#SBPT: So long, farewell!

How is it the last week of this!? This summer has FLOW by at lightening speed! 

I am so grateful to the ladies at The Book Bratz for hosting this promo tour because I absolutely adored getting to know Taylor!

I wish I had nearly half of the drive and compassion this girl has. She is so freakin' brilliant that she kind of intimidates me...but she IS SO FREAKING KIND that she puts me at complete ease!?! Not to mention she IS WOKE AS EFF, Y’ALL!

 I am so glad I was partnered up with someone who (A) Is an amazing human and (B) Is a procrastinator like myself. LOL! Tay and I sure know how to leave something until the last minute.TALK ABOUT BONDING OVER RUSH POSTING! haha!

Taylor, thank you so much for being an incredible partner! I love, LOVE, LOVED our cupcake post--we totally rocked it! I’m so glad you fell for Jenn Bennett’s writing this summer! I NEED TO READ YOUR RECS! Thank you for putting up with my fictional character obsessed self!

I MISS YOU ALREADY!!

Go visit Taylor at Stay the Page!

The Opposite of Innocent

The Opposite of Innocent

Author: Sonya Sones

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: September 4th, 2018

Luke has been away for two endless years, but he’s finally returning today. Lily was only twelve when he left. But now, at fourteen, she feels transformed. She can’t wait to see how Luke will react when he sees the new her. And when her mother tells her that Luke will be staying with them for a while, in the bedroom right next to hers, her heart nearly stops.

Having Luke back is better than Lily could have ever dreamed. His lingering looks set Lily on fire. Is she just imagining them? But then, when they’re alone, he kisses her. Then he kisses her again. Lily’s friends think anyone his age who wants to be with a fourteen-year-old must be really messed up. Maybe even dangerous. But Luke would never do anything to hurt her...would he?

This book

Left me speechless.

The Opposite of Innocent

is a story that you can't

put down but at times you

wish that you could.

Lily is a well-written teenage girl.

She has her friends, her hobbies,

and of course

her crush.

I enjoyed her point of view.

There are definitely scenes that

are uncomfortable, cringe-worthy,

and mature.

There are scenes that a real,

and raw,

and relatable.

Page 253 was sickening,

unbelievable, and the reason

why this book is five stars.

The Opposite of Innocent is a

book I can't believe I read but

am glad that I did.

Teaser Tuesday: The Wicked King

To participate all you have to do is:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!) 

 Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

He looks at me and blinks, as through a fog. “This is an absolutely terrible idea,” he says with a kind of amazement in his voice.  ARC PG. 147 

I hear the glamour enter his voice, heady and seductive and more powerful than I expected. “Crawl to me,” he says with a grin.  ARC PG. 271  

 I remember what it was to hate him with the whole of my heart, but I’ve remembered too late. ARC PG. 319 

Movie Monday!

Netflix Find: I watched this 3 times this weekend. I ADORE IT. IT IS MY EVERYTHING. LARA JEAN + PETER= PERFECTION. Lana Condor is my new crush. Everything about this movie is special. The aesthetic, the actors, the story—GAH I am so in love!! I hadn’t read the book but I KNEW I needed to watch this movie. Instantly a new favorite rom-com! THE HOT TUB SCENE. ‘nuff said. Now give me the next movie!  

Red Box Borrow: Adorableness to the MAXX. This was the sweetest little cinnamon roll of a movie. Again, having never read the book, Simon Vs. The Homosapien Agenda, I was still able to follow the movie’s plot, connect with the characters, and fall head over heels IN LOVE with it. Couple quick things: Matin was SO ANNOYING omg!! Simon’s friends were a-holes! AND OH MY GOSH THE FERRIS WHEEL SCENE?! Swoons. If you love YA this movie is for you!  

Red Box Borrow: Oh my goodness gracious. I WAS SLEEPING ON THIS MOVIE, GUYS! What the heck!? Why didn’t anyone force me to watch this sooner? It was an incredibly well executed thriller. The acting—top notch. The cinematography, the intensity, JUST EVERYTHING! I can’t rec this movie enough. Even if you’re not big into thrillers, this is a completely unique piece of art! I need the next one.  

#SBPT: Go-To Book Recs!

Taylor’s Recs

I love stories that emotionally punch me in the face but also have a lot of hope and heart. For me a good read is a book that has a strong voice, strong feelings and strong, badass characters. These are 3 books that come to mind when people ask me for my favorites!

Mosquitoland by David Arnold:

This book is just flat-out one of my all-time favorites. It’s fun, adventurous, validating and beautifully written. I need Brooke to read this so she can appreciate the fine treat that is a David Arnold book because each one is such a distinct type of reading experience. I also hope she’ll want to read Kids of Appetite and The Strange Fascinations too!

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman:

When I think of amazing nerdy YA books that are super strongly voiced, this book sits at the top of the list. I need Brooke to experience Frances and Aled’s story about podcasts and finding the people that help you be your own brand of weird, even if that takes you on a path you never expected.

Still Life with Tornado by A.S. King:

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t partially recommend this book because I want Brooke to cry and have all the emotions I’ve had reading this book. Sorry, you’re in for a wild ride, but also a tremendous treat of brilliant, cathartic writing in this book. It’s absolutely a favorite of mine and this story means so much to me.

Brooke's Recs:

I love to read stories that fill me with giddiness, make me swoon, and give me all the feels--so when someone asks me for a good read, these are the 3 books that always come to mind straight away!

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett: I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I freakin’ ADORED IT! It was the perfect, swoony summer read! I feel like Tay appreciates the swoon just as much as I do, so I thought she may enjoy this one!

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller: SO. Basically, I’m a Pirate-Whore. I needed Taylor to join me on this ship! I absolutely loved this one and everyone could use some swashbuckling fun in their lives right?

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake: WHO DOESN’T LOVE A BLOODY SUPERNATURAL THRILLER!? I’d be lying if I said the cover didn’t convince me to read this one. Luckily, the story inside was just as captivating. This book has romance, violence, heartbreak, AND LIKE?!? Yes, Taylor, please read this and be frightened IN A GOOD WAY?! Wow. Maybe i’m a terrible #SBPT partner lolol

GRACE AND FURY BLOG TOUR: Review + Giveaway!

About the Book:

Title: Grace and Fury

Author: Tracey Banghart

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Release Date: July 31st, 2018

Where to Buy: Amazon, B&N, TBD

In a world where women have no rights, sisters Serina and Nomi Tessaro face two very different fates: one in the palace, the other in prison.

Serina has been groomed her whole life to become a Grace - someone to stand by the heir to the throne as a shining, subjugated example of the perfect woman. But when her headstrong and rebellious younger sister, Nomi, catches the heir's eye, it's Serina who takes the fall for the dangerous secret that Nomi has been hiding.

Now trapped in a life she never wanted, Nomi has only one way to save Serina: surrender to her role as a Grace until she can use her position to release her sister. This is easier said than done. A traitor walks the halls of the palace, and deception lurks in every corner. But Serina is running out of time, imprisoned on an island where she must fight to the death to survive and one wrong move could cost her everything. ~Goodreads

My Review

Grace and Fury is a sweeping fantasy that took me by complete surprise! 

What I was expecting: Glittering ballgowns, royal suitors, elegance galore. 

What I was not expecting: Brutal realties, deep betrayals, GIRL POWER.  

Dual points of view are my absolute favorite so I was delighted to read from both Nomi and Serina’s. Nomi is a take no nonsense type of girl, where Serina is a girl who follows all the rules laid about before her—they could not be more different.  

I enjoyed reading about both of their journeys to the Palazzo, but I did find myself having a favorite. Serina stole my heart. That poor girl.Talk about being thrown completely outside of your element. Serina is a fighter, a survivor, tough as nails. This girl, I can’t even. She is raised to be prim and proper, docile, submissive...and then BAM! She’s thrown onto an island where you need to KILL TO SURVIVE. THIS GIRL. Oh, sweet heavens. If there was an award for "Most Changed” or “Adapts Incredibly”—Serina should get it. CHARACTER GROWTH TO THE MAX! (She has every right to be pissed at Nomi.) 

Nomi’s time in the palazzo is a whirlwind; between dress fittings, dance lessons, and worrying about where Serina is, she catches of the eye of not only the Heir but his handsome brother as well. She is so intelligent and so full of spirit. Her heart is absolutely in the right place when it comes to her decisions, yet she makes mistake after mistake and everyone around her suffers for it.  

I adored the familial aspect of this book. Although Nomi and Serina don’t share a ton of page time together, their strong bond is unmistakable—I’d love to see them together more in the next installment. Also, the little dashes of romance throughout the story made my heart flutter—I NEED MORE VAL. PLEASE AND THANK YOU!! 

Grace and Fury is filled with secrets and twists. It’s filled with young women desperate to change their circumstances. It’s filled with love and hope. It’s a book that definitely should not be missed!  

About Tracy

Tracy Banghart grew up in rural Maryland and spent her summers on a remote island in northern Ontario. All of that isolation and lovely scenery gave her the time to read voraciously and the inspiration to write her own stories. Always a bit of a nomad, Tracy now travels the world Army-wife style with her husband, son, cat, and sweet pupper Scrabble. She wrote Grace and Fury while living in Hawaii.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads 

Giveaway 

3 winners will receive a finished copy of GRACE AND FURY, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the Tour! 

Week Three:

8/6/2018- Feed Your Fiction Addiction- Review

8/7/2018- Portrait of a Book- Review

8/8/2018- To Be Read- Review

8/9/2018- Brooke- Reports- Review

8/10/2018- Cindy's Love of Books- Review