June 11, 2017

Series Sunday: 16th Seduction

(Women's Murder Club #16) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. 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.

"Can you describe the cement mixer?" ~ pg. 236

My Series Sunday pick is 16th Seduction, obviously the 16th book in the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson. What an explosive case...literally! Before Sergeant Lindsay Boxer has time to process her husband's double life, they are hit with an explosion. A huge science museum is blown up killing twenty-five citizens and injuring lots more, including shady hubby Joe. What seems like an open-and-shut case is anything but. Lindsay's reputation and career is undermined by a clever criminal determined to make a fool of the San Francisco Police Department.

"I would be fired, made an example of, humiliated, and I would likely never have a job in law enforcement again. The end." ~ pg. 272

Thank goodness this series is still jumping. Around this time, a series wears on me and gets old but Patterson & Paetro are keeping a chick engaged. The main characters are still interesting and complex as ever. The mysteries are not repetitive nor easy to solve; although, the secondary mystery in 16th Seduction seemed kind of thrown in for filler. I could have done without the ass-poker serial killer. But otherwise, it was worth carrying around this hardcover to read around the office.

As always, I highly suggest reading this series in order so you aren't spoiled with the personal story lines of the characters (like WTF is going on with Joe?!). If you are not yet familiar with this series, start it and join my Keeping Up with Patterson reading challenge.

Author: James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
Published: May 2017
Pages: 350
Edition: Hardcover
Challenge: Keeping Up with Patterson
Rating: ♥♥♥♡

June 9, 2017

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.

"Film legend and '60s It Girl Evelyn Hugo has just announced that she will auction off 12 of her most memorable gowns through Christie's to raise money for breast cancer research."

~ The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

June 8, 2017

I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons


"Sometimes, other people's doubt can be the best motivation there is to succeed." ~ pg. 124

Professional comedian, Kevin Hart, is dropping gems of knowledge like this in a new 99-chapter inspirational memoir. Life lessons are from his parents, school, work, loss, independence, legacy building and more. It really covers every aspect of life. And I am not exaggerating when I tell you I started laughing at page 3 and continued until page 424.

"Yes, I Refer To Myself in the Third Person Again. But That's Only Because It Feels Like I've Lived Three Lives." ~ Ch. 64

I Can't Make This Up is so funny that these essays really cannot be made up. Kevin's family, friends and peers are a colorful cast of characters. The chapter titles are comedy in itself and set the tone for the life lesson to be explained. It even includes the obligatory chapter where celebrities reveal how they sabotaged their own fame and success. Never would I have thought I'd highlight so many passages from a book by a comedian. But alas, I have a slew of bookmarks and a boost of inspiration. Very well done, Kevin Hart!

Happy Pub Week, Kev! I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons is now available. Do I have to spell it out for you, bookhearts? Buy and read it!

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: I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons
Author: Kevin Hart
Published: June 2017
Pages: 424
Edition: Galley
Rating: ♥♥♥♥

June 7, 2017

The Most Beautiful: My Life with Prince


"After a few years, the coincidences began to feel more like fate."
 ~ pg. 180

Everyone in the world has a Prince story to tell. The women of his life, his family, ex-girlfriends, his band, collaborators and us fans. But this story is Mayte's and hers alone. It is a story only she can tell and I am glad she shares it with us.

Mayte Garcia: the world's youngest professional belly dancer, New Power Generation's solo dancer, Prince's first wife, longtime muse, prodigy and mother of Prince's only child. If anyone is qualified to write about the late great Prince, it is this woman. Their life together from the moment they met backstage at a concert (wonderfully orchestrated by her mom LOL) started as a long-distance friendship and artistic collaboration. It later evolved into a passionate relationship. Whether I believe when the romance actually began is not relevant but I certainly believe Mayte told her candid truth throughout the pages.

"I couldn't begin to scratch the surface of his story in this space—much of it will always be a mystery, even to me—but I've tried to speak to what was most important to me personally." ~ pg. 290

And you did, Mayte. Well done and thank you! As a Prince fan stan, I admit to being skeptical when news broke about this "tell-all" book. I remember having watched Mayte on a reality show and gave a side-eye to her Prince shrine of fine china and things. So did I really want to read about it? My curiosity and respect for her strength as a woman convinced me. I wanted to know more about the woman behind hit song, The Most Beautiful Girl in the World. So I settled in one cloudy afternoon and read, cried, laughed, took a break for music from Purple Rain and read again for the next few days.

The Most Beautiful gave an intimate glimpse into the mysterious artist that I truly miss. I listen to his lyrics differently now knowing more insight. At the same time, it was a reminder that the world lost a pure talented soul. Icons are once in a lifetime; there will never be another Prince. But someday I hope his loved ones and Die 4 U fans find peace.

Title: The Most Beautiful: My Life with Prince
Author: Mayte Garcia
Published: April 2017
Pages: 444
Edition: Hardcover
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♡

June 6, 2017

Enjoy Your Journey


"We always think we will enjoy life when our breakthrough comes. But what about enjoying the trip—the time of waiting—the journey?" ~ 54%

Bookhearts, are you looking for your next non-fiction read? Do you need some inspiring words to help in your spiritual journey? Or maybe, like myself, you are seeking a way to really enjoy the most of life. Well there is a new concise book that I recommend: Enjoy Your Journey: Find the Treasure Hidden in Every Day by the bestselling Bible teacher/author, Joyce Meyer.

Through Bible scripture references and modern life teachings, Joyce Meyer guides readers on how to enjoy your individual journey. How to have and enjoy life now! I like how she shared personal experiences that were relatable. Most of all, the book isn't too "preachy."

Way too often we get so caught up in our everyday problems that we forget to maintain joy and peace. Life is not simple but it should be joyful. To find out how, read this abridgment of Enjoying Where You Are on the Way to Where You Are Going.

Happy Pub Day, Joyce Meyer! Enjoy Your Journey is now available.

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: Enjoy Your Journey: Find the Treasure Hidden in Every Day
Author: Joyce Meyer
Published: June 2017
Pages: 160
Edition: Galley
Rating: ♥♥♥

June 4, 2017

Series Sunday: House of Cards

(House of Cards S5) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. 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.

We interrupt this Series Sunday post to advise that season 5 of the Netflix original series, House of Cards, is now streaming. Catch my live tweets and join me in binge-watching!

June 2, 2017

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.

"My life began with one of the biggest lies men tell women: I'll pull out, I promise."

~ I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart

June 1, 2017

Piecing Me Together


"That's the problem. We let people say stuff, and they say it so much that it becomes okay to them and normal for us. What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be?" ~ pg. 252

What an appropriate title for my current state of mind and for this story. Bookhearts, let me share this good read.

Jade was taught to take every opportunity. She accepted a scholarship to a mostly-white private school. She committed to Saturday morning test prep classes. She even separated her neighborhood friends from school friends because like so many intelligent brown girls, the two often don't intermingle. But when she accepts the opportunity to join a mentorship program, it crosses the line from helpful to demeaning. The program is really for "at risk" black girls in so-called bad neighborhoods.

If you ever grew up privileged, attended schools outside of your neighborhood, or even work in a predominantly-white organization, you will for sure relate to the main character. Jade is navigating her way through life while also teaching people older than her how to act right. I am sure that Jade's story is like so many others in the real world.

Piecing Me Together is a well-written story that I recommend to graduating seniors, college freshmen and other young adults. It is about race, culture, identity and friendships. It may hit home or may remind you of someone. Do me a favor and pass this book along. It is worth reading!

Title: Piecing Me Together
Author: Renee Watson
Published: February 2017
Pages: 272
Edition: Hardcover
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♡