This Darkness Mine
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Published: October 10, 2017
352 pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Sasha Stone knows her place—first-chair clarinet, top of her class, and at the side of her oxford-wearing boyfriend. She’s worked her entire life to ensure that her path to Oberlin Conservatory as a star musician is perfectly paved.
But suddenly there’s a fork in the road, in the shape of Isaac Harver. Her body shifts toward him when he walks by, her skin misses his touch even though she’s never known it, and she relishes the smell of him—smoke, beer, and trouble—all the things she’s avoided to get where she is. Even worse, every time he’s near Sasha, her heart stops, literally. Why does he know her so well—too well—and she doesn’t know him at all?
Sasha discovers that her by-the-book life began by ending another’s: the twin sister she absorbed in the womb. But that doesn’t explain the gaps of missing time in her practice schedule or the memories she has of things she certainly never did with Isaac. As Sasha loses her much-cherished control, her life—and heart—become more entangled with Isaac. Armed with the knowledge that her heart might not be hers alone, Sasha must decide what she’s willing to do—and who she’s willing to hurt—to take it back.
Edgar Award–winning author Mindy McGinnis delivers a dark and gripping psychological thriller about a girl at war with herself, and what it really means to be good or bad.
Kim’s Review:
I was so excited about this book! I saw it on EpicReads and all over booktube so I asked my mom to get it for me for Christmas. She obliged and so I started reading. I’ll admit that it started a little slowly, which is why I gave it 4 stars. I liked Sasha a lot because I could totally relate to her. I was the one in high school who sat and read and studied while everyone else was hanging out and going to parties. I was sheltered and easily offended by bad language and off-color jokes. Thankfully, I did not find out that I was a twin who absorbed my sibling in the womb! I totally understand how that would throw a teen for a loop!
And unfortunately, that’s when I started really disliking Sasha! I have no patience for kids who are disrespectful to their parents and manipulates the people around them by being fake. By the end, Sasha is just another stupid, millennial teen who can’t take any responsibility for her own actions. But, the story was awesome! Once it got going, I could barely put it down. In a world of the same stories being rehashed and retold over and over again, this was an original book and I loved it! I would absolutely recommend this to anyone. Definitely some language and mature content, so I would save this for older teens.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
#AbuseTalk Forum is NOW OPEN!!! @JenLGilmour
Today I am helping spread the word about #AbuseTalk Forum started by Jennifer Gilmour. By now you know I am a huge supporter of hers. Though she is based in the UK, this forum is worldwide as domestic abuse is everywhere! Today is the ‘opening day’ of the Forum!
Up to date information on the day on virtual opening event: https://www.facebook.com/events/227612351343912/
Hi, I am Jennifer Gilmour and I am an advocate for women in abusive relationships, I am an author and a mum of three. I have personally experienced domestic abuse and wanted to bring awareness to what happens behind closed doors.
A bit about my journey:
My debut novel, ‘Isolation Junction’ was published in 2016 which follows the story of Rose who is trying to flee her abusive partner. The book is based on true events of my own and has been fictionalised.
Since this publication I have continued to be an advocate for those in abusive relationships through my blog posts, radio interviews and Twitter feed.
My second publication was released in October 2017; I put together stories told to me by survivors of domestic abuse. In this way, I hope to give a voice to their experiences and to raise awareness of the types of unacceptable behaviour which fall into the category of domestic abuse. Thankfully the law has changed to incorporate this kind of insidious behaviour but still far too many people are trapped, isolated and afraid or unaware of how to escape. I hope that this anthology will give them the courage to take that first step and will raise awareness for those who can help them.
I opened #AbuseTalk in October in 2017 and haven’t looked back, its opened many doors, its connected many people, its supported lots of individuals and it has created an community.
I was a finalist for Inspirational Mum Award in the BizMums Awards 2017.
I started writing for Coercive Control Chat Magazine (CCChat Magazine) in October 2017, I have my own column for #AbuseTalk and an Online Book Club with a difference.
In May 2018 I won Most Informative Blog 2018 in the Blogger Bash Awards, something I am most thrilled about.
Why have I opened a forum?
I have always felt a forum was needed but couldn’t find its place and so I decided a Twitter Chat was the direction to go. After a few months of hosting #AbuseTalk I realised that tweeting was great but it wasn’t for those who don’t want to publicly discuss domestic abuse. It is also restrictive with the character limitations. That’s when I realised that a forum can work alongside the Twitter Chat and offering a register only forum.
I am also delighted to have the forum sponsored by a solicitor which will be announced in the grand opening, our solicitor has agreed to answer questions within the forum on their own thread ‘Ask a solicitor’. This is priceless, to have the opportunity to ask a solicitor when perhaps someone may not have had the ability to do so.
How do I access the new forum?
You can head there right now… www.jennifergilmour.com/community
PLEASE NOTE: You will only see the news and updates forum until you are registered, once you are registered you will see the main Abuse Talk Forum appear with all the topics and discussions.
Who is the forum for?
Anyone! Anyone with an interest or passion surrounding domestic abuse.
It can also be for those in the sector like charities, organisations, advocates, bloggers, businesses and more.
Or it can be individuals that want to help, offer guidance, who have gone through abuse or are going through it now.
There will be a VIP Membership area but that is opening later on, updates will be given and this will be just £10 a year with a bag full of offers, discounts and more. This is you really need that extra security and community.
Sign up for notification of this service here: http://eepurl.com/dor93f
I would like to sponsor the forum, how do I do this?
The forum is open for sponsorship to cover the maintenance and time it takes to moderate the posts.
Anyone can be a silent sponsor for £1 or £3, scroll to the bottom of this page: https://jennifergilmour.com/abuse-talk-twitter/
For businesses/charities/organisations/advocates etc please contact me for availability – contact@jennifergilmour.com
Sponsors will receive a unique badge to place on their website and social media to show that they support the forum.
Tell me more about #AbuseTalk…
#AbuseTalk is a Twitter Chat that runs every Wednesday evening 8-9pm GMT. It is open to anyone who wants to discuss domestic abuse.
Each week we have a theme which is there to help the conversation flow through the one hour. You can at any point ask your own questions, reply to others and join in.
Not in the UK? That’s not a problem either, we have people joining in around the world and have adapted the cover photo to display the times in the timezones most used.
Find out more here:
https://jennifergilmour.com/abuse-talk-twitter/
Need to know more?
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or are interested in becoming a sponsor at contact@jennifergilmour.com
Thank you for your time and if the forum isn’t for you – it may be for one of your friends. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men experience domestic abuse in their lifetime.
Video on how to register and see how the visibility of the forum is altered with the registration- https://youtu.be/YtImyAHffDE
Cover Reveal: Summer at The Little Duck Pond Café
Today I am helping in the cover reveal for Summer at The Little Duck Pond Café by Rosie Green! Publication day is June 18th.
Jaz Winters stuck a pin in a map and fled to the village of Sunnybrook, looking for a brand new life – and after a rocky start, it’s beginning to look as if she made the right decision. Her blossoming friendship with Ellie and Fen has seen her through some dark times, and she’s managed to land two jobs – waitress at The Little Duck Pond Café and working as a weekend tour guide at Brambleberry Manor, the country house that’s been in Fen’s family for generations.
Sure, life isn’t totally perfect. There’s the irritating know-it-all guy who keeps popping up on her manor tours, for a start. He seems determined to get under Jaz’s skin whether she likes it or not. But she supposes it’s a small price to pay for the relative peace she’s found, living in Sunnybrook.
But just as Jaz is beginning to think rosier times are on the horizon, a shock encounter looks set to shatter her fragile happiness.
Will she be forced to flee from Sunnybrook and everyone she’s grown so fond of? Or will she find the strength to stand her ground and finally face up to the nightmares of the past?
This novella is part of a trilogy:
Spring at The Little Duck Pond Café ( I previously interviewed Rosie during the blog tour for Spring. My interview is here).
Summer at The Little Duck Pond Café
Winter at The Little Duck Pond Café
What does the cover look like?????? Keep scrolling to find out!!
Almost there!!!
Here it is:
Pre-order Summer at The Little Duck Pond Café:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
About the Author:
Rosie Green has been scribbling stories ever since she was little. Back then they were rip-roaring adventure tales with a young heroine in perilous danger of falling off a cliff or being tied up by ‘the baddies’. Thankfully, Rosie has moved on somewhat, and now much prefers to write romantic comedies that melt your heart and make you smile, with really not much perilous danger involved at all, unless you count the heroine losing her heart in love.
Rosie’s brand new series of novellas is centred on life in a village café. Summer at The Little Duck Pond Café, published on 18th June 2018, follows the first in the series, Spring at The Little Duck Pond Café.
You can find Rosie on Twitter: @Rosie_Green1988
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