Giveaway: Win a copy of The House is On Fire in the Hello Summer Giveaway Hop!

 

Welcome to the Hello Summer Giveaway Hop

hosted by Review Wire Media

In 1811 a tragic theater fire in Richmond, Virginia took the lives of 72 people. The House is on Fire is Rachel Beanland's novelization of this calamitous event. Although the storylines are made up, the novel includes both real and fictitious characters. If you are looking for an exciting book to read this summer, this one is a real page-turner. For more about this book, see our previous post, Tips for Tuesday - Books: The House is on Fire. Enter to win a copy below: 

Giveaway Dates 6/7 - 6/28

Giveaway Open to Ages 18+ US

a Rafflecopter giveaway Once you have entered our giveaway, hop around to all the other blogs listed below to see what other great prizes you can enter to win.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Disclaimer: Hosts and participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors and self-sponsoring bloggers who do not fulfill prize obligations. Please also note that we have been having a huge problem with people not following giveaway entry requirements and/or claiming to follow our blog and/or any of our social media and not actually doing so. Accordingly, please remember that following all instructions for any and all giveaway entries is mandatory in order for that entry to count. Entries will be checked and those that do not follow all instructions will be disqualified. Please do not claim entry for following our blog, Twitter, or whatever if you do not actually do so. If you consistently enter our giveaways claiming to be a follower of our blog and/or social media and you are not you will be disqualified not only from any chance of winning our current giveaway but also from any chance of winning any future giveaways. If you do follow our blog and/ or social media, don't let your entry be disqualified be sure to leave your follower name and/or the exact name you commented under.

All pictures used in this post are our own. If there is a problem with any image, please contact us here and we will look into the matter.

Tips for Tuesday - Always Is Not Forever & The Bookshop By the Bay

We may have been given complimentary copies and/or access for review purposes to any products, and/or visual or audio media mentioned below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Books: Always Isn't Forever & The Bookshop By the Bay

Today we are recommending Always Isn't Forever by J.C. Cervantes. Hart and Ruby have known each other forever. Best friends, and soulmates, the high school seniors are planning a future together when Hart tragically drowns in an accident. However, since it isn't really supposed to be his time to die, he gets the chance to come back only not as himself but as the town's bad boy, Jameson, whom Ruby despises. Hart is forbidden from telling Ruby who he is and every night he loses more of his memories. He is desperate to get Ruby to recognize him before time runs out, and he becomes Jameson forever.

This is a truly heart-wrenching but also an extremely heartwarmingly lovely book. Hart and Ruby are such good kind-hearted caring characters individually. Together they are a really sweet couple with an incredibly touching love story.  

Hart and Ruby's relationship is not the only great one in this book. There are many other great relationships in the book as well including one between Ruby and her sister and one between Hart and Lourdes, the angel who helps him. In fact,  all of the secondary characters in the book are extremely well-written and really add to the story. 

Even if you don't ordinarily like books that with supernatural elements, you may enjoy this one because it is so character driven and the character are all so well developed. Although the book is meant for teens, anyone can enjoy this really beautiful book. 

Today we are recommending The Bookshop by the Bay by Pamela Kelley. When her husband's infidelity comes to light, Jess flees to her hometown with her daughter, Caitlin to regroup. Caitlin is at a crossroads herself as she is between jobs and between relationships. Jess' best friend, Alison and her daughter are at crossroads in their lives as well. Alison needs to supplement her income now that she's been downsized and her daughter, Julia is unsure if she is happy with her relationship. When Jess and Alison decide to buy a bookshop together, it changes all of their lives. 

While there are some lovely romances in this book, that is just a small part of the book. It is more about the relationships between these women. It is so nice to read a book about women who really support each other and are there for each other. Mothers and daughters in particular are often portrayed as having difficult relationships so it is really refreshing to read about two pairs of mothers and daughters who are shining examples of the best that mother/daughter relationships can be. Each half of these mother/daughter pairs is truly loving, caring, and supportive of the other.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

All pictures used in this post are our own. If there is a problem with any image, please contact us here and we will look into the matter.

More Theater Monday - Steel Pier

We were given complimentary tickets to Steel Pier for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Steel Pier

Where: Surflight Theatre

             201 Engleside Ave.

              Beach Haven, NJ

Who: Recommended for Ages 13 and Up

When: Through June 17, 2023

Steel Pier is one of Kander and Ebb's lesser-known shows. Although it was nominated for ten Tony Awards, it did not win any. It did not last long on Broadway either nor is it often produced. However, that does not mean there is nothing worthwhile about this show. It has a unique and interesting story that revolves around the world of marathon dance competitions although that does not mean that there are not parts of the story that leave you wanting to know more than is actually revealed within the plot. It has some nice Kander and Ebb songs including the catchy title number and fun number called Wet. It has some incredible dancing, at least the current production of the show at Surflight Theater does. 

In fact, there is a lot to like about Surflight's production of the show. Aside from great dancing, there are some really great performances including those of Alison Nusbaum as the worldly Shelby Stevens, Ben Halperin as the naive Happy McGuire, Alexandra Brown as the ambitious Precious McGuire, and especially Deanna Doyle as the trusting Rita Racine. Their singing voices are mostly nice as well.  In fact, from the moment you walk in and see signs related to the show located on both sides of the theater, you will be totally immersed in this production.

And that's our view. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit surflighttheatre.csstix.com/event 

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.