Christmas Classic - How the Grinch Stole Christmas

With another movie adaptation I thought I'd celebrate this children's (and adult's) Christmas classic...

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

by Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss's small-hearted Grinch ranks right up there with Scrooge when it comes to the crankiest, scowling holiday grumps of all time. For 53 years, the Grinch has lived in a cave on the side of a mountain, looming above the Whos in Whoville. The noisy holiday preparations and infernal singing of the happy little citizens below annoy him to no end. The Grinch decides this frivolous merriment must stop. His "wonderful, awful" idea is to don a Santa outfit, strap heavy antlers on his poor, quivering dog Max, construct a makeshift sleigh, head down to Whoville, and strip the chafingly cheerful Whos of their Yuletide glee once and for all.

Looking quite out of place and very disturbing in his makeshift Santa get-up, the Grinch slithers down chimneys with empty bags and stealing the Whos' presents, their food, even the logs from their humble Who-fires. He takes the ramshackle sleigh to Mt. Crumpit to dump it and waits to hear the sobs of the Whos when they wake up and discover the trappings of Christmas have disappeared. Imagine the Whos' dismay when they discover the evil-doings of Grinch in his anti-Santa guise. But what is that sound? It's not sobbing, but singing! Children simultaneously adore and fear this triumphant, twisted Seussian testimonial to the undaunted cheerfulness of the Whos, the transcendent nature of joy, and of course, the growth potential of a heart that's two sizes too small. 

This holiday classic is perfect for reading aloud to your favourite little Whos. 

My fav quotes:

• “Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!” 
• “And he, he himself...the Grinch...carved the roast-beast!”
• "The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason."

More info

Metal Mouth - New Release

Metal Mouth

by Jaimie Engle

YA Magical Realism

Date Published: 12/1/2018

Publisher: JME Books

Mahlorie hates her braces. And who cares what she looks like anyway? Her parents sure do. Dad, a traveling magician, and Mom, a famous erotica author, constantly harp on the importance of appearance. Her best friend Shai is the epitome of pop-culture, crushing on every boy with a cute smile. But when Mal has a near-death experience and can suddenly hear a boy’s voice in her head, life takes a turn for the weird. He can hear her too. How did her braces become transmitters? And who is this boy she just might be falling in love with? For fans of “The Fault in Our Stars” and “Everything, Everything.”

This magical coming-of-age tale of mystery and self-discovery, and love and friendship makes the impossible become all too real...

Purchase here:

Signed copies * Amazon

Excerpt:

Mom and Dad finally agree to disagree. They get along much better when there’s a lot of land between them. It’s ironic because both of my parents make their living by an illusion that they sell to the public while in private, they’re totally different people. Dad, with a sleight of hand, can make you see only what he wants you to see.

“It’s all about presentation, turtledove, how you look and where you look. Get the crowd to believe what you want them to believe. See? The magic is how well you sell it. Your pitch. Your package. In this world, people will believe the truth is whatever you show them it is. Appearance is everything.”

Mom, on the other hand, creates these perfect worlds in opposition of the one in which she lives, tied up neatly in the end through the power of love. Her appearance is her ticket. How she looks affects how fans perceive her. Once, Mom actually paid a team of marketers to determine which color pant suit she should wear. By her outfit change, she sold 5,000 books and landed a guest spot on The Today Show.

“Appearance is everything, lambkin. You won’t be successful as a woman without purposed wardrobe, hair, and make-up. People don’t really care about who you are until they see that you fit the mold. Understand? You can be whoever you want to be so long as you make it believable.”

This, by the way, is the only reason I got these stupid braces. It’s also the reason why I hate short dresses and glittery barrettes. It isn’t that I don’t want to be popular like Shai. What if I can’t? What if no matter how well I sleight my hand or how often I change my clothes, I never find my place? That failure scares me more than not fitting in. So, what do I do? I manipulate my personality, tweak my appearance, and blend.

Where does that leave me?

Somewhere in my dad’s deck of cards or my mom’s perfectly constructed novel where I blend into a false reality and play the role I’m supposed to play. “Appearance is everything.”

“Appearance is nothing,” the voice in my head contradicts, only this time, I’m not certain the voice is mine.

Author Spotlight:

JAIMIE ENGLE is the author of dark thrillers for teens where magic turns ordinary into extraordinary. She weaves history, magic, and lore into her books, which take readers on wondrous adventures, though her passion is talking to kids about writing and social issues because words have power. She loves coffee, cosplay, and making Wick Books® candles inspired by scents from her novels and for other indie authors so readers can Experience the Story! She lives in Florida with her awesome husband, hilarious children, and the world's best dog. Learn more at thewriteengle.com, where Jaimie is always working on her next book.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Blog * Pinterest * Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Slow Shift - New Release

Today we are celebrating the release of SLOW SHIFT by Nazarea Andrews. Slow Shift is an adult, paranormal m/m romantic standalone novel. 

Read an exclusive excerpt from the book below.

Purchase Now for $1.99!

Amazon * Nook * Kobo * Apple Books

You can sign up for Nazarea's newsletter for exclusive details.

One angry, grieving boy.

Chase DeWitt is fourteen when his mother dies and he stumbles into the woods beyond his home, angry and heartbroken. He didn’t know that it would change the course of his life.

Two broken, lonely men.

Tyler Reid is twenty three, grumpy and angry, trying to take care of a injured brother, and rebuilding a life blind hatred destroyed in one night.

But he understands the boy who stumbles out of the woods and into his life, understands the grief in his eyes and the rage that makes him shake. And there is something in that familiar grief that makes Tyler trust Chase, when trusting humans has only ever lead to disaster.

And a falling down house they make a home.

As the summer passes and the years turn, Chase cares for Tyler’s brother, helps him rebuilding the house in the woods, as they help each other rebuild a life beyond the little house, Chase realizes two important things: these men matter to him, could be family.

And they are not nearly as human as they seem.

Purchase Now for $1.99!

Amazon * Nook * Kobo * Apple Books

Add SLOW SHIFT to Goodreads

Excerpt:

“Are you really ok with this?” Chase asks later that night when Tyler slips into his bedroom and curls behind him on his bed. It’s not small but it always feels like it is when Tyler is in it with him.

He’s quiet, so Chase tilts his head back and says, “You don’t have to. We can find another way.”

“I’m ok. We need to do this,” Tyler says.

Chase nods. He touches the runes tattooed on Tyler’s ribs, the ones he marked Tyler with, and Tyler arches into the touch. “Remember you’re mine, Tyler. Whatever happens, whatever she says, you’re mine. And I won't let her hurt what's mine.”

Tyler shuffles into him, presses his face into Chase’s throat, and they cling to each other as the night deepens around them.

DON'T MISS EXCLUSIVE DETAILS!

Join Nazarea's READER GROUP.

You can get exclusive news, sneak peeks, giveaways, and more!

Author Spotlight:

Nazarea Andrews (N to almost everyone) is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. Which means she writes everything from zombies and dystopia to contemporary love stories.

When not writing, she can most often be found driving her kids to practice and burning dinner while she reads, or binge watching TV shows on Netflix. N loves chocolate, wine, and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids.

N is a self-professed geek and enjoys spending her spare time lost in her favorite fandoms and can often be found babbling about them on social media.

She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, spoiled cat and overgrown dog. She is the author of World Without End series, Neverland Found, Edge of the Falls, and The University of Branton Series. Stop by her twitter (@NazareaAndrews) and tell her what fantastic book she should read next.

Sign Up For Nazarea’s Newsletter

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Instagram | Street Team

Whatcha Reading Wednesday - Archenemies

I FINALLY got my paws on this one!

Archenemies - Renegades #2

by Marissa Meyer

What they say: The Renegades Trilogy continues, in this fiercely awaited second installment after the New York Times-bestselling Renegades by Marissa Meyer, author of the Lunar Chronicles.

Time is running out.

Together, they can save the world.

But they each other's worst nightmare.

In Renegades, Nova and Adrian (aka Insomnia and Sketch) fought the battle of their lives against the Anarchist known as the Detonator. It was a short-lived victory.

The Anarchists still have a secret weapon, one that Nova believes will protect her. The Renegades also have a strategy for overpowering the Anarchists, but both Nova and Adrian understand that it could mean the end of Gatlon City - and the world - as they know it. 

Add to Goodreads

Am Reading - Girl of Paper and Fire

Girls of Paper and Fire

by Natasha Ngan

What I say: Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It's the highest honor they could hope for...and the most cruel.

But this year, there's a ninth girl. And instead of paper, she's made of fire.

In this lush fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards still haunts her. Now, the guards are back, and this time it's Lei they're after--the girl whose golden eyes have piqued the king's interest.

Over weeks of training in the opulent but stifling palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit being a king's consort. But Lei isn't content to watch her fate consume her. Instead, she does the unthinkable--she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, and Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide just how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.

TW: violence and sexual abuse. 

Add to Goodreads

Released 6th Nov 2018

New Release - Everbound

Today I'm celebrating the release of EVERBOUND from The Kindred series by Donna Grant! 

EVERBOUND is the third book in the series. For a few more days, the previous books in the series are on sale. 

Grab them while you can!

Purchase here:

Kindle * Nook * Kobo * Apple Books * Amazon AU * Amazon CA * Amazon UK

Books-a-Million * Barnes & Noble * Indiebound * Powells

Recorded Books

EVERBOUND (The Kindred #3) 

by Donna Grant

Available Now!

To live in the light, they hunt in the dark…

The power of Helena’s magic has made her a target for the Coven. She wanted no part in the war of the witches, but it’s out of her hands now. She has to make a stand – and she does that by helping the Hunters and their allies against their common enemy. And now, the witch who ripped Helena’s future apart is coming. Sybbyl’s vengeance is swift and terrible, pitting the two against each other. But Helena doesn’t have to fight the Coven alone. A seductive warlock offers his aid. Helena is hesitant to give her trust to him – because it’s more than her life on the line. It’s her heart as well.

As the most feared and respected warrior of the Varroki, Jarin is used to being on his own. But with the Coven’s quest to locate the bones of the First Witch escalating, he finds it increasingly difficult to retain his solitary existence. When Jarin encounters Helena, he is helpless to resist her. She’s everything he didn’t know he wanted, and with her help, he’s convinced that maybe his people can finally defeat their foe. But there’s so much more at play than they know―ties in blood and sacrifice―and the loss that’s sure to follow may be greater than any of them can bear.

Add Add to Goodreads!

Praise for Donna Grant's Titles

“Grant’s dizzying mix of danger and romance dazzles...a breath-stealing plot that ends on a cliff-hanger―which will make readers desperate for book three.” – Publisher’s Weekly for THE PROTECTOR

“Donna Grant has given the paranormal genre a burst of fresh air...”

–San Francisco Book Review

“Dark, sexy, magical. When I want to indulge in a sizzling fantasy adventure, I read Donna Grant.”

–Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author

Previous Books in the Series are ON SALE NOW!

EVERKIN (The Kindred, #.5) -- ONLY .99 CENTS!

Amazon | Nook | iBooks | Kobo

EVERSONG (The Kindred, #1) -- ONLY $1.99

Amazon | Nook | iBooks | Kobo

EVERWYLDE (The Kindred, #2) -- ONLY $3.99

Amazon | Nook | iBooks | Kobo

Author Spotlight: 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her "totally addictive" and "unique and sensual" stories. Her latest acclaimed series, Dark Kings, features a thrilling combination of dragons, Fae, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children and an assortment of animals in Texas.

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Goodreads