Books Are Magic Too

BOOK TOUR Best Served Hot by Amanda Elliot

Thanks to Berkley Romance, today I’m sharing a brand new release with you, BEST SERVED HOT by Amanda Elliot!

About The Book:

Title: BEST SERVED HOT

Author: Amanda Elliot

Pub. Date: February 21st, 2023

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Pages: 352

Find it: Goodreads

Two restaurant critics learn their opposing tastes might make for a five-star relationship in the next foodie romantic comedy from the author of Sadie on a Plate.

By day, Julie Zimmerman works as an executive assistant. After hours, she’s @JulieZeeEatsNYC, a social media restaurant reviewer with over fifty thousand followers. As much as she loves her self-employed side gig, what Julie really wants is to be a critic at a major newspaper, like the New York Scroll. The only thing worse than the Scroll’s rejection of her application is the fact that smarmy, social-media-averse society boy Bennett Richard Macalester Wright snagged her dream job.

While at the Central Park Food Festival, Julie confronts the annoyingly handsome Bennett about his outdated opinions on social media and posts the resulting video footage. Julie’s follower count soars—and so does the Scroll’s. Julie and Bennett grudgingly agree to partner up for a few reviews to further their buzz. Online buzz, obviously.

Over tapas, burgers, and more, Julie and Bennett connect over their shared love of food. But when the competitive fire between them turns extra spicy, they’ll have to decide how much heat their relationship can take.

After reading Amanda Elliot’s delicious romance debut, SADIE ON A PLATE last year, I was tickled to win an eARC of her upcoming release with Berkley Romance BEST SERVED HOT that comes out 2/21 thanks to Shelf Awareness + NetGalley!

I am not a foodie, instead, I have a palette of a five-year-old but books like Elliot’s make me want to go out and try ALL THE FOODS. I love how her books are centered around incredible food + eating, but both titles manage to be so incredibly unique.

This book focuses on Julie, a foodie influencer trying to claim her space in a world that she thinks may not respect her as someone who knows her stuff when it comes to food. While her job provides her the luxury of being able to do @JulieZeeEatsNYC she struggles with being seen seriously even though she’s grown her following + community from scratch.

When she doesn’t get the food critic job she wants, and it instead goes to Bennett, a privileged white male just like her boss it creates the dreamy set-up for an enemies-to-lovers romance when a viral instagram LIVE results in a collaboration for reviewing together.

Full of banter and hilarious escapades, take a seat, grab a snack and enjoy BEST SERVED HOT, it was a treat to read!

About the Author:

Amanda Elliot lives with her husband in New York City, where she collects way too many cookbooks for her tiny kitchen, runs in Central Park, and writes for teens and kids under the name Amanda Panitch. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @AmandaPanitch

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

BOOK TOUR The Wicked Ones by Robin Benway

By now, you all probably know what a Disney fan I am, so you’ll understand why I’m thrilled to be hosting a spot on the tour for THE WICKED ONES by Robin Benway hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my review below, and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: THE WICKED ONES (Dark Ascension, 1)

Author: Robin Benway

Pub. Date: January 10, 2023

Publisher: Disney Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 320

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/THE-WICKED-ONES

“Blood is blood…and one way or another, we all bleed.”

Drizella and Anastasia only know one thing for certain: they will never end up like their mother, Lady Tremaine. When their father left them as young girls, he took what was left of their family’s fortune and their mother’s dignity with him. A few years and one deceased stepfather later, the only version of Lady Tremaine that Drizella and Anastasia know is a bitter and cruel head of house. Anastasia and Drizella have promised themselves―and each other―that they’ll be different. They’ll find love, see the world, and never let their hearts go cold.

But both sisters are all too aware of what it can mean when cast into disfavor with their mother, and fueled by Lady Tremaine’s tendencies to pit the daughters against one another, Drizella and Anastasia are locked into a complicated waltz of tenuous sisterhood. On the cusp of the royal debut party―their one chance to impress the Prince and live up to their mother’s expectations―the sisters at last get a glimpse of what life could be like outside of Lady Tremaine’s intentions: Drizella discovering a love of science and Anastasia sparking a secret romance. But never underestimate the power a mother whose greatest talents lie in manipulation, and the sisters may learn that even the cruelest of hearts can spill blood.

This first book in the new Disney Villains Dark Ascension series by National Book Award-winning author Robin Benway explores the complex sibling rivalry between the two wicked stepsisters from Cinderella that turned them into the characters we know today.

Who doesn’t love a good retelling, from another character’s point of view?! If you’ve ever been to Disney, Anastasia + Drizella are an absolute hoot, they’re always a highlight when we get to see them at the parks – last time we were there they were catcalling at people as they went by, telling Kennedy how disgusted by her Cinderella dress they were. Being part of the evil villain gang can be so much fun, and I loved that this story was much like the experience the characters bring to life an inside peek at what makes them so different than their stepsister, and what were the reasons behind their actions.

Written in dual POV, Benway’s story lets us get to know Anastasia and Drizella, I loved their viewpoints and how their past was given to us. There’s just something about learning the back story of characters we know and love being told that gets me every time, makes me want to cheer them on because we all deserve that feeling of happily ever after some time! Each of the sisters was given moments that filled in the story we know of Cinderella but explained so much of their characteristics, especially in regards to Lady Tremaine.

The tiny details were everything, from the sightings of the mice, to Anastasia finding Lucifer, this retelling is sure to be enjoyed by any Disney adult, or anyone who adores a retelling that features characters we didn’t get enough of in the previous stories or movies, I know I did!

About Robin Benway:

Robin Benway is a National Book Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author of eight novels for young adults, including Far From the Tree, Audrey, Wait!, the AKA series, and Emmy & Oliver. Her books have received numerous awards and recognition, including the PEN America Literary Award, the Blue Ribbon Award from the Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books, ALA’s Best Books for Young Adults, and ALA’s Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults. In addition, her novels have received starred reviews from Bookpage, Kirkus, Booklist, and Publishers Weekly, and have been published in more than 25 countries. Her sixth novel, Far From the Tree, won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the PEN America Award, and was named one of the best books of the year by The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, NPR, PBS, Entertainment Weekly, and the Boston Globe. In addition to her fictional work, her non-fiction work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Bustle, Elle, and more. Her latest book, A Year To the Day, was published on June 21, 2022, and her next book, The Wicked Ones, the origin story of Cinderella’s wicked stepsisters, will be released by Disney Books on January 10, 2023.

Robin grew up in Orange County, California, attended NYU, where she was a recipient of the Seth Barkas Prize for Creative Writing, and is a graduate of UCLA. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her dog, Hudson.

Want to WIN a copy of The Wicked Ones?!

1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE WICKED ONES, US Only.

Ends February 4^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Head to the other stops along the tour for more reviews & chances to win!

Week One:

1/2/2022	Ohyouread	IG Post
1/3/2022	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt/IG Post
1/4/2022	YA Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
1/5/2022	OddandBookish	Review/IG Post
1/6/2022	Nerdophiles	Review/IG Post
1/7/2022	@more.books.yes.please	IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Two:

1/8/2022	Wanderingwitchreads	TikTok Review/IG Post
1/9/2022	Books With A Chance of Traveling	Review/IG Post
1/10/2022	travelersguidetobooks	IG Review
1/11/2022	Eye-Rolling Demigod’s Book Blog	Review/IG Post
1/12/2022	booksaremagictoo	Review/IG Post
1/13/2022	NeverKnotReading	IG Review
1/14/2022	Mindyourshelf	Review/IG Post

Week Three:

1/15/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
1/16/2022	The Book View	Review/IG Post
1/17/2022	Library of Becca	Review/IG Post
1/18/2022	A Bookish Dream	Review/IG Post
1/19/2022	A Backwards Story	Review/IG Post
1/20/2022	onemused	IG Review
1/21/2022	@carlysunshinebooks	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic

Week Four:

1/22/2022	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic
1/23/2022	popthebutterfly	Review/IG Post
1/24/2022	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post
1/25/2022	@froggyreadteach	IG Review
1/26/2022	Lisa Loves Literature	Review/IG Post
1/27/2022	Emily Ashlyn	IG Review/FB Post
1/28/2022	@enjoyingbooksagain	IG Review

Week Five:

1/29/2022	Momfluenster	IG Review/FB Post
1/30/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
1/31/2022	@drew_ambitious_reading	IG Review/TikTok Post

BOOK TOUR Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

The level of excitement I had for reading this book was unreal. As a huge fan of Hibbert’s adult romances, and just down right giddy about the Joy Revolution imprint, HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND UNFAIRLY CUTE was one of my most anticipated 2023 reads, and I was honored to be selected for the book tour with TBR and Beyond Tours! Scroll down for my full review, and check out the rest of the tour HERE.

Title: Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute

Author: Talia Hibbert

Publisher: Joy Revolution / Get Underlined

Publishing Date: January 3, 2023

Genre: Young Adult Romance

Synopsis:

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Brown Sisters trilogy, comes a laugh-out-loud story about a quirky content creator and a clean-cut athlete testing their abilities to survive the great outdoors–and each other.

Bradley Graeme is pretty much perfect. He’s a star football player, manages his OCD well (enough), and comes out on top in all his classes . . . except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine.

Celine Bangura is conspiracy-theory-obsessed. Social media followers eat up her takes on everything from UFOs to holiday overconsumption–yet, she’s still not cool enough for the popular kids’ table. Which is why Brad abandoned her for the in-crowd years ago. (At least, that’s how Celine sees it.)

These days, there’s nothing between them other than petty insults and academic rivalry. So when Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods, she’s surprised to find Brad right beside her.

Forced to work as a team for the chance to win a grand prize, these two teens must trudge through not just mud and dirt but their messy past. And as this adventure brings them closer together, they begin to remember the good bits of their history. But has too much time passed . . . or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship?

Top 5 Reasons to Read Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute

Talia’s writing style – if you’ve read any of her adult romances, you’ll get her signature writing style with incredible characters, and plenty of witty banter between relatable, real, and well-written characters. Often neurodivergent, I love that Hibbert writes characters I want to know more about, just living their lives. IN HSUC, I love that Celine is a vulnerable true to herself MC that is so open with who she is, and goes after it. As in all of her books, Hibbert writes her characters with care and love and it shows.
It’s best friends to enemies to lovers, and in a YA is there any better trope? Celine and Bradley used to be best friends until they weren’t. As the two are forced to work together, their close proximity brings up their past and present issues. Obviously, they fall in love, and I just adored their story.
A little friendly competition never hurt anybody. I LOVE that the survival course puts them in the perfect setting for a little adventure, outside of their box, in front of Celine’s idol, and works perfectly for the YA age group and is a realistic situation that also provides a lot of fun in the story. The side characters of their fellow competitors, their family, and friends all added to the story in such a fun way, and I really enjoyed how there was plenty of action but it all had a purpose and was tied so well together.
Quirky humor and banter a-plenty, yes, please. As a reader, often there is a difficult balance of the romance and the comedy that create the rom-com, and Hibbert nails it in Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute. From witty banter between the lovebirds, to the way they communicate with friends and family, this one had plenty of laughable moments that brought me joy.
ALL THE REPRESENTATION. We’ve got amazing mental health rep in this book, a male lead with OCD, and a female whose intrusive thoughts make her SO relatable I could’ve cried from happiness. A plus-sized female lead falling for a star athlete, it was everything.

About the Author:

Talia Hibbert is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who lives in a bedroom full of books. Supposedly, there is a world beyond that room, but she has yet to drum up enough interest to investigate.

She writes steamy, diverse romance because she believes that people of marginalised identities need honest and positive representation. Her interests include makeup, junk food, and unnecessary sarcasm. Talia and her many books reside in the English Midlands.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook

A Light in the Flame by Jennifer Armentrout

The only one who can save Sera now is the one she spent her life planning to kill.

A Light in the Flame, the much-anticipated second installment of the captivating Flesh and Fire series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout, is now available!

The truth about Sera’s plan is out, shattering the fragile trust forged between her and Nyktos. Surrounded by those distrustful of her, all Sera has is her duty. She will do anything to end Kolis, the false King of Gods, and his tyrannical rule of Iliseeum, thus stopping the threat he poses to the mortal realm.

Nyktos has a plan, though, and as they work together, the last thing they need is the undeniable, scorching passion that continues to ignite between them. Sera cannot afford to fall for the tortured Primal, not when a life no longer bound to a destiny she never wanted is more attainable than ever. But memories of their shared pleasure and unrivaled desire are a siren’s call impossible to resist.

And as Sera begins to realize that she wants to be more than a Consort in name only, the danger surrounding them intensifies. The attacks on the Shadowlands are increasing, and when Kolis summons them to Court, a whole new risk becomes apparent. The Primal power of Life is growing inside her, pushing her closer to the end of her Culling. And without Nyktos’s love—an emotion he’s incapable of feeling—she won’t survive her Ascension. That is if she even makes it to her Ascension and Kolis doesn’t get to her first. Because time is running out. For both her and the realms.

Download your copy today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vRjQlR
Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/LightFlameJLA
Nook: https://bit.ly/3s0PNr8
Apple Books: https://apple.co/37PAgUa
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3vX5GzE

Paperback and Hardcover

Amazon Paperback: https://rb.gy/1vnghg

Amazon Hardcover: https://rb.gy/pzlk2g

Barnes and Noble Exclusive Special Edition Paperback: https://rb.gy/9winko

Barnes and Noble Hardcover: https://rb.gy/y7rg3r

Audio

Amazon: https://rb.gy/nssgbo

Barnes and Noble: https://rb.gy/zonrqx

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3vmskCD

About Jennifer L. Armentrout

#1 New York Times and #1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. She spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Border Jack Apollo. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was an Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over a hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more.

Connect with Jennifer L. Armentrout

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2xSL7u5

Instagram: @jennifer_l_armentrout http://bit.ly/33GWn8R

Twitter: @JLArmentroutnews http://bit.ly/2QvDYpT

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3dnOSIi

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2U5Jemy

BookBub: http://bit.ly/2U2Fe63

TikTok: @jenniferlarmentrout

Stay up to date with Jennifer by joining her mailing list: https://bit.ly/2qBce5m

Website: https://jenniferlarmentrout.com

For more information about Blue Box Press, visit: https://theblueboxpress.com

BOOK TOUR WELL THAT WAS UNEXPECTED BY JESSE Q. SUTANTO

I have read and LOVED Jesse Q. Sutanto’s adult releases and was thrilled to be selected to join the tour for WELL THAT WAS UNEXPECTED that releases TODAY 9/27 from @delacortepress thanks to TBR & Beyond tours — head below to read my full review & make sure to head to their site + to check out the other tour stops!

About The Book:

Title: Well That Was Unexpected

Author: Jesse Q. Sutanto

Pub. Date: August 30th 2022

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, IndieBound

An outrageous, laugh-out-loud YA rom-com about a girl who’s whisked from LA to her mother’s native Indonesia to get back to her roots and finds herself fake-dating the son of one of the wealthiest families there, from the author of Dial A for Aunties.

After Sharlot Citra’s mother catches her in a compromising position, she finds herself whisked away from LA to her mother’s native Indonesia. It’ll be exactly what they both need. Or so her mother thinks.

When George Clooney Tanuwijaya’s father (who is obsessed with American celebrities) fears he no longer understands how to get through to his son, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

To ensure that their children find the right kind of romantic partner, Sharlot’s mother and George’s father do what any good parent would do: they strike up a conversation online, pretending to be their children.

When the kids find out about their parents’ actions, they’re horrified. Not even a trip to one of the most romantic places on earth could possibly make Sharlot and George fall for each other. But as the layers peel back and the person they thought they knew from online is revealed, the truth becomes more complicated. As unlikely as it may seem, did their parents manage to find their true match after all?

This was just the book I need to read during a rough week, what I loved MOST was how Sharlot found her family + roots after a disastrous awkward moment that had her mom moving her from California back “home” to Jakarta, where her family is from but she has never even visited before now.

Sutano’s books always have the best, crazy and fun families that get into trouble and grow through that love no matter the situation and this YA story had all the best parts of her writing style. It was her first YA I had read, and I have her upcoming adult VERA WONG’S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS (March 2023) on it’s way to me to read and review and I can’t wait, her books just bring me such joy!

The book made me really think about our expectations of family and how those relationships can impact our lives. Do you live where you’re from? Or have you moved away from your family, how did you end up where you are now? I’d love to hear the variety of choices and reasons for WHERE we are and who we’ve become as a result!

SUPER excited to tune into the launch event with Jesse + Ali Hazelwood hosted by Brookline Booksmith tomorrow 9/28! Two of my favorites talking, sounds like a must!

About the Author:

I grew up going back and forth between Jakarta and Singapore and consider both places my homes. I was fortunate enough to do my Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford, which is surely one of the most gorgeous places in the world.

I am passionate about women’s rights and diversity in publishing. I regularly do giveaways where I critique queries or the first few pages, and I am especially interested in helping writers from marginalized communities. If you are a writer from a marginalized community, do hit me up! I love hearing from other writers, even if it’s just to say a quick hello.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook

BOOK TOUR LORD OF THE FLY FEST BY GOLDY MOLDAVSKY

This year there have been a lot of Lord of the Flies retellings with influencers and I LOVE each and every take on this trend that I read. Thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours and the publisher for having me on this book tour, head to their website for the full tour schedule and scroll down to read my thoughts!

About The Book:

Title: Lord of the Fly Fest

Author: Goldy Moldavsky

Pub. Date: August 30th 2022

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.

Genre: Young Adult Horror

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, Book Depository, IndieBound

One of Us Is Lying meets Lord of the Flies meets Fyre Fest in this wickedly addictive and funny YA thriller.

Rafi Francisco needs something really special to put her true crime podcast on the map. She sets her sights on River Stone, the hearthrob musician who rose to stardom after the mysterious disappearance of his girlfriend. Rafi lands herself a ticket to the exclusive Fly Fest, where River will be the headliner.

But when Rafi arrives on the Caribbean island location of Fly Fest with hundreds of other influencers and (very minor) celebrities, they quickly discover that the dream trip is more of a nightmare. And it’s not just confronting beauty gurus-gone-wild and spotty WiFi. Soon, Rafi goes from fighting for an interview to fighting for her life. And, as she gets closer to River, she discovers that he might be hiding even darker secrets than she suspected . . .

Content Warning: violence, missing persons, and bodily functions

There’s something about the idea of how trusting we are as a society to believe in the idea of paying for these island experiences, part being afraid of NOT being included, part entitlement that we deserve exclusive, luxury concerts on an island that for many of us wouldn’t ever seem realistic.

I don’t know about you, but Lord of the Flies is one of the books that sticks out most from my childhood school reading experience, and I always enjoy a great twist in a retelling so these influencer islands have been such fun, interesting reads. I giggled at the take on the disaster Fyre Island scam mixed with a reality check on the impact of social media on society today, so many of the characters were what I would consider unlikeable, but WHO would be likeable in this situation, I certainly wouldn’t expect people used to getting everything handed them to be prepared to be stranded.

Rafi MADE the book for me, I really enjoyed her personality in the book, and how her podcasts were incorporated into the story.

While the overall plot seemed a bit repetitive, I felt I knew what the author was going for and enjoyed the read. That COVER is so eye catching, I know it will grab readers’ attention and I hope finds its’ ideal audience, I know I will definitely read more books from her in the future.

About the Author:

Goldy Moldavsky was born in Lima, Peru, and grew up in Brooklyn, where she still lives. Her novels include the New York Times bestseller, KILL THE BOY BAND, NO GOOD DEED (Scholastic), and THE MARY SHELLEY CLUB (Henry Holt). Her books have appeared on numerous Best-Books lists and have been translated to other languages. Her love of 80s movies, 90s boy bands, and horror flicks hugely influences her work. She can be found on Twitter and Instagram @goldywrites.

She is represented by Jenny Bent at the Bent Agency.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Tell me, do you like retellings?

BOOK TOUR DRESSING UP THE STARS: THE STORY OF MOVIE COSTUME DESIGNER EDITH HEAD

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the DRESSING UP THE STARS: THE STORY OF MOVIE COSTUME DESIGNER EDITH HEAD by Jeanne Walker Harvey & Diana Toledano (Illustrations) Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: DRESSING UP THE STARS: THE STORY OF MOVIE COSTUME DESIGNER EDITH HEAD

Author: Jeanne Walker Harvey & Diana Toledano (Illustrations)

Pub. Date: September 20, 2022

Publisher: Beach Lane Books

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 40

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks,Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Discover the true story of how a shy miner’s daughter became one of the most legendary costume designers in Hollywood in this inspiring nonfiction picture book biography.

As a child in the small mining town of Searchlight, Nevada, Edith Head had few friends and spent most of her time dressing up her toys and pets and even wild animals using fabric scraps. She always knew she wanted to move somewhere full of people and excitement. She set her sights on Hollywood and talked her way into a job sketching costumes for a movie studio.

Did she know how to draw or sew costumes? No. But that didn’t stop her!

Edith taught herself and tirelessly worked her way up until she was dressing some of the biggest stars of the day, from Audrey Hepburn to Grace Kelly to Ginger Rogers. She became the first woman to head a major Hollywood movie studio costume department and went on to win eight Academy Awards for best costume design—and she defined the style of an era.

About Jeanne Walker Harvey:

JEANNE WALKER HARVEY studied literature and psychology at Stanford University and has worn many job hats, ranging from being a roller coaster ride operator to an attorney, a middle school language arts teacher, and a long-time docent for school groups at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. She is the author of several books for young readers, including the picture book biographies Dressing up the Stars: The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head, Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas, and Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines. Jeanne lives in Northern California. Visit her online at JeanneHarvey.com.

Website | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon

About Diana Toledano:

DIANA TOLEDANO is an illustrator, writer, and educator. She is also a Pisces who loves children’s books, patterns, and dancing her heart out. Originally from Spain, Diana (pronounced the Spanish way: dee-ah-na) grew up in Madrid where she studied art history and illustration. Now she lives in San Francisco with her husband and two fluffy cats. Her mixed media art seeks to capture the magic of the ordinary. Diana’s product designs, picture books, board books, and chapter books have been published and sold all over the world. Diana also teaches workshops for kids and adults. She enjoys doing school visits and speaking at conferences. Learn more at Diana-Toledano.com.

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of DRESSING UP THE STARS: THE STORY OF MOVIE COSTUME DESIGNER EDITH HEAD, US Only.

Ends September 24^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/31/2022	@jael_and_jenessa_reads	Review/IG Post
9/1/2022	Lisa-Queen of Random	Excerpt/IG Post
9/2/2022	BookHounds YA	Excerpt/IG Post
9/3/2022	Ya Books Central	Excerpt

Week Two:

9/4/2022	Just Another Teen Reading Books	Review/IG Post
9/5/2022	booksaremagictoo	Review/IG Post
9/6/2022	One More Exclamation	Review/IG Post
9/7/2022	Little Red Reads	Review/IG Post
9/8/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review/IG Post
9/9/2022	Nerdophiles	Review/IG Post
9/10/2022	Do You Dog-ear?	Review/IG Post

Week Three:

9/11/2022	RavenzReviewz	Review/IG Post
9/12/2022	pickagoodbook	Review/IG Post
9/13/2022	Write. Read. Live	Review/IG Post
9/14/2022	A Backwards Story	Review/IG Post
9/15/2022	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review/IG Post
9/16/2022	For The Love Of The Page	Review/IG Post
9/17/2022	Feed Your Fiction Addiction	Review/IG Post

Week Four:

9/18/2022	@enjoyingbooksagain	IG Review
9/19/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post

BOOK TOUR Raising the Horseman by Serena Valentino

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the RAISING THE HORSEMAN by Serena Valentino Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About the Book

Title: RAISING THE HORSEMAN

Author: Serena Valentino

Pub. Date: September 6, 2022

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 304

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

From the New York Times best-selling author of Disney’s Villains series comes a ghostly new stand-alone novel that reimagines The Legend of Sleepy Hollow through the eyes of a modern teen.

The two-hundredth anniversary of the Headless Horseman’s legendary haunting of Sleepy Hollow is approaching, but Kat van Tassel wants nothing to do with the town’s superstitious celebrations. As a descendant of the original Katrina van Tassel, Kat knows she’s expected to fulfill her ancestor’s legacy by someday marrying her longtime boyfriend and running the prestigious family estate. But Kat dreams of a life outside Sleepy Hollow.

Then Kat meets Isadora, a new girl in town who challenges Kat to reexamine those expectations, opens her eyes to the possibility that ghosts are real, and makes her question who she truly wants to be . . . and be with.

When Kat is given the original Katrina’s diary, a new legend begins to take shape, one that weaves together the past and the present in eerie ways. Can Kat uncover a two-hundred-year-old secret, and trace its shocking reverberations in her own life, in time to protect what she truly loves?

Fans of Serena Valentino will delight in this supernatural coming-of-age tale that finally gives the women of Sleepy Hollow a chance to tell their side of the story.

Review:

“A sweet retelling of a spooky classic.”―Kirkus Reviews

When I tell you HOW excited I was to see the premise of this book! I have always enjoyed this Halloween story, and the Headless Horseman has a special place in my heart as one of the icons during Disney’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party which my family and I will be attending on Monday! My goal is to snag a photo of this one during the Boo-To-You parade, I can’t wait!

I have been saving this one to get me in the spooky season mood for our trip and I am loving it! I always adore Serena Valentino’s writing style, and how she gives us the Gillian backstory’s we NEED!

About Serena Valentino:

Serena Valentino has been weaving tales that combine mythos and guile for the past decade. She has earned critical acclaim in both the comic and horror domains, where she is known for her unique style of storytelling, bringing her readers into exquisitely frightening worlds filled with terror, beauty, and extraordinary protagonists. The books in her best-selling Villains series are best enjoyed when read in the following order: Fairest of All, The Beast Within, Poor Unfortunate Soul, Mistress of All Evil, Mother Knows Best, Odd Sisters, Evil Thing, Cold Hearted, and Never Never. She is also the author of the Villains graphic novels Evil Thing and Fairest of All.

Now for a GIVEAWAY!

1 winner will receive a finished copy of RAISING THE HORSEMAN, US Only.

Ends October 7^th, midnight EST.

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/1/2022	Celia’s Reads	Review/IG Post
9/2/2022	booksaremagictoo	Review/IG Post
9/3/2022	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

9/4/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
9/5/2022	@ReaderOfTheWrittenWord	IG Review
9/6/2022	Eye-Rolling Demigod’s Book Blog	Review/IG Post
9/7/2022	Book-Keeping	Review/IG Post
9/8/2022	Ya Books Central	Excerpt
9/9/2022	A Dream Within A Dream	Review/IG Post
9/10/2022	@lexijava	Review/IG Post

Week Three:

9/11/2022	Laurenreads._	IG Review
9/12/2022	The Bookwyrm’s Den	Review
9/13/2022	Forthenovellovers	Review
9/14/2022	GryffindorBookishNerd	IG Review
9/15/2022	Epic Book Society	Review/IG Post
9/16/2022	@booksrn_rashi	Review/IG Post
9/17/2022	Review Thick And Thin	Review/IG Post

Week Four:

9/18/2022	hauntedbybooks	Review/IG Post
9/19/2022	BookHounds YA	Excerpt
9/20/2022	Novel Novice	IG Spotlight
9/21/2022	@ReadsReaders	YouTube Review/IG Post
9/22/2022	@enjoyingbooksagain	IG Review
9/23/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
9/24/2022	Momfluenster	IG Review/FB Post

Week Five:

9/25/2022	PopTheButterfly Reads	Review/IG Post
9/26/2022	@drew_ambitious_reading	IG Review/TikTok Post
9/27/2022	@thebookishfoxwitch	IG Review
9/28/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
9/29/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review/IG Post
9/30/2022	onemused	IG Review

BOOK TOUR Serwa Boateng’s Guide To Vampire Hunting by Rosanne A. Brown

SERWA BOATENG’S GUIDE TO VAMPIRE HUNTING Blog Tour Assets

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the SERWA BOATENG’S GUIDE TO VAMPIRE HUNTING by Roseanne A. Brown Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: SERWA BOATENG’S GUIDE TO VAMPIRE HUNTING(Serwa Boateng #1)

Author: Roseanne A. Brown

Pub. Date: September 6, 2022

Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 400

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks,Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents best-selling YA author Roseanne A. Brown’s middle grade debut about a pre-teen vampire slayer with a strong helping of Ghanaian folklore.

For most kids, catching fireflies is a fun summer activity. For twelve-year-old Serwa Boateng, it’s a matter of life and death.

That’s because Serwa knows that some fireflies are really adze, shapeshifting vampires from the forests of Southeastern Ghana. Adze prey on the blood of innocents, possessing their minds and turning them into hulking monsters, and for generations, slayers like Serwa and her parents have protected an unknowing public from their threats.

Serwa is the best adze slayer her age, and she knew how to use a crossbow before she could even ride a bike. But when an obayifo (witch) destroys her childhood home while searching for a drum, do Serwa’s parents take her with them on their quest to defeat her? No. Instead, they dump Serwa with her hippie aunt and cryptic-obsessed cousin in the middle of Nowheresville, Maryland “for her own safety.” Now, instead of crossbows and battle armor, she’s dealing with mean girls and algebra, and for the first time in her life she doesn’t have to carry a staff everywhere she goes, which is . . . kind of nice, actually.

Just as Serwa starts to get the hang of this whole normal girl who doesn’t punch vampires every day thing, an adze infiltrates her school. It’s up to her to whip some of her classmates into monster-fighting shape before all of them become firefly food. And when she uncovers a secret that upends everything she thought she knew about her family’s role in the slayer vs. adze war, Serwa will have to decide which side of herself–normal girl or slayer–is the right one.

After all, seventh grade is hard enough without adding vampires to the mix.

About Roseanne A. Brown:

Roseanne “Rosie” A. Brown was born in Kumasi, Ghana and immigrated to the wild jungles of central Maryland as a child. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and was also a teaching assistant for the school’s Jiménez-Porter Writers’ House program. Her debut novel A Song of Wraiths and Ruin was an instant New York Times Bestseller, an Indie Bestseller, and received six starred reviews. She has worked with Marvel, Star Wars, and Disney among other publishers.

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of SERWA BOATENG’S GUIDE TO VAMPIRE HUNTING, US Only.

Ends October 7^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/1/2022	booksaremagictoo	Review/IG Post
9/2/2022	More Books Please blog	Review/IG Post
9/3/2022	xbookwormcafe	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

9/4/2022	BookHounds YA	Excerpt/IG Post
9/5/2022	wiltedpages	Review/IG Post
9/6/2022	The Real World According to Sam	Review/IG Post
9/7/2022	GryffindorBookishNerd	IG Review
9/8/2022	Eye-Rolling Demigod’s Book Blog	Review/IG Post
9/9/2022	Feed Your Fiction Addiction	Review/IG Post
9/10/2022	hodophile_z	IG Review

Week Three:

9/11/2022	Wanderingwitchreads	TikTok Review/IG Post
9/12/2022	Log Cabin Library	Review
9/13/2022	Lifestyle of Me	Review
9/14/2022	@lexijava	Review/IG Post
9/15/2022	A Backwards Story	Review/IG Post
9/16/2022	Confessions of a YA Reader	Review
9/17/2022	@meetcuteromancebooks	IG Review

Week Four:

9/18/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
9/19/2022	The Bookwyrm’s Den	Review
9/20/2022	hauntedbybooks	Review/IG Post
9/21/2022	onemused	IG Spotlight
9/22/2022	Ya Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
9/23/2022	@thebookishfoxwitch	IG Review
9/24/2022	@jacleomik33	IG Review

Week Five:

9/25/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
9/26/2022	PopTheButterfly Reads	Review/IG Post
9/27/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review
9/28/2022	@ReadsReaders	YouTube Review/IG Post
9/29/2022	@drew_ambitious_reading	IG Review/TikTok Post
9/30/2022	The Clever Reader	Review/IG Post

BOOK TOUR The Honeys by Ryan La Sala

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE HONEYS by Ryan La Sala Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: The Honeys

Author: Ryan La Sala

Pub. Date: August 16th, 2022

Publisher: PUSH (Scholastic Press)

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 352

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

From Ryan La Sala, the wildly popular author of Reverie, comes a twisted and tantalizing horror novel set amidst the bucolic splendor of a secluded summer retreat.

Mars has always been the lesser twin, the shadow to his sister Caroline’s radiance. But when Caroline dies under horrific circumstances, Mars is propelled to learn all he can about his once-inseparable sister who’d grown tragically distant.

Mars’s genderfluidity means he’s often excluded from the traditions — and expectations — of his politically connected family. This includes attendance at the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy where his sister poured so much of her time. But with his grief still fresh, he insists on attending in her place.

What Mars finds is a bucolic fairytale not meant for him. Folksy charm and sun-drenched festivities camouflage old-fashioned gender roles and a toxic preparatory rigor. Mars seeks out his sister’s old friends: a group of girls dubbed the Honeys, named for the beehives they maintain behind their cabin. They are beautiful and terrifying — and Mars is certain they’re connected to Caroline’s death.

But the longer he stays at Aspen, the more the sweet mountain breezes give way to hints of decay. Mars’s memories begin to falter, bleached beneath the relentless summer sun. Something is hunting him in broad daylight, toying with his mind. If Mars can’t find it soon, it will eat him alive.

Reviews:

“Pure horror gold.” – Booklist STARRED review

“Tantalizing and memorable.” – Publisher’s Weekly STARRED review

“As rich and complex as dark amber honey.” – Kirkus

About the Author:

Ryan La Sala writes about surreal things happening to queer people.

Ryan resides in New York City, but only physically. Escapist to the core, he spends most of his time in the astral planes and only takes up corporeal form for special occasions, like brunch and to watch anime (which is banned on the astral planes).

Ryan is the author behind the riotously imaginative Reverie, and the brilliantly constructed Be Dazzled, and the highly anticipated The Honeys. He has been featured in Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Tor.com, and one time Shangela from RuPaul’s Drag Race called him cute. Right in the middle of the road downtown! So. Pretty big deal all around, yes?

His next book, The Honeys, will be publish with Scholastic on August 16, 2022.

Now for the fun part! 1 lucky winner will receive a finished copy of THE HONEYS, US Only. Ends August 23rd, midnight EST, enter the giveaway below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Head to the other tour stops below for more thoughts and reviews, and the chance at additional entries for the giveaway!

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/1/2022	Ya Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
8/2/2022	Lisa Loves Literature	Review/IG Post
8/3/2022	@ReaderOfTheWrittenWord	IG Review
8/4/2022	A Dream Within A Dream	Review/IG Post
8/5/2022	One More Exclamation	Review/IG Post
8/6/2022	Nerdophiles	Review

Week Two:

8/7/2022	My.Bookish.Mind	IG Review/TikTok Post
8/8/2022	Eli to the nth	Review/IG Post
8/9/2022	@amysbooknook8	IG Review
8/10/2022	Do You Dog-ear?	Review/IG Post
8/11/2022	Brandi Danielle Davis	IG Review/TikTok Post
8/12/2022	A Bookish Dream	Review/IG Post
8/13/2022	Mallory Books	Review/IG Post

Week Three:

8/14/2022	booksaremagictoo	Review/IG Post
8/15/2022	onemused	Review/IG Post
8/16/2022	@ReadsReaders	YouTube Review/IG Post
8/17/2022	Momfluenster	IG Review/FB Post
8/18/2022	@enjoyingbooksagain	IG Review
8/19/2022	@lexijava	Review/IG Post
8/20/2022	@drewsim12	IG Review/TikTok Post