Giveaway and Review: Jo & Laurie

Jo & Laurie

by Margaret Stohl & Melissa de la Cruz
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: June 2nd 2020

Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance, Retellings, 

Synopsis:

Bestselling authors Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz bring us a romantic retelling of Little Women starring Jo March and her best friend, the boy next door, Theodore "Laurie" Laurence.

1869, Concord, Massachusetts: After the publication of her first novel, Jo March is shocked to discover her book of scribbles has become a bestseller, and her publisher and fans demand a sequel. While pressured into coming up with a story, she goes to New York with her dear friend Laurie for a week of inspiration—museums, operas, and even a once-in-a-lifetime reading by Charles Dickens himself!

But Laurie has romance on his mind, and despite her growing feelings, Jo's desire to remain independent leads her to turn down his heartfelt marriage proposal and sends the poor boy off to college heartbroken. When Laurie returns to Concord with a sophisticated new girlfriend, will Jo finally communicate her true heart's desire or lose the love of her life forever?

My Review:

I had only recently read Little Women this past January right before I went to see the new movie in theatres.  I read the physical book and listened to the audio read by Christina Ricci on Audible.  I thoroughly enjoyed Little Women and don’t want to take away anything from the original.  However, I’m sure I’m like most of Alcott’s fans and was greatly let down with that ending and the final resolution of Jo March, our star authoress. Well, Jo & Laurie completely healed my broken heart.

Overall, I appreciated De La Cruz and Stohl’s retelling of this fine classic tale.  In particular, I liked Laurie’s character more now than from the classic and felt that he was portrayed as a more mature character than in the original and especially compared to the movie.  I felt like he was bolder and more confident when it came to Jo.  He became a total swoon-worthy character for me.  On the other hand, Amy’s character felt like she was written younger and she annoyed me more than the snobbish portrayal of her original character.   I suppose I must take the bad with the good.

Likewise, to my feelings from the original, Jo and Meg were still my favorite characters.  I felt their characters were the most developed.  I think Meg’s character stayed truer to herself, while Jo struggled more with her feelings. Her character growth was interesting to watch unfold, and although I finally got the outcome that I wanted, the sudden change in heart was a little too sudden.

I would definitely recommend this book to those fans who have an open mind and want to have the ideal ending that they felt would’ve completed the story.  If I had to choose to reread Little Women again or reread Jo & Laurie, I would most certainly choose the latter.   

Favorite Quotes:

"No, that's not true. I don't hate writing; I absolutely, positively loathe it."

"She was left, as a result, with no alternative but to resort to the most trusted and time-honored, if most time-consuming, occupation of all writers--belly-aching about needing to work instead of working."

"Is my current poverty of i9matination not a real problem?"

"This literary husbandry is the very foundation of our glorious profession."

"He looked down at Jo. "So, then. Romance? That what we need, Mr. Snodgrass, old chap?""

"So it seems, Mr. Weller. I believe little whalebone-corseted hearts are to be set afire, as it were."

"And they're not even talking about anything. They never are. Just loads and loads of nonsense."

"Love yourself like I love you, old friend."

"She meant it, which Meg knew-as sisters do-and so peace was struck just as war had been declared."

"Remember who you are and where you come from. Remember everything and be cheerful, because this chance will never come again."

"No one with such an ancient lineage ever lets any else forget it."

"I will ram that peacock feather down your pretty throat, Meg thought."

"His music is the mother he misses. The life he will never know. The book I cannot remember how to write."

"My messes and scrapes and moods and shadows. My queer temperament and career. My inability to live on the same plane of existence as every other person on earth..."

"You're a fool who doesn't know her own heart."

"For life and love are very precious, she wrote, when both are in full bloom."

"I'll always think of you.  I'll always treasure our friendship, no matter how far away I go."

"I thought I was the improper one in the family. We can't all be scandalous, now, can we?"

"Keep writing your way back to the light."

"It's all right, Jo.  This is life. I will lose you, and you will lose me.  Losing is part of having, my love."

"Because of all the other little sisters-the ones you'll never know or meet-who you've made believe they could tell a story of their own."

BOOK LINKS

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48895207-jo-laurie

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eKjILC

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jo-laurie-margaret-stohl/1136270761?ean=9780593112861

iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/jo-laurie/id1489092197

Bookdepository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Jo-Laurie-Melissa-de-La-Cruz/9781984812018?ref=grid-view&qid=1587559819389&sr=1-1

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/jo-laurie-1

Google Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=8Pe_DwAAQBAJ&rdid=book-8Pe_DwAAQBAJ&rdot=1&source=gbs_atb&pcampaignid=books_booksearch_atb

 

AUTHOR INFORMATION

MELISSA DE LA CRUZ

She is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.

 

Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.

 

She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.

 

Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).

 

She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.

AUTHOR LINKS

MELISSA DE LA CRUZ

Website: https://melissa-delacruz.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21911.Melissa_de_la_Cruz

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelissadelaCruz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorMelissadelaCruz/

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

Tumblr: https://authormelissadelacruz.tumblr.com/

 

MARGARET STOHL

Margaret Stohl is a #1 New York Times bestselling nerd, world-builder, video game creator, comic book writer and festival founder.

As an award-winning young adult author, she has been published in fifty countries and thirty-two languages and has sold more than ten million books worldwide. Beautiful Creatures debuted as the Amazon #1 Teen book of the year; seven of Margaret’s books have reached bestseller lists around the world.

She has published fifteen novels and graphic novels, as well as contributed to several games and countless comics since her debut. Her last book, Cats Vs Robots: This is War, was a family affair, illustrated by her child, the artist Kay Peterson, and co-written with her husband, Lewis Peterson. It also starred three of her family’s five cats.

After Beautiful Creatures was released as a feature film from Warner Brothers and Alcon Entertainment, Margaret began working with Marvel on her bestselling Black Widow: Forever Red duology; in 2017 she began writing the ongoing Mighty Captain Marvel comic, followed by the acclaimed Life of Captain Marvel miniseries, where she established a new origin story for Carol Danvers in preparation for the theatrical debut of Brie Larson as “Captain Marvel” for the MCU. 

When not roaming the halls of Seattle game developer Bungie - where she oversees the creation of new global IPs - Margaret can often be seen at a Comicon or at one of the teen and youth book festivals she co-founded, YALLFEST (Charleston, SC) and YALLWEST (Santa Monica, CA), the largest in the country. Wherever she goes, you can find out more about her (and invariably her cats) at @mstohl on twitter or margaret_stohl on Instagram or margaret_stohl on Snapchat or at mstohl.com.

AUTHOR LINKS

MARGARET STOHL

Website: https://mstohl.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2895707.Margaret_Stohl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mstohl

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

 

PROMO MATERIALS

Audiobook sample: https://soundcloud.com/penguin-audio/jo-laurie-by-margaret-stohl

PRE-ORDER CAMPAIGN

Win a tea tin when you pre-order JO & LAURIE (US ONLY)

Link to the promotion and submission page: https://woobox.com/8jrorg

TOUR SCHEDULE

https://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2020/04/tour-schedule-jo-laurie-by-margaret.html

GIVEAWAY

Prize: Win a copy of JO & LAURIE by Margaret Stohl & Melissa de la Cruz (US Only)

Starts: 27^th May 2020

Ends: 10^th June 2020

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9681b86504/?  

Review of Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Dear Martin, took me by complete surprise and introduced me to an Own Voice author that I have not known before. Nic Stone has become, very quickly I might add, one of my favorite new middle grade and YA authors. Her storytelling ability is remarkable as I'm reading the book, I am picturing scene by scene in my mind and putting faces to voices. This character-driven story has impacted me in a way most contemporaries don't do. 

Dear Martin, made me look at my surroundings, my work office, my school, my church, my grocery store, and my neighborhood. I listened to how people said things to and about one another, and I recognize the injustices as soon as I opened my eyes. I am a white middle-aged, middle-class woman and even though I struggle from time to time to have money to do extra things that I want to do (I am by no means a Beverly Hills chick), I don't and could not understand what it is like to be oppressed in America. 

Dear Martin, opened my eyes to the injustices that surround us on a day-to-day basis. For such a small book to have such a huge impact makes me speechless even though I'm rambling on about how much I loved it. This is a book that my 12-year-old son will read. This is a book, that I want my husband to read. I want to gift this book to everyone I know because I want people to look past the notions of prejudices that we’re taught and raised with.  I immediately fell down a Nic Stone rabbit hole and just devoured my third book of hers and I'm ready for the next one!

]

The Way of the Brave

by Susan May Warren

Published by Revell Publishing House

Synopsis:

Former pararescue jumper Orion Starr is haunted by the memory of a rescue gone wrong. He may be living alone in Alaska now, but the pain of his failure--and his injuries--has followed him there from Afghanistan. He has no desire to join Hamilton Jones's elite rescue team, but he also can't shirk his duty when the call comes in to rescue three lost climbers on Denali.

Former CIA profiler and psychiatrist Jenny Calhoun's yearly extreme challenge with her best friends is her only escape from the guilt that has sunk its claws into her. As a consultant during a top-secret mission to root out the Taliban, she green-lighted an operation that ended in ambush and lives lost. When her cathartic climb on Denali turns deadly, she'll be forced to trust her life and the lives of her friends to the most dangerous of heroes--the man she nearly killed.

Her skills and his experience are exactly what's needed to prevent another tragedy--but in order to truly set Orion free from his painful past, Jenny will have to reveal hers. They'll have to put their wounds behind them to survive, but at what cost?

Leap into action with this high-octane, breakneck new series from bestselling author Susan May Warren.

My Review: 

Wow, I had no idea that I could become more attached to a Susan May Warren series than I did with the Montana Rescue Me series, but Orion and Jenny's story has blew me away. The start of the story had me a little anxious because there was a lot of background information on ice climbing with terminology and tools that I did not understand at all, but pushing past that initial intro of information is well worth it.  The story itself takes off for each of these characters separately and intertwining at just the perfect moments.  



The world building of snowy mountains and ice ledges was designed perfectly for the images played out well in my head.  The descriptive action scenes were my most favorites parts of the story.  I held my breath quite a few times, unable to tear my eyes away from the pages, even when my husband or son started to talk to me.  I had to hold a finger up, begging for a just another few minutes. I am so excited for next installment and cannot wait to see how the lives and relationships unfold in the rest of this powerful and exciting series.

This story is strong, powerful and moving. You will laugh. You will tear up or cry. You will find yourself holding your breath!  Did I mention I want to go to Alaska?! 

Susan May Warren

About the Author

New Release & Giveaway: Crown of Oblivion by Julie Eshbaugh

Crown of Oblivion 

by Julie Eshbaugh

Best book I’ve read this year! Crown of Oblivion by Julie Eshbaugh was an incredibly action packed YA novel from beginning to end! Raw, fresh and unique, this story unfolds in a dystopian setting with themes of injustice, inequality and horrors that people should never have to witness. I was completely enthralled in Astrid’s world and couldn’t get enough of her experiences. The world building was done quite nicely; not over done like some fantasy novels can be, but enough for me to envision the surroundings and still develop my relationship with the main character!

Astrid, an Outsider, is forced to become a surrogate to the princess… she takes all the punishments that the princess deserves for breaking rules and such. My heart immediately broke for Astrid but at the same time, I was intrigued. How does this girl take this pain and suffering and move past it? The Race of Oblivion definitely distracts her well enough.



This race is brutal and cold, and threatening and vicious. Making it worse, the racers are given Oblivion. A drug that makes them lose all memories before even starting the race. The unfolding of each moment is built with such anticipation that I found it very hard to put the back down (and I’m in a fast paced online course at the moment).

I enjoyed Astrid’s encounters with all of the side characters greatly. Just enough interaction but not too much to make the story drag. The action took precedence. Left and right, Astrid was challenged and though some characters helped her in unexpected ways, Astrid ultimately pulled herself through, giving us our desired clever and brave heroine. With family elements throughout, the story felt real and relatable. There is a very, very slow burning romance weaved into this story, but it does not have the spotlight by any means. It does, however, help to see that even in the darkest of times, love shows itself, in many shapes and forms.


Eshbaugh’s latest release is nothing short of compelling and an absolute thrill ride. Crown of Oblivion is a story that I won’t soon forget and nor should I… the ending hints at a sequel ;) This is perfect for any dystopian fan of The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner series and more. Get ready for the race of your life!

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

**Giveaway**

Did you miss your chance at the amazing pre-order giveaway?!  Well fret no more! I have an extra set of all that's included in the giveaway: Signed bookplate, HeyAtlasCreative designed enamel pin, postcard with book quote and a cut out bookmark of Astrid!  All of this with a hardback copy of Crown of Oblivion!!  

Rafflecopter

  U.S. Only - Ends 11/20/2019

Winner will have 24 hours to respond to notification or another winner will be chosen!

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Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson

Christmas in Winter Hill

by Melody Carlson

Published by Fleming H. Revell Company

This was such a sweet story that gave me all the Hallmark Christmas vibes!  I loved the main character Krista as she seemed very real and relatable. She comes from a dysfunctional background but has persevered through it in order to provide a successful future for her and her daughter.  Also, she isn’t afraid to stand on her own two feet and I admire that in a female protagonist.  I felt that she real life comments and advice to offer her daughter which I can relate to as a mother of a 12 year old.  The description of Christmasville was festive and cheerful.  I love reading about small towns that celebrate together.  I come from a suburban area and we only wave hi and bye to our neighbors. 

I do wish the story would have been longer. At times the plot felt driven too quickly and the romance was very rushed, especially considering the background for Conner.  This is my first Melody Carlson book and I would love to read more of work, but I do usually prefer more content in my reads as well as a much slower build to a romance.  Some light flirting and hand holding can really build the anticipation for a reader! 

 

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publishing company. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

About the Author

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus. 

She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series. 

Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.

Review and Giveaway - The Girl Behind the Red Rope by Ted and Rachelle Dekker

The Girl Behind the Red Rope

By Ted Dekker &

Rachelle Dekker

Published by Revell

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ten years ago, Grace saw something that would forever change the course of history. When evil in its purest form is unleashed on the world, she and others from their religious community are already hidden deep in the hills of Tennessee, abiding by every rule that will keep them safe, pure--and alive. As long as they stay there, behind the red perimeter.

Her older brother's questions and the arrival of the first outsiders she's seen in a decade set in motion events that will question everything Grace has built her life on. Enemies rise on all sides--but who is the real enemy? And what will it cost her to uncover the truth?

For the first time, bestselling authors Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker team up and deliver an intense, tightly focused ride through the most treacherous world of all.

My Review

I knew that a book by father/daughter duo, Ted and Rachelle Dekker was going to be amazing, I just didn’t realize how stellar it was going to be. I read through this book in two days and was glued to every single page.  The setting was perfect for this dystopian/post-apocalyptic story, one of my favorite kinds. The dialogue between the characters was complex but simple, full of wisdom and fear.  Fear.  What this book is really about, at least to me, is the fear that we all live with every day of our lives.  Fear of loss, fear of failure, fear of forgiveness, fear of any and all things grabs hold of us and strangles us with their dark shadowy claws. I thoroughly enjoyed how the Dekker's explored this life stressor and dissected it for each of us to be able to apply it to our own lives in one way or another.  For me, it was more than one!  

In the beginning I felt the MC, Grace to be naive and weak, but really she was controlled and manipulated.  She was controlled by her own fear and the fear of those she loved and respected.  I know so many people that can relate to this! We are a product of our environments and that shows to be true in The Girl Behind the Red Rope but that doesn't mean we can't break the mold.  The description of the Fury were spot on to what I would expect when these times come to pass. I think that because the possibilities that these events can really occur, made the story that much more suspenseful and engaging.  The light that shines throughout this book comes in such an expected way that really pulls at the reader’s heart strings and I couldn’t be more satisfied. There are so many book club questions that reappear and one is, "Did the book change you?"  I can say without a doubt that this one did.  This one opened my eyes to my own fears.  This one opened my heart to forgiveness.  This one changed me.  I was completely enthralled in this story and I cannot wait to read another book by these fantastic writers!

GIVEAWAY

 I'd love to giveaway my copy of this book to someone who truly wants to experience this story!  Just share this blog post on any social media platform and comment below the link to where you shared it! 

Thanks for reading! 

Love, 

Justicereads

Spotlight: The Enlightenment of Bees by Rachel Linden

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Enlightenment of Bees by Rachel Linden, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Enlightenment of Bees
Author: Rachel Linden
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: July 9, 2019
Genre: Women's Fiction

Sometimes a shattered dream leads to an amazing journey. 

At twenty-six, apprentice baker Mia West has her entire life planned out: a Craftsman cottage in Seattle, a job baking at The Butter Emporium, and her first love—her boyfriend, Ethan—by her side. But when Ethan declares he “needs some space,” Mia’s carefully planned future crumbles.

Feeling adrift, Mia joins her vivacious housemate Rosie on a humanitarian trip around the world funded by a reclusive billionaire. Along with a famous grunge rock star, a Rwandan immigrant, and an unsettlingly attractive Hawaiian urban farmer named Kai, Mia and Rosie embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

From the slums of Mumbai to a Hungarian border camp during the refugee crisis, Mia’s heart is challenged and changed in astonishing ways—ways she never could have imagined. As she grapples with how to make a difference in a complicated world, Mia realizes she must choose between the life she thought she wanted and the life unfolding before her.

In a romantic adventure across the globe, The Enlightenment of Bees beautifully explores what it means to find the sweet spot in life where our greatest passions meet the world’s greatest need.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Christianbook

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Linden is a novelist and international aid worker whose adventures in over fifty countries around the world provide excellent grist for her writing. She is the author of Ascension of Larks, Becoming the Talbot Sisters, and The Enlightenment of Bees. Currently, Rachel lives with her family in Seattle, Washington, where she enjoys creating stories about hope, courage, and connection with a hint of romance and a touch of whimsy.

CONNECT WITH RACHEL:  Website | Facebook | Instagram

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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