Category: Three to Read

January 17, 2020

Bookstr’s Three to Read This Week 01/17/20

We hear it’s about to get really cold! So, our plans for the weekend include snuggling with a warm cup of coffee, chocolate, and a good book! Tempted? Well…

Check out Bookstr’s Three to Read, the three books we’ve picked for you to read this week!

HOT PICK

Come Tumbling down

by Seanan McGuire

Synopsis:

The fifth installment in New York Times bestselling author Seanan McGuire’s award-winning Wayward Children series, Come Tumbling Down picks up the threads left dangling by Every Heart a Doorway and Down Among the Sticks and Bones

When Jack left Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children she was carrying the body of her deliciously deranged sister—whom she had recently murdered in a fit of righteous justice—back to their home on the Moors.

But death in their adopted world isn’t always as permanent as it is here, and when Jack is herself carried back into the school, it becomes clear that something has happened to her. Something terrible. Something of which only the maddest of scientists could conceive. Something only her friends are equipped to help her overcome.

Eleanor West’s “No Quests” rule is about to be broken.

Again.

Why?

Why read Come Tumbling Down? Well, who doesn’t love getting lost in a little dark fantasy every now and then? We know we sure do, especially after a long day of work! McGuires takes us back to the Moors for another scary adventure! Stuck in her psychopathic twin sister’s resurrected body, Jack goes to her friends for help. They have no other choice, but to break Eleanor West’s “No Quests” rule, one more time. But, will everyone make it out alive? Get ready to enter a vivid world because every chapter will drag you into a universe of magic! Kirkus praises this novel saying, “Come Tumbling Down is grotesque, haunting, lovely.”

Coffee Shop read

lean on me

by Pat Simmons

Synopsis:

First in an emotional, poignant romantic women’s fiction series by acclaimed inspirational romance author Pat Simmons.

No caregiver should ever have to go it alone…

Tabitha Knicely loves her career as a pharmaceutical rep, but even her health care knowledge isn’t much help with the daily challenges she now faces caring for her aunt with Alzheimer’s. Her once organized lifestyle is in disarray and her patience is tested. On Sunday mornings, when Aunt Tweet drags her to church, though Tabitha isn’t a believer, the peaceful presence of faith is a welcome relief.

Marcus Whittington believes in second chances, so he hires former inmates to staff the industrial cleaning service he owns with his brother. When a mystery woman who keeps showing up on his porch turns out to be an elderly neighbor, Marcus is outraged at what he perceives as neglect on the part of her caregiver.

Marcus soon learns that being a caregiver is a demanding, compassionate act of kindness that he has never experienced before. After several encounters with Aunt Tweet and Tabitha, his heart is drawn to the family’s distress. Marcus is determined to help Tabitha, and a friendship that started out with a grave misunderstanding soon begins to blossom into a relationship filled with love, faith, and partnership. Life is easier, when you have someone to lean on.

Why?

Pat Simmons plays with our emotions in this novel. She opens our eyes to the hardships of being a caregiver and how, every once in a while, we need someone to lean on. Tabitha and Marcus’ encounter may have started out with a misjudgment, but it turns into a loving and caring relationship. We guarantee you’ll be flying through these pages, both chuckling at some parts and crying at others! So, grab your box of Kleenex and get ready for an emotional rollercoaster ride like no other! Publishers Weekly acclaims Simmons writing stating “Simmons balances the sadness of Alzheimer’s with the heartwarming bonds of family and friendship, and the combination is sure to tug at readers’ heartstrings.”

dARK horse

Drew and jot: dueling doodles

by Art Baltazar

Synopsis:

Middle school best friends Andrew and Foz’s superhero comic adventure is all about saving the day! But what happens when Andrew’s sister gets her hands on the sketchbook and unleashes a new and powerful villain?

Fifth grade best friends Andrew and Foz are creating the perfect superhero crossover with the power of their imaginations! Andrew’s laser-eyed heroes Drew and Jot team up to fight Foz’s Doctor Danger, as the pair trade sketchbooks back and forth to create their action epic with new characters and new adventures. But what happens when Andrew’s little sister doodles in his sketchbook and changes the world of Drew and Jot forever? Can Andrew and Foz work together to save their creation?

Enter a brand new world of action and imagination with Eisner Award winner and New York Times bestseller Art Baltazar (Tiny Titans, Aw Yeah Comics) where every drawing has a life of its own.

Why?

So adults can enjoy children books right? I mean we all have a child deep inside of us, so why not? But on a serious note, this graphic novel is a perfect read for middle grade children. It shows them that it’s easy to make friends, but most importantly it takes them on an exciting adventure! Everything changes when Andrew’s little sister doodles in his sketchbook. Now Andrew and Foz must embark on their own little adventure to save their comic creations. Children are bound to love it with all its eye catching and colorful doodles, transporting them into a world of imagination and creativity.

IMAGES VIA AMAZON

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January 8, 2020

Bookstr’s Three to Read This Week 01/06/20

Welcome back from the holidays! We can’t think of a better way to start the New Year than by reading a new collection of books!

Check out Bookstr’s Three to Read, the three books we’ve picked for you to read this week!

HOT PICK

Good Girls lie

by J.T. Ellison

Synopsis:

Goode girls don’t lie…

Perched atop a hill in the tiny town of Marchburg, Virginia, The Goode School is a prestigious prep school known as a Silent Ivy. The boarding school of choice for daughters of the rich and influential, it accepts only the best and the brightest. Its elite status, long-held traditions and honor code are ideal for preparing exceptional young women for brilliant futures at Ivy League universities and beyond.

But a stranger has come to Goode, and this ivy has turned poisonous.

In a world where appearances are everything, as long as students pretend to follow the rules, no one questions the cruelties of the secret societies or the dubious behavior of the privileged young women who expect to get away with murder.

When a popular student is found dead, the truth cannot be ignored. Rumors suggest she was struggling with a secret that drove her to suicide.

But look closely…because there are truths and there are lies, and then there is everything that really happened.

Why?

Ash, an orphan, is the new girl at an elite girl-only boarding school called The Goode school. She realizes that the only thing that the girls there pretend to follow the rules. So, when a body is found hanging from a tree, a lot of rumors spread, making it difficult to tell the truth from the lie. This psychological thriller will have you hooked from the first page! New York Journal of Books glorifies Ellison’s book stating, “J.T. Ellison skillfully unwinds a complex tale of lies, deception, and murder spiced up with backstory and well-fleshed out characters.”

Coffee Shop read

Risk it all

by Katie Ruggle

Synopsis:

Cara Pax never wanted to be a bounty hunter. She’s happy to leave chasing criminals and tackling skips to her sisters. But if she wants her dreams of escaping the family business to come true, she’s got one last job to finish… Only problem is, she doesn’t think her bounty is guilty.

Henry Kavenski is a man with innocence to prove. When he realizes that Cara believes him, he’ll do anything to keep her out of harm’s way. Escaping criminals and dodging cops might not be the best time to fall in love, but Henry and Cara won’t give up, not when there’s a chance at a new life ahead―if they can survive the fall.

Why?

Bounty hunting isn’t something Cara wants to do. To get herself out of this mess, she takes on one last job. However, she believes that her bounty, Henry, is actually innocent. So, what happens when you fall in love at the wrong time? With all the cops and criminals chasing Cara, will she and Henry survive this mess and get a chance to start a new life together? Sit back and relax with your cup of coffee because you’re in for a suspenseful romantic read! Library Journal praises the book saying, “An unpredictable, high-octane action adventure tale. This fast-paced romance is laced with humor and a bit of heat.”

dARK horse

Bone Parish vol.3

by Cullen Bunn

Synopsis:

The acclaimed necromantic horror series reaches its final chapter as the gang war blows wide open on the streets of New Orleans.

Every high has its comedown, and the Winters family is in for a rude awakening. Once the innovator and sole dealer of the new necromantic drug that’s all the rage on the streets of New Orleans, they have since come under siege by rivals on all sides trying to steal the market for themselves. And while the family has suffered heavy losses to this point, there’s more to come before in the harsh light of morning…

Eisner Award-nominated author Cullen Bunn (Harrow County, The Empty Man) and illustrator Jonas Scharf (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) conclude their critically-acclaimed horror series in Bone Parish Volume Three, as the Winters fight off reckonings both personal and professional to preserve their family empire.

Why?

Bunn takes us on a captivating ride in the third volume of his graphic novel. With war flooding the streets of New Orleans, the Winters family must fight their rivals to protect their family empire. When each family member starts operating separately, tragedy is the result and not everyone survives. We guarantee you’ll fall in love with Jonas Scharf’s mesmerizing art and Alex Guimarães’ vibrant coloring. This necromantic horror story is a must read for all graphic novel readers!

IMAGES VIA AMAZON

December 19, 2019

Bookstr’s Three to Read This Week 12/20/19

With the holidays right around the corner, there is no better gift than the gift of books!

Check out Bookstr’s Three to Read, the three books we’ve picked for you to read this week!

HOT PICK

NVK: A NOVEL

by Temple Drake

Synopsis:

Set in the otherworldly megalopolis that is today’s Shanghai, Temple Drake’s suspenseful first novel blends the gothic, the erotic, and the supernatural as it charts an intense and dangerous affair.

One night in 2012, executive Zhang Guo Xing takes a group of European clients to a fashionable nightclub in Shanghai. While there, he meets a strikingly beautiful young Western woman called Naemi Vieno Kuusela. The physical attraction between them proves irresistible, and they embark on an intoxicating affair. But Naemi is not what she appears to be…

To Zhang’s surprise, she veers between passion and wariness, conducting the relationship entirely on her own terms. He feels driven to find out more about her, and is swiftly drawn into a web of intrigue, mystery, and horror. Is she a ghost? A demon? Do the living dead walk the streets of twenty-first century Shanghai?

Written in spare, high-octane prose, NVK is the first in a series of dark, hypnotic novels that explore the roots of desire and the cruel costs of immortality.

Why?

Set in Shanghai, Drake’s debut novel dives deep into the encounter between Zhang, a wealthy businessman, and Naemi, a stunning, yet elusive woman. With mutual attraction in the air, they start what they think is a one time, affair. When their affair turns into love, Naemi fears her secret will be out. With her strange habits and mysterious scar, she is anything but human. What happens when Zhang digs deeper into her past? Booklist glorifies Drake’s book stating, “An atmospheric and evocative tale buoyed by a sensual affair, Drake’s debut is a compelling read.”

Coffee Shop read

LOKI ASCENDING

by Asa Maria Bradley

Synopsis:

Scott Brisbane has been in love with immortal Viking healer Irja Vainio for years, but as a human, let his fear hold him back. Now that Scott has finally earned his place with the tribe whose king his sister married, there’s nothing standing in the way of his true feelings. But Irja knows that getting close to someone is a death sentence…

When the Viking warriors start falling into comas one by one, Irja is desperate to stop the illness from spreading. Without a cure, she’ll have to rely on magic she hasn’t used for centuries–magic that taught her to never let anyone get close. When the evil god Loki offers her the cure, it comes with a steep price that could cost Irja and Scott everything…

Why?

Asa does it again, stealing our hearts, with her third Viking Warriors book. With the evil god, Loki, planning to end the world, Irja must use magic to cure the Vikings. But we all know that magic comes with a price. So, when Irja teams up with Scott, a mortal who’s been in love with her ever since he laid eyes on her, chaos is havoc is bound to wreak. Bradley’s story is a whirlwind of action, suspense, humor, and a ton of romance! We advise you to grab a warm cup of coffee and cozy up because you’ll be reading this page-turner the whole day! Booklist praises the book saying, “The romance is sizzling, the battle scenes top-notch, and the characters intriguing.”

dARK horse

Hello, Cookie dough: 110 doughlicious confections to eat, bake, & share

by Kristen Tomlan

Synopsis:

Finally, you can eat cookie dough how you’ve always craved it: straight from the mixing bowl! In her rule-breaking first book, Kristen Tomlan, the Queen of Cookie Dough, spills her secrets about how to make cookie dough safe-to-eat and all of the best ways to enjoy it. Kristen is sharing 110 decadent recipes–a mix of fan favorites from her famous New York City confectionery and never-before-seen creations–each with an innovative twist.

HELLO, COOKIE DOUGH is filled with recipes for cookie dough lovers at every age and skill level. All 40 flavors, spanning the classic to the wildly creative, are ready to eat off the spatula OR can be baked into perfect, chewy cookies. Kristen’s baked creations are equally tempting, with treats like cookie dough-stuffed cinnamon rolls, deep dish skillet cookies, and molten cookie dough cupcakes. Sprinkled throughout are her tips on perfecting your confections plus easy swaps to make the recipes gluten-free or vegan. Since cookie dough is best when shared, Kristen is serving up inspiration for all your party needs, including ideas for baby showers, weddings, ice cream parties, and the all-important girls’ night in.

This is the unconventional baking book every person with a sweet tooth will love. Join Kristen on her mission to make cookie dough all about joy, transforming this once-forbidden treat from a “no-no” to HELLO!

Why?

Our favorite time of the year is here and the only thing we love more than books is indulging in heavenly sweet creations! We also heard that calories don’t count during the holidays so, we’re definitely digging in! In this book, Kristen Tomlan makes our dreams come true with 110 delicious recipes that can be safely eaten straight from the bowl or baked. Trust us, we were as shocked and excited as you guys! This book belongs in the kitchen of every sugar-loving heart.

IMAGES VIA AMAZON

December 12, 2019

Bookstr’s Three to Read This Week 12/12/19

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but these books are so delightful.

If the forecast makes you shook, read a book, read a book, read a book!

The intense drama in each of these books will heat you up more than any fireplace!

Check out Bookstr’s Three to Read, the three books we’ve picked for you to read this week!

Hot Pick

For Better and Worse

by Margot Hunt

Synopsis:

On their first date back in law school, Natalie and Will Clarke bonded over drinks, dinner and whether they could get away with murder. Now married, they’ll put the latter to the test when an unchecked danger in their community places their son in jeopardy. Working as a criminal defense attorney, Nat refuses to rely on the broken legal system to keep her family safe. She knows that if you want justice…you have to get it yourself.

Shocked to discover Nat’s taken matters into her own hands, Will has no choice but to dirty his, also. His family is in way too deep to back down now. He’s just not sure he recognizes the woman he married. Nat’s always been fiercely protective, but never this ruthless or calculating. With the police poking holes in their airtight plan, what will be the first to fall apart: their scandalous secret—or their marriage?

Why?

Hunt wastes no time jumping right into this wildly thrilling story about a mom desperate to protect her son, even if that means turning to murder. Natalie truly believes that she can get away with this heinous crime, but when the carpet is swept from under her feet, her and her family’s lives are turned upside-down. Trust is in question between Natalie and her husband Will, and hope that their happy life together is in tatters. Praised as the best thriller of the year by Book of the Month, this book is sure to keep your hair on end and throw you into a nonstop rollercoaster ride.

Coffee Shop Read

Regretting You

by Colleen Hoover

Synopsis:

Morgan Grant and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Clara, would like nothing more than to be nothing alike.

Morgan is determined to prevent her daughter from making the same mistakes she did. By getting pregnant and married way too young, Morgan put her own dreams on hold. Clara doesn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Her predictable mother doesn’t have a spontaneous bone in her body.

With warring personalities and conflicting goals, Morgan and Clara find it increasingly difficult to coexist. The only person who can bring peace to the household is Chris—Morgan’s husband, Clara’s father, and the family anchor. But that peace is shattered when Chris is involved in a tragic and questionable accident. The heartbreaking and long-lasting consequences will reach far beyond just Morgan and Clara.

While struggling to rebuild everything that crashed around them, Morgan finds comfort in the last person she expects to, and Clara turns to the one boy she’s been forbidden to see. With each passing day, new secrets, resentment, and misunderstandings make mother and daughter fall further apart. So far apart, it might be impossible for them to ever fall back together.

Why?

New York Times Bestseller Colleen Hoover is at her best in this emotionally hard-hitting story that shares a genuine and struggling relationship between mother and daughter. Better have a box of Kleenex by your side because this one is definitely a tear-jerker! With high hopes for each character to find their own happiness, Hoover’s newest release is a beautiful story that teaches us that sometimes the most complicated circumstances can turn out perfectly okay if you remember to love. As sappy as this may seem, the book is nothing like that at all. Raw, true, and full of emotion, Regretting You can give us what we really need in the darkest of time⁠—a good cry. Booklist echoes praise for Hoover’s book stating, “There is plenty of trademark Hoover emotion and surprises in this engrossing read…This twisting novel will instigate excellent book discussions about regrets and second chances.”

Dark Horse

The Photography of Game of Thrones

Synopsis:

Enter the world of HBO’s global television phenomenon Game of Thrones with The Photography of Game of Thrones—the definitive photographic collection from the set of the hit series.

Witness how official unit stills photographer and Nikon ambassador Helen Sloan and the unit photography team selected 850 incredible images from the production of HBO’s legendary series Game of Thrones, including candid, never before seen images of cast and crew. Enjoy exclusive access and images directly from the set as George RR Martin’s world of Westeros was translated to the TV screen.

One of 4 comprehensive and officially licensed Game of Thrones retrospective books from Insight Editions.

• UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS – 416 pages of images, details, and anecdotes covering Game of Thrones seasons 1-8.
• EXCLUSIVE IMAGES – Curated from an archive of 1.5 million photos. Enjoy over 850 hand-selected images direct from the set.
• UNSEEN MOMENTS -View legendary characters such as Tyrion, Daenerys, Cersei, Jaime, Brienne, and Jon Snow uniquely captured through Helen Sloan’s lens.
• HEAR FROM THE SHOW’S CREATORS – Features an exclusive foreword from Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss.
• A PRESTIGE COFFEE TABLE BOOK – Deluxe 9.75 × 13 inch format.
• A HIGHLY DESIRABLE GIFT FOR FANS – Released in time for the holiday season, this is the perfect gift for Game of Thrones fans.

Why?

Winter is here! And what perfect timing for this in-depth look as Game of Thrones photographer Helen Soan shares, documents from the entirety of filmmaking from season 1 to 8. As the behind-the-scenes photographer, Sloan had free reign to roam around studios, offices, and more interestingly, the beautiful set locations in person! She shares that and more in this coffee table book that really is the perfect gift for any GoT fan. Even as frustrating as the final season was, there is no doubt beauty and artistic perfection with the cinematography, set design, clothing design, and well everything else outside of the story’s end. Screen Rant has said it the best, The Photography of Game of Thrones is “[a] wonderful look into not just the characters, but the sheer artistry behind creating a series as epic as this one.”

Images via Amazon

December 5, 2019

Bookstr’s Three to Read This Week 12/5/19

It’s blizzard season throughout the northern hemisphere, and the time is nigh to grab your boots, coats, and books to keep you warm. If you don’t wish to take the arduous journey through the snow and slush, snuggle up at home with a warm latte, caffeinated or not, and a new book for the season.

Check out Bookstr’s Three to Read, the three books we’ve picked for you to read this week!

Hot Pick

Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof

Synopsis:

Set in an alternate classical world dominated by sports and a magical power called grana, Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof is the story of two children: the lowly born Rovi and the crown princess Pretia who uncover and battle terrible evil and discover their inner strength along the way.
Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof takes place at the most elite sports academy in the land, where the best child-athletes are sent to hone their skills. When Rovi and Pretia arrive, each harboring a secret about themselves, they begin to suspect that something evil is at play at the school. In the course of their first year, they must learn to master their grana in order to save the world from dark forces that are rising.

Why?

Basketball legend Kobe Bryant astounded the world with his first book The Wizenard Series: Training Camp, and he’s done it again with the help of author Ivy Claire, who also happens to be a world-ranked athlete. This remarkable mid-November release changes how we think of the fantasy genre by blending it with the sports genre. Byrant and Claire have built a vast world full of secrets and the supernatural, in a tale about finding your inner power and fighting for the good in the world. Linda’s Book Obsession Blog praises the two athletes on their fantastic book, calling it “[a] magical, mesmerizing, captivating, entertaining, suspenseful, and intense novel full of adventure.”

Coffee Shop Read

When the Stars Lead to You

Synopsis:

Eighteen-year-old Devon longs for two things.

The stars.

And the boy she fell in love with last summer.

When Ashton breaks Devon’s heart at the end of the most romantic and magical summer ever, she thinks her heart will never heal again. But over the course of the following year, Devon finds herself slowly putting the broken pieces back together.

Now it’s senior year and she’s determined to enjoy every moment of it, as she prepares for a future studying galaxies. That is, until Ashton shows up on the first day of school.

Can she forgive and open her heart to him again? Or are they doomed to repeat history?

From debut author, Ronni Davis, comes a stunning novel about passion, loss, and the power of first love.

Why?

Don’t be fooled by the cover, this is not your average boy meets girl romance. Covering very intense topics of race relations, prejudice, and struggles with mental health, author Ronnie Davis takes a bold dive with her first novel, and it’s a huge success. Love never comes easy in the real world, especially with all of society’s unresolved issues. Davis captures that perfectly in her story about the harsh truth of love and hate and owning up to what we really need in our darkest times. Kirkus Reviews calls Davis’ debut as “a new take on the archetypal first love novel by tackling the impact of mental health, race, and class wars. A moving love story, timely given the pervasiveness of mental health crises.” The perfect choice if you’re looking for a conversation starter or a deep and heartwrenching story to move your heart and your mind.

Dark Horse

In the Dark

Synopsis:

The promise of a luxury vacation at a secluded wilderness spa has brought together eight lucky guests. But nothing is what they were led to believe. As a fierce storm barrels down and all contact with the outside is cut off, the guests fear that it’s not a getaway. It’s a trap.

Each one has a secret. Each one has something to hide. And now, as darkness closes in, they all have something to fear—including one another.

Alerted to the vanished party of strangers, homicide cop Mason Deniaud and search and rescue expert Callie Sutton must brave the brutal elements of the mountains to find them. But even Mason and Callie have no idea how precious time is. Because the clock is ticking, and one by one, the guests of Forest Shadow Lodge are being hunted. For them, surviving becomes part of a diabolical game.

Why?

This book is an ideal choice for any mystery fans out there, especially if you enjoyed the Agatha Christie mystery, And Then There Were None. This brings the Agatha Christie classic to the modern age, and takes a darker, twisted and terrifying riff on which is better, forgiveness or revenge. A thrilling mystery that will have you guessing til the very end, written by the bestselling author of thrillers, mysteries, and romantic suspense, Loreth Anne White. Publishers Weekly praises White by saying she, “employs kaleidoscopic perspectives in this tense modern adaptation…[her] structural sleight of hand as she shifts between narrators and timelines keeps the suspense high…Christie fans will find this taut, clever thriller to be a worthy homage to the original.” A wild ride awaits you in this terribly tense tale.