Tuesday, 4 February 2020

Maja Anđelou - Znam zašto ptica u kavezu peva


Izdavač - ŠTRIK

“ ‘Ponovljeni zakoni’ su mi bili omiljena knjiga u Bibliji. Zakoni tako apsolutni, tako jasno sročeni, da sam bila sigurna da svako ko želi da izbegne pakao, sumpor i večito prženje na đavolim vatrama samo treba da ih napet nauči i doslovno se drži naučenog.”

Ovo je autobiografska knjiga Maje Anđelou koja prati njene najranije godine života, period proveden kod religiozne bake u gradiću Stemps nakon što su joj se roditelji razveli, ali i podršku, ljubav i povezanost koju ima sa bratom.
Rasna diskriminacija, koja ne zaobilazi ni decu, obeležila je njeno detinjstvo.

“Isključivanje ili utišavanje je veština u kojoj sam bila dobra.”

Nakon nekoliko godina provedenih kod bake, Maja i njen brat odlaze da žive kod majke koja je oličenje lepote.
Baš tu, osmogodišnja Maja doživljava seksualno zlostavljanje.
Zbog te traume, prestaje da govori skoro pet godina.
Nakon toga, vraća se kod bake gde će ostati do petnaeste godine, potom se odlazi kod majke, a tu je opet čekaju novi izazovi, preispitivanja i traume. 

“Promenio me je vetar našeg brzog prelaska u novi svet. Prolovene suze su zgažene, pretvorene u blato i najzad u prašinu. Godine povučenosti su odbačene i ostavljene da mlitavo vise kao pipci parazitske mahovine.”

Knjiga je emotivna, potresna... ne toliko zbog Majinog iskustva jer je ona prosto “uklonila” emocije i o tome piše kao da se sve to nije njoj dogodilo. Ili je bar to moj utisak.
Više je potresna zbog samog društva.
Sramota koju društvo i većina treba da osećaju jer rade ovakve stvari ili nemo posmatraju druge dok diskriminišu, zlostavljaju... i ne rade apsolutno ništa povodom toga.

“Bilo je strašno biti crn i nemati nikakvog uticaja na sopstveni život. Bilo je brutalno biti mlad, a već dresiran da mirno sediš i slušaš optužbe na račun svog naroda bez prilike za odbranu. Najbolje bi bilo da smo svi mrtvi. Pomislila sam da bih nas rado sve videla mrtve, tela nabacana jedno preko drugog. Piramidu od ljudskih tela sa belcima na dnu, kao osnovom, pa onda sloj Indijaca sa njihovim smešnom tomahavcima, tipijama, vigvamima i ugovorima s vladom, pa crnci s krpama, receptima, vrećicama za pamuk i duhovnim pesmama koje im vire iz usta. Neka se sva holandska deca sapletu na svoje klomple i polome vratove. Neka se sva francuska deca zadave Ugovorom o kupovini Luzijane (1803), a svilene bube nek pojedu sve Kineze s njihovim glupim kikicama. Mi smo jedna gnusoba od vrste. Svi mi zajedno.”

Ovaj odlomak ne može da ne probudi iznenađenje, čuđenje i onima “uvek savršenim” verovatno i gađenje.
Ali onda zamislite koliko je društvo bilo krivo za ovakvo razmišljanje jedne devojčice? Jedne žene?
Mnogo.
I dalje je. 

“Sve ono što je protiv tebe možeš iskoristiti i u svoju korist, ako shvatiš načelo zamene mesta.”

Hvala Maji što je imala hrabrosti da sve ovo napiše, da progovori i da ostavi svoj trag u ovom tamnom svetu.
Ja vam od srca preporučujem knjigu i nadam se da će i ostale biti prevedene.

“Do petnaeste godine život me je naučio da predaja, kad joj dođe vreme, nije ništa manje časna od borbe, naročito ako nemate drugog izbora.”

5 zvezdica.

“To bi htela da radiš? Onda moraš da se potrudiš i pokušaš. Uloži sve što imaš. Rekla sam ti mnogo puta, ‘ne mogu’ je isto što i ‘baš me briga’. Oboje su siročići.”

Elizabet Maknil - Fabrika lutaka


Izdavač - LAGUNA

“Sloboda je dragoceno biće.”

Rouz i Ajris su dve sestre koje ocrtavaju porcelanske lutke.
Ajris je rođena sa iskrivljenom ključnom kosti, dok je Rouz uvek bila ona lepša koja je želela da se uda i da ispuni svoje i sestrine snove.
Ajris je oduvek želela da postane slikarka, dok je Rouz priželjkivala svoju cvećaru.
Ali kada Rouz dobije boginje i ostane puna ožiljaka, planovi koje je imala padaju u vodu i postaje ogorčona.


“Ljudi da lete? Pre će da ‘odaju po mesecu.”

Kada se podigne paviljon velike izložbe, Ajris upoznaje Sajlasa. Ona brzo zaboravlja na taj susret ali on postaje opsednut i želi je samo za sebe.
Ajris nedugo posle toga upoznaje Luisa i pristaje da mu pozira za slike uz uslov da joj pomogne da i sama nauči da slika.
Dok joj snovi ispunjavaju i ljubav počinje da se budi - Sajlas je uvek posmatra odlučan da bude samo njegov poseban primerak.


“Zašto mora postojati zvaničan dokument koji objavljuje da se dvoje vole - zašto moraju da postoje svedoci - nije li njihova ljubav dovoljna? Zašto je pokazivati, zašto se uplitati? Šta ako pogrešite?”

Nikad mi se nije dogodilo da knjigu, u ovolikoj meri, u isto vreme volim i mrzim.
Radnja je smeštena u London, 1850. godine i knjiga odiše viktorijanskom atmosferom, Ajris i Luis su mi bili zanimljivi likovi i to je ono zbog čega me je knjiga oduševila.
S druge strane, ono što prezirem u knjigama jeste okrutnost prema životinjama - ova knjiga je puna takvih momenata. Zbog svake ubijene životinje uglavom skinem jednu zvezdicu, samim tim Fabrika lutaka je u minusu.


Druga stvar koja me je iznervirala jeste zbrzan kraj i pitanja koja su ostala bez odgovora. Možda će biti i nastavak, stvarno ne znam, ali u svakom slučaju završeno je glupo i bez razjašnjena.


I treća, lik Sajlasa koji uopšte nije razrađen kako treba. Za jednog komleksnog bolesnika, treba ponuditi više informacija čitaocu.
Ali autorska se “razbacala” na previše likova i nije umela da zadrži fokus.


“Dlan mu je na njenom struku. Ovaj trenutak će proći, ali ona želi da ostane ovde u izmaglici i tami, s njim.
Trenutno, ona je njegova.”


Iako sam se lomila da li da dam pet, tri ili jednu zvezdicu, dala sam jednu.
A to se stvarno retko dešava jer uglavnom biram knjige za koje znam da će mi se svideti.
Psiho trilere obožavam i nemam problem sa krvoprolićima, ali samo kad se zaobilaze životinje. Znam da svaki ubica tako počinje, ali me potresa.


Sjajna ideja, šteta što je realizacija, kad se sve sabere i oduzme, osrednja.
Možda ću dati još jednu šansu ukoliko se pojavi nastavak i pogledaću film na preskoke kada bude snimljen iz znatiželje da saznam da li će izbaciti neke delove i dati malo bolji kraj.


“Svakako nešto obitava u ovom srcu koje nije prolazno, a život je više od sna.”
Meri Vulstonkraft


Thursday, 30 January 2020

Most Popular Books Published In February 2020


Once A Myth (Goddess Isles #1) by Pepper Winters - February 25th 2020


Irresistible (Neighbor from Hell #11) by R.L. Mathewson - February 4th 2020
Ignite on Contact (Brotherhood by Fire #2) by Jaci Burton -  February 4th 2020
Dominik (Arizona Vengeance #6) by Sawyer Bennett -  February 18th 2020
Titan's Addiction (Wall Street Titan #2) by Anna Zaires -  February 25th 2020
Always Yours (Roommate Duet #6) by Kennedy Fox - February 4th 2020
Savage Burn (Savage Trilogy #2) by Lisa Renee Jones - February 25th 2020


Finding Him (Covet #2) by Rachel Van Dyken -  February 25th 2020
Disavow (The Dumonts #3) by Karina Halle - February 25th 2020
The Bedroom Experiment by Kendall Ryan - February 11th 2020
Revenge (Slay Quartet #3) by Laurelin Paige - February 25th 2020
Just One Year by Penelope Ward - February 24th 2020
Trouble (Dogwood Lane #3) by Adriana Locke - February 4th 2020


Then You Happened by K. Bromberg - February 3rd 2020
Flame (Web of Desire #2) by Aleatha Romig - February 25th 2020
Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden Mills - February 3rd 2020
The Life That Mattered (Life Duet #1) by Jewel E. Ann - February 6th 2020
My Bestie's Ex (The Rooftop Crew #1) by Piper Rayne - February 18th 2020
We Are Us by Tara Leigh - February 27th 2020


The Wrong/Right Man by Aurora Rose Reynolds - February 4th 2020
For Three Seconds by C. Lymari - February 4th 2020
Love Bank (Jobs from Hell #1) by Marika Ray - February 6th 2020
My Maddie (Hades Hangmen #8) by Tillie Cole - February 4th 2020
Bullseye (The Monsters Within Duet #1) by Monica James - February 20th 2020
Never Love a Rockstar (Rockstars in Kill Devil Hills #3) by Sarah Darlington - February 5th 2020


The Lying Season by K.A. Linde -  February 4th 2020   
Fake It 'Til You Break It by Meagan Brandy - February 5th 2020    
Keeper by Harloe Rae -  February 6th 2020    
Breathless (Texas Nights #3) by Lex Martin - February 18th 2020    
Bad Liar (The Reed Rivers Trilogy #1) by Lauren Rowe - February 24th 2020  
That Secret Crush (Getting Lucky #3) by Meghan Quinn - February 11th 2020


Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals #1) by S. Massery - February 3rd 2020   
Hate You Not by Ella James -  February 12th 2020    
Doughn't Let Me Go (Slice #3) by Teagan Hunter - February 6th 2020   
Great and Precious Things by Rebecca Yarros - February 25th 2020   
Doctor Dearest by R.S. Grey -  February 6th 2020   
All The Letters I’ve Ever Read (Handwritten & Heartbroken Duet #2) by Ace Gray - February 27th 2020 


Ripple Effect by Tracey Jerald - February 3rd 2020    
Just Friends (Blue Beech #6) by Charity Ferrell - February 6th 2020   
Close to Me by Monica Murphy - February 11th 2020   
Broken Princess (Ruthless Rulers #3) by Stella Hart - February 26th 2020   
Stolen Soulmate by Mary Catherine Gebhard -  February 27th 2020   
Unbreakable (Cloverleigh Farms #4) by Melanie Harlow - February 10th 2020


Slow Dancing by Stylo Fantome - February 21st 2020   
One-Eighty (Westover Prep #1) by Marie James - February 10th 2020   
Creeping Beautiful by J.A. Huss -  February 19th 2020   
Bet On Me (Royal Bastards MC #5) by Elizabeth Knox - February 4th 2020  
Lady & The Biker (Royal Bastards MC #6) by Glenna Maynard - February 11th 2020   
Frozen Rain (Royal Bastards MC #8) by CM Genovese - February 25th 2020


The Guy in the Middle (The Underdogs #3) by Kate Stewart - February 29th 2020
Sanctum by K. Michelle - February 25th 2020
A Lovely Obsession (Debt of Passion Duet #1) by Coralee June - February 10th 2020
I Dare You (Truth And Dare Duet #2) by Lylah James - February 10th 2020
Battle Hearts (Storm MC Reloaded #3) by Nina Levine - February 4th 2020
No Inhibitions (Dirty Sexy Fairy Tales #3) by Erika Wilde - February 18th 2020 
 
 
The Queen's Assassin (Queen's Secret #1) by Melissa de la Cruz - February 4th 2020
All the Stars and Teeth (All the Stars and Teeth #1) by Adalyn Grace - February 4th 2020
The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller - February 25th 2020
The King of Crows (The Diviners #4) by Libba Bray - February 4th 2020
The Stars We Steal by Alexa Donne - February 4th 2020
Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold - February 25th 2020
 
 
Ember Queen (Ash Princess Trilogy #3) by Laura Sebastian - February 4th 2020
Ink in the Blood (Ink in The Blood #1) by Kim Smejkal - February 11th 2020
The Unspoken Name (The Serpent Gates #1) by A.K. Larkwood - February 11th 2020
The Darkest King (Lords of the Underworld #15) by Gena Showalter - February 25th 2020
A Worthy Opponent (Wicked Villains #3) by Katee Robert - February 23rd 2020
Night Spinner (Night Spinner #1) by Addie Thorley - February 11th 2020
 
 
 

Monday, 27 January 2020

COVER REVEAL: Stolen Soulmate by Mary Catherine Gebhard


STOLEN SOULMATE by Mary Catherine Gebhard 
Release Date: February 27th 
Cover Designer: Hang Le    



PREORDER STOLEN SOULMATE TODAY!! 
Apple Books: https://apple.co/37solWH 


BLURB: 
There’s a rule in Crowne Hall: never look a Crowne in the eyes. 
It protects us more than them.  
I broke it once, the night Grayson Crowne mistook me for his true love and stole my first kiss. 
I’ve regretted it every day since.  
He hates me. 
He torments me.  
He won’t let me go, because that night he whispered a secret against my lips not meant for me. Grayson Crowne, heir to the Crowne empire and notorious playboy prince is… a virgin.  
I signed a contract in my heart’s blood as much as ink: help him get back his love, repair what I broke. Give him my body, my soul, my heart, let him use all of me, so when the time comes to marry her, he won’t need me.  
I shouldn’t need him. 
But he’s my stolen soulmate, and I’m at his mercy.

EXCERPT:  
The ink was barely dry on the pages. 
I don’t know if I was ready for this. Somehow I felt like I was more of a virgin than Grayson. Nervous, skittish. He’d warned me when all of this began that the things he’d seen and done would wreck me.  
I should’ve believed him then.  
When I didn’t do anything for a minute, he arched a brow.  
Do whatever he says.  
I could use my safe word, but a twisted part of me liked doing what he told me to do. Liked the rush and the way his eyes hardened. It felt like power, power over one of the most powerful people in the world.  
I’d barely taken a step to him, when he ripped me to him by the small of my waist. His other hand tangled in my hair, yanking my head to the side.  
“Fuck,” he said, lips at my neck. “Which part do I eat first.”  
Delicious tingles spread along my skin at his words. His nose ran along my neck, goosebumps following in his wake. His hands slid from hair, from my waist, along my body, feeling every inch of me, like he couldn’t do it fast enough, before settling back in my hair.  
Deliriously, I found the zipper of my dress, but his overtook mine. Stopping me.  
“I’m going to ruin your white dress, Snitch. Ruin you. Until you’re all fucked up from me.”


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
I started writing the moment I could read. My first characters were Wibbley and Squig and I used MS Word and clipart to bring them to life when I was a kid in elementary school. I started seriously thinking about being a writer in High School and I remember the day exactly, because it was such an epiphany. I was always so uncertain. You know how everyone was always asking what you wanted to be when you were older? Well I NEVER could decide.  
I wanted to be a marine biologist.  
An actor.  
A FIRE FIGHTER (thank you Joaquin Phoenix in Ladder 49 for that phase).  
One day it hit me—A WRITER. I could do it ALL. Then you couldn’t stop me from writing. I penned my first novel at fifteen (but don’t ask me to show it to you, because it’s like I was in competition to beat the thesaurus).  
When I was diagnosed with a chronic illness, writing became even more important, because it became my therapy. When I wrote my characters, suddenly I wasn’t so alone.  
These days you can find me daydreaming about where to travel with my husband, singing in my car, or lost in the newest K drama. And planning my next novel, of course  

CONNECT WITH MARY CATHERINE:


COVER REVEAL: Slow Dancing by Stylo Fantôme


COVER REVEAL
Title: Slow Dancing
Author: Stylo Fantôme
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Cover Design: Najla Qamber Designs
Release Date: February 21, 2020

BLURB
A rising pop star who can't let go of her emotional baggage, and a cocky dance partner who doesn't know what monogamy is.
She's inhibited.
He's free-spirited.
She doesn't want a relationship.
He doesn't believe in them.
She can't believe that anyone would love her.
He can't seem to stop himself from loving her.
When their differences collide and sparks start to fly, he's sure it's the start of something amazing.
And she's sure it's the end of her career.
Who will be right?
EXCERPT
Woods's voice was suddenly behind her, startling her.
“Why do you always sneak up on me?” she demanded, not able to keep the grin from her face. He beckoned her with one finger, and she swayed into him, her body moving to the music. Closed her eyes as she remembered their dance from the beach.
“Because I like to see you blush,” he replied, one arm coiling around her waist as he moved in rhythm with her.
“Mean man, that's not very nice,” she laughed, looking up at him again.
“I'm not a very nice man.”
She snorted. The tequila was rolling around in her brain, making her feel loose. Bold.
“No, you're not, are you? You're a tease.”
“A tease?” his eyebrows shot up. “Explain, please.”
“You. Sneaking up on me, talking to me the way you do.”
“And how do I talk to you, hmmm?” He raised a beer bottle to his lips – she hadn't even realized he'd had one in his free hand.
“You talk to me like ...” she tried to think through the tequila fog. “Like you know me. Like you know secrets about me, and you're keeping them from me.”
“Maybe I do,” Woods challenged before necking the rest of his beer. She watched the tendons in his neck stretch and pull taut. Ridiculously wanted to place her tongue against them.
“And what secrets do you know, pray tell?” she asked, loosely wrapping her arms around his shoulders as a slow song came on.
“I know a lot of things.”
“I think you're full of shit,” she called him out. “I think you just like to tease people. Poor Jeremy.”
“I didn't once tease Jeremy,” Woods corrected her. “If you asked him, I think you would find that he was highly, and often, fulfilled.”
“Fulfilled? Or just filled?” she joked before she could stop herself.
“Ooohhh, I think I'm going to like drunk-you very much,” his voice was low as he laughed at her response.
“And none of that is a secret – everyone knew you two were sleeping together. I don't think you know any secrets, Woods Donahue,” she said.
He pulled her in tight to him, pressed his mouth to her ear.
“I know some things,” he breathed. “I know you look at me when you think I'm not looking at you. I know you wonder what it was like between Jeremy and me. But mostly, you wonder what it would be like between you and me.”
Her temperature skyrocketed and she felt like she couldn't breathe. Forget blushing, she was on fire, and she couldn't decide if she wanted to run away, or cry, or strip. Possibly some combination of all three.

AUTHOR BIO
Crazy woman from a remote location in Alaska (where the need for a creative mind is a necessity!), I have been writing since ... forever? Yeah, that sounds about right. I have been told that I remind people of Lucille Ball - I also see shades of Jennifer Saunders, and Denis Leary. So basically, I laugh a lot, I'm clumsy a lot, and I say the F-word A LOT.
I like dogs more than I like most people, and I don't trust anyone who doesn't drink. No, I do not live in an igloo, and no, the sun does not set for six months out of the year, there's your Alaska lesson for the day. I have mermaid hair - both a curse and a blessing - and most of the time I talk so fast, even I can't understand me.
Yeah. I think that about sums me up.

AUTHOR LINKS