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hollymbryan · 25 days

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Blog Tour: Top 5 Reasons to Read THE REAPPEARANCE OF RACHEL PRICE by Holly Jackson! #tbrbeyondtours

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours blog tour for The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson! I've got all the details on this taut and twisty YA thriller, which released yesterday, for you below, along with my top 5 reasons to read it!

About the Book

title: The Reappearance of Rachel Price author: Holly Jackson publisher: Delacorte Press release date: 2 April 2024

From the author of the multimillion bestselling A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series and Five Survive comes a new true-crime fueled mystery thriller about a girl determined to uncover the shocking truth about her missing mother while filming a documentary on the unsolved case. Lights. Camera. Lies. 18-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness, but she has no memory of it. Rachel is gone, long presumed dead, and Bel wishes everyone would just move on. But the case is dragged up from the past when the Price family agree to a true crime documentary. Bel can’t wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. And then the impossible happens. Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again. Rachel has an unbelievable story about what happened to her. Unbelievable, because Bel isn’t sure it’s real. If Rachel is lying, then where has she been all this time? And – could she be dangerous? With the cameras still rolling, Bel must uncover the truth about her mother, and find out why Rachel Price really came back from the dead . . . From world-renowned author Holly Jackson comes a mind-blowing masterpiece about one girl’s search for the truth, and the terror in finding out who your family really is.

Add to Goodreads: The Reappearance of Rachel Price Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop

About the Author

Holly Jackson is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling series A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, an international sensation with millions of copies sold worldwide as well as the #1 New York Times bestseller and instant classic, Five Survive, and her forthcoming novel, The Reappearance of Rachel Price. She graduated from the University of Nottingham, where she studied literary linguistics and creative writing, with a master’s degree in English. She enjoys playing video games and watching true-crime documentaries so she can pretend to be a detective. She lives in London.

Connect with Holly: Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Top 5 Reasons to Read

There are *a lot* of reasons to love this latest book from YA thriller queen Holly Jackson, but I've tried to capture here my top 5 for you!

It's Holly Jackson. Enough said! I mean, not only does she have the best name (ha!), but she is quite possibly *the* reigning YA thriller queen! Seriously, I must not have even looked at the synopsis when I signed up for this, because I thought the title referred to a teen who'd gone missing--that's how eager I was to read the next HoJay book!

The book is a great examination of how our past traumas shape us, even if the event itself happens when we are far too young to actually remember it. Because trauma isn't just a one-time thing, is it? There are residual emanations that last--sometimes years, sometimes forever. Traumas shape who we are as people, and they affect our relationships with other people far into the future.

There is an amazing bond between Bel and her cousin Carter that I loved so much and just really had me missing my older sister.

The mystery is *so* well-done, I was quite literally oblivious until the moment Bel discovers the truth herself. And I'm not saying this in a cocky way, but that literally almost NEVER happens to me at this late stage in my life when I've read hundreds of mysteries and thrillers.

The book is a great examination of the lengths to which a parent/parents will go to protect their child. What do you do if you find yourself suddenly a single parent of a 2-year-old, with a missing spouse and suspicion on you for their disappearance? What would you do if that missing spouse suddenly reappears? What do you do if you are instead the missing spouse who has returned--do you tell your child the truth about what happened to you? So many points during this book had me questioning just what I would do for my own son!

Seriously, I cannot recommend this one highly enough. And in typical Holly Jackson fashion, it's not only twisty and thrilling but also deeply emotional. Also, she never writes as if teens are too young to handle the horrors of the world, which is one reason I especially love reading her books. Go pick this one up, you won't regret it!

Rating: 5 stars!

**Disclosure: I received an early e-copy from the publisher for purposes of this blog tour.

Make sure you check out the Bookstagram tour too! You can find my post here, and the full schedule is here.

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hollymbryan · 1 month

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Blog Tour: Top 5 Reasons to Read ROYAL SCANDAL by Aimée Carter!

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours blog tour for Royal Scandal by Aimée Carter, the follow-up to last year's Royal Blood! I love this series, and can't wait to tell you all about it, including my top 5 reasons to read!

About the Book

title: Royal Scandal author: Aimée Carter publisher: Delacorte release date: 26 March 2024

The second book in the Royal Blood series about an American girl who threatens the royal family by exposing their darkest scandals—even as they get more sinister. American girl turned monarchy nightmare, Evan Bright, has gotten used to the press about her but the media attention has only seemed to get worse. From desperate clickbait articles about her and the President’s son to Royal Record headlines pitting her against Princess Maisie, it seems everyone is dying for Evan to return back to America for good. Meanwhile Evan is receiving mysterious threats about her real story being reveiled in a tell-all biography. When more information is leaked about Evan, she fears she will always be Britain’s media villain. But the threats escalate when there is an attempted assassination with no suspects…and Evan believes the person is in the palace’s walls. They say what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger…but what if it’s the royal family who wants you dead?

Add to Goodreads: Royal Scandal Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop

About the Author

Aimée Carter is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the award-winning author of more than a dozen books, including The Goddess Test series, the Blackcoat Rebellion series, and the Simon Thorn series for middle grade readers, now a #1 international bestselling series under the title Animox and Die Erben der Animox. Her newest middle grade book, Curse of the Phoenix, will be released in June from Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Connect with Aimée: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook

Top 5 Reasons to Read

While this is the sequel to Royal Blood, you could conceivably read it on its own since enough backstory is inserted that you could follow along, although personally I would definitely recommend reading them in order.

It's an intriguing alternate history! The series imagines an alternate history of the monarchy in Britain, in which Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor, had *not* abdicated the throne to marry American socialite Wallis Simpson, and thus became King Edward VIII; his great-grandson, Alexander II, now sits on the throne.

It's about royals! Let's admit it, we in America are fascinated by the British monarchy, whether it be adoration or bemusement or even downright disdain. But can we imagine what it must *truly* be like to be a royal? As Evangeline says of Mary, "She has all the privilege and wealth and status anyone could ever ask for, but what's the point if it's really just a gilded cage?"

It's full of scandals! Evangeline is the previously-secret illegitimate daughter of King Alexander and the love of his life, an American woman. She's half-sister to Princess Mary (Maisie), and they were in fact born on the same day! Of course the revelation of Evangeline's existence and her presence at court causes absolute chaos in Britain, and scandal after scandal ensues.

It's packed with family drama! The Queen Mother, Constance, is absolutely awful, cold and hateful, to Evan; Alexander's wife, Queen Helene, isn't much better; Evan and Maisie have had to work out their prickly relationship; Helene is having an affair with Alexander's brother, Nicholas, the Duke of York; and of course there's the dastardly snake Cousin Ben, Nicholas' son with his first wife. Such drama and treachery!

It's got the first love we adore so much in YA! Evan and Kit are absolutely adorable together, but then there's also the gorgeous son of the American president, Thaddeus Park, who may throw a spanner in the works. There's also Maisie and her best friend turned girlfriend, Gia, and their struggles as Maisie tries to come to terms with whether her desire to be with Gia and be openly gay outweighs her duties as a royal and ability to inherit the throne.

There are so many more great reasons to read this one, and I'd encourage anyone who loves YA and/or enjoys reading about royalty to pick this series up! I was blown away last year by just how good Royal Blood was, and Royal Scandal is an incredible sequel!

Rating: 5 stars!

**Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for purposes of this blog tour. This post is voluntary on my part and reflects my honest rating and review.

Make sure to check out the Instagram tour as well! You can find my post here, and the full schedule is here.

#royal blood #royal scandal #aimee carter #delacorte press #yalit #ya lit #ya literature #royalty #british royal family #alternate history #young adult #bookstagram #newrelease #new release #blog tour #new releases #top 5 reasons to read

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hollymbryan · 2 months

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Blog Tour: Top 5 Reasons to Read THESE BODIES BETWEEN US by Sarah Van Name! #tbrbeyondtours

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours blog tour for These Bodies Between Us by Sarah Van Name! I've got all the details on the book below, plus my top 5 reasons to read this YA magical realism novel. Read on!

About the Book

title: These Bodies Between Us author: Sarah Van Name publisher: Delacorte release date: 12 March 2024

Four girls. Four girls skating home, both sides of the road, fearless. Four girls at the mouth of an infinite ocean, sugared and salted with sand and seawater, the tide licking their sunburned feet. This summer, they’re going to disappear. For seventeen-year-old Callie and her best friends Talia and Cleo, every summer in their small North Carolina beach town is as steady as the tides. But this year, Cleo has invited enigmatic new girl Polly to join them, creating waves in their familiar friendship. And Cleo has an idea, gleaned from private YouTube videos and hidden message boards: they’re going to learn how to make themselves invisible. Callie thinks it’s a ridiculous, impossible plan. But the other girls are intoxicated by the thought of disappearing, even temporarily—from bad boyfriends, from overbearing families, from the confusing, uncomfortable reality of having a body altogether. And, miraculously, it works. Yet as the girls revel in their reckless new freedom, they realize it’s getting harder to come back to themselves… and do they even want to? Content Warning: eating disorder, death, abusive relationship

Add to Goodreads: These Bodies Between Us Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop

About the Author

Sarah Van Name grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina and now lives and works in Durham with her family and dog. She is the author of two young adult novels, The Goodbye Summer (2019, a Junior Library Guild pick) and Any Place But Here (2021).

Connect with Sarah: Website | Instagram | Goodreads

Top 5 Reasons to Read

She's a hometown author! I was so excited to see a book from an author who actually lives in my town (Durham, NC).

The book explores the unique pressures of being a teenage girl through the use of magical realism, with the girls learning how to turn themselves invisible.

There is an unflinching look at an abusive teen relationship, one that's important for teens to read about because it doesn't involve (*yet*) being physically abusive. It's important for teen girls especially to recognize the signs of a toxic relationship and to have the strength to get out.

There is also a sensitive look at eating disorders, and how being invisible would appeal to a girl who hated her body and had body dysmorphia.

While a lot of YA (and adult) fiction often involves toxic female friendships (which, don't get me wrong, I also love reading about!), I love the fact that this book focuses on the purity and strength that actually exist in most friendships between girls and women. These girls would do absolutely anything for each other, and in the end that is truly put to the test.

I encourage you to read this, and to put it in the hands of the teen girls you know. I think it will speak to them, as it has done for me even at my way-past-teen-years age!

Rating: 5 stars!

**Disclosure: I received an early e-copy of this book for purposes of this blog tour. This review is voluntary on my part and reflects my honest rating and review of the book.

Make sure you check out the Instagram tour too! You can find the full schedule here, and my post can be found here.

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hollymbryan · 2 months

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Blog Tour: Spotlight on THE STRICKEN by Morgan Shamy!

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours blog tour for The Stricken by Morgan Shamy! I've got all the details on this YA dark academia/fantasy below.

About the Book

title: The Stricken author: Morgan Shamy publisher: CamCat Books release date: 5 March 2024

What if our spirits walk to another life while our bodies sleep? Every day in Clara’s world, a dark cloud descends upon her town. The storm comes like clockwork, erasing everyone’s memories. Everyone except Clara. But after Clara’s father mysteriously disappears, things change. The Diviners, captive souls who feed off memories, come for her. With the help of a mysterious figure, Clara escapes the Diviners and flees to Khalom, a city in a parallel world, where she hopes to find refuge. There, Clara discovers that she is a Noble—one of the few people to have knowledge of both worlds, along with the ability to venture between the two. Forced to live the Noble life, Clara goes to school with peers who want her dead. Meanwhile, a rare and dangerous power begins to stir inside of her. The power of Death. And it grows until she’s not sure if she can control it. When the Diviners break through the city’s defense and students begin to turn up brain dead, Clara must find a way to harness her newfound power in order to stop the attacks before the city—and her mind—is wiped clean. For readers who enjoy A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab, Crave by Tracy Wolff, House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig, A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik.

Add to Goodreads: The Stricken Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Morgan Shamy is an ex-ballerina turned YA writer. She has been immersed in the arts since the young age of 4, where she performed alongside a professional ballet company for over seven years, and has danced on prestigious stages like soloing at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She has taught hundreds of girls in her fifteen years of teaching, where some of her students have received full-ride scholarships to schools like School of American Ballet, the Harid Conservatory, Kirov Academy of Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet, to name a few. Morgan discovered writing when her three-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer. It was through that experience which instilled the need to share art and magic with children through words on the page.

Connect with Morgan: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Make sure to check out the Instagram Tour too! The full schedule can be found here.

#the stricken #morgan shamy #camcat books #tbrbeyond #tbrandbeyondtours #yalit #ya literature #ya lit #new release #newrelease #bookstagram #blog tour #new releases #march 2023 #march release #young adult

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hollymbryan · 2 months

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Blog Tour + #Review: KILT TRIP by Alexandra Kiley!

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the HTP Books in-house blog tour for Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley! I've got all the details for you below, along with my review!

About the Book

title: Kilt Trip author: Alexandra Kiley publisher: Canary Street Press release date: 5 March 2024

For fans of Emily Henry and Sarah Morgenthaler comes a brand-new Scotland-set romantic comedy. In this enemies-to-lovers romance, one woman discovers more than the just the magic of the heartland's lochs and landscapes—but not before clashing with the proud Scotsman she's forced to work with. Addie Macrae has always followed her wanderlust. As a travel consultant, she turns struggling businesses into world-class tour groups. Her job comes with the perk of jetsetting around the globe, which means never being in one place for too long—just the way she likes it. Since her mom passed away ten years ago and her father never stopped grieving, no place has felt like home anyway. But when she’s sent on assignment to help a family-run tour group in Scotland—the one place she swore she’d never go—Addie has to shed her emotional baggage and turn on the professional charm. Logan Sutherland’s family business is operating just fine, thank you very much. The Heart of the Highlands was never meant to make the family rich, rather to teach sightseers to appreciate the beauty of Scotland’s hidden gems, which are more captivating than any tourist trap. The last thing Logan wants is some American "expert" pushing Outlander-themed tours and perpetuating myths about the Loch Ness Monster. And for a travel consultant, Addie oddly doesn’t seem interested in learning about the land Logan loves. Equally put off by each other, the new colleagues clash on every company decision. Then Logan discovers Addie does have a personal connection to Scotland—it was her late mother’s favorite place, one that now lives on in a handful of faded Polaroids Addie kept from her parents’ Honeymoon. She wants to seek out the places in the pictures, but is worried that she's too late to capture the wonder of following in her mother's footsteps. Logan is convinced he can help Addie get some closure, and the two realize, when they agree, they actually work pretty well together. But Addie’s contract with The Heart is almost up, and the business is still losing money. They can’t afford distractions, but there’s no denying the intense chemistry between Addie and Logan. Besides, how can Addie do her job properly if she hasn’t explored all Scotland has to offer?

Add to Goodreads: Kilt Trip Purchase the Book: Bookshop | B&N | BAM | Amazon

About the Author

Alexandra Kiley writes big-hearted romances full of banter, found-family, and deep love. When she’s not writing, you can find her drinking tea, hiking, or gazing adoringly at the mountains of Colorado where she lives with her husband and two kids. Her novels are inspired by her semester in Scotland where she fell in love with not only the lush and magical land, but also the people who invited her into their homes and made her feel like family.

Connect with Alexandra: Website | Twitter | Instagram

My 5-Star Review

I desperately want to visit Scotland and have since I was younger. Outlander is one of my faves - I read the books as they came out (yes I'm old lol) and I adore the show - and I watched so many Hallmark Christmas movies set in Scotland 🙈 So when I heard about Kilt Trip and the chance to be part of the street team for Alexandra Kiley, I jumped at the chance! American travel company consultant travels to Scotland and meets hot tour guide in a kilt?? Sign me the eff up! 😂

I'm so happy to have been able to read an early copy of this delightful romance. I laughed, I swooned, I cried - literally every emotion ran through my body reading this book! There are some open door scenes, but they are relatively mild, what we used to call "tasteful" (even though it's not my favorite way to describe it). Logan was gaaaahhhhh just gorgeous and swoon worthy!! 😍 I absolutely loved him from jump. Addie is a strong woman, my word she is stubborn, but she's carrying so much grief with her and she's been so hurt that she has walls up for days. Logan may just be the one who can finally do that! Plus there's an amazing family, snooty sheep, adorable hairy coos, and so. Many. Kilts.

Any fan of romance needs to read this one, it's an absolute delight (even when I was crying - thanks Alexandra) and I want everyone to read it and then gush with me about it! Thanks again, Alexandra, for having me on the team!

Rating: 5 Stars!

**Disclosure: I received an early e-copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for purposes of this blog tour.

#kilt trip #alexandra kiley #canary street press #htpbooks #contemporary romance #bookreview #book review #new release #newrelease #blog tour #new releases

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hollymbryan · 3 months

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Blog Tour: KEPT IN THE DARK by Crystal J. Johnson and Felicity Vaughn #literallyyourspr

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the Literally Yours PR blog tour for Kept in the Dark, a new novella by Crystal J. Johnson and Felicity Vaughn! I've got all the details, an excerpt, and my review below.

About the Book

title: Kept in the Dark authors: Crystal J. Johnson release date: 1 Feb 2024

IN THE DARK, SHE IS HIS

Kept in the Dark, an all-new touch her and unalive, boy obsessed, dark paranormal romance novella from Amazon bestselling authors Crystal J Johnson and Felicity Vaughn is now available!

Life has never been normal for Vai Stockton. Her father’s fame as a legendary rock star has meant growing up in the public eye. Wild parties, sex, and drugs—she has done it all with cameras flashing, and now that she’s in her last semester of college, she’s ready to ditch her old ways.

Joining her father on tour was supposed to be a new start for Vai, setting her down a path of being a ‘good girl.’ That is until a one-night stand with a mystery man in a Ghostface mask sends her life spiraling in a new and dangerous way.

Jagger Knox is obsessed with one person: Vai Stockton. He’s always kept her in his sights, watching from a distance. But that all changes the night of the masquerade party when he seizes his chance to touch her for the first time.

One night of fun has led to a series of alarming letters from a stalker, and Vai is placed under the watchful eye of her smoking hot bodyguard, Greyson. But despite all the precautions taken to keep her safe, they are not enough to keep away the masked stranger who finds his way into her room every night.

And Vai was never really that interested in being good anyway.

**KEPT IN THE DARK is a dark paranormal romance with a guaranteed HEA. This story contains triggers. Please visit the authors' website for more details.

Start reading today: FREE in Kindle Unlimited Add to Goodreads: Kept in the Dark Check out the trigger warnings for Kept in the Dark

About the Authors

For more information about Crystal J Johnson and Felicity Vaughn and their books, visit their website!

Excerpt

“You look awfully deep in thought to be at a masquerade party,” a low voice says from beside me, and I startle before looking up at the speaker.

And up. And up.

He’s at least 6’3” to my 5’4”, and under the black hoodie and jeans that go with his Ghostface mask, I can tell he is built.

“Well, it is a masquerade party at a castle in Scotland, so surely that counts for something?” I say, recovering quickly.

“So, you’re either pondering world domination or the tragic deaths of queens who never got to rule their land.”

I raise an eyebrow and feel the gems crinkle against my skin. “How about both? I think I’d like to avenge their deaths.”

“Feisty.”

His mask makes it impossible to see his eyes, but the dip of his head tells me that he is taking in my sheer, blue, skin-tight dress. The thousands of precisely placed gems cover all the parts of my body I want to keep secret; it would be considered scandalous if I were out at a club. But at a Kirt Stockton party, I’m in modest attire.

“Why aren’t you taking all of that fiery energy out on the dance floor?” he asks.

The low rumble of his voice has my insides melting. It makes me want to lean into him and ask him to repeat his question. It’s been a minute since a man awoke something in me so quickly.

“I was waiting for someone I wanted to dance with. No one here has captured my attention.” I pause and let my gaze drift from his head to his toes and back again. “Until just a minute ago.”

He is so unlike everyone else here—no designer clothes and Italian leather shoes. The simple black sweatshirt with the hood drawn over his head and combat boots speak to an “I don’t give a fuck” attitude. That is exactly what appeals to me—no expectations.

Holding out his hand to me, the ghost says, “Then let’s not waste this opportunity.”

I don’t hesitate to take his hand, setting down my drink on the nearest table, letting him pull me out onto the dance floor. The music is louder than ever out here, closer to the blaring speakers, but it does nothing but fill me with more adrenaline.

He pulls me flush against him and I wrap my arms around his neck, swaying to the beat of whatever pop song is playing, something I vaguely recognize from the radio but isn’t really my taste.

However, I can’t deny it’s ideal to dance to, its beat perfect for moving my hips against the ghost’s, the rhythm just the right tempo to tease him as I trail my hands down his chest. I let my legs spread enough to allow me to slide down his thigh, looking up into those bottomless pits where his eyes lay, wondering what color they are behind the mask. Dragging myself back up, slow enough to let him feel that I’m not wearing anything underneath my dress, I whisper against his ear, “You danced with anyone else tonight, Ghost?”

A low groan vibrates through his chest before he says, “Not a soul.”

His answer shouldn’t affect me the way it does. Why should I care if he danced with anyone else? He is just one man in a never-ending sea of people.

“Good. Let’s keep it that way,” I say, and with a boldness that comes out of nowhere, I reach up to try to remove his mask. I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but I want to see what’s underneath.

He pulls back and his body stops moving with mine. I immediately regret my reckless overstep, hating the idea that I went too far. My gut ties in knots at the thought. God knows I’ve been on the receiving end more than once, and I would never want to impose on someone else like that. My lips part, ready to spew a heartfelt apology, but I’m stopped.

The ghost slides his hands around my waist, pulls me against his hard body, and we move to the music again as if we are one being. “You’re a wicked little creature, aren’t you?” he asks, the chill from his mask pressing to the sensitive area below my ear.

“So I’ve been told,” I breathe in relief, pressing my pelvis against his to see if he’s as turned on as I am.

He is.

His fingers dig into my hips. “Fuck, I don’t think I can resist you.”

Bringing one hand around to his chest, I pull him down close to me by the front of his hoodie. “Who said you needed to resist me? I don’t see anyone here telling us what to do.”

“If you knew the thoughts running through my head, you might not be so quick to tempt me.”

I lift a brow and a daring smirk tilts my lips up. “Try me.”

My 5-Star Review

I was so eager for Kept in the Dark to release, as I'd been hearing about it from Crystal and Felicity on their Instagram for a long time - and then when the cover reveal happened with Ghostface_GulfCoast (here on Instagram) on it, I just about died! Phew! So I was thrilled to have the chance to read an early copy thanks to Literally Yours PR.

This is a novella, so I read it in one sitting, and wow did I love it! There was an element that I wasn't expecting, but in hindsight I absolutely should have (it is Crystal and Felicity after all, ha!). But the fact that it surprised me definitely didn't affect my enjoyment, or maybe even made it better! Jagger (who I simply *could not* picture in any way other than as Ghostface_GulfCoast, lol) was sooooo delicious. Vai is an amazing character, strong yet vulnerable at the same time. If you love the protector falls for protectee trope, you absolutely have to pick this one up and check it out. You'll finish this in one sitting and want to go back and read it again! Also, sign up for Crystal and Felicity's newsletter, because the two bonus chapters are so worth it.

Rating: 5 stars!

**Disclosure: I received an early e-copy of this book from Literally Yours PR and the authors for purposes of this blog tour.

#kept in the dark #novella #crystal and felicity #crystal j johnson #felicity vaughn #literally yours pr #blog tour #blogtour #book review #bookreviews #bookreview #new releases #new release #newrelease #newreleases #romance books #paranormalromance #paranormal romance

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hollymbryan · 3 months

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Blog Tour: Top 5 Reasons to Read THE COLLIDING WORLDS OF MINA LEE by Ellen Oh! #tbrbeyondtours

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours blog tour for The Colliding Worlds of Mina Lee by Ellen Oh! This contemporary YA released yesterday, 23 January. I've got all the details for you below, along with my top 5 reasons to read this one!

About the Book

title: The Colliding Worlds of Mina Lee author: Ellen Oh publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers release date: 23 January 2024

When a Korean American teenage artist gets sucked into the world of her own web comic, she must find a way out with the help of a cute boy all while facing off against a villainous corporation. Inspired by the A-ha’s “Take on Me” music video, this entertaining YA novel is a grounded speculative fiction adventure from the co-founder of We Need Diverse Books. Mina has become the hero of her own story. Literally. When Mina Lee woke up on Saturday morning for SAT prep, she did NOT expect to: 1. Nearly be fried by a superhero who turned out to be a supervillain. 2. Come face to face with Jin, the handsome boy of her dreams. 3. Discover a conspiracy involving the evil corporation Merco that she created. And it’s all happening in her fictional world. Mina is trapped in the story she created. Now it’s up to her to save everyone. Even if it means losing Jin forever. From the award-winning author of Finding Junie Kim and co-founder of We Need Diverse Books, Ellen Oh. In the speculative fiction adventure Colliding Worlds, a teenage artist grapples with her first love, grief, and learning how to take charge of her own life.

Add to Goodreads: The Colliding Worlds of Mina Lee Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Ellen Oh is a former adjunct college instructor and lawyer with an insatiable curiosity for ancient Asian history. She loves K-pop, K-dramas, and eating good food that someone else cooks for her. She is fueled by Diet Coke and Krispy Kreme donuts are her kryptonite. Ellen is a founding member of We Need Diverse Books (WNDB), a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing diversity in children’s literature. Originally from New York City, Ellen lives in Rockville, Maryland, with her husband, three children, two dogs, and has yet to satisfy her quest for a decent bagel.

Connect with Ellen: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Top 5 Reasons to Read

Colliding Worlds is a delightful young adult contemporary + speculative fiction book. Mina suddenly finds herself the main character in her own webcomic, having been transported into that world. She has to save everyone from a conspiracy involving an evil corporation that she made up!

The story is a realistic examination of the power of grief and how everyone grieves in their own way, and how those ways of grieving may be damaging to others.

Colliding Worlds is also both a celebration of Korean culture and an examination of the ways in which it can sometimes be harmful (as is the case with any culture).

The discussions of food will have you salivating!

Most of all, I loved the strong female friendships and relationships found in this book. Whether it's her Auntie or her best friends in real life and new friends in the webcomic, it's girls and women who always have Mina's back, no matter what.

I hope you will pick this one up! I mean, it's inspired by A-ha's "Take On Me" music video, which was an absolute staple of my tween years! How cool is that? I highly recommend this one!

Rating: 4 stars!

**Thank you to Crown BFYR and Ellen Oh for the finished copy, and to TBR and Beyond for having me on tour.

Be sure to check out the bookstagram tour as well! You can find my post here, and the full schedule is here.

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hollymbryan · 3 months

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Blog Tour: Top 5 Reasons to Read SO LET THEM BURN by Kamilah Cole! #tbrbeyondtours

Happy New Year, friends! I hope 2024 has started off well for you. Welcome back to Book-Keeping! Today I've got a post for the TBR and Beyond Tours blog tour for So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole! This debut, Jamaican-inspired fantasy has so much going for it, and I can't wait to tell you all about it. Below you'll find all the details plus my top 5 reasons to read, so let's go!

About the Book

title: So Let Them Burn author: Kamilah Cole publisher: Little, Brown BFYR release date: 16 January 2024

Whip-smart and immersive, this Jamaican-inspired fantasy follows a gods-blessed heroine who’s forced to choose between saving her sister or protecting her homeland—perfect for fans of Iron Widow and The Priory of the Orange Tree. Faron Vincent can channel the power of the gods. Five years ago, she used her divine magic to liberate her island from its enemies, the dragon-riding Langley Empire. But now, at seventeen, Faron is all powered up with no wars to fight. She’s a legend to her people and a nuisance to her neighbors. When she’s forced to attend an international peace summit, Faron expects that she will perform tricks like a trained pet and then go home. She doesn’t expect her older sister, Elara, forming an unprecedented bond with an enemy dragon—or the gods claiming the only way to break that bond is to kill her sister. As Faron’s desperation to find another solution takes her down a dark path, and Elara discovers the shocking secrets at the heart of the Langley Empire, both must make difficult choices that will shape each other’s lives, as well as the fate of their world. “By turns hopeful and devastating, So Let Them Burn is a masterful debut with a blazing heart. I was captivated from beginning to end by Cole’s sharp, clever prose and by her protagonists—two remarkable sisters with an unforgettable bond.” — Chelsea Abdullah, author of The Stardust Thief

Add to Goodreads: So Let Them Burn Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Kamilah Cole was a writer and entertainment editor at Bustle for four years, and her nonfiction work has also appeared in Marie Claire and Seventeen. A graduate of New York University, Kamilah lives on the East Coast, where she’s usually playing Kingdom Hearts for the hundredth time, quoting early SpongeBob SquarePants episodes, or crying her way through Zuko’s redemption arc in Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Connect with Kamilah: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Top 5 Reasons to Read

There is so much to love about this debut young adult fantasy! Here are my top reasons to read So Let Them Burn...

It's diverse and unique, with a Jamaican-inspired island nation and a really creative magic system.

There are DRAGONS! and also Drakes, which are semi-sentient mecha-dragons! Need I say more??

The book is a powerful examination of colonialism and its lasting effects, even when a nation has won its independence.

It's also a powerful examination of what it means to be The Chosen One, especially when one is chosen as a child and has the weight of literally saving the world on their shoulders.

There is a wonderful sister relationship and bond between Faron and Elara, which truly made me long for my own sister. It's a sign of a great author when they really make the reader *feel* like that.

I highly recommend this book for any fantasy and magic lover, and it's definitely a 5-star read for me! If you pick it up, please let me know what you think!

**Thanks so much to Little, Brown BFYR and Kamilah Cole for the finished copy, and to TBR and Beyond for having me on the tour!

Make sure you check out the Bookstagram tour as well! You can find my post here, and the full schedule is here.

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hollymbryan · 6 months

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Blog Tour + #Review: PLOT TWIST by Erin La Rosa!

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the HTP Books blog tour for Plot Twist by Erin La Rosa! I loved this contemporary romance that releases next Tuesday 14 November, and you can find all the details below along with my review.

About the Book

title: Plot Twist author: Erin La Rosa publisher: Canary Street Press release date: 14 November 2023

Readers who love books about books will fall for Erin La Rosa's latest rom com—a friends (with benefits)-to-lovers story about a romance author who's never been in love, and needs to find out why before her next manuscript is due! For fans of BY THE BOOK and BOOK LOVERS. Romance author Sophie Lyon’s ironic secret just went viral: she’s never been in love. Though her debut novel made readers swoon, Sophie’s having trouble getting her new characters to happily-ever-after, and she blames it on her own uninspired love life. With a manuscript deadline looming, Sophie makes an ambitious plan to overcome her writer’s block: reunite with her exes to learn why she's never fallen in love—and document it all for her millions of new online followers. Which also means facing her ex-girlfriend Carla, the one person Sophie could have loved. Luckily, Sophie’s reclusive landlord, Dash Montrose—a former teen heartthrob—has social media all figured out and offers to help. But he doesn't mention that he’s an anonymous online crafter, a hobby that helps him maintain his sobriety. No one knows about his complicated relationship with alcohol and he intends to keep it that way. His family is Hollywood royalty, so Dash has to steer clear of scandal. As Sophie and Dash grow closer, they discover a heat between them that rivals Dash's pottery kiln. But Sophie needs to figure out who she is outside her relationships, and Dash isn’t sure he’s stable enough for the commitment she deserves. So Sophie suggests what any good romance author would: a friends-with-benefits arrangement. Surely a casual relationship won’t cause any trouble…

Add to Goodreads: Plot Twist Purchase the Book: Harlequin | Bookshop.org | B&N | BAM | Amazon

About the Author

ERIN LA ROSA is a writer living in Los Angeles. As a writer for BuzzFeed, she frequently writes about the perils and triumphs of being a redhead. Before BuzzFeed, Erin worked for the comedy websites Funny or Die and MadAtoms, as well as E!s Fashion Police, Wetpaint, and Ecorazzi. Erin has appeared on CNN, Headline News, Jimmy Kimmel, and The Today Show on behalf of BuzzFeed. She is the author of Womanskills and The Big Redhead Book.

Connect with Erin: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok

My 4-Star Review

Well, I absolutely loved this contemporary romance! This one has grumpy/sunshine and best friend's brother tropes, both of which I love. There's also some amazing spicy scenes that are full of proactive consent, which I find myself really valuing when reading romance these days. I love both characters of Sophie and Dash, and my heart broke for both of them in their separate struggles -- Sophie with her writer's block, and Dash with his struggle to stay sober. Dash was such a grump, but such a softie on the inside! And he was so committed to helping Sophie get over her writer's block and get her book written. I loved the sexual tension between them and the way they were together, and how they each come to realize they don't just want but need the other. This is a magical story and one I would recommend to any romance lover!

Rating: 4 stars!

Disclosure: I received an early e-copy of this book from the publisher for purposes of this blog tour. This review is voluntary on my part and reflects my honest rating and review.

#book review #bookreview #newrelease #new release #new releases #blog tour #htp books #4 star #4 stars #4 star reads #4star #4stars #contemporary romance #romance books #grumpy sunshine trope #erin la rosa #plot twist

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hollymbryan · 6 months

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Blog Tour: Top 5 Reasons to Read HERE LIES OLIVE by Kate Anderson!

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours blog tour for Here Lies Olive by Kate Anderson! I've got all the details below on this creepy debut that's perfect for spooky season, along with my top five reasons to read it. Let's get started!

About the Book

title: Here Lies Olive author: Kate Anderson publisher: Flux/North Star release date: 24 October 2023

Growing up in the dark tourism capital of the United States, sixteen-year-old Olive should be comfortable with death. But ever since an allergic reaction almost sent her to the wrong side of the grass, she’s been terrified that there is no afterlife. And after the death of her surrogate grandmother, Olive has kept everyone at arm’s length because if there’s Nothing after we die, relationships and love can only end in sorrow. When she summons a spirit to answer her questions about death, Olive meets Jay, a hitchhiking ghost trapped in the woods behind the poorhouse where he died. Olive agrees to help Jay find his unmarked grave in exchange for answers about the other side and what comes next. Meanwhile, someone―or something―is targeting Olive’s classmates, and the longer Jay lingers, the more serious the attacks become. Blaming herself for having brought Jay back, Olive teams up with maybe-nemesis, maybe-crush Marisol, ex-best friend Davis, and new girl Vanessa to free Jay’s spirit before he’s trapped as a malevolent shade and the attacks turn deadly. But in doing so, Olive must face her fear of death and risk losing another person she loves to the Nothing. Content Warning: death, grief

Add to Goodreads: Here Lies Olive Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Kate Anderson lives in Utah with her husband and four children. When she’s not writing, she’s embroidering her favorite book covers, exploring the mountains, or planning road trips to places that are off the beaten path–the weirder, the better. Here Lies Olive is her first book.

Connect with Kate: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Top 5 Reasons to Read

Every once in a while, a book just hits right for the season in which you're reading it. This year for me, it's this book -- it's absolutely perfect for spooky season! This book is not just spooky and creepy, but downright scary in parts.

Just look at that stunning cover! It's got everything -- the ribbons, the candles, the gravestones that Olive's dad carves! It's absolutely perfect.

The book is a great exploration of existential dread, from a teenage point of view. Ever since Olive's near-death experience from an allergic reaction, where her heart stopped for five minutes, she's been terrified of the Nothing she believes awaits her in the afterlife.

Olive lives in *the* cutest little town, where I'd absolutely love to live myself! I love it when the setting becomes a character itself, and White Haven does that here.

Here Lies Olive is a tender examination of a girl's awakening sexual attraction, in this case to another girl. And it's enemies to lovers, which is absolutely my favorite romantic trope!

Thanks so much to the publisher and author for an early e-copy of the book, and to TBR and Beyond Tours for having me on the tour!

Check out the Bookstagram tour too! You can find my post here, and the full schedule is here.

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hollymbryan · 7 months

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Blog Tour: Top 5 Reasons to Read HATCHET GIRLS by Diana Rodriguez Wallach!

Welcome to Book_Keeping and my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours blog tour for Hatchet Girls by Diana Rodriguez Wallach, which released this past Tuesday, 10 October! I've got all the details on this deliciously creepy nod to the story of Lizzie Borden, along with my top 5 reasons to read, below!

About the Book

title: Hatchet Girls author: Diana Rodriguez Wallach publisher: Delacorte Press release date: 10 October 2023

For fans of Kara Thomas and Courtney Summers comes a supernatural horror that reminds us family can be our saving grace–or our biggest curse. Set one-hundred years after the Borden murders, this propulsive thriller imagines what a similar trial might look like today. When the parents of the richest family in Fall River are found murdered by axe, the town is quick to blame newcomer Vik. It doesn’t help that he was caught standing over the bodies with blood on his hands and can’t remember anything about the night in question. But Vik’s sister, Tessa, knows that Vik would never be capable of such a gruesome crime. Haunted by the mistakes she made that led her family to Fall River in the first place, she sets out to prove her brother’s innocence. Her search for answers will lead her into a sprawling, supposedly cursed forest, as well as the childhood home of Lizzie Borden—the original axe murderess of Fall River. Content Warning: Violence, mentions of murder, blood, grief, abuse

Add to Goodreads: Hatchet Girls Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Diana Rodriguez Wallach is a multi-published author of young adult novels. Her most recent, Small Town Monsters, is a YA Latinx horror novel that published in September 2021 through Random House’s Underlined imprint. Her next YA horror, Hatchet Girls, will publish in hardback in Fall 2023 through Random House’s Delacorte imprint. Additionally, Diana is the author of the Anastasia Phoenix Series (Entangled Publishing), a trilogy of young adult spy thrillers. The first book in the series, Proof of Lies, has been optioned for film and was chosen as a finalist for the 2018 International Thriller Awards for Best Young Adult Novel. Additionally, Bustle listed her as one of the “Top Nine Latinx Authors to Read for Women’s History Month 2017,” and Paste named Proof of Lies one of the “Top 10 Best Young Adult Books for March 2017.” Diana is also the author of three YA contemporary Latina novels: Amor and Summer Secrets, Amigas and School Scandals, and Adios to All The Drama (Kensington Books). Amor and Summer Secrets placed second at the 2009 International Latino Book Awards for Best Young Adult Novel. She also penned a YA short-story collection entitled Mirror, Mirror (Buzz Books, 2013).

Connect with Diana: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook

Top 5 Reasons to Read

I have been a fan of Diana Rodriguez Wallach since I read the first of her Anastasia Phoenix trilogy, Proof of Lies, back when it was released in 2017. I was on a tour for it and then did the next two books as well. (If you like YA thrillers, you should absolutely check it out, it's so good!) So I was excited to hear about Hatchet Girls coming out and had high hopes for it -- which were more than met! Here are my top reasons to read this deliciously creepy novel!

I love a good YA horror, and Hatchet Girls more than fits the bill! It is creepy and gory and horrific without being *too* over the top, great for folks who might not like more extreme/adult horror.

I love how the story takes inspiration from and pays homage to the Lizzie Borden story, updating it for the modern day and including supernatural elements.

Diana honors the bloody history of the area in which the book takes place, the Bridgewater Triangle, by including actual facts about that history and incorporating it into the supernatural forces at work in the story.

The book asks the question, which I am still pondering, of whether a place's bloody history can infect and curse the land itself, and/or whether land can be infected and cursed and thus lead to continual acts of violence perpetrated there.

This might seem weird, but the author's note about her own experience while researching the novel just sealed the deal for how much I loved it! You'll see when you read it -- I actually got chills!

I love doing these top reasons to read posts, but once again find myself wanting to rate the book even though this isn't a traditional review, because you have to know this is a five star read for me! I hope every fan of YA (and adult!) horror will pick this one up. Make sure you read the historical facts section and author's note at the end to enrich the reading experience.

Thank you to Delacorte Press for the finished copy, and to TBR and Beyond Tours for having me on the tour today!

Make sure to check out the Bookstagram tour as well! You can find my post here, and the full schedule is here.

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hollymbryan · 7 months

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Blog Tour: Top 5 Reasons to Read PROJECT F by Jeanne DuPrau!

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours blog tour for Project F by Jeanne DuPrau, which releases TODAY! I've got all the details for you below, along with my top 5 reasons to read this dystopian middle grade novel!

About the Book

title: Project F author: Jeanne DuPrau publisher: Random House Children's Books release date: 10 October 2023

From the bestselling author of The City of Ember comes a post-apocalyptic story set hundreds of years in the future, where life is simple and modern conveniences are a thing of the past until a boy enchanted by technology is forced to choose between doing the right thing for his community and pursuing his dreams of adventure. WELCOME TO THE FUTURE. There are no cars, planes, television, or smart phones. Climate change wreaked havoc on Earth hundreds of years ago, and now people live a simpler life. Then thirteen-year-old Keith uncovers a secret. It’s a mysterious mission known only as Project F. It’s advanced, it’s scientific, and it’s going to change the world. It’s exactly the kind of adventure Keith has always longed to be a part of. And what is adventure without a little danger, right? But how much danger is Keith willing to risk? For himself? For his family? For his community? For the entire world…? Jeanne DuPrau’s The City of Ember was an instant hit when it arrived on bookshelves. It has become a modern classic beloved by readers selling hundreds of thousands of copies a year! In her latest novel, she explores timely questions about the Earth and our use of its resources. A bold novel, Project F asks how much you are willing to risk to save the future.

Add to Goodreads: Project F Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Jeanne DuPrau spends several hours of every day at her computer, thinking up sentences. She has this quote taped to her wall: “A writer is someone for whom writing is harder than it is for other people” (Thomas Mann). This gives her courage, because she finds writing very hard. So many words to choose from! So many different things that could happen in a story at any moment! Writing is one tough decision after another. But it’s also the most satisfying thing she knows how to do. So she keeps doing it. So far, she has written four novels, six books of nonfiction, and quite a few essays and stories. Jeanne DuPrau doesn’t write every minute of every day. She also putters around in her garden. She lives in California.

Connect with Jeanne: Goodreads

Top 5 Reasons to Read

The author is a beloved middle grade author whose City of Ember series has already become a classic of MG lit. It was my niece's favorite when she was in elementary and middle school.

This post-apocalyptic story, set hundreds of years in the future, deals with the aftermath of a global meltdown from our failure to stop using fossil fuels and ruining our environment.

The main character, Keith, is a plucky, mature 14-year-old boy who learns of a secret project happening not too far from his town with which he becomes entangled.

Keith wants more than anything to be the hero of Project F and to move his society forward, but he also wants to do the right thing. He has to ask himself, "...what's more important: doing what you want, or doing what's right?"

This MG novel would be a wonderful read-aloud for any parent and kids, and would be an excellent conversation starter about how we treat the Earth, nature, and our fellow man.

I highly recommend this to any MG reader! This is one you can give your young reader to devour or read aloud with them.

Check out the Bookstagram tour too! You can find my post here, and the full schedule is here.

#mg lit #middle grade #mglit #kidlit #childrensbooks #children's books #random house children's #random house #random house kids #jeanne duprau #project f #new releases #new release #newreleases #newrelease #out today #blog tour #top 5 reasons to read #bookkeeping blog

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hollymbryan · 7 months

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Blog Tour: Spotlight on WHEN GHOSTS CALL US HOME by Katya de Becerra!

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours blog tour for When Ghosts Call Us Home by Katya de Becerra, which released on Tuesday! I've got all the details on the book and author for you below.

About the Book

title: When Ghosts Call Us Home author: Katya de Becerra publisher: Page Street release date: 3 October 2023

Haunting of Hill House meets found-footage horror in this edge-of-your-seat thriller that explores the power of family ties and the trauma that lurks there. When Sophia Galich was twelve, she starred in her older sister Layla’s amateur horror movie Vermillion, which recorded raw footage of her very real reactions to scenes her sister concocted in their old Californian house on the coast–Cashore House. In the years after the film’s release, Sophia’s relationship with her sister became more strained, while her memories of the now-infamous house fueled her nightmares. Vermillion amassed an army of fanatical fans who speculated about the film’s hidden messages, and it was rumored that Layla made a pact with the devil–her soul in exchange for fame and arcane knowledge. Sophia dismissed this as gossip…until Layla disappeared. Now, Sophia must study the trail of clues Layla has left behind, returning to the very place where it all began. As she gets closer and closer to Cashore House’s haunted heart, she must once again confront the ghosts of her childhood. But the house won’t reveal its secrets without a fight.

Add to Goodreads: When Ghosts Call Us Home Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Katya de Becerra writes atmospheric young adult horror featuring determined characters, complicated families and enigmatic places. Critics called her debut What The Woods Keep “a thoughtful and compelling horror fantasy” (The Bulletin) and “a narrative that will keep readers enthralled” (Booklist), while her second novel Oasis earned a starred review from Booklist. Katya regularly publishes short fiction in anthologies and literary magazines. She is also co-editor of the anthology This Fresh Hell, which reimagines and subverts horror tropes in new and unexpected ways. As a child, Katya wanted to be an Egyptologist, but instead she earned a PhD in Cultural Anthropology and now works at a university, where she teaches and researches as well as supervises graduate students in Anthropology, Creative Writing and Education. Katya is a short version of her real name, which is very long and gets mispronounced a lot.

Connect with Katya: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Make sure you check out the Bookstagram tour too! You can find my post here, and the full schedule is here.

#yalit #ya literature #ya lit #new release #newrelease #blog tour #new releases #when ghosts call us home #katya de becerra #page street #spotlight #book spotlight #tbr beyond tours #tbrbeyond #spooky books #spooky season #spooky szn #ghost book

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hollymbryan · 7 months

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Blog Tour: Top 5 Reasons to Read PLAN A by Deb Caletti!

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours blog tour for Plan A by Deb Caletti, which is OUT TODAY! I've got all the book details for you below, along with my top five reasons to read this latest Caletti contemporary.

About the Book

title: Plan A author: Deb Caletti publisher: Labyrinth Road release date: 3 October 2023

A sixteen-year-old girl’s road trip across the country to get an abortion becomes a transformative journey of vulnerability, strength, and above all, choice. From the acclaimed author of A Heart in a Body in the World , this is both an achingly tender love story and a bold, badly needed battle cry about bodily autonomy and the experiences that connect us. Ivy can’t entirely believe it when the plus sign appears on the test. She didn’t even know it was possible from . . . what happened. But it is, and now she is, and instead of spending the summer working at the local drugstore and swooning over her boyfriend, Lorenzo, suddenly she’s planning a cross-country road trip to her grandmother’s house on the West Coast, where she can legally obtain an abortion. Escaping her small Texas town and the judgment of her friends and neighbors, Ivy hits the road with Lorenzo, who, determined to make the best of their “abortion road trip love story,” has transformed the journey into a whirlwind tour of the all the way from Paris, Texas, to Rome, Oregon . . . and every rest-stop diner and corny roadside attraction along the way. And while Ivy can’t run from the incessant pressure of others’ opinions about her body or from her own expectations and insecurities, she discovers a new world of healing and hope. As the women she encounters share their stories, she chips away at the stigma, silence, and shame surrounding reproductive rights while those collective experiences guide her to her own rightful destination. Content Warning: Abortion, harassment, assault, rape, trauma

Add to Goodreads: Plan A Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Deb Caletti is the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of over twenty books for adults and young adults, including Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, a finalist for the National Book Award, and A Heart in a Body in the World, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. Her books have also won the Josette Frank Award for Fiction, the Washington State Book Award, and numerous other state awards and honors, and she was a finalist for the PEN USA Award. She lives with her family in Seattle.

Connect with Deb: Website | Instagram | Goodreads | Facebook

Top 5 Reasons to Read

It's Deb Caletti. Isn't that enough?! I read and reviewed A Heart in a Body in the World when it released, and I *still* think about it to this day. She writes YA contemporary like no other.

I don't think there is any topic more relevant and urgent to the lives of young women than abortion -- the right to healthcare, the right to make one's own choices, the right to control one's own body.

The mother in this book is strong and amazing and supportive, and it was wonderful to read such a present and powerful parental character in YA.

The trip across country that Ivy and Lorenzo make is whimsical and fun while also leading to Ivy figuring out more who she is and what she wants. It may seem weird to have the trip to get an abortion be like this, but when reading you realize it makes perfect sense.

Perhaps my most favorite aspect of the book, and my top reason to read it, is the character of Lorenzo. Ivy's boyfriend not only supports whatever choice she wants to make, he calculates the travel route that takes them through all the "world cities" between Paris, Texas and Manhattan Beach, Oregon -- from Lima, Oklahoma to Naples, Utah to Rome, Oregon. He knows how desperately Ivy wishes to see the world, and he wants to give it to her, making my heart completely full.

While this isn't a traditional review, I do have to say this is a 5-star book for me for sure. I want to put it in the hands of every teen reader I come across -- and parents, too! It's beautifully written and empowering, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Thank you so much to the publisher, author, and TBR and Beyond for the early copy of the book and for having me on tour!

#plan a #deb caletti #yalit #ya lit #ya literature #ya books #young adult #new release #newrelease #blog tour #new releases #labyrinth road #penguin random house #prh #abortion #abortionbooks #top 5 reasons to read #tbrbeyondtours #tbr and beyond tours

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hollymbryan · 8 months

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Blog Tour + #Review: MIDNIGHT AT THE HOUDINI by Delilah S. Dawson!

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours blog tour for the newest YA from Delilah S. Dawson, Midnight at the Houdini! I've got all the details for you along with my top 5 reasons to read the book below!

About the Book

title: Midnight at the Houdini author: Delilah S. Dawson publisher: Delacorte Press release date: 5 September 2023

A girl discovers a surreal hotel where no one ever leaves. When the clock strikes midnight she’ll be trapped there forever unless she’s able to break free from magic that in turn breaks all her rules. Perfect for fans of Caraval and The Starless Sea! The night is perfect and glorious and sparkling, too beautiful to be real. Like magic. Anna may have grown up in glitzy Las Vegas, but she’s determined that no one will ever call her shallow. While her older sister Emily is the star of the family, Anna is the diligent stage manager, making sure that both their lives go perfectly to plan. But when Emily reveals a startling betrayal, Anna flees in the middle of a raging storm and takes shelter in a boutique establishment she’s never seen before: The Houdini. Inside, Anna discovers a magic hotel . . . and a magical boy. Earnest, curious Max has lived his entire life inside the Houdini. Over the course of one surreal evening, he becomes Anna’s guide to the curious building. For the first time in her life, Anna is center stage, in a place that anticipates her every desire, with a boy who only has eyes for her. But that’s because the Houdini has no other guests. No one ever enters the Houdini . . . and no one ever leaves. When the clock strikes midnight, Anna will be trapped in the Houdini forever. If Anna’s ever going to find out who she is on her own in the real world, she’ll first have to make an impossible escape. But will she be able to do it if it means leaving Max behind?

Add to Goodreads: Midnight at the Houdini Purcase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Delilah S. Dawson is the New York Times-bestselling author of Star Wars: Phasma, Black Spire: Galaxy’s Edge, and The Perfect Weapon. With Kevin Hearne, she writes the Tales of Pell. As Lila Bowen, she writes the Shadow series, beginning with Wake of Vultures. Her other books include the Blud series, the Hit series, and Servants of the Storm. She’s written comics in the worlds of Marvel Action: Spider-Man, Lore’s Wellington, Star Wars Adventures, Star Wars Forces of Destiny, The X-Files Case Files, Adventure Time, Rick and Morty, and her creator-owned comics include Star Pig, Ladycastle, and Sparrowhawk.

Connect with Delilah: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Top 5 Reasons to Read

This is an absolutely magical read! From the setting to the descriptions to the characters, it's like reading a brand-new fairy tale, with hints of old ones (like Alice in Wonderland) hidden within.

The writing and language used are delightful, capturing your attention from the first page and never letting go.

There is an amazing, Disney-esque villainess, who has shades of everything from Maleficent to Cruella DeVille to Cinderella's stepmother, Lady Tremaine.

Anna is a girl who has spent the past 6 years planning every aspect of her life, from present to future, as well as the lives of her family, so it's a struggle to be stuck in a place where she doesn't know what's around the corner at any given moment.

Max is an adorable, perfect, sweet boy who I just wanted to hug! I loved every single second he was on the page.

Thanks so much to the publisher and author for the e-ARC of the book and to TBR and Beyond for having me on the tour!

Make sure you check out the bookstagram tour too! You can find my post here, and the full schedule is here.

#yalit #ya literature #new release #blog tour #new releases #midnight at the houdini #delilah s. dawson #top 5 reasons to read #fairy tales #magical reads #tbrbeyondtours #tbr and beyond tours

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hollymbryan · 8 months

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Blog Tour + #Excerpt: KIN by Carole Boston Weatherford and Jeffery Boston Weatherford (w/ #giveaway)!

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the Rockstar Book Tours blog tour by Carole Boston Weatherford and Jeffery Boston Weatherford! I've got all the details on this new book of art and poetry, an excerpt, and a giveaway below.

About the Book

title: KIN: Rooted in Hope author: Carole Boston Weatherford art by: Jeffery Boston Weatherford publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers release date: 19 September 2023

A powerful portrait of a Black family tree shaped by enslavement and freedom, rendered in searing poems by acclaimed author Carole Boston Weatherford and stunning art by her son Jeffery Boston Weatherford. I call their names: Abram Alice Amey Arianna Antiqua I call their names: Isaac Jake James Jenny Jim Every last one, property of the Lloyds, the state’s preeminent enslavers. Every last one, with a mind of their own and a story that ain’t yet been told. Till now. Carole and Jeffery Boston Weatherford’s ancestors are among the founders of Maryland. Their family history there extends more than three hundred years, but as with the genealogical searches of many African Americans with roots in slavery, their family tree can only be traced back five generations before going dark. And so from scraps of history, Carole and Jeffery have conjured the voices of their kin, creating an often painful but ultimately empowering story of who their people were in a breathtaking book that is at once deeply personal yet all too universal. Carole’s poems capture voices ranging from her ancestors to Frederick Douglass to Harriet Tubman to the plantation house and land itself that connects them all, and Jeffery’s evocative illustrations help carry the story from the first mention of a forebear listed as property in a 1781 ledger to he and his mother’s homegoing trip to Africa in 2016. Shaped by loss, erasure, and ultimate reclamation, this is the story of not only Carole and Jeffery’s family, but of countless other Black families in America.

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About the Author and Artist

Hailed as “a master” and “the dean” of nonfiction for young people,” Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Award winner Carole Boston Weatherford is a New York Times best-seller and two-time NAACP Image Award winner. Since her 1995 debut, she has authored 70-plus books including four Caldecott Honor winners: Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre; Freedom in Congo Square, Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement, and Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom. Her books have won nine Coretta Scott King Awards or Honors. She writes the diverse books that she lacked as a child. A Baltimore native and the daughter of educators, Carole was virtually born with ink in her blood. At age six, she dictated her first poem to her mother. Her father, a high school printing teacher, published a few of her early poems on the press in his classroom. Meanwhile, her grandmothers passed down oral traditions and stories. By middle school, Carole had transferred from an all-black public school to a majority-white, private school where a teacher wrongfully accused her of plagiarism. That slight compelled her to chronicle a more inclusive history, to amplify marginalized voices and to build monuments with words. Now, children’s books are a family affair for Carole. In KIN: Rooted in Hope, she and her son, award-winning illustrator Jeffery Weatherford embark on a genealogical quest. Through multi-voiced poems and dramatic scratchboard illustrations, mother and son conjure the voices and visages of their forebears. Their ancestors lived through the American Revolution, fought in the Civil War, were enslaved alongside Frederick Douglass, cofounded Reconstruction-era villages, and according to local lore, descended from African royalty. A professor at Fayetteville State University, an HBCU in North Carolina, Carole has been recognized with the Nonfiction Award from the Children’s Book Guild, the North Carolina Literature Award, the Ragan-Rubin Award from North Carolina English Teachers Association and a place in the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame. She is a life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Jeffery earned his M.F.A. from Howard University where he was a Romare Bearden scholar and studied under artists from the Black Arts Movement. A rapper and a fine artist, Jeffery has performed or exhibited in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Baltimore, North Carolina, West Africa and the Middle East. Jeffery’s first book was You Can Fly the Tuskegee Airmen, and his first picture book was Call Me Miss Hamilton. Both appeared on best book of the year lists.

Excerpt

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About the Giveaway

One (1) lucky winner will receive a finished copy of KIN by Carole Boston Weatherford and Jeffery Boston Weatherford! This one is US only and ends 19 September. Enter via the Rafflecopter below, and good luck!

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hollymbryan · 8 months

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Blog Tour + #Review: THE REUNION by Kit Frick (w/ #giveaway)! #turnthepagetours

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the Turn the Page Tours blog tour for The Reunion, the latest YA mystery/thriller by Kit Frick! I've got all the details, my review, and a 3-copy giveaway for you below!

About the Book

title: The Reunion author: Kit Frick publisher: Simon Teen release date: 29 August 2023

From the author of I Killed Zoe Spanos comes a YA thriller in the vein of The White Lotus and Karen M. McManus’s The Cousins following a doomed family reunion gone wrong at a posh Caribbean resort, where old grudges and dangerous secrets culminate in murder. Eleven Mayweathers went on vacation. Ten came home. It’s been years since the fragmented Mayweather clan was all in one place, but the engagement of Addison and Mason’s mom to the dad of their future stepbrother, Theo, brings the whole family to sunny Cancún, Mexico, for winter break. Add cousin Natalia to the mix, and it doesn’t take long for tempers to fray and tensions to rise. A week of forced family “fun” reveals that everyone has something to hide, and as secrets bubble to the surface, no one is safe from the fallout. By the end of the week, one member of the reunion party will be dead—and everyone’s a suspect: The peacekeeper: Addison needs a better hiding place. The outsider: Theo just wants to mend fences. The romantic: Natalia doesn’t want to talk about the past. The hothead: Mason needs to keep his temper under control. It started as a week in paradise meant to bring them together. But the Mayweathers are about to learn the hard way that family bonding can be deadly.

Add to Goodreads: The Reunion Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Kit Frick is the author of B&N YA Book Club pick and Thriller Award finalist I Killed Zoe Spanos as well as the young adult thrillers See All the Stars, All Eyes on Us, Very Bad People, and The Reunion, and the poetry collection A Small Rising Up in the Lungs.

Connect with Kit: Website (+ Newsletter) | Instagram | Twitter

My 4-Star Review

This is my third book by Kit Frick, with my favorite that I've read being See All the Stars. Kit does a great job of portraying teens and all the feelings running through them at any given moment, and then turning that brew into a great YA thriller. Here we have a large extended family that seems super tight, but when they go on vacation together, cracks begin to appear. The mystery dribbles out slowly as we watch the characters interact, giving us hints of old anxieties and issues, as the tension ratchets up. I was shocked by the ending to be sure, which is always a plus for me!

The publisher was kind enough to send me a copy of the book for this tour, but I also purchased myself the audiobook to listen along as I read. If you're an audiobook fan, I'd definitely give this one a go! Either way, it's a solid YA mystery/thriller and any fan of those should definitely pick up The Reunion (and any other Kit Frick book!).

Rating: 4 stars!

**Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for purposes of this blog tour. This review is voluntary on my part and reflects my honest rating and review of the book.

About the Giveaway

Three (3) lucky winners will each receive a finished copy of The Reunion by Kit Frick! This one ends 2 September at 11:59p.m., so get your entries in quick. Enter via the Rafflecopter link below, and good luck!

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