What is "Greensleeves"? "Greensleeves" is a traditional English folksong from the 16th or 17th century. You might better recognize the tune as the Christmas carol, "What Child Is This?" Trajan et Hadrian, Fair Use License. The lyrics are as follows: Image courtesy of Pinterest You can listen to an instrumental guitar version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wARiOb80Zr0 Who Was … Continue reading Who was Lady Greensleeves?
I'm so proud to announce that my YA fantasy novel, WHISPER, received Honorable Mention in the 2021 Readers' Favorite Book Awards Contest in the Holiday Fiction category! Thank you to everyone at Readers' Favorite for their support. #ReadersFavorite#yafantasy#indieauthorsView all 2021 Winners: https://readersfavorite.com/2021-award-contest-winners.htm Get the book: https://bit.ly/whisperckbrooke
My new novella is now available! Cover art by Dragonpen Press Designs “‘Tristan and Isolde’? More like stuff and nonsense…" At age eighteen, Isolde of Ayrland is expected to master the healing arts and uphold her mother’s legacy as a healer, but she’s nowhere near ready for the undertaking. Though her mother’s always urging her … Continue reading New Release: As Told by Isolde, A Mythic Maidens Novella (Mythic Maidens #5)
Pure by Catherine Mesick is a 2014 indie-published YA urban fantasy novel. It is Book 1 of the Pure Series by Catherine Mesick. I think I found it on BookBub and was drawn by the absolutely gorgeous cover art. Also, it was free, so that didn't hurt! I found the opening chapters intriguing with the … Continue reading DNF: Pure by Catherine Mesick
All-American Muslim Girl is a 2019 YA novel by Nadine Jolie Courtney. This book was one of my random Barnes & Noble finds while perusing the shelves in the store the other day. (Don't worry; I didn't stay long and I had my Scholastic "I ❤ Reading!" mask on.) One fleeting glance at the blurb … Continue reading Book Review: All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney
Title: ObsidianAuthor: Jennifer L. ArmentroutSeries: Lux (Book 1)Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance/Sci-FiPage Count: 400 pagesPublisher: Entangled TeenRelease Date: May 8, 2012 Publisher’s Summary: Starting over sucks. When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and … Continue reading Book Review: Obsidian (Lux: Book #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Title: Killing NovemberAuthor: Adriana MatherSeries: Killing November, Book 1Page Count: 411 pagesGenre: YA, Academy ThrillerPublisher: Knopf Books for Young ReadersRelease Date: March 26, 2019 Publisher’s Summary: November is as good as dead. She just doesn't know it yet. At the international Academy Absconditi, there's no electricity, no internet, and an archaic eye-for-an-eye punishment system. Classes … Continue reading Book Review: Killing November (Book #1) by Adriana Mather
Twenty-nineteen was a busy year for me! Between releasing several publications, freelancing for a publisher, a major website overhaul and relocation, and life in general with my family, I took a break from writing book reviews for the year. But that doesn't mean I took a break from reading! While I mostly read nonfiction last … Continue reading Fiction I Read in 2019
Meet Shell Photo by Emily Goodhart. Courtesy of Unsplash. Full Name: Roshelle Featured in: Shell: A YA Mermaid Short Story by C.K. Brooke From: Eastern shore, Maryland Status: Middle school student Distinguishing characteristics: Beachy blonde hair, an alleged “skin condition,” according to her mom, that prevents her from submerging in water. Motivations: The sea…it beckons … Continue reading Meet the Heroine: Shell
Artemis Fowl (Viking Press, 2001) by Eoin Colfer is the first in an eight-book children's science fiction series. Born in Ireland, Artemis Fowl is a twelve-year-old boy genius. With the muscle of his manservant, a trained killer called Butler, young Artemis is the criminal mastermind behind innumerable schemes to regain the Fowl family fortune. When … Continue reading Book Review: Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl #1) by Eoin Colfer
I had never expected this to be "my" kind of book. I'd seen the title a million times on the shelves (virtual and otherwise) and it never appealed to me. I was expecting a sappy, melodramatic teen romance. How wrong I was! It was actually the ad for the Netflix movie that compelled me to … Continue reading Book Review: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
*Full disclosure: I was the editor of this novel for 48fourteen Publishing. The Songs We Remember is the heart-rending yet lovely sequel to The Songs in Our Hearts by Chantal Gadoury. In the next installment of this contemporary YA love story, we return to our lovably conscientious heroine, Charlie, and her now-boyfriend, the charmingly laid-back … Continue reading Editor’s Review: The Songs We Remember (The Songs in Our Hearts #2) by Chantal Gadoury
*Full disclosure: I was the editor of this novel for 48fourteen Publishing. Foretold (48fourteen, 2018) by Holly M. Campbell is the third - and final? - book in the Near Deaths Series. As a mega-fan of Mrs. Campbell's previous works, including Foreshadowed (Book 1), Forewarned (Book 2), and Without Curtains, I was beyond honored to … Continue reading Editor’s Review: Foretold (Book 3 of the Near Deaths Series) by Holly M. Campbell
Not If I Save You First (2018) is a standalone teen thriller/romance by popular NYT bestselling YA author, Ally Carter. As a colossal fan of her Heist Society and Embassy Row series, I was excited about her latest release in the same vein as her previous works, involving U.S. Secret Service agents, the President's son, … Continue reading Book Review: Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter
*I was the editor of this novel for The Parliament House Press. Nocturnal Meetings of the Mispalced (The Parliament House Press, 2018) by R.J. Garcia is my favorite book I've edited to date - and one of my all-time favorite novels ever. This unputdownable debut blends my favorite elements of YA, horror/mystery, small towns, a … Continue reading Editor’s Review: Nocturnal Meetings of the Misplaced by R.J. Garcia
*I was the editor of this novel for The Parliament House Press. Cursed: The Hunter Inside, Part 1 (The Parliament House Press, 2018) by Casey M. Millette is my favorite debut epic fantasy novel to date. I am not saying that because I happened to be the editor of this fantastic novel. Nor am I saying … Continue reading Editor’s Review: Cursed: The Hunter Inside, Part 1 by Casey M. Millette
Happily Ever After: Companion to the Selection Series (HarperTeen, 2015) is a compilation of previously published novellas and new bonus material, all pertaining to The Selection series by Kiera Cass. The bonus material was a nice touch. I loved the scenes from Celeste's point of view; those were definitely the highlight. I feel like I … Continue reading Book Review: Happily Ever After: Companion to the Selection Series by Kiera Cass
The Favorite: A Selection Novella (HarperTeen, 2015) by Kiera Cass is the final (to date) novella in The Selection series, told from the point of view of Marlee, America's best friend and the country's "favorite" contender of the Elite. Marlee sadly loses favor in either The Elite or The One (forgive me; it's been a … Continue reading Book Review: The Favorite: A Selection Novella by Kiera Cass
The Guard: A Selection Novella (HarperTeen, 2014) is a companion novella to The Selection series by Kiera Cass. The Guard is told from the point of view of Aspen, America's first love, who is eventually enlisted as a guard at the palace in the original series. *Spoilers Ahead If You Haven't Read The One* I … Continue reading Book Review: The Guard: A Selection Novella by Kiera Cass
"In that instant I wanted him, the crown - every last piece of this - like nothing before." The Queen: A Selection Novella (HarperTeen, 2014) by Kiera Cass is a short prequel to The Selection series. Although it's a prequel, it's best to have read the original trilogy, consisting of The Selection, The Elite, and The … Continue reading Book Review: The Queen: A Selection Novella by Kiera Cass
"'...you're not a mistake. In fact, you're kind of a miracle. ... The girl who shouldn't exist.'" Trigger 17, p. 152 Brave New Girl (Delacorte Press, 2017) is a YA dystopian novel by Rachel Vincent. The story is about Dahlia 16, a clone who was engineered to become a hydroponic gardener. Dahlia is one of … Continue reading Book Review: Brave New Girl by Rachel Vincent
"'Someone or multiple someones are intentionally rewriting history,' Alice says. 'And keeping the Titanic stuck in time before its sinking,' Susannah says." - p. 249 Haunting the Deep (Knopf, 2017) is the sequel to How to Hang a Witch by #1 NYT bestselling YA author, Adriana Mather. In Mather's second YA paranormal thriller, we pick … Continue reading Book Review: Haunting the Deep by Adriana Mather
"I have to convince a group of people who hate me to help solve a curse that could be killing our families." - p. 125 How to Hang a Witch (Knopf, 2016) is a YA paranormal novel written by Adriana Mather, an actual descendant of the Salem Witch Trials' Cotton Mather. The protagonist in this … Continue reading Book Review: How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather
“Do... Do you ever worry what people are saying about you?” I asked. “Do I look like the type that worries about that?” “I’ve come to know you can’t judge an album by its cover.” - Charlie and Micah, The Songs in Our Hearts Disclaimer: I was the editor of this novel for 48fourteen Publishing. … Continue reading Editor’s Review: The Songs in Our Hearts by Chantal Gadoury
*DNF at 40% RoseBlood by A.G. Howard (Amulet Books, 2017) is a YA urban fantasy novel inspired by Gaston Lereux's classic novel and the opera of the same name, The Phantom of the Opera. I enjoyed the author's debut, the Alice in Wonderland retelling entitled Splintered, even though at times the second through third acts became overwritten. … Continue reading DNF: RoseBlood by A.G. Howard
C.K. BROOKE 