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.

"This Could've Been an Email. There will be questions. Ones I don't have socially acceptable answers for."

~ I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

Homemade Love

"Why should I take your problems and ain't had none of your fun gettin em?!" ~ pg .80

First published in 1986, Homemade Love rightfully earned the American Book Award for short story collection. J. California Cooper explores the nuances of love—romantic, friendship or familial—in thirteen (13) short stories. As usual when I read short stories or poems, there are a handful that stand out as extraordinary. My favorites in this collection are Swimming to the Top of the Rain, When Life Begins!, and At Long Last.

Homemade Love is written in a literary folk tradition similar to Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes. It belongs in the Harlem Renaissance Era. Vivid pictures of Black characters leap from the pages. There's the busiest, talkinest child, a woman who holds up the community, a neighborhood watcher, fools and those simply surviving life.

"This story is shaped like a Y. Two paths lead to one road. I got to tell you two things, or stories, before I get to the main road where it all comes together!" ~ pg .57

Every short story has its own voice yet Cooper's characters remind me of that matriarch in every Black family. I zipped through these thirteen short stories in just one day. It was like sitting between the legs of great grandma while she's braiding cornrows into hair, sipping freshly made lemonade mixed with sweet cane sugar tea, listening to her gossip about the neighbors while looking out the big front window. We can all relate!

Readers will finish Homemade Love and know the different kinds and levels of love that affect us. The stories may be short and separate but oh, it will all come together! You will feel urged to hug on your friends, families and lovers.

Happy Early Re-Pub Day to the still celebrated J. California Cooper! Homemade Love will be available on August 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. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Homemade Love
Author: J. California Cooper
Re-Published: August 2024
Pages: 146
Edition: Galley
Genre: Black Lit 
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (Or Just Me)?

"An imaginary companion is a friend whom a child has created, talks about, or interacts with on a regular basis." ~ pg. 11

Jay Ellis, born Wendell Ramone Ellis Jr., tells the adventurous story of growing up with an imaginary friend. As a military brat, Jay was the perpetual new kid shuffling from school to school. He was an only child used to making shit up—hence, imaginary friend Mikey, who was part Dwayne Wayne, part Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Mikey was there through birthday disappointments, pop culture, hoop dreams, gang jump-ins, road trips, young love and so much more.

Jay Ellis had me at the title: Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (Or Just Me)? I absolutely did have an imaginary friend that everyone had to acknowledge. Set a place at the table, buckle the seatbelt, pull a chair out and include in conversations. My imaginary friend kept me company, gave me courage and evolved into adult consciousness. So it was not just you, Jay Ellis. Thanks for validating imaginary friends!

"Even though he didn't have a physical manifestation or a voice in my head, I was making decisions that were influenced by my days with him." ~ pg. 94

Judge this book by the cover! It is colorful, fun and totally for 80s babies who came of age in the 90s. Whether you recognize him as Lawrence from Insecure, Bryce on The Game or as the talented Black actor (now author) he is, add this nonfiction book to your reading list this summer. You will deep dive into the content, laugh in agreement and get lost in the childhood memories. Told through the voice of your homeboy, this memoir was unputdownable and oh so enjoyable! 

Happy Early Pub Day, Jay Ellis! Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (Or Just Me)?: Adventures in Boyhood will be available on July 30.

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: Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (Or Just Me)?
Author: Jay Ellis
Published: July 2024
Pages: 192
Edition: Galley
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death

(Baker Street #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.

My Series Sunday pick is A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death, the third book in the Baker Street mystery series by Valerie Burns. Social media influencer Maddy Montgomery is adjusting to her new life in Downtown New Bison located on the Lake Michigan coastline, taking care of an inherited English mastiff and running Baby Cakes Bakery. The business is getting so much good publicity that it draws the attention of former nemesis/fiancé stealing Brandy Denton. But when an argument goes viral and Brandy's body is found at Baby Cakes, Maddy is the prime suspect.

"Her father's a naval admiral, she's dating an ex-Army commando, lives with the town sheriff, and walks around town with a two-hundred-fifty-pound horse who recently ate his way through an SUV when he thought she was in danger. Who in their right mind would come close to her?" ~ pg. 71

A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death can be read as a standalone. The author, Valerie Burns, does a great job with introductions and providing enough background so readers new to the series are not clueless. It is also a refresher for current fans. There is nothing to dislike about this cast of characters in the Baker Street mystery series. The camaraderie among Maddy, her great-aunt's friends, her veterinarian boyfriend, the sheriff and her father "The Admiral" are baker's kiss. 

Like most cozy mysteries, it is unbelievable that murders just happen to happen around the same amateur sleuth at the same place of business in a quaint town. But it doesn't take any joy away from reading the story. The mystery itself will have you guessing on the right track with treats along the way. What sets this series apart from other foodie cozy mysteries? Characters of color, a lovable pet and real recipes! Need I say more?

Happy Early Pub Day, Valerie Burns! A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death will be available on July 23.

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: A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death

Author: Valerie Burns

Published: July 2024

Pages: 220

Edition: Galley

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

First Lines Friday BONUS

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.

"The volcanoes aren't going to explode today, are they?"

~ Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson

"I was going to jail."

~ Missing White Woman by Kellye Garrett 

Sistahs Be Readin' June

 The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

Please visit www.patreon.com/sistahspeak to join the Sistahs Be Readin' Book Club. 

Boss Lady

"It's the intent of the question that comes from a person of melanated skin that inspires safety in my answering." ~ 51%

Antonia "Toni" Arroyo is a financially-strapped single mother of twins. She's married but her husband abandoned the family to find himself. *insert severe eye roll here* By day, Toni works in airport transportation; by night, she is a budding entrepreneur. 

One of her frequent elderly travelers, Ms. Eisenberg, connects Toni with her handsome grandson who is a venture capitalist. Toni gets the opportunity to pitch her business idea on TV's Innovation Nation. Her unexpected challenger is the resurfaced not-quite-ex-husband. Oh, how the past collides with the present!

"I don't think a person can have a memory of someone they never noticed in the first place." ~ 11%

Antonia is the kind of chick you'd want to be friends with IRL. She is funny, loyal, responsible and self-aware of her flaws. She is playing the best she possibly can with the hand she was dealt. Yet there is no annoying self-pity. Antonia's circle of friends and daughters are quite likable too and a great representation of strong minority women.

Author duos are tricky. Some collaborate because of a mutual respect. Others are listed as a co-author to gain notoriety. But Alli Frank and Asha Youmans are meant to write together. Their writing styles complement perfectly. The dialogue and narrative passages intertwine. The tone of the main character did not change. I could hardly tell who wrote what until a few jumpy chapter transitions. 

"Feelings are confused as facts, and hurt feelings are a foundation for litigious action." ~ 30%

Boss Lady can be read fairly quickly; the story just flows and is very engaging. Don't let the romance genre mislead you. Boss Lady is about a strong female character determined to reach her goals with a positive support system. Very much like a "multicultural Golden Girls reboot." Readers will find themselves rooting for Toni the whole way. I totally recommend this new novel!

Happy Early Pub Day, Alli Frank and Asha Youmans! Boss Lady will be available Tuesday, July 2.

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: Boss Lady
Authors: Alli Frank & Asha Youmans
Published: July 2024
Pages: 294
Edition: Galley
Genre: Grown Chick Lit Romance
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: Peking Duck and Cover

(Noodle Shop Mystery #10) 

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 Peking Duck and Cover, the tenth book in the Noodle Shop mystery series by Vivien Chien. New year, new Lana Lee. The shop owners of Asia Village participate in creating a memorable Chinese New Year celebration. Lana Lee is the head event planner. With the help of Ian Sung, they orchestrate an evening of music, live entertainment, generous giveaways and fireworks.

It's all fun and fresh beginnings until a member of the lion dance performance team is found dead. A single bullet wound through the heart and a red envelope containing four $1 bills in their pocket marks an omen of death. Of course, Lana Lee has to find the killer before anyone else dies.

"But, at the very least this proves that it was without a shadow of a doubt, premeditated...with extra care into details and everything." ~ pg. 94

Even though the story was far from a page-turner, I finished reading in just three (3) days. But those are days I could have spent reading a far more engaging book. It was lacking in suspense, too formulaic and meh. Although, I always like to see appearances of the Mahjong Matrons and Asia Village shop owners. It remains a colorful cast of characters that I will stay tuned in for.

Happy Early Pub Day, Vivien Chien! Peking Duck and Cover will be available on July 23.

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: Peking Duck and Cover

Author: Vivien Chien

Published: July 2024

Pages: 250

Edition: Galley

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 🖤 🖤

First Lines Friday

Celebrate Asian-American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month!

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.

"New year, new me. Isn't that the phrase? When you're Asian, you have the opportunity to experience that twice a year."

~ Peking Duck and Cover by Vivien Chien

Rise of a Killah

"Basically, I'm just living off life right now." ~ pg. 20%

I remember the first time I really paid attention to Ghostface Killah. It was Beyoncé's performance of "Summertime" on Jay-Z's film, Fade to Black. He was backstage getting draped in jewels and chains before sharing the stage with Queen Bey. The poetry wizard wearing diamond-studded bathrobes. A founding member and soon to become one of my favorites in the iconic Wu-Tang Clan.

In this new autobiography, Dennis Coles—aka Ghostface Killah—shares his early successes in modern hip-hop, his career touring as a solo artist and trendsetter, his childhood, commitment to family and spiritual journey. It includes pictures documenting his life in the Wu-Tang. Quite the narrative.

"But you see where my mind goes. The way I think is just different." ~ 81%

The writing style of Rise of a Killah is not that of a traditional autobiography. It is a collection of essays series of sporadic stories not told in chronological or any kind of order actually. It is more like Ghostface recorded random thoughts and gave to someone to type rather than hire an experienced (ghost)writer to structure, format and polish the content. 

It was very difficult for me to catch the rhythm. The lack of structure seriously interfered with the retelling of his life making it difficult to follow. Especially when Ghostface would go on a tangent about an unrelated topic then repeat himself.

"I'm much more wise. I'm much more connected spiritually to the Most High." ~ pg. 52%

I would not recommend Rise of a Killah if you are looking for a well-written autobiography. The pictures were a nice addition along with his transparency on health issues and spirituality. But readers will get more out of his genius lyrics than in this book. 

Happy Pub Day, Ghostface Killah! Rise of a Killah: My Life in the Wu-Tang 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: Rise of a Killah
Author: Ghostface Killah
Published: May 2024
Pages: 162
Edition: Galley
Genre: Autobiography
Rating: 🖤 

Series Sunday: Caraval

(Caraval #1) 

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 Caraval, the first book in the series of same name by Stephanie Garber. Isla de los Sueños is the island of dreams. Caraval is a special invite-only performance that blurs the lines of fantasy and reality. Sisters Scarlett and Tella are whisked off to Caraval with the help of a mysterious sailor. Soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Legend, the mastermind organizer. This season revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her is the winner.

"The story could have ended there." ~ pg. 306

Ya think?! The story started off so strong. I was intrigued with the idea of magic and sisters claiming independence. I was empathetic toward the sisters domestic abuse situation and rooting for their escape. I am on a fantasy genre kick right now so was eager to try this recommendation. Bookhearts, you know I am a sucker for a series!

Shortly after beginning the novel, my excitement dulled. The game lasts five days so the chapters are broken down by days. I soon found myself counting down to the end of Caraval—the book and the fictional game. The characters were not so interesting after all but more juvenile and selfish. The author threw in unnecessary details to build suspense but it only distracted from the plot. What started as a great premise ended in a disappointing read.

There was no positive representation of men in the novel. They were all manipulative and abusive in some kind of way. The author herself says every good story needs a villain, but Caraval very much gave "man hate" vibes. How do you manage to make every male character a villain? I want to ask the author, "Who hurt you?"   

I am not going to continue the series. I am not even slightly interested in what happens next, the lame cliffhanger or the characters' fate in this trilogy. To be quite honest, I would have DNF'ed this book at page 50 if it weren't the April selection in the new Sistah Speak: Sistahs Be Readin' Book Club. While some enjoyed this novel, most did not. Caraval is not for all.

Please visit www.patreon.com/sistahspeak if you are interested in joining the Sistahs Be Readin' Book Club. ~Sistah LM

Title: Caraval

Author: Stephanie Garber

Published: September 2016

Pages: 361

Edition: eBook

Genre: Fantasy

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.

"If I leave this house, it will be in handcuffs."

~ The Housemaid by Freida McFadden 

Some Soul to Keep

"Watched to see how everybody did their loving. I have been doing it now all my life, and I can tell you...it is a lesson and a[n] education to watch the way different people love, or don't love, other people. In families, between men and women, parents and children, everybody. I studied them all." ~ 74%

Some Soul to Keep is a collection of long short stories exploring the presence and absence of love. With her narration and vivid description of Black characters, J. California Cooper brings moving stories of Black family life.

First published in 1987, Some Soul to Keep features five (5) short stories that are long in length and meaning. In true JCC style, there are troubled characters telling their story in such an intimate way that they garner sympathy and readers' attention. Although I found only two of the five stories extremely interesting, there is one character that will stick in my head long after I've closed this advance copy and a central theme of Black love.

If you are new to J. California Cooper's work, do not read Some Soul to Keep first. While it is written in her signature style, it is not a good enough representation of her fine talent. She earned Black Playwright of the Year in 1978 and the American Book Award so I suggest reading some of her other works first. Return to Some Soul to Keep when you have a better sense of her moral message.

Happy Early Re-Pub Day to the late great J. California Cooper! Some Soul to Keep will be available Tuesday, June 11.

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: Some Soul to Keep
Author: J. California Cooper
Published: June 2024
Pages: 190
Edition: Galley
Genre: Black Lit
Rating: 🖤 🖤

The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster

"You don't measure love." ~ pg.64

Mae learns what happens when things go south. She always wanted to connect with her estranged Black family in the South, growing up picturing relatives that looked like her, crowded dinner tables, bustling kitchens and traditional family barbecues. The same barbecues that kept her late father returning every year but mysteriously leaving her behind. 

As Mae's wedding draws closer and no one from the Townsend family responding to the invitations, she decides to head South. What she finds is a family in disaster and grief, a long-standing grudge, secrets and a lost food recipe. 

Being the newbie in the family, Mae steps up and volunteers to host a barbecue four days before her wedding. Most importantly, she hopes to win favor and figure out the recipe of her deceased grandmother's famous mac n' cheese for the prized dish. What a task!

Author Shauna Robinson says her goal was to write the book she wanted to read. Job well done! This novel satisfied the goal from a reader's perspective too. It might have been a slow burn but it was a complete story that left no plot stone unturned. I wish the pace was a bit quicker but came to realize this is the best way for family drama to be told and fully fleshed out to a satisfying ending.

The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster is the first book I've read by Shauna Robinson but certainly will not be the last. I recommend for local book clubs to read and for audiobook listeners as they cook mac n' cheese for barbecues this summer.

Happy Early Pub Day, Shauna Robinson! The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster will be available Tuesday, July 2.

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 Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster
Author: Shauna Robinson
Published: July 2024
Pages: 257
Edition: Galley
Genre: Family Drama
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: Think Twice

(Myron Bolitar #12) 

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 knock on doors and stir the pot and muck things up and hope something rises to the surface." ~ 17%

My Series Sunday pick is Think Twice, the 12th book in the Myron Bolitar series by Harlan Coben. I cleared a weekend for this. All I needed was my fully-charged Kindle, a kettle of loose tea in lieu of YooHoo, homestyle chicken with egg noodles and iPhone set to DND. Do I really need to say it was well worth it? 

🗣️ MYRON BACK!!! It's been a minute since Harlan Coben graced us with a Myron Bolitar novel—eight (8) years to be exact. Coben picked up the pen not missing a beat with these characters, the suspense, the plot twists and dialogue. Let me tell you more.

"Your relationship with this guy is what the kids today call toxic." ~ 38%

In this new installment, years have gone by in the fictional world too. Former basketball star Myron Bolitar has reopened MB Reps, an agency for sports players and celebrities. Win is still a successful financial advisor. Myron brings in the money; Win invests it. They are brought together when FBI agents waltz into their skyrise office demanding to know the whereabouts of an old client with personal ties. 

Greg Downing died three years ago leaving behind a wife (Myron's ex) and a son (biologically Myron's). So how was his DNA found at the scene of a double murder? With the help of Esperanza, now a named partner at a bold new law firm, Myron and Win fly private investigating and looking for either a former client or a clever serial killer.

"You do love your moral dilemmas." ~ 64%

I have so missed the camaraderie between Myron, Win, Esperanza and Big Cyndi. They are my fictional co-workers in my head. Their banter, wit, vocabulary and trust just lifts off the pages for a reader's escape. Reading Think Twice was like a school reunion. We've aged but still got it! 

Followers of the series are in for a fast-paced treat. But no worries if you are new to Myron and 'nem; Think Twice has enough backstory that it can be read as a standalone. I cannot recommend this entire series, especially Think Twice, enough.

Happy Early Pub Day, Harlan Coben! Think Twice will be available Tuesday, May 14.

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: Think Twice

Author: Harlan Coben

Published: May 2024

Pages: 278

Edition: Galley

Genre: Mystery

Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤