#MadLibMonday - Bearing Secrets by Julie Wetzel

When I was growing up, I loved Mad Libs. The excitement of sort of writing your own story really appealed to me. So I thought it would be fun to mesh that love with my love of books by turning blurbs into mad libs and letting you guys write your own book blurbs. 

For anyone that doesn't know how Mad Libs work, I will ask you for certain parts of speech or other specific things (i.e.: date, age, color, etc.) which you will write down. After you have completed your list, scroll down below the cover image to find the redacted blurb. Then read through it substituting your words where applicable. Try not to laugh. (Laughing is actually strongly encouraged, because this is supposed to be funny.)

Some brief definitions of the parts of speech.
Noun: Person, place, or thing.
Verb: Describes or indicates action.
Adverb: Modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb expressing manner, place, time, or degree (gently, here, now, very).
Adjective: Names an attribute of a noun (pretty, blue, large)
Pronoun: A word that can function as a noun (I, we, they)
Preposition: a word that combines with a noun or pronoun to form a phrase that usually acts as an adverb, adjective, or noun (on, after, for)

And with that, here we go.

1: Adjective
2: State
3: Noun
4: Adjective
5: Verb
6: Animal
7: Plural noun
8: Verb ending in ing
9: Plural noun
10: Adjective

Genre: Paranormal

Published: May 31, 2016

Part of the Enchanted Anthology

Goodreads // Amazon // Smashwords

With her college graduations a (   1: Adjective   ) memory, Nora Miles has some decisions to make. Her mother has secured her a place back home, but that means leaving her beloved (   2: State   ) for the doldrums of an office job. Not something Nora really wants, but finding gainful employment in the US’s most northern (   3: Noun   ) has proven tough. With time running out, Nora decides to take one last foray into the wilderness she’s come to love. Maybe the (   4: Adjective   ) air will help clear her head and help her (   5: Verb   ) of a solution to her problem. But the wilds of Alaska aren’t a forgiving place.

When a close encounter with a mountain (   6: Animal   ) leaves Nora fighting for her life, she finds her only hope lies with her rescuer: a bear that shape shifts into one of her (   7: Plural noun   ).

Dean McGuire didn’t think when he heard the lion (   8: Verb ending in ing   ) the young woman, he acted, but now he’s got a serious problem. Not only does Nora know what he is, she knows who he is. Either piece of information alone wouldn’t be an issue, but both together could mean disaster for his people. There are rules for (   9: Plural noun   ) like this, but killing an innocent woman after saving her from death seems harsh and he doesn’t know anything about romance. Decisions have to be made and there isn’t a lot of time to make them.

Can they come to terms? Or will this (   10: Adjective   ) encounter cost her everything?

Now that your fun is through, here is the real blurb for Bearing Secrets by Julie Wetzel.

With her college graduations a recent memory, Nora Miles has some decisions to make. Her mother has secured her a place back home, but that means leaving her beloved Alaska for the doldrums of an office job. Not something Nora really wants, but finding gainful employment in the US’s most northern territory has proven tough. With time running out, Nora decides to take one last foray into the wilderness she’s come to love. Maybe the fresh air will help clear her head and help her think of a solution to her problem. But the wilds of Alaska aren’t a forgiving place.

When a close encounter with a mountain lion leaves Nora fighting for her life, she finds her only hope lies with her rescuer: a bear that shape shifts into one of her classmates.

Dean McGuire didn’t think when he heard the lion attacking the young woman, he acted, but now he’s got a serious problem. Not only does Nora know what he is, she knows who he is. Either piece of information alone wouldn’t be an issue, but both together could mean disaster for his people. There are rules for situations like this, but killing an innocent woman after saving her from death seems harsh and he doesn’t know anything about romance. Decisions have to be made and there isn’t a lot of time to make them.

Can they come to terms? Or will this chance encounter cost her everything?

If you enjoyed this mad lib, please comment with your list below so the rest of us can get a chuckle out of it as well. And be sure to share with your friends! - Katie 

Have you joined the 12 Books of Christmas Challenge yet? Find out more details and sign up here!

*Review* Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Genre: YA Romance

Published: May 3, 2016

Pages: 389

Goodreads

“I made the wrong choice.”

Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home.

But then she is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything she knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.

People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.

I don’t remember why I decided to read this book, if I’m completely honest. I think I just logged into my most unused library card on overdrive and picked a book randomly from my TBR list because I felt my card was underappreciated. Yes, I know. Don’t judge me. Whatever the case, it was downloaded onto my phone and so I was obligated to read it. And, like usual, I totally didn’t read the synopsis before starting it so I had no idea what I was getting myself into. This is who I am as a person, just accept it.


Having read this right after Cinder & Ella, it was kinda weird that I managed to pick another book where the main character lost her mother to a tragic event and ended up having to stay with her father that she didn’t know. I did not plan that! But hey, I suppose it’s better to just get all of those feels back to back for added feelings and suffering. Good times.


Anyway, Lina is now in Italy with her father and she’s given a journal that from her mother to read. And she takes a long ass time to finish reading that damn thing, let me tell you… I wanted to shake her. I get that it’s a whole lot to take in and she’s grieving and whatnot, but she’d have saved a whole lot of trouble had she just read the damn thing in one sitting. But whatever. Have all the feels, see if I care.
I really liked Ren, he’s pretty much awesome. And adorable. And Lina really frustrated me with how she handled her relationship stuff. I get she’s a teenager and whatnot, but c’mon. She was also kinda a super bitch at least a few times. But Ren was almost perfect with how great he was. And I don’t even care if it’s ridiculous, but I kinda had my own little crush on the guy.


In conclusion, I can’t believe nobody had coconut gelato. That’s my favorite flavor. And I’m hella offended by the lack of it.


3.07 and 5/7th platypires. - Joood - Hooligan

Amazon

Jenna Evans Welch spent her high school years in Florence, Italy, where she drove a scooter, danced in fountains, and ate entirely too much gelato. She now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and young son. Read her blog, The Green Lemon, at JennaEvansWelch.com.

*Review* 7th Grade Revolution by Liana Gardner

Genre: Middle Grade/Action

Published: October 24, 2017

Pages: 299

Goodreads

WHEN UNEARTHING A NATIONAL TREASURE BECOMES A NATIONAL INCIDENT.

Inspired by True Events

Dennis Alexander: Washington Academy Middle School promises to be another in the long line of boring schools he has been expelled from. 

Rhonda Snodgrass: Although trained from childhood in survival tactics, she tries to stay off the radar of the “cool” kids who think she’s weird. 

7th grade turns out to be anything but normal when teachers announce the students’ bloodless revolution succeeded and they are now in charge. After conducting a secret-ballot vote on policy, the 7th graders emerge to find the school evacuated and the FBI lurking outside with the task of unearthing a treasure of national importance. 

The students’ mission is clear—discover the treasure before the FBI locks down the building. Dennis and Rhonda lead the revolt and must work together to follow century-old clues left by a crazy Revolutionary War buff. 

To stay one step ahead of the FBI, they must delve into history and amass an arsenal to defend their school … because this is WAR!

I was hired to proofread this book. The only aspects of the story that I influenced were spelling and grammar. If you feel that my connection to the story makes my review unreliable, so be it, but this is my honest review. 

It has been a few years since I was in middle school (we're not going to talk about just how many) so I'm not the target audience for this book. Because of this, there were some elements of the story that just seemed a bit too ridiculous to me personally, but I'm pretty sure they were perfectly in line for a middle grade action adventure story (again, it's been a few years since I would have been reading those types of books in general). 

In spite of my issues with the believability of the book, there were several aspects of the story that I really liked. For one thing, I appreciated how it was told from two very different points of view, but both were outsiders in their own way. Dennis was a new kid at school, a position he was almost perpetually in because of his troublemaking ways. And Rhonda was just a little too smart to ever be "popular" (this I related to so hard). Add to that the fact that her dad is a prepper and has been raising her and her siblings to be prepared for any type of catastrophe you could possibly imagine, and she just doesn't quite fit in even though she's been part of the class their whole lives. In the end, it's these things that make them "different" that also helped them to be the most valuable members of the class when things got a little tough.

My favorite part of the story is that Rhonda really seemed to be the ultimate hero. Once things at the school got a little bit sticky, everyone turned to Rhonda for the answers because they recognized her strengths, even when they were things that had led to teasing previously.

In the end, I think this is a book that would appeal to both boys and girls, especially because of the dual POV. I think girls will enjoy seeing a girl who is capable of doing all the things that we typically think of boys doing, and doing them well. And there is enough action to keep the boys engaged in the story.

Overall I give 7th Grade Revolution 4.37 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Liana Gardner is a two-time teen choice award-winning author of the Misfit McCabe series. Daughter of a rocket scientist and an artist, Liana Gardner combines the traits of both into a quirky yet pragmatic writer and in everything sees the story lurking beneath the surface. Engaged in a battle against leukemia and lymphoma, Liana spends much of her time at home, but allows her imagination to take her wherever she wants to go.

She fostered her love of writing after reading Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women and discovering she had a great deal in common with the character Jo. The making up of stories, dramatic feelings, and a quick temper were enough for her to know she and Jo would have been kindred spirits.

Liana volunteers with high school students through the International Trade Education Programs (ITEP). ITEP unites business people and educators to prepare students for a meaningful place in the world of tomorrow. Working in partnership with industry and educators, ITEP helps young people “think globally and earn locally.”

Her debut Middle Grade novel, 7th Grade Revolution, launches 10/24/2017. Currently she is working on a chapter book series as LK Griffie, with creator Luke Matthews and co-authors Olivia Claire and Jared Cross, entitled Timmy and the Golden Lion Tamarin. In addition to the children’s book series, she is working on a Middle Grade series which will be released under the name Liana Gardner, with the first book titled, The Star Warriors and the Secret of the Red Key. Her most recent YA novel, Speak No Evil, will also be released under the name Liana Gardner.

*Stacking the Shelves* 28 October 2017

(Titles link to Amazon via Amazon Affiliate links)

Stacking The Shelves is a feature/weekly meme created by Tynga’s Reviews in which you share the books you are adding to your shelves, both physical and virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Now, I already have a monthly post I do featuring the books I get in the mail (and it's a lot because I have a serious Goodreads First Reads giveaway addiction), and I'm going to try to start posting my monthly Read-A-Thon posts again too (even if none of the Platypires will be joining me), which will cover the books I receive through Netgalley. But I also go to my thrift store at least once a week, and often leave with a bag full of books. It's such a common occurrence that I'm known as The Book Lady to the frequent volunteers (and I suspect that they've started scheduling their $1 bag of books sales for Thursdays simply because that is the day I usually visit.) So my Stacking the Shelves posts are going to focus on my thrift store hauls, because this is my blog and I do what I want. 

On that note, here are the books I picked up this week.

Geographica's World Reference - The copyright on this edition is 2002, so some of the information will be outdated, but it could get the ball rolling at least if my kids want to learn about these things. ($4)
Pokemon Black & White Handbook - Got this for my kids because they like reading anything Pokemon related regardless of how boring it is. If it gets them reading, I'm happy though. 
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson - I think I bought this book a couple weeks ago, but when I was at the thrift store, I couldn't remember if I'd bought it, or simply picked it up and looked at it there, so I bought it this week (too, maybe.)
Daughter of Destiny by Benazir Bhutto - This is an autobiography. I know this person's name because of reading another autobiography, Malala Yousafzai's. 
The Professor by Charlotte Bronte - Methinks a former English major is clearing out their shelves. This is the second week in a row I've added some Bronte to my shelves. 
Scooby-Doo and the Snow Monster by James Gelsey - My kids like Scooby-Doo, so this should be a good book for them to read, I hope. 
Shirley by Charlotte Bronte - Two Charlotte Bronte books in one thrift store trip. It's almost like Christmas!
Attack of the Clones by Patricia C. Wrede - This is a junior novelization of Star Wars Episode II. It has stormtroopers on the cover so my daughter was super excited about it. 
Herobrine Scared Stiff by Zack Zombie Books - This is an unofficial Minecraft novel. My children are 6 and 8, that should explain everything about this purchase. 
Let's Draw Cars by Deborah Kespert and Felicity Fitchard - My son is a little bit interested in drawing things, so we buy any books about drawing that we find. 
Art Express by Harcourt Brace & Company - I'm not sure exactly what grade this art book is for (it's got a different cover than what I could find on Amazon), but based on the writing inside, I'd say probably 1st or 2nd grade. 
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See - I have a tendency to buy Lisa See books when I find them. I haven't read any of them yet, but I buy them. 
The Honeybee Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner - This is a Boxcar Children book, in case you weren't aware. 
The Gymnastics Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner - Another Boxcar Children book. The nostalgia was strong this week. 
The Mystery in New York by Gertrude Chandler Warner - Did you like reading as a child?
The Mystery of the Wild Ponies by Gertrude Chandler Warner - What was your favorite book growing up?
Bus Station Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner - Did you read any of the Boxcar Children books when you were a kid?
Mountaintop Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner - What's your favorite kind of candy?
Mike's Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner - Are you a dog person or a cat person?
The Lighthouse Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner - If I said you had a great body, would you hold it against me?
Mystery Ranch by Gertrude Chandler Warner - What is the cheesiest pick-up line you've ever heard?
The Siren Song by Rob Kidd - Pirates of the Caribbean Jack Sparrow chapter book. It seems interesting, for a child of course. 
The Coming Storm by Rob Kidd - What's your favorite alcoholic beverage?
City of Gold by Rob Kidd - What's your favorite scary movie?
Sins of the Father by Rob Kidd - This has been a test to see if anyone actually reads my explanations. Thank you and goodnight!
Mission From Mount Yoda by Paul Davids and Hollace Davids - My daughter wanted this book because she's apparently Star Wars obsessed right now. 
The Dark Rival by Jude Watson - This is a Star Wars Jedi Apprentice novel. Again, my daughter wanted it. 
Cleopatra VII: Daughter of the Nile by Kristiana Gregory - This is a Royal Diaries book, and I have several of them, so I figured I should get this one in case it was one I hadn't already bought. 

So there you have it. That's all the books I picked up at my thrift store this week, the last week I'm going to be buying any books at this thrift store ever because we're going to be moving in the nearish future, so I'm supposed to stop buying books and that makes me sad. But I've already thought of a twist for the weekly Stacking the Shelves post to get me through the next couple/few months without upsetting my husband by adding more weight to our household goods. And this haul only cost me $4.50 (because of that expensive first book).

So what books have you added to your shelves this week? - Katie 

*If you're stopping by from the linkup, please be sure to leave a link to your post so I can check out your new books.*

Have you joined the 12 Books of Christmas Challenge yet? Find out more details and sign up here!

*Book Blogger Hop* 27 October 2017

We are on to a new week for the Book Blogger Hop hosted by the lovely folks over at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. This weeks questions is:

Candy Corn, a chocolate bar, or Popcorn. Which of these snacks are your favorite to eat while reading? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

Of the snacks listed, I would definitely have to say that popcorn is my favorite to eat while reading, and if I'm feeling particularly adventurous (or just craving a little bit of sweet with my savory), I'll eat it with chocolate covered raisins (if you have not tried mixing popcorn with chocolate covered raisins, you absolutely should because it's magical).

I'm personally in the anti-candy corn camp (although I buy it sometimes because my kids like it), and I just don't eat a whole lot of chocolate bars (I prefer to get my chocolate in the form of a delicious baked good like cake or cheesecake when I'm craving chocolate at all). But I don't really snack a whole lot while I'm reading in the first place, except for the occasionally (read: almost nightly) midnight snack that I enjoy indulging in. But that's one snack at midnight and then I read for another three hours without putting anything else but water or pop in my mouth.

What about you? What is your favorite thing to snack on while reading (from this list or not, I don't care.) - Katie

*If you're stopping by from the link-up, please be sure to leave a link to your post so I can stop by and check out your answer too.*

Have you joined the 12 Books of Christmas Challenge yet? Find out more details and sign up here!

*Review* Princess of Draga by Emma Dean

Genre: Science Fiction/Romance

Published: October 17, 2017

Pages:

Goodreads

In the first book of the Draga Court series, Princess Adelina's coming-of-age party will declare to the worlds she is finally eligible to wed. All she wants is to serve her people and the crown with honor, but when a dangerously attractive prince from another galaxy - one who they all thought was dead - arrives with warnings of monstrosities and war, will her feelings put her in a position where she has to choose between her people and love?

The Draga Court series is a beautiful combination of fantasy and space opera set in a faraway future where humans have altered their genetics to save their species from their destructive natures. Dominance and rank weave a complicated dance among the galaxy's society where a true submissive has to find her place, and learn the true meaning of power and love.

I was hired to proofread this book. The only aspects of the story that I influenced were the spelling and grammar. If you feel that my connection to the book makes my review untrustworthy, so be it, but this is my honest review.

If you like science fiction and romance/erotica, this is probably the series for you. It features futuristic human societies, advanced technology, and loads of titillation. This is not a sex-centric story though, so if that is what you're looking for, you may want to look elsewhere. 

I was a little bit more familiar with the society of Draga while reading this story than I was while reading the prequel novella, so I was able to spend less time trying to wrap my mind around things and more time just enjoying the story. And boy did I enjoy this story. It had action, intrigue, and more family drama than Game of Thrones (okay, that might be a slight exaggeration, but the family conflicts in this story were definitely next level). 

But the highlight of this story for me was the sexual tension. And for a book without a whole lot of actual sex, the story had me wanting it often. The chemistry between some of the characters is intense and I'm basically dying for Princess Adelina and Nadyah to delve deeper into her Camerraleto training. I'm hoping that the build up will be worth it, but I'm not sure how much longer I can wait. 

Overall I give Princess of Draga 4.8 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Emma Dean lives and works in California with her husband and son. She loves romance but needed something different so Draga Court was born. With too many stories to write the schedule has been filled through 2018.

When she’s not writing she’s reading, or spending time with her family.
With publishing now at least she has an excuse for not folding the laundry ;)

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*Review* Washing Ashore by Ginna Moran

Genre: YA/Paranormal

Published:

Pages:

Goodreads

To escape the rule of a mighty merman king determined to imprison her in the ocean, Ava Adair seeks refuge on the Lost Cove, an island haven for humans who discover the mermaid secret. With her merman mate, Carter Stevens, she strives to find a balance between her love of the land and her affinity to the ocean. After discovering she has the power to control the sea, she must learn why the ocean bestowed on her gifts meant for royalty.

As her power grows and tension rises on the island, Ava struggles to remain on the shore though the ocean beckons her to return to the waves. Her unpredictable abilities make the ocean around the island dangerous for the human inhabitants, and Ava and Carter have no choice but to return to the water she fears. With the threat of discovery looming, Ava must harness her power to face the king and stop him before he destroys the land she loves and steals the life and ability the ocean has given her.

I was hired to proofread this book. The only aspects of the story that I influenced were the spelling and grammar. If you feel that my connection to the book makes my review untrustworthy, so be it, but this is my honest review. 

This is the third book in the Spark of Life series and it provided an exciting conclusion to Ava's new life. I definitely recommend that you read this series in order, the books are not stand-alones, although you would probably not feel too lost if you don't start with book one because Ms. Moran does a decent job of recapping the important details from previous books. 

There were some things about Ava and Carter's lives on the island that really made me mad, like raving at my kindle over the injustice angry. For one thing, the way the other inhabitants of the island treat them is horrible. It's not like Ava and Carter really want to be stranded on the island either, but they feel like they have no choice in the matter and they're at least trying to contribute. 

I had a feeling I knew how this book was going to progress before I started it, and I was largely right. There were a few minor twists that I did not see coming, but the main plot was fairly predictable for me. Granted that might be due in part to the fact that I wanted the story to go that way, so a bit of the predictability was just me getting my wishes granted. It was at least a satisfying conclusion to the series for me though. 

Overall I give Washing Ashore 4.5 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Ginna Moran is a writer living in Austin, Texas but originally from Southern California. She started writing poetry as a teenager in a spiral notebook that she still has tucked away on her desk today. Her love of writing grew after she graduated high school and she completed her first unpublished manuscript at age eighteen.

When she realized her love of writing was her life's passion, she studied literature at Mira Costa College in Northern San Diego. Besides writing novels, she was senior editor, content manager, and image coordinator for Crescent House Publishing Inc. for four years.

Aside from Ginna's professional life, she enjoys binge watching television shows, playing pretend with her daughter, and cuddling with her dogs. Some of her favorite things include chocolate, anything that glitters, cheesy jokes, and organizing her bookshelf.

Ginna Moran loves to hear from readers so visit her online at www.GinnaMoran.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Pinterest.

Ginna Moran is currently hard at work on her next novel.