Playing the Player by Lisa Brown Roberts

Posted on by lynndellwatson

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Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Playing the Player by Lisa Brown Roberts! This realistic fiction story introduces Trina and Slade. Two teenagers that seem to be polar opposites. Slade’s mother has set up a babysitting job for Slade in which he will be team-nannying with Trina. Slade’s mother feels that he needs help with his life-organization, goals and motivation, and she believes that Trina can accomplish these things. Trina seems on the verge of a nervous breakdown, especially when her schedule doesn’t work out exactly as planned. Slade seems a bit arrogant when he’s talking to his best friend Alex, but mellow at other times. About one-third of the way through the book, Trina starts opening up about her past and her worries, which helps with understanding her reasoning and intentions. Slade warms up to her and tries to become her friend. The book becomes more complicated and interesting the more it’s read. Trina and Slade are both stubborn and get so angry that they almost lose their relationship. The supporting characters add a lot of realism to the story and help pull the story together. 4 stars for the romantic fun!

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris

Posted on by lynndellwatson

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“Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.”

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris! I absolutely love this book and it was just what I needed to relax during a very busy schedule. Cat flies to Italy with her father and the woman he’s engaged to, Jenna. Jenna is planning an extravagant sweet sixteen celebration for Cat. Cat could care less about the party, but she’s thoroughly enjoying the trip to Italy. She has her fortune told, for fun, and walks out of the fortune teller’s tent into a different time. At first, Cat thinks the people around her are very good period actors. She soon realizes that she is someone else, Patience, in a different time, the Renaissance. I especially liked the part when she meets Michelangelo! This story is fun, suspenseful, interesting, contains dynamic characters and has just the right amount of romance to keep me interested and I am now looking forward to more works from Rachel Harris, 5 stars!

The Invisible Crown by Charlie Cottrell

Posted on by lynndellwatson

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I was invited to join the blog tour of Charlie Cottrell’s first full length novel, which will be published December 19, 2016!

“Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.”

Thanks to Royal James Publishing for the invitation to read and review The Invisible Crown by Charlie Cottrell. The Invisible Crown is the first full length novel about Eddie Hazzard, “the hard-boiled detective” in the Hazzard Pay series that Charlie Cottrell has written.

The Invisible Crown is a detective story involving a wife looking for her missing husband. Science fiction and humor add to this quick read detective story, 3.5 stars! The sci-fi in this novel includes interesting genetically modified characters and the humor is all Eddie Hazzard’s personality. These details make the book fun to read and leave you wanting more from the city of Arcadia!

Synopsis:

About The Invisible Crown:

The city of Arcadia is a craphole, but it’s my craphole. I’ve walked its streets my entire life, always searching for something: a purpose, a suspect, or a stiff drink. My name’s Eddie Hazzard, and I’m a hard-boiled detective. Yeah, laugh it up. It’s a ridiculous job description, but this is a ridiculous town. It’s full of every cliché you can imagine: corrupt city officials, police officers on the take, greedy businessmen, and crime so organized it has an accounting department, a health plan, and retirement benefits. Which is more than I can say for myself.”

Meet Eddie Hazzard: he’s tenacious, a certain kind of clever, and usually drunk. When a beautiful woman comes into his office and asks him to find her husband, Eddie takes the case because the alternative is having his creditors show up at his door and do terrible things to his limbs. But the case takes a series of bizarre turns, getting Eddie caught up in a tangled web of reluctant cops, sketchy businessmen, and shadowy crime bosses. The deeper he gets, the worse things look. Will Eddie solve the case? Will he save the day? Most importantly, will he get paid?

The Invisible Crown is the first full-length novel of a series featuring Detective Hazzard and the bizarre, bewildering array of tough mobsters, genetically-modified creeps, and ruthless scumbags who inhabit the city of Arcadia.

Inexcusable by Chris Lynch

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Before I read Inexcusable by Chris Lynch, I read reviews, the synopsis and the author’s reasoning for writing this book. The male main character and point of view was refreshing and a good change of pace. Keir is in denial about what he has done and he sifts through his life’s experiences and tries to justify the type of person he is. By the end of the story, Keir has shared many memories in between the spotlight on his inexcusable act against Gigi, who he claims to love. As the reader, you get to hear from his family members as well and see how they perceive Keir and his actions. I give this book 3.5 stars for a story that may be helpful to teens dealing with similar problems.

Cursing Fate

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Cursing Fate by Brenda Drake involves Iris, Aster’s younger sister. Iris and her relationships were thrown into chaos in Touching Fate when Aster learned that she is a fate changer. Now, in the sequel, Iris is being possessed by the young woman that caused the curse that ensured the death of any eighteen year old boy in Reese’s family line. I felt Iris’s struggle, through the author’s creative writing, and also her panic as Crina continually tried to take over Iris’ body! The people that care for Iris the most, knew something was wrong. Iris’s personality would instantly change, as well as how she spoke and in her lack of modern reference knowledge – such as soda. The story line in the Fate series is complex and contains plot twists and intrigue that pulled my interest to the point of not wanting to put the book down or the series to end! Some swearing and a young adult scene, just a heads up. 4 stars!

Stranded

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I read Stranded by Melinda Braun as a Riveted free read download. Thank you Riveted! The story instantly grabbed me, as someone is trapped in a vehicle underwater and struggling to escape is described in terrifying detail. Emma survives the car accident, but her sister Lucy does not. Emma has to deal with survivor’s guilt and the recurring nightmares of not being able to save Lucy. Her counselor tries to help Emma and, while sitting in the counselor’s waiting room, she sees a brochure describing a week long adventure. She believes that this is the answer to pull her back to life. The camp turns out to be adventurous and terrifying. A freak storm, injuries, a forest fire and wild animals threaten the campers’ survival. Intense and character building, the story has something for every reader to enjoy – 5 stars!

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

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Aaahhh, the joy of returning to the Wizarding World of J.K. Rowling! I watched the movie, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, before I read the screenplay. As I read this book, it was like re-watching the movie all over again, plus a bit more! I actually became teary-eyed because of pure happiness. It is so good to have a story written totally by J.K. Rowling that once again transforms reality into a wonderfully creative fantasy! The story curiously brings us to America, as we watch Newt Scamander trying to control his briefcase and immediately the action begins with interesting creatures, characters and thrills! Highly recommended, especially if you want a bit more insight and if you also want to relive the movie – 5 stars!

Oh, Ick! 114 Science Experiments Guaranteed to Gross You Out!

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“Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.”

Thanks to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for the opportunity to read and review Oh, Ick!: 114 Science Experiments Guaranteed to Gross You Out! by Joy Masoff! This book is interesting, humorous and educational for all ages! Includes hands-on activities, tasty but disgusting snack recipes and cartoons detailing the what’s, why’s and how’s of science in the world around us – 5 stars!