Review by DMac: Balefire, by Jordan L. Hawk

Balefire, by Jordan L. Hawk
Series: Whyborne and Griffin, Book 10
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: July 13,  2017

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

DMac Recaps the LA Times Festival of Books and YallWest

Summer is Book Convention Season, and the Just Love team is out and about! (We’re also all traveling, so apologies for the delays on getting these recaps up. –el)

I had the busiest few weeks thanks to these two events, but it was so worth it to go! Sorry in advance for the wonky picture quality. It was SUPER sunny for both events and my phone camera is already not the best, but I did what I could.

DMac Interviews Briana Lawrence, author of “I Am Magical”!

MagnifiqueNOIR: I am Magical by Briana Lawrence is a black, queer, magical girl adventure that readers can’t stop raving about! Bree Danvers is a plus-size heroine ready to save her city from monsters along with her team, in this gorgeous novel perfect for fans of Sailor Moon.

After reading I am Magical (review here!) I decided to reach out to her on twitter! She was gracious enough to answer my questions and talk about her book, as well as what it’s like to be a black, geeky woman.

DMac Reviews: I Felt a Funeral, In My Brain by Will Walton

I Felt a Funeral, In My Brain, by Will Walton
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: May 29, 2018

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Review by DMac: I Am Magical by Briana Lawrence

I Am Magical, by Briana Lawrence
Series: magnifiqueNOIR, Book 1
Publisher: Sewn Together Reflections
Release Date: September 7, 2017

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

DMac Goes to Wonder Con 2018!

So last weekend I was lucky enough to attend Wonder Con in Anaheim, CA on Saturday! I went with my roommate and her friends so we had a fun group going.

A taste of the chaos within…

MLB Pride Games 2018

Happy Opening Weekend, baseball fans!

Major League Baseball (MLB) is one of the biggest sports in the United States, and has taken great strides in recent years towards inclusivity. In 2018, most (if not all) of the MLB teams will host a Pride event at one of their regular season games.

Maybe you’re a die-hard fan of baseball. Maybe you’re just looking for a nice way to spend a summer evening. Or maybe you’re just looking to get some cool rainbow merch with your local sports team on it. Whatever your reasons, we’re here to tell you all about the MLB Pride Games in 2018!

(Please Note: In order to get any exclusive Pride Game item(s), attendees MUST purchase a ticket via a special event code/link! Wherever possible, we’ve included information about how to buy these promotional tickets.)

Here is the schedule of confirmed Pride Games so far (with Home Team listed first):

The Prince and the Dressmaker, by Jen Wang (and PAPERBACK GIVEAWAY!)

The Prince and the Dressmaker, by Jen Wang
Publisher: First Second (Macmillan)
Release Date: February 13, 2018

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Hockey is For Everyone Month: DMac’s Thoughts

February is Hockey is For Everyone month in the National Hockey League. The NHL devotes one month each season to elevating diversity and inclusivity in professional sports, pairing with organizations like You Can Play to help bring together “all people who play or watch hockey, including fans of every race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and those with disabilities.” (Source) Using the hashtag #HockeyIsForEveryone, the League hopes to spread awareness and open conversation on social media.

This year’s Hockey is For Everyone is especially exciting, as the NHL announced several ambassadors to help promote the month, including Angela James, a black hockey player and one of the first women to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and Harrison Browne, the first openly transgender player in professional hockey. And this year we’ll see hundreds of NHL players warm up before games using rainbow Pride Tape on their sticks, showing their commitment to including LGBTQ+ players and fans in the sport.

The Just Love team has a few hockey fans among our ranks, so over the next couple of days we’ll take some time to talk about what #HockeyIsForEveryone means to us, as well as how (and if!) events like these make sports more welcoming.

Also check out Part 1 | Part 3

Review by DMac: Down by Contact, by Santino Hassell

Please note this book was reviewed prior to the revelation of author’s identity and actions. Please read this statement from Riptide Publishing for more information. [Note: Berkely has terminated its relationship with Santino Hassell.]

Down by Contact, by Santino Hassell
Series: The Barons, Book 2
Publisher: InterMix (Berkley Romance)
Release Date: January 16, 2017

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars