"To find out what a story's really about,' the Librarian said,

'you don't ask the writer. You ask the reader."


- SNOW & ROSE by Emily Winfield Martin


Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Book Spotlight Blog Tour (Excerpt and Giveaway): CHARMED (Fairy Tale Reform School #2) by Jen Calonita (MG)


Welcome to today's book spotlight!


Fairy Tale Reform School #2
by Jen Calonita
Release date: March 3rd, 2016
Published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Genre: Middle Grade 


SUMMARY

Charmed is the exciting sequel to the wildly popular Flunked -- second in the brand new Fairy Tale Reform School series where the teachers are (former) villains. "Charming fairy-tale fun." -Sarah Mlynowski, author of the New York Times bestselling Whatever After series.

It takes a (mostly) reformed thief to catch a spy. Which is why Gilly Cobbler, Enchantasia’s most notorious pickpocket, volunteers to stay locked up at Fairy Tale Reform School…indefinitely. Gilly and her friends may have defeated the Evil Queen and become reluctant heroes, but the battle for Enchantasia has just begun.

Alva, aka The Wicked One who cursed Sleeping Beauty, has declared war on the Princesses, and she wants the students of Fairy Tale Reform School to join her. As her criminal classmates give in to temptation, Gilly goes undercover as a Royal Lady in Waiting (don’t laugh) to unmask a spy…before the mole can hand Alva the keys to the kingdom. 

Her parents think Gilly the Hero is completely reformed, but sometimes you have to get your hands dirty. Sometimes it’s good to be bad…


BUY LINKS




EXCERPT

The Magic Mirror’s voice crackles throughout the school, “Let the first annual Fairy Tale Reform School WAND WHAT YOU WANT hour begin!”
            I hear students cheer and wands begin popping up in kids’ hands as we walk through the halls. POP! My wand arrives in my hand; long, dark-gray and nicked like its seen a few battles. What to try first… I’m just about test the wand out, when I feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I dive out of the way just as a classmate casts a spell on the girl next to me, turning her into an ice sculpture.
            POP! POP! POP! Kids begin casting all around me. The crowded hallways is suddenly full of talking woodland creatures, toads, fireworks, and a pretty impressive cloud raining licorice. Kids are cheering, fighting, and the sound of all those wands working is enough to give me a headache.
            SLURP!
            The chaotic hallway disappears and a new empty hall arrives in its place. The magic hallways are always changing for security reasons, but I happen to know this hall leads to the school courtyard. More students appear and new spells begin zapping around me. I run out into the quiet school courtyard to test out my wand in peace. The warm sun is shining bright high above the castle walls, making me wistful for adventure. I can never sit still for long.
            “We hope you enjoy your wand experience, but remember, all wands disappear at the hour mark so choose your magic wisely,” I hear Miri continue. I’m relieved to find no mirror in the courtyard, which means she can’t see what I’m up to. That magic mirror is forever tattling on students for bad behavior. “Flying is not advised.”
            “Not advised, but she didn’t say it was against the rules,” I say to myself. I flick the wand over my stuffy, uncomfortable pale blue uniform and turn it into a comfy peasant shirt and pants. I get rid of my ugly school shoes and swap them out for my beloved high-lace up boots. Now that I’m comfortable, I get to the task at hand. I’m sure an actual spell would work better, but since I don’t know one, I just imagine myself flying and bam! I’m slowly floating up, up, up in the air. Score!
            A Pegasus flies by pulling a coach with four students in it.
            “HI GILLY!” they shout and wave.
            When you save your school from a wicked fairy, people tend to remember your name. Even if you don’t remember theirs.
            “Hi!” I say, lying back like I’m floating on a cloud. Wow, this is relaxing. I stretch my arms wide and -- oops!
            My wand falls from my grasp. Uh oh. I begin to plummet, spinning, faster and faster with no sign of stopping. Before I can even think of a way to break my fall, WHOOSH! I feel my body hit a blanket, bounce up, then land again on a magic carpet being steered by my friend Jax.
            “Ten minutes into WAND WHAT YOU WANT and you’ve already had a near death experience?” Jax says, a glint in his violet eyes. His curly blond hair looks white in the bright sunlight. “You’re getting sloppy.”
            “I’m not getting sloppy!” I’m seriously offended by that statement. “How’d you even know where to find me?”
            “I thought to myself, ‘What would Gilly do with wand access for an hour?’ and I knew right away you’d try to sneak home for a bit,” Jax says.
            My usual partner in crime steers our magic carpet over the castle walls and across the vast school grounds. Below I can see students fanned out on castle rooftops, in the garden mazes, near the lake, all casting away with various results. Jax flies the carpet faster, the wind whipping our hair and making it hard to see. I push the hair away from my eyes and strain to see home. There, beyond the gleaming pillars of Royal Court, where the princesses who rule our kingdom live, is my small village of Enchantasia. Somewhere down there, my family is working, playing and hopefully missing me as much as I miss them. The carpet is nearing the Hollow Woods which separates us and the village--CRACKLE! Our magic carpet is stopped by an invisible wall that keeps us from escaping school grounds. Clever of Flora to put the barricade up during wand training. Oh well. Leaving was a long-shot, but maybe I could wave my wand and at least see what my family was up to. “My wand! I realize. “I need to go get it.”


Also by Jen Calonita... 

Fairy Tale Reform School, Book One
Release date: March 3rd, 2015
Published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky 
Genre: Middle Grade 

SUMMARY

Would you send a villain to do a hero's job? An exciting new twisted fairy tale series from award-winning author Jen Calonita.

Full of regret, Cinderella's wicked stepmother, Flora, has founded the Fairy Tale Reform School with the mission of turning the wicked and criminally mischievous into upstanding members of Enchantasia.

Impish, sassy 12-year-old Gilly has a history of petty theft and she's not too sorry about it. When she lifts a hair clip, she gets tossed in reform school-for at least three months. But when she meets fellow students Jax and Kayla, she learns there's more to this school than its sweet mission. There's a battle brewing and she starts to wonder: can a villain really change?



BUY LINKS




GIVEAWAY
- TWO winners will receive ONE set of Fairy Tale Reform books!
- Giveaway starts on March 1st, and will end on March 31st, 2016.
- U.S. and Canada only, sorry.

(Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.)


ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Jen Calonita


Jen Calonita is the author of the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series and other books like Sleepaway Girls and Summer State of Mind, but Fairy Tale Reform School is her first middle-grade series. 

She rules Long Island, New York, with her husband Mike, princes Tyler and Dylan, and Chihuahua Captain Jack Sparrow, but the only castle she’d ever want to live in is Cinderella’s at Disney World. 

She’d love for you to visit her at jencalonitaonline.com and keep the fairy-tale fun going at happilyeverafterscrolls.net 




Monday, March 28, 2016

Book Spotlight Blog Tour (Excerpt and Giveaway): CALLING ALL CARS by Sue Fliess (C)


Good day! Welcome to today's book spotlight!!!


by Sue Fliess
Illustrated by Sarah Beise
Release date: March 1st, 2016
Published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Genre: Children's Picture Book


SUMMARY

Big cars, small cars, let's call ALL cars! This bouncy text explores the wonderful world of cars zipping up, down, fast, and slow. A perfect basic concept books for eager young learners from the author of Tons of Trucks. Then cruise into bedtime!

Rest cars, Hush cars
No more rush, cars. 
Cars pull in, turn off the light. 
Sweet dreams, sleepy cars...goodnight!

Filled with vibrant art, adorable animal characters, and cars of all kinds from love bugs to the demolition derby, Calling All Cars is for every child who loves to read about things that go! Surprise bonus -- follow one long road throughout this vividly imagined world and don't miss the hidden clues in the artwork!


EXCERPT



BUY LINKS




GIVEAWAY

- THREE winners will win ONE copy of CALLING ALL CARS!
- Giveaway starts March 1st, ends on March 31st, 2016.
- U.S. and Canada only, sorry. 

(Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, stolen, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.)



ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Sue Fliess


Sue Fliess is the author of more than a dozen children’s books, including the popular Tons of Trucks and Robots, Robots Everywhere! 

Her background is in copywriting, PR, and marketing, and her articles have appeared in O, the Oprah Magazine; Huffington Post; Writer’s Digest; and more. Her article from O, the Oprah Magazine was chosen for inclusion in O’s Little Book of Happiness (March 2015).

Sue lives with her family and a Lab named Charlie in Northern Virginia. Visit her online at www.suefliess.com.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Goodreads



ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR - Sarah Beise

Sarah Beise, a graduate of Minneapolis College of Art and Design, is an innovative illustrator and designer who loves to create fun and unique characters that help tell stories. 

Originally from Matthews, NC she now makes Kansas City her home along with her two dogs, Maxwell and Mazzie May. 

For more info visit www.SarahBeise.com.

Friday, March 25, 2016

Bumbles and Fairy-Tales UPDATE...


Hello friends!!!

It's been too long!!! 
So, I thought I'd do a quick update with lots and lots of pictures :) 


Yes, I'm still reading!!!
However, I have become a very sloooooow reader, lol! It's a combination of SO many distractions and exhaustion. But, I'm okay with it! I've made my peace! I'm a mom first; and I have other hobbies that I am pursuing right now too. And I am all for multi-tasking, even if it does take longer to get it all done, lol! I'm just having so much fun with it all, I don't want to settle on just one thing - I've done this in the past and it doesn't work for me. I love to read, I love my books! But I also love to be creative, in many ways... 


My bookshelves have been cleaned and updated!!! 
However, this may be the last time you seen these shelves, sigh...
We are moving this summer, and since these shelves are built-in, they can't come with me to our new home *sobs* 


My latest book haul!!!
All of these books were less than $26 - including shipping!!!
Love me some Book Outlet deals :) 


What I'm currently reading right now... 
... and, a few others, lol! Like I said, I'm always multitasking ;) 


What my nightstand currently looks like! Whoops :) 
A few I have read already, but, most need to be read ASAP!


If you don't follow me on Instagram (@thebumblegirl), you may not know that I am a hardcore plannergirl now! I have numerous planners that I love to plan, decorate and make lists in... 
I have revive my addictions to pens, stickers, stationery and more!!! 


I am very lucky and blessed to currently be creating and working with a few great companies right now... 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNB8hCHC67s



 and Cocoa Daisy
  

Did I mention I also have a thing for mason jars filled with pretty washi tapes!!! 


And lots and lots of planner and decorative stamps!!! LOL 


On that note, Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will continue on, but it will no longer just be a book blog!
I will be sharing all of my hobbies and more :) 

Thank you all for following and your continue support!
Much love to you all!!! xoxo 

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Waiting On Wednesday #147: SEVEN BLACK DIAMONDS by Melissa Marr (YA)


"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This is where we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released!!! The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night!!!
And, quite possibly, to make our shelves look pretty too :) 



What I'm currently waiting for... 


by Melissa Marr
Expected release date: March 1st, 2016
Published by HarperCollins
Genre: Young Adult
Format: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook


SUMMARY


This riveting fantasy marks Melissa Marr’s return to the world of faery courts that made her Wicked Lovely series an international phenomenon.

Lilywhite Abernathy is a criminal — she’s half human, half fae, and since the time before she was born, a war has been raging between humans and faeries. The Queen of Blood and Rage, ruler of the fae courts, wants to avenge the tragic death of her heir due to the actions of reckless humans.

Lily’s father has always shielded her, but when she’s sent to the prestigious St. Columba’s school, she’s delivered straight into the arms of a fae sleeper cell — the Black Diamonds. 

The Diamonds are planted in the human world as the sons and daughters of the most influential families and tasked with destroying it from within. Against her will, Lilywhite’s been chosen to join them... and even the romantic attention of the fae rock singer Creed Morrison isn’t enough to keep Lily from wanting to run back to the familiar world she knows.

Melissa Marr returns to faery in a dramatic story of the precarious space between two worlds and the people who must thrive there. The combination of ethereal fae powers, tumultuous romance, and a bloodthirsty faery queen will have longtime fans and new readers at the edge of their seats. 



Why I'm waiting for SEVEN BLACK DIAMONDS...

YESSS! A new fae story!!! From Melissa Marr herself!!!

Fae + tumultuous romance!!!

And a bloodthristy fae queen... I'm on the edge of my seat already!!!
Can't. Wait.


SO, what are you waiting for?????

Monday, January 11, 2016

Blog Tour (Excerpt and Giveaway): GOOD AT GAMES by Jill Mansell (A)


by Jill Mansell
Release date: January 5th, 2016
Published by Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Adult Literature
Format: Paperback, eBook, Audiobook


SUMMARY

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Mansell captivates with a madcap tale of the games lovers play.
Who will make the next move?
How does one become accidentally engaged? That's what Suzy Curtis thinks when she suddenly finds herself very publicly engaged to handsome Harry Fitzallan, local town hero. Harry wants famous rock star Jaz to be his best man-only he's Suzy's ex-husband and a recovering alcoholic. Suzy's half sister Lucille loves getting to know the family she'd never met, but she can't help her attraction to Jaz, nor can Suzy quash her entirely inappropriate feelings for Leo, Harry's engaged brother!

With all these wild players at the table, mayhem is bound to ensue. As each new piece comes into play, everyone has more to lose, and the only way to win is if you're good at the games of love...


BUY THE BOOK



Excerpt from GOOD AT GAMES

                Could there possibly be anything nicer in the world than a Curly Wurly?
                Alone in the office, Suzy lovingly peeled off the wrapper and admired the dappled chocolate covering. Then she bit into it, her teeth sinking through the toffee, her head twisting from side to side in order to bite off that first heavenly mouthful…oh, and they were sooo much better straight from the fridge…
                “Ahem.”
                Suzy’s eyes snapped open and she spun around guiltily. Damn, she’d been so carried away she hadn’t even heard the door open and close behind her.
                And, double damn, it had to be Leo Fitzallan.
                “Mmff…shorry…mmergh…”
                “Bitten off more than you can chew?” inquired Leo with a slight smile.
                Suzy’s mouth was full—OK, overfull—and the toffee was welding itself to her teeth like quick-setting cement. Waving her hand apologetically, praying the melted chocolate wasn’t about to spill out and dribble attractively down her chin, she chewed and swallowed, chewed and swallowed, threw the rest of the Curly Wurly onto her desk and chewed and swallowed again.
                Oh dear, not at all like the girl in the Cadbury’s Flake ad. In fact, more like Waynetta Slob guzzling a pizza.
                “Sorry,” said Leo. “I obviously interrupted a special private moment.”
                And swallowed again.
                Hooray, didn’t even dribble!
                “There.” Suzy executed a quick curtsy. “All gone. Now, how can I help you?”
                He was wearing Givenchy aftershave—none of your Tommy Hilfigers or Calvin Kleins for Leo Fitzallan, thank you very much—and an expensively cut dark suit. Suzy wondered if he had chosen the bottle-green shirt and blue and amber tie himself, or whether Gabriella had picked them out for him.
                Probably Gabriella. A man who drove a gray Volvo would never be that adventurous. And the dark blue in the tie exactly matched his eyes.
                Definitely Gabriella.
                “I thought maybe we should call a truce,” said Leo. “How does that sound to you?”
                Blimey, Suzy thought, like a miracle. Quick, give the man a bottle of water and see if he can turn it into Chardonnay.
                Aloud she said, “So what’s brought this on?”
                “My brother’s happy with you. By Christmas you and I’ll be related. The last thing I want is a family feud. Easier all around if we bury the hatchet now,” Leo said easily. “Put the bickering behind us. What d’you say?”
                He was even more attractive, Suzy realized, when he was in a good mood. During the last few days all he’d seemed to do was scowl, sneer, and generally radiate disapproval, which was sexy enough in its own way, of course, but it really was amazing the difference a few laughter lines could make.
                “I agree.” Her mouth curled up at the corners. “That’s it then. From now on we’re going to be completely lovely to each other. And I’ll just have to find someone else to bicker with.”
                “So long as it isn’t Harry,” said Leo.
                “Harry isn’t the bickering kind.” Suzy smiled sunnily at him and perched on the edge of her desk. “This feels quite weird, actually. I’m not sure what we’re supposed to do now. If this were Friends we’d be giving each other a group hug.”
                For a split second something indefinable flickered in Leo’s eyes. The next moment it had gone. He pushed his fingers through his ultra-straight dark hair, heaved a sigh and shrugged as if searching for inspiration.


GIVEAWAY

(*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.)


 ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Jill Mansell


With over 10 million copies sold, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Mansell writes irresistible and funny, poignant and romantic tales for women in the tradition of Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella and Jojo Moyes. 

She lives with her partner and their children in Bristol, England.





Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Release Day (Excerpt and Giveaway): THIS RAGING LIGHT by Estelle Laure (YA)


I am very excited for today's release today!!! 
THIS RAGING LIGHT by Estelle Laure sounds amazing!!!
I cannot wait to get a copy of it!!!

If you haven't heard about this book yet, be sure to check out all the details in this post... 

This blitz includes a giveaway for a finished copy of the book!
And, a bottle of nail polish that matches the cover! Courtesy of Estelle, HMH and Rockstar Book Tours!!! 
Be sure to enter using the Rafflecopter towards the bottom of this post.

http://www.rockstarbooktours.com

by Estelle Laure
Release date: December 22nd, 2015
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Format: Hardcover (288 pages), eBook, Audiobook



SUMMARY

Can the best thing happen at the worst time?

Her dad went crazy. 

Her mom left town. 

She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. 

Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. 
But love - messy, inconvenient love - is what she's about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend's brother. 

With blazing longing that builds into a fever pitch, Estelle Laure's soulful debut will keep readers hooked and hoping until the very last page.


BUY IT NOW





Praise for THIS RAGING LIGHT

"A funny, poetic, big-hearted reminder that life can - and will - 
take us all by surprise.” 

- Jennifer E. Smith, THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT 




EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

When Wrenny and I roll up the hill to Eden’s house in Mom’s ancient Corolla, Digby and his dad, John, are outside playing basketball, and I want to get in the house as fast as possible,
because otherwise I might be trapped here all day, staring. I get a little twinge of something seeing a dad and his kid playing ball like dads and kids are supposed to. That’s a real
thing, and my hand wants to cover Wren’s face so she can’t see all that she is missing.

            Which reminds me. “Wren.”

            “Yeah?” She’s wiping at her shirt, reading a book on her lap, and she’s a little bit filthy, her hair greasy and knotty in spite of my efforts this morning. At some point the braids came out, and she’s reverted to wild.

            “You know how Mom hasn’t been around lately?”

            She stops. Tightens. “Yeah,” she says.

            “Well, we don’t want anyone to know about that, okay?
            Even Janie and Eden and Digby and John.”

            “But Mom’s on vacation. She’s getting her head together. She’s coming back.”

            “Okay, yes,” I say, “but still. We don’t want to tell anyone, because they might not understand that. They might get the wrong idea.”

            “Like that she left us permanently?” There is so much more going on inside that Wrenny-head than I can ever know.

            “Maybe, or at least for longer than she was supposed to.” I reach for the handle to the door because I can’t look at her. “Someone might think that.”

            “She didn’t, though,” she says. “She’s Mom.”

            “Of course she didn’t.” Lie.

            “So who cares what anyone thinks?”

            “Wren, just don’t, okay?”

            “Okay.”

            “Some things are private.” I open the door, then lean back across and wipe uselessly at her shirt with my thumb. “Like Mom being on vacation. So, okay?”

            “I said okay, okay?” She gets out and waits, stares at me like I’m the most aggravating person on earth. “Hey, Lu?”

            “Yeah?” I say, bracing myself for what’s next.

            “Your mama’s so fat, she left the house in high heels and came back in flip-flops.”

            I would tell her that I hate her new obsession with fat jokes, but I’m not in the mood for any dawdling, so I half laugh and get moving. I want to get inside and quick because there’s also the other thing. And by “other” I mean what makes me sweat just standing here. And by “thing” I mean Digby, who I have known since I was seven but who lately makes a fumbling moronic moron out of me, a full-on halfwit. Ask me my name when I’m in his presence and I’m not likely to be able to tell you. I’d probably just say, “Lllll . . . lllllllu . . .” and you’d have to catch the drool running down my chin.

            I know. It’s not at all attractive.

            But really. Tall, sweaty, and not wearing a shirt, so the muscles are all right there for the watching. He doesn’t exactly glisten, on account of the fact that he’s whiter than white, that he tans by getting freckles so he’s covered in them now after a whole summer outside. But seeing his hair all plastered to his forehead, his body so long and lean, looping around his dad to get the ball into the hoop, I want to fall out of the car and onto my knees in the driveway, say Lord have mercy, hallelujah, write sonnets and paint him, and worship that one little curve where his neck meets his shoulder that is just so, so perfect.

            He is beautiful.

            Which is why when he says hi as I pass him, I barely raise a pinky in response. There are two main problems here, aside from the fact that he is Eden’s twin and that’s all kinds of weird.

            One, he’s had the same girlfriend since the dawn of time. They’re pinned, she wears his jacket, their marriage certificate is practically already signed. Angels bless their freakin’ union. And two, if I ever did get a chance with him, like if he ever kissed me or something, I would die of implosion. I know I sound like a twelve-year-old mooning over some celebrity, and not the extremely self-possessed woman-tobe that I actually am, but something about him makes me lose my mind. Something about the way he moves, about his himness — it shatters me all the way down. So I hope he never does kiss me. That would be nothing but a disaster. No one needs to see me fall apart like that. Least of all him.

            Actually, maybe least of all me.




GIVEAWAY

- One winner will receive a hardcover of THIS RAGING LIGHT 
and a bottle of Essie Nail Polish that matches the book cover!
- US only. 
- Giveaway ends December 31st at midnight EST.

(*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, damaged, stolen, etc. prizes.)




ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Estelle Laure


Estelle Laure is a Vonnegut worshipper who believes in love and magic and the power of facing hard truths. 

She has a BA in Theatre Arts from New Mexico State University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and thinks everyone should have to wait tables or work in a kitchen at least once in their lives. 

She lives in Taos, New Mexico with her children.



 
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