Review of To Best The Boys by Mary Weber

About the Book ~

The task is simple:

Don a disguise.

Survive the labyrinth.

Best the boys.

In a thrilling new fantasy from the bestselling author of the Storm Siren Trilogy, one girl makes a stand against society and enters a world made exclusively for boys.

Every year for the past fifty-four years, the residents of Pinsbury Port have received a mysterious letter inviting all eligible-aged boys to compete for an esteemed scholarship to the all-male Stemwick University. The poorer residents look to see if their names are on the list. The wealthier look to see how likely their sons are to survive. And Rhen Tellur opens it to see if she can derive which substances the ink and parchment are created from, using her father’s microscope.

In the province of Caldon, where women train in wifely duties and men pursue collegiate education, sixteen-year-old Rhen Tellur wants nothing more than to become a scientist. As the poor of her seaside town fall prey to a deadly disease, she and her father work desperately to find a cure. But when her mum succumbs to it as well? Rhen decides to take the future into her own hands—through the annual all-male scholarship competition.

With her cousin, Seleni, by her side, the girls don disguises and enter Mr. Holm’s labyrinth, to best the boys and claim the scholarship prize. Except not everyone is ready for a girl who doesn’t know her place. And not everyone survives the deadly maze.

Welcome to the labyrinth.

For more information about Mary Weber and her books, check out her Goodreads' page here!

My Thoughts ~

OHMYGOODNESS, THIS WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!

I don't know where to start gushing...

Let's start with this fantasy world! The little village where Rhen lives is know for being green...and for all the different things that can kill you! The mythological creatures had the awesomeness of a Tolkien story, while still feeling fresh and new! And then there's a plague spreading and killing people, including Rhen's mother. On top of that, the deadly labyrinth had my heart racing from the moment they entered until the victor stepped out!

Despite all of this, I found myself laughing a lot at Rhen's dry wit and unique view of the world! I absolutely loved her character, and I'm going to pretend she's really real! I could emphasis with her because I've been there. Her heartache was genuine, and her anger at the broken system in her world is relevant. But I loved how the author didn't make this story a war on men or the family unit. It is truly a narrative that every woman knows and understands -- and it gives us a voice. I loved how the author made it clear that it's okay for a woman to have a career, it's okay for a woman to have a family, and it's okay to do both! That the choice of being a wife and mother is just as valid as being a scientist! While the hopes and dreams of one woman may not be the dreams of another woman, each path is beautiful because it. is. ours! Watching Rhen discover that it wasn't about fitting her life into a particular mold but rather staying true to who she was as a woman and a person was beautiful! The author portrayed this empowering truth so wonderfully!

The author wrapped the story up in a way that I had closure even though some things were not fully resolved. One thing that is resolved? Lute is also my new favorite sailor! And there's a twist that I did NOT see coming, but that is absolutely PERFECT!

Five Stars ~ Phenomenal! There should be more books like To Best The Boys, and I'm hoping Mary Weber will write them! To Best The Boys is a standalone YA fantasy written for the general market, but it holds subtle Biblical truths between its pages. It's like Lord of the Rings meets The Hunger Games!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

We Were Beautiful Tour, Review, and Giveaway!!!

Welcome to the Blog Tour and Giveaway for We Were Beautiful by Heather Hepler, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: We Were Beautiful  
Author: Heather Hepler
Publisher: Blink YA  
Genre: Young Adult  
Release Date: April 2, 2019  

It's been a year since fifteen-year-old Mia Hopkins was in the car crash that killed her older sister and left her terribly scarred. The doctors tell her she was lucky to survive. Her therapist says it will take time to heal. The police reports claim there were trace amounts of alcohol in her bloodstream. But no matter how much she tries to reconstruct the events of that fateful night, Mia's memory is spotty at best. She's left with accusations, rumors, and guilt so powerful it could consume her.

As the rest of Mia's family struggles with their own grief, Mia is sent to New York City to spend the summer with a grandmother she's never met. All Mia wants to do is hide from the world, but instead she's stuck with a summer job in the bustling kitchens of the cafe down the street. There she meets Fig--blue-haired, friendly, and vivacious--who takes Mia under her wing. As Mia gets to know Fig and her friends--including Cooper, the artistic boy who is always on Mia's mind--she realizes that she's not the only one with a painful past.

Over the summer, Mia begins to learn that redemption isn't as impossible as she once thought, but her scars inside run deep and aren't nearly so simple to heal ... especially when Mia finally pieces together her memories of the night Rachel died.  

PURCHASE LINKS: goodreads | amazon | b&n | christian book | book depository

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Heather Hepler is the author of several books for teens and tweens including the new release "We Were Beautiful".

She loves tomato soup, fat cats, and hiking. (Not necessarily in that order.) She's lived in East Texas, Alaska, and Death Valley. Currently she, her son, their two spoiled cats, and their ridiculously smart dog live in Downeast Maine.

She loves it when readers write to her, and she promises to write them back.  

CONNECT WITH HEATHER: website | facebook | pinterest | instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

 (2) winners will win:

• a print copy of We Were Beautiful (US only)

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight April 2, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm April 9, 2019. US Mailing addresses only, due to shipping costs. Void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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REVIEW

My Thoughts ~

We Were Beautiful by Heather Hepler was...well, BEAUTIFUL!!! I seriously loved this fun, sweet, and emotionally tugging YA romance! I laughed and cried, and now I am angry that this beautiful (I did it again, LOL!) story is over!

We meet Mia almost a year after her family falls apart when her sister died in a car accident that everyone says is her fault. And I don't want to give away any spoilers, but when Mia remembers what happens, it's clear that it was an impossible situation with mistakes that resulted in a horrible accident with terrible ramifications. I enjoyed how the author laid this out, allowing the discovery to feel natural while also maintaining that I-need-to-keep-reading suspense.

Mia was such an endearing character. When the story started, she was so closed off and broken, believing that she deserved to feel that way. The author wrote Mia's heart opening up to the world around her in such a poignant way that it felt like my heart was opening up, too! But in case you think this is strictly a sad and heavy tale, let me assure you that the eccentric secondary characters and their antics had me laughing out loud and smiling throughout the entire story! And the romance between Mia and Cooper will make you grin like everyone's favorite dwarf. (Not Grumpy!)

This coming-of-age story tugs on the heartstrings of loss, grief, injustice, abuse, and regret and gently steers the narrative towards hope, life, forgiveness, and love. Rather than losing oneself in the alluring beauty of life before trauma, We Were Beautiful shows readers that there IS beauty in life after heartache steals your breath away.

Five Stars ~ We Were Beautiful by Heather Hepler is a must-read for anyone who loves a good YA romance with the perfect balance of lightheartedness and emotional depth! We Were Beautiful is a standalone, but I will definitely be checking out the author's previous books!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of Swing by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess

About the Book ~

When America is not so beautiful, or right, or just, it can be hard to know what to do. Best friends Walt and Noah decide to use their voices to grow more good in the world, but first they’ve got to find cool.

Walt is convinced junior year is their year, and he has a plan to help them woo the girls of their dreams and become amazing athletes. Never mind that he and Noah failed to make the high school baseball team yet again, and Noah’s love interest since third grade, Sam, has him firmly in the friend zone. Noah soon finds himself navigating the worlds of jazz, batting cages, the strange advice of Walt’s Dairy Queen-employed cousin, as well as Walt’s own perceptions of what is actually cool. Status quo seems inevitable until Noah stumbles on a stash of old love letters. Each page contains the words he’s always wanted to say to Sam, and he begins secretly creating artwork using the lines that speak his heart. But when his private artwork becomes public, Noah has a decision to make: continue his life in the dugout and possibly lose the girl forever, or take a swing and make his voice heard?

At the same time, numerous American flags are being left around town. While some think it’s a harmless prank and others see it as a form of peaceful protest, Noah can’t shake the feeling something bigger is happening to his community. Especially after he witnesses events that hint divides and prejudices run deeper than he realized.

As the personal and social tensions increase around them, Noah and Walt must decide what is really true when it comes to love, friendship, sacrifice, and fate.

New York Times bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess (Solo) tell a lyrical story about hope, courage, and love that will speak to anyone who’s struggled to find their voice.

For more information about Kwame Alexander and his books, check out his website here!

For more information about Mary Rand Hess and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

I fell in love with the lyrical, poetic writing style of this dynamic duo, Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess, in Solo...

And Swing did NOT disappoint! In fact, I think the authors raised their awesome bar to a whole new awesome level!

Swing follows the journey of best friends Walt and Noah from Noah's viewpoint. Their mission? Find their cool! Who among us hasn't tried to find their cool? I know I have! One of my favorite features was getting to see and study the artwork that Noah creates! Those details really pulled me into the story in a way that so few stories have. I also loved the jazz references. Whether you're a jazz novice or the Chairman of the Board to seventeen different jazz clubs, readers will find these references to be fun, inspiring, and profound! Walt and Noah's hilarious, awkward, and vulnerable moments will result in a ripple effect, encouraging all who read their journey to embrace a "hug life" philosophy!

The underlying message of Swing tackles some of the most painful social issues of the day. Race, prejudice, and division build until...until the reader closes the back cover with tears in their eyes. Swing took a painful subject and gave it a face and a name, hopes and dreams. And how can anyone not break when that is shattered? If only we could look at everyone like that...

Four Stars ~ Swing's powerfully poetic narrative will tug on heartstrings and hopefully inspire conversations. Swing is general-market fiction, but there are powerful faith/God messages mixed into the story. Swing is (to my knowledge) a standalone novel, but if Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess write another book, I'll read it. Period.

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I was offered a eBook copy of this book from the author/publisher. I also purchased my own hardback copy from Amazon. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!