Book Reviews

The Fabrication of Eden Pruitt by K.E. Ganshert

About the Book

Title: The Fabrication of Eden Pruitt
Series: The Eden Pruitt #1
Author: K.E. Ganshert
Genre: YA Fiction
Release Date: June 14, 2022

Studious and principled Eden Pruitt stepped out of line just once. Unfortunately, that reckless decision ended with an arrest, a mug shot, and two very concerned parents. Now they’re starting over. In Iowa, of all places. On the cusp of her senior year, of all times. The situation is less than ideal but she’ll just have to manage, and without complaint. The change of address was her fault after all, and she isn’t going to make anything harder on her parents, who have already been through enough.

But life in Iowa turns strange fast. Odd things are happening, and Eden has no idea what any of it means. Then she comes home from her first day of school to a ransacked house and the nightmare officially begins. Her parents are missing. She’s convinced something terrible has happened to them. But nobody believes her. Except for a hardened, mysterious stranger who is as dangerous as he is enticing.

Grab your copy here!

About the Author

Award-winning author, Katie (K.E.) Ganshert, graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree in education, and worked as a fifth grade teacher for several years before staying home to write. Now she’s a full-time author torn between two genres: young adult fiction of the fantastical variety and contemporary fiction of the inspirational variety. She was born and raised in the Midwest, where she lives with her family. When she’s not penning novels, she volunteers as project manager for a non-profit that serves vulnerable women and children in her daughter’s birth country. You can learn more about Katie and her books by visiting her website (www.katieganshert.com). You can learn more about her heart for vulnerable women and children by Googling Reeds of Hope, The Lokumu Project.

My Review

The Fabrication of Eden Pruitt
by K.E. Ganshert
Book 1 in the Eden Pruitt series
Rating: 4.5/5

Wow. The author knocks it out of the park with a thrilling new YA adventure that hooks you from the start and holds you captive until the end. You won’t want to put the book down and once you do, you’ll want the next book ASAP. I am so excited for the next books in the series.

First, the book cover is gorgeous and I love the monochromatic look.
Second, I love stories with mystery, romance, suspense and sci-fi components. This book pretty much has it all and will keep you guessing. The writing is well written and fast-paced.
Third, the characters are well-developed with just enough to keep you interested but also craving more in future books. Eden Pruitt is a more complex character than initially suspected with many layers to uncover. Cassian is a very mysterious and interesting character that I can’t wait to read more about.
Fourth, the chemistry between Eden and Cassian is swoon worthy and that’s all I’m gonna say 😉

PG-13 content.

Highly recommend if you enjoy YA contemporary fiction with romance, mystery, sci-fi, and suspense.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

Also Available

June 14, 2022 by Kim Book Reviews

Vivid by Ashley Bustamante

About the Book

Book: Vivid
Author: Ashley Bustamante
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release date: May 17, 2022

Danger Lurks Behind Every Color

When Ava Locke was five years old, she began a journey to join the Benefactors—the leaders of the magical continent of Magus. Twelve years later, she unwittingly started down the road to betray them.

On Magus where colors fuel magical abilities, yellow is banned in an effort to protect people from its mind-controlling capabilities. When a rogue Yellow magic-user named Elm escapes imprisonment Ava becomes innocently fascinated with his story. Once this mysterious Elm shows up at her school, Ava pushes her interest to the next level by helping him evade the Benefactors. Ava grows increasingly conflicted as her intrigue leads her down a dark road of secrets about her world. As she learns more about Yellow magic’s potential to control its victims, Ava now must question whether her rash decisions are all her own or if someone else is pulling the strings.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Ashley Bustamante has created stories from the moment she could scribble and staple sheets of paper together. She simply cannot recall a time when writing was not a force in her life. When not running through lines of dialogue in her mind, she enjoys taking photographs and spending time with her husband, three children, and any furry, feathered, or scaly creature she can find. She currently works at Arizona State University.

Connect with Ashley: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

My Review

Vivid
by Ashley Bustamante
Book 1 in the Color Theory series
Rating: 4.5/5

Enclave Publishing never disappoints! I was excited to read this interesting YA fantasy from new-to-me author, Ashley Bustamante, and she did NOT disappoint. The writing feels fresh and exciting with a plot that draws you into her magical world of color and possibilities. As the first book in a series, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more.

First, I obviously had to read the book based on that COVER! I mean, come on! If that cover doesn’t make you stop and want to read the book, I don’t know what else can. The book cover is stunning and the cover art designer needs a promotion!
Second, like I said earlier, the story is well fleshed-out and the world-building is brilliantly done in a fairly non-confusing way. LOL. It is another world that I enjoyed escaping to for a few hours and cannot wait to return to. I need a quiz on what COLOR I would be 😉
Third, the characters keep you guessing with lots of twists and turns which make you doubt yourself. The main characters are interesting and their slow-burn romance makes you want to root for them.

Highly recommend this fantastic and clean YA fantasy with romance, magic and self-exploration.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

More from Ashley

Vivid is a great example of how something small can turn into something big with a little faith and a lot of work!

The idea for Vivid came from a dream (which later became part of Chapter 5) that I just couldn’t forget. A dream about a charming young man in a top hat and a young lady in a yellow dress. I won’t give away the whole scene, but what stood out to me was the complicated feelings of the young lady. She was left so conflicted and dazed by her encounter with this roguish stranger. She knew she shouldn’t have spent time with him, and yet it was exciting. The thing she wanted more than anything was for him to come back, and yet that was also the thing that terrified her the most.

This scene and these characters would not leave my head. I wanted to know the rest of their story and it was all I could think about. Finally, I wrote it all down. How could I not? I made some adjustments, and soon I was plotting. Soon I had names. Places. A magic system. A chapter. Two chapters. Ten chapters. Within a month, I had my first draft written.

The road forward wasn’t easy as I was met with rejection after rejection. But through it all I could feel my Heavenly Father cheering me on, encouraging me to grow the talent he had given me. At once point I almost shelved the project, but that little nudge kept me going and eventually led me to my publisher. All the little pieces that came together over the years to lead me there is a story in and of itself.

I hope you will enjoy Vivid and come to love Ava and Elm as much as I do. It is my privilege to have this opportunity to share them with you.

Blog Stops

Library Lady’s kid Lit, May 31
A Baker’s Perspective, June 1 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 1
Texas Book-aholic, June 2
Inklings and notions, June 3
deb’s Book Review, June 4
For Him and My Family, June 5
Locks, Hooks and Books, June 6
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 7
Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 8
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, June 9 (Author Interview)
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 9
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, June 10
Blogging With Carol, June 11
Labor Not in Vain, June 12
Inside the Wong Mind, June 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Ashley is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed hardback copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1e382/vivid-celebration-tour-giveaway

June 13, 2022 by Kim Book Reviews Giveaway

Veil of Winter by Melanie Dickerson

Title: Veil of Winter
Series: The Dericott Tales #3
Author: Melanie Dickerson
Genre: Medieval Fairy Tale
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: June 14, 2022

She’s hounded from every side by treacherous elements and foes, but her greatest enemy lies within.

In the mountains near France, the medieval Princess Elyce is being forced to marry, thus forming an alliance that will enrich her father but enslave her kingdom. Instead, she chooses to feign her death and flee to Prague to beg King Wenceslaus to help save her people.

In England, the young knight Sir Gerard has a vision from God instructing him to help Elyce on her quest. When he arrives to find she has been near death for days, he manages to revive her. However, thinking the stranger was trying to kiss her, the princess immediately distrusts him. But her desperate situation forces her to accept his aid.

Pursued by her enemy’s guards over mountainous terrain, they must also battle the deadly winter elements. Her greatest challenge may be to overcome the voices of disapproval and accusation from her childhood. Will her emotions lead her into her true identity, or will they undermine her ability to work with Gerard and to save her people, who desperately need her help?

In this dazzling and romantic story, New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson takes the classic Sleeping Beauty fairy tale to satisfying new heights.

Grab your copy here!

About the Author

Melanie Dickerson is a New York Times Bestselling author and two-time Christy Award winner. Melanie spends her time daydreaming, researching the most fascinating historical time periods, and writing and editing her happily-ever-afters.

Connect with Melanie: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

My Review

Veil of Winter
by Melanie Dickerson
Book 3 in the Dericott Tales
Rating: 4/5

Melanie Dickerson does it again with her third installment of the Dericott Tales! With a unique retelling of Sleeping Beauty, she weaves a masterful story that transports the reader into this reimagined fairy tale. I fell in love with Princess Elyce and Sir Gerard’s story and I loved how they met for the first time. I laughed and sighed. Such a great story and one that you will not want to miss! I recommend reading the first two books first but I still think this story can be read on its own.

Highly recommend this clean medieval fairy tale retelling with a lot of heart and passion for social change.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.