Month: May 2017

Book Review · Books

The Inexplicable Logic Of My Life

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Some books wreck you for life in a good way. This book by Mr. Saenz does just that. I don’t even remember if I read the inside flap of the book jacket. All I know is I was hooked from page one. This book is, too beautiful not urge everyone to read it. This story talks about family, friendship, love, and how to survive life when it just plain sucks.

Sal is raised by his adoptive gay father Vicente. They live a simple, quiet life with their golden retriever named Maggie. Sal’s life is fairly standard with going to school and hanging out with his best friend Sam. Sal is a calm mannered teen until a classmate utters an anti gay slur at him. Sal ends up in the principal’s office after hitting him.  He’s not sure why all of a sudden he’s angry. Sal doesn’t remember his mom who died when he was three and has no clue who his birth father is, but wonders if his reflex to punch comes from his birth dad’s side of the family. Thankfully Sal has Sam in his life. She’s got a potty month like a trucker, but she sticks by Sal. The other best friend Sal has in his life is his grandmother he calls Mima. He gets to visit her on holidays and occasionally since she lives in a different state. She loves to make homemade tortillas which he loves to eat the first fresh one with butter. Sal’s life turns upside down when Sam needs his help. This book talks about the depth of family ties, friends new and old, and dealing with the topic of death.

The characterization is excellent. Each character is distinguished and unique with their own quirky personalities. They come alive off the page and feel like flesh and blood. I laughed, I cried, and now I feel emotionally like I got grazed by a car it was that an intense of a read. There is so much life and poetry in this one book. Please go buy a copy. Buy two because you will want to give one to a friend.

Book Review · Books

The Lara Jean Series

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I’d heard of the Lara Jean series since they are very popular. I was not, however, expecting to fall in love with the characters and storyline, not to the mention the book covers. The covers of this series are chic, classy and most of all girlie with how they depict Lara Jean’s room as she ages. The best thing about the covers are the titles are written in Sharpie. So realistic looking with parts that look faded. The covers are like the storyline’s cheerleaders asking new readers to dive into Lara Jean’s world.

Lara Jean Song Covey is raised in a single parent home due to her mom sadly passing away when she’s younger. It’s just her older sister, Margot, Lara Jean and their youngest sister Katherine aka Kitty. Lara Jean is a lot like me in that she’s nerdy, creative and somewhat of a homebody. The Covey girl’s dad is a doctor whose gone often. This series is about Lara Jean’s life: her family relationships, her childhood friendships, a first love and life’s changes.

I can relate to Lara Jean in many ways, yet she reminds me think of my younger sister. Growing up I was the eldest, but my sister is the classic bossy older sister personality. I’m more of a passive, keep the peace personality type. Kitty’s character also, made me think of my younger sister in that she has an eagle eye of what’s going on, speaks her mind, but secretly is a softy. She’s like an M&M. Hard outer shell, but soft on the inside. I’m not into cooking, but Lara Jean is a talent and she decompressed by cooking just like my sister.

First loves and boyfriends are powerful. Lara Jean pretends to date her big crush Peter K in order to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. The plan backfires when Lara Jean and Peter fall for each other. Lara Jean used to be best friends with Peter’s ex. The relationship and friendship dynamic in the series is in-depth.

If you like old-fashioned romance set in a modern setting I highly recommend this series. The characters are well fleshed out, believable, versatile and most of all memorable. My favorite characters are Lara Jean and Kitty. I like Kitty because she is sassy, affectionate and funny. She’s a classy broad in a little kid’s body. I will definitely be reading this series again down the road.  Thank you Jenny for writing such a heartfelt series that stays with you after the very last page. When’s the movie coming out?

Book Review · Books

Break Open The Sky

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Break Open The Sky, talks about how the culture of fear has invaded our church, faith, and life. It is freezing us up from living out our Christian walk. We grow leery of the other side of the Christian spectrum: liberal vs conservative, etc. Mr. Bauman talks about the Beatitudes and how we can live them out in our lives. He gives different examples of people in other countries and cultures who have gone beyond their fears to make a difference in their communities and homes. Mr. Bauman has also, shared stories of people who have gone out of their comfort zone by going to a different country filled with conflict to make a difference and possibly risk their life by doing so.

I received an ARC of  Break Open The Sky, free from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review. This book goes on sale May 23, 2017. For further information on the author click here.

This book was short, but covered important topics. To fully digest all this book covered I suggest reading it a second time a few months after the first reading. I’d recommend this book, but if you are a new believer you may need a Christianese dictionary, or a fellow believer to translate a few words and expressions. It was written with passion, compassion, heart and love. Thank you Mr. Bauman.

Book Review · Books

A Mother’s Reckoning

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I noticed A Mother’s Reckoning  at Changing Hands bookstore months ago. I’ve wanted to buy it, but held off till one of my good friends was kind and said I could pick out a book for her to buy me. Of course I picked this one! Why do I always gravitate toward the depressing themed books? I love memoirs and something about the subject of this book interested me.

I still remember what I was doing on April 20, 1999. I was going to a community college and heard about the tragedy. Watching the news coverage was intense. There are different books regarding the tragedy. I’ve read Rachel Scott’s journal/story which her dad had published after her passing as well as the book written about Cassie Bernall. Last year I went to see the movie, “I’m Not Ashamed,” inspired by Rachel Scott’s journals and her life before she was killed at Columbine. That movie starts off with real news coverage of the school shooting which made sitting through the movie tough.  If you have PTSD the opener doesn’t help. I don’t have PTSD, but to rewatch the news footage is traumatizing.

This memoir by Dylan’s mother, Sue Klebold is raw, breathtaking, intense, sweet, gut wrenching and powerful. It’s a must read for parents, caregivers, hospitals and schools. It’s not just about what lead up to Columbine, but discusses how things can seem perfectly normal with someone and then they snap. I think Dylan’s mom did a fine job of expressing who Dylan was and seeing how he changed right under his family’s noses without much notice. Sue is one strong woman to endure all she has and still come out fighting to get society educated on suicide. Her involvement in suicide prevention is inspiring and humbling. This is a must read!

Book Review · Books

The Upside Of Unrequited 

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I got this book for last month’s OwlCrate. The cover is a gorgeous blue and the title is uniquely displayed. I wasn’t quite sure what this book was about till I watched one of my favorite booktubers give a synopsis of the storyline.

This book was a fast read aka 2 days. It’s about Molly whose a bigger girl with a sweet, creative personality. She has a twin Cassie who is her opposite. Cassie is gay and determined for Molly to get a boyfriend. Molly has never had a boyfriend or a first kiss. Ever. Being 17 and never been kissed is embarrassing. Cassie tries to set Molly up with her girlfriend’s best friend, but Molly possibly has her eye on a different guy.

This novel is about sisterhood, family, being different and not allowing it to stop you from living your life and most of all about love. I read Becky’s first novel Simon VS The Homo Sapien’s Agenda.  This second novel is even better.

I would recommend this book highly. I giggled from the first sentence and snorted through out. When a book makes you laugh right away you know it’s going to be a great book. The only thing that turned me off is the amount of swearing the characters did. I don’t think it enhanced the storyline or dialogue, otherwise I would have given it 5/5. This book would make a sweet romantic movie for teens. I think even adults would love it.

Book Review · Books

Coral And Bone

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What would you do if you discovered your life was one big lie? Halen discovers there’s more to the reason sparks want to release under her fingertips when she gets angry and the reason she blacks out at school. Her and her move have moved back to Rockaway Beach, but maybe being back where her dad drowned in the ocean is a bad idea.

Tage is a girl at school who befriends Halen. She is not that fond of her, but one night proves her friendship. One night Halen and Tage are given unique gifts for their birthdays. They each get a bracelet that they are told to wear and must not take off. A boy comes to bring Halen her homework from school, but after the flash of a knife and a run for their lives Tage instructs Halen to go into the ocean. Halen doesn’t like the ocean after she witnessed her dad drown. Little does she know once she goes into the ocean to get away from the boy chasing them that there is a different realm.

In getting away from the boy with the knife  Halen discovers a beautiful place and her connection to it. It’s a realm filled with unique creatures, berries that make you trip out and under water caves that hold the mentally unstable. There Halen discovers the connection she has with a boy she’s been sketching for a long time. The big question is why has she been sketching him and why does she feels drawn to this boy whose a stranger?

This fantasy book talks about many topics ranging from family, friends, loyalty, destiny, hate, forgiveness, love and of course magick. This book talks about the challenges that come with being lied to by loved ones and the choice to either forgive and move forward, or hold on to bitterness and let it rot you. Which would you. choose?

I am not into fantasy as I’ve shared before, but this book was hard to put down. It took till halfway through to get into the story, but once I did I was hooked. The author Tiffany Daune was kind enough to include a sneak peek into book 2, which now makes me antsy to want to find out what happens to Halen. If you enjoy fantasy, mermaids, sirens, magical realms and drama go get a copy of this gorgeous book. The cover is what screamed, “Pick me!” I was provided this book for free from Oftomes Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

I did ask Tiffany, the author one question.

“How can you relate to Halen and in what different way can you relate to Tage?”

Her response was:

“Like Halen, when I was younger I suppressed my abilities and desires to make other people happy. It took a long time to love myself enough to follow my dreams. Halen too, must accept her powers and find the courage to fulfill her destiny.

Tage is so dear to my heart. I love writing her. We all have those lost moments when life beats us up, but she’s a survivor no matter what’s thrown at her. I relate to her so much. Surviving is a desire to thrive when everything seems to be against you. It’s an undying faith when all you want to do is give up. Tage gets this.”

If you have any questions for Tiffany after finishing Coral and Bone just ask her via Twitter. She’s a very gracious author who responds quickly and personally.