The Dating Prohibition

"Nobody knows better in the moment." ~ 77%

Entrepreneur Kendra has returned home to open her speakeasy supper club. She's knocked off balance when her childhood crush turns up. BJ is her big brother's best friend. He's always been that cool, chill dude. Now Kendra "Keke" is all grown up and he is most definitely taking notice. It's just a couple things: Kendra is trying to fulfill her professional dreams and BJ is strictly off limits.

The Dating Prohibition was just okay. I was first drawn to the cover with its beautiful brown characters on display in muted background autumn colors. It screams fall romance! I have enjoyed Taj McCoy's previous books so I expected this new release to be better than it turned out to be. I am not sure if it was the supporting characters or what, but I could not get into it. I found myself more annoyed with her family's lack of support and wit that fell flat.

For Bookhearts looking for a seasonal romance read, do not expect much spice from The Dating Prohibition. Although, it checks the boxes for a rom-com, off-limits romance.

Happy Pub Day, Taj McCoy! The Dating Prohibition 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: The Dating Prohibition
Author: Taj McCoy
Published: September 2025
Pages: 248
Edition: Galley
Genre: Romance
Rating: 🖤 🖤

The New Book

"We smile at our books and I occasionally dust them." ~ pg. 13

For decades, Nikki Giovanni's poetry has been a part of American culture. In this final collection, she writes about the delights and upheaval of our time, sprinkled with family history. Topics include police brutality, white supremacy, the presidency, the epidemic and her own life experiences. 

Nikki Giovanni's wisdom shines through poems, letters, blurbs and respectful rants. It is full of beautiful harsh truths. I bookmarked and highlighted a lot of passages. It is a very well put together piece of literature. The New Book is Nikki Giovanni's final collection to be savored and revisited.

"And Detroit became The Voice of Young Black America that the world copied." ~ pg. 100

Happy Pub Day, Nikki Giovanni! May she rest in heavenly literary peace. The New Book 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: The New Book: Poems, Letters, Blurbs and Things
Author: Nikki Giovanni
Published: September 2025
Pages: 146
Edition: Galley
Genre: Poetry
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Billion-Dollar Ransom

"These kidnappers are asking for the equivalent of the weight of a thousand toddlers in cash?" ~ pg. 69

The plan is unlike any other. A ten-figure ransom. A stubborn FBI agent. Six kidnappers. Two children taken from a school bus. A film producer and movie star grabbed from a resort. A wife whisked off the street of a beauty salon. All at the same time, down to the second! The connection is a billionaire patriarch who wants his family back.

The Billion-Dollar Ransom was my first book read by Duane Swierczynski. I am familiar with a few of Patterson's co-authors but he was a newbie to me. Their writing styles meshed together well, making for a good thriller with a bit of suspense. There were a lot of characters but each was well-developed with individual personalities and interesting chemistry.

"Are you trying to make this plan go to shit?" ~ pg. 161 

Was it a perfect plan? Almost. Was it a predictable thriller? Kinda. Was it page-turning? Yes, by default, because of Patterson's signature short chapters. The action began immediately and continued down to the wire. Would I recommend it? Sure.

Happy Early Pub Day, James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski! Billion-Dollar Ransom will be available Monday, September 1.

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: Billion-Dollar Ransom
Author: James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski
Published: September 2025
Pages: 312
Edition: Galley
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

I Should Be Smarter By Now

In this new comically insightful collection titled I Should Be Smarter By Now, Issa Rae shares her aspirational journey from childhood to cultural storyteller. She redefines modern success and tells the deets in candid, often hilarious, essays. Issa Rae allows readers to go behind the scenes of her empire. She does not shy away from the downs, praises the ups, unabashedly reveals the challenges and shares her creative vision. 

1. The Business of Being Me 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤
2. Playing Well With Others 🖤 🖤
3. The Geography of Creativity 🖤 🖤 🖤
4. I See You Seeing Me 🖤 🖤 🖤
5. The Art of Strategic Procrastination 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤
6. I Almost Know What I'm Doing 🖤 🖤 🖤 

This Amazon Original Stories collection consists of six (6) quick eBooks that readers may consume in one sitting, even while taking notes. It is a masterclass in literary format designed for those on the go, looking for quick inspiration and an authentic comedic take on success. I had plenty of highlighted quotes and tips by the time I finished. Get inspired for free with Prime or Kindle Unlimited membership. 📖🎧

Happy Pub Day, Issa Rae! I Should Be Smarter By Now collection 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: I Should Be Smarter By Now
Author: Issa Rae
Published: August 2025
Pages: 107
Edition: eBook
Genre: Nonfiction
Ratings: see above

My Blog is Taking a Nap Because...

Series Sunday: The Best Man

(The Best Man #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.

"Women want assurances. Not maybes." ~ pg. 386

My Series Sunday pick is The Best Man: Unfinished Business, the first book in the trilogy by Malcolm D. Lee with Jayne Allen. Beloved characters from the hit movies and television series, The Best Man, reunite in book form! Unfinished Business focuses on Harper, Jordan and Robyn as they establish lives away from the past and start a new era of awakening and love.

Recently divorced Harper is working on a movie while fighting a creative block and feeling like the seventh wheel. Jordan escaped the corporate world to heal and figure out life away from the city but still feels the magnetic pull to Harper. Lastly, Robyn has found peace in Ghana with a new man and restaurant. But the change is too much for Mia, her daughter with Harper, which tests a few relationships already on shaky ground.

The Best Man: Unfinished Business has its share of drama. It focuses on three characters so it is not too busy with multiple points of view. Yet I was fighting the urge to not skim. I was totally uninterested in the storyline of one of the main characters. It was only the hope of one plot element that kept me reading to the end. Otherwise, I would have DNF'ed and felt okay with leaving The Best Man business unfinished.

"It's just the beginning." ~ pg. 356

Despite the cliffhanger, I am undecided whether I will continue the trilogy. Maybe because I am used to enjoying these characters on-screen that it did not translate well to novel form. I did not feel as engaged. Here's this group of friends that I've known for umpteen years and look forward to their story progressing along. When I first heard of The Best Man coming to print, I was super excited for the opportunity to read it early. But much like the characters feeling like something is missing [in their lives], something is missing in the book too. It just doesn't hit the same.

I could be on this island alone with my opinion. Therefore, I suggest Bookhearts try reading the first of this trilogy if you are a fan of The Best Man movies and miniseries. This extended chapter could be worth your time.

Happy Pub Day, Malcolm D. Lee and Jayne Allen! The Best Man: Unfinished Business 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: The Best Man: Unfinished Business
Author: Malcolm D. Lee with Jayne Allen
Published: July 2025
Pages: 489
Edition: Galley
Genre: 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.

"Darkness suits me."

~ Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

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