Book Review: The Last Watchman Of Old Cairo by Michael David Lukas

Author: Michael David Lukas
Series: N/A
Audience: +18
Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: March 13th 2018
Release Date: Spiegel & Grau
My Rating: 5 Cups
Source: Penguin Random House
Blurb (from Goodreads):

In this spellbinding novel, a young man journeys from California to Cairo to unravel centuries-old family secrets.

Joseph, a literature student at Berkeley, is the son of a Jewish mother and a Muslim father. One day, a mysterious package arrives on his doorstep, pulling him into a mesmerizing adventure to uncover the tangled history that binds the two sides of his family. For generations, the men of the al-Raqb family have served as watchmen of the storied Ibn Ezra Synagogue in Old Cairo, built at the site where the infant Moses was taken from the Nile. Joseph learns of his ancestor Ali, a Muslim orphan who nearly a thousand years earlier was entrusted as the first watchman of the synagogue and became enchanted by its legendary--perhaps magical--Ezra Scroll. The story of Joseph's family is entwined with that of the British twin sisters Agnes and Margaret, who in 1897 depart their hallowed Cambridge halls on a mission to rescue sacred texts that have begun to disappear from the synagogue.

The Last Watchman of Old Cairo is a moving page-turner of a novel from acclaimed storyteller Michael David Lukas. This tightly woven multigenerational tale illuminates the tensions that have torn communities apart and the unlikely forces--potent magic, forbidden love--that boldly attempt to bridge that divide.

Praise for The Last Watchman of Old Cairo

"A beautiful, richly textured novel, ambitious and delicately crafted, The Last Watchman of Old Cairo is both a coming-of-age story and a family history, a wide-ranging book about fathers and sons, religion, magic, love, and the essence of storytelling. This book is a joy."--Rabih Alameddine, author of the National Book Award finalist An Unnecessary Woman

*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

Blog Tour Book Review: Protected by Lexi Blake

   

Author: Lexi Blake
Series: Masters and Mercenaries #16.5, 1001 Dark Nights #84
Audience: +18
Genre: Erotic Romance, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
Release Date: July 31st 2018
My Rating: 5 Cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Their first chance at love ended in heartbreak

Wade Rycroft fell in love with Geneva Harris when she was the smartest girl in his class. The rodeo star and the shy academic made for an odd pair, but their chemistry was undeniable. They made plans to get married after high school. Those plans changed when Genny broke his heart. Joining the Army gave him a chance to leave that life behind. News that Genny married the town’s golden boy let Wade know that he could never go home again.

A chance encounter rekindles an old flame

Fifteen years later, he’s found his place in the world and tried to forget the woman who left him standing in the rain. After leaving the Army he forged a new life as a bodyguard at McKay-Taggart, but he still feels incomplete. When his brother’s wedding brings him home to Broken Bend, Texas, he walks into a storm of scandal. Genny’s marriage has dissolved, the town has turned against her, and someone is making threats. Seeing her again reawakens feelings he thought were long gone, and he worries that staying close enough to help her could be too much to bear.

Their reunion just might kill them both

After an attempt is made on Genny’s life, Wade can’t refuse to help her. Watching over her day and night, it’s clear that having her back in his life could be the thing to finally make him whole. When the danger follows them back to Dallas, their second chance at love could be over before it even begins.

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

**Disclaimer: This book contains mature content. As a result, my review may contain references to content intended for mature audiences only.    

Spinning The Yarn: Comic Books

Spinning The Yarn is a weekly feature here at Ruby's Books in which I share some of my favorite knitting and crochet patterns inspired by books, with the occasional movie and TV show fandoms. 

Hello my dear geeky bookish people and welcome to another edition of Spinning The Yarn.

As you probably know if you've been around for a while, about two or three years ago I discovered comic books and how wonderful they are. Since then, I haven't stopped reading as many comic books as I can possibly get my hands on. My increasing love of comic books is slowly morphing into me wanting to wear comic books.

Sadly, there aren't as many freebie patterns out there that I truly liked. Most are charts (we'll get to them) or dolls. And that's just for Marvel and DC patterns. A lot of the wearables, like mittens and hats, are for kids. I'm not as good yet in my knitting and crocheting to know how to transform these patterns and make them adult-sized.

Also, there aren't many patterns for all other comic books that are super famous, like The Smurfs,  Asterix, or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the last one being my favorite animated tv show ever growing up). Out of everything I discovered, I fell in love with a few patterns and I decided to share with you. Let's get started!

Book Review: To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Author: Alexandra Christo
Series: N/A
Audience: YA
Genre: Fantasy, YA, Retelling
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Release Date: March 6th 2018
My Rating: 5 Cups
Source: Netgalley
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from Hot Key Books in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

Cover Reveal: Braid of Sand by Alicia Gaile

Today I’m helping reveal the cover for the adventure-packed Rapunzel retelling from Alicia Gaile, Braid of Sand! The cover was designed by Alicia Gaile. Are you ready to see the cover? Have a look below!

 

In the shade of a tower hidden in the Realm of the Gods grows a sacred tree tied to all life in Phalyra. Entrusted with its protection, Raziela—the last surviving priestess of the Great Mother, Naiara—spends her days honing herself into a weapon worthy to serve the goddess.

Meanwhile, mankind is turning from the old ways. Now the tree is dying and time is running out. Hoping to save it by rekindling the people’s faith, a desperate Raziela commits an act of sacrilege to perform a miracle.

But when the disillusioned Phalyrians receive a gift from the gods, they send their most ruthless mercenary to hunt down its source. His arrival forces Raziela to question everything she knows. As the two execute a careful dance of secrets and hard truths, they pit the fate of humanity against the wrath of the goddess.

Title: Braid of Sand
Author: Alicia Gaile
Release Date: November 6, 2018
Publisher: Snowy Wings Publishing

Author Website: aliciagaile.wordpress.com
Twitter: @alicia_gaile
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authoraliciagaile
Instagram: @authoraliciagaile

You can add Braid of Sand to your Goodreads here!

Monthly Wrap-up: July 2018

Hello lovely book lovers!

July was a pretty good month. I got to read 12 books, I made some pretty good progress on some of my reading challenges and I participated in two readathons. I'd say that's good, wouldn't you?

Let's get started!