Month: December 2017

Book Review · Books

A Secret Sisterhood

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If you love to write and enjoy books about female friendships then A Secret Sisterhood may be the book for you. This book explores the close female friendships of Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, George Eliot and Virginia Woolf. I have only read Jane Eyre and Uncle Tom’s Cabin, so I still have a long way to go when it comes to reading more classics. This book was fascinating getting to read about fellow authors these ladies were friends with that weren’t highly publicized. I had no clue George Eliot was friends with Harriet Beecher Stowe. There are many fascinating stories in this book. If you love classics and history then I think this book will be very satisfying.

I received an ARC of A Secret Sisterhood by Emily Midorikawa and Emma Sweeney via NetGalley for free in exchange for my feedback. I found a finished library edition that I read of it. This book was fascinating, intense at times and a neat doorway into what friendships were like when your friend choice is not always viewed as socially acceptable.

Book Review · Books

Just Sit

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Do you wish you could meditate, but don’t know where to start and the books you’ve found on meditation seem intimidating? Look no further! Just Sit is an easy to read book with neat illustrations to make it even more fun to read. I’ve thought of getting into meditation and I have read a few books on the topic, but I haven’t attempted to meditate. Just Sit is a book you’ll want to reread. The suggestions on different ways a person can meditate are helpful, easy to try and there is a lot of information packed into this little orange book. This is a great beginner’s book and the authors don’t make you feel uneducated like some other books on meditation might.

I received Just Sit by Sukey and Elizabeth Novogratz for free from TLC Book Tours in exchange for my review. I’m so happy I requested to review this book. It was educational, fun, enlightening, cute and a very helpful book. Who wants to start meditation with me? If so, click here to grab a copy.

Book Review · Books

The Wicked City

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When you can’t put a book down and wish there was a sequel to grab. The Wicked City by Beatriz Williams is just such a book. This novel has everything: romance, suspense, mystery, sass, beauty, tears, laughter, authenticity and more.

Ella moves into a new apartment in NY after deciding to start over after catching her husband in an affair. She is raw, shaky and determined to start over. One night she goes downstairs to do her laundry and hears strange jazz music. A handsome neighbor, Hector, explains there used to a secret jazz club next door back in the prohibition era. Ella wonders if her apartment building is haunted.

Flashback to 1920’s NY where we are introduced to Ginger. She’s a good girl from Maryland looking to get a fresh start away from her creepy stepfather. Ginger goes to said secret jazz club where she discovers there’s more to the clientele there than meets the eye. Is her past catching up with her in NY?

This novel goes back and forth between Ella and Ginger’s stories. How does the jazz club tie them together? Will the jazz club give up its secrets? Will Ella ever believe in love again and will Ginger ever be free of her past?

If you love flapper era fiction then you will absolutely love The Wicked City. I got my copy for free from TLC Book Tours in exchange for my reaction to this novel. I am totally gaga over this book and want more Beatriz Williams. To purchase a copy click here. To discover more about the author click here to check out her website.

Book Review · Books

Rules Of Rain

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Rules Of Rain is about a quirky cook loving teen, Rain, who helps watch over her Autistic twin brother, Ethan. Rain has worked out a schedule and rules of sorts for her brother to keep him happy and safe. Every day they go for a run together rain, or shine. Rain cooks unique dishes for her mom and brother to try. Life seems normal until her best friend comes over and Rain has the realization that her BFF has a crush on her brother. This wasn’t part of Ethan’s rules to keep him safe. This is out of her comfort zone, but does Ethan even realize a girl likes him? Rain gets partnered with her crush Liam in science. Will he end up being the boy of her dreams? This novel discusses the hard topics of family relationships and when to stand up for yourself. Romance is a big theme and the different ways that first love can be expressed. The other major theme is sibling relationships and how they can morph over time.

I can relate to Rain’s character because I, myself, struggle with being OCD in wanting things to be a certain way and when they aren’t I do tend to get grumpy. I’m not a cook, so I can’t relate to her cooking obsession, but I’d appreciate her unique cookies. As for Ethan, he’s a character that sort of stands off in the shadows, but then blossoms through out this book. The sibling relationship between Rain and Ethan is almost like classic older to younger sibling in how they relate to eat other since Rain is like a mother hen towards Ethan though they are twins. I can relate to Ethan in this regard because my younger sister has the dominant personality to my passive aggressive one.

If you love a book that will have you asking for more then go find a copy of this sweet, powerful book. I started it and it took a bit of time for me to get into the layout of the way the novel is laid out (Rain has her blog posts at the start of the chapters followed by Ethan’s journal entries), but once I got into the book’s rhythm I couldn’t put it down. I don’t know lots about Autism, so this novel was a nice primer on Autism. I received my ARC of Rules Of Rain by Leah Scheier from NetGalley in exchange for my review. I hope this book will be made into a movie because I want to watch it now.

Book Review · Books

The Temptation Of Adam

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We all have our addictions. Adam is addicted to porn. He gets put on school suspension for something he did in. During his suspension he is required to attend Knights Of Vice, an addiction recovery group that one of his high school teachers sponsors. Adam is not keen on going, but his dad offers to go with him to his first meeting. At this first meeting he encounters fellow member, Dez Coulter, who is a beautiful mix of troubled, beautiful, sarcastic and intense. Will this support group help Adam slay his porn addiction? Will the beautiful Dez pull Adam into the world of the living instead of the digital?

When I first started this novel I wasn’t that into the storyline, but once I got a bit deeper in I was hooked to find out what happens to Adam. Porn addiction is not hugely discussed in YA, but it’s a common addiction teens need help with, heck so do a lot of adults. The Temptation Of Adam deals with this important topic with grace, humor and raw honesty. No matter what your own addiction might be, we all just might struggle like Adam does.

I was sent a free copy of The Temptation Of Adam from SkyPony Press in exchange for my honest assessment. Thank you Emma for sending me a copy. This book is heartfelt, funny, sobering and enlightening. Thank you Mr. Connis for writing about a very taboo topic and bringing it out into the light.

Book Review · Books · Uncategorized

Christmas: A Biography

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If you want to find out the behind the scenes history of Christmas, then Christmas: A Biography will give you an in-depth summary in condensed volume. I’ve researched the history behind the beloved holiday and this book sheds light on so many other topics including : how Santa Clause came to be, when wrapping presents became a thing, how much does religion really have to do with this holiday and how the holiday has morphed over time.

I received this book from NetGalley for free in exchange for my review. When I saw a finished copy I grabbed it from the library. If you enjoy history and holidays this book may be the perfect combo. This book didn’t personally grab my attention right away, but I came away from reading it much more educated on the background of Christmas.