{Blog Tour} Sparrow by Mary Cecilia Jackson

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen (March 17, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0765398850
ISBN-13: 978-0765398857

Praise for SPARROW

“Mary Cecilia Jackson leaves no perspective unexplored in this beautifully woven story of love, loss, self-acceptance, and strength. Sparrow and Lucas are heroes in every sense of the word, as they navigate a new, unfamiliar dance―the pain of knowing when to stay grounded and when to fly.” ―Jennifer Brown, bestselling author of Hate List

In the tradition of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, a devastating but hopeful YA debut about a ballerina who finds the courage to confront the abuse that haunts her past and threatens her future.

There are two kinds of people on the planet. Hunters and prey
I thought I would be safe after my mother died. I thought I could stop searching for new places to hide. But you can’t escape what you are, what you’ve always been.
My name is Savannah Darcy Rose.
And I am still prey.

Though Savannah Rose―Sparrow to her friends and family―is a gifted ballerina, her real talent is keeping secrets. Schooled in silence by her long-dead mother, Sparrow has always believed that her lifelong creed―“I’m not the kind of girl who tells”―will make her just like everyone else: Normal. Happy. Safe. But in the aftermath of a brutal assault by her seemingly perfect boyfriend Tristan, Sparrow must finally find the courage to confront the ghosts of her past, or lose herself forever….

My Review:

What happens when your perfect life turns upside down?

Sparrow seems to have everything going for her. She keeps a lot to herself, don’t make trouble at home, and is the perfect ballerina. Once Tristan comes into her life, everything seems to get out of control. Sparrow must find the courage to speak up and face some hidden secrets from the past.

I enjoyed this book. It was a well written story and also very detailed . The book deals with emotional and physical abuse and may be sensitive to some readers. The cover to this book is very pretty and eye-catching. The characters were all likable (except Tristan) and Sparrow does have a good support system.

I did like Sparrow in the book. Thought she was brave going through so much alone. She deals with her mothers death, and the abuse of her boyfriend. Only Lucas seems to care with what’s happening to her. Which I was thrilled that Lucas got his own point of view. You can see how much anger he has because of the pain Sparrow is suffering and he can’t help her. I really enjoyed reading about these two characters and watching them grow.

Sparrow is such a good read. It’s hard to find the courage to speak up but you must do so before it’s too late. This is a very emotional read and might need some tissues for it.

Thanks so much for letting be a part of this blog tour.

You can purchase Sparrow at the following Retailers:

Photo Content Mary Cecilia Jackson

Mary Cecilia Jackson has worked as a middle school teacher, an adjunct instructor of college freshmen, a technical writer and editor, a speechwriter, a museum docent, and a development officer for central Virginia’s PBS and NPR stations. Her first novel, Sparrow, was an honor recipient of the SCBWI Sue Alexander Award and a young-adult finalist in the Writers’ League of Texas manuscript contest. She lives with her architect husband, William, in Western North Carolina and Hawaii, where they have a farm and five ridiculously adorable goats.

PART ONE – REVIEWS & INTERVIEW

JULY 27th MONDAY A Court of Coffee and Books REVIEW

JULY 28th TUESDAY Wishful Endings EXCERPT

JULY 28th TUESDAY Emelie’s Books REVIEW

JULY 29th WEDNESDAY A Bella Fairy Tale REVIEW
JULY 29th WEDNESDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

PART TWO – REVIEWS & EXCERPTS

JULY 30th THURSDAY Nay’s Pink Bookshelf REVIEW

JULY 30th THURSDAY Kait Plus Books EXCERPT

JULY 31st FRIDAY Here’s to Happy Endings REVIEW
JULY 31st FRIDAY Twirling Book Princess EXCERPT

JULY 31st FRIDAY Enthralled Bookworm EXCERPT

AUGUST 1st SATURDAY BookHounds REVIEW

AUGUST 2nd SUNDAY Casia’s Corner REVIEW

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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{Blog Tour} How to Live on the Edge by Sarah Lynn Scheerger

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the HOW TO LIVE LIFE ON THE
EDGE by Sarah Lynn Scheerger Blog Tour hosted by
Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About the Book:

Title: HOW TO LIVE LIFE ON
THE EDGE

Author: Sarah Lynn Scheerger

Pub. Date: August 4, 2020

Publisher: Lerner/Carolrhoda

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 312

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks,
Kobo,
TBD, Bookshop.org

Eighteen-year-old Cayenne barely
remembers her mother, who died of breast cancer when Cayenne was four. The
women in her family have a history of dying young. Cayenne figures she’ll meet
the same fate, so she might as well enjoy life now, engaging in death-defying
risks like dodging trains and jumping off cliffs with her boyfriend.

When Cayenne receives a series of video
messages her mother made for her before dying, she isn’t sure she wants them.
Her aunt Tee has been her true mother figure. But then Aunt Tee tests positive
for a BRCA gene mutation–the one that doomed Cayenne’s mom–and decides to get
a mastectomy to reduce her chances of developing cancer. As Cayenne helps her
aunt prepare for the surgery, she finds herself drawn to her mother’s messages,
with their musings on life, love, and perseverance. For the first time, Cayenne
starts to question what it truly means to live life to the fullest, even when
death might be written into her DNA.

My Review:

What happens when your dealing with a curse DNA?

Cayenne seems to be out of control and living on the edge since her mother passed away. Now her aunt might have the same cancer gene as her sister. Cayenne is scare and already accepted she might die like her mother. She does crazy stuff and seem to have a death wish. She makes her younger sister worry for her life and grow up to fast. With videos of mother shows up, it time for Cayenne to rethink her way of living.

How to Live on the Edge was such a good read. I did liked the storyline about the main character being a thrill seeker and might have a curse cancer genre. Some of the characters can be likeable in the book. Cayenne deals with bad choices and do hurt those around her if she pay attention.

I like how the sisters interact with other. While Cayenne out defying death, Saffron deals with the consequences. The sisters kinda drift a part in the beginning. I feel bad Saffron having to be the responsibility on and grow up to quickly. With the videos, hope the sisters can learn to reconnect with each other again and face the curse together.

The story deals with tough choices in life. Mostly have some sibley rivalry going on. It was nice that their mother left them a video so they can hopefully reconnect with each other the sisters.

This book was a heartfelt read and making some big changes in life.

INSERT YOUR POST OR
REVIEW HERE!

About Sarah:

Sarah Lynn (Scheerger) works as a clinical social worker with
at-risk youth, helping them figure out who they are and who they want to be.
She also provides counseling to adults and couples. She lives in southern
California with her husband and children. Sarah started out writing under her
first and middle name (Sarah Lynn) because she thought having a pen name seemed
mysterious and cool. However, over time she’s transitioned to writing under her
real name as well (both Sarah Scheerger and Sarah Lynn Scheerger). Sarah loves
reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway
Details:

3
winners will receive a finished copy of HOW TO LIVE LIFE ON THE EDGE, US Only.

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/27/2020	rainbowrdrgrl	Review
7/28/2020	Here’s to Happy Endings	Review
7/29/2020	Abellafairytale	Review
7/30/2020	TheReadingCornerforAll	Review
7/31/2020	BookHounds YA	Interview

Week Two:

8/3/2020	The Phantom Paragrapher	Review
8/4/2020	PopTheButterfly	Review
8/5/2020	Lifestyle of Me	Review
8/6/2020	Her Book Thoughts	Review
8/7/2020	Two Chicks on Books	Interview

Week Three:

8/10/2020	Jotted by Jena	Review
8/11/2020	She Just Loves Books	Review
8/12/2020	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
8/13/2020	Momfluenster	Review
8/14/2020	Jazzy Book Reviews	Excerpt

Week Four:

8/17/2020	A Gingerly Review	Excerpt
8/18/2020	notinjersey	Review
8/19/2020	Fire and Ice	Review
8/20/2020	Hurn Publications	Review
8/21/2020	Twirling Book Princess	Excerpt

Week Five:

8/24/2020	Rajiv’s Reviews	Review
8/25/2020	Jaime’s World	Excerpt
8/26/2020	The Book View	Excerpt
8/27/2020	fictitious.fox	Review
8/28/2020	Two Points of Interest	Review

What I’m Reading Monday

Summary:

For fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Furyborn comes a thrilling new fantasy about a kingdom ravaged by war, and the princess who might be the key to saving not only those closest to her, but the kingdom itself, if she reveals the very secret that could destroy her.

The kingdom of Hálendi is in trouble. It’s losing the war at its borders, and rumors of a new, deadlier threat on the horizon have surfaced. Princess Jennesara knows her skills on the battlefield would make her an asset and wants to help, but her father has other plans.

As the second-born heir to the throne, Jenna lacks the firstborn’s–her brother’s–magical abilities, so the king promises her hand in marriage to the prince of neighboring Turia in exchange for resources Hálendi needs. Jenna must leave behind everything she has ever known if she is to give her people a chance at peace.

Only, on the journey to reach her betrothed and new home, the royal caravan is ambushed, and Jenna realizes the rumors were wrong–the new threat is worse than anyone imagined. Now Jenna must decide if revealing a dangerous secret is worth the cost before it’s too late–for her and for her entire kingdom.

Summary:

They’re only good at being bad.

Cora Saros is just trying her best to join the family business of theft and intergalactic smuggling. Unfortunately, she’s a total disaster.

After landing herself in prison following an attempted heist gone very wrong, she strikes a bargain with the prison warden: He’ll expunge her record if she brings back a long-lost treasure rumored to grant immortality.

Cora is skeptical, but with no other way out of prison (and back in her family’s good graces), she has no choice but to assemble a crew from her collection of misfit cellmates—a disgraced warrior from an alien planet; a cocky pirate who claims to have the largest ship in the galaxy; and a glitch-prone robot with a penchant for baking—and take off after the fabled prize.

But the ragtag group soon discovers that not only is the too-good-to-be-true treasure very real, but they’re also not the only crew on the hunt for it. And it’s definitely a prize worth killing for.

Whip-smart and utterly charming, this irreverent sci-fi adventure is perfect for fans of Guardians of the Galaxy, The Lunar Chronicles, and Firefly.

{Arc Review} Be Not Far From Me by Mindy Mcginnis

Book Summary:

The world is not tame.

Ashley knows this truth deep in her bones, more at home with trees overhead than a roof. So when she goes hiking in the Smokies with her friends for a night of partying, the falling dark and creaking trees are second nature to her. But people are not tame either. And when Ashley catches her boyfriend with another girl, drunken rage sends her running into the night, stopped only by a nasty fall into a ravine. Morning brings the realization that she’s alone – and far off trail. Lost in undisturbed forest and with nothing but the clothes on her back, Ashley must figure out how to survive despite the red streak of infection creeping up her leg.

My Review?

Would you be able to survive a couple days lost in the woods?

Ashley is such a wilderness expert and loves camping with her friends. Then one day she catches her faithful boyfriend cheating on her. She end up running away upset and gets lost in the wild with nothing but the clothes on her back. Will she be able to find her back home?

Be Not Far From Me was a very good read. I enjoy how very well written the book was. Also it was very detailed with the story. This book is a very prefect survival read. The main character was strong and have to do the unthinkable things while roaming the woods. It was very suspenseful at times. So many emotions went into the book. I could read this book again and again.

Be Not Far From Me recently came out months I ago. Just late reviewing it. If you have look for an adventure in the woods, then your in for a real treat.

Goddness in The Machine by Lora Beth Johnson

Book Summary:

When Andra wakes up, she’s drowning.

Not only that, but she’s in a hot, dirty cave, it’s the year 3102, and everyone keeps calling her Goddess. When Andra went into a cryonic sleep for a trip across the galaxy, she expected to wake up in a hundred years, not a thousand. Worst of all, the rest of the colonists—including her family and friends—are dead. They died centuries ago, and for some reason, their descendants think Andra’s a deity. She knows she’s nothing special, but she’ll play along if it means she can figure out why she was left in stasis and how to get back to Earth.

Zhade, the exiled bastard prince of Eerensed, has other plans. Four years ago, the sleeping Goddess’s glass coffin disappeared from the palace, and Zhade devoted himself to finding it. Now he’s hoping the Goddess will be the key to taking his rightful place on the throne—if he can get her to play her part, that is. Because if his people realize she doesn’t actually have the power to save their dying planet, they’ll kill her.

With a vicious monarch on the throne and a city tearing apart at the seams, Zhade and Andra might never be able to unlock the mystery of her fate, let alone find a way to unseat the king, especially since Zhade hasn’t exactly been forthcoming with Andra. And a thousand years from home, is there any way of knowing that Earth is better than the planet she’s woken to?

My Review:

What happens when you wake up and thousands of years pass into the future?

Andra was supposed to wake up in a hundred years with her family and friends. Sadly she wakes up not knowing where she is or her family is at Suddenly everyone think she this goddess who can save the world. All Andra really cares about finding out what happen to everyone and where did she end up on.

Goddness in the Machine was such a good read. I thought it was quick read that sucks you in. The storyline was very interesting and the characters where likeable in it. I love how the ending leaves you off with more question and hopefully for a book two soon.

I did like Andra in the story and felt bad for her in the beginning. She wakes up feeling lost and alone. Only person she can seem to trust is Zhade. Zhade has his own little secrets about what’s going on. Hopefully Andra can find closure and answers on what really happen.

Looking for a new scifi read, then you might enjoy Goddness in the Machine.

Happy Reading!!!

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

Book Summary:

What was it like? Living in that house.

Maggie Holt is used to such questions. Twenty-five years ago, she and her parents, Ewan and Jess, moved into Baneberry Hall, a rambling Victorian estate in the Vermont woods. They spent three weeks there before fleeing in the dead of night, an ordeal Ewan later recounted in a nonfiction book called House of Horrors. His tale of ghostly happenings and encounters with malevolent spirits became a worldwide phenomenon, rivaling The Amityville Horror in popularity—and skepticism.

Today, Maggie is a restorer of old homes and too young to remember any of the events mentioned in her father’s book. But she also doesn’t believe a word of it. Ghosts, after all, don’t exist. When Maggie inherits Baneberry Hall after her father’s death, she returns to renovate the place to prepare it for sale. But her homecoming is anything but warm. People from the past, chronicled in House of Horrors, lurk in the shadows. And locals aren’t thrilled that their small town has been made infamous thanks to Maggie’s father. Even more unnerving is Baneberry Hall itself—a place filled with relics from another era that hint at a history of dark deeds. As Maggie experiences strange occurrences straight out of her father’s book, she starts to believe that what he wrote was more fact than fiction.

My Review:

What really happen at Baneberry Hall?

Maggie don’t remember much of her childhood. She only knows what happen to her and her family from a book. Her father made tons of money on making a book about their haunted house. Maggie don’t think the house was ever haunted since she don’t remeber a thing. Then her father leave her the house when he passed away. It now the time for Maggie confront the past that been haunting her family for years.

Home Before Dark was such a thrill read leaving you guessing until the every end. I always love Riley Sager books, his twists in books are sometimes crazy good. The book leaves you wondering if the main character going crazy or something supernatural happen. I also love how the book glows in the dark. This book is a must read for adult mystery/thrillers out there.

Happy Reading!!!

What I’m Reading Monday

Summary:

After ten years of living on an isolated, tech-free ranch with her mother, sixteen-year-old Hedda is going back to the world of the Glare-her word for cell phones, computers, and tablets. Hedda was taught to be afraid of technology, afraid that it would get inside her mind and hurt her. But now she’s going to stay with her dad in California, where she was born, and she’s finally ready to be normal. She’s not going to go “off-kilter,” like her mom says she did when she was just a little kid.

Once she arrives, Hedda finally feels like she’s in control. She reunites with old friends and connects with her stepmom and half-brother. Never mind the terrifying nightmares and visions that start trickling back-they’re not real.

Then Hedda rediscovers the Glare—the real Glare, a first-person shooter game from the dark web that scared her when she was younger. They say if you die thirteen times on level thirteen, you die in real life. But as Hedda starts playing the so-called “death game”—and the game begins spreading among her friends—she realizes the truth behind her nightmares is even more twisted than she could have imagined. And in order to stop the Glare, she’ll have to first confront the darkness within herself.

{Nerd Blast} The Vessels by Anna M. Elias

Series: The Vessels
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Vesuvian Books (July 14, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1944109080
ISBN-13: 978-1944109080

Praise for THE VESSELS
“In the Vessels Program, spirits of the dead return to inhabit the bodies of human vessels and visit their still-living relations to right past wrongs. Sam has just established a program in Reno, Nevada, and recruited four vessels, Tal, Link, Avani, and Aaron. They have all suffered from life’s cruelties and are more than willing to let the spirits inhabit them for their seven-day journey of redemption as the spirits seek forgiveness or to forgive loved ones. One of the Spirits, however, is a terrifying, vengeful revenant not interested in redemption. As the three benevolent spirits work toward accomplishing their missions, the vessel for the fourth must figure out a way to prevent this vengeful spirit from harming others. This unique novel mixes social commentary, Native American mysticism, the power of love and forgiveness, and ghostly spirits. This gothic speculative tale will appeal to sf and horror fans alike, and the open-ended finale leaves plenty of room for a sequel.” —Booklist
“… fast-paced, emotionally compelling, and hard to put down … a blend of murder mystery, spiritual travelogue, and thought-provoking thriller.” —D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“Elias has crafted a thriller like nothing I’ve ever read before … a high quality, unputdownable novel, I would highly recommend The Vessels to any supernatural thriller fan looking for their next captivating read.” —Readers’ Favorite

NOT EVERY SPIRIT SEEKS REDEMPTION.
NOT EVERY VESSEL WILL SURVIVE.

What if you could help those who’ve passed on get a second chance—but at the risk of your own life?

Four broken strangers volunteer to become the first humans in North America to join the international VESSELS program. Their bodies will host the Spirits who seek to right past wrongs and earn a chance at Elysium.

Disguised inside a homeless shelter in Reno, the program is facilitated by a retired Army officer, a former ER Doctor, and a tech-savvy teen who tracks the Spirits merged with their Vessels through an ancient ritual on the Anaho Reservation.

The Vessels only have seven days to succeed—and to survive.

But when the vengeful spirit of a serial killer enters one of them, they learn not all Spirits are here for redemption.

You can purchase The Vessels at the following Retailers:

Photo Content Anna Elias

Anna Elias is a screenwriter who began her career as Don Johnson’s assistant on Miami Vice. She’s worked on feature films such as Nell, The Rainmaker, The Client, 12 Monkeys, A Time to Kill, and Practical Magic. She has written and co-written spec films, TV scripts, and award-winning shorts. Anna’s passion for justice translates to her work. This was especially true on the set of John Grisham’s A Time to Kill. Canton, Mississippi had just suffered great racial hardship and division in a Mayoral race. With Anna’s encouragement, the movie crew made extra efforts to befriend, buy from, and work with the townspeople, and it served to break down walls of inequality and injustice that had divided the town for decades. The impact was so positive that Dan Rather traveled there to tape a 2-part special for 48 Hours.

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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What I’m Reading Monday

Summary:

The only thing August Pfeiffer hates more than algebra is living in a vampire town. Located at a nexus of mystical energy fields, Fulton Heights is practically an electromagnet for supernatural drama. And when a mysterious (and annoyingly hot) vampire boy arrives with a cryptic warning, Auggie suddenly finds himself at the center of it. An ancient and terrible power is returning to the earthly realm, and somehow Auggie seems to be the only one who can stop it.

Comes out July 14, 2020

Summary:

A teen is snatched after her kung fu class and must figure out how to escape—and rescue another kidnapped prisoner—in this chilling YA mystery.

When Savannah disappears soon after arguing with her mom’s boyfriend, everyone assumes she’s run away. The truth is much worse. She’s been kidnapped by a man in a white van who locks her in an old trailer home, far from prying eyes. And worse yet, Savannah’s not alone: Ten months earlier, Jenny met the same fate and nearly died trying to escape. Now as the two girls wonder if he will hold them captive forever or kill them, they must join forces to break out—even if it means they die trying.

Master mystery-writer April Henry weaves another heart-stopping young adult thriller in this story ripped straight from the headlines.

Comes out July 28th, 2020

WWW Wednesday

Thanks to my editor Stay Fetters at Acourtofcoffeeandbooks for this new banner.

The three Ws:

What I’m currently reading?

What I finish reading?

What I plan to read next?

Finish Reading:

I really liked I’ll be the One so much. Lots of kpop references and music mentions to look up on youtube. A very inspiring read on being yourself. Review to come soon.

Currently Reading:

Time to get back into some fantasy reading. This books does pretty good and looking forward to reading it.

Summary:

A SERVANT blackmailed into becoming a princess’s decoy.
A BODYGUARD determined to keep her alive.

A PRINCE forced to execute his father’s brutal laws.
A PRISONER used to keep him compliant.

A WORLD on the brink of war.

In one horrible night, Clare goes from kitchen maid to royal decoy. She has three months to become the princess’s perfect double so she can ensure her betrothal to an enemy prince. Desperate to survive, Clare throws herself into self-defense training, taught by her distractingly attractive bodyguard. The danger increases when a ruthless assassin begins stalking her, intent on ending the tenuous peace.

Across the northern mountains, Prince Grayson is his father’s ultimate weapon. He carries out the king’s harsh orders because the one person he cares about is his father’s prisoner. Grayson’s silent obedience is tested when his father plans to exploit the marriage alliance between two of their greatest enemies. If Grayson submits, the blood of thousands will spill. If he resists, the girl who means everything to him will die.

The fate of Eyrinthia hangs in the balance. Some want peace. Some want war. All will be thrown into chaos.

Reading Next:

Not sure I will read next. Got some new reads and hard to pick what to read.