Skip to main content

Final Weekend of BHM Events, Reimagined Tales & an Unlikely Mystery + Cake

 


Spent the weekend with a beloved child (who isn't mine:-). We attended the 2nd annual Black History Fest held at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center in Columbia, Maryland, which offered a variety of entertainment, education, books, clothes - a handcrafted skirt from Fashion by Abisola, accessories - a beaded bracelet from I-am.com, decorative goods and more from talented creatives across the spectrum of artistic endeavors. The father of author Tamilore Adejumo (Along the Way, Christian nonfiction) made such a compelling pitch that his daughter's book has been added to my very long TBR list. Subject Matter Experts in various aspects of business were there too.  

Kid duties shrank my weekend reading time, but currently reading Sex, Lies, and Sensibility by Nikki Payne that among other themes opens with prime examples of Prosecutor Fani Willis's "A man is not a plan" maxim. It's layered and emotionally fraught so I'm not doing my usual voracious binge read, but alternating a few chapters with reading less personally devastating books from Eloisa James - Two Dances and a Duke, Two Masquerades and a Major - and Simply the Best by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. 


Another project that filled the weekend was making this cartoon cake from a Jonny Cakes baking kit. Good things first: The items in the kit and the tutorial (video & text) provide what's needed to create this awesome cake that looks super cool and tastes delicious. Challenges to consider: The tutorial estimates 6 hours, but it took us - one adult and an unusually patient 7-year-old - 8 hours total. We baked the cake Friday night, then finished it Saturday. So plan accordingly. Also, the enclosed postcard listing what's included and needed lists 2 sticks of butter AND vegetable oil when it should say OR; you don't need both.  

Okay, that's all for now. 
Happy reading & creating! 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Heartthrobs, Zombie Mobs & Hollywood Divas

  Laughs, gore and drama galore!  [3 trade paperback books from left to right: One Death at a Time, He Falls First, Zom RomCom]  One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman  contemporary mystery  Berkley, April 2025  Sobriety challenges, meetings, an uneasy alliance, a road trip, an assortment of unusual and unlikely allies, betrayals, lots of laugh and profound sentiment make Julia and Natasha's journey an enjoyable ride even as it addresses ageism sexism with organic candor.  He Falls First by Jill Shalvis  contemporary romance  Sourcebooks Casablanca, August 2025  This love story focuses on the joy of support offered by biological and found family even as it references the evolution of recovery from past experiences of domestic violence.  Zom RomCom by Olivia Dade  contemporary speculative adventure romance  Berkley Romance, August 2025  A laugh-aloud spoof of manmade horrors with its own unique quirkiness that delivers so ...

Everyday Magic & Genre Mashups

Three outstanding reads by authors who've crafted irresistible tales that defy the confines of the narrow expectations of a single genre.  [three books arranged face up, from left to right: Chocolate Chip City, He's To Die For, The Baby Dragon Cafe]  Chocolate Chip City by Be Steadwell  contemporary speculative fiction with romance  Bywater Books, June 2025  In this lyrical, lush composition three sisters, Jasmine, Ella and Layla, embody riffs on power: of the individual, family, community, culture; attraction, repulsion, collaboration. It's anchored in harsh realities while using magical realism and sharp humor to explore the often awkward and discouraging search for purpose, acceptance, and love in the context of life and the socio-economic pyramid scheme of capitalism.  Its recurring variations on themes of erasure and reclaiming legacies echo a present-day continuum of The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope and an emotional texture reminiscent of Like ...

Deja Vu, Recalibrating, Pyramid Schemes & Narcissists

More satisfying romances from an array of talented authors who love love to help offset the real-life ethical and moral horrors shared in a riveting memoir. [3 trade paperback books arranged face-up atop a closed piano, from left to right: Pugs & Kisses, When Javi Dumped Mari, All's Fair in Love and Pickleball]  Pugs & Kisses by Farrah Rochon  contemporary adult romance  Hachette Book Group, July 2025   Evie's juggling a lot personally and professionally. Can the man who ghosted her years ago earn her forgiveness and regain her trust enough to work with her to achieve her personal and professional goals? Revealing those answers offers readers a charming tale of wooing.  When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa  contemporary adult romance  G.P. Putnam's Sons, June 2025  In the decade since they became college besties, Mari and Javi have decisions to make. WIll they jeopardize the shaky stability of the status quo or risk their hearts and the futur...