Title: The Jasmine Throne (The Burning kingdoms #1) Author: Tasha Suri Publisher: Orbit Publication Date: June 8, 2021 Genre: Fantasy Exiled by her despotic brother, princess Malini spends her days dreaming of vengeance while imprisoned in the Hirana: an ancient cliffside temple that was once the revered source of the magical deathless waters but is now … Continue reading Book Highlight: The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Title: The Ranger of Marzanna (The Goddess War #1) Author: Jon Skovon Publisher: Orbit Publication Date: April 21, 2020 Genre: Fantasy When their father is murdered by imperial soldiers, two siblings set out on opposite paths--one will destroy the Empire forever and the other will save it--in this thrilling new epic fantasy.Sonya is training to … Continue reading Book Highlight: The Ranger of Marzanna by Jon Skovron
Title: The Mad Girls of New York (A Nellie Bly Novel #1) Author: Maya Rodale Publisher: Berkley Publication Date: April 26, 2022 Genre: Historical Fiction A gripping and compelling novel based on the true story of fearless reporter Nellie Bly, who will stop at nothing to prove that a woman’s place is on the front … Continue reading Book Highlight: The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale
Title: The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks Author: Shauna Robinson Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark Publication Date: November 1, 2022 Genre: Women's Fiction, Romance I, Maggie Banks, solemnly swear to uphold the rules of Cobblestone Books. If only, I, Maggie Banks, believed in following the rules. When Maggie Banks arrives in Bell River to run her best … Continue reading Book Highlight: The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson
So, as of last night, it looked like our district was really going ahead with shutting down for three days. Briefly, the union representing all of the support staff in schools has not had their demands (including basic respect from the district) met, so they'll be going on strike Tuesday-Thursday. The teachers' union will be … Continue reading Going On a Brief Hiatus
Title: The Book of Gothel Author: Mary McMyne Publisher: Redhook Publication Date: July 26, 2022 Genre: Historical Fiction Germany, 1156. With her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, young Haelewise has never quite fit in. Shunned by her village, her only solace lies in the stories her mother tells of child-stealing witches, of princes … Continue reading Book Highlight: The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne
Title: The Space Between World Author: Micaiah Johnson Publisher: Del Rey Publication Date: August 4, 2020 Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery and Thriller Multiverse travel is finally possible, but there’s just one catch: No one can visit a world where their counterpart is still alive. Enter Cara, whose parallel selves happen to be exceptionally good at … Continue reading Book Highlight: The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
Exactly 3 years ago, our school district shut down because of COVID. What started with 2 weeks extended well, well, well past that. For health reasons, my kids didn't return to a district classroom until this past August even though they reopened, to some extent, about a year after the shut down. Now we're on … Continue reading Another Looming School Shutdown
I love taking a look at a book cover and description and then coming up with my own idea of what the book will be about. Sometimes I'm right, sometimes I'm so wrong it's almost funny. So I've decided to write about my first, middle, and last impressions of each book I read, as well … Continue reading First, Middle, and Last Impressions – March 15, 2023
Title: The Ballad of Perilous Graves Author: Alex Jennings Publisher: Redhook Publication Date: June 21, 2022 Genre: Fantasy A fun and fantastical love letter to New Orleans unfolds when a battle for the city's soul brews between two young mages, a vengeful wraith, and one powerful song in this wildly imaginative debut. Nola is a city full … Continue reading Book Highlight: The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings
The Lily Cafe 