Recent Reads: Bastian by Katrina Kahler

Source: From the Author. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Bastian by Katrina Kahler
Series: Slave to a Vampire #2 
Publisher: KC Global Enterprises
Publication Date:  May 29, 2016

 

Format:  Ebook

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Bastian tells his story to Catherine. A story of love and resilience, Bastian had to reinvent his life after he was turned from a human to a vampire. As Catherine writes his story, will she be horrified or can she accept Bastian's past deeds and the creature he has become.
This story follows the emerging relationship between Catherine and Bastian. It has a thrilling ending that will shock and surprise you. 

Catherine Book #1

Review: 
First off, I find these covers a little hilarious, the guy in the image seems so creepy in a gross way... just had to get that out there. Now that being said, aside from the cover, I do like this series so far. The books are more like novella length at about 92-100 pages and they are pretty fast paced reads. 

This installment changes point of view from the first one, so we heard Catherine's POV and story in book 1 and now we are following Bastian as he is telling his story to her to transcribe. His story is a hard one for her to hear but she is finding him interesting and they are forming a bond through it. 

I can't say too much about the plot because it would give too much away but Bastian seems like a nice enough guy at heart (this cover does NOT do the character justice). I think Catherine might be in over her head a bit but she seems like she can take care of herself.

I already have the next book in the series, now I just need to find some time to sit and read it... the ending of this last one was one heck of a cliff-hanger!     

Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway! - Spurt by Chris Miles

About the Book

Balls and all!

Jack Sprigley isn’t just a late-bloomer. He’s a no bloomer: an eighth grader, and puberty is still a total no-show. Worse yet, he hasn’t heard from his friends all winter vacation. He assumes they’ve finally dumped him and his child-like body—until he finds out it’s much worse than that. His friends are now so far ahead of him that they’ve started dating. Jack is out of luck. But then he comes up with a plan to catch up and win his friends back. And his plan is perfect: he just has to fake puberty.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Wow, this book - I am not really sure where to start, but maybe the best way is to say that this book made me SO anxious. Maybe that was the point though. 

 

Jack is supposed to be going through puberty - only problem - he isn't and he is very bummed about it, so much so that he is attempting to make up for the fact by pretending it is happening, even to his good friends. This book was very funny and it put Jack in a lot of very awkward places and scenarios and maybe that is why I was anxious, but puberty in general is an anxious time too and you really feel that with the character. 

 

I didn't really connect with Jack, I am female and haven't experiences male puberty, but I completely understood the awkwardness of middle school and having people changing all around you and feeling left out. The book while written to be funny, was also a little sad too - I wanted Jack to calm down and talk to people instead of feel the need to play at it. He came off as a jerk for the better part of the book, and maybe that is a 'boy thing' I just missed the mark getting. 

 

Overall this was a very funny read, especially if you are looking for an awkward teen read. I would recommend this book, but I am not sure how your coming-of-age boy would appreciate it if you gave it to them - it is a bit over the top in very frank ways about boy puberty and if your son knew you have read it first, they might be very uncomfortable.   

  Praise for SPURT
“Hilarious, addictive, brilliantly-warped... like Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen crossed with Diary of a Wimpy Kid” -- Stuart Gibbs, New York Times bestselling author of the Spy School series

“Funny, heartfelt, and likely to appeal to reluctant readers, especially boys on the cusp of puberty” --School Library Journal

“A refreshing take on body image, acceptance and the need to fit in. The novel’s moments of profundity are subtle yet powerful, and masterfully balanced with humour. Spurt is appealingly naughty.” --Books+Publishing

About the Author

Chris Miles has written several books for young readers in Australia. His short fiction and other writings have appeared in publications throughout Australia. He works as a website designer and developer, and in his spare time he indulges his love of Doctor Who, LEGO®, Dungeons & Dragons, and anchovies. He is a dog person (though not literally).

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Early Reader Review: Tricked by Jen Calonita

Source: From the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Tricked by Jen Calonita
Series: Fairy Tale Reform School #3
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Publication Date:  March 7, 2017

 

Format: Paperback ARC


Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Things are changing at Fairy Tale Reform School.

At least, that's what Gilly's heard through the Enchantasia rumor mill. Word is, notorious trickster Rumpelstiltskin has taken over management from Headmistress Flora, and he's locked down the school tighter than the Pied Piper's pants. Not that this news concerns Gilly. She's been released from FTRS and is now suffering through attending Jack of All Trades School, where she gets to learn about different kinds of shoe leather and ways to measure feet. Truly riveting stuff.

But when Gilly's little sister Anna gets whisked off to FTRS thanks to her troublemaking new friends, Hansel and Gretel, Gilly knows she's got to get Anna out of there. There's only one thing to do; make some serious trouble and get thrown back into FTRS.

It's time to out-trick a trickster. 

Flunked FTRS #1 / Charmed FTRS#2

Review: 
I really love this Middle Grade series. The characters are a lot of fun and the plots are creative and I love that they keep building into new books in the series but at the same time create good stopping points as well.

In this installment, Gilly's younger sister is thrown into Fairy Tale Reform School because the rules are changing and now it takes less offenses to get sent in. The reason behind that is there is a new 'reformed' villain in charge of the school - Rumpelstiltskin. The trickster of all tricksters is in charge and FTRS is not looking good from the outside... nor the inside it seems. Gilly and her reformed friends must find a way to get back into FTRS and figure out what Rump is up to.

I am so glad we are back with Gilly and the gang in this book and the plot was a lot of fun, and you really wanted to punch Rump in the face - he is creepy and a pain. Gilly hates being back in the real-world and it seems that her friends feel the same so a return to FTRS might be just fine. The characters are strong but still finding their places in the world and that is very relatable. 

I love these books and their renditions of otherwise well-known fairy tales, but the characters are used in a very creative way and sometimes their natures are changed for the better and sometimes the worse. I love this series and can't wait for the next one.  

April 2017 TBR Pile

THE BOOKS
I want to read these... this month:
Spurt is for a Blog Tour 
Series books are from my March TBR & I would like to read them
(but they aren't pressing) 

        

       

What do you want to read this month?

Building the Book Pile #138

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

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

So I didn't finish all the Bloggiesta things that I wanted to but that is ok. I DID do some reading and wrote a handful of reviews that are coming up. I also did a lot of laying around which was nice too :)

This week at work was a rough one, I was out a few days last week so I had some catching up and then the term started so I had a lot of faculty looking for help with things - that is my job though so oh well... I have been super busy all over but I really am trying to read at any possible moment.

How was your week? 

  Giveaways  on Cover2CoverBlog!
More coming soon..

Coming up on the Blog...

April TBR Pile
Early Reader Review: Tricked by Jen Calonita (MG)
Blog Tour/ Review: Spurt by Chris Miles (YA)
Recent Reads: Bastian by Katrina Kahler (Adult/Novella)
Recent Reads: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (Adult)  


    

Books Received this Week

Yellow Owl Workshop's Make it Yours by Christine Schmidt - from Blogging for Books in exchange for review.  
 

Have you missed anything lately?

Week of March 27 - April 1

Movie Monday: Beauty and the Beast Review - 5 stars
Release Day Blitz w/ Giveaway!: Waking the Dead by DB Sieders (YA)
Waiting on Wednesday: The Amazing Crafty Cat (MG/ GN)
Recent Reads: Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie (Adult)- 3 stars
Monthly Re-cap: March 2017

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!