2016 Reading Challenges

2016 Goodreads Challenge: Read 116 books in 2016. 

Challenge Met: 135 books read this year. (116% of goal)

2016 Page Count Challenge: Read 35,000+ pages in 2016.

Challenge Met: 38,806 pages read this year. (111% of goal)

Perpetual Kinsey Millhone Challenge: Continue to read books in the Kinsey Millhone alphabet series by Sue Grafton.

Challenge Missed: Read 0 Kinsey Millhone books this year. Oopsie!

Perpetual Jack Reacher Challenge: Continue to read books in the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child.

Challenge Met: Read 2 Jack Reacher books this year.

Keeping Up with Patterson Challenge: Continue to read books in the Alex Cross, Women's Murder Club and Michael Bennett series by James Patterson.

Challenge Met: Read 6 KUWP books this year.

2016 Bookish Kill Your TBR Challenge: 12 themes to help knock out titles on To Be Read shelves.

Challenge Met: Read 33 (12 themes) Bookish KYT books this year.

2016 PopSugar Reading Challenge: Read a wide range of 40 books spanning genres.

Challenge Almost Met: Read 34 Popsugar books this year. Click the title/author for my previously published review of the books featured in this reading challenge.

1. A National Book Award Winner: Getting Mother's Body by Suzan-Lori Parks
2. A YA Bestseller: This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
3. A Book I Haven't Read Since High School: What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day by Pearl Cleage
4. A Book Set In My Home State: Writing My Wrongs by Shaka Senghor
5. A Book Translated to English: Perfect Days by Raphael Montes
6. A Romance Set in the Future: F*ck Love by Tarryn Fisher
7. A Book Set in Europe: The Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell
8. A Book That's Under 150 Pages: Ms. Marvel No Normal Vol. 1 by G. Willow Wilson
9. A NYT Bestseller: Home by Harlan Coben
10. A Book That's Becoming a Movie This Year: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
11. A Book Recommended by Someone I Just Met: The Mothers by Brit Bennett
12. A Self-Improvement Book: We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
13. A Book I Can Finish in a Day: Never Never by Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher
14. A Book Written by a Celebrity: Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
15. A Book From Oprah's Book Club: Queen Sugar by Natalie Baszile
16. A Science Fiction Novel: Liar by Justine Larbalestier
17. A Book Recommended by a Family Member: The Mother by Yvvette Edwards
18. A Graphic Novel: Archie Married Life 2 by Paul Kupperberg
19. A Book That is Published in 2016: I Almost Forgot About You by Terry McMillan
20. A Book With a Protagonist Who Has My Occupation: Falling by Jane Green
21. A Book That Takes Place During Summer: Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
22. A Book and Its Prequel: Killing Floor & Night School by Lee Child
23. A Murder Mystery: A Murder Among Friends by Jennifer Lewis Williams
24. A Book Written by a Comedian: Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
25. A Book With a Blue Cover: Untwine by Edwidge Danticat
26. A Book of Poetry: milk and honey by Rupi Kaur
27. The First Book I See in a Bookstore: First Comes Love by Emily Giffin
28. A Classic From the 20th Century: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
29. A Book From the Library: Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
30. A Book About a Road Trip: Getting Mother's Body by Suzan-Lori Parks
31. A Book About a Culture I'm Unfamiliar With: The Illegal by Lawrence Hill
32. A Satirical Book: The Sellout by Paul Beatty
33. A Book That Takes Place on an Island: Just Like Me by Nancy Cavanaugh
34. A Book That's Guaranteed to Bring Me Joy: A House for Happy Mothers by Amulya Malladi

You May Also Be Interested In:
Top 5 Series of 2016
Top 10 Books of 2016
Top 10 Book Covers of 2016
Top 10 First Lines of 2016

Top 10 Books of 2016

It is my literary duty to bring the top books I've read this year to the forefront and highlight my favorites. Please note that my list is purely my opinion. It is not influenced by authors, other readers, other bloggers, fellow reviewers or publishers that may have provided free or advance copies in exchange for my honest review.

Click the title/author for my previously published review of the books featured in my Top 10 Books of 2016.



10. This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

9. One by Sarah Crossan

8. The True Story of Atticus and Hazel by Fisher Amelie

7. Untwine by Edwidge Danticat

6. The Mother by Yvvette Edwards

5. The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer



4. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

3. I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual by Luvvie Ajayi

2. The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

1. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult


You May Also Be Interested In:
Top 5 Series of 2016
Top 10 Book Covers of 2016
Top 10 First Lines of 2016

 

Top 10 Book Covers of 2016

A book cover is the most important feature of a novel. I always wonder why the author or publisher chose a particular image to represent the story within the book. Does it grab my attention from a bookshelf? Does it represent the author or characters, especially those of color? Does it really portray the plot? Is it appealing and public-friendly? These are the factors I considered when choosing the top 10 covers of books I've read this year.

Click the title/author for my previously published review of the books featured in my Top 10 Book Covers of 2016.



10. Never by Joy Avery

9. The Mother by Yvvette Edwards

8. Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters



7. Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

6. One by Sarah Crossan

5. A Murder Among Friends by Jennifer Lewis Williams



4. Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett

3. The True Story of Atticus and Hazel by Fisher Amelie

2. F*ck Love by Tarryn Fisher

1. The Blackbirds by Eric Jerome Dickey

You May Also Be Interested In:
Top 5 Series of 2016
Top 10 Books of 2016
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Top 5 Series of 2016

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along. Have you ever read a book and wasn't quite ready to leave the characters? Or have you read a book with a cliffhanger? This is why I heart series! I get to revisit characters and follow them through fictional life. Below are the top 5 books that belong to a series that I've read this year.

Click the title/author for my previously published review of the books featured in my Top 5 Series of 2016.

5. Killing Floor / Night School by Lee Child (Jack Reacher #1 / Prequel #21)

4. 15th Affair by James Patterson (Women's Murder Club #15)

3. Cross Kill by James Patterson (Alex Cross #23.5)

2. Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins (Old West #1)

1. Home by Harlan Coben (Myron Bolitar #11)


You May Also Be Interested In:
Top 10 Books of 2016
Top 10 Book Covers of 2016
Top 10 First Lines of 2016

 

Top 10 First Lines of 2016

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along. First lines are what grab readers. It is our first impression. It sets the tone for the remainder of the book. 

What makes a good first line? Clever wording. A bold statement. A sentence(s) that prompts me to nod my head, say hmmm and read further. Below are the top ten first lines from books I've read this year. Hopefully these spark your attention too.

Click the title/author for my previously published review of the books featured in my Top 10 First Lines of 2016.

10. "A dead bolt has a very specific sound." ~ Baby Doll by Hollie Overton

9. "We didn't believe when we first heard because you know how church folk can gossip." ~ The Mothers by Brit Bennett

8. "I remember what was playing when the car slammed into us." ~ Untwine by Edwidge Danticat

7. "When I found my husband at the bottom of the stairs, I tried to resuscitate him before I ever considered disposing of the body." ~ The Passenger by Lisa Lutz 

6. "On the sidewalk outside 57 Great Jones Street, the usual sad lineup of crack addicts slept in the burning sun. Inside the two-story brick building, Jean-Michel Basquiat was asleep in his huge bed, bathed in blue television light. The air conditioner was broken and the room felt like a microwave oven. The bathroom door was ajar, revealing a glimpse of a black and tan Jacuzzi tub. On the ledge of the tub was a small pile of bloody syringes." ~ Basquiat: A Quick Killing in Art by Phoebe Hoban

5. "I'm a liar. And I don't care who knows it. I make stuff up all the time." ~ Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes

4. "Where my panties at?" ~ Getting Mother's Body by Suzan-Lori Parks 

3. "My cup of tea is on the bedside table. It is where he has always left it; every morning of the eighteen years we have been married he has made me a cup of tea, brought it up, and left it on the side, and normally that's all it is; a cup of tea on the side. But today is not a normal day." ~ The Mother by Yvvette Edwards

2. "As I sit here with one foot on either side of the ledge, looking down from twelve stories above the streets of Boston, I can't help but think about suicide." ~ It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

1. "No, no. I insist you stop right now. Still here? Awesome. Now you're not allowed to blame me for anything in this book because I told you to stop reading and you just kept going." ~ Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson

You May Also Be Interested In:
Top 5 Series of 2016
Top 10 Books of 2016
Top 10 Book Covers of 2016

The Sun is Also a Star

"People spend their whole lives looking for love. Poems and songs and entire novels are written about it." ~ pg. 58

Natasha is going to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. This is the last day she has to find someone to help her. Her family are undocumented immigrants and being deported to Jamaica tonight. Natasha doesn't believe in fate, only science and facts. She is definitely not the googly-eyed girl who falls in love with a cute boy on a crowded New York City street.

Daniel is the good son. Unlike his failure of a brother, Daniel is a good student and lives up to his parents' expectations. He is on the fast track to become a professional; although, his dream is to be a poet. Daniel believes in destiny, the stars aligning just so, allowing him (an overachieving Korean) and Natasha (a Jamaican girl sporting a big afro) to meet. The Sun is Also a Star details the one (1) day these two random people experience together.

"We're trying to fit a lifetime into a day." ~ pg. 320

Every moment has brought us to this single moment. You logging onto the internet, accessing my website, clicking and reading this review. A million different paths could have brought you here. It is kind of awesome when you think about how fate in the universe works. The Sun is Also a Star helped me realize this.

Nicola Yoon done did it again! The Sun is Also a Star is so damn touching and way beyond the traditional bestselling YA novel. The story is unlikely to happen in real life yet it developed so naturally. It is easily one of the best books I have read in 2016.

Title: The Sun is Also a Star
Author: Nicola Yoon
Published: November 2016
Pages: 344
Edition: Hardcover
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

The Chemist

Settle in for an out-of-my-norm-but-read-it-anyway review, bookhearts.

An ex-agent is on the run from former employers. She worked for the U.S. government until they decided she was a liability. She just knew way too much! So now she uses fake names, wears disguises, travels light and often to stay low-key. Until one day she is offered a way out: take one more case to clear her name and save her life.

"I am the bogeyman in a very dark and scary world." ~ pg. 224

This woman is a beast! Known in the dark world as "the chemist," she strikes me as a cross between Huck from Scandal and Mr. Kaplan from The Blacklist. Her tactics are brutal yet efficient. Her strategies are well-planned. Her very own life is priority. But then she falls for the subject, making her likelihood of survival complicated.

It is so hard to imagine this is the same author that wrote the Twilight series (which I loved btw). Yeah, it is clear why Stephenie Meyer is a worldwide bestselling author but with this new release, her writing has matured. It still has her descriptive signature style but with a grown feel to it. There are no vampires, werewolves or naive teenagers. The characters in The Chemist are intelligent adults who make realistic decisions. It is very black ops and would be perfect for the big screen! Granted, there are some parts that are too wordy and could be removed, hence my 4.5 / 5 heart rating. But I was all in, turning the pages of this thick 500+ page hardcover until the gasping end. Dare I say I didn't want it to end?!

"Like living a life of isolation and fear, hunted every minute of the day?" ~ pg. 183

Bookhearts, give The Chemist a try. It may or may not be your cup of "guhment" tea but I highly recommend it for fast-paced action/suspense book lovers. For my conspiracy theorist bookhearts, this one is for you!

Title: The Chemist
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Published: November 2016
Pages: 518
Edition: Hardcover
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♡

Bookish Christmas Gifts

Lookie! Early Christmas bookish gifts I received!

I am so looking forward to reading on this new Kindle Paperwhite with no glare and backlight. This will be perfect for reading on the sunny beach or late night in bed. And these uber cute Dabney Lee book magnets will be awesome markers for the physical books/magazines I read.

'Tis the season, bookhearts!

 

Holding Up the Universe

"What if the entire world was face-blind?" ~ pg. 105

Jack has a condition called prosopagnosia; he cannot recognize faces, not even his own. He looks in the mirror and doesn't recognize himself. He wakes up everyday and does not recognize his mom or the faces of people he loves. Everyone is a stranger to Jack. To keep this secret, he plays it cool, charming and hilarious. Most of all, he does not get too close to anyone.

"For something that isn't there anymore, it weighs a ton." ~ pg. 374

Libby is known as "America's Fattest Teen." Literally cut out of her house at over 600 pounds has made her semi-famous. Everyone immediately judges her instead of getting to know who she really is. After losing an impressive amount of weight, Libby is ready for high-school and new friends. But a cruel high-school game lands Libby and Jack in group counseling. Soon both teens feel less alone.

Jennifer Niven is an author that I added to my must-read list after I read the amazing story All the Bright Places. She quickly became a bestselling author. So of course, I was excited to read her new release, Holding Up the Universe.

"I'm not a shitty person, but I'm about to do a shitty thing..." ~ pg. 104

Sounds like a good story, right? Sounds like characters I can empathize with, yup? Not so much. Instead I knew where this story was heading from the beginning and there were no tearjerker or mouth-dropping twists to keep me interested the whole way. I fought the urge to skim. (FYI: my thoughts on skimming are similar to faking an orgasm—why waste energy doing it? Just stop.)

Holding Up the Universe passed my 50-page Rule because I had faith in Jennifer Niven to finish. I was sure this book was a fluke and would get better...but, nope.

Title: Holding Up the Universe
Author: Jennifer Niven
Published: October 2016
Pages: 388
Edition: Hardcover
Rating: ♥♡

 

Series Sunday: Never

(Lassiter Sisters #1) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

"Don't let doubt dictate your happiness. You're a Lassiter woman. You come from a long line of strong, proud woman [sic]." ~ 89%

My Series Sunday pick is Never, the first book in the Lassiter Sisters series by Joy Avery. Gadiya Lassiter and her twin brother were inseparable. Until one day, they were not. Nico Dupree, the love of her life, was no longer around either. Fast forward two years and there is a new fire chief in town; Nico Dupree is back to reclaim Gadiya's heart. Too bad she vowed to never fall in love again.

Before I dive into my book review, take a look at the cover above. It is simple yet beautiful. I appreciate when authors/publishers choose a more subtle cover rather than elaborate images that distract from the book itself. Never is also public-friendly for readers who happen to leave the cover page visible on their eBook device. Kudos to Joy Avery and her team!

I can easily enjoy a story with unlikeable characters. Such is the case with Never. The stubborn main character, Gadiya, had me talking to the pages. "What you doing, girl?" But once I accepted the character's annoying flaw, I was able to read on and let the story flow.

"Black, sexy magic, an inner voice taunted." ~ 20%

Thanks to my bestie, Damey, for recommending this novella. She described it as "so adorable" and I agree. It is a very quick read that I finished in between house hopping for the holiday. Joy Avery definitely wet my book plate enough to want more of the Lassiter sisters. My fingers are crossed that books are in the making featuring Gadiya's sisters, Rana and Sadona Lassiter.

If you are looking to read the start of a new series, download Never. It is free with Kindle Unlimited program or buy it for only $2.99 on Amazon.

Title: Never

Author: Joy Avery

Published: November 2016

Pages: 100

Edition: eBook

Rating: ♥♥♥

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Grab your current read(s).
• Share the first line(s).
• Include the title and author.

"This is part of why I want to reiterate and reinforce my previous point, that this author is, frankly, full of shit."

~ Getting Schooled by Christina C. Jones 

Adnan's Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial

"If there is one takeaway from Adnan's story, it should be this—the criminal justice system is not just deeply flawed, it is broken." ~ pg. 394

If you don't recognize the name "Adnan Syed" then just stop reading this review now. I don't know where you have been or why, but clearly you are out of the loop. The loop of a true crime told via the popular phenomenal podcasts called Serial, Undisclosed, and Truth & Justice with Bob Ruff. Additionally, if you are not familiar with podcasts #periodt, then I really encourage you to stop reading this review and get your life together.

Bear with me while I give the gist of this true crime story gone viral. On January 13, 1999, a high school senior in Baltimore, Maryland, named Hae Min Lee went missing. She was later found dead in Leakin Park. In early 2000, Adnan Syed was convicted and sentenced to life plus thirty years in prison for the murder of his ex-girlfriend. By 2013, almost all appeals had been exhausted. But family friend, Rabia Chaudry, believed in Adnan's innocence. She contacted a producer of This American Life, Sarah Koenig, in hopes of finding a journalist to shed light on Adnan's story. Maybe media will help. In 2014, Sarah Koenig's investigation into the murder of Hae Min Lee turned into Serial podcast with more than 500 million international listeners.

"The stress didn't just come from dealing with Muslims, Muslim leaders, Reddit and trolls, though; it also came from the content of the podcast itself, and most importantly, from Sarah." ~ pg. 270

But the story did not end after twelve episodes of Serial. A new podcast titled Undisclosed started featuring Rabia Chaudry. Another podcast popped up titled Truth & Justice with Bob Ruff continuing the investigation. And now we have a new book written by Rabia that presents new key evidence to dismantle the State's (already sloppy) case against Adnan Syed. Told in a hard-to-put-down narrative, the story and crowd-sourced investigation continues.

So is Adnan's Story worth reading? OH EM GEE YES! There are details within these pages that none of the three (3) previously mentioned podcasts revealed. It is page-turning. Beyond gripping. Attention f'in grabbing. Compelling narrative. Mind-blowing documentation and analysis of new key evidence. Never-before-seen letters from Adnan himself and his one theory of what really happened. Need I say more?!

"Maybe I could not prove I did not kill Hae, and maybe I would spend the rest of my life in prison." ~ pg. 219

I rate Adnan's Story 4/5 hearts because I don't believe the author's intention to create doubt in my mind was purposeful. Before reading this 400+ page book, I was firm in my belief that Adnan Syed was innocent. But after finishing this very good detailed book, I am not sure. Rabia, I know your intentions are purest of the pure, but it is my strong opinion that you should have waited to publish this book. If I have doubts now, I am sure other readers do too. But one fact remains: we still need the truth and justice for Hae Min Lee.

Bookhearts, Adnan's Story is a must read if you are still obsessed with Adnan Syed's case like I still am. Feel free to contact me to discuss as you read along. I am bursting at the seams to talk about this book in detail!

Title: Adnan's Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial
Author: Rabia Chaudry
Published: August 2016
Pages: 410
Edition: Hardcover
Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

Year of Yes Journal

"Anyone who tells you they are doing it all perfectly is a liar." ~ pg. 205

The Year of Yes Journal will get you all the way together for the new year. The prompts will encourage you to chronicle your own Year of Yes. Its format is organized with monthly themes, daily tracking, notes and encouraging passages from Shonda Rhimes. Although the galley edition is only a sample of the full 400+ page journal, I got a glimpse of the inspirational quotes and writing prompts. Say yes to beautiful and learn why "no" is a powerful word.

We saw how the Year of Yes changed the TGIT creator's life in my review of her bestselling memoir. Now let this journal bring more Yes to your life, bookhearts!

Disclaimer: This book was received directly from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are honestly my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: Year of Yes Journal

Author: Shonda Rhimes

Published: December 2016

Pages: 464

Edition: Galley

Rating: ♥♥♥

 

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Grab your current read(s).
• Share the first line(s).
• Include the title and author.

"Today's errand had become routine for the woman who was currently calling herself Chris Taylor. She'd gotten up much earlier than she liked, then dismantled and stowed her usual night-time precautions. It was a real pain to set everything up in the evening only to take it down first thing in the morning, but it wasn't worth her life to indulge in a moment of laziness."

~ The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer 

 

A Murder Among Friends

"Now, why don't you tell me from the beginning." ~ pg. 170

Marcus Agaston is a radio station reporter. During the summer of 2005, his friend Catherine, a pregnant surrogate for a gay couple, goes missing. When her body is found, Marcus searches for her killer to bring her justice. Meanwhile, Marcus' childhood friend's persistent demands for money (borderline blackmail) cause Marcus's husband, Sam, to get involved. Betrayal of friendship becomes this story's theme as clues are uncovered. Marcus is beyond shocked when he eventually comes face-to-face with the killer.

"Yes, yes, such a tragic, tragic end...such a horrible situation." ~ pg. 221

Mystery/Crime Fiction is my favorite genre. I love when books keep me guessing, skipping my daily naps to continue reading, turning the pages until I am finished. Criteria of a good mystery novel, to me, is a good enough crime with realistic characters that leads me to doubt whodunnit. I don't need unnecessary details to throw me off the trail. I don't mind characters I love to hate. And I especially love when characters get caught up in some unpredictable shit. Most importantly, I cannot be distracted by tons of grammatical errors (this book has a few typos but not so many that the normal reader's eye will catch). Finally, the mystery has to be damn good! Such is the case in A Murder Among Friends.

"Think it's a serial?" ~ pg. 84

The chapters have catchy yet revealing titles such as, Friendly Disclosure, Friendly Questions & Lies, and Unfriendly Confrontation. Although I suspected one of the characters early on, I could not figure out the motive so dismissed my thoughts. Peppered with colorful language and dialogue, the author wrote the characters in fully-fleshed out details making it even more suspenseful to figure out the mystery. As I read along, I wondered could one of the likable characters actually be guilty of this cold heartless murder? Well, I recommend you pick a weekend where you can relax and get all the way into this story to find out.

A Murder Among Friends is a great debut novel that put author Jennifer Lewis Williams on my to-read radar. Bookhearts, you should check her self-published novels out too!

Title: A Murder Among Friends
Author: Jennifer Lewis Williams
Published: April 2013
Pages: 265
Edition: Paperback
Challenge: Popsugar—A Murder Mystery
Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Beach Thing

"Carpe dickem." ~ 29%

Ameenah is owner and proprietor of Tikis & Cream, a beachfront smoothie shop located in Black Diamond Isles. On her first official day, she literally runs into Wade, a famous music producer. While he is visiting town for the summer, Wade gets hooked on an orange-flavored Tikis & Cream specialty drink, the homemade orange cranberry muffins and the young lady who makes them. The attraction is mutual so like the mature adults they are, Wade and Ameenah agree to have some fun; just a little beach thing.

"When the summer is up, so are we." ~ 23%

Starting a new business demands all of Ameenah's focus. Meanwhile, Wade is using the time away from busy Brooklyn to concentrate on doing what he does best: make beats. Neither need the distraction but cannot resist the sexual fling. I like how both characters make an agreement to spend their summer together without strings attached. Of course, we know feelings happen but the author writes about Ameenah and Wade's relationship so naturally that I don't even want their summer fling to end. I enjoyed reading of their dates, witty banter and sensual kisses. But a climax kicks into the story because Wade plans to move back to Brooklyn and Ameenah will stay in Black Diamond Isles running her gourmet smoothie shop. So does that mean the beach thing is over?

Despite the title, this book is more than a beach read. In fact, I read it one Sunday morning while cozy in a snuggie on my futon. It is a light-hearted romance with characters of color. Thanks to the author for creating a character like most of us women with "glorious hips" and black men that know their way around the kitchen. I loved the realistic dialogue and descriptive scenery. If only I could be a resident of Black Diamond Bay (and catch the attention of a clichéd tall, dark and handsome baé)!

Beach Thing is recommended for my bookhearts looking for a quick good read. Do yourself a favor; put down the television remote and pick up this book sometime soon!

Title: Beach Thing
Author: D.L. White
Published: September 2016
Pages: 147
Edition: eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥♡

 

Series Sunday: Moral Defense

(Samantha Brinkman #2) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

"...my name's gonna pop out like a piece of toast." ~ 3%

My Series Sunday pick is Moral Defense, the second book in the Samantha Brinkman series by Marcia Clark. (Yes, that Marcia Clark from the O.J. Simpson trial.) Like most defense attorneys, Samantha Brinkman is not concerned about guilt or innocence; it is making sure her clients walk. Sometimes a crime is committed for personal reasons, business reasons, pleasure or justice. Whatever the reason, Samantha's duty is to keep her clients free. But a personal chord is struck when she meets Cassie Sonnenberg, an adopted teenager accused of fatally stabbing her brother and father and responsible for her mother clinging to life in the hospital. As Sam investigates the case and sets out to exonerate Cassie, dark memories of sexual abuse take the case and Samantha's personal life for a spin.

"But there had to be something wicked gnarly going for a whole family to be targeted." ~ 6%

At over 400 pages, Moral Defense is unnecessarily long. About 100 pages could've been removed about side cases not related to the main mystery. In this regard, it reminded me of the famous Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. Side stories were thrown in, wasting pages and readers' time. Fine if the author was aiming for 400+ pages in her new novel; however, I would have rather appreciated more detail on the main case instead. That would have earned Moral Defense five hearts.

I recommend this second book of the series to be read if only you read the first book. It will be easier to follow the relationship among Samantha Brinkman and her partners/friends. I still remain impressed with Marcia Clark's writing. I wish she would have quit her day job and turned to fiction sooner.

Disclaimer: This book was received directly from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are honestly my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: Moral Defense

Author: Marcia Clark

Published: November 2016

Pages: 426

Edition: Galley

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Revision. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Grab your current read(s).
• Share the first line(s).
• Include the title and author.

"When Adnan was convicted, it thundered three times. The day was bright and sunny, but as we sat there clutching our hands while the foreman pronounced the verdicts, it thundered."

~ Adnan's Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial by Rabia Chaudry