Monthly Re-Cap: March 2017

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

March was a very productive reading month for me, how did you do?

  

     ~~Books Read in March~~     

       
   

How did I do on my March TBR?
I read 3 out of 5 books... 

~~Links to Some Reviews~~

• Lady Mechanika Vol 1: The Mystery of the Mechanical Corpse by Joe Benitez (GN)- 4 stars
• Lady Mechanika Vol 2: The Tablet of Destinies by Joe Benitez (GN)- 4 stars
• A Boy Called Bat by Elana Arnold (MG) - 4 stars
• A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess (YA) -4 stars 
• How to Pack by  Hitha Palepu (Non Fiction) - 5 stars
• Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie (Adult) - 3 stars 
• Unicorn Crossing (Heavenly Nostrils #5) by Dana Simpson (GN) - 5 stars 

~~Reviews from Books Read Last Month~~ 

•  The Queen of the Frogs by Davide Cali (Youth)- 4 stars
• Dead Girls Society by Michelle Krys (YA) - 4 stars

~~Coming soon~~ 

April

• Real Friends by Shannon Hale and Leuyen Pham (GN, MG)
• The Amazing Crafty Cat (Crafty Cat #1) by Charise Mericle Harper (GN, Youth)
• Bastion (Slave to a Vampire #2)  by Katrina Kahler (Adult)
• Tricked (Fairy Tale Refrom School #3) by Jen Calonita (MG)  
• A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (Adult) 

May

• Stitched #1 by Mariah McCourt  (GN) 

Recent Reads: Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie

Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie
Series: Hercule Poirot #19
Publisher: Black Dog and Leventhal
Publication Date: March 30, 2007 (this edition) 

 

Format: Hardback
Source: Borrowed from the library for book club.

Rating:
 


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Among the towering red cliffs and the ancient ruins of Petra sits the corpse of Mrs. Boynton, the cruel and tyrannizing matriarch of the Boynton family. A tiny puncture mark on her wrist is the only sign of the fatal injection that killed her. With only twenty-four hours to solve the mystery, Hercule Poirot recalls a remark he overheard back in Jerusalem: "You do see, don't you, that she's got to be killed?" Mrs. Boynton was, indeed, the most detestable woman he had ever met.

Review: 
I enjoy Agatha Christie and as a teen I read A LOT of her books, but they are mysteries and you really have to be in the mood for them...I picked this one up for a book club, it was surprisingly one that I had not already read. I found it to be entertaining but I wasn't really in the mood to read at all so it fell into that 'I liked it' category versus the more swoony ratings. 

This mystery followed a family who was traveling and while away their mother dies. It is originally called a natural death but then another person traveling with them realizes that it may be foul play and Hercule Poirot happens to be in the area to help out with the mystery of her death.

This was a strange mystery there were a lot of jumps in the end to get to the result and I know that happens at times but it was a very long-winded explanation and I found it to be a bit of a pain. That isn't to say that I didn't enjoy finding out who -done -it but still. 

If you have not read any Agatha Christie but enjoy mysteries I think you should give her a try, they are classics.     

Waiting on Wednesday: The Amazing Crafty Cat by Charise Harper

The Amazing Crafty Cat by Charise Harper
Publisher: First Second Books
Publication Date:  April 11, 2017

Synopsis:  

Sometimes school can be scary and even embarrassing, but not today. Today is Birdie’s birthday, and everything will be perfect! Birdie's panda-riffic cupcakes are beautiful, and there’s one for everyone. She will be the star of the class. But then . . . disaster! A trip and fall on the way to school means no more cupcakes! Who can save the day? Who can make the class smile again? This is a job for Birdie’s alter ego . . . the Amazing Crafty Cat!
After a quick transformation, Birdie is ready. She’s not afraid of sticky paws or paper cuts. She’s not afraid of anything, even Anya, the class bully. It’s time to get crafting!
From Just Grace and Fashion Kitty author Charise Mericle Harper comes the first volume in a hilarious, charming, and sweet graphic novel trilogy for young readers about a little girl who can craft her way out of any situation. Each volume includes fun and simple instructions for do-it-yourself crafting activities. Get your paws ready for crafty time!

Why I Am Waiting:
I found this book on Netgalley and I have requested it so hopefully by the time this post is live I will already have read it, but I wanted to share it because I have been loving youth-targeted Graphic Novels and think we should have more. This one seems to have the added bonus of CRAFTS :)

P.S. I did get it and I cannot wait to share my review with you! This was adorable!

Release Blitz w/ Giveaway!: Waking the Dead by D.B. Sieders

The road to hell begins

when the reaper darkens her door.

WAKING THE DEAD

D.B. SIEDERS

Series: Soul Broker # 1
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Suspense
Publisher: City Owl Press
Publication Date: March 28, 2017

Add to Goodreads

The road to hell begins when the reaper darkens her door.

A chance encounter with a dying stranger opens an empathic connection between down-on-her-luck caregiver Vivian Bedford and the world of spirits. Lazarus Darkmore, a grim reaper in a charming and seductive package, seeks to recruit her as a soul broker. Guardian spirit Ezra and his new apprentice Zeke offer protection from the reaper--so long as she works on their side of afterlife management. But these guardians are no angels, and their methods leave Vivian fearing the price of their protection.

Her ability to channel conscious energy from the living, something no guardian or reaper can do, could be a game changer. If she can control it, she can use this power as leverage. And she needs a bargaining chip, especially when she discovers that incapacitated living mortals can supply energy for the spirit realm, making her disabled sister Mae a prime target for guardian and reaper alike.

Can she move from pawn to major player in order to save Mae, and herself, from a horrific fate beyond the simple and fleeting terrors of death?

I loved this story ... it was well written and there were plenty of twists and turns in the story to keep your interest.
- Mandy Parmenter, Goodreads Reviewer

Southern story telling around the campfire, at its level best.
- Jeff Lee, Goodreads Reviewer

Purchase Links

Amazon†| Barnes and Noble

Giveaway

WIN

Prizes up for grabs:
One $25 Amazon Gift Card
Three (3) free eBook copies of Lorelei's Lyric (Southern Elemental Guardians # 1)

Contest runs from March 28 - 30, 2017.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

D.B. Sieders

I was born and raised in East Tennessee and spent my childhood hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains, wading barefoot in creeks, chasing salamanders, fish, and frogs. We loved to tell stories while sitting around the campfire.

Those days of frog chasing sparked my interest in biology. I am a working scientist by day, but I never lost my love of telling stories.

I write contemporary fantasy, fantasy romance, and contemporary romance. My stories feature unlikely heroes and heroines who face a healthy dose of angst as they strive for redemption and a happily ever after, which everyone deserves. I live in Nashville, Tennessee with my husband, two children, three cats, and my very active imagination.

Official website: https://dbsieders.wordpress.com/

Connect with D.B. Sieders on social media:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

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Movie Monday: Review of Beauty and the Beast

This movie Monday is going to be a bit different because instead of comparing the book-to-movie adaptation I would like to talk about the New live-action Beauty and the Beast and compare to Disney's animated version, which is one of my absolute favorites. And mostly this will be a review of the new movie.

Source

Beauty and the Beast
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Released: March 14, 2017



Rating:
 


  



Review: 
I have been looking forward to this movie forever and I am so excited that it is finally out. I have to admit that Beauty and the Beast (the animated version) is one of my favorite movies... I think it is the reading/library/quirky Belle that always had me. She was strong and determined and she liked to read - she was everything I wanted to be and I already had the reading thing down.  So when I learned about the live-action version of this movie, I was SO afraid that everything would be ruined. I was in tears watching  this movie because I was so excited about it. 

I think that Emma Watson as Belle was a wonderful choice. I think that she is a strong woman who took this role and ran with it but only in the best of ways. I loved the story and how they portrayed it AND I absolutely loved that they kept the songs! (Side-note: I  watched the Jungle Book re-do and was very sad that the singing was mostly gone... I wanted the singing!!!).

The movie overall is enchanting; Watson was the heroine we all remember; Luke who plays Gaston was just as obnoxious as the animated character, if not more, and I wanted to punch him in the throat... However what might be the most fun part of this movie was LeFou. Josh Gad did a wonderful job playing the part, and whereas in the animated version he was a follower, in this rendition he was at times logical and hesitant with Gaston, even to the point of making fun of him and I really liked that spin on it. 

Overall, I highly recommend seeing this remake if you have not already. I saw it in 2D and still need to go see the 3D version. If you saw the 3D one, let me know your thoughts... was it worth it?