Wakela Runen's World

Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. Anyone who has been following politics and social reform issues for the past decade is aware of the ongoing fight to legalize same sex marriages.  Not only in the US, but in other countries as well.  One of the biggest proponents for allowing this tidal wave of change is the media.  And not just mainstream media either.  Social media plays an important part as well. This book focuses on how the media has played an active role in allowing people’s views to come forward about same sex marriage and to help gas up the engines of change.  But this book is so much more then that.  It also showcases the Gay Rights movement from the very beginnings.  Some of the pieces that are portrayed in it are heart wrenching.  While others are heart warming.   If you ever wanted to read a history of the Gay Rights movement and how media played a role in its progress, then

Description A Merry Humbug Christmas features two holiday romance novellas from hilarious and heartwarming author Sandra D. Bricker. -- the perfect gift to yourself or someone else at this most wonderfully stressful time of year. In "Once Upon a Jingle Bell," A Bah! Humbug cruise to the Mexican Riviera is Joss Snow’s answer to this year’s quest to avoid the holidays completely; at least until she’s rebooked on a different kind of cruise altogether. Candy canes, holly wreaths, reindeer and ornaments seem to be stalking her on the 12 Days of Christmas holiday cruise extravaganza. An escape back to land is her only goal . . . until she meets a kindred spirit in rugged Irishman Patrick Brenneman, and then the game is on! Avoid Christmas festivities at all costs . . . except maybe for that one stop under the mistletoe. In "It Came Upon a Midnight Deer," Reese’s guilt over abandoning best friend Joss on their holiday tradition of avoiding all things Christmas is tru

  Disclaimer:  I received this book free from Henery Press in exchange for an honest review.  I did not receive any form of compensation. Oh how I wished I would have known about this series earlier!  The main character, Rose, was raised in a snooty upper class home.  She didn't like the lifestyle, so against her mother's pleas, she left it and started working as a waitress in a diner.  Through her job as a waitress, she has run into a wide range of interesting people. This book actually had two concurrent mysteries that Rose attempts to solve.  First and foremost is the mystery of who killed Delia.  The second is the case of who stole the replica Starfleet uniform that was autographed by William Shatner. Being a huge Star Trek fan (and yes, I dressed up in costume for conventions), the second case was a purely magical bonus for me.  I had previously belonged to the real StarFleet Fan Club and KLAW.  In the book they are SPuRTs and KAW.  But yes, I could definitely see many of

Description A feminist film critic’s thoughtful, outspoken memoir about transgender and family On a visit to New York, the brother of well-known film critic Molly Haskell dropped a bombshell: Nearing age sixty, and married, he had decided to become a woman. In the vein of Jan Morris’s classic Conundrum and Jennifer Finney Boylan's She's Not There, a transgender memoir, Haskell’s My Brother My Sister gracefully explores a delicate subject, this time from the perspective of a family member. Haskell chronicles her brother Chevey’s transformation through a series of psychological evaluations, grueling surgeries, drug regimens, and comportment and fashion lessons as he becomes Ellen. Despite Haskell’s liberal views on gender roles, she was dumbfounded by her brother’s decision. With candor and compassion, she charts not only her brother’s journey to becoming her sister, but also her own path from shock, confusion, embarrassment, and devastation to acceptance, empathy, and love.

Description Coming of age is never easy, but for Ember Mae Roberts and her twin sister, Lorrie Beth, it may boil down to a matter of life or death. Growing up in the mountains of West Virginia in the 1950's presents unique challenges for any child, but for talented young Ember Mae, it means bearing the burdens of an adult, as she quickly learns her expected role is that of her sister's keeper. When a schoolyard bully sets his brutal sights on a fragile Lorrie Beth, Ember Mae jumps to her defense. Terror abounds at every turn as the tormenting escalates. What begins as a normal rite of passage for children since the beginning of time ends in a final tragic confrontation that leaves Lorrie Beth shattered. Both sisters make a pact to keep a deadly secret in order to heal, but Lorrie Beth has always been weak. Ember Mae fears she’ll crack under the strain and bring their world crashing down around them. What Ember Mae doesn't realize is that she and Lorrie Beth aren't the

Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. As both a Unitarian Universalist and a Celtic Pagan, I have always been interested in learning about the various other pagan pantheons.  I had already known the basics of Norse mythology.  However, this book discusses the various spiritual practices that someone who is Asatru would utilize.  I loved that there were simple invocations and prayers that you could use in your every day life.  I know for me, my Celtic Paganism isn’t something that I put on and off like a coat for special occasions.  It is part of my very fabric.  And I am sure that Asatru is the same for those who practice it as well.  So if you are like me and wish to learn more about this religion, then I definitely suggest this book as a first start.  It will give you all the basics and guidelines.  It will not go too in-depth as it is just an introduction, but you will glean much informa

Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. Being a Celtic Pagan, Faeries and Elementals are nothing new to me.  However, I always love to read about other people’s thoughts on the Faerie Realm. Alexandra Chauran teaches how to talk to Faeries, how to see Faeries, how to work with Faeries, and even how to get rid of them if that is what you want. Plus she details quite a few different types of Fae from around the world.  The author provides various rituals, prayers, and salutations that can be used to address or work with the various Fae.  When she discusses the four realms of the Fae – fire, earth, water, and air – she provides exercises and meditations to be performed for each realm.  These help you to understand how you can utilize the Faeries and Elementals in your daily life. I especially loved the section on Dreams and Water elementals.  I have decided to include this in my regular practi