 Inspired by the journal of Helen, an animal activist aka “Rainbow Warrior”, on a mission to protect as many animals as she can, the author takes us on another emotional journey. After reading A World Without Color by the same author, I knew this was a book I had to read. The writing style of the author remained as beautiful as I knew it was, honest, poetic and full of emotions.
This time the author tells us about Danny, a harp seal pup, his parents and brother Jon. This could have been a happy story about all the funny stuff a seal pup could do, right? But no, unfortunately, due to the man’s ignorance and greed this is a really sad story written though in a relaxing way. It is a story of life, love, existence, and humanity at both its worst and very best. This is more than a novella, it is a cry for awareness and a call to action to anyone that wants to stop the slaughter of innocent creatures. In time, many organizations, and individuals, including the author, have been actively united forces and did what they could to slow down the annihilation and ease the tragic destiny of these adorable, innocent creatures. We are being offered with a set of links of different organizations for any one of us that wants to join. The message of this book was honest, sincere and it truly moved me. Type of reader: Readers of any age, lovers of animals and anyone else that searches for an emotional read. My favorite quotes from this book: “Man’s a great mystery. We know not where he comes from, nor where he’s going. Elusive, like a shadow, he leaves wasteland in his wake.” “I do not doubt I have a big heart and burning desire, but is that enough for a person to become a Rainbow Warrior, or is there something higher in us, something better? Something that lies hidden deep in our innermost selves, something only some of us manage to express and turn into what we have long missed—humanity.” My rating: 5/5. Find it on Goodreads Follow the author on Amazon Author’s website
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 A masterpiece by all means!
The stream-of-consciousness style chosen for big parts of Moirae was something new to me. Nalia is an intelligent, poor village girl. At the age of 16, she married Romeo, the love of her life. Unfortunately, on the wedding night, he was arrested and her suffering starts to evolve in front of our eyes, All this time she is knitting a pink sweater. I could feel Nalia’s feelings and thoughts while she was caught in some kind of a lucid dream. While she was trapped in this strange dream phase, danger loomed ahead for her, her friends and family and yet I felt so relaxed, due to the masterly deployed stream-of-consciousness writing. All the retailed happening is sad and it really touches your heart. I felt sorry for Nalia, yet I felt her strength too. As for the other characters, in stream-of-consciousness, they are conceived in Nalia’s dream, where thoughts, voices, actions, and experiences have slipped. I must point out the many “errors” littered across the novel are meant to be, due to the writing style. Despite the fact that the action takes place in a village called Lost Winds, on a planet with two moons, it does resemble quite a lot with certain parts of our world. I would dare and say that the Lost Winds can be actually any village or smaller city in underdeveloped countries. And all the happenings may look similar to especially some current worldwide happenings. The villagers suffer from oppression, killings, and rape take place. Some people flee to a better place, Draviland, where they seek safety. While some riders may need to change their religion to be accepted, others have not. Destines are different, some are luckier, some are not. And above everything, there is love too, pure, deep, honest, overcoming barriers, pain and time. Moirae it does urge an open mind with a thirst for a multifaceted wave of knowledge. A real masterpiece from the literary point of you but also through its deep and straightforward messages. Type of reader: Anyone that loves literary fiction, contemporary, poetry, fantasy and interested to try new writing styles such as stream-of-consciousness. My favorite quotes from this book: “Tahu What a joke peace had become Joke People have forgotten about peace They craved for peace No Then why were people leaving in droves if they did not crave peace Tahu” “Riders were not welcome here. Yet, some people’s hearts said differently, as they took to the streets for rallies and demonstrations. What crimes had the riders committed though? Being poor. Was that a crime? Were proper avenues open only to those who had clout and money? Queue jumpers, what other pathways were available for the poor?” “They both faced each other quietly and remained looking for a long time; sipping out of the cup of joy, the tender moments of delightful love in infinite profusion.” My rating: 5/5. Find it on Goodreads Follow the author on Amazon  Great for kids of any age!
When I was a child I took drawing lessons and my teacher mentioned to my parents that he saw a great talent in me. Apparently, that wasn't enough as I stopped drawing as soon as we moved to another city. When I came across this book I thought it must be for young kids and definitely not for me. Flipping through pages and following the steps to draw certain figures ( pears, puppies, nightingales, turtles, frogs pterodactyls, honey bees, trains, foxes, stegosaurus, chickens, centipedes, vases, bananas, mushrooms, fish and starfish, bluebells and snails, and potted flowers) I realized that I was wrong. These tutorials are for everyone. They are cute, fun and easy to follow as the author made sure the steps are understandable. Beginning with the basic shapes and displaying the step-by-step process of adding details, these tutorials can be sometimes used alone or with adult help. A great way to introduce your youngster to art. Type of reader: I think these cool drawing tutorials could be useful for everyone also by parents, grandparents or babysitters as a way to entertain the children. My rating: 5/5. Find it on Goodreads Follow the author on Amazon  After reading and enjoying Angelika, I certainly looked forward to reading another work of this author. I found myself drawn into the story due to many reasons: exquisite language, the tender love between Darcy and Eustacia, certain interesting information about Jamaica and the overall humor.
The story is set in the late ‘60s and it offers the reader a view on how things were at the time. On top of that, and the main topic, it offers a view from the perspective of an effeminate young boy Stanford. While he has his parents full support, due to his increasingly feminine appearance it seems impossible for him to maintain his male identity in Jamaica. Hence he takes the name of Eustacia and moves to Vermont to live with the Coxes. Prior to Eustacia’s arrival Perry, Darcy’s friend, put a spell on him, out of a silly joke: “Dragon’s breath and snatch my beanie! May Darcy find a girl like Jeannie!” To my amusement, Darcy did find his Jeannie bit later in Eustacia. Not only she looked very much like the actress in the movie, but she also loved playing Jeannie’s role with her parents and later on with Darcy. The pure love that it is born between Eustacia and Darcy Cox is really sweet. They develop deep feelings for each other while they are also sharing many common interests at the same intellectual level. As the title says it is indeed a story of true love and the author did a remarkable job by not dramatizing the transgender part but putting in the spotlight Darcy’s lack of judgments regarding it. It would be great if in real life everyone would treat LGBT people with the same respect as we are all simply human beings. The plot is very well constructed and written and it didn't surprise me being charmed by the author’s style already. Type of reader: If you're looking for not only a love story but to open your horizons, broaden your thoughts, views, and understandings from a different angle then this book is for you. My favorite quotes from this book: “Mummy…, Daddy…,” he said, his voice shaking as tears began to run down his cheeks, “I don’t care; I really don’t care…. There’s so much more to my dear, sweet love than a stupid appendage! As far as I’m concerned, Eustacia is a girl, and I’ll take her just the way she is. I don’t care if she’s male, female, or something in between, because life without her would be unthinkable.” “You are who you are; I am who I am. We’re all different, and we all like different things, and there’s nothing wrong with that.” “Jeannie,” Darcy asserted, “when they made you, they broke the mold. For you, there can be no replacement, not now, not ever.” My rating: 5/5. Find it on Goodreads Follow the author on Amazon  Few years after the tragic loss of her husband, Kim – mother of a teenage boy Tim, fights with the sadness of being left alone, of learning how to move on with her life despite the cruel fact that she is never going to see her husband again. Next, to this, she is having difficulties handling her son. As unbelievable as it may seem there is a younger man, Tim’s wrestling coach, that attracts her attention. His name is Chance Carter and he seems to be every woman’s dream. Kim’s life is changing from the moment they first met. Desire mixed with feelings of guilt are a barrier that she needs to overcome. Life has to go on.
Though the title and the events at the beginning of the book, with a bit of a slower pace for my taste, give you a clear indication which way the story goes, I did find pleasure discovering all mixed thoughts and emotions that pass through Kim’s mind. When will it finally be the day when they make the next step? The sexual attraction is very well described, the same as the hot sex that follows repetitively as the story continues. Despite the 16 years difference, they seem to be made for each other. Age shouldn’t matter for those in love. What about for Tim or the rest of the close family and friends? Will their relationship be accepted? I let you discover on your own with a promise of a happy ending and possible overcoming with the age difference barrier. Type of reader: Fans of an easy summer-read with lots of steamy scenes though with the warning that it is more than just hot sex and the age difference. My favorite quotes from this book: “What I wouldn’t give for one more touch. One more kiss. One more chance to say I love you. Missing him hurts. It’s destroying me. Everything I do, everywhere I look, reminders of him tease and torment me. Memories bombard and overwhelm me.” “I cry feeling alone. Empty. I have no one in my life to hold me. No one to soothe the heartache. I cry until my swollen eyes close and sleep carries me to another realm.” “There’s been a change in me since the accident. A big one. It’s like I woke that night and found I’ve been living in a cave of darkness. I stayed there, trapped, only I couldn’t see it until Chance peeked his head in and found me. He reached in and pulled me from the cold and darkness.” “I love him? I can’t. I don’t. I won’t allow myself to love him. I love my husband. Still. Always. Enjoying Chance’s company is okay. Fantasizing about him while I get myself off, who could blame me? Having the hottest sex of my life with him, that’s an experience everyone isn’t lucky enough to have. But love? It doesn’t fit. Not for me. Not for him. Not at all.” My rating: 4/5 Find it on Goodreads Follow the author on Amazon  After the successful debut novel “Big Mistake” (Taboo Love #1), the author takes us in another taboo love story. This time is about a gay love but this isn’t so taboo nowadays, is it? Colton and Asher were once stepbrothers and this could be looked at controversial and a big barrier for any further possible intimate relationship. Colton’s father was married to Asher’s mother. Now, luckily for everyone, their parents are divorced.
Asher is a few years younger than Cole and little did they know that secretly they both developed strong feelings for each other. After Asher turned 18 and during Cole’s visit, things evolve. Here starts the spicy part. The truth is spoken. But first Cole needs time to look at Asher as not being related, hence no barriers for their love. On top of that, as he has bipolar disorder, his love for Asher is so strong that he believes that he is too damaged and incapable offering Asher what he really deserves. Asher is so sweet in his determination to be with Colton and forever by his side not only offering love but helping him with his disorder too. The most intriguing and intense part for me was the confrontation between Cole and his father, Chris. While Chris never wanted to accept his son’s diagnose for being accurate, the same he thinks that being gay isn’t normal and it’s all an illusion. Unfortunately, some people are still narrow-minded. The author promises a happy ending and doesn’t disappoint. I encourage you to discover on your own all the details including the hot steamy ones. Once again I was impressed with Lili’s writing craft. Type of reader: Any fan of qualitative M/M (not exclusively) fiction. Age 18+. Intriguing quotes from this book: “It messes up your brain and makes you think gay. It’s a delusion.” He squeezed Colton, hard. “You’re my son. I know you’re normal. Somewhere in there is my little boy. I want him back.” “You’re not gay. I’m not, so how could you be?” his father insisted. “Then I’ll be in the dark with you.” Asher reached out for his arm, so he stepped further back. “You know today is one of those days, but not every day is like this. It’s hard to remember that, where you’re at right now. I’ll learn every idea that could help you, and we’ll do it together. As much as I can, I’ll be… your joy.” My rating: 5/5 (Amazon) 4/5 (Goodreads). Find it on Goodreads Follow the author on Amazon  Some of the books I read are only available in their original language, hence my review will be in that specific language. This book is in Slovenian though I have read that the author has plans to make it available in English too. I really hope so. Below is my review for Slovenian speaking readers. Tudi sama pišem in že od nekdaj rada veliko berem. Vesela sem, da je ta knjiga bila napisana in da je pristala v mojih rokah ker je postala ena od mojih najljubših. Obstaja veliko razlogov zato. Všeč mi je način pisanja, ki sem ga čutila zelo blizu, zelo oseben in še posebej zelo iskren. Ni veliko pisateljev, ki bi delili v javnosti tako intimne in občutljive stvari. Ni veliko pisateljev, ki s tako lahkoto pomagajo bralcu biti del zgodbe. Petra je hodila po Caminu in čutila sem da hodim z njo. Čutila sem breme težkega ruksaka, boleče noge, željo po samoti in istočasno veselje do spoznavanja novih ljudi in njihovih zgodb. Bila sem v njenih mislih in njene besede so segle v moje. Vsak od nas ima svojo zgodbo. Redki smo, ki si priznamo in si upamo povedati naglas vse kaj nas bremeni. Pomembno je da si vsaj sebi priznamo, ampak tudi to nekateri ne počnejo. Knjiga me je inspirirala na več načinov. Zdaj si želim tudi sama enkrat hoditi po poti v Camino in se poskusiti v takem podvigu. Ne samo zaradi lepote narave, enostavnosti življenja ko vse kar potrebuješ nosiš s seboj ali najdeš na poti, ampak tudi zato da bi hodila, hodila, hodila brez posebnih planov in istočasno s pomembnim ciljem. Da najdem pot do sebe oz. do boljšega jaz. Da najdem odgovore na vprašanja ki jih že dolgo ignoriram. Ko se zavedamo da v življenju ne potrebujemo veliko materialnih stvari in da smo lahko sami sebi največje bogastvo in si prenehamo biti največji sovražnik, takrat lahko živimo življenje na pravi način. Veliko je povedano v knjigi, ki mi je tako blizu da jo priporočam da jo preberete. Vsak se lahko najde v tej zgodbi in lahko nekaj dragocenega pridobi. Pisateljica je izrazila željo, da bi enkrat pisala nekaj podobnega Alkimistu in da naj bi Paul Coelho dobil inspiracijo za svojo uspešnico prav na tej poti. Jaz pa želim njej povedati, da za mene Camino je to kar si je želela. Toplo priporočam vsem odprtih glav, iskrenih misli in velikih src. Če še ne veste kaj je Camino, preberite si en citat iz knjige, ki vam bo morda dal odgovor. Jaz verjamem, da ne obstaja samo en odgovor in da vsak lahko najde za sebe pravega. Petra ga je našla. Kaj pa vi?
»″Kaj je Camino?″ retorično vpraša ta starejši gospod in ob tem malo postane, da vsakdo najde svoj odgovor v mislih. Camino. Pot preizkušenj, pot spoznanj, pot duhovne rasti, pot čiščenj, pot verovanj...in vedno bolj pot turistov, pohodnikov, bolj po barvno ujemajoči se pohodni opremi kot po duši in srcu. Vedno manj lastnih srčnih razlogov za podajanje na pot, vedno več grabežljivih, hitrih načinov pridobitve certifikata, potrdila za prijatelje, znance in svet interneta. Vedno manj iskanja svojih resnic in vedno več iskanja bljižnic.« Moja ocena: 5/5 Goodreads Amazon Spletna stran  When are we too old to read bedtime stories? My answer is: Never. As long we keep our inner-child alive. How often do we read bedtime stories to our children or grandchildren? With the progress of the technology nowadays and the lack of time I am afraid that too many children fall asleep in front of the TV or playing a computer game instead of reading or being read some pleasant story.
In this collection of bedtime stories and poems, the author has succeeded in giving the readers, both young and old, an invitation to fall asleep peacefully. In addition to that offering food for their thought process. The stories contain shrewdly thoughtful messages for all of its readers to sleep on. While some stories will enable children to learn more about taking care of animals, making friends and instilling family values, others will help the reader relate to certain life situation as moving to a new city or a new school. And there is a ghost story too. Children love ghosts, don’t they? Especially the good and kind will make no harm. The poems are expertly crafted to put the reader in a peaceful, contented state of mind. Sweet dreams will be guaranteed. Throughout the whole book, I could sense that every word was written with a lot of love and joy and it’s clear that not only the talent but also the author’s good heart helped in the creation of such wonderful stories. Captivating and engaging from start to finish. I warmly recommend. Type of reader: I think these delightful and charming stories and poems are suitable for everyone: children, teenagers, and adults that will always keep a young heart and mind. My favorite quotes from this book: “A gentle breeze passed by my face, I closed my eyes to feel it more. A tender touch from nature's grace, Days like this I do adore.” “Softly and gently off we go, To lands far away only our mind will know. The sweetest dreams we’ll have tonight, And wake tomorrow with delight.” My rating: 5/5. Find it on Goodreads Follow the author on Amazon  Liar Girl by Andre Govier
This was a fun, fun, fun read. Short, easy to follow, it draws you in not realizing when you turn the pages. I believe any person, young or old, could find bits of pieces of oneself in it. It is almost impossible to pass through life without telling a lie here and there, but when they are too many and too often, it can get too much. In a chain of lies that complicates Steph's life and of those around her, this book will bring a smile to your face from the first page. Liar girl – the exam results Despite all her lies, Steph is actually a good person. She alone wasn't sure always why was she lying so much. In an attempt of trying to behave and regain the trust of her friends and family, she tried to be honest. But the complication began when she said a lie just to protect her friend. From that innocent lie, an avalanche started. While it was again a fun reading I found this book also as a lesson to be learned by every teen and young adult. The way it is written it sure makes it an eye-opener. A lie has short legs, they say, but its consequences can be dramatic. Wish to find out on yourself, just go for it and be ready to laugh! Reader type: As presented by the author I find it perfect for the teens and YA but also for any adult in the mood for a light and fun read. My rating: 5/5. Find it on Goodreads Follow the author on Amazon  This is a wonderfully written contemporary romance about a woman who doesn't really know what she wants. Something normal, right? Despite the fact that the main character is rich and successful, her problems have nothing to do with that. She needs to learn to be secure enough in herself to accept love from others and learn to leave all the bitterness behind.
The struggle of the main character, Lizzie, in finding herself and all the happening really got me hooked. On a funny note, I could say that I felt often hungry reading about all the meals in the story. The story is presented from Lizzie's point of view. I admired her occasional sarcasm, especially during her regular meetings with Ethan. I admit at times I didn't resonate with her but that is fine. Everyone is different and each and every one of us, in fiction or in reality, has its own past; sometimes a dark one. I loved Sarah’s character and I do believe she was the perfect match for Lizzie. At times I couldn't understand how could she tolerate everything Lizzie had said, done or didn't do? Opposite attracts, right? I loved seeing how Lizzie and Sarah met and fell in love. With a good number of necessarily steamy scenes, a lot of humor and heartbreaking scenes, the plot flows smoothly as Lizzie tugs us along, enveloping us in her world and taking us on a whirling emotional ride. An easy and enjoyable read. Type of reader: Readers of contemporary lesbian romance fiction with a strong voice, fantastic writing, deep character development, and an engrossing story. My rating: 5/5. Find it on Goodreads Follow the author on Amazon Author’s website |
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Message to you:In order to be a good writer, one has to read a lot. And I do and I love it....and I chose to share my readings with you. Feel free to share with me any of the books you have read or wrote, if I find them interesting I will add them to my list. I'll post my reviews on Goodreads, Amazon and all my social accounts. |
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