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Showing posts with label sisters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sisters. Show all posts

Monday, September 25, 2023

RRR presents... SISTERS AT WAR by Jina Bacarr - REVIEW!


Time to dive into the past to take another look at History that isn't always made clear.  Today's Rachel's Random Resources tour features the latest from author Jina Bacarr, and places us in the front seat of a war machine marching all over people, and places, causing destruction and heartache, but never truly diminishing HOPE.  Ladies and gents, fair warning...this one can be hard to read at times due to the nature of the story, and although it is a fictional work, things like this happened, much to our dismay.  Now on deck, today's ebook of choice and blog tour guest...



Sisters at War
by
Jina Bacarr
Boldwood Books


About the book...

Paris, 1940: Two sisters separated by the Nazis… After a devastating attack, Justine and Eve Beaufort find themselves on opposite sides of the war, both in their beloved Paris. But can they ever find their way back to each other? 

It was the day that changed everything. When the Nazis came and broke into our home. Destroyed everything that was safe for us. They took our home and our security. I thought it couldn’t get worse. But then they also took my sister. 

After that day nothing was the same again. I thought I’d never see her again. I thought she was lost to me forever. I joined the Resistance, vowing to fight against the evil German army with every last spark of fire in my body. 

I know what I have to do. And nothing can stop me. 

Until I catch a glimpse of a woman who looks just like my sister. Alive. But this is not the sweet darling girl I once knew. This is a platinum blonde happily conversing with a terrifying Gestapo officer. No longer my sister. But a traitor. 

And I know what I must do… 

Could you choose your country – and what is right – over the person you once loved more than anyone in the world? 







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Right from the start, you could feel the connection between Eve and Justine.  They were sisters through and through, no matter what anyone might say.  They picked at each other, played with each other, cared for one another, and as they grew up, despite their interests veering in different directions, they still made time for one another, and could always count on the other to have their back.  One such time this came into play was the start of a nightmare for both girls...and although it could have surely ended then and there, their desire to live, their desire to protect each other and their family was so great that the unspeakable became the endurable, for the sake of family.

My heart was ripped open from that very moment things progressed so darkly, so violently.  If I could have hugged these two girls through the pages, I would have...and if I could have put an end to their suffering, you bet I wouldn't have hesitated there either.  I'm not a violent person, but surely keeping evil from spreading like the poison it is allows a little bit of leeway?  But I digress...Eve had Justine, and while she took on the heavy role inadvertently handed to her that would get heavier as the years passed, it didn't mean that Eve's journey was any less difficult.  Different hardships, different choices, but in their heart of hearts they still felt the same....family mattered.  They weren't disposable, but the greater good mattered.  Whether it be keeping family safe, protecting a new life, shielding an old one providing aid, or turning a loved one against you to keep them away from harm, it all boiled down it family bonds, and the love shared between them...something the enemy truly knew nothing about.

A great pick for adult readers of Historical Fiction who don't mind becoming emotionally attached to a story and/or its characters...I know I sure don't!  While this book doesn't tie things up nice and neat by story's end, it does give satisfaction throughout, and promises more still to come.



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About the author...


Jina Bacarr is a US-based historical romance author of over 10 previous books. She has been a screenwriter, journalist and news reporter, but now writes full-time and lives in LA. Jina’s novels have been sold in 9 territories. Her first novel with Boldwood is called Her Lost Love.







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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the ecopy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!




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




Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Rockstar Book Tours presents... GOBLIN MARKET by Diane Zahler - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

HI there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

TODAY, I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Blog Tour featuring GOBLIN MARKET by Diane Zahler, hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my REVIEW post below and make sure to enter the giveaway before you head off into the great big blogosphere for more bookish adventures!


Title: GOBLIN MARKET

Author: Diane Zahler

Pub. Date: August 16, 2022

Publisher: Holiday House

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 256

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, B&NiBooks, KoboTBD, Bookshop.org

One sister must save the other from a goblin prince in this rich, spooky, and delightfully dark fantasy!

"TERRIFICALLY TIMELESS. . . SPLENDID."—Shelf Awareness

Lizzie and Minka are sisters, but they’re nothing alike: Minka is outgoing and cheerful, while Lizzie is shy and sensitive. Nothing much ever happens in their sleepy village—there are fields to tend, clothes to mend, and weekly trips to the market, predictable as the turning of the seasons. Lizzie likes it that way. It’s safe. It’s comfortable. She hopes nothing will ever change. 

But one day, Minka meets a boy. 
A boy who gives her a plum to eat. 

He is charming. He is handsome. He tells her that she’s special. He tells her no one understands her like he does—not her parents, not her friends, not even Lizzie. He tells her she should come away with him, into the darkness, into the forest. . . .

Minka has been bewitched and ensnared by a zdusze—a goblin. His plum was poison, his words are poison, and strange things begin to happen. Trees bleed, winds howl, a terrible sickness descends on Minka, and deep in the woods, in a place beyond sunshine, beyond reality, a wedding table has been laid. . . .

To save her sister, Lizzie will have to find courage she never knew she had—courage to confront the impossible—and enter into a world of dreams, danger, and death.

Rich world-building inspired by both Polish folklore and the poetry of Christina Rossetti combines with a tender sister story in this thrilling novel from Diane Zahler.

"Lush. . . Dreamy. . . Breath-quickening."—The Horn Book
"Resonates with emotion."—BCCB
"Believably wrought."—Publishers Weekly
"Will entice readers looking for some chills."—Kirkus Reviews

 

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From cover to cover, this one will have you hooked!

Once upon a time, there were two sisters.  As close as close can be, they shared everything with one another, until the day came that their most hidden heart's desires may not have truly been shared.  That one little spark, that one little wedge was enough for evil to take root, driving the sisters away from one another.  The one, teetered on the doorstep of death's door...the other, would find her footing, find her voice, find her inner well of strength to fight for the sister she loves at all costs.  Question is though...will the cost be too high?

I loved the spooky, slightly scary atmosphere of this story.  It's perfect for the upcoming reading season, but also a folktale-esque break from fairytale retellings.  Don't get me wrong, I love those as well, but tales passed down through the generations meant to teach lessons and instill a little fear in the heart's of its listeners hold a special kind of magic all their own...but not like the fruit magic in this story!  The message of alone we are but one, but we're always better together was touching, as was the lengths theses sisters were willing to go to save each other, when push came to shove.  Minka may have been blinded by her dreams being handed to her on a platter, but Lizzie was never going to leave her to the wolves...nor was Jakob, for that matter.

All in all, it's a story with vital lessons for all ages that echoes throughout the generations.  If something seems too good to be true, it probably is!  Never trust a cute boy with a line and out of season fruit!  Always share your hopes and dreams because they are worthy of recognition and you never know just who is going to be the one to help you get there!  I also liked, what I perceived as, the nod to autism or those on the spectrum.  It was hard to see Lizzie fight through those uncomfortable situations, but she illustrated well just how far she could go, when the price was too high to sit on the sidelines.  I could keep going, but I want you to discover the rest of the magic, both dark and light, on your own.  Quick word of advice though?  Read it with the lights on...



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About Diane Zahler:

Diane grew up reading children's books and never wanted to do anything but write them. Now she’s the author of six middle-grade fantasy novels and a historical novel, DAUGHTER OF THE WHITE ROSE. She lives in the country with her husband and slightly neurotic dog in what is aptly nicknamed the Bug House. Visit her website at www.dianezahler.com.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 





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Giveaway Details:

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



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Special thanks to the Rockstar Book Tours team for the chance to bring this tour to you and to the publisher for the ARC for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, wherever books are sold. Catch the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!


Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/8/2022

Ya Books Central

Excerpt

8/8/2022

GryffindorBookishNerd

IG Review

8/9/2022

hauntedbybooks

Review/IG Post

8/9/2022

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Review/IG Post

8/10/2022

Lifestyle of Me

Review

8/10/2022

@allyluvsbooksalatte

IG Post

8/11/2022

BookHounds YA

Excerpt/IG Post

8/11/2022

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt/IG Post

8/12/2022

Lisa-Queen of Random

Excerpt/IG Post

8/12/2022

onemused

IG Post

Week Two:

8/15/2022

Nerdophiles

Review

8/15/2022

Two Points of Interest

Review

8/16/2022

Beers Books Boos

Review/IG Post

8/16/2022

Celia's Reads

Review/IG Post

8/17/2022

Littlefreelibrarygrahamnc

IG Review

8/17/2022

The Momma Spot

Review/IG Post

8/18/2022

A Backwards Story

Review/IG Post

8/18/2022

@jypsylynn

IG Review

8/19/2022

@amysbooknook8

IG Review

8/19/2022

Eli to the nth

Review/IG Post




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


Friday, August 11, 2017

National Sister's Day the Bookish Way + GIVEAWAY!

Hi guys!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

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So, you may have heard.  This past Sunday was National Sister's Day!  Here's hoping you and your sister, whether by blood or by choice, had a magnificent day building on that bond that tethers you to each other.  It's good to have someone who really knows you and while sibling rivalry can be a part of the whole package too, it doesn't make you love each other any less.  Now, why am I talking about a day in the past?  Because...it affects your present in OH SO WONDERFUL a way.

The folks at Simon & Schuster wanted to spread the sisterly love this week as well...in a bookish way.  Sound good?  Well then, here's your chance to enter to win one complimentary copy of THE LAST CHANCE MATINEE (Book 1 in The Hudson Sisters Series) by Mariah Stewart and THE MIRROR SISTERS (Book 1 in The Mirror Sisters Series) by V.C. Andrews® !  But first, let's sneak a peek at both titles to become better acquainted, shall we?

 The Last Chance Matinee
(Book 1 in The Hudson Sisters series)
by
Mariah Stewart
Publication Date: March 21, 2017
Publisher: Gallery Books
$16.00 Trade Paperback Original
ISBN: 9781501144905
Fiction

About the book:
From the New York Times bestselling author Mariah Stewart comes the first novel in her all-new series, which follows a trio of reluctant sisters who set out to fulfill their father’s dying wish and, in the process, discover the truth not only about their pasts but about each other—and themselves—in a way that will forever alter their futures.

When celebrated and respected Fritz Hudson passes away suddenly, he leaves a trail of Hollywood glory in his wake—and two separate families who never knew the other existed. Allie and Des Hudson are products of Fritz’s first marriage to Honora, a beautiful but troubled starlet whose life ended tragically. As his relationship with Honora was unraveling, Fritz was simultaneously falling in love on the Delaware Bay with New Age hippie Susa—but while Fritz adored Susa and fathered daughter Cara with her, he never quite managed to come clean about his West Coast Family.

Now Fritz is gone, and the three sisters are brought together under strange circumstances: there’s a large inheritance to be had, specifically one that could save Allie from her ever-deepening debt following a disastrous divorce; allow Des to open a rescue shelter for abused and wounded animals; and give Cara a fresh start after her husband left her for her best friend; but only if the sisters upend their lives and work together to restore an old theater that was Fritz’s obsession growing up in his small hometown in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. Will the sisters come together to turn their father’s dream into a reality – and will they come away with far more than they bargained for?

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Make room on your shelves for the whole set!
The Last Chance Matinee, Book 1 (March 21, 2017)
The Sugarhouse Blues, Book 2 (March 20, 2018)


Book 3 (2019)


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Praise for The Last Chance Matinee:

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“The popcorn, the red velvet seats, the glittering Hollywood stars on-screen…I’ve enjoyed all aspects of going to the movies since I was a kid,” reminisces Lauren Gatcombe, FIRST assistant editor. “So when I saw a vintage theater on the cover of this book, I quickly swiped it up.” When famed L.A. agent Fritz Hudson passes away, his daughter, Cara, discovers she has two half sisters whose existence were kept secret from her. The other shock: In order for the three sisters to receive their inheritances, they must restore an old movie theater in Fritz’s Pennsylvania hometown. There are trials and tribulations along the way, but the sisters decide to work together to turn their father’s dream into a reality. “I identified a lot with Cara as I read,” says Lauren. “And the tale was a sweet reminder of the importance of family. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!”
First For Women magazine

“The combination of a quirky small-town setting, a family mystery, a gentle romance, and three estranged sisters is catnip for women’s-fiction fans, and the backdrop of the faded movie palace adds a fascinating element to the story. Stewart’s lively, warmhearted series starter [The Last Chance Matinee] will have readers eagerly awaiting the second installment.”
—Booklist

“A good read, with a nice blend of mystery, family drama, and romance. Readers will look forward to the next installment.”
—Library Journal


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About Mariah Stewart:

Mariah Stewart
Photograph by Nicole Leigh Photography

Mariah Stewart is an award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of numerous novels as well as several novellas and short stories. She lives with her husband and two rambunctious rescue dogs amid the rolling hills of Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she savors county life and tends her gardens while she works on her next novel. Visit her at mariahstewart.com and follow her onFacebook.com/AuthorMariahStewart and on Instagram @mariah_stewart_books.



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Looking for more?
Mariah Stewart’s separate series, the bestselling Chesapeake Diaries, has been a favorite with readers since 2010. The eleventh installment,The Chesapeake Bride, will publish August 29, 2017!  Don't miss these upcoming store events with Mariah...

Tuesday, August 29th, 6:30 pm
Bethany Beach Books
99 Garfield Parkway
P.O. Box 904
Bethany Beach, DE 19930

Wednesday, August 30th, 6:00 pm
Barnes & Noble
Concord Mall
4801 Concord Pike
Wilmington, DE 19803




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The Mirror Sisters

(Book 1 in The Mirror Sisters series)
by
V.C. Andrews®
Publication Date: October 25, 2016
Publisher: Pocket Books
$7.99 Mass Market Paperback Original
ISBN: 9781476792361
Fiction

About the book:
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Flowers in the Attic and My Sweet Audrina series, which have become Lifetime movies in 2014-2016, V.C. Andrews® unveils the The Mirror Sistersa riveting start to a new series about the saga of identical twin sisters tortured by their perfectionist mother to become more and more alike—until one of them snaps.

ALIKE IN EVERY SINGLE WAY . . . WITH ONE DARK EXCEPTION.

Because they’re identical twins, their mother insists that everything about them be identical: their clothes, their toys, their friends . . . the number of letters in their names, Haylee Blossom Fitzgerald and Kaylee Blossom Fitzgerald. If one gets a hug, the other must, too. If one gets punished, the other must be, too.

Homeschooled at an early age, when the girls attend a real high school they find little ways to highlight the differences between them. But when Haylee runs headfirst into the dating scene, both sisters are thrust into a world their mother never prepared them for—causing one twin to pursue the ultimate independence. The dark disparity between the two girls may spell the difference between life . . . and a fate worse than death.

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Make room on your shelves for the whole set!
The Mirror Sisters, Book 1 (October 25, 2016) - OUT NOW
Broken Glass, Book 2 (February 28, 2017) - OUT NOW


Shattered Memories, Book 3 (October 31, 2017) - COMING SOON!


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Praise for The Mirror Sisters:

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This is classic V. C. Andrews—dark and gothic, with a pair of tormented sisters…It’s very good that a second and third installment are planned soon. You’ll see what I mean when you finish [The Mirror Sisters]…the story is always building and the tension increasing. If you like Andrews or gothic horror, you’ll race through this book, shivering with dark delight.”
—Suspense magazine



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About the author:

V.C. Andrews
Photograph by Thomas Van Cleave

One of the most popular authors of all time, V.C. Andrews has been a bestselling phenomenon since the publication of Flowers in the Attic, first in the renowned Dollanganger family series, which includes Petals on the WindIf There Be ThornsSeeds of Yesterday, and Garden of Shadows. The family saga continues with Christopher’s Diary: Secrets of FoxworthChristopher’s Diary: Echoes of Dollanganger, and Secret Brother.  V.C. Andrews has written more than seventy novels, which have sold over 106 million copies worldwide and have been translated into twenty-five foreign languages. Join the conversation about the world of V.C. Andrews at Facebook.com/OfficialVCAndrews.


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Looking for more?
In a separate series, the four Girls of Spindrift e-novellas together form a prequel for Bittersweet Dreams—a paperback which is available now! The second e-novella in The Girls of Spindrift series, Donna, will publish August 14, 2017.


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There....did you get all that?
Good because while YOU were soaking up the bookish goodness of the titles on hand, I was preparing the GIVEAWAY!  Now is your chance to win BOTH titles courtesy of Simon & Schuster.  All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter below and you're in it to win it!

Open to US residents only; no P.O. Boxes please.
Entries accepted through midnight CST August 18th, 2017.  Winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond with their full name, and mailing address for prize send out by the publisher.  If no response is received in the given time, a new winner will be chosen. SFIR is not responsible for lost prizes.






Simon & Schuster

Many thanks to Melissa at Simon & Schuster for the chance to participate in this fabulous promotion.  (THANKS!)  For more information on the titles listed, the authors, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. 

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



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