Cover Reveal: Sugar Spells by Lola Dodge

Sugar Spells by Lola Dodge
Series: The Spellwork Syndicate #2
Published by: Ink Monster LLC
Publication date: October 30th 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult

About the Book

After her run-in with a jealous warlock, apprentice baker Anise Wise can’t wait to get back into the kitchen where she belongs. But thanks to her brush with death, the land of the living isn’t all cupcakes and marshmallows.

Anise’s magical mojo is way out of whack and her changed powers are stirring up trouble. The town’s abuzz with news that Anise can bake deathly spells, and unsavory characters start lining up for a taste. They’ll stop at nothing to use Anise and her witchcraft to further their own plots.

She plans to hole up researching solutions until the attention dies down, but then she discovers the horrifying terms of her bodyguard’s contract. Wynn has saved her life so many times, she can’t leave him trapped. Doing the right thing will mean risking death or worse—losing her dream job.

For this witch, justice might not be as sweet as advertised.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

About the Author
Lola Dodge is a compulsive traveler, baker, and procrastinator. She earned her BA in English from Stonehill College and MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University–and hasn’t stopped moving since. When she’s not on the road, Lola spends her time indoors where the sunlight can’t melt her, writing or bingeing on anime and cherry soda. She can be summoned in a ritual involving curry, Hello Kitty idols, and a solid chocolate pentagram.

Find the Author 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Compare: Recent Read/ TV Show - The Hostile Hospital by Lemony Snicket

Compare Book 1 and the first few episodes HERE!

Compare Book 2 and those episodes HERE!

Compare Book 3 and those episodes HERE!

Compare Book 4 and those episodes HERE! 

Compare Book 5 and those episodes HERE!

Compare Book 6 and those episodes HERE! 

Compare Book 7 and those episodes HERE!

 

The Hostile Hospital by Lemony Snicket

Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events #8

Publisher:  Scholastic, Inc.
Publication Date:  January 2001

 

Format: Hardback
Source: Borrowed from the Library

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Dear Reader,

Before you throw this awful book to the ground and run as far away from it as possible, you should probably know why. This book is the only one which describes every last detail of the Baudelaire children's miserable stay at Heimlich Hospital, which makes it one of the most dreadful books in the world.

There are many pleasant things to read about, but this book contains none of them. Within its pages are such burdensome details as a suspicious shopkeeper, unnecessary surgery, an intercom system, anaesthesia, heart-shaped balloons, and some very startling news about a fire. Clearly you do not want to read about such things.

I have sworn to research this story, and to write it down as best I can, so I should know that this book is something best left on the ground, where you undoubtedly found it.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

 

Compare Book 1 and the first few episodes HERE!
Compare Book 2 and those episodes HERE! 
Compare Book 3 and those episodes HERE! 
Compare Book 4 and those episodes HERE!  
Compare Book 5 and those episodes HERE! 
Compare Book 6 and those episodes HERE!
Compare Book 7 and those episodes HERE! 
 

 

The Vile Village: Episodes 7 & 8 of Season 2

Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events

Network: Netflix
Publication Date:  January 13, 2017- present

Review:  
I really enjoyed this book and these two episodes of the show. The orphans are on the run from the police and anyone that reads the paper - they have been accused of murdering Count Olaf. Sadly that is not the case  - Olaf is still alive and well and trying to capture them and their fortune. 

They end up at a hospital where they realize they need to look in the Library of Records for anything about Jacques Snicket and their situation - and they still don't know that the VFD is. In the show they are getting closer and closer but still nothing! It is frustrating for the viewer but makes for a great mystery.  In the book the orphans don't run into Olaf until they are at the hospital but in the show they run into him very early on and this made for a bit more suspense in the show than in the book, however the book had a lot more time in which the children reflected on their situation and realized some new things and I liked that aspect very much. 

In the hospital they have to face a moral dilemma and I think it a great thing to have these in middle grade books - they end up teaching without kids really realizing it and  can be great discussion points if you are reading the books/ watching the show as a family.

I am really getting more and more into this series - there are still some slower points but I can't wait to finally figure out what the VFD is in the books and in the show I am very curious to find out if all of this misery happened because of a stolen sugar bowl?! Sounds crazy, I know, I guess you will have to watch or read the books to find out with me.

Happy reading and watching!

Let me know what you are thinking of the show so far if you have been watching it too!

 

Building the Book Pile #262

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Another week gone... summer is flying by but that's ok because Fall is my favorite months and I am getting excited for them! Still a lot to do first though. This weekend (and while you are reading this) I am in a Beginner Motorcycle Safety Course - I am learning to ride a motorcycle. Day one went well and today I am in Day two hoping to make it through without freaking out. It is getting more difficult but I think I am doing ok.

Last week I got a lot of reading done but the reviews went up immediately so I need to get more reading caught up ASAP because this upcoming week I work for 2 days then leave to visit family in PA and VA and I have no time to read :/ I am hoping to have some content prepped but we will see.  

Share about your week with me in the comments below!

 

  Giveaways  on Cover2CoverBlog!

 

Coming up on the Blog

Let's Compare: Recent Reads: TV Show - The Hostile Hospital by Lemony Snicket (MG)
Recent Reads: There are No Grown-ups: A Midlife Coming- of- Age Story by Pamela Druckerman (Adult)
Cover Reveal: Sugar Spells (The Spellwork Syndicate #2) by Lola Dodge (YA)

 

Books Received this Week  

I may have visited Netgalley this week, I love children's books :) but I also ended up getting a few in the mail too.

         

 Poppy and Sam and the Leaf Thief by Cathon - from Netgalley and Owlbooks

Giant: A Panda of the Enchanted Forest by Xuan Loc Xuan - from Netgalley and Happy Fox Books 

 Sheets by Brenna Thummler - from Netgalley and Diamond Book Distributors

 Magic Harvest (Fairy Trafficking #1) by Mary Karlik - for Blog Tour with Xpresso Reads

Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge by Lisa Jensen - From Librarything Early Reviewers program and Candlewick press

Children of the Bloodlands (The Realms of the Ancients #2) by S.M. Beiko - from the publisher for blog tour 

Everywhere You Want to Be by Christina June - from a publicist and publisher for review. 

Have you missed anything lately?

Week of July 8 - July 14
Recent Reads: Amulet #6 by Kazu Kibuishi (MG, GN) - 4 stars
Recent Reads: The Language of Spells by Garrett Weyr (MG)- 5 stars
Early Reader Review: Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel by A.W. Jantha (YA) - 4 stars
Blog Tour, Guest Post w/ Giveaway: The New Adventures of A.R. Achnid (Youth)

 

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!

Guest Post w/ Giveaway! - The New Adventures of A.R. Achanid by Sandi Smith

Book Details:

Book Title: The New Adventures of A.R. Achnid (Revised Edition)
Author: Sandi Smith
Illustrator: Kathy Lee
Category: Children's Fiction, 126 pages
Genre: Children's Chapter Book, Animals, Bugs & Spiders
Publisher: Mindstir Media
Release date: January 3, 2017
Tour dates: June 18 to July 13, 2018
Content Rating: G

About the Book:

Harold! There goes that spider! See, he is running on the floor! That spider has to go. He cannot live here anymore!!! Oh, no! Beth looks very, very angry. What has A.R. Achnid done now? Well, before A.R. got into big trouble with Beth, he had a lot of wonderful adventures.

There are ten different adventures in this book. There is the time he went to the circus and rode on a balloon, and then had some shoo fly pie. Another day, A.R. and Rex (a Great Dane, who is A.R.’s best friend) decided to walk all the way into town, and they had such a wonderful time. Then, A.R. and his family went to New York City for the biggest craft fair ever (which was for spiders only), plus many, many other adventures.

Unfortunately, in the tenth story, A.R.’s current living situation is going to need an adjustment. Something changes in the lives of Harold and Beth (the humans) that will make things very difficult for A.R. Come along with A.R. for some fun, and find out what small bundle will cause problems for A.R. and his family.

As A.R. says, “Spiders rule!”

To follow the tour, please visit Sandi Smith's page on iRead Book Tours.

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Add to Goodreads

Guest Post THE ADVENTURES OF A.R.ACHNID 

Sandi Smith

Family First ~ Life when I’m not Writing

Family is first.  Now that we are retired, if they need any help around their house, or need us to pick up the grandchildren from school, or drop their vehicles off at the garage and need a ride to work, we are now available 24/7 to do those things whenever they need us.  When Johnny first retired, I told my daughter-in-law that I felt sorry for her, because we would be over there every day driving her crazy.  She is sweet, so she said that would be okay, but we are so busy.  We are hardly ever there.  Maybe in the fall things will slow down for us, and we can keep our word and drive her crazy, but right now it is filled with lots of things to do. I think time is going faster now that my husband has retired, then when we both worked.  Certainly, less money, but very nice to be able to spend time together.

Unfortunately, I still work part time, but I work from the house.   At 5:30 in the morning (that’s correct, 5:30 in the morning), we head up to the office where I work.  I drop off my work from the day before, and then I pick up any work that is there waiting for me to do that day.   Having to get work done every day does limit our freedom to travel or go for day trips.   I know my boss would tell me not to worry about getting it done every day, but I could not enjoy myself if I had work waiting for me at home.  Work needs to get done first, then play, so our days are really centered around my work.

My husband and I like to kayak, and we have some beautiful bodies of water in New Hampshire.  I like the quieter lakes, and we stay close to the edges.  It is so peaceful and relaxing.  We were out on the lake one day and it was a cloudy day with a very heavy mist.  We were soaked by the time we left the water, but it was so much fun. I like it when the water is a little choppy, as I like going over the waves (not too big).  With kayaking, you go at your own pace.  We sometimes look for a nice quiet, shady cove, and we just sit there and bounce with any waves that come our way.   Johnny usually does a little fishing.  I will bring a book so I can relax and read.

Watch the book trailer:

About the Author:

Sandi Smith spent her time as a young girl combing the shelves of the public library. She has always enjoyed the magic that books have to offer and was inspired by her high school English teacher, Mr. Coolidge to embrace the arts. The author found her calling as a writer early one morning as her first story came to her in the form of a poem. Since then she has written more than 15 children’s books, with her most popular series about the adventures of an adorable spider in the A.R. Achnid series.

Sandi is happily married to her inspiration and husband of 40 years, John. She continues to write for her two precious grandchildren. When she’s not penning a new story, Sandi and John like to camp, kayak and to enjoy the simple life in their home in Pembroke, NH.

Find the Author

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends July 21, 2018
Prize: Hardcover copy of The New Adventures of A.R. Achnid 
Open to USA & Canada - 1 winner

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Early Reader Review: Hocus Pocus and the All New Sequel byA.W. Jantha

Source: From Netgalley and Freeform in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Hocus Pocus and the All New Sequel byA.W. Jantha
Series: Disney's Hocus Pocus
Publisher: Freeform
Publication Date:  July 10, 2018

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Hocus Pocus is beloved by Halloween enthusiasts all over the world. Diving once more into the world of witches, this electrifying two-part young adult novel, released on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 1993 film, marks a new era of Hocus Pocus. Fans will be spellbound by a fresh retelling of the original film, followed by the all-new sequel that continues the story with the next generation of Salem teens.

Shortly after moving from California to Salem, Massachusetts, Max Dennison finds himself in hot water when he accidentally releases a coven of witches, the Sanderson sisters, from the afterlife. Max, his sister, and his new friends (human and otherwise) must find a way to stop the witches from carrying out their evil plan and remaining on earth to torment Salem for all eternity.

Twenty-five years later, Max and Allison's seventeen-year-old daughter, Poppy, finds herself face-to-face with the Sanderson sisters in all their sinister glory. When Halloween celebrations don't quite go as planned, it's a race against time as Poppy and her friends fight to save her family and all of Salem from the witches' latest death-defying scheme.

Review: 
Halloween is probably my favorite holiday, I love being about to dress up and act a fool and then there is all the sugar that people give you for FREE (at least when you are a kid, now I have to buy it for the kids... and myself). With all this wonderful fun, there are Halloween movies and traditions that I keep up. So every year I watch Hocus Pocus about 15 times before Halloween, I own it and actually watch it all year - so much that my husband quotes it sometimes and he is not as big a fan as I am. 

When I saw this book in an Instagram post, I jumped over to Netgalley to request it and YAY, request granted. The book is really two in one. The first third is actually a retelling of the original movie/story. It is pretty much the same as the movie, so if you want to read it - it is just as fun and funny, but if you want to move right into the new stuff you can do that too without missing much.

The Sequel is about Poppy, who is the daughter of Max and Allison. She has grown up knowing the story of the Sanderson sisters coming back on Halloween and almost killing her Aunt Dani and she has always put up with it. This Halloween though, it has been 25 years and her parents are throwing a party but to impress a girl she likes Poppy decides to bring her to the Sanderson house... sound familiar? It is kind of the same set up as before but it works. 

In this book, we learn about another Sanderson sister, and even get more depth from the previous story, but with an all new adventure, because the sisters have found their way back into the moral world and are still out to take it over.

The sequel was good, I think that if you are lover of the original it is a great way to relive it in a new way. I loved seeing the Sanderson sisters again and the characters in this book were fun as well and you get to see old faves too (BINX!). It may not be the best book as a stand alone, but it gave me everything I was looking for. New old meets new...and possibly another story?... yea, how's that for a cliffhanger?! (I die!)

Recent Reads: The Language of Spells by Garret Weyr

Source: From Librarything Early Reviewers Program and Chronicle Books in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

The Language of Spells by Garret Weyr
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Publication Date:  June 26, 2018

 

Format: Paperback ARC 

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Grisha is a dragon in a world that's forgotten how to see him. Maggie is a unusual child who thinks she's perfectly ordinary. They're an unlikely duo—but magic, like friendship, is funny. Sometimes it chooses those who might not look so likely. And magic has chosen Grisha and Maggie to solve the darkest mystery in Vienna. Decades ago, when World War II broke out, someone decided that there were too many dragons for all of them to be free. As they investigate, Grisha and Maggie ask the question everyone's forgotten: Where have the missing dragons gone? And is there a way to save them? At once richly magical and tragically historical, The Language of Spells is a novel full of adventure about remembering old stories, forging new ones, and the transformative power of friendship

Review: 
If it has been a while since you read a Middle Grade book, you should go find one and read it. There is something about that MG authors just get and they pull you into a world and you fall in love with the characters and everything just pulls at your heartstrings. 

The Language of Spells is one of these books. It is about a dragon names Grisha and also about a girl named Maggie. The reader meets both of them and follows their lives for a bit before these two wonderful characters even meet each other and start unfolding a beautiful plot.  

They live in a World of Magic, and there are magical things and no-so magical, normal world things. If you happen to be a human and want more of the magical world you can give up what you treasure most - money, time, or your most dear things to become magical. This book was a twisty road of past meets present and the magical and non-magical things and it was so wonderful to read.

I loved this world, it was wonderfully whimsical and sometimes very sad, and it just blew me away. I found myself crying a few times throughout and really loved this whole book. That being said, it takes quite a while to get up and running so it is a slower read then most MG books, but the time it takes to get there is a pleasure.

Recent Reads: Amulet #6 by Kazu Kibuishi

Escape from Lucien by Kazu Kibuishi 

Series: Amulet #6
Publisher: Graphix, Scholastic
Publication Date:  August 26, 2014

 

Format:  Paperback
Source: Library

Rating:






Goodreads Synopsis: 

A worthy mission...or a trap?

Navin and his classmates journey to Lucien, a city ravaged by war and plagued by mysterious creatures, where they search for a beacon essential to their fight against the Elf King. Meanwhile, Emily heads back into the Void with Max, one of the Elf King's loyal followers, where she learns his darkest secrets. The stakes, for both Emily and Navin, are higher than ever.

Review: 
Another great addition to this middle grade series - Amulet #6 focuses a lot more on Navin, the little brother. I had thought that this would be the case and am happy to learn more about his role in the series since his sister seems to have such a big part.

In this installment we are still gearing up for war and prophecies from the past are coming to fruition. Overall it was pretty sad, there were some deaths and people abandoned to the shadow creatures - it was a bit scary at times too.

Navin is learning to pilot robots and ships but it isn't really going as planned and he can't really explain being Commander to this group of people. But he has made a group of friends that will stick with him and he is very brave for a kid.

Younger readers will enjoy this installment to the series and it leaves enough questions that make you want to grab the next book as soon as you can.

Building the Book Pile #261

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Good Morning! How was your week? Did you do anything fun for the 4th of July? 

We had a pretty low-key week and just hung out with friends on the holiday. Yesterday though we visited the Shelburne Museum and it was a lot of fun, we were only there for a few hours and didn't finished seeing everything so we will have to go back, but it is a bunch of buildings on 45 acres and some have galleries in them while others are just really old buildings from Vermont that have been moved there - like an old school house and a sawmill. It was very cool.

After that we went to lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings - which we don't really have one close to us and we shared a Crunch Berries milkshake (yea you read that right) it was delicious! And then we came home for a bit before going to a friends house for some burgers and lawn games. It was a great day! The weather was perfect, only in the 80s finally and the nights are in the 60s which is great.

Today I am going to run some errands and do some chores and then hang out with my bestie and sync planners (super nerds UNITE!) No shame I am a huge nerd and this is exciting.
 

Share about your week with me in the comments below!

 

  Giveaways  on Cover2CoverBlog!

     

Coming up on the Blog

Recent Reads: Amulet #6 by Kazu Kibuishi (MG, GN)
Recent Reads: The Language of Spells by Garrett Weyr (MG)
Early Reader Review: Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel by A.W. Jantha (YA)
Blog Tour, Guest Post w/ Giveaway: The New Adventures of A.R. Achnid (Youth)

 

No Books Received this Week again... 

still ok with that.

     

Have you missed anything lately?

Week of July 1 - July 7

Blog Blast w/ Giveaway!  Twospells by Mark Morrison (MG)
Recent Reads: Twospells by Mark Morrison (MG)-4 stars
Blog Tour w/ Review: Divesmack by Demetra Brodsky (YA)-4 stars
Recent Reads: The Old Man by Sarah and Claude Dubois (Youth)- 5 stars
Monthly Re-Cap: June 2018
 

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!