Category: Book Reviews

Jennifer Ervig’s When My Mind Winds Up Will Help You Conquer Your Anxiety #EndTheStigma #BookReview

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

FB_IMG_1575832681128.jpgAs someone who has battled anxiety and depression knowingly since the age of twelve, and who also tried to commit suicide at that age, I can tell you that this book was like a cold blast of a Bahamian breeze, an utter rest for my soul. When My Mind Winds Up is written in short devotional style so it is an easy and quick read and a great companion to your daily bible reading/study.

I liked the quoteable wisdom I found throughout especially when she quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson, who happens to be my go-to guy to quote in times of crisis or distress, but overall, Ervig offers real-time solutions and walking each sufferer through their thoughts and helping them process, heal, and evolve.

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#BookReview: Partition of Africa by @oliviadeard Plus #Giveaway

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

Giveaway is Now Closed

Have you ever felt like you made the wrong choice or felt as if everyone was against you?

Or

Struggled to understand why one of your parents chose not to know you?

Ard’s characters walk right off the pages and keep you reading from start to finish.

Harriet Greene is a student at Howard Knox University but as any college campus goes, her life is full of scandal.

Harriet or Hattie is relatable, vulnerable, and brave.

You instantly want her to win and the story and Ard’s way with words pulls you in.

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#BookReview: Light On Glass by @MKeenerWrites

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

I know this going to sound pretentious and a bit ungrateful but the last book I read that had me absolutely enthralled was Virtue of Sin by Shannon Schuren. I read that at the end of August. As you can see, it’s been a while since a book transported me fully into the story.

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As I was reading the first chapter, Light On Glass immediately had me hooked.

“the first chapter has left me breathless. Keener chiseled a cave from stone with her words and whoever this Lucia character is I must know her story.”

Overall, it has two main characters the author Sarah who is struggling with writing her book after publishing a first novel that turned her into a has-been writer who suffered a few very poignant critiques when the novel was reviewed.

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As a former teenage author myself, I instantly related to that.

Right now, I am struggling writing the first draft of a new WIP because of a comment my dad made and kept harping at me with when I wrote the first scene and shared it with him even in its premature state.

I will do as Sarah does and forget the critics, head to a library, and just tell the story.

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The second character is within Sarah’s novel Lucia. She is standing on cliffs overlooking the rough seas below. She is likable, romantic, and fights for her chance at true love no matter what people say or think of her, and that to me takes guts.

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Overall, Light On Glass is enthralling, enchanting, and even educational as you learn some fun beekeeping facts throughout. Once you read it, your heart may never recover but you will be forever changed, in the best possible way.

#BookReview: Launching Today Willie Handler’s Loved Mars, Hated The Food

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

Willie Handler is no stranger to writing books that make you laugh but the second novel from this author is nothing less than an out of this world story that will have you shaking the cosmic dust off your space boots.

Dixon Jenner is a thirty two year old chef who gets recruited by NASA in the year 2039 for a Mars mission that goes terribly wrong  to his spaceship explodes and he is the only sole survivor.

Right away, he is high from a marijuana infused brownie and he has to figure out what to do to survive post-explosion. He meets two martians Bleeker and Seepa and from there they hide him from the head martian Cheytno to avoid anyone finding out he is from Earth.

What ensues is a hilarious story that leaves space for countless belly laughs over martians learning more about earth-like customs from an American chef from Toms River, New Jersey.

I was hysterically laughing by page three and I could not find a good reason to put the book down.

Handler’s science fiction is informative, clever, and loaded with quick-witted funny scenarios and one-liners.

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It’s definitely a book with a brilliance not yet experienced on this planet but no matter who you are, human or martian, Handler’s writing will keep you hooked from start to finish.

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#BookishThoughts: Schuren strikes a nerve of the meaning of being a woman with ‘Virtue of Sin’

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

pablo The cover alone led me to take interest in this book almost instantly because of the spiritual connotation of butterflies. Growth, Renewal, Hope and even in some contexts it can mean an awakening of some type.

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From the very first page, I instantly related to Miriam despite that the book is told through two first person perspectives. Growing up Catholic and following the rituals made me question a lot of things about God and his mercy even as a young kid.

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Yet, it was Miriam’s personality strength of questioning people and things that I also related to. As a writer, I’m always paying extra attention to things people miss:

  • the heartbreaking look someone has on their face when they realize they don’t love someone  anymore
  • the droop in someone’s shoulders because their loved one just passed away
  • the crack in someone’s voice before they reveal to that special someone that they have fallen in love with them.

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Miriam lives within a community with a leader who reminds me of Pastor Dan from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and with the same totalitarian atmosphere as Handmaid’s Tale.

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Women are to be seen and not heard.

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Schuren’s novel was relatable, stimulating, written with a strength and power only a woman writer could possess, and was one the best books I’ve read in 2019 so far.

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To say thank you for reading this review, just use the comments section below to share the words “The Future is Female.” One lucky winner will win a copy of Shannon Schuren’s book, format winner’s choice. Deadline is Friday Aug. 9 at 11:59 p.m.  Make sure to include your name and email address if not listed on your WordPress account.

Don’t allow them to silence you. Pass this on to a friend.

#PoeticMuses: Your Heart Is The Sea by Nikita Gill

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

Naturally, I was floored when Thought Catalog reached out to me directly as someone they thought of to review Nikita Gill’s newest poetry collection. They sent me the book and from the second I opened it I had trouble putting it down. It was like slow waves that wash over you as you stand upon the ocean’s edge. Your toes sink into the sand as you step deeper and deeper into the water, wading into it until the bravest parts of you are under water and only your head is above.

The water gets rougher and you must fight against the current beneath you.

That is what this poetry book explores. The struggles we suffer within ourselves so the poetry book reads like you are taking a deep sea dive into the depths of your heart and soul.

It is complete and utter inked beauty and leaves you feeling at peace upon closing the back cover, much like a day spent upon the water does or sitting listening to the ocean waves crashing on a sandy beach. The salt air does wonders for the human heart, and this book is no exception to that notion. I recommend everyone read this much like I would recommend taking a cruise vacation or booking a weekend getaway to stay near the beach.

 

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WHY ARE WE ALL AFRAID TO BE? A poem about how the world makes you feel less than you are or small as person.

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I NAMED US GRIEF: a poem about wanting to be with someone or not being right for someone but you still wear black and mourn them as if a part of you has died.

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For additional poems from Nikita Gill’s poetry book Your Heart is the Sea, please follow the Smart Cookie on Instagram and Twitter.

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#BookReview: Does God exist? Silva offers expansive proof.

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

I’ve never wondered if God exists or not. I have, though, doubted God working in my life or that he could fix the broken pieces of my heart, at times. Yet, that is because I was always raised to have faith, and it was a foundation that stuck, even though my church family has changed over the years.

Yet, a lot of people are not like me in that way, they were either raised in a faith-based home and chose to rebel by choosing a whole new faith, or they just saw no use for God in their life.

If you are one of the many who has kept an open mind in terms of God and God’s existence, this is the perfect book to add to your TBR list.

Some features of this book include:

  • Reads like a textbook
  • very thorough
  • presented all sides of the argument without showing bias
  • proved that God exists
  • ends with a collection of quotes from famous scientists quoting that God, without a doubt, is scientifically proven to exist.

Yet, I won’t just share that this book proves that God exists but once you read it, you will see the many ways that you encounter every day that stand as explicit proof.

 

 

#BookReview: When Hearts Collide by @williamsSaraB

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

Growing up I read a lot of romance even if it was only for young readers. Some of my favorites were Francine Pascal (Sweet Valley High series), Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook), and Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty.

Maybe it was because I had trouble relating to the opposite sex in a romantic way (#singlenotsurehowtomingle) but one of my favorite authors growing up was actually Karen Kingsbury because of her use of biblical themes and verses throughout her book and romance in her plotlines but unlike the authors mentioned above, her books were written in a clean yet still heart-thumping way where I couldn’t turn the page fast enough.

Debut author Sara Beth Williams brings that same Kingsbury-like essence to the genre but with a fresh voice. The storyline kept my interest. The characters had tremendous depth, and the writing overall was very well put together and flowed so very nicely.

Something I’ve noticed as an avid reader of romance is that scenes that contain a little extra heat sometimes read very awkwardly but Williams kept all the spark and had no spoofs.

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As a fellow romance writer myself who hopes to release my debut( a rewrite of my previous novels) sometime in the near future, Williams novel reminded me that the genre holds a lot of promise, even from a Christian perspective.

And I am honored to be her friend and colleague. I can’t wait to see what she puts out next, and that is 100% Biblical truth.

 

 

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Purchase a copy today of this #MustRead!

 

#BookReview: Let’s Meet God by Chris Hearn

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

As a believer, I always love returning to the basics of my faith. That’s why from the very beginning of this short but sweet Bible companion, I enjoyed each entry in this book of FAQ’s about the Christian faith.

This 78 page book discusses the Christian faith in an open-minded and easy to read format. It is written as a frequently asked question page for a website but for Christianity or someone new to the faith. It allows anyone to find out more about God through faith in Christ Jesus, while still remaining scholarly.