Cinderella Cake and The Inheritance Games

One of my brothers (to be henceforth known as W) likes to bake from time to time. In fact, I helped teach him. I told him that I was not going to bake cookies all the time for him when I grew up and got married so he better learn to take care of that himself. The end result of that is that he makes the most delicious pumpkin cake with a cream cheese frosting (I love almost any thing with cream cheese) known as The Cinderella Cake.

Now, W has been craving a dessert and I don't feel baking. This cake is now being proposed for dessert and all I can say is "Yeah, let's do that".

In other news, I finished The Inheritance Games by Jennifer L. Barnes. I couldn't put this intriguing book down. Official blurb below:

 A Cinderella story with deadly stakes and thrilling twists.

Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why--or even who Tobias Hawthorne is. To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man's touch--and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes.

Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a con-woman, and he's determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather's last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.

Don't you just to jump right in? Book Two comes out in September. I can hardly wait!

As always, feel free to leave your thoughts below.

Audio books are a busy booklover's dream!

 As many of you know I am an avid book lover. But I also have a busy life that occasionally gets in the way of reading (I would spend all day reading and most likely forget to eat if I could). The thing that keeps me connected to the books while washing dishes, clothes, and doing other chores? Audio books!

I got the majority of my audio books from Librivox. They are totally free and all the books are in the public domain. I have had many a spree there. It has so many wonderful novels I never got around to reading.

I also got my audio book thing going with Youtube. Type in the type of audio book you want and see what pops up! I suggest Camilla Isley (PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to her channel). She is posting a new book each month. I and my Mom adore her Rom-Coms.

You can get your audiobook fill as well from Audible or Chirp but it will cost you some change. So, if you are mega cheap like me, I suggest Librivox and Youtube.

If anyone knows of another cheap anr/or free place to get audio books, please feel free to leave a message below.

The Star Wars Sequel Trilogy

 This weekend was spent watching the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy. I spent the following days recovering and eating Oreos (my antidepressant of choice). I just have no words for how much I 'shipped Kylo/Ben and Rey.  I will give no spoilers (this is a half truth; I'm going to put videos below with spoilers). 

A dearly loved writer of mine suggested the Youtube channel Screen Rant. They made these awesome vids That pretty much sum up the whole series (minus the no romantic tention between Rey and Kylo/Ben). All the Reylo fans agree that we were miss treated when it came to this Space Opera.

As always, feel free to leave a message below.

Calling All Binge-Watchers!

 As I was sitting here, trying to think of a new post (while attempting to clean out my email), my mom came to me was all "Are you going to get season 3 of the Masked Singer?" very persistently.  Hope that was grammatically correct.

 I am just a little concerned that she may have become just a tiny bit addicted to the show. She has gotten very demanding with the episodes. Not that I'm complaining!

On the flipside, I am leisurely working my way through Heroes. I saw an episode ages ago but now I'm working my way through the series. I didn't realize it was that good.

If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below.

Congrats, Måneskin for winning ESC 2021!

 In case you didn't hear about it, Italy won ESC 2021! Måneskin was one of my favorites this year so I am totally psyched they won. (Yes, I had a lot of favorites. It was a good year.) I hope you all got to see the live performance which I missed (Family Movie Night: Into the Storm, my new fave disaster film featuring a former crush who shall remain nameless). So, for those who missed it (like me), below is their winning song "ZITTI E BUONI" which I am told translates into " Shut Up and Behave". 

If Måneskin was not the contestant you wanted to win, tell me (in a totally chill way) who you wanted to win. Cause if Joci Pápai was here, we wouldn't even be having this conversation right now. I want him to win so bad. And no, I do not have a crush on him. His music simply speaks to a part of my soul. Anyway, feel free to leave a comment below.

Internet Troubles, Lucinda Brant and Tara Grayce

 Last night, I had a post all mentally planned out. I was going to tell you all about Lucinda Brant's Georgian romance ,Salt Bride. I couldn't put it down. It was a perfect blend of suspense and romance along with being a bit of a redemption story. I start the sequel immediately but ended up putting it down after 50 or 60 pages. My attention was caught elsewhere. But, before I get on that topic, here's the official blurb of Salt Bride: 

  England, 1763. The Earl of Salt Hendon and squire's daughter Jane Despard share a secret past of mistrust and heartache. Forced into a marriage neither wants, the patient and ever optimistic Jane believes love conquers all; the Earl will take some convincing. Enter Diana St. John, who will go to extremes, even murder, to hold the Earl's attention. Can the newlyweds overcome past prejudices and sinister opposition to fall in love all over again?

Now on to what took me away from 1700's England.Tara Grayce's Elven Alliance series has had me in it's grip for the last two days. Book 5 comes out in December so I will wait impatiently for it. Until then, here is the Official Blurb for Fierce Heart: 

 Essie would do anything for her kingdom…even marry an elf prince she just met that morning.

When a diplomatic meeting goes horribly wrong, Essie, a human princess, finds herself married to the elf prince and warrior Laesornysh. Fitting in to the serene, quiet elf culture might be a little difficult for this talkative princess, but she’s determined to make it work.

With impending war and tenuous alliances, it will be up to Essie to unite her two peoples. And maybe get her hands on elven conditioner while she’s at it.

If anyone (and I mean real people, not bots that are conspiring to take over the world), has any comment to say, feel free to leave it. I will leave it as long as its not mean. Or rude. Or racist.

Second Age of Retha Series Review

 This my first foray into the world GameLit and I have to say that I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. I honestly thought this genre would be boring. I only gave this a try because A.M. Sohma's other Pen name is K.M. Shea and I have read almost all her work. I should have known better.

So here are the official blurbs: 

Book 1: The Luckless

 Welcome to Retha, the full submersion video game where you can be the hero of your own adventure. Unfortunately for Kit, it only takes one moment to turn the game into a nightmare.

When Chronicles of Retha experiences a software malfunction, Kit—a disenchanted veteran player—is stuck in the game without a way to log off. Even worse, she’s trapped playing as the most defective character possible, an elf dancer that was meant to be a prank.

Thankfully, she receives word that there is a way out. But the only escape route is to defeat the game’s ultimate villain. Kit, in her joke character, must fight her way through some of the worst Retha has to offer. Her only help is a party of low-leveled players just as powerless as she is, and the occasional act of mercy from one of the best players in the game, the taciturn (and aloof) Solus Miles.

Can Kit and her new friends finish the quest, or will Retha be their end?

Book 2:  The Desperate Quest 

 Chronicles of Retha was meant to be a full submersion video game filled with adventure and magic…but it has become a prison.

Kit and her party of misfit players have managed to collect two of the four seals that are required to face Malignus—Retha’s ultimate villain whose defeat may be the only way out of the game. Unfortunately for Kit—who is stuck playing as a defective elf dancer—the quest only grows more difficult.

The remaining seals are hidden in areas of Retha that Kit and her low-leveled party can’t fight through. Even worse, they will need to unite other players and guilds to face Malignus--an unlikely event as riots have spread across the game world.

Unwilling to give up, Kit and her party band together with Solus Miles—one of the best players in the game—and throw everything they have against Malignus.

But is their strength enough, or will Retha be their end?

Book 3: The Revived

 Kit is back. And she’s still stuck playing her ridiculous elf dancer character.

After leading a group out of the full submersion video game, Chronicles of Retha, Kit knew she couldn’t leave the remaining players to suffer their fate alone. So she returned to the game with the goal to get everyone out.

Solus Miles has always preferred solo playing, but Kit’s return changes everything. He vows to partner with her fully, allowing her to use him as her shield and even her mascot.

There’s just one problem.

Forcing a system wide logout requires the defeat of the end game boss character. A boss who hasn’t ever been beaten before.

When the top guilds are still skeptical Kit turns to those whom others overlook: the non-playable characters controlled by the game mechanics.

But Retha has changed.

Monsters, events, and quests have shifted, complicating her task. The journey across an altered Retha tests even Kit’s veteran knowledge and strains her leadership like never before.

Can she leverage her NPC allies and convince the other players to join her? 

This series is full of fun and laughter. I spent last night trying not to laugh so loud and wake everyone up. The dialogue has the same snappy humor that can be found in K.M.Shea's work. If your a fan of GameLit or you're looking for a ne genre to branch out into, I definitely recommend this series. If you have any thoughts whatsoever, please feel free to leave a message below. I really  mean that by the way. I even accept most emoji messages.