Wish out of Water by Holley Trent

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I've been gone for a couple of weeks but I'm back with another review of a book you might've seen floating around on your timeline. The cover lured me in like a siren's song so continue reading if you want to hear my thoughts on my first Holley Trent book.

Wish Out of Water starts out somewhat reminiscent of a familiar mermaid tale with Brook saving prince Cooper from a parking lot accident. He's entranced by her upon first sight and thanks to the wallet she dropped, he's able to track her down. Brook lives in a house out of the way with her siblings who help her run a swim academy. Cooper and his royal aid want her to sign a non disclosure agreement but she refuses. Instead he proposes to her with the promise of money to help her swim school as a part of a scheme to get out of being heir to the throne. 

Brook's characterization is way too vague for most of the book. She's seemingly perfect as Cooper consistently reminds me and we know little about her beyond the fact that she's a mermaid with a swim academy. We're not really explained the transformation process to her mermaid form nor do we see it until closer to the end. Her mermaid powers aren't well explained.

Despite spending so much time with Brook and Cooper I didn't get understanding for why they fell in love with each other outside of love at first site. At first readers are constantly told about the special abilities merfolk have to draw in people. And we're supposed to believe that's drawing Cooper in. But then we're told those abilities aren't having an effect on him. While they spend days at sea together they don't really open up with each other much because both are so guarded when it comes to their families.

The last 30% of the book had all the world building that should've been scaterred throughout and I was left confused. There were so many reveals that we didn't have time to linger on the fall out of any of them. The monarchy was very confusing and I wasn't sure how it operated. Cooper for example is the illegitmate son yet he was in line for the throne despite having legitimate siblings. The merfolk dynamics also were hard to understand. This all seemed to set up for the next book in the series which will follow Brook's brother River. 

I went in expecting Black mermaid magic instead I got an ambiguously described sheltered and meek woman who doesn't even try to learn more about her mermaid heritage. The love story with the prince was slowburn to the point of standstill before being rapidly rushed along and overall their fairytale left me feeling hollow. 

Digging Up Love by Chandra Blumberg

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I was in the mood for romance this week and I'd been hype about Digging Up Love since the cover reveal. That cover design with the cake with the bones in it is perfection along with the muscular heroine depicted. And a paleontologist male main character is very different. And I was able to receive a copy from Amazon Publishing for review!

Digging Up Love follows Alisha Blake a baker who works in her grandfather's rural Illinois BBQ restaurant. Quentin Harris is a paleontologist and a professor in Chicago. Their paths cross when dinosaur bones are discovered in Alisha's grandparent's backyard during renovations. 

Alisha and Quentin do have great chemistry and at first I was enjoying this story. I found their meet cute to be really cute. I liked how they interacted with each other through text messages. I actually wish the book was steamy though their were little moments of teasing and clear sexual attraction. Quentin's job as a paleontologist was fascinating and I enjoyed learning about it the same way I enjoyed reading about the delicious treats Alisha baked. Alisha is also a power lifter which was cool though not much was done with it but Quentin liked how strong and powerful she was. And their museum date was swoon!

I'll admit I went in thinking it would be one thing and got something else. The cover was giving me Black love but when I was reading Alisha's POV she was giving me old white woman with the expressions she used. Then shortly into the book we find out she's biracial and was raised by her white grandparents. Okay makes sense. 

Quentin was also biracial though I'm not sure if it was actually acknowledged. The cover has a dark skinned man but Alisha's friend describes him as a Steph Curry look alike. And then later down the line in the book his mother calls him mijo and cooks Mexican dishes for a family dinner. But I can't recall it being brought up even when they were discussing race. Which was odd. I would've actually them to actually discuss that because this story was padded enough with more mundane details. As much as I talk about I don't like solely focusing marketing a book by the identities of it's characters I do like knowing their identities going in. And I'm sure people who are of similar backgrounds to the characters in this story would've liked to know this book has that representation.

Race did play a factor in this story which I wish I would've been prepared for. The town is lily white with Alisha and her sister Simone being the only non white people in town. And one of the reasons why Alisha is desperate to leave is because she's so ostracized. Even though she and her sister have lived there for years some folks still don't know how to act around them. I don't even understand why her sister misses the small town life since per Alisha it sounds awful! Those sections were particularly painful after awhile because it was clear Alisha had a lot of issues that she didn't even discuss with her sister let alone grandparents. And then there were all the feelings she had bottled up over her parents. 

The biggest downfall for this book to me was that it had too much miscommunication drama. All the problems in this book could've easily been solved if everyone sat down and had an actual conversation. But Quentin and Alisha don't know how to effectively communicate with their parents or each other. It was so frustrating to me how Alisha has these dreams of being a baker and wants to move to Chicago and has for 7 years but won't talk to her grandparents about it. She and her grandmother seem quite close to so it didn't make sense. Quentin spends the entire book whining about how his father doesn't respect his job even though it's a damn good job when he could just actually have a conversation with him while having his siblings and mother back him up. 

This book also could've been much shorter because it just didn't feel like enough plot to have it go on for so many pages and their relationship started being overshadowed by the cyclical conflict which really wasn't enough to sustain the story. There is a sequel with the sister, Simone releasing later this year but this town also wasn't charming enough for me to want to return to it. I do think the author has potential with a tighter plot and less purple prose.

Redeemed by His New York Cinderella by Jadesola James

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I had to dive back into romance again because it's my safe space to always bring me out when I'm feeling slumpy. The cover had me running to request this book so thank you to Harlequin for providing me an early copy.

This book is set in New York City and follows Katherine "Kitty" Asare, a former foster child who has since built a foundation to help kids transition out of the system. She sneaks into a exclusive hotel party in hopes of networking for donors when she comes face to face with the ghosts of her past. Laurence Stone is the son of the foster family who tossed her aside when she was finally starting to feel secure. She pushed through and managed to put herself through school and create a life for herself but the pain still runs deep. How was she to know the penthouse suite she charged her dinner to was his?

After a near death experience and a chance encounter, Laurence decides he needs to do right by the woman whose life he turned upside down years ago. So he comes up with a plan that will be mutually beneficial to the both of them. She needs more attention for her foundation and he needs a beautiful woman on his arm while he secures business deals. Laurence was also hurt by his parents and still harbors some resentment and pain there. The book takes it's time revealing the full story about what happened in the past but it's understandable why he cut ties with them.

This was a good read if you're into Cinderella type stories where the woman meets a billionaire and gets to live fabulously. You see them jet setting to fancy events, Kitty gets a full makeover complete with designer clothes and new hairstyle. It was fun to get lost in the fantasy of being whisked away but a handsome rich man. And the yacht sex scenes hit all the right notes. I also liked the added touch of them both having Ghananin heritage. Laurence is white and Ghananian and Kitty moved from Ghana to the US as a little girl. There's just enough depth without sacrificing the fun and sexy moments you love and expect in a Harlequin Presents Romance.

The Rebel Heir by Niobia Bryant

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I bought The Rebel Heir back in May because I was intrigued by the concept of romance between two high end chefs. This is described as an upstairs/downstairs romance and while Jillian may not have come from a chef dynasty like Cole she's built a pretty impressive resume as a food blogger turned private chef. While Cole is the rebellious brother opting to run his own food truck over being heavily involved in the family corporation. 

Jillian works as a private chef for the Cress family who run a culinary dynasty. She and Cole have had a friends with benefits relationship going on for a year now that they've kept secret. Or at least they thought they kept it secret until Cole's mother Nicollette pulls up at Jillian's condo and reveals she's know Jillian is sleeping with her son and she's not paying her for that. So while she fires Jillian she offers her a job as an executive chef at one of Cress Inc's West Coast restaurants. And Cole having heard the entire exchange, is upset when Jillian tells him she can't afford to be homeless and decides to take the job. 

Jillian and Cress realize they can't stop thinking about each other while they're apart and realize their feelings for each other are stronger than they thought. But while they reunite and Jillian moves back to NYC, Cress can't fully commit to her because he's afraid of being betrayed. His father cheating on his mother years ago has stuck with him. On top of that both his parents are so controlling he's constantly at odds with them. While Jillian and Cress know they're perfectly compatible in the bedroom it's outside of it where they're still figuring things out.

This is a multicultural romance. Cole Cress has a Black British father and a White French mother.  And there's plenty of French sprinkled throughout as the Cress family often switches between speaking French and English. I get a little weary of how biracial men are written in romance because sometimes they're written like their mixedness is what makes them sexy.  And colorism and featurism is highlighted. Other than finding it a little odd how every brother's look were compared to a famous biracial celebrity(The Rock, Daniel Sunjata, Lenny Kravitz) I was happy this story didn't play into that.

Niobia Bryant knows how to bring the steam. This might have been the hottest Harlequin Desire story I've read yet. And she brings the drama too. Jillian and Nicollette sparing certainly got my attention. And then you have Cole fighting with his father Phillip over family secrets. So if those are things you like in your romance then definitely check this out.

Mixed Match by Mia Heintzelman

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Mixed Match is a book that's been on my TBR for well over a year. So I was determined to finish it in the month of August.  These are characters in their 30s and the cover was giving me rom-com teas. Plus reading more indie-published romance is a goal of mine. 

Sophia Kent is has moved to Portland from Las Vegas into the house she received in her divorce settlement. She's trying to make a fresh start. And a part of her is trying to prove to her mother and cousin that she can make it on her own. She's a a trained chef with dreams of opening her own restaurant. But right now she's stuck in a rut which consists of plenty of ice cream to go along with her moods and horror movie marathons. Cousin Julie insists she needs to find a new man to get under.

Everett Monroe own's a family real estate business. The Monroe family has had a long standing feud with the Harmon family. His grandmother was tricked out of signing over her home before she died and he's ready to get it back. He's surprised when he meets the woman now residing in his home. Between his instant attraction towards her and his urge to discover her intentions he decides to get close to her. And to get close to her he can't have her discover that he's the man who is trying to take away her home. 

It was a little clunky for me at first. Sophia and Everett meet when he's serving her papers at her new home. And they are immediately turned on by each other. Their lust for each other is very much in your face. This story is also dropped Hatfields and McCoys references multiple times and I had already figured out it was that type of story before so I didn't see the need to spell it out again and again. 

I liked reading about them spending time with each other while Sophia got familiarized with Portland like the farmer' market trip and hiking dates . And I liked how Sophia also built a friendship with Everett's sister, Zora. Everett has Zora and his friend Mike to support him and help him understand his growing feelings.

Now where this book shined was in the sex scenes. The first one especially is so hot. They're driving in a car and Sophia decides she's ready to risk it all. It's a race to get to an area they can pull over at before they crash because they can't keep their hands off each other. 

I'm very conflicted about this one because while I started to like Everett and Sophia together; their entire relationship is built on a lie. She doesn't even know his first and last name! But at the same time he loved his grandmother and was fighting to get back what was stolen from her. And he does try and support Sofia when he realizes she's not like the Harmons and help her find a retail space for her restaurant. I just couldn't get completely invested in them. I'll probably read the next book in the series because I really liked Zora.

A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysa Williams

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! The weather is warm again, the flowers are in bloom, and there's so many new releases to fill your TBR for the summer. I was in the mood for some sweet romance and A Lowcountry Bride was the perfect Sunday read. 

Maya works as a junior designer for top bridal company Laura Whitcomb, Inc in New York City. Maya has big dreams of being able to showcase her own unique designs which reflect her Afro-Filipina heritage combining styles and techniques from both cultures. It was her late mother's long time dream to see her as a senior designer at Laura Whitcomb and Maya is so close to getting a promotion. She just has earn the approval of her boss who looks down at her designs as too ethnic.

Maya is also juggling balancing her own struggles with managing her sick cell anemia. When her father fractures his hip she decides to take some time off to go visit him in  South Carolina and help take care of him. She soon discovers she won't have to do too much heavy lifting as her girlfriend Ginger seems to have things covered. 

Derek is a single father who is still experiencing grief after loosing his wife to a tragic church shooting. He's trying and failing to raise his daughter Jamila and manage his late mother's bridal shop, Always a Bride. With the shop in debt and sales struggling he needs someone who can help turn things around. Luckily for him Maya could use a chance to sell some of her dresses while she's on leave with no pay. With her savvy about the wedding industry they're able to start turning things around for the shop. As they work together they start to catch feelings. But will Maya's illness and career aspirations keep them apart?

One of the things I enjoyed about this book was that it didn't dance around race. Early on when he boss is turning her nose up at the African-American museum is Charleston agreeing that it should be closed down, Maya challenges her holding her accountable to her off-color remarks. Many of us can relate when it comes to working in majority white environments what Maya is going through as she tries to excel at work and be true to herself. 

Culture is a major part of this story and Preslaysa doesn't miss a beat there. Derek stresses the importance of carrying on traditions to his daughter by introducing her to his grandmother's tradition of making sweetgrass baskets. The bridal shop is also an important part of their legacy as one of the first Black-owned businesses in downtown Charleston. The AME Church where he's been a long time member has played a pivotal role in the history of South Carolina and is a gathering place for the Black community. 

I did a blended read between the audiobook and physical arc and I think the narration by Carmen Jewel Jones enhanced this story even more. Sometimes when I'm listening to an audiobook where the characters are Southern the accent is really bad. This one was so natural. And she even did the narration good for Derek when I find it can often be tricky for women to do narration for men POVS and vice versa. She captured the characters perfectly and gave that little extra oomph that brought the dialogue to life. 

This romance is closed door but not devoid of passion. There were plenty of sweet and touching moments to keep you rooting for Derek and Maya's relationship. The story explores grief, faith, love, family and so much more. This releases June 1st, just in time for wedding season. Those of you who love to spend Sunday afternoons snuggled on the couch catching up on made for tv or streaming romance movies will enjoy this.

I listened to the audiobook via Libro FM courtesy of HarperCollins. Feel free to order it here. And thank you, Preslaysa Williams for the gifted arc copy. 

Playing with Desire by Reese Ryan

 

Welcome Back Booklovers! I've been in a Kindle reading mood and a backlist romance reading mood lately. But most important I've been in a Reese Ryan reading mood. So I once again dipped into the Kimani backlist via Hoopla to check out Playing with Desire. If you're interested in backlist Black romance there's a lot of Kimani romance available in the ebook format. 

Unlike my previous Reese Ryan read this is a multiracial and multiethnic romance. The lead leading lady Maya Alverez is an Afro-Latina and leading man Liam Westbrook is a mixed race Brit. One aspect Reese excels at is writing sexy and charming millionaire and billionaire heroes that instantly suck you in. And I was intrigued from the first two chapters with this one.

Liam is the usual millionaire playboy who can't see himself being tied down. We find out he is still hurting because he felt his brother betrayed him by getting with his ex girlfriend and his family relationships have been fragile ever since. I think he's fleshed out well enough where you see the  him embracing this fantasy life with Maya and growing to have genuine feelings for her.  

Maya is a mother of two and divorcee trying to find her groove again. Her daughters are away with their father for the summer and she's ready to discover herself outside of just being a mother and wife. So she purposely hides that she's a mother and instead plays the role of a single woman with no baggage letting go of her inhabitations for the summer. I liked reading about her exploring her sexy side that her ex husband never liked her to embrace. And Reese writes steamy somewhat erotic sex scenes so perfectly. 

That being said the chemistry inside the bedroom wasn't enough to make this a top romance read for me. Where the story ended up falling apart for me was that the not telling Liam about her kids plot was dragged out too long so the bonding time with her daughters was rushed into one chapter. And I just couldn't gel with how overly comfortable these girls were with this strange man. Them sitting on his lap, rooting for him to kiss their mom, and falling in love with him in one day was too much. Especially when Maya and Liam didn't know each other well outside of the facades they put up during their fling. I needed to see those interactions eased into. He met the girls and instantly seemed to let ago of his feelings towards kids and being involved with a single mother. I needed to see more of Maya with her girls as we're told she's very devoted to them but we don't really get to see it on page. I just couldn't root for them to come together as a family of four.

Keep in mind this is one of her earlier books having been released in 2017 and she's more settled now into the Harlequin formula and has discovered a better balance between the plot and the sex scenes to give fully fleshed out stories. 

Intercepted by Alexa Martin

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! This multicultural romance read has been on my TBR for 2 years and has been sitting on my Kindle for over a year. It ended up being exactly what I needed after a week where I DNFd 2 books. I partially listened on audiobook and though January LaVoy was spot on and very easy to listen to and I finished the book over the course of two days.

Overuse of hashtags aside, I really enjoyed Marlee's voice.  She's witty and sarcastic and I love how she's not one for confrontation but will let it rip when necessary. Her sharp tongue was one of the things I enjoyed about this story. 

If those housewives shows are your guilty pleasure then you'll really enjoy this look into the world of football wives and girlfriends. I was reminded watching early seasons of The Game except Marlee is more seasoned than girl Melanie. The Lady Mustangs are exactly what comes to mind when you think of bitchy wags who've centered their lives around their husband's careers. They hold meetings as an excuse to drink ample amounts of wine, they all visit the same surgeon, they avoid carbs like the plague, and turn their noses up on the ringless girlfriends like Marlee.

Marlee is a biracial woman in her late 20s who has a bit of a wakeup call after finally being fed up enough with her cheating football player boyfriend to leave him for good. And once she decides to leave she and takes the Prius he gifted her away she realizes she can no longer live on her freelance gigs alone. So she gets a job working at a restaurant, rents a small apartment, and starts taking public transportation.

And just while she's ending one relationship an old fling comes back into her life in the form of quarterback Gavin Pope. Gavin Pope is a genuine nice guy often coming to Marlee's rescue and soon neither can deny the attraction between them. And the chemistry was really there between them.

And there was plenty of fast paced drama to keep me entertained throughout.

Now 50 Cent and Lala Anthony are supposed to be turning this into a series with Lala playing the lead and they need to pass the role of Marlee to someone else cuz Lala is too old to pass for 20 and her immaturity and youth is what helps make the story. She's an adult woman finally coming into her own after years of being reliant on a man.

My Pure Romance Picks

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Today I've teamed up with a friend to pair some of the hottest romances with the hottest products all from Pure Romance. All pictures lead to the website where you can make a purchase.

If you like the Marriage of Convenience trope I suggest you check out Trust Fund Fiance by Naima Simone

His friend needs a fiancé to claim a fortune.

But they both know it’s about more than money…

Ezekiel Holloway’s proposition could save his friend Reagan Sinclair’s inheritance and give her the freedom she craves. But when family scandals force Ezekiel to end their fake engagement, the heiress comes up with a counterproposal—and they elope to Vegas after all! Is there something more than mere convenience at stake here?

And pair it with Capri Dream Hydrating Body Dew which merges the scents of jasmine and dragon fruit with agave nectar

If you like the Brother's Best Friend trope you should read Delicious Temptation by Sabrina Sol

Amara Maria Robles is a good girl. So good that she gave up her dreams of becoming a renowned pastry chef to help her parents with their struggling Mexican bakery. Yet her parents reject any changes she suggests, and refuse to sell her mouth-watering confections. Clearly being a good girl isn't paying off. So when her brother's sexy ex-best friend walks into the bakery, Amara's tempted to be very bad indeed...

After a scandal twelve years ago, resident bad boy Eric Valencia has returned to make things right with his family and friends. One glance at Amara and her wicked curves, however, and Eric finds himself thinking about how she'd feel beneath him-something he promised Amara's brother he would never think about, let alone do.

But this bad boy is in deep trouble...because Amara's determined to have her cake, and Eric, too.

 

Pair with Whipped Vanilla Cupcake a creamy lubricant that tastes just like vanilla frosted cake.

If you like small town romance especially set during the fall with harvest festivals then pick up Sweet Talkin Lover by Tracey Livesay

When everything is on the line,

surrendering completely to love is your only choice...

Marketing manager Caila Harris knows that the road to success in the beauty industry doesn't allow for detours. She's forsaken any trace of a social life, working 24/7 to ensure her next promotion. When grief over her grandfather's death leads to several catastrophic decisions, Caila gets one final chance to prove herself: shut down an unprofitable factory in a small Southern town. But as soon as she arrives in Bradleton, she meets one outsized problem: the town's gorgeous mayor.

Wyatt Bradley isn't thrilled about his nickname, Mayor McHottie. He's even less happy to learn that his town might be losing its biggest employer. If he has to, he'll use some sneaky tactics to get Caila on his side. Yet even as he's hoping she'll fall for Bradleton, he's falling too--right into a combustible affair that shakes them both with its intensity.

Two stubborn people, torn between loyalty, ambition, and attraction. But when you're willing to give it your all, there's no limit to how far love can take you...

Pair with Kiss Love Story body spray which gives you a refreshing splash of amber and warm vanilla

If Boardroom romance is your jam check out A Reunion of Rivals by Reese Ryan. 

The deal that could bring Quinn Bazemore’s career back from the brink has one catch: she must partner up with her ex-lover Max Abbott. Quinn can’t forget the pleasure-filled summer they shared. But now she’s butting heads over business strategy with the mouthwatering marketing VP, even as their reawakened desire threatens to expose her deepest secrets… 

Pair it with Perfect Match the vibrating c-ring for him and her.

Island getaway, soul searching heroine, no strings affair? Mine at Midnight by Jamie Pope has all those things.

After her plans for a storybook wedding are derailed by a shocking discovery days before the big event, Ava Bradley retreats to a tranquil beach cottage. Days of intense soul-searching turn into nights of passionate yearning when she clashes with her infuriatingly arrogant and incredibly sexy Hideaway Island neighbor. Derek Patrick is tempting her, not just as a lover but as a soul mate, and it's a connection unlike anything she's ever experienced before. 

The up-by-his-bootstraps entrepreneur is proud to be mayor of the beautiful, secluded tropical island. Derek doesn't need some social-climbing diva messing with his hard-earned serenity. Yet Ava keeps surprising him. When their no-strings affair leaves them both hungry for more, Derek is tempted to take their island affair to the next level. But Ava doesn't intend to make her permanent home there…until a natural disaster threatens Derek's beloved island, making them realize what matters most—a love too precious to lose.

Pair it with Bosom Buddy in Pina Colada and invite your partner for a taste.

If you like Romantic Suspense then Seduced by the Badge by Deborah Fletcher Mello may be for you

Chicago detective Armstrong Black follows the rules—his rules. When he’s assigned to partner with an Atlanta detective who’s hell-bent on bringing down criminals who targeted her sister, he’s determined to stay in control. But stunning Danni Winstead is all blazing temper and sweet temptation. Working with her tests Armstrong’s restraint; trusting her could put them both in fatal jeopardy

              

The right lingerie set sets the perfect mood. The sexy babydoll and robe set is aptly dubbed Twilight

Interview with Author Sareeta Domingo

Welcome Back, Booklovers. I'm back with an interview by another author that you may not have heard of but need to get familiar with. She is a Black author from the UK with not one but two books releasing this summer.  Get to know Sareeta Domingo also know as SA Domingo. @sareetadomingo on Twitter.

How was working on your second YA novel different from your debut? What inspired you and why did you decide to write another clean teen romance? 

Having a positive reception to my (YA) debut Love, Secret Santa, featuring what should really be a commonplace thing in publishing – a YA story featuring Black protagonists that isn’t ‘issue’-led – definitely was encouraging when it came to writing Love on the Main Stage. I’ve been a massive music fan all my life, so getting the chance to work on this story and having Hachette’s support was great. In terms of the story being ‘clean’, this is something I’d talked about with my editor, but was less of a critique of stories that aren’t ‘clean’, and more an effort to write something that didn’t have any difficult edge or trauma.

 

You also have another upcoming story titled If I Don't Have You. What is that story about and is there an expected release date at this time?

Yes, it’s a bumper summer for me in terms of publications! I have a novel for adults coming out with Jacaranda Books on 29th July 2020, a romance entitled If I Don’t Have You. It’s about a Black British Londoner, Kayla, a journalist and artist, who is planning a Green Card wedding to a friend in order to pursue her creative dreams in New York. But she’s sent to interview charismatic Brazilian/African-American film director Ren. They end up spending one magical night together followed by a long-distance romance, but secrets eventually tear them apart – until they meet again years later…

And in February next year, I’m so thrilled that an anthology I’m compiling, editing and contributing to is being published with Trapeze Books. It’s a collection of romantic stories written by British women of colour called Who’s Loving You.

What are your favorite genres to read and write?

I have a very broad range of interests that I suppose fall under ‘literary fiction’, but I also love reading romance – and writing it, too, as you can probably tell!

How has the pandemic affected your promotion and the release? 

My plans for a book launch for either of my books out this summer have of course gone out of the window, which is a real shame. It’s also meant fewer opportunities to do things like in-person appearances or promotion in stores. Everything is moving online, and I do fear that can mean too many people clamouring for the same promo opportunities. In terms of my adult book with Jacaranda, we also moved the publication date from May to July to help accommodate some of the challenges.

There's few Black British authors in publishing and it seems like some are finally getting their dues. Do you feel like as a Black author you're expected to write a certain type of story? 

I do think there is a certain expectation of what you ‘should’ write as a Black British author (and a Black author in the Western publishing world in general), and it can seem that authors garner more interest and attention if they are writing specifically about race. I think it should go without saying that Black authors should be afforded the same range of topics of interest as their non-Black counterparts.

What is it like working with an indie publisher on a book vs a larger publisher?

In many ways the process isn’t that dissimilar in terms of working on editorial processes and so forth. Of course, there is greater pressure on indies, particularly in the current climate of the pandemic, so they are perhaps stretched a little thinner than their larger counterparts. But I’ve loved working with both Hachette and Jacaranda Books. I’m certainly proud to have a book published by Jacaranda as a Black British, woman-led company. They’re doing great work!

Are there any 2020 releases from Black British authors you are looking forward to?

I’m looking forward to tucking into Dorothy Koomson’s latest All My Lies Are True, a sequel to her bestseller The Ice Cream Girls. She’s so consistent and is a queen of the British book scene! I’m also definitely keen to check out Bolu Babalola’s Love in Colour collection of stories too, I’m sure it’ll be fantastic.

Are you able to talk about your current work in progress?

I’m in the process of finishing up the anthology I mentioned I’m working on, Who’s Loving You, which I’m so excited about. And I’m just getting started on a new idea for my next novel – I’m keeping it under my hat for now, but it’s going to be a bit different to what I’ve published before…

Read Caribbean During June Pt 2

Welcome Back Booklovers!

Despite the chaos going on in the world right now I am truly enjoying getting to spread my love of books and have great discussions with other readers. Reading books, interviewing authors, chatting with readers are all the little things keeping me sane during this time.

Putting together these lists has introduced me to some new author's I'm excited to read while also having me reflect on the ones I have read. It's also a reminder of how resilient my people are. This time I'm highlighting some books by the children of Caribbean immigrants.

'Til the Well Runs Dry: A Novel

A glorious and moving multigenerational, multicultural saga that sweeps from the 1940s through the 1960s in Trinidad and the United States.

In a seaside village in the north of Trinidad, young Marcia Garcia, a gifted and smart-mouthed sixteen-year-old seamstress, lives alone, raising two small boys and guarding a family secret. When she meets Farouk Karam, an ambitious young policeman (so taken with Marcia that he elicits help from a tea-brewing obeah woman to guarantee her ardor), the rewards and risks in Marcia's life amplify forever.

'Til the Well Runs Dry sees Marcia and Farouk from their sassy and passionate courtship through personal and historical events that threaten Marcia's secret, entangle the couple and their children in a tumultuous scandal, and put the future in doubt for all of them.

With this deeply human novel, Lauren Francis-Sharma gives us an unforgettable story about a woman's love for a man, a mother's love for her children, and a people's love for an island rich with calypso and Carnival, cricket and salty air, sweet fruits and spicy stews-a story of grit, imperfection, steadfast love and of Trinidad that has never been told before.

The Haunting of Tram Car 015

Cairo, 1912: The case started as a simple one for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities ― handling a possessed tram car.

Soon, however, Agent Hamed Nasr and his new partner Agent Onsi Youssef are exposed to a new side of Cairo stirring with suffragettes, secret societies, and sentient automatons in a race against time to protect the city from an encroaching danger that crosses the line between the magical and the mundane.

Dear Haiti, Love Alaine

Alaine Beauparlant has heard about Haiti all her life…

But the stories were always passed down from her dad―and her mom, when she wasn’t too busy with her high-profile newscaster gig. But when Alaine’s life goes a bit sideways, it’s time to finally visit Haiti herself.

What she learns about Haiti’s proud history as the world’s first black republic (with its even prouder people) is one thing, but what she learns about her own family is another. Suddenly, the secrets Alaine’s mom has been keeping, including a family curse that has spanned generations, can no longer be avoided.

It’s a lot to handle, without even mentioning that Alaine is also working for her aunt’s nonprofit, which sends underprivileged kids to school and boasts one annoyingly charming intern.

 

 

Frying Plantain

Kara Davis is a girl caught in the middle — of her North American identity and her desire to be a “true” Jamaican, of her mother and grandmother’s rages and life lessons, of having to avoid being thought of as too “faas” or too “quiet” or too “bold” or too “soft.” Set in a neighbourhood known as “Little Jamaica,” Kara moves from girlhood to the threshold of adulthood, from elementary school to high school graduation, in these twelve interconnected stories. We see her on a visit to Jamaica, startled by the sight of a severed pig’s head in her great-aunt’s freezer; in junior high, the victim of a devastating prank by her closest friends; and as a teenager in and out of her grandmother’s house, trying to cope with the ongoing battles between her unyielding grandparents.

A rich and unforgettable portrait of growing up between worlds, Frying Plantain shows how, in one charged moment, friendship and love can turn to enmity and hate, well-meaning protection can become control, and teasing play can turn to something much darker.

Halsey Street

Penelope Grand has scrapped her failed career as an artist in Pittsburgh and moved back to Brooklyn to keep an eye on her ailing father. She’s accepted that her future won’t be what she’d dreamed, but now, as gentrification has completely reshaped her old neighborhood, even her past is unrecognizable. Old haunts have been razed, and wealthy white strangers have replaced every familiar face in Bed-Stuy. Even her mother, Mirella, has abandoned the family to reclaim her roots in the Dominican Republic. That took courage. It’s also unforgivable.

When Penelope moves into the attic apartment of the affluent Harpers, she thinks she’s found a semblance of family—and maybe even love. But her world is upended again when she receives a postcard from Mirella asking for reconciliation. As old wounds are reopened, and secrets revealed, a journey across an ocean of sacrifice and self-discovery begins.

An engrossing debut, Halsey Street shifts between the perspectives of these two captivating, troubled women. Mirella has one last chance to win back the heart of the daughter she’d lost long before leaving New York, and for Penelope, it’s time to break free of the hold of the past and start navigating her own life.

Unconditionally Mine

Event planner Sofia Silva is hiding a big secret. No one can know that her engagement to her lying, cheating fiancé is over. Until she meets gorgeous, wealthy newcomer Jonathan Gunther. Jon moved to Miami for a legally sinful life of waterfront property, convertibles and no emotional entanglements. When he invites Sofia to lie low at his house, their undeniable attraction explodes…but will her dilemma ruin their chance at forever?

Oh My Gods

She's just moved in with her dorky dad and self-absorbed older siblings - who happen to be the ancient Greek gods, living incognito in London!

Between keeping her family's true identities secret, trying to impress her new friends, and meeting an actually cute boy, Helen's stress levels are higher than Mount Olympus.

She needs to rein in her chaotic family before they blow their cover AND her chances at a half-normal social life.

Allegedly 

Orange Is the New Black meets Walter Dean Myer’s Monster in this gritty, twisty, and haunting debut by Tiffany D. Jackson about a girl convicted of murder seeking the truth while surviving life in a group home.

Mary B. Addison killed a baby.

Allegedly. She didn’t say much in that first interview with detectives, and the media filled in the only blanks that mattered: a white baby had died while under the care of a churchgoing black woman and her nine-year-old daughter. The public convicted Mary and the jury made it official. But did she do it?

There wasn’t a point to setting the record straight before, but now she’s got Ted—and their unborn child—to think about. When the state threatens to take her baby, Mary’s fate now lies in the hands of the one person she distrusts the most: her Momma. No one knows the real Momma. But does anyone know the real Mary?

Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson

Hey Booklovers,


I spent the better part of this lazy weekend reading a slow burn romance. And I must admit I'm a sucker for an easy to read romance. And a romance with a cute cover and a Black heroine always catches my eye. I was lucky enough to get my hands on an arc to read and review. But Real Men Knit gave me real mixed feelings.

So we start this story off with a loss. Mama Joy Strong has passed away recently and her adopted sons are struggling to keep it all together. The Strong Men are a mixed crew of all different ethnic backgrounds who were lucky enough to have Mama Joy come into their lives when they needed it most. I love a pro-adoption story. And with 4 fine brothers comes the potential of 4 different romantic plots to span a series.

This story follows Jesse who is the youngest of the Strong brothers. He's got the looks with tanned skin, green eyes, and sandy brown locs which fit his whole biracial bohemian aesthetic. Unlike the rest of the brothers he feels he owes it to Mama Joy to keep her legacy alive but keeping up the knit shop. Plus he's the best knitter of the group and he's between jobs at the moment so he needs to get his act together and build something for himself. He enlists the only regular worker at the shop, his long time childhood friend Kerry to help him. 

The Harlem setting is unique and I liked how this book touched on gentrification and the changing of the neighborhood. And the close knit community was a bonus for this story. The relationship with the brothers was the strongest point in this book which I found led a little more family focused than romance focused. I wanted to see a little bit more of Harlem though.

The knit shop was also a location you don't normally see in stories. I would've liked to see more knitting . I felt like there was not a lot of knitting in the first half while we finally saw more knitting in the second half. I know it was summer so they couldn't knit too many hats or sweaters but Kerry owned a few tanks she knit herself. It would've been interesting to see more of her knit fashions incorporated like knit swimsuits and skirts. It would've also been a great way to showcase how essential she is to the business because while there was a lot of talk about how essential she was her biggest asset seemed to be that she knew the people in the neighborhood from having worked there so long. 

I did feel like they was a lot of telling stuff in the heads of Jesse and Kerry versus actually showing things/making it a conversation with dialogue between them. For example I like descriptions of characters because I like to know how everyone looks. I did not need those paragraphs about Jesse reflecting on their biracial backgrounds and why each of the brothers have the features they do before I even met the brothers. There was quite a lot of inner monologue or focusing on details that did not need to be explored in depth.

And slow burn is fine but it took a long time for them to admit their feelings and then felt a little rushed from there. In their heads we found out they both had been pining for each for years but there wasn't that dialogue there where to back up why these crushes lasted so long. The forced proximity trope was there to add all the lust but I wanted dialogue to back up a new found closeness. It was like a switch just flipped and Kerry went from being the shy mousy woman with a crush to sexy alpha female taking charge. There were also a few things with Jesse that were not mentioned until the second half of the story which could've been explored in the first. 

And where were the cute dates? Eating sandwiches from the bodega together does not count despite what Kerry's friend Val said about her at least being fed. And one awkward encounter at a local spot does not count. Harlem has so much culture and flavor I would've liked to see a little bit more of it. Was waiting for when they'd have a friendly night on the town. 

There's also a recurring friend with benefits of Jesse who only exists to be rude to Kerry, make her jealous, and contrast that she's different from all the other girls. There's also a throwaway male character who is only around to make Jesse jealous. I hate those types of characters and the inclusion of those two did nothing to strengthen Kerry and Jesse's relationship. Plus it was really shoehorned that Jesse seemed to sleep with all single women in the neighborhood.  Let's let go of Madonna-Whore dichotomy in 2020. 

I think Kwana Jackson is a good writer and I enjoyed her book Too Sweet to Be Good and I actually want to do a reread of that to give a long review.  She's a great writer but to me this book could've gone through another few rounds of editing to add a little more depth and make it less like it's just the set up to a larger series.

Clap When You Land By Elizabeth Acevedo

Welcome Back Booklovers!


While April wasn't my most enjoyable reading month I'm determined to make the best of May. And it already started off with a bang. I was lucky enough to get the chance to read an arc of Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo.

I've been listening to some of her spoken word, and following her on Twitter for awhile now. But this year I'm determined to dive into her books. I started with her short story Gilded, followed up with The Poet X and my next will be With the Fire On High.

The hype is well deserved! She writes so beautifully switching between poetry and prose. She showcases Afro-Latino heritage in all glory. She doesn't use a lot of words but the ones she does she uses well. It's amazing how someone can take such painful topics and make them resonate with you without gruesome graphic details. Sexual assault, sex trafficking, racism, colorism, Antihaitianismo, and Santeria are just some of the many elements that make up this story without being the sole story.

    

I live around a lot of Dominicans so I've heard the jokes and the stories about men who have a family in the US and a family in DR. This story is about the two daughters of a man who lived a double life which is not revealed until a tragic plane accident. Both girls are dealing with the fallout of their father's death as well as the new discovery of each other.

Yahaira lives in NYC. She goes to private school and is a former chest champion. Her mother is fair skinned and comes from a prominent Dominican family. She manages a salon and has an appearance described as Miss Universe perfect. Her family owns their apartment outright and she lives next door to her girlfriend. Yahaira may seem like she has this amazing life and in some aspects she does but there's so much more below the surface. Her relationship with her father has been rocky for months with her barely speaking to him and her appearance and her mother's families mean comments over the years make her sometimes feel inferior.

Camino's life is a life many girls live not in just DR but in many countries. She's got more than many in her poor neighborhood thanks to Papi always sending money but not even close to comparable to what most girls her age have in the US. He pays for her to receive a good education at a fancy private school and one day hopes to bring her to the US where she can study to become a doctor.

In some ways their father's death affects them equally the same and in other ways it's different.  Yahaira. Though she and her mother are both shaken by their loss and can't seem to agree on how it should be handled at least they have each other. Camino lives her with her Tia as her mother passed away years earlier and she is feeling like an orphan. Yahaira has her girlfriend and girlfriend's family who treat her like one of their own and try to look out for her. Their relationship is treated as normal and not a spectacle. Meanwhile Camino is trying to avoid a pimp named El Cero who is trying to coerce her into sex trafficking.

One element this story highlighted which I appreciated was the positives of Santeria which is a very controversial religion. I have family from the Caribbean and there's a stigma about these religions rooted in African culture. Some people simply write them off as black magic with spells and potions. In this story Tia Solana is a much revered member of her community often using her healing herbs and prayers to aid those who cannot go to a hospital or clinic.

Camino has a best friend Carline whose family is Haitian. If you know anything about Dominican and Hatian relations then you know that despite sharing the same island there is a lot of animosity between them. Carline is pregnant and does works at a resort which is a job Camino's Papi helped her secure. Due to Anti-Haitianism Carline's family is too afraid to take her to a hospital knowing she may be refused treatment or treated poorly and instead rely on Tia Solana and her remedies and prayers.

I read this story over the course of two days and could barely put it down. Both sisters voices were so distinct that I was never confused about which character was narrating as the chapters switched back and forth.

Color Me In by Natasha Diaz

Hey Booklovers!


I'm back with another review post. I did say I was going to try and bring more of my reviews here so when I recommend these books you can easily find my thoughts on them.

Last year this book caught my eye when I heard Natasha Diaz talk about how this book would explore white passing biracial's privilege. The writing in this story was simply poetic. And books don't usually make me cry and this one had tears flowing as I sat in bed one night reading it. I didn't want to put it down and ended up reading it in two days.

This was such a powerful story that doesn't usually get told. Yes, we know biracial people often struggle with their identity. People usually want them to choose one race over the other. We've all heard of the tragic mulatto narrative. But this story examines both side's of a biracial girl's identity without painting her as a victim.

Nevaeh grew up in a rich white neighborhood feeling like an outsider beyond her one other biracial friend. She's bullied by the mean popular girl at school who makes racial comments towards her that she lets slide to not stir up trouble. Anyone Black or half Black who went to a majority white school knows the type of comments and knows how much they sting. And how it feels to feel so alone because you don't look like everyone else. Neveah is white passing but doesn't feel white enough to identify with either side of her heritage. 

Nevaeh's life as she knows it drastically changes. Because her parents are in the middle of a nasty divorce and her cheating father brings his mistress around. And her father's new girlfriend is one of those passive aggressive white women who sees herself as better than the little biracial girl before her. And now her father who has never been religious feels the need to insert his Jewishness because he feels his daughter has too much Black influence in her life after moving with her mother to Harlem. So he makes her attending Hebrew school and is forcing her to have a belated Bat Mitzvah.

Having grown up in her not white but white enough bubble she struggles to relate to her Black family and at first. She doesn't understand at first the microaggressions they feel on a daily basis. Her cousin has to check her over her light skinned privilege a few times.

Nevaeh's mother has struggles with her mental health and the separation is taking a toll on her. She stays in her room all day and has no motivation to leave the house. She barely wants to talk to her daughter who is trying to balance this new situation. Nevaeh wants to be mad at her but when she finds her mother's old diary and reads about some of her experiences she sees her mother and father in a new light.

This story is a journey about a teen girl discovering herself and how she fits in to both of her cultures. We go along for the journey as Nevaeh discovers Jamaican, Liberian, and Jewish traditions. And Natasha Diaz includes beautiful poetry and diary entries to help shape this story and give us much needed background information in a way that doesn't feel forced.