A #CrimeFicFridays Book Review | “The Auctioneer” (Chase Hardeman series, Book One) by D.J. Williams [this #newtomeauthor gave me an #unputdownable Thriller to devour!]

Posted Friday, 13 September, 2024 by jorielov Chase Hardeman Thriller series, D.J. Williams, Forgotten Stories LLC, The Auctioneer 0 Comments

Acquired Book By: This Summer, I’ve been contacted by a variety of different authors and publicists about stories in different genres of interest to find out if I might be keen on reading their stories. This particular author was pitching to me his latest release which is the second novel in the Chase Hardeman series “King of the Night”. However, as those of you will readily recognise who have visited with me over the years – I prefer to read series from the beginning rather than opt instead to read a sequel or another installment. Thereby, I asked if I could read the first novel alongside the sequel which is releasing in September, 2024. Thankfully he agreed and that is how I received both novels for review consideration rather than just one.

I received a complimentary copy of “The Auctioneer” direct from the author D.J. Williams in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

On Jorie’s return to reading Contemporary Thrillers:

It has been a very long time since I’ve read a Contemporary Thriller – as I was listening to each installment of two different series quite regularly until I reached a point, I had to take a break from listening to the Kay Hunter series (see this last Audiobook Review). It is my goal to pick up the threads of that particular series and carry-on with it. I am grateful to have learnt all the stories are available to listen to via Everand (which is the new website for Scribd) except for the short story in the series which I believe never went to audio. Aside from this series, I was also enjoying listening to the Tara Thorpe series by Clare Chase (see also this Audiobook Review) as she is another Contemporary writer I enjoy listening vs reading in print. Ironically or not, I hadn’t realised I haven’t been reading Thrillers since the pandemic began!

As previously disclosed (via this Post) I am starting to make my return to reading Thrillers and stories of Suspense this latter half of Summer. I have always enjoyed a wicked good Thriller or novel of Suspense especially it is writ well and not only holds my attention to the action and the drama behind the lead or supporting characters but if it is written in such a way as to keep me feverishly engaged and on the edge of my seat but without turning too gruesome or grisly with the depictions of violence. Some authors push the envelope for me in that respect and others, know exactly how to balance it all to where the enjoyment for me as a reader (or listener) is quite high indeed.

When I read about this particular series by Mr Williams, I knew I wanted to take a chance on reading it because it was something completely different than what I was thinking I’d want to be reading this Summer. As most of my readerly focus was on Romances, Romantic Suspense and Children’s Lit in respect to Middle Grade and YA novels of interest. Thereby, as I was looking over the information online about this series, I thought – wells, it has definitely been a long bit of time since I’ve taken a chance on something like that! And, why not? It felt like it would be a good fit for me and if anything, I love adrenaline rushing narratives which keep you on your toes and guessing each time you turn the pages!

Not to mention the fact I tend to watch more films of this nature than I do read a novel within the same genre – unsure when that particular tendency started to happen, but it is my intention to get back into reading and listening to these stories and not just rely on the films to entertain me! And, so, this marks my return and hopefully I can read more stories by other authors writing books in the same vein of interest as this series, too. Those authors include Clare Chase, Rachel Amphlett and J.S. Monroe (see also Review).

The Auctioneer
Subtitle: Introducing Chase Hardeman
by D.J. Williams
Source: Direct from Author

Chase Hardeman, a former special ops veteran, is left questioning whether his past covert missions in the Middle East are the cause of the chaos that's erupted in his life. Dreams of leaving a clandestine war behind and becoming a legend like his father in the auction arena teeter on the brink once he implements a contingency plan amidst an FBI investigation. Captivated by an old flame, Chase navigates the dark corridors of the collector car world in search of a myth. He believes finding this hidden treasure will reveal answers to a ghost buried in the desert of Mosul known to US intelligence as the Prodigal. On this perilous quest, Chase is drawn closer to a deadly threat as he leverages the criminal underworld to prevent a global terrorist attack. With the clock ticking, Chase is forced to relive the past in an imminent showdown and discovers the truth is not as it seems.

With echoes of Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne and Lee Child's Jack Reacher, D.J. Williams' Chase Hardeman series is thrilling and action-packed, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Fans of espionage and military thrillers will love this fast-paced story that takes readers from the deserts of the Middle East to the high-stakes world of international auctions.

Genres: Contemporary (Modern) Fiction (post 1945), Crime Fiction, Thriller

Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

ISBN: 9780578427775

on 25th February, 2019

Format: Paperback Edition

Pages: 450

The Chase Hardeman Thriller series:

The Auctioneer (Book One)

King of the Night (Book Two)

→ *NEW release 9th September, 2024

Published By: Forgotten Stories, LLC

Converse via: #ContemporaryThriller as well as #ChaseHardemanSeries

Available Formats: Trade paperback and Ebook

Posted Friday, 13 September, 2024 by jorielov in 21st Century, Book Review (non-blog tour), Contemporary Thriller, Content Note, Crime Fiction, Modern Day

Jorie’s #KidsLit Summer | feat. “The Phoenix and the Firebird” by Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes Crawford

Posted Thursday, 29 August, 2024 by jorielov Alexis Kossiakoff, Earnshaw Books, Scott Forbes Crawford, The Phoenix and the Firebird 0 Comments

Acquired Book By: I started to notice I was receiving quite a few enquiries on my blog the last few months – in respect, to authors reaching out to me directly about reviewing their novels and one publicity firm I hadn’t worked with in the past as well. Mr Crawford was one of those lovely authors who reached out to me and told me about the novel he co-wrote with his wife. I was taken by the premise of it and asked a few questions as potential trigger warnings for the book in respect to violence or other issues I might be unaware of as a potential reader. I have been actively asking these questions for certain stories in Children’s Lit (ie. Middle Grade and Young Adult) as more times than not, these stories can sometimes be inclusive of scenes and depictions I am not interested in experiencing as a reader. Blessedly his responses reassured my concerns, and I realised the novel was written for an Upper Middle Grade or early Young Adult reader in mind.

I received a complimentary copy of “The Phoenix and the Firebird” direct from the authors Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes Crawford in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Why this particular story impressed me and why I wanted to read it:

I have oft sought out the stories which speak to me to read – stories which have the tendency of being independently published and outside the scope of the mainstream, too. Especially if you consider all my top favourite reads within Speculative Fiction (ie. Fantasy, Science Fiction and Cosy Horror) are either published by Indie publishers, Small Trade Press or are self-published by the authors themselves. I love seeking out the stories which might not have a wide audience yet and are as eager to find us as readers as we desire to find them to read. I love finding stories which are uniquely told, share a different perspective and have incredible world-building. Which is why when I read the message from the author asking me to consider this for review, I was immediately smitten with curiosity.

I am also one of the few readers who doesn’t judge a book or select a book strictly on cover art alone – it has to have some teeth behind it in respect to plot, character and the overall arc of journey. I love to feel emotional connections to the stories I’m reading, too whilst finding myself carted off to someplace new – whether that is by location, time or dimensional shift. I love exploring timescapes as much as worlds – seeing how writers choose to tell their tales but also how they develop the world round the story, too. In essence, one of the reasons I love reading SpecFic is because it is redefined and evolved through each new writer who writes a story within its scope of the craft.

When it comes to Mythological Fiction – that is something I credit as an interest of my own to a fellow book blogger and friend of mine, Louise @ FoxesFairyTales who developed the readathon #Mythothon years ago. I was one of the first to join the ranks of readers and bloggers and the socially bookish to follow in her stead and see where that challenge took us. For the initial challenge, I took it a step further and sought out Mythological stories in Fantasy and Fiction which parlayed into the prompts. It is still an on-going quest of mine to read those books in full and to travel prompt by prompt of the other events she’s held over the years, too. I am endeavouring to participate in the current round of #Mythothon whilst being active with the community of the event via Discord this year as Round 9 Climb the World Tree begins this September!

Previously, I did start to dip my toes into Mythologically inclined stories or stories which bent into other aspects of SpecFic into their plots such as The Ghost Bride. However, by participating in #Mythothon off/on over the years, I’ve become much more inclined and open to seeking out a wider variety of stories in this scope of literature. Including my on-going project to read The Cycles of Norse Mythology.

And this brings to the book I am featuring today. My journey as a reader has been evolving these last eleven years, I’ve been a book blogger – each new story and writer or co-author team I find offers a new window into literature and a new way of experiencing a ‘story’. Thereby without the journey leading into today, I might not be reading The Phoenix and the Firebird because I might not have been ready to read it. I’m hunger for stories like this right now and I am grateful I started opening doors into books like this one a while ago now to where I can pivot and dive into a novel like this one and savour every single second of it.

This one is meant to be at the intersection Middle Grade and Young Adult – as it could appeal to both readers of those kinds of stories. What perked my interest the most was the premise itself – combined with the research the authors did on the story’s behalf and how they lived in China, too. Their a unique writing team and there was just something wicked special about this story that felt like a story I could really sink my teeth into and become entranced by it.

It is considered Historical Fantasy rooted in the authors’ own family’s journey during the Russian Revolution. Described as a merger of Chinese and Slavic myths – we entreat into the 1920s and follow in the footsteps of Lucy whose father has been kidnapped. I love stories which feature brave children facing incredible circumstances and how their journey is both external and internal, too. This one feels like the kind of story the Wyrd And Wonder community would appreciate, too, based on the fact it parallels both the fantastic and the reality in which we all know.

I did find this interview by the authors, but I didn’t read it until I read the story myself as I wanted to keep the experience of discovering the story to myself for a bit longer. Sometimes I read interviews ahead of reading stories and other times like now, I keep them to read afterwards. It just depends. I hope by sharing my thoughts and reactions on behalf of reading The Phoenix and the Firebird – I might inspire you to take a chance on reading it, too!

The Phoenix and the Firebird
by Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes Crawford
Illustrator/Cover Designer: Dinara Mirtalipova (cover artist)
Source: Direct from Author

War and revolution took almost everything from them. Now they must brave a world of magic and monsters to save what’s left.

A bullet-riddled train staggers into the station, delivering an ominous message that will change Lucy Markov’s destiny: her father, a Russian officer, has been kidnapped. A refugee who lost so much before she found a home in China, Lucy refuses to lose her last remaining family. Guided by a mysterious feather, she must cross into an enchanted realm to find him.

Lucy’s quick-witted, spirited friend Su joins her quest. Following the clues, they discover a warlord commanding an army of human soldiers and magical beasts has seized Lucy’s father – and now plots to invade their city. To save her father and their home, Lucy and Su must confront the criminal underworld, cross a haunted forest, and outsmart creatures they thought lived only in fairytales. With each step closer to the warlord’s lair, dangers test their courage and their bonds to each other. Will they unlock the secrets of the feather in time?

The Phoenix and the Firebird melds the turmoil of 1920s China with the majesty of Slavic and Chinese myth. Join Lucy and Su as they soar into a world woven from history and folklore and learn whether friendship is the strongest weapon of all.

Genres: Children's Literature, Middle Grade, Young Adult Fiction, YA Fantasy, Historical-Fantasy, Mythological Fantasy

Places to find the book:

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 978-9888843381

on 20th August, 2024

Format: Paperback Edition

Pages: 224

Published by: Earnshaw Books

Follow @EarnshawBooks (via Instagram)

Posted Thursday, 29 August, 2024 by jorielov in #EnterTheFantastic, 20th Century, Animals in Fiction & Non-Fiction, Autobiographical Fiction & Non-Fiction, Book Review (non-blog tour), Bookish Discussions, Childhood Friendship, Children's Literature, China, Chinese Folklore, Chinese Literature, Coming-Of Age, Compassion & Acceptance of Differences, Cosy Horror, Debut Author, Debut Novel, Earthen Magic, Equality In Literature, Family Life, Fantasy Fiction, Folklore, Folklore and Mythology, Geographically Specific, Good vs. Evil, Historical Fantasy, Indie Author, Inspired by Stories, Multi-cultural Characters and/or Honest Representations of Ethnicity, Russian Folklore, Russian Literature, Seers, Shapeshifters, Supernatural Creatures & Beings, Supernatural Fiction, Teenage Relationships & Friendships, the Nineteen Hundreds, Upper Middle Grade, Witches and Warlocks, World Literature, YA Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction

#WWWednesday Special Edition | #MyYASummer on Jorie Loves A Story | #JorieReads the young adult novels winking at her off her shelf!

Posted Wednesday, 28 August, 2024 by jorielov #MyYASummer, American Ballerina, Birds on a Wire, Boys and Girls Screaming, Chasing Eveline, Columbine's Tale, Ellen Plotkin Mulholland, How the Light Gets In, Katy Upperman, Kern Carter, Leslie Hauser, Nancy Lorenz, Rachel Nightingale, Stephanie Morrill, The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet 0 Comments

#ChildrensLit Summer | #KidsBooks Summer | #KidsLit Summer

#SummerReads | #SummerReading | #iReadYA

+ my own: #MyYASummer | #JorieLovesYA

(*) If you know of others, kindly add them to the comments!

reading from 1st July – September, 2024

→ DUE NOTE: Some of the books featured on #MyYASummer Reading List were books sent to me for review consideration at some point over the past years. A few were bookaways I won from the authors themselves. And, one was gifted to me by my parents (ie. Columbine’s Tale). Most of this post was written during the pandemic and shortly thereafter – I found it in my Drafts and decided since EVERYTHING within this post still applies to where I am right now as a reader and allows a bit more insight into my readerly life of the recent past and how long a road I’ve been taking to read more Young Adult Fiction – I decided to leave it nearly untouched and/or edited as it was originally written. Thereby consider this a TIME CAPSULE post which then shifts FORWARD to now.

A bit of background:

I have been wanting to read more #ChildrensLit for absolute ages – each time I would get close to tucking into these stories, something would divert my attention, and more hours were lost against the clock. This cycle has been repeating itself off/on for more years now than I dare say – if you take into consideration [2017] was the year my father recovered from his stroke (wherein I became his caregiver). Soon thereafter, I experienced a lot of different health afflictions mixed with a steady increase of frequencies in regard to my chronic migraines from [2018/19]. [2020] was the year which began on a rocky foundation – the fires were out of control in Australia, Puerto Rico had too many earthquakes and the whole world seemed to be holding in its breath. We had no idea what Spring would bring and that was an untold blessing in of itself. Uniquely enough – [2020] was also the year I saw a serious reduction in my migraines – wherein my first one which truly affected me was the weekend before I started co-hosting our 3rd Year of #WyrdAndWonder. Except of course for when June eclipsed that statistic and I was battling through more migraines, allergy attacks and toxic air issues than any person ought to have to deal with in a singular week. (see also tweets)

I had other things happening in the background of Jorie Loves A Story – both my parents had ER visits in March 2020; Mum and I were struck down by a serious cold in February 2020 (for three weeks!) and April 2020 to be honest just felt like a month to find a way to breathe again as March was seriously too overwhelming to process as it was lived. Not just for us as a family – but as a nation, as a global community and as a new path towards a future we’re all still sorting out as we shift out of the cycle of Covid-19. Nor how civil unrest and the cry for reform in social justice would write new chapters in American Civil Rights History in Spring and Summer, 2020.

Cue why March (2020) was far more involved than a global pandemic: I was so physically and emotionally spent by April 2020, I was streaming British & Aussie crime dramas via #AcornTV and had a true lack of interest and focus on reading, blogging and being socially bookish. Not that that is a bad thing – it’s just that I needed some personal space to re-group and find my groove again. We all do when we have little crises which arise in your everyday life. Of the two visits (to the ER) in [March 2020] – Mum’s was the most dire and thankfully had a happy ending. She’s nearly fully recovered from her injuries, and she did not have a TBI which was what put my heart in a lurch the moment the ER doc braced me for that possibility on the phone. Seriously – life happens in a series of blinks, you barely have time to breathe and have the courage to face whatever comes your way.

I have been working earnestly towards erasing my backlogue (of reviews) for several years and this challenge is helping me to become re-inspired to read after seasons of personal angst. Yet at the same time, I’ve been actively reducing my booked reviews and blog tours; a carry-over from [2016] when I first started to pull back my schedules on Jorie Loves A Story whilst being more mindful of what I want to read per each new Season which arrives which inspires me to seek out the genres I love most to soak inside.

Rewinding a bit: Let’s face it – JUNE [2018] was a wash-out. It barely blinked into view before it extinguished out of sight – I barely posted anything during its duration. The one thing I did accomplish was finding a way to bring ART back into my life and to resume KNITTING giving myself a way to put some Zen into my downtime. Especially imperative as I was ill more than well in Spring [2018 & 2019] as I had 5x migraines during #WyrdAndWonder Year 2 (May, 2019). It had been my hope on the arrival of the monsoon Summer rains starting as we entered into JULY (2019), I could hope my seasonal allergies would start to relent and give me back the clarity of calm I’ve missed all SPRING (for two years).

FAST FORWARD: [2019] marked the first Summer since [2015] I felt I could re-enter the stories and yet the only review I was able to release Summer [2019] when I first conceived this plan to read the initial batch of #MyYASummer was “Summer by Summer”. It proved to be a harder book to read than I first expected and yet, I still have good memories of the journey it took me on. Thus, this remains the ‘first’ book of this personal reading challenge and the rest was meant to follow suit this Summer (of 2020) – as I re-embark on my journey into reading Young Adult stories throughout the volcanic Summery months of June, July, August & September. [we’re just going to overlook the fact the first weeks of this re-genesis of a personal reading challenge was a bit delayed due to double shifts at work, volcanic heat and intensive lightning storms!]

Over the years from [2015-2020] I’ve strived to get current on my backlogue – encouraging myself with different readathons, personal challenges and goals and/or participating in book blogosphere events wherein I could interact with this beautiful community and/or find encouragement to reach my own goals as I move forward and backwards on my readerly journey. Each of these five years has held its own share of woes and challenges – as each of us has a lot of LIFE being lived #behindtheblog – yet, I have optimistically held the hope each new season, each new year would be the season and/or year wherein I could find the JOY again in spending time with these stories.

In August, of 2021 I did release another #MyYASummer review which was for the novel: The Twin Stars (see also Review) which was a very emotional read for me as well. It seems to be tradition now that each story I attempt to read for this personal challenge is not only emotionally convicting but difficult at times to get through the stories themselves.

Time Shift to 2024: I’d love to say I was able to host #MyYASummer during the last four years but despite an attempt to co-host this lovely event of mine with a fellow book blogger whose blog hasn’t been updated in a few years – I haven’t been able to bring this goal of mine into reality. Most of this post was written ages ago now but it gives a lot of insight into my readerly life and the angst of trying to focus on stories I dearly wanted to read during moments of my life which were far more adverse and challenging than originally thought. I decided to resume my readings of Young Adult Lit this Summer and even then, that particular goal shifted again. I had my sights on starting in June not August – but alas, I decided, ANY YA book I can read before the 30th of September is going to be a win for me as a reader because I’ve wanted to have a microfocus on this section of Literature for so many years now! It is my hope this kicks off a new journey each Summer (ie. starting in June hopefully in 2025!) and a tradition of reading YA for four dedicated months.

I look forward to your visits as I release my ruminations on these stories whilst if you have any suggestions for #mustreads after those stories are discussed, I’d love to hear your comments & receive a revolving list of recommendations. Kindly read my Review Policy in case you are not aware of my personal bookish turn-offs, etc. As I am rather particularly particular about the stories, I seek out to read and/or review.

The exact order of how I will be reading these stories is UNKNOWN as I am simply going to be picking them up to read and seeing how I get on with them. I will say that all of the titles I’ve chosen to read this year are very emotional reads and with intense storylines attached to them.

#MyYASummer Reads as they generate over the years:

Summer by Summer by Heather Burch | #SRC2015 via #YASRC 2015 | read in 2019
The Twin Stars by Bridgette D. Portman | read in 2021
Birds on a Wire by Ellen Plotkin Mulholland | DNF August, 2024
Columbine’s Tale by Rachel Nightingale
American Ballerina by Nancy Lorenz | sequel to The Strength of Ballerinas
Chasing Eveline by Leslie Hauser | #ReviewPit 2019
How the Light Gets In by Katy Upperman | publisher ARC 2019
Boys and Girls Screaming by Kern Carter
The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet by Stephanie Morrill

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

#MyYASummer
2024 Backlogue Reviews

Posted Wednesday, 28 August, 2024 by jorielov in #MyYASummer, Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, JLAS Update Post, Reading Challenges

A NEW #MiddleGrade Heroine to Celebrate | Introducing “The Legendary Mo Seto” by A.Y. Chan

Posted Thursday, 15 August, 2024 by jorielov A.Y. Chan, Aladdin Books, Simon & Schuster, The Legendary Mo Seto 4 Comments

Acquired Book By: I started to notice I was receiving quite a few enquiries on my blog the last few months – in respect, to authors reaching out to me directly about reviewing their novels and one publicity firm I hadn’t worked with in the past as well. Ms Chan was the first author I responded back positively towards because of the note she attached to her query and how much the story itself resonated with me as a reader. I appreciate writers and/or publicists who take the time to look over my blog and know if their story and/or characters will be a good fit for me as a reader. I knew from what she shared with me; this particular story would be right up my street so to speak.

I received a complimentary copy of “The Legendary Mo Seto” direct from the author A.Y. Chan in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Why this particular story impressed me and why I wanted to read it:

I have had a long-held fascination and interest in Martial Arts – from the days wherein I practiced and trained in Tai Chi Chaun to the hours I’ve spent watching television series and/or movies which had a focus on Martial Arts, too. It isn’t often I find a writer who will put those elements into their stories or a grounding presence of Martial Arts as an important part of their character(s) lives, too. From that aspect of the novel, I was fully hooked and invested in curiosity to read the story! I wanted to know more about Mo Seto right away and find out what fuelled her passion for not just the practice of learning Martial Arts but the competitive side of her character as well.

However, there was a hint of a hidden secret history about her family and that out of her own courage to pursue the truth, she would find a lot to be revealled. From that angle of it, I was most intrigued, too. The last time I saw a story cleverly hide a family history secret was when I was watching the first season of Ms. Marvel and it truly captured my imagination. I need to follow-up with that series and see if they produced a second series, but I wasn’t sure if they would as the lead character was showcased in the film The Marvels.

The fact this novel was written for a Middle Grade audience also was well timed for me to read it – as I’ve been wanting to re-focus more on my readerly interests in both MG Lit and YA Lit – especially over the course of Summer. I had this idea to focus on YA Reads over Summer for quite a few years but either the intensity of storms (ie. severe lightning) would kick me offline or life would interfere, and I’d lose the hours to read the stories themselves – something always seemed to distract me from my efforts every Summer, until now. Mostly as our weather patterns are changing and the storms seem to be coming closer to the end of Summer than at the start of it, too.

I also love finding new heroines and heroes to champion in Middle Grade – especially when I find a book for MG Readers which is lovingly written for an MG Audience and isn’t writ too adult or with inclusions which would make it more Upper YA than Middle Grade. That seems to be the case a lot of the times these days in publishing and that is why I love celebrating writers who still keep the innocence and the adventure alive and well for the audience in which they are writing for rather than rushing ahead with more adult themes or content that isn’t always (I feel) suited for that audience. We all have to grow up eventually but sometimes I think we forget that there is something special and beautiful about still allowing kids to have wicked fun with their imaginations with stories that don’t have to make them feel like they need to hasten their own journey into adulthood.

The Legendary Mo Seto
by A.Y. Chan
Source: Direct from Author

Mo Seto, martial arts movie star! Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it? If only there wasn’t a height restriction to audition. But 12-year-old Modesty (Mo) Seto has never let her height get in the way before, not when she became a black belt, or when she fought the meanest boy in her class, and she’s not going to let it stop her this time! Now if only she can figure out a way to grow five inches and fool everyone at the auditions… Join Mo on an adventure (and audition) of a lifetime and find out if powerful things really do come in small packages!

Genres: Children's Literature, Middle Grade, Martial Art History

Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 9781665937320

on 4th June, 2024

Format: Hardcover Edition

Pages: 320

Published by: Aladdin Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster)

Follow @SimonTeen (via Instagram)

Posted Thursday, 15 August, 2024 by jorielov in 21st Century, Book Review (non-blog tour), California, Children's Literature, Debut Author, Debut Novel, Equality In Literature, Family Life, Father-Daughter Relationships, Geographically Specific, Martial Arts, Middle Grade Novel, Modern Day, Multi-cultural Characters and/or Honest Representations of Ethnicity, Post-911 (11th September 2001), Taekwondo

#TheSundayPost | XIX | The STORIES are calling to me!

Posted Sunday, 11 August, 2024 by jorielov A.Y. Chan, Alexis Kossiakoff, Anna J. Stewart, Caleb Wygal, Clare Chase, D.J. Williams, Danielle Thorne, Death Washes Ashore, In Every Life Rea Frey, Scott Forbes Crawford, The Antique Store Detective, The Beekeeper Next Door, The Legendary Mo Seto, The Phoenix and the Firebird 5 Comments

[Official Blurb] The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog. This is your news post, so personalize it! Include as much as you want or as little. Be creative, it can be a vlog or just a showcase of your goodies. Link up once a week or once a month, you decide. Book haul can include library books, yard sale finds, arcs and bought books..share them!

Enter your link on the post-

Sundays beginning at 12:01 am (CST) (link will be open all week)

Link back to this post or this blog

Visit others who have linked up

Read this week’s #TheSundayPost!

Um, where did Jorie go?

I am sure you must be W O N D E R I N G

where did Jorie go and why has she been radio silent for most of Summer when she was off to such a wicked good start back in July?

Oy vie. Where to begin?

The long story short is Summer took a few left turns and twists when I least expected anything to happen at all. And, that is where life keeps you humble. I endured two work-related injuries between late June and early July; exactly a fortnight and a day apart from each other. Mind you, I never missed a day of work – except for the days in which I was injured as I had to leave early. I’m not one of those persons who believes their okay even if they feel their okay – I’d rather get that confirmed medically speaking than to risk something worse to afflict me lateron. Trust me if you would have asked me “Do you think you’ll ever have to use workman’s comp?” My ready answer a year ago in June would have been, “I don’t think I will.” Famous last words. I’ve used it three times – the first was in December, 2023. Oyy. Sometimes you get more lemons than lemonade in life, but it is how you adjust to those circumstances that determines how you get through them.

Shortly after I sustained my injuries I started to fill in for other coworkers – some were out on sick leave and others had things come up in life none of us can foresee or plan for ahead of time. I didn’t mind the OT or the extra hours – as I enjoy my work but of course, the downside was I had less time away from work and I had to ‘let go’ of my regular days off and return to having halves and quarters again. Something I changed after ten months of that kind of routine whilst balancing two jobs (one day, one night) and realising I was slowing burning out. You can’t always burn the candle at both ends and expect not to feel overly fatigued. Thus, despite the fact my injuries were on the more minor side of the ledger, they had their quirks in respect to healing. It took a long time to ‘feel’ like myself after both of them and even then, I treaded lightly at both jobs and took extra care to be mindful of my limitations.

Whilst that was happening, if I had any spare time off, I will be honest – I was asleep. I simply didn’t have the extra energy to read or blog or even sort out a quick update post for Insta. I was mentally exhausted as much as I was physically. Some weeks are just harder than others. This is why I’m blessed my hours are becoming my own again. I have my days ‘off’ restored and it feels good all round. I hadn’t realised the positive change it had in my life until I went back to the ‘old way’ of not having full days off. Oy. How I lasted those 10 months is anyone’s guess!

Ergo, my readerly queue of stories sort of stalled out. I was on such a positive road back into reading – I had three Christmas stories I wanted to read in July, too. I still intend to read them, but I’ve set them aside for now. I’ll eventually wind back round to them, though, don’t worry. I love a wicked good holiday read. This is why this particular Sunday I’m focusing on the two stories which have smitten me with curiosity and are being READ RIGHT NOW. Whilst adding a book to the queue to be read next, too.

I happily celebrated my blog’s 11th birthday on Insta sharing THIS POST on the 6th of August. It is hard to believe it has been 11 years this August since I first launched Jorie Loves A Story LIVE into the world. I recapped all the feels of this milestone on that post, too. Finding messages awaiting me to read throughout the day was beautiful and humbling, too. I am so dearly grateful for this journey I first undertook in 2013 and I am wicked happy to be continuing it now. The best way I know how to celebrate all my lovely milestones of this blog and of being socially bookish is to relate to you the gratitude and the JOY I’ve felt over the years – engaging with readers, book bloggers, authors and everyone else who chooses to be socially bookish. It is a wicked lovely community, and I am blessed to be a part of it.

What Jorie is currently reading:

The Legendary Mo Seto by A.Y. Chan

The Phoenix and the Firebird by Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes Crawford

You might be curious what inspired the graphics I included on my collage graphic? Cats are cheekily one of the best mood lifters you can have in your life, and I have been blessed with cats my entire life. I currently have two lovely cats in my life, but I used to have a trio of cats who were once a quartet. Thereby the graphic was celebrating ALL the cats I’ve had as companions in fur at one point or another in my life. Whilst the coffee was a nudge and a nod to the fact over the score of Summer one of the comfort of joys, I’ve had lately was finding a coffeehouse who knows how to brew a wicked lovely Carmel Macchiato which is both soothing as it is uplifting. Whilst dragonflies for me are like butterflies – they represent Hope, New Beginnings and a turning of tides.

I have been reading The Legendary Mo Seto for a solid two months now! I first began reading the story when it arrived by post, and I shared a lovely snapshot of that JOY I felt when it arrived on Insta via THIS POST. Whilst it also popped up in my last #WWWednesday Post and on Insta as well. Yesterday, on my 11th blog’s birthday I made the most progress yet – aside from a few days of convalescing after my injuries as although I didn’t miss work, I had a blessed day off after both injuries and before I was starting to fill in for others. I didn’t want to rush reading the story – Mo is such a wicked new heroine in Middle Grade Fiction – you want to experience her life as she’s living it. Chan has such a refreshing voice too as a writer – her style of story is entertaining as it is imaginative. She has a way of merging the Mythological with the Martial Art Histories of China which leaves you wanting more and more of her vision of the story.

It is also rooted in a coming-of-age tale of a young girl who is just starting to find her own wings to fly into the world with confidence and moxie. To tackle the challenges of life and of growing up whilst remaining humble and kind along the journey, too. She has a fierce sidekick in her best friend Nacho and an interesting family dynamic and history – as a lot of her family is shrouded in secrets and her more immediate family isn’t oft involved in the storyline as it is focused on her choices and her journey rather than showcasing her parents and sibling. I know there is a reason for that as well but NO SPOILERS.

I have loved becoming lost in this story and travelling alongside Mo as we adventure after the unknown and try to root out the truths along the way, too. Expect to read my thoughts and reactions to this novel SOON. I am devouring it bit by bit and cannot wait to finally share my full thoughts on its behalf. I will especially be forever grateful the author found my book blog and gave me a chance to experience her story and become a cheerleader for Mo.
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Posted Sunday, 11 August, 2024 by jorielov in Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blogosphere Events & Happenings, Bookish Memes, JLAS Update Post, Jorie Loves A Story, The Sunday Post