Happy BOOK BIRTHDAY WEEK to... Threat of the Spider by Michael P. Spradlin - REVIEW!

It's almost that time again.

Time for another BOOK BIRTHDAY celebration, and while this one actually takes place TOMORROW, I figured why not spark up the anticipation today.  😉  So, if you're a fan of Historical Fiction, and are looking for a story from a younger perspective that takes place during a heavy time in history, today's featured title is right up your alley.  Take a closer look between the pages of...

Threat of the Spider

The Web of the Spider series, Book 2

by

Michael P. Spradlin

9781665947213

Margaret K. McElderry Books

Release Date: 06/24/25

About the book...

Ansel has never been afraid to say what’s on his mind. He’s always the first among his friends to speak up when something doesn’t feel right. When the Hitler Youth first set up shop in Heroldsberg the year before, Ansel quickly made enemies of the chapter’s arrogant leader, Hans. Of course, Ansel is also twelve years old, so he spends much of his time reading his favorite Dirk Goodly, Boy Detective novels and trying to make his friends laugh.

But more and more of his classmates have been swayed by Hans’s tactics and the Youth organization is growing throughout the city. Ansel knows that Hans and his group are spreading false information—after all, Ansel’s father is a journalist for the local paper and has been going toe to toe with Nazi propaganda for a long time.

Then Ansel’s father goes missing right before a prominent Nazi leader comes to town. With the local police in the Nazi’s pocket, can Ansel and his friends use their detective skills to find his father and thwart the Nazi’s plans to suppress the truth?

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This is the SECOND INSTALLMENT in The Web of the Spider series and picks up just where the first left off.  Does that mean you can't read them out of order?  No, I think it works as a standalone, but then again the length of the stories definitely lends more heft to reading them BOTH, you know?  😉  Anywho...

In this second installment, we are back with our friends, but this time, it's not Romer and Rolf who are the focus.  This time, we're seeing the story more so from the eyes of Ansel.  He's got a unique perspective as well because his father is a reporter and definitely not a sympathizer with the enemy, so the stakes are high for the whole family.  The Hitler Youth are taking a firmer hold in the area, and, with the impending visit of a higher up in command, so are bigger players in this violent "game".  While one can say to stick to your convictions, it's hard in the face of evil, and some succumb to the peer pressure.  Luckily, that's not the case for our friend group here, and extra lucky for Ansel's father who ends up an unexpected pawn in a game he wasn't even playing.  

The danger is high and the risks are real, but so is the history behind it all.  It's important to know the "ugly" that transpired to learn the lesson and carry forward the truth, so it's not repeated in another generation.  It's also important to know that even in the midst of darkness, light can be found.  Friendship can still blossom.  Hearts can still beat fast.  Justice can still be fought for.  Good can still triumph over evil...one instance at a time.  A great pick for fans of the genre, as well as kiddos trying to get a firmer grasp on the past.

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About the author...

Michael P. Spradlin is the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author of the Spy Goddess series, The Youngest Templar series, and the Web of the Spider series, as well as several works of historical fiction, including the Western Heritage Award–winning Off Like the Wind: The Story of the Pony Express. He currently resides in Lapeer, Michigan, with his wife, daughter, and his schnoodle, Sequoia. Learn more at MichaelSpradlin.com

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Special thanks to Alex at Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the series, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. So grab your TO DO list and make plans to snag your copy TOMORROW as it makes its bookstore and virtual shelf debut!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Happy BOOK BIRTHDAY to... LOVE AT SECOND SIGHT by F.T. Lukens!

Tuesdays bring the GOOD STUFF as far as readers are concerned, and today is no different because we're celebrating a BOOK BIRTHDAY! That's right! Today's featured title is celebrating its shelf debut via Margaret K McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, and is the latest addition to this author's growing body of work.  Known for their ability to draw readers in while spinning a tale of MAGIC, MYSTERY, ROMANCE, and a healthy dose of humor, this release is bound to build a fandom from the word GO.  So, let's take a closer look at the next add to your TBR...

Love at Second Sight

by

F.T. Lukens

9781665950947

Margaret K. McElderry Books

About the book...

Fifteen-year-old Cam Reynolds wants to spend his sophomore year flying under the radar. That shouldn’t be too hard, considering he’s a human going to school with kids who have paranormal powers, like his best friend and witch, Al, and his longtime werewolf crush, Mateo.

Then Cam has a psychic glimpse of the future in front of most of the student body, seeing a gruesomely murdered teen girl from the point of view of the killer. When Cam comes to, he knows two things: someone he goes to school with is a future murderer, and his life is about to change. No longer a mere human but a clairvoyant, one of the rarest of supernatural beings, Cam finds himself at the center of attention for the first time.

As the most powerful supernatural factions in the city court Cam and his gift, he’ll have to work with his friends, both old and new, to figure out who he can trust and who might be a werewolf in sheep’s clothing. Because the clock is ticking, and Cam and his friends must identify the girl in the vision, find her potential killer, and prevent the murder from happening. Or the next murder Cam sees might be his own.

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I gotta say, I'm loving the cast of characters, the spread of paranormal options/abilities, and the murder mystery it's all built around.  It's not a case to solve with a variety of folks involved, but a variety of folks that happen to NEED to solve a case...before they become one themselves!  😱  We get to explore the paranormal side of things, while navigating the rough waters of first being "only human" and then not-so-only human to the exception of being UBER special.  We get to experience all the feels with matters of the heart, but with the tinge of "could it be them" hesitancy attached while everything plays out.  There are moments of OMG, and times when you feel like you just know what'll happen next...even when it continues to twist, turn, and surprise.

If you're a fan of the author's previous works, DO NOT MISS THIS RELEASE!  If you haven't experienced their writing as of yet, I highly suggest you do and this story makes as good an entry point as any to get started!

💜 🧡 💙 ❤️ 💛 💚

About the author...

F.T. Lukens (they/them) is a New York Times bestselling author of YA speculative fiction including the novels Otherworldly, Spell Bound (2024 ALA Rainbow Booklist), So This Is Ever After (2023 ALA Rainbow Booklist; 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee), In Deeper Waters (2022 ALA Rainbow Booklist; Junior Library Guild Selection), as well as other science-fiction and fantasy works. F.T. resides in North Carolina with their spouse, three kids, three dogs, and three cats. Visit them at FTLukens.com.

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Special thanks to Thad at Simon & Schuster's Children's Publishing for the ARC/copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is newly available, so snag your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

CHANGE: Growing Up is Hard to Do (DOUBLE REVIEW!)

Welcome back readers!

Today's post is all about change.  Growing up is hard to do, and finding yourself in the mix can be difficult.  Sometimes what we find is amazing.  Sometimes what we find is confusing.  Sometimes what we learn about ourselves, and those around us, makes it that much more of a maze to traverse, but, if we're lucky, we have those around us that understand, and help us see the beauty in what we might've missed, and the strength in truth behind the hard decisions we might have to make.  Sound a bit heavy for Middle Grade Fiction?  Hey, LIFE is heavy, so why shouldn't that be reflected at times in literature?  Ladies and gents, let's take a closer look at two titles in this category, one that's out now, and one coming soon, that should be on your radar...

Greta

by

J.S. Lemon

9780374392178

Farrar Straus Giroux

Published:  09/10/24

I admit, this was a beautiful story in reflection, but during the read, I was a tad confused.  I was having a difficult time trying to sort out whether it was more reality based or fantasy based, and in the end I decided it was a little of both.  It's about the changes we all go through as we grow up.  It's about finding our true selves, accepting our true selves, and finding those that will do that for us as well.  It's about never shying away from our truth, and learning to let the opinions of others bounce off our outer shell because the one that truly matters is our own.  We'll find our crowd, eventually.  We'll form our inner circle, eventually.  We'll discover that the naysayers and the outspoken that were against us were really just lost on their own journeys and lashing out to try and feel comfortable in their own skin. Is it right?  No...but it doesn't make it any less a valid part of the experience.  

I felt for Greta and I think those things she struggles with resonate with younger readers, serving as a reminder that they aren't the only ones trying to figure things out.  Change is a constant in life, but finding that comfort zone comes with time, promise, and the moments that got you there will be flashcard memories that created the you that is you today.

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Rise of the Spider

The Web of the Spider series, Book 1

by

Michael P. Spradlin

9781665947213

Margaret K. McElderry Books

Release Date:  09/24/24

I love my Historical Fiction and this was a great way for younger readers interested in the genre to get their feet on the ground during this transformative time.  Was it hard to read?  In some ways, yes...I did think that unless the person going into it has an innate interest, it might be dry in some places, but the other half of the reading difficulty lies purely in the subject matter as it gives us a glimpse of how evil can rise, spread, and transform a people.  Hitler came at a time when Germany was down and out with messages of gathering their strength once again, but he also came with vile ideas of who should be allowed not only to reign, but to LIVE, and a whole assortment of other ugliness I won't get into here.

Rolf was a great character to see through because he was trying to take it all in, reason it out, and assemble just where he stood in it all.  His brother was taking one road, his father another, and his best friend another still, but he allowed himself to see the facts for the fiction, and discover his own path like we all have to at some point or another in our lives.  Most of our decisions will seem small in scale when compared to those the surround this time period, but, as the author points out, it's those small decisions along the way, the seemingly innocent side steps, and placements, that add up to a bigger picture in the end.  The moment we turn away from an injustice we could have prevented, an innocent that needed assistance we refused to give, that darker side of mankind gains another foothold in our world...and that's a place none of us truly want to live.  A great start to a promising series that will help the next generation to learn from the past and never forget.

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Special thanks to Cate at Nicole Banholzer PR, and Alex at Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, for the copies for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on these titles, the authors, or the publishers, feel free to click through the links provided above.  As listed, one is available now, with the other coming soon, so grab your calendar and mark it down, or (pre)order your copies today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Rockstar Book Tours presents... OTHERWORLDLY by F.T. Lukens - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the OTHERWORLDLY by F.T. Lukens Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway before you check it the rest of the tour!

 

OTHERWORLDLY

by  F.T. Lukens

Pub. Date: April 2, 2024

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 352

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/OTHERWORLDLY

A skeptic and a supernatural being make a crossroads deal to achieve their own ends only to get more than they bargained for in this lively young adult romantic adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of Spell Bound and So This Is Ever After.

Seventeen-year-old Ellery is a non-believer in a region where people swear the supernatural is real. Sure, they’ve been stuck in a five-year winter, but there’s got to be a scientific explanation. If goddesses were real, they wouldn’t abandon their charges like this, leaving farmers like Ellery’s family to scrape by.

Knox is a familiar from the Other World, a magical assistant sent to help humans who have made crossroads bargains. But it’s been years since he heard from his queen, and Knox is getting nervous about what he might find once he returns home. When the crossroads demons come to collect Knox, he panics and runs. A chance encounter down an alley finds Ellery coming to Knox’s rescue, successfully fending off his would-be abductors.

Ellery can’t quite believe what they’ve seen. And they definitely don’t believe the nonsense this unnervingly attractive guy spews about his paranormal origins. But Knox needs to make a deal with a human who can tether him to this realm, and Ellery needs to figure out how to stop this winter to help their family. Once their bargain is struck, there’s no backing out, and the growing connection between the two might just change everything.

 

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★ “Hints of both Shakespeare’s The Tempest and the CW television show Supernatural flavor this tale in Lukens’ hallmark fashion. Notably, in a genre that has recently favored older readers, this story is accessible to teens of all ages. Its broad appeal, engaging pacing, and quest-like plot structure (which features cameos from deities inspired by Greek mythology) create a transition point for younger teens comfortable with Rick Riordan Presents … This beautifully struck balance couples with a unique perspective on genre canon to create a light but nuanced story that will be a joy for teens.”– Booklist, starred review

 

“Lukens impresses with this romantic adventure starring a skeptic and an excitable liminal being … Lukens’s signature blend of complex yet accessible mythology, queer-normative worldbuilding, and high emotional stakes makes for a compulsively readable tale.”– Publishers Weekly

“An irresistible elixir of romance and suspense.”– Kirkus Reviews

 

“A nice touch of Midwestern spookiness underlines a tale of classic crossroads bargains, first (and maybe lasting) love, thinly veiled climate anxiety, and chosen family. The mythic and the realistic are well balanced, and the relationships between characters will win over even the most grudging of romantics. Prickly Ellery and fun-loving Knox are an adorable grumpy-sunshine pair, and Ellery’s chaotic cousin and her girlfriend, plus some supernatural figures, round out the background to their world-bridging romance. Largely angst-free, wryly funny, and emotionally satisfying, this novel is tailor-made for a Netflix adaptation.”– BCCB

 

 

I love the connections in this one, and even the broken paths some of them seem to follow. Ellery has a family, but lives apart from those immediately theirs for difference of opinions, or rather lost faith. They still keep in touch (sometimes), send money back to support the farm during this ten year winter (which is not always used as intended), and hold to a shred of hope, no matter how small, that one day things will return to normal. Knox is an unexpected, yet happy distraction, for both the rekindling of beliefs left behind as well as the eye candy. Hey, the world doesn't go round on persistence alone! 😉 Anyway, they come to need one another more than either ever imagined possible, and as they work towards an end that'll meet both their needs, the question remains... what about them? A ten year winter is detrimental to the environment and the livelihood of their town, but what about the heart?

If you're a Young Adult Fantasy fan, this book needs to be on your must read list...as well as the author's other works! For the story, for the characters, for the inclusiveness that is a common theme, the books welcome readers of all backgrounds, and identities, to enjoy a grand adventure through the pages. 

 

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About the author...

F.T. Lukens (they/them) is a New York Times bestselling author of YA speculative fiction including the novels Spell Bound, So This Is Ever After and In Deeper Waters (2022 ALA Rainbow Booklist; Junior Library Guild Selection) as well as other science fiction and fantasy works. Their contemporary fantasy novel The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic was a 2017 Cybils Award finalist in YA Speculative Fiction and the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Gold Winner for YA fiction and won the Bisexual Book Award for Speculative Fiction. F.T. resides in North Carolina with their spouse, three kids, three dogs, and three cats.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

F.T. Lukens will be celebrating the launch of OTHERWORLDLY at Malaprop’s (Asheville, NC) on April 2 at 6:00pm ET. They will be joined in conversation by author Beth Revis. RSVP to attend (for free!) in-person or virtually here.

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Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of OTHERWORLDLY, US Only.

Ends April 9th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Special thanks to Rockstar Book Tours for the chance to bring this tour to you and to the publisher for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on this horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more..

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/25/2024	YA Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
3/25/2024	Never Hollowed by The Stare	Excerpt
3/26/2024	Comic Book Yeti	Excerpt/IG Post
3/26/2024	@darkfantasyreviews	Excerpt
3/27/2024	Eye-Rolling Demigod's Book Blog	Excerpt/IG Post
3/27/2024	jlreadstoperpetuity	IG Post
3/28/2024	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
3/28/2024	Karma Zee Readz	Review/IG Post
3/29/2024	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review/IG Post
3/29/2024	The Book Critic	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

4/1/2024	Ilovebooksandstuffblog	Review/IG Post
4/1/2024	onemused	IG Post
4/2/2024	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
4/2/2024	@lexijava	IG Review
4/3/2024	More Books Please blog	Review/IG Post
4/3/2024	A Bookish Dream	Review/IG Post
4/4/2024	A Backwards Story	Review/IG Post
4/4/2024	nerdophiles	Review/IG Post
4/5/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
4/5/2024	G’s Reading Spree	IG Review

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Rockstar Book Tours presents... FINCH HOUSE by Ciera Burch - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the FINCH HOUSE by Ciera Burch Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. This book was already on my radar with when this tour came a calling, so I simply knew I had to take part!  Check out my review post, make sure to enter the giveaway, and then click on over to the other sites participating in the tour for more bookish fun! 

Title: FINCH HOUSE

Author: Ciera Burch

Pub. Date: September 5, 2023

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 208

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/FINCH-HOUSE

Encanto meets Coraline in this spooky middle grade story that deals with family ties, fear of change, and generational trauma as it follows a girl who must convince an old, haunted house to release its hold on her and her family.

Eleven-year-old Micah has no interest in moving out of her grandfather’s house. She loves living with Poppop and their shared hobby of driving around rich neighborhoods to find treasures in others’ trash. To avoid packing, Micah goes for a bike ride and ends up at Finch House, the decrepit Victorian that Poppop says is Off Limits. Except when she gets there, it’s all fixed up and there’s a boy named Theo in the front yard. Surely that means Finch House isn’t Off Limits anymore? But when Poppop finds her there, Micah is only met with his disappointment.

By the next day, Poppop is nowhere to be found. After searching everywhere, Micah’s instincts lead her back to Finch House. But once Theo invites her inside, Micah realizes she can’t leave. And that, with its strange whispers and deep-dark shadows, Finch House isn’t just a house…it’s alive.

Can Micah find a way to convince the house to let her go? Or will she be forced to stay in Finch House forever?

 

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This was one of the SPOOKIEST Middle Grade Fiction titles I've read...and that's only the beginning of all it captures between the pages!

I think the reason it hits harder than some is the basis in reality.  It stakes it's claim in the history of the house, builds on the story from once upon a time with connections to people, places, and issues that feel real, then feeds in a bit of otherworldliness that feels JUST RIGHT, or wrong depending on where you're at in the story, but it's a GOOD kind of wrong!  Micah was such a spunky character.  She had her own mind, and while not disrespectful, certainly didn't always listen to what she was told to do.  I get it...it's hard to tow the line when you don't know the WHY behind the reason, but more often than not, there's a good one hiding in plain sight, and that's something she learns the hard way...could've been harder though if not for her clear head, and new friend Theo.

  I was intrigued as she followed the pull of the house.  I was pulled in myself, especially with the little doors that didn't open (or DID they?!), and the mysterious room, the whispers that sound just so familiar, and the heartbreak in feeling like everything that was in reach just fell through our fingers.  She was trying so very hard to do the right thing, that the right thing ended up being wrong at the time, but right in the end.  There's a mystery about Finch House, and it's closer to home than she knows, but what she really discovers isn't the heart of Finch House at all.  What she really discovers is that mysteries are fine and dandy, but family, friends, and heartfelt promises mean a whole lot more than satisfying that little twinge of curiosity. 

So, whether you like a good mystery, a spooky ghosty story, or a heartfelt tale of family near and far just trying to stay connected across the miles (or time...just saying...), there's something here for you.  I might suggest that younger readers hold off on reading it at night because things that go bump may seem a little bit more haunted after reading this tale, but you do you!  

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About Ciera Burch:

Ciera Burch is a lifelong writer and ice cream aficionado. She has a B.A from American University and an MFA from Emerson College. Her fiction has appeared in American Literary Magazine, Underground, the art and literary journal of Georgia State University, Stork, and Blackbird. Her work was also chosen as the 2019 One City, One Story read for the Boston Book Festival.

When she’s not reading or baking, she can be found listening to true crime podcasts, eating ice cream, and advocating for diverse kids lit. While she is originally from New Jersey, she currently resides in Washington, D.C with her stuffed animals, plants, and far too many books.

Find her on Twitter @CieraBurch017 and on Instagram @cierasburch. She’d rather you not find her on Tumblr.

 

Website | Instagram | Goodreads

 

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~~~   GIVEAWAY   ~~~

1 winner will receive a finished copy of FINCH HOUSE, US Only.

Ends September 5th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Special thanks to Rockstar Book Tours for the chance to bring this tour to you and to the publisher for the copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on this horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is set to celebrate its book birthday September 5th, 2023, so mark your calendar or pre order your copy today!  Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more...

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/21/2023	YA Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
8/21/2023	Confessions of the Perfect Mom	Excerpt/IG Post
8/22/2023	@katherinebichler	TikTok Post
8/22/2023	Eye-Rolling Demigod's Book Blog	Excerpt/IG Post
8/23/2023	@gsreadingspree	IG Review
8/23/2023	Gryffindorbookishnerd	IG Review
8/24/2023	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
8/24/2023	pluvioreads	Review
8/25/2023	Jaime_of_gryffindor	IG Review
8/25/2023	Review Thick And Thin	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

8/28/2023	@enjoyingbooksagain	IG Review
8/28/2023	@stargirls.magical.tale	IG Review
8/29/2023	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
8/29/2023	popthebutterfly	Review/IG Post
8/30/2023	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
8/30/2023	travelersguidetobooks	IG Review
8/31/2023	The Momma Spot	Review
8/31/2023	Pagesforpaige	IG Review
9/1/2023	@froggyreadteach	IG Review
9/1/2023	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!