I used my Audible subscription to purchase this audiobook. I went with the audio because when it comes to nonfiction, I prefer to listen to vrs. read, I think running and listening helps me to remember more of the book. In this case, it was an obvious choice because Eli Mystal narrates his own book.
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Allow Me To Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to The Constitution
Sunday, May 1, 2022
Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
This was the April book pick for my book club. The theme for this month's book was a book that takes place outside the United States. Previous to reading this book, I knew very little about Cuba's history. Now having read Next Year in Havana, I know a little bit more about the long, rich history of Cuba. I appreciate this method of learning history!
This book is obviously well researched and it flows between the two timelines seamlessly. You will notice that Marisol is very much like her grandmother Elisa and the Cuban men they fall in love with are also very similar. I enjoyed the mirror story of their love.
I don't want to spoil anything in the story so I will say that this is a lovely book, you feel immersed in Cuba, I think there is enough romance and mystery to make it appealing to those who love reading romance and/or mystery books. Plus if you enjoy it, there is a follow-up book featuring Elisa's sister Beatriz.
This is a good 4-star book to take on a vacation or if you need a virtual vacation!
The Sunday Post Hooray for May!
The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme
Thursday, April 28, 2022
COYER and Books Of My Heart #READALONG!
This was a nice break in the action of the Night Huntress series, in the last installment I was very annoyed with Cat and Bones and ready to read something else. Pretty clever, Jeaniene Frost, way to keep me reading.
This book is the story of Cat's friend Denise. From her introduction into the series a few books ago, I have wanted to read more about her. I loved her relationship with her husband, Randy, and was very sad that he died in the big Vampire battle. Now it's about a year later and Denise is still in mourning. She understandable suffering from PTSD and is trying to distance herself from the supernatural world her friend Cat is an intricate part of.
This being an Urban Fantasy series, Denise is quickly pulled into the world as she is cursed by a demon. This book does have action but most of the story is focused on Denise and her grieving process and Spade's struggle with his attraction to Denise fighting against his desire not to love and lose a human again. We learn a little more about the Night Huntress World and how it works, we do see Cat and Bones towards the end, but this is solidly Denise and Spade's book.
I'm a fan of Denise so I was happy for her to find Spade. Spade--for me--- is just an OK character, he is--and again this is just to me--a pretty typical hot Vampire. In other words, I don't find him as interesting to read as I do Vlad--or even Ian.
Here is the publisher's blurb for this book:
"The night is not safe for mortals.
Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows – her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield – and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family’s dark past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness – and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who craves a taste of her.
He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human – even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the demon nightmare together…
Because once the first drop of crimson falls, they will both be lost."
4 Starts to First Drop of Crimson
Join the Read Along at https://booksofmyheart.net/2021/12/05/read-along-giveaway-night-huntress-world-by-jeaniene-frost/
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Spring Means Gardening, and You Don't Need a Yard to Do It!
Today I am sharing a review of a book from the publishing company Pelargonium Press called Apartment Kitchen Gardening by James Jacques.
Here is the blurb from the publisher:
Do you like the idea of growing your own fresh, healthy food at home?
You can order the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/
If you have a Kindle Unlimited it's free to you, if not, it's only $4.99
I live in a townhome and I have a small backyard and I have a little raised garden bed, but recently I bought a bunch of fresh herbs to make some new recipes and I came to the conclusion that I must figure out how to have fresh herbs in my house year-round! Thankfully Apartment Kitchen Gardening covers exactly how to manage that! You can even use leftover grocery store herbs to start your own plants!
"Regrow Herbs!
Herbs are a fantastic addition to any kitchen windowsill.
Many herbs grow well in water – all you need is a glass, pot,
or even an old plastic bottle and a herb plant from the store.
You can then take cuttings from the parent plant and stand
them in your container with some water." -Apartment Kitchen Gardening
This book is a concise guide that includes all the most important information you need to start a garden in any living space, it covers indoor gardening, patio/balcony gardening as well windowsill, and other container gardens. I really appreciated that James Jacques' writes with frugality and conservation in mind. The book is filled with tips on how to use what you already have to garden and a few fun upcycling projects as well.
The book is a fast read and a nice reference that will inspire anyone who has wanted to grow some of their own food wherever they reside.
Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary copy of the book to review! All the opinions are my own and the link to Amazon is not an affiliate link.
Saturday, April 23, 2022
The Sunday Post, And Now For Something Different
The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme
Once I week I usually participate in an online journaling group. This week we had a fun prompt and I liked my responses so I'm going to share it here:
The prompt was to imagine that the seasons are people, how would you describe them:
Spring has a plan and she has goals. She spent her lunch hour shopping online for a cute pair of sandals and a new dress--floral of course. She's on a diet but she can't stick to it because life is just too full of good flavors. She's been at her job for 10 years now and she loves it, but she longs for something more.
Summer walks by and the scent of sunblock and a hint of chlorine follows in her wake. She has tickets for all the best outdoor concerts. She is on her way to meet up with friends on a rooftop and her mouth waters at the thought of an ice-cold beer. Her curly hair is extra curly thanks to the humidity and she revels in it. She hardly puts effort into it but her container garden is flourishing. All her friends know she is the one to ask what herbs go in what dish and it's her playlists they sync to the Bluetooth speaker.
Fall is in her 4s and she is cool with that. She loves a good sweater and her favorite boots were pricey but she's had them for 10 years now and they still look amazing. She works exactly as long as she paid to and not a minute more. her job is not her life. Her life is experiences. She is counting down the days to the big girls' trip she is taking to Scotland. Maybe she'll find a handsome lad in a kilt to take her on a tour of a castle or two.
Winter wears her grey hair in a short bob and stopped wearing makeup the day she retired from her last job. She doesn't smile much, but when she does her whole face lights up. She complains often about an ache in her bones when the temps dip below zero. But for those she lets into her home they only speak of the twinkle in her eyes, like sparks from a fire crackling making the whole house cozy during the long winter nights.
*****
How was your week? I hope you had a nice one! This week I'll be sharing my thoughts on a Harry Dresden book, a book on apartment gardening, and Romancing Mister Bridgerton!
Thursday, April 21, 2022
#ThreeTaintedTeas #NetGalley
New York Times bestselling author Lynn Cahoon returns with the third installment of her enchanting Kitchen Witch Mysteries starring aspiring witch and culinary entrepreneur Mia Malone, who must dispel a deadly plot to wreck her clients’ wedding!
Aspiring witch and culinary entrepreneur, Mia Malone, must dispel a deadly plot to wreck her clients’ wedding in this charming continuation of New York Times bestselling author Lynn Cahoon’s Kitchen Witch Mystery series.
Business is bubbling at Mia’s catering service and cooking school, Mia’s Morsels, but toil and trouble are not far behind. Mia just accepted her toughest gig yet: last-minute wedding planner for Magic Springs’ own Romeo and Juliet. Though the small town is fairly accepting of magic, two families have been locked in a vicious feud spanning generations. Unfortunately for both families, they’re about to become in-laws! Amethyst and Tok are excited to wed in a few weeks and somehow Mia must ensure the event is flawless.
But when she goes to pick up paperwork from the couple’s previous wedding planner, Mia discovers the woman murdered in an apparent attempt to stop the contentious union. Now, not only is Mia a prime suspect, as the new planner she may also be the killer’s next target. Backed by her squad, her charms—literal and figurative—and a protective amulet from her Grans, it’s up to Mia to save the star-crossed couple’s wedding, her professional reputation…and maybe even her life!
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
How do you feel about a Cinderella Retelling? An Offer From A Gentleman
Ah yes, season two of Bridgerton on Netflix pulled me in all the way and now I can't sit idly by waiting for Shondaland to make the next book come alive. So I bought book three the other day, and now I've finished it and am waiting for the next book to come available as I have it on hold at my library.
Sunday, April 17, 2022
I'm so happy this series continued after the initial run.
My only complaint about the final book in this series was that the very end had a flash-forward and I was left really wanting
to know what happened between the end and the flash-forward.
So I'm so pleased that in 2020 Kim Harrison went back to writing about Rachel Morgan. Million Dollar Demon is the second book in the second set of The Hollows. Boy did I enjoy this book. I love that Rachel has become a leader, she has confidence and most importantly she has truly realized she doesn't have to solve or save the world by herself.
If you've read the first 13 books and haven't started this second series now is a great time to catch up as the next book Trouble with the Cursed will be out in June.
If you haven't read any of this series. Go out and get Dead Witch Walking and start on an amazing journey in Contemporary Fantasy!
5 stars
The book description from GoodReads:
The new master vampire of Cincinnati has arrived . . . and she wants Rachel Morgan out. No matter where Rachel goes, Constance is there--threatening Rachel's allies, causing city-wide chaos, and, to add insult to injury, even forcing Rachel out of her current quarters. Ever since Rachel found a way to save the souls of vampires, the old undead's longtime ascendancy has been broken. Now Constance sees eliminating Rachel as the key to consolidating her own power.
Rachel has no desire to be enthralled or killed--and she's terrified of what may become of the city if Constance forces a return to the ancient ways. But even a witch-born demon can't stand against the old undead--at least, not alone. And if Rachel refuses to claim the role of Cincinnati's master demon, the city will tear itself apart, taking her and all those who stand beside her with it."
The Sunday Post, Hoppy Easter!
The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme
Happy Easter to those who celebrate! Here is a flashback to an Easter when the kids were small. Now the big kids are enjoying our annual egg hunt. I fill the eggs with money so, it's a popular egg hunt. I have it set up so they only get X amount of egg each so no one gets more money than anyone else. (it's $20 per kid)
Dinner is going to be my favorites: Ham, potato salad, asparagus, a veggie tray, and cookies for dessert! PLUS deviled eggs! Yum!