blog tours – Home | The Blind Scribe

Happy Thursday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today. Today I am bringing you a book spotlight of Sealed Empire by Norbert Zsivicz as part of @BreakevenBooks book tour.

The cover of Sealed Empire is a stormy sky over a rough sea where a robot is chasing a small ship.

Synopsis:

First published: 01. Sept. 2021, Budapest.

English translation digital release: 22. Nov. 2022, London.

385 pages (Kindle edition)

-Norbert Zsivicz first book, the Hungarian Literary Award winner Sealed Empire now available in English by the famous translator Tamás Pétersz (Game of Thrones).

Blurb

Ser Edward, an experienced sailor, embarks on perhaps the most daring expedition of the Kingdom of Esenworth so far. His mission is to try to earn the blessing of the Reverend Sven, who is none other than his love’s father, probably the most influential man in the realm. But on his journey beset by fierce storms, he and his men encounter something that could shake to the core not only their faith, but their very concept of the world as well. Meanwhile, far from the oceans, his love, Emma, is trying to disentangle herself from the spider’s web of intrigue and scheming, into which she is being drawn ever deeper by Erick the new king.

And the dark clouds just keep gathering above – ancient beasts, stranger than ever, appear at sea, on land and even in the skies more and more frequently. They roar with a metallic screech, their eyes glow with an unnatural light, their skin hard and rigid as armor.

Can order be upheld in this age blind to divine prophecy, in the largest kingdom of the North, where the monarch’s mind is coming undone just like reality itself?

Our heroes must struggle ceaselessly to understand the hidden secrets of their world and their own origins. But what are they going to do once they have the answers?

Author Bio:

The book you will be reading is the fruit of many years of work and was, strangely enough, finished during the pandemic. Let me offer you a behind-the-scenes glimpse into my Sealed Empire so that you can get to know me a little bit better.

My name is Norbert Zsivicz, I was born in 1992, Szeged, Hungary. Now I live in London.

Ever since childhood, fantasy/science-fiction literature has had a huge impact on me. I used to pore over various comics in my parents’ grocery shop even before I could read. Thanks to my father, during my primary school years I probably saw more science fiction films than all my group mates combined. Add to this, there was a video rental shop next door, where I loved passing the time.

As soon as I learned to read, I started devouring books indiscriminately – fantasy, western, history but also romantic novels. I could perhaps be best described as a geek, since I keep up with the latest video games and films as much as I enjoy retreating with a good book. On the other hand, I love the outdoors and socializing, getting to know new people, places, cultures and flavours.

The concept of the Sealed Empire was born in my head about six years ago, shortly after I moved to London. I had experimented with several versions before finding the ideal style and the appropriate age for the novel. In the next five years expanded this mysterious world of mine with many characters and subplots.

I am determined to finish each of the five planned volumes of this series as soon as possible, while also aiming to keep them all equally compelling. Even a film adaptation is not inconceivable in the future. For all this, I will need your opinion, help and inspiring power. So, jump in, enjoy reading, and have fun in the World of Sealed Empire!

If you would like to see more content about this book check out this schedule:

B.A. Bellec Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGTeYZEBPBWScWXkqBnZrQQ June 25th, 2023
Shawn Blog: https://treatyoshelf.blog/ June 26th, 2023
Infinity’s Bookshelf Blog: https://infinitysbookshelf.wordpress.com/ June 27th, 2023
Elizabeth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/museumgrack/ June 28th, 2023
The Blind Scribe Blog: https://theblindscribe.com/ June 29th, 2023
The Shaggy Sheppard Blog: https://theshaggyshepherd.wordpress.com/ June 30th, 2023
Amanda Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheReadingandWritingLife June 30th, 2023
Mel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyforbooksandcoffee/ July 1st, 2023
S.Anny Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_obstinate_owlbear/ July 1st, 2023

blog tours, Uncategorized

The Dreams That Bind Us Book Spotlight

June 23, 2023June 7, 2023 theblindscribe

Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today. I am here today doing a book spotlight for The Dreams That Bind Us by Maximillian Lopez as part of @BreakevenBooks book tour.

Synopsis:

This sci-fi thriller explores the possibility that when we dream, we’re merely glimpsing into an alternate reality. Three strangers bound together by a shared dream fight against the current of fate. Can they come to terms with the truth? Are we the only versions of ourselves? Are you the best version of you to exist? They must find each other without losing themselves. Two universes hang in the balance as external forces vie for control of their ability to peer into an alternate reality. Will Corey, Selene, and Joseph find answers to the mystery placed before them? Or will the search for an answer lead them toward a darker fate?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-That-Bind-Us-Etherium-ebook/dp/B09PGTPRHB/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1660245232&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dreams-that-bind-us-maximilian-lopez/1140832794?ean=9798201820398

Apple store: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1602841625

Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=DCVXEAAAQBAJ

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Dreams-That-Bind-Us-Audiobook/B0B8476YN8?asin=B0B8476YN8

Author Bio:

Maximilian Lopez

Max grew up dreaming impossible dreams of an alternate life other than the one he had in a small town outside of San Antonio, Texas. Shortly after high school, he joined the Marine Corps where he traveled to Foreign Lands. Throughout his budding Marine Corps career, he studied military radar technology and decided to leave the Marine Corps after a memorable eight years to work in the civilian Radar Technical Community at Saab Defense Inc. in Syracuse, NY. During the following eight years, he met his beautiful and intelligent wife, Shirley. Eventually, Max and his growing family wanted to move away from the snow so he accepted a position working as a Government civilian for the US Navy specifying in emerging naval radar technology. Currently, Max resides with his wife, two handsome boys, and a small white Lhasa Apso named Tesla in Virginia Beach, Va.

If you would like to see more content from other bookish people about The Dreams That Bind Us check out this timetable:

B.A. Bellec Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGTeYZEBPBWScWXkqBnZrQQ June 18th, 2023
Shawn Blog: https://treatyoshelf.blog/ June 19th, 2023
Elizabeth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/museumgrack/ June 20th, 2023
Infinity’s Bookshelf Blog: https://infinitysbookshelf.wordpress.com/ June 21st, 2023
The Shaggy Sheppard Blog: https://theshaggyshepherd.wordpress.com/ June 22nd, 2023
The Blind Scribe Blog: https://theblindscribe.com/ June 23rd, 2023
Amanda Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheReadingandWritingLife June 23rd, 2023
Mel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyforbooksandcoffee/ June 24th, 2023
S.Anny Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_obstinate_owlbear/ June 24th, 2023

blog tours

Book Spotlight: Like Sapphire Blue by Marisa Billions

May 6, 2023May 5, 2023 theblindscribe

Happy Saturday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today. I don’t usually post on a Saturday but I was asked by @BreakevenBooks to do a book spotlight for Like Sapphire Blue today and of course, I said yes.

So, let me introduce you to Like Sapphire Blue by Marisa Billions

Synopsis:

“Your eyes are amazing. I’ve never seen a blue like that.”

Emma Landry is tough, independent, beautiful, and smart. Being an outcast unable to identify with her classmates, she was willing to do whatever it takes to climb her way out of poverty.

“What color would you say they are?”

Like Sapphire Blue

Having never known a mother’s love, her father “Bear”, raised her on the wrong side of the tracks in a wealthy town.

When success beckons, the woman she’s been in love with is, finally, within her grasp. Life is now worth living and loving.

That is, until a dark family secret is revealed. A secret tied into the very fabric of who she is, and what she spent a lifetime working to overcome.

Faced with a foundation shattering treachery, Emma finds herself at the crossroads. Can she overcome a destiny stronger than death, destitution, and murder, to prove she is more than just her father’s daughter? Or will this new knowledge lead her to destroy the world she’s spent a lifetime building?

Winner of the 2023 Reader Views Reviewers Choice Fiction Book of the Year.

Author Bio

Marisa Billions is a high school English teacher in Southern California. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Criminology. She is the author of the fiction novels, This Too Shall Pass, Like Sapphire Blue, and Into the Blue Again. She is working on her upcoming fourth novel. Like Sapphire Blue was the Reader Views Reviewers Choice Fiction Book of the Year. She lives in Southern California with her wife, Stephanie, and son, Alexander, and two Boxer dogs, Max and Ruby.

If this novel sounds interesting to you, here is an excerpt:

~ 1 ~

Humble Beginnings

The Present…

Discord, meaning a lack of harmony or unity by the definition. In a relationship it is that moment when the realization hits that there is no turning back and the damage is done. It’s irreparable.

Why won’t she look at me? Emma looked about the room. The table was set with the good china. Their favorite bottle of wine sat corked in the center, and across from her, was her beautiful wife. This was the woman that she spent the last two decades of her life with, and she won’t even look up? There was no way I was ever going to really fall in love with anyone else, you made sure of that. Whenever I thought you were out of my life, you miraculously reappeared every time. With narrowed eyes, gripping the ends of the table she looked around in the dimly lit room.

The dining room was immaculate, crown molding lines the ceiling, and a tapestry of a French courtyard hangs on the back wall. A china cabinet delicately displaying the unused settings on the opposite wall. The dimmer switch was set to low and candles flicker in silver holders (inherited from her wife’s grandmother, who inherited them from her grandmother and so forth and so on). Her wife was sitting, with her thick strawberry blonde hair in delicate waves down her back. Her favorite dress clung to her curves. She has a beautiful body, and not a lot of things look bad on her. Her chin was down, and her beautiful blue eyes are downcast, refusing to look at Emma. She is leaning back against the chair with her head down. She’s there, but she’s not.

Emma sat back, still staring across the table at her wife. One hand rested on the table, the other on the back of her chair. She worked so hard on this dinner. She made their favorite meal – eggplant parmigiana, pasta, home-made garlic bread. Not even an acknowledgement of the fact that the bottle of wine costs what Bear used to make in two weeks working at Jessie’s shop.

Her wife just sat there unmoved. Unimpressed. Not looking. Not speaking. This was her schtick though. The cold shoulder. The silent treatment. It wasn’t the first time she did this to Emma. But still, it was frustrating to her. And to think, this woman has a PhD. You would think she has better coping mechanisms than the silent treatment.

The dinner itself and the beautiful and impressive dining room it was served in, could not be a further cry from Emma’s meager beginnings. To keep from looking at her silent wife, Emma looked around at the room.

“You had everything growing up. This dinner, and what I did to prepare it, probably don’t mean much to you. But to make this, to have this, this is the world to me. What we built together, has meant the world to me.” Emma’s voice was quiet. Tears had welled up in her eyes.

The Past (1976-1991)

Emma Landry never knew her mother. She didn’t even know she had one until she was in kindergarten. She thought she only came to be because of one parent, her dad Frank, who she called Bear, short for Papa Bear.

She lived with her dad in a small trailer near the town. It was behind the auto shop that her dad worked at, which was owned by his brother, her uncle Jessie. The trailer was rundown, and there was a hole in the corner of the floor in the living room where she could see the ground beneath. In the winter time, she would stick a towel in the hole to keep the cold out, but sometimes the mice beneath the trailer would take it. Bear’s room was located at one end of the narrow trailer, and hers was at the other. There was a small living room with a tv that had bootlegged cable running to it. The walls were lined with a dark, faux wood paneling. An old card table with folding chairs was where they ate from dull plastic plates with mismatched silverware and chipped ceramic mugs. The couch was old, cream colored with brown and orange flower print, sagged in the middle and smelled faintly of mildew.

Their trailer and the shop were located on a small, wooded plot of land. They didn’t have neighbors, and she didn’t have friends. Her friends were two plush animals, Teddy (a floppy eared dog) and Brownie (a threadbare cotton tailed bunny).

And if you are still interested in reading more (which I hope you are!) here is a purchase link:

If you would like to see more content from other bookish people about Like Sapphire Blue, check out this timetable:

May 5th, 2023

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGTeYZEBPBWScWXkqBnZrQQ

May 6th, 2023

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FandomandBooks

May 7th, 2023

Blog: https://treatyoshelf.blog/

May 8th, 2023

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/museumgrack/

May 9th, 2023

Blog: https://breakevenbooks.com

May 10th, 2023

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautys.library/

May 11th, 2023

Blog: https://theshaggyshepherd.wordpress.com/

May 11th, 2023

Blog: https://infinitysbookshelf.wordpress.com/

May 12th, 2023Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/booksimperfectcondition/

blog tours

Five Survive by Holly Jackson Book/Blog Tour!

December 1, 2022November 30, 2022 theblindscribe

Happy Thursday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good first day of December! I am very excited today to be taking part in the book blog tour for Holly Jackson’s new book, Five Survive. Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours for sending me a netgalley version of this book to read and review. I love Holly Jackson’s books, her Good Girl’s Guide To Murder series are some of my favourite mystery novels. For my spot on the tour I am posting a book review and then a playlist of songs that I think would be great to match the atmosphere of the book.

As usual with my book reviews I will give star ratings to four categories and I will write a little bit about each one, I will do my best to not include spoilers.

I hope you enjoy my book review!

Five Survive Plot:

The premise of this book was very exciting for me from the start. Six people all with dark secrets trapped in an RV they can’t get out of because of a sniper. I will admit that the beginning was a little slow for my taste, while waiting for the van to breakdown – when you know it is going to happen already it felt like it took a while to get to that point but I get that Jackson was using this time to introduce the characters and the tensions between them already. Once the story really got into the action I was hooked. It was atmospheric and exciting and I could feel my heart beating right alongside the characters. It has a much darker feel in my opinion to the Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series but I quite liked that, it was different in a good way. The ending really had me surprised and I think if you read this you will be too (you’ll have to let me know if you were!)

Five Survive Characters:

This part was the most interesting for me to rate here, simply because I couldn’t say I liked any of these characters but I was so intrigued by their motivations and I can tell you I was dying to know what all their secrets were and for me that worked for this story, I didn’t need to like them or trust them that was the point – they didn’t know who they could trust and as readers neither can we.

Five Survive Writing and Dialogue:

As I have already said I love Holly Jackson’s books and her writing and this book was no different.

Five Survive Overall:

I gave this book four stars overall because I really enjoyed the mystery and surprisingly the dark atmosphere.

Playlist!

For the playlist I would say that this book warrants some dark powerful songs to go with the tone and the plot.

This won’t be in order by the way but here are some of the songs I would put with this book:

Run Boy Run by Woodkid

I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift

I’m A Mess by Avril Lavigne and Yungblud

Darkside by Neoni

My Heart’s Grave by Faouzia

Avalanche by Avril Lavigne

Book Synopsis:

The brand new unmissable crime thriller from Holly Jackson, best-selling, award-winning author of the Good Girl’s Guide to Murder trilogy.

Eight hours.
Six friends.
One sniper . . .

Eighteen year old Red and her friends are on a road trip in an RV, heading to the beach for Spring Break. It’s a long drive but spirits are high. Until the RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere. There’s no mobile phone reception and nobody around to help. And as the wheels are shot out, one by one, the friends realise that this is no accident. There’s a sniper out there in the dark watching them and he knows exactly who they are. One of the group has a secret that the sniper is willing to kill for.

A game of cat-and-mouse plays out as the group desperately tries to get help and to work out which member of the group is the target. Buried secrets are forced to light in the cramped, claustrophobic setting of the RV, and tensions within the group will reach deadly levels. Not everyone will survive the night.

Buy From:

Whsmiths:https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/five-survive/holly-jackson/hardback/9780755504404.html?utm_campaign=eq_whs_259955&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=awin&awc=3017_1669827694_7d2a2b91431cacda22304e1c9cf2b0a8

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/HJ-Book-4-Holly-Jackson/dp/0755504402/ref=asc_df_0755504402/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=606802419329&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8652349781391532879&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045311&hvtargid=pla-1671842202934&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/five-survive/holly-jackson//9780008507237?awaid=3787&utm_source=redbrain&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=css&gclid=Cj0KCQiAm5ycBhCXARIsAPldzoU6ZgQbwnQKo2JjZXBSz-YqO7rFKNwMrJUluufIxeBaa4iDuyVqUOUaArgTEALw_wcB&awc=3787_1669827693_f5ab7e88f5c6d884c7358d712f031e68

Here is a link to the tour schedule: https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/2022/10/26/tour-schedule-five-survive-by-holly-jackson/

blog tours, Book Reviews

Book Review The Very Nice Box by Laura Blackett and Eve Gleichman

August 7, 2022 theblindscribe

Happy Sunday bookish people! I am excited today to be bringing you my book review for The Very Nice Box by Laura Blackett and Eve Gleichman as part of the book tour. Thank you to Verve books for sending me a copy of this book to read and review.
In this book review I will be giving star ratings to four categories and writing a little bit about each one. I will do my best to not include any spoilers.

The Very Nice Box Plot

I was interested in reading this book because the description sounded like a quirky take on the fiction genre even though books with a focus on romance aren’t usually my favourites to read. I thought it was an overall enjoyable read because it makes you see the world completely differently.

This story is about Ava Simon who designs storage boxes for STADA, a furniture company and she is still recovering from a tragedy that gives an interesting overview to the whole story, and she gets a new boss who is determined to get close to her.

The ending to this book was one of my favourite moments because, for me, it felt satisfying, the characters got the endings it felt like were right for their characters.

The Very Nice Box Characters

Ava is the main character we follow in this book. I found myself quite drawn to her character, she keeps her life together by creating routines and order in everything which is something I have definitely done so I can relate to her character in an interesting way. That is one of the things that made this book an enjoyable read for me.

The Very Nice Box Writing and Dialogue

As I say a lot in this section of my reviews I like when writing is clear and fluid, it helps me to not focus so much on how the sentences work together and just enjoy the story. For me, this book does just that.

The Very Nice Box Overall

I gave this book three stars overall because I found it to be an interesting mix of quirky, comedic, and intense not exactly fiction and I enjoyed reading it but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I have some other books so that is why I gave this book this rating.

blurb/Synopsis:

Ava Simon designs storage boxes for STÄDA, a slick Brooklyn-based furniture company. She’s hard-working, obsessive, and heartbroken from a tragedy that killed her girlfriend and upended her life. It’s been years since she’s let anyone in.

But when Ava’s new boss—the young and magnetic Mat Putnam—offers Ava a ride home one afternoon, an unlikely relationship blossoms. Ava remembers how rewarding it can be to open up—and, despite her instincts, she becomes enamored. But Mat isn’t who he claims to be, and the romance takes a sharp turn.

The Very Nice Box is a wryly funny, suspenseful debut—with a shocking twist. It’s at once a send-up of male entitlement and a big-hearted account of grief, friendship, and trust.

Just to let you all know I tried to include an image here of the cover but for some reason it wouldn’t let me today.

that’s it for this book review, I hope you all enjoyed it!

blog tours

Sense and Second Degree Murder Book tour: Book Look

April 8, 2022 theblindscribe

Happy Friday bookish people! Today I am excited to be bringing you my book look for the book blog tour of Sense and Second Degree Murder by Tirzah Price.

To give you a sense of what I was basing my look on I will show you the book cover here and the synopsis of the book:

Blurb/Synopsis:

Three of Jane Austen’s classic novels receive a murder mystery makeover in this romantic and thrilling three-book series that’s perfect for fans of The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy and Stalking Jack the Ripper. In Sense and Second-Degree Murder, aspiring scientist Elinor Dashwood and her sister Marianne, a budding detective, work together to solve the mystery of their father’s murder.

When eighteen-year-old aspiring scientist Elinor Dashwood discovers her beloved father slumped over the desk of his office study, she knows his death means dire straits for the Dashwood women. To make matters worse, an outdated will entails his estate—including Norland & Company, the private investigation firm where her younger sister Marianne worked as her father’s partner and protégé—to their half-brother and his haughty wife, who waste no time in forcing the Dashwoods out of their home and into a cramped apartment on London’s Barton Street.

But before they go, the Dashwood sisters make a startling discovery that points to foul play, and the killer might be family.

Obviously, the girls must investigate. It could be dangerous; it could ruin their reputations; and most importantly, it won’t bring back their father. But if the Dashwood sisters can combine their talents and bring their father’s murderer to justice, it may bring them all some comfort—and it might even lead to love.

Publishing Date: April 5th 2022

You can find the book here:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53171418-sense-second-degree-murder

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sense-Second-Degree-Murder-Austen-Mysteries/dp/0062889834/ref=sr_1_1?creative=330641&keywords=Sense+%26+Second-Degree+Murder&qid=1643928993&s=books&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sense-and-second-degree-murder-tirzah-price/1139798958?ean=9780062889836

Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Sense-Second-Degree-Murder-Tirzah-Price/9780062889836?ref=grid-view&qid=1643929039965&sr=1-1

Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/sense-and-second-degree-murder/9780062889836-item.html?ikwid=sense+and+second+degree+murder&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0#algoliaQueryId=b14

Indie Bound Books: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062889836

This is my book look:

I chose a dark green top for the background colour of the book, although I didn’t have anything in just the right mix of green and blue but I will definitely be looking out for some now because it is a great colour. I chose pink trousers to match the pink stitching, which you can’t see that well in this picture because I have an ebook copy of the books – kindly sent to me on Netgalley by the publishers. I chose a floral cardigan because the cover is full of flowers.

If you would like to check out other blog posts on this book tour here is the link to the schedule: https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/2022/02/20/tour-schedule-sense-and-second-degree-murder-jane-austen-murder-mystery-2-by-tirzah-price/

Tirzah Pricegrew up on a farm in Michigan, where she read every book she could get her hands onand never outgrew her love for YA fiction. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children & Young AdultsfromVermont College of Fine Arts, and is a former bookseller and librarian. Now, she’s acontributing editor at Book Riot, where she can be found recommending books on the site,newsletters, podcasts, and social media accounts. When she’s not writing, reading, or thinking aboutYA books, she splits her time between experimenting in the kitchen and knitting enough socks to lastthe fierce Michigan winters.Tirzah is pronounced TEER-zuh. Pronouns are she/her.

That’s it for my post today, I hope you all enjoyed it!

blog tours, Book Reviews

Book Review: You’ll Be The Death Of Me by Karen M McManus

November 27, 2021 theblindscribe

Happy Saturday bookish people! Today I am so excited to be posting my book review for You’ll Be The Death of Me by Karen M McManus as part of the book tour hosted by TheWriteReads.

In this book review I will give star ratings to four categories and I will write a little bit about each one. I will try to keep it as spoiler free as possible. I hope you enjoy my book review.

You’ll Be The Death of Me Plot:

This is another fantastic YA thriller/mystery by Karen M McManus. It is full of perfectly crafter twists that will throw you off for the entire book. I found myself trying to work out the mystery and every time I thought I was getting close some new theory or information was thrown out so I let my intuition guide me and just enjoyed the fast paced novel. I was drawn into the story from the very first chapter until the last page. The only part I didn’t enjoy a much was the ending, there were certain parts of it that I felt were tied up a little too neatly for the characters and the plot of this book.

You’ll Be The Death Of Me Characters:

There are three main characters in this book, Ivy, Cal and Mateo. They used to be best friends in Middle School but in the beginning of this book they aren’t friends anymore – you find out the reason as the book goes on. Each one of them have their own personal problems and each of them have their own secrets which adds a brilliant tension to the novel. Ivy is a very headstrong female character and I liked how she grew throughout although some of her progression was lost at the end of the novel because of parts of the ending. Cal was a character I disliked from the beginning, to me he was selfish and naïve and caused some of the problems that the characters later had to overcome. Mateo felt like a leader to me, he had this mature, older nature to him that Ivy and Cal didn’t have but again, his secrets led to problems that shouldn’t have been there – which was part of the tension of the novel. One thing I didn’t like was that the characters didn’t always receive realistic repercussions for their actions.

You’ll Be The Death of Me Writing and Dialogue:

I love Karen M McManus’ writing, I own all her books and I have read two of them, The Cousins and One Of Us Is Lying. The mysteries are consistently intriguing and well structured.

You’ll Be The Death of Me Overall:

I gave this book four stars overall because it was an enjoyable and pulse-raising read.

Blurb/Synopsis:

Ivy, Mateo, and Cal used to be close. Now all they have in common is Carlton High and the beginning of a very bad day.

Type A Ivy lost a student council election to the class clown, and now she has to face the school, humiliated. Heartthrob Mateo is burned out–he’s been working two jobs since his family’s business failed. And outsider Cal just got stood up…. again.

So when Cal pulls into campus late for class and runs into Ivy and Mateo, it seems like the perfect opportunity to turn a bad day around. They’ll ditch and go into the city. Just the three of them, like old times. Except they’ve barely left the parking lot before they run out of things to say…

Until they spot another Carlton High student skipping school–and follow him to the scene of his own murder. In one chance move, their day turns from dull to deadly. And it’s about to get worse.

It turns out Ivy, Mateo, and Cal still have some things in common. They all have a connection to the dead kid. And they’re all hiding something.

Now they’re all wondering–could it be that their chance reconnection wasn’t by chance after all?

From the author of One of Us Is Lying comes a brand-new pulse-pounding thriller. It’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off with murder when three old friends relive an epic ditch day, and it goes horribly–and fatally–wrong.

That’s it for my book review, I hope you all enjoyed it!

blog tours, Book Reviews

As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson Book Look and Top 5 Reasons to read.

September 29, 2021 theblindscribe

Happy Wednesday bookish people! I am so excited to be part of the book tour for As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson, the third book in the Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Series. I absolutely love this series and I am excited today to be bringing you a ‘book look’ and my Top 5 Reasons for you to read As Good As Dead!

Thank you to TbrBeyond tours for having me on this tour and sending me an e-copy of this book.

So, first let me show you my book look! I looked at the colours on the cover, black, grey and red, and I chose a red top and a pair of grey jeans.

(This photo was taken in my hallway by the way, it’s the place that had the best light)

Onto my Top 5 Reasons To Read As Good As Dead…

Book Review: The Curry Compendium by Richard Sayce

September 17, 2021 theblindscribe

Happy Friday bookish people! Today is my spot on the book tour for The Curry Compendium by Richard Sayce. Thank you to Literally PR for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This review will be different to my usual ones as a Curry Compendium doesn’t have a plot or characters to rate but I will give the book an overall rating and tell you some of my thoughts about it.

Curry Compendium: My thoughts:

So, I myself am not a lover of curries. Okay, admittedly I’ve only ever tried one and I think pepper (as in salt and pepper) is too spicy. That tells you a little something about my culinary palette. It barely exists. However, my partner loves curries and spicy food. He was very happy I received this book.

This book contains many recipes split down into clear and organised sections, each one is easy to find and easy to read through. We haven’t had the chance to make any of the recipes yet, although I’m pretty sure he is eyeing up a few of them to try and get me to taste them. The book itself is very well presented, I think the cover stands out and all the pictures are enticing.

I’d give this book a rating of

Four stars because I know my partner is going to get a lot of enjoyment out of experimenting with the recipes and making them for his family who also enjoy eating curries.

Blurb/Synopsis:

Introducing the definitive guide to recreating British Indian Restaurant favourites from the comfort of your own home!

Lockdown saw a surge in people trying to recreate restaurant flavours at home – and now Brits want more inspiration as they get bolder in the kitchen.

In Curry Compendium, Richard Sayce expertly combines both volumes of his best-selling, Gourmand award-winning Indian Restaurant Curry at Home books, with a sprinkling of new recipes, to create the ultimate guide to cooking excellent British Indian Restaurant food in your own kitchen.

Richard Sayce, the man behind Misty Ricardo’s Curry Kitchen, is renowned by his many fans for quality recipes, attention to detail and his affable style. Having sold more than 50,000 copies of his first books, and amassing over six million views of his recipes on YouTube, there is a huge appetite for this new magnus opus packed with mouth-watering, easy-to-follow recipes.

Curry Compendium includes starters, side dishes, curries, rice and bread, along with a generous portion of vegetarian, traditional and street food style recipes. Readers benefit from supporting YouTube tutorials for the majority of recipes, each with a QR code to scan with a smartphone/tablet to watch online instantly.

Research from Bray Leino points to lockdown leading to an overwhelming rise in home cooking: 55% said they are ‘cooking more from scratch as I’m spending more time at home.’ Interestingly, the group most likely to agree with this statement was 18-34 year olds. Their 2019 report identified this group as most likely to eat fast food and use ready meals, so we’re seeing a huge behaviour shift that will impact for years to come.

That’s it for this book review, I hope you all enjoyed it!

blog tours, Book Reviews

Book Review: The Dinner Party by Sarah Gilmartin

September 17, 2021 theblindscribe

Happy Friday bookish people! Today is my stop on the book tour for The Dinner Party by Sarah Gilmartin. Thank you to Tara McEvoy for sending me a physical copy of this book to read and review.

In this book review I will give star ratings to four categories and I will write a little about each one. I will try to keep it as spoiler free as possible. I hope you enjoy my book review.

The Dinner Party Plot:

For most of this book I wasn’t sure there was much of a plot, but I realised this was because the author was showing us glimpses of the past intertwined with events of the present and the relationships of the characters. I liked that this book didn’t shy away from difficult topics and instead presented them in the right way.

The Dinner Party Characters:

To me this book was very character centred. Most of the tension and the mystery was because of the relationships between the characters and I liked getting to know each of them on a deeper level than books sometimes show their characters.

The Dinner Party Writing and Dialogue:

The writing in this book is lovely, clear and smooth. It also has this ominous tone to it throughout which I think added a whole other level to the story.

The Dinner Party Overall:

I gave this book three stars overall because although it was an enjoyable read, I didn’t feel all the tension in my self, I wasn’t that connected to any of the characters.

Blurb/Synopsis:

To mark the anniversary of a death in the family, Kate meticulously plans a dinner party – from the fancy table setting to the perfect baked alaska waiting in the freezer. But by the end of the night, old tensions have flared, the guests are gone, and Kate is spinning out of control.

Set between from the 1990s and the present day, from Carlow to Dublin, the family farmhouse to Trinity College, Dinner Party is a beautifully observed, dark and twisty novel that thrillingly unravels into family secrets and tragedy.

Haunting and unforgettable, it explores how the past informs the present, the inevitability of childhood damage resurfacing in later life – and yet how, despite everything, we can’t help returning home.

That’s it for this book review, I hope you all enjoyed it!

Category: blog tours

Book Spotlight: Sealed Empire by Norbert Zsivicz

The Dreams That Bind Us Book Spotlight

Book Spotlight: Like Sapphire Blue by Marisa Billions

Five Survive by Holly Jackson Book/Blog Tour!

Five Survive Plot:

Five Survive Characters:

Five Survive Writing and Dialogue:

Five Survive Overall:

Playlist!

Book Review The Very Nice Box by Laura Blackett and Eve Gleichman

The Very Nice Box Plot

The Very Nice Box Characters

The Very Nice Box Writing and Dialogue

The Very Nice Box Overall

Sense and Second Degree Murder Book tour: Book Look

Book Review: You’ll Be The Death Of Me by Karen M McManus

You’ll Be The Death of Me Plot:

You’ll Be The Death Of Me Characters:

You’ll Be The Death of Me Writing and Dialogue:

You’ll Be The Death of Me Overall:

As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson Book Look and Top 5 Reasons to read.

Top 5 Reasons To Read As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson:

Book Review: The Curry Compendium by Richard Sayce

Curry Compendium: My thoughts:

Book Review: The Dinner Party by Sarah Gilmartin

The Dinner Party Plot:

The Dinner Party Characters:

The Dinner Party Writing and Dialogue:

The Dinner Party Overall: