End of Year Wrap-up – 2019

It is the last day of 2019 and I am already preparing my 2020 bookish resolutions. 2019 has taken me to different bookish adventures, created friendships with book nerds that I can see lasting a long time, and challenged myself to read books I probably wouldn’t have thought about reading [i.e. contemporary and romance to be exact]. 2020 will lead me to newer books, newer genres and now with a nephew on the way, the world of children’s books. I am truly excited to see what bookish adventure will lead me to my next favorite read, see my never ending TBR grow and to continue having conversations about all books.

I decided to take on another year of the Goodreads Challenge. Although I did not complete the challenge this year, I went out of my comfort zone to read different genres and delve into the world of Graphic Novels. I wanted to noted that I only considered books I put down as read towards this challenge. This year I did something different, something I have never done before. I DNF’ed a couple of books [Did Not Finish]. Prior to this year I regretted not finishing a book and would struggle to get through some. This decision was the healthiest decision I could have made because it gave me the freedom to read books I truly wanted to enjoy.

Here is my Goodreads Challenge Year in Books:

This year was a tough year to read with so many life things that came along but I am happy I was able to read something. 2020 I plan to take more time out to read and pick back up things like crafting and writing poetry.

2019 was a year where I focused more on my blog and adding more content to it. Through the gaps of no content to months where I could add more, I was proud to have made time for this. I originally created this blog as a way to share my thoughts on different books, for both others to read but for me to fall back to if I felt that I needed a good review to get through the day. A Bronx Latina Reads has been an outlet for me to participated in some of the most fruitful blog tours I have been on, add fellow bloggers to chat and follow, and has given me a new list of books i should read. this year blog wise, was great for my growth.

Blog Stats 2019

I want to thank everyone who took a view, and visited my profile – I appreciate you so much. I want to give a special shout out to my bookish friends who encouraged me to keep going when I thought doing a blog wasn’t worth it, who saw my potential and pushed me. You all are part of why this blog will continue in 2020!

Before I end this wrap-up post, I wanted to share 10 books that gave me joy this year. Here are those 10 below in a random order:

1. An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
2. Ghost by Jason Reynolds
3. Shadow Me by Tahereh Mafi
4. Teen Titans: Raven by Kami Garcia/ Illustration by Gabriel Picolo
5. Color Me In by Natasha Diaz
6. The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco
7. Forgotten (House of Night OtherWorld #3) by P.C. and Kristin Cast
8. Breaking the Chains by Janine Infante Bosco
9. Moonstruck Vol. 1: Magic to Brew by Grace Ellis
10. Dealing in Dreams by Lilliam Rivera

I can’t wait to see what 2020 brings for me, but I know one this for sure – I’ll be reading, writing and living my best bookish life.

 

 

Harlequin December Reads – The Secret Christmas Child

Author: Lee Tobin McClain
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Love Inspired [Harlequin]
Publication Date: December 1st, 2019
Rating: 4/5 Stars

*Thank you Love Inspired and Amber’s Book Reviews for the opportunity to review this story!*

Where to Buy
Goodreads Link  

Synopsis

Will a fresh start heal old wounds?

His high school sweetheart returns with a baby…And a devastating secret.

Reese Markowski can’t believe he’s hiring his ex-girlfriend—but to save his program for dogs and at-risk kids, the veteran needs Gabby Hanks. Single mom Gabby’s fierce love for her infant daughter is undeniable, as is the child’s effect on Reese’s wounded heart. Their holiday reunion is a joyful surprise, but nothing prepares Reese for the truth about Gabby’s baby…

Review

A secret child, a war veteran and two people seeking love, forgiveness and themselves. The Secret Christmas Child has it all. Reese, a wounded vet and owner of Rescue Haven, a program geared towards bringing boys to care for dogs gets an unlikely surprise when his high school sweetheart Gabby Hanks, walks back into his life and becomes his employee. Both fueled with emotions towards each other, Reese can’t get over Gabby’s betrayal with his cousin. Through working together, they learn so much about each other, including the cruel circumstances that separated them and their path towards healing and growing together.

This is a heartfelt love story with a holiday tie-in and a story line that will have you grabbing for the tissues. Both Reese and Gabby definitely have their baggage and each find redemption with the other through working alongside each other. Their love is there, real and raw and full of untangling emotions. You become invested in their pain and in their journey to self-healing. Both characters are both easy to invest because they were both like-able. Gabby and Reese didn’t seem like the cliche scorned sweethearts I thought I was walking into. Their story was much more complex than that. Gabby and Reese were able to work through it all, even the secret baby she was withholding at the beginning.

Gabby’s and Reese’s story while romantic and heart tugging was the only story that caught my attention. The supporting characters also played a major and vital role in this story. From the young boys finding healing through caring for the dogs, to Gabby’s grandmother, each supporting character added to the overall warm feeling of the story. Add-in a Christmas pageant and a wintery vibe and you have a holiday read that is a quick page turner that makes you wanting more.

About the Author

Lee Tobin McClain read Gone With The Wind in the third grade and has been an incurable romantic ever since. The PW bestselling author of eight contemporary romances for Harlequin Love Inspired and twenty independently-published novels and novellas, she recently contracted with Harlequin HQN to write three mainstream romance novels, coming in 2019. When she’s not writing, she’s probably cheering on her daughter at a gymnastics meet, mediating battles between her goofy golden doodle puppy and her rescue cat, or teaching aspiring writers in Seton Hill University’s MFA program. She is probably not cleaning her house.

Author Links

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon

Waiting on Wednesday: Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme that highlights pre-publication/upcoming releases that readers cannot wait to get their hands on. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Clap When You Land
Author: Elizabeth Acevedo
Publication date: May 5th, 2020
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

Synopsis

In a novel-in-verse that brims with grief and love, National Book Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo writes about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives.

Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people…

In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal’s office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.

Separated by distance—and Papi’s secrets—the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered.

And then, when it seems like they’ve lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.

Goodreads |Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books of Wonder| McNally Jackson

Release Boost & Review: Breaking the Chains

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Have you fallen for this badass prospect?
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Blurb

One way or another, all men pay for their crimes. Some do their time locked in a cage, while others meet their due karma without a judge or a jury. My debt to society is almost paid, and soon I’ll be free to get my son the justice he deserves. Justice he wouldn’t be due if only I had done my job as his father and protected him.

There’s just one hitch, and her name is Charlotte.

The gorgeous and completely inexperienced paralegal’s mission seems to be making me a law-abiding citizen and not a vengeful son of a bitch. But underneath her prim and proper facade, there is a woman begging to be unleashed. If I wasn’t so hellbent on breaking the chains of pain bound to my boy, I’d be tempted to unravel Charlotte and show her what it’s like to ditch the law and walk on the wild side. And there’s no time for me to succumb to her efforts to make me a decent man. I’ve agreed to prospect for the Satan’s Knights MC, and my pretty little paralegal is about to learn there ain’t nothing noble about a man who sells his soul to the Devil in the name of revenge.

*Editorial note: Breaking The Chains is the second book in the Satan’s Knights Prospect Trilogy. Fan’s of Janine’s Blackout Duet will immediately recognize Bishop, but all readers can enjoy this novel as a steamy, suspenseful standalone.*

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Review

Breaking the Chains is a heart tugging story filled with passion, a tough road to freedom story and the overall theme of wanting to become better people. Gabriel Bishop is sitting in jail after a robbery and has lost custody of his son. His son’s new guardian and uncle is a monster in disguise and has made Bishop’s young son’s life a living hell. While in prison, and through the help of Parrish and Blackie, Bishop has a new lawyer that will help him through getting out and gaining custody of his son. Through this encounter he meets Charlotte, his lawyer’s assistant and a woman he has nicknamed Peaches. Charlotte may not seem like she’s tough at first but she has a spunk to her that compliments Bishop’s own toughness.

Bishop’s story was a strong story of redemption. He wanted to be a better person for his son and be the father he knows he should be. Throughout that journey, he added wanting to be a better person for Charlotte and for himself. Bishop rugged exterior far contrasts his loving interior making him a character you will fall in love with and invest in. His story is relatable to many people and one that shows both heartbreak and happiness. The relationship between Charlotte and Bishop is a real, raw, difficult but loving relationship. It is not an insta-love, but a relationship that was created through some similarities in their lives. It’s not an easy one, which I enjoyed. Their relationship showed that not everything comes easy, but with love people can get through the tough things together.

I enjoyed how the author was able to continue to weave real life places and people into her stories. This story in particular focused on an organization called BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse). This organization plays a vital role in the story and I cried during the scene they are in.  If you haven’t heard of them, I suggest a google search because the things they do are absolutely amazing. Along with Big Nose Kate’s popping up, the author brought out the scenery of Staten Island in a way that only a native could do so well. The overall plot was great. Charlotte and Bishop’s Lawyer Schwartz are fighting to get Bishop out of jail and his son in his custody. Along this journey Charlotte falls for the man and makes it more of her mission to bring happiness to both Bishop and his son. Bishop is also interacting with the Satan’s Knights and before the story is over, he becomes intertwined with this club and is set on gaining his colors. I know I said Bash was my favorite but Bishop’s story was the one story I unexpectedly fell in love with.

About the Author

Janine Infante Bosco lives in New York City, she has always loved reading and writing. When she was thirteen, she began to write her own stories and her passion for writing took off as the years went on. At eighteen, she even wrote a full screenplay with dreams of one day becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

Janine writes emotionally charged novels with an emphasis on family bonds, strong willed female characters, and alpha male men who will do anything for the women they love. She loves to interact with fans and fellow avid romance readers like herself.

She is proud of her success as an author and the friendships she’s made in the book community but her greatest accomplishment to date would be her two sons Joseph and Paul.

Find Janine Online
Amazon → https://amzn.to/2GPQxHS
BookBub → http://bit.ly/2XYCjuR
Facebook → http://bit.ly/2WQaEj2
Goodreads → http://bit.ly/2WU2AxI
Instagram → http://bit.ly/2Y0UArg
Pinterest → http://bit.ly/2ZEEnZr
Twitter → http://bit.ly/2x26DJ4
Website → https://www.janineinfantebosco.com

 

Release Blitz: Breaking the Chains

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BLURB:

One way or another, all men pay for their crimes. Some do their time locked in a cage, while others meet their due karma without a judge or a jury. My debt to society is almost paid, and soon I’ll be free to get my son the justice he deserves. Justice he wouldn’t be due if only I had done my job as his father and protected him.

There’s just one hitch, and her name is Charlotte.

The gorgeous and completely inexperienced paralegal’s mission seems to be making me a law-abiding citizen and not a vengeful son of a bitch. But underneath her prim and proper facade, there is a woman begging to be unleashed. If I wasn’t so hellbent on breaking the chains of pain bound to my boy, I’d be tempted to unravel Charlotte and show her what it’s like to ditch the law and walk on the wild side. And there’s no time for me to succumb to her efforts to make me a decent man. I’ve agreed to prospect for the Satan’s Knights MC, and my pretty little paralegal is about to learn there ain’t nothing noble about a man who sells his soul to the Devil in the name of revenge.

*Editorial note: Breaking The Chains is the second book in the Satan’s Knights Prospect Trilogy. Fan’s of Janine’s Blackout Duet will immediately recognize Bishop, but all readers can enjoy this novel as a steamy, suspenseful standalone.*

I am currently reading Bishop’s story and it is a roller coaster of emotions. I am loving it so much right now. Stay tuned for my review on Wednesday!

About Janine

Janine Infante Bosco lives in New York City, she has always loved reading and writing. When she was thirteen, she began to write her own stories and her passion for writing took off as the years went on. At eighteen, she even wrote a full screenplay with dreams of one day becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

Janine writes emotionally charged novels with an emphasis on family bonds, strong willed female characters, and alpha male men who will do anything for the women they love. She loves to interact with fans and fellow avid romance readers like herself.

She is proud of her success as an author and the friendships she’s made in the book community but her greatest accomplishment to date would be her two sons Joseph and Paul.

Find Janine Online
Amazon → https://amzn.to/2GPQxHS
BookBub → http://bit.ly/2XYCjuR
Facebook → http://bit.ly/2WQaEj2
Goodreads → http://bit.ly/2WU2AxI
Instagram → http://bit.ly/2Y0UArg
Pinterest → http://bit.ly/2ZEEnZr
Twitter → http://bit.ly/2x26DJ4
Website → https://www.janineinfantebosco.com