Invoking Nonna Virtual Book Tour!

Hello Everybody! Today I'm the host for the Invoking Nonna virtual book tour! Check out my review of the book and a few other cool items. :) Have fun!

         

             Invoking Nonna (Triple Goddess #1)

             By Sage Adderley

             Published December 20th, 2013 by Sweet Candy  Press 

             Genre: YA, Paranormal

             186 pages

             ISBN-10: 0989709825

             ISBN-13: 978-0989709828

            

             4 stars - Interesting new series!
                   

Maggie Sloan is a free-spirited teenager growing up in rural Georgia. Unlike her peers, Maggie is a witch and so is her mother. In addition to normal teenager rites of passage, she must learn about her family lineage and witchcraft. Her mother, Laura, keeps a tight lid on their family secrets - like the mysterious life and death of her grandmother who passed away before Maggie was born.

Practicing the craft will test solid friendships and introduce Maggie to new realms. While seeking the truth about herself and her family, Maggie is faced with danger from churchgoing classmates who will stop at nothing to make sure she is found out. Laura and Maggie strengthen their bond through witchcraft and work together to overcome their enemies. Are their magical gifts enough to keep them safe?

Review:

Invoking Nonna was an intriguing and unique read. Although some of the topics in the book have been used before, they are written in a totally different way.

I enjoyed how Adderley was able to inform the readers about the Wicca religion. For example, Maggie wasn't just a girl learning how to perform spells. Maggie learned about the actual Wicca religion and learned how it should be used for good and not evil. Speaking of Maggie, I thought that she was a pretty great character. She was a typical teenage girl and grew up throughout the book. There are quite a few characters in this book and we get to learn about a few of them personally. The view points switch between Maggie, Laura, Laura's mother, Maggie's best friend, and another girl, Gillian. I thought that this was pretty interesting and helped us to learn more about each character and their actions. I especially liked reading about the grandmother and her past. 

Invoking Nonna is a great first book in a series and I am excited to see where the series goes. This book is filled with some suspense, mystery, and even a few lessons. The characters were great and some were a little frustrating. :) It's an interesting read and will have you wanting more. Invoking Nonna is a book that I recommend you check out! 

Vanessa

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5Dnc1YczF0

Purchase Links:

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Invoking-Nonna-Sage-Adderley/dp/0989709825

Etsy (print & digital available) - https://www.etsy.com/shop/sage

Follow Sage:

Website – http://sageadderley.com/

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7559413.Sage_Adderley

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MyNameIsSage

Twitter - https://twitter.com/sageadderley

Author Bio

Sage Adderley is a single (and very busy) mom of three humans and one cat. She is passionate about kindness, coffee, mental health, fat activism, and the DIY lifestyle. Sage is the owner of Sweet Candy Distro & Press, Sage's Blog Tours, and writes the zines Tattooed Memoirs and Marked For Life. She is also the creator of FAT-TASTIC! Sage currently resides in the magical land of Olympia, Wa.

Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby

Shooting Stars 

By Allison Rushby 

Published February 28th, 2012 by Walker Childrens

272 pages

4 stars - Great Read!

Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she’s called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn’t mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she’s sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett—teen superstar and the only celebrity who’s ever been kind to her—at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo’s dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned’s in for. But Jo certainly doesn’t know what she’s in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment.

Review:

Shooting Stars was a quick and entertaining read. I didn't expect it to be so good but it definitely was. 

There weren't that many characters but the one's that were important, were good. Jo is a smart and highly talented girl. She's only 16 but she was able to be a pretty successful paparazzi. Throughout the book readers are able to watch her mature and figure out what she really wants to do with her life. Paparazzi or photography classes. Ned was a pretty interesting character as well and had a few secrets he was hiding. I enjoyed reading about him and finding out why he was at the retreat. There were some friends of Jo's that were supportive and entertaining as well.

I enjoyed the plot line and just watching the characters grow. The story wasn't heavy but was entertaining and light. A good read if your stuck in doors like I am. :) Again, it's a quick read but will keep you interested and wanting to reveal the characters secrets. There is also some romance that is fun and light. The characters and the story feels real. I definitely recommend checking this one out!

Vanessa

Bookish and (Not so Bookish) Thoughts #3

    Bookish and (Not So Bookish) Thoughts #3                        

Bookish and (Not So Bookish) Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous! 

1. I am insanely cold while I sit here typing this post. 

2. It also happens to feel like an ice packed freezer outside. The temperature is 13 degrees but it feels like 11 degrees!! Who else is experiencing this horrendous weather?

3. The only good thing about snow and freezing temperatures? No school. I had Monday off for MLK day and then I got Tuesday off for the ice cold temps. 

4. Last year it was no where near this cold. I just can't believe it but I kind of can. :)

5. Oh yeah! I didn't post anything all last week because I have been insanely busy. School work, projects, rehearsals, work, etc. I was really tired all week and then I barely had anything to read! I got the Throne of Glass review up but that was basically all I read. Just horrible.

6. Monday was Teen Wolf! Pretty spectacular episode! Teen Wolf makes my Mondays bearable. What makes your Mondays fun? TV shows? Books? Friends/Family? 

7. My mom's birthday was on Monday as well so that was pretty dang awesome! I made her dessert. :) I made a chocolate cake with fudge inside and a chocolate syrup drizzle on top. It's from Betty Crocker but I forget what it's called...

8. I haven't done much outside of school because it's been way to cold to actually do much. I can't wait for spring and some sun. Who else is tired of this cold weather?

9. There are a couple of movies coming out in theaters that I want to see. I kind of want to see That Awkward Moment and I'm wondering how goods it's going to be. There are more but I can't remember them right now. Still waiting to see Divergent and The Maze Runner! 

10. The Giver by Lois Lowery is being made into a movie and is supposed to come out this year. I loved reading The Giver and am looking forward to seeing it in film. Taylor Swift is also in the film and I'm interested to see how that all plays out. So who else has read The Giver? 

Hopefully everybody is staying warm! Keep on reading!

Vanessa

Bookish and (Not so Bookish) Thoughts #2

Bookish and (Not So Bookish) Thoughts #2

Bookish and (Not So Bookish) Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous! 

1. Happy Thursday! I officially went back to school yesterday, Wednesday. 

2. Monday and Tuesday were "snow days" for the schools in my town! I didn't have to go to school but it was negative 45 outside. So winter break was extended by 2 days! 

3. So far I've read one book this week, Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep. It was really awesome so expect a review soon! 

4. Monday was also MOONDAY for me! Season 3B of Teen Wolf premiered and it was amazing! Can't wait to watch next week and see Stiles and Scott again. Has anyone else seen this? 

5. I already have to start projects in some of my classes and it's only the second day back! Oh well...:(

6. I don't have any big plans this weekend. I am babysitting though. :)

7. I'd like to read some more this weekend but I'm on the waiting list at the library. There are, like, 3 books that I really want to read but have to wait for. :( Hopefully I can get them this weekend! 

8. Something cool happened Wednesday! My mom was at McDonald's and the car in front of her paid for her meal! That was incredibly nice. :) Has this happened to anyone else?

9. I also can't wait for some warmer weather. Is anyone else tired of the snow? It's usually pretty the first two days and then it gets annoying. :)

10. Speaking of weather, some of the grocery stores aren't too stocked because of the snow and cold weather. How about your stores? Are they going through the same thing? 

Not much happened this week. Hopefully next week will be different! 

Vanessa

Wishlist Wednesday #6

 Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves. This is hosted by Pen to Paper ! 





This week I'm wishing for Crash into You by Katie McGarry. It's apart of the Pushing the Limits series and after reading Dare You To, I'm so looking forward to having it. It sounds amazing and since the other two books were fantastic this one should be as well! What's on you wishlist?


Crash Into You (Pushing the Limits #3)
By Katie McGarry
474 pages

 From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane 

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind. 

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look. 

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

Vanessa

My Life After Now by Jessica Verdi

My Life After Now 

By Jessica Verdi

Published April 2nd, 2013 by Sourcebooks Fire

304 pages

4.5 stars - Awesome!

Lucy just had the worst week ever. Seriously, mega bad. And suddenly, it's all too much—she wants out. Out of her house, out of her head, out of her life. She wants to be a whole new Lucy. So she does something the old Lucy would never dream of.

And now her life will never be the same. Now, how will she be able to have a boyfriend? What will she tell her friends? How will she face her family?

Now her life is completely different...every moment is a gift. Because now she might not have many moments left.



Review:

Wow. My Life After Now is definitely a thought provoking read. The main issue in this book is a big one and really encourages the reader to think about the characters and real life. I was completely emerged in the book and read it in a day. 

In the beginning of the book we get a feel for how the regular Lucy is, before she has the worst week ever. She's a nice girl, confident, and loves the world of drama. And she doesn't have any worries besides if she's going to get the role of Juliet or not. Then we watch as Lucy's world slowly falls apart, one problem at a time. Lucy doesn't handle things very well in the beginning and ends up making a mistake that will change her life forever. She finds out that she has contracted HIV. After that things get pretty difficult for Lucy but soon she realizes that with support and a positive attitude, she can handle anything. 

Like I was saying before, Lucy is a nice girl and was easy to like as a main character. It was easy to feel for what she was going through because after just one mistake, her whole world is turned upside down. Throughout the book we watch as Lucy matures and learns more about the disease that she'll have to deal with for the rest of her life. She learns how to deal with her issues and how to trust others with such huge information. Lucy has two dads and I loved both of them. They were super supportive and it was great to watch her relationship evolve with them throughout the book. Then there were Lucy's two best friends who are fantastic as well. Another character that I enjoyed for most of the book would be Evan. I won't tell you who he is exactly but he is a friend of Lucy's. There were a couple other characters who I was not fond of, in fact they really bugged me. But for the most part Lucy had some amazing people in her life and it was great to watch her realize it.

I really enjoyed this book and I don't think there was much to complain about. You can tell that Verdi did extensive research on HIV/AIDS and I really appreciated that. It made you feel as if you really knew Lucy and could feel for what she was going through and what she would have to go through. My Life After Now is an eye opener. You are able to read what it's like for a teenage girl to go through something so life altering. Getting to read about some of her family members or friends reactions was interesting and real. All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I loved how it made me think and empathize with the characters. There were some great quotes throughout the book and the ending was awesome. I recommend this book to anyone and I advise you read it now if you haven't. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Vanessa

Friday Finds #4

Friday Finds is a weekly event hosted by Should Be Reading where you list books that you have found over the week and added to your to- read list. They can be books you have borrowed, purchased, found online or whatever else!

So I've totally slacked off on this meme but it's a new year and I'm going to definitely try harder. I haven't found too many books this week and the ones I did find are from the online library. Check them out!

The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles #1)
By Kady Cross
  Seems pretty interesting so far and kind of reminds me of The Infernal Devices series. Hopefully it turns out to be great!

Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2)
By Aimee Carter









I've already read the first book, The Goddess Test, and I enjoyed that. So I'm looking forward to see what happens next!


My Life After Now
By Jessica Verdi
 This book sounds intriguing and I've seen some good reviews for it. I'm interested to see what it's like. :)


So, like I said, I didn't find too many books this week. But I'm looking forward to reading the ones I found. What did you find this week?

Bookish and (Not So Bookish) Thoughts #1

Bookish and (Not So Bookish) Thoughts #1

Bookish and (Not So Bookish) Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous! 

1. First of all, this is my first time participating in this event and I'm completely excited! Also, I'm posting this pretty late on Thursday but I just found it and want to try it. :)

2. Hopefully I'm able to keep up with this meme and not slack off like I did with Wishlist Wednesday and Friday Finds. I'm hoping to keep up with those as well this year. :) 

3. HAPPY NEW YEAR!! It's 2014 and I'm hoping that this year is a little better for my personal life than last year was. Fingers crossed to a better year! :)

4. Monday, 2nd semester starts...not too excited about that. But this is my senior year in high school so it's also my last 2nd semester of high school. So I guess that's pretty neat, right?

5. I just found out that one of my favorite bands, The Ready Set, will be performing at Vans Warped Tour this summer! Except... I might not be able to go. :( Maybe Jordan will have a separate tour before then? Fingers crossed!

6. Speaking of concerts that I'm dying to go to, We The Kings! We The Kings and This Century are coming to my town and I'm most certain I'll be able to see them. Anyone else love these bands? :)

7. I'm really cold right now. It's actually been really cold all week and grey and stormy. I like winter but I can't handle a ton of it. I'd like some sun...

8. So, for the New Year, my mom made some delicious chicken enchiladas and now I can't stop thinking about them. It's actually kind of disturbing, I've never loved them this much before. Anyone else eating anything good? :)

9. Oh! I just remembered that Monday is also the start of season 3B of Teen Wolf! I LOVE that show and am in love with Stiles. Well, with Dylan O'Brien in general. :) And most of the guys on Teen Wolf, I can't help it. This second part of season 3 is going to be awesome and I can not wait! Does anyone else love Teen Wolf? 

10. Speaking of Dylan O'Brien, I can't wait for The Maze Runner to come out in theaters. And Divergent! And I can't wait for City of Heavenly Fire to release, it is 733 pages long! What movies or books are you looking forward to this year?

Wow, that was pretty fun. I like this meme so I'm definitely posting each week! Well, hopefully everyone is having a great new year. See ya soon!

Vanessa

Dominion by Melody Manful

Dominion (Guardian Angels #1)

By Melody Manful 

Published February 16th, 2013 by Melody Manful 

Kindle Edition 

443 pages

3.5 to 4 stars - Interesting story!

I Dare You.

Look Over Your Shoulders.
Do You See Them?
They are behind you...
They are always behind you.

Abigail Cells had a nightmare the day before she met Gideon, the new guy in school who has every girl drooling just to be near him. In her nightmare, she was murdered by a magical creature. As she gets to know Gideon, she begins to remember pieces of her nightmare, and was shocked when Gideon turned out to be the creature from her nightmare. Who is Gideon really, should Abby allow herself to fall completely for him, or is he the next disaster waiting to happen?

Review:

I found Dominion before it had been released and found the cover to be intriguing. Then I read the summary and found that to be even more intriguing. After finally being able to read this book I'm not sure whether to give it 3.5 stars or 4 and I'll tell you why. 

I really loved the whole story line and I enjoyed the characters but I feel like some things could be improved. Dominion is told by Abigail, Gideon, and Tristan and we get to see each of their perspectives. In the beginning it's pretty spaced out but then it seems that the book is more about Gideon and Abigail, which makes sense because of their characters. But...I would have liked to learn a little more about Tristan's character because for being an actual guardian angel and supposed "good guy" he seemed a little different. I would definitely like to learn more about him in the next book. 

I did like reading about Gideon and watching him grow as a character and he is also completely good looking, just like Tristan. I mean, look at the cover! But really, Gideon is kind of unlikable in the beginning. Abigail is an interesting female lead because she is definitely more than meets the eye. She's strong and smart and pretty kind as well. She knows how to kick some butt and that is always awesome to see in a female character. But throughout the story she starts to figure out what she really feels and her true thoughts. She starts to realize who she really is. Tristan is kind and funny and is one of the only people not afraid of Gideon. A lot goes on between all three of them and it's pretty interesting to read about. 

The story line is interesting as well and I can't wait to see where the author is going to go with it. I feel like we only learned the beginning of the whole guardian angel history and I'd love to learn more about what's going on in their world. I also feel like a good part of the book had to do with Abigail and a love interest and while I enjoyed that, I also would have liked a little more into the world of the angels and other creatures. 

All in all Dominion was a great start for a promising series. I'm looking forward to see where Manful takes these characters that I've grown attached to. The ending was a cliffhanger and leaves you wanting to find out more. So check it out now!

Vanessa