Born Wicked

Blessed with a gift...cursed with a secret. 

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood is about three sisters who are witches,
but they have to keep it secret from everyone,
including their own father.

The eldest sister, Cate,
is tasked with protecting her younger sisters,
on their mother's death,
and this is no easy feat,
especially with The Brotherhood in charge of this alternate history world.

If Cate and her sisters are found out, they could be put in an asylum or put to death.

Cate is faced with her 17th birthday approaching
where she has to get married or go into the convent,
but how can she leave her sisters unprotected?

Then there's the prophecy that may complicate things.

 I really enjoyed this book ...
there was romance, mystery, and magic.
I enjoyed everything except the ending,
which definitely leaves you hanging for the next novel in the series.


This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

Tide Pooling

 

On our recent trip to California, 

my mom and I introduced my boys to 

the adventure of tide pooling.

Tide pools are pools of seawater in the rocks leftover from high tide.

During low tide, you can venture out and explore these pools, 

looking for the creatures that the tide has left behind.

What can you find in tide pools?

Sea Anemones, seastars, chitons, crabs, 

algae, mussels and hermit crabs are what we found mostly.

It's a scavenger hunt. 

You never know what each pool with reveal.

My boys climbed rocks, scaled slimy cliff sides 

and discovered sea creatures.

Did you know if you stick your finger in an open sea anemone, 

it closes up, lightly sucking your finger?

It's a unique sensation!

My older son found the starfish photographed above. 

Afterwards, when we visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium, 

we learned more about the same creatures we'd discovered in the wild tide pools.

Nature is amazing.

Sometimes in life, you have to go looking for the hidden beauty.

A lot like life.

Sometimes I feel like I'm trapped in a tide pool, hidden under rocks.

Waiting to be found.

To be appreciated.

Trying to survive the harsh wind and direct sun.

But, honestly, I also want to be the one to find myself.

Have you ever been tide pooling?