Cover Reveal: Whisper of Weapons by Savannah J. Goins

Happy cover reveal day to Whisper of Weapons!

Isn't it stunning! Love the scythe, feathers, and the flower for the pop of color! 

I'm loving all those tropes! Bonus with the animal familiars that talk, I'm sold!

Ohhh if you haven't seen the characters and animals art yet, you have to check them out!!! Those look awesome!!! So much personality in each character already! lol Can't wait to see more!!!

-SE

Interested? Read the Blurb below for more:

If she succeeds, the life of her dreams is within reach. If she fails, she loses everything.

Sixteen-year-old Mella's future among the aristocracy of her medieval city rests on a single test to produce a strong and beautiful animal familiar. However, when she fails to produce any creature at all, she loses everything in one crushing blow.

But then she gets a second chance.

Working with teenagers from the lowliest of places, Mella begins to learn that status isn’t everything. With their help, she trains an impressive avian in the shadows and passes her off as her familiar.

She’s constantly terrified someone might realize the creature isn’t what she seems.

If they’re caught, the avian’s life will be forfeit and Mella will lose her new friends and the last hope of a future she has left.

If you like cutthroat competitions, medieval settings, and found family, you’ll love Whisper of Weapons!

Check out the author @savannahjgoins for early chapters, character art, and the preorder link!


#WhisperofWeapons #CastorsofWrynford

Site and Brand Name Change: AStoryExplorer

Hey everyone! It's been a long time since I've posted but I'm hoping to pop up more often than I have been lately. Honestly, I didn't realize that I haven't posted since the end of 2020! To be fair, lots was going on with me and basically burnout was hitting me hard these last few years.

I have been reading and posting reviews but I'm mostly posting on Goodreads and Amazon. Occasionally, I'm posting reviews on Barnes and Noble too but not as consistently.

I'm on vacation this week and decided that I wanted to update all my book reading content to a new name! I thought that I'd change it to a more whimsical and easier to remember username: AStoryExplorer. It's a feeling I have each time I dive into a story so I think it is a fitting name. 

I've created the email and am working on my social media. I'll be adding some favorite authors I follow and will be focused on YA, NA, and Adult of my favorite genres of Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal, Adventure and mixes in between. There will still be steamy/spicy reviews so this is still an 18+ blog and I will try to call it out like normal in the headers. Feel free to add me! These social medias will be a more book reader focused content.

Hope all is well with you all!

SE

Cover Reveal: If the Broom Fits by Sarah Sutton

If The Broom Fits
Sarah Sutton
Publication date: October 6th 2020
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Blaire has a bad attitude. At least that’s what everyone tells her. It could be because it’s days before Halloween, literally the worst holiday on the entire planet. And it doesn’t help that her super-hot ex-boyfriend, Lucas, is determined to convince her otherwise by making her take part in “festive activities.” Apparently carving pumpkins is going to magically change her mind about the holiday? Yeah, right.

But Blaire has never told anyone the truth of why she hates Halloween, or the truth about her and Lucas’s break up. Being around him is so much harder than she thought, especially when it looks like he’s starting to move on.

And when she gets a letter in the mail from someone who broke her heart, can Blaire overcome the negativity threatening to drown her? Or will her bitterness and secrets push everyone she loves away?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Author Bio:

Sarah Sutton is a YA Romance author, bringing you stories about teenagers falling in love (sometimes with magic). She spends her days dreaming up ideas with her two adorable puppies by her side being cheerleaders (and mega distractions).

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter

Book Review: Pistol Daisy by Natalia Leigh

Pistol Daisy by Natalia Leigh

Synopsis:

The year is 1880, and outlaw gangs roam the West.

When Daisy Allen’s family is brutally murdered by the infamous Hopkins gang, she’s left with two options: drown in a bottle of whiskey and grief, or saddle up and hunt the killers down. Accompanied by strangers in pursuit of the same outlaws, Daisy takes to the Colorado plains with an old revolver and a hunger for revenge. But the Hopkins gang isn’t easily found, and as their pockets run dry and the trail goes cold, Daisy and her companions may be at the end of the road. She must learn how to survive in this dangerous world of outlaws and gunslingers, or her only chance at avenging her family may be lost.

Don’t miss Whiskey City, the next book in Daisy’s cutthroat quest for revenge.

SPOILER FREE

This is the first book I've ready by Natalia Leigh. I enjoyed it so much that I picked up "Song of the Dryad" since that's more up my alley as I prefer fantasy books.

I don't normally read Westerns, typically because most books are not written for or by women. I've read a few Westerns written by women and have been pleasantly surprised at how much I like them. Also, I don't feel like the time period was particularly kind to people of color. The author seemed true to the time period but I feel like she took some creative liberties which I welcomed.

I found myself easily slipping into Daisy's world and I even enjoyed the Cowboy accents within the dialogue. It felt authentic although I've not lived in that era.

I flew through the book and I liked Daisy overall as the protagonist. Her reaction to her family's murder more than believable. I enjoyed the different characters in the group but I did find myself losing track of who was initially introduced and how many people were in their little group. I sorted it out later but I did get a bit confused with that. I also wanted to know more about them and how they all met or got together.

I feel like there were several moments of waiting for information to come or things to happen. It didn't usually last long but I did find myself skimming to get to the juicier parts. I kind of forgot who the 'baddie' was too because we didn't really see him except in the beginning.

I enjoyed the end but perhaps it's just me but I wanted a bigger pay off at the end. However, I still liked how the author ended the book. It does make you want to know what happens next! I recommend this if you're looking into diving into a woman driven Western story.

I also would like to point out some triggers: sexual assault and harassment, then some prostitution. I'd consider this a upper YA book and you might want to consider this if you're sharing this with younger readers.

4 out of 5 rating for me!

(An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way.)

Book Review: Out Of My League by Sarah Sutton + Giveaway

Out Of My League by Sarah Sutton

Synopsis:

It’s all fun and games until someone catches feelings.

Sophia Wallace is convinced her life is over when her high school cuts the journalism program. Without the elective, she loses her chance to intern with the biggest newspaper company in the county, and why? All because the baseball team needs more funding.

To make matters worse, her boyfriend publicly dumps her at a party, which is mortifying. But the icing on the cake is when the captain of the baseball team and the most popular guy at Bayview High, Walsh Hunter, decides to be chivalrous. He jumps in, throws his arm around Sophia, and declares his undying love for her. In front of everyone.

Suddenly, Sophia is thrown into a world of fake relationships and undercover journalism, and she realizes she’s way, way out of her league.

Good thing she’s got the team captain to teach her how to play.

But faced with choosing between saving her journalism class or her newfound feelings for Walsh, will she strike out or hit a home run?

Release date: June 16, 2020

Purchase it at Amazon

SPOILER FREE

I've been on a romance kick lately, I've been craving the sweet little warm and fuzzy feelings, and you know what? I got it with this book and more!

I dove into the story with no previous experience with Ms. Sutton's previous work but the synopsis sounded so darn cute that I had to pick it up! I could immediately relate to Sophia as a young adult, she's smart and driven but a little clueless on other things. I think the author does a great job of adding the complexities of being a teenager. She allowed Sophia to make mistakes BUT she allowed Sophia to learn from them to make her relationships strong. I LOVED THIS!

The author not only did this with Sophia but with Walsh! Sometimes I feel like the love interest or secondary characters don't get enough of a full story arc but I think it was done well with Walsh too! I enjoyed that Sophia and Walsh were able to relate to each other with their problems.

The writing was nice and straightforward and the pacing is excellent. There were a few things I noticed in the writing while I read that I think that could have been improved upon, but overall, I had no problem devouring this story.

If' I'm being super nit picky, there were a few things I had questions about or would have liked clarified but they were minor and probably didn't add any major relevance to the story.

I am extremely satisfied with the conclusion. I think it ended perfectly. Well done!

Pick this book up if you like feeling the warm and fuzzies or characters that grow learn from their mistakes to become better people. I highly recommend it!


4.2 out of 5 rating for me!

(An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way.)

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Giveaway

For a Paperback of WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR? (Sarah Sutton's debut book) and some SWAG (2 bookmarks as well as the image of her characters) enter the giveaway below!

EDIT: Giveaway has ended and the winner has been emailed! Thanks to everyone who entered!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway