April 28, 2023

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.


~ Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret: Special Edition by Judy Blume 

*Happy Movie Premiere Day! Watch the official trailer above. My Lit to Movie review will post soon.

April 27, 2023

The Essential Rumi

In honor of National Poetry Month, I finally read/listened to The Essential Rumi. The new expanded edition has 80+ never before published poems. In lieu of a review, I am sharing ten (10) favorite quotes from this lyrical poetry that flows like a song. 
All day I think about it, then at night I say it. Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing? I have no idea. My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that, and I intend to end up there. ~ pg. 2

No one is grown up except those free of desire. ~ pg. 4

God has made sleep so that it erases every thought. ~ pg. 6

The only real rest comes when you're alone with God. ~ pg. 75

Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along. ~ pg. 106

Miracles overwhelm unbelief. ~ pg. 149

When ink joins with a pen, then the blank paper can say something. ~ pg. 247

When you learn a craft, practice it. That learning comes through the hands. ~ pg. 255

Don't make the body do what the spirit does best, and don't put a big load on the spirit that the body could carry easily. ~ pg. 256

A little while alone in your room will prove more valuable than anything else that could ever be given you. ~ pg. 260  

Title: The Essential Rumi
Author: Rumi w/translators
Published: July 2018
Pages: 388 / 9hr 24m 
Edition: eBook / Audiobook
Genre: Poetry
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

April 26, 2023

Quietly Hostile


"Go to bed earlier? But what about my shows?" ~ pg. 9

My braids were falling out of my loose bun from nodding and laughing so hard at this new essay collection from Samantha Irby titled Quietly Hostile. Her successful career has only enhanced her comedy and newfound glam. Just like all of us, Sam is just trying to keep her life together. Making fun of herself is not only relatable but also hilarious!

Sam Irby deserves all the flowers. She is writing for television, publishing her 4th essay collection written mostly during the pandemic. Ah, the early days of working remotely on Zoom. The essays can be read in any order and include walking the red carpet with "Sex and The City" cast, diarrhea details, how to interact with teenagers, fridge shelf compatibility, and more random shit. The essay I related to the most was trying to soak off gel polish with acetone (IYKYK). 

You want a good laugh? Pre-order Quietly Hostile: Essays and anticipate the giggles it will bring.

Happy Early Pub Day, Sam Irby! Quietly Hostile: Essays will be available Tuesday, May 16.

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: Quietly Hostile
Author: Samantha Irby
Published: May 2023
Pages: 203
Edition: Galley
Genre: Essays / Memoir
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

April 25, 2023

The Soulmate


"That's another funny thing about marriage. Sometimes, when you look back on it, the worst moments are in fact the best." ~ 50%

Gabe and Pippa live in their dream home on a cliff. It's a little coastal town with history. Unfortunately, their perfect house is a popular spot for people to end their lives. Most of the time, Gabe comes to the rescue and talks people off...until the day he doesn't. 

Through the police investigation, Pippa notices small inconsistencies in Gabe's recollection of events. Why lie? Then she discovers Gabe knew the victim. So did she really jump or was pushed?

Oh the twists and turns this book took me through! I didn't quite know whom to believe or what to be true. It pushed my mind to the edge trying to figure it out. Despite my dislike for alternating chapters, Sally Hepworth effortlessly transitioned between past, present and points of view. I recommend if you want to read an addictive mystery!

Happy Belated Pub Day, Sally Hepworth! The Soulmate 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 Soulmate
Author: Sally Hepworth
Published: April 2023
Pages: 336
Edition: Galley
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

April 23, 2023

Super Series Sunday: Baker Street Mystery

(Baker Street #1 & #2) 


Super Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
  • Binge read installments of a series.
  • Share your review/recommendations below.
  • Include the titles, authors and series names.

"Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how probable, must be the truth." ~ 39%

My 1st Super Series Sunday pick is Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder, the first book in the Baker Street series by Valerie Burns. Focused on the 200+ pound champion show English Mastiff named Baby, the mini romance and Hallmark-like vibe, I forgot this was a mystery. But let me back up.

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder has all the makings of a culinary cozy mystery. A woman moves to a small town in Michigan after inheriting her great-aunt's bakery and dog. Madison Montgomery is a social media influencer who plans to swoop into town, collect her inheritance check then go back to rebuilding her normal life after being left at the altar. 

Monkey Wrench: there are conditions to the will: stay in the house, take care of Baby and run the bakery business for at least one (1) year. Oh, then the Mayor is murdered in the bakery so of course she needs to solve it.

This is a great introduction to the series and characters. The only annoying part were all the hashtags but it was appropriate given Maddy's social media presence. Now on to the next one!

Author: Valerie Burns
Published: August 2022
Pages: 336
Edition: eBook
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

"When you're good at what you do, you make it look easy." ~ 73%

My 2nd Super Series Sunday pick is Murder is a Piece of Cake, the second book in the series. Yes, I am still reading out of order as this is an advance copy due to be published this summer. 

The follow-up was not as entertaining as the first book in series; although, it is a worthy read. The author showed more of Maddy's personality and social media skills. Despite her inexperience in the kitchen, Baby Cakes turned into Michigan's must-visit bakery. Then a competitive investor swoops into town and you guessed it...another mystery for Maddy to solve.

Murder is a Piece of Cake is a quick read recommended to culinary cozy mystery lovers. It can be read in one lazy weekend or after a few nights before bedtime to unwind. No complex details, no string of suspects and light humor. Go ahead and place your pre-order!

Happy Early Pub Day, Valerie Burns! Murder is a Piece of Cake will be available Tuesday, June 27.

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: Valerie Burns
Published: June 2023
Pages: 336
Edition: Galley
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

April 21, 2023

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 been a long time, shouldn'ta left you...but I had to, because life was life-ing, dawg!"

 Hey, Lover (Forewordby D.L. White 

April 20, 2023

Share My Life


"Music changed my life, but that change was long in coming." ~ 22% 

In Share My Life: A Journey of Love, Faith and Redemption, Kem bares his soul. From homelessness to Grammy Award-nominated artist, this is his revealing life story. He starts from the very beginning introducing his grandmother, a sharecropper in the South with thirteen children. The family ultimately ends up in Detroit. 

His mom keeps a beer in hand and his relationship with dad isn't the greatest. As a result, Kem internalizes feelings that lead to drug use as self-medication. His addiction, love life, children and self-discovery are described in detail. True to the title, Kem shares his WHOLE life. 

"When the cluster of notes begins to feel right, I find myself humming, mumbling, scatting, uttering nonsense noises that, without forethought, turn into phrases." ~ 73%

I don't know if this was Kem's attempt, but I listen to his lyrics so much differently now. Every song has a meaning. Every melody holds weight. Interactions with his mentors are told along with his soothing crooning singing style. Share My Life: A Journey of Love, Faith and Redemption is a literary version of "Behind the Music."

It is among the best memoirs I've read so far in 2023. His transformative journey is inspiring. Being from Detroit as well, I knew a little about his life but not to the extent he shares. Nothing is held back. Full transparency which takes bravery, talent and a level of trust in fans. 

Happy Belated Pub Day, Kem! Share My Life 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: Share My Life
Author: Kem with David Ritz
Published: April 2023
Pages: 207
Edition: Galley
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

April 19, 2023

I Will Find You



"I am serving the fifth year of a life sentence for murdering my own child. Spoiler alert: I didn't do it." ~ pg. 10

These are the first words from the narrator to the reader. Got your attention?

David and Cheryl Burroughs were living an ideal life until tragedy struck one mysterious night. Their son was found brutally murdered in his bedroom. David is found guilty and serving life in prison and Cheryl is now remarried. David maintains his innocence even though he was drunk with no memory.

David's first visitor in five years in Cheryl's sister, a journalist trying to revive her career but also with unexpected news. She believes the son is still alive. Coming with proof a photograph of a boy with the same distinctive birthmark. Is it possible? David plans an escape from prison to save his son, clear his name, and discover what really happened that devastating night.

"Memory is often our most imaginative storyteller." ~ pg. 14

A few of the last Coben standalone novels were more miss than hit. It's definitely been a minute before I gave a 5⭐️ rating. I am a devout Myron Bolitar, Mickey Bolitar and Win series fan. I still give the standalone books a fair chance. Thank goodness I did not bypass I Will Find You. Coben brought the thrill back in thriller! The fast-paced, get down to action started from the first line to the last. 

The premise was a bit far-fetched and handled flimsily but the idea of a wrongly convicted man proving innocence is very realistic. Highly recommend to all mystery/suspense bookhearts, especially before it hits Netflix.  

Happy Belated Pub Day, Harlan Coben! I Will Find You 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: I Will Find You
Author: Harlan Coben
Published: March 2023
Pages: 279
Edition: Galley
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 

April 18, 2023

Simply Lies


"Trust people not based on anything neatly reasoned, but on your gut." ~ pg. 307

Mickey is a former detective now single mother working from home hunting down hidden assets. Most of her assignments are via phone so she doesn't question when a colleague named Arlene requests inventory of a vacant home. What she finds is a murder victim, a man with mob ties who used to be in Witness Protection. What's worse is there is no employee named Arlene who gave the tip. Now Mickey has to prove she was set up. 

Cat and Mouse game at its finest! Although most of the interaction is via phone conversations, there are still tense moments and lots of details including alias names that were somewhat hard to keep up with. This is a novel you have to pay attention to keep it flowing. It makes the story all the more intriguing.

"It was a perfect vision of peace and security in an imperfect and often violent world." ~ pg. 51

David Baldacci has a bestseller with this one. It is evident the author started writing stories as a child and better with time. Simply Lies kept me thinking ahead. And just when I thought it was obvious, there was way more to the story. Such a well paced novel that you can read in a few sittings. This is my kind of thriller!

Happy Pub Day, David Baldacci! Simply Lies 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: Simply Lies
Author: David Baldacci
Published: April 2023
Pages: 389
Edition: Galley
Genre: Psych Thriller
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

April 16, 2023

Series Sunday: Things We Hide from the Light

(Knockemout #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.

"Small towns are where busy professional women get seduced by a rough-around-the-edges local business owner." ~ pg. 18

My Series Sunday pick is Things We Hide from the Light, the second book in the Knockemout series by Lucy Score. Nash Morgan is the good brother, always with a smile on his face. But now he is recovering from being shot and suffering from panic attacks and nightmares in silence. Enter new next-door neighbor Lina who sees through it. Even though neither does relationships, the connection is undeniable. 

The hype. The anticipation. The long wait. The popularity. The 82,000+ reviews. All the buildup to be let down. It must be me. Because there is no way the first book touched my heart but this second book was so predictably blah that I skimmed the almost 600 pages and didn't miss a thing. 

I will stick with the series because Lucy Score's writing really is addictive but let's hope the series bounces back to its original goodness.

Author: Lucy Score
Published: February 2023
Pages: 579
Edition: eBook
Rating: 🖤 🖤

 

April 14, 2023

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.

"All day I think about it, then at night I say it. Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing? I have no idea. My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that, and I intend to end up there."

~ The Essential Rumi

April 13, 2023

You Never Know


"Then along came a resentful ex-boyfriend—thanks to her inconsiderate blabbermouth girlfriend—and an embittered son. Was it an omen?" ~ 45%

Bestselling author Connie Briscoe is legend! I still remember her P.G. County book from back in the day with its rich plot featuring characters of color. Briscoe returns with a new novel of domestic suspense and a character that mirrors her own hearing impairment in You Never Know

Alexis Roberts is asleep when someone breaks into her home and tries to assault her. She manages to escape but can offer no help to the investigation as it was dark and her cochlear implants couldn't be found. Just a year earlier, Alexis marries Mr. Right a bit too soon. She unearths that his first wife is missing and he was the main suspect. Isolated and alone, Alexis waits for the intruder to return.

I'm disappointed in You Never Know. The main character was not the brightest color in the Crayon box. Her actions made no sense and seemed almost juvenile. If someone is after you, do something and not be a sitting duck. The story picked up in pace way too late for me to care about the ending.

Happy Belated Pub Day, Connie Briscoe! You Never Know 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 Never Know
Author: Connie Briscoe
Published: March 2023
Pages: 288
Edition: Galley
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 🖤 🖤

April 12, 2023

Black Candle Women


"Voodoo is the more spiritual part." ~ 75%

Before delving into this book review, let us admire the cover. The rich shades of purple, pop of yellow, brown-skinned women and of course, lit candles. Along with the title is what caught my interest. Unfortunately the buck stops there.

Black Candle Women is a family drama with a magical twist about four generations of Black women with a family curse. The Montrose women have always lived together. But when a boy is brought home for the first time, each woman has to reckon with her own past choices and reveal the secret that any person a Montrose woman falls in love with will die.

Then the story goes back to 1950s New Orleans with a mysterious book. Random, right? It was all too confusing, jumpy and simply not my kind of story. Although, it has been named Best Book of the Month by several media outlets including Shondaland, Reader's Digest, BookRiot and Goodreads. So it may be to your liking! 

Happy Belated Pub Day, Diane Marie Brown! Black Candle Women 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: Black Candle Women
Author: Diane Marie Brown
Published: February 2023
Pages: 336
Edition: Galley
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Rating: 🖤

April 11, 2023

Life and Other Love Songs


"A person can't just disappear from a Detroit sidewalk—poof—into thin air. Dead or alive, the missing are somewhere here on earth. But how do you find them?" ~ 5%

What seems to be a normal bright afternoon, Ozro Armstead leaves for work on his 37th birthday. At home, his wife and daughter prepare a surprise party. Later Ozro has lunch with his brother and waves goodbye. But he doesn't make it back home or even to his desk; Ozro disappears.

Life and Other Love Songs is best described as a slow burn. It starts off at a slow pace but slowly builds in the days, months and years to follow. It moves from the Great Migration to 1970s Detroit and 1990s New York. All the while connecting the dots to the man they love, miss and wonder about.

I am always interested in books with a setting in my hometown of Detroit. Anissa Gray did such an excellent job with describing the environment and getting it right. Her writing talent shows in this new release. Well done, ma'am!

Happy Pub Day, Anissa Gray! Life and Other Love Songs 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: Life and Other Love Songs
Author: Anissa Gray
Published: April 2023
Pages: 336
Edition: Galley
Genre:Women's Fiction
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

Things I Wish I Told My Mother


"Maybe the most important thing I learned from you: people don't always give you what you want. They give you what they have to give. But if you stop and think about it, that can be enough." ~ 98%

A mother and daughter literally unpack secrets while on vacation in new release, Things I Wish I Told My Mother. Laurie travels the world with a worn duffel bag while her mother travels with matching suitcases. Each woman has her own style and distinctive voice. When Laurie invites her mother on a trip to Paris and Norway, unexpected sparkles and secrets come up.

Even through all the marketing and emails from James Patterson's subscription list, I imagined the content to be different. I assumed it was a true mother-daughter story considering that both authors lost their moms in the same year. What I got was fiction—no doubt with the writing help of hubby. This book had the potential to be so much greater as a co-memoir.

Happy Pub Day, Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo! Things I Wish I Told My Mother 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 I Wish I Told My Mother
Author: Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo with James Patterson
Published: April 2023
Pages: 320
Edition: Galley 
Genre: Women's Fiction
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

Bet on Black


"A knowledgable Black American is a deep threat to white supremacy." ~ 13% 

Journalist, podcast host, attorney and media personality Eboni K. Williams shares how Black unity is crucial for individual and collective success in her new book titled Bet on Black: The Good News About Being Black in America Today. It is a call to action. Through personal experiences, in depth research and accurate facts, she shows readers what it means to be Black today and our worth. 

Bet on Black is a book that I will frequently reference. I have more highlighted passages than not. The shout-outs to specific historical events, quotes from Frederick Douglass and the keep-it-real directives as we move forward in society. There are so many key takeaways.

Eboni K. Williams' goal of writing her second book is to unite us. We will not let our futures be dictated by anti-Black nonsense. Bet on Black is inspiring, relatable and a celebration of Blackness. It goes without saying this is the best nonfiction book I've read thus far in 2023.

Happy Belated Pub Day, Eboni K. Williams! Bet on Black: The Good News About Being Black in America Today 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: Bet on Black: The Good News About Being Black in America Today
Author: Eboni K. Williams
Published: January 2023
Pages: 256
Edition: Galley
Genre: Nonfiction; Memoir
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤


April 5, 2023

Blogmoir: But You Don't Look Sick


The term invisible illness refers to any medical condition that is not outwardly visible to others, even healthcare professionals. Invisible illnesses are a broad range of conditions, including autoimmune disorders that are misunderstood and often misdiagnosed.

You never know what someone is dealing with silently. As of February 2023, I was diagnosed with an invisible illness (as if migraines were not enough). However, this new illness has severely affected my way of life. It is a lot to deal with mentally and physically. 

There are times when I want to give up the fight. But the prayers, support and outpour of love from family and friends keep me going. I am oh so very grateful for Chickadee. She has been my anchor through it all. Her sacrifices, time and immediate calls to action are everything. The best part of this journey is the extended Mother-Daughter Quality Time.

Along with uncertainty and extended hospitalization, the most frustrating side effect was blurry vision. I COULD NOT READ. Bookhearts know I cannot function without my fiction. Thank God it is restored so I have a lot of books to read and many reviews to post in the coming weeks.

Once I get acclimated to this new diagnosis, maintain meds, join online support groups and educate myself further, I may share tidbits and more deets here. In the meantime, I challenge you to:
  • Listen to your body.
  • Learn your family's medical history.
  • Become your own patient advocate.
  • Sitcho ass down and rest when needed.
  • Acknowledge not everyone looks sick.
  • Know it's okay to not be okay all the time.