Author: fabulousreader4ever

Hello Book Lovers! I'm Yaritza from NY. I'm an avid reader who loves books and traveling to book events to meet authors. I find reading a great escape from reality and a way to expand my mind. Books mean so much to me that I will forever have an unlimited TBR list. Eight years ago, I opened a Facebook group where I could share my love of books with other readers, and I have made wonderful friends for life. The book community is so loving, charming, and caring. Books are a huge part of our lives and have a profound impact on each of us. My favorite genres are Mystery, Thriller, Romance, and Young Adult. My mission is to spread the love of books to all ages. ​Let's turn the page together!

Review: A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

Goodreads Blurb

The warm fall day starts like any other at the Center—a women’s reproductive health services clinic—its staff offering care to anyone who passes through its doors. Then, in late morning, a desperate and distraught gunman bursts in and opens fire, taking all inside hostage.

After rushing to the scene, Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator, sets up a perimeter and begins making a plan to communicate with the gunman. As his phone vibrates with incoming text messages he glances at it and, to his horror, finds out that his fifteen-year-old daughter, Wren, is inside the clinic.

But Wren is not alone. She will share the next and tensest few hours of her young life with a cast of unforgettable characters: A nurse who calms her own panic in order save the life of a wounded woman. A doctor who does his work not in spite of his faith but because of it, and who will find that faith tested as never before. A pro-life protester disguised as a patient, who now stands in the cross hairs of the same rage she herself has felt. A young woman who has come to terminate her pregnancy. And the disturbed individual himself, vowing to be heard.

Told in a daring and enthralling narrative structure that counts backward through the hours of the standoff, this is a story that traces its way back to what brought each of these very different individuals to the same place on this fateful day.

Jodi Picoult—one of the most fearless writers of our time—tackles a complicated issue in this gripping and nuanced novel. How do we balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn they carry? What does it mean to be a good parent? A Spark of Light will inspire debate, conversation . . . and, hopefully, understanding.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Jodi created a novel that pushes boundaries once again. Abortion is a huge political issue still today. This book is epic. It will leave the reader wondering if you pro-life or pro-choice? She started the book with a women’s reproductive health clinic being held hostage by a gunman. Then she built the book going through each hour backward to lead off back to where it began. She is a brilliant storyteller bringing such vivid characters to life and unraveling their story like an onion layer by layer. The background story for each character shows how each characters life’s interweave with each other and how they all ended up in this clinic at the same time. This book will bring you to tears. The emotions are like a roller coaster from happiness to desperation, loneliness, forgiveness, fear, joy, relief, and the will to fight, live, and save lives. The part with the steps in the abortion procedure will leave you squirming. I believe each woman should have a choice to decide, and the courts and states shouldn’t make this decision. Jodi had personally researched for this novel, and I felt she elaborate in statistics and court rulings that will give more understanding in this controversial issue.

Author Biography

Jodi Picoult is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-eight novels, including Wish You Were Here, Small Great Things, Leaving Time, and My Sister’s Keeper, and, with daughter Samantha van Leer, two young adult novels, Between the Lines and Off the Page. Picoult lives in New Hampshire.

MAD HONEY, her new novel co-authored with Jennifer Finney Boylan, is available in hardcover, ebook, and audio on October 4, 2022.

Website: http://www.jodipicoult.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodipicoult

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodipicoult

Review: The Boatman by Kat Hawthorne

Goodreads Blurb

Isabel Wixon is weird. Not only does she see dead things, but her list of friends consists of a talkative ventriloquist’s dummy and the gentlemanly spider that lives in her hair. Real friends? Too hard. Inventing friends is much easier.

Inventing the Boatman—a terrible monster that lures kids into a strange sleeping sickness and never lets them go—probably wasn’t one of her better ideas though.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Wonderfully written to spook all who read this book. This was a wonderful spooky story that was dark and mysterious. Isabel ran into many of her deceased family members. Each warning her to stay away from the Boatman, who hunts you through your dreams. The illustrations were spot on with the story. They were weird and scary. Great book for young readers to stay up all night scared.

Author Biography

If you enjoy whimsical tales that feature bunnies, kittens, or do-gooding fairies, it’s probably best you avoid Kat Hawthorne. In fact, it is an odd Hawthornian story indeed that does not feature at least one character losing a finger (or something better). If, however, you like dismal, dark, dreary, dastardly (or many other words that begin with the letter d) fiction, and are strong of will and character, you may do well to check her out.

After all, they’re only words.

Kat Hawthorne is a writer of dark literary fantasy with six published works of short fiction as well as a smattering of poetry, a screenplay, and a novelette out in the great blue yonder.

Review: Remembrance by Mary Monroe

Goodreads Blurb

For a mother mired in midlife, Christmas brings a chance for renewal and rediscovery in this moving novel from the New York Times bestselling author.

For Beatrice Powell, the holidays are usually an extra-special time to celebrate. With her twenty-year-plus marriage, beautiful home, and three wonderful adult children, she has everything she could desire. But change-of-life doubts are making Beatrice a stranger to herself and her bewildered family. She only finds peace volunteering at the local soup kitchen, especially helping out homeless Charles Davenport. And his sensitivity and honesty soon comfort her in ways she never imagined . . .

Charles thought he had it all—until a devastating betrayal and the shattering loss of his family drove him to living on the streets. Beatrice is the first person who’s truly cared about him in a long time. And little by little, he’s finding reasons to care about rebuilding his life—and risking a sudden, courageous choice . . .

Drawn to Charles and the temptation of a second chance, Beatrice is faced with the hardest of decisions. But his insight, secrets—and the reminder of a profound past encounter—will give her unexpected inspiration, gratitude, and the strength she needs to find her way . . . perhaps in time for Christmas.

“The holidays can bring the kind of chaos, good and bad, that occupies your brain. It’s easy to forget to bring your gratitude. Remembrance has that covered . . . an excellent choice if your book group wants to squeeze in a before-the-holidays pick.” — The Washington Informer

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Wow, my emotions are everywhere. It’s a book i will remember forever. I am left speechless with this moving story. Kidness and listening truly make a difference to others who need it the most. This story makes you feel so much emotions, compassion, strength, care, and hopefulness. Beatrice had an unforgettable accident that occurred 25 years before. She wanted to thank the person who saved her life but never found the person. A Christmas miracle truly left peace, love, and happiness at its wake. Beatrice is that one person we all need to stop and talk with. She is kind and caring and has the right words to lift your spirits. Overall, this is a captivating story that will fill your heart with joy, love, and Christmas miracles. Love and peace to all!!

Review: Chugging and the Fish Freaks of Farheath by Brent Michael Kelley

Goodreads Blurb

Chuggie, the permanently intoxicated embodiment of Drought, has run into a bit of trouble in the city of Farheath Harbor. He is on trial for crimes he didn’t commit, and a guilty verdict means his execution. What happened down at the Farheath Docks? Is Chuggie too drunk to defend himself in such a trial? Will he be able to defeat his executioner in the ultimate battle of wits? Find out in Chuggie and the Fish Freaks of Farheath!

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

This is a short story that will keep everyone entertained. This is the first book I get to read from Brent. Chuggie is very funny and keeps his audience wanted more of his stories. I recommend this short read.

Author Biography

Brent Michael Kelley lives and writes in the Wisconsin Northwoods. He shares a home with such things as hairless dogs, a snake named Darth Batman, and the woman he married on Halloween. In addition to writing about his pal Chuggie, he likes writing story-poems, painting monsters, and making wine. Some say late at night, if you’re alone by a campfire, you can summon Brent by closing your eyes and saying his name eleven times. He insists this is not true and there’s no way it will work… yet.

Review: Let’s Talk About It: Life Taste Better with Poetry by Johnny Benoit

Goodreads Blurb

In order to succeed at all levels of life, we need each other. Some focus on their careers and at times forget the one person who worked with them to achieve all that they have accomplished. Others tend to cast blame when something goes wrong rather than looking at themselves or going back to the past to find the source of the problem.

In Let’s Talk about It, author Johnny Benoit seeks to remind us not to ignore the person we were crazy about and to help us win his or her heart once more. Though some may have given up on relationships due to past experiences, true love does exist. He believes it just takes a bit of guidance to refocus our attention on our spouses, those who helped us become who we are today. These verses take us back to our first love. Before any family becomes a family, two people are strangers to each other, and a spark brings them together. For that moment, everything seems possible?and we can all discover that once more.

This collection of poetry explores the ups and downs of relationships, hoping to rekindle the flame of love for those who may have let it dwindle in the stresses of modern life.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Poetry reflects the longing, love, and desire of one true love. But love sometimes evaporates into thin air, and only memories of those precious moments linger in ones mind. Johnny takes you through moments and memories of a love between two lovers that linger in the present like ashes of a fire. Love is hard to find but harder to forget. Remember when you find true love you live each day like tomorrow will never come. Cheerish each moment, memory, and adventure with love and affection. Wishing happiness, joy, and love to all.

Review: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Goodreads Blurb

Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most.

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up — she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan — her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Please let’s have a moment of silence…

I am crushed after reading this book that made my emotions spiral. My heart broke till the very end. Every moment that Lily went through with her parents and then with Riley had me breaking into pieces. I am speechless to see, feel, and hear reality. It’s a very tough situation when the person you truly love hurts you and then says sorry to then hurt you once again. I truly wish that no one had to go through these acts of violence, but people are not perfect. I give a huge applause and thank you to Colleen for writing a book that hits close to home. It was a very hard subject to write and even harder to write it for the world to see. It gives us strength to either remove ourselves from these relationships or help others who need help. Please read this amazing book and share with all your friends, and don’t forget the Kleenex.

Author Biography

International and #1 New York Times bestselling author of romance, YA, thriller, women’s fiction and paranormal romance.

I don’t like to be confined to one genre. If you put me in a box, I’ll claw my way out.

My social media username is @colleenhoover pretty much everywhere except my email, which is colleenhooverbooks@gmail.com

Founder of http://www.thebookwormbox.com charity and Book Bonanza.

Review: The School for Good and Evil: The Ever Never Handbook by Soman Chainani

Goodreads Blurb

Welcome to the School for Good and Evil! The greatest of heroes and villains have come through our classrooms before they ventured into the Endless Woods to find their stories . . . and now you will join their ranks.

Use this handbook as a guide to help you navigate through your years at school. Everything you need is inside: what to bring, what to wear, and most importantly, how to stay out of the Doom Room. Here, you’ll learn about your classes, meet your professors, and get an inside look at our first-year traditions like the Trial by Tale, the Circus of Talents, and the Snow Ball. And should you need advice, you won’t have to look far for role models: our most illustrious alumni are here to help—and from—

Evs and Nevs! Forget this official stuff—I’ll tell you everything you really need to know to survive and all the good stuff the teachers won’t tell you.. Plus, I have the secret scoop on Sophie, Agatha, and Tedros. . . . Meet me inside!—Hester

Experience the School for Good and Evil like never before with this must-have companion to the bestselling series. Glorious illustrations invite you to pore over maps, see characters for the first time, and get an inside  look at what it’s like to be a student at the most enchanted school of all.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

This was an interesting book. It was created to have the readers engage in what the requirements are for them to apply to the school for good and evil and the rules and regulations. It has letters, documents, pictures, rules, course descriptions, and other fun stuff about each school. It’s a great book for young readers. It almost feels like you’re reading Harry Potter when the students are being chosen for the appropriate school, depending on their talents. So which school are you applying for? Are you good or evil?

Author Biography

Soman Chainani’s debut series, THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL, has sold more than 3.5 million copies, been translated into 31 languages across 6 continents, and will be a major motion picture from Netflix in 2022.

Each of the six books in the series — THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL, A WORLD WITHOUT PRINCES, THE LAST EVER AFTER, QUESTS FOR GLORY, A CRYSTAL OF TIME, and ONE TRUE KING — have debuted on the New York Times Bestseller list. Together the books have been on the print and extended lists for 41 weeks.

A graduate of Harvard University and Columbia University’s MFA Film Program, Soman began his career as a screenwriter and director, with his films playing at over 150 film festivals around the world. He has been nominated for the Waterstone Prize for Children’s Literature, been named to the Out100, and also received the $100,000 Shasha Grant and the Sun Valley Writer’s Fellowship, both for debut writers.

Soman’s latest book, BEASTS & BEAUTY, is an instant New York Times Bestseller and will soon be published in 10 languages. It is his seventh New York Times bestseller in a row.