A Little Spark by Chris Parsons

We received an email earlier this week, asking if we'd be interested in receiving a shipment of books from a publisher to share with the children in the community!!  We're still working out the logistics including the arrival date, but I was so excited to be able to say yes to this opportunity.

The book?  A Little Spark by Chris Parsons  (Illustrated by Mike Motz)

When the survival of their hometown is threatened, two unlikely comrades join forces on a quest to defeat a dangerous enemy and bring back the only one who can save them all.

Beyond the frozen mountains there lies an oasis from the frigid cold and the howling winds. A place the animals call Lake Zuron. What a wonderful place, happy creatures of all kinds, living in harmony and warmth thanks to their very own fire-breathing dragon named Daniel.

But one day everything changed when the unthinkable happened. The Dragon fire goes out and immediately the air begins to chill. Things were not looking good but just when all hope was lost, an unlikely hero steps up. Join Spark the mouse on an adventure of a lifetime as he and his friends do their part to save their town from an icy demise.

With the magical power of Daniel, the Dragon there could be hope. But first they must face and defeat a dangerous enemy, the vile beasts who own these mountains where nobody passes through.

Along this journey maybe you will discover that it’s that little Spark in each of us that really matters, and that a little Spark could save them from the coming cold. The story reminds us that we all need something in life every day to ignite our passion and spirit – to help the world be a “warmer” place and to look for ways to “Be That Spark.”

The story itself is good on it's own, but throughout the pages, you'll find QR codes that you can scan and be taken to a Youtube channel to hear songs related to the characters of the story. How cute is that?

Want to check out the book, grab a digital Kindle copy, or gift one to a friend? Find it on Amazon here!

🎧 Prefer to listen to the fully produced musical audiobook? You can actually stream it for free right now by signing up for a Free Audible Trial: Listen Free on Audible here!

Be sure to check it out!!

(This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.)

 Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon 

Official Blurb:  

My disease is as rare as it is famous. It’s a form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, but basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in fifteen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives. New next door neighbors. I look out the window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black t-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly. I want to learn everything about him, and I do. I learn that he is funny and fierce. I learn that his eyes are Atlantic Ocean-blue and that his vice is stealing silverware. I learn that when I talk to him, my whole world opens up, and I feel myself starting to change—starting to want things. To want out of my bubble. To want everything, everything the world has to offer.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

My Review: 

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Sometimes the stars just line up and you find a book that you really like.  That's what happened here.  I was in the library and just browsing the Young Adult section and stumbled across Everything Everything.   With all of the spell-it-out reading challenges that I do, I always need an "E" and an "N" and a "Y", but I also needed a book that was made into a movie or tv show.  Check, check, check and check!! 

I really really like this book and now I need to look to see where the movie is available because while I know it won't be the same as the book (the movies never are!) I want to see how they are portrayed on the big screen. 

Maddy has spent her eighteen years of life isolated in her germ-free house.  Her father and brother died when she was a baby so she's really only interacted in real life with her mom and her nurse Carla.  All she's known is that if she leaves her house, she could die.    All that she's learned about the outside world has come from books. 

So when she sees a new family moving into the house next door, with a teenaged boy and his sister, she's intrigued and wants to know more than just what she sees outside of her window. So begins an unconventional friendship as their only way of communicating is through waves from window to window. It's not enough for Maddy and Carla comes up with a plan that will allow Olly into the house - but with a few rules. He gets decontaminated and stays on the opposite side of the room and there can be absolutely NO touching at all. Suddenly the friendship shifts - now they can communicate through IMs and emails until Mom realizes what is happening, and fearing that Maddy will want to make changes that could endanger her health, she tries to put a stop to their friendship. 

I won't go on any further because I don't want to spoil the story for you, but all Maddy wants is to live her life to the fullest knowing that taking the biggest risk is either going to be the end of it all or bring the greatest reward of all. 

  

Sideliners by Dana Claire

 

I recently had the opportunity to read and review an ARC coy of Sideliners by Dana Claire. 

Official Blurb: 

Two types of folks live in Pottsville, Texas. Those who have two jobs and those who have two houses. But no matter their address, Friday night football brings every soul in town together under the same stadium lights. Problem is, the have-nots always watch from the sidelines. Until now …

Four years ago, Reed Maddox made a deathbed promise to his mother before the cancer claimed her life: Take care of their family. To make good on his vow, Reed has agreed to a pact forcing him to abandon his dream of playing football—his one guaranteed ticket out of the trailer park. But when he throws a reckless pass from the sidelines, everything he’s tried to protect is threatened including his guarded heart.

To regain her title as cheer captain and unofficial crown as princess of Pottsville, knock-out Savannah Kensington is about to brush elbows with Reed Maddox and his hooligan friends. But Little Miss Perfect’s world has been upside down longer than anyone who’s seen her winning smile would realize. Still scarred by the death of her baby sister, she hides her feelings under the pretense of popularity. When the opportunity to reclaim her senior year involves a secret deal to help Reed, Savannah accepts.

When their two pacts collide, revealing Reed’s football talent and upending everything Savannah knows about her personal kingdom, Pottsville High implodes. The have-nots are invading, the painted white lines are blurring, and Savannah and Reed are locked together in the middle of a battle between circumstance and privilege. Can their new alliance unite the stands or will the ingrained hatred of a town divided tear apart their chance at happily ever after?

Publication Date 3/27/2023  341 pages 

My Review 💗💗💗💗💗

I absolutely devoured Sideliners and can not wait to read more from Dana Claire!  

Reed Maddox may live on the Willie side of town, but he's got a heart of gold and when you are in his circle, you won't ever doubt it, because he will ALWAYS have your back! The most important person in his life is his litter sister, aka Squirt, and there is nothing that he won't do for her including making a deal that puts her needs above all else. And when there's a chance that something puts her needs at jeopardy, the deal changes and Reed puts his heart and soul into making the new deal work for her needs.

5 stars without a doubt! I can't even tell you all that I love about it, because I want you to read it for yourself and fall in love with Reed (and Squirt) for yourself.   Run, do not walk, to get yourself a copy of this book. 

The Choices I've Made by J.L. Berg

 I'm super pleased with the Choice I Made to read this book!  

The Choices I've Made by J.L. Berg  (#1 in the By The Bay series)

The official blurb:

Death has a way of changing you...

After my mom passed, I couldn't seem to stand still. I couldn't be me anymore. So, with nothing more than a few boxes and a beat up truck, I left behind my old life at the tender age of eighteen.

And I never looked back.

Twelve years later, I find myself traveling back to the sandy shores of that North Carolina town where my late father has left me his medical practice. Coming here means facing my past... My memories... And her--Molly McIntyre.

Growing up, Molly had been my entire world, first as a childhood friend and then so much more. We'd made promises to each other back then. Promises I broke when I walked away. And now that I'm back? Well, let's just say she's not exactly the head of my welcoming committee. But even she can't deny the undeniable spark that still burns so brightly between us and soon, we're tumbling fast and hard into the past.

But I need to keep my eyes set to the future, because mine isn't here in this dead end town. Not anymore.

All Molly has ever known is here, on this small island. Could I really ask her to give it all up? For me? If I walk away again, will she follow?

My Review: 

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Twelve years ago, Jake left the small town where he grew up, leaving Molly behind.   So much has changed in those twelve years and his father's funeral makes it a necessary trip back 'home'.     When he runs into his old friend Dean, he certainly doesn't imagine his coming back home is going to happen anything like it did.     But funny how even though so much has changed, the most important thing hasn't changed at all. 

I LOVED this book - I devoured it in one day.  It had a surprising twist right out of the gate which sent the story on a path that you wouldn't have imagined just from reading the blurb.    So much emotion as Jake realizes that his feelings for Molly never went away, despite of the path that her life has taken in those twelve years.   

The Choices I've Made is the first book in J.L. Berg's By the Bay series, but there's no cliffhanger, which is always my favorite way to end a book.  But I do plan on continuing on with the series!!!  

 I'm so excited that I'm just a week into 2021 and I found my first 5-Star book of the year!!!

Remembering Us by Stacey Lynn   (Published 1/12/2014)

The official blurb: 

My life was perfectly mapped out for me since before the day I was born. I followed it, begrudgingly, because it’s what was expected. And then one day, everything changed. I woke up. Different. Independent. Free from all the rules that had surrounded me. Only I have no idea how I got to where I am. I have no memory of graduating college. No memory of Adam, the boyfriend I live with. He loves me. And I love him. At least that’s what everyone says. Except when my memories return to me as dreams, I see a different man than the one everyone claims is perfect for me. He terrifies me. He makes my heart race and he makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. I have no idea if I want to welcome the emotional roller-coaster that his piercing brown eyes and messy black hair puts me on every time I get a glimpse of him, or if I want to run back to the safe shelter of the scripted life-plan that used to be mine.

My Review: 

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Amy has woken up for a coma with the last 2 years of her life gone from her memory.    She remembers her best friend Kelsey but she has no recollection of her relationship with her boyfriend Adam.  Not only is she trying to remember the past 2 years, but she's also struggling with her feelings towards Adam.  Can she trust that her dreams are what happened in real life?   Is she trying so hard to remember how she feels about Adam, that some of her flashbacks are manufactured and not what really happened? 

I loved this book!!!  Adam was trying so hard to be patient with Amy as she struggled with her memories but he loves her so much and was so afraid that she was never going to remember what they shared.  He had to walk a fine line in not pushing her to remember and letting her work it out for herself, while not knowing if they were going to get a second chance in their relationship. 

The emotions, the confusion, all of the secrets.. I loved watching this story play out even though I had no idea if Amy and Adam were going to get their happily ever after.  I don't want to give out any spoilers, but I will say that the author did an amazing job with their characters and their situation and that even knowing how the book ended, I would go back and read it all over again!!!  (Best part - it is a standalone book... no pesky sequels to wait for to see how their lives were going to change!) 

 

Sacked by Jen Frederick

Book #1 Gridiron series

What he wants he gets...

Knox Masters is a quarterback's worst nightmare. Warrior. Champion. And...virgin. Knox knows what he wants--and he gets it. All American Football player? Check. NFL pros scouting him? Check. Now, he's set his sight on two things. The national title. And Ellie Campbell. Sure, she's the sister of his fellow teammate, but that's not going to stop him. Especially not when he’s convinced Ellie is the one. 

...but he's never met her before.
But Ellie isn't as sure. She's trying to start a new life and she's not interested in a relationship...with anyone. Beside it's not just her cardinal rule of never dating her brother's teammates that keeps her away, but Ellie has a dark secret that would jeopardize everything Knox is pursuing. 

Knox has no intention of losing. Ellie has no intention of giving in.

       My Review - 

 

I LOVED this book!!   I will admit that the cover is what first caught my eye, but when I read the summary and it was a College Romance with a hot football player, I was all in!!!  It did not disappoint. 

 

Review: Just Parker by K.C. O'Neill

Just Parker 
(VA is for Lovers series)

K.C. O'Neill 

publication date: 1/15/2015

available on Amazon

They say hate is a strong word, but Eileen Parker is certainly no stranger to it. Parker hates her first name, hates her apartment, hates her life. Which, sure, sounds a bit cynical, but after the life that she’s led so far, you really can’t blame her. With her sophomore year of college overshadowed by circumstances that she never expected, Parker just wants to keep her head down, pass her classes, and take care of the responsibilities that are threatening to destroy her. And then she meets Ash. Ashton Carter is working to fix the messes that he’s made, but he’s still struggling with dark memories of a night that changed his life. He’s definitely not looking for someone to spend forever with, but when he meets Parker, his life changes once again. It doesn't bother him that Parker adamantly refuses to admit to the chemistry between them, or that she’s determined to keep him at arms length. Ash is convinced that Parker is everything he never knew he needed, and he’s not about to let her slip away. Fighting against overwhelming insecurities and secrets that feel too big to share, the two must make a choice. They can keep running from their pasts, or they can confront them and face their future together. ***This is the first book in a series of standalone novels. Due to adult language/situations and mild drug use, this book is recommended for readers 18+

My Rating and Review

✶✶✶✶✶

I received a complimentary e-copy of Just Parker in exchange for an honest review!

Just Parker is about Parker, a college student who is struggling to deal with everything on her plate. Besides her classes, she's dealing with the fact that her mom is dying of cancer and the knowledge that her father walked away from her without a second glance when she was 5. Even before cancer struck, Parker and her mom did not have a good relationship. Her mom has spewed hateful things to her for years, making it well known that she holds Parker responsible for all the bad things that she's done with her life. In fact, she had been so hateful to Parker, that prior to the cancer diagnosis, they hadn't spoken to each other in over a year. Once the diagnosis was made, mom went into guilt mode, playing the wounded mother a la 'Parker, you know I'm dying. you should do all you can to make my last days comfortable.' To say that Parker has mixed feelings about the inevitable demise of her mom would be putting it lightly.

Imagine her surprise when she meets Ashton. He's gorgeous and surprisingly kind to her and is instantly intrigued by her. He is guarding his own secrets and continually tries to get through Parker's walls only to feel like he's knocking his head against the wall. For every step they take forward toward a relationship, they go back 3 more steps. Can Ash prove to Parker that she can trust him, that what they could have together could be amazing, could be just what they each didn't know they were looking for and that it doesn't have to be Just Parker against the world anymore?

I seriously loved this book. Parker's circumstances are absolutely heartbreaking. For her to have to deal with her obnoxious mom would be bad enough, but due to her dad's unexpected departure so many years ago, she is not very trusting and not receptive to becoming close to anyone. Ash was just the kind of person that she needed in her life. Even though he was keeping his own secrets, he tried so hard to not waver and to not push her too hard in their relationship even though it was killing him that she wouldn't let him in and help her carry her burdens. My heart ached as their relationship grew and stalled and blossomed more. They certainly weren't having an easy go at it. But I had to keep onto the hope that love would prevail at the end.

Just Parker may be K.C. O'Neill's debut novel, but based on how well written, and how well the story flowed and how much she made you care about the characters, you'd never know she hasn't been published for years!! I absolutely recommend this book!!