Month: November 2019

Book Review · Books

What Unbreakable Looks Like

Openly BookishLeave a comment

Do you know what it’s like to be trafficked by your own mom’s boyfriend’s friend? Poppy can tell you. She thought she was Mitch’s favorite of all the girls. Her world is thrown for a loop when the cops bust into the hotel where they are staying at and she’s sent to the hospital to get checked out. Poppy finds out her aunt, Krys, wants to take her in. Does Poppy want to escape the Hell hole that her life has become? How can her own aunt choose a broken, used up teen like Poppy? Will anyone truly love her?

When she gets the chance to escape the hospital with one of the other girl’s pulled from the hotel Poppy stays back and decides from then on she’s going to relearn how to be Alexa. She’s leaving Poppy behind and wants to reclaim who she was born to be. Lex.

Will Lex go and live with Krys? Does she cave in and decide to return to Mitch? What will she choose? This novel drops you smack dab into Poppy’s world. It’s a story about how evil sex trafficking is and how one teen decides if she wants to face her demons.

This story is not for the faint of heart. This topic is very adult, heartbreaking, gut wrenching and leaves you stunned. Can you handle Poppy’s story? Her story is addictive and I can guarantee you’ll stay up to find out what happens. Poppy is a character you can’t resist rooting for. Not only rooting for Poppy, but for Lex. Will Poppy allow Lex to shine?

I received my complimentary digital copy of What Unbreakable Looks Like by Kate McLaughlin from MacMillian, care of NetGalley. The views are of my own will and are mine. This novel better win lots of awards because this story is vital for everyone (age appropriate of course) to read. I can’t stop thinking about Poppy, Lex and a whole cast of characters you’ll wish you could call up to chat. This novel has the power to change and to help end sex trafficking.

Book Review · Books

Calm The F*CK Down Journal

Openly Bookish2 Comments

Do you stress easily? Does your imagination go to town on scenarios that most likely won’t happen, but your mind likes to screw with you mentally? Was this book secretly written for me?

Calm The F*CK Down Journal is a journal that provides helpful tools to help you figure out if something you are stressing about is worth your energy. Sarah provides different quizzes to help you determine which kind of freak outer you are. She also, helps you categorize the level your stressor really is vs what your imagination is telling you. She writes in a fun, yet frank manner. If you haven’t discovered her books yet, I do recommend her.

I received my complimentary digital copy of Calm The F*CK Down Journal by Sarah Knight from Little Brown Company, Hattachette Book Group and Voracious care of NetGalley. The views are mine and of my own will. This journal is very helpful and a great way to keep your stress in check so that aren’t wasting your pressure energy and emotion on things that won’t happen and if even if it’s a potential years down the road, why stress early if it’s not needed? I definitely would like to add this journal to my journal collection.

Book Review · Books

The Anesthesia Game

Openly BookishLeave a comment

This story delves into the lives of: Mitsy, Hannah, Pandora and Sydney. Mitsy is Sydney’s mom, Hannah is Mitzy’s sister and Pandora is Mitsy’s personal psychic. Hannah is sick with the c word and her mom, Mitsy has checked out emotionally minus taking Sydney to appointments and her dad is MIA by over working. Mitsy reaches out to Pandora for help. Pandora is trying to find herself aside from her psychic business. Hannah is struggling with an addiction to spending to help ease the pain of her marriage falling apart. Sydney’s dad steps in to ask for Hannah to come help out since Mitsy is in her own little world, not wanting face her daughter’s illness in a real way. Sydney is trying to deal with being a teen and having an illness. This is the adventure of Hannah going to help out Mitsy and Sydney.

This novel is beautifully written with such in depth characters that they feel real. This storyline deals with tough topics like illness, marriage, friendship, sisterhood and spirituality. It’s the story of four women who are trying to find their way when their world’s are each falling apart.

I received my complimentary digital copy of The Anesthesia Game by Rea Nolan Martin from the author, care of Booktasters. The views expressed are mine and of my own accord. This novel took awhile to get through because I didn’t want the story to end. This to me is the sign of an excellent story.

Book Review · Books

Find Your Light: Practicing Mindfulness To Recover From Anything

Openly Bookish1 Comment

This slim little book packs a punch. Barbara Conyers takes you on the journey of self discovery of what it means to practice mindfulness in your life. She saddles up the 12-steps along side going through what mindfulness is and isn’t. Ms. Conyers gives helpful exercises throughout the book to help you explore what being actively mindful is like. She also, shows how addiction plays a role in our lives and how being mindful of what addictions we have and how to confront them is vital.

Having read other books on mindfulness it’s great to see the exercise of deep breathing suggested. When I was sick a year or so ago, I would get anxious, but focusing on breathing deep helped calm me down. One exercise I need to incorporate into my life more is just sitting with my thoughts and emotions; knowing they will flow accordingly. They aren’t permanent, though my body thinks so because it goes into flight or fight mode. If you need a short book on my mindfulness then I do recommend this book.

I received my complimentary copy of Find Your Light: Practicing Mindfulness to Recover from Anything by Barbara Conyers from Hazelden Publishing, care of Smith Publicity. The views are of my own will and are mine.

Book Review · Books

Firewall

Openly BookishLeave a comment

Emma Streat is trying to get her life back together after her husband was killed two years prior. Her sons are away at college and she’s trying to start over, but first she must help her godmother. This woman raised her after her parent’s deaths and Emma loves her like a mother.

Her godmother has a problem though because she got a threatening note promising her secret will be released if she doesn’t cough up lots of money. Emma is asked to help and it’s the last thing Emma wants to get entangled in. She was about to go on vacation, but instead heads off overseas to help her godmother.

This mystery novel is very fast paced with short chapters. The characters are distinct, vibrant and it plays out like a blockbuster action movie. If you enjoy mysteries, action and romance then you’ll enjoy this book. It is part of a series, which I haven’t read, but thankfully you are given background so you don’t get lost.

I received my complimentary copy of Firewall by Eugenia Lovett West from Sparks Press, care of FSB Associations. The views and thoughts are my own. This author writes enticingly and I will definitely keep an eye out for other titles by her. Now that I’ve glimpsed a peak into Emma’s world I want to read the earlier books.

Book Review · Books

Maggie’s Ruse

Openly Bookish2 Comments

Maggie and Marta are twins that are always together except for the time they went to camp as kids. Marta is the actress and Maggie is the painter. They share an apartment. Their mother remarried a rich man, so they are allowed to pursue their passions since they get economic outpatient care.

One day Marta and Maggie decide to play a twin prank on their guy friend, Josh, who likes Marta. They dress as alike with matching wigs. Josh thinks he’s chatting with Marta, but it’s really Maggie. When Josh kisses her, Maggie responds in kind. This display of affection angers Martha, but Maggie reminds her it was their idea to trick him. Due to this turn of events Maggie decides she needs space from Martha.

Maggie’s take off to stay with her old art co-op friend Leah in a small town not too, far from Maggie’s childhood home. She gets in a groove painting and feeling like Maggie finally has her own space. Marta back at home feels strange not having her twin home, but tries to adjust. Will Maggie and Marta clear the air regarding Josh?

This novel tackles the quandary of having a twin and being expected to get along and be similar, when in fact you are as different as days is from night. It’s about figuring out who you are a part from someone who understands you better than anyone else. I always wonder what it would be like to have a twin. It’d be instant best friend.

I received a complimentary copy of Maggie’s Ruse by Anne Leigh Parrish from Unsolicited Press, care of TLC Book Tours. The views are of my own accord and mine. To grab a copy via Amazon and to find out more about Anne Leigh Parrish. This book was fast paced in length, but had more of a mellow feel to the storyline.