The Edge of Dawn

"Many of the symbols are African-based. Some were from secret societies. Different colors meant different things and some quilts even carried symbols designed to protect the quilt itself." ~ pg. 65

I can always count on Ms. Bev to weave history into fiction. The Edge of Dawn features the meaning and intricacy of a slave quilt. It is as much of a character as the romantic couple.

Narice Jordan is a 37-year-old divorced woman, founder and principal of Michigan-based Jordan Academy. So why was she snatched off the street soon after her father's funeral? Federal agents make accusations about a stolen North African diamond, which she knows nothing about. Before they can question her further, Narice is again kidnapped by a mysterious man. Now who might that be?

I was first introduced to the character, Saint, in The Edge of Midnight, where he played a minor part. But in this here book (said with a southern drawl), Mr. Anthony St. Martin (Saint) is the star. He doesn't wear suits. He doesn't shave. He wears shades indoors and never goes anywhere without his Inspector Gadget coat. He comes to Narice's rescue and helps to find the beautiful blue diamond that everyone is after. Guided by directions on a handmade slave quilt, they set out on a dangerous adventure. Narice has no choice but to stay protected by Saint's side and discover the real reason her father was murdered in a house fire.

"Besides, Parliamentfunkadelic says you can't be cool without your shades." ~ pg. 21

The Edge of Dawn needs no glorified recommendation. Do you like romance? Do you support authors writing about characters of color? Do you like contemporary stories with a hint of suspense? Do you like getting lost into the fictional lives of others? Okay then!

Good pick for Black History Month!

Title: The Edge of Dawn
Author: Beverly Jenkins
Published: January 2004
Pages: 229
Edition: eBook
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

 

The Edge of Midnight

"It was a common, everyday playing card. A black ace of spades." ~ pg. 7

It is no secret to bookhearts that Beverly Jenkins (whom I respectfully refer to as Ms. Bev) is my favorite historical fiction and romance author. I am not the mushy type to go-gaga-over a love story. However, I look forward to and enjoy every single one of Ms. Bev's books. Why? Because she weaves a realistic tale with a dose of history education. The women don't play hard to get but are rather independent. The women characters do not need a man; they want a life companion. Eventually, they fall in love with a dashing black gentleman. What's not to like about that?

Edge of Midnight is a bit different than Ms. Bev's normal books. Published over ten years ago, it is her first contemporary romantic suspense novel. Sarita Grayson is smuggling a bag of stolen diamonds. In the struggle to get away, she shoots a handsome stranger named Mykal Chandler, head of a covert government agency. Even though he is furious, he can't fight the attraction building up. She's sassy and desperate for help; Mykal does everything possible to protect her from the edge of midnight.

"She was like a rare wine or a fine imported cigar." ~ pg. 172

So what do I think of Ms. Bev's first contemporary romance book? I am pleasantly not surprised. I knew from the get-go that I would enjoy it because of her writing style. The only difference was the setting being a century or so later. I especially like how it primarily takes place in Detroit, Michigan—practically my backyard! Edge of Midnight is recommended to readers looking for a suspenseful romance featuring characters of color. Perfect pick for Black History Month!

Title: The Edge of Midnight
Author: Beverly Jenkins
Published: February 2007
Pages: 276
Edition: eBook
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

 

Series Sunday: The Last Act

(The Last Act #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 The Last Act, the first book in the series of same name by Brad Parks.

But first...there is a prequel titled The Whistleblower that helps set the stage for a suspenseful thriller. Mitch Dupree landed his dream job: bank compliance director. It is his job to abide by Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations with a Cover Your Ass (CYA) mentality. After all, banks are the first line of defense against illicit transactions. He notices suspicious activity and what may possibly be money laundering transactions made by a drug cartel. He is faced with an ethical issue: turn a blind eye and protect the family atmosphere at work or blow the whistle.

"If a bank is willfully breaking the law, they're going to get away with it. It's only the people who are trying to follow the law who get screwed." ~ 63%

Struggling actor Tommy Jump is offered the role of a lifetime: $150,000 for a 6-month gig. But it comes from an unlikely employer: the FBI. Feds arrested Mitch Dupree, a bank compliance director, who for the past four years appeared to be laundering money for one of the deadliest drug cartels. Dupree has documents that could lead to way more arrests and personally take down the cartel's leader. It is Tommy's job to enter the prison and act like an inmate. More specifically, he needs to get close to Dupree in hopes of revealing the documents whereabouts. It is a dangerous job and may be Tommy's last act.

A snow day couldn't have come at a better time. It allowed me to spend the day wearing pajamas while reading this new 400+ page book uninterrupted. And oh, did I ever need a lazy day for this gripping tale of deceit! What made it more engaging, is that it's loosely inspired by a true story. Wachovia Bank failed to apply anti-money laundering laws on $378,000,000,000 (BILLION) worth of transfers to and from Mexican currency exchange houses. This directly tied the Mexican drug cartels to the U.S. banking system. It was the largest violation ever uncovered in our country. So much for the war on drugs. 🙄

"Books would be written. Movies would be made. Glory would be achieved." ~ 88%

This new novel is proof why Brad Parks is an international bestselling author. While I enjoyed the well-paced novel and the likable main character, Tommy Jump, I would totally be okay with this being a standalone. There were no major loose ends so it feels complete. How about a movie adaptation instead?

Happy Early Pub Day, Brad Parks! The Last Act will be available Tuesday, March 12.

Disclaimer: This book was received directly from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: The Last Act

Author: Brad Parks

Published: March 2019

Pages: 416

Edition: Galley

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 dreamed about fish last night, Francie,' Mrs. Mackey said, sliding back the chain and opening the door to admit me. 'What number does Madame Zora's dream book give for fish?'"

~ Daddy Was a Number Runner by Louise Meriwether; Foreword by James Baldwin 

Lit Tidbits: Black History Month Repeats

What did I ever do before bookish apps like Goodreads and Shelfari? How did I keep up with what books I've already read? If you are anything like me, your memory is simply not good enough. So sometimes within first couple chapters, it dawns on me...I read this book before! Hence, below are books that I happily added to my TBR for Black History Month, then quickly realized it was a repeat read! Allow me to still spotlight them.

Title: If They Come in the Morning
Edited By: Angela Y. Davis
Published: March 1971
Tidbit: The most political of all political prisoners introduces readers to voices of resistance. Angela Davis and many more come through for justice.

Title: The Perfect Find

Author: Tia Williams

Published: April 2016 

Tidbit: A 40-year-old woman. High-stakes career. Ticking biological clock. Low bank balance. A funny saga of star-crossed love.

Title: Ayesha At Last

Author: Uzma Jalaluddin

Published: June 2018

Tidbit: Yet another Pride & Prejudice retelling with a modern Muslim twist. In that regard, I read this book before!

Title: Leaving Atlanta

Author: Tayari Jones

Published: January 2002

Tidbit: The true-crime Atlanta child murders of 1979 is told from the fictional point of view of three (3) young black children.

Title: Have No Shame

Author: Melissa Foster

Published: April 2013

Tidbit: A hate crime committed in the deep South forces an 18-year-old to choose what she knows in her heart to be true versus what others, in a racially-charged world, would like her to believe.

 

The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls

"You girls, us women, we're water. Strong stuff. A force of nature. A source of life." ~ 69%

What a title. What a cover. What a debut, I think.

Sisters Althea, Viola and Lillian are not prepared for the trial that will usurp their lives. Althea is the eldest sister. She is now the matriarch of the family, holding everyone together. So it comes as a shock when she and her husband are arrested for a sham charity. Once the most respected in the small community, now the disgrace of the town.

Not even her sisters are sure what really happened, making it hard for them to defend the accusations. With Althea in jail, sisters Viola and Lillian step up. They move into the house to care for their two teenage nieces. What follows is a well-paced novel that is impressive for a debut.

"Ain't no such thing as 'depressed'." ~ 36%

The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls is the type of novel that consumes your thoughts while reading it. I wondered how I would react in a similar situation. I evaluated my role as an Auntie. I related to the mother-daughter relationship in some way. And I certainly agree that daughters carry the hopes of their mothers.

But let a couple weeks pass after finishing the book and I tend to forget the details. I remembered the central themes only as the characters were forgettable. And that is okay. The message stayed with me. The author did her job: write a book that readers can relate to and will recommend to others.

Happy Pub Day, Anissa Gray. The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls is available today.

Disclaimer: This book was received directly from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls
Author: Anissa Gray
Published: February 2019
Pages: 304
Edition: Galley
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

 

Sistah Speak Sunday: Ask the Sistahs

(Sistah Speak: Ask the Sistahs) 

Are you looking for a podcast hosted by diverse women? Are you already in the Sistah Speak Nation? Listen to the new episode of Sistah Speak: Ask the Sistahs where we answer your burning questions from a Sistah's point of view.

Listen Now 🎧 Ep 13 Time: 1 Hour, 15 Minutes

Podcast: Sistah Speak Productions
Co-Hosts: Sistah A, Sistah J, Sistah K and Sistah LM