A Book Review: Awake (A Fairytale Trilogy)

This month's book review is Jessica Grey's Awake (book one of the Fairytale Trilogy). A series filled with magic, friendship, and swoon!

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amazon

Book Description: Alexandra Martin didn't believe in fairytales.

Alex has always been more interested in rocks and science than stories about princesses and magic. Now she’s far too busy with her summer internship at the Gem and Mineral Museum to think about children’s stories. Between avoiding her former best friend and high school baseball star, Luke Reed, and trying to hide her unrequited crush on her mentor at the museum, the real world is occupying all of her time.

Until she walked into one.

It turns out fairytales aren’t all fun and games. A curse has turned her neat and orderly world upside down, and to break it, she bands together with a fellow intern and a recently awakened princess who’s been asleep for 900 years. Can this trio of unlikely heroines put an end to an ominous enchantment, discover true love, and keep an ancient and evil magic from being unleashed on modern-day Los Angeles?

Ang's Review: Awake: A Fairytale is refreshing. Ms. Grey does a fantastic job of taking an old classic and making it her own. At the heart of this fairytale is the bond of friendship between three girls: Lilia, Becca, and Alex. The girls learn to not only rely on their own powers, but to depend upon each other and help build one another up. They present a fantastic example of what true and lasting friendships should be built upon: trust, caring, encouragement, and fun.

Luke is a-flippin-dorable: handsome, snarky, and smart. He's not your typical jock nor your traditional "hero." He's an even keeled character willing to protect those he cares about, while at the same time brave enough to let others save the day.

The twist and turns of the plot were what kept me reading. I enjoyed seeing how Ms. Grey weaved the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty with her own modern musings. The main focus of this story is the developing plot. Ms. Grey does not play up the angst and drama between Luke and Alex in order to make for inorganic tension, but trusts her story and her writing to do it naturally. If you are a fan of fairytales retold and looking for something fun and heartfelt, this is the book for you.

Pick up a copy today on Amazon!

And while you're at it check out
Atone (book two of the series) and Avowed (a novella).

A Book Review: Holidays With Jane: Will You Be Mine?

This month I'm spotlighting an indie favorite. Written by six fabulous authors from Indie Jane this book is a must have for Austen lovers and Valentine's enthusiasts.

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amazon

Book Description: Love is in the air this Valentine's Day as the talented authors of the Holidays with Jane series bring you six more modern adaptations of Jane Austen's classic novels. This candy heart is filled with chocolates, roses, and happily ever afters!

Stories included: Design by Chance by Rebecca M. Fleming, Fangirl by Jennifer Becton, Accidentally in Love by Jessica Grey, Cupid’s Secret by Nancy Kelley, Concealed Spark by Melissa Buell, Pride and Productions by Cecilia Gray.

Ang's Review: Packed with wit and charm, Holidays with Jane: Will You Be Mine? is a lovely addition to a series of novels filled with memorable heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, satisfying twists, and a respect and passion for Jane Austen's novels that leaps off every page. Following these six clever authors throughout the years as they've taken us through the holidays—each author putting their own special spin on each of Austen's beloved characters, settings, and plots—has been pure joy. And I'm grateful for the journey they've shared with us.

Currently available in paperback on Amazon.
Pick up your copy today!

Ang reads: the February 2016 edition

Whelp!
2016 is underway.
As I posted last month,
I'm making it a goal to blog about the books
I've been reading at least once a month.
Let's recap, shall we!

Here's my GoodReads 2016 Reading Goal:

2016 Reading Challenge

Angela has read 0 books toward her goal of 50 books.

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0 of 50 (0%)

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Books read in January:
(links to reviews on GoodReads)
Holidays with Jane: Trick or Sweet published by Indie Jane Press
Black Wood by SJI Holliday
Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Book One by L. Frank Baum
Attempting Elizabeth by Jessica Grey

Now, I know y'all are dying to hear what my favorite book was last month.
Truth to be told, I suck at picking favorites.
So you'll have to wait for my 2016 year end wrap up to get a straight answer.
However, I will say that there wasn't a book I read this month that I didn't enjoy.
I'm thinking that's a win-win all around.

Books I'd like to read this month:
The first is a book a great bookish friend sent to me last year.
i. am. ALL. the excited to finally read it.

The second is by a wonderful author friend of mine.
I loved Wind Chime Cafe hard
and look forward to this beautiful sequel!

And the last is the second book in a classic series.
One of my reading goals this year is to read all the Oz books.

link to goodreads

link to goodreads

link to goodreads


Annnnd on that note!

1. Whatcha been reading?! 
2. Quick: tea or coffee?
3. Heard of any good books you're dying to get your hands on?
4. Have you read Oz? 
WHAT THE HECK WITH THE TINMAN?!
5. What does love got to do with it?

Peeeeace!

Five for Friday -- With A Little Help From My Friends

It's Friday. 

I've got my Avenger tickets in my pocket

and a feel good vibe floating 'round inside my heart.

I think it's all the fairy dust in the air of late.

Whatever it may be,

I'm embracing it, jumpin' back in the saddle,

and putting together a fun times post complete with

cackles,

balloons, 

chocolate,

anthologies,

and marshmallow villains.

It will all make sense.
 

Ready. Steady. 

Let's get this party started!

1. This week in Tweet Tweet Land.

I made new friends.

It made my heart happy.

Here's why--

Sarah from re-raveling and I told fairy tales about eyelashes, big toes, and marshmallow men.

*out -- ya know how it goes on twitter. typos be running wild!

 Susi Holliday (who's blog is here) cackled and my heart sang.

Victoria Pearson (who's blog is here) came up with the best job EVER.

Jessica Grey (who's blog/website is here) wholeheartedly supported my decision to make a tumblr vs being productive in life.

p.s. I also made a pinterest, because ya know, I don't have enough to distract me.
*headdesk*

And my lovely friend Katie and I discussed Ben & Jerry's. 

word

2. This week in writing.

Speaking of Ben & Jerry's, 

this took place yesterday.

 Editing of Fluff, Nonsense, & Other Emo Crap commenced this week
and, let me just say, my brain-brain hurts.
It's a good thing the doctors decided I have two,
cause I'm pretty certain this whole process is gonna cause one to explode.

 3. This week in crazy awesome news that made my heart stop!!!
Speaking of exploding brains,
about a week ago I entered a flash fiction contest
hosted by @SJIHolliday & @ruanna3.
I do so declare it has been the best experience EVER!!!
Eighty-eight stories were submitted.
I've read every single one of them
and honestly adored them all.
There is no way I am going to win.
Having the privilege of playing a small role in this event has been my prize.
And then, low and behold, an announcement was made that knocked my socks off.

What is this wonderment @SJIHolliday is speaking of?
Why a published anthology of all the stories from the contest,
but of course.
ALL the stories, which means ME!
That's right, folks!!!
I'M GONNA BE A PUBLISHED WRITER!!!!
An actual physical book made of paper with stories in it
will have my name and my words in it!!!
I feel honored.
I feel stunned.
I feel verklempt!
I feel...
*brain-brain failure*

How doth one follow up that news?!
*ponders*
Oh, I know where to go next!

4. This week in heroes of the stache.
Speaking of feeling honored,
it's May and time for us to support our local staches.
This week I'm paying homage to a great hero of the stache--
Mr. Tom Selleck.

You, sir, are a god among staches.

Long live the stache!!

5. This week in yeah buddy.

And last, but oh so far from being least,
my family and I sent messages to our Rocketman last Saturday.

i love you, rocketman

It's been over a month since "the event."
It's weirdy in a far too comfortable kind of way.
And yet, I keep asking myself if it was all just a really bad dream
that I'm going to wake up from any day now.
*sighs*
For now,
I'm grabbing onto everything good and wonderful
and I'm refusing to let go.
Thanks to all of you for helping with the good and wonderful parts.
*hugs all around*
See ya on the flippy-flop.