Zoë Aviya Harris's Blog, page 2
February 13, 2023
Black History Month Day 10: Colin Powell
Colin Powell was born April 5, 1937, in New York City.
Powell attended the city college of New York, quickly beginning his service within the US military as Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). Graduating in 1958, he was then commissioned as second lieutenant within the US army. He then retired in 1993, founding America’s Promise– An organization helping at-risk children. He was then nominated by President George W Bush for secretary state December 16, 2000.
September 11, 2001, the Bush Administration began experiencing challenges regarding the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
In 2004, POwell then announced his resignation in 2004. He then returned to his earlier life within the Private Sector.
October 18, 2022, Colin Powell passed away due to complications of COVID.
RESOURCES
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Colin-Powell
https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/powell-colin-luther
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/18/us/politics/colin-powell-dead.html
IMAGE CREDIT:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/18/politics/colin-powell-dies/index.html
February 7, 2023
To Capture a Heart Cover Reveal Date
January 30, 2023
Feburary 2023 Upcoming Releases
Alright! What's up, readers? And I apoligize for the lack of activity. I often times won't post the first month of the new year, and long-term readers may know this. But hey, it's a new month. Not only a new month, but LOVE month.
You know what that means...
You are listening to On Air with Zoe Washington . . .
Two years ago, Zoe Washington helped clear Marcus’ name for a crime he didn’t commit. Now her birth father has finally been released from prison and to an outpouring of community support. So, everything should be perfect. Right?
With Zoe and Marcus now co-workers at Ari’s Cakes, it’s true life has never been better. But when Marcus reveals his lifelong dream of opening his own restaurant, Zoe becomes determined to help him achieve it—with her as his pastry chef of course. She still has a lot of new desserts to invent!
However, starting a new place is much more difficult than it looks, and despite being innocent—Marcus is having a harder time re-entering society than anyone expected. Determined to find a solution, Zoe starts a podcast to bring light to the struggles exonerees experience and fundraise for their restaurant.
Between hosting her show, testing recipes, managing shifting friend dynamics, and trying to make sure Marcus and her stepdad each have enough time with her—Zoe is stretched thin. She knows the power of using her voice. But with waning public interest in their story, will anyone still be listening?
(Release: 2.14.23)
NerdCrush by Alisha Emrich
Ramona Lambert is a typical shy, artistic sixteen-year-old. She has a best friend whom she’s known since they were in diapers; parents who love her; a love for cosplay; and a crush on the cute boy in her class.
The only problem? Her best friend moved away; her parents don't quite understand her love of cosplay; and she is pretty sure her crush has no idea she exists.
To escape her troubles, Ramona turns to cosplay and her original character, Rel, who gives her the confidence and freedom that she lacks in real life. Embracing this confidence, she decides to strike up an email conversation with her crush, Caleb Wolfe, from her cosplay account in the hopes getting to know him . . . and maybe win his heart. Then as Caleb and Ramona are swept up in their emails back and forth to each other, and Ramona falls even harder as he opens up about his hopes, insecurities, and his own geeky loves. However, as Caleb starts to grow closer and closer to Rel, he also strikes up a friendship with Ramona, who knows she can't keep the truth about Rel from Caleb but isn't sure she is ready to risk losing him. With an important cosplay convention coming up and the anxiety of her double-life weighing on her, Ramona has to decide if she’ll hide behind her cosplay character forever or take the chance and let Caleb see the real her--because he might actually like her for who she is.
(Release: 2.7.23)
Isha, Unscripted by Sajni PatelIsha Patel is the black sheep of the family. She doesn't have a "prestigious" degree or a "real" career, and her parents never fail to remind her. But that's okay because she commiserates with her cousin, best friend, and fellow outcast, Rohan.
When Isha has a breakthrough getting her script in front of producers, it doesn't go according to plan. Instead of letting her dreams fall through the cracks, Rohan convinces her to snag a pitch session with an Austinite high-profile celeb: the one and only Matthew McConaughey, who also happened to be her professor at the University of Texas years ago--he has to remember her, right?
Chasing Matthew McConaughey isn't easy. Isha needs a drink or two to muster up courage, and she gets a little help from the cutest bartender she's ever encountered. But when the search for the esteemed actor turns into a night of hijinks and unexpected--albeit fun--chaos, everything falls apart. Isha's dreams seem farther than ever, but she soon realizes who she really needs to face and that her future may just be alright, alright, alright.
(Release: 2.14.23)
Out of Character by Jenna Miller
If you asked seventeen-year-old Cass Williams to describe herself, she’d happily tell you she’s a fat lesbian obsessed with the Tide Wars books. What she won’t tell you—or anyone in her life—is that she’s part of an online Tide Wars roleplay community. Sure, it’s nerdy as hell, but when she’s behind the screen writing scenes as Captain Aresha, she doesn’t have to think about her mother who walked out or how unexpectedly stressful it is dating resident cool girl Taylor Cooper.
But secretly retreating to her online life is starting to catch up with Cass. For one, no one in her real life knows her secret roleplay addiction is the reason her grades have taken a big hit. Also? Cass has started catching feelings for Rowan Davies, her internet bestie…and Taylor might be catching on.
As Cass’s lies continue to build, so does her anxiety. Roleplaying used to be the one place she could escape to, but this double life and offline-online love triangle have only made things worse. Cass must decide what to do—be honest and risk losing her safe space or keep it a secret and put everything else on the line.
(Release: 2.7.23)
Lola at Last by J.C. PetersonLola Barnes’s summer is not off to the best start.
Fresh off a scandal that tanked her social status, Lola has somehow managed to also alienate her twin sister, lose the friends she thought she had, and put a . . . fiery end to the first party of the summer.
(The boat was barely on fire, for the record—and all the partygoers were just fine.)
Lola is given an ultimatum: jail time, or spend the summer with the nonprofit Hike Like a Girl.
Everyone seems to expect Lola to fail. But even as Lola encounters bugs, blisters, and bears (oh my!), she finds something greater that she’d been missing all along: unexpected friends, a sweet romance, strength she didn’t know she had—and herself, Lola, at last.
(Release: 2.28.23)
Last Chance Dance by Lakita Wilson
Leila is crushed when Dev, her boyfriend of four years, breaks up with her right before graduation. Just when she's thinking she wasted her entire high school experience on a dead-end relationship, her best friend Bree reminds her that Last Chance Dance is just around the corner.
A high school tradition, Last Chance Dance gives all the students one last opportunity to find love before they graduate. All Leila has to do is submit three unrequited crushes to the dance committee and if any of her crushes list her too, they'll get matched. Presto: new relationship, just like that. To her utter amazement, Leila is matched with all three of her choices--and with someone she never, ever expected, Tre Hillman, her chemistry partner and low-key nemesis.
Though at times skeptical, Leila embarks on her Last Chance Dance mission--trying out her matches and going on dates. If Dev wasn't her true love--then maybe someone else is. She knows it's definitely not Tre, even though he seems more and more determined to convince her he's right for her.
But thoughts of Dev keep sneaking back into her mind, and as graduation and the dance approaches, Leila must figure out what--and who--she really wants. It's her last chance, right?
(Release: 2.21.23)
Always be Your Baby by illustraice
As a janitor working at one of Silicon Valley’s most prestigious health tech companies, Alfie is used to—and prefers—cleaning the stage before the real stars come out. Such is the life of a trusty background character amongst the main leads, Jasmine Liu and Dean Tran, the elusive pair of young CEOs running HELIOS. Jasmine and Dean lead seemingly perfect lives; Stanford graduates, valedictorians, CEOs, Forbes 30-Under-30 types and of course, long-time lovers.
Which is why he’s shocked to accidentally overhear the one apparent flaw in Jasmine and Dean’s lives: that they’re struggling to get their ‘third addition in their life’, their ‘baby’. Certain about their struggle to create a proverbial hatchling in the family nest, a sympathetic Alfie boldly offers help in any way he can.
To his surprise, the pair agree to his help. Suddenly, Jasmine and Dean are everywhere, inviting him to their offices, sending small gifts his way (in gratitude?) and Alfie is running around compiling fertility tips in a binder like it’s nobody’s business. If only he could actually properly share them with the pair, considering the two seem intent on having these advice meetings with him during distracting candlelit dinners, sunset strolls and truly tender homecooking sessions.
Wait, is this actually what normally happens when a background character gets dragged onto the center stage?
(Release: 2.24.23)
January 24, 2023
Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another ripped-from-the-headlines mystery that exposes horrific secrets hiding behind the limelight and embraces the power of a young woman's voice. When legendary R&B artist Korey Fields spots Enchanted Jones at an audition, her dreams of being a famous singer take flight. Until Enchanted wakes up with blood on her hands and zero memory of the previous night. Who killed Korey Fields?Before there was a dead body, Enchanted’s dreams had turned into a nightmare. Because behind Korey’s charm and star power was a controlling dark side. Now he’s dead, the police are at the door, and all signs point to Enchanted.
(PS. I kinda missed the old layout, lol. No changes here)
First of all: OMG. This was really well written, and the author's note? Amazing addition to the wording. Hearing at least a small part of the author themselves was put into their work is really heart warming to hear.
Now, may I say that Tifffffffaannyyyy, GIRL! Just know you made Korey's character properly, because literally when I tell you I was SICK OF HIS BS! I liked that you had small hits at different characters, making me (I hope not just me) think it's a certain character, soon being thrown off when it's another.
The background of Enchanted, along with-- What's the word when you use other things to describe something? I forgot at the typing of typing this-- the small details of emotion you did. The terms related to the ocean, the sea, Ariel, etc. All in which had to do with her character.
And I really love your classic endings you do-- at least, those I've noticed-- with those cliffhangers. Every other book I've read by you, I have to say you do tend to speed up the endings. No hate to it, at ALL. It just takes a minute for me to process.
To finish it off, I really wanna talk about that ending. Like, whaaat?
This was a really well-written thriller, had me on the edge of my seat the. whole. time. Definetely recommend, and not only this, but anything else written by TDJ. You will never be disapointed.
January 18, 2023
Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter
Spoiler-Free SynopsisLiz Buxbaum has always known that Wes Bennett was not boyfriend material. You would think that her next-door neighbor would be a prince candidate for her romantic comedy fantasies, but Wes has only proven himself to be a pain in the butt, ever since they were little. Wes was the kid who put a frog in her Barbie Dreamhouse, the monster who hid a lawn gnome's severed head in her little homemade neighborhood book exchange.
Flash forward ten years from the Great Gnome Decapitation. It's Liz's senior year, a time meant to be rife with milestones perfect for any big screen, and she needs Wes's help. See, Liz's forever crush, Michael, has just moved back to town, and—horribly, annoyingly—he's hitting it off with Wes. Meaning that if Liz wants Michael to finally notice her, and hopefully be her prom date, she needs Wes. He's her in.
But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz her magical prom moment, she's shocked to discover that she actually likes being around Wes. And as they continue to grow closer, she must reexamine everything she thought she knew about love—and rethink her own perception of what Happily Ever After should really look like.
First of all, I'd really like to note; Do you guys like the spacing being as close to one another as above? Or would you prefer as it was before?
I like both, and TBH, I have no idea which to pick.
1 Spacing:
This is a testing sentence to show you what the spacing looks like. Anyway, how was your week? Mine was fantastic. Nice to know how you're feeling! What's your current read? Mine is Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter, but you probably knew that.
--------
1.5 Spacing:
This is a testing sentence to show you what the spacing looks like. Anyway, how was your week? Mine was fantastic. Nice to know how you're feeling! What's your current read? Mine is Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter, but you probably knew that.
Anyway, review coming soon, as this is my current read!
January 13, 2023
Creep: A Love Story by Lygia Day Penaflor
Spoiler-Free SynopsisLaney Villanueva and Nico Fiore are the perfect couple: beautiful, popular, talented, and hopelessly in love. Everyone looks up to them at Holy Family High School.
But Rafi doesn’t just admire them. She watches them. She’s drawn to them.
Intent on becoming their closest friend, Rafi weaves her way into their lives. She starts small: taking photos of the senior class for the yearbook, joining Laney’s club, and babysitting Nico's little sister. And it works—soon they invite her to parties, take her on joyrides, and ask her for favors. Rafi’s actions quickly turn invasive, delving deeper and deeper until she’s consumed by their most intimate secrets.
When tragedy strikes the young lovers, Rafi’s obsession spirals, and she will do anything to keep the perfect couple together. Anything . . .
I Did Not Finish This. I literally got to only page 25 before I decided to put it down. Here's Why:
Okay, so I just really wanna say, the cover is the only thing that gathered my attention. Like, I'm gonna go ahead and be straightforward, the cover is legit the ONLY thing that got my attention.
I was unpacking some new books for my school library when I came across this. I thought the plot sounded good, the cover matched the topic in a secretive and causual kind of way, and I enjoyed that. So I checked it out. Now, I literally just turned it in after getting only 25 pages in yesterday night.
The plot didn't seem to go anywhere. Literally the only thing going on was the stalking within the first chapter, which I know is gonna happen! I mean, it's a thriller, what thriller doesn't have the actual thrill?
But when I say it felt like that was the ONLY THING going on?! Like when our author tried to adjust to topic to go around something else, it didn'd quite seem to go well.
Not only that, but it just didn't have enough going on to keep me pulled in.
Maybe it got worse. Maybe it got better.
We'll never know, because it seemed to be so dragged on that I couldn't even TRY to stay. (But again, I only got to page 25)
So 2 stars from me. And I only added one extra one due to the fact I have no idea what could happen later on.
January 9, 2023
January 2023 Upcoming Releases
Welcome, fellow readers! And Happy New Year!
2023 is bound to be a good year, especially with all of these new and upcoming releases to look forward to. Oh, and as you can tell from my cover image, it's a new year of rebranding! We have our aesthetic, our vibe we want, but we're bored with having to stick with the same old month photos. I mean, why not spice it up a bit? Anyway, here's our New Years releases to look forward to. Oh, and yes, they're the one's featured in the cover image. :)
Seventeen-year-old Theo Wright has it all figured out. His plan (well, more like his dad's plan) is a foolproof strategy that involves exceling at his magnet school, getting scouted by college recruiters, and going to Duke on athletic scholarship. But for now, all Theo wants is a perfect prom night. After his best friend Jay dares Theo to prompose to his crush at Chloe Campbell's party, Theo's ready to throw caution to the wind and take his chances.
But when the promposal goes epically wrong, Theo seeks refuge in an empty bedroom while the party rages on downstairs. Having an existential crisis about who he really is with and without his so-called best friend wasn't on tonight's agenda. Though, as the night goes on, Theo finds he's not as alone as he thinks when, one by one, new classmates join him to avoid who they're supposed be outside the bedroom door. Among them, a familiar acquaintance, a quiet outsider, an old friend, and a new flame
(Release: 1.17.23)
The Black Queen by Jumata EmillNova Albright was going to be the first Black homecoming queen at Lovett High—but now she's dead. Murdered on coronation night. Fans of One of Us Is Lying and The Other Black Girl will love this unputdownable thriller.
Nova Albright, the first Black homecoming queen at Lovett High, is dead. Murdered the night of her coronation, her body found the next morning in the old slave cemetery she spent her weekends rehabilitating.
Tinsley McArthur was supposed to be queen. Not only is she beautiful, wealthy, and white, it’s her legacy—her grandmother, her mother, and even her sister wore the crown before her. Everyone in Lovett knows Tinsley would do anything to carry on the McArthur tradition.
No one is more certain of that than Duchess Simmons, Nova’s best friend. Duchess’s father is the first Black police captain in Lovett. For Duchess, Nova’s crown was more than just a win for Nova. It was a win for all the Black kids. Now her best friend is dead, and her father won’t fact the fact that the main suspect is right in front of him. Duchess is convinced that Tinsley killed Nova—and that Tinsley is privileged enough to think she can get away with it. But Duchess’s father seems to be doing what he always does: fall behind the blue line. Which means that the white girl is going to walk.
Duchess is determined to prove Tinsley’s guilt. And to do that, she’ll have to get close to her.
But Tinsley has an agenda, too.
Everyone loved Nova. And sometimes, love is exactly what gets you killed.
(Release: 1.31.23)
Live Your Best lie by Jessie Weaver
Social media influencer Summer Cartwright leads a charmed life: millions of followers, the trendiest designer and vintage clothing in her closet, a newly minted book deal, the coolest friends, and until recently, the hottest boyfriend at her über elite prep school. Every moment of her life has been carefully planned and cultivated to complement her “perfectly imperfect” online persona. She is truly #LivingHerBestLife.
But when Summer goes missing during her annual Halloween party and an unscheduled post appears on her feed claiming she’ll be dead in the next five minutes, those closest to Summer—her bestie, her ex-boyfriend, her frenemy, and her wannabe—know it isn’t a media stunt for attention. It’s not Summer’s brand. Something is wrong. When their investigation leads to Summer’s lifeless body, they’re forced to accept that she was murdered. And no filter is strong enough to mask the lies they tell themselves.
(Release: 1.24.23)
Sun Keep Rising by Kristen R. Lee
Kristen R. Lee is a miraculous story weaver-Mahogany L. Browne, author of Vinyl Moon.
B'onca always knew how to get by. And then her daughter is born. She wouldn't trade Mia for anything, but there is never enough cash to go around. When their gentrifying Memphis neighborhood results in higher prices and then an eviction notice, B'onca's already fragile world spirals. Desperate to make things right, B'onca forges a risky plan to help pay the bills. But one wrong move could cost B'onca--and her family--everything.
From the celebrated author of Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman comes a compelling story about a teen mom navigating income disparity and racial inequality, and defying challenges to protect those she loves.
(Release: 1.24.23)
