Whether a bit of non-fiction or a piece of fiction, everyone has a story to tell. Whether writer, author, or neither, everyone has words to share. The Lily Cafe is a small blog, but I’d like it to be a place for anyone with a story. I can’t guarantee thousands of people will see it, but I can guarantee an audience. If you have a story you’d like to share or a guest post you’d like to write, I’d like to invite you to visit the Submit page. Sincerely, Kat
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The Lily Cafe Digest #8
Well, that was fast. My first blogging break of the year is here. I contemplated whether I should continue to take breaks every 6 or so weeks and decided that, yes, I should. Not only do they give me a bit of breathing space, but it gives me time to really turn my focus back to my family. Also, as an introvert, interacting with people, even if it’s over the Internet, is exhausting and I really need to recharge. The most important thing I learned I needed to do was to just take some time to pause, to stop, to come to a standstill so I can look back and…
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Book Review: Master of Sorrows by Justin T. Call
Title: Master of Sorrows Author: Justin T. Call Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Publication date: February 25, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Summary: Annev wants nothing more than to become an Avatar, basically an Academy-trained thief who retrieves magical artifacts. But he has a secret that, if revealed, would absolutely spell his death. The only member of the Academy who lives with an outside mentor, he also trains to be a priest, but it only brings the different ideologies each brings into conflict. Annev, though is good at almost everything and, by being incredibly smart, he manages to achieve his goal, just in time for his small, hidden village to be attacked and his secret revealed. Described as the story…
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Queen of the Garden of Girls, Part 19
(Chapter 8 continued) “I may have lost my wife three years ago, but I remember how we came to be together. Ah, what a beautiful woman. She was my best friend for years before I ever kissed her. I had always thought love at first sight was a powerful thing. She showed me how love from friendship can be just as or more powerful.” “I don’t remember how to make friends,” Robert said softly, his eyes lowering so he only saw dirt. Brown. More brown. A reminder of how dull his life was, perhaps? Maybe it was time to repaint his study. “I haven’t had to worry about making friends…
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Book Blog Tour – Review: The Unwilling by Kelly Braffet
The Lily Cafe is thrilled to participate in the book blog tour for The Unwilling by Kelly Braffet. Title: The Unwilling Author: Kelly Braffet Publisher: MIRA Publication date: February 11, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Summary: Judah’s sole job in life is to not die. To die would mean certain death for the Lord of the City’s heir. Born on the same night, Judah and Gavin share an incredible bond: they experience each other’s emotions and physical ails as though they were their own. If one is injured, the other displays the same injury. Judah is a young woman with no family, a foundling taken in at birth, a young woman Lord Elban, Gavin’s father, detests but cannot rid himself…
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Catching My Breath
The universe communicates with me in unexpected ways. Perhaps you think I’m crazy or perhaps you completely understand. Either way, all that really matters is that I’m not completely in charge of my own life. Life has it’s plans for me and, no matter how much I fight against it, it’s a losing battle for me. Anyways, yes, the universe communicates with me in unexpected ways. For the past few months, it has been speaking to me through a dear blogging friend, Brooke, to remind me to keep my heart and mind open, to let the good and bad in and simply experience them for a fuller, richer life. But…
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A Quick Guide to Ratio Baking Muffins
I’m on a bit of a muffin kick these days. Not only are they easy and delicious, but I can literally walk into the kitchen, decide to bake something, and walk out 10 minutes or less later with a full muffin tin happily baking away (depending on whether or not my 2 year old wanted to “help”). The only problem I have is remembering the ratio and making sure I add everything. Baking ratios don’t come with anything beyond the basic ratio, so I thought I’d share a quick guide to explain the ratio, list the basic ingredients, tell you how to mix, and let you know how to bake…
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Book Review: Been There, Married That by Gigi Levangie
Title: Been There, Married That Author: Gigi Levangie Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Publication date: February 11, 2020 Genre: Women’s Fiction Summary: Agnes Murphy Nash has been married to big shot movie producer Trevor Nash for over a decade, but Trevor has decided he needs out of the marriage. Completely caught off guard, Agnes does the only sensible thing and chooses to fight tooth and nail for custody of their tween daughter Pep (short for Penelope), hoping that giving in on everything else won’t prolong their Hollywood-style divorce. Unfortunately, Trevor is determined to make her life a living hell, throwing wrenches into her life so he comes out looking his best. But, with a trio of Spanish…
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Guest Post: Fairy Tale Romance by I. L. Cruz
The Lily Cafe is thrilled to welcome I. L. Cruz! She is the author of The Enchanted Isles series, an enchanting Latin-inspired fantasy series. Currently, the first two books, A Smuggler’s Path and A Noble’s Path, are available for purchase (see below). I adore I. L. Cruz, her books, and her blog, Fairy Tale Feminista, because she takes a different approach to looking at and understanding fairy tales. Her posts are fun, informative, and thought-provoking. Enjoy her guest post below about fairy tales and romance, just as I did! Fairy Tale Romance We are quickly approaching Valentine’s Day (what happened to January?) and that means thinking about love and romance. For some, it…
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Book Blog Tour – Excerpt: The Third to Die by Allison Brennan
The Lily Cafe is thrilled to participate in the book blog tour for The Third to Die by Allison Brennan, the first book in a thriller series featuring a troubled female police detective from L.A. and an ambitious FBI special agent heading up the new Mobile Response Team. Title: The Third to Die Author: Allison Brennan Publisher: MIRA Publication date: February 4, 2020 Genre: Mystery and Thriller New York Times bestselling author and gifted storyteller Allison Brennan’s new standalone thriller features a troubled female police detective and an ambitious FBI special agent who wind up at the center of a ticking-clock investigation into a diabolical serial killer. Brennan’s novel will launch a book-a-year series featuring a fabulous…
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Finding Magic in Motherhood, Part 12: The Relief That Came From Telling My Secret
I was always afraid that, because I’m skinny and petite, I would start showing early on. I was lucky winter went on and on into March that year since my warmer, winter specific dresses tended to be looser than my summer dresses. My closet was also full of colorful scarves my mom had made me over the years, which made it easier to shift attention to my neck. Between them and my coat, no one who didn’t already know knew. Originally, I had intended on telling my classmates once I passed the 12 week mark, but, having miscarried, I was afraid I would lose this, too, if I shared my…
