May 2019 ~ BookishRealm

Release Day Blitz: Cherishing the Goddess

Happy Friday everyone! I'm excited to be a part of InkSlingerPR's release day blitz of Cherishing the Goddess by Lucy Eden. I haven't finished reading the book yet, but so far I'm really enjoying it. Keep reading to find out more about the book, read an excerpt from the book, and enter a giveaway!

Series: N/A
# of Pages: 314
Publication: May 31st, 2019
Source: Review Copy
Genre: Romance
Amazon | APPLE | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO | Goodreads

Billionaire CEO Alexander Wolfe has spent years putting in 120-hour weeks and adding zeroes to his net worth. But lately, work has left him feeling burnt out and uninspired. Then he is given the chance to go head-to-head with a legendary corporate raider and the man he’d idolized his entire career. He seizes the opportunity, immediately jumping on a plane for Barbados to close the deal in person. If he’s successful, it’ll be the biggest win of his career. He had no way of knowing that meeting a mesmerizing beauty would have the power to derail everything... Calypso Sterling has no time for men who value her beauty over her intellect. Instead, she focuses all her energy on her studies and career aspirations. But when her home—and a closely guarded family secret—is threatened, she’s ready to defend all she holds dear. She had no way of knowing a handsome stranger had the power to take away everything she’d ever loved... This standalone, workplace/ enemies to lovers romance features characters from Everything’s Better With Kimberly, is full of alphas and steam and has NO cheating. This is the novelized, extended version of the previously published novella of the same name.

Lucy Eden is the nom de plume of a romance obsessed author who writes the kind of romance she loves to read. She’s a sucker for alphas with a soft gooey center, over the top romantic gestures, strong & smart MCs, humor, love at first sight (or pretty damn close), happily ever afters & of course, steamy love scenes. When Lucy isn’t writing, she’s busy reading—or listening to—every book she can get her hands on— romance or otherwise. She lives in New York with her husband, two children, a turtle & a Yorkshire Terrier.

I approached Paul at the helm. He handed me a beer and gave me a sly half smile.

“Thought you were leaving?” His half smile morphed into a full-blown shit- eating grin.

“Yeah, me too.” I knocked back half the beer in two large gulps.

“She got you, didn’t she?”

“Yeah,” I grinned and nodded, “she did.”

Paul guffawed. “I knew it. I told Nadine when we met you two, ‘That boy doesn’t know what hit him!’” He chuckled once more and clinked our bottles together. “She’ll take good care of you. That’s a good woman. I can tell.”

“The best,” I said.

“Well, I don’t know about the best. You have met my wife?” He grinned again, and we both laughed.

“So how did you and Nadine meet?”

Paul grinned and took another sip of his beer.

“I used to work with her brother down at the shipyard. She was the most beautiful looking girl I’d ever seen, but she was a skinny little thing back then and mean as a snake. She did not fancy me. Every day when she would drop her brother off at work I would say, ‘Good Morning, Nadine,’ and she would roll her eyes and drive away. One day, her brother forgot his lunch, and she came to drop it off. Now, I never ate much for lunch, a piece of chicken between two slices of bread with some pepper sauce. She took one look at my pitiful lunch, screwed her face up and walked away. The next day, her brother gave me a bag.” Paul’s face spread into a wide grin. “Inside was a container with peas and rice, curried goat and a slice of coconut bread. Best meal I’ve ever had.” He laughed.

“So, she talked to you after that?”

“No,” Paul laughed as if I’d made the most absurd suggestion,” but,” He held up an index finger and wagged it at me. “That’s when I knew I had a chance.”

We laughed again.

“So, I know what happens when you cross a Bajan woman. What happens when you try to leave one?”

“I don’t know, man,” Paul shrugged and took another sip of his beer, “I’ve never tried.”

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Mini Picture Book Review: All the Way to Havana, After the Fall, & A Different Pond

BookishRealm 12:00 PM No comments

Series: N/A
# of Pages: 40
Publication: August 29, 2017
Source: Library Copy
Genre: Picture Book, SC Book Award Nominee
Goodreads | Amazon

Together, a boy and his parents drive to the city of Havana, Cuba, in their old family car. Along the way, they experience the sights and sounds of the streets--neighbors talking, musicians performing, and beautiful, colorful cars putt-putting and bumpety-bumping along. In the end, though, it's their old car, Cara Cara, that the boy loves best

This was definitely a great picture book and step into understanding the cultural differences of those that live in poverty and those that are more fortunate. While this book does not directly address the history of Cuba, it does show that due to the economic and political struggles of Cuba many individuals learn to become more creative with their resources which is why it is easy to find cars from the 60s still running and functioning on the streets of Cuba. The author made a great notation in the back that stated that while many individuals of wealth would have already given up on the cars that were older, she chose to focus the book around the family car and its history to show how Cubans have been willing to hold on to older items and use random things to fix them because it is a necessity and that getting rid of items isn't really an option. I loved the contrast that was exhibited between socioeconomic classes. The artwork was beautiful and felt as though it was realistic (which makes sense because the illustrator took pictures while visiting Cuba for inspiration). I would definitely recommend this book if you are searching for a way to teach children about the differences between countries and cultures. Plus, this has great representation of Afro-Cubans.

Series: N/A
# of Pages: 40

Publication: October 3rd, 2017

Source: Library Copy
Genre: Picture Book/SC Picture Book Award Nominee
Goodreads | Amazon

My name is Humpty Dumpty. I'm famous for falling off a wall. (You may have heard about it.) But that's only half the story... Because I decided to get back up. And when I did, something amazing happened. This story is about my life... AFTER THE FALL. Inspiring and unforgettable, this epilogue to the beloved classic nursery rhyme will encourage even the most afraid to overcome their fears, learn to get back up--and reach new heights.

This was so stinking cute! Everyone is familiar with the story of Humpty Dumpty and how he fell and was put back together, but this book explores what happens after that tragic incident. Like most of us who experience tragic events, Humpty Dumpty had a difficult time dealing with heights after the accident. He appeared to have anxiety and a certain level of fear when he had to do any activity that required him to climb off the ground. However, he comes to realize that he has to overcome these fears when he misses being able to see the city and birds from high locations. I loved that this picture book essentially encourages readers to face their fears and to get back up whenever life seems to put them down. I'm currently going through a lot in my personal life and it has been very discouraging; however, even in reading this picture book I have learned that eventually we all have to overcome whatever is challenging us. It's a book filled with encouragements and happy endings and I love that children have the opportunity to learn more about the story of Humpty Dumpty and how he overcomes his fear of heights. The artwork is also amazing. I recommend that people of all ages check out this picture book.

Series: N/A
# of Pages: 32
Publication: August 1st, 2017
Source: Library Copy
Genre: Picture Book, Caldecott Honor
Goodreads | Amazon

As a young boy, Bao Phi awoke early, hours before his father's long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. A successful catch meant a fed family. Between hope-filled casts, Bao's father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam.

This....I didn't know what to expect when I decided to read this picture book. I think that it's phenomenal. Not only was the artwork vibrant and beautifully in line with the text, but it told of deeper stories of immigrants, refugees, and the attitudes that Americans can sometimes have of those who are simply trying to make a better life for their families. One of the most captivating aspects of the this book is that it is based on Bao Phi's experiences with his father. They immigrated to the United States either during or after the Vietnam War and had to not only work multiple jobs, but also had to deal with blame that was inflicted upon them for the US's involvement in the war.

When I opened the picture book I thought that it was just going to tell the story of a little boy and his father who go fishing together, but I quickly learned that they were not going fishing for recreational purposes, but to make sure they had food on the table. They then emerge into the story of how his father misses Vietnam and fishing in a different pond and how the war cost him and his family so much. This was one of the most powerful picture books that I've read in a long time and it definitely gave me a new appreciation for those who give up everything for their families just so they can create a new life. I also respect parents and family members who share the darkest parts of their lives with their children not because the want to frighten them, but so they have an understanding of where the come from.

Waiting on Wednesday, #51 Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi

BookishRealm 12:00 PM No comments

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa over at Wishful Endings She has taken on a similar meme to Jills Waiting on Wednesday over at Breaking the Spine. Since Jill hasn't posted in a while I'm going to join in on this meme. To participate all you have to do is spotlight upcoming publications you're eagerly anticipating. Keep reading to see what I have chosen for this week.

Series: Legacy of Orisha, #2
Publication: December 3rd, 2019
Goodreads | Amazon

After battling the impossible, Zélie and Amari have finally succeeded in bringing magic back to the land of Orïsha. But the ritual was more powerful than they could’ve imagined, reigniting the powers of not only the maji, but of nobles with magic ancestry, too. Now, Zélie struggles to unite the maji in an Orïsha where the enemy is just as powerful as they are. But when the monarchy and military unite to keep control of Orïsha, Zélie must fight to secure Amari's right to the throne and protect the new maji from the monarchy's wrath. With civil war looming on the horizon, Zélie finds herself at a breaking point: she must discover a way to bring the kingdom together or watch as Orïsha tears itself apart.

This is probably one of my most anticipated reads of the year. It was originally supposed to come out in March, but the publication date kept getting pushed back. I'm so desperate to know what happens after the ending of book one. If you haven't had the chance to pick this book up, I highly recommend it. It was definitely one of my favorites of 2018.

What are you looking forward to this Wednesday?

Top 10 Tuesday: Favorite Books Released in the Ten Last Years

BookishRealm 7:25 PM No comments

Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope you're all having a wonderful start to your week if you had yesterday off for Memorial Day here in the US. It's been a while since I've done a Top 10 Tuesday. If you guys didn't know, it's now being hosted by Jana over at The Artsy Reader Girl . This week we are tasked with picking our favorite books released in the last 10 years. I've read a lot so I had to rely a little bit on Goodreads to find out when certain books were published. : ) Here's my list! I hope you enjoy!

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (2010). This list wouldn't be complete without a Rick Riordan book! I absolutely love him and I've been attempting to read everything by him that I can get my hands on. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson (2011). This is definitely an underrated series. I absolutely love it and I consider it to be one of my favorite series of all time; however, I haven't finished it yet. Saga Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughn (2012). One of the BEST comic book series of all time. Get your hands on it if possible.

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson (2013). Brandon Sanderson is well known for his high fantasy works; however, I always feel like people don't consider his YA science fiction work as good, but I really love it. My goal is to get to the last book this year. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (2014). I loved this book when it first came out! I mean I really enjoyed it and gushed about it to anyone that would listen. Unfortunately, the rest of the series doesn't turn out to be as good as this first novel. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (2015). Such a powerful book that brought me to tears. I need to do a re-read of it soon.

Born A Crime by Trevor Noah (2016). This is one of my favorite auto-biographies of all time. It's hilarious and I just put the audiobook on hold at my library just so I can hear him read it. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (2017). The best book of all time! I would be foolish not to include this book on my list. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (2018). I loved this book last year and I've been anticipating the release of the second book for forever.

With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo (2019). So I technically haven't read this book yet; however, it's a book that I'm really excited to read this year and I'm positive that I'm going to love it.

The Hidden Witch by Molly Ostertag

BookishRealm 5:17 PM No comments

Series: The Witch Boy, #2
# of Pages: 224
Publication: October 30th, 2018
Source: Library Copy
Genre: Paranormal Middle Grade Graphic Novel
Goodreads | Amazon

Aster and his family are adjusting to his unconventional talent for witchery; unlike the other boys in his family, he isn't a shapeshifter. He's taking classes with his grandmother and helping to keep an eye on his great-uncle whose corrupted magic wreaked havoc on the family. Meanwhile, Aster's friend from the non-magical part of town, Charlie, is having problems of her own -- a curse has tried to attach itself to her. She runs to Aster and escapes it, but now the friends must find the source of the curse before more people -- normal and magical alike -- get hurt.

So let me be clear. My review may not really be true to the quality of the book because I actually read the books out of order. I didn’t realize that this was the second book in the series so some aspects of the book didn’t exactly make sense which is completely my fault. This story follows the story of Aster who is learning witchery with a group of girls in his family. He is the only boy in his family that is learning witchery as opposed to shape shifting. While this second book doesn’t focus on the relationship between his family and how he is learning witchery, it does deal with a deal that he has to make with his grandmother to learn witchery. What I enjoyed most about this graphic novel is that it touched on some really important topics such as friendship, foster families, and anger/resentment.

While Aster is making a deal with his grandmother to learn witchery and help save his Uncle, he finds that his friend Charlie is being followed by an evil spirit. This ultimately means that someone in their town is practicing evil witchcraft. When Ariel comes to town, it is quite obvious the role that she will play; however, I loved that her anger was explored. As a foster child she’s moved around a lot and has a hard time making friends. She’s very cautious of people and is frequently bullied. It’s natural that when she starts at Charlie’s school she has a hard time making friends and is thrilled when Charlie wants to be her friend; however, because she doesn’t have experience with friendship she quickly assumes that Charlie should only be her friend and gets jealous very quickly. This creates tension and leads to more mystery and adventure. I loved that Charlie was so supportive of Ariel. It would have been easier to stop talking to her when she got possessive but Charlie attempted to maintain the friendship because she wanted to teach Ariel what friendship really meant. Meanwhile, Aster learned how damaging anger could be and how someone who is hurt is likely to hurt other people. This is a major theme of the book and helps the characters resolve a lot of conflict.

I enjoyed the story; however, for a decent length of a graphic novel I still do not feel as though much happened. I wanted to know more about Ariel and her experiences as a foster child and what happened at her other schools. I hope that information is explored in the next volume. The entire volume just left me wanting more. In contrast, I found the artwork to be phenomenal. So many rich colors were used and I really appreciated how the artwork communicated the story. Check it out below. I’m hoping that I have a great experience with the first and third volumes.

Sunday Post #20: The Week Where I Try to Read Everything

BookishRealm 7:34 PM No comments

Hey everyone ! I haven't actually done one of these in such a long time. Well, to be honest I kind of abandoned blogging at around October of last year. I had a lot going on. In the past six months I've lost my great-grandmother and my grandmother, my partner and I separated, and I'm pregnant with my little girl (I'm super excited to meet her). It's been really tough on me, but I've held on to my faith and my family and I feel like I'm doing okay. I'm super happy to be back into the world of blogging and I'm hoping to having the chance to really catch up with everyone. So this week has been amazing in terms of reading. I graduated with my MLIS so I've had a lot more time to read and focus on being a librarian. Keep reading to see what I blogged about and read this week as well as what I have coming up next week.

Bingo Love (4.5 Stars), The Hidden Witch (3 Stars), & Misunderstood Shark (3 Stars)

Blackbird, Vol. 1 (4 Stars), Ms. Marvel, Vol. 10 (4 Stars), & Two Can Keep A Secret (4 Stars)

Another Castle, Issue #1 (3 Stars), Super Zero, Issue #1 (2 Stars), I Was Their American Dream (4 Stars)

Heartstopper, Vol.1 (5 Stars), Romanov (3 Stars), The Ancient Magus Bride, Vol. 1 (4 Stars)

This One Summer (2 Stars)

I'm almost finished with The Sea of Monsters. It's a re-read for me so I can make my way through all of Rick Riordan's books. I'm listening to Here Comes the Sun on audio and it's amazing but also heart-breaking. I'm also listening to The Second Summer of the Sisterhood while I'm in the car and I'm almost finished with that one as well. I may have all three finished by the end of the week.