Month: September 2022

A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by. Laura Taylor Namey | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow

Author: Laura Taylor Namey

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 11/9/20

Publisher: Anetheum Books for Young Readers

Categories: Romance, Coming of Age, Young Adult, Contemporary, Grief, Mental Health, Food

For Lila Reyes, a summer in England was never part of the plan. The plan was 1) take over her abuela’s role as head baker at their panadería, 2) move in with her best friend after graduation, and 3) live happily ever after with her boyfriend. But then the Trifecta happened, and everything—including Lila herself—fell apart.

Worried about Lila’s mental health, her parents make a new plan for her: spend three months with family friends in Winchester, England, to relax and reset. But with the lack of sun, a grumpy inn cook, and a small town lacking Miami flavor (both in food and otherwise), what would be a dream trip for some feels more like a nightmare to Lila…until she meets Orion Maxwell.

A teashop clerk with troubles of his own, Orion is determined to help Lila out of her funk, and appoints himself as her personal tour guide. From Winchester’s drama-filled music scene to the sweeping English countryside, it isn’t long before Lila is not only charmed by Orion, but England itself. Soon a new future is beginning to form in Lila’s mind—one that would mean leaving everything she ever planned behind.

Content Warning: self harm, grief, death of loved one, illness of loved one

I got this book from Book Outlet and decided to make it the book I would read when waiting for my kids in the car pick up line. Well…that didn’t work out so this book was in my car for a few weeks! lol I finally took it out, sat down and read it and I didn’t expect this one to make me emotional, but it did.

+ Lila has a mental breakdown because she got dumped by her boyfriend, her best friend stopped being friends with her and her grandmother died. I loved her character growth throughout the book. She’s stubborn, strong willed and pushy but eventually learns to slow down and listen to the people in her life.

+ Lila and Orion’s love story is a slow burn and so, so sweet. I really liked how it went from a friendship to something more. I love how they fed each other through food and emotions. She fed him Cuban food, he brewed her tea and it was perfect! It made me hungry for Cuban food and afternoon tea all at one time!

+ I loved the side characters like Jules, Flora, Remy and Lila’s Aunt Cate. Family is a big theme in this book as well as friendship but Lila comes from such a big, tight-knit Cuban family that it was so important to her every aspect of her life.

+ Lila is grieving her grandmother, her best friend and her ex-boyfriend and I found myself emotional at times because it is a story about changes and dealing with a new normal. It’s true some friendships don’t last, definitely true some loves end and because it’s life we lose people to death, which is natural. But it can be so much – too much – at one time and Lila really did have to untangle and work through many difficult emotions. She had to learn to be kind to herself and see what she was doing.

~ Though realistic, I was hoping there would be some happy ending for her and her best friend, Stef who we hear a lot about but never get to really meet. It’s sad that their friendship just ends…amicably but still.

Tropes: travel to another country and fall in love, slow burn, summer romance

Spice Level: barely any – few sweet kisses

Why you should read it:

  • super sweet, slow burn romance – Orion is the sweetest
  • Lila’s character growth
  • I like the theme of family, Lila and her roots, Orion and his own family problems and heartaches
  • love all the food references: Cuban food and English teas

Why you might not want to read it:

  • some sad topics like grief

My Thoughts:

I found myself getting very emotional in some parts of this book especially when Lila has to make choices about where she belongs. I love her and Orion together, they really did feel like a cozy sweater kind of love, and exactly what Lila needed. I fell in love with their sweet friendship and love. The themes about grief, roots, and family…blood and found, really resonated with me. I look forward to reading more from this author and even to see how the movie turns out!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Birthstone Book Covers: September – Sapphire

This month’s birthstone book cover is Sapphire for the month of September. This is such a beautiful birthstone! The original creator of this book tag is Leslie @ Books Are The New Black so go check out her blog!

THE RULES

  • Mention the creator (Leslie @ Books Are The New Black ) and link back to me so I can see your post!
  • Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone.
  • HAVE FUN!
  • Nominate people if you want!

Sapphire is the birthstone for September

If you are into gemstone properties it is said that Sapphire attracts abundance and blessings.

Let’s find some book covers in this color:

Blue is definitely one of the more popular book covers out there I think, my shelf has more blue book covers than any other color and sapphire blue really is lovely.

I nominate everyone! It’s a fun and easy tag to do so try it out. ☺️

5..4..3..2..1 Book Tag | 9/8/22

Hi everyone! I saw this tag on DiniPandaReads and thought it was a fun and simple one to do. So let’s try it out:

5 Books You Love

I’m choosing from the books I read this year since there are way too many books I love:

4 Auto Buy Authors

Auto-read, auto-buy, these are some of my favorites!

3 Fave Genres

My favorite genres are Romance, Young Adult (mostly everything), Fantasy

2 Places You Read

  • on the family room couch – which isn’t exactly the coziest, but it’s in my favorite room
  • in bed before sleeping

1 Book You Promise to Read Soon

Soon…I promise! I’m on chapter two but put it aside to finish arcs and need to get back to it. 😅

This was such an easy tag to do! I tag everyone who wants to do it. Thanks for reading!

WWW Wednesday | 9/7/22

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

I did not get a lot of reading done at all this past week, even though it was a holiday weekend! My daughter had a cold, and I had just so many things to do. My broken sprinkler pipe needed fixing so I had to deal with that – so yeah…too busy and too tired to read lately. Hopefully I can get back into the groove this weekend.

What are you currently reading?
What have you just finished reading?
What are you going to read next?

I got this one through my online library and heard good things about it! Hopefully I can actually get to read it though.🤞🏽

What are you reading right now?

Happy Reading!!

Happy Book Birthday | New Releases | 9/6/22

Happy book birthday to these new releases!

Release Date: 9/5/22

Sixteen-year-old Koral and her older brother Emrik risk their lives each day to capture the monstrous maristags that live in the black seas around their island. They have to, or else their family will starve.

In an oceanic world swarming with vicious beasts, the Landers―the ruling elite, have indentured Koral’s family to provide the maristags for the Glory Race, a deadly chariot tournament reserved for the upper class. The winning contender receives gold and glory. The others―if they’re lucky―survive.

When the last maristag of the year escapes and Koral has no new maristag to sell, her family’s financial situation takes a turn for the worse and they can’t afford medicine for her chronically ill little sister. Koral’s only choice is to do what no one in the world has ever dared: cheat her way into the Glory Race.

But every step of the way is unpredictable as Koral races against contenders―including her ex-boyfriend―who have trained for this their whole lives and who have no intention of letting a low-caste girl steal their glory. When a rebellion rises and rogues attack Koral to try and force her to drop out, she must choose―her life or her sister’s―before the whole island burns.

She grew up battling the monsters that live in the black seas, but it couldn’t prepare her to face the cunning cruelty of the ruling elite.


Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson ramps up the horror and tackles America’s history and legacy of racism in this suspenseful YA novel following a biracial teenager as her Georgia high school hosts its first integrated prom.

When Springville residents—at least the ones still alive—are questioned about what happened on prom night, they all have the same explanation . . . Maddy did it.

An outcast at her small-town Georgia high school, Madison Washington has always been a teasing target for bullies. And she’s dealt with it because she has more pressing problems to manage. Until the morning a surprise rainstorm reveals her most closely kept secret: Maddy is biracial. She has been passing for white her entire life at the behest of her fanatical white father, Thomas Washington.

After a viral bullying video pulls back the curtain on Springville High’s racist roots, student leaders come up with a plan to change their image: host the school’s first integrated prom as a show of unity. The popular white class president convinces her Black superstar quarterback boyfriend to ask Maddy to be his date, leaving Maddy wondering if it’s possible to have a normal life.

But some of her classmates aren’t done with her just yet. And what they don’t know is that Maddy still has another secret . . . one that will cost them all their lives.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Only the most powerful and honorable semidioses get chosen. I’m just a Jade. I’m not a real hero.”

As each new decade begins, the Sun’s power must be replenished so that Sol can keep traveling along the sky and keep the evil Obsidian gods at bay. Ten semidioses between the ages of thirteen and eighteen are selected by Sol himself as the most worthy to compete in The Sunbearer Trials. The winner carries light and life to all the temples of Reino del Sol, but the loser has the greatest honor of all―they will be sacrificed to Sol, their body used to fuel the Sun Stones that will protect the people of Reino del Sol for the next ten years.

Teo, a 17-year-old Jade semidiós and the trans son of Quetzal, goddess of birds, has never worried about the Trials…or rather, he’s only worried for others. His best friend Niya―daughter of Tierra, the god of earth―is one of the strongest heroes of their generation and is much too likely to be chosen this year. He also can’t help but worry (reluctantly, and under protest) for Aurelio, a powerful Gold semidiós and Teo’s friend-turned-rival who is a shoo-in for the Trials. Teo wouldn’t mind taking Aurelio down a notch or two, but a one-in-ten chance of death is a bit too close for Teo’s taste.

But then, for the first time in over a century, Sol chooses a semidiós who isn’t a Gold. In fact, he chooses two: Xio, the 13-year-old child of Mala Suerte, god of bad luck, and…Teo. Now they must compete in five mysterious trials, against opponents who are both more powerful and better trained, for fame, glory, and their own survival.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Are you getting any new books this week? Happy Reading!

Books I Loved So Much I Had to Get a Copy for My Personal Library | TTT | 9/6/22

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Please check out her website for more TTT topics!

This week’s topic is:

Books I Loved So Much I Had to Get a Copy for My Personal Library

I either read these as arcs and needed my own copy or I bought them as ebooks but really was in love with the cover so I needed a copy on my shelf:

🤔Honestly there are more books I want a copy of than copies that I actually bought to add to my library. So the rest of this list are the books I’ve read but need/want a copy on my book shelf!

What’s on your TTT?

Soul of the Deep by. Natasha Bowen | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Soul of the Deep (Skin of the Sea, #2)

Author: Natasha Bowen

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 304

Publication Date: 9/27/22

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Series

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Random House Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

One life.
One choice.
One sacrifice.

To save those closest to her, Simi traded away everything: her freedom, her family, and the boy she loves. Now she is sworn to serve a new god, watching over the Land of the Dead at the bottom of the ocean.

But when signs of demons begin to appear, it’s clear there are deeper consequences of Simi’s trade. These demons spell the world’s ruin . . . and because of Simi, they now have a way into the human realm.

With the fate of the world at stake, Simi must break her promise and team up with a scheming trickster of a god. And if they succeed, perhaps Simi can also unbreak her heart along the way, and find herself again.

Content Warning: violence, slavery, death

When I saw Skin of the Sea had a sequel I needed to read it. I will say this duology has the most beautiful book covers – take a look at this one! Here is what did and didn’t work for me:

+ I loved Simidele in book one and I love her here again in book two. I love her bravery, her grace, and she’s always giving of herself to do the right thing. She loves taking care of people. Here in book two she tries to help an imprisoned orisha, the trickster, Esu and in turn he would help her. The sequel has a few beautiful, emotional scenes and once again, I really appreciate how we are shown how the dead are respected and sent off in this story. It really touches me especially knowing that many of the dead in the sea are due to the slave ships. This author has a way with words that can break through to my emotions.

+ The story is rich in West African mythology – there are a lot of orishas (gods/goddesses) involved in the life of people.

+ It’s filled with so much action. There is a quest, there is the problem with the other tribes and just a lot going on and makes it a quick read. Simi is a fighter in this sequel.

+ I love how Simi and Kola has a slow burn romance but one that is left open ended. It’s not rushed at all and it shows Simi has to do a few things before being with Kola. But I think it’s safe to say that they love one another – I mean Simi did sacrifice a lot for him. So I’m glad she’s going to take some time for herself!

~ The one thing I do wish this book had, is a glossary. There are so many words I didn’t know and had to guess at their meaning. Also a list of the orishas would be fantastic too! There are so many characters in this book, it can be hard to follow.

~ The beginning was slow but once the action kicks in the story moves faster.

Tropes:

Why you should read it:

  • story filled with West African mythology and lots of action/fighting scenes
  • you enjoyed the first book
  • the emotional aspects of the story when it comes to death, sacrifice, and love

Why you might not want to read it:

  • you didn’t enjoy the first book

My Thoughts:

I didn’t re-read the first book so I jumped into this one right away trying to get acclimated with all the names of the orishas, and the big cast of characters. Once I started remembering a few things, the story moved quicker for me – plus there is a lot of action in this book so that also made the story move along. What I love about this book and the series in general is Simidele who was human and turned into a mermaid, but she never forgets her humanity and caring for others. I love that about her and I’m glad there was a good ending for her. This is a solid conclusion to the series and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Here are other books by this author that I have read or reviewed on this blog:

Skin of the Sea by. Natasha Bowen | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Weekly Wrap Up | 9/4/22

Aloha friends!

Here we are in September and things are just nonstop busy…STILL. I had dinner with friends yesterday which was fun, but also my daughter has a cold? I’ve been testing her for covid and it’s negative even though her cough sounds just like her brother did when he had covid. So I guess she has a cold with lots of coughing. Trying to get her better so she can go to school on Tuesday, because she loves school. Other than that, I didn’t have a chance to read much.

Hope you all had a good week!

Blog Posts:

Books I Read:

Currently Reading:

Shows/Movies I Watched:

  • House of Dragons (Hbo/Max) – the drama continues!
  • Partner Track (Netflix) – lawyer drama – I was getting so mad at Ingrid though! I love her besties Tyler and Rachel – their storylines were so good. It had a great ending though and can’t wait to watch season 2! I could never be a lawyer – too much stress!
  • Lord of the Rings – The Rings of Power (Amazon) – cinematography is gorgeous!

I’m loving all these fantasy shows out right now! House of Dragons is dark as heck…and The Rings of Power is more light than dark to me…so I love that I get both to keep me entertained.

Games I Played:

  • My Singing Monsters
  • Cooking Dash – still grinding!

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

Monthly Wrap Up | August 2022

In the words of Taylor Swift:

“But I can see us lost in the memory
August slipped away into a moment in time
‘Cause it was never mine”

August flew by and it was a month of problems, challenges, back to school, covid, and friends and family moving! 🥺 It’s been crazy…I hope September is more chill! Here’s what I read:

What I Posted: 17 Books

5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

4.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

    4 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    3.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

    3 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️:

    2.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️💫

    2 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️

    ARCS I READ FOR FUTURE POST: 5

    I read about 17 books in August, which isn’t bad. I got to read some of my highly anticipated books of 2022, so that was exciting! How did you do in August? Have a great September!

    Defend the Dawn by. Brigid Kemmerer | ARC Review

    My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Title: Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night, #2)

    Author: Brigid Kemmerer

    Format: eBook (NetGalley)

    Pages: 448

    Publication Date: 9/13/22

    Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books

    Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Politics

    Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

    Thank you to Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

    To save their kingdom, they must embark on a dangerous journey…

    The kingdom of Kandala narrowly avoided catastrophe, but the embers of revolution still simmer. While King Harristan seeks a new way to lead, Tessa and Prince Corrick attempt to foster unity between rebels and royals.

    But the consuls who control the Moonflower will not back down, and Corrick realizes he must find a new source for the lifesaving Elixir.

    When an emissary from the neighboring kingdom of Ostriary arrives with an intriguing offer, Tessa and Corrick set out on an uncertain journey as they attempt to mend their own fractured relationship.

    This could be their only chance to keep the peace and bring relief to the people of Kandala, but danger strikes during the journey to Ostriary, and no one is who they seemed to be. . .

    Content Warning: violence

    I have to say this series is addictive! I loved book one and getting to know Corrick and Tessa – there was so much political intrigue in that one. It continues here in book two:

    + I didn’t mean to finish this book in one night, but I did. The writing is tight and flows well, it moves quickly even though parts of the book feel more like a filler. It doesn’t matter because I think there was enough new elements to make this feel like the story was moving – I was hooked!

    + The story picks up right after events in book one but I love that we have new characters, and one very intriguing Captain Blackmore/Rian. I was like, move aside Corrick…Rian is confident, he is a leader, and patient, which I love. I need more of Rian. I also love the twists in this story.

    + With the new characters come a new set of problems and political intrigue/suspicions for Harristan and Corrick. Can they trust this Rian who claims to have enough Moonflower to trade with them for Kandala steel. I love the way Rian questioned how Kandala’s people were being treated, making Corrick and Tessa do some inner reflection on a few things. The story also moves to sea, on Rian’s ship heading to Ostriary which for me was so much fun. Harristan has his own problems back in Kandala though.

    +~ Tessa and Corrick are so frustrating. They are hot and cold! I understand his desire to put Kandala first and I understand how she feels like there is no future for them if it’s always first. Most of this book was Tessa questioning Corrick and trying to find out if he is the person she fell in love with before. But Corrick was also coming off as a jerk at times, especially when dealing with Rian. I did like all the suspicion though, it kept me on my toes! The tension throughout the story is fantastic.

    ~ Tessa – I liked the suspicions because it kept me engaged but I could not stand Tessa’s back and forth about Corrick. They have some issues to resolve. And it’s a slow burn, they only get as far as kissing. There was almost a love triangle brewing and honestly I was into Rian more than Corrick. I was even hoping something with Tessa and Rian would happen. BUT…then I realized Corrick and Tessa deserved each other haha. Let them have their hot/cold relationship ugh…those two. Give Rian a stronger woman please! Tessa is a good person, but I think Rian needs someone with more of a backbone. She just came off naive at times and

    ~ + It has a cliffhanger ending…of course! 😆 Looking forward to book three.

    Why you should read it:

    • this series is addictive! Tessa and Corrick has to deal with a lot of problems in their relationship but I like how they aren’t perfect
    • Rian, the new character
    • having most of this story be on a ship was fun, plus there are some great twists!

    Why you might not want to read it:

    • the back and forth between Tessa and Corrick can be a little frustrating but that’s their relationship

    My Thoughts:

    Brigid Kemmerer is a must read author for me, even though I didn’t care for how Rhen changed in the Cursebreaker series but I will say this author really does a great job with writing about complicated relationships. I think that’s why I’m so drawn to her books, the characters aren’t perfect but readers can relate in some way. I was scared Corrick was going to be another Rhen situation but Corrick at least was always morally gray. We get to see all the imperfect sides of him and try to decide, like Tessa – if we like what we know and see. Defend the Dawn has lots of tension, which I love in a story, because there are trust issues everywhere! Harristan and Corrick can’t trust Rian, Tessa doesn’t know who to trust (which was the most frustrating), Karri and Lochland don’t trust Corrick but the twists are wonderful. I love the addition of Rian and want to see if finally Corrick and his brother can get some help with their own kingdom. The story was fast moving and I want the next book in the series! It’s a great series so far and I hope it ends on a high note!

    Book Links:

    Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

    Forging Silver into Stars by. Brigid Kemmerer – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

    Defy the Night by. Brigid Kemmerer – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    A Vow So Bold and Deadly by. Brigid Kemmerer – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫