𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 | Review & Tour Stop

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠

𝐁𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐙𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐢𝐤

𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬

𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟓.𝟐𝟖.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

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This is an important book – powerful, captivating, and heartbreaking. With compassion, it details the struggles, complexities, and realities of mental illness. 

The story centers around Julia, now eighteen, who attempted suicide and then entered an inpatient mental health facility. There, she meets Sam, an intelligent young man who loves photography. The two connect with their love of art and philosophy. Then Sam convinces Julia to leave the facility and travel to Yosemite National Park, without a word to anyone. 

Before too long, Julia realized this was not the romantic love story she hoped for. Sam, who is not taking his medications, is becoming unpredictable and even aggressive. She needs help. 

We hear the voices of Julia, her mother, and Sam’s mom. The author does a great job showing how hard it was for Julia’s mom to know what to do and what to say. It captures the pain of all involved. 

This is not an easy read: I would caution those of you who might find discussions of depression, mood disorder, and suicide to be triggers. Yet I recommend this book as it shines a light on the need for people to understand and talk about mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling, please get help.  

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @anastasiazadeik for a spot on tour and a gifted book.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 | Review & Tour Stop

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝

𝐁𝐲 𝐉𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬

𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞.

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Morton Guthrie is a trust fund baby who doesn’t trust anyone. People disappoint. The world may be an oyster for some, but for her it’s only proven to be empty. Her father is busy with his boyfriends, her mother is occupied having nervous breakdowns. Morton is obsessed with suicide. After two back-to-back attempts, she lands in a psychiatric hospital, and just when she has begun to trust her psychiatrist and herself, her parents invite her to join them in Manhattan for a three-day weekend. They’re staying at The Sherry-Netherland hotel on the twenty-third floor, a long drop. Against Medical Advice, Morton heads to New York in search of parental love, but narcissistic love is conditional, and she is fragile. Will she survive, or is life too big for her? Perhaps happiness for Morton is learning to live with one eye closed.

———-

This one has some major trigger warnings as you can imagine, so please be aware that this is about mental health and suicide. That said, I think those who enjoy more of a character study and less of a plot-driven story will find it easier to become engaged. With a little more clarity about where and when each chapter took place, this book could be quite thought-provoking and open discussions on some important topics. 

Thank you @getredprbooks and @j.charlottethomas for a spot on tour and a gifted book.

📘𝙳𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚎? 𝙸𝚏 𝚜𝚘, 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚑𝚢𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚘𝚙𝚢?

𝐀 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 | Book Review

𝐀 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬

𝐁𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐞

𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐲-𝐇𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟏.𝟏𝟎.𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕

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If anyone thinks Young Adult books aren’t powerful and emotional and are afraid to discuss some of the most important topics – you haven’t read Robin Roe’s books.

I’ll admit I wasn’t quite prepared for the amount of emotional and physical trauma fourteen-year-old Julian must endure. But 𝐀 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 displays how we never know what people, especially children, are going through at home. 

After losing both his parents, Julian’s guardianship is granted to his abusive uncle. Julian only has one friend, Adam, and Adam is a senior and popular – whereas Julian is… awkward and quiet.

This book so acutely portrays how teachers, classmates, etc, just assume Julian is odd instead of beaten, broken, and hiding things to save his life, literally. 

Adam senses something is off with Julian; the world needs so much more of his genuine kindness and care!

**TW: emotional and physical abuse

Thank you @letstalkbookspromo and @robinroewriter for this gifted book.

This book had me thinking about things, and then with some of the horrible things in the news over the weekend – I really felt overwhelmed.  𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙖 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠?

𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐞 | Review & Tour Stop

𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐞

𝐁𝐲 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫

𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐒𝐭. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧’𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬

𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟒.𝟏𝟖.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑

𝐻𝒶𝓅𝓅𝓎 𝒫𝓊𝒷 𝒟𝒶𝓎!

---

Thank you @booksparks and @geewheeler for a spot on the #SPRC2023 tour and a gifted book. #LostinaBookDream

Thank you to @librofm for the complimentary audiobook. 

𝐈𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞… 𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡… 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭?

Oh, Adelaide! I so wanted to hug her or shake her, anything to make her see that she was worth so much more than doting over someone who wasn’t loving her back. 

Written beautifully, with grace, honesty, and even subtle humor, this is so much more than an unrequited love story. It’s part coming-of-age among the sights and sounds of the city of London. But it really hits the mark when it explores how abuse, grief, and mental illness can shape one’s actions, thoughts, and decisions. 

Emotional and relatable at times, I can’t wait to see what Genevieve Wheeler writes next to tug at my heart. 

💘 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞? 𝐃𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭?

Blurred Fates | Book Review & Tour Stop

Blurred Fates

Anastasia Zadeik 

Publisher: She Writes Press

Pub Date: 6.28.2022

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​​𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 is a fantastic debut! A domestic drama with elements of a thriller – you may be unable to set this one down. 

Kate Whittier has a loving marriage, two great kids, and a nice life in California. To keep this life she created perfect, she must work hard to keep her past memories at bay. Memories of the trauma and abuse she suffered in her childhood home.

But when her husband, Jacob, confesses to her that he had a drunken night out with the guys and may have received more than a lap dance from a stripper – the horrible memories claw their way to the surface.

Kate finds support from their mutual friend Ryan. He is here to support the couple in any way, including taking Kate back to her childhood home when the news comes that her father is dying. Too many horrible memories, and Daniel, her brother, is still out there. 

This is such an intricate story about an abuse survivor. It’s heartbreaking at times to watch Kate try to stabilize herself, to not lose herself to the debilitating effects of trauma on her life. Her brother still threatens her, she worries she may be mentally ill like her mother, and she can’t open herself up completely. We understand why she struggles to cope; we feel her fear, yet we see her strength. 

This one comes with many trigger warnings, so be aware! But the writing is so perceptive yet sensitive to very tough topics. 

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @anastasiazadeik for a tour spot and a gifted copy.

The Arrangement: A Love Story | Book Review & Tour Stop

The Arrangement: A Love Story

David Winkler

Publisher: Rare Bird Books

Pub Date: 6.14.2022

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Everything in author David Winkler’s life reads like a “Once Upon a Time in Beverly Hills” fairytale. A film producer of titles such as the Creed franchise, the fifty-three-year-old sits on the top tier of his profession, enjoys a wonderful relationship with his two children, and even gets along famously with his ex-wife. But seeking to avoid the drama and disappointment of dating and with his belief in “radical honesty” and ethical non-monogamy, David reasons a shortcut through modern courtship: he becomes a sugar daddy. 

Using a website that connects successful older men with younger women for romantic/financial relationships, David meets Jordan, a beautiful Instagram model and influencer who harbors dreams of launching her acting career in Los Angeles. After the relationship begins magically, shadows begin to form and dark secrets take their toll. In the jaw-dropping tradition of Californication and Valley of the Dolls, The Arrangement takes us down the Hollywood rabbit hole of sex, power, and money, leaving readers in delightful disbelief…because it’s all true.

_____

I decided to put the book description first because I wasn’t quite sure how to explain this one. The stunning cover grabbed my attention, but I’m not going to lie, when I heard this was a memoir of a man who decides to be a “sugar daddy,” I was intrigued. 

David meets Jordan, an Instagram influencer on a dating app called Seeking. It’s where older men can meet younger women with the intention to be their sugar daddy – quite the arrangement. David lets us in on this unusual type of relationship. Although this seems like all fun and games, he is very transparent and sensitive about many serious issues, such as addiction and mental health. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 reads more like a novel than a memoir, which makes it easy to fly through this one. 

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @davidadamwinkler for a spot on tour and a gifted copy.

📱ℍ𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕠𝕣 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕒 𝕕𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕡𝕡?

The Secrets We Hide | Cover Reveal

📗Cover Reveal 📗

THE SECRETS WE HIDE by Patricia Sands

Coming August 25, 2022 

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @psands.stories for inviting me to share this amazing cover.

To learn more about the author, please visit  https://patriciasandsauthor.com/ 

🌴About the book:

The deep traditions and values of Kaito Tanaka’s Japanese heritage are severely tested when he returns home to Honolulu from duty in Vietnam to find his wife, Hana, in the grip of progressive mental health challenges.

As Hana’s condition worsens, Kaito’s life becomes absorbed in protecting and caring for her and their daughter, Kiana.  Hana becomes increasingly reclusive while their daughter Kiana grows troubled and rebellious. A friend’s mysterious death followed by Kiana’s sudden disappearance cut deeply into Kaito’s soul. Meditation is Kaito’s drug of choice. Secrecy hides the truth from others but Kaito’s commitment to Hana is unwavering.

As years go by, Kaito begins to make an annual pilgrimage to a Buddhist retreat in Koyasan that renews his spirit. In the end, a serendipitous coincidence there opens the door to happiness – if he can allow himself to accept it.

🌴Add this one to your TBR list today!

Memoirs of a Black Sheep | Book Feature

Memoirs of a Black Sheep 

Jamie Hairston

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Back in May, Novel Cause Publicity graciously offered me 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐢𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐩, a book describing a woman’s struggles with addiction and mental illness. I told them my schedule was pretty full, but it sounded very intriguing – especially given how timely and important these subjects are in our world today.

I couldn’t let another day pass without sharing these books, and yes they were kind enough to send book 2 – 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐩- as well. 

Please find the synopsis below. 👇

𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐢𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐩

📖  24-year-old Renee’s life comes crashing down when she is admitted for treatment in a psychiatric ward. While she is inpatient, she reflects on her life and how it has spiraled out of control. Renee struggles to cope with life’s challenges, past and present, and to face the chaos she has been trying so hard to avoid. She sees there is more to her life if she is free from drugs. She knows she has potential but she just trying to survive life while picking up the pieces of the mess she made. 

𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐩 (𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟐 )

📖 In Book 1, Memoirs of a Black Sheep, Renee’s life came crashing down after she was forced by a court order to participate in mental health and substance abuse treatment. Book 2 continues with Renee’s resentment about being forced to get treatment and her experiences in rehab. She should be focused on getting sober but is ambivalent about living a life where she can no longer numb her emotions using meth and avoiding dealing with the trauma, she experienced in Book 1.

Thank you again to www.novelcause.com and #JamieHairston for these gifted copies.

📚𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚍𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍/𝚘𝚛 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚝? 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖.

Bet On It | Book Review

Bet on It

Jodie Slaughter

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Pub Date: 7.12.2022 Coming Soon!

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I’ll be honest; I thought this would be a cute, breezy rom-com centered around Bingo. While Bingo is a game the main characters play, the real focus is mental health and trauma.

Aja is having a panic attack in the frozen food section of the Piggly Wiggly when a good-looking man comforts her and stays with her until she is calm enough to leave.

On Bingo night, Aja is surprised when her bingo bestie introduces the very same man who helped calm her as her grandson – Walker. He is in town to help his Gram while she recovers from a fall. 

Aja and Walker discover they have more than Bingo in common. Walker has had a lot of trauma in his past and struggles with PTSD. There is a definite attraction between the two, but with issues to navigate around, they decide only to have sex if one of them wins at Bingo!

𝐁𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐭 is a slow-burn, steamy romance set in a fun bingo-loving southern town. I was not overly connected with these characters, although I did like Gram and some of the nosey townspeople. Yet, the heart of the story shines by how thoughtful and tender the author approaches anxiety, past traumas, and the need for support. 

Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this gifted ebook.

🎧 Thank you @macmillan.audio for the gifted audiobook

Community Klepto | Book Review & Tour Stop

Community Klepto

Kelly I. Hitchcock

Publisher: She Writes Press

Pub Date: 6.21.2022

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Meet Ann Josephson; Ann is a gym rat; Ann is also a kleptomaniac. A young millennial, Ann struggles to relate to the world around her – whether it be her family, her therapist, or the people she encounters (and steals from) at the gym.

Narrated by Ann, we get to be inside her head. She’s blunt, rude, and a bit humorous at times. On the surface, the book appears to be a quirky story about a sociopath trying to find her place in the world while getting in shape and pilfering items along the way. But I think you can find some more profound messages here.

Whether you regularly hit the gym or just enjoy a witty story, grab 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐊𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐨 today!

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @kelhitchcock for a spot on tour and a gifted copy.

🕯 @birthdateco candles smell great, make great gifts & look so pretty on your bookshelves! Use my code: SUBAKKA10 for a discount today.