Welcome to the Blog Blitz for Whatever Happens Next by Jaycee Weaver, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Whatever Happens Next
Series: Everyday Love #4
Author: Jaycee Weaver
Publisher: Sandia Sky Press
Release Date: May 12, 2020
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance
Growing up in nowhere Oklahoma gave US Air Force vehicle maintainer TSgt Dyson what his momma calls itchy feet. His wanderlust has kept him from romantic entanglements for years, until the day an over-dramatic, strawberry-scented chatterbox slams into him and turns his world upside down.
Jenna Davis was a quintessential good girl, deeply rooted in her family and faith until one mistake three years ago changed everything. Unable to admit her failure, she goes through the motions watching everyone else live their dreams. But it’s hard to find her purpose when opening up to anyone—even God—feels impossible. Then she meets Dyson, who personifies the strong, silent type.
Dyson gets her to open up and begin dreaming again, rebuilding the trust she’s lost in men and especially in herself. But Dyson has something important to tell Jenna, and he knows it’ll be the end of everything they’ve built. After all, how can he ask her to leave everything and everyone behind when he can never stay?
The Everyday Love Series is a contemporary romance series set in Albuquerque, featuring ordinary people in lifelike stories that inspire, uplift, and share hope. Stories in which a very real God shows Himself in everyday ways to carry His people through any circumstance.
Lover of Jesus, family, books, coffee, music, and crafting (in that order), Jaycee Weaver is perpetually pursuing at least one of her passions. She writes contemporary Christian romance stories featuring realistic characters in everyday situations where God is at work in big ways. She appreciates books where the characters face shortcomings, temptations, and adversity but always get their happy ending, so that’s what she writes.
(1) winner will receive a signed paperback of Whatever Happens Next and a handmade mini wreath plus a $15 Amazon gift card!
Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight March 22, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 29, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
From New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado, these 100 devotions will help kids worry less, bravely try new things, and draw closer to God as they learn to trust His faithfulness.
Adapted from the encouraging devotional for adults, You Can Count on God teaches children that they can count on God because He will never leave them, and will love them unconditionally. Each of the 100 entries
includes a comforting Bible verse and a short devotion that show an example of God's faithfulness presents the message that God is trustworthy in a way that children, ages 6 to 10, can understand reassures kids that God can help them with their challenges, sorrows, and questions offers a takeaway section with a key point, reflection question, or prayer to guide kids in understanding and applying the biblical truth is perfect for families to read together or for older readers to enjoy alone. Give your child the gift of knowing that they can count on God, no matter what. This kids devotional is perfect for
families who want their children to feel secure in their faith a present to commemorate a decision of faith, baptism, or confirmation an Easter basket gift. With a ribbon bookmark, presentation page, attractive textured hardcover, and bold color interiors, this hope-giving devotional for kids is the perfect gift for any child needing courage for a new challenge, peace from anxieties about the future, or relief from disappointment, insecurity, and overwhelm. You Can Count on God will guide children into a deeper relationship with God as they learn about His faithfulness in the past and build confidence that they can always trust Him to help them.
My Thoughts:
Why couldn't I have had this book when I was a kid? This book is so wonderful with different bible stories and devotions that are the perfect length to engage with! I love that all of the entries reflect on different aspects of a person's life and it allows the kids to see how God can impact their entire lives! I actually felt like a lot of these concepts still related to me as an adult and so I know even teenagers would be able to get something out of reading this one.
While reading, I decided that this book is the perfect answer for how to broach different subjects with your children at the dinner table also. The different devotionals can easily lead to open discussions that can truly have a positive impact on any family as a whole. I've never been one to sit and listen to anyone (even preachers) constantly throw bible verses at me, so I was grateful for the way Lucado intertwined the verses with narratives and graphics that drew me in!
I think this book would make the perfect small gift on any kids Easter basket this year, with topics such as being bullied, stress about school, home, and other tidbits of life that are out anyone's control.
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!
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."
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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!
Title: Whatever Happens Next 
