Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! Another month down in the books! Happy almost May everyone! Can you believe we are already through April? I can't believe it, April flew by so fast. I took a trip to Chicago for work, got really sick (it was a really bad cold), had a lot of schoolwork to do, work- like normal, Easter festivities, and it was my birthday month. Blogging and reading was a bit on the slow side, mostly because I was exhausted from reading for school, so any free time I had was spent drooling on myself in front of the TV or playing World of Warcraft (yea I know... not productive at all, but it is a stress relief thing). On another note, the snow is melted and we are officially in the Mud season in VT - if you didn't know, we completely skip spring and have a season for mud. All the snow and ice melt and then all the springtime rain really does a number on the lawns, roads, everything....mud everywhere.... all the time. How has your April been?
~~Books I Read in April~~
How did I do on my April TBR? Bad 💀, I still have the rest of the day today and I started The Beast's Heart, I am currently 3 hours into the audiobook - 10 more to go. (lol)
TOMORROW is my BIRTHDAY!!!! I'm old so it doesn't really matter but I got some great gifts :) The hubs got me a denim jacket so I can cover it with patches (I am very excited about this art project) and he got me a Harry Potter Lego set - the Great Hall one. Photos to follow. This week was pretty relaxed, work has slowed down a bit, we got permission to work one date remote during the summer - so we start that next week, and I am very ahead on all of my schoolwork. I am feeling good and productive and I love it! It makes me feel like I can do anything! I also finally caught up and did some reading this week 😁! One of the reviews was posted this past week, hopefully I will get a few more written for this week and next.
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Giveaways on Cover2CoverBlog!
Coming up on the Blog
Monthly Re-Cap: April 2019 May 2019 - TBR Pile Recent Reads: The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell (YA) Recent Reads: The Golden Thread by Alex Hayes (YA, Novella)
Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers by Chris Grabenstein Series: Riley Mack #1 Publisher: Audible Studios
Publication Date: April 4, 2019
Format: Audible Original Audiobook Source: Freebie in April from Audible with Subscription
Rating: Goodreads Synopsis:
When former improvisational comedian and screenwriter turned award-winning mystery author Chris Grabenstein writes a kid's book, he delivers page-turning plot twists, pitch-perfect dialogue, and one-liners that pepper the text like exploding firecrackers. Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers, the first book in a hilarious new action-adventure series, is a classic crime caper, a funny, fast-paced mystery/comedy with lovable characters, non-stop action—and a barnful of dogs.
Seventh-grade mastermind Riley Mack and his best buds always come to the rescue when family or friends are in trouble, even if it takes some high-octane subterfuge and fifty pounds of dog food. Kids ages 8-12 will root for Riley and his "Gnat Pack": tech-savvy Jake, dramatic Brianna, big-guy Mongo, and brainy Jamal. They'll hiss for the bad guys, too—the bully Gavin Brown; his father, Fairview's crooked police chief; his conniving grandmother, who runs a filthy puppy mill; and Fairview's gambling-addicted bank manager, who tries to frame Riley's mom. Throw in one stolen goldendoodle, two bumbling bank robbers, and plenty of duct tape, and the action never flags.
Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers will have readers snorting soda out their noses, proving once again that Grabenstein is a master at concocting irresistible stories for middle-grade readers.
Review: Riley Mack is the first book by Chris Grabenstein that I have pick up outside of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library Series. This audible original is read by a full cast and has background noise as well. Each character is read by a different voice actor/ess. The book is the first in a series, and it follows a boy named Riley Mack. He and his gang of friends help their friends and family solve mysteries and crimes in their small town. The story was fun and all of the different plot elements kept me guessing. There are a bunch of smaller side stories that all come together in the end and it added a lot of depth to the story. Riley, the main character, just wants to do good, but the town cop has it out for him, much like the cop's son has it out for all the 6th graders. Riley tends to get wrapped up in trouble as he tries to help the people around it am it lends to some hilarious mishaps and trouble for him and his friends. An aspect that I really liked about the story was that one of the kids always uses great vocabulary words and then defines them for the reader, and he does it quickly and it is part of his quirky personality so it fits really well into the story - so well in fact I didn't even realize I was learning definitions until I had to stop and really think about it. A great learning tool that is obvious but not so.
I enjoyed this book, but the full cast thing kind of threw me off again. I listened to an adult book that I gave up on that was similarly done. I think it is a fun way to voice all the characters but I feel like presenting it this way also takes a bit away from the character development that I like in most books. This book was fun and very short, so I think reluctant readers will like it, however since I really love the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series, this one fell a bit short for me in comparison.
About the Book: Genre: “Science Faction” - science fiction, action and adventure with fact-based science, theories and mythology IN ALMOST EVERY BELIEF SYSTEM ON EARTH, there exists a single unifying mythos: thousands of years ago a great flood devastated the Earth’s inhabitants. From the ruins of this cataclysm, a race of beings emerged from the sea bestowing knowledge and culture upon humanity, saving us from our selfish drive toward extinction. Some say this race were “ancient aliens” who came to assist our evolution.
But what if they weren’t alien at all? What if they evolved right here on Earth, alongside humans . . . and they are still here? And, what if the World’s governments already know? ***
Kelly Graham is a narcissistic self-assured freelance photographer specializing in underwater assignments. While on a project in the Amazon with his best friend, Chris D'Souza, a mysterious and beautiful government official, Freya Nilsson, enters Kelly’s life and turns it upside down. Her simple request to retrieve a strange object from deep underwater puts him in the middle of an international conspiracy. A conspiracy that threatens to change the course of human history.
CHILDREN OF THE FIFTH SUN BY GARETH WORTHINGTON EXCERPT: 1
Location: Unknown
Benjamin stared at it. It didn’t stare back. He then looked at the reinforced glass between them. Benjamin’s piercing blue eyes appeared gray in the smoked transparent shield he had created.
Was this the only way?
Too late to worry about it now. Everything was already in motion. He blinked and once again gazed into the dark, frigid water.
It was gone.
His heart faltered. Damn, where is it? Benjamin placed both hands on the cold glass wall and peered inside.
Seconds passed. Minutes. It felt like years.
A violent crack tore through the room as the thing propelled itself against the invisible barrier. Benjamin reeled backward, and fell to the floor. His head smashed onto the tiles, spilling blood like an explosive fan of crimson paint. He propped himself up on his elbows. Could it get through? No. The glass was intact. The strange creature slowly glided back and forth in the murk, before disappearing out of sight.
Benjamin slumped back on the floor and felt the back of his head. Warm blood trickled through his leathery fingers, matting the silver hair to his scalp. Sickness roiled in his stomach. He turned to the side and heaved a thick, off-white liquid onto the tiles. He wiped the vomit from his beard as the blackness closed in.
In the darkness, voices called out to him. But their words were muffled. Benjamin couldn’t understand them. They didn’t make sense. Only one thing made sense to him.
"An action-packed, globe-hopping science fiction thriller... pedal-to-the-metal pacing and relentless action make it easy to turn pages..." ―Kirkus Reviews
"Insane! What Gareth did here was incredible! This author took a global look at America, China, and Russia, and added a species from another era into the mix, to create a well-researched novel of suspense, intrigue, with dashing individuals. The characters travel the world on a unique mission while trying to stay out of the line of fire as rogue government agencies from several different countries try to stop them. It's a wild ride from California to Peru, from Egypt to Siberia. The amount of research put into this novel is on par with a Michael Crichton novel. The main character, Kelly Graham, reminded me of Dirk Pitt from Clive Cussler's novels. Overall, an incredible read and a book I'm recommending." ―Jonas Saul, Best-selling author of the Sarah Roberts Series, April 2017
Suspend disbelief and let yourself travel on a downriver, undersea, and overland adventure in this well-constructed novel. The author takes you on a fast paced journey full of intrigue, government secrets, unusual creatures and just a tad of romance. Superlatives abound and the literary illumination paints an image so clear you feel you are there with the characters. For those who know the author, there are bit of his personality revealed which makes reading the novel even more enjoyable. A bit Tom Clancy, a hint of Dan Brown -- authentically Gareth in his debut work. ―Charity Scripture
"Scientist Worthington's understanding of the complexities and possibilities of marine biology and endocrinology are evident." ―Publishers Weekly, May 2017
***WINNER, SCI FI CATEGORY, 2017 LONDON BOOK FESTIVAL***
***2018 SILVER FALCHION AWARD FINALIST***
***2018 CYGNUS AWARD SHORTLIST (WINNER TBD)***
About the Author Gareth Worthington is a trained marine biologist and also holds a doctorate in comparative endocrinology. Currently, Gareth works full time for the Pharmaceutical industry helping to educate the World's doctors on new cancer therapies. In his spare time Gareth has a number of passions, including: martial arts - he trained in Muay Thai at the prestigious EVOLVE MMA gym in Singapore and currently trains in MMA at Phoenix Sportkampf, Switzerland; playing acoustic guitar; studying ancient history; drawing; and most of all writing fiction. An award winning author, he hopes to one day hang up the pharma hat and write full time. You can visit his author page and blog at www.garethworthington.com
Happy Monday All! Another late edition of Building the Book Pile - no excuses this time... just forgot to get it done. My apologies. I have been working so hard to get through research and research reading and writing that I have done ZERO fun time reading... it is so sad and I need to break out some time for that. School takes up a lot of time :P Speaking of school in the next term I am actually going to take two courses since it is a slower time at work and I may be able to work on some of the readings while sitting at my desk... but it will be a lot more work and so summertime blogging is probably out of the question... I will try my best though. Not to much happened last week - school stuff, work all week, Easter with the family and a friends birthday dinner, so I was busy. I would like a day alone to read .. I am hoping to have one of those very soon.
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Share about your week with me in the comments below!
Giveaways on Cover2CoverBlog! More soon.
Coming up on the Blog
Blog Tour: Excerpt and Giveaway - Children of the Fifth Sun by Gareth Worthington (Adult, Sci-Fi) Recent Reads: Riley Mack and The Other Known Troublemakers by Chris Grabenstein (MG)
Source: From Netgalley and Andrew McMeels Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.
Unicorn Bowling by Dana Simpson Series: Phoebe and her Unicorn #9 Publisher: Andrew McMeels Publishing
Publication Date: April 23, 2019
Format: Ebook
Rating:
Goodreads Synopsis:
The NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING series Phoebe and Her Unicorn is back with all-new sparkling tales of best friendship. Whether they're visiting Camp Shimmerhorn or fitting unicorn hooves for bowling shoes, Phoebe and Marigold find magic in every moment.
A unicorn in bowling shoes is quite a STRIKE-ing sight. But for nine-year-old Phoebe Howell, it’s just another fun outing with her best friend, the illustrious unicorn Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. This unique and magical friendship is at the heart of the ninth Phoebe and Her Unicorn collection, which includes adventures such as writing original songs, publishing rival news websites, and making a summer visit to the exclusive Camp Shimmerhorn. Life with a unicorn BFF is not without its challenges, however, and whether it’s homework, friction with classmates, or talent show jitters, Unicorn Bowling is full of amusing, heartwarming reminders that when the going gets tough, the tough get sparkling.
Reviews to Some of the Previous Books in this Series
Review: Phoebe and Marigold are back! I love this series, readers have heard me swoon about these books before. This is #9 in the series and they are all fun and the stories and jokes are common ones even though there are mythical creatures involved. I love that this series has stayed so entertaining all the way through, the jokes still make me laugh and I am still loving the characters. In this installment like many of the others, it is a compilation of a bunch of short comic strips. The strips range in topics and we see Phoebe's and Marigold's relationship in all its finest times. I love how much they appreciate each other and support one another and their weirdness. It was a wonderful read and if you have liked the others, you will like this one too.
Source: From Flyaway Books and Librarything Early Reviewers Program in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.
The Story of AND: The Little Word That Changed the World by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso and illustrated by Joani Keller Rothenberg Publisher: Flyaway Books
Publication Date: April 23, 2019
Format: Paperback ARC
Rating:
Goodreads Synopsis:
Poor and: the word everyone takes for granted. So tiny, so common, so easily overlooked. Yet if it weren't for and, so much would fall apart! Who knew such a little word could make such a big difference? When an array of opinionated shapes just can't find common ground, AND comes to the rescue. AND is the link that helps each pair of shapes overcome their differences, teaming up to create something entirely new. Bouncy rhyming text and colorful paintings come together in a fable that will prompt children to look for the unexpected connections all around them.
Review: The Story of AND is such a cute book about togetherness and the overall theme is breathtakingly done. This book includes a link with a song to go along - great for families that like to read and sing together. AND shares connections in the most unexpected places and helps shapes form friendships and create beautiful things together. The images throughout are vibrant and whimsical and will surely keep young readers entertained. The flow of the book is great and it was a quick read...without a child, it may be longer as their curiosity is spiked. This would be a great book to have children guess what the shapes are going to come together to be before turning the page. I thought this was a wonderful book and that families will enjoy it. It has a great message of bringing things and people together and I love books that focus on word and make them fun for all ages.
A Mind of Her Own by Paula McLain Publisher: Audible Studios
Publication Date: February 28, 2019
Format: Audible Audiobook Source: Freebie form Audible Originals with Subscription
Rating:
Goodreads Synopsis:
Listening time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
From Paula McLain, the best-selling author of The Paris Wife and Love and Ruin, comes a breathtakingly intimate story of the brilliant, willful Marie Curie - a young woman in Paris on the verge of her greatest discovery yet: herself.
Paris, 1893. Twenty-five-year-old Marie Sklodowska is studying science at the Sorbonne - one of the only universities in the world that has begun to admit women. A thousand miles from her native Poland, with no money and the odds stacked against any woman daring to pursue a career in such a rigorous field, Marie throws herself into her studies. She's certain that to succeed in a man's world, she will have to go it alone.
Her meticulous plans get thrown slightly off-course when Marie attracts the attention of an accomplished young physicist, himself on the precipice of greatness. Thirty-five-year-old Pierre Curie, famous for his work on symmetry, believes he has found in Marie an equal who shares his devotion to scientific discovery. He offers to help with her work, and soon begins to court her. But to Marie, men have always been an obstacle, love a distraction from her goals. She hasn't come this far to let either stand in the way of her dreams - dreams Pierre insists they can share.
In A Mind of Her Own, McLain taps into the luminous mind and complex heart of a singular woman caught between order and chaos, science and love in the period just before the world would learn her name.
Review: This was a really long Synopsis for such a short listen, and so re-capping seems a bit pointless. Nevertheless, this Audible Original is about Marie Curie as she is in university and the struggles of being a woman in the field, but it is also a romance and it tells the tale of Marie meeting Pierre. This as a really quick listen and it was interesting ans to the point. The beginning threw me off quite a bit as I got used to the French names for places and things being thrown in, as I don't know French it was a bit off-putting. In the end it was all fine. I liked listening to the tale of her coming to be an university and how strong-willed she was to get there. She was a very determined woman and this was a great way to be introduced to her life. I found that the romance bits kind of took over once Pierre was introduced but that was the time period I guess, so many things revolved around the men , so can we really be surprised it was written this way as well? Pierre was a gentleman and I really hope that was an accurate depiction. Overall this was a good listen. If you are looking for something short and interesting and have an affinity for the sciences, this may interest you as well.
