Friday, May 28, 2021

Strong Like the Sea Promo

 


Strong Like the Sea

by Wendy S. Swore


Publication Date: 5/25/21

Hardcover

ISBN: 9781629729022

Retail Price: $16.99

Page Count: 304

Juvenile Fiction

Cover Illustration: Mercé Lòpez

Book Design: © Shadow Mountain

Art Direction: Richard Erickson

Design: Emily Remington


Synopsis:


Even though twelve-year-old Alexis was born in Hawaii, she won’t surf or swim with her friends—not since the ocean and its hidden creatures swept her out to sea. Instead, she grabs her best detective hat and decodes her mom’s latest challenge.


Alex’s mom works in counterintelligence and leaves codes, ciphers, and puzzles behind for Alex to solve, always with a “treasure” at the end. It’s a brilliant game between them, and Alex loves figuring out her mom’s puzzles—especially the tricky ones—but when an emergency at sea puts her mom in possible danger, solving the next one suddenly feels far more urgent.


Friends help as Alex races to decipher each clue before time runs out, but when the trail leads to grumpy old Uncle, his enormous dog Sarge, and a sea turtle unlike any other, the challenge changes into something bigger than any before. With storms on the horizon and lives on the line, Alex must face her fears to solve Mom’s challenge and save those she loves. With her ohana to help, she must be strong like the sea.


Featuring a secret ocean code with a hidden message for YOU to decipher!


 


About the Author:

Wendy S. Swore and her family are farmers. She writes part-time, particularly in winter when her farming chores give her time to plant seeds in her imagination. Her debut novel, A Monster Like Me, was the 2019 Gold Winner for Juvenile Fiction from Foreword Reviews. She is a member of SCBWI.


Wendy S. Swore is the author of A Monster Like Me, nominee of the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award, the Oklahoma Sequoyah Award and winner of the Foreword Reviews Indie Gold Award for Juvenile Fiction.



Advanced Praise:


“Swore packs this story about a curious, competitive girl full of moving themes and vivid imagery. Alex's resiliency, strong mindedness, and intelligence carries her through her worries. Swore's descriptions of Alex's anxieties ring true, and elements of mystery, ecology, and personal growth give this tightly constructed novel plenty of appeal.”

-Booklist


“Exciting story features lush descriptions of Hawaii. An intriguing mystery. Themes of family (both found and blood) at its heart.”

-School Library Journal


GIVEAWAY:

Wendy Swore on Instagram: “🎉 Giveaway! I am teaming up with @endlessfairytales to give away my new novel, STRONG LIKE THE SEA, to two lucky winners! . 📚What you will…”


       


Monday, May 24, 2021

The Firebird Song Promo



The Firebird Song

The Kingdom of Lyrica was once warm and thriving, kept safe by the Firebird, whose feather and song was a blessing of peace and prosperity. But the Firebird disappeared, and Lyrica is now terrorized by the evil Spectress who wields her powers from within a volcano. All that remains is a mysterious message scrawled on the castle wall in the Queen's own hand: Wind. Woman. Thief.


Young Prewitt has only known time without the Firebird, a life of constant cold, as his village is afraid to tempt the volcano monsters with even the feeblest fire. But he has heard whispers that the kingdom's princess survived the attack . . . and he is certain that if he can find her, together they can save Lyrica.

Princess Calliope has no memories beyond living on her barge on the underground lake. But as she nears her twelfth birthday, she is certain there is more to life than the walls of a cave. When Prewitt finds her, he realizes that she is the missing princess: the only hope for Lyrica. Determined to decipher the meaning of her mother's strange message and find the Firebird, Calliope and Prewitt set off on a quest that puts them in more danger than either of them ever anticipated.


Arnée Flores is a Vietnamese-American transracial adoptee. She has been a classical pianist, a Montessori preschool teacher, a waitress, and a student. She lives in Seattle with her husband, daughter, and a fluffy white dog called the Professor.









Saturday, May 22, 2021

THE LAST FALLEN STAR Book Tour

 THE LAST FALLEN STAR



About the Book:

Title: THE LAST FALLEN STAR

Author: Graci Kim

Pub. Date: May 4, 2021

Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 336

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org


Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Graci Kim's thrilling debut about an adopted Korean-American girl who discovers her heritage and her magic on a perilous journey to save her witch clan family.

"Graci Kim does such an amazing job of blending Korean mythology into the modern world, I am now wondering how I ever lived without knowing all this cool information."--New York Times #1 best-selling author Rick Riordan

 

Riley Oh can't wait to see her sister get initiated into the Gom clan, a powerful lineage of Korean healing witches their family has belonged to for generations. Her sister, Hattie, will earn her Gi bracelet and finally be able to cast spells without adult supervision. Although Riley is desperate to follow in her sister's footsteps when she herself turns thirteen, she's a saram--a person without magic. Riley was adopted, and despite having memorized every healing spell she's ever heard, she often feels like the odd one out in her family and the gifted community.


Then Hattie gets an idea: what if the two of them could cast a spell that would allow Riley to share Hattie's magic? Their sleuthing reveals a promising incantation in the family's old spell book, and the sisters decide to perform it at Hattie's initiation ceremony. If it works, no one will ever treat Riley as an outsider again. It's a perfect plan!


Until it isn't. When the sisters attempt to violate the laws of the Godrealm, Hattie's life ends up hanging in the balance, and to save her Riley has to fulfill an impossible task: find the last fallen star. But what even is the star, and how can she find it?


As Riley embarks on her search, she finds herself meeting fantastic creatures and collaborating with her worst enemies. And when she uncovers secrets that challenge everything she has been taught to believe, Riley must decide what it means to be a witch, what it means to be family, and what it really means to belong.


Praise for The Last Fallen Star

“The Last Fallen Star folds Korean culture as well as diaspora feelings into a magical adventure. The way Graci Kim takes traditions and lore and incorporates them into an exciting contemporary fantasy setting makes my heart soar as a Korean reader. This fantastical story is filled with heart and humor. Readers who love magical adventures, complex family relationships, and sisterhood—not to mention food!—should pick up THE LAST FALLEN STAR immediately!"—Kat Cho, internationally best-selling author of Vicious Spirits

“Korean mythology gets a modern twist in this rollicking adventure by debut author Graci Kim. From entering a secret temple by way of the fried chicken counter at H-Mart to summoning a goddess at the Santa Monica Pier, every chapter of this novel delights and surprises. At times laugh-out-loud hilarious, at times heartwarming and poignant, The Last Fallen Star will capture the imaginations of readers for years to come!”—Axie Oh, author of Rebel Seoul and Rogue Heart

“Reading The Last Fallen Star is like taking a course in Korean mythology taught by your favorite teacher ever—while riding a gigantic roller coaster beneath a sky filled with shooting stars! I loved following Riley's thrilling adventures, and pass the bulgogi tacos, please.”—Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist for A Single Shard

“Like a true magician, Graci Kim intertwines Korean mythology with an all-too-relatable sister story in her heart-stopping adventure that's sure to capture the heart of anyone who's ever felt like an outsider. You can't help but root for plucky Riley Oh as she engages on a quest to find belonging and acceptance.” —Jessica Kim, author of Stand Up, Yumi Chung! 

"I wish I could go back in time and hand this book to young Ellen. I would have loved it so much, because this was what I was missing in my life. Thank you, Graci, for writing it!"—Ellen Oh, author of The Dragon Egg Princess and the Spirit Hunters series

"The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim absolutely shines. Riley Oh's positive voice is infectious and will have readers wanting to follow her adventures long after the last page is turned." -- Zoraida Córdova, award-winning author of the Brooklyn Brujas series

 

My Review will be late still working on the book! So far I love it!


About Graci: 

Graci Kim is a Korean-Kiwi diplomat turned author who writes about the magic she wants to see in the world. The Last Fallen Star is her middle grade debut. In a previous life she used to be a cooking show host, and she once ran a business that turned children's drawings into plushies. When she's not lost in her imagination, you'll find Graci drinking flat whites, eating ramyeon, and most likely hugging a dog (or ideally, many). She lives in New Zealand with her husband and daughter. Follow her on Twitter @gracikim and Instagram @gracikimwrites.


Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon



Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of THE LAST FALLEN STAR, US Only.

Rafflecopter link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21270/?


Friday, May 21, 2021

Girl from Nowhere, Season 1 (netflix)

 Girl from Nowhere, Season 1 (netflix)



Nanno is a mysterious and clever girl who should be avoided when she's in the area. She transfers to different schools, and when she lands at a new institution, she exposes the lies and misdeeds of the students and faculty at every turn. The girls Nanno encounters often want to try to destroy her, but she always has the upper hand. When a student with a girlfriend gets mistakenly linked to Nanno, he becomes a social media sensation. After the truth about Nanno's high school life is revealed, she makes sure there are no happy endings.



My Review of just Season one:
I mean do I mean to leave a full review... this show is strange af, and I'll keep watching it!

Monday, May 10, 2021

Ascenders Blog Tour

 

Walker Callaghan doesn't know what happened to her. One minute she was living her teenage life in suburban Chicago...and the next minute, she was in a strange place and in a brand new school with absolutely no homework, no rules, and no consequences.


Walker Callaghan, 17, is dead.


She doesn't go to heaven or hell. She lands at The Academy, a middle realm where teenagers have one thing in common: They were the morning announcement at their high schools because they died young.


These high school kids are now caught in a strange “in-between” zone where life hasn’t changed very much. In fact, this special teen limbo looks a lot like life in a quaint Michigan town complete with jocks, popular girls and cliques. "There are even cheerleaders in death," Walker observes. It's not a coincidence that the music teacher is a guy named Kurt who "used to have this band." The drama teacher, Heath, is crush worthy because back in his life, he starred in some superhero movie.


Principal King explains the rules -- there are none. Why? You can't die twice.


There is no homework.

No tests.

No SATS.

You're just there to learn because the human brain isn't fully formed until you're 24.


By the way, you can't get hurt physically, so race your Harley off that hillside. But falling in love is the most dangerous thing you can do ...because no one knows how long you'll stay in this realm or what's next.


Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25392606-high-school-for-the-recently-departed


Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VF8EHP0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glc_3QXKWH645B6558M4X8XN


Website: ascenderssaga.com


Twitter: https://twitter.com/clgaber


Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7854535.C_L_Gaber

Instagram: https://instagram.com/clgaber


Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/authorclgaber/


Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/C.-L.-Gaber/e/B00HXVMFOI%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share?ref_=d6k_applink_bb_dls


 hosted by Terminal Tours.


My Review: Soon to Come!

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Isabelle and Alexander Spotlight

 


Isabelle and Alexander

by Rebecca Anderson

Publication Date: 5/4/21
Paperback
ISBN: 9781629728476
Retail Price: $15.99
Page Count: 368
Proper Romance Victorian
Cover Art: Mark Owen / ArcAngel
Book Design: © Shadow Mountain
Art Direction: Richard Erickson
Design: Heather G. Ward


Synopsis:

Manchester, 1850

Isabelle Rackham knows she will not marry for love. Though arranged marriages have fallen out of fashion, hers has been settled for some time. Alexander Osgood is handsome, well-known, and wealthy, but he is distant and aloof, spending much of his time at his textile mill.

Moreover, Northern England is nothing like Isabelle's home in the Lake Country, and her marriage is far from the fairy tale she expected. Conversations with Alexander are awkward, when they happen at all, and Isabelle struggles with loneliness.

Sensing his wife's unhappiness, Alexander brings Isabelle to his country estate. During their time together, the couple begins to build a friendship, opening up to each other about the details of their lives. But when a tragic accident leaves Alexander unable to walk, their fledgling relationship is tested.

Isabelle is determined to see to her husband's recovery, and in caring for him, she discovers within herself an untapped well of strength and courage. In learning to rely on each other, the couple has an opportunity to forge a love connection that they both have longed for but never dreamed could be.

========================================================
 About the Author:
By night, Rebecca Anderson writes historical romances. By day, she sets aside her pseudonym and resumes her life as Becca Wilhite: teacher, happy wife, and a mom to four above-average kids. She loves hiking, Broadway shows, food, books, and movies. 

You can find her online at beccawilhite.com

For author interview requests, please contact Callie Hansen at chansen@shadowmountain.com

Advanced Praise:

“Anderson’s first foray into historical romance is an atypical, yet satisfying story set in Victorian Manchester’s upper middle class. Hand this to readers looking for a book that navigates the peaks and valleys of two strangers attempting to make a life together despite the hardships life throws at them.”
-Library Journal
 
“Isabelle transitions from an unaware, leisure-class woman to a more enlightened spouse and supporter of the working class. Intimacy and romance develop between Isabelle and Alexander because of simple gestures, like a long look or a thoughtful gift, and their conversations. Their slow, stately courting is reader appropriate for any age or audience. Manchester also gets its due as a place of grit and incredible production. Descriptions of bustling mills reveal their impact on the couple’s family and its fortunes. Isabelle and Alexander is an intimate and touching romance novel that focuses on women’s lives in the business class of industrial England.”
-Foreword Reviews
 
“Isabelle must use her quiet spunk, busy mind, and compassionate spirit to woo her husband in a wholly new way. Anderson's debut is a lovely northern England Victorian romance about confronting the seemingly impossible and the power of empathy. Anderson also addresses the time period’s treatment of physical and intellectual disabilities. Most of all, she beautifully depicts love in its many forms beyond romance, such as compassion, patience, and vulnerability; and her characters illustrate the ways that these expressions of love carry us through even the darkest hours. Isabelle’s loving and persevering fervor and devotion will resonate with any caregiver’s heart.”
-Booklist
========================================================

Purchase Links:
https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781629728476
https://www.amazon.com/Isabelle-Alexander-Proper-Romance-Victorian/dp/1629728470/
https://deseretbook.com/p/isabelle-and-alexander
https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Isabelle-Alexander/Rebecca-Anderson/9781629728476
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Proper-Romance-Victorian-Isabelle-and-Alexander-Paperback-9781629728476/585705588
https://bookshop.org/books/isabelle-and-alexander/9781629728476


http://www.shadowmountain.com/