Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

Welcome Back, Booklovers! The Primas of Power series has come to an end. I read You Had Me at Hola back when it first came out in 2020 which feels like forever ago but not long ago at the same time. Along Came Amor is the final book in the series and it's been a few years since the last release.

Ava Rodriguez, is a school teacher and a divorcee who comes from a big family that puts a lot of pressure on her. In her family's mind she's the responsible one and peacemaker. But this year she's decided to embrace the New Ava. New Ava is open to new experiences and a one night stand while away on a conference is a very new experience for her. When she meets Roman Vazquez, a CEO who recently acquired the hotel she's staying at, she decides to let loose for the first time since her divorce. And she does her best to keep a no strings attached situation going until she finds out Roman is friends with Ashton, her cousin's soon to be husband. With both of them in the same wedding party it's hard to keep what's between them under wraps especially since Ava isn't sure how to define it for herself.

As with the other books in this series there's plenty of interaction between the primas as they prepare for Jasmine's wedding. Ava's family is lot and she often finds herself feeling like the odd one out when it comes to her father and stepmother. Her recent divorce hit her extended family hard because her husband's family became intertwined with hers. So there's a lot of insecurity she's working through and readers see her learning to assert herself. 

Alexis Daria shines when it comes to very sensual scenes with a great blend of dirty talk and loving caresses. Roman has money and he likes to spend it on the people he cares about most so there's a few times he goes above and beyond for Ava including a fun trip to Puerto Rico. 

This time in the series there's not story within a story element like the last two books but you don't even realize it's missing because the book feels like its own story rather than a copy of the previous books. A little lengthy there were some repetitive chapters that could've been trimmed towards the end but this is a fitting conclusion to the series to wrap up the Prima's adventures.

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery by Clarence A. Haynes

I have been patiently waiting for traditional publishing to have an urban fantasy resurgence and while we're nowhere near that every once in awhile they throw us a bone with a new release. The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery promised paranormal thrills and it's shorter length was very appealing to me.  I received a copy from Legacy Lit in exchange for review, keep reading to see my thoughts. 

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is a fast-paced urban fantasy told in the povs of Gwendolyn, a publicist working for New York's top Black owned firm and Fonsi, a psychic who runs a shop in the South Bronx. Gwendolyn finds herself literally being haunted by the ghosts of her past as terrible things start happening at her events in a clear message for her. Fonsi is having some bad luck of his own with a ghost he just can't shake when he realizes that the barrier between the human world and the spiritual world is weakening. While Gwendolyn would prefer to stay away from ghostly business she finds herself having to confront the past that she left behind. 

A little campy with a very real feeling cast of characters this book balances supernatural thrills with the every day woes of being a millennial in New York City. While Fonsi is good at spiritual guidance his own life is a hot mess as he attempts to shake off an open relationship with an ex boyfriend. Gwendolyn's life is together, she's got a new man, and she's been able to bury her childhood trauma. She keeps things so under wraps she doesn't even like people in her personal life to get too close to her. The magic system is steeped in Afro Latinx spirituality with both characters tapping into their ancestral powers to fight the dark forces after them.

Clarence's writing is vivid and flows in a way that feels like you've just tuned into your favorite tv show. Readers are immersed in the cast of characters that flit around La Playa, Fonsi's shop. The book ends with an epilogue leaves some room for the story to continue in another book. The audiobook narrators do a great job bringing the characters to life, especially the narrative for Fonsi's chapters.

Hooked on You Ada Barume

Do you ever feel like reading a romance that let's you escape to a new place during a time when you can't travel? Hooked on You  by Ada Barume is her second romance book and like the first one, Love Overboard it's out just in time to be your next beach read. I received an arc from Avon UK in exchange for an honest review so keep reading to hear my thoughts.

Ore, is a journalist who is trying to secure a job as an investigative journalist at the New Yorker. But before she can get the job she must spend two weeks on a yacht off the coast of Australia with an eccentric billionaire. Usually people go on these types of holidays to be discreet so it's odd that Ore is there to do a profile. The crew is mostly tight lipped and focused on their work but Ore quickly realizes things aren't what they seem. The previous captain Annie was abruptly replaced and ndas make it so the crew is unable to explain what happened to her. Daniel, the replacement captain is a small town Southern man with big dreams for his career as soon as this gig is over.

This is a slow burn romance but it keeps readers engaged throughout. Ore and Daniel have an easy chemistry together, there's some push and pull because they are in the workplace and a lot is on the line for both of them. Ore also is used to flings more than relationships and feels out of place in a world of wealthy white elites. The mystery aspect was intriguing and it gives readers something to hold their attention while Ore and Daniel hesitate to make a move. There's just enough suspense that will have you wondering what the billionaire is really hiding. As the book's villain he's just the right amount of creepy with his inappropriate fixation on Ore and Daniel. While the book lightly touches on some serious topics it remains lighthearted. Though the publisher advertises this as grumpy x sunshine it doesn't really fit into those archetypes which is fine.

If you're looking for a light summer read with a little bit of intrigue then check out Hooked on You.

Ms. V's Hot Girl Summer

Welcome, Back Booklovers! It's almost summer and it's still carnival season so I couldn't resist a carnival set romance. Ms. V's Hot Girl Summer was calling my name. And of course Netgalley came through with the audiobook.

Trinidad Velasquez is mother to teenage twin boys and balancing the stable parent they need, picking up the slack where their father falls short. That means her love life has been on the backburner the past couple of years while she tries to be super mom. She's been trying to have a safe relationship with a man named Milton who looks good on paper but doesn't ignite passion within her. On the other hand her son's mentor Orlando who is quite a bit younger than her sparks something. But she'd dare not cross that line. However when her sons trick her into a Carnival getaway in a small Floridian town and there's no room at the hotel she winds up at Orlando's doorstep.

Orlando is in town for Carnival but he's also on the hunt for his ex girlfriend who he recently found out has been keeping a child secret from him. Having been tipped off by her family but unsure of her exact address he's on a mission to find his little girl.

It's rare to see Carnival portrayed in a romance novel even though though Carnival has been the backdrop for many a real life romance. Cunningham manages to capture the energy of the fetes from the music to the good vibes and rum flowing.

The twins are mostly around to meddle in mom's love life and they already have an established relationship with Orlando which makes it easier for him to fit into Trinidad's life. His daughter however we only meet towards the end and she and her mother are instantly accepting of Trinidad. A part of me wished that dynamic and how Orlando handled being a new dad would've been more of a part of the plot. It just felt like a bit of an afterthought to add some additional drama. Throughout the book we get glimpses of his relationship with his mother and brothers and how he's always had to be the responsible one shouldering the burden after losing his father. 

Ms. V is fun for a quick beach read or a lazy holiday afternoon. 

The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I decided to finish out The Green Sisters series and read The Love Lyric. Shout out to my library for coming through with the audiobook very quickly.

The Love Lyric follows eldest sister Violet who is a single mother after her husband was killed unexpectedly in an accident. It's just been Violet and her daughter Cala for the last few years and she's finally starting to open herself up to the idea of finding love again. Violette had previously met Angel at a wedding prior to her sister working with him full time as a stylist and he tried to ask her out but she shut him down. Now it's a few years later, his R&B career has taken off and he's still trying to shoot his shot. He recently became the face of Save Face Beauty, a cosmetics company Violet works for. When Violet and Angel have to work together on a multi-city tour sparks fly. 

This book had the most depth of the books in the series. There was a lot of discussion surrounding grief and the way in which it affects someone even years later. The process of building a new relationship and being open to love again. Violet being the eldest sister and a single mother often takes on the role of being the strongest in the family and holds everyone down. Lately she's been concerned about her parents getting up there in age while their flower business is gaining more popularity. Angel, is a sweet southern charmer who comes from a very religious family. Through the novel he has a rough relationship with his mother who berates him for doing secular music. At the same time he wants to move away from the mainstream sound of his music. 

Readers looking for a safe, soft romance will really enjoy this one. It's relatively low angst and packed with popular tropes. I would've loved to see more of the larger than life aspects play out. Like really see Violet having to deal with being thrust into the spotlight dating a popular R&B singer, having to deal with tours and adoring fans, attending premieres. Because while it was something that came up towards the end we only got a small glimpse into that.

The Partner Plot by Kristina Forest

Welcome Back, Booklovers! The Partner Plot is the second book in the Greene sisters series by Kristina Forest and one that I was seeing splashed across my social media a lot in February so once my library hold came through for the audiobook I decided it was finally time to read. 

Violet Green is a celebrity stylist whose career is fast rising thanks to her largest client Caramel Kitty. However her personal life is a mess having dumped her fiancé months ago and he ran off with one of her clients. While in Vegas celebrating with Caramel Kitty, she runs into her high school sweetheart Xavier Wright, who is there with a friend. After club hopping, and several drinks later Violent and Xavier wake up in bed together. They quickly realize they didn't actually marry and instead signed up for the fake package and part ways. When Violet lands a big interview with a magazine, the interviewer starts asking questions about her love life and in an effort to redirect attention back to herself she what starts out as a small lie becomes more complicated. She and Xavier find themselves in each other's lives again and the old feelings that never died come to the surface.

The book starts off with a very YAish prologue recapping how they met, started dating, and broke up during high school before parting ways. I don't think hinging a second chance romance on a finnicky high school relationship worked in the book's favor. With both having been in relationships with other people there's little reason for them to still be holding onto each other as the one that got away. And adult Violet and Xavier have very little in common in both their personal and professional lives.

There was a lot of opportunity here with Violet having a career most people can only dream of to have a fish out of water story with Xavier having to adjust especially since he felt inadequate since she had her life more together than he did. But they end of spending the majority of their time together in the small town Violet ran away from.

It was also pretty long in length for a contemporary romance, particularly one that doesn't do anything new or exciting with the tropes it uses. There was a point where it felt like the book could've ended but instead kept going with minimal drama. The audiobook narrators were good and kept me reading managing to add some life into the story. There were attempts to add more depth to the characters by including Violet's drama with her mother and Xavier's career woes but more could've been done to beef those plots up.

Black Book Recs Inspired by Sinners

Like many people I saw Sinners this past week during opening weekend. I'm not one to go to the movie theaters but with everyone talking about it I wanted to be informed and be apart of the conversation. I was seeing a lot of book recs that had me scratching my head prior to watching the movie. And when I left the theater I was even more perplexed. Yes, there were vampires in the movie but I wouldn't say Black vampires were the main focus. This movie felt like a love letter to the Black community of the American South. It really drove home the message of preserving history and the importance of humanizing the people who have come before us. Despite how painful it could be at times Black people during the Jim Crow era were able to find pockets of joy amid pain. I've spoken a few times over the past couple of years how reading Black Historical Fiction really helped me see these people as more than just people from the past. Even prior to Sinners release I was seeing a lot of discussion on my timeline bout Black Southern storytelling. Sinners made me think a lot about Black Southern stories that weave the past with the present.  So keep reading for just a few books you should check out if you haven't already. 

Black Candle Women

Generations of Montrose women—Augusta, Victoria, Willow—have always lived together in their quaint California bungalow. They keep to themselves, never venture far from home, and their collection of tinctures and spells is an unspoken bond between them. But when young Nickie Montrose brings home a boy for the first time, their quiet lives are thrown into disarray.

For the family has withheld a crucial secret from Nickie all these years: any person a Montrose woman falls in love with will die. Their surprise guest forces each woman to reckon with her own past choices and mistakes. And as new truths about the curse emerge, they're set on a collision course dating back to 1950s New Orleans’s French Quarter—where a hidden story in a mysterious book may just hold the answers they seek in life and in love…

Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft and the Modern Movement for Black Land Ownership

To understand the contemporary racial wealth gap, we must first unpack the historic attacks on Indigenous and Black land ownership. From the moment that colonizers set foot on Virginian soil, a centuries-long war was waged, resulting in an existential dilemma: Who owns what on stolen land? Who owns what with stolen labor? To answer these questions, we must confront one of this nation’s first sins: stealing, hoarding, and commodifying the land.

Research suggests that between 1910 and 1997, Black Americans lost about 90% of their farmland. Land theft widened the racial wealth gap, privatized natural resources, and created a permanent barrier to access that should be a birthright for Black and Indigenous communities. Rooted traces the experiences of Brea Baker’s family history of devastating land loss in Kentucky and North Carolina, identifying such violence as the root of persistent inequality in this country. Ultimately, her grandparents’ commitment to Black land ownership resulted in the Bakers Acres—a haven for the family where they are sustained by the land, surrounded by love, and wholly free.

A testament to the Black farmers who dreamed of feeding, housing, and tending to their communities, Rooted bears witness to their commitment to freedom and reciprocal care for the land. By returning equity to a dispossessed people, we can heal both the land and our nation’s soul.

The Thing About Home

Home is not a place—it’s a feeling. Casey Black needs an escape. When her picture-perfect vow renewal ceremony ends in her being left at the altar, the former model turned social media influencer has new fame—the kind she never wanted. An embarrassing viral video has cost her millions of followers, and her seven-year marriage is over. With her personal and business lives in shambles, Casey runs from New York City to South Carolina’s Lowcountry hoping to find long-lost family. Family who can give her more answers about her past than her controlling mom-slash-manager has ever been willing to share. What Casey doesn’t expect is a postcard-worthy property on a three-hundred-acre farm, history, culture, and a love of sweet tea. She spends her days caring for the land and her nights cooking much needed Southern comfort foods. She also meets Nigel, the handsome farm manager whose friendship has become everything she’s never had. And then there are the secrets her mother can no longer hide. Through the pages of her great-grandmother’s journals, Casey discovers her roots run deeper than the Lowcountry soil. She learns that she has people. A home. A legacy to uphold. And a great new love story—if only she is brave enough to leave her old life behind. 

Revival Season

Every summer, fifteen-year-old Miriam Horton and her family pack themselves tight in their old minivan and travel through small southern towns for revival season: the time when Miriam’s father—one of the South’s most famous preachers—holds massive healing services for people desperate to be cured of ailments and disease. This summer, the revival season doesn’t go as planned, and after one service in which Reverend Horton’s healing powers are tested like never before, Miriam witnesses a shocking act of violence that shakes her belief in her father—and in her faith.

When the Hortons return home, Miriam’s confusion only grows as she discovers she might have the power to heal—even though her father and the church have always made it clear that such power is denied to women. Over the course of the next year, Miriam must decide between her faith, her family, and her newfound power that might be able to save others, but, if discovered by her father, could destroy Miriam.

When the Reckoning Comes

More than a decade ago, Mira fled her small, segregated hometown in the south to forget. With every mile she traveled, she distanced herself from her past: from her best friend Celine, mocked by their town as the only white girl with black friends; from her old neighborhood; from the eerie Woodsman plantation rumored to be haunted by the spirits of slaves; from the terrifying memory of a ghost she saw that terrible day when a dare-gone-wrong almost got Jesse—the boy she secretly loved—arrested for murder.

But now Mira is back in Kipsen to attend Celine’s wedding at the plantation, which has been transformed into a lush vacation resort. Mira hopes to reconnect with her friends, and especially, Jesse, to finally tell him the truth about her feelings and the events of that devastating long-ago day.

But for all its fancy renovations, the Woodsman remains a monument to its oppressive racist history. The bar serves antebellum drinks, entertainment includes horrifying reenactments, and the service staff is nearly all black. Yet the darkest elements of the plantation’s past have been carefully erased—rumors that slaves were tortured mercilessly and that ghosts roam the lands, seeking vengeance on the descendants of those who tormented them, which includes most of the wedding guests. 

As the weekend unfolds, Mira, Jesse, and Celine are forced to acknowledge their history together, and to save themselves from what is to come.

The Ballad of Perilous Graves

Nola is a city full of wonders. A place of sky trolleys and dead cabs, where haints dance the night away and Wise Women help keep the order. To those from Away, Nola might seem strange. To Perilous Graves, it’s simply home.

Perry knows Nola’s rhythm as intimately as his own heartbeat. So when the city’s Great Magician starts appearing in odd places and essential songs are forgotten, Perry knows trouble is afoot.

Nine songs of power have escaped from the piano that maintains the city’s beat, and without them, Nola will fail. Unwilling to watch his home be destroyed, Perry will sacrifice everything to save it. But a storm is brewing, and the Haint of All Haints is awake. Nola’s time might be coming to an end.

Devils Kill Devils by Johnny Compton

Welcome Back, Booklovers! It's been a minute but I'm glad to be back and I'm switching gears with a horror novel. Devils Kill Devils was gifted to me by Macmillan Audio. I had read The Spite House by Johnny Compton and was curious to see how he followed it up. While I'm not a huge horror reader I do like to indulge every now and again. 

Sarita has had a guardian angel named Angelo watching over her since she was a child and he rescued her from almost death. He has since saved her life on multiple occasions. The book opens with Sarita's husband Frank being killed by Angelo on their wedding night. Sarita is confused by why her guardian angel would feel threatened by someone so close to her. moves from solely Sarita's perspective to also focus on her mother in law Harrah, and Cela, also know as the godmaker. 

While The Spite House kept me engaged from start to end even as it built upon the story and branched out into new perspectives, Devils got murkier and harder to follow. After a strong start the book lost momentum in the middle. There was definitely some interesting vampire lore mixed in as well as commentary on religion but the book start to meander and make the reader wonder if certain points are even important to the overall plot. It should've been more streamlined and kept the focus on Sarita. This book feels less like a horror and more like a dark fantasy and a lot could've been done with the demon and vampire lore. But the pacing was off here where it felt like a lot was happening but nothing was really happening. Harrah's chapters in particular felt more tell than show than tell.

Imani Jade Powers does a good job narrating but not much can be done to elevate the book during the slower, messier parts.

Black Horror and SFF

Welcome Back, Booklovers! So I heard people wanted more Black genre fiction and I'm definitely one of those people. But I wanted to share some that are already out and available for purchase because we need to support these authors so they can continue to get published. So i wanted to list some Black Horror and SFF that I feel is more underrated. Some of these I read, some are on my tbr, and some I'm in the process of reading. 

Curdle Creek by Yvonne Battle-Felton

Welcome to Curdle Creek, a place just dying to make you feel at home.

Osira, a forty-five-year-old widow, is an obedient follower of the strict conventions of the remote all-Black town that’s stuck in the past and governed by ominous rituals including a one in, one out population policy. Osira has always been considered blessed, but her luck changes when her grown children run off to parts unknown, escaping Curdle Creek’s harsh traditions, she comes in second to last in the Running of the Widows, and her father flees after his name is called in the annual Moving On ceremony.

Forced to jump into a well in a test of allegiance, Osira finds herself transported first back in time, and then into another realm where she must answer for crimes committed by Curdle Creek. Exile forces her to jump realms again, landing Osira even farther away from home, in rural England. Safe there as long as she sticks to the rules, she quickly learns there are consequences for every kindness. Each jump could lead Osira anywhere but will she ever find a place to call home?

The Fallen Fruit by Shawntelle Madison 

On a rainy day in May 1964, history professor Cecily Bridge-Davis begins to search for the sixty-five acres of land she inherited from her father’s family. The quest leads her to uncover a dark secret: In every generation, one offspring from each Bridge family unit vanishes—and is mysteriously whisked back in time. Rules have been established that must be followed to prevent dire consequences: Never interfere with past events. Always carry your free Negro papers. Search for the survival family packs in the orchard and surrounding forest. The ribbon on the pack designates the decade the pack was made to orient you in time. Do not speak to strangers unless absolutely necessary. With only a family Bible and a map marked with the locations of mysterious containers to aid her, Cecily heads to the library, hoping to discover the truth of how this curse began, and how it might be ended. As she moves through time, she encounters a circle of ancestors, including Sabrina Humbles, a free Black woman who must find the courage to seize an opportunity—or lose her heart; Luke Bridge, who traverses battlefields, slavery, and time itself to reunite with his family; Rebecca Bridge, a mother tested by an ominous threat; and Amelia Bridge, a young woman burdened with survivor's guilt who will face the challenge of a lifetime—and change Cecily's life forever. It is a race through time and against the clock to find the answers that will free her family forever.

Where the Dead Brides Gather by Nuzo Onoh 

Bata, a young girl tormented by nightmares, wakes up one night to find herself standing sentinel before her cousin’s door. Her cousin is to get married the next morning, but only if she can escape the murderous attack of a ghost-bride, who used to be engaged to her groom.

A supernatural possession helps Bata battle and vanquish the vengeful ghost bride, and following a botched exorcism, she is transported to Ibaja-La, the realm of dead brides. There, she receives secret powers to fight malevolent ghost-brides before being sent back to the human realm, where she must learn to harness her new abilities as she strives to protect those whom she loves.

Devils Kill Devils by Johnny Compton 

Sarita has been watched over by a guardian angel her entire life. She calls him Angelo, and keeps him a secret. But secrets can’t stay buried forever… When Angelo murders someone she loves, Sarita begins to see what's really been lurking in the shadows surrounding her. And she will have to embrace the evil within if she hopes to make it out alive.

Flowers for the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn

We are a people who do not forget.

Survivors from a flooded kingdom struggle alone on an ark. Resources are scant, and ravenous beasts circle. Their fangs are sharp.

Among the refugees is Iraxi: ostracized, despised, and a commoner who refused a prince, she’s pregnant with a child that might be more than human. Her fate may be darker and more powerful than she can imagine.

The Improvisers by Nicole Glover

Velma Frye is many things. A pilot, a former bootlegger, a well-seasoned traveler, a jazz pianist…and a wielder of celestial magic. She’s also a member of the mystical Rhodes family as well as an investigator for arcane oddities for a magic rights organization, dealing with both simple and complicated cases. And when a pocket watch instigates a magical brawl after one of her flight shows, things become very complicated. In 1930s America, enchanted items are highly valuable, especially in the waning days of the magical Prohibition. As Velma digs deeper, she discovers the watch is part of a collection of dangerous artifacts manipulating people across the country—and in some cases, leading to their deaths. Something about all this is tickling Velma’s memories, and the more she discovers, the more these seemingly isolated incidents feel as if they’re building to something apocalyptic. Connecting the dots isn’t easy, though, and further complicating her work is journalist Dillon Harris. He hounds her steps, and while not actively sabotaging her investigation, he also clearly knows more than he lets on. Whether it’s his presence that she finds so vexing or his easygoing charm, that’s a mystery she isn’t interested in solving. Because someone is out there seeding cursed objects with the intent on wreaking havoc, and Velma will have to use every trick in her tool kit, including some well-placed magical improvisation, to win the day.

Daughter of the Merciful Deep by Leslye Penelope

Jane Edwards hasn't spoken since she was eleven years old, when armed riders expelled her family from their hometown along with every other Black resident. Now, twelve years later, she's found a haven in the all-Black town of Awenasa. But the construction of a dam promises to wash her home under the waters of the new lake.

Jane will do anything to save the community that sheltered her. So, when a man with uncanny abilities arrives in town asking strange questions, she wonders if he might be the key. But as the stranger hints at gods and ancestral magic, Jane is captivated by a bigger mystery. She knows this man. Only the last time she saw him, he was dead. His body laid to rest in a rushing river.

Who is the stranger and what is he really doing in Awenasa? To find those answers, Jane will journey into a sunken world, a land of capricious gods and unsung myths, of salvation and dreams made real. But the flood waters are rising. To gain the miracle she desires, Jane will have to find her voice again and finally face the trauma of the past.

This World Is Not Yours by Kemi Ashing-Giwa

After fleeing her controlling and murderous family with her fiancée Vinh, Amara embarks on a colonization project, New Belaforme, along with her childhood friend, Jesse.

The planet, beautiful and lethal, produces the Gray, a “self-cleaning” mechanism that New Belaforme’s scientists are certain only attacks invasive organisms, consuming them. Humans have been careful to do nothing to call attention to themselves until a rival colony wakes the Gray.

As Amara, Vinh, and Jesse work to carve out a new life together, each is haunted by past betrayals that surface, expounded by the need to survive the rival colony and the planet itself.

There’s more than one way to be eaten alive.

Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown

As acting captain of the starship Calypso, Jacklyn Albright is responsible for keeping the last of humanity alive as they limp back to Earth from their forebears’ failed colony on a distant planet.

Faced with constant threats of starvation and destruction in the treacherous minefield of interstellar space, Jacklyn's crew has reached their breaking point. As unrest begins to spread throughout the ship’s Wards, a new threat emerges, picking off crew members in grim, bloody fashion.

Jacklyn and her team must hunt down the ship’s unknown intruder if they have any hope of making it back to their solar system alive.

Love, Lies, and Cherry Pies by Jackie Lau

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Crawling out of a reading slump slowly and I decided to read a romance from my backlist. I own many Jackie Lau books all gifted by publishers or free e-book offerings  and I'm ashamed to say I haven't read most of them. This was the only one I had the audiobook for so it became my in the car read. And once I was a significant amount into it I decided to finish it outside of the car. I received a finished copy of Love, Lies, and Cherry Pies from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.

 

Emily Hung is an author who also works as a barista and is still barely making ends meet. She's in her early 30s and unsatisfied about her marital status, inability to afford a decent apartment on her own downtown, and her position as an author of color in the very racist publishing industry. In an effort to stop the pressure from family in regards to her love life she decided to fake date Mark Chen, a seemly perfect prospect hand selected by her mother.

The title truly makes no sense in the context of this book. I can probably count on one hand the number of times cherry pie was mentioned. It wasn't a significant food/dessert to the couple nor did it hold special meaning in the story. So I'm perplexed that it made it's way into the title. We get a couple mentions of a cherry pie milkshake but truly it was nothing special to the story. Nobody in this is a baker either. They never bonded over cherry pie!

Though I'm someone who is invested in publishing even I experienced fatigue when it came to the constantly info dumps about the publishing industry. Maybe some of the information might be fascinating to readers who have no idea about the inner workings of the publishing industry. If you've spent years on bookish social media around authors of color none of what was discussed here is new to you. At times it felt like Emily was an avatar for the author and her frustrations with publishing. The constant unprompted inner monologues about everything wrong with the publishing industry and how being an author who is traditionally published worked, detracted from the romance itself. The author also failed to highlight the positives when it came to Emily as a creative. I can't even remember what her books are normally about let alone what the current book she was writing is about. Every chapter she was trying to write but couldn't because she was in a writing slump.

Another weird choice was the switching from most of the book being Emily's pov to randomly including Mark's pov in the second half of the story. It didn't add any new insight and only seemed to lengthen a story that was droning on at a slow pace all book. Mark had a cute cat but was otherwise a very forgettable love interest that had little chemistry with Emily.

The themes of being in your thirties and not achieving everything you thought you would hits very close to home for so many people. There's so many aspects that are very relatable in this story that were bogged down by pacing and repetition.

Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours

Welcome Back, Booklovers! It had been awhile since I read a YA contemporary but Needy Little Things was gifted to me by Wednesday Books and I needed a book that was the opposite of my usual reads after falling into a slump.

Sariyah Lee Bryant is a teenage with clairvoyant type powers. While she doesn't get visions she can hear people's needs without them voicing them. In fact she hears them so loudly she walks around with varying items to gift people to silence the voices in her head. The loud voices make it hard to concentrate and as a result she's doing badly in school. The problem is this gift doesn't work on those she's closest with. While attending a music festival with her friends one of their friends disappears. For Sariyah and her friend Malcolm this hits too close to home as Malcolm's sister was kidnapped a few years before. Now Sariyah must try and use her gift to piece together her friend's disappearance. 

This book address a number of issues from dealing with a family member with chronic illness,  depression, family separation, money troubles, and ADHD. And that was in addition to the discussion surrounding the way missing Black girls are treated. While all very necessary topics to discussion at times it felt a little piled on to one character and left little page time for her to exist outside of those issues.

The book started to loose steam towards the end as we got closer to solving the mystery. I wasn't sure what the take away message was supposed to be from this book because I felt like some events at the end undermined the overall message. It felt as if the speculative element was just added to the story to make it stand out amongst a sea of thrillers. Her gift of clairvoyance is heavily discussed and coveted by some characters. But outside of being told it was passed down through from generations we don't get much on the origin and background. Her powers were more of a nuisance to her and the story could've still been told and played out almost the exact same way without them.

One of Chanelle Desamour's strengths is her dialogue. These characters sound like real people, like real teens. Her straightforward storytelling methods made this a very smooth and easy read. But in many ways it plays it safe and doesn't fully flesh out some things.

The Perfect Ruin by Shanora Williams

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I had been meaning to read The Perfect Ruin for a couple of years now. It first caught my eye back in 2021, when I was wanting to read more Black thrillers. After reading another recent Shanora Williams book I decided it was time to check this one out at the library. 

In The Perfect Ruin, we're introduced to Ivy, a young woman who has had a rough life. We don't know the detail right away but we know her therapist has given her the name of the person responsible for her trouble. Lola Maxwell is the name of the woman and Ivy wanting her revenge does her research on Lola looking for an opening into her world. Ivy changes her appearances and infiltrates Lola's inner circle becoming close friends with her and taking out anyone who stands in her path. 

Shanora William's has compulsively readable writing. Thought the pacing was off early on in this book I was still yearning to find out what direction the story would go in. The reveal of what Lola did to Ivy that has her so vengeful was dangled over the audience's head for far too long. By the time it's revealed it has you expecting something a bit grander. But still I had to keep reading to the end as other twists were revealed. This is a thriller that is over the top and most comparable to a Lifetime thriller. That trainwreck that doesn't make the most logical sense but still sucks you in. I could tell the author was a longtime writer of romance in the way she wrote some of the racier scenes in this book even though there wasn't anything romantic here. This was Williams first foray into thrillers and I'm interested in reading some of her subsequent thrillers to see how her writing has changed.

Interview with Author/Illustrator Bea Jackson

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Last month I read Lily's Dream, which is the first in a new series (Fairies Welcome) from author/illustrator Bea Jackson. Now I'm coming at you with an interview where she discusses stepping into the author role, favorite projects, and her inspiration. 

What inspired you to get into illustration as a career? And did you have any formal training?

I was inspired by storytelling. I love movies and fantasy, and I always wanted to tell my own stories. I started by drawing different characters and creating stories about them. I haven’t had any formal training in illustration. 

Are there any artists that influence your early artwork?

I absolutely love Norman Rockwell’s work, and the way he’s able to capture a moment in time through his paintings. His work is still a big influence on me today.

What draws you to working on certain projects?

I love projects that challenge my imagination, or that teach me about something I didn’t know before, like a part of history or the life of a historical figure. I love stories about building connections and friendships.

How do you balance working on multiple projects?

It can be a challenge balancing multiple projects. But one thing I really appreciate about switching from one project to another is that it allows me the ability to approach it with a fresh set of eyes. 

How did you come up with the Fairies Welcome series? Was it always meant to be a series?

Lily’s Dream came from the idea that I wasn’t seeing Black fantasy stories. I’m starting to see Black fantasy more now, but when I first started thinking about a fairy story, there wasn’t a lot of representation of Black characters in fantasy. If there was a Black character, their magic was bad, or they were painted in a negative light. They were a villain, or they transformed into something else. You couldn’t see them as they were. I wanted to explore fantasy through Black characters whose world you were able to step into as people. I didn’t want it to be hyper-focused on their skin color, but that is where the idea came from: a desire to see Black fantasy.

Originally Fairies Welcome was just a story about two people connecting — a fairy and a human. But there’s only so much space in a 32-page picture book to allow the characters to meet and develop. The additional books allowed me to expand on their story and give the characters room to grow as people and show their friendship evolve over time. They have challenges, and learn from each other and grow together.

 In your author’s note you talk about the ways in which nature inspires you. Were there any specific locations that inspired any of the illustrations in Lily’s Dream? 

I live near a place called Cranbrook House and Gardens. It was once the home to a very affluent family, and is now a historical site. It’s a beautiful estate that has around 20 gardens. Some are Victorian, some are Japanese, they’re all different, and they have flowers from all over the country. It’s a beautiful place to spend time soaking up nature. I take a lot of inspiration from Cranbrook House and Gardens. I’ll visit and take photos of some of the plants and flowers that I want to incorporate into my illustrations. 

What is one big thing you learned stepping into the author role?

Before writing the Fairies Welcome series, a lot of my personal writing was geared toward an older audience. Writing this series, I had to learn how to communicate to younger people, how to speak their language and simplify things in a way that’s easier for children to understand. I also had to learn to find the right balance between text and artwork, so my illustrations could tell a visual story that complements the text.

Outside of your picture books do you have a favorite project? 

The first time I was paid to draw whatever I wanted was my Christmas collection for Target. Most of what I’d done prior to that project was to illustrate other people’s stories. With the Target collection, I was able to tell my own stories and compensated and supported for it. It was a very freeing experience. 

Do you have any hobbies outside of illustrating and writing that you enjoy? 

I have a lot of hobbies, but I especially love cooking and going on long walks. 

What other books do you have releasing next?

The next books I have coming out are the Fairies Welcome Ready-to-Read books and chapter books. Beyond that, I’m currently illustrating a book with Simon & Schuster titled Emeka, Eat Egusi, which I’m very excited about. 

You can connect with Bea Jackson via her website https://www.beagifted.com  and Instagram:bea.gifted

Frenemies with Benefits by Synithia Williams

Welcome Back, Booklovers! We return to Peachtree Cove for a third time in Frenemies with Benefits this time following Tracey and Brian who we've seen glimpses of in the other books. I received a copy for review from Harlequin Audio so keep reading for my thoughts.

Tracey's family has always been a subject of her small town's gossip thanks to her mom and dad's back and forth relationship antics. But this past year the focus has been on her divorce from her husband after he cheated and got one of her employees pregnant.  Now Tracey is putting more focus on the bed and breakfast she runs and making some much needed changes in her personal life. After changing her hair and clothes, she's ready to tackle her love life. Her pleasure wasn't the priority in her marriage but she's ready to finally get hers.

Brian has been divorced for awhile but that doesn't stop his ex wife from lurking and hoping to rekindle things. But Brian is trying to move on and he has his sights set on Tracey. Despite his mother's warnings he can't help but get involved and proposes a friends with benefits situationship to Tracey. 

This book does a great job exploring Tracey's sexuality as a newly divorced woman, having the sometimes uncomfortable conversations about not being secure in her own skin and not knowing what she likes and dislikes in the bedroom. Brian is a healthy communicator and shows Tracey what a open and honest relationship should look like. 

While it can be read as a standalone I liked that there were elements from the other books present here. The time capsule that the women buried when they were younger was brought back up again in this book and we got to see them open it. The series does a great job showcasing the closeness of these friends and how they support each other through their relationship ups and downs.

Children's Books for Black History Month

Welcome Back, Booklovers! February is Black History Month in the US and I wanted to share some books for the kids. We have some historical books, some nonfiction, some leveled readers, chapter books and more. 

The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist

Kai's aunt is getting married, and everyone in the Donovan family is excited about the wedding ... except Kai. The highlight of every Donovan occasion is dancing the electric slide--a groovy line dance with footwork that Kai can't quite figure out. More than anything, he wants to prove that he can boogie with the rest of his family and earn a cool nickname from his granddad. Can Kai break through his nerves and break it down on the dance floor?

Jayden's Secret Ingredient by Mélina Mangal

Jayden discovers the secret ingredient to trying something new. 

Jayden loves the outdoors and the garden he created with his friend Mr. Curtis. But he’s not so sure about sampling some of the garden’s produce. When Mr. Curtis invites neighbors to share the harvest of scarlet runner beans, Jayden faces a dilemma. Will he find the courage to try something new?

Lily's Dream: A Fairy Friendship by Bea Jackson

Lily is a young fairy determined to learn to fly just like the others who soar on shimmering, jeweled-colored wings, but she’s worried her own colorless wings will never lift her off the ground. Then she meets a young girl named Willow who helps her not only discover her special magic, but the truly magical gift of friendship.

Nesting Dolls by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Anyiaka is in awe of her gorgeous Gullah Geechee family—she wants to be beautiful like her older sister, Sorie, a great listener like her mom, and a talented artist like her grandma. But on today's visit to her grandparents’ house, Anyiaka sticks out from the rest of the family like a sore thumb. She can't seem to do anything right, and a trip to Grandma's art studio confirms just how different she is from the rest of the family.

But Grandma’s artwork—a special set of nesting dolls—also shows that what’s on the outside doesn’t always tell the whole story. While they may be distinct, together, her family’s beauty and inner strength have deep roots that have been growing within each of them for generations.

The Mermaid Princesses: A Sister Tale

Anaya, Shante, and Kianna are sisters.

And these mermaid princesses couldn’t be more different!

One day, when a problem too big for any of them to solve alone comes their way, they find out which one of them has what it takes to become legend of the sea.

The Coolest Beard by Betty Tekle

Isaac wants to grow a beard, just like his dad, who always seems to be the coolest guy in the barbershop. Isaac uses Dad’s beard oil every day for weeks, but nothing happens. Next time it’s barbershop day, Isaac doesn’t even want to go back―but maybe there is still a way for him to grow the coolest beard.

Seasonal Adventures by Johnny Ray Moore

 Experience the sights, sounds, and activities of each season through the author’s poetic words.

The Gray Day by Valerie Bolling 

Zoya loves to make art with her puppy, Coco. It is a perfect day to paint outside -- until it begins to rain! Zoya and Coco rush back inside with their art supplies. But together -- and with a splash of glitter -- they find creative ways to brighten the gray day.

Soccer Dreams by Shawn Pryor

Wanting to be a striker like her grandpa was, Keisha jumps into soccer practice with both feet and, unfortunately, both hands. She's afraid her habit of catching the ball will end her sports dream, but Coach has a new game plan.

Bo the Street Artist by Elliott Smith

Bo and his grandfather are disappointed when they wake up to find that the Buzz has been tagged. How will they clean up the mess?

Show and Tail by Reese Eschmann

All the "awwws" of animal adoption stories are combined with sugary sweetness in this new, fun-filled chapter book series about a cat cafe!

Kira Parker lives above The Purrfect Cup, the cat cafe that her family owns and runs. And soon, the cafe will get new kittens! Bubbles’ belly has been growing bigger and bigger, and on Kira’s first day of school, Bubbles’ finally becomes a mama cat. But she has six kittens, which is...too many!

But not to worry, because Kira has a GREAT IDEA. She’s going to find each kitten a perfect family by matching them with her classmates! But matchmaking isn’t quite as easy as it sounds, and her classmates aren’t convinced. Will Kira be able to find each kitten the purrfect home?

Millie Magnus Won't Be Bullied by Brittany Mazique

Millie Magnus has huge love for many things—her mom, her friends, her baby chicken, Extra Spicy, and even her hot pink rain boots. She loves school, too, and can’t wait for Field Day, when her mom—the mayor of Washington, D.C.—will be her partner in the three-legged race.

Millie Magnus DOESN'T love it when Buckley, a boy from school, makes fun of her curly hair, or her name, or her friends. And she can’t believe it when Buckley is assigned to compete against Millie and her mother at Field Day! But then things get even worse. When Millie’s plan to talk to Buckley about his bullying is ruined, SHE ends up in the principal’s office.

But Millie’s can-do spirit is hard to keep down and her big feelings come in handy when she learns something new about Buckley. She may even find a way to call him a friend.

The Amazing Life of Azaleah Lane by Nikki Shannon Smith

Azaleah can't wait for her class field trip to the National Zoo in Washington D.C., especially when her teacher announces the chance to earn extra credit. But when Azaleah gets home, she quickly realizes extra credit isn't as easy as she thought. Azaleah's younger sister Tiana can't find Greenie, her stuffed animal, and she's sure he's been stolen. With Mama at the restaurant and Daddy at work on a big case, it seems Azaleah is the only one available to track down the stolen stuffie. Can Azaleah get to the bottom of the mystery in time to finish her extra credit?

Great Minds of Science by Tonya Bolden

This fun and accessible graphic novel for middle grade readers brings to light the lives of great but lesser-known Black scientists. Great Minds of Science is a kid-friendly introduction to some of the greatest scientists in history—doctors, engineers, mathematicians, and biologists.

Each of them faced challenges as they rose to the top of their professions, but they didn’t back down. They kept experimenting and questioning and learning, and they made significant contributions in each of their scientific fields.

Mama's Chicken and Dumplings by Dionna L. Mann

Allie’s life with Mama isn’t bad, but she knows it could be better if Mama would find someone to marry. Allie’s worst enemy, her NOT-friend Gwen, has a daddy, and Allie wants someone like that—someone to fix things when they break, someone who likes to sing, and has a kind-smile. 

So Allie makes a plan—her super secret Man-For-Mama plan. She has a list of candidates with a clear top choice: Mr. Johnson, who owns the antique store. Best of all, Mr. Johnson went to school with Mama, and he wants to get reacquainted! The battle’s half won, and Allie is sure that when he tries Mama’s yummy chicken and dumplings, he’ll be head over heels.  

But someone else is interested in Mama: Mr. Coles, Allie’s teacher, who’s also Gwen’s uncle! Mama can’t marry him—no way is Allie going to be related to Gwen. On top of it all, Allie’s best friend is moving to Chicago; Allie keeps getting in trouble; and everyone seems to think she’s jealous of Gwen, for some reason. Nothing is going how she planned, but Allie is determined to get things back on track toward the life she knows she and Mama both deserve. . . even if Mama doesn’t agree yet.

It All Comes Down to This by Karen English

It’s 1965, Los Angeles. Sophie is the new black kid in a nearly all-white neighborhood; her beloved sister, Lily, is going away to college soon; and her parents’ marriage is rocky. Plus, there’s her family’s new, disapproving housekeeper to deal with. Then riots erupt in nearby Watts and a friend is unfairly arrested, and Sophie learns that life—and her own place in it—is even more complicated than she’d once thought.

Kin: Rooted in Hope by Carole Boston Weatherford

Carole and Jeffery Boston Weatherford’s ancestors are among the founders of Maryland. Their family history there extends more than three hundred years, but as with the genealogical searches of many African Americans with roots in slavery, their family tree can only be traced back five generations before going dark. And so from scraps of history, Carole and Jeffery have conjured the voices of their kin, creating an often painful but ultimately empowering story of who their people were in a breathtaking book that is at once deeply personal yet all too universal.

Malcolm Kid and the Perfect Song

What does the perfect song sound like?

Normally, Malcolm Kid wouldn’t give this type of question the time of day. As a straight B-student with a heart of copper, he is far more concerned with overcoming mediocrity than he is with achieving perfection. But that all changes when he stumbles across the LK-2000—a strange keyboard cursed with the soul of an old jazz musician.

Malcolm soon learns that the only way to free this musician’s soul is by performing the perfect song. With much hesitation, and the help of his lifelong friend January Young, Malcolm embarks on a musical journey across the city of New Bronzeville in the hopes of discovering the perfect song and finding himself as a musician along the way.