Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Good Morning, Love A Novel by Ashley M. Coleman



Carlisa “Carli” Henton is a musician and songwriter hoping to follow in her father’s musical footsteps. But, biding her time until she makes it big in the music industry, she works as a junior account manager at a big-name media company to cover her New York City rent. Carli meticulously balances her work with her musical endeavors as a songwriter—until a chance meeting with rising star Tau Anderson sends her calculated world into a frenzy. Their worlds collide and quickly blur the strict lines Carli has drawn between her business and her personal life, throwing Carli’s reputation—and her burgeoning songwriting career—into question.
 


This book was a miss for me. Some parts I enjoyed and some parts were kind of boring and slow. It took me while to get into the story. Carli felt like she was all over the place, but everyone felt like that at times. Tau is that guy who won’t take no for an answer. Which is not a good character trait in someone. It shows that he doesn’t understand boundaries. After reading this, I struggle to consider this book a romance. It lacked that defining moment for me. 

Well, I hope you enjoy it.

And as always Happy reading!!

Can't Hide Love by Cheris Hodges

 


She's the responsible sister, making sacrifices to run the family’s treasured B&B. But for once, Alexandria Richardson decides to take a vacation—a singles’ cruise, where she throws caution to the wind. And the handsome stranger she meets is just what she needs to make every moment sizzle—for all fourteen wildly sexy days. Energized and refreshed, Alex returns home—only to discover her holiday hottie is also the renowned architect tapped for the B&B’s major renovation project. How is she supposed to manage a business—and an all-consuming desire?
 
Wesley Prescott knows how easy it is to put success above everything else. And he has a lot riding on the prestigious Richardson deal—and on working smoothly with the suddenly serious, buttoned-down Alex. But he can’t resist teasing out the daring, adventurous—and lovable—woman he knows she truly is. Will mixing business with way more than pleasure convince them both that this is one fling that won’t be so easily flung?




 Alexandria and Wes story is charming, filled with a little drama, and lots of fun. I enjoyed the characters and storyline. Wes was what Alexandria needed to loosen her up. Their chemistry was undeniable.  A sweet romance that was beautifully written and I enjoyed reading.

And as always Happy Reading!!!


Tuesday, July 5, 2022

Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser & Robyn Smith


From writer Jamila Rowser and artist Robyn Smith comes a captivating graphic novel love letter to the beauty and endurance of Black women, their friendships, and their hair.

Wash Day Diaries tells the story of four best friends—Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie—through five connected short story comics that follow these young women through the ups and downs of their daily lives in the Bronx.

The book takes its title from the wash day experience shared by Black women everywhere of setting aside all plans and responsibilities for a full day of washing, conditioning, and nourishing their hair. Each short story uses hair routines as a window into these four characters' everyday lives and how they care for each other.

Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith originally kickstarted their critically acclaimed, award-winning slice of life mini comic, Wash Day, inspired by Rowser's own wash day ritual and their shared desire to see more comics featuring the daily lived experiences of young Black women. Wash Day Diaries includes an updated, full color version of this original comic—which follows Kim, a 26-year-old woman living in the Bronx—as the book's first chapter and expands into a graphic novel with short stories about these vibrant and relatable new characters.

In expanding the story of Kim and her friends, the authors pay tribute to Black sisterhood through portraits of shared, yet deeply personal experiences of Black hair care. From self-care to spilling the tea at an hours-long salon appointment to healing family rifts, the stories are brought to life through beautifully drawn characters and different color palettes reflecting the mood in each story.

At times touching, quiet, triumphant, and laugh out loud funny, the stories of Wash Day Diaries pay a loving tribute to Black joy and the resilience of Black women.


 

        As a black reader and blogger, its not often you read something that resonates with who are. I saw myself  and my amazing friends in everyone of these characters. This graphic novel just hits on so many levels, from funny to touching to sad to happy. It gives a short glimpse into a black girl's life and friendship. Showing you our magic without violating the magician's code. I'm honestly excited to see where the author's does with this, will we get a more indepth view into the lives of each character or another book with a filled with more glimpses? Let s not forget the amazing artistry of each frame. So beautiful drawn and painted. I love it!

I hope you do too!

Thank you to the publisher/author and netgalley for the early read

And as always Happy Reading!!


Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Bingo Love by Tee Franklin



Bingo Love is a story of a same-sex romance that spans over 60 years. A chance meeting at church bingo in 1963 brings Hazel Johnson and Mari McCray together. Through their formative years, these two women develop feelings for each other and finally profess their love for one another.

Forced apart by their families and society, Hazel and Mari both married young men and had families. Decades later, now in their mid 60’s, Hazel and Mari are reunited again at a bingo hall. Realizing their love for each other is still alive, what these grandmothers do next takes absolute strength and courage.


I loved this. I thought this was such a cute read. Especially for one of the first graphic novels that I read. The story was realist without being overdone. I just love a good "not right now" romance. Something so heartfelt about people who fall in love young only to have other things and society tear them apart just to find each other decades later once those obligations are fulfilled and societal changes have occured. I was smiling once they found each other again. I love how they just fell back into it. The ending was just as beautiful.

Hope you enjoy it too!

As always Happy Reading!!


 

Thursday, June 9, 2022

Psycho Fae: Enemies to Lovers Romance (Cruel Shifterverse Book 2) Kindle Edition by Jasmine Mas


Are you ready to enter into a new realm?

Fight for survival in the deadly gladiator Fae Games.

I shifted into a saber-toothed tiger...but that was just the beginning.
Jax, Cobra, and Ascher are now my teammates.
Once again, we're fighting for our lives. And our futures.
But nothing is as it seems, and for every secret we uncover, another unfolds.

Under the spiteful watch of Xerxes and the evil Fae Queen, it's not clear we're going to survive.
Can we work together? Or will we implode?

One thing is for sure, I'm about to uncover my destiny.

Power is in my veins.


  Where to begin?! Wow! I love Cobra. Like really adore him, but also I love Jax. And Xerxes's brand of violence is yummy. Ha! I am still upset by Ascher even though his heart was in the right place. There are so many things about this book that just makes it so good. Jasmine Mas is definitely on my new favorite author list. The fact that this book has matched and somewhat surpassed the first with how good it is makes her someone you definitely need to read and watch out for. She just knows how to bring a story to life. 

I am so excited for book three. 

Can not wait!

As always Happy Reading!!:)

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Ethan, Who Loved Carter by Ryan Loveless


By twenty-four, Carter Stevenson has stuttered and ticced his way to debilitating shyness. Although his friends accuse him of letting his Tourette's dictate his life, Carter moves from Los Angeles to a quiet California town. He'll keep his head down and avoid people. He doesn't anticipate his new neighbor, Ethan Hart, crashing into his solitude and forcing him to get out and live
From the beginning, Ethan makes his love for Carter clear. But he fears Carter won't see past Ethan's damaged brain, even though it makes Ethan more attuned to his emotions than most people. For Carter, there's a bigger issue: he's been burned by so-called "perfect" matches, and he won't risk his heart again. 
One way or another, Ethan's determined to show Carter they belong together. Then Ethan receives tragic news. Suddenly he must turn to Carter for strength and support. Will Carter come through when Ethan needs him most?


Just got finished reading this little gem. Its a good read, different but interesting and heartfelt. Great characters and they are some really cute and funny moments. Ethan was a sweetheart and Carter was really good guy.


Hope you enjoy it too.
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As always Happy Reading!! :)

Monday, June 6, 2022

Please Remember Me by Jacob Z. Flores


 Successful lawyer Santi Herrera couldn’t be happier with the direction his life is taking. Not only is he on track to becoming a partner in his law firm, but he’s planning his wedding to Hank Burton, a south Texas contractor who has made a name for himself despite his humble beginnings. The introverted, lone wolf Santi and the friendly, outgoing Hank complement each other perfectly. From the moment they laid eyes on each other, they were hooked, and as far as Santi and Hank are concerned, a happily ever after is their destiny. 
But fate deals them a devastating new hand. 
  A construction accident leaves Hank with severe head trauma and brings him precariously close to death. When he finally awakens, Hank doesn’t remember Santi or the love they shared for the past three years. Santi faces the greatest challenge of his life. Can he respark a flame his lover can’t recall? And can he stop the diverging paths that fickle fate charts between them?

My favorite quote:
“You can’t ever take your love for granted. It’s like a flower that needs sun, water, and food to survive. Without them, it cannot bloom. And besides, it’s never too late to fall in love all over again, even for us old folks.”
   I had such amazing time ready this story. It was such a good read,  the story was real and touching I cried a bit during some parts and laugh in others. It was so amazingly good that I was just rooting for them since the very beginning. And even though the story was a bit predictable the flow of love and emotions throughout makes up for that and plus I do love a good HEA (Happily Ever After)


I can't say it enough such a good read.
Hope you enjoy it too.

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As always Happy Reading!! :)


Friday, June 3, 2022

Falling (Fall or Break #1) by Barbara Elsborg

Falling is easy. 
Landing without breaking your heart? 
Impossible. 
Harper is no longer behind bars, but it doesn’t feel like it. Ten years serving time for a crime he didn’t commit have left him shut down, numb, and a frozen wreck over the simplest of choices. 
He’s acutely aware of the dark-haired young man checking him out in the supermarket, but he’s too deep in panic mode to even meet the guy’s gaze. Afraid the slightest move will trigger a fall that will never stop. 
Fresh off a long-term relationship with a controlling man, Malachi is stuck living with relatives who think he’s a waste of oxygen. The tall guy in the long, gray coat is the first bright spot he’s glimpsed in a long time…though the man’s unblinking stare at a bottle of shower gel is a touch alarming. 
Hard experience tells both of them to turn away before lust turns to hopeless attraction, and inevitably to disaster. But once their sparks connect, the arc of electricity is too strong to deny. Even if the cost is too much to bear. 
Author's Warning: Contains an ex-con with disaster written all over him, a boy toy who’s trouble with a capital T, a damp old British house, compulsive meddling, and enough hot sex to cure the severe case of nervous babbling.
           “He couldn’t switch off ten years of anxiety just because he was free. Free. Yeah, right.” 
*****  
“His life had been wrecked by lies and he’d be falling forever because there was no one to catch him.” 
***** 
“Maybe that was how he should start over, get rid of everything and begin again, rip out his memories and begin again, rip out his heart and begin again.”

  Being a fan of Barbara Elsborg's work, this book grabbed my attention with the blurb. I knew I was in for a ride and this did not disappoint! I will say this made me think about a few serious things which doesn't happen very often when it comes to romance. You're always thinking about the good stuff but this book was realistic and hard hitting.  Its filled with darkness and intrigue. Harper was such a strong character who was broken by circumstances and lies. Didn't know where or how exactly to start to pick up the pieces. And Malachi was just perfect. Even with his circumstances not being great, you know him living with his sister's family, jobless, and having his emotional baggage, he was the exact type of character relief that was needed. Someone who even though they were going through tough times seems still to be optimistic. Plus he was funny and charming. Which I loved.

This book is a great read and I would suggest you put this on your "to be read" shelf.
Tell me what you thought of it.
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As always Happy Reading!!:)