CAKEWALK: A Novel (The Cake Series) by Douglas Bell (Bumbershoot Press) (26 Reviews)    Price verified 3 hours ago

"Your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. Yes, I gave this book a six-star rating out of a possible five. Where to even begin with how much I loved this book." Goodreads Reviewer, Transgender Bookworm Die-hard traditional Texas is the backdrop where success and nonconformity cannot coexist for Bryan Hicks, an African-American divorced father of two kids, Lindsey, the athletic golden child, and Lance, the unorthodox queer thespian. Bryan's mother loves bragging to her high-society girlfriends about Bryan's accomplishments and promotion to VP at a large multinational oil/gas company. Bryan vigorously steers clear of conversations with his mother about who he is dating because Bryan has been secretly dating Nadia, a transgender woman. Cakewalk is contemporary fiction based on Douglas Bell's past experiences. Bell speaks from an African-American heteronormative (privileged) cisgender voice to candidly expose the trauma of transphobia and homophobia. Bell wants to humanize the struggle of trans women to live on their terms. Bell asks us to believe in ourselves, trust in ourselves, and don't let society define who you are. There is enough courage within you to be the person you want to be. Editorial Reviews Goodreads Reviewer, Erikka I must say this book absolutely had me by the first chapter. Each character represented someone i have have met or known and truly had me hooked. The fact that as I dove deeper into each page it was as if I was watching a movie of so many lives play out right before me. This up and coming author has truly snatched my attention and made me reflect on the perspectives of others as well as the symbolism throughout this read. If you want to laugh, cry, feel anger, empathy, and reflection on how and who you are as well as get a little hot and heavy this is definitely the right book for you. Step into a world you may have never known existed and watch the similarities of what all humans long for no matter the pronoun.

Genre: Literary Fiction

The Second Sun: Volumes I & II by Kristof Morrow (30 Reviews)    Price verified 7 hours ago

The plot of The Second Sun is an allegory for the financial inequality between the older and younger generations. There's an island paradise where there's elders living a second life after retiring from their human forms, and live amongst their chosen few, who also live for thousands of years in relative peace. However, only those welcome can actually approach the island and survive. Everyone else on earth is made to endure a game of thrones type world, except I omitted much of the overt cruelty you find in that series. I also forgo the notions of racism and sexism. l wanted to adopt the spirit of Tolkien, but expand that virtue of "anyone, no matter how small, can achieve great things," to every kind of human so it feels to be an adventure for everyone! I was diagnosed with Tourette's when I was 27, and so it's developed my understanding of the theft of agency and being marginalized for something I cannot control. It's also structured similarly to game of thrones, in that the first three chapters are different parts of the world with different characters, and you learn how they are related as the story progresses. The Second Sun is, above all things, an adventure made animate by hundreds of distinct characters across half a world, written to confess through prose and tale our tendencies poisoned by Dickensian bleakness, and to wholly ameliorate that cynicism by the light and courage of those who live and labor for a just peace.

Genre: Literary Fiction

The Last Letter (The Letter Series Book 1) by Kathleen Shoop (2,658 Reviews)    Price verified 9 hours ago

"Gripping historical fiction -- A tale of two women finding meaning behind all that went wrong in their lives. A timeless tale of redemption with the best plot-twist at the end I've seen in a long, long time. Can't wait for book two!" New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Melissa Foster Katherine wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't found the letter... In the summer of 1905 Katherine Arthur's mother arrives on her doorstep, dying, forcing her to relive a past she wanted to forget. When Katherine was young, the Arthur family had been affluent city dwellers until shame sent them running for the prairie, into the unknown. Taking her family, including young Katherine, to live off the land was the last thing Jeanie Arthur had wanted, but she would do her best to make a go of it. For Jeanie's husband Frank it had been a world of opportunity. Dreaming, lazy Frank. But, it was a society of uncertainty--a domain of natural disasters, temptation, hatred, even death. ?? Ten-year-old Katherine had loved her mother fiercely, put her trust in her completely, but when there was no other choice, and Jeanie resorted to extreme measures on the prairie to save her family, she tore Katherine's world apart. Now, seventeen years later, and far from the homestead, Katherine has found the truth - she has discovered the last letter. After years of anger, can Katherine find it in her heart to understand why her mother made the decisions that changed them all? Can she forgive and finally begin to heal before it's too late? **Independent Publisher Awards** 2011 Gold Medal, Best Regional Fiction-Midwest **National Indie Excellence Book Awards** 2011 Finalist Award-Historical Fiction 2011 Finalist Award-Regional Fiction **USA Best Books 2011 Awards** Winner, Fiction--Western Finalist, Fiction--Historical Finalist, Best New Fiction **International Book Awards** 2011 Finalist Award-Historical Fiction 2011 Finalist Award-Best New Fiction

Genre: Literary Fiction

Pretty Little Flowers by Joyce Kay (9 Reviews)    Price verified one hour ago

What I wouldn't give for you. I would sacrifice everything. I would give my life. All you have to do is ask and I would stand upon the peak of a great mountain and fall to my certain death. In Victorian England, everything is done according to the rules of society, but when the Duke of Fetterfield dies, his daughter discovers a freedom that had been denied to her; the freedom to marry for love. And when Mr York comes back into her life, she believes her prayers have finally been answered. But her father's death also uncovers a shocking secret that could destroy them all. Pretty Little Flowers by Joyce Kay is about the choices we make, and how those choices force us to confront the truth of who we are.

Genre: Literary Fiction