July 31, 2022

Lit to TV Review: The Lincoln Lawyer & The Brass Verdict

(The Lincoln Lawyer #1-2) 


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 The Lincoln Lawyer and The Brass Verdict, the first two books in the series of same name by Michael Connelly. 

"I was always worried that I might not recognize innocence." ~ pg. 75

Mickey Haller is a criminal defense attorney with two ex-wives and an 8-year-old daughter. He defends by planting seeds, waiting for them to sprout then watching them bloom. Most days are spent in a windowless courtroom so his office is quite nontraditional: a Lincoln. Yes, his office is in the backseat of his car with clever license plates.

We were first introduced to Mickey Haller on the big screen back in 2011. Matthew McConaughey starred as the lawyer and was perfectly cast. So when the TV series comes to Netflix over ten years later, I thought there is no way someone could portray this character as good. Welp—Manuel Garcia-Rulfo did the damn thing and made the character his own!

The TV series follows the second book of the series: The Brass Verdict. I made sure to read both books before binging and it was every bit of goodness! I cannot wait until more.

Title: The Lincoln Lawyer: Movie & The Lincoln Lawyer: TV Series 
Author: Michael Connelly
Cast: Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (Mickey Haller)
Network: Netflix
S1 Premiere: May 2022
Episode Time: 1 Hour
Genre: Thriller
Edition: eBooks
Book Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤
Show Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤  

July 19, 2022

Things We Do in the Dark


"As a woman once reminded her a long time ago, the common denominator in all the terrible things that have happened to you is you." ~ 11%

What's worse than a murder charge? Two murder charges! Paris Peralta is arrested in her own bathroom. She's covered in blood, holding a razor with her celebrity husband dead in the bathtub. It's obvious she'll be charged for murder. But that's not what worries Paris. All of the unwanted media will bring attention to her and it's only a matter of time before she's recognized by someone in the past.

Five of my Goodreads friends found Things We Do in the Dark to be at least a 3⭐️ rating. However, the story was too obvious. Too foreseeable. Too repetitive. The best thing is the cover. At first glance it is a plain navy background with the title in large yellow gold caps. But behind the letters are a woman's face. Eyes that have seen better days and hide secrets. I just wish it matched the content.

Happy Pub Day, Jennifer Hillier! Things We Do in the Dark 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: Things We Do in the Dark
Author: Jennifer Hillier
Published: July 2022
Pages: 352
Edition: Galley
Genre: Thriller Mystery
Rating: 🖤 🖤

July 15, 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.

"It's like being awakened from a dream, a real-feeling dream where you didn't know you were sleeping. Like being pulled from a thick, muddy river bottom into cold, clear water. Thought last I checked, rivers don't have candles, and this place is full of them. Voices murmur around me: a prayer I've never heard."

~ Embers on the Wind by Lisa Williamson Rosenberg 

July 12, 2022

The 6:20 Man


"The money folks will forgive a lot if the cash keeps rolling in. Same goes for the government." ~ 69%

Cheap suit? ✔️ Faux-leather briefcase? ✔️ Entry level analyst? ✔️ 

Travis Devine boards the 6:20 a.m. train to his job in Manhattan at a prestigious investment firm. The train's route passes an affluent neighborhood giving Travis dreams of someday living in one of the lavish homes with a hot lady poolside. 

Until one morning his routine is changed by an anonymous email: She is dead. Devine's ex-girlfriend/co-worker is found hanging in a storage room at the office. He is tasked by his past in the Army to participate in the investigation into her presumed suicide and shady dealings of the firm. 

This new novel penned by the great David Baldacci is the perfect example of thriller buildup. At 88% through, it was not even close to over! I was wondering how this would wrap up. Bodies were dropping left right left. The little details all lead to a very satisfying end. The 6:20 Man is a realistic deep dive into dark finance at its finest. 

Happy Pub Day, David Baldacci! The 6:20 Man 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 6:20 Man
Author: David Baldacci
Published: July 2022
Pages: 432
Edition: Galley
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

July 5, 2022

Wash Day Diaries


"Nah, it's wash day. I ain't goin' nowhere." ~ pg. 32

Wash Day Diaries tells the story of four best friends: Kim, Tanisha, Davene and Cookie. In comic book style, the daily lives of these young women in the Bronx are followed. As a Black woman, I know the authors tell no lies when they titled this new release. Wash Day really is an all-day affair. Set aside all plans for a full day of washing, conditioning and nourishing our hair with a group text of your best girlfriends keeping you company.

Wash Day Diaries is a tribute to Black joy, womanhood and hair care. The women chat about their personal lives, family rifts and spill the tea. At less than 200 pages in a comic/graphic novel format it is easily read in one sitting.

The representation in Wash Day Diaries is on point! Women with different hair types and shades of skin are represented in the group of friends. Their hair routines are full of accuracy like co-washing, deep conditioning and Black hair care. It is so beautifully illustrated in detail too! Order the paperback or Kindle edition (less than $10) for viewing on an iPad/laptop for the impressive colors, illustrations and layout. This is how a graphic novel is done!

Happy Pub Day, Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith! Wash Day Diaries 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: Wash Day Diaries
Author: Jamila Rowser & Robyn Smith
Published: July 2022
Pages: 192
Edition: Galley
Genre: Graphic Novel
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

July 3, 2022

Series Sunday: The Moment We Met

(Met #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 The Moment We Met, the second book in the Met series by Camille Baker. Remember that meddling dating app called Met? Well it strikes again. Tiwanda's 30th birthday is a turning point and now she has an app that promises four matches, and among them, her soul mate. Despite the doubt, Tiwanda taps "yes" and hope it leads to a real love.

"Stop complaining and shoot your shot." ~ 79%

I didn't quite enjoy this follow-up book much as the first. The title is catchy. The cover is pretty. But the content was a bit dull. For the premise to be so promising, it fell flat. I can only imagine how lost readers would be if they haven't read the first book. The author did not provide a back story or introduction to previous characters. It was like an inside joke that you grin about but don't crack a full smile or laugh. I am not sure if the author has intentions on making this a full series but maybe it's a wrap for Met.

Happy Early Pub Day, Camille Baker! The Moment We Met will be available Tuesday, July 5.

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 Moment We Met
Author: Camille Baker
Published: July 2022
Pages: 256
Edition: Galley
Genre: Romance
Rating: 🖤 🖤