Hawkeye: Bishop Takes King by Ashley Poston review

 

Title: Hawkeye: Bishop Takes King

Author: Ashley Poston

Ch: 34

Pg: 278

 

Genre: Comic retelling, mystery superhero, Marvel

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Marvel Press

After Watching Hawkeye and reading all the Hawkeye comics I could that had Kate Bishop in it, I still wanted more Kate. Because I'm not holding out hope that the MCU is going to give us the young Avengers.  And I got more Kate in this one. Hawkeye: Bishop Takes King is the perfect combination of the comics and the TV show. Kate in the book is more like TV show Kate and the glimpses we get of Clint is more comic Clint than either MCU or TV Show Clint.  But what I loved most is seeing grow and become more of herself. Though Lucky stole the show.  

 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

 

Darling Girl by Liz Michalski reivew

Title: Darling Girl

Author:  Liz Michalski

Ch: 44

Pg:  341

Genre:  Contemporary Magical Realism retelling

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher:

 

I have to say Darling Girl by Liz Michalski is my favorite Peter Pan retelling and or sequel. Unlike most kids who grew up in the nineties my introduction to Peter Pan wasn’t the Disney movie but the book by J.M. Barrie and I have to say it has shaped how I viewed the story. And I how I felt about the characters even from an earlier age.

I have to say Darling Girl take on the story is in many ways I how I would have written a sequel. As I’ve viewed the villain of the story the same as the villain is in this book. And it’s not who you think it is. And in Darling Girl a character I’ve always loved gets a chance to be a hero. Or the hero inspired by my favorite character at least.

 

 

 

At Summer's End by Courtney Ellis review

 Title:  At Summer’s End

 Author:  Courtney Ellis

Genre:  Historical Romance, retelling

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Berkley Books

 

At Summer's End by Courtney Ellis is a Beauty retelling with hints of Phantom of the Opera the musical aspect and mask not the creepy stalker dude. Set in 1920s Britain, when the nation was still recovering from WWI and dealing with injury soldiers both mentally and physically. Alberta Preston "Bertie" and artist is commissioned by Julian the Earl of Wakeford to make paintings of his house and grounds. He was scarred in the war and wears a mask and has become a recluse only letting his older sister visit him. That is till Bertie shows up.  I enjoyed this story, and you can see elements of the story of Beauty and the Beast threaded through Bertie's and Julian's romance. And it's slow burn one at that. As Bertie and Julian butt heads at the start which reminded me so much of Belle and Beast's banter and love story. All in all, I enjoyed this sweet romance and retelling. And look forward to future books

This is main stream historical romance and retelling so there is some language as well as a little on the streamy side  in some parts but those are easy to skip over and it doesn't get to detailed.

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

Phantom Heart by Kelly Creagh review

 Title:  Phantom Heart

Author:  Kelly Creagh

Ch: 85 Plus Epilogue

Pg:  528

Series: Phantom Heart

Genre:  Teen Paranormal romance retelling

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Viking books

 

I've been putting off writing this review not because I didn't love the book, but because I was still processing my emotions after reading this one and gathering my thoughts. As well as trying to find the balance as a reader/reviewer while being friends with the author. (And on a platform like goodreads other readers would say I'm bias but if I don't like a book, I'm going to say that, while being polite).  But my rating of the book has everything to do with how the book was written being true to the original story while creating a unique modern tale. 

 

Creagh pays homage to the original by keeping the name Erik for the phantom character as well as using the last names Armand and Cheney for the main characters.  Like her previous books the setting for this book is Louisville. As a Louisvillian I loved finding the Easter eggs of local things in the book.   While this isn't the first Phantom of the Opera retelling, I've read, it is the first one I've read that I could tell early in the book that was indeed inspired by the Phantom of the Opera.  Creagh knows how to write paranormal and retellings that's for sure. 

 

I've seen other reviews comparing it to Twilight. To me the only thing relating it to Twilight is that it's teen paranormal romance with a slight love triangle. But guess what that's where the similarities end.  Phantom Heart having a love triangle doesn't make it Twilight like it just makes it true to the original story as they was indeed a love triangle in the book and the musical. Having loved the original and been team Phantom I was shocked that with Phantom Heart I was rooting not for Erik but for Lucas. I guess I'm still a sucker for a nerdy hero.  

Another thing that I enjoyed is Creagh always manages to add nerdy pop culture references into her book and this one made my marvel nerd heart happy.  While one storyline wrapped up nicely by the end with only a slight cliffhanger the main storyline is left to continue in book 2(hopefully)?  In which I am indeed looking forward to. 

Dust by Kara Swanson review

Title:  Dust

 Author:  Kara Swanson

Ch: 38

Pg:  368

Series: Heirs of Neverland

Genre:  Retelling, Fantasy

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Enclave Escape

 

Dust by Kara Swanson is the first Peter Pan retelling that I’ve read that I actually enjoyed. I also didn’t mind that this retelling was a little dark because let’s face it the original book and play by J.M. Barrie was kind of dark.

I think to reason I enjoyed this one was because I was the kid who’s introduction to Peter Pan was from the original book not the Disney movie like most kids. So my view of Pan and Captain Hook are different and even at a young age it was easy to see that hero and villain wasn’t clear.

And with Dust there are times in which it isn’t quite whose the villain and who’s the heroes. It keeps you guessing until the end and then leaves a you with a cliff hanger but don’t worry there’s a sequel.

Clara's Soldier review

Title:  Clara’s Soldier: A Retelling of The Nutcracker

Author:  Brittany Fichter

Ch: 13

Pg:  164

Genre:  Retelling

Rating: 4 Stars

    Clara’s Soldier by Brittany Fichter is a retelling of the Nutcracker set just after WWII and I have to say it’s one of my favorite Nutcracker retellings. The historical time period of WWII especially the post war time makes the perfect setting for a retelling.

    I’ve always loved the Nutcracker every December my mom would take me to see the ballet and read the book countless times during the same month. As well as the cartoon. So this book was perfect for adult me. A book I read in one day. To me The Nutcracker has been a story that has always leaned towards balancing reality and fantasy and this book was no different.

    I do want to mention something that may be considered a slight spoiler but I feel that it is a necessary warning. The fantasy part of this story as in The Nutcracker realm happens in the form of PTSD filled nightmares of a soldier that Clara crash lands in.

The Code for Love and Heartbreak

 

Title: The Code for Love and Heartbreak   

Author:  Jillian Cantor

Ch: 33

Pg:  304

Genre:  Teen Chick lit, classic retelling

Rating: 4.5 stars

Publisher:  Inkyard press

 

The Code for Love and Heartbreak by Jillian Cantor is a Jane Austen retelling of Emma. As Emma is my favorite Jane Austen I was thrilled to finally get a modern young adult retelling. In this one Emma Woodhouse is a socially awkward coding nerd and a senior in high school. And George Knightly is her sort of friend and co-Captain of the coding club.

I love that the author brought Emma’s matchmaking attempts into the modern age with a dating app. Emma still has many of the same quirks as the original Emma. The main points of the original novel are still here though Emma’s father isn’t as clingy in this retelling.

And even though it wasn’t as good the original I loved it and wish that an YA Emma retelling had been around when I was a teen. Or at least something other than Clueless. I’m hoping this is the first of many Emma retellings. Janes romantic comedy i don’t care what anyone says.

Hood Review

 

Title:  Hood

 

Author:  Jenny Elder Moke

 

Ch: 35

 

Pg:  320

 

Genre:  Teen Historical, Retelling

 

Rating:5 Stars

 

Publisher:  Disney Hyperion

 

I have to say the 90s kid in me loved this book and it’s been a book that I’ve been waiting on since I watched Princess or Thieves as a kid. I’ve always wanted a book about Robin Hood and Maid Marion’s daughter.

 

In Hood I finally got that Isabelle is as beautiful as her mother and as a good a shot as her father. This has been one of my favorite Robin Hood retellings in a while though it’s more a sequel retelling. I loved how for the most part it follow most of the myth and story-lines to most of the movies we’ve.

 

It’s a look at what happens after the credits roll. That while the book wraps up nicely it still leaves room for a sequel in my opinion.

Notthingham review

Title:  Nottingham

Author:  Nathan Makaryk

Pages: 496

Genre: retellings

Rating: 2 stars

I wanted to love this one. I've been a Robin Hood fan since childhood. (thanks dad)  I've since every movie with the newest one being my favorite  with the Disney cartoon being a close second. I'm working my way through the BBC series right now. So I picked Nottingham up to see what new twist could be added to the Robin Hood legend. I will admit I loved some of the background on the characters and I loved that we got chapters from each. But to me there were just too many character point of views.  From characters to me felt like secondary characters.  There were parts of Marian's characters that  I loved that she was strong and determined and not a damsel in distress and spoiler: with the outlaws from the beginning. But there were parts like the choice that she made at the end that didn't seem like the Marian from the beginning.  This Robin wasn't my favorite but he was realistic he was a solider hardened  and scared  by war. 

However,  Gisbourne  was  pretty much the same way he always is and I loved that. I think that's what made him my favorite never thought I say that in this book.  I thought the ending was a little rushed  and even though I didn't like the way it ended, The ending fit the way that the story was going.  I don't think at that point it could have ended any other way.  I'm still on the look for a Robin Hood retelling that I love, but I am willing to give this author another try and will read any future books by this author.   But just because I didn't like it doesn't mean that another reader won't love it. Their view of the Robin Hood legend could be different than mine and this book is what they've always wanted. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Romanov Review

Title:  Romanov

Author: Nadine Brandes

Chapters: 40

Pages: 341

Genre: Historical fantasy, retellings 

Rating: 5 Stars

 Anastasia the animated musical was one of my favorite movies as a child. I loved that movie and image my surprise and shock   in world history class in middle school when I learned the truth. 

So when I saw that Nadine Brandes who wrote Fawkes a retelling about the gunpowder plot I knew that I had to pick this one up.  And I am glad that I did because I loved this one.  

Nadine stays true to the true story of the Romanov's up to a key point and then adds her own twist to the story.  Giving a new life and story to Anastasia who goes by Nastya in this version.  Faith and the love of family plays a huge part in this book and that what I loved. 

Just like with Fawkes Nadine weaves a bit of fantasy into your historical fiction to make it different than any retelling of the Anastasia you've read before.    

I can't wait to see what Nadine comes up with next.  I would recommend this book to anyone who loved the Anastasia musical. As well as those that loved Nadine's previous books. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Blog Tour Review of Yes, Carol...It's Christmas

Title:  Yes, Carol… It’s Christmas

Author: Cindy Vincent

 

Chapters:  10

Pages: 103

Genre: Christmas Stories, retellings

Rating: 4 stars

My favorite Christmas story after the birth of Christ happens to be A Christmas Carol.  Even though it was 7th grade before I read the actual book and saw the stage production. The story itself was a part of my Christmas traditions from a young age as my mom loved the story, and Disney gave us a Mickey's Christmas Carol.  It's so much a Christmas tradition that I've seen even movie version of the book to date.  So when I heard about this book Yes, Carol… It's Christmas by Cindy Vincent I knew I just had to read it. 

Yes, Carol... It's Christmas is a modern retelling of the classic story but with a twist.  Carol is our Scrooge, a woman who at one point loved Christmas. Decorating and hosting parties.  But when an incident happened during a Christmas party when her kids were young, Carol become pretty become a workaholic and turned her back on all things Christmas.  Until one plane flight a few days before Christmas when she is visited by the ghost of her friend, who tells her in the course of the night she will be visited by three ghosts: Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future much like the original story.    But in Yes, Carol... It's Christmas Carol makes an even bigger change than Scrooge did at least in my opinion. 

I liked Yes, Carol… It's Christmas even more than A Christmas Carol if that is even possible and will now become a Christmas season re read in the years to come.   To me Carol was a character I could relate too with not wanting to celebrate Christmas, but not for the same reason as Carol. But when my mom passed away in May of 2016 that Christmas I didn't want to celebrate or decorate because my mom loved holidays and decorating especially for Christmas. It was hard to want to celebrate when she wasn't here to celebrate with.  Though I did try to keep some of the traditions alive, I failed miserably.  The only thing I remembered was the ornaments for me and my sister.  The same for 2017 as well.  It also didn't help that Christmas has always been hard to celebrate since 2003 when I lost my grandpa 13 days before Christmas. But after reading Yes, Carol... It's Christmas I am willing to try to bring back my mom's Christmas traditions to keep them alive for me and my sister and my dad. Because as this book as taught me keeping the traditions and the celebrations can also help keep the good memories alive. 

There was a scene towards the end of the book when Carol was in the grocery store line in which she did something that my mom had totally done many times through the years, because in my mom words, "No one should spend Christmas alone."   I recommend this book to anyone who loves A Christmas Carol, a good retelling or Christmas in general.  This is the perfect read and rather short at 10 chapters and 103 pages. 

I received a copy of this book from the author.  I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

 About the Book

As the top salesperson for Pfunn Party Supplies, Carol Frost doesn’t exactly know how to have fun herself these days. Though she wasn’t always such a humbug. Once upon a time, she was famous for hosting Christmas parties that were filled with everything from laughing guests and luscious hors d’oeuvres, to artfully iced sugar cookies and creatively decorated Christmas trees. To top it off, she even wrote a bestselling book that became the authoritative tome on Christmas party entertaining at the time—The Complete, Total, Ultimate, Everything-You-Might-Possibly-Want-to-Know Guide to Hosting the Best Christmas Parties Ever.

Yet that was long ago, before her life changed and she stashed her tinsel and twinkle lights away once and for all. And while Carol soon learned to settle for her boring but comfortable existence, an old friend knows that Carol isn’t really living up to her potential. An old friend who . . . well . . . now enjoys her eggnog in the afterlife, you might say. To goad Carol into going back to her former party-hosting ways, said friend sends three of her specter pals to pester Carol. Then, much to Carol’s annoyance, she is visited by the Ghost Hosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future on a plane filled with plenty of holiday revelers. And though Carol only wants to be left alone, the Ghost Hosts have other plans. Instead, they take her on an adventure that wasn’t exactly on her itinerary . . . or printed on her ticket stub. From that moment on, Carol’s life will never be the same. Provided, of course, she survives the jingle-bell rollercoaster of a ride and makes it home in time for Christmas . . .

Paperback edition | Kindle edition | Goodreads

About the Author

CINDY VINCENT, M.A. Ed., was born in Calgary, Alberta, and has lived all around the US and Canada. She is the creator of the Mysteries by Vincent murder mystery party games and the Daisy Diamond Detective Series games for girls. She is also the award-winning author of the Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper novels and the Daisy Diamond Detective series. She lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and an assortment of fantastic felines.

Website | Amazon | Goodreads

Giveaway!

Put together your own best-ever Christmas party with this fun “party in a box” giveaway! Enter for a chance to win a package with the following prizes: a signed copy of Yes, Carol…It’s Christmas! by Cindy Vincent, two Betty Crocker sugar cookie mixes, two cookie cutters, a four-pack of sprinkles, a strand of Christmas lights, and two glass ornaments. Due to shipping costs and varying international laws, this giveaway is open to US residents (age 18 or older) only. Void where prohibited. Good luck!

[Bloggers, you can find the embed code for the giveaway by clicking the link below!]

Seasons of Humility

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/15cee39760/   

Review of Lois Lane: Fallout

Title: Lois Lane: Fallout

Author: Gwenda Bond

Series: Lois Lane book 1

Chapters: 26

 

Pages: 304

Genre: teen

Rating: 4 stars

Move over Superman and Clark Kent. It's Lois's turn to shine. Fallout takes place before Lois meets Clark Kent. Her father's job in the Army has kept Army Brat Lois moving around, everywhere she's lived she's managed to get into trouble. In Metropolis is going to be different.

It was nice to read about Lois as a teenager. The tag of comparing it to Veronica Mars and I was hooked, and the mention of her online friend Smallville guy it was like a trip to my teenage years. 

Review of The Princess of the Silver Wood

Title: Princess of the Silver Woods

Author: Jessica Day George

Series: The Princess of Westfalin Trilogy book 3

 

Chapters: 22

Pages: 322

Genre:  Fairy tale retellings

Rating: 4 stars

Slight spoilers

Princess of The Silver Woods is my favorite of the three books in this trilogy.  It focuses on the youngest daughter of the twelve dancing princess Petunia.  The tagline on the cover was Twelve dancing princess meets Red riding Hood. But to me it had a bit or Robin Hood in the story as well.

I read this book when I was a fairy tale retelling kick and I am glad I did. I enjoyed it.  It's was easy to see how each fairy tale played a part in the book. The Twelve dancing princess because Petunia is the youngest of twelve daughters. Red riding hood because of the clock she wears and Robin Hood because Oliver is the son of a Lord without a kingdom who robs from rich travelers on the road.

Princess of the Silver Woods is a must read retelling for anyone who likes  The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Red Riding Hood, and Robin Hood. As well as fairy tale retelling in general.  

Review of Lady Thief

Title: Lady Thief

Author: A.C. Gaughen

Series: Scarlet book 2

 

Chapters: 25

Pages: 308

Genre: teen retelling slight romance 

Rating: 4 stars

Lady Thief is the second book in the Scarlet series. In this second book one of the characters has to live with the conquences of a choice they made in order to save another character. Who may or not may be the love of their lives. This book picks up almost where the first book left off. All the same characters come back in the second book. As well as some new, such as Allan A Dale and Eleanor and the queen mother.  In this second book we see Scarlet in a different light and we get more of her back story of how she became Scarlet.  Overall it pretty good second book. I can't wait to read the third and final book of the trilogy.