This was quite the interesting read and escape from my typical normal pick up. I like books that make me think regardless of the storyline or ideas behind them and that is normally what will draw me to them, so that is was drew me into Travels Through Aqua, Green, and Blue: A Memoir by Mary E. Gregory. This is written very much like a journal or diary and gives us a glimpse into the mind of Mary E Gregory and her struggles as she traverses life and travel. I loved the way she kept things raw and real and didn’t attempt to sugarcoat anything. I was invested from the very beginning and was never really bored with the story, which is always a concern when you pick up a memoir. I would be highly interested in seeing what else we may get in the future from Ms. Gregory.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Liz Vrchotahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLiz Vrchota2021-06-25 19:40:572021-06-26 22:12:21Travels Through Aqua, Green, and Blue: A Memoir by Mary E. Gregory – Review by Liz Vrchota
Next Door to a Star written by Krysten Lindsay Hager is a story of the coming of age in high school. It is a perfect tale of every unpopular girl’s desire to be seen. In fact, this could be my story. It is wonderfully written and was by far one of the best young adult books that I have read.
Hadley Daniels had never been the most popular girl in school. In fact, she struggled to find her place in her high school. She had one best friend, Lexi Irvin. It was the summer after freshman year, and Hadley’s life was about to change. Lexi was moving to Texas with her family. Since she had no other friends, after an invitation, Hadley decides to spend the summer in Grand Haven with her grandparents.
Next door to her grandparents lived Simone Hendrickson. Simone is a former actress from Hadley’s favorite show, Duncan’s Corner. Hadley has no intention of becoming Simone’s friend. She does want to see if she can make friends though.
Will Hadley make friends in Grand Haven? Will Simone welcome Hadley into her world? How will sophomore year be for Hadley? To find out, read this amazing book!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Ashley Doverhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAshley Dover2021-06-25 18:28:072021-06-26 22:07:33Next Door to a Star (The Star Series) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Ashley Dover
At fifteen, Zoey Taylor is different compared to normal high schoolers. Zoey, as a freshman, takes AP (or Advanced Placement) courses hoping that she can graduate high school early. She is always studying, and with a nighttime curfew of 7:30, she doesn’t have a lot of friends. Plus, there’s her secret. She’s afraid of the dark because that’s when she gets night terrors of the time when she wandered out of her house at night at the tender age of five.
The one person she considers a friend is Trevor. He has creamy skin, auburn hair, and chocolate brown eyes which he hides behind square rimmed glasses. You would think he was nerdy, but his athletic build and self-confidence made the girls fawn over him at every chance. His parents never seem to be home, but since his parents are mansion rich, he has money to do whatever he pleases or whatever his parents wish for him to do.
Zoey’s life has a dose of reality on Thanksgiving when she finds out the truth about the night when she was five. Read this amazing story about demons and Nephilim to find out how Zoey, her family, and friends acclimate to an ordeal that is definitely not “normal”.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Ashley Doverhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAshley Dover2021-06-25 18:13:582021-06-26 22:05:49Shield & Shade (Ascended Guardians Book 1) by Misty Hayes – Review by Ashley Dover
This was a memoir by Mary Gregory about life w/ a mentally ill mother while suffering from a facial deformity. What.A.Combination. Mary’s mother leaves her husband b/c the husband, a pastor, comes out as gay. She moves the family around, eventually cross-country to California. Mom has mental issues, but the three kids don’t know that, nor understand. They just know they spend a lot of time in the car, eating fast food or from convenience stores/gas stations. Mary is ugly b/c of her cleft lip, and has problems w/ eating b/c of the holes in her mouth from her cleft palate. I deeply felt all her problems in school with classmates. It’s understandable that when the family finally lands in Long Beach, CA, Mary eventually ends up as a drug addict and exploring a different lifestyle. This makes me sad, b/c for a while, she was really into basketball, fitness, and school, but slid away from that. The eldest, Paul, leaves the family as soon as possible. Sam, the elder daughter and middle child, bonds w/ an undocumented immigrant boyfriend and spends years getting him back to California from Mexico. This leaves Mary to fend for herself, and for her mother. Mary’s mother gets fatter and fatter, and less and less able to manage her own life, much less raise children. Reading the descriptions of the mother’s various domiciles left me nauseous. Mary eventually falls for a guy eleven years older than her, another immigrant who needs her to marry him for a green card. It is surprising that this works out at all, but it does. The reader roots HARD for Mary to find love and stability outside of her nuclear family unit. After Mary meets Pierre, it feels like the memoir speeds up, far more superficial than the parts about her young childhood. The whole book reminds me of Tara Westover’s “Educated,” without the Mormon background, and w/ an overtly schizophrenic parent. I was SO pleased to read about Mary finally getting surgeries to fix her deformities! I will round up to four stars for this nearly stream-of-consciousness salute to a girl who survived to find a better life.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Sherry Sharpnackhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngSherry Sharpnack2021-06-25 18:12:572021-06-26 21:40:31Travels Through Aqua, Green, and Blue: A Memoir by Mary E. Gregory – Review by Sherry Sharpnack
From what I understand, this is connected to the Blood Dagger trilogy, which I haven’t read. However, after finishing this book and loving it as much as I did, I plan to read all of her work! It was fast paced and easy to get sucked into the book. The characters had good development and felt very real. I always love when a book is told from different viewpoints; and Hayes accomplished it seamlessly. A very suspenseful and exciting read. I can’t wait for the others!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kristy Nelsonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKristy Nelson2021-06-25 17:53:302021-06-26 21:39:45Shield and Shade (Ascended Guardians Book 1) by Misty Hayes- Review by Kristy Nelson
Competing With The Star: Sweet YA Romance by Krysten Lindsay Hager. This book can be read as a stand-alone as it is easy to engage with the characters. This is an easy to read, sweet romance that is fairly quick to read. The characters are all pretty interesting, although I didn’t find Hadley to be quite frustrating at times. The book for me had quite a slow pace, it was a slow build up leading you gently where it wanted to take you. This is one of those stories that is a great way to pass a lazy afternoon. You can get lost in the story and everything going on. This was an enjoyable book a good follow up to the first one.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kerry Bakerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKerry Baker2021-06-25 15:33:182021-06-25 16:47:29Competing with the Star (Star Series Book 2) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Kerry Baker
Zoey Taylor is just a normal girl on her way to graduating early, she studies hard and is a bit of a loner apart from one friend who she hangs around with, this is due to being an introvert by nature, but also because her family are really overprotective ever since she walked out of the house and into the woods behind in the middle of the night when she was five years old. As Zoey goes through her normal routine of school, studying, more school, more studying and maybe meeting her friend at the local diner for a snack before heading home, she is coming to terms with her desperate need to escape from it, to escape from her family and its drama which comes from being the only girl surrounded by four brothers, its loud and distracting.
One of the days she goes to the diner, her friend did mention that one of the guys who works there has a crush on her, but she didn’t believe it, she is too plain for anyone to notice her, but when she starts talking to him, she realises he is actually a nice guy under the uniform and permanent scent of sugar and grease from the fryers. When her friend turns up she is annoyed with herself bevuase of asking a stupid question which pretty much wrecked any chance of further conversation and she regrets it so she decides to leave early, unknowingly leaving her bag charm behind, her friend isn’t overly fussed and just proceeds to chat up the girls in the diner instead.
As Thanksgiving approaches, Zoey is worried that she won’t be able to study with everyone being in the house and tries to extend her curfew a bit so she can get some work done at the library, but her parents are having none of it, so she struggles ahead like normal. When her older brother comes home a couple of days after school has broken up, she is happy, but when a friend of his comes to see him, things start to turn odd, so she calls on her friend to come over to help her investigate what is happening and he agrees to come over on Thanksgiving itself.
When the day arrives, the family is preparing the meal, but unknown to her, the guy from the diner is going to turn up as well to return her charm and bearing cake, while she is talking to him, tensions rise between the two guys when her friend arrives and she asks one to leave. However, the day proceeds to become more shocking when someone she never expected turns up on her doorstep, Gabriel Stanton is wealthy, popular to the point of celebrity status and a philanthropist in his spare time and completely out of place in her living room, but there he is nonetheless. How will Zoey react when he manages to turn her life upside down with answers she never expected to hear and what will happen in the aftermath of these revelations? This is a thrilling tale of secrets, revelations and family bonds that is a rollercoaster of emotion and action as the story unfolds to reveal its final conclusion.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Roxsanne Lesieurhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngRoxsanne Lesieur2021-06-25 15:14:572021-06-25 16:47:08Shield & Shade: Ascended Guardians Series by Misty Hayes – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.
This is a great spin off, especially if you haven’t read the original trilogy which I have not but i definitely will now. If you love The Mortal Instruments series you will absolutely enjoy this Young Adult paranormal fantasy. It has great strong characters and there is twists, suspense and drama round every turn. you will not be disappointed.
Ok. I knew from the description that this book was right up my alley. But I was unprepared for the adventure that unfolded before me. Wow. What a book. Just full of detail and amazing characters. I loved how the story was set up. Couldn’t wait to find out how everything would come together and get answers to the questions set in the beginning. The author brilliantly provided a new world to dive into. My only complaint is that i have to wait for the next book. Wonderful.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Heather Lovelacehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngHeather Lovelace2021-06-25 12:22:202021-06-25 12:22:20Shield & Shade (Ascended Guardians Book 1) by Misty Hayes – Review by Heather Lovelace
This is the BEST paranormal book out there for 2021. If books similar to Supernatural had a category, this would be up there (even though it is way better), This author has done a phenomenal job putting together the plot. It is good vs evil with angels, demons, nephilims, etc. Holy cow! I found myself chuckling through some and holding my breath through the others. Her action packed scenes between Zoey, Cruz and the gang are classic. Zoe is a young woman who shows her family that she is stronger than they give her credit for when she learns they have been lying to her. Her friends haven’t been much help. She is an introvert and prefers studying and reading (I feel her). This is a book that will have you counting down the days to read the next one.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shelly Kittellhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShelly Kittell2021-06-25 11:58:082021-06-25 16:43:41Shield & Shade (Ascended Guardians Book 1) by Misty Hayes – Review by Shelly Kittell
I always enjoy reading a memoir as it tells me a story thru the author through themselves to what they experienced and how they would describe things rather than having someone else describe it for them.
Reading this I certainly felt so many emotions reading the very well written memoir thru the eyes of Mary. I believe we all have had ups and downs in life and its hard and difficult to understand what exactly the person had to undergo when they tell their story. But with Mary and their story, I truly felt I was there living every moment, feeling emotion, what they experienced and endured.
Mary didn’t have an easy childhood to say the least. She had been born with Cleft Palate and I find thru reading , as I would expect, it was not easy as she often felt she didn’t belong and had no place in the world, This stirred a lot of emotions for. I had a illness as a teenager that I did conquer, but I still can remember the kids making fun of me as I lost some of my hair through treatments.
If that wasn’t enough to have to live through her mom had a mental illness and it often impacted Mary and how they felt and it wasn’t always easy as anyone would expect. On top of all this her father who was a part of the church as a preacher revealed he was in fact gay. This greatly impacted Mary and how their life would develop.
As I read on the emotions and things I felt in my heart were very much real. Mary rose above everything in the end that life had thrown at her. I don’t know her personally but if I did I’d look her in the eyes and tell her that I’m proud of her, through out her memoir there was a lot of pain, and hard times, and emotions for sure. But all in all it tells you no matter what you are going thru, you can beat anything and everything at all costs. You can achieve more than you ever thought was to be the path you were mean to walk. Mary never gave up and was a wonderful person who believed in going against the odds. In the end, despite it all, she became victorious. Though it was a hard struggle, of hardships and even a uncertain future, Mary pushed and conquered everything, She truly triumphed and is a remarkable person.
I loved this memoir from start to end. Defiantly going on as one of my personal favorites. I highly recommend, This memoir does anything but disappoint the reader. I dare you to read it and walk in Mary’s shoes and see what she felt, and went thru, and the courageous woman she became.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Lorrene Huismanhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLorrene Huisman2021-06-25 11:25:562021-06-25 16:42:06Travels Through Aqua, Green, and Blue: A Memoir by Mary E. Gregory – Review by Lorrene Huisman
This was a really interesting read. It is the story of the authors life and all the trials and upheavals she had to go through in her life to get to where she is today. This story is inspirational and moving. Some parts are hard for you to understand in today’s society such as all the stigma surrounding her father being gay.
Mary had a really hard childhood, from her father’s sexuality, her mother’s mental illness and her own struggled with having a cleft palate Mary has had to struggle with stigma and bullying on every step of her life. One thing this book proves is that it doesn’t matter where you start in life, you can improve and become the person you want to be. I found this story so sad in parts but also extremely inspirational. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kerry Carrhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKerry Carr2021-06-25 09:46:532021-06-25 16:41:07Travels Through Aqua, Green, and Blue: A Memoir by Mary E. Gregory – Review by Kerry Carr
Travels Through Aqua, Green, and Blue: A Memoir by Mary E. Gregory. This is such a great read. Its actually a memoir and I don’t usually enjoy many memoir’s but this one was amazing. Its the story of Mary a young girl who at the height of the Aids pandemic her father a Baptist preacher came out as gay. Her whole family’s world was shook and her mom was so blindsided that she took the kids and traveled all over the US. Mary was also born with a Cleft Palate so she was teased always as a kid by kids and teachers alike. When her family settles in New York her mom’s mental health is at an all time low. At all times the family was poor no matter where they landed and the kids were raising themselves basically because of their mom’s mental health and their dad’s lifestyle. This is such an emotional, sad, read about a family that is probably more prevalent than not. Do yourself a favor and read it today!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Tausha Treadwayhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngTausha Treadway2021-06-25 08:47:332021-06-25 16:39:45Travels Through Aqua, Green, and Blue: A Memoir by Mary E. Gregory – Review by Tausha Treadway
Shield and Shade, the first book in the Ascended Guardians Series by Misty Hayes is actually the first book by this wonderful author that I have read and it did not disappoint at all! I have to say that it has been a while since I have read a paranormal book, a genre I use to read ALOT of, and now thanks to Ms Hayes my love for the genre has been reignited and I will be reading more especially from this creative author.
I read this book not knowing that it was a spin off from a previous series until I had completed it and went looking for more books by Ms Hayes. I don’t feel that my not having read the Blood Dagger series has hindered my experience at all. In fact now I just want to go buy the other series and start reading. I wanted to mention that important point, as I have seen a lot of reviews address the fact that it is a spin off but I don’t want people thinking you have to read the other series first. If you wanted to by all means do but I don’t feel that you absolutely have too in order to follow the story line or characters. You WILL absolutely love this book either way.
There is an endless mixture of wonderful, fascinating creative characters and worlds, loads of action and even some moments you will second guess your feelings…am I really feeling for one of the bad guys here?? seriously?? hehehe!! I was totally hooked on the story from start to finish and hated it each time I was forced to take a break from reading it.
i really hope you will join me in reading Shield and Shade…I just know you will be hooked too!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Juleshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJules2021-06-25 07:45:592021-06-25 16:08:24Shield & Shade: Ascended Guardians series by Misty Hayes – review by Jules Herbert
Morgan what a B***h these types of girls are try worst. I can see good and bad teenager here. All these guys are trying to find themselves Hadley is heads over heel for Nick but she so nervous about what other say. I feel for her. Pilar I actually suprised at this character through the book I thought alot differently of her in the first one. Simone she irks me as she’s very two faced. Then Nick well he seems sweat but he gets things wrong and last but not least Hadley I think she still finding herself
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Piperhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngPiper2021-06-25 02:44:462021-06-25 16:05:59Competing with the Star (Star Series Book 2) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Piper Foster
Shield & Shade (Ascended Guardians Book 1) by Misty Hayes – Review by Michelle Collier
My rating 5 of 5
So this is a spin off to The Blood Dagger trilogy, which I haven’t read…yet. It is now on my TBR list! This book was wonderful. There is nonstop action and the characters are so real and full of secrets. I was in the edge of my seat for most of the book just waiting fir the next twist. I am now on the edge of my seat waiting on the next book!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Michelle Collierhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMichelle Collier2021-06-24 22:36:582021-06-25 14:54:30Shield & Shade (Ascended Guardians Book 1) by Misty Hayes – Review by Michelle Collier
FYI: This was my first Hayes novel and I learned this is a spinoff series from the author’s The Blood Dagger Trilogy AFTER I read it. So be warned it won’t make for a good read, in my opinion, if you haven’t read that triplet first. If I have time this summer, I will go back and read the original series, because it has awesome ratings, and then update this review. With that said, I read this book believing it was the beginning of a new series since it isn’t linked to the other in any way or sold as a spinoff. With that said, Hayes had a really FREAKING cool plot/world idea and I was truly excited to get into the meat of it, but (and here it comes), BUT the book could have spent about 100-150 pages filling the reader in on the world and characters, rather than on more battle scenes. I’m sure a lot of my questions and frustrations would have been answered had I read The Blood Dagger Trilogy first, but since I didn’t it just felt like the first 20% was crazy jumpy, going from several people’s POVs that didn’t quite make sense at first but really set the stage for an awesome adventure with a possible romance in the making. Once all the players were a little more fleshed out and the world was built as well as it was going to get, it became a really intriguing and fresh idea…super intense action, angels/demons/vampires/”magic”/mystery, a feeling like you didn’t know what the climax was going to be, but you were on the edge of your seat to get there, and more action!! Then around 50% it was all action (no world or character building) and descriptions of everyone’s eye color/hair/what they were wearing and was it her brother or not her brother? Throw in an excessive amount of lightning bolts knocking people (mostly the humans) across the room where they landed in a ball on the floor, but SHOCKER they live through a serious butt-kicking from freaking demons, for hours on end…and you have the basics of the story down. So, having not read the original stories and understanding the different rules of Hayes’ world/characters, I just truly felt lost, annoyed, and disappointed that this storyline had sooo much potential but didn’t ever get there if that makes sense. Maybe I’m not the reading demographic she was writing for, and it really should NOT be considered a standalone, but it was just ok for me. I am hoping to go back and read the first 3 books because I think I could have loved this action-packed adventure had I understood her world better. Who knows…Hayes has a way of sucking you in and I did finish the book, I just wish the selling page stated that it was a spinoff of another series. @pippawoods
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Pippa Woodshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngPippa Woods2021-06-24 16:36:102021-06-25 13:37:41Shield & Shade (Ascended Guardians Book 1) by Misty Hayes – Review by Pippa Woods
I started this book and feel like I was dropped right smack in the middle of a new world with no preparation. From the beginning things were written with a sort of familiarity, like I as a reader should know what’s going on. Once I learned this was a spin-off it made much more sense. That didn’t hinder my reading though, I fell into the story pretty quickly. There is so much happening on every page. When I say action packed, I mean ACTION PACKED! I personally enjoyed it, enjoyed going with Zoey on her wild ride of finding the truth. Misty Hayes really writes beautifully, her descriptions make it so easy to picture every scene!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jaclynhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJaclyn2021-06-24 14:55:212021-06-25 13:28:35Shield & Shade (Ascended Guardians Book 1) by Misty Hayes – Review by Jaclyn DeTullio
I must say that I love reading biographies and memoirs. You truly get to learn so much about an individual by picking them up. This was a person I had never heard of but a relative recommended I read it and I’m so glad that I did. This is a beautifully written retelling of her story, although at times extremely difficult to read because you feel so much sadness for her enduring the things that she did. I felt that at times I wanted to take her back in time and give her such a different lifestyle with another family. But the ending had me feeling like truly there was a purpose behind all that she went through and that it happened for a reason. She truly was on a ride of life and no matter the twists, turns, stumbles, and falls that she experienced she came out a winner in my eye. Highly recommended book to read for males and females and I believe it would be a great book club read.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Karen Pearmanhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKaren Pearman2021-06-24 13:31:182021-06-25 13:26:00Travels Through Aqua, Green, and Blue: A Memoir by Mary E. Gregory – Review by Karen Pearman
Shield & Shade is the first book by Misty Hayes that I’ve read and it did not disappoint at all!!! The main characters are awesome- engaging and so interesting! The villains are the bad guys you love to hate and hate that you love em’! Intense action makes this a page turner that I did not want to put down (and often did not until very very late). I’ll be back for the next installment and will definitely be reading her first trilogy series!!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kellie Piaskowskihttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKellie Piaskowski2021-06-24 10:58:092021-06-25 13:16:36Shield & Shade (Ascended Guardians Book 1) by Misty Hayes – Review by Kellie Piaskowski
I really enjoyed this young adult paranormal story. It is full of action and adventure and danger around every turn. The author does an amazing job with her characters. Her descriptions of the characters and their world is so detailed that it really brings them to life. The story is one that keeps you in suspense and gripped from beginning to end. I love the fight between good and evil and how they overcome adversity.
There are lots of secrets and deception which all unravel and make this story even better. People aren’t who they appear to be and romance springs up in the most unlikely of places.
This book is a spin off from The Blood Dagger triology and even though I haven’t read those I was still able to enjoy and follow the story. However I feel if that series is read first then some of the characters would make more sense.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kerry Carrhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKerry Carr2021-06-24 07:20:342021-06-24 08:16:43Shield & Shade (Ascended Guardians Book 1) by Misty Hayes – Review by Kerry Carr
So, this was the first book by Misty Hayes that I’ve read. She currently has 4 books out, 3 are a trilogy and Shield and Shade are the start of a new series. It’s the story of a girl who’s life gets turned absolutely upside down- and shattered by family secrets. It’s full of so much action, and it’s such a page turner! I seriously cannot WAIT to see what the next book’s going to be about- and I’ll be reading her trilogy here soon! I can’t tell too much of what happened in the book without giving any spoilers, but if you’re someone who LOVES plot twists- this is definitely the book for you, and you will NOT regret it!!!!!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Lucy Machardhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLucy Machard2021-06-23 21:36:272021-06-24 08:12:51Shield & Shade (Ascended Guardians Book 1) by Misty Hayes – Review by Lucy Vincent
A new take on Angels versus Demons. This book is a spinoff of the Blood Dagger Trilogy. Having not read that trilogy, I would still say this is a very good beginning to this part of the story. Zoey, a 15 year old high school student is just trying to get high grades and thinks of the day she can leave home. Having always suffered horrible nightmares and not knowing why it all starts to become clear when she learns about her family’s true nature.
Cruz is a 17 year old boy who divides his time between school, working at an ice cream shop and caring for his ill mother. When he and Zoey meet he is soon embroiled in things that are way over his head.
This book had solid world building and writing that keeps the reader engaged and wanting to know what else could possibly go wrong!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jamie Horner-Zabolotneyhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJamie Horner-Zabolotney2021-06-23 21:16:442021-06-24 08:10:54Shield & Shade (Ascended Guardians Book 1) by Misty Hayes – Review by Jamie Zabolotney
I’m afraid I’m going to be a critic on this one. It made me want to read Cassandra Clare’s shadowhunter series again; similar genre that I enjoy. To start, Shield & Shade is not a standalone book. It’s technically a spinoff of her Blood Dagger trilogy, but it has little story of its own. It constantly refers to the events in the previous series leaving holes in the back story that one hopes would be filled by reading the Blood Dagger Trilogy. Second, this book is action scene after action scene. There was only a few “chill, get to know you” scenes at the beginning of the book, the rest were action. And, while I enjoy the changing POV, I found it jarring to start the book off with switching back and forth between benign high school life to running for his life; maybe if it had continued alternating action/calm throughout the book, it might have flowed better. As is it felt disjointed. Overall, I found this a hard book to enjoy. Though the idea of the story was intriguing, I feel it needed more polish. I’m sorry!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Amberhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAmber2021-06-23 11:58:052021-06-24 08:05:17Shield & Shade (Ascended Guardians Book 1) by Misty Hayes – Review by Amber Flory
Competing with the Star (Star Series Book 2) by Krysten Lindsay Hager. This was such a fun young adult story. I loved the first book and this one is even better. This is the story of Hadley who is finally feeling like she has all that she has ever wanted, good friends, a super cute boyfriend and a little bit of confidence. Nick is her boyfriend and he’s the “perfect” guy to Hadley. He loves sports and just is an all around great guy. One of her great friends is Simone Henderson who is a TV Actress and Hadley loves her but when she starts hearing rumors of Simone and Nick messing around her whole worlds shifts. When the rumor is confirmed to be false Hadley is still in her head about it and is not sure how her relationships with both of them will be in the future. This is such a good young adult read about high school relationships!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Tausha Treadwayhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngTausha Treadway2021-06-23 10:45:422021-06-24 08:04:52Competing with the Star (Star Series Book 2) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Tausha Treadway
Shield & Shade: Ascended Guardians 1 is one of those books you pick up not really knowing what you’re getting into. I want to mention that yes this is the first book of the series, but this series is a spin-off of another one –The Blood Dagger. I didn’t realize when I started it. Well written with twists and suspense, I didn’t know what to expect when I turned a page. I loved the way the book started with the mystery around Zoey’s disappearance when she was a little girl. Definitely built the suspense. I thought the author did an incredible job with the characters and the wide range of emotions they went through. Several times, I found myself audibly muttering “what???”, “oh here we go”, or “I can’t believe that just happened.” I did feel I landed into a different world, and in the middle of the action. After getting several chapters in, I looked it up and found that indeed a prior set of books was written. If I had known, I would have started at the beginning with that series. This book was great, but I feel like reading the previous series with prior knowledge of characters and situations would have made this one an easier read. It’s a lot to take in at once. This book isn’t a sunshine and roses kind of book. It’s a guts and gore survival kind of book with good vs evil save the world kind of characters. Speaking of characters, can we get to know Nakir better?
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Tina Vegahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngTina Vega2021-06-22 22:48:332021-06-23 08:49:42Shield & Shade (Ascended Guardians Book 1) by Misty Hayes – Review by Tina Vega
Travels Through Aqua, Green and Blue: A Memoir, is not my typical genre of book. Once I started reading, I could not stop. Mary tells of the hardships of being born with a bilateral cleft pallet, the teasing and bullying that happens because you are different. When Mary’s father, a Baptist minister comes out as gay, her mother and siblings are treated differently. People of the church turned their back on them, which broke something in her mother. This is a gritty story of a mother who checks out on her kids and how her paranoid schizophrenia affects her kids directly. Traveling the country, never staying in one place for long for fear of someone chasing them; living in hotels, cars, and with strange men on occasion, Mary and her siblings are on their own most of the time. It is a story of triumph as Mary tries to overcome her childhood to become an adult, she can be proud of. I found myself constantly cheering for Mary and her siblings Paul and Sam.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Angela Packardhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAngela Packard2021-06-22 19:47:222021-06-23 08:37:30Travels Through Aqua, Green, and Blue: A Memoir by Mary E. Gregory – Review by Angela Packard
Shield & Shade: Ascended Guardians Series a spinoff of The Blood Dagger trilogy by a new author to me Misty Hayes. I did not know it was a spinoff and I have not read the original trilogy but had heard it was good and after reading this book I did not really feel like I was missing anything other than knowing characters. Although I will go back at some stage and have a read. Shield & Shade is a YA paranormal fantasy story where angels & demons battle it out and the suspenseful plot will keep you guessing. Misty’s world building is detailed, sometimes overly so but you can see her vision. Her characters are interesting and unique, and the story is told from multiple POV’s, which I love.
I look forward to seeing what she brings us next. Reviewed by @jennadb
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jenni Bishophttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJenni Bishop2021-06-22 01:01:362021-06-22 07:51:51Shield & Shade (Ascended Guardians Book 1) by Misty Hayes – Review by Jenni Bishop
Travels Through Aqua, Green, and Blue is the story of Mary who was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Through this memoir, you will understand the hardships, name-calling, and bullying that people who were born with deformities dealt with in a time where being different was not recognized as correct. Mary was born in Nashville, TN to a Baptist minister. Her family was suddenly ripped at its foundation when her father became an openly gay man.
This memoir is the story of Mary’s journey across the country from Tennessee to New York to California and many more places with her family as her mother went on the run. Discover what it is like to overcome to live below the poverty line during tragic moments in American history and how those events transformed her into the woman she is today.
Although nonfiction is not my favorite genre, and I had a tough time getting started with this book, I couldn’t put the book down once I got over my “fear” of a nonfiction work. The story is woven with many kinds of coming-of-age topics that a lot of children and teenagers must endure to come out on the other side and be contributing members of society. I encourage you to take this journey with Mary and discover how your own journey shaped you into the person you are today.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Ashley Doverhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAshley Dover2021-06-21 21:31:302021-06-22 07:47:59Travels Through Aqua, Green, and Blue: A Memoir by Mary E. Gregory – Review by Ashley Dover
Shield & Shade by Misty Hayes is the start of the Ascended Guardians series. This book is labeled as a YA story, but adults can also enjoy this. I was interested in the book blurb and was rewarded with a well-written story and characters. The author has included significant attention to detail, and it works well and does not overwhelm the reader. I fell into the story and did not want to emerge until I was done with the book. There are paranormal, romantic, fantasy, and dramatic elements to the story. I look forward to reading more from this author and series in the future.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Sheri Schraderhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngSheri Schrader2021-06-21 19:48:022021-06-22 07:44:13Shield & Shade (Ascended Guardians Book 1) by Misty Hayes – Review by Sheri Schrader
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