February 27, 2022

Short Story Sunday: The Last Suspicious Holdout: Stories


Short Story Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Read a short story.
  • Share your review/recommendation below.
  • Include the title, author and series name.


"Between profits and prophets." ~ 32%

Discover historical fiction through relationships in a Black neighborhood from the late 1980s to the eve of President Obama's inauguration. The story takes place in an unnamed Southern suburb. Each story features Black families, friends and neighbors. They explore education, healthcare, politics and the "war on drugs." (Remember that, 80s babies?)

I am not a fan of short story collections but The Last Suspicious Holdout held my interest throughout. It disregards stereotypes and gives a fuller look into the life of Black Americans. It celebrates Black resilience and I am here for it! This is a good short story collection for Black History Month. 

Happy Early Pub Day, Ladee Hubbard! The Last Suspicious Holdout: Stories will be available Tuesday, March 1.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: The Last Suspicious Holdout: Stories
Author: Ladee Hubbard
Published: March 2022
Pages: 208
Edition: Galley
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

February 25, 2022

First Lines Friday


First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. 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.

"Gather round, my adoring admirers, as I, the famous Lady Miss Jacqueline, spin you a tale of MAGIC! MYSTERY! Annnnd HAIR CARE!"

~ My Dear Friend Janet by Keke Palmer with Jasmine Guillory

February 23, 2022

The Baby Shower


"She has done this without one shred of acknowledgment that she is the source of the trouble." ~ 24%

The new girl in the group bursts into their lives like a storm. She is beautiful and seemingly perfect. Everyone loves her, but Jane is suspicious. Something isn't right and new girl is trying to take her place as best friend to Sophie. She's even hosting a baby shower for Sophie's new bundle of joy (a best friend duty) and how cute—they're both pregnant! Fast forward to the actual baby shower and Jane learns the unbelievable truth: the bump is fake; there is no baby.

This is my first book read by author S.E. Lynes. Color me interested in reading another. If you read enough domestic thrillers or psychodramas, then this plot is run of the mill. Lynes' writing kept me turning the ePages though. If you are new to this genre, you may be wowed by the twists and ending.

For an avid thriller reader, The Baby Shower was good but oh-so-predictable. Every so-called twist could be seen from a mile away. But the story flowed and the characters were detailed. The friendships are toxic and the characters are deeply flawed. For this, I rate it 4 out of 5. It would make an excellent Lifetime movie. 

Happy Early Pub Day, S.E. Lynes! The Baby Shower will be available Tuesday, March 1.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: The Baby Shower
Author: S.E. Lynes
Published: March 2022
Pages: 339
Edition: Galley
Genre: Domestic Thriller
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

February 22, 2022

The Perfect Day to Boss Up


"I've never bought something that I couldn't afford to buy twice." ~ pg. 110

The Perfect Day to Boss Up is Rick Ross' hustler's guide to building an empire from mud to marble. He shares his road to success, adversities along the way and the steps taken to turn a vision into reality. His transparency is selfless and allows readers to follow a path that is proven to work. 

More than business start-up tips are revealed in The Perfect Day to Boss Up. Rick Ross also offers a road map to manage and invest money, make it in the music industry, turn ambition into action, assets versus liabilities and the importance of building a solid team. This inspiring read is currently my favorite for all the hustlers!

Rick Ross is a serial entrepreneur and I'm thankful for the useful gems he dropped. Time to boss up!

Title: The Perfect Day to Boss Up
Author: Rick Ross
Published: September 2021
Pages: 256
Edition: Hardcover
Genre: Memoir/Business
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

February 20, 2022

Short Story Sunday: Jack Reacher's Rules


Short Story Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Read a short story.
  • Share your review/recommendation below.
  • Include the title, author and series name.

Jack Reacher's Rules is an easy-to-read guide complete with illustrations to the world of Reacher. it compiles timeless advice from former army cop. Our favorite two-fisted, quick-witted, freelance troubleshooter shares rules to survive in these streets. The selections are from the first 17 books of the series. It is NOT a Jack Reacher novel itself but literally a list of advice and facts Reacher-style.

Here are a few of my favorites:
  1. Analyze your fear; it's probably not rational.
  2. Own nothing, carry nothing.
  3. If in doubt, be flippant.
  4. Eat and plan.
  5. Stand with your back to the sun so that it's in your enemy's eyes.
  6. No point in having a weapon at all unless it's ready for instant use.
  7. Fitness Regime: Throw back the covers. Stand up and stretch. Arch your back. Point your toes. Stretch your legs. That's it.
Clearly this one's for the fans!

TitleJack Reacher's Rules
Author: Lee Child
Published: January 2012
Pages: 142
Series: Jack Reacher
Edition: eBook
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

   

February 18, 2022

First Lines Friday


First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. 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.

"Raymond Brown hears the sound of laughter. He puts down his book and looks out the window. Here they come now, children of the ancient ones, the hewers of wood, the cutters of cane barreling down the sidewalk on their Huffys and Schwinns."

~ The Last Suspicious Holdout by Ladee Hubbard

February 16, 2022

What the Fireflies Knew


"Everybody ain't got a home." ~ 51%

What the Fireflies Knew is told from the perspective of 11-year-old Kenyatta Bernice (KB) as she and her sister, Nia, try to make sense of their new surroundings over the course of a summer. The girls have already experienced loss. Their dad dies of a drug overdose. The family home in Detroit is lost due to debts incurred from his addiction. Their overwhelmed mother sends KB and Nia to live with their estranged grandfather in Lansing.

Imagine how KB must feel. Through descriptive scenes and actions told in wonderful prose, readers learn that KB is very inquisitive. KB is often dismissed because of her age but respectfully asks questions and demands answers. I rooted for KB's peace the whole novel through. This fictional story set in my hometown is so well told!

I love a good coming-of-age novel. What the Fireflies Knew checked all the boxes. It was engaging, a slow build to climax, relatable and perfect character development. Author Kai Harris captured the innocence and voice of an 11-year-old Black girl. Within the first couple chapters, I was so endeared to the main character. The main theme resonates long after I've turned the last Kindle page: loved ones can be flawed and that's okay.  

Happy Pub Month, Kai Harris! Keep using your voice to uplift the Black community. What the Fireflies Knew is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: What the Fireflies Knew
Author: Kai Harris
Published: February 2022
Pages: 281
Edition: Galley
Genre: Coming-of-Age
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

February 15, 2022

Meet Me in the Margins


"Only a true reader would understand." ~ 10%

Book covers are what initially grab my interest when deciding to read a book. The title is a close second. So when I was given the opportunity to read a debut novel with thee best title seen so far this year, Meet Me in the Margins, I gladly downloaded the galley and started reading...only to be soon disappointed.

An assistant acquisitions editor at Pennington Publishing is going through the motions of her day job. Right now she is supposed to be editing the latest edition of a medieval anthology. While other low-level editors are lugging around thick manuscripts, she is secretly working on her own romance novel. 

After leaving her manuscript in the Book Nook—a hidden room in the publishing house—she returns to find that someone left notes and a harsh critique in the margins. She must decide whether to follow the mysterious editor's advice or continue down the path of writing her dream novel as she sees best.

"Readers do that, you know. Fill in the blanks themselves." ~ 76%

What was meant to be a cute and clever bookish read turned out to be just okay. Way too predictable. Way too many eye-rolling moments about the main character's clueless behavior. Although, it will make a good Hallmark/Lifetime channel rom-com movie adaptation with the right cast.

Happy Pub Day, Melissa Ferguson! Meet Me in the Margins is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: Meet Me in the Margins
Author: Melissa Ferguson
Published: February 2022
Pages: 336
Edition: Galley
Genre: Romance
Rating: 🖤 🖤

February 13, 2022

Short Story Sunday: The Dream


Short Story Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Read a short story.
  • Share your review/recommendation below.
  • Include the title, author and series name.

"But they post his quotes on this day because they want to demonstrate how far we've come." ~ pg. 8

The Dream is an MLK Day eShort story. In just 40 pages, readers are entertained with a hot holiday hookup. Not quite like Martin Luther King Jr., Kiana had a dream. Oh, how steamy it was! I don't want to give anything away but this is perfect to read on a 3-day holiday weekend!

Title: The Dream
Author: Danielle Allen
Published: January 2022
Pages: 40
Series: n/a
Edition: eBook
Genre: Erotica
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

 

February 11, 2022

First Lines Friday


First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. 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.

"I was the one who found Daddy dead, crammed in the little space where my old bike's training wheels turned rusted."

~ What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harris


 

February 9, 2022

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry


"All too often our hurry is a sign of something else." ~ 23%

At the start of every new year, I pick a nonfiction book to motivate and fuel my new year intentions. I noticed a couple mistakes made, answers missed and tasks forgotten this past week. In a moment of self-reflection, I realized that I was hurrying for no reason. Once I slowed down and paid attention, all was back to normal. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by Pastor Comer will help me stay on the right track and block out the chaos of the world.

Think about it. Every time you make a mistake, were you in a hurry? When you forgot something at home, were you in a hurry? When you were in an accident, were you in a hurry? When you failed at something, were you in a hurry? I am willing to bet you answered yes. Let's stop this hurry mentality and nip this behavior in the bud. 

While I gained understanding from reading The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, I knew a few of the points discussed just would not apply to my life. It may sound frivolous but the author suggested minimal outfits per season. Tuh...me?! I understand busyness is not healthy but I draw the line at picking out outfits to wear. Those are minutes well spent. The book is also a bit repetitive but valid points are made. I recommend applying the tips that make you comfortable and will strengthen your personal spiritual journey.

Title: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Author: John Mark Comer
Published: October 2019
Pages: 320
Edition: eBook
Genre: Christian Nonfiction
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

February 8, 2022

You Truly Assumed


"It's like we're all stuck in our own bubbles created by our worries about the aftermath of an action none of us are involved in but we're all connected to because of our faith. It's terrifying." ~ 7%

How many times has tragic news broke and you wished the terrorist was not a brown person? That the victim was not a black person? That the nation will not point a finger at an entire religion? Too many for me to count. I am not alone in this thinking. When a terrorist attack hits the mainstream news, the first name is a common Arabic name. But it doesn't necessarily mean they're Muslim. Nonetheless, Islamophobia grows.

Sabriya turns to her online journal for comfort. You Truly Assumed was meant to be a private blog but soon turns into a public online safe space for Muslim teens. Soon Zakat and Farah join Sabriya in making the blog a successful community. The popularity grows along with their friendship. But with viral success comes hateful comments. The girls must decide whether to shut the blog down or make their voices heard louder than ever before.

Laila Sabreen has written such a thought-provoking motivational debut novel for young adults, especially Black Muslim girls. As a 40-year-old Black female blogger, I could personally relate. The themes explore the sentiment of minorities that our dreams don't matter; that we are all alike. As the author states in her note, we are out here! Represent proudly and recommend this book to the minority young adult in your life. You Truly Assumed is social justice fiction done right!

Happy Pub Day, Laila Sabreen! You Truly Assumed is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: You Truly Assumed
Author: Laila Sabreen
Published: February 2022
Pages: 352
Edition: Galley
Genre: YA Social Justice
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

February 6, 2022

Series Sunday: Homicide and Halo-Halo

(Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery #2) 


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.

My Series Sunday pick is Homicide and Halo-Halo, the second book in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series by Mia P. Manansala. In this fairly new series, Lila Macapagal is back. However, she is still not ready to open her new café after the first instance of unpleasantness at her Aunt's Filipino restaurant, Tita Rosie's Kitchen.

The small town of Shady Palms has resurrected the teen beauty pageant which Lila won many years ago. This win caused a wedge between Lila and her cousin Bernadette. But when the head judge of the pageant is found murdered, Lila must put aside their rivalry and help clear Bernadette's name as the main suspect. And highlight the tasty dessert known as halo-halo while at it!

"Funny how all it took was a gun-toting murderer for me to have an epiphany." ~ 90%

Slow and steady is this novel's game. The murder didn't occur until a quarter into the novel. The characters played a backseat to the boring sleuthing. Not exactly what I want in a cozy mystery. Honestly I was just here for the dessert, drink and food descriptions.

Homicide and Halo-Halo features an Asian-American lead. Yay for diversity! Per the Author's Note, she wrote this follow-up while in a rather dark place. All my positive thoughts and wishes for success are with the author Mia P. Manansala as she works through mental health issues brought about by the pandemic. She has a good series that I will continue to support despite this "just okay" rating. 

Happy Early Pub Day, Mia P. Manansala! Homicide and Halo-Halo will be available Tuesday, February 8.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Author: Mia P. Manansala
Published: February 2022
Pages: 336
Edition: eBook
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Crime Fiction
Rating: 🖤 🖤

   

February 4, 2022

First Lines Friday


First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. 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.

"Am I strong enough?"

~ Wahala by Nikki May

February 2, 2022

The Woman Beyond the Attic

The V.C. Andrews Story


"When books fail to give me what I need, dreams supply the rest." ~ 9%

The Woman Beyond the Attic is meant to be a celebration to the late great, famously private V.C. Andrews. Her personal life was part secretive, part fascinating. In this new release, her ghost writer Andrew Neiderman aims to connect her personal life to her famous novels based on letters and interviews. It is the first book of its kind!

I was more interested in the behind-the-scenes fiction than fact. This book includes a partial manuscript for an unpublished novel. Thanks to the Andrews family for allowing the unedited manuscript to be included. It was way more engaging than the personal letters and so-called "full" true story. I know nothing more about V.C. Andrews than before I read page one. 

The Woman Beyond the Attic would perhaps be better received as a book examining Virginia Cleo's own life experiences and how they were applied to her characters' lives. Or better yet, let the famous author continue to be a mystery to us all; let her memory just be no matter how cryptic it seems.

Happy Pub Day, Andrew Neiderman! The Woman Beyond the Attic is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: The Woman Beyond the Attic: The V.C. Andrews Story
Author: Andrew Neiderman
Published: February 2022
Pages: 288
Edition: Galley
Rating: 🖤

February 1, 2022

Black Cake


"...but tradition is only about what people have or have not done; it's not about what they are capable of doing. And it's not about what they will be doing in the future." ~ 55%

I almost gave up at 13% but the power of bookhearts' persuasive positive reviews made me stick with Black Cake. Why? Because it was getting to be too many characters and POVs for my liking. Having finished the novel, I understand it was the right way to tell this story. Let me tell you more.

Two estranged siblings set aside their differences to deal with a puzzling inheritance from their mother. After her death, she leaves behind a traditional Caribbean black cake and an hours-long voice recording. She shares the story of her younger days on the island, the mystery of a long-lost child and other revelations that make the siblings question whether they really knew their mom. As it often happens in real life, secrets are revealed when a matriarch passes away!

Layers on layers on layers. The older generation is a constant backdrop even through the "Now" chapters. It is evident that debut author Charmaine Wilkerson is a grand storyteller that took her time, did the research and appreciates the art of writing. Black Cake is not for the impatient reader. It is a slow methodical journey through a family's secrets, betrayals, relationships and changes over the years. Family drama can be complex, especially in fiction.

Happy Pub Day, Charmaine Wilkerson! Black Cake is available today.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: Black Cake
Author: Charmaine Wilkerson
Published: February 2022
Pages: 400
Edition: Galley
Genre: Historical Family Fiction
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤