I remember reading this quote for the first time and it stuck with me since then. This is such a real quote and I don't really know if there are any words that I can use that will do it justice. Our pasts and our present define so much of our future. If there is pain in our past or present, it can make looking forward to the future extremely hard. I don't know if anything I'm saying is making sense. I think this quote just speaks for itself. 

Hey all!

Alaskan Holiday | Debbie Macomber

Before beginning her new job as sous chef at one of Seattle's finest restaurants, Josie Stewart takes on a six-month position cooking at a lodge in an Alaskan lake town. It's only temporary--or so she thinks, as she becomes a valued part of the local community, falling in love with the people who call the Klutina Lake home. But one man, in particular, stands out among Josie's new friends: Palmer Saxon, a quiet, intense sword craftsman, whose very existence forces her to question whether her heart wants to return to Washington at all.

I have now learned in the worst way possible that I should never pick up a book simply because of the cover. I read this book for a very specific reason and if it hadn’t been for that reason, I probably would never have picked this up. I guess this is to say that Debbie Macomber and I are not meant to be. I‘m better off just enjoying her work as Hallmark movies. If I’m being very honest, this book could have been so good as it had a really great premise. I think that had the story been a little bit longer and started at the beginning of Josie and Palmer’s relationship, I would have really loved it. But we begin the story knowing that the Josie and Palmer have spent the past six months together and have slowly fall in love with each other. But instead of showing us how they fell in love, were told how they fell in love and it was all just very flat. There is no reason for us to care about either of these characters or their romance. Josie mentioned quite often how there had been so many moments where Palmer had made her feel loved and wanted, which was great. But the fault lies in the fact we were just hold these moments existed instead of being shown at these moments. They fell in love between the months of May and October which gave us a six month period in which we could’ve seen the love blossom. I mean, I want to know what it was like for this big city chef to move to Alaska to work at a lodge! What were he struggles? What kept her from leaving Alaska right away? How did she handle falling in love with a man who lives in a way that’s so different from her? I think that hadn’t been done well, I would have really rooted for Palmer and Josie to end up together. There are so many conflicts that arise with this concept that I think could have been explored exceptionally well but weren’t.  I read this for the Ripped Bodice Summer Romance Bingo: Dad jokes. But there was a lot more angst than dad jokes. I don't really have much to say. I liked the characters and I thought that the romance was sweet. I enjoyed the story but it wasn't memorable or new. (Also, why do so many of these contemporaries sound the same? Not only are the synopsis for so many of these books written in the same style, it's hard to tell the actual story apart too. I guess you could call it the author's writing style but I'm not convinced.)

The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabin Khan
January 29th 2019 | Scholastic Press
Source: Bought

Seventeen-year-old Rukhsana Ali tries her hardest to live up to her conservative Muslim parents’ expectations, but lately she’s finding that harder and harder to do. She rolls her eyes instead of screaming when they blatantly favor her brother and she dresses conservatively at home, saving her crop tops and makeup for parties her parents don’t know about. Luckily, only a few more months stand between her carefully monitored life in Seattle and her new life at Caltech, where she can pursue her dream of becoming an engineer.

I have yet another series review for you guys. I have loved this series since I first read it years ago and as I recently re-read this series, I thought I should finally share my thoughts on the books! Not only is the writing really great, but the characters are also amazing. I love the world that Anne Bishop has created.

I can't go about posting about books on this blog without talking about what's going on in the United States right now. People are peacefully protesting the police brutality and white supremacy.

Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd have all been recently killed by white people in the United States. They aren't the only Black people who have had their lives taken from them. Throughout years, as we've seen, Black people have systematically lost their lives to police brutality and white supremacy without much action taken against the people perpetuating them.

Peaceful protest--a right that every American has--have been taking place since these deaths in various cities across the United States and the rest of the world. Tear gas, rubber bullets and other excessive forces have been used against the peaceful protesters. There is video evidence of journalists being shot at and having tear gas thrown at them. Others have been arrested.

I have been very vocal on social media but I didn't feel comfortable not posting on this blog. How can I say that I am an activist and want to use my privilege for good if I don't make actual change? My words mean nothing if I don't actually to the work. I have donated to many organizations

Here are some important links:

• GoFundMe for George Floyd
• Black Visions Collective 

• LA
• Philadelphia
• Chicago 
• New York City 
• Minnesota Freedom Fund
• Bail/Bonds for Atlanta Protesters
• Brooklyn 
• Louisville 
• Seattle
• Portland 
• Matthew A. Cherry has a longer list of funds for other cities that you can access HERE.