Happy New Year Bookworms!

Happy New Year my fellow bookworms!

Photo by Djordje Vezilic from Pexels

This year has been a busy one for me, has it been for you? I had many personal goals set up for myself and completed two big ones, including starting school again next year! 

For my book goals this year, I read quite a bit, but not as much as I would have liked to. With school next year, my next book goal will be 25 books instead of 50, since I have already started to read up on my books for class. I hope to include a couple of book blog reviews, but  I may instead share what I am learning in class (since it will be book related!).

That said, here are my top 7 books (not including reviewed books) that I read this year (in no particular order):

1. A Stitch in Time by Kelley Armstrong
2. Dearest Josephine by Caroline George
3. Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland
4. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
   
5. A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair
6. Alone by Megan E. Freeman 
7. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

Thanks to Goodreads' Year in Review, I found out that my longest book read was A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas at 757 and my shortest was Hilda and The Mountain King by Luke Pearson at 80 pages. My average book length for the year was 245 pages. The most popular book read was one I read for a class (and didn't like, so this was kind of funny). My average book rating was 4.4 stars. My first review was Fingerprints and Phantoms by Paul Rimmasach, and my last review was Hope City by Neil Perry Gordon.

It is funny, since the pandemic hit, it has been harder for me to fall back on reading, but once I open a book and start reading, I keep going until I finish. It has been hard with graphic novels, comics, or series that are not finished. I have a tendency to binge read and like to read a series in one go. Then look to see if there is more, such as movies, shows, or even fan fiction or photos. The fandom is real! 

Photo by Malte Luk from Pexels

What are your goals for this year, whether it be book or personal goals? You can always try your hand at Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge 2022 (which includes a downloadable and editable version this year)! 

I wish you all a very Happy New Year! I hope you stay safe, have a restful holiday, and wish you happy reading!

Happy All The Holidays!

Hello my fellow bookworms,

Happy Holidays to you and yours! We've entered that end-of-the-year holiday period, and can I say, I am already tired of the Christmas music that started the day after Halloween? It started so early this year! I suppose they are making up for last year, but I wish there was a break now and again.

Photo from BiljaST from Pixabay

That said, there are quite a few fun holiday-inspired links I have for you to view!

• If you are out and about buying books from an independent bookstore, you can receive a free audiobook from Libro.fm if you spend $15! This deal is until tomorrow (November 30th), but a free audiobook can be a fun book to listen to this winter season!
  

• Barnes & Noble has released signed editions of new books out for their Black Friday special this year. Check it out here and see if you want (or need) any for your own collection!
  

• Goodreads has opened voting for their Choice Awards 2021. If you missed the opening round, which ended yesterday, never fear, for the final round starts tomorrow. Vote now or forever hold your peace - until next year, that is.
  

• New York Times has released their list of 100 Notable Books of 2021. How many have you read? Amazon also has their list of the Best Books of the Year up. I will admit, while I have seen quite a few of these books listed, recommended, and on my to-read list, I have not read a single one (yet). I miss reading and have been very busy lately, but hope to catch up on reading during the upcoming holiday season! :)
  

• There are quite a few lists that recommend gifts for bookworms, but one new trend I have noticed in the recommendations is books with sprayed edges. These are so pretty! I have not seen them in stores, but they are up on Etsy for purchase. Take a look at this beautiful rendition of Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim (which I highly recommend!) There are even signed sprayed editions available on Etsy, such as this one of Defy the Night by Bridgid Kemmerer. Check them out before they're sold out!
  

• NOVL has some fun book quizzes for you to try out. Find out which badass YA heroine you are or find book recommendations based on how you like your potatoes. There are more quizzes here, if you are interested!

• Learn about a woman named Alicia Tapia, who rides a bicycle around her city, passing out books through her mobile bike library, Bibliobicicleta, in this story from the SF Gate. It is very inspiring! I may look into trying this for my city, as well!
  

• If the holiday season has made you feel like you are wasting wrapping paper, etc., take a look at Recyclebank's recommendations for audiobooks on sustainability. Recyclebank is a fun website that teaches you about recycling and even provides insight to recycling in your local area. (This is not sponsored - this is a recommendation from me, a person who likes to recycle when she can, just sharing a favorite website!)
  

• Out of Print is having a Cyber Monday sale (as is the rest of the world), but who else has nifty book-related items to buy? Etsy is another great place to shop for book-themed items!
  

• Netflix and Starbucks has teamed up for a new show that talks about book-to-screen adaptations. Hosted by Uzo Aduba, "But Have You Read the Book" is a show that brings stars and authors to the show, where they join the host at a Starbucks, and sit down for a cup of coffee and have a conversation about books and their adaptations. I have not watched it yet, but it debuted on Netflix on November 16th. If any of you have watched it, please let me know how it is!

Photo by Elf-Moondance from Pixabay

I have a new book to read and review. I have not gotten to it yet, but hopefully I can soon! This next year will be interesting, as I will be reading more textbooks than books for fun. I am excited for the holidays and days off, so I can rest and hopefully catch up on my reading! What are you guys excited for? Let me know in the comments.

Until next time - stay safe and happy reading!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! (c) Once Upon A Book Blog(ger)

Happy Halloween my fellow bookworms!

I hope you have been able to enjoy in all the fun fall festivities and new books that are out! I wanted to mention that I will be going back to school, so I will be busy starting next year, and I am not sure on how often I can do book reviews. I will continue to post monthly and try to add new book news or information I find out for you to read.

 That said, I do have some bookish news for you:

• This past month was  Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month. If you would like some book recommendations celebrating Latinx and Hispanic authors, Penguin Random House has a book list titled I Am La Cultura.

• The original Poohsticks Bridge, from A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh books is up for auction. If you really love
  Winnie the Pooh, you can fulfill a childhood dream of booking a stay at the Bearbnb, or Winnie the Pooh's tree house. If it were not so far away, I would book my vacation today!
  

• All of the winter holiday items are already in the stores or making their way in. If you want to start your holiday shopping early, Barnes & Noble recently released their Best Books of the Year 2021 list.
  

• If you haven't been able to visit a museum or see some autumn-themed art, the Smithsonian has an online "Autumn Views" exhibition for you.
  

• Google has released a virtual tour titled "Walk the Great Wall [of China]," a fun new online feature mixing culture and technology. You can view beautiful photos of the Great Wall, read up on the history, and even "hike" the wall in 360 degrees.
  

• How cool is this Ikea setup? It would be fun to have a similar set up at home, but it did make browsing new furniture more fun. 

(c) Once Upon A Book Blog(ger)

(c) Once Upon A Book Blog(ger)

• There is a young adult novel that inspired Hayao Miyazaki to come out of retirement. He will be creating a film about his favorite childhood book, How Do You Live? by Yoshino Genzaburo. You can now read it, as it has been translated into English, and is available for purchase from bookstores, Amazon, wherever you buy books from! The movie is slated for release in 2023. You can read an article with more information from Publishers Weekly here.

• Another new movie coming out based on a young adult novel is based on the series Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. I have read the series and read the graphic novels. I am very interested to see how the film turns out, and whether or not there will be sequels! Yahoo News has information on the cast and more.

I will have more news next month. This month went by way too fast!  I have a few books on my to-read plate, including: No Words by Meg Cabot, Lakesedgeby Lyndall Clipstone, Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber, and The Raven Heir by Stephanie Burgis. Let me know what you guys are reading in the comments!

Until next time! Stay spooky! :)

Cover Reveal: The Moonlit Woods by Eliza Tilton

Happy weekend my fellow bookworms!

I wanted to share with you a new book that is coming out that I am excited to read: The Moonlit Woods by Eliza Tilton. This is an adult fantasy romance novel that you can jump into once it is released on January 18, 2022! Ms. Tilton has stated that it will be book 1 out of 5, but it can be read as a standalone novel. 

Here is the official blurb and cover release:

When marriage or death are your only options, you break all the rules.

Rosalie is sold to the magistrate of Farrow's Gate to compete in a marriage competition. If she wins, her home is saved. If she loses, she’ll be forced to work off her family’s debt in an undisclosed location.

But the magistrate won’t just marry any human. He wants a mate whose magic rivals his own, and Rosalie can’t ever reveal just how powerful she is. In the world of Saol magic is regulated, and if the Magi Council discovered what she is, it won’t just be her life at risk.

Her only chance of escape is with the magistrate’s bodyguard, Baine: a dark, too handsome fae, and one who has no interest in helping a human girl.

Until one night in the moonlit woods when everything changes, and suddenly Rosalie is torn between what she wants and what is right.

Losing the competition means death, winning means the death of others, and Rosalie is out of time. If she doesn't choose soon, someone will do it for her.

Save it to your Goodreads profile and/or pre-order it on Amazon today. I cannot wait to read it!

~*~

Happy fall everyone! I am happy for the change of the season, as fall is such a beautiful time and it means there is so many new books coming out. What are you looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below.

Until next time! Stay safe and happy reading! :)

Hope City: The Alaskan Adventures of Percy Hope by Neil Perry Gordon

Hello my fellow bookworms!

I finally bring to you today a book review on the book Hope City: The Alaskan Adventures of Percy Hope (Book One) by Neil Perry Gordon.

The beginning of Hope City begins with a quote from Jack London's Credo, a great introduction to the story. As I really enjoy this quote, I will share it with you:

"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather choose that my spark burn out in a  brilliant blaze than be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent plant. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."

- Jack London's Credo

Our story begins with Liam and Sam, two friends who live and work in San Francisco, California in 1898. Both seventeen years old and just graduating out of high school, the two have an inspiring graduation speech from none other than the Jack London (yes, the same one whose quote I just posted). With the last words of his speech, "Wake up before it's too late and live a life worthy to be remembered," Liam is inspired to take a steamship up to Alaska to prospect for gold, to live a life of adventure and do more than just live a boring life. He ropes in Sam, who is hesitant, since his father owns a general store and Sam helps in the day-to-day functions. Thankfully, Sam's parents give permission to take the summer off for adventure, with the exception of changing his name to something not Jewish, in order to avoid bigotry and possible harm. With the optimistic name of "Percy Hope," and with the words of Jack London to inspire him, Sam Percy sets off towards the wilderness of Alaska with Liam, in hopes of finding gold, exploring, and having a great story to tell about his life.

 

I enjoyed reading Hope City: The Alaskan Adventure of Percy Hope. Due to some of the mature language, certain references in the book, and the graphic detail of a couple of the twists in the book, I recommend this story for young adults (older teens) and up.

 

Hope City is a quick paced historical fiction adventure story that flips between the book's namesake, Percy Hope and Magnus Vega, the obvious antagonist of the novel. Magnus is introduced quite early on in the story as someone to avoid, but he always seems to pop up and make himself known. Magnus is the one who begins Percy's summer adventures, who after landing in Alaska all bright-eyed and bushy tailed, finds that the unnamed city he is in is to be named after him! Hope City is where quite a bit of the novel takes place, while the other portion is set in the sister city, Sunrise, the "bad twin" to Hope (i.e. gambling, drinking, etc. is done in Sunrise, while going to church and being an upstanding citizen is the way of life in Hope). There are other areas that both Percy and Liam visit, as they end up on a crazy ride of adventures throughout the novel, but the two realize as much as they enjoyed (and did not enjoy) everything they experienced, they miss the normalcy of home. Given that this is only book one, I imagine that we will be hearing about more adventures to come!

There are a few reoccurring story lines in the novel, two of which I would like to highlight. The first of which is that Percy (Sam) had to deal with an internal war with his fake name and his religious beliefs. He feels nervous that so much attention is focused on his "name," and that he has to attend a Catholic church, which he feels goes against his Jewish faith. While Hope City provides quite a bit of historical context, I would have loved to see a bit more expansion on this topic, as it is a frightening to hide your faith to stay safe, but still want to be true to it. 

 

The second story line that I enjoyed and would not mind to hear more of is our protagonists (and antagonists) meeting natives who lived in the areas surrounding the miners. I appreciate how Mr. Gordon emphasized that these communities of people were not heathens or ignorant, but wise and how they appreciate nature and work with it, not against it as the miners had. 

In all, there was one twist I did not quite care for, but either way, Hope City is filled with adventure, friendship, twists and turns, some romance, and history. I appreciate that the story highlighted that you must face the consequences of your actions, and that sometimes the line between a hero and a villain can be blurred - nothing is black and white. This is a story you can binge read and you will not realize where the time went!

You can now purchase Hope City on Amazon, where it is available via eBook, paperback, and Audible.

About the Author: Neil Gordon Perry

 

Beginning with his debut novel in 2018—A Cobbler’s Tale, followed by Moon Flower, The Righteous One, The Bomb Squad and Hope City, Neil Perry Gordon has established himself as a well-respected and prolific historical fiction novelist. His story telling ability has earned him high editorial praise from the likes of Kirkus, Midwest Book Review and others, including hundreds of four and five star reader reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

Neil attributes his love of the writing process from his formative education at the Green Meadow Waldorf School, where he learned that subjects such as music, dance and theater, writing, literature, legends and myths, were not simply things to be read about and tested, but lessons to be experienced.

His creative writing methods and inspiration have been described as organic; meaning that he begins his work with a general storyline for his characters, rather than working with a formal, detailed outline. This encourages his writing to offer surprising twists and unexpected outcomes, which readers have celebrated. His novels have the attributes of being driven by an equal balance between character development and face-paced action, which moves his stories along at a swift page-turning pace.

Those End-of-Summer Days

Hello my fellow bookworms!

This summer has been flying by way too fast! Has it been the same for you? I feel like I haven't had a chance to just sit down and read a book, just fly from work to school application research and back!

I have not yet had the chance to sit down and read/write a review, so please take a look at the following bookish links I thought you would like to see:

• Peacock is going to have a Pride & Prejudice-themed dating show! They are taking applications for those interested, so test out your luck here! Maybe you'll find your Mr. Darcy!
  

• Harlequin is hosting a promotion with Postable where you can send out free cards to your friends! You can choose from romantic cards or happy birthday wishes. They send out pretty quick, too! 

  

  (c) 2021 Once Upon A Book Blog(ger)
  

  
  

• I love my local library, don't you? They have the cutest decorations and displays, along with the newest books!
  

• Have you gone on a summer vacation yet? Or are you one of the many where a vacation never seems to quite happen? Penguin House Books has a list of books to bring you on a summer adventure right from your own home/backyard. Barnes & Noble has a list of summer books, as well, to bring you outdoor adventures or new hobbies to explore. 
  

• If you have been following me long enough, I wrote my own post on traveling the United States with books! Goodreads has their own list of books from each state for this year, if you are interested.  
  

• 

  (c) 2021 Once Upon A Book Blog(ger)
  

  I also love random book sales when visiting large cities. It is so refreshing to see literature capturing all those who pass by, as well as those enthralled in the literature purchased!
  

• Everyone's lovable bear is getting a prequel! Winnie the Pooh has an authorized prequel called Once There Was A Bear, to be written by Jane Riordan, and illustrated by Mark Burgess. It will be in the style of the original author A. A. Milne. I was lucky enough to see the original Winnie the Pooh characters at the New York Public Library, which you can see here on my past blog post!
  

What have you been up to this summer? Have you been able to read any of the books you set out to read, or are you behind, as I am? I have quite a pile built up, so I hope in the upcoming month I can sit down and enjoy some "me" time! :)

 Current # of books read (out of my 50 book goal for the year): 19

Until next time - stay safe, enjoy the dog days of summer, and happy reading!

Summer Vibes

Photo by Ylanite Koppens from Pexels

Hello my fellow bookworms!

It's finally summer! Depending on where you live, that could mean you are able to go out and enjoy some sunshine, or it could mean that you may still have limited hours to be out. It is still a weird time for all of us, but at least we are a bit closer to all going outdoors and being social again.

I have some book news for you:

• Just in time for summer, the ice cream company Salt & Straw is hosting new flavors based on children's books. You can buy a pint for yourself (online) and enjoy reading the book it is based off at the same time! (Smile: Words & Pictures sounds like a delicious flavor to me!)
  

• If you feel up to it, Buzzfeed Books is hosting a Summer Reading Challenge. Read through six different categories and enter to win a tote bag, candle, and six books!
  

• The New Adult Scavenger Hunt is no more. I am sad to read this, but am glad that it was around for as long as it was (it was held annually since 2014). See the final post by Kelsey Ketch, the host of the hunt, here, before it is deleted, along with the website.
  

• Do you  have a Costco membership? If so, there is a "hidden benefit" where Costco hosts book signings and events! They also offer signed books to purchase at their store, as well. You can view the upcoming author events here. Though the events calendar is empty at the moment (at least, it is for my area of the world), I imagine it will fill out as places start reopening again. 
  

• Are you tired of reading the same old stories and need diversity, different points of view, and books of color, but do not know where to start? Try LibraryReads, a website that hosts the monthly nationwide library staff picks list for adult fiction and non-fiction that aims to be inclusive of all races, genders, viewpoints, etc. If you are a librarian, you can nominate a new and upcoming book to the monthly list, as well!
  

• The Smithsonian Magazine has a list of books to read in honor of Pride Month, showcasing overlooked stories and new books to dive into. 
  

• Book Riot has a list of free audiobooks for children to listen to. It may be of some fun to listen to this summer, whether you have children or are a child at heart!
  

• I know I mentioned it in my previous post, but the First Chapters Contest is live and up until July 18th! Try your hand at writing a compelling first chapter to win $3,000, publication, and a consultation with an agent!
  

• If you live in the UK or in France, there is a book titled Le Trésor de l'Entente Cordiale® that will lead you on a treasure hunt between the two lands. If you can solve all the clues and gather the key fragments, you will be led to an actual treasure: a golden casket! 

Photo by Taryn Elliott from Pexels

I hope you have a happy, healthy, and fun summer! What books are you looking forward to reading? Let me know! I have a stack of books that I am aiming to read, so I will update on that next time. :)

 Happy Reading!

Summer is on the way!

Hello my fellow bookworms!

This month has been one wild ride. I have been busy non-stop and hope I can catch up on some relaxation in June! I apologize for the delay in book reviews.

In the meantime, I do have some book related news for you:

• Voyage is hosting a Young Adult First Chapters Contest, open until July 18, 2021. First prize is $3,000 plus an hour long literary consultation!
  

• Penguin House is hosting a "How-To: Make Your Life Better" series with a series of emails sent to your inbox containing tips on wellness, home, or food and drink. You choose which category you would like to start with. You can switch to a different category after a few weeks, if you choose. 
  

• Penguin House also has a literary horoscope, to which you can receive a novel based on your birthday. Try it here!
  

• Did you know John Steinbeck wrote a werewolf-themed mystery novel? No? Neither did I! But, I learned that he did this week and that his estate is not releasing the book to the public at the present. Fans are calling for its release, but don't expect to see it any time soon.
  

• Haven't been able to visit the museums yet? The Smithsonian recently posted HABITAT, an online exhibition that you can view here.
  

• Have you read Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard before? I really enjoyed this young adult trilogy. Royalty, magical abilities, love, betrayal - it is one dramatic series that will keep you reading until the end! It is set to have a drama on Peacock, with Elizabeth Banks to direct and play a supporting role. 
  

• Book Riot released a list of great online book clubs/podcasts for you to join, if you do not have any in your area. I cannot wait to check them out!
  

• If you need ideas for plans this summer, Barnes & Noble released a list of Summer Reading books to devour, reference, and find some fun ideas from!
  

What are your plans for summer? Any good books on the horizon that you can't wait to dive into?  

Until next time!

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Spring is in the air

 Hello my fellow bookworms!

Happy Earth Day! I hope you celebrated by doing something for our planet, reading a good book about recycling, or even creating a bookmark out of items you already had on hand (a craft project that I want to try out soon).

(c) IndieBound 2021

Today is Independent Bookstore Day! IndieBound, an initiative of the American Booksellers Association, is hosting a contest for book lovers to go and visit their local independent bookstore and post a photo on Instagram or Twitter using #IndieBookstoreDay. Random winners can win a tote bag, a credit for free audiobooks from Libro.fm, and an Independent Bookstores of the United States map (from Pop-Chart). Go out and support your local bookstore tomorrow!

What have you guys been reading lately? 

I am still in the middle of Hope City by Neil Perry Gordon, so please continue to look out for that review!

A book on hold from my local library came in finally, and I must give you a short review! The book is Dearest Josephine by Caroline George. I have to say that I really enjoyed the book! It had romance, drama, mystery, and letters from the past titled to our present-day heroine. It examines what it means to be in love, and while I thought there may be some time-traveling going on (there was not), I loved the real-life happy ending our heroine had. I have a tendency to take photos of my favorite quotes from a book so that I can read them later on in life, and I did this many times with Dearest Josephine! I highly recommend giving this new book (released February 2, 2021) a read! 

(c) Pixabay, received from Pexels

I have also been keeping up on a webcomic titled Stagtown, from the author and illustrator of Bizenghast, Punko (a.k.a. M. Alice Legrow). I am a fan of the gothic, haunted tones of both the drawings and the story line. Lately, it seems there is something going on in Stagtown, as you can see from their official town website. I wonder what it is now... There are many fan speculations, but join in the fun, which includes a creepy video, hints to a phone number to call and find out information about a character in the comic, and more. This is a very interactive, fun, creepy, comic!

 

Until next time! Happy reading!

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday my fellow bookworms!

 

Spring is in the air and new books are on their way! I have a fantastic book to review, but I am not done reading it yet, so please expect it soon. The book is called Hope City by Neil Perry Gordon, a historical fiction novel that has quite the adventure, including venturing into the goldfields of Alaska!

In the meantime, I have some fun book news for you:

• If you are an author, or aspiring author, of young adult works, you can pitch a book in the 2021 Book-Pitch Contest by Voyage, A Young Adult Literary Journal! You need a query letter, a synopsis of your story, a one-page sample, information about where you are in your story project to join, and a $20 (USD) reading fee per entry. A grand prize winner will win $2,000 (USD) plus a book mentorship with YA author Kylie Schachte (author of You're Next, mentorship is worth $2,500), and publication of your story 

• If  you are like me and miss traveling and visiting museums, the Louvre just released more than 480,000 works of art online to the public. You can search for specific art pieces, or just browse with some music in the background. You can always add sounds of people grumbling and taking photos if you really miss that museum experience!

• Has anyone been keeping up with all the new adaptions of books to movies/TV shows? I am excited for the new Netflix adaption of Shadow and Bone (releasing April 25th)! I did like the adaptation of Diana Wynne Jones' Earwig and the Witch, which is currently on HBO Max. I borrowed the audiobook from the library and am curious to see how close the adaptation is to the book. Being the last book Ms. Jones had written, I am a bit sad and hesitant to read it. But, I loved Howl's Moving Castle (another Studio Ghibli film!), so I cannot wait to dive in!
  

• Penguin Random House has a promotion right now, called Read to Sleep, that helps you find books to read yourself to sleep. The idea is to explore books that allow you to escape from the real world, to allow you to better relax and dose off to sleep. I have a hard time reading to sleep, since I usually just stay up til the early hours of the morning to finish the book at hand! They are also hosting a giveaway, so try your hand at winning a new mattress and 25 books of your choice!

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

I am sorry I don't have more to talk about this month! It has been a crazy time, as I have been trying to get vaccinated for COVID-19. I was lucky enough to receive my first of two doses this past week, which I am very happy and thankful for! I cannot wait until I can read in the forest, in a park, or on a beach again.

I hope you all stay safe. Until next time. Happy reading!

Spring, hobbies, and things to look forward to :)

 Hello my fellow bookworms!

Spring is almost upon us! The birds are back singing, the sun is staying out longer, the days are sunnier, it is a nice time to start reading outside again (with a hot cup of coffee or tea, of course).

(c) Race Point Publishing, Kate Macdonald

It feels nice to not be stuck inside as much all day, though there are quite a few hobbies you can do if you are stuck inside. I have been quite fond of baking lately, especially tarts! There is a book based on the recipes from Anne of Green Gables that you can buy (or borrow from your local library), called The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook: Charming Recipes from Anne and Her Friends in Avonlea. Written by the granddaughter of L.M. Montgomery herself, Kate Macdonald shares with us the recipes that Anne created and also her own grandmother! I can't wait to try them!

You can also listen to free audiobooks from Amazon Prime for a new fairy tale collection called Faraway: Fairy tales for the here and now. These are quick, 35 - 50 minute reads, written by popular YA authors. The collection includes: The Prince and the Troll by Rainbow Rowell, Hazel and Gray by Nic Stone, The Princess Game by Soman Chainani, The Cleaners by Ken Liu, and The Wickeds by Gayle Forman. 

If you feel in the mood for writing, there are also a number of works from 1925 that are in the public domain, that you can adapt in a new way. As an article from NPR, by Neda Ulaby, states: each year on January 1st, a new list of published works with expired copyrights are released. Besides being the start of a new year, it is also Public Domain Day! The newly released from copyright novels include, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald,  The Trial (in German) by Franz Kafka, The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie, A Daughter of the Samurai by Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto, The Writing of Fiction by Edith Wharton, and more.

There are also quite a few virtual events to look forward to. On June 8th to 9th, Edelweiss BookFest will be hosted by Edelweiss Above the Treeline. They are still accepting applications for those interested in booth space or sponsorships, so more information will be released on the event closer to the days. 

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Barnes and Noble has been great at keeping up author/reader events, catering to all ages. Many events are hosted by Zoom, and some are ticketed, which means you will have to purchase an entry into the Zoom chat. But, there are quite a few virtual events on B&N Facebook live, which means it is a live showing and free! 

If you are itching to get out of the house and outside, Litographs has a list of indie bookstores (some that even I did not know of yet!) that you can go visit. 

What have you guys been up to lately? Any good book recommendations? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time! :)

Fingerprints and Phantoms: True Tales of Law Enforcement Encounters with the Paranormal and the Strange by Paul Rimmasch

Hello my fellow bookworms!

Happy new year! I hope this winter has been treating you well so far. It snowed so much by me that I am feeling a bit of cabin fever. But, with more time indoors, I finally have baked some tarts and read some books! I have a good one to talk to you about today, Fingerprints and Phantoms: True Tales of Law Enforcement Encounters with the Paranormal and the Strange by Paul Rimmasch. 

As a fan of reading mysteries, paranormal stories, and the occasional true-crime stories, this novel will satisfy your reading craving for a bit of all three. Described as a "collection of law enforcement folklore," Fingerprints and Phantoms is a short, 112 page novel that you can binge read on a snowy day, or a sunny one for that matter. Each chapter is a short true ghostly story that has happened either to Mr. Rimmasch or someone he knows, making you wonder what really goes on after a crime was committed and what goes bump in the night.

Mr. Rimmasch is a crime scene investigator for Weber-Metro CSI, which piqued my interest, as I have an interest in forensics, though my background is more in psychology than biology/chemistry. While Fingerprints and Phantoms did not specify the scientific background of ghosts and hauntings, it does have a scientific-like method to each story, whether it is describing the evidence, examination, or the technology used. What I really love about his style of writing these short ghostly stories is that he provides insight to those who work in law enforcement and crime scenes - I learned quite a bit more than I expected to, and will most likely go and research this week. Mr. Rimmasch also provides a bit about the background of his career, as well as the ones of those whose stories he tells, so that we really have an idea of what happened at that point in time. 

Each chapter was riveting and I finished the novel within a few hours. Some stories were sad, others were creepy, but all will keep your interest and hope that there will be another novel coming soon. I highly recommend giving Fingerprints and Phantoms a read, especially if you are in for a bit of a scare! You can buy a copy on Amazon here.

About the Author:

Paul Rimmasch graduated from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, with a Bachelor's Degree in Forensic Science and a minor in Photography. He has worked as a crime scene investigator for Weber-Metro CSI for the past 19 years and is a three-time recipient of the Weber County Sheriff's Office Medal of Merit. Paul has certifications through The International Association for Investigations in latent fingerprint examination and forensic photography. He is currently serving as Utah's representative to the Western Identification Network Latent Fingerprint Committee.

Paul's first novel, The Lost Stones, was published in 2011, followed by a sequel The Lost Mine in 2015. Paul has also published scientific papers in The Journal of Forensic Identification and Ancient American magazine, and is also a contributing writer to KSL.com. He is an adjunct professor at Weber State University and is active in the training of law enforcement officers and crime scene investigators.