Tacos For Two Review

 

Tacos for Two 

by Betsy St. Amant

Synopsis:

Rory Perez, a food truck owner who can't cook, is struggling to keep the business she inherited from her aunt out of the red--and an upcoming contest during Modest's annual food truck festival seems the best way to do it. The prize money could finally give her a solid financial footing and keep her cousin with special needs paid up at her beloved assisted living home. Then maybe Rory will have enough time to meet the man she's been talking to via an anonymous online dating site.

Jude Strong is tired of being a puppet at his manipulative father's law firm, and the food truck festival seems like the perfect opportunity to dive into his passion for cooking and finally call his life his own. But if he loses the contest, he's back at the law firm for good. Failure is not an option.

Complications arise when Rory's chef gets mono and she realizes she has to cook after all. Then Jude discovers that his stiffest competition is the same woman he's been falling for online the past month.

Will these unlikely chefs sacrifice it all for the sake of love? Or will there only ever be tacos for one?

My Take:

I knew I would love this one because I LOVE tacos and I LOVE You’ve Got Mail! From the first chapter, I was hooked. This rom-com is so super sweet and heart-warming that it was super hard to put down. I loved the diversity in the characters and the descriptions of the taco making. I myself, rarely eat from food trucks due to location but I will be on the lookout for more food truck gathering simply because of this book!

 

I actually liked all the characters in this book but Judy’s apprentice was my favorite! I’d love to see him in a follow-up or companion novel! I think he has his own story that could be told. Jude was a great character too. I saw him as a perfect Hallmark character (Hint, hint Hallmark!).

 

I love the back and forth messaging between Jude and Rory. Though I have to say that as cute as it was, Jude knowing You’ve Got Mail references is not really believable. Other than that, I felt the characters were mostly relatable and I found myself getting frustrated with them and cheering with them when the time called for it. I am definitely marking Betsy as an auto buy author for me!

Creatures of the Night - Blog Tour

 

Creatures of the Night

by Grace Collins
Publisher: Wattpad Books
Release Date: July 13th 2021

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal

Goodreads

Make your way home at five. Be in the tunnels as the sun begins to fall. Seal the entrance. Leave enough room for malfunction. These are the rules I grew up with, the ones I never dared to break. Until now.

Milena’s twentieth birthday, the day she would join the ranks of her village’s hunters, should have been the most exciting day of her life. Being a hunter meant she would be able to help protect her village from the murderous wolves who take human form—the creatures of the night. But a chance encounter with Elias, the enigmatic leader of the creatures, leaves her questioning everything she has ever believed to be true.

Up until now, Elias has managed to protect the creatures of the night and keep the secrets of his past well hidden. Now, as tensions between the groups grow, Elias is forced to make hard decisions: ones that will cost lives. Nobody is safe, especially Milena, the person he is inexplicably drawn to even though it could destroy them both.

My Thoughts:

I have not read a lot of paranormal romance but I’m so glad I gave this one a try. Once I picked it up, I could not put it down. One of my favorite things about this book is the shifters included. I really think YA needs more books with shifters in them. I really appreciated the growth that Milena went through in the book but mostly in the second half. I am definitely looking to forward to seeing her character develop more in the next book.

I felt that the dialogue done in this book was well written and flowed very smoothly. While the dialogue was done well, I do wish I would’ve seen a bit more complexity in Milena’s and Elias’ relationship. Regardless of the flat relationship, I really enjoyed Milena and Elias as separate characters. Another thing that’s hard for me is literally just the character name, Elias. It’s being used way too much in recent YA novels and it made it a little tough to keep his character, his own.

To sum it all up though, I enjoyed this story and felt that it was unique and thoughtful. I loved the various tropes that were used and the number of times I was able to relate to the character.

*Favorite Quotes*

"And they're gone and I'm left alone with the one person I'm convinced actually wants me dead."

"When they look human and act human, it's hard to believe they're not."

"I feel like the knife before I see it, a sharp pain blossoming in my chest as her eyes meet mine."

"All my life I hid from the trees. The night and its shadows were my enemies."

"Because even as night descends around us, stars peek through the shadows. And they shine brighter in the darkness."

 

BOOK LINKS

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54968304-creatures-of-the-night

Amazon: https://amzn.to/34NQHuY

Bookdepository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Creatures-Night-Grace-Collins/9781989365496?ref=grid-view&qid=1622813910773&sr=1-2

B&N; https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/creatures-of-the-night-grace-collins/1137491789?ean=9781989365496

iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/creatures-of-the-night/id1551648674

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/creatures-of-the-night-15

Google Books: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LEEDEAAAQBAJ

 

AUTHOR BIO

Grace Collins first discovered her love for writing when she posted her ideas online at the age of thirteen. She has a BA in psychology and French, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education. Her debut novel, Creatures of the Night, has amassed over one million reads online and received a Watty Award for Horror and Paranormal. Grace lives in Aotearoa New Zealand and enjoys spending time in nature, traveling, and learning new languages.

 

AUTHOR LINKS

Wattpad: https://books.wattpad.com/grace-collins

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20847440.Grace_Collins

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cloudedwstories

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cloudedwstories/

 

BOOK TRAILER

Link: Creatures of the Night by Grace Collins | Official Book Trailer | Wattpad Books

 

TOUR SCHEDULE

https://favouritepagesbookclub.blogspot.com/2021/06/tour-schedule-creatures-of-night-by.html

A Unicorn Named Rin - Blog Tour and Review

 

A Unicorn Named Rin

by Crystal Z. Lee

Publisher: Balestier
Release Date: April 22nd, 2021

Genre: Children's Books, Illustrated, Own Voices

 

Synopsis:

The royal phoenix is missing from the Tang dynasty palace! Princess Pingyang is worried. Can Rin the unicorn find Fan the phoenix? Together with her friends—dragon, tiger, and tortoise—Rin embarks on a journey to mystical lands in China. Along the way, Rin discovers the value of teamwork and the warmth of friendship.

A Unicorn Named Rin celebrates the wonder and beauty of Chinese history and culture. This exquisitely illustrated picture book makes an ideal read for children 3-8 years old:

- Easy-to-read vocabulary enables confidence in early readers

- Whimsical illustrations encourage imagination in all unicorn lovers

- Storyline fosters dialogue around collaboration, empathy, and kindness

My Take: 

This children's book surprised me in both good and not-so-good ways. For the not-so-good ways first, while most words were simple for younger children to read, there were some larger words that I completely unexpected and thought to myself "No way, will an elementary school kid know this word," words such as harmonious, harmonization, and auspicious. Furthermore, I felt that the story did not have a good flow to it. I understand the premise was a magical creature that flew away or got lost and the other magical creatures tried to find it, but the story felt very choppy. The names of all of the creatures along with what types of creatures they were, were repeated way too much in the story. I was surprised that to see that Rin got so emotional over the lost friend after only looking in two places as well. 

That said, I did really enjoy the Chinese names and words that were incorporated throughout the story. I feel that I liked the illustrations better than the story and that the story could be told with just the illustrations and the same message would have gotten across to the reader. 

I was surprised to see the Glossary in the back of the book of Rin's Map. Again, I feel like this is something that's above an elementary school kid's understanding, but as an adult, I really appreciated this look into the facts about the Chinese history behind the story. 

I would rate this book 4 stars because though it was choppy and a bit advanced, I love the illustrations and the premise. I will gift my copy to my 11-year-old niece. 

Favorite Quotes

"I'll help you, Rin," says Baiju. "That's what friends are for."

"Patience, my friend. Let's not give up," he says.

"As distant as the heavens and seas, no matter how far apart. A good friend stays close like a neighbor, living in my heart." 

BOOK LINKS:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57744820-a-unicorn-named-rin

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SPsJga

Bookdepository:https://www.bookdepository.com/Unicorn-Named-Rin-Crystal-Z-Lee/9781913891138?ref=grid-view&qid=1621012114566&sr=1-1

B&N:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-unicorn-named-rin-crystal-z-lee/1139186250?ean=9781913891138

 

Crystal Z. Lee is a Taiwanese American bilingual writer. She has called many places home, including Taipei, New York, Shanghai, and the San Francisco Bay Area. She was formerly a public relations executive who had worked with brands in the fashion, beauty, technology, and automotive industries. 'Love and Other Moods' is her first novel. 

 

AUTHOR LINKS 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20927312.Crystal_Z_Lee 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystal.z.lee/ 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Z.-Lee/e/B08NT9ZJTG%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share 

 

The Immortal Game Review

 

The Immortal Game 

By Talia Rothschild & A.C. Harvey

An exiled goddess goes on a quest to clear her name and save Mount Olympus in Talia Rothschild & A. C. Harvey's action-packed young adult debut, The Immortal Game!

Galene, daughter of Poseidon, desperately wants to earn her place among the gods. But when a violent attack leaves Mount Olympus in chaos and ruins, she is accused of the crime. Banished from Olympus, Galene sets out to prove her innocence and discovers a more deadly plot—one that threatens even the oldest of Immortals.

Fortunately, she has allies who willingly join her in exile:

A lifelong friend who commands the wind.
A defiant warrior with deadly skill.
A fire-wielder with a hero’s heart.
A mastermind who plays life like a game.

All-out war is knocking at the gates. Galene and her friends are the only ones who can tip the scales toward justice, but their choices could save Olympus from total annihilation, or be the doom of them all.

My Review:

I was immediately intrigued once I learned of the Immortality Trial. Any time there are competitions to be won in YA, I'm in, but mix competition and Greek mythology and that makes for a whole new adventure.

I think the authors did a fantastic job with loyalty as the main theme in this one. Needless to say, if I was exiled, I can't imagine I'd feel I owe anything to anyone. Additionally, friendships stayed strong and solid and I really enjoyed that as well. 

Regardless, the four different POV's were enjoyable. I actually prefer multiple POV's as it helps keep the story fresh when you see the perspective by different characters. Because Kostas, Braxtos, Galene, and Iayana were all children of Gods, I felt a lot of Percy Jackson vibes while reading. It felt like a more mature, more grown up version. In fact, somewhere in between Percy Jackson and Clash of the Titans, which is an opinion that I love, as I love Greek mythology. 

It had a slow start but definitely picked up pace and hooked me for good. I'd be very interested in a sequel or a spinoff of this one, as I think the YA community does not have enough Greek mythology!

Even with a slow start and a few slower sections, I'm still giving this one 5 starts, because it everything that I love reading in a YA.

Favorite Quotes:

"This injustice will not stand with the Fates. The scales will balance out in the end."

"I am the daughter of Poseidon, God of the Seas."

"The only way out is the least likely route."

"Why do you always have to look so perfect?"

AUTHORS BIO:

Talia Rothschild, Italian American, is passionate about stories in many forms—music, dance, photography, film and, of course, great novels. She believes in thick hot chocolate and creamer in your tea. When she's not happily writing, she's mothering the sweetest baby girl and making memories with her husband. Her debut book The Immortal Game, coauthored with A. C. Harvey, hits the shelves May 2021.

Talia Rothschild

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20160338.Talia_Rothschild

Website: https://www.taliarothschild.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talianoelrothschild/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClekr3ostLlz1n0mV9qWgrg

 

Ashleigh Harvey is teaching high school physics and bringing her writing dreams to life. English-born and world-traveled, she loves filling her life with new adventures, such as visiting a new country or exploring the Wild West with her husband. She also finds escape in movies, music, literature, and yearly comic conventions. The Immortal Game is her debut novel, created alongside Talia Rothschild, her close friend.

Ashleigh Harvey

Website: https://www.acharveyauthor.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20904769.A_C_Harvey

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvOOeCBenBgT9ifjebt9qXg

TOUR SCHEDULE

https://favouritepagesbookclub.blogspot.com/2021/05/tour-schedule-immortal-game-by-talia.html

BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY

Prize: Win a physical copy of THE IMMORTAL GAME by Talia Rothschild & A. C. Harvey (US Only)

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9681b86530/? 

Prize: Win a physical copy of THE IMMORTAL GAME by Talia Rothschild & A.

More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer

 

More Than We Can Tell

by Brigid Kemmerer

Synopsis:

Rev Fletcher is battling the demons of his past. But with loving adoptive parents by his side, he’s managed to keep them at bay...until he gets a letter from his abusive father and the trauma of his childhood comes hurtling back.

Emma Blue spends her time perfecting the computer game she built from scratch, rather than facing her parents’ crumbling marriage. She can solve any problem with the right code, but when an online troll’s harassment escalates, she’s truly afraid.

When Rev and Emma meet, they both long to lift the burden of their secrets and bond instantly over their shared turmoil. But when their situations turn dangerous, their trust in each other will be tested in ways they never expected. This must-read story will once again have readers falling for Brigid Kemmerer’s emotional storytelling.

*While this book exists in the same universe as Letters to the Lost, it is a standalone title.*

My Thoughts:

I didn't think I was going to love this story more than Letters of the Lost. To be honest, I wasn't sure I'd find another YA contemporary that would ever be better than Letters of the Lost but somehow, this one surpassed all of my expectations. I was immediately drawn into Rev's and Emma's stories and knew both of them truly. I wanted to be wrapped up in Rev's arms as much as I wanted have Emma's back. Wow, I think I need to read this one again and soon!

Where the Forest Meets the Stars Review

 

Where the Forest Meets the Stars

By: Glendy Vanderah

Synopsis:

In this gorgeously stunning debut, a mysterious child teaches two strangers how to love and trust again.

After the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot and covered in bruises.

The girl calls herself Ursa, and she claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. With concerns about the child’s home situation, Jo reluctantly agrees to let her stay—just until she learns more about Ursa’s past.

Jo enlists the help of her reclusive neighbor, Gabriel Nash, to solve the mystery of the charming child. But the more time they spend together, the more questions they have. How does a young girl not only read but understand Shakespeare? Why do good things keep happening in her presence? And why aren’t Jo and Gabe checking the missing children’s website anymore?

Though the three have formed an incredible bond, they know difficult choices must be made. As the summer nears an end and Ursa gets closer to her fifth miracle, her dangerous past closes in. When it finally catches up to them, all of their painful secrets will be forced into the open, and their fates will be left to the stars.

My Review:

Where does one start when they are writing a review of probably one of the best, most intricate novels they’ve ever read? Seriously, I wasn’t expecting this book to be what it was. Not for any reason other than that it was a debut novel by an author I’ve never heard of and it was adult contemporary fiction which I do enjoy, but never thought of as a favorite genre.

This novel blew me away. I’m tearing up right now just thinking of things that occurred in the pages. The emotional rollercoaster that I was on did not disappoint in the slightest. It was revolutionary. It was powerful and raw and quaint and hilarious and comforting and hopeful. The main characters, each with their own perfect character arcs kept me interested from start to finish. The world building was even more than others I’ve read in this genre. I felt like I was there with Jo, Ursa, and Gabe. I wanted to grab a hold of each of them and hold them and cry or laugh with them.

The research for this story was thought out. The story unfolds flawlessly. I want to be careful to say anything else because I do not want to spoil anything for anyone, but please read this novel! You will love it. You will recommend it to everyone you know.