“The Winter Song” Review

Hello Friends!

Sometimes covers do call my attention, and that’s what happened when I saw the cover of this book. It immediately got me interested in reading the synopsis. I do hope that by the end of this post, you are just as curious as I was.

“The Winter Song“, written by Saurav Dutt, is a romance novel, published on 15th December 2020.

I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, Saurav Dutt for the eCopy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Synopsis

From the acclaimed Author of ‘The Butterfly Room’ comes a powerful afterlife drama conveying how great gifts can be hidden in death and how they can bear fruit in our lives if we have the faith to let them unfold.

Somewhere between the mountains and the mist in Simla, India a widower must reconcile himself to the loss and grief that haunts him after the recent death of his wife.

Unhinged by grief, anger, and guilt, John Perera has set off on a journey, a journey to honour the love of his life and to fulfil the promise he made to her to uncover the truth behind the mysterious death of their son. It is a journey of extraordinary self-discovery that will take him to the extremities of his soul and question all he believes about life, death, and faith.

Purchase Links: Amazon UK | Amazon US

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About the Author

Saurav Dutt is an Author, Political Columnist and Human Rights Campaigner. A journalist in three continents, his acclaimed debut novel ‘The Butterfly Room’ explored issues of domestic violence and homophobia within South Asian communities and has been showcased alongside leading political figures and human rights campaigners. His work for human rights and charity campaign work has taken Dutt to speaking engagements at the WEF, IKWRO, IWN, Houses of Parliament and TEDx.

After exploring the issue of psychological abuse and domestic violence in ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’ Dutt was commissioned by a major Hollywood production house to pen the official novelization of the major motion picture ‘Tiger’ (starring Golden Globe winning and Academy Award nominated actor Mickey Rourke) and he commemorated the centenary of the infamous Amritsar Massacre in India with ‘Garden of Bullets: Massacre at Jallianwala Bagh’ which was featured in TIME magazine. TIGER is the biographical account of Parminder Singh Nagra, a trailblazing Sikh boxer who fought successfully for the right to compete in the ring with his beard, an essential part of his faith.

A syndicated political columnist, Dutt writes for the International Business Times, The Times of Israel, Human Events, and American Herald Tribune. He has featured on CNN, GQ, Huffington Post, Business Insider, BBC television and radio, RT (Russia Today), Press TV, Sky News, and more. He has been shortlisted several times for the Asian Achievers Awards and Asian Media Awards. He resides in the United Kingdom, Los Angeles, and India.

Social Media Links: Twitter | Amazon

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My Review

From the title to the cover, I was curious way before reading the synopsis or the book. Yet, the story was so emotional, more that I thought at first.

As we follow John Perera, we end up in a journey of self-discovery, of grief, loss, honor, promises, memories, faith, love, life and death. A thought provoking story that grabbed my heart and made me think about afterlife, family and the journey we all take through the various moments we have to deal during our life.

I could connect with the characters, although I didn’t went through this kind of loss, I have lost loved ones, and those event made me think about life and mortality. This book made me connect with the characters in that way, as humans beings dealing with the self-discovery and reflection. They felt real to me because of that.

Overall, I enjoyed it. I liked the melody it had. I liked the way it made me think and stop for a moment. I liked that it grabbed my attention and that fascinated me. I liked that it had a slow pace and yet it felt as emotional as a fast action novel. I liked that it was one of those books I need to reread in the future, to experience it in a different way.

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Don’t forget to check out all the other bloggers that given their contribute in this Blog Tour, with their Reviews, guest posts, and Q&As.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

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“Always Been You” Review

Hello Friends!

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a review of a book that is part of a series whose author you may recognize.

“Always Been You“, written by Lasairiona E. McMaster, is the third book in the AJ Williams Series, published on May 9th 2020 by Drama Llama Publishing.

I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Lasairiona E. McMaster for the eCopy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Synopsis

Five thousand miles from his ex, AJ is living with Lisa’s decision to call it quits and leave both him, and Alabama behind. Upon hearing that Lisa is moving forward from their engagement with a new (and handsome!) doctor-boyfriend, AJ is confused and broken at the idea of facing life without his soul mate. AJ finds himself at a cross roads, does he give up all hope of ever reconciling with Lisa and take a chance on love again with someone new? Or is his heart destined to be forever entwined with the beautiful Irish woman he met on the internet… who is now with another man?

Purchase Links: Amazon UK | Amazon US

Potential Trigger Warning: Sexual assault, medical injury/brain trauma/grief/loss

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Author Bio

Lasairiona McMaster grew up dreaming of an exciting life abroad, and, after graduating from Queens University, Belfast, that is exactly what she did – with her then-boyfriend, now husband of almost ten years. Having recently repatriated to Northern Ireland after a decade abroad spanned over two countries (seven and a half years in America and eighteen months in India), she now finds herself ‘home’, with itchy feet and dreams of her next expatriation. With a penchant for both travelling, and writing, she started a blog during her first relocation to Houston, Texas and, since repatriating to Northern Ireland, has decided to do as everyone has been telling her to do for years, and finally pen a book (or two) and get published while she tries to adjust to the people and place she left ten years ago, where nothing looks the same as it did when she left.

Social Media Links – Facebook | Twitter | Website | Instagram

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My Review

This is the final book in the AJ series, and where everything comes together.

We keep following Aj’s side of the story, we see how life for him is, while he deals with all the obstacles that may appear, with his mental health problems, and every other situation he ends up encountering as he tries to figure things out.

We get keep connecting with AJ and all the other characters that have a big role in his life, in a positive aspect, even thought we know them. It was quite interesting to see the the other side of the coin, and see the interactions between the characters in a new light. It gave the story and world an even more powerful understanding, since we get to see both MC’s POVs and all that they had to deal with during this time line.

I did say, in the previous reviews of this series, that I loved that we were given a chance to read AJ’s daily life. I truly felt that Lisa’s series needed that. AJ was and still is one of my favorite characters and I knew there was a lot about him that we needed to know. With this novel we get the final pieces to understand all that has lead to the big finale.

Overall, I definitely recommend you read the entire series in order, I would start with Lisa’s POV and then get to AJ’s POV. Then you will get a bigger understanding of all the various elements that shaped their story. It’s a rollercoaster in terms of emotions and I personally loved to connect with the characters in that deep level.

Also, I do caution the readers, because there may be some potential trigger in both series. Just keep that in mind.

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Don’t forget to check out all the other bloggers that given their contribute in this Blog Tour, from reviews to basic promo/spotlight posts.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

“A Shop Girl At Sea” Review

Hello Friends!

I hope you are doing well this lovely Thurday. Today I bring you a review of a historical romance novel that is part of a series.

“A Shop Girl At Sea“, written by Rachel Brimble, is a Historical Romance, the fourth book in the Pennington’s Series published on April 9th 2020 by Aria Fiction.

I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Rachel Brimble for the eCopy of this book, and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Synopsis

Bath, 1912.

Amelia Wakefield loves working at Pennington’s, Bath’s finest department store. An escape from her traumatic past, it saved her life. So when Miss Pennington sets her a task to set sail on the Titanic and study the department stores of New York, she couldn’t be more excited – or determined!

Frustrated with his life at home, Samuel Murphy longs for a few weeks of freedom and adventure. Meeting Amelia on board the Titanic, Samuel can’t help wonder what painful history has made the beauty so reserved. But he already has too many responsibilities for love.

​Ruby Taylor has always kept her Pennington co-workers at a distance. Making sure her little brother is safe has always been her priority. But when that means accepting Victoria Lark’s offer of sanctuary, more than one of Ruby’s secrets is under threat of being revealed…

​A riveting and uplifting saga, perfect for fans of Elaine Everest and Fiona Ford.

Purchase Link: Amazon

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About the Author

Rachel lives with her husband and their two daughters in a small town near Bath, England. She is the author of over 20 published novels including the Pennington’s department store series (Aria Fiction) and the Templeton Cove Stories (Harlequin).

​In July 2019, she signed a three-book deal with Aria Fiction for a Victorian trilogy set in a Bath brothel which will feature three heroines determined to change their lives and those of other women. The first book is due for release in Autumn 2020.

​Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and has thousands of social media followers all over the world.

​Social Media Links: Website | Twitter | Blog | Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads

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My Review

This isn’t the first novel of Rachel Brimble that I have read, since I read the previous books in this series, so I was excited when I saw hat there as another Pennington’s book.

It was as amazing as the previous stories, maintaining the same fantastic flow in the storytelling and the brilliant descriptions that transported us to that time and moment, we characters that felt human and real.

The amazing thing about Rachel Brimble’s stories, this one included, is that she talks about certain topics that are still very relevant in our present. She does it in a way that we get to connect with the characters and understand them, their past, future, dreams and nightmares, and their actions through out the book.

In this book we get to follow Amelia, Samuel and Ruby. Each one with their own demons their own struggles and their own moments of strength and connection with the reader. At least that’s what I felt, since it as like going on an emotional rollercoaster. The interactions helped with that, by giving us opportunities to really know all the characters as well as their circumstances, as well as the setting of the story.

Overall, I loved it. It was such a good story, thought provoking and engaging. It had a good balance despite all the emotions I could feel by being transported to the story. Plus, it had a good rhythm and I ended up reading page after page without even caring about the late hour.

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Don’t forget to check out all the other bloggers that given their contribute in this Blog Tour, from reviews to basic promo/spotlight posts.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

“Poptastic” Review

Hello Friends!

Yes, Jéssica is posting another review today. Why? Because I want to. What happen? I finished the book and I’m really excited to write the review. So get read for it.

“Poptastic“, written by Victoria Holmes, is a Romance novel, LGBTQ Fiction, that is currently on pre-order since it comes out on May 7th 2020.

I want to thank Victoria Holmes for the eCopy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Synopsis

Bridesmaiding is a tedious business at the best of times, but as Julia discovers, the task is particularly cumbersome when one of the brides is your ex and her fiancée won’t stop sulking about it.

With the wedding threatening to dominate everything for the rest of the year, a bewildering embrace with a devastatingly attractive pop star offers a welcome distraction. Dating Krisha catapults Julia away from the paltry concerns of dress fittings and hen dos, but it also takes her away from her friends, and directly leads to her most disastrous f**k up yet. Much to her surprise, she discovers that embracing the role she’d accepted so reluctantly might just be exactly what she needs.

Purchase Link: Amazon

Don’t forget to add the book to your TBR on Goodreads: Poptastic

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About the Author

After studying for a degree in Theatre Studies at the University of Warwick, Victoria pursued an MA in Social Work at the University of Manchester, and spent many years working with young offenders in Tooting.

She now teaches English as a foreign language, allowing her the opportunity to travel and write. Following stints in South Korea, Thailand, Italy and Slovenia, she is currently based in Taiwan where she lives with her partner, Yao.

Although she has been writing fiction on and off since university, Poptastic is her first novel.

Social Media Links: Website | Instagram (Book page) | Instagram (author) | Facebook | Twitter

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My Review

I always love to get out of my comfort zone and read other genres and books that talk about topics I haven’t dived into. That been said, I haven’t read many LGBTQ novels, just because I haven’t jumped into it yet. The ones I have read, I enjoyed, this book included.

We follow Julia in a journey that I could definitely describe as a rollercoaster of emotions. As I keep reading the story I found myself relating to a lot things that were talked about in the book and the emotions portrayed. Plus, I felt like I was part of the group of friends, thanks the storytelling and how the author get us to connect with the characters.

There definitely some unexpected moments that got me think, and others that got me so happy because I was hoping it would happen. I was so focus on the story, on Julia’s life and journey that I didn’t realized I was finished until the epilogue came.

Although it did touch on certain topics that are hard ones, like violence, drugs and attempt suicide, there was a lot of light moments as well. Friendship, wedding preparations, love and lust… Or even: following your dreams, taking a chance, making tough decisions, dealing with break ups… Every single thing was real, it represented life. Because life isn’t jut drama or romance, it’s everything in between. And that’s something I truly loved in this novel.

I won’t give any spoilers, let me just say that it fell like a light read because of the humor it had, combined with all the messy moments, the fantastic and funny characters. When I say it felt like life, I wasn’t kidding, it truly did and I loved that realism. Victoria Holmes knows how to take us on an exciting adventure and now I wish I could read another book of her, especially if she writes about Lucy.

Overall, I quite enjoyed the story, it was certainly a good Saturday read for me, and a good break from other genres. So, if you like this types of books, about life, about a side of the LGBTQ community, written by someone that knows it… then you should check out the book.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

“Common People” Review

Hello Friends!

If you have been following my social media you know that a couple weeks ago I posted an article on a Medium publication called “The Open Bookshelf”, and this article is my review of Common People. Still it’s a different since it’s more of an in depth and thought provoking reflection about my opinion on the book.

You can check it out, it’s called “Saudade, nostalgia and the beauty of connection“.

Still, I wanted to leave one of my usual reviews here on the blog, so enjoy this one as well.

“Common People“, an anthology edited by Kit de Waal, was published on May 2019 by Unbound.

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Synopsis

Common People is a collection of essays, poems and pieces of personal memoir, bringing together sixteen well-known writers from working class backgrounds with an equal number of brand new as-yet-unpublished writers from all over the UK.

Too often, working class writers find that the hurdles they have to leap are higher and harder to cross than for writers from more affluent backgrounds. Common People will see writers who have made that leap reach back to give a helping hand to those coming up behind.

We read because we want to experience lives and emotions beyond our own, to learn, to see with others’ eyes – without new working class voices, without the vital reflection of real lives, or role models for working class readers and writers, literature will be poorer.

Working-class stories are not always tales of the underprivileged and dispossessed.

Common People is a collection of essays, poems and memoir written in celebration, not apology: these are narratives rich in barbed humor, reflecting the depth and texture of working-class life, the joy and sorrow, the solidarity and the differences, the everyday wisdom and poetry of the woman at the bus stop, the waiter, the hairdresser.

Here, Kit de Waal brings together thirty-three established and emerging writers who invite you to experience the world through their eyes, their voices loud and clear as they reclaim and redefine what it means to be working class.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Unbound | Kobo | Bertrand | Wook

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My Review

“Common People: An Anthology of Working Class Writers” edited by Kit de Waal and written by several authors, is a collection of essays, poems and pieces of personal memoir.

Each author records, on the pages of the book, their opinions, experience and working class background. Each different from the others, but they all provoke our minds and emotions.

Being an anthology and bringing to light stories and poems loaded with emotions and opinions, I read this book in a measured way, reflecting each chapter and each passage.

Coming from a Working Class family, much of what was described I was able to relate to my life and the reports of my family members. This established a connection with the voices of the authors and their experiences, appealing to the memories of my past and a feeling of Saudade.

In Jodie Russian-Red’s story, The Funeral and the Wedding, I saw my family painted on the pages. It transported me to a past that is still alive in my heart and mind, and not faded by time.

These small moments, which connect us to what is told, are something I consider fundamental in a story. Empathy and connection with the narrators, with the experiences, and consequently, with ourselves.

For those who want to get out of their comfort zone and like Anthologies, I highly recommend this book. Despite being written about Britain, the voice of the working class travels across countries and continents.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

Parceria com a Livraria Good Books

Olá meus queridos amigos!

Há uns dias atrás escrevi um post sobre uma livraria fantástica, e hoje venho novamente falar sobre ela, porém, de uma forma diferente.

Fui convidada para fazer parte de um grupo de parceiras com esta livraria. E… em breve poderão regularmente ver posts meus, assim como posts das outras parceiras, no blog da Livraria Good Reads. Serão posts sobre opiniões de livros que lermos, ou até mesmo relacionados com o mundo livrólico tal como o post de hoje.

É algo que estou bastante entusiasmada e será uma aventura, apenas mais uma neste maravilhoso ano 2020.

Se não conhecem a Livraria Good Books, ela foi criada por uma dupla espetacular, mãe e filha, Ana Paula Ivo e Ana Teresa Barreiros, sendo uma Livraria de livros usados e de autores/editoras independentes, localizada em Sintra.

Hoje foi partilhado um novo post no blog da livraria sobre Como Criar (e cumprir) o TBR, e se lerem tudo até ao final irão encontrar uma caixa para fazer a subscrição da Newsletter e ao fazerem isso, recebem gratuitamente um documento que poderão usar no planeamento da vossa TBR.

Espero vermos por lá, nos comentários, e divirtam-se com o planeamento da vossa TBR. Eu sei que vou usar o documento fornecido para a TBR de Março. Por isso esperem um post por aqui sobre tal assunto.

Social Media Links da Livraria Good Books:

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

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Não se esqueçam de comentar, não sejam estranhos. Se tem alguma recomendação de livros que acham que deva ler podem enviar uma mensagem usando o formulário na página Contact Me.

Se desejarem juntarem-se a mim e serie convidados no blogue, escrevendo um post sobre um tema à vossa escolha, vejam a página Guests Post para saberem mais e para preparamos a sua visita.

Love,

Jess

“Dark Chains” Review

Hello Friends!

I hope you are doing well this Monday. I have some reviews to today, so stay tune, relax and enjoy.

UPDATE: Apparently I forgot to change the day of the week because I had planned on scheduling this review, and then decided last minute to just post it today, and of course my Monday brain didn’t see I had Thursday still on the post. Epic fail on my part, I know.

“Dark Chains“, written by LaTasha “Tacha B.” Braxton, a standalone novel that is as described in the synopsis “inspirational and spiritual autobiography”, was published on March 27th 2018.

I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to LaTasha “Tacha B.” Braxton. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Blurb

Dark Chains is an inspirational and spiritual autobiography about a misguided young girl who struggles to survive mental, emotional, and physical abuse. Plagued by decades of pain, mental illness and generational curses. She enters a life without God at a young age, and finds herself infatuated with the idea of escaping and never returning to the abusive life she once was subjected, manipulated and conditioned to living in.

This book was created to help young girls and boys who are going down a dark path, it is meant to open minds and change their perspectives for the greater. It was created to help overcome the pain and anger endured from a dysfunctional family and lifestyle in order to become who God initially wanted them to be.

This book will heal the wounds of mentally and emotionally hurt families who aren’t aware that they’ve been conditioned to live immorally due to the pains that plagued them and the many generations that came before them. It is a read from an author who can easily relate to those who inhabit a lost soul and a broken heart. It is inspiring and will create understanding and hope to many and create a positive pattern for many more to come.

Purchase Link: Amazon

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Author Bio

Author and songwriter LaTasha “Tacha B.” Braxton is quite a complex and beautiful mystery. An intricately woven entity made up of everything right about creation. Her mind is a cavern of creativity. Her heart is big, but the love encapsulated within it is a buried treasure. The kind one wouldn’t readily discover the significance of unless they were extremely determined and intentional about finding.

Then there’s her soul. Vibrant as a moonlight glow, but it’s constantly at war. She’s suffered a lot. Has been disappointed by most and naturally carries her skepticism openly of everyone who tries to get close. Her force field is not easily penetrable, but it’s not impossible to.

Her greatest joy is the life of her baby boy. A young inquisitive genius that has taught her much about life and challenges her to grow each day. If she was literally a flower. He would most undoubtedly be her water. This is her reason to live above all, and it’s this unconditional love that causes her to flourish.

LaTasha “Tacha B.” Braxton’s gift is her writing. This is how she communicates to the world. Whether it comes out in the form of music, poetry or in a novel. If you want to know exactly who she is, these are the chambers you can go to.

Social Media Links: Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

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My Review

I read this book a while back and I’m still emotional when I think about every chapter that describes the author’s life, and she went through a lot. Like it says in the synopsis this novel is an “inspirational and spiritual autobiography“, and knowing that makes the reading even more powerful.

I haven’t read many books that have a autobiography element, so I was very emotional while reading this story. So, reviewing it is a hard task, how can we review a novel that is a memoir about someones life? That was one of the reason I took so long to write this review.

The author put in paper her experiences with mental, emotional, and physical abuse, opening door for us, and I’m hoping that everyone that does read this novel will have moment of contemplation and can reflect on many subjects that are expressed in this story, as well as maybe, it can give reads some sense of connection, because we are not alone and there are a lot of people around the world that have experienced the same things.

I didn’t went through the same as the author and other women have, and just went through my own experiences that were in no way as harsh as the ones described in the book, but they shaped me. It took me ten years to finally talk about what I felt and about my past, and it was all thanks to a class in college. So I can imagine how emotional the journey must have been to LaTasha “Tacha B” Braxton to write this book. I could see it in each page because I could connect to her, sometimes I just wanted to hug her and cry with her, others I just wanted to go back in time and maybe help out.

I went on the journey as well, and although the realization that this was real and that some people are going through it right now made my heart feel heavy, the author wrote it in such a way that grabbed my attention. That’s the power of words.

I loved the message, how she found her strength and faith… Even if you aren’t a religious person, that’s okay, because the important thing (for me of course) is that you have faith in yourself and love who you are, as well as never giving up and breaking the cycle. If you are religious and God is who you focus on, good for you, if having faith in Him is what helps you have the courage you need to deal with all the obstacles that’s all that matters.

Overall, it was a strong and thought provoking book that I recommend, but I have to say that it because of the topics discussed, it can have some triggers, so just have that in mind. I don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable while reading a book, and in this case it’s supposed to be a start of conversation and a way to help others. Also, if while reading you feel the need to stop and reflect, or just need some time to take a deep breath, that’s totally okay, I did that.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

Thankful Sunday: BiblioBeautyBooks

Hello Friends!

Today I wanted to come here and write this Thank You post to an amazing person, a dear friends of mine.

This Sunday it’s a Thank You to Chelsea!

Chelsea, aka BiblioBeautyBooks, a fellow bookstagrammer, blogger and writer. A lovely person that has written powerful and thought provoking books and that deserves all the love in the world.

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I first met Chelsea via her Instagram page and I immediately fell in love with her photos and words. She was a kind person that had her arms open and welcomed everyone to her DMs. And I don’t even remember exactly how we started to talk because I truly feel like I know her for years.

In her Instagram account you will found book recommendations, reviews, and writing updates of her novels. And one of the subjects that is very close to the heart for her is Mental Health, so if you need a virtual hugs and someone to talk to, or read some amazing poetry that just gives you a connection, you will find it in Chelsea and her writing.

Then of course, I got to met her by reading her books. It’s a different experience, and by reading her poems, I was able to share my thoughts and our friendship grew. I’m now finishing reading her new poetry book and will have a review very soon. Meanwhile, you can get her books here:

Unspoken Agreement | Sincerely, Me | Only Human | A Delicate Flower |When The Parachute Doesn’t Open | Allergic To Air

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Another stop you should do is on Chelsea’s blog.

There you will find the full book reviews and of course information about her books.

And speaking of books, did you know that one of her books is going to be traditionally published? No?! They you really need to check out her website and Instagram page and stay tune to all the news, and sometimes you will be able to even apply to be a Beta Reader for one of her novels.

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About Chelsea

I review for professional book publishers such as Simon and Schuster Canada  and Hachette Books. I am always looking for a new book to review.

I tend to draw to novels that draw away from love stories and more towards suspense and personal experiences shared from one person to the next. I love books that make you feel for the character and give you a sense of fulfillment when you claim their happiness as you’re own.

I am always busy with school, work and with my family but I always leave time out of my day to relax with a book and some tea. For me, it’s a form of escape from the world that I am surrounded by, where I can escape to a world where I can draw a connection to the book characters and their stories.

​- Chelsea Girard

Social Media Links – Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

“Allergic to Air” Review

Hello everyone!

Today I bring you a review that I have been meaning to share before and no I’m finally doing it!

“Allergic to Air“, written by Chelsea Girard, is a psychological fictional romance, based on true events, and it contains references to depression and anxiety. Published on July 17th 2019.

I want to thank Chelsea Girard for the eCopy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Synopsis

Allergic to air

The mental illnesses you don’t always hear about but are still there.

Fighting to stay alive inside your own mind.

Nellie is a 23-year-old online English teachers whose life is anything but adventurous. After having a severe panic attack while covering a women’s march for her job, she has converted to her home and is now the neighborhood hermit, but they don’t know the worst of it.

Now that her broken family is trying to reconnect and her brother is going off to business school, Nellie finds herself in more trouble then she ever has before.

The only thing that can save her now is the safety of her own mind.

Nellie suffers with Agoraphobia and finds herself trapped in an open room, uncomfortable around people and perceives the world around her as unsafe.

This is her story.

Purchase Link – Amazon

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About Author

I review for professional book publishers such as Simon and Schuster Canada  and Hachette Books. I am always looking for a new book to review.

I tend to draw to novels that draw away from love stories and more towards suspense and personal experiences shared from one person to the next. I love books that make you feel for the character and give you a sense of fulfillment when you claim their happiness as you’re own.

I am always busy with school, work and with my family but I always leave time out of my day to relax with a book and some tea. For me, it’s a form of escape from the world that I am surrounded by, where I can escape to a world where I can draw a connection to the book characters and their stories.

​- Chelsea Girard

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My Review

“At first, it was just a simple panic attack.”

That’s how the book starts. That’s how we enter Nellie’s world. How we learn about Agoraphobia and about how it affects Nellie’s life, and she’s living every moment and every thought.

I have been thinking about this book a lot. Right after I finished the novel, I wanted more. I wanted to keep seeing Nellie, Emmett and Rowan, and even Dr. Summers. I wanted more, but that’s just because I really got attached to the characters and emotional about their progress and development.

Agoraphobia isn’t always portrait in books, and that’s why I was really happy and excited when I first learned about the concept of the book. Like any mental illness, every person has different experiences, and it was such a wonderful thing that Chelsea just let us know that this is how Nellie lives. Treatments that can help one person may not help another, because we are all unique individuals with different pasts and presents, as well as personalities.

Nellie was such a relatable character and even funny at times, despite being anxious and scared, we get to follow her development in trying to live her life and leave her house. But just the simple fact of reading how she tried various things to keep connected to other people… I get it. We all need to connect with one another.

And without giving spoilers… the ending… it was perfect.

“(…) this is just the beginning of my freedom.”

Overall, there are a lot of messages that we can take for this novel. But to me, at this exact moment, the phrase “just the beginning of my freedom” just gives me so much strength to keep trying and keep walking. No matter what we can do it and each obstacle we surpass brings a new path, a new power, a new beginning.

That been  said, I really recommend this book and I hope you all can learn about Agoraphobia and truly feel Nellie’s journey in this path to getting her freedom.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author or publisher and want me to do a review of a book please check out my Request Review page to learn more about the reviewing policies.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books. And I’m open to debate and exchange opinions, so let’s talk.

Also, if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess

“Instant Indian” Review

Hello Friends!

You may not know this about me, or you may know… but I love to cook. I’m no chef, nevertheless I really do enjoy cooking. So, when I saw this blog tour I immediately knew I wanted to be apart of it.

“Instant Indian – Classic Foods from Every Region of India Made Easy in the Instant Pot“, written by Rinku Bhattacharya, is a Non Fiction Cookbook.

I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Rinku Bhattacharya for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Synopsis

Discover favorite foods from all over India with the first regional Indian cookbook authorized by Instant Pot!

Rinku Bhattacharya — cookbook author and founder of Spice Chronicles — has put together a collection of 100 authentic recipes that showcase the diversity and range of the foods of India, where every state and region boasts its own unique dishes. Whether you crave takeout favorites or want to be introduced to lesser-known specialties, this cookbook brings the best of India to your table in an instant!

The Instant Pot® lends itself perfectly to Indian recipes, making flavorful, nutritious Indian fare (like simmering-all-day dals, legumes and all manner of curries) in minutes instead of hours. Instant Indian features numerous vegetarian and vegan options, and nearly all recipes are gluten-free.

With step-by-step instructions and color photos throughout, Instant Indian makes Indian cooking easy and fool-proof using all the functions of this popular appliance.

Purchase Links – Amazon US | Amazon UK

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About Author

Rinku Bhattacharya (spicechronicles.com) was born in India, and now lives in a house with a vibrant backyard in Hudson Valley, New York with her husband, an avid gardener, and their two children. Rinku’s simple, sustainable approach to Indian cooking is showcased on her blog, Spice Chronicles, and in her Journal News column “Spices and Seasons.”

Rinku has been teaching recreational cooking classes for the past nine years, and works extensively with local area farmer’s markets on seasonal demonstrations and discussions. Rinku is also the author of The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles (Hippocrene Books, 2012), winner of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2013 for Best Indian Cuisine. She writes for the Poughkeepsie Journal, the Journal News, and several online sites, and is a frequent guest on CT Style TV.

 Social Media Links – Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook

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My Review

First of all, I don’t really remember ever having Indian food, but I knew I wanted to try it, and knowing that with this cookbook I could not only try it, but also learn how to make it… I was so excited.

I only tried to make some recipes, but I’m planning to make other, especially the vegetarian and vegan dishes, for my friend to try. So I felt like not only was this the perfect introduction to Indian food, as well as an amazing way to connect with other cultures, and connect with family and friends.

Food is an art for me. We can adapt a recipe, we can create new ways to use an ingredient. And with this book I truly loved how it was organized, how the author gave us tips and advices, about the Instant Pot and spices. It was all very informative, especially if you don’t know some of the ingredients that are being used. That been said, if we see it that way, it’s a perfect cookbook.

Let’s talk about recipes, shall we?… Although my mom can’t eat dishes that have many spices because some of them make her a bit sick (she has Crohn’s disease), so she can’t try them all, I know my brother will enjoy some of them, especially the chicken recipes and the desserts. So I’m excited to try them out for the family, instead of just making for me.

I’m thinking about making Shredded Tandoori Spiced Chicken or maybe the Kashmiri Chicken Curry for me and my brother very soon. I haven’t tried all recipes, but those sound delicious. Hell! All the recipes sound very good and I’m having a hard time deciding that recipes to try next.

Thinking about desserts… I’m thinking about translating (because she’s not very good with English) some of the recipes to my aunt so we can make some of them. We are all about making desserts in our family and I love pies and pudding. When I saw the recipe of Vermicelli and Date Pudding, my first thought as “What’s Vermicelli?”, because I didn’t know the word. The second thought was, I need to show this to my aunt and try to make it.

And let’s not even go to rice pudding… My aunt makes this sweet rice (Arroz Doce) every holiday and I just love it. And when I read that there is a rice pudding recipe… As you can probably tell by now, I haven’t tried making the desserts yet, but my love for sweets is big and I’m planning to do it as soon as I have time to go grocery shopping.

Let me just say that I’m in love with this cookbook and that I highly recommend it to does that love to cook and love Indian food. And also, I recommend it to those that, like me, have never tried Indian food but are curious.

This cookbook not only opens doors to everyone that wants to learn more about the art of preparing a dish, it also takes you on a culinary experience into the realm of a rich and colorful cuisine, such as Indian cuisine.

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Don’t forget to check out all the other bloggers that given their contribute in this Blog Tour, from reviews and basic promo/spotlight posts.

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Don’t forget to comment, don’t be stranger. If you have any book recommendation you can leave a message using the form on my Contact Me page.

If you are an author and want me to do a review of your book you can go check out my Request Review page.

I always welcome new books to add to my list and I’m always excited to do reviews and read books.

And if you would like to join me as a guest on my blog, check out the Guests Post page to know more and contact me so we can start planing your visit.

Love,

Jess