My Year in Blogmoir & Books

Blogmoir: 

04.05.2023 But You Don't Look Sick

05.04.2023 Moment of Clarity

2023 Goodreads Challenge: Read 101 of 84 books (120% to goal)

2023 Page Count Challenge: Read 30,467 of 29,000 pages (105% to goal)

2023 Average Book Length: 301 pages (shortest 37 pages ~ largest 597 pages)

2023 Average Book Rating: 3.5 out of 5 

2023 Amount Saved Using Public #Lieberry: $486.03

Perpetual Jack Reacher Challenge: Read new release in series ~ #28

Keeping Up with Patterson Challenge: Read new releases in each series ~ Alex Cross #31 & #32, Women's Murder Club #23 & #23 1/2 and Michael Bennett #15

Lit to TV/Movie Review: The Color Purple, Lincoln Lawyer, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Live Read: The Tipping Point

Lit Tidbits: Click here for all Pithy Pick reviews in 2023.

First Lines Friday: Click here for all FLF posts in 2023.

Series Sunday: Click here for all SS posts in 2023.

Many Merry Blessings in the New Year❣️

Top 7 Nonfiction of 2023

1. Sorry I Haven't Texted You Back by Alicia Cook

2. Bet on Black: The Good News about Being Black in America Today by Eboni K. Williams

3. Share My Life: A Journey of Love, Faith and Redemption by Kem with David Ritz

4. Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography by Staci Robinson

5. Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby  

6. Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson 

7. Why Fathers Cry at Night by Kwame Alexander

Top 7 Fiction of 2023

1. Hold My Girl by Charlene Carr 

2. Me Without You by Kelly Rimmer

3. Every Summer After by Carley Fortune 

4. I Will Find You by Harlan Coben

5. Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume 

6. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

7. The Better Half by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans

2024 Releases Already a Top Read: 

Holmes, Marple & Poe to be released 01.08.2024

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde to be released 02.06.2024 

Lit to Movie Review: The Color Purple

"All my life I had to fight."

Where were you on Christmas Day at 11:30 a.m.? Well, Chickadee and I were nicely settled into our VIP private heated reclining seats in a movie theater, sipping Pepsi and a cherry slushie, dipping warm pretzels in cheese, waiting for the opening credits to start and the lighting to dim so we can be entertained. We bought our tickets in advance for Christmas Day. It is time to watch the bold new take on the beloved Pulitzer Prize classic: The Color Purple.

Separated as girls, sisters Celie and Nettie hold each other in their hearts across time, distance and silence. The novel is told through a series of letters spanning twenty years, first from Celie to God then the sisters to each other. But the letters in the movie play a different role. Celie is not living an easy life; she's simply surviving. Then her husband's lover, Shug Avery, comes into town and encourages Celie to ask for more love, laughter, independence and loyalty.

The entire cast has chemistry. Fantasia took the role of adult Celie and made it even more memorable. Her emotions were felt through the big screen. Taraji P. Henson owned Shug Avery, honey. What an entertainer! My favorite character was Sofia played by Danielle Brooks. She commanded attention and comedic relief in her scenes. 

And the music...THE MUSIC! I normally do not like musicals but I was prepared for this one. Each actress/actor sang their fancy pants off. The dance choreography and harmony was clap-worthy. I am happy that classic quotes from the movie remained and were sprinkled in between songs. We left the theater and started listening to the soundtrack. Yes, that good!

Bookhearts, make time to rewatch the classic and support this Black cast in the theaters this holiday season. The Color Purple is so worth your time!

Title: The Color Purple

Author: Alice Walker
Director: Blitz Bazawule

Producers: Steven Spielberg, Oprah and Quincy Jones

Cast: Fantasia Barrino (adult Celie); Phylicia Pearl Mpasi (young Celie); Halle Bailey (young Nettie); Ciara (adult Nettie); Taraji P. Henson (Shug Avery); Danielle Brooks (Sofia); Colman Domingo (Mister); Louis Gossett Jr. (Ol' Mister); Corey Hawkins (Harpo); H.E.R. (Squeak/Mary Agnes)
Book Published: June 1982

Movie Released: December 2023

Pages: 302
Movie Time: 2 Hours, 21 Min

Genre: Musical Drama
Edition: eBook
Book Rating: DNF 
Movie Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 

Top 5 Series of 2023

1. Things We Left Behind (Knockemout #3) by Lucy Score

2. Cross Down (Alex Cross #31) by James Patterson 

3. A Christmas to Remember (Blessings #11) by Beverly Jenkins 

4. Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder (Baker Street #1) by Valerie Burns 

5. A Blended Family Christmas (Eugeena Patterson #3.5) by Tyora Moody 

Top 7 First Lines of 2023

1.  "Maybe this year will be my year. Maybe I'll start going to bed before midnight. I'll stop sleeping through alarms and commit to a morning routine. Maybe I'll start texting people back more and RSVPing YES less reluctantly." ~ The Music Was Just Getting Good by Alicia Cook

2. "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 by Rumi w/translators

3. "I tell you I feel tired and you say, 'But you slept for twelve hours,' and I knew you didn't get it." ~ Sorry I Haven't Texted You Back by Alicia Cook

4. "I have a lot of opinions and I come by them honestly. From an early age, I watched my mother confidently expressing her opinions with wit and intellect. She always stood her ground and was unapologetic about her beliefs." ~ Opinions by Roxane Gay

5. "It's been a long time, shouldn'ta left you...but I had to, because life was life-ing, dawg!" ~ Hey, Lover by D.L. White

6. "I am in a deep love affair with my Blackness." ~ Bet on Black by Eboni K. Williams

7. "My beloved, I understand that forgiveness may not be possible. Some deeds cannot be undone. I took someone essential from you that last tragic evening—the blood, so much blood." ~ The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok

DNF & NRN of 2023

Bookhearts, you are familiar with my 50-Page Rule. The purpose of this annual DNF (did not finish) and NRN (not right now) post is to share my reason(s) in an effort to help books find its intended audience. May these books find a new home where they will be finished and enjoyed.

1. The Color Purple by Alice Walker ~ Rather watch the movie remake.
2. Oye by Melissa Mogollon ~ Who is talking to whom and how?!
3. The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok ~ Genetic peculiarities and other things hard to follow.
4. The Love You Save by Goldie Taylor ~ Too heavy for the season.
5. Mothers Vol. 1 by Ben Burgess Jr. ~ Supposedly emotional but doesn't quite reach that point.
6. The Spirit of the City by Janna Jones ~ Content not what I expected.
7. Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen ~ A miss. Too slow-paced.
8. Come and Get It by Kiley Reid ~ This was SLOW slow.
9. Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera ~ Dragging and missing the dark humor.
10. The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner ~ Lacks the unputdownable factor.
11. At the End of It All by Rae Lyse ~ Cannot get past the dialect.
12. What Never Happened by Rachel Howzell Hall ~ Just not gripping enough.
13. Triptych (Will Trent #1) by Karen Slaughter ~ Show is much better.
14. You Were Always Mine by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza ~ Wordy like the description.
15. Diana, William, and Harry by James Patterson ~ Too long to be this general.
16. Queen of Exiles by Vanessa Riley ~ Just not interesting enough.
17. The Postcard by Anne Berest ~ Could already tell this will drag to the very end.
18. Redwood Court by DeLana R.A. Dameron ~ Difficult to follow multiple POVs in each chapter.
19. The Starfish Sisters by Barbara O'Neal ~ Seemingly unnecessary details and dialogue.
20. For Worse by L.K. Bowen ~ Time jumps and every other word is a character's name.
21. The Only Black Girl in the Room ~ Literally the same word begins almost every paragraph.
22. The Light on Halsey Street by Vanessa Miller ~ Overtelling. "And then. And then."

Super Series Sunday: The Music Was Just Getting Good / Sorry I Haven't Texted You Back / Stuff I've Been Feeling Lately

(Poetic Mixtape Trilogy) 

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 Music Was Just Getting Good, the final poetic mixtape by Alicia Cook. But wait—I wouldn't do this justice if I reviewed the new release only. No, this must be done as a collection so you can truly grasp the exceptionally good recommendation. 

Structured like old-school mixtapes, "Side A" are tracks paired with an accompanied song at the end of each poem. Have your bluetooth speaker and music streaming app ready! "Side B" are blacked-out remixes of those same poems. This unique structure give the words within a deeper meaning.

"A finite twenty-six letters create an infinite trail of breadcrumbs that lead to different moments that lead to who I was just a moment before." ~ Track Sixty 

In Stuff I've Been Feeling Lately, "Side A" touches on pain, love, grief and growth. Such a great introduction to poet Alicia Cook. The title alone of Sorry I Haven't Texted You Back is so me! I am slow to reply to texts (sometimes days) then pop up like everything is okay. This second mixtape is my favorite of the trilogy. It holds over 90 poems dedicated to mental health and self-help. The sophistication of the poems is evident and oh so relatable.

"No one knows how much she cried last Wednesday because she was quiet about it, and to some, pain is only noticed when it is public, and loud, and obvious." ~ Track Two

Finally in The Music Was Just Getting Good, poet Alicia Cook showcases her talent, love affair with wordplay and empathy. I finished with the feeling of being so understood. Themes of hope and recovery are spread across 184 tracks (92 poems and 92 black-outs). You may read it as a standalone; however, I highly recommend reading the entire collection in order.

"My mind always leaves situations before my body." ~ Track Thirteen

When I say this collection touched my soul, spoke to my spirit, justified my feelings and related to my personal thoughts...whew! I cannot recommend this soothing balm of a poetry trilogy enough.

Happy Early Pub Day, Alicia Cook! The Music Was Just Getting Good will be available January 9, 2024.

Disclaimer: An advance copy of The Music Was Just Getting Good 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. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: The Music Was Just Getting Good

Author: Alicia Cook

Published: January 2024

Pages: 242

Edition: Galley

Genre: Poetry

Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 

Title: Sorry I Haven't Texted You Back

Author: Alicia Cook

Published: October 2020

Pages: 240

Edition: eBook

Genre: Poetry

Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Title: Stuff I've Been Feeling Lately

Author: Alicia Cook

Published: January 2016

Pages: 227

Edition: eBook

Genre: Poetry

Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

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.

"Dear God, I am fourteen years old. [I am] I have always been a good girl. Maybe you can give me a sign letting me know what is happening to me."

~ The Color Purple (Movie Tie-In Edition) by Alice Walker

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 tell you I feel tired and you say, 'But you slept for twelve hours,' and I knew you didn't get it."

~ Sorry I Haven't Texted You Back by Alicia Cook

The Neighbor Favor

"That he needed to be perfect in order to be worthy of her?" ~ pg .166

Lily is a shy editor stuck in the nonfiction division but dreams of working with children's books. Her escape is connecting with her favorite fantasy author via email. Then he ghosts her! Months later, Lily is seeking a date to her sister's wedding and enlists the help of her attractive new neighbor, Nick. He soon realizes that Lily is the same woman he fell in love with over email a few months ago. Little do they know, they're on each other's minds.

I should have left The Neighbor Favor on the digital shelf. But the cover is just too cute! I knew immediately that this novel featured characters of color. Then I read the synopsis and thought it would be a good charming story. Well...it was just okay and I fought the urge to not finish or skim through. And like most romances, the ending is predictable. The Neighbor Favor would've perhaps been better as a novella.

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. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: The Neighbor Favor
Author: Kristina Forest
Published: February 2023
Pages: 277
Edition: Galley
Genre: Romance
Rating: 🖤 🖤

Lit Tidbits: Pithy Picks XIV

Hey, Bookhearts! Pithy Picks are a bookish meme created to help you quickly find books that are worth your time and coins. Just read the pithy reviews below!

Title: Worthy

Edited by: Jada Pinkett Smith
Published: October 2023
Pithy Review: Actress, rockstar, Red Table Talk show creator, Jada Pinkett Smith shares her unconventional upbringing, relationships and life. With so much controversy surrounding this book and the passages shared on the Innanet Streets, I feel like I've read the memoir well before I cracked the spine open. Come to find out, the best parts are the ones I already heard in interviews or quotes. I tried not to compare Jada's memoir to her legal husband's; Will's memoir was one of thee best I have ever read. This one? Not so much. This is her journey as she sees it and I recognize the work it took to publish such a personal piece. However, it seemed more of a written path to her self-discovery that was exaggerated for public consumption to paint herself in the best light possible. But do you, girl.
Quote: "It feels like I can't grasp my own journey." ~ pg. 279
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Woman in Me
Author: Britney Spears
Published: October 2023
Pithy Review: This is the memoir 80s babies didn't know we needed until June 21 when we listened to Britney Spears in open court finally share her truth. She lays it out bare for the world within these pages sparing no feelings, not using false names, and airing out those who wronged her from childhood to present-day. And yet, I get the sense so much more was left unsaid. It is written in her own candid words with no apologies. You better claim your freedom, girl! 
Quote: "I shouldn't be this strong." ~ pg. 234
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Opinions: A Decade of Arguments,Criticism, and Minding Other People's Business
Author: Roxane Gay
Published: October 2023
Pithy Review: New essays from bestselling author Roxane Gay? Immediate library reserve! In this new collection, she tackles big issues like politics, race, celebrity happenings, television shows, women's rights, slavery fan fiction, whether it's okay to schedule a daily 8 a.m. meeting and why Black people forgive (because we need to survive). It is the best of her opinions from over the past ten years. I empathized, nodded in agreement and even felt indifferent a couple times. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading chapter after chapter, especially the solicited advice section titled Ask Roxane. Great collection!
Quote: "I am 39. I am single. I am a black woman. I have too many advanced degrees. Many a news story tells me finding true love is likely a hopeless proposition." ~ pg. 128
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rebecca, Not Becky

"What in the whole caucastic hell?" ~ 75%

De'Andrea and her family move from Atlanta to Rolling Hills by circumstance and not choice. It's quite an adjustment leaving a comfortable life in the Black oasis of Atlanta to the overwhelming whiteness of Rolling Hills, Virginia. De'Andrea's therapist challenges her to befriend a white woman to help ease the transition. 

Rebecca is thrilled there's a new Black family in the neighborhood. She can put everything she's learned about antiracism into practice while running the Parent Diversity Committee. The two women come together for a common cause amidst the community's rising racial sentiments.

Le sigh. This could have been a really good novel if done right. 

The conflict of the story happened past the halfway mark. There was no reason to drag on this plot for such an underwhelming climax. I wanted to give up early on but kept pushing through. When is the good part? The dialogue is riddled with slang that will be outdated soon and the author leans into stereotypes with the unlikeable main characters. 

Where is the originality? What are the lessons learned that can help potential readers in a similar racial situation? At 55% through the galley, I figured I might as well finish the second half since the writing seemed better. But then the ending was thrown together. 

Bye, Becky! Don't listen to the blurb. This is not along the same vein as Such a Fun Age. It is not compulsively readable. Unfortunately, my recommendation is to skip this new release. Keep in mind though, just because I did not enjoy it does not mean you won't either.

Happy Pub Day, Christine Platt and Catherine Wigginton Greene! Rebecca, Not Becky 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. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Rebecca, Not Becky
Authors: Christine Platt and Catherine Wigginton Greene
Published: December 2023
Pages: 315
Edition: Galley
Genre: Chick Lit
Rating: 🖤

Series Sunday: Things We Left Behind

(Knockemout #3) 

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.

"Being alone meant not having to pretend to be okay." ~ 8%

My Series Sunday pick is Things We Left Behind, the final book in the Knockemout trilogy by Lucy Score. Broken men break women. That is what Lucian believes and has witnessed. He would rather be alone than put Sloane in harm's way. So he minds his mogul business. Sloane is a spitfire librarian carrying on her father's quest for justice. She tries her best to stay away from the man she once broke a promise to.

When their bickering turns into foreplay, the enemies-to-lovers reach an empasse. Sloan wants to start a family. Lucian refuses the idea of marriage and children. And so the dance begins between the tall, dark and evil Lucian and the short, fair and awesome Sloane.

Their story is told in past and present narration from both points of view. I so don't want to give anything away. Just know this book is thee best in the Knockemout series! It is worth calling into work and cuddling on the sofa with your favorite hot beverage. I will give one spoiler and say it's a happy ending that will give you all the feels!

Title: Things We Left Behind

Author: Lucy Score

Published: September 2023

Pages: 592

Edition: Paperback

Genre: Chick Lit Romance

Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

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 have a lot of opinions and I come by them honestly. From an early age, I watched my mother confidently expressing her opinions with wit and intellect. She always stood her ground and was unapologetic about her beliefs."

~ Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People's Business by Roxane Gay

Lit Tidbits: Pithy Picks XIII

Hey, Bookhearts! Pithy Picks are a bookish meme created to help you quickly find books that are worth your time and coins. Just read the pithy review below!

Title: How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill

Edited by: Jericho Brown
Published: July 2023
Pithy Review: This is a nonfiction book by Black writers for Black writers. Have a paper or digital notebook and highlighter ready to use. The essays from over 30 Black writers provide encouragement, examples, templates and lessons. Despite the title, it is more of a guide and personal workshop than a how-to book on writing. Diverse voices such as Nikki Giovanni, Jacqueline Woodson, Tayari Jones, and Angela Flournoy together in one book for $12.99. Worth every copper coin. Seriously, buy it now. 
Quote: "A good grammarian knows how to write polyrhythmically." ~ 3%
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Too Late
Author: Colleen Hoover
Published: June 2023
Pithy Review: This novel is labeled CoHo's darkest romantic thriller. Sloan is caught up financially and emotionally with the notorious drug trafficker Asa Jackson. Knowing she is in dire straits and dependent on him, Asa develops a dangerous, disturbing obsession with Sloan. When undercover DEA agent Carter enters the picture, Sloan feels safe and an immediate attraction. But they have to find a way out of this dangerous situation before it's too late. There's sex (sometimes forced), a dash of romance and character un-development. It was okay despite the definitive edition having an epilogue to the epilogue to the epilogue.
Quote: "Love shouldn't feel like added weight. It should make you feel as light as air." ~ 75%
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️

Title: A Night to Remember
Author: Walter Lord
Published: January 2005
Pithy Review: Everyone knows how the world's largest, most glamorous, ship sank after colliding with an iceberg. In less than 200 pages, Walter Lord retells the history of the Titanic wreckage, its passengers and few survivors, and a vivid retelling of the night to remember. A very informative, gripping read for history buffs.
Quote: "God himself could not sink this ship." ~ 19%
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: There's No Coming Back from This
Author: Ann Garvin
Published: August 2023
Pithy Review: Single mother Poppy is on the verge of losing her home when her accountant runs off with her life savings and she's forced to file bankruptcy. An old flame offers her a job on a Hollywood movie set in wardrobe. Poppy is new to this world of movie stardom, iconic costumes and back-lot intrigue. Though she was quite immature for her 50-something age, it's chick lit level funny only worth the Amazon First Reads/Kindle Unlimited download.
Quote: "I wanted to hold on to this moment, but there was no speed limit for life, no brakes at all." ~ 12%
Recommend or Nah? ⭐️⭐️

Holmes, Marple & Poe

"Fear was incomplete knowledge." ~ pg. 97

Holmes, Miss Marple and Poe Investigations is open for business. The three private investigators with untraceable pasts keep their identity secret as they take on cases no one else can touch. NYPD Detective Helene Gray is on a mission to unmask them in a solo investigation as they make headlines. 

We know very little. Brendon Holmes—The Brain—is a science-minded sleuth with a keen sense of smell. Miss Margaret Marple—The Eyes—is a charming snoop who works best undercover. Auguste Poe—The Muscle—is a weapons expert with a weakness for cars and women. Even as readers, we are kept in the dark about the main characters named after the famous Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, Agatha Christie and Edgar Allen Poe. Masterfully done!

"Murder brings out the bitch in me." ~ pg. 38

There are multiple mysteries within this new novel: art theft, kidnappings and an unsolved murder from 1954. As a reader that is easily lost in multiple points of view, I surprisingly kept up with the fast pace and storylines. It grabbed me from the first page and still hasn't let go as I write this review four (4) months later. Who are these people?! Where did they come from?! And where have they been all my fiction-loving life?!

Every new release of Patterson's is the best this, the greatest that. I've come to ignore the overhyped blurbs. But in this case (pun intended), Holmes, Marple & Poe really are "the greatest crime-solving team of the twenty-first century." The chemistry among the partners is strongly felt through the pages. Their minds are constantly analyzing clues, thinking steps ahead. Their intuition is not ignored. Their skill is unmatched. They are perfect in the media. And most of all, all three are lovable, realistically flawed characters!

"Two truths and a lie." ~ 91%

It is unconfirmed whether Patterson will make Holmes, Marple & Poe into a series, but consider this review as my plea. Please bring this mysterious trio back. I have unanswered questions around their identity, history and what brought them together. There is a story brewing underneath this novel that is yet to be told. You heard it here first: Holmes, Marple & Poe is next year's best mystery!

Happy Early Pub Day, James Patterson and Brian Sitts! Holmes, Marple & Poe will be available Monday, January 8, 2024. 

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. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Holmes, Marple & Poe
Author: James Patterson and Brian Sitts
Published: January 2024
Pages: 352
Edition: Galley
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Sweetness in the Skin

"Yuh auntie...she love you bad bad." ~ pg. 265

Pumkin Patterson is a 13-year-old girl living in Kingston, Jamaica, with her grandmother, Aunt Sophie and mother Paulette. When Sophie is offered the chance to move to France for work, she moves and promises to send for her niece in one year.

But like it so often happens when plans are made, wrenches are thrown. The grandmother dies so Pumkin is left alone with her negative-minded mother. Determined to raise money for the French school entrance exam, Pumkin starts selling baked goods against school policy. Her future is at risk when the school and her mother find out.

"And it feels like someone scooped out the last bit of ice cream from the tub, the last bit of hope being scraped out of my gut." ~ pg. 263

The best part of Sweetness in the Skin were the food references. It is as much of a foodie love story as it is a coming-of-age story. I found myself looking forward to the L'Ecole days to see what dish or dessert would be prepared. My mouth watered over the description of baked goods, especially coconut cake. I even tried preparing pork chops as described with salt, pepper, cinnamon and simmering on a low fire. They indeed fell off the bone!

I always worry about reading books set in the islands because of the language. It is usually hard for me to decipher but I was able to read Pumkin's story without interruption. The only parts I struggled through were when Pumkin's mom talked but I didn't like her much anyway. She was the character I loved to hate.

For a debut novel, Ishi Robinson nailed it! Sweetness in the Skin is funny and heartwarming about a young girl baking her way to the opportunity of a lifetime. Highly recommend adding to your wish list of books to read next year.

Happy Early Pub Day, Ishi Robinson! Sweetness in the Skin will be available Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

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. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Sweetness in the Skin
Author: Ishi Robinson
Published: April 2024
Pages: 280
Edition: Galley
Genre: Multicultural Fiction
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: The Secret

(Jack Reacher #28) 

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 Secret, the 28th book in the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child and Andrew Child. Eight upstanding people have been found dead across the United States. It is not until a victim takes a fatal fall from a hospital window that a connection is loosely made. The Secretary of Defense organizes a task force and enlists the help of Jack Reacher.

We all know Jack Reacher is an exceptional soldier. He is strong, dominating, intuitive, a sharp shooter and skilled. He races to find the killer and link between the deaths before moving into the dangerous line of sight. The best part of The Secret is knowing that Reacher will get the mission done like no one else can.

"Shoot her and your father's story will never be told." ~ pg .214

It's not uncommon for a long-standing series to drift off. The Jack Reacher series has almost 30 books so my expectations are not as high as the first few books in the series. But I still expect some type of plot to hold my interest. Where is the suspense? Where is the character development? Where is the originality? 

I am disappointed but not enough to stop reading the Jack Reacher series. I will continue reading the earlier books that are more compelling. Loyal Reacher readers and those watching the TV adaptation may be interested in The Secret. 

The Secret is available now.

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. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: The Secret

Author: Lee Child and Andrew Child

Published: October 2023

Pages: 237

Edition: Galley

Genre: Mystery

Challenge: Perpetual Jack Reacher

Rating: 🖤 🖤