YUMMommy

Tag: Books

  • 40 Books To Buy To Add Black Representation To Your Child’s Bookshelves

    This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through the links in this post.
    In our household we take our Blackness seriously. We feel that it is something that we should celebrate not only during Black History Month but every day of the year. One of the best ways to do this with kids is through reading.
    As a Black mom it is important for me to be proactive in surrounding my children with a vast collection of books that tell OUR stories through OUR own voices from all different walks of Blackness. Representation STILL matters. I want my kids to be surrounded by stories that tell our history as well as stories that celebrate our beauty, uniqueness, accomplishments, strengths, and resilience. 
    With the current state of race relations being in major upheaval, if you are non-Black it is also important for you to immerse yourself in our culture as well. One of the best ways to do so without appropriating Black culture is through reading Black own voices stories as well. Doing so will challenge and stretch the way you see Blackness and hopefully assist you in starting dialog with your children about racism, diversity, and equality.
    That said, here are 40 Black stories written by Black authors that I’m challenging everyone to buy for their child’s/family’s bookshelves.

    40 Black Books For Kids

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    If you’re interested in more Black books by Black authors, I’ve compiled this list of over 300 Black own voices books. Happy Reading!

  • YUMMommy Book Club

    This blog post contains affiliate links.  I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you for purchases made through those links.

    What do you do when you love talking about books almost as much as you love reading them?  You start a book club of course.  Having talked about books here on the blog and pretty much everywhere else, it seemed like the next logical step for me was to start a digital book club.  Thus, the YUMMommy Book Club was born.

    About The YUMMommy Book Club

    My hope and goal is that this book club will be a space where we can bond, connect, and build a community through our shared loved and enjoyment of reading.  In a nutshell, it’ll be like doing one big group buddy read every month in which we all read the selected group book and then share our thoughts on it after we finish it.

    Book lovers everywhere know the feeling that takes over when you’re all the way in and can’t wait to turn the page–or have to brace yourself before turning it.  You just want to tell somebody!  You want to share the experience! … For me, the only thing more thrilling than being captivated by a brilliant book is being able to share it.  -Oprah Winfrey

    What the YUMMommy Book Club will NOT be is a place to pass judgement or spew bigotry.  While we read a mixture of non-fiction and fiction books, some of those tackling hard topics and some not, I hope that everyone will be mature enough to keep it classy and save the drama for their mama.

    First Book Club Read

     With it still being February, I thought it would be a great idea to start with something befitting of Black History Month.  Therefore, our first read will be Motherhood So White: A Memoir of Race, Gender, and Parenting in America by Nefertiti Austin.

    Author: Nefertiti Austin

    Genre: Non-fiction, African American, Memoirs
    Publication Date: September 20, 2019
    Publisher: Sourcebooks
    Buy Here: Amazon | Target | Walmart

    In America, Mother = White

    That’s what Nefertiti Austin, a single African American woman, discovered when she decided she wanted to adopt a Black baby boy out of the foster care system.  Eager to finally join the motherhood ranks, Nefertiti was shocked when people started asking her why she wanted to adopt a “crack baby” or said that she would never be able to raise a Black son on her own.  She realized that American society saw motherhood through a white lens and that there would be no easy understanding or acceptance of the kind of family she hoped to build. 

    Motherhood So White is the story of Nefertiti’s fight to create the family she always knew she was meant to have and the story of motherhood that all American families need now.  In this unflinching account of her parenting journey, Nefertiti examines the history of adoption in the African American community, faces off against the stereotypes of single, Black motherhood, and confronts the reality of raising children of color in racially charged, modern-day America.

    Honest, vulnerable, and uplifting, Motherhood So White reveals what Nefertiti knew all along– that the only requirement for a successful family is one raised with love.
    I think this will be a powerful read that many of us will be able to identify with and relate to while for others it may cause you to challenge the way you view motherhood and Black moms.  I hope you will join me in reading Motherhood So White.  If you feel like this book selection isn’t for you feel free to sit this one out and join us after March 20th for the next book club pick.

    How To Be Apart of the YUMMommy Book Club

    Join the YUMMommy Book Club on Facebook: This is where everything will be going down.  Having an official group instead of just hosting the book club on the YUMMommy Facebook page will offer us more privacy.  I want us to feel comfortable sharing our real thoughts on the books we read as well as sharing any personal connections that we felt. Often times being vulnerable in a very public place is hard for many us.  So a private group gives us a more intimate setting to interact.  You can find the book club here.
    Read the Group Book by March 17th: We’ll start sharing in-depth conversations that will hold spoilers after this date.  So if you don’t want anything spoiled for you, get ‘er read!
    Attend the Live Show: I’ve tentatively scheduled a liveshow/book chat for Friday, March 20th at 8 PM EST.  Turn on some cartoons for the kids (or put them to bed), grab your snacks (and your book), and join us.  No worries if you miss it.  The replay will be up in the group for you to watch.
    Invite a Friend:  I really want our book club to be successful.  And in order to do that we need members.  So be sure to share this post on your social media so your friends can join us too!  Friends don’t let friends read good books alone, right?! 
    I’m really looking forward to reading and talking books with y’all this year!  Seriously, I’m so giddy that I started a book club. See ya over in the YUMMommy Book Club group. 📚
    Have you ever been a part of a book club?

  • Chasing Grace

    This post is sponsored by Front Gate Media and Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Publishers.  Product for this post was provided.  Also, this post contains affiliate links and may receive a commission for purchases made using those links.

    My sophomore year of high school I made the decision to join the track team.  My depression was starting to consume me and some of my teachers had started expressing concern over how withdrawn I seemed.  I’ll never forget the day one of my teachers asked me to stay for a few minutes after class.  “I’m worried about you.  Is everything okay at home?” she asked.  “Somethings’s going on with you like you’re always sad.”


    I knew I had to do something and fast.  I needed to find a way to cope and I didn’t need my mom’s colleagues speculating/gossiping about what about they thought might have been going on.  So, I prayed for a sign.  A few days later when I heard that my cousin was the new girls’ track team coach, I knew this was it.  And much like Sanya Richards-Ross talks about in her new book, Chasing Grace: What The Quarter Mile Has Taught Me About God And Life, it was on the track that I rediscovered God’s grace and learned how to take charge of my life.

    The track has always been my safe haven.  My sanctuary, my place of peace.  I’ve always said I didn’t choose the quarter mile, but it chose me.

    Going into reading Chasing Grace, I was anxious to see how much Sanya and I would have in common from our track days.  For starters, like Sanya, the track became my safe haven and place where I could find peace.  Also, like Sanya, I ran the 400 meters race.  When I was running, my mind could shut out all the troubles and noise of the outside world.  Those 400 meters gave me just enough time to escape reality and reel my sanity back in.

    So one of the stipulations for me being able to run track was that my father would have to be the one to pick up from practices and travel with me to out of town meets.  My mom had her hands full working two jobs, taking care of my younger siblings, and taking classes.  Because my father had been going in and out our lives at this point, I wasn’t sure if he would agree or could commit to doing these things.  Thankfully, he did.

    This is why reading about Sanya’s relationship with her father and how he was always in the stands to cheer her on and record her races were some of my favorite parts of Chasing Grace.   It reminded me how grateful I was that my father was my biggest cheerleader from the stands when I ran track.  I’ll never know how my father managed to make it to every practice and track meet, but I’d like to think that just like Newton Richards, my father pushed and supported me because he didn’t have his parents to push and support him when he wanted to play football. Regardless of his why, I am forever thankful that he stepped up to the plate.

    The vision board is something that allowed me to narrow my focus.  It also challenged me to get clear on what I wanted.  What I like best about the process, if done the right way, is that it forces you to dig deep within yourself.

    Vision boards are another thing that I discovered Sanya and I had in common.  If you’ve been reading YUMMommy for a while, then you already know that every year my family and I make vision boards.  Our purpose is to create a visual representation of our goals and dreams that we want to achieve for that year.  By looking at our vision boards daily, it helps us to stay locked and focused on said goals and dreams.  It was pretty cool finding out she uses vision boards the same way.

    Aside from discovering all of the similarities between Sanya and me, what I really appreciated the most about Chasing Grace was her vulnerability.  Her book is broken up into four sections – Push, Pace, Position, and Poise aka the 4 phases of racing.  In Chapter 9, she opens up about what really happened at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and why she didn’t win the gold medal in the 400m individual race.

    I made a decision that broke me, and one from which I would not immediately heal.

    I can remember watching the Olympics with my family and waiting to see if Sanya was going to set another world record.  She was (still is) the Flo Jo of my generation.  The camera panned around the racers as they introduced them and I can remember that when the camera landed on Sanya, her face looked haunted.  The announcer even noticed and suggested that it might be nerves.  It wasn’t until I read Chapter 9 of her book, that I really found out what that haunted look was all about.

    I’m not going to spoil it.  You’ll have to read the book to find out what happened.  What I will say is that it broke my heart reading her experience.  I cried a bit reading her story in that chapter.  For me track was a sport that saved me during a dark time and I never ran track with the dreams of becoming an Olympic athlete.

    I was broken.  Instead of reaching for this finish line, I kept looking back at the line I just crossed.  Prayers that typically broke through lacked any personal conviction.  I had really screwed up this time, and I knew it.  How could I ask God for this blessing when I had just done the one thing I never thought I’d do?

    So, I’ll never be able to relate to the pressure the Sanya felt that caused her to make the choice that she did.  Reading about what she sacrificed to be able to compete in the 2008 Olympics really opened my eyes even more to just how much female athletes also sacrifice.  It also showed how brave Sanya is to reveal and talk about something so personal and that had such a life-changing impact on her and her family. I could feel the pain of her words as they leaped off the pages as she talks about what she considered her fall from God’s grace.

    He alone was carrying me out of my darkest time.  Gentle tears fell down my cheeks as love rushed in.  I felt forgiven before I even asked for it. . . . His love is always because of His favor and grace.  I did not earn God’s love;  He gives it freely.  And that meant I didn’t have to ask Him to give it back.

    Thankfully, though she talks about how she found her way back and how she realized that God’s grace had never left her.  Another thing that I loved that she touched on was the important role that therapy played in helping her get back into a healthy mental space as well.  While strides have been made, much of the Black community still struggles when it comes to mental health and with being able to seek help through therapy.

    After I lost in Beijing, Coach Hart urged me to start working with a sports psychologist.  He had no idea the source of my true mental turmoil, but it was one of the best decisions of my career and my life.

    For some of us, there’s still that belief that “Black people don’t therapy.”  We just take it all to God in prayer on Sunday morning during the preacher’s altar call.  And don’t get me wrong, we should definitely do that.  However, we should also take a step back and realize that often times that answer to our prayer is therapy but because we don’t want to be seen as “crazy,” we’re often deaf and blind to what God has put right in front of us.

    Fear holds us back from embracing every season of our lives, which are richly rewarded when we pursue those exchanges with God as our running companion.  We must be present and have the courage to step out in faith when we know it’s time to move on and accept the plans that our Father has laid out for us.

    While there were a lot of things in Sanya’s book that spoke to me, it’s this quote that spoke to me the loudest.  Like many people, Sanya included, I struggle with overcoming the fear that comes with trying something new, especially if it requires a huge leap of faith.  For a while now, I’ve been struggling with moving on to the next stage of the plan that God has for my life.  I think this was His way of sending me a sign that it’s time to take control of my fear and move forward like Sanya did when she knew that she’d reached the end of the road in her running career in 2016.

    Again, I admired her openness about how she felt when realized that her body had given all that it had to give in terms of her continuing to race on a professional level.  I know how I’d feel if I had to give up writing.  I’d be crushed beyond measure.  However, I love how she reminded me that we have to prepare ourselves to change positions as we continue through life.

    While God gave us all talents, He never promised us that those talents wouldn’t evolve over time or that we wouldn’t have to transition to a different aspect/position of those talents.

    Overall, Chasing Grace was an amazing book.  It’s definitely earned a place in my Top 10 for books I’ve enjoyed reading this year.  If you’ve ever struggled with feeling like you’ve fallen out of God’s grace, fear, and just trying to figure out how your talents line up with our faith, then this is the book for you.

    I highly recommend that you pick up a copy.  Also, you can enter this giveaway to one of 15 winners to win a copy of Chasing Grace.  This giveaway ends June 30, 2018.

    What’s the last book you’ve read that you really connected with?
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  • 20 Life Lessons Proverbs Taught Me

    This post is sponsored by Front Gate Media and B & H Publishing Group.  Product for this post was provided.

    When it comes to life lessons and wisdom, Proverbs is like the ultimate roadmap.  It’s filled with so many life lessons to help us tackle some of life’s everyday challenges and to help build great character.   King Soloman prayed to God for wisdom and God granted his request.  Soloman then compiled some of that wisdom into the book that is Proverbs.

    I’d like to think that if Soloman was alive today he’d probably quote Jay-Z and tell us, “Sol did that so hopefully you wouldn’t have to go through that.”  I mean seriously some life lessons we can avoid learning through experience by reading his wisdom.  Growing up my mom quoted Proverbs 4:5 to me and my siblings more than once and for that I am grateful.

    Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.

    – Proverbs 4:5 

    20 Life Lessons From Proverbs To Live By

    So one of my goals for this year was to get back on track with reading my Bible and my Bible journaling.  I will admit that I didn’t get off to a strong start.  However, I was recently gifted a new Bible- CSM Study Bible For Women– that has helped to motivate me to change that.  Seriously, this is probably one of these most beautiful and in-depth Bibles I’ve ever owned.

    One of the first books, I delved in was Proverbs of course.  So here 20 of my favorite life lessons/guidelines as outlined from those Soloman’s writings.

    1.  Stay Loyal, Be Faithful

    Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.  Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.  Then you will find favor and high regard with God and people.

    – Proverbs 3:3-4 

    I see so many people struggling with trying to find and invent ways to get on other people’s good side so that they can get favoritism.  However, the answer to getting favor nothing only with those people but God as well is being loyal and faithful/trustworthy.  People really respect loyalty and faithfulness because it requires a certain level of discipline and respect that not everyone has.

    2.  The Heart Is Sacred

    Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

    – Proverbs 4:23 

    If you didn’t know, the heart is one of the most important organs in the body.  And as the source of our very lives, we should always strive to protect it.  From watching what we eat to being more mindful of the people and things we let into our hearts, it’s important to stay on guard 24/7 to keep our hearts healthy and sacred.

    3.  Follow Instructions, Accept Correction

    The one who follows instruction is on the path to life, but the one who rejects correction goes astray.

    – Proverbs 10:17 

    I know it’s hard taking instructions and correction.  We’ve all those had those “I don’t need to you tell me what to do” and a few “I’m not trying to hear what you have to say right now because I’m grown” moments.  But sometimes it really pays to put pride and stubbornness to the side and listen, especially when we know that the correction and instruction are coming from the right place.  At the end of the day, we don’t know everything and we all need some tough love now and then.

    4.  Don’t Front

    Better to be disregarded, yet have a servant, than to act important but have no food.

    – Proverbs 12:9 

    This is not to be confused with faking it til you make it.  There’s nothing wrong with that.  However, if you’re going out coping the latest Gucci bag because you want to keep up with your favorite Instagram It Girl and you barely have money to cover your rent, that’s a problem.

    In the words of the never-aging Pharrell, “Stop frontin’!”  Live within your means and make sure your basics are taken care of first.  Stack your leftover coins until you can actually afford that purse without putting yourself at risk of being evicted.

    5.  Things Aren’t Always What They Seem

    Even in laughter a heart may be sad, and joy may end in grief.

    – Proverbs 14:13 

    There was recently a discussion on Black Twitter about how we as Black people went through and are still growing through so much that we’ve mastered the art of masking our pain with laughter.  There’s so much truth in that and not just for Black people.  Remember how shocked we all were when actor Robin Williams committed suicide.  To us, it looked like he had it all and was happy but behind closed doors, he was really hurting.

    Let this be a reminder that everything isn’t always as it appears.  Check-in on your friends who always seem so strong or like they have it together.  Chances are they really don’t.  And when you’re checking in on them, just be a listening ear.  Don’t try to fix them.

    6.  Somebody’s Always Watching

    The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good.

    – Proverbs 15:3 

    My mom used to always tell me and my siblings to “Always do the right thing because even when you think no one is around, God is always watching.”  Even if you don’t believe in God, I think the greatest testament to how honest and pure of heart we are, are the things we do when we think no one is watching. 

    7.  Patience And Control Are Virtues

    Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city.

    – Proverbs 16:32 

    Nothing has taught me more about patience and emotional control than motherhood and marriage.  If I have power but I don’t have patience or the ability to control my emotions, I’m not going to be able to be the best mother and wife that I can be.  I’ll just be a ticking time bomb or one of those people who lets their emotions influence their decision making.  There are moments that I look back on and see how I’ve hurt people I care about because I didn’t exercise patience or control my emotions.  And y’all it’s not a good feeling.

    8.  Choose Quality Over Quantity

    One with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

    – Proverbs 18:24 

    This one pretty straightforward.  It’s better to have that one best friend that’s like family than to have a bunch friends who are always plotting behind your back.

    9.  Do Your Research, Don’t Be Hasty

    Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily sins.

    – Proverbs 19:2 

    Do your research before hopping on the bandwagon!   Remember everything isn’t always what it seems and people aren’t always who they say they are.  Don’t rush into things only to end up hurt later.

    10.  Actions Speak Loud

    Even a young man is known by his actions- by whether his behavior is pure and upright.

    – Proverbs 20:11 

    My mom always taught me let my actions speak for me.  She wasn’t big on hearing what was I going to do.  She wanted to see it!  In the words of the Migos, she wanted me to “walk it like I talk it.”

    11.  Stop Talking Out The Side Of Your Neck

    The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

    – Proverbs 21:23 

    I always hear people brag about not having a filter when it comes to the things that come out of their mouths and always find myself wondering, how is that a good thing?  Often times, it’s those same people who always caught up in some type of drama because their mouths have written checks that they couldn’t cash.  Sometimes, it pays to not have loose lips.

    12.  Karma Is Real

    The one who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

    – Proverbs 22:8 

    At the end of the day, we all reap what sow.  So, sow good seeds!

    13.  Let Fools Be Fools

    Don’t speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words.

    – Proverbs 23:9 

    Know when to keep quiet because your words will fall on death ears.  This verse reminds me of the time Jesus had to flee from his own people because they didn’t want to hear what he say.  They started chasing him trying to kill him and God told him to just get on the boat and leave them to their own foolishness.

    Not everyone is going to want to be saved or receive what you have to say.  It’s okay.  Let them be.

    14.  Be The Bigger Person

    Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me; I’ll repay the man for what he has done.”

    – Proverbs 24:29 

    The golden rule may be “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” but that doesn’t mean that we sink their level if they don’t treat us right.  In the words of Michelle Obama, “When they go low, we go high.”

    15.  Kill Your Enemies With Kindness

    If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap buring coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

    – Proverbs 25:21-22 

    Nothing gets under a person’s skin more than when you’re nice them after they’ve done nothing but wronged you.  Their guilt will eat them alive and honestly, that’s better than any revenge than you could ever dish out.

    16.  Encourage Others

    Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.

    – Proverbs 27:17 

    There’s nothing I love more than when I see other people uplifting and encouraging others.  When we build up/sharpen other people we’re making our world a better place one person at a time.  We’re changing that person’s life for better.

    17.  Let Others Brag About You

    Let another praise you, and not your own mouth- a stranger, and not your own lips.

    – Proverbs 27:2 

    While there’s nothing wrong with bigging yourself up every now and then, nobody loves self-bragger or a person who’s always trying to rub their accomplishments in other people’s faces.  Also, this scripture has reminded me to brag more about my friends and loved ones when I see them doing their thing!  It’s reminded me that it’s important to celebrate people in my life so that they don’t always feel like they’re the only ones celebrating themselves.

    18.  Don’t Go Chasing Fantasies

    The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

    – Proverbs 28:19 

    While fantasies can sometimes serve as inspiration for our dreams, it’s important to put in the actual work to accomplish said dreams.  Focusing on the fantasy will get you nowhere if you’re not taking actionable steps to live the life you desire.

    19.  Give Back, Have Compassion

    The one who gives to the poor will not be in need, but one who turns his eyes away will receive many curses.

    – Proverbs 28:27

    I’ve talked more than once about how I grew up poor and a lot of people showed compassion to me and my family.  There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t thank God for sending those people to us and I always pray that He will bless them ten-fold.  I’ve even had the opportunity to return the favor for some of those people when they were in need.

    20.  Don’t Let Anger Be Your Guide

    A fool gives full vent to his anger but a wise person holds it in check.

    – Proverbs 29:11

    Remember, it’s okay to be angry.  However, letting our anger consume us can change us for the worst and cause us to do things that we regret.   Find a way to channel that negative energy in a positive way instead.

    If you’re looking to study more of the Bible, I definitely recommend starting with Proverbs.  There’s just such a wealth of information in there as far as guiding up and advising us on how to be decent and good human beings.  And if you’re in the market for a new Bible that’s tailored to women, you can’t wrong with the CSB Study Bible for Women.  Not only is it pretty to look at but it’s filled with all kinds of helpful tools like full-color maps, profiles on different Biblical characters, key verses for every book, an extensive index, doctrinal notes and more. 

    You pick up your own CSB Study Bible for Women here or click here to enter to win one. 

  • Between the Blade and the Heart | Book Review + Giveaway
    I received an ARC of Between the Blade and the Heart.  I would like to thank St Martin’s Griffin (St. Martin’s Press) and Amanda Hocking sponsoring this review and giveaway.

    Author: Amanda Hocking

    Genre: YA, Urban Fantasy

    Pub Date: January 3, 2017

    Publisher: St Martin’s Griffin

    Amazon|Barnes & Noble|Books-A-Million|IndieBound|Powell’s

    When the fate of the world is at stake, loyalties will be tested.

     Game of Thrones meets Blade Runner in this commanding new YA fantasy inspired by Norse Mythology from NewYork Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.

    As one of Odin’s Valkyries, Malin’s greatest responsibility is to slay immortals and return them to the underworld.  But when she unearths a secret that could unravel the balance of all she knows, Malin along with her best friend and her ex-girlfriend must decide where her loyalties lie.  And if helping the blue-eyes boy Asher enact his revenge is worth the risk– to the world and her heart.

    Book Review

    Hello 2018 and Happy New Year!  It’s only right that I’m starting off the New Year talking about books as I spent the last part of 2017 with my head in them.  You guys already know that my love of books is real.  And when I heard that Amanda Hocking’s latest novel, Between the Blade and the Heart, was a cross between Throne of Glass and Blade Runner, I just knew that I had to read it for myself.  Also, if you’ll remember, I did thoroughly enjoy Freeks by Amanda Hocking.

    I will admit that even after getting excited to read Between the Blade and the Heart, I almost chickened out when I heard it was an urban contemporary mixed with Norse mythology.  Outside of the stories of Thor, Hercules, and Troy, I’ve never been a big fan of mythology period.  However, I decided to suck up those feelings and go into this book with and an open mind.  And I’m glad that I did because I ended up really enjoying it and not being able to put it down.

    So right off the bat, the book opens with some brief backstory/a mini history lesson which I thought was a great touch, especially if you’re not familiar with Norse mythology and don’t know who Odin is.   He’s Thor’s daddy btw if you haven’t seen the movies or read the stories.  Then readers are thrust into an action scene as the book opens with Malin (the main character) and her mother Marlow waiting in an alley to kick some butt. 

    Malin and Marlow are both Valkyries, mortal women whom Odin gave supernatural powers and weapons to slay immortals who were wrecking havoc on the Earth.  Being a Valkyrie isn’t something one can decide to become, but rather it’s something that is passed down through the generations from mothers to their daughters.  Things really take off when Malin returns home one evening to find a handsome stranger has broken into the apartment she shares with her roommate Oona.

    The sexy stranger turns out to be Asher, the son of a former Valkyrie, and he drops a bomb on Malin that rocks her world.  It’s a secret that leads to Malin having to confront her mother and leaves her questioning her mother’s ethic’s as a Valkyrie.  From here everything starts to unravel and Malin quickly finds herself shifting from trying to save her mom to having to save the world by hunting down a draugr named Tamerlane Fayette.

    No worries she gets lots of help along the way from Asher, Oona and we’re introduced to her ex-girlfriend, Quinn Devane.  She also gets some help from her boss/handler, Samael, and his personal bodyguard Atlas.  Even her archnemesis, Sloane Kothari, offers a helping hand.

    Let’s get back to the action scenes for a minute.  There’s an action scene in the book between Marlow and Tamerlane and at first I was disappointed in short it was because it felt like the story had been building up to the moment when they caught Tamerlane and then everything went down so quickly.  However, I took a few days to process the scene and realized that it wasn’t as climactic as I was expecting for a reason.  I can’t go into detail because SPOILERS, but once I played the scene out in my head, it made sense.

    That said, I was and still am disappointed about the later action scene between Tamerlane, Asher, and Malin that does down at the end of the book.  I really wanted to feel and see Asher’s and Malin’s rage come out and Tamerlane to get the butt kicking he more than deserved by this point.  I definitely think that this particular battle scene could and should have been a little longer and intense.  Instead, it fell very flat for me and when all was said and done, I found myself asking: “Is this it?”

    While there a lot of characters in this book, I didn’t find that it took away from the overall story.  Each and every character had a role that I felt was beneficial to the story.  Also, there is a bit of a love triangle/rectangle in this story.  One could say that Malin is popular demand. LOL.  There’s Quinn, her ex-girlfriend who is hoping that Malin will give her second chance.

    But then cute Asher comes into the picture and hits it off with Malin.  There’s also Malin’s mechanic/friends-with-benefits, Jude who we meet at the opening of the book and then again at the end.  I see I told this triangle is more of a rectangle.

    There’s also a good mix of diversity in this book with having a bi-sexual main character and plenty of “racial” diversity.  I was pleased to that some of the characters had brown skin because YA fantasy is notoriously known for being “so white” as well as mostly heterosexual.  Representation matters and I think Hocking took that into consideration when this book.

    Also, I loved that this book was told in the first person.  Although we are limited to Malin’s viewpoint, I think that there’s just something about getting to experience the story as the characters do or in the moment as opposed to experiencing the story from a narrator’s point of view that draws me in more and allows me to get more emotionally involved.

    I think that world building for Between the Blade and the Heart was okay.  I could picture in my the futuristic society composed of mortals and immortals living practically on top of each other that Hocking was trying to create.  Would have loved to see more?  Yes, but it is there is enough to paint a good picture.

    Overall, I absolutely enjoyed reading Between the Blade and the Heart.  The action at the end of this story left me hanging on the edge of my seat. So I can’t wait for the second book.  Yes, this story ends on a cliffhanger.   It’s sequel From the Earth to the Shadows is slated to come out this April and I can’t wait!

    Personally, I’m hoping that Hocking will go deeper with the world building and bring the intensity with the fight scenes.  I’m also looking forward to meeting some characters as well as seeing familiar faces.  If you enjoy fantasy and mythology, Between the Blade and the Heart is definitely worth a read.

    About The Author

    Amanda Hocking is the author of over twenty young adult novels, including the New York Times bestselling Trylle Trilogy and Kanin Chronicles.  Her love of pop culture and all things paranormal influence her writing.  She spends her time in Minnesota, taking care of her menagerie of pets and working on her next book. You can follow Amanda on Twitter, Facebook, GoodReads and her official website.

    Giveaway

    Amanda Hocking and St. Martin’s Griffin has graciously offered to give one of you a copy of Between the Blade and the Heart.  Use the giveaway widget below to enter for your win if you’re a US resident 18 or older.

    If you had to choose between loyalty and saving the world which would you pick?

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  • 5 Books To Buy To Diversify Your Child’s Bookshelf

    This post is sponsored and contains affiliate links.  If you make a purchase using one of the links below, I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    How do you talk to your child about diversity and equality?  My children are still young.  Therefore, I’ve found books to be to a great and helpful conversation starter and teaching tool when it comes to tackling these two subjects.  Here are 5 important diverse reads we recently added to our personal library.

    Religious Tolerance



    Religion is a topic that has been a bit touchy to discuss since the beginning of time almost.  However, I don’t want to raise Moo and JJ thinking that our way is the only right way to worship.  Hats of Faith is a picture book shows how many cultures can worship in similar ways, specifically through wearing hats and head coverings.


    Short and easy to read, this beautifully illustrated book is a great way to talk to our children about the importance of religious freedom and giving others the right to worship in their own way.  After reading Hats of Faith, Moo asked if I would be okay if she decided to cover hair as a sign of worship and honor to God.  We also talked about how some of her friends and their moms wear a hijab.  It was something she always noticed, but didn’t want to offend them by asking them what is was and why they were wearing it.  I love that reading this book has opened up the door for her to learn something new about her peers.

    Racial Equality


    Rosa Parks is one of the most talked about Civil Rights activist in American history.  She took a stand against racial inequality and won.  However, who was Rosa Parks before she become Civil Rights icon?  When Rosa Parks Went Fishing gives children (and adults) a look at what Rosa’s early years as a child were like.


    We get to see how family, education and the mistreatment of Blacks in the South all helped to lead Rosa Parks refusal to move the back of the bus.  Reading this book not only taught my children about equality but it showed them that when it comes to bringing about change, you have to be willing to be the one to take the stand for what’s right.

    Cultural Appreciation



    Rice & Rocks is a book about a boy named Giovanni.  He’s invited his friends over for Sunday but gets embarrassed when he finds out that his grandmother is cooking a traditional Jamaican dish instead of something less weird.  Giovanni’s friends aren’t Jamaican and he’s afraid they won’t want to eat his grandmother’s rice and beans.


    His aunt and magical pet parrot Jasper, take Giovanni on journey around the world where he visits different countries.  It’s in these countries that he finds out how not weird rice and beans aka rice and rocks are.  What I love about this book is that it not only teaches kids about culture similarities but it reminds them of the importance of embracing and appreciating the uniqueness and differences of their cultures.

    Courage


    McKenzie’s New School Blues is a book that teaches young readers the importance of finding the courage to face their fears.  McKenzie Mason is the new kid in school.  Like most kids, on her first day of school she’s worried about fitting in and making new friends.


    However, McKenzie soon finds out that those are the least of worries when she lands a lead role in the school play.  You see, McKenzie has stage fright and she has decide whether she’s going to sink or swim.  What I love about this first book in the Meet McKenzie Mason series is that it features a female main character of color that other young girls of color will be able to relate to.  Also, this easy to read chapter book is perfect for talking to children about why it’s okay to step outside of their comfort zone and how to find the courage to overcome their fears.

    Gender Equality



    Having a daughter and a son, gender equality is something I’ve become more passionate about.  In fact, it’s something that I’m encouraging my children to be passionate about as well.  When Hillary Rodham Clinton Played Ice Hockey chronicles young Hillary’s life and some of the adversities she faced being a woman.


    This book is an important read because it shows children that they don’t have fit into the molds others have laid out for them because of their gender.  Also, I think this is a great book because it shows children that success isn’t as instantaneous as the media can make it seem.  They will have failures like Hillary Clinton did.  However, those failures should serve as encouragement to continue dreaming big and putting in hard work.

    I have to admit that while there is still a ways to go, I’m proud of how much the world of children’s books has evolved.  I love that there more books featuring main characters of color and that there are more books that are highlighting important issues on level in which our children can understand.  I hope that you will consider adding a few of these to your child’s library.


    How do you help your children seek out diversity?

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  • I Just Kept Spinning Book Review

    This post is sponsored.  I received a complimentary copy this book from publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions expressed are my own.
    Are you talking to your children about discrimination?  If not, you probably should be.  Chances are your child has already faced discrimination either from a peer or an adult that they come into contact with on a regular basis.  It’s crazy, right?!  This week Moo and I revisited our discussion on discrimination when we read I Just Kept Spinning by debut children’s book author Destini Bridges. 

    Beautifully illustrated by April Foxx, I Just Kept Spinning is the story of a 7-year old girl named Destini.  Destini has one dream and that dream is to be a prima ballerina.  She’s over the moon when her mom finally lets her start taking ballet lessons at a ballet studio.  Destini’s dreams are soon crushed when she finds herself banned from her ballet class because of her beautiful long dreadlocks.  However, with some help from her mom, Destini proves not even children should accept discrimination from others or allow other people to control their destinies! 

    Considering how many schools were put on blast last year for discriminating hair policies last year, this book is just what we need to get the conversation about discrimination going with our children.  This book is hands down a must-read for Black and Brown moms as well as non-Moms of Color raising children of color.  Not only does I Just Kept Spinning show younger kids a form a of discrimination that could possibly go over their head, but in following Destini’s journey families can learn some real-life tips and tricks that they can implement to fight back against discrimination.
    I loved that this book was super easy to read and Moo was able to better grasp what discrimination is and identify another way that she could possibly be discriminated against.  Remember, it’s important for us to break things down to our children’s levels, especially when talking about important topics like this one.  Often times books like I Just Kept Spinning can be tools to us as parents to broach these topics. 

    Moo was thrilled that Destini wanted to be a prima ballerina because it’s one of the things she wants to be when she grows up, too!  Speaking of which, this book has already prepared us for some of the comments and/or reactions she may receive once she starts her dance classes in a few short months.  You see, Moo doesn’t have straight hair or get her straightened like some of the girls who will be in her class (we scooped it out already).  And most books that she has read about ballerinas also feature ballerinas with silky straight hair and she was worried about standing out because of her curly hair.
    Therefore, I really appreciate Destini Berry and April Foxx making 7-year old Destini, a ballerina with dreadlocks.  Representation matters y’all!!  Even when it comes to hair, our children need to variety and I Just Kept Spinning gave Moo that. 
    While we’re talking about illustrations, we both loved the beautiful hand drawn illustrations by the talented April Foxx.  I don’t have anything against computer generated illustrations, but there’s just something about hand drawn illustrations that gives an added texture and dimension that computer generated images can’t match.

    Also, with our book we received some goodies including two bookmarks, two coloring page, one coloring journal page and a 8×10 print of the book cover that we can’t wait to hang in Moo’s room once we’re done with remodeling it.

    Overall, we really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what books Kifani Press will be releasing next.  You keep up with new releases from Kifani Press by following them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  
    What tools do you use to talk to your children about important topics?

  • Muhiima’s Quest Book Review

    Muhiima's Quest Pin Image

    This post is sponsored.  I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.  This post also contains affiliate links.  I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase using one of my product links. 
    Raising kids is hard.  Teaching our kids how to love and accept the things that make them different and unique is harder.  From their peers to the media, our children will be bombarded with messages of “This is how you are supposed to look or everyone has to do xyz in order to fit in.”

    Right out of the gate, we as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, community leaders, etc. have to be ready to help our children combat those negative messages.  We have to be ready to reassure and remind our children time and time again why diversity is important and why being unique/different rocks!  

    In Muhiima’s Quest by Rahma Rodaah and illustrated by Daria Horb, we are introduced to a young girl named Muhiima.  The story opens on her 10th birthday.  And while making it to another year of life is a blessing and very exciting, Muhiima’s parents don’t believe in celebrating birthdays because of their Islamic heritage and faith.    So imagine her surprise when her mom hands her a mysterious treasure map and sends her off a quest to collect even more mysterious little gift boxes.

    While on this quest, Muhiima can’t help but wonder why she can’t be like her classmates and friends and traditional birthday parties.  In fact, Muhiima is tired of being different and explaining to everyone why she’s the odd girl out.  Why does she have to be unique when she could easily be like everyone else?  Little does Muhiima know, this mysterious quest is the beginning to that question getting answered.

    I truly loved Rodaah’s message not only to kids, but adults as well.  Being different has been hard since the beginning of time.  Just look at Moses, Noah, and Jesus.  It might be 2017 but being different in today’s society is still something that can be struggle.  Just ask any Black person or POC in America or non-Christian.  I’m confident that the majority of us would say that despite the challenges of what being different and unique brings, we wouldn’t trade our heritage or faiths for the world!

    Having once been a kid, I can understand where Muhiima is coming from.  There were things my mom didn’t allow me to do because our heritage and beliefs.  For example, we didn’t celebrate Columbus Day because we are part Native American.  Also, I wasn’t allowed to attend sleepovers and had to dress very modest.

    As a parent, I can related to Muhiima’s parents and fully understand why they decided to send her on this quest of self-discovery.  It’s hard watching our children struggle with love all of themselves and/or questioning the rules, expectations and traditions we have set for our families when we only want the best for them.

    Muhiima’s Quest is a great conversation starter for us as parents and role models to talk to our children or children in our lives about why it’s okay to be different and not to follow the crowd.  For parents and role models, I think Muhiima’s Quest is a great reminder that sometimes we have to get creative in order to get through to our children.  “Because I said so” doesn’t work all the time and honestly shouldn’t be our default go-to.  Kids need reassurance and to know the WHY behind things, especially when it comes to accepting their heritage and religious differences.

    Also, this book reminded me that I’m not alone and don’t have to be alone in raising my children and helping them to accept the things that make them unique.  We all have a village and we should be using those villages.  Sometimes we need to include those people in our discussions with our children when we’re tackling heavy subjects like diversity.

    Overall, the kids and I really enjoyed Muhiima’s Quest.  The story was great and the illustrations were beautiful.  I definitely recommend this book to parents, especially parents of color, who are looking to talk with their children about the importance of diversity and accepting the things about our backgrounds and families that make us unique.

    How do you talk to your kids about diversity and embracing their uniqueness?
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  • 25 Books To Add To Your May TBR

    The weather has warmed up and the sun is shining.  That means it’s finally safe to enjoy some outdoor leisure time.  So whether you’re soaking up Vitamin D from your patio or the beach, these 25 books are sure to be great company.  Grab some sunscreen, a comfy lounge chair, a nice cold drink and get your read on!

    In the spirit of full disclosure, I do want to mention that this post contains affiliate links.  This means that should you click on any of the links below and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you to help with the upkeep of YUMMommy.  Thanks for the support!

    • Given To The Sea by Mindy McGinnis |  Khosa was born to be fed to the sea to prevent it from destroying her village as it did once before.  However, before she can be given to sea, she must birth an heir. Will Khosa deliver an heir and end up given to the sea or will she be saved by unexpected knight in shining armor?
    • A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas |   Feyre, Rhysand and the gang are back in the third book of the ACOWAR series. Feyre returns to the Spring Court to gather intel about the looming war.  In the process she has to discover who she can and can’t trust, but her deceit could very well cost her her life.
    • Salt To The Sea by Ruta Sepetys |  Four strangers from all walks of life fight to escape to freedom during World War II in this heartbreakingly beautiful war novel.  
    • Coral and Bone by Tiffany Daune |  Described as X-Men meets sirens, evil mermaids and shifters, Tiffany Daune’s debut novel is a fantasy lover’s delight.  Halen’s world is turned upside down when she finds out that her whole life has been one big lie and that her mother has been keeping a huge secret about her identity.
    • The Lies by Christina C Jones |  Sometimes no matter how much you lie to yourself or put up a front to the world, there’s always that one person who sees through everything.  Christina is serving up Black love greatness again in her 30th novel.
    • When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon |  Arranged to be married by their parents, Dimple Shah and Rishi Patel end up meeting a summer camp.  These two couldn’t be more different from each other.  Will opposites clash or will this end up being a match made in heaven?

    • Flame In The Mist by Renée Ahdieh |  Hailed as a Mulan retelling, Mariko is arranged to marry the son of the emperor’s favorite consort.  However, her convoy is ambushed during their trip to the imperial city.  Mirako then decides to go undercover and dins about why the Black Clan tried to kill her.
    • Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys |  Get your Kleenex handy.  Ruta Sepetys is the master at capturing all of the heartbreaking and horrifying aspects of what life was like for those caught in the middle during World War II.  This story follows fifteen year old Lina as she and her family are forced to live in a work camp in Siberia.  
    • Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig |  Ludwig takes us on a journey as we follow the life of Ginny Moon, an autistic teenager who’s had a not so good start in life.  All Ginny wants more than anything is accepted and not feel like an outsider.
    • Into the Water by Paula Hawkins |  Author of  The Girl on the Train, Hawkins is back with another spellbinding thriller.  Secrets will be revealed after a single mother and a teenage girl are found dead at the bottom of town river.  Were their deaths accidents or has a killer from the past returned to town? 
    • Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman |  When a socially awkward Eleanor and her coworker Raymond save an elderly man after a nasty stumble, three unexpectedly develop a bond and friendship.  Soon Eleanor starts to realize that life becomes worth while when we take risks even if some risks could lead to heartbreak. 
    • I Found You by Lisa Jewell |  What would you do if you found a man on the beach who couldn’t remember who he was?  Even worst, what would you do if your husband went missing and you found out that the person claimed to be wasn’t actually a real person at all?
    • The Widow of Wall Street by Randy Susan Meyers |  When Phoebe’s husband gets caught running a Ponzi scheme, she has to choose between standing by her husband’s side as their world crumbles or leaving him in order to have a relationship with her children.  Which will she choose and will she end up going down with her husband in the end?
    • The Color Purple by Alice Walker |  In this critically acclaimed and award winning novel, Alice Walker chronicles the lives of two sisters who separated by distance, time and more, but still manage to defeat odds and sustain their unbreakable bond.

    • Don’t Settle For Safe by Sarah Jakes Roberts |  How many times have we told someone to take a leap faith, but yet continue to play it safe in our own lives?  If you’re finally ready to break mold, this is the book for you.
    • Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi |  This award winning novel follows the lives of two half-sisters and the different directions of each of their lives takes during the 18th century.  Be prepared to go on journey from Ghana to Harlem and to explore topics of race and sex in this historical masterpiece.
    • The Traitor’s Kiss by Erin Beaty |  Espionage, war, and romance.  What happens when Sage Fowler goes from being a matchmaker’s apprentice to a military spy?  Will each secret that she uncovers lead or save her kingdom from going to war?
    • As Old As Time by Liz Braswell |  Calling all Beauty & the Beast fans, have you ever wondered who the enchanted sorceress was that cursed Beast?  What do you think would happen if Belle found out that person was her mother?  Would she still find her happily ever with him?
    • Royce Rolls by Margaret Stohl |  Bentley Royce is teenage realty super star.  As is the case with most things, everything that glitters isn’t gold.  Bentley is over the spotlight, but if her family’s show doesn’t get renewed for a sixth season, she’s afraid her family will drift apart.  She has to choose between leaving the cameras behind or doing what she can to get her family’s show renewed.

    • Every Body Yoga by Jessamyn Stanley |  For years there’s been this myth that you have to look or have a certain body type to do yoga.  Jessamyn Stanley is shattering the myth and proving that no matter what shape or size your body is, with the right techniques and determination, anyone can master the art of yoga.
    • Clean Cooking by Elisabeth Johansson |  Eating healthy is easier when you have a cookbook full of yummy recipes to pick from.  Elisabeth Johansson proves that eating gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free doesn’t mean you have to eat yucky food.  I highly recommend this cookbook for families and individuals with food allergies.
    • Our Short History by Lauren Grodstein |  This heartbreaking novel is about a who mom who walked out on her ex after he “made it clear that fatherhood wasn’t in his plans” when he found out she was pregnant.  Fast forward a few years and Karen finds herself dying and struggling with trying to decide if her ex should be a permanent fixture in their son’s life after she’s gone.
    • The Trophy Child by Paula Daly |  Deception, murder and suburbia.  Find out what happens when one mom pushes her family too far over the edge in this new thriller. 
    • Bowls! by Molly Watson |  As of late I’ve been all about one-pot and bowl meals.  In this book Molly Watson shares one-dish meals that are both delicious and healthy.
    • The Big Life by Ann Shoket | Former editor-in-chief of Seventeen Magazine, Ann Shoket talks why it’s important to have a “squad” as well as giving tips and advance on relationships, side hustling and more.  And how cool is it that Michelle Phan wrote the Foreword?!
    What’s your favorite beach or tropical read?

  • Whoa, Baby! Book Review + Giveaway

    Disclosure:  This review and giveaway are sponsored by Da Capo Press.  I received a copy of Whoa, Baby! from the publisher to facilitate this review.  All opinions expressed are my own.  Also, this post contains affiliate links.

    When it comes to motherhood, why are mothers often the least talked about?  Sure there are tons of books and articles out there that tell us how to mother/parent and even more that judge how some of us parent/mother.  But what about the books that focus on and go into candid detail about the physical, mental and emotional aspects of being a mom, especially surrounding new motherhood?  Having once searched for those books for months almost nine years ago, I can tell you that there aren’t many.  Thankfully, new moms like Kelly Rowland and her OB/GYN, Dr. Tristan Bickman, are changing that with her new book, Whoa, Baby!: A Guide For New Moms Who Feel Overwhelmed and Freaked Out.

    When I first heard that Kelly Rowland was writing a book about new motherhood with OB/GYN, Dr. Bickman, I got a little bit excited.  While I wasn’t a 100% certain that the majority of this book wasn’t going to be about how to parent, I knew that since Dr. Bickman is on OB/GYN and not a pediatrician that this book was probably going to tackle some issues that related specifically and solely just to moms.  Now, having read Whoa, Baby! fully, I can assure you that this is not yet another how to parent book.

    Instead, Whoa, Baby! is a welcomed breath of fresh air when it comes to guides for new moms in my opinion.  Kelly Rowland gets very candid and open about a lot of topics that I feel either get glazed over, swept under the rug or just not talked about at all.  I love her honesty in talking about the pain our vaginas go through after birth not only from the act of just pushing our babies out, but also from the vaginal tearing that happens to roughly 95% of us birth our children vaginally.  When I flash back to talking about my labor and delivery with my first OB/GYN before I delivered Moo, she made vaginal tearing sound like something that could happen, but probably wouldn’t.

    Boy, was she wrong.  I ended up with an almost third degree tear folks.  And let me tell you ladies, there ain’t nothing comfortable about having stitches in your lady bits.  I definitely wish I had known that tearing was the norm for first time moms and not as rare as my doctor had made it seem because I feel like I could have better prepared myself mentally for the pain afterwards and would have actually stocked up on items like an inflatable donut and those ice-pack underwear.

    Aside from vaginal tearing, Kelly Rowland also shares her struggles with constipation, worrying breastfeeding after getting breast implants, sex after baby, and her battle to love her post baby body.  She even talks about postpartum depression, a subject that even today is still considered a bit taboo to talk openly about.  And throughout all of her sharing, Dr. Bickman interjects her professional opinions and advice in way that is seamless and doesn’t take away from the intimate feeling of the book.

    And while we’re on the subject of Dr. Bickman, I just want to say that I wish I had the opportunity to have her as my OB/GYN.  She has a tone/personality that comes across as no non-sense, straightforward and brutally honest, but with a little humor sprinkled in.  You can definitely tell that she’s seen and heard it all and is completely comfortable talking about any subject, regardless of how embarrassing, with her patients.  You can also tell that she values her patients and has no problem being an advocate for them when needed.

    Seriously, I’m more than a little bummed out that Kelly Rowland didn’t have child before I did because I could have totally used Whoa, Baby! before and even after I had Moo.  Rowland talks about how we as moms don’t really talk about the not so pretty aspects of new motherhood, even with our close friends and family members.  This got me to thinking and she’s right.  I had two girlfriends who had children before I did, they never warned me about the stuff that Rowland and Dr. Bickman talk about.

    While I’m glad new moms and moms-to-be now have Whoa, Baby!, I can’t help but encourage moms to start talking to our close friends and family about these things when they ask what our experiences were like.  It’s time to stop being ashamed or embarrassed to talk about our needs and struggles.  It’s time to keep it all the way real so that we’re not sending our loved ones into this experience blind.

    I appreciate Rowland’s openness and willingness to share what her experience was like.  I enjoyed the tone of this book and how it felt like she was confiding in me as friend and not just a reader.  Whoa, Baby! is definitely a must-read for new moms and moms-to-be.  I’d even recommend this book to not-so-new moms like myself who’ve always wanted a book that gets real about our needs and experiences as new moms, but couldn’t find the right one.

    GIVEAWAY

    The lovely folks from Da Capo Press were nice enough to allow me to giveaway two (2) copies of Whoa, Baby! to two (2) lucky YUMMommy supporters!  All you have to do is use the giveaway widget below to enter.  This giveaway is open to US residents 18 years old or older ONLY.
    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Also, you can purchase your own copy of Kelly’s Whoa, Baby! on Amazon, Walmart.com, Book Depository and Target.com.

    What is one thing you wish you knew/want to know about becoming a new mom?