*Book Blogger Hop* Anticipated New Releases

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: 

It's 2025; are you looking forward to any highly anticipated book releases or reading events in January or the following months? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

I don't often pay much attention to upcoming release dates, probably because my reading backlog is so enormous that I'm really never planning on reading any new release right when it comes out (if I didn't get a copy from Netgalley that I'm supposed to have read before release date at least). That being said, it's absolutely impossible to miss the hype for Onyx Storm, which releases on the 21st. I do have a copy pre-ordered through Amazon, but I haven't read Iron Flame yet (doing that here soon). I don't actually plan on reading Onyx Storm once I get it in my grubby little hands, but I am excited to get the trophy for my shelf at least. 

What about you? You waiting for Onyx Storm to release? Any other new releases you're excited about? 

If you're stopping by from the linkup, please be sure to drop a link to your post below so I can stop by and check out your post. - Katie 

*Review* Daydreamer by Susie Tate

 

Genre: Romance

Published: June 27, 2024

Pages: 314

As a scruffy, disorganised daydreamer, Lucy Mayweather is like a fish out of water at the high-powered offices of her brother’s billionaire best friend. When she agreed to work for Felix, she had no idea quite how cut-throat his world – or he – would be. She just wanted to escape her reclusive life and be close to her childhood crush, hoping he might notice her.

But Lucy’s lonelier in London than she’s even been in her tiny village back home. The boy she grew up with has been replaced by a powerful, ruthless, extremely attractive man who doesn’t tolerate incompetence and who no longer seems to find Lucy’s quirks cute. Instead, he lectures her almost daily on her general crapness, and seems blind to the bullying she endures from his colleagues.

For Felix, agreeing to employ Lucy was a mistake. This shy bookworm with her head in the clouds, who wears tattered jumpers, carries multiple pens in her hair and has an obvious crush on him must be by far the worst assistant in London. But he’s always had a soft spot for the quirky little girl who lived in her own world and told the best stories. Well, now that little girl is all grown up… and he can’t stop thinking about her.

After Felix gives in to his bone-deep longing for his best friend’s little sister, he starts to feel more than he has in years. But Lucy has secrets, and Felix has trust issues. When his inability to trust her leads to a terrible betrayal and places Lucy in danger, Felix is faced with losing her forever. Because the new, hardened, traumatised Lucy is nothing like the daydreaming pushover she once was…

This was the book selection for my Smutty Book Club in November, and while it has some spicy scenes, I didn't really find it that smutty. This is my honest review. 

Lucy is a daydreamer, but that has made her rather well-to-do and quite well known, in certain circles. Those circles are not the super serious London business office of her brother's childhood friend/mother's former babysittee, where she finds herself working as an assistant to try and help her come out of her shell. She is painfully introverted and that just doesn't do her any favors as a popular author. Her creative daydreaming tendencies make her shit as an assistant though, and to top it all off, her direct supervisor is a vile excuse for a human being. 

The romantic storyline here appealed to me as a person who also had a giant crush on one of my brother's friends in school. I just the love the idea that sometimes those feelings are actually reciprocated. The elements that led to the big blow-up were plausible, and although the speed at which Felix changes his ways felt a little unrealistic, the foundation for the change was built and mentioned in advance. And I really appreciated that he was really working hard to try to earn Lucy's trust back in the end. 

Overall I give Daydreamer 3.6184 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Susie lives in beautiful Dorset with her family. She flits between being an author and a GP, but loves both. The NHS can be a little crazy and her reading and writing has kept her sane. When she's not working or writing she's looking after her four scrummy little boys (well, one might not be so little but it's the mental age that counts!) or hiding with the dog and her kindle.

She is so grateful to all her fab readers and reviewers for their ongoing support - it really has meant the world to her.

*Review* Is a Worry Worrying You by Ferida Wolff and Harriet May Savitz

Genre: Children's 4-7 years

Published: April 15, 2005

Pages: 32

Adults think of childhood as a carefree time, but the truth is that children worry, and worry a lot, especially in our highly pressurized era. This book addresses children's worries with humor and imagination, as hilarious scenarios teach kids the use of perspective and the art of creative problem-solving.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This is a story about all the worries a person may have throughout the day. In the story, most of the worries are really quite ridiculous, but it gives great practice and trying to dispel those worries instead of letting them take over your life. 

I liked how this book helps kids (and adults to an extent) see that a lot of the things we worry about throughout the day aren't the big deal they seem to be in our minds. I also helps them to figure out ways to allay those concerns so that they will stop being a problem in the first place. The illustrations felt very gray overall. 

I give Is a Worry Worrying You 3.8628 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Ferida Wolff is the author of sixteen children’s books, including Pink Slippers, Bat Mitzvah, and resides in Cherry Hill, NJ, near Philadelphia.

Harriet May Savitz was the author of Run, Don’t Walk and The Lionhearted, among many others, and lived in Bradley Beach, NJ.

Marie Letourneau lives with her family on Long Island, NY. She is the author and illustrator of The Mice of Bistrot Sept Frères and Argyle Fox, and she illustrated Is a Worry Worrying You? and The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Mermaids. Marie loves animals, beets, and roller skating. She is a former roller derby queen and loves animals.

*Review* The Ghost of Christmas to Come by D.P. Conway

 

Genre: Holiday

Published: November 20, 2020

Pages: 58

The Ghost of Christmas to Come
A mysterious woman, forgotten by time, lives alone at the edge of a vast hillside cemetery in an old Massachusetts town, trapped in a past she is unable to face.

One day she meets a very special little girl and everything changes.

I received the audiobook version of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This story had a bit of a "stay off my lawn" vibe to it from Mattie. She often yells at the children sledding near her house until one day a young girl falls and gets hurt. The girl befriends Mattie and invites her to their Christmas dinner. 

There are hints throughout the story that things might not be what they seem. But it's not really clear why things aren't what they seem until the end of the story. I was definitely thinking the cause was something very different than what it turned out to be. 

The narration had a pleasant tone, but it didn't try very hard on the different voices. Although I prefer not trying to do voices at all over doing them badly. It kind of reminded me of the narrators on movies like It's a Wonderful Life. 

Overall I give The Ghost of Christmas to Come 3.9329 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

D.P. Conway is a CPA turned writer. He is a first generation Irish American who began writing in 2009 as a way of overcoming 20 years of depression. He enjoys dancing, workout classes, playing basketball, and nurturing his relationship with friends, family, and Heaven.

D.P. (for Daniel Patrick) lives in North Olmsted, Ohio with Marisa. They are the parents of four adult children and two grandchildren.

His debut novel Who Trespass Against (2018), was followed by Parkland, and Fallen (2019), Wancheen, and Starry Night (2020), and the first installments of his After Life Series, Dawn of Days and the Book of Nancy. (2020). Much more to come....

Find out more about D.P. Conway at dpconway.com!

He can be reached at conwaycpa@gmail.com

*Review* Wally Takes a Weather Walk by Bree Sunshine Smith

 

Genre: Children's 2-4 years

Published: September 26, 2023

Pages: 28

Engage with the wonderful world of sunshine, rainbows, thunder, and snow as you learn fun facts with Wally! A first weather book for toddlers.

Wally Takes a Weather Walk teaches toddlers the science behind what they see outside. What is wind? Why are there two rainbows? What makes snowflakes unique? Follow inquisitive Wally as he walks through summer, fall, winter, and spring, picking up facts about the seasons and weather conditions as he interacts with the natural world. Each page is a chance to spark curiosity around the magic waiting just beyond your front door.
• A RAINBOW ASSORTMENT OF STEM FACTS: What does a toddler love more than asking “Why?” Here, weather questions are answered with scientific facts about each season.
• A LIGHTNING-SMART AUTHOR: The only weather book for toddlers written by an Emmy Award–winning broadcast meteorologist, Bree Sunshine Smith (real name), accredited by the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society.
• SUN, SNOW, AND ALL FIVE SENSES: A whimsical story helps toddlers stay engaged as they use all five senses to leap into a pile of leaves, taste snowflakes on their tongue, and spot a double rainbow!

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This was a rhyming story about a boy who takes a walk through all the seasons (so he probably lives in like Colorado or Kansas, or any of the other states that love to claim that get all four seasons in a single day). While he's walking through various weather events, we learn scientific facts about what leads to them. I definitely learned some new things while reading this. 

Because it's educational, I would definitely be more inclined to read this book multiple times (because repetition helps with memory, especially in young children). But I would also probably start to find it boring because repetition kinda just sucks as an adult. The illustrations really helped to show what was going on in the story. 

Overall I give Wally Takes a Weather Walk 3.7952 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Bree Sunshine Smith’s middle name was supposed to be Ann, but she was born during a blizzard. When her father saw her for the first time, he said, “She’s the sunshine of my life!” and the rest is history. Bree loves the weather, breaking down complex concepts, and inspiring curiosity in others. She is an Emmy Award–winning broadcast meteorologist accredited by the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society. Her most meaningful accolade to date is winning the “Best Mom Ever” title from her two bold, beautiful boys, Cole and Brooks.

Floss Pottage lives on a narrowboat with her partner in the English countryside. She is inspired by the plants and animals she sees along the canal and the walks she enjoys with her dog in all weathers, observing nature and the changes each season brings.

*Review* Scarred by Emily McIntire

 

Genre: Dark Romance/Fairytale Retelling

Published: January 4, 2022

Pages: 348

She doesn’t belong to him… She belongs to the crown.

Prince Tristan Faasa was never destined for the throne. That was always his brother, Michael. The same brother responsible for both Tristan’s tormented childhood and the scar that mars his face. When their father dies, Michael is set to assume the throne, and Tristan is set to steal it. The leader of a secret rebellion, Tristan will stop at nothing to end his brother’s reign. But when Michael’s new betrothed, Lady Sara Beatreaux, arrives, Tristan finds himself in the middle of a new kind of war. The kind that begs the question of what’s more important—the crown or the woman about to wear it.

Sara has one plan. Marry the King and eradicate the Faasa line, even at the risk of her own peril. But she never expects the Scarred Prince. He’s dangerous. Forbidden. And one of the men she’s been sent to kill. But the line between hatred and passion has never seemed so thin, and as secrets come to light, Sara grows unsure of whom she can trust, torn between vengeance and the villain she was never supposed to love.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book through my library. This is my honest review. 

I don't normally read books in series in quick succession because I've found I tend to get bored with the series pretty quickly that way. But I was able to borrow the audiobooks for most of this series all at once, and with only 21 days to listen to all of them, I had no choice but to listen to them back to back. I'm not sure if it's because I was listening to audiobooks or because the stories are about different classic stories, but I did not get bored with this series. 

This book is a retelling of The Lion King that thankfully deviates from its Hamlet origins. And like the other books in this series, the characters you expect to be good and the characters you expect to be bad don't necessarily pan out. And they're largely not all one of the other either. I'm kind of ashamed to admit how long it took me to pick up on some of the subtle references to the source material in this one, like the ruling family's name. The narration was pleasant to listen to and was dual narrated for the two different POVs. 

Overall I give Scarred 4.0965 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

A longtime songwriter and an avid reader, Emily McIntire has always had a passion for the written word, and when she's not writing you can find her waiting on her long-lost Hogwarts letter, chasing her crazy toddler, or lost between the pages of a good book.

*Review* There Are Dinosaurs in the Library by Ag Allen

 

Genre: Children's 4-7 years

Published: September 20, 2023

Pages: 32

There Are Dinosaurs in the Library! is a richly illustrated picture book for children ages 4 to 10. In the book, Mrs. Barker wants to take her third-grade class to the library. When her student Alyssa objects, Mrs. Barker whispers to her, "There are dinosaurs in the library." Boy, are Alyssa and the rest of the class surprised (and a little frightened) when the library transforms into a Jurassic playground.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This was a fun story about a a school teacher who basically turns the library into Jurassic Park without the death from a book. The dinosaurs from the book come to life and the kids get to play and interact with them, at least as we assume they behaved. It felt very reminiscent of The Magic School Bus series. 

This was a fun read, so I would definitely be okay with reading it several times if asked. The illustrations were very colorful, super bold, and just straight up fun. 

Overall I give There Are Dinosaurs in the Library 4.8629 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

A.G. Allen is storyteller and library enthusiast. After twenty years in corporate communications, she became a Language Arts Teacher at international schools in China, South Korea, and Spain. She holds master's degrees in teaching and creative writing.