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Books

What I Read in June & July 2021

In June & July 2021, I read 1 nonfiction book, 1 science fiction, 1 anthology (fantasy), 1 crime thriller, 1 graphic novel, and a short story (contemporary drama). Check it out… Sorry I skipped July without an explanation or better planning.

2021 Reading Challenge

2021 Reading Challenge
Toi has
read 36 books toward
her goal of
50 books.
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Below you’ll find my star ratings and review blurbs for each title I completed in the indicated month. If you have not signed up for my newsletter, please consider doing so. That’s where I post my thorough book reviews (and sometimes TV and movie stuff) as well as talk about my love of reading while offering tips for having a healthy reading lifestyle. You can also click the Goodreads links to see the thorough reviews. At the bottom of this post, you’ll also be able to watch a video of my monthly reviews, if that’s more your style.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click through to make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Any amount I make goes towards my dream to host a book fair in Hampton Roads, VA. Please see my About page for more details. Thank you for your support.

4.0 – Some good writing exercises.

 

Goodreads | Amazon

5.0 – Many twists and endings 😉

 

Goodreads | Amazon

5.0 – Only read An Imperfect Family by Tricia Drammeh

 

Goodreads | Amazon

5.0 – Still processing this one.

 

Goodreads | Amazon

4.0 – I wanted more of these stories.

 

Goodreads | Amazon

5.0 – Zombie sophistication!

 

Goodreads | Amazon

You can watch my update video here. Click below to watch my review video.

So, did you read any good books in June & July?

What did you think of the ones I read?

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords #blacklivesmatter

Categories
Excerpts Videos Virtual Book Tours

Bad Fairy Strikes Again – New Release @ElaineKAuthor #middlegrade #fantasy

***NEW RELEASE***

***99 CENTS***

 

 Series: A Bad Fairy Adventure (Book 2)

Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Pages: 60

Ages: 7-12

 

BLURB:

Will Thistle ever escape the nickname Bad Fairy?

Thistle Greenbud thought the nickname Bad Fairy was behind her, but she can’t escape it. Someone is spreading a rumor about her that just isn’t true and can ruin all of her hard work in getting into Advanced School. What fairy would do such a thing?

As if that’s not bad enough, Thistle’s dad goes missing. Not a single fairy in Tinselville has seen him. He’s vanished like pixie dust. Her mom is distraught, and Thistle is worried. Where could he be?

Thistle and the Flutters, along with Dusty and Moss, are on both cases. Can they find out what happened to her dad and solve the Bad Fairy rumor? Thistle hopes so!

 

BOOK LINKS:

Amazon / Nook / iBooks / Goodreads

~

I was so happy to have a chance to read an early copy of this book. My reaction, “4.75 stars- Pretty deep stuff in a fluffy sweet package.” Click here to read my full review.

~

Thistle (aka Bad Fairy) Chats with Dusty:

Thistle and Dusty used to be fairy enemies, each trying to
pay the other back for something they did to each other. But then a twisty
devastated their home of Pine Cone Grove and all that changed. They helped out
their fellow fairies side by side and are now, much to the astonishment of the
members of Thistle’s Flutter Club, friends.

 

Thistle: I had fun at the Spring
Festival.

Dusty: So did I! You looked very
pretty.

Thistle: *blushes* Thank you.

Dusty: What was your favorite part
of the festival?

Thistle: Tricking Moss and Lacey.

Dusty: *snickers* Once a bad fairy,
always a bad fairy.

Thistle: *crosses her arms* Hey, I’m
not a bad fairy!

Dusty: I know. I was just teasing
you.

Thistle: Well, it’s not funny, not
since someone is spreading rumors about me doing something really bad
that I didn’t do.

Dusty: I’m sorry. And I promise that
we’ll find the fairy who is spreading those rumors about you.

Thistle: Thanks. *sighs* So, what was
your favorite part of the Spring Festival?

Dusty: Hanging out with you and
looking at all the booths.

Thistle: I wish we could go back to
that day, before the rumors and before my dad went missing.

Dusty: That reminds me, I need to
check in with Sheriff Webbing to see if there’s any news on your dad. I’ll be
back soon!

*Dusty zips off*

Thistle: *shouts* OKUM-SOKUM!

EXCERPT:

“Hi, Thistle!”

The voice startles me, and I turn to see Dusty Withers.
Boogles! Dusty and I were once rivals. He and his sidekick Moss Kelp always
caused trouble and made me get blamed for it, earning me the nickname Bad
Fairy. After a twisty hit, destroying much of our grove, Dusty, Moss, and the
Flutters worked together to rebuild homes. Dusty and Moss proved to us they
changed. Since then, Dusty and I have become friends.

Ssh! Don’t tell anyone. That’ll be our secret for now.

I smooth down my skirt. I’m wearing a strawberry-colored
top and a green web skirt, making me look as though I’m a real strawberry, only
upside down. I hope he doesn’t notice. “Oh, hi,” is all I manage to say.

Dusty steps closer. “Do you want to share lunch with me? I
have a coverlet we can use, and food, of course.” He holds up a basket and
looks at me with hope bright in his brown eyes. I can’t help but notice how
cute he looks wearing a vine crown over his curly brown hair. He’s wearing a
clean shirt and knickers with brown leggings. Before, he used to wear ratty
shirts and dirty shorts from playing rough and getting into mischief.

Secretly, I want to go with him, but I can’t. Only Lacey
knows Dusty and I are hanging out.

“I…uh…” Fuddlebug! I can’t talk.

I try again. “I’m sorry, but I promised to eat with my mom
and dad.” My wings droop. “Then I have a Flutter Club meeting.”

Dusty puts on a grin, and says, “Moss and I could join you at
the meeting.”

“Sorry, but it’s a Flutter girls thing. I know you and Moss
are Flutter Helpers, but everything is good. If we need you two, we’ll call you
to a meeting.” I try to calm the twitching in my wings.

“Okay.” He smiles and gives me a wink before walking away.

He winked at me! Flea bumpies form on my skin.

Get Book 1 for 99 CENTS!

BAD FAIRY: Amazon / Nook / iBooks / Kobo

~

***GIVEAWAY*** 

PRIZES: 3 signed paperback picture books (Pea Soup Disaster, The Missing Alphabet, Slow Poke), three handmade bookmarks, plus a goodie bag and worksheets.

Eligibility: International

GIVEAWAY LINK: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/76132e0224/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elaine Kaye is the author of A Bad Fairy Adventure series AND A Gregory Green Adventure series. She first created Gregory Green after her son, who loved her homemade pea soup, thus inspiring the story Pea Soup Disaster.

Kaye has worked as a library assistant and teacher’s assistant in elementary schools in the Sunshine State. She currently lives in Florida, but she has called Michigan; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Okinawa, Japan home. She is a grandmother of three boys.

Amazon / Goodreads / BookBub / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter

This post contains affiliate links. If you click through to make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Any amount I make goes towards my dream to host a book fair in Hampton Roads, VA. Please see my About page for more details. Thank you for your support.


Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords #blacklivesmatter

Categories
Excerpts Reblogs

Reblog-OAG: The ToiBox of Serials 1: Heart of the Golden Stag

I’ve started a new series over at the OAG blog where I’m sharing some of my longer short stories in serial form. Most of the stories started out as flash-fiction that first appeared here and were later developed more. My first serial is for a story I submitted to the IWSG anthology and didn’t quite make the cut. In any case, I’m proud of what I wrote and proud of myself for at least trying. Please check it out.

Heart of the Golden Stag, part 1

Rosy morning light shone down and warmed the dark olive flesh of a thin arm before it retreated beneath a blanket of golden hair. Shimmering in the pink light, the hair rippled as the body beneath wiggled and stretched awake. Soon, Aaron sat up with a wide yawn as he craned his neck to turn away, shielding his eyes from the glare. With a short sigh, Aaron flipped the long strands of hair over his shoulders before heading toward the washbasin.” Read more: A Small Gang of Authors: The ToiBox of Serials 1: Heart of the Golden Stag

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords