You Should Sit Down for This

"I realize there is no shame in staying home with a good book and a pair of comfy pajamas." ~ 39%

I was invited to stop by since I was in the area. Soon as I walked up the front steps, I was waved inside by a warm smile and bright eyes. I was told to make myself at home, and that I did. Before I could sit down good, a glass of crisp rosé wine, a full charcuterie board and freshly baked cookies were placed before me. I have never felt so welcome into pages.

"Something changes when we realize we are the authors of our own stories, because [they] are constantly trying to edit us, aren't they?" ~ 76%

Tamera Mowry-Housley—former co-host of The Real and co-star of Sister, Sister—is the welcoming spirit and author of You Should Sit Down For This: A Memoir About Wine, Life, & Cookies. In this new entertaining memoir, Tamera pulls up her big girl panties and tells the transition from a spunky twin to a grown married woman with children. Not very easy to do in the public eye. 

She goes through being raised in Hawaii to dating distress to grieving her favorite family member and more intimate milestones. Tamera recollects each moment in life as if we are old kindergarten playground buddies catching up one afternoon. The conversation leaves me with good advice but the sense that there's more not being said. Maybe next time.

"It's okay to fail as long as you fail up." ~ 16%

You Should Sit Down for This is giving sweet, wholesome, confident, don't fuck with my family vibes. Yup, all of the above at once. Tamera Mowry-Housley opened her heart and home to share wisdom, kind words, vulnerable moments and a gentle warning. The Tameraisms—gorgeous bite-size drops of wisdom that have the power to enlighten—will float in my head for a while to come. In fact, I highlighted majority to remember and reference.

Even though this memoir is less than 200 pages, it leaves no moment unaddressed. Although I get the feeling details were purposefully left out in some stories. That there is still a nagging need to keep the good girl image in tact. And that's okay because not every experience is meant to be told. As a result, You Should Sit Down for This is the story of a childhood TV star mixed with a variety of wine and cookie flavors that I didn't know I wanted. The format is so well done and fitting to Tamera's personality.

Happy Early Pub Day, Tamera Mowry-Housley! You Should Sit Down for This will be available Tuesday, October 4.

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 Should Sit Down for This
Author: Tamera Mowry-Housley
Published: October 2022
Pages: 192
Edition: Galley
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

Walking in My Joy

"Could I show myself not in a character but in my own skin?" ~ 72%

Where can you find sharp humor, smart truths and an unforgettable collection of stories? In Jenifer Lewis' new memoir titled Walking in My Joy: In these Streets!

The Mother of Black Hollywood has appeared in 68 movies, 40 animations, 4 Broadway productions and over 200 concerts worldwide. She is an accomplished actress, singer, dancer, community activist and author. With the help of Natalie Guerrero, she writes an entertaining collection of essays about memorable adventures and experiences in Walking in My Joy. 

Jenifer Lewis is Auntie-in-my-Head Jenny that I take advice from because I know she's done it. She's been there, done that and learned. Auntie knows! I was nodding in agreement, highlighting and literally LOL while reading Walking in My Joy. She shares stories of love, self-reflection, joy and pain with such an openness. I'm blessed to be one of the first to read it!

"That's not a sentence you hear every day, bitches." ~ 86%

Whew—there are some stories and sentences in this book that left my jaw open. Statements we may think but never say aloud. Well, Jenifer Lewis said it for us. She speaks her mind about racism in America, Kanye West, Flint, COVID-19 pandemic, air-fried chicken, aliens and more. She also takes readers along on incredible journeys across the world, unselfishly sharing her personal experiences all the while making us laugh and feel inspired. This memoir truly lives up to its title!

One month and a few books later, and I still recollect stories from Walking in My Joy. I can still hear Jenifer Lewis' distinctive voice telling anecdotes with her signature deep laugh. I am quite the avid reader so it is rare for books to hold space in my mental streets like Walking in My Joy does. The motivational message has stuck with me. I originally rated this memoir 4♥️ but the more I sit with it and write this review, it deserves every bit of 5♥️. It is so worth reading, Bookhearts! 

Happy Pub Day, Jenifer Lewis! Walking in My Joy 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: Walking in My Joy
Author: Jenifer Lewis 
Published: August 2022
Pages: 256
Edition: Memoir
Genre: Galley
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: Leslie's Curl & Dye & Second Time Around

(Potter Lake #1-2) 

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.

"If the barber shop was where men gathered to bond with other men, chat about man things and dap each other up, then the beauty shop was the same for women. It was where we found solace and camaraderie, and a bit of gossip on a hot day in a full salon." ~ pg. 2

My Series Sunday pick is Leslie's Curl & Dye, the first book in the Potter Lake series by D.L. White. Bookhearts know that small town series with characters of color are my jam! I don't know what it is about made up towns that make me giddy for new stories. I get lost in the fictional streets, caught up in the drama, imagining myself as a neighbor to the romance and enjoy the ride of new characters. Let's double dive into this new-to-me series!

Potter Lake is a Black mini-metropolis set in middle Georgia. The lakeside residents are strong-minded, resilient and destined for growth. The newly elected Mayor is a former NBA athlete named Kade Cavanaugh (KC). He also owns Guys N'Dolls, the new co-ed salon in town that directly competes with his college sweetheart's beauty shop. Leslie Baker is the inherited Curl & Dye owner currently struggling for business. But KC has a plan to fix that. The cliché proves right once again: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! 

"Try having a private life in this town." ~ pg. 128

Why, oh why, did I let Leslie's Curl & Dye sit on my Kindle unread for two (2) whole years?! My purchase date was March 24, 2020; do you see today's date?! Well no better time than the present perfect afternoon with no plans so that I could fully enjoy its content then excitedly move on to Second Time Around. 

Sage Owens and Bennett Alexander are new to Potter Lake. Both seasoned with age, they have a lot in common on the surface. Their souls are drawn together, perhaps proof that broken hearts are connected. It makes their meeting seem more like fate than by accidental repair. Their story continues the theme of second chance love. This holiday short packs a lot of cute mature romance!

"And even more so when I learned you were a widow. There's a special understanding between us." ~ pg. 38

I began the series rooting for the growth and success of the Curl & Dye. I wanted the dwindling customer base to see success for its third generation. For the owner to work it out without help from a man. But the budding romance was what won me over. 

In Second Time Around, it was the grown flirtation for me. Even though the characters seemed way more older than the 40-ish age they were written as. Their kids were grown and their speech was dated with phrases like, "getting fresh." It threw me off. 

While the endings are predictable like most romance stories, the main characters' chemistry is magnetic and blooming off the pages! The author gracefully worked her pen when creating Potter Lake and its charming residents. I have one more chance to join their love-filled community when I read the third—and hopefully not final—book of the series.

Title: Leslie's Curl & Dye

Author: D.L. White

Published: September 2017

Pages: 316

Edition: eBook

Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

Title: Second Time Around

Author: D.L. White

Published: December 2018

Pages: 100

Edition: eBook

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.

"Mikaela took a deep, cleansing breath and rolled her shoulders back. Breathe, she chided herself. She hadn't even darkened the doorstep yet; a heart attack in advance of that seemed premature."

~ Long Past Summer by Noué Kirwan

Drunk on Love

"She couldn't risk her winery just for more good sex." ~ 39%

Can anyone else hear Beyoncé singing, 🎵 drunk in loooooooove / we be all night 🎵 No? Just me? Okay then. I'll get on with why you're here. 

Bestselling author Jasmine Guillory has a new intoxicating novel! Margot needs stress relief from running Black-owned and operated Noble Family Vineyards. She feels it's necessary to constantly prove herself to brother that she is a valuable asset to the family winery. Enter the relief in the form of a sexy charming man named Luke. He is new to the small world of Napa; therefore, the perfect one-night stand. Until he walks in the next morning introduced as the new hire.

The cover is colorful. The setting is romantic wine country. The characters are Black, proud and successful. And most importantly, the story is steamy! Jasmine Guillory once again graced us with a seductive read that allows readers to escape for a few fun hours. Both Luke and Margot are afraid to admit feelings which makes them even more relatable and more of a page-turner. Not "come on with it" but more "cannot wait until they fall in love."

Bookhearts, Drunk on Love is a cute romance story to be paired perfectly with a chilled bottle of sweet red wine. Kick your feet up and enjoy both to the last drop!   

Happy Early Pub Day, Jasmine Guillory! Drunk on Love will be available Tuesday, September 20.

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: Drunk on Love
Author: Jasmine Guillory
Published: September 2022
Pages: 400
Edition: Galley
Genre: Romance
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

Scenes from My Life: A Memoir

"You can't heal what you never reveal." ~ 51%

I did not know much about Michael K. Williams beyond his character of Omar "coming" Little on my favorite television series, "The Wire" on HBO. Yet by the time I turned the last page on my Kindle, I felt like an old friend. Michael K. Williams shares his incredible life story in new memoir titled Scenes from My Life.

I rarely forget a face. Well the late iconic actor, Michael K. Williams, has a memorable one. You may recognize him from The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, Lovecraft Country, The Night Of or Black Market. No matter the role he portrayed, his rawness and personality leapt off the screen. Unfortunately at the time of his death, Williams had almost finished this memoir with Jon Sternfeld to tell the story of how his life merged with his life's work.

"If someone asked me to describe the common thread in all that I do—my mission in acting, producing, community, and even just my living day-to-day—that's it." ~ 91%

Scenes from My Life is one of thee best memoirs I have ever read! No exaggeration. Drew me in from the first page with his transparency, honesty and detailed recollections. From childhood to early years of dancing to his battles with addiction and the fight that left the famous face scar, Williams does not mince memories. He achieved and conquered so much during his lifetime that otherwise I would not have known. Michael K. Williams was the perfect example of hard-won success.

The publication of Scenes from My Life is perfect timing. Pair this book with your rewatch of "The Wire" for its 20th year anniversary. Be sure to listen to the "Remembering Michael Kenneth Williams" episode of "The Wire at 20" podcast hosted by Method Man. Reading about his life will give whole new meaning to watching him on screen. Hearing the impact he had on others is very touching after knowing what he went through, survived and struggled with all while fulfilling his lifelong mission to give back. 

"Addiction is my legacy as much as the darkness of my skin and the sound of my voice." ~ 31%

I am honored for the opportunity to read and review the advance copy. Bookhearts, take my recommendation to heart and add this new memoir to your reading list. Scenes from My Life is so well written that you can visualize the words as you read. Even the book cover is striking! Need I say more?

Happy Pub Day to the late great, Michael K. Williams! A special thank you to Jon Sternfeld for making sure Williams' story reaches readers, maintained in his own voice, in his own impactful words. Scenes from 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: Scenes from My Life: A Memoir
Author: Michael K. Williams with Jon Sternfeld
Published: August 2022
Pages: 288
Edition: Galley
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: Before I Let Go

(Skyland #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 Before I Let Go, the first book in the Skyland series by Kennedy Ryan. When you marry, the love is supposed to last forever. But when life delivers blow after blow, death after death, grief over understanding, it all becomes too much to save a marriage.

Yasmen and Josiah (Si) Wade tried. Now they are finding a new rhythm in co-parenting two kids and running Grits, their third baby which is a thriving restaurant. Working and living so close together makes them wonder if they truly should have let go. Like magnets, Yasmen and Si are drawn together then one kiss leads to another...and another...and more until old wounds reopen and joy is in jeopardy. 

"My feelings are a hot stove I want to test, even knowing the last time how it burned." ~ 70%

Let's address the book cover first. Shall I say it is FLAWLESS?! How can you not stop and be intrigued as to the contents within? Then add the book title (a nod to Frankie Beverly & Maze and Beyoncé Homecoming stans). Award-winning, bestselling, "powerhouse" author Kennedy Ryan couldn't have packaged this any better. 

Did I judge this book by its cover? Damn right I did! And I was not disappointed. The supporting characters played a backseat but just enough to garner interest in their own personal stories (perhaps later on). There was the perfect amount of family drama with a heavy dose of healing and genuine love told in smooth alternating points of view. 

"I see the calm, the certainty, the love suffocate her doubts, smother the hesitations." ~ 2%

I am assuming the next books in the series will focus on different residents of Skyland. Perhaps Yasmen's friends and the Grits chef. Either way, I am excited and looking forward to what Kennedy Ryan has planned next for the new Skyland series. So well done!

Happy Early Pub Day, Kennedy Ryan! Before I Let Go will be available Tuesday, November 15.

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: Before I Let Go

Author: Kennedy Ryan

Published: November 2022

Pages: 384

Edition: Galley

Genre: Romance

Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤