his ability to make potions during a dinner one night.  Gordy, begged his mother not to erase all their memories, and allow him to share his gift with his two best friends, Max and Adilene.  Although, Gordy's mom would rather him work with other kids like him, Gordy has convinced his mother that his friends are trust worthy.  Good thing!

While Gordy's mother is away a strange package is delivered to their home, and Gordy decides to open it.  I guess he wasn't taught not to open things that are not addressed to him.  Once Gordy opens the package a world of chaos is opened upon his family and friends.

Who knew opening a package could be so dangerous?  

The ride I got to enjoy with Gordy, his friends and family was so exciting.  I read most of the book before bed one night.  It is a fast, fun, and exciting read.  If you or your kids like adventure, potions, mummies?, danger, and excitement this book is for you.  Pick it up!  Read it with your children, and enjoy the ride.  I am so excited to see where the next book takes us.  What an awesome beginning to a series!

Here is a fun book trailer to help you get even more excited about the book!!

I was given this book as part of a tour in return for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

MY RATING:

A SPECIAL THANKS TO:

for allwoing me to be part of this tour!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from shadowmountain.com

Frank L. Cole lives with his wife and three children out West. When he's not writing books, Frank enjoys going to the movies and traveling. He is the author of nine books. He is an active promoter of reading and using your imagination and has been to more than 120 schools presenting to kids. His philosophy is “With a good imagination you can solve any problem you ever come up against in life!

WHERE TO BUY:

    

I KNOW!!! I KNOW!!!! I ALWAYS SAY THIS.......

I keep saying I am going to be better at blogging and posting.  I really try.  I know it doesn't seem like it, but I do.  This year, I plan to do better.......but I have said that before..hehe.  Well, I can say it, and I just hope it happens.  

My fathers health declined quickly for a few months and I was unable to do anything but help my mother take care of things around the house, and shopping while she took care of my dad.  Now he has kind of leveled off, and it's not so iffy, I hope to be able to do more.  Although, I do have a lot more on my plate now, with helping my mother, I wouldn't change it for anything in the world.  They are the greatest people on the planet and I am honored to be able to help them at this time in their lives.  

Who knows what the future holds.  I just hope to do some more things that I enjoy while helping at the same time.  This life is too short not to enjoy the things we love.  There is a time and a season for everything.  It might not be my time or season to blog everyday right now, but I do hope to do better.  

Thank you to all of those who still check on me, and read my blog, even though it's patchy.  I love this blogging community and have learned so much from all of you!  

Happy New Year!  I hope that this year brings you all good things!