Life: 20's edition

Life gives you a lot of chances to screw up, which means you have as many chances to get it right. 

Pick a path, change course. Pick another path, change course again. This defines my 20's. 

Law school. My dream. My goal. My path. Till it wasn't. 

I would love to say that I found another passion, a calling that I couldn't refuse, but I cannot. I found a boy. Suddenly his dreams and wishes became mine, and my dreams were left behind in the dust. His thoughts and words became my own, he had swallowed me whole. There was no coming back. 

We know how this story ends. No need to rehash the past mistakes. 

Columbus. New dreams. New goals. New path. 

Columbus was good to me and introduced different dreams, different goals, and a different path. Being in a college town was complicated though. I wanted to meet people in my age group but had nothing in common with them now. Divorced early 20-something, not in school, and working full-time - it was a different world. 

Before I knew it, a year had passed. A little worn, a little smarter, and a little hardened I felt prepared to face the world again. Not completely healed, that would take years, but ready to face a new challenge. 

I enrolled back in school. Moved back into the dorms, coming from an apartment that was a major adjustment. But I did it. Contrary to popular belief, I came back to school to finish the path I had started years ago. 

Education. Fresh dreams. Fresh goals, Fresh path. 

Challenging because of my age and life experience but those things made me wiser and more determined than ever. 

 The 20's end well. I graduated and went onto grad school and graduated from there as well. I turned a corner from that girl sitting in her therapist's office asking "How can I start over?" to sitting in a new therapist's office saying "I survived." 

And now for something completely different....

 Hi again. 

It's been a minute and a lot has changed since I used to ramble about books. 

For those of you who weren't aware, I lost mom in 2023. And if you know me at all, you know how close we were. Losing her was like taking a bullet to the heart and it has completely changed me. These past few years I've been doing the minimum to get by in life. 

Depression is a weird thing, it comes and goes in waves. When the wave hits you feel like you are drowning. But you look around and see everyone breathing, talking, and living their lives. So how can you be drowning? Wouldn't someone come to the rescue? 

You start therapy in the hopes of working through the grief. Opening up to a complete stranger is easier than talking to those who know you. You can say anything and it's OK. So I let open the floodgates. You talk about the waves crashing and drowning. You talk about how jealous you are because everyone seems to have moved on but you're still in the same space. 

Sitting in that space you learn a lot. You learn how to fake smile, laugh, and act normal. You're good at it, mastered it even at times at least until the next wave approaches. 

Eventually the waves slow down. You bop up and down with them instead of letting them drown you. Some would call this progress, at least my therapist does. 

This is where I currently am, bopping along with the waves and taking the small hits as they come along. 

Sorry to have started the first post off with such a depressive topic but it's important you know the starting point for me. Going forward this is going to be about life updates, writings I've done, and thoughts I have. 

I'm slowly starting to reenter the world. Posting on social media was the starting point and now I have this blog.

Hope you visit and hang out with me. 

Kelli 

Publisher Appreciation Post!!! RE: Simon & Schuster/Avid Reader Press

 It's Wednesday which means it is time for a publisher appreciation post! But this Wednesday, I have a special treat for you all - a book giveaway!!!! 

Partnering with Simon & Schuster/Avid Reader Press - I will be giving away FOUR copies of a new release, "Falling" by T.J. Newman! 

You can check it out here : Falling

Learn a bit more about Avid Reader Press and Simon and Schuster ! 

Learn a bit more about the author here: TJ Newman

A bit more about Avid Reader Press: 

Avid Reader Press, a new division of Simon & Schuster, is built on the idea that the most rewarding publishing has three common denominators: great books, published with intense focus, in true partnership. The staff at Avid Reader Press, a small band of cheerful literary warriors, strives to publish every book with avidity.

I hope you all will join in on the giveaway and support Avid Reader and Simon & Schuster! 

Book Review Day!!!! RE: Kensington Books

 Happy Friday!!! 

Today is all about the book reviews and I'm featuring Kensington Books Publishing! When I first started reviewing for LikeWise, if you haven't connected with me there - what are you waiting for?!?!, Kensington was one of the first publishers I started working with! So this book review day is near and dear to my heart! 

And if you missed it, please check out my publisher appreciation post for Kensington as well! And now.....it's all about the books! 

Next Job, Best Job : available now! 

Find out more about the author here: Rob Barnett

Synopsis: Rob Barnett is an innovator, a two-time entrepreneur, and a senior executive with five decades inside legendary media companies. As an advisor to thousands of job seekers and company heads, he is uniquely positioned to disrupt the job search industry. His inclusive platform is a life-saving escape hatch during the darkest hours of unemployment and an expert guide to the work you deserve.

Review: This book found me at the perfect time, my contract ended with one company and I started looking for work again. Looking for work is stressful enough but with a pandemic added to it, the stress could be overwhelming at times. I found this book to educate, improve, and create a mindset for us to have the best opportunities! Now why is this better than other job-hunting books? Because Rob Barnett lives this on a daily basis! He is a headhunter and so, in my opinion, he is the best to inform us of the hiring process as well as what to expect! There are 11 steps that guide you through the whole process and when looking back at my interview processes, he's right. They go hand in hand and prepare you for the best possible outcome, landing your dream job, and I couldn't be more please with this book! 

Elizabeth & Monty - available now! 

Find out more about the author here: Charles Casillo

Synopsis: When Elizabeth Taylor was cast opposite Montgomery Clift in A Place in the Sun, he was already a movie idol, with a natural sensitivity that set him apart. At seventeen, Elizabeth was known for her ravishing beauty rather than her talent. Directors treated her like a glamorous prop. But Monty took her seriously, inspiring and encouraging her. In her words, "That's when I began to act."

To Monty, she was "Bessie Mae," a name he coined for her earthy, private side. The press clamored for a wedding, convinced this was more than friendship. The truth was even more complex. Monty was drawn to women but sexually attracted to men--a fact that, if made public, would destroy his career. But he found acceptance and kinship with Elizabeth. Her devotion was never clearer than after his devastating car crash near her Hollywood home when she crawled into the wreckage and saved him from choking.

Review: Golden Age of Hollywood. Elizabeth Taylor. Clifford Montgomery. Does this really need more selling? Yes? Well, okay then.....research is spot-on, intertwining their stories is magic, showcasing the privilege but also the personal misfortunes endears both to me even more, and finally - this dual-biography ties in with the anniversary of A Place in the Sun and is a must read! I grew up watching the classics, thanks Turner Classic! I wish I had known all of the background then but I'm so happy to rewatch these great movies after reading Casillo's book! 

Bee People and the Bugs They Love - available now! 

Find out more about the author here: Frank Moritmer

Synopsis: A fascinating foray into the obsessions, friendships, scientific curiosity, misfortunes and rewards of suburban beekeeping—through the eyes of a Master Beekeeper...

Who wants to keep bees? And why? For the answers, Master Beekeeper Frank Mortimer invites readers on an eye-opening journey into the secret world of bees, and the singular world of his fellow beekeepers. There's the Badger, who introduces Frank to beekeeping; Rusty, a one-eyed septuagenarian bee sting therapist certain that honey will be the currency of the future after the governments fail; Scooby the "dude" who gets a meditative high off the awesome vibes of his psychedelia-painted hives; and the Berserker, a honeybee hitman who teaches Frank a rafter-raising lesson in staving off the harmful influences of an evil queen: "Squash her, mash her, kill, kill, kill!"

Review: This book is precious!!! If you are looking for a fun, lighthearted read about someone whose passion for something is contagious - this is for you! I loved the stories, the education I received from reading this one, and just the overall warmth from this read! Oh and the mistakes and misfortunes will have you laughing!! I never thought I would laugh as much as I did while reading a book about bee keeping! I cannot recommend this one enough! 

Three Ordinary Girls - available now! 

Find out more about the author here: Tim Brady

Synopsis: Truus Oversteegen, her younger sister Freddie, and their friend Hannie Schaft, were just teenagers when the commander of The Dutch Royal Army surrendered to the Nazis.  Overnight, nine million Netherlanders were suddenly under the heel of the Nazi boot. As the German-controlled government slowly began to pen in the entire Jewish community and force them indoors, along with the requisite yellow star signifying Jood, so the girls were compelled to become involved in The Resistance. 

Review: Going into this book, there are a lot of facts and information about the setting/political dynamic/history in this book. It is needed to understand the story but i noticed some reviewers felt it was over used, this is not the case. Tim Brady includes information that is needed and interesting. Three teenagers, who are Dutch, become involved in "The Resistance" and the background of life in WWII Netherlands is on point, I research non-fiction as I read them, and the bravery of these three is amazing. If you love history, bravery, and fighting against what you know is wrong - this is for you! 

i encourage you all to check out these wonderful reads!! 

Publisher Appreciation Post!!!! RE: Akashic Books!

 It's Wednesday which means it's time for another publisher appreciation post! This week is dedicated to Akashic Books!! 

Akashic Books!

Please be sure to check out my review of "Palm Spring Noir" which was amazing!!! Here is a link to order your own copy! 

Palm Springs Noir - available now! 

This is the perfect read! Short noir stories that are written by those who live in the area of Palm Springs so you have a first hand account! I loved this book so much that I'm going to be working my way through the remaining Noir series published by Akashic! Check out the catalog of Noir books here - Akashic Noir Series you will not be disappointed! 

Little bit about Akashic: 

Akashic Books is a Brooklyn-based independent company dedicated to publishing urban literary fiction and political nonfiction by authors who are either ignored by the mainstream, or who have no interest in working within the ever-consolidating ranks of the major corporate publishers.

Here are some of the amazing titles Akashic has gifted me for promotion/review! 

The Sunshine Crust Baking Factory - available now! 

Sid arrives in New York City in 1995 eager to join the anarchist squatting scene. She’s got a tattoo, she listens to the right bands . . . so why would she get a job and rent some tiny shoe-box apartment when she could take over a whole building with a gang of wild young pirates? 

A Student of History - available now! 

Rick Nagano is a graduate student in the history department at USC, struggling to make rent on his South Los Angeles apartment near the neighborhood where his family once lived. When he lands a job as a research assistant for the elderly Mrs. W—, the heir to an oil fortune, he sees it at first simply as a source of extra cash. But as he grows closer to the iconoclastic, charming, and feisty Mrs. W—, he gets drawn into a world of privilege and wealth far different from his racially mixed, blue-collar beginnings.

Zero O:Clock - Part of the Black Sheep Imprint for young readers! 

Release date- 9.7.21 

In early March 2020 in New Rochelle, New York, teenager Geth Montego is fumbling with the present and uncertain about her future. She only has three friends: her best friend Tovah, who’s been acting weird ever since they started applying to college; Diego, who she wants to ask to prom; and the K-pop band BTS, because the group always seems to be there for her when she needs them (at least in her head). 

She could use some help now. Geth’s small city becomes one of the first COVID-19 containment zones in the US. As her community is upended by the virus and stirred up by the growing Black Lives Matter protests, Geth faces a choice and a question: Is she willing to risk everything to fight for her beliefs? And if so, what exactly does she believe in? C.J. Farley captures a moment in spring 2020 no teenager will ever forget. It sucks watching the world fall apart. But sometimes you have to start from zero.

I hope you will order these titles from Akashic and support publishers/authors! I love working with these publishers who appreciation posts have inspired my book-friends and others to order! If you order please let me know, I'm always looking for book-talk!! 

Book Review Day! RE: Bellevue Literary Press

 It's Friday!!! 

This weekend is going to be a lot of fun for me! I'm joining my first read-a-thon of the year, it's a 24hour all you can read book fest and I'm here for it!! 

And then on Monday, this gal is going back to work full-time!! I'll be working-from-home and I'm so excited to get back to work while staying safe. Being immunocompromised is tough, not going to lie, especially for someone who is used to getting out and about. The most important thing though, I'm safe and I'm still alive. So thankful for that! 

Enough about me! It's time to review the three wonderful reads that were gifted to me by Bellevue Literary Press - and if you missed it, please check out the publisher appreciation post for Bellevue!! 

Uncommon Measure : 

On sale 3.22.22 

Also by Natalie Hodges: Club Sandwich

Synopsis - How does time shape consciousness and consciousness, time?  Do we live in time, or does time live in us? And how does music, with its patterns of rhythm and harmony, inform our experience of time? 

Uncommon Measure explores these questions from the perspective of a young Korean American who dedicated herself to perfecting her art until performance anxiety forced her to give up the dream of becoming a concert solo violinist. Anchoring her story in illuminating research in neuroscience and quantum physics, Hodges traces her own passage through difficult family dynamics, prejudice, and enormous personal expectations to come to terms with the meaning of a life reimagined - one still shaped by classical music but moving toward the freedom of improvisation. 

Review - As a former musician, high school but still, I understand that music carries a language all on its own. It is within that language that I find peace, even listening to my writing playlist which features piano solos as I type this. I never imagined taking science and adding music to study neuroscience, but it works. Each page in this book makes you want more, and at the end - I want more of Hodges writing. She is creating her own language within these pages and it's a wonderful journey to have experienced and been apart of. I cannot recommended this book enough. 

Talking Back, Talking Black

Available now. 

Also by John McWhorter: The Atlantic - Articles

Synopsis - It has now been almost fifty years since linguistic experts began studying Black English as a legitimate speech variety, arguing to the public that it is different from Standard English, not a degradation of it. Yet false assumptions and controversies still swirl around what it means to speak and sound "black." 

In his first book devoted solely to the form, structure, and development of Black English, John McWhorter clearly explains its fundamentals and rich history while carefully examining the cultural, educational, and political issues that have undermined recognition of this transformative, empowering dialect. Talking Back, Talking Black takes us on a fascinating tour of a nuanced and complex language that has moved beyond America's borders to become a dynamic force for today's youth culture around the world. 

Review - All college students, heck even high school students, need to read this book. I would have welcomed this book while sitting in my linguistics class during undergrad. McWhorter is teaching you and the genius of his writing, you do not know you're being taught. Full disclosure here, I am a white-40ish-woman but I appreciate this book for the celebration and most importantly why it matters that we ALL understand that Black English is not Standard English. We need to reexamine that word, "standard" because let's face it - it no longer applies. We are all different; how we look, the color of our skin, who we love, and yes - how we speak. I appreciate this book for educating me and doing so in a way that makes sense, maybe McWhorter needs a podcast? I would sign up for that in a heartbeat! Buy this book, you will not regret it. Share this book, with everyone - you'll thank me later. 

A Solemn Pleasure

Available now. 

Also by Melissa Pritchard: Author Profile - Bellevue Literary Press

Synopsis - In A Solemn Pleasure, Melissa Pritchard presents an undeniable case for both the power of language and the nurturing constancy of the writing life. This is nonfiction vividly engaged with the world, encompassing the author's journeys into the deeply interior imaginative life required to write fiction, her search for the lost legacy of American literature as embodied by Walt Whitman, her reports from Afghanistan while embedded with a young female GI, her tales of travel with Ethiopian tribes, and the heartrending story of her informally adopted son William, a former Sudanese child slave. Through these magnificent essays, Pritchard shares her passion for writing and storytelling that educates, honors, and inspires. 

Review- From the list of awards this book has won, it should sell itself on that alone! But until reaching out to my contact with Bellevue Literary Press, I had not heard of Pritchard before. I love to write, read, and overall consider myself a nerd in all the best ways! So why had I not heard of this author before? I remain clueless, and also blame my undergrad creative writing professor a bit, sorry Professor Holbrook but it's true!, for not introducing us sooner! I laughed, cried, and had all the feelings and emotions I never expected when first starting this book! Pritchard is someone you all need to know. Someone you all need to read. And if you walk away from this one not wanting to sit down and start writing immediately, well, go back and read it again because you clearly missed the point! Start with Spirit and Vision you will not be sorry, I knew this essay would easily be a favorite when I saw one of my favorite Walt Whitman quotes at the top of the page: 

                      I celebrate myself, I sing myself,  And what I assume, you shall assume,                                    For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. 

                                            -Walt Whitman "Song of Myself" 1855

I believe that quote sums up all three of these books completely. These are all a celebration and just as they belong to the author, they belong to us as well. 

                                        

Publisher Appreciation Post!!! RE: Turner Publishing

 This week's appreciation post is near and dear to my heart. Because of Turner Publishing, I discovered what will be among my TOP 5 reads of 2021, "Paradise, W.V."

Turner Bookstore!

Please be sure to check out my review of "Paradise, W.V." and here is the link to order your own copy: 

Paradise, W.V. - I cannot say enough about this read, and to be honest - it was not a pick I would normally have picked up in a bookstore, which makes my appreciation of Turner even greater! Opening up to new reads is one of the reasons I chose to promote/host for LikeWise, I wanted to open myself up to new genres! I'm so happy I did, and I guarantee you will not be disappointed! 

A bit about Turner: 

Turner Publishing Company is an award-winning, independent publisher of books. The company is in the top 101 independent publishing companies in the U.S. as compiled by Bookmarket.com and has been named five times to Publishers Weekly's Fastest Growing Publishers List. Todd Bottorff, President and Publisher, was featured on the cover of Publisher’s Weekly in March 2009 after being named to their fastest growing publisher list.

Here are some of the amazing titles Turner has gifted me for promotion/review! 

Mental Fitness -Achieve a balanced mood, clear thinking, and abundant energy through transformative methods based on groundbreaking research on the gut-heart-brain-axis.

The Son of Abraham -The Son of Abraham is an immersive, haunting, touching story about family, love, and the supernatural. Kathleen Kaufman has woven a tapestry of original entities, visceral setting, and dark magical wonder that is equally unsettling and hopeful. A powerful read. ―Richard Thomas, author of Disintegration, and Breaker (Thriller Award nominee)

Is Your Life Successful? - Am I living my life to the fullest? It’s a question we all ask ourselves, yet there is no universal answer. In Is Your Life Successful?, Dr. Frank Boehm guides readers through an entertaining, insightful, and ultimately hopeful exploration of life’s joy and hardships. Through years of interviews, Boehm curated more than 200 stories from people spanning all ages and backgrounds. Enjoy stories from figures like former Senator Bob Corker and singer-songwriter Tanya Tucker to nurses, lawyers, Uber drivers, those with special needs, people experiencing homelessness, and more.

The Secret of Rainy Days - Like the best Southern novels, The Secret of Rainy Days reminds us when searching for your place in the world, you may find it where you least expect it. And that sometimes to move forward, you have to go back to where you came from. ―Colleen Oakley, USA Today bestselling author

No Hiding in Boise - A July 2021 INDIE NEXT Pick "With this novel, Kim Hooper has created magic from the seemingly impossible. In her hands, the gossamer threads that tie three perfect strangers to each other following a shared tragedy, become nothing less than a transformative bond of human connection. Honest, brave, messy and unsparing, her characters are fearless pioneers in the darkness, and ultimately shed light for us on the most precious gift of all…life after loss. –Brad Silberling, Writer/Director of Moonlight Mile, Director of City of Angels 

The Hive - The Hive by Melissa Scholes Young is real and raw, and will pin you back in your seat. It’s a powerful portrait of a family coming to terms with a changing world that some are ready for, and others are not. The Fehler family is beautifully rendered in their messy complexity―flawed, tragic, and hopeful, all at once. I loved it. ―Alex George, author of The Paris Hours

All the Love - The tumultuous feelings that accompany pregnancy loss are hard to describe, and women who experience this often feel terribly alone in their grief. But All the Love, written by three wise and compassionate women, offers much-needed understanding, consolation, wisdom, and hope. Its heartfelt and caring message will provide solace and guidance to those who have lost babies as well as those who seek to support them. –Christine Gross-Loh Author, Parenting Without Borders and co-author, The Path

I hope you will order these titles from Turner and support publishers/authors! I love working with these publishers who appreciation posts have inspired my book-friends and others to order! If you order please let me know, I'm always looking for book-talk!! 

My weekend was booked! And my newest read....

 It's Monday, and for me the weekend flew by!!! 

Aside from reading, I took the time to finish the 8th (and final) season of "Monk" and the 7th (final) season of "Bosch" - loved the endings for both and I cannot wait to see what the "Bosh" spin-off will be about! 

I also finished "The End of Men" by Christina Sweeney-Baird - and I cannot express how MUCH I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! Take sci-fi, add in feminism, and everything we've learned over the past year - and you have "The End of Men." I could not put the book down and I hope Christina is considering a sequel to show how that universe adapted to the rising of women. If you haven't read it yet - please do!!!! 

Next up, I started AND finished "One of Us is Next"! Aside from reading the gifted copies that publishers have been so kind to send me, I'm working on some of the TBR that's been sitting on my Goodreads shelf! "One of Us is Next" is the sequel to "One of Us is Lying" and I have been putting it off because I felt nothing could top the first book in the series, I am happy to report - I was wrong! The twists in the sequel is amazing, and that final twist - OH MY GOSH!!!! That one broke me, just completely broke me. Have you read this one yet?!?!? What did you think?!?! 

Also - be sure to check out this link! "One of Us is Lying" will be launching soon on Peacock, and I cannot wait to watch it!!! 

One of Us is Lying Teaser

And lastly, to get this week off with a great start - "The Overdue Life of Amy Byler" which is one of my Goodreads TBR - if you enjoy books about books this one is for you! A single parent raising two children after being abandoned by her husband, Amy is working as a librarian. During a random drugstore visit, her life is shook, the husband/father that abandoned them is back and is wanting to repair his relationship with his children but what about Amy? Started this one last night and I can tell this will be a quick, fun read!! 

Publisher Appreciation Post!!! RE: Kensington Publishing!

 It's Wednesday which means it's time for another publisher appreciation post! 

This week I'll be featuring Kensington Publishing. When I first reached out to publishers to work with, Kensington was so quick to get back to me - they were among the first I partnered with - and so kind to provide gifted copies of the books listed below! I adore working with Kensington and hope that you will be sure to check out some of the amazing reads they offer! 

Kensington Books

I have previously blogged about "The Menopause Manifesto" (see previous posts) and how much I learned from Dr. Jen! Here are some of the other amazing reads I've been gifted to promote/review: 

Next Job, Best Job - if this year has taught us anything, it's that time are changing and we need to focus on what's making us happy - Rob Barnett shows us way to achieve this! 

Elizabeth & Monty - celebrating the 75th anniversary of "A Place in the Sun" this inside look at the friendship of Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift is stepping back into old-time Hollywood! Please consider joining us on LikeWise for a discussion about this great read and then discussing "A Place in the Sun"! 

Bee People - how many of us watched "CSI" and became interested in Grissom and he's love of all things that crawled?!?! This read is not only funny but a scientific look at the why and how - if you love to learn, like I do, you will love this one! 

Three Ordinary Girls - for the history lovers! WWII, spies, traps, and more! Three teenagers were recruited to spy/help during WW11 - and this is the first time their stories have been told. I could not put this one down! 

Here is a bit about Kensington and why it is so important that they remain an independent publisher: 

2020 marks Kensington Publishing Corp’s 46th year in business, and it is one of the last remaining independent U.S. publisher of hardcover, trade and mass market paperback books. From the time our very first book (Appointment in Dallas by Hugh McDonald), became a bestseller, Kensington has been known as an astute and determined David-vs.-Goliath publisher of titles in the full spectrum of categories, from fiction and romance to health and nonfiction.

Please take the time to check out the reads above and let me know if you read/or have already read any!!! 

Reading about a pandemic....during a pandemic....

 I've put off reading this one for a bit now, it was just released in April of this year, but the idea of reading about a pandemic DURING a pandemic was a bit much. I've kept hearing so many good things about this one though....so I'm going ahead! 

The End of Men

"The End of Men" is part of my current library haul! This is a debut novel by Christina Sweeney-Baird and I love debut novels so much! Finding new authors is something I truly enjoy and this one sounds like a winner! 

Set in 2025 there is a virus that only men can contract and the race to warn and save the population. 

After having COVID, I'm prepared that this might be triggering but I'm also interested to see how this past year is showcased in the book. 

Have you read this one yet? What did you think? 

Wrapping up two books this week!

 Happy Tuesday! 

This past week has been a busy one! I'm preparing to return back to my main job on the 2nd so I've been trying to get everything in order - which means, my reading took a hit. 

I finished both books I had been reading last night/today! I loved them both and cannot recommend them enough! 

First up:

The President is Missing

This book scared the heck out of me! To say Former President Clinton and James Patterson can paint a picture of a cyberterrorism is an understatement. The multiple POV's help to paint a picture that is not only realistic but also gives us an insider view of what can happen in the Oval Office. For those who have never thought what might happen if we are forced into the "dark ages", prepare to be shook. 

Second book: 

Palm Spring Noir  

This is my first time reading the California series published by Akashic Books and I must now read them all! Each story was fantastic and it was the perfect companion read to "The President is Missing." I loved the fact that all stories were written by authors who truly KNEW the area; either they have lived there or grew up there. To write a perfect noir story, knowing your location is key because it will paint the picture for your readers. If you love noir, I cannot recommend this one enough! 

The President Is Missing....

 So, so, so excited about this one!!!! 

"The President Is Missing" is a co-authored book by Former President Bill Clinton and James Patterson. So we have all the insider info from the Oval PLUS Patterson's brilliant story-telling abilities!! I'm already 100 pages in and loving this one so much! 

You can tell the sections that Clinton has written and the sections that Patterson has done, which makes for a unique story. I can see Clinton in the fictitious President Duncan, Hillary in the fictitious Chief of Staff, Newt G in the fictitious Speaker of the House, and others. If you follow politics, you will not be disappointed in this one. 

Also, the Clinton/Patterson team has a new book coming out as well! As does Hillary Clinton who has teamed up with Louise Penny and I'm SO excited for that one in October!!!!! Links below! 

State of Terror

The President is Missing

The President's Daughter

Publisher Appreciation Post!!! RE: Bellevue Literary Press

 Welcome to the first, of many I hope, publisher appreciation posts!! My goal is to discuss the publishers I am partnering with to promote their current, new, and upcoming releases across all the platforms! If you are looking to connect, please click on the links - web browser view - and if you are viewing this in mobile view, you can follow me @ukbookbrat on Instagram! 

For today's appreciation; Bellevue Literary Press

Readers, they had me at their mission statement! Check it out: 

Bellevue Literary Press is devoted to publishing literary fiction and nonfiction at the intersection of the arts and sciences because we believe that science and the humanities are natural companions for understanding the human experience. We feature exceptional literature that explores the nature of perception and the underpinnings of the social contract. With each book we publish, our goal is to foster a rich, interdisciplinary dialogue that will forge new tools for thinking and engaging with the world.

If that does not encompass everything that bookworms love, I do not know what will! I've adored my interactions with Bellevue, the two current releases and one ARC they sent - well, they are phenomenal! Here are the links to check it out for yourselves: 

Talking Back, Talking Black

A Solemn Pleasure

And the forthcoming: 

Uncommon Measure

I hope you will check out the links and on social media, give Bellevue a follow! Connect with them here: 

Instagram: @bellevueliterarypress

Twitter: @bellevuepress

Facebook: @bellevue.literary.press

Clap When You Land!

 I'm long overdue to read this one! Last year, I joined the book of the month club by Politics & Prose - which I loved to visit when in DC! Politics & Prose is among my top 5 local/independent bookstores!!! You can visit them using this link: 

Politics and Prose

"Clap When You Land" is also among the Goodreads 2020 best reads! I'm so excited to get started on this one! 

It's rare I read two books at once but when it's short stories I tend to go back and forth. Do you read multiple books at once? Or are you a one book at a time kinda reader? 

Palm Springs.....

Happy Sunday everyone! 

Today's gifted read is curiosity of Akashic Noir series! Starting in 2004, Akashic Books began publishing this series starting with Brooklyn. This is my first time reading this series and I cannot wait to get started! 

I adore all things California and for this work to be set in Palm Springs, it makes my bookworm heart so happy! Another key fact in this series, the authors are located within the areas they write which will make the stories all the more authentic. 

If you haven't already, add me as a friend on Facebook! I'm creating an online bookclub called "Coffee, Books, and Yoga Pants!" and our first read will be announced on August 1st! I hope you all will join in. 

Let's talk about being flush....and no, I don't mean embarrassed!

 Just finished "The Menopause Manifesto" and.....

I called my mom and apologized for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING I might have done during that time in her life! Also, if any of my relatives, teachers, etc come across this - I'M SO SORRY! 

So I'm 41 and while this book does not entirely apply to me, I can see some signs already. As discussed in the previous post, I do not have children so heading into this stage of my life could happen sooner than for some. That is why I was so grateful to Kensington Publishers for gifting me this copy to promote! Now I've gone down the Dr. Jen explain path, and I feel some better and also I learned quite a bit! 

I love reading a medical/self-help book that does not talk down to you. I prefer using real-life examples and referring to information from this century, not just old-school jargon. Dr. Jen does this! She puts it on your level and lays all the cards out on the table. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is off limits - which is as it should be! I still find it amazing that in 2021 the word "menopause" can be taboo but yet, it is. Women's health has taken a backseat to so many things, men I'm looking at you, that is seems at times we are still living in the 60's (abortion rights anyone?!?!) and we need to get out of the past and start focusing on our future. Dr. Jen does this and she will make you laugh along with the way with stories and teach at the same time. 

I cannot recommend this book enough! 

This one is for the ladies.....

 Thanks to Kensington Publishing for gifting me a copy of "The Menopause Manifesto" by Dr. Jen Gunter! 

I know this pick will not be for everybody who might come across this blog BUT Dr. Jen does have another publication as well: 

The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina—Separating the Myth from the Medicine

PLUS: 

TED Talk!

Dr. Jen's TED Talk was one of the 2020's TOP TEN, just under Bill Gates and Van Jones! Dr. Jen is on track to have 3M viewers!!! 

So ladies, we need to listen to what Dr. Jen has to tell us! I'm so excited to start reading this one because as some of you know, I do not have children of my own and therefore I'm more likely to start into menopause earlier than most who have had children. This gifted read came at the PERFECT time in my life and I hope this blog/book/podcast/Dr. Jen will come at the perfect time in yours as well! 

Welcome to Lordsville......

"Justified" meets the area I grew up in "Paradise, WV" by Rob Rufus. 

At first glance, see previous post, I believed the cover resembled heaven vs. hell and boy was I right about that one! Jane and Henry Lusher's dad, Hollis, was convicted of murdering 3 (possibly 12) women before being arrested. The kids must live in the shadow of this in a small town called, Paradise. No one befriends the kids and the oldest, Jane, is doing whatever it takes to get out Paradise for good. 

BUT....

The murders that their father was accused of start again or did they ever stop? Is this a copycat killer? OR...was the real killer never brought to justice? With the help of Otis Perkins, who has his own father issues as well, they attempt to unmask what really happened to those women and how it may be connected to a religious cult, Lordsville. And of course, Mammaw and Gravy (their mascot puppy) are along for the ride! 

I cannot say enough about this book! I had to pace myself or else I was going to finish it in one night! The writing is on point for the kids, mammaw, and the officers. I love the mentions of local area restaurant's, cities, and towns! It was like walking back through my childhood, minus the serial killer. 

Couple of things I didn't love but in no way impacted the story; I felt the podcast visiting would have been a much bigger deal than it was made out to be. I think given the events that occurred on the night of the live event, the hosts would have wanted to stick around for the first hand accounts of what was going on (in my opinion.) Next, the book is divided into "episodes" which is why I thought the podcast would play a bigger role in the book than it did. But as I said, these couple of things did not impact the story and did not prevent me from giving this one a 5/5 on Goodreads! I really hope you all pick up a copy when it hits shelves on 7.20.21! 

Time to visit Paradise WV....

 Alright everyone, next up on the places to travel (and TBR list), "Paradise, WV!" 

I'm so excited to start this one today, it was gifted to me by Turner Publishing/KeyLight Books and will be released on 7.20.2021 - so if you pick up a copy, send me a message on LikeWise I've already started a discussion there! 

For me, this book will hit close to home - literally. Growing up on the Kentucky/Ohio/West Virginia line (AKA "Tri-State Area") I see first hand how drugs and poverty have taken over around my hometown. This area used to be home to AK Steel, one of the top steel making plants in the US, and when they shut down - everyone felt the impact. You KNEW someone who had lost their job; they might not be related to you but they were related to someone you knew, their dad sat next to you in school, or the waitress at Bob Evan's who always has a smile on her - well, her husband lost his job. And the area I grew up in has never recovered. 

I moved away before the opioid epidemic started but I know from visiting family, the struggle is real for those left behind. It breaks my heart to see homes I visited as a child being knocked down for either liquor stores, gas stations, or fast food places. But that is what's going on, and it never should have gotten to this point. 

So when you pick up this new release by Rob Rufus, hopefully this will give a little background to West Virginia and the surrounding area(s)! For "Paradise, WV" though - not only do we have all of this going on, but we also have a serial killer on the loose as well! Check out my GoodReads and LikeWise accounts for updates on this one! 

Side note; I LOVE this cover - right now I'm thinking heaven vs. hell but I'm sure that opinion will change! 

Your Majesty....

 Finished "Majesty" over the weekend and I loved it! 

Personally, I wouldn't have had Jeff and Daphne together because let's face it - Jeff deserves better but he just doesn't know it yet. Also, Daphne having her "ah-ha moment" wasn't the true "ah-ha" I was hoping for.....jail anyone?!?! 

I'm so glad I read these though! I can see aspects from "Gossip Girl" and the House of Windsor...but I appreciate the twists and the feminist aspect of the book. I just wish their mum had come around to accepting everything, but it goes to show what tradition does to a person. Nothing good comes from being so stubborn you cannot welcome new ideas!