Malibu Rising by. Taylor Jenkins Reid | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Malibu Rising

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 369

Publication Date: 6/1/21

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Categories: Family, Adult Contemporary, 24 Hours

Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, their lives will change forever.

Malibu: August, 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together, the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer, Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come bubbling to the surface.

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them… and what they will leave behind.

This was the book of the summer it seems and so I finally got my hands on it through the online library. I can’t say it was what I expected but let’s get into the things I did like.

I loved the story of June and Mick Riva of how they met and how it all fell apart. It gave us a foundation for what these four Riva kids had to deal with growing up with a single mother and a father who barely paid attention to them.

I love Nina, the caretaker. She had to be the parent when both of her parents couldn’t be there for them and that was heartbreaking. But I love her strength. I also thought the other siblings were great – you could feel their different personalities.

I enjoyed the time period this was written! We have the 1950’s when June and Mick meet and then fast forward to the 1980’s which is nostalgia for me of course. I loved getting a glimpse of what Malibu was like before the celebrities came in. The author did a great job for describing the town, beaches and the people.

Content Warnings: parental neglect, alcoholism, drug use, sexual harassment

I wasn’t a fan of every character sharing their perspective. We come across strangers at Nina’s big party telling us their little perspective. I didn’t care! I only cared about the siblings and okay, maybe if the stranger had a close connection with them it made sense to see the connection, but half of them were no one I cared about. I felt like I could have skipped a lot of it. Give me more of the Rivas, less of the party people doing coke because did they really matter? lol – nope.

This story takes place in 24 hours and the party is the climax of the book but I felt it was anti-climatic because of the other voices chiming in. I liked the memories much better about the kids growing up. It would have been nice to see them have more present day interaction but I think the memories was a good foundation of knowing about their relationship.

Mick Riva…I think Nina handled raising her siblings like the queen that she is. Even when he shows up finally it didn’t feel meaningful at all, he just saunters in and expects his kids to fall for him again but I think we already knew they weren’t going to cave because he’s barely there in their memories as is…so why would it matter when he comes back in at the end? There was nothing about that moment that felt climactic except Nina finally breaking down. Other than that their connection to Mick was dead a long time ago.

I think the hype around this book made my expectations a bit too high.

Why you should read it:

set in the 80’s and a look into Malibu before the celebrities made homes there
a story about family
Nina is relatable – she’s the older sibling who takes care of everyone

Why you might not want to read it:

a lot of character perspectives from the party wasn’t needed
anticlimactic

My Thoughts:

I had high expectations and they were not met. But despite that I did enjoy getting to know the Riva family. I felt for June Riva and her heartbreak and Nina being a child and stepping in as a parent to her siblings. They survived without their dead beat father, which was awesome to see. Overall an okay read and maybe not the book I should have started with first from this author.

📚 ~ Yolanda

The Burning God by. R. F. Kuang | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Burning God (The Poppy War, #3)

Author: R.F. Kuang

Pages: 570

Publication Date: 11/17/20

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Categories: War, Fantasy, Series, Political Intrigue

The exciting end to The Poppy War trilogy, R. F. Kuang’s acclaimed, award-winning epic fantasy that combines the history of twentieth-century China with a gripping world of gods and monsters, to devastating, enthralling effect.

After saving her nation of Nikan from foreign invaders and battling the evil Empress Su Daji in a brutal civil war, Fang Runin was betrayed by allies and left for dead.

Despite her losses, Rin hasn’t given up on those for whom she has sacrificed so much—the people of the southern provinces and especially Tikany, the village that is her home. Returning to her roots, Rin meets difficult challenges—and unexpected opportunities. While her new allies in the Southern Coalition leadership are sly and untrustworthy, Rin quickly realizes that the real power in Nikan lies with the millions of common people who thirst for vengeance and revere her as a goddess of salvation.

Backed by the masses and her Southern Army, Rin will use every weapon to defeat the Dragon Republic, the colonizing Hesperians, and all who threaten the shamanic arts and their practitioners. As her power and influence grows, though, will she be strong enough to resist the Phoenix’s intoxicating voice urging her to burn the world and everything in it?

Once again, the continuation of the books in this series is pretty flawless. It carries the intensity, even more so with this one.

Rin has finally begun to learn some leadership skills which helps because she needs the Southern Coalition army behind her to defeat Nezha and the Hesperians. She also needs more shamans to go up against them.

As always Kitay is Rin’s saving grace. Without him, I don’t know where Rin would be. She doesn’t even have power without him. She needs his brilliant mind and his voice of reason even when she doesn’t listen to him, she at least considers what he says and that’s something.

The Trifecta story was fascinating and we finally get to learn about what happened between them. Nezha…oh Nezha, I never forgave him his betrayal of Rin. I know he was tortured by the Hesperians and had awful parents but I just can’t forgive him yet I also know he knows how to run the country….still….the thought of him leaves me feeling so bitter.

I liked that the story delves into questions like even though Rin is victorious…she is mostly victorious in revenge because who really wins in war? Who suffers the most? And who is left to rule? Are they good enough to rule? Rin is a killing machine and soldier but leader of a country? Nope – she has no patience for that, there is so much to learn about running a country competently, she is in over her head. She was never safe even after “winning”.

This stories ends and it’s so final, at least for Rin’s story. It’s not a pretty ending. After I shut off my ipad, I felt like I was burned by Rin’s phoenix too.

Content Warnings: violence, cannibalism, gore, stories of rape, death, grief, drug use, racism

Rin has become ruthless. She was scary before but in this one there is no turning back for her, her path is written in destruction. But the thing I hate about Rin is she NEVER LEARNS. It was absolutely frustrating and I could only tolerate her when Kitay was with her trying to talk some sense in her or drawing up battle plans and inventions. She cannot see through people for the life of her, no matter how many times she is betrayed…maybe I expect too much of her? But how many times can she be betrayed and learn never to trust people. After what happened at the end of book two? It’s her weakness and shows her to be more human than god but she’s supposed to fight a powerful Nezha and honestly…he was more powerful, he could snuff out her fire! After winning the war though she turns paranoid and kills someone close to her…I was so tired of her by then because that’s the time she chooses not to trust someone? After they won? I was just hoping after what happened with Nezha she would get it together. Most times she seemed to have things under control and then there were times I wondered what she was doing. The ending seemed like the only way this could have ended but it made me feel so empty….all of that…everything she went through and put Kitay through…for that ending. I wanted to cry for Kitay but I was too exhausted.

Was the Trifecta ended that easy? They were all so powerful and yet…I was hoping for something more I think…at least have them leave the mountain and join the fight because they were talked up so big from book one? But I guess that wouldn’t work because Daji was like Rin…she had tunnel vision when it came to the Dragon, no matter how he abused her. 😒 I did like how it came full circle of the Trifecta of the past and the trifecta of the present being Nezha, Rin and Kitay.

This book is the goriest of all I think and it involves children. It has even some cannibalism because what will people do to survive if there is no food? Still, I’m glad I wasn’t eating while reading the book. This book shows you the realities of war – real war.

Why you should read it:

you like to torture yourself with a story with no happy ending (haha just kidding! kind of)
amazing, intense series about war and consequences of it
you are already invested in the series and need to know how it ends

Why you might not read it:

sad ending
everything in the content warnings

My Thoughts:

I read this trilogy in 4 days. I felt exhausted and empty by the end of it but that doesn’t mean it’s a good series, but it made me feel how someone who is traumatized by war would feel. Gutted, empty, questioning the action of the characters along the way – what a series. If you want something intense and can handle a dark read – read this series. Glad I did and I can’t believe it’s not off my TBR list. I wasn’t even planning to read it this year lol…but things worked out!

📚~ Yolanda

Orange Books | #SixforSunday | 11/07/21

#SixforSunday is… it’s really just that. You choose 6 books (normally) that you’d choose to fit whatever the prompt is that week. This meme is hosted by A Little but a Lot and you can follow the link to find the prompts for October to December.

This week’s topic:

Orange Books

Here is the schedule for November and go to A Little but a lot for more info!

November – Ooky Spooky Books

~~7 – Orange books~~
14 – Books that scared you
21 – Favourite spooky books
28 – Books I’m too scared to read

Monthly Wrap Up | October 2021

October was a good month! I didn’t push myself to read many books and it was actually nice to have a break. So let’s see what I read this month:

What I Read and Reviewed in October: 12 Books

5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

4 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

3.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

3 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️:

ARC Reviews Posted in October: 6

4 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

3.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

3 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️:

ARCS I READ IN OCTOBER FOR FUTURE POST: 3

Once again, I’ve read 15 books – hmmm…does my brain know that I’ve hit the 15 mark each month and I can’t read anymore? I think it’s kind of cool that I always seem to read about 15 books without really planning to! How did you do? Are you hitting your reading goals? ~ Yolanda

The Dragon Republic by. R.F. Kuang | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Dragon Republic (The Poppy War, #2)

Author: R. F. Kuang

Format: eBook (own)

Pages: 658

Publication Date: 8/18/19

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Categories: War, Academy, Adventure, Fantasy, Young Adult, Political Intrigue

The searing follow-up to 2018’s most celebrated fantasy debut – THE POPPY WAR.

In the aftermath of the Third Poppy War, shaman and warrior Rin is on the run: haunted by the atrocity she committed to end the war, addicted to opium, and hiding from the murderous commands of her vengeful god, the fiery Phoenix. Her only reason for living is to get revenge on the traitorous Empress who sold out Nikan to their enemies.

With no other options, Rin joins forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who has a plan to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new Republic. Rin throws herself into his war. After all, making war is all she knows how to do.

But the Empress is a more powerful foe than she appears, and the Dragon Warlord’s motivations are not as democratic as they seem. The more Rin learns, the more she fears her love for Nikan will drive her away from every ally and lead her to rely more and more on the Phoenix’s deadly power. Because there is nothing she won’t sacrifice for her country and her vengeance.

The sequel to R.F. Kuang’s acclaimed debut THE POPPY WAR, THE DRAGON REPUBLIC combines the history of 20th-century China with a gripping world of gods and monsters, to devastating effect.

I can’t remember the last time I’ve read a sequel that is so strong and this is a longer book than the first one! Let’s just jump right into it.

I love that the story flowed and didn’t miss a beat from the first book. It had the same intensity, maybe this time even more because yes, the story gets even darker, if possible. It grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. I mean what kind of trouble can Rin get into this time – this girl is addicted to power and praise, a deadly combination.

I was loving Rin’s Cike squad even though they are killers and uncontrollable, loving that Kitay, Nezha and Venka was with Rin to keep her somewhat grounded (honestly they could barely keep her sane), but the fact that I was lulled into thinking Rin was maybe going to be safe from herself now…another slap in the face for me. This story didn’t care about my feelings.

Being in Nezha’s province and home was an eye opener to how he was brought up – his dad is something else. But we get a new twist in the story where in comes to Nezha. Also we get more information about the Hesperians, these colonizers from across the sea. It infuriated me that they could just come in and try to fix Nikara just because they thought they were superior. It just reminds me of how many of the countries in our present world was forced to endure being colonized. 😠 Another thing I loved was getting to know Chagan’s people – but it was another scene that broke my heart.

The battle strategies and political intrigue continue in this story as we see the betrayals, the back stabbing or games these leaders play. We see how the poor people who are bystanders in war suffer the most. We also see what people turn into when they harbor desires of power, or hold onto never ending rage.

Content Warnings: violence, graphic account of rape, death, drug use, abuse, grief, self inflicted pain

Rin is not a likable character – I almost hate her for her decisions but I will say this about her – she is who she is. She is so strong and oh so angry. She is Rage. Her god is about destruction and consuming as fires do so she cannot help that part of her but when it’s just a human with deep seated rage, it’s scary. I wanted her to come back from that, make a turn…but this story is about war and Rin has been betrayed so many times. That’s what made me angry at her at times that she followed the wrong people so rashly and it had to do with her addiction to toxic/powerful men. Thank God for Kitay…he was her saving grace. She never listens or when she does…it’s too late. It’s always too late. She does grow in book two and tames her addiction to opium thank god, but wow does she have issues. The story just seems to get darker and you think you’ve met the most evil people already and nope…it gets worse. But I get it…unifying a country is messy AF. But the unending killing and it’s just not killing, it’s torture, it’s madness, it’s bloodlust, it’s horrible.

Why you should read it:

great writing and world building
to see if Rin can control her demons
it’s an epic war story with some good twists
makes you take a deeper look at war, choices and consequences

Why you might not want to read it:

graphic killing, graphic rape stories
a lot of drug use

My Thoughts:

I’ve been reading this series in one continuous go and honestly…it’s dark reading. I saw some light in this one finally until the author snuffed it out again! The author is cold-blooded with this story and wrote a story about war within a fantasy world and held nothing back. There is no romance in this book at all and maybe I tolerate other darker reads because the romance at least reminds me love is there. The closest thing to love Rin gets in this sequel is Kitay’s friendship, thank god! I’m on to book three.

📚~ Yolanda

First Lines Fridays | 11/5/21

Yesterday was my birthday and yay, I got some funds to maybe buy a book or two lol! How is your week going?

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

“Malibu catches fire.”

Can you guess what book it is?

Did you guess it? This one was the summer read of 2021 I think and I’m only reading it now. So far so good! Have you read this one?

📖 ~ Yolanda

The Poppy War by. R.F. Kuang | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Poppy War (#1)

Author: R. F. Kuang

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 531

Publication Date: 5/1/18

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Categories: War, Academy, Adventure, Fantasy, Young Adult, Political Intrigue

A brilliantly imaginative talent makes her exciting debut with this epic historical military fantasy, inspired by the bloody history of China’s twentieth century and filled with treachery and magic, in the tradition of Ken Liu’s Grace of Kings and N.K. Jemisin’s Inheritance Trilogy.

When Rin aced the Keju—the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies—it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. That she got into Sinegard—the most elite military school in Nikan—was even more surprising.

But surprises aren’t always good.

Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power—an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive—and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school.

For while the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The militarily advanced Federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most of the people are complacent to go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away . . .

Rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity . . . and that it may already be too late.

When I got to the end of this book, I was speechless…what did I just read? The writing is so good even though it was giving us so much information about the history of Nikara, and introducing us to many different characters. The writing was simple enough to make me understand everything going on without missing a beat or getting lost.

The world building is fantastic and it is a fantasy but it borrows from real events that happened in World War II when Japan invaded China. At one point you think Rin’s biggest challenge is passing her exams at Sinegard and dealing with bullies but then the story takes a darker turn and it gets brutal. I felt like I was punched in the gut or the face or both. I loved the world building of Rin at Sinegard, her training is so exciting especially when it came to martial arts and studying with her Lore master. The war scenes are violent but also suspenseful because it’s like watching a game of chess.

Rin is a very fleshed out, bold and flawed character. I was rooting for her so bad but then things take a bad turn and then I was scared about the path she was taking. It was to the point of frustration that I wanted to shake her but what do I know of war and how I would be in war. I had to remind myself that Rin is in war and she went from a structured school life to utter chaos of killing and Rin is someone who has dealt with trauma after trauma in her life and hasn’t known good coping mechanisms to handle stress. She turns to self-inflicted pain and then drugs. Rin rises so high in her days in school and then her fall is so hard and so far down, it’s tragic.

The secondary characters are so good and each one stands out on their own which is beautiful. We get to know her classmates and masters, we see relationships change and grow. Even though Rin is a hard character and has lacked love all her life, I was surprise to see her open to friendship at least, with Kitay and her master.

There is so much conflict in this story from the history of Nikara, tension between Rin and everyone else, Rin fighting herself and her own personal battles. This story felt like war where you are trying to determine who is right, who is wrong, which strategy is best to win a war, casualties to reach their goal or to avoid casualties and risk a longer war? So many questions, so many decisions to make, so much consequences. There was one point I felt like I would break along with the characters and it’s when Venka tells Rin what happens to her. I felt gutted.

Content Warnings: violence, graphic account of rape, death, drug use, abuse, grief, self inflicted pain

This story gets darker the further you get into the book. War is brutal and this story is about war. It doesn’t shy away from violence and stories of rape. I almost couldn’t get through Venka’s account of what happened to her and what she witnessed.

Also Rin’s drug addiction is raw and frightening because we see her descend into the chaos inside her. Rin becomes addicted to opium and makes so many rash and bad decisions. The drug addiction depicted in this story is so raw and scary because we are in mind and pain. There is so much pain and she cannot mentally handle it.

Why you should read it:

great writing and world building
awesome characters who are flawed
epic war story

Why you might not want to read it:

graphic killing, graphic rape stories
a lot of drug use

My Thoughts:

This book lives up to the hype and I can’t believe it took me this long to read it! I’m already in the middle of reading book two so that review will be coming soon. Poppy War is an amazing read but it is pretty brutal. The writing is wonderful though and I read this as slow as I could to savor the story.

📚~ Yolanda

WWW Wednesday | 11/3/21

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?

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

I feel like I’m slowing down with reading with the end of the year approaching! Maybe because the holidays are so busy and I just want to enjoy it with my kids. Anyway, what are you reading? ~ Yolanda

Books I Would Hand to Someone Who Claims to Not Like Reading Young Adult Books | Top Ten Tuesday | 11/02/21

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 Would Hand to Someone Who Claims to Not Like Reading Young Adult Books

This is a hard topic because everyone’s reading taste is so different so I changed it a little and picked books I would give to someone who doesn’t like reading young adult books. But like I said everyone has different reading taste…but this is what I would choose.

Concrete Rose Angie Thomas https://app.asana.com/0/1135954362417873/1168658175790681/f

What’s on your TTT? ~ Yolanda

Happy Book Birthday | New Releases | 11/2/21

What a busy weekend it was and now here we are in November! Happy birthday to these new releases.

Karina lost everything after a violent coup left her without her kingdom or her throne. Now the most wanted person in Sonande, her only hope of reclaiming what is rightfully hers lies in a divine power hidden in the long-lost city of her ancestors.

Meanwhile, the resurrection of Karina’s sister has spiraled the world into chaos, with disaster after disaster threatening the hard-won peace Malik has found as Farid’s apprentice. When they discover that Karina herself is the key to restoring balance, Malik must use his magic to lure her back to their side. But how do you regain the trust of someone you once tried to kill?

As the fabric holding Sonande together begins to tear, Malik and Karina once again find themselves torn between their duties and their desires. And when the fate of everything hangs on a single, horrifying choice, they each must decide what they value most—a power that could transform the world, or a love that could transform their lives.

Perfect for readers of The Hazel Wood and The Night Circus, this lush and layered story about magic and the captivating power of dreams is delivered with acclaimed author Rebecca Ross’s signature exquisite style.

A curse plagues the realm of Azenor—during each new moon, magic flows from the nearby mountain and brings nightmares to life. Only magicians, who serve as territory wardens, stand between people and their worst dreams.

Clementine Madigan is ready to take over as the warden of her small town, but when two magicians challenge her, she is unwittingly drawn into a century-old conflict. She seeks revenge, but as she secretly gets closer to Phelan, one of the handsome young magicians, secrets begin to rise. Clementine must unite with her rival to fight the realm’s curse, which seems to be haunting her every turn.

Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times-bestselling author, returns to the fairytale world with this haunting retelling of Rumpelstiltskin.

Long ago cursed by the god of lies, a poor miller’s daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue.

Or so everyone believes.

When one of Serilda’s outlandish tales draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, she finds herself swept away into a grim world where ghouls and phantoms prowl the earth and hollow-eyed ravens track her every move. The king orders Serilda to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy to her aid. He agrees to help her… for a price. Love isn’t meant to be part of the bargain.

Soon Serilda realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever.

A magic sword. A powerful curse. An untested fae princess.

Eighteen-year-old Ruadora Dammacus now possesses the Immortal Blade. But when Rua discovers the Northern King’s uncle is alive and has cast a spell on a blue witch army, she realizes that the battle is just beginning.

Venturing into the Northern Court, Rua finds herself with an unlikely ally in the new King. Her problems are mounting, and the handsome King is only one of them. With the eyes of her newfound family on her, can Rua prove herself worthy of the Immortal Blade or will its magic be too powerful? Danger, intrigue, and thrilling passion ensues as Rua battles to break the witches’ curse.

Enthralling and adrenaline-filled, The Witches’ Blade is the second book in the gripping high fantasy saga, The Five Crowns of Okrith.

ONE CANCELLED WEDDING

When the day finally comes for Annie to marry Alexander, the last thing she expects is to be left standing at the altar. She was so sure he was Mr Right. Now, she has no idea how she could have got it so wrong.

ONE UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

After a chance meeting with Patrick, an old friend who reminds her of who she used to be, Annie takes a vow of her own: she’ll say yes to every opportunity that comes her way from now on.

ONE SPARE TICKET FOR THE HONEYMOON

Could a spontaneous trip with Patrick be the way to mend Annie’s heart? She’s about to find out as she embarks on her honeymoon – with a man who’s not her husband…

No one ever said love would be easy…but did they mention it would be freezing?

Adam Stillwater is in over his head. At least, that’s what his best friend would say. And his mom. And the guy who runs the hardware store down the street. But this pinball arcade is the only piece of his dad that Adam has left, and he’s determined to protect it from Philadelphia’s newest tech mogul, who wants to turn it into another one of his cold, lifeless gaming cafés.

Whitney Mitchell doesn’t know how she got here. Her parents split up. She lost all her friends. Her boyfriend dumped her. And now she’s spending her senior year running social media for her dad’s chain of super successful gaming cafés—which mostly consists of trading insults with that decrepit old pinball arcade across town.

But when a huge snowstorm hits, Adam and Whitney suddenly find themselves trapped inside the arcade. Cut off from their families, their worlds, and their responsibilities, the tension between them seems to melt away, leaving something else in its place. But what happens when the storm stops?

An unforgettable fantasy debut inspired by West African mythology, this is Children of Blood and Bone meets The Little Mermaid, in which a mermaid takes on the gods themselves.

A way to survive.
A way to serve.
A way to save.

Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata–a mermaid–collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home.

But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi does the unthinkable–she saves his life, going against an ancient decree. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy it.

To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But something is amiss. There’s the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail. . . .

Danger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she doesn’t, then she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

What are you looking forward to getting this week? ~ Yolanda