Bridgerton, looking past the Netflix show...

 Hello, Again Dear Readers, 

    A common phrase type well known to fans of the Bridgerton franchise, whose popularity has only increased with the Netflix show that began at the end of 2020. A wonderful holiday gift indeed, as I don't think Shonda Rhimes has put out an unsuccessful show ever. I admit myself the original book series didn't interest me until I saw the masterpiece that was the show. Upon reading the books, however (after the fact much to my own disappointment due to their lack of availability for months) I discovered many changes that were made for the show that I wholeheartedly agreed with. I admit that regency romance has never been my first choice of genre when selecting a book to read but Bridgerton checks all of the boxes. Amazing female leads that keep tempo with their male counterparts, and throughout the series so far (I'm on book six of the original eight) love and marriage do not compromise the individual personality traits of each character, but rather provide a fresh perspective on love and marriage of the time period. Netflix has done a magical thing in being able to take these fantastic books and move them into a more modern space, while the books are great they do continue to feature many tropes found in these types of novels and most of the characters in the original books (in keeping with some historical accuracy of the time despite the fictional universe it is placed in), are white and the lack of diversity in the presentation of these characters can leave a reader wanting for more somewhere else. Netflix cleverly recognized this problem and was able to create a show where the race of the characters (while touched on briefly in one episode) is largely ignored as a plot point for the show (very rare indeed), while still showcasing a diverse cast of individuals that can be omnisciently attractive (still very fitting of their character descriptions in the novels), and have top tier acting chops. The books themselves are great pieces of literature for any romance fan, but those missing pieces you may feel you need can be found in the show. In contrast, the show misses a few or edits some major plot points for our characters (as many adaptations to the screen will do, whether for the purpose of limited timing, actor comfortability (though with the many sex scenes or implied scenes this seems an unlikely factor), or ability (for example if dragons were needed for a scene and could not be created). I encourage fans of the show to read the books as (spoiler) Penelope leaving Colin Bridgerton speechless on account of his poor treatment of her is common and much needed due to the missed opportunities in season 2 for her to call him out. Fans of the show, be you a fan of reading or not I encourage you to dip your toe into this books to see the possibilities. 

Talon: Dragons Are The New Werewolves

Hey Readers,
       
        The Talon series is a series that has taken me a while to read and not for lack of interest! Ms. Kagawa just recently published the last book and I finished it in one day. The entire series is something that I would recommend to the avid reader not just for the romance and the action but for the world-building that Julie Kagawa accomplished. The past few years I've been getting increasingly disappointed by the lack of fresh ideas when it comes to fantasy literature werewolves, and vampires continue to make a good portion of shelves in YA sections and even in the adult sections of libraries and book stores all with very similar plot lines that don't leave readers guessing, Talon definitely does until the end. The history of not just the characters but the world is expressly built and very clear to understand. The main characters' journey throughout the whole collection is exquisite and your feelings on the enemies' written eventually become that of love for friends. I would recommend this series a thousand times over to my friends and family, in fact, I did and my mom read this and loved it. So while we are all in quarantine and hopefully staying safe and healthy download this onto your tablet from your local library or Amazon or order it online from a local or small book store. You won't regret it.




Check out the website :)

Marissa Meyer Brings A Great New Tale with Renegades

Marissa Meyer brought another great story to fans everywhere with Renegades! Renegades is set in a futuristic world where superheroes are real and make up the everyday police force. Nova our heroine or villain as it were was born into the life of a villain and is out to do everything she can to avenge her uncle the baddest of bad. The book was worth every minute of reading Ms. Meyer has successfully created another world and a great mystery to unlock in that world. I have yet to read the sequel Arch Enemies but I can't wait to grab it out of the library. With a third book in the series having just been released I'm excited to see if this series is short one or if I get to see another book or two be written before Nova's adventures come to an end. This book has almost certainly cemented Marissa Meyer as one of my favorite authors and hope it does the same for you!
Want more info and to read an excerpt of the book click here!

Gun reform and Glimmers of Hope

On Valentines Day of last year (2018) a tragedy happened at a high school in Florida named Marjory Stoneman Douglass. After the shooting students from the school organized and brought together students from all over the country and demanded change. As a student myself at the time, I became involved and helped other students organize ways to help these guys get their message across and let them know we supported them. They released a book together about their journey since that day and not only was it a powerful read but having been in D.C. during the March For Our Lives and understanding not just what they were trying to do but how they felt being part of the school shooting generation and maybe I wasn't at school but weeks before the D.C. march I was out looking for a prom dress with my family when the mall we were in had an active shooter. Those things stick with you that fear sticks with you and these guys were not just powerful in making their voices heard they were powerful in making it having a lasting impact it may not be on t.v. screens everywhere but they put this book out to inform people they did a tour this summer registering and encouraging people to get out and vote and no matter who you support or what your beliefs on the issues that are powerful to read this book was a powerful experience and it can ignite a fire in anyone to get more involved even if its just in what the school district does with their funding.

Between Shades of Gray By Ruta Sepety

Now the title may throw some off and it may not but all in all this was a fantastic book and in all honesty, it's my favorite book. Think Anne Frank only the main character Lina is fictional and so is her family. Although they go through similar struggles and this story is based off of many true one's Lina and her family are thrown out of their home and sentenced to 25 years prison labor, on her journey she discovers that her cousins freedom had cost her, her own and that there is more to life than go to school, meet cute boy, get married, have kids, find career. She is an aspiring artist who is searching through her father and news of his death shatters much resolve in her but not all of it like in her mother. This story has so much to teach everyone not just about what happened in the past and in a part of the world that much of the world has chosen to largely ignore since WWII it also teaches us about tolerance and acceptance and how to understand others who are not exactly like us in a day and age when it is so much more important than before because we will in such an interconnected world now thanks to technology.

MORE!!! :)

I just finished this book called Reason To Breath its a three book series,

and touching. 17 year old Emily lives a life of tragedy, her father perished in a car accident when she was seven and her mother didn't love her so she was sent to live with her uncle and his wife and their two kids. Her "aunt" wants her gone as in dead. Emily is abused for forgetting to do things or just breathing. Her uncle chooses to stay blind to what his wife is doing to his niece. Emily won't tell anyone besides her best friend Sara, the judges daughter, so that her cousins can grow up with both parents. but when the new kid Evan finds her interesting he makes a discovery and decides to help her out. when Emily refuses the help though, Carol her "aunt" comes back from a visit with her sister and finally decides to get rid of Emily because she thinks Emily told. Carol shatters Emily's ankle with a hammer and chokes her nearly killing her. Carol goes to jail, but will Emily survive with her nightmares of what happened all those years or will she finally give up after she fought back? Read the whole series to find out what happens to Emily and her friends and how abuse gives one little hope but can help to amount to great strong friendships when it ends I recommend this book for my followers. It helps you see into the human soul and shows you the choices if it were to happen to you or someone you love or know, its never "OK" to keep a secret like this be strong through anything. I had to stop tears continuously throughout these books. Please read this not only is it a good message they really are well written and have a great plot.

Birthmarked

Hey sorry it's been so long since I last published. Hey get this! This book called BIRTHMARKED is about 16 year old Gia Stone, who happens to be a young midwife for Warfton western sector 3, the area outside the Enclave. A future world baked by the harsh sun, till it was dry. Gia goes to help birth her very first baby all on her own and shes very excited. Then she comes home to find that her parents have been taken under the suspicion of being traitors and as she goes on the hunt for them she discovers there's more they were keeping from her than she thought. Something that could help her find her long lost brothers and save her parents and herself from the enclave. Will she make it out alive or will she never see Western Sector 3 ever again? Birthmarked is followed by Prized, and the Promised.