Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Review - The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale


* Read via NetGalley for review

5 gnomes out of 5 gnomes

Heart + Fun + Nuts + a plethora of squirrels = The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World. Doreen Green aka Squirrel Girl is such a fun character. This book is pure Middle Grade Marvelous. This story made me once again realize just how awesome it would be for Squirrel Girl to have a movie or a TV show.

Having multiple points of view including a squirrel’s makes for an extremely entertaining read. Seeing where she gets her start is enlightening and shows your where her great attitude came from. I really like all the footnotes too so you can really get into the whys and hows of how Doreen thinks.

I love how close she is to her parents and how supportive they are of everything. Her parent’s are very good at turning a negative into a positive especially at the Parent Teacher conference. I also love Doreen’s best friends both squirrel and human.

The squirrel viewpoint of the world and the view into squirrel society really makes the book shine. All the squirrel’s names are pretty darn hilarious too. I adore all the superhero cameos that occurred too.

If you’re looking for a book that is a burst of superhero sunshine and knows how to bring the funny then check this book out ASAP.

Monday, February 27, 2017

My Favorite Quotes/Lines - The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale


* Read via NetGalley for review

My Favorite Quotes/Lines:

“Here I am, New Jersey!” she said. “Doreen Green, age fourteen. Over five feet tall and not an inch mean.”

“Yay Doreen! Said Doreen, because no one else did.”

“This is gonna be a fuzzy ball of fantasticalism!”

“Or wait, was that girl implying that her wide, full cheeks were something to be ashamed of instead of a useful adaptation?”

“One good thing could undo a whole lot of bad.”

“Whenever I get bird meat, I like to eat it in the open, let the falcons and hawks see who the boss is.”

“But squirrels are creatures of honor and respect.”

“My mom cross-stitches happy sayings on throw pillows. Makes me want to punch them.”

45 Turns out you don’t really need to yell “AAAARRH” when you rip things apart, but it sure feels good. Probably that’s why Wolverine says “SNIKT” every time his claws come out.

63 Fun fact: I first learned the meaning of “morphological root” from a squirrel. Squirrels are crazy into linguistics. They appreciate the roots and branches of things.

5. She is friend to babies. This means she is not evil.

101 When some people get tired, they cry a lot. I had a friend in California who, whenever we had a sleepover and stayed up too late, got sooo gassy. Exhaustion comes in many forms!

“I’m here to kick butts and eat nuts. And I’m ALL OUT OF NUTS!”

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Review - The Witch Rescues Her Werewolf

The Witch Rescues Her Werewolf: A Nocturne Falls Universe Story by Cate Dean

My Favorite Quotes/Lines:

“This self-effacing, clumsy, charming man had stolen her vulnerable heart.”

“Then don’t think. We’ve both been hurt— let’s rescue each other.”

“A man who’s probably tired of pulling you out of trouble.”

4 gnomes out of 5 gnomes

This book was lots of fun. Lidia and Harry are a great pair. They fit well into the whole Nocturne Falls narrative.

A witch with failing magic and a shifter who can't shift have their share of problems. They have tremendous chemistry too.

Their story was a bit predictable but I still loved it all. The only annoying thing to me was how Harry talked so formally sometimes.

Their relationship though is very well done and will make you wish there were more stories about them.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Sentence Sneak Peek - The Witch Rescues Her Werewolf

The Witch Rescues Her Werewolf: A Nocturne Falls Universe Story by Cate Dean

The first sentence from each chapter of The Witch Rescues Her Werewolf: A Nocturne Falls Universe story, it's a mini summary of what you can expect to read.

* Spoilers are highlighted like so :)

Lidia Reston stood in front of the house she had bought, sight unseen, not sure whether to laugh or weep.”

The dream pulled Lidia in.”

Harrison compiled the day’s to-do list in his head as he carefully made his way across the dim shop.”

It was too good to be true.”

The front window of The Grey Wolf had been smashed in.”

Lidia woke late the next morning, with Max sprawled across her stomach.”

After ringing up his last customers, Harrison escorted them to the door and locked it behind them, letting out a sigh.”

It took less than an hour of trying to fall asleep before Lidia knew she wouldn’t.”

A warm, roving hand pulled Lidia out of sound sleep.”

Lidia felt calmer after walking home.”

The light pulled at Lidia, bright, but soft at the same time.”

Sunlight streamed through the window when Lidia woke again.”

Harrison took a deep, calming breath, then knocked on Lidia’s front door.”

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Review - The Truth about Cats and Wolves

The Truth about Cats and Wolves: A Nocturne Falls Universe Story by Alethea Kontis

My Favorite Quotes/Lines:

“Kai was reminded of another tragic play about two teenagers who had fallen for each other through an open window. That hadn’t ended well for anyone involved either.”

“The best thing about having workaholic parents was that they both understood the value of a mental health day.”

“Chica, if you need my skills to tell you that was a bold-face lie, you’re dumber than I thought.”

“It’s the parade,” said Maya. “Makes me extra stabby.”

5 gnomes out of 5 gnomes

A YA/Young Adult book set in Nocturne Falls equals pure awesomeness. After reading this story I really want to know more about all the other teenagers and kids in town.

Finn seems to be pure trouble at first, I mean what an introduction scene, that whole scene felt like something right out of a movie. He's in trouble/needs help and things go sideways real fast when he meets Kai.

Kai's background is really interesting. I hope to see more about the Greek and other nationalities supernaturalness (if that's a word.) The mythology of her family is intriguing and very powerful aka something I want to read a lot more about.

Finn and Kai's chemistry is intense and they are drawn together fast. I wish there was a whole book about them but this reads like the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Monday, February 20, 2017

Sentence Sneak Peek - The Truth about Cats and Wolves


The Truth about Cats and Wolves: A Nocturne Falls Universe Story by Alethea Kontis

The first sentence from each chapter of The Truth about Cats and Wolves: A Nocturne Falls Universe story, it's a mini summary of what you can expect to read.

* Spoilers are highlighted like so :)


“Are you sure this was the best choice?”

“Finn fought like a mad dog until the sheriff and his butch deputy threw him into the back of the squad car.”

“Did you see him?”

Sanctuary” turned out to be a two-story brick house.”

“This time, he kissed her in the diner.”

“Finn?”

“The best thing about having workaholic parents was that they both understood the value of a mental health day.”

“I am not getting in that thing.”

“As fast as Kai biked to Maya’s house, her tires should have been smoking.”

“Finn, your ride’s here!”

“Kai woke up in her bed.”

“Finn sat in the woods just beyond Hank and Ivy’s backyard and stared at the feather.”

“They followed Professor Blake up a different flight of grand, hand-carved stairs and down several more corridors until they reached the door of her office: a massive oaken thing with leaves framing it in detailed relief.”

Friday, February 17, 2017

Flash: The Haunting of Barry Allen

Flash: The Haunting of Barry Allen by Susan Griffith and Clay Griffith

My Favorite Quotes/Lines:

“Hey, you know what this means?” he said brightly. “We’ve both got arch-enemies! How many other fathers and sons can share something like that?”

“So I’m my own worst enemy.”

5 out of 5 gnomes

I love The Flash tv show so I knew I wated to read this story ASAP. I'm glad I did, the characters and story felt spot on. The multiple perspectives really immerse you into the story too. Plus, who doen't like a good team up story.

The bad guys are out in full force and things only get worse for Barry and the rest. There are plenty of twists, surprises and a mystery/problem that is catastrophic for a certain character.

This story is full of awesome character moments and the ending looks to be promising an exciting next book.

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Review - Joyride

Joyride by Anna Banks

* Read via NetGalley and checked out from the library too for review


My Favorite Quotes/Lines:

“But pessimism and reality are usually mistaken for each other.”

“But I’m not being a hero. I’m just being a human.”

“I wonder if everyone else notices how weird Arden Moss actually is.”

“He sniffs. “Look, I know I’ve pissed you off worse than an alligator in a bathtub.”

“I only eat animals out of the package.”

“I don’t fall for the mob mentality.”

“How can you predict what will happen when a tsunami collides with a hurricane?”

“I’m going to have to learn to deal with his dad a little better than pulling a knife on him every time he opens his mouth.”

“That’s what I figured. Pride sticks to that girl like a skinny tick.”

4 gnomes out of 5 gnomes

Reading this story now feels horribly timely. Let's face it immigration legal or otherwise is the political fireball that isn't going away.

Carly and Arden meet under very intense circumstances. Their relationship at first is pure antagonism. This antagonism leads to an interesting friendship full of pranks.

My favorite character is Uncle Cletus, he has a major flaw sure but he's still an intriguing guy.

The characters and relationships or lack of a relationship are well done and show how crazy a family can make you.

There are a lot of deep issues to work through here for both of them. The story is fun with hints of trouble/danger throughout. The real surprise here is who the bad guy is.

Overall a good book with a really strong conclusion.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Sentence Sneak Peek - Joyride

Joyride by Anna Banks

* Read via NetGalley and checked out from the library too for review



The first sentence from each chapter of Joyride, it's a mini summary of what you can expect to read.

* Spoilers are highlighted like so :)

“Mr. Shackleford shuffles in the front door of the Breeze Mart, jingling the bells tied to a velvet string on the handle.”


“The night did not go as Arden had reckoned it would.”


“I don’t actually breathe until Deputy Glass pulls out of our sandy driveway.”


“Carly Vega.”


“Arden leans in, spreading his palms flat on the table between us, hovering over his lunch tray like he’s protecting it from some unknown evil behind him.”


“Arden stares at the back of Carly’s head in American Lit, wondering how he’s going to revisit the very important subject of her becoming his accomplice now that it’s evident she hates his guts.”


“I step away from him, shaking my head.”


“Arden pulls into the long dirt driveway at 86 Weston Road.”


“I brace myself on the metal steps to the trailer; the door tends to stick when you open it and a few weeks ago I pulled too hard and found myself sprawled onto the broken concrete slab we call a porch.”


Deputy Glass pulls his cop car into the parking lot of the Breeze Mart.”


“Something like wasps flutter in my stomach when I see that Arden is holding me to my word.”


“Arden waits at their picnic table, trying not to appear as antsy as he feels.


“I hear Arden’s truck and feel the rumble on the dirt road.”


“Arden pulls into his uncle’s driveway, knowing he won’t be awake at the ungodly hour of seven o’clock in the morning.”


“Life sucks.”


“Arden slips into his seat in social studies and tries not to look at Carly, who is already doing a fantastic job of pretending that he doesn’t exist.”


“Sitting on Arden’s bed not as intimate as I thought it would be given his reputation.”


“Arden usually admires Carly’s fearlessness.”


“Well, that was traumatizing,” I say, slamming the truck door behind me.”


“Arden pulls up to the front steps of Uncle Cletus’s house and honks the horn.”


“I’m more than a little startled to find Julio sitting on the couch waiting for me when I get home.”


“Arden laces the string through the tab of the first empty soda can and Carly sucks in a breath.”


“The room has no windows, no creepy two-way mirrors.”


“Arden paces the six-by-four-foot interrogation room two strides at a time, waiting for his father, waiting for word on Carly, waiting for anything besides this vexing silence.


“The rain outside hits the metal roof of the trailer like BB gun pellets.”


“Arden adjusts the telescope in his room to look for Orion’s belt.”


“I take the new cell phone out of its box and marvel at it.


“Arden takes a huge swig from the water jug on the wooden bench.”


“I unpack a box of clothes and set it on the bed to fold and put away.”


“Arden perseveres down Cletus’s driveway, so awash with anger that if the moonlight was bright enough, his knuckles would show tighty whitey on the steering wheel.”


“Arden offers to make me a cup of coffee in what I assume is his mother’s fancy coffeemaker (Arden is too manly to have a fancy coffeemaker).”


“Carly won’t come out of the bathroom.


“The sound of the sheriff’s voice pulls me from my self-loathing trance.”


“She doesn’t like tea,” Arden tells Cletus.”


“I can barely wrap my arms around the box.”

“Arden pulls into the dirt driveway of Carly and Julio’s trailer.”

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Review - Long Way Home

Long Way Home by Katie McGarry

5 out of 5 gnomes

Such an awesome book and chock full of surprises. Violet and Chevy have always been complicated but this book brings everything to a head. Things get intense fast and you'll really be scared for the characters after they're put in a very bad situation.

Trust is vital and you'll definitely be wondering who the characters should trust/yelling at them to please talk it out. All the relationships continue to evolve and it’s great to see these characters change and grow.

Should have seen it in retrospect but I love how McGarry links the two book series together in this story. I'm just sad that the story ended before the big meeting. Here's hoping whatever book is next lets us learn even more about all the characters and concludes some dangling threads (aka I really want Addison to have a story.)

I don’t want to spoil anything but I just want to say that the ending was great and all the twists and turns to get to it were so well done.