Amazon: ​https://www.amazon.com/Patron-Saints-Nothing-Randy-Ribay/dp/0525554912/

​This was such a lovely and refreshing read. It had enough intrigue to keep you turning pages and witticism and criticism of life in general that made you think. 
As for me, it was love letter home. I was born in the Philippines but moved to the states when I was 9. I've only been back once but I can picture every single person, know movements, hear the beeps of jeepneys, smell the fish markets and everything in between that Ribay wrote. It made me terribly self aware that I know next to nothing about Philippine history, so I was completely immersed in Jay, the main character. I wanted him to find answers. I wanted him to soak up every single moment he spent in the motherland, so I could pretend I was right there next to him. I winced at his uncle's words because I know family like that. I can feel both pride and shame emitting out of his uncle and I understood exactly why it's not Jay's place....it's not mine to comment either. I only see through my American eyes....even if some days, I am reminded that I am not American enough. 
This was a poetic read and I couldn't put it down!

​Randy Ribay was born in the Philippines and raised in the Midwest. A graduate of the University of Colorado and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Ribay taught English on the East Coast for a decade but now teaches in the San Francisco Bay Area. Visit his website at randyribay.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @randyribay.

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.
But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Some discussions are important to have with your children: the birds and the bees, kindness and bullying, and I should most definitely like to add, what to do if you ever get pulled over by a police offer, and how to check if you're privilege. 
Our group touched on this several times over the course of a couple of hours. We acknowledge that some groups across racial/cultural/gender divide have it better or worse than others. In a room full of mostly Caucasian women, a woman of color and myself as the "self proclaimed Token Asian," our world view is limited to our individual privileges, our familial/cultural norms, and societal expectations we have for ourselves and others. 
I understand privilege as the "token Asian." Regardless of whatever grade I got, whatever subject went over my head, my being Asian carried with it an assumption that I was highly intelligent, I was favored, et cetera et cetera. You can look up Asians and the "model minority myth," if you're so inclined to learn more on this subject. 
So in spite of being just an average student, I was assumed in this positive (or not, depending on your thoughts) role. This is privilege. That I never had to work hard for anyone to trust me. I was automatic living the stereotype: good family, good (debatable) grades, going to college, getting a degree, working for advancement or content with a career that one will have until they retire. 
This is my privilege and I acknowledge it.

The group of friends I have had throughout the years have never treated me less than because of the color of my skin. I was once told in college that if I were to visit my friend and her family in India, I would be readily accepted than if my black friend came with her. Of course, by the same "tokenness," I have experienced prejudices based solely on the color of my skin. The question "where are you really from?" doesn't bother me quite as much anymore, as I've heard that question all my life. Being married to a Hispanic man, I am fully aware of prejudices and stereotypes of a being Mexican American living in this type of societal powder keg. I am raising a generation that will have to fight for their accomplishments and against stereotypes. I know my daughter will encounter different forms of racism than her brother. Those are facts that I hope never come to fruition but still I am wary. 
SO in our very lively and sometimes heated discussion on said privileges, we  can acknowledge that with privilege comes certain types of power. One being: how to use what power I have to help those who don't. How can we as individuals or as a group help the marginalized, the oppressed, and the poor?

The Hate U give follows Starr Carter, a teenage girl who lives two different lives, as per society standards, and constructs. She attends school at a predominately white prep school and goes home to her poor, and mostly black neighborhood. When her best friend, Khalil , is fatally shot in front of her, she starts on what I like to call as 'journey of self discovery;' one in which the road was paved with a certain level of understanding of how the world operates, how to be two different people and slowly, if not painfully sudden, the road becomes more rocky and made with less sure footing. A takeaway: "you can do everything right and still be wrong."
Her childhood was never innocent. She saw things that most of us in our suburbia homelife can ever imagine. But through her voice - through Angie Thomas' carefully worded and profound words - I understood my own power, my own privilege. I applauded Starr when she found her sure footing, the power in her words, and her voice.

If you have never read a book by a woman, or person, of color, I urge you to read this one. To say it is life changing is an understatement.
I implore you to look beyond your own pedestal of understanding at the world, and look at the women and men who you look down on, without even realizing it. This book was heavy. Thomas wrote some wisdom of truths that only people of color can understand, however painful they may be. However, universally, I think everyone can agree that there exists a minefield of racial and social injustices for certain people. ***If by chance, you don't believe in this statement, I will most definitely gift you this book, please reach out.***
Folks, we must do better. 

​Angie Thomas was born, raised, and still resides in Jackson, Mississippi as indicated by her accent. She is a former teen rapper whose greatest accomplishment was an article about her in Right-On Magazine with a picture included. She holds a BFA in Creative Writing from Belhaven University and an unofficial degree in Hip Hop. She is an inaugural winner of the Walter Dean Myers Grant 2015, awarded by We Need Diverse Books.

Contemporary YA fiction
 Cecily has always had a huge crush on singer Andrew Holiday and she wants to be an actress, so she tags along when her friend auditions for his new video. However, the director isn’t looking for an actress, but rather the girl next door—and so is Andrew. Cecily gets a part in the video and all of Andrew’s attention on the set. Her friend begins to see red and Cecily’s boyfriend is seeing green—as in major jealousy. A misunderstanding leaves Cecily and her boyfriend on the outs and Andrew hopes to pick up the pieces as he’s looking for someone more stable in his life than the models he’s dated. Soon Cecily begins to realize Andrew understands her more than her small-town boyfriend—but can her perfect love match really be her favorite rock star?
Pre-order the book now: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079S3KJSH
The book officially releases in ebook and paperback on March 20th.
You check out the Can Dreams Come True Pinterest inspiration board here!:
https://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/can-dreams-come-true-the-cecily-taylor-series/​

As the ugly twin to a perfect sister, Princess Laidra lives her life in the shadows—until her parents offer her as bait for a giant serpent.

Her escape attempt leaves her shipwrecked on a secluded island with only one inhabitant: Prince Calen, who lives under a curse. If anyone looks upon him, he turns into a giant serpent. Speaking to him in the darkness, Laidra sees past the monster to Calen’s lonely soul, and she determines to free him from the magic’s hold. 

But if Laidra can’t break the curse in time, Calen will become a mindless creature of scales and fangs forever.

A YA mythology/romance that retells the myth of Eros and Psyche with adventure, magic, and true love.
​

H. L. Burke
Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and was always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.
 


An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.
 
Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.
 
Follow her personal blog at www.hlburkeblog.com
Social Media
www.hlburkeauthor.com
www.facebook.com/hlburkewriter
www.instagram.com/burkesdragons

Buy Links:
https://www.amazon.com/Intricate-Deceptions-Jennifer-Rayes-ebook/dp/B00GRILZXK/

From start to finish, I felt like my heart kept racing at the action, the mystery surrounding Gaia's identity, who is out to get her, and who she can trust to keep her safe. From one moment to the next, I didn't know where Jennifer Rayes was going to take me. Even as Gaia was piecing together her past, I held everyone around her as a suspect. I also appreciate that Reyes shed light on human trafficking and its gruesome images. Rayes doesn't mince her words and tells you just how brutal and ugly this world is and I was pulled into that storyline almost as much as Gaia's. And can we talk about the ending?? Sheesh, what a crazy way to finish! I'm so happy to report that the second book is due out soon!! This story, the characters and most especially, Gaia took you on a heart stopping journey...all to uncover some pretty Intricate Deceptions. 

***I received this book in exchange for an honest review. However, these thoughts and opinions are my own. I'm not required to write a positive review.***

​Jennifer Rayes is a freelance author who enjoys writing on the weekends and evenings. Born in Michigan, she spent the first several years of her life there before moving to Lebanon. After obtaining her Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Dayton, Ohio, she lived in Florida, Italy, Houston, France, Canada, and now resides in Abu Dhabi, with her Great Pyrenees, Koby.

Connect with the Author:
http://jenniferrayes.wixsite.com/intricatedeceptions
https://www.facebook.com/intricatedeceptions/?sw_fnr_id=763207072&fnr_t=0

This is my stop during the book blitz for Sketches of My Soul by TC Booth. This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 3 till 9 July. See the tour schedule here: http://www.lolasblogtours.net/book-blitz-sketches-of-my-soul-by-tc-boot

​
Sketches of My Soul (Sketches #1)
By TC Booth
Genre: Contemporary
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: June 20, 2017

Blurb:
In the game of life, I was used to being on the losing team. The odds were stacked against me. Tegan’s Team—a mom who tried to control me, a dad who would rather drink then spend time being a father, a lying ex-boyfriend, and fake friends. Like any team however, you have that one shining star that stood out above the rest. For me that star was Emily, my best friend.
 
I guess life had pity on me the day it gave me a friend that always had my back. Life must have felt extra giving the day it gave me a cheer leader—Mrs. White, my next-door neighbor. She’d been more of a parent to me growing up then my own parents.
 
And then there was Andrew. He was my shooting star. One that I never saw coming. One that I hoped became mine over the summer of my senior year.
 
A glimpse into a crystal ball couldn’t have prepared me for that summer, though. The summer where a letter from my mom rocked me to the core. I felt the world shake with every word I read in that letter. By the time I reached the end, my world split wide open swallowing me whole.
 
You can find Sketches of My Soul on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35228617-sketches-of-my-soul-booth
 
You can buy Sketches of My Soul on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sketches-My-Soul-TC-Booth-ebook/dp/B07176T3V8
 
If you sign-up for the author’s newsletter you can get a free copy of Sketches, the prequel novella to Sketches of My Soul: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ns64a3yjok

Excerpt One of Sketches of My Soul
I reached the mailbox at the end of my driveway and sifted through the mail. Maybe
I’d find a notice that I’d won a trip to another country, like Italy. I’d meet a hot Italian boy
with a love of culture and music … stay there and study art … The sound of spraying water
pulled me out of my thoughts of Italian boys. My jaw dropped at the sight next door. Holy
hotness! A shirtless guy that looked a little older than me, sprayed suds off a black jeep in my
sixty-eight- year-old neighbor’s driveway. His muscles on full display. A tattoo flexed on his
bicep with the flick of the hose. His dark hair curled at the ends and dipped into his face.
Where did he come from and why was he at Mrs. White’s house? I swiped a palm over my
mouth to make sure I didn’t have drool dripping down my chin.
Just then Mrs. White zoomed up to check her mail on a hot-pink scooter with helmet
to match. The sight of her sparked a grin. “Hi, Mrs. White. I like your new wheels."
“Hello, Tegan. She’s pretty, ain’t she?” Mrs. White rubbed her hand over the scooter.
Bits of her white hair peeked out from under her helmet. Dark circles framed her emerald
eyes.
“Yes, she sure is.” I nodded. Mrs. White was like a grandma to me. I didn’t have
grandparents growing up, and she’d taken me in like one of her own. She said that she saw a
lot of herself in me. My eyes slipped from her to the shirtless wonder washing his jeep in her
driveway. Mrs. White’s eyes followed mine and she let out a squeal, causing me to jump and
fling my mail. “Do you remember Drewy? He decided to pay his grandma a visit. About
time.” She waved a hand in the air and called out, “Drewy come over here and say hello to
Tegan.”
I dropped down to gather my scattered mail. Drewy. A fuzzy image a curly brown
haired boy formed in my mind. We used to play together when we were little. He and his
mom spent a lot of time at Mrs. White’s. One day, they up and moved to Michigan. I hadn’t
seen him since. It never crossed my mind that it could be him next door. I rose and nearly
tossed the mail all over again. Drewy McHottie was Andy!

TC Booth was born and raised in a small Ohio town where she currently lives with her husband, children, and fur covered baby Sammy.
She is an award winning author who loves to read and write young adult fiction. Besides her book addiction, TC enjoys music, attending Cavs games, going to the beach, eating chocolate and spending time with her family.
You can find and contact TC Booth here:
- Website: http://www.tcbooth.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tcbooth1
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoothTammi
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boothtammi/
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5010060.T_C_Booth
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/T.-C.-Booth/e/B0057SG5D6/
 
Giveaway
There’s a tour wide giveaway during the book blitz for Sketches of my Soul. One winner will win a 10$ amazon gift card! 

This is my stop for Amanda Tero's blog tour. I love this cover and the story it evokes.....and the story itself sounds intriguing! Good luck and hope you have a happy blog tour, Amanda!!

​About the Book
Being a cripple is only the beginning of Lia’s troubles. It seems as if Bioti’s goal in life is to make Lia as miserable as possible. If Lia’s purpose is to be a slave, then why did God make her a cripple? How can He make something beautiful out of her deformity?
 
Raoul never questioned the death of his daughter until someone reports her whereabouts. If Ellia is still alive, how has she survived these ten years with her deformity? When Raoul doesn’t know who to trust, can he trust God to keep Ellia safe when evidence reveals Bioti’s dangerous character?
 
As time brings more hindrances, will Raoul find Ellia, or will she forever be lost to the father she doesn't even know is searching for her?

Purchase Link
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071R5859Y
​
For Paperback copies, click here
 
Get “Befriending the Beast”
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L2IDEUQ
 
(Order “The Secret Slipper” by May 26, 2017, to get it at the discounted price of $.99!)
(“Befriending the Beast” Sale: $1.99 on May 25-26, 2017)

Amanda Tero is a homeschool graduate who desires to provide God-honoring, family-friendly reading material. She has enjoyed writing since before ten years old, but it has only been since 2013 that she began seriously pursuing writing again – starting with some short stories that she wrote for her sisters as a gift. Her mom encouraged her to try selling the stories she published, and since then, she has begun actively writing short stories, novellas, and novels. If something she has written draws an individual into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, it is worth it!
 
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

Connect with Amanda
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://amandatero.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandaterobooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandateroauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amandaruthtero/
Blog: www.withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/AmandaTero
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/amandater

​Today is the cover reveal for 23:27 by H.L. Roberts. This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. 

​23:27
By H.L. Roberts
Genre: General Fiction with sub genres of contemporary, romance, drama, and suspense.
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: July 17, 2017

Blurb:
Fame.
Money.
Glory.
These were all the things that you would expect from being famous. The bait that the producers of the industry would tempt you with to get you on their side.
What they don't tell you though are all the inner tragedies that come along just as quickly. They don't tell you about the heartache that occurs when you realize that this wasn't what you wanted at all.
They don't tell you about the pressure that's always on the verge of crushing you when you're forced to do everything that the public demands for and not what you truly desire.
They don't tell you about the self hatred that would soon take over your entire being at the thought that you will never be good enough.
No - they don't tell you these things at all.
But, Lilith Rose will.
When Lilith Rose, lead singer to one of the most famous rock bands around gets tired of all the lies and secrets that comes with being famous.
She decides that it's time for all of it to stop and ends up revealing everything on a Facebook live stream.
The result...
"Part of me wants to die tonight, part of me wants it to be an accident, and part of me wants someone to notice and save me." - Lilith Rose.
 
You can find 23:27 on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34826332-23
You can pre-order 23:27 on Amazon: http://smarturl.it/2327Amazon

​H.L. Roberts is a short story writer and a contemporary novelist from a small town in Kentucky. She is currently in her third year of college where she is majoring in English Literature and minoring in Psychology. When she isn't reading a book you can find her raising awareness about mental illness, suicide prevention, and epilepsy.
 
You can find and contact H.L. Roberts here:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hlrobertsofficial
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HLRobertsAuthor
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hlrobertsofficial
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16693585.H_L_Roberts
 
Giveaway
There is a cover reveal wide giveaway for the cover reveal of 23:27. Three winners will each win an ebook copy of 23:27 by H.L. Roberts. Open International.
 
For a chance to win, enter the giveaway below:

This is my stop during the blog tour for Black Dawn by Mallory McCartney. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from 1 till 21 May. View the tour schedule here: http://www.lolasblogtours.net/blog-tour-black-dawn-by-mallory-mccartney
​

​Black Dawn
By Mallory McCartney
Genre: Fantasy
Age category: Young Adult/ New Adult
Release Date: February 14, 2017

The end of an Empire, the rise of a Queen
 
Emory Fae enjoys leading a quiet, normal life. That is until two mysterious, and handsome soldiers show up at her apartment, and the life she knew is instantly whisked away. Memphis Carter and Brokk Foster come from the magical and war ridden world of Kiero, and upon Emory's arrival she will discover she is the long-lost heir to the Royal Line and is thrown into the Black Dawn Rebellion with a dynamic role to ignite the rebels and reclaim her throne.
 
With both men being darkly woven in her past Emory uncovers hidden secrets, a power held long dormant, and will soon realize there are worse things than supernatural humans, love, loss, betrayal, and a Mad King.
 
Some things are better left in the shadows.
 
You can find Black Dawn on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33851538-black-dawn
 
You can buy Black Dawn here:
-Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Dawn-Mallory-McCartney-ebook/dp/B01N5QQLZL/
-Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-dawn-mallory-mccartney/1125505912?ean=9781621356134
- Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/black-dawn/9781621356134-item.html  

​Excerpt 1:
Sweat rolled thickly down his neck, making his getup suffocating. The night was bleak and all-consuming as Brokk Foster looked to where he knew his best friend and Commander was hidden. Weeks of tactical planning and training had brought the soldiers of Black Dawn to this moment. The slight tremor in his hands was the only sign of how he was feeling. Brokk pressed himself closer to the mossy ground, breathing in the sweet smell of dewy grass. A snap of twigs and the group went rigid, frozen in the shadows. Laughter filled the forest air as four men with blood-red sashes of the guards draped brazenly across their chests walked into view a few hundred yards away. They quipped at each other, totally relaxed, their voices sounding like a constant buzz to Brokk. His blood thrummed in his ears as his heart pounded wildly. The seconds felt like centuries until finally, he saw a flash of silver and a smooth voice filled his mind, “Now.”
Brokk didn’t need to be told twice. Springing from the ground like a demon from the darkness, he pulled his curved twin blades out in seconds as he cut the men off. The group stopped, looking pale in the moonlight and extremely exposed.
“Evening, boys,” Brokk said in a taunting voice. “Sorry to interrupt your rounds, but I dare say you’re a little close for comfort to our home. Convenient for us, though,” he added, twirling the hilts in his hands. “We wanted you exactly here.”
Their leader took a daring step toward him. His mistake. Brokk yelled into the darkness, “Memphis, keep him alive!”
In a flurry of movement, his friends dropped from the surrounding trees, all dressed in the same camouflage, their weapons at the ready. A mad cackle broke the guard’s momentary trance, and they tried to run. Chaos ensued.
Brokk threw his blades at the nearest tree—a satisfying thud sounded as they found their mark. He ran, eyes fixated on the two guards that had broken away from the fight ahead of him. It was laughable really, just how much they thought they had a chance of escaping. They had no idea who they were up against.
The familiar popping and breaking of bones shivered through his body when animal instinct took over as the wolf inside him did. The ground shook from his colossal paws, golden fur rippling like a beacon in the night. His growl rumbled like thunder, and for a split second, he forgot who he was. All that mattered was that he took his targets down. The guard’s deaths were much swifter than they deserved.
Brokk shifted back, trying to calm the elation of how good that had felt. Memphis snapped him out of his glorified moment. “Brokk! Come here.”
The last guard was openly crying, now forced to his knees, hands shaking behind his head. Brokk almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
Up close he was much younger than Brokk thought, fear replacing the guard’s bravery now. Memphis’s icy blue eyes cut into his, and he didn’t have to say anything for Brokk to understand. Telekinetic or not, his friend wore his heart on his sleeve. They were all on edge and who could blame them? Six years of hiding. Six years of losing this war. Brokk swallowed back his thoughts, wearing his mask of oozing confidence and anger.
“W-who are you?” The guard’s voice squeaked out several octaves higher than it should have.
Nyx kicked him in the gut, making him wheeze in pain and gasp for air. Memphis crouched down in front of him, his long blond hair tied back, revealing his severe features. They all bore scars, some more visible than others. 

Mallory McCartney currently lives in London, Ontario with her husband and their two dachshunds Link and Lola. Black Dawn is her debut novel, the first in a series. When she isn’t working on her next novel or reading, she can be found dog grooming, book shopping and hiking. Other favorite pastimes involve reorganizing perpetually overflowing bookshelves and seeking out new coffee and dessert shops. 
 
You can find and contact Mallory McCartney here:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormalmccartney/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MalMcCartney
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16308311.Mallory_McCartney
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mallory-McCartney/e/B06VWPDZKN/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormalmccartney/

​There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Black Dawn. Three winners will each win a signed copy of Black Dawn. Open International.