A Lot Like Adios by Alexia Daria

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I was in a romance reading mood after my latest fantasy read. So I was happy to dive into A Lot Like Adios by Alexis Daria.  I enjoyed last year's You Had Me at Hola. I thought it was a fun read and I liked the primas relationship enough to follow Michelle's journey. I received an arc from Avon Books in exchange for an honest review.

This book is friends to lovers but also second chance romance in a way. Michelle and Gabe grew up as best friends. Right after high school graduation they have a moment where they finally acknowledge that there's something there between them but before they can fully explore Michelle discovers Gabe is moving away for college. Years later Gabe is estranged from his family and living on the West Coast as the owner of a very popular gym. He's working with an investor to expand and open up an East Coast location in NYC. Michelle is doing freelance work when she receives and email from Gabe's partner Fabian  asking for her help with marketing the new location. Since Fabian has babies on the way any day now, Gabe must be the one to go to New York and work on the future gym. Michelle finds out Gabe is now her client and she agrees to still take him on but gives him the condition that he must come stay with her. To add in some extra tension, her apartment is currently under renovations so she's staying at her parent's house which is right next door to his parents. 

I really loved how the families were written in this. Michelle is Puerto Rican and Italian and she has a lot of family and we get to experience some of her family events in this. It felt like felt like every Puerto Rican family gathering I've been to with every tia and tio making a dish to pass around, and the music, and the loudness. The way they openly embraced Gabe too just felt very real.  And then her best friends are her cousins which was also something I could identify with.

On the side of Gabe's family the expectations of growing up in a strict household, being a child of an immigrant parent, and toxic masculinity is all explored. Gabe was able to reflect on his upbringing with adult eyes and realize some of what he thought was absolutely unforgiveable wasn't as bad as he thought at the time. He was able to see how his parents were well intentioned even though the execution wasn't what was best.  And outside of that he realizes he also has an extended family in his friend Fabian and his growing family. 

The sex scenes were also very well done. Michelle was free to explore her likes and fantasies with no shame as Gabe was a willing participant. Both characters are bi and it's not made a big deal.

There are these interstitials where teen Michelle and Gabe are working on a fanfic for their favorite series. I wanted to love those sections as a former fanfic writer myself but I just couldn't I don't care about the planning process, especially since we knew very little about the show it was based off of. Latinos in spaaace told me nothing. By the time actual passages of the fanfic started being included it was the end of the book. I wasn't invested so I skimmed those parts. 

With so much going on some authors might deviate from the main couple to focus more on the issues with the family or at the gym but this story stays focused on Michelle and Gabe. So I truly feel like I got to know them and their insecurities and follow their growth. 

Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Bad Witch Burning was one that I hadn't hear much about and was a complete cover grab. I read Jessica Lewis's MG debut Meow or Never where she uses the pen name Jazz Taylor and thought that was a very cute contemporary about young girls navigating middle school life. I was interested in seeing what she would do in a supernatural/fantasy setting.

Katrell is a teen living in the hood with her single mother who is currently unemployed and heavily leaning on her to be the provider. Katrell busts her ass 30 hours a week in a low end burger joint just to keep the rent paid and some food on the table but it's never enough. On top of that her mother has Gerald, one of many in a string of horrible boyfriends in the picture. Gerald is a bum who eats all their food and barely works. On top of that he's abusive and Katrell fears having to live in the house with him. Katrell doesn't understand her mother's infatuation but is hoping she'll move on soon like she always does.

The one bright spot she has in her life. She has her sole friend Will who is there for her when life gets to be too much to bear. Will is a former foster child who has been through many of the same things. She worries about Katrell and does what she can whether it's offering her a hot meal or a place to spend the night.

Katrell has a special gift. She's not sure where it originated from but she has the ability to talk to ghosts. She makes extra money on the side writing letters that let people communicate with their dead loved ones. One day after a letter writing session she receives a warning from a ghost not to write any more letters as something big is about to happen.

Katrell is hurting and feeling broken after a blowout fight with Gerald results in the death of her beloved dog, Conrad. And despite the previous warning, she writes an emotional letter to her dog. She is shocked when Conrad ends up returning with no sign of being killed. Though he doesn't have a heartbeat and he's not his usual self. This leads Katrell to test out this newfound power which later leads her to charging people to resurrect their loved ones. She finally has a way to earn fast money quick and improve her lifestyle. But it doesn't take long for thing to get back quick with these remnants and soon Katrell finds her life spiraling out of control. 

This book was much darker than I expected but not dark as in dark magic in the very real depictions of violence, abuse, and neglect. At first when Katrell was talking about struggling to make ends meet  and going whole days without eating I was afraid this would be another YA where a poor character gets a come up and we ignore and wash over their neglectful parents abuse when they find a way out of their misery.  I had so many questions about why Katrell's mother didn't have them on government assistance at the bare minimum and why she expected her teenage daughter to take on the burden of providing for her and her man. And I was so glad that this book fully explored that toxic relationship.

Katrell truly believed that she had to love her mother because that's her mother. She made sure to hide the signs of parental neglect as much as she could making sure CPS never got involved. She has a great fear of being placed into the foster care system so much that she would rather take the abuse. It takes a lot for her to acknowledge that her mother doesn't give a damn about her despite Will pointing it out to her. But she has a guidance counselor at her school named Mike who observes how she's frequently absent from school, tired, and constantly hiding bruises. He is able to just offer her some kindness and show Katrell that she has adults in her life who care. And she had Will's adopted mother who cared more about her well being than her mother ever has. 

I could really hear Jessica Lewis' personal experience with these situations come through in her writing and I think made a world of difference. We always hear the writing advice to write what you know. But sometimes when I read books that tackle social issues I feel the writer is a little out of her element. It's been awhile since a book brought tears to my eyes but this story had that effect. Jessica Lewis manages to insert a bit of fantasy into a tough story about a young girl just trying to survive in a world that seems hopeless. 

Hollywood Homicide by Kellye Garrett

 

Welcome Back Booklovers! So I finally decided to do a reread of a book I haven't reread in awhile. I really enjoyed Hollywood Homicide during my initial read of it back in 2017.  And even though this was a reread I couldn't remember who the killer was so it was almost like I was following along with the journey anew.  I've recommended this book multiple times and I even interviewed Kellye Garrett on here last year. 

Dayna Anderson is a broke retired actress struggling to find any kind of job to make ends me. She had one hit series of commercials for a fast food chain and not a lot since. Her father calls her and lets her know that her parents are behind their house payments. Even though she barely has any money she's determined to get the money for them even though he savings is wiped out, she's living in a closet, and she's scraping together gas money. She sees a billboard offering a big reward for tips that lead to an arrest in the case of a hit and run and she decides that's her key to saving her parents house. Dayna vaguely remembers passing near the scene on a night out and seeing a car speeding away so she starts her search for clues by contacting her friend Omari who she's been avoiding since that night. This leads her to a full on investigation as her friends Emme and Sienna worry about both her safety and sanity. 

I really enjoyed Dayna. This was a fun story that took me back to my high school days when Kyra Davis's Sophie Katz Murder Mystery books introduced me to amateur sleuth stories. Hollywood as a back drop is fresh and Kellye uses her background writing for television to write a character believable as a former actress. Dayna has unique best friends which made for a solid supporting cast. And I still laughed at Dayna's interactions with the woman who ran the tip hotline. 

Unlike in many amateur sleuth stories Dayna has no clue what she's doing and often fumbles which leads to crazy situations. This is a fast paced read with multiple red herrings that serves as a great introduction if you like contemporary stories but want to figure out if mystery is your thing. Or if you just want a light hearted mystery in the vein of a cozy but without the small town setting and less sanitized language. There's even a touch of romance as Dayna tries to figure out her complicated love life.

This book is currently out of print however you can still find used copies and the audiobook available for purchase. 

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.

Interview with Synithia Williams

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I'm back with another author interview. If you've been following me for awhile you know I've been stanning the Jackson Falls series by Synithia William. It's a top recommendation for me when people ask for a good Black romance series. And I'm not someone who usually reads every romance in a series. So I knew I needed to get Synithia on here for an interview.

How did you get your start as an author?

I was first published in 2012, but I actively chose to pursue my dream of being a published writer in 2010. After a co-worker made a major life decision I realized if I wanted to write and publish a book I had to be willing to dedicate time and energy toward it. So, that’s what I did. I finished one of the three manuscripts I’d been playing around with, researched options for publishing and took the necessary steps.

What is the hardest part of the publishing process for you?

Starting a new book is always hard. Everytime I start I wonder how I completed a book previously. I saw someone say online “writing is hard because you want it to be good”. I realized that’s exactly why I struggle with each manuscript. I want it to be good, and I work hard to try and meet my reader’s expectations. 

Do you have a favorite book out of all the books you’ve written?

I have a few books that I enjoyed writing and are probably my favorites. A Heart to Heal, Guarding His Heart, Just My Type, and Careless Whispers are the ones that come to mind.

How did you find your writing group?

My first writing group were authors who all started out at the imprint Crimson Romance. Although Crimson Romance no longer exists, I still keep in touch with many of those original authors. My writer friends at Crimson lead me to other authors. I’ve mostly met people online and later in person. My online writer friends led me to a retreat in Destin Florida where I met my current writing crew, the ladies who are so supportive and amazing, the Destin Divas.

Are there any stories you would like to see more of on shelves?

I love fantasy and paranormal romances. I’d love more of them with adult Black characters. I know they are out there, but I'm greedy and will always want more. Especially space operas. Give me Black adults in space, please! Lol!

What can you tell us about Foolish Hearts?

Foolish Hearts is the last installment of my Jackson Falls Series. For those who read the first book Forbidden Promises you may have noticed the hints about the couple in Foolish Hearts. It’s a second chance romance (one of my favorite tropes). Ashiya and Russell dated previously, but Ashiya’s heart was elsewhere. She broke his heart and now they have to work together to help Ashiya claim her inheritance and forge a partnership with her family’s larger corporation. Sparks fly and feelings are tested as these two determine if they can make a relationship work this time around.

What does Spicy Southern Romance mean to you?

When I first started writing I wanted more books set in the South. I love New York, LA, and Texas, but there is a lot of sexiness in the Southeastern states. Lol. Most of my books are set in a southern location. Even if they’re somewhere else (A New York Kind of Love or A Malibu Kind of Romance) there are ties to the south. What can I say, I’m a country girl and I love representing the area where I grew up.

What are some of your favorite memories of growing up in The South?

Hanging out with my cousins after church on Sundays, packing up the car for a trip to the beach or Carowinds, picking pecans from my great grandparents trees, getting super excited about the possibility of snow for it to never happen.

What dishes are a must try for someone visiting South Carolina for the first time?

Hmm...I’m a fan of mustard based bar-b-que sauce.. My husband will fight anyone who claims mustard over vinegar based. We grew up in different parts of the state and therefore our preferences are very different. I’d say try bar-b-que in the Upstate, Midlands and Pee Dee regions to see if you prefer mustard, vinegar or ketchup based.

Have you picked up any new hobbies or rediscovered hobbies you enjoy during the pandemic?

Not at all! Lol! All I’ve done during this pandemic is buy more tiaras, watch more K Dramas, and eat a lot more food. I have no regrets whatsoever! :) 

You can keep up with Synithia Williams on Twitter @SynithiaW and on Instagram @synithiaw .  And it's not too late to start her Jackson Falls series.