#USBookShow & Summer Reading Bonanza

Once again the Publishers Weekly U.S. Book Show delivered information, entertainment, and inspiration!

Outstanding keynote speakers, author chats, and panel discussions with the engaging Friends & Fiction fun with Tia Williams (Seven Days in June) and T.J. Newman (Falling), Libraries Are Essential, Black Women, Black Voices: Debut Memoirists on Career and Publishing, Celeste Ng, TikTok and Books, and Bringing the World to Your Door as particular favorites, along with Comics and Graphic Novels and so much more. My TBR pile may collapse under the weight of all the new editions.

Plus, the Prince George's County Memorial Library System offers plenty of summer reading options (as usual).

Shifters in Love

Wish Out of Water by Holley Trent

Mad for a Mate by MaryJanice Davidson

All About the Digits

Starry-Eyed Love by Helena Hunting

Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter

Brace for Impact

The Book of Luke: Earthquake by Iris Bolling

Magical Mayhem

Boss Witch by Ann Aguirre

Surprise Inheritances, Collisions, a Foodie Mystery, Second Chances & Crossroads

With Love from London by Sarah Jio

Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

A Brush with Love by Mazey Eddings

A Fatal Family Feast by Lynn Cahoon

Love and Lotus Blossoms by Anne Shade

Pay Attention to Your True Self & Each Phase of Your Journey

Speak: How to Find Your Voice, Trust Your Gut, and Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Tunde Oyeneyin

It's been an emotionally grueling past week, month, and 2+ years (and decade and life for many).

Books provide information, a range of perspectives, motivation, solace, and escape, all of which are essential to advancing toward a more inclusive, healthier, safer existence for all of us.

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The Best Man: Unfinished Business by Malcolm D. Lee with Jayne Allen Delivers All the Feels

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Hot Love in the Kitchen & Travelling Through Time

Redemption of the Heart by Moni Boyce contemporary romance Love Snacks Publishing 8 January 2019 Despite addressing heavy themes of domestic violence, incarceration, and grief, Redemption of the Heart is a charming and sweet spicy read in the tradition of a 21st-century interracial homage to Janet Dailey’s monthly romance era. Gemma’s open-hearted ingénue contrasts starkly with Alex’s jaded workaholic. They struggle with a variety of challenges, but ethnicity isn’t one of them—a spin that feels particularly modern. Once readers commit to their suspension of disbelief regarding the cascading impact of lacks in due diligence by several characters, it’s easy to settle in to enjoy this love story. The recent public debate about the pros and cons of Gillette’s “We believe the best man can be” campaign ties in with the contradictory messages in the story threads about toxic masculinity. There’s a scene in which Alex apologizes to someone who was openly bragging among cowork...

A Million Lives Book Festival - An Unfortunate Exception, Not the Event Rule

[2 decorative stickers on lined writing paper from left to right: a round smiley face arranged upside down to look like a frown and a round smiley face arranged right sight up] By now most bookish folk and others have heard about the inaugural A Million Lives Book Festival held at the Baltimore Convention Center last Friday and Saturday. To recap: according to participating authors and attendees many promises were made and almost all of them were broken. As outreach director and co-organizer for The Write Women Book Fest scheduled to host its 6th event Saturday, July 19 & Sunday, July 20 of this year at the Bowie Comfort Inn & Conference Center in Bowie, Maryland, U.S.A., my reaction to the feedback being shared about A Million Lives is nightmarish. Even though we aren't connected to it in any way or familiar with the event organizer or her company, our completely unrelated event has felt some minor residual effects because people are worried. And that's an understanda...

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