Waiting on Wednesday: Reconnected

Please Note: The final WOW on this blog as I take my final bow this month. I want to thank all readers of this post and all my blogging. I really appreciated it.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that allows us to spotlight books we are eagerly anticipating to be released.

I met the author online via Swoon Reads when her book was among those competing for a publishing deal. She was so sweet and the book was so lovable. Catherine was among the winners and her book's coming out 2020. I'm so excited!!

Release Date: June 18, 2020

Blurb: Anne Ellison and Freddie Whitlock were best friends all through middle school, even though they never met in person. But when Anne did something unforgivable to Freddie, their friendship quickly fell apart.

Four years later, Freddie comes to Anne’s town for the summer before she starts college. He’s training to be an Olympic gymnast. Anne knows that Freddie is the boy from her past—but Freddie has no idea. As Anne and Freddie start to spend more time together, Anne can’t help but fall for Freddie.

Can Anne find a way her way into Freddie’s heart—while keeping her identity secret? Or will the lies she’s telling tear their relationship apart?

Thank you for stopping by.

Waiting on Wednesday: Slay

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that allows us to spotlight books we are eagerly anticipating to be released.

I have been excited about this novel the second it was announced. The release day can't come soon enough.

Release Date: September 24, 2019

Blurb: By day, seventeen-year-old Kiera Johnson is an honors student, a math tutor, and one of the only Black kids at Jefferson Academy. But at home, she joins hundreds of thousands of Black gamers who duel worldwide as Nubian personas in the secret multiplayer online role-playing card game, SLAY. No one knows Kiera is the game developer, not her friends, her family, not even her boyfriend, Malcolm, who believes video games are partially responsible for the "downfall of the Black man."

But when a teen in Kansas City is murdered over a dispute in the SLAY world, news of the game reaches mainstream media, and SLAY is labeled a racist, exclusionist, violent hub for thugs and criminals. Even worse, an anonymous troll infiltrates the game, threatening to sue Kiera for "anti-white discrimination."

Driven to save the only world in which she can be herself, Kiera must preserve her secret identity and harness what it means to be unapologetically Black in a world intimidated by Blackness. But can she protect her game without losing herself in the process?

Thank you for stopping by.

Monday MishMash: Goodbye My Friends

Monday Mishmash is a weekly meme created by Kelly Hashway for sharing what's on your mind.

I have decided to close down the blog for good this time. I did in 2018 but changed my mind earlier this year. But it has become clear to me that my taste has changed and so have my writing priorities. Writing fiction is my top focus. With plans for querying agents and more on the horizon. September 2019 is the final month I'll be posting on this blog. It has been a great ride but some journeys come to an end. Thank you to all the readers who have visited over the years. I appreciate every single one of you. Take care. 

Netflix Dragon: August 2019

Yes I'm a bit late on this one. The listing for September will be up at the end of the month. What movies have you streamed lately?

Replicas

This film was a mess. One that in my opinion were three different movies smushed into one. Not very good but if you like watching bad movies then go right ahead. Or if you love seeing anything with Keanu Reeves. The subject of cloning was interesting but their take was way too ridiculous to believe.

She-Ra Season 3

We get to go on more adventures with Aurora/She-Ra and company. It was a pretty good season overall. But I felt a few creative choices made it fall from being a great one. Still, recommend for fans of the series. 

The Perfection

I have heard some praise this film and I agree there are some interesting storylines, visuals, and horror. But I was not a fan. There are ableism, racism and other undertones or outright obvious decisions that were a huge turn-off. Including making losing a limb seem like a punishment worse than death. People are actually born with missing limbs. It's not just via attacks or accidents. Making it look like there's no future for individuals like that is very damaging. I have seen films tackle that topic carefully but this was not one of them. I won't even go into a white student targeting a black student she met a child. The racism is nauseous, more so when the film tries to make it seem okay. Just no, and then having a white majority cast but somehow the two biggest victims (aside from the white female protagonist) in the film are black and Asian? Yeah...bye. 

Once Upon A Time Season 7

I was not a fan of the new direction that Season 7 took. But the storyline eventually grew on me enough to find it a decent conclusion. Might have been wiser to try something else since it ended up being the final season. Feel free to check it out if you feel the urge. 

Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling

I was not a huge fan of this series and only saw some episodes in the past. The movie was a nice time and they covered some important issues. But seems more for those with knowledge of this series.

Invader Zim: Enter The Florpus

This was an absolute masterpiece. Dib and Zim match wits again in a movie deserving of Invader Zim fandom hype and dedication. A must watch and epic movie conclusion to the series.

Other Shows/Movies:

Zootopia: Had a great time rewatching this film.

Let's Be Evil: A decent mind-bending sci-fi film with Children of the Corn vibes.

The Smurfs: Rewatching these old cartoon episodes are interesting, to say the least. Gargamel was even creepier than I thought.

Black Mirror: There were a few leftover episodes from previous seasons I had missed out on.

Rurouni Kenshin, The Bye-Bye Man, Sextuplet, When the Bough Breaks, Tau, Don't Watch This,  Sing.

Thanks for stopping by.

Waiting On Wednesday: Shatter City

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that allows us to spotlight books we are eagerly anticipating to be released.

I actually forgot about this book. It's a sequel to Imposters by Scott Westerfeld which is a new continuation of the Uglies series. Which I'm a proud fan. 

Release Date: September 17, 2019

Blurb: When the world sees Frey, they think they see her twin sister Rafi. Frey was raised to be Rafi's double, and now she's taken on the role . . . without anyone else knowing.

Her goal? To destroy the forces that created her.

But with the world watching and a rebellion rising, Frey is forced into a detour. Suddenly she is stranded on her own in Paz, a city where many of the citizens attempt to regulate their emotions through an interface on their arms. Paz is an easy place to get lost . . . and also an easy place to lose yourself.

As the city comes under a catastrophic attack, Frey must leave the shadows and enter the chaos of warfare - because there is no other way for her to find her missing sister and have her revenge against her murderous father.

Thank you for stopping by.

Movie Love: Angel Has Fallen

Listen, Angel Has Fallen was A LOT, maybe even TOO MUCH. I had a swell time overall and the movie was pretty good. But the violence, especially those explosions and kill counts was just too much for me. Which says plenty because I love action. But I've been a war movie kind of girl and this went deep into that territory. I don't even have that much of a review other than if you enjoyed the other films, this is up your valley. But be prepared for WAY more violence. If you thought London Has Fallen was violent, then you are NOT prepared for Angel.

The movie takes us on a crazed misadventure of what would happen if dark forces took over the United States government and doesn't give you time to grasp the concept. The explosions are massive and non-stop and the kills are gory. I'm so glad my mother decided at the last minute to stay home. She did not need this mess at her age. I recommend you decide your violence factor, especially when it's made realistic, before going to see this. Swell movie, hella traumatizing. Yeah, recommend only if you feel safe with this type of film. I'm still shell shocked and it's been nearly a week since I saw it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Waiting On Wednesday: Jackpot

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that allows us to spotlight books we are eagerly anticipating to be released.

Nic Stone's an author to watch and with her upcoming novel Jackpot. We get more insight into characters from different backgrounds going through life's ups and downs.

Release Date: October 15, 2019

Blurb: From the author of the New York Times bestseller Dear Martin --which Angie Thomas, the bestselling author of The Hate U Give,called "a must read"--comes a pitch-perfect romance that examines class, privilege, and how a stroke of good luck can change an entire life. 

Meet Rico: high school senior and afternoon-shift cashier at the Gas 'n' Go, who after school and work races home to take care of her younger brother. Every. Single. Day. When Rico sells a jackpot-winning lotto ticket, she thinks maybe her luck will finally change, but only if she--with some assistance from her popular and wildly rich classmate Zan--can find the ticket holder who hasn't claimed the prize. But what happens when have and have-nots collide? Will this investigative duo unite...or divide?

Nic Stone, the New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martinand Odd One Out, creates two unforgettable characters in one hard-hitting story about class, money--both too little and too much--and how you make your own luck in the world.

Thank you for stopping by.