Showing posts with label young adult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label young adult. Show all posts

February 18, 2025

Of Threads and Oceans Blog Tour: Guest Post + Giveaway

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the OF THREADS AND OCEANS by Camilla Tracy Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

OF THREADS AND OCEANS
Author: Camilla Tracy
Release Date: August 17, 2023
Publisher: Pudel Threads Publishing
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 326

Find it: Goodreadshttps://geni.us/OfThreadsandOceans

Description:

An exceptional life leads to extraordinary challenges. Especially with a tiger, dog, and snake.

In a world of ancient secrets and mystical powers, Thali, a famed merchant’s daughter conceals her true identity. After her brother’s sudden death, Thali must stay safe and navigate a new school and unfamiliar faces. As she struggles with whom to trust, strange things start to happen around her, and the animals refuse to be ignored as she’s tempted by the draw of her own magic.

Every day threatens to expose her secrets as she’s torn between embracing her magic and remaining in the shadows. Especially when she meets a mysterious boy who is a match for her in all forms. With her friends, magic, and identity at stake, Thali must confront the truth she has been avoiding.

As Thali battles her inner demons and the mysteries of an ancient world unravel around her, will Thali embrace her true self and harness her magic’s potential, or will she succumb to the evil dangers that lie ahead?


 

Top 5 Favorite Movies

Mulan

This was the first time I saw Asian representation in main stream media. There are so many cultural things I could relate to, but I think my favorite is when Mushu presents Mulan’s breakfast of congee with eggs and bacon. I don’t think I’ve ever had bacon in my congee, but I’ve definitely had egg in it, and you can take it in many directions with all kinds of add ins.

Bride and Prejudice

I can’t explain it, I absolutely adore this movie and have watched it dozens of time. I love Pride and Predjudice (the super long BBC version with Colin Firth is my personal preference), but sometimes I don’t have the time and want my P&P hit in a shorter version and this is the playful, super fun and colorful version that is like a mug of hot tea on a cold snowy day.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

While I’m not Greek, there were so many relatable moments I found here. That moussaka scene? I literally went through the same moment with some home made cucumber rolls when I was an elementary kid.

Encanto

I could rewatch Encanto a thousand times. I love the music, the stories, the characters – I want to BE Antonio so badly. I also LOVE Luisa. It’s such a beautiful story with so many touching moments and deeper meanings.

Barbie

I honestly think that just like The Importance of Being Earnest is an exaggerated representation of life at the time, Barbie is the movie that represents the 21st century. I never liked barbies as a kid, actually I hated all dolls (they made my uncomfortable), so I was hesitant to see the movie. When I did though, I went through the gamut of emotions and I thought it was such a poignant and important film to our generation.

Top 5 Favorite Board Games

It is a GREAT time to get into board games. There are so many types and kinds and artwork associated with them, there’s something for everyone. If the last one you played was monopoly, scrabble, or Life, (not that there’s anything wrong with them), it’s time to dive back in because it’s a HUGE world!

Skyrise  

Not only was I a lucky duck and won this beautiful edition of this game, but I love how different it is as it’s kind of an auction game, but even if you lose all the auctions, you still have a chance to win the game as a whole! Also, the pieces for the edition are beautiful and fun to handle.

Settlers of Catan  

This is the gateway game that got me back into board games and the wide world it is. I love a good long term strategy, where you can’t mess with each other too much.

Dog Park  

Remember when I said that there are all kinds and types with all kinds of artwork? This is a great game with beautiful artwork done of various dog breeds and it’s fun to play with fun little bone pieces to play with. You get to collect, walk, and show dogs.

Clank

I love this game because it’s cuter than the usual dungeon crawling. You’ve got to go down into the dungeons to grab some fancy artifacts without waking the dragon – but you’re all a little clumsy. And then when someone makes it out, it’s a rush to make sure you don’t get buried alive underground!

Scout 

Scout is a new card game I’ve just started playing and I’ll admit the first round was confusing, but the more I play it, the more complex the strategy is and since it’s kind of chance what you get to work with, I feel like it’s low stakes pressure.

Top 5 Writer Must Haves

Mood music: Lately, I’ve been into Imagine Dragons while I edit and get business stuff done. I’m finding it energizing and motivating to get my tasks moving. But, I can’t write with lyrics playing. So while I’m writing, it’s always instrumental, and lately, it’s been this fantasy instrumental list that helps me get my words in. 

Beverages: At least two drinks, maybe three. Water to hydrate, something fun like tea or coffee, and a protein drink for nutrition to keep yourself going through your those writing sprints. I believe it’s known as being a drink goblin and I am definitely that.

A favorite pen: My favorite pen is the Sarasa zebra gel pen in blue. Whether it’s to make notes, write something down to remember later (like the color of a dress in a scene), a pen you love using makes it all the more lovely to do.

Favorite notebook: Now I know I can’t be the only one who collects notebooks and is usually too afraid to use them. But just like it can be a pleasure to write with your favorite pen, it’s also a pleasure to write ON your favorite paper – the smoothness, the thickness, please tell me I’m not the only one.

Furry friend: please don’t get a furry friend if you don’t already have one, or weren’t planning on getting one. Or maybe get a stuffed animal friend. I’m an animal person through and through, but I do think they make the best office co-habitators. My doggos remind me to get up and empty my bladder, stretch, and move around. I also love to grab a few treats for a quick training session for a mental break. And there’s nothing better than doggie snuggles!

Many of us readers/writers have pets and while they make great snuggle buddies and reading companions, if you’ve ever wanted something quick to do with your dog (or cat), I’ve put on my other hat as a pet professional to give you a few things to try below:

Five quick games to play with your dog:

Treat hunt: put your dog in another room, put three-five treats in little piles around your space – the easiest is in the middle of an open space, the more difficult being near furniture corners. Let your dog use their sniffer to find and eat the treats!

What do you know: Does your dog know the hand signal, or the verbal cue? Try asking for a sit – both verbally first, and then with your hand signal and see which your dog listens to fastest. This one gives you homework to know which you need more practice with.

Random tricks: Write each of the behaviors your dog knows on a cue card, shuffle them up and pull each out at random to see which you should practice. Or make it fancy by seeing how many you can do in a row!

Nose boop: Put a treat in your hand. Close your hand around it and place your hand right in front of your dog’s nose. When they move to investigate and touch your hand – open your hand and let them eat the treat! Once your dog practices this a few times, make it harder by moving your hand further away, or to the left/right, or up/down. 

Good dog: Dogs don’t usually like to be pet, especially a hand touching the top of their head. But you can teach them it’s awesome! Pat your dog’s head and then give them a treat. You’re creating a positive association with touching the top of their head! You can do this with touching their collar too. Because usually, when we grab our dog’s collar, we take them away from the fun thing, so many dogs learn to shy away when a hand moves in.

Bonus: Recall: The power of your dog’s name comes from all the previous instances – and what happened after. Grab ten treats, call your dog to you, give them one from your hand and toss the second treat away from you. Takes seconds and you’ve just put five great coins into the ‘come when I call your name’ account. 

Camilla is a lover of many mediums of storytelling. She loves to write YA fantasy with strong heroines who can kick butt, find love, and adventure with their animals sidekicks. She always has projects on the go and loves to consume stories of all kinds – books, shows, movies, plays, amongst many others.

When she is not writing, Camilla is often found exploring animal behavior, crafting, drinking a hot beverage, and clicker training her animals.

Sign up for Camilla’s newsletter!

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

(2) winners will receive a book box with a finished copy of OF THREADS AND OCEANS & swag - US & Canada Only.

Ends March 4th, midnight EST.


Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/17/2025

Two Chicks on Books

Interview/IG Post

2/17/2025

Fire and Ice

Guest Post/IG Post

2/18/2025

@hardcovers.withhans

IG Post

2/18/2025

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt

2/19/2025

Frugal Freelancer

Guest Post/IG Post

2/19/2025

Daily Waffle

Guest Post

2/20/2025

Ilovebooksandstuffblog

Review/IG Post

2/20/2025

@kimbartosch

Review/IG Post

2/21/2025

Readwithrolo

IG Review/TikTok Post

2/21/2025

@thepageladies

IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Two:

2/24/2025

Lifestyle of Me

Review

2/24/2025

More Books please blog

Review/IG Post

2/25/2025

Mom with a Reading Problem

Review/Facebook Post

2/25/2025

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Post/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

2/26/2025

Edith's Little Free Library

IG Post/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

2/26/2025

@callistoscalling

IG Review

2/27/2025

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

2/27/2025

Pagesforpaige

IG Review

2/28/2025

@lexijava

IG Review/TikTok Post

2/28/2025

@alexandriavwilliams_

IG Review


February 13, 2024

Kill Call Blog Tour: Guest Post + Giveaway

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the KILL CALL by Jeff Wooten Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!


KILL CALL
Author: Jeff Wooten
Release Date: February 20, 2024
Publisher: CamCat Books
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 320

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/KILL-CALL

Dreams do come true. It’s Jude's job to make sure they don’t.

Born with the curse of prophetic nightmares, Jude sees violent murders through the eyes of the killer before they happen. His father, who shares Jude’s dark gift, has trained Jude since birth to save the innocent and to kill the killer. A life for a life―it’s the only way.

But everything goes awry when Hanna Smith, the young woman he was supposed to save, rescues herself instead, and catches Jude in her home. Fate isn’t inescapable, but it demands balance. While Hanna may be safe for now, Jude knows that the killer will strike again, only next time there will be no warning. Jude must now find the killer on his own, without the visions to aid him, in order to carry out the task he’s been training for before it’s too late.

 Book Playlist

Music affects our brains. It’s verifiable with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. When we listen to music, our limbic system lights up like an American sky on the 4th of July. The limbic system is a set of brain structures that filter and affect emotions. As a physical therapist, we see positive reactions with patients with dementia when we let them listen to music. The exact relationship between cognitive function and music is unclear, but it is undeniable.

I say all this to say this. Music makes me want to write. Music inspires me to write. Music motivates me to write.

I understand that some writers can’t have music playing while they work. And that is what it is, but for me, I’m not sure I would have written KILL CALL or anything I’ve written if not for music.

Specifically, eighties alternative. That music puts me in a state of creativity instantly. Not sure why. Maybe because I was a little kid in the eighties. It gives me a sense of nostalgia that just makes me happy. Also, it’s amazing music. Give me a song that tells a story like Human League’s, Don’t You Want Me.

You know it, come on sing it with me:

You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar

Right? Good stuff.

It’s the first music I remember, too. I firmly believe you will be a fan of the music you grew up with for the rest of your life. You may like other music, but that music from 5ish to 25ish will be with you forever.

The other music I listen to while writing is the Pandora channel Hipster Barbeque.

This one is anyone’s guess. I’m not positive what a hipster is, but I am certain I ain’t one of them. No hate, just facts. I do enjoy a good barbeque, though, but I need to know who’s bringing the potato salad, because I’m very particular about my potato based salads.

Jeff Wooten lives in Arkansas with his wife, three kids, and one dog. He is a physical therapist that works with adults and kids with orthopedic issues.

Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon

 



(1) winner will receive a finished copy of KILL CALL - US Only.

Ends March 15th, midnight EST.


Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/12/2024

Writer of Wrongs

Excerpt/IG Post

2/13/2024

A Dream Within A Dream

Guest Post

2/14/2024

Kountry Girl Bookaholic

Excerpt/IG Post

2/15/2024

@darkfantasyreviews

IG Post

2/16/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Post/TikTok Post

2/17/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Guest Post/IG Post

Week Two:

2/18/2024

YA Books Central

Interview/IG Post

2/19/2024

Little Red Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

2/20/2024

Callisto’s calling

IG Review

2/21/2024

@dana.loves.books

IG Review/TikTok Post

2/22/2024

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Blog Spotlight/IG Spotlight

2/23/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

2/24/2024

@bookish_aly_cat

IG Post

Week Three:

2/25/2024

Review Thick And Thin

Review/IG Post

2/26/2024

@books.mo.reads

Review/IG Post

2/27/2024

@thepagelady

IG Review

2/28/2024

Books and Zebras

IG Review

2/29/2024

The Momma Spot

Review

3/1/2024

@anitralovesbooksanddogs

IG Review

3/2/2024

@evergirl200

IG Review

Week Four:

3/3/2024

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

3/4/2024

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

3/5/2024

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

3/6/2024

@enjoyingbooksagain

IG Review

3/7/2024

Confessions Of The Perfect Mom

Review/IG Post

3/8/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post




October 26, 2023

Book Review: Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall

Bittersweet in the Hollow
Author: Kate Pearsall
Genre: YA Fantasy/Mystery
Release Date: October 10, 2023
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Description:

In this beautifully dark and enthralling YA, four sisters with unusual talents investigate a mysterious disappearance in their secluded Appalachian town. For fans of House of Hollow and Wilder Girls!

In rural Caball Hollow, surrounded by the vast National Forest, the James women serve up more than fried green tomatoes at the Harvest Moon diner, where the family recipes are not the only secrets.

Like her sisters, Linden was born with an unusual ability. She can taste what others are feeling, but this so-called gift soured her relationship with the vexingly attractive Cole Spencer one fateful night a year ago... A night when Linden vanished into the depths of the Forest and returned with no memories of what happened, just a litany of questions--and a haze of nightmares that suggest there's more to her story than simply getting lost.

Now, during the hottest summer on record, another girl in town is gone, and the similarities to last year's events are striking. Except, this time the missing girl doesn't make it home, and when her body is discovered, the scene unmistakably spells murder.

As tempers boil over, Linden enlists the help of her sisters to find what's hiding in the forest... before it finds her. But as she starts digging for truth--about the Moth-Winged Man rumored to haunt the Hollow, about her bitter rift with Cole, and even about her family--she must question if some secrets are best left buried.
 


Bittersweet in the Hollow is the first book in a captivating new young adult fantasy series that will have readers eagerly turning pages until the very end. It's been a while since I've enjoyed a book as much as this one. It was a lovely breath of fresh air for the genre. I really enjoyed everything about this book from the characters and the setting to the plot and the themes.

I loved Linden as the main character in the book. She's down to earth, strong, brave, smart, a loving daughter and sister, and fiercely protective of her family and those she cares about. She has her flaws, like everyone, but it only makes her more realistic and easy to identify with. I connected with her right from the first page of the book and felt like I was right beside her throughout the story.  I liked watching Linden grow and come into her own during the story. She ran into a lot of obstacles and trials she had to overcome, but ended up finding the strength within herself and relying on those closest to her. The secondary characters are all well-rounded with their own distinct personalities and traits. I enjoyed getting to know each of them and watching their lives unfold.

The plot was interesting in multiple ways. The author blended several genres together - fantasy, contemporary, folklore, romance, thriller, and mystery - to create something fresh and new. There were a lot of layers in the story but they all worked together seamlessly. I absolutely loved the magic/witchcraft that was infused into the story. How Linden's family all have special gifts or abilities and how they always refer to "the old ways." How the women in their family have always been different and how their wisdom has been passed down through each generation. I got major "Practical Magic" vibes more than once during the book, which made me smile each time. The story definitely had similarities to that book and it comes through quite a bit. I also enjoyed the thriller/mystery part of the story, especially with the folklore of the Moth-Winged Man. It kept me guessing right up until the reveal, which is impressive because I can normally guess things pretty quickly.

Overall, this was an awesome debut and a fantastic first book in a new YA fantasy series and I'm already counting down until the next book comes out. Highly recommended for fans of YA fantasy, romance, contemporary fiction, mysteries, and readers who like books about witches and magic.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

 

July 17, 2023

I Am Not Alone Blog Tour: Guest Post + Giveaway

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the I AM NOT ALONE by Francisco X. Stork Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

I AM NOT ALONE
Author: Francisco X. Stork
Release Date: July 18, 2023
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 242

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/I-AM-NOT-ALONE, Amazon

Award-winning author Francisco X. Stork revisits some of the themes and ideas that made Marcelo in the Real World such an unforgettable novel.

Alberto’s life isn't easy: He's an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who lives with his sister's abusive boyfriend―but he'd always accepted his place in the world. Until he starts hearing the voice of a man called Captain America, a voice that wants him to achieve more, no matter the cost.

Grace has it all: She has a supportive boyfriend, she’s on track to be valedictorian, and she’s sure to go to the college of her dreams. Still, nothing feels right to her any more after the divorce of her parents, and feels she needs something more.

When Alberto and Grace meet, they have an immediate and electric connection. But when Alberto is present at the scene of a terrible crime, he becomes a suspect. And with his developing schizophrenia, he’s not even sure he believes in his own innocence.

Can Grace find a way to prove Alberto’s innocence to himself and the world?

This is a page-turning thriller and a sensitive story about mental health, love, and community that will appeal to anyone who has struggled with their place in the world, from award-winning author Francisco X. Stork.

Reviews:

An affecting, deeply emotional story. An important book. -- Booklist, starred review

Albertos suspected schizophrenia makes him heartbreakingly susceptible to both the best and worst of humanity. An illuminatingly powerful story about mental illness, young love, faith, and hope. -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"The narrative’s high-stakes conflicts are front and center, [but] it’s the sheer sweetness of Alberto and Grace’s love story that sets the tone of this hopeful read." -- Publishers Weekly

Top 5 Favorite Scenes and Why

There’s always a scene from my books that stays with me and that I return to now and then and read as if it were written by someone else (someone a lot wiser than me!). From Marcelo in the Real World, I go back to the conversation between Marcelo and Rabbi Heschel, where Marcelo reveals that he is losing his faith in God. What Rabbi Heschel tells him about her faith has always inspired me with hope.

Francisco X. Stork is the author of Marcelo in the Real World, winner of the Schneider Family Book Award for Teens and the Once Upon a World Award; The Last Summer of the Death Warriors, which was named to the YALSA Best Fiction for Teens list and won the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award; IrisesThe Memory of Light, which received four starred reviews; and Disappeared, which also received four starred reviews and was named a Kirkus Best Book of the Year. He lives near Boston with his wife. You can find him on the web at franciscostork.com and @StorkFrancisco.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

(1) winner will receive a finished copy of I AM NOT ALONE - US Only.

Ends August 1st, midnight EST.


Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/17/2023

YA Books Central

Interview/IG Post

7/17/2023

A Dream Within A Dream

Guest Post

7/18/2023

Character Madness and Musings

Guest Post

7/18/2023

Two Chicks on Books

Guest Post/IG Post

7/19/2023

Wishful Endings

Guest Postt/IG Post

7/19/2023

@evergirl200

IG Review

7/20/2023

Review Thick And Thin

Review/IG Post

7/20/2023

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

7/21/2023

Fieldstone_lfl

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic

7/21/2023

@allyluvsbooksalatte

IG Review

Week Two:

7/24/2023

Brandi Danielle Davis

IG Review/TikTok Post

7/24/2023

Books With a Chance

Review/IG Post

7/25/2023

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

7/25/2023

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

7/26/2023

OneMoreExclamation

Review/IG Post

7/26/2023

Two Points of Interest

Review

7/27/2023

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

7/27/2023

@gsreadingspree

IG Review

7/28/2023

@froggyreadteach

IG Review

7/28/2023

@dharashahauthor

IG Post