My Brother's Husband (Omnibus #1) by Gengoroh Tagame

My Brother's Husband, Volume 1 by Gengoroh Tagame
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this awesome manga because I an participating in the 2019 HUB Reading Challenge and the 2nd book in the series won an award and I wanted to read the first book- and it was heart breaking and awesome- loved the illustrations and the little girl, Kana and how her view of the world helps her father. Proceeding immediately to Book 2!!!

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United As One (Lorien Legacies #7) by Pittacus Lore

United as One by Pittacus Lore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this series- listening to all 7 books one right after the other was awesome! I loved all the narrators; the voices kept me rapt with the next daring feats of the Garde. I was happy with the ending but I must admit Setrakus Ra's villainy really wore on me---I wish he wasn't so evil, vile, and reprehensible---it was horrific for me to listen to the awfulness that was him!!! The young teen characters were definitely not the same (saddened me but I understood) but there was a hopeful ending...but everyone still needs to be vigilant---a great great series!!!

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Midsummer's Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca

Midsummer's Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to @rajanilrocca (Rajani LaRocca), Yellow Jacket (an imprint of Bonnier Publishing USA) and #BookJunkies for allowing me to be an early reader of Midsummer’s Mayhem by awesome debut author, Rajani LaRocca, in exchange for an honest review. Wow, did I love this debut novel for middle grade children. Just let me gush about the beauty of LaRocca’s language – the descriptions of the foods (Indian, sweet, and salty) had me drooling; I wanted to eat (and bake) everything in this contemporary retelling mixing fantasy elements of fairies, friends, and the importance of family. The beauty of Mimi’s woods (the trees, herbs, and flowers) held me captive when I realized this was no ordinary forest. In addition, I loved strong, reasonable but mighty main character, Mimi and her passion for baking sweet treats. But Mimi feels outshined by everyone else in her family, has lost her best friend, and struggles with the baking contest she has entered. When new kid, Vik rescue’s Mimi in a tree; her summer turns into one of foodie love, a fast friendship, and many new adventures in her woods. With her siblings’ involvement in the summer play, Midsummer Night’s Dream, paralleling Mimi’s summer of mayhem, the reader is ensconced in Mimi’s world of sweet treats, family drama, and the magic of food and fairies. Food lovers, Shakespearean lure, and the diversity of Indian food, customs, and folklore will delight readers of all ages. You will also enjoy at the end; The Acknowledgements, Baking Terms and even recipes from the book; I am certainly going to be baking these mouth-watering treats! Highly recommended; get your copy in a store near you, June 2019.

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Crush (Awkward #3) by Svetlana Chmakova

Crush by Svetlana Chmakova
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this graphic novel (award winner of Top 10 Amelia Bloomer and Great Graphic Novels) as part of the 2019 HUB Reading Challenge. Such a great middle school graphic novel from awesome Svetlana Chmakova in the 3rd book of the Awkward series. Jorge is a big, nice kid who will not hurt anyone but stands up for those who are being bullied and oh yeah, he really likes Jazmine but doesn't really know how to talk to her. There is conflict, friendship and bullies---you will root for Jorge and Jazmine and the others in their middle school!

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On A Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

On A Sunbeam: A Webcomic by Tillie Walden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this webcomic (Amelia Bloomer Top 10, Great Graphic Novels) as part of the 2019 HUB Reading Challenge. Telling a story of past and present---Mia is in the present working on a dig in outer space and as she becomes friendly with the crew she tells them of her past- falling in love in boarding school with Grace and then losing her. She asks her family/crew to help her find Grace in the outer reaches of space known as the Staircase. You will love the cast and crew and root for them. Wonderfully illustrated, beautifully told by Tillie Walden, teens will love this space opera.

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Best Laid Plans by Brenda Jackson

Best Laid Plans by Brenda Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this Brand-New Madaris Family Novel; Noel Madaris was a favorite for me- techie, nerd, man about town and even better was Ivy Chapman- owning her own hacking firm, nerd, and happily single. When Nolan's grandmother decides to marry off Nolan to Ivy; she begins a storm of annoyance that has Nolan and Ivy making up a scenario where they are lovers but then break up---but their attraction is strong and reading about their relationship was steamy and awesome. The perfect romance for me!

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The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Dan Brown

The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this Great Graphic Novel Award Winner and Nonfiction Award Winner as part of the 2019 HUB Reading Challenge. Brown's illustrations and accompanying words/stories of the Syrian Refugees was horror filled with immigrants suffering death, beatings, and racism as they flee because of the reign of terror of the Syrian President, Bashar Al-Assad. Neighboring countries extend aid but it becomes too much for many and they stop allowing the refugees to enter and extend them aid. A must read as this crisis continues to unfold.

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