First Time Reading Jennifer Armentrout

Even with the success of From Blood and Ash I never read Jennifer Armentrout, but the publisher sent me an ARC and I was not disappointed.
Great world-building, intriguing characters, steamy sex scenes, and fun banter...Sign me up for this new series! It's romance, fantasy, and suspense...a kick-ass trio.
This is the beginning of a series that will draw you in and keep you in a chokehold to the very end. I was shocked when I figured out the timeframe of the book. Oh Jennifer, you are clever!

 Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 💖💖💖💖/5

View all my reviews

Her Own Happiness Book Tour

Today is my tour stop for the Her Own Happiness Book Tour.  Presented by Turn The Page Book Tours.  Her Own Happiness is written by Eden Appiah-Kubi.  This is her second novel.  Her first novel was The Bennet Women.  Her Own Happiness will be released Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

Set against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, this book starts with Maya.  Life hands her some awful birthday gifts for her 31st birthday.  She finds herself moving back home, while her bestie of 7 years, Ant, is starting his own adventure.  As she is job hunting, Maya finds herself wrapped up in the world of wealthy socialite.  Maya must make her way through this world and all while she and Ant figure out their long standing friendship. 

This was an engaging story.  The character development was quite good and story itself was heartwarming.  I found it to be a later in life, coming-of-age story.  I usually love dual POV stories, but this book started slow for me.  But once I got into it, it was a thoughtful and compassionate story. Ms. Appiah-Kubi touches on several topics such as sexuality, finding oneself, friendship, and mental health; and she looks at them through the lens of the pandemic.  This is first "pandemic" book that I have read. I imagine will we see more of these to come.

While the ending felt a bit rushed and there were a bit too many pop culture references for my liking, this was still a solid read.  

Rating: 💖💖💖.75/5

Her Own Happiness will be released Tuesday, September 5, 2023. This book can be purchased at the author's website: edenawrites.com or visit your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.org.

BLOG TOUR: Interview with Jas Hammonds, author of We Deserve Monuments

 BLOG TOUR: Interview with Jas Hammonds, author of We Deserve Monuments

Release Date: November 29, 2022

Release Date: 11-29-22

Hey fellow Bibliophiles!

Today is my tour stop for We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds; hosted by Hear Our Voices.  I had the opportunity to interview them.  We discussed writing, their new books, and other bookish things.  Check out the interview below:

When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

I started writing in elementary school. I still have a journal from fourth grade with the beginning of a very dramatic story still scrawled inside. Not long after, my best friend and I discovered the Fictionpress website and we became addicted to reading and writing stories.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

It’s okay to take your time. I have a tendency to get impatient when it comes to things I really want, and I still have to remind myself that it’s okay to take a slower path.

What was it like publishing your first book?

It’s been an overwhelming, beautiful ride. By the time the book is published, it will have been six years from initial conception, and the story is nothing like how it started. Nothing could have prepared me for how amazing it was to have so many readers (already!) reaching out and telling me how much my story meant to them. I’m so curious what life the book will take once it’s out in the world!

What did you learn while writing this book?

How to do what’s best for the story. There were so many drafts with scenes that I thought were cool or interesting that ultimately got cut because they weren’t serving my characters and the plot. A character I absolutely loved didn’t even make the final cut! And while it can be hard to keep carving away at something so precious, I truly learned to make peace with it while writing this book. Now I’m very flexible when it comes to the editing process and am willing to try almost anything if it means it’ll serve the story.

How did you come up with the premise of We Deserve Monuments?

Originally, We Deserve Monuments was a ghost story. I had an image of three friends in the woods at night, telling a story of a ghost who was an angry old woman and what happened in her life that made her so vengeful. That angry ghost became my main character’s grandmother, Mama Letty. The three friends became my protagonist Avery and her new friends, Simone and Jade. And the ghost story became a different sort of haunting in the way that intergenerational trauma often is—sneaking in unannounced, taking root, and becoming almost impossible to shake without a lot of hard work.

Who was your favorite character to write?

Mama Letty! Her voice came very naturally to me. I love writing characters who are very prickly on the outside but have so much more underneath.

What do you hope that readers take away from We Deserve Monuments?

I know every reader experience will be unique, but I hope folks realize how important the power of community is throughout Avery’s journey. We don’t have to go through things alone. Asking for help and talking about your feelings and stating your needs and boundaries are powerful things to have in our toolboxes.

What are you working on now? 

I’m still in edits for my second young adult novel, tentatively slated for publication in 2024. It’s a story about friendship and class and the feeling of losing yourself in your first love, all told over the course of one hot Virginia summer.

What are you currently reading? Or what was the last book you read?

I’m currently reading The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis. It’s been on my list forever, and I’m loving it so far!

Synopsis of the book: 

Seventeen-year-old Avery Anderson is convinced her senior year is ruined when she's uprooted from her life in DC and forced into the hostile home of her terminally ill grandmother, Mama Letty. The tension between Avery’s mom and Mama Letty makes for a frosty arrival and unearths past drama they refuse to talk about. Every time Avery tries to look deeper, she’s turned away, leaving her desperate to learn the secrets that split her family in two.

While tempers flare in her avoidant family, Avery finds friendship in unexpected places: in Simone Cole, her captivating next-door neighbor, and Jade Oliver, daughter of the town’s most prominent family—whose mother’s murder remains unsolved.

As the three girls grow closer—Avery and Simone’s friendship blossoming into romance—the sharp-edged opinions of their small southern town begin to hint at something insidious underneath. The racist history of Bardell, Georgia is rooted in Avery’s family in ways she can’t even imagine. With Mama Letty's health dwindling every day, Avery must decide if digging for the truth is worth toppling the delicate relationships she's built in Bardell—or if some things are better left buried.

Content warnings: We Deserve Monuments contains depictions of racism, homophobia, non-consensual outing, abusive family dynamics, terminal illness, death, grief, alcoholism, drug use, murder (off-page), mentions of COVID and fatphobic comments.

About the author:

Jas Hammonds (they/she) was raised in many cities and in-between the pages of many books. They have received support for their writing from Lambda Literary, Baldwin for the Arts, the Highlights Foundation and more. They are also a grateful recipient of a MacDowell James Baldwin Fellowship. Her debut novel, We Deserve Monuments, is forthcoming November 29, 2022 from Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan.

#WeDeserveMonuments #HearOurVoices #HOV 

Oooh, That Black Boy Joy!

Release Date: August 3, 2021

There have been several books touting the magical magnificence of Black Girl Magic.  From a Phoenix First Must Burn to one of my personal favorites, Legendborn.  Now Kwame Mbalia, author of the Tristan Strong series, has edited an amazing collection of stories celebrating Black Boyhood.  This book is entitled, Black Boy Joy. As an Aunt of 7 boys, this book makes me want to squeal with glee. 

Great, fantastic, beautifully melanated authors like P. Djeli Clark, B.B. Alston, Tochi Onyebuchi, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, and Jason Reynolds, have written stories, poems, and comics that celebrate the joy and power of Black Boyhood.  

Too often, Black boys are asked to grow up way too soon.  And we know that society paints them with stereotypes as soon as they can speak and walk.  But this book strips all of that away. These writings are about the happy, the exciting, the new, the unexpected, and most importantly, the love.

If you have Black Boy in your life, I highly recommend this book to you to give to them. 

Also, you know I had to create a playlist! This playlist embodies the essence to of Black Boy Joy.  It's a mood and a vibe...let it wash over you.

Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖/5

Author Kwame Mbaila

Talia Hibbert is Romance Royalty!

Release Date: March 9th, 2021

Honestly, does Talia Hibbert write a bad book?  I've read all the Brown Sisters books and I LOVE THEM ALL!  For me, they have everything: funny, smart, and very steamy.  I loved all the characters.  They were real and I wanted everyone to succeed.  My favorite female character is Chloe.  As a person living with Fibromyalgia, I could totally relate to her life.  My favorite male character is Zaf.  Oh, Zaf!  I would risk it all for that man.  But enough gushing about the series, on to the latest book.  Get ready for the youngest Brown sister, Eve!

Act Your Age, Eve Brown is fantastic! It features Autistic adults finding love. It shows them being perplexed by dating and being sexually active adults just like the majority of adult society.  It also addressed some of the challenges they face. The banter between Eve and Jacob is great. I found myself snort-laughing at a couple of scenes. Reading this book was just so much fun! 

If you are a fan of Romance books and Rom-Coms definitely add these to your list. Pre-order your copy today at your local independent bookstore. #TeamSmudge

Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖/5

Author Talia Hibbert

Synopsis:

Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong—so she’s given up trying. But when her personal brand of chaos ruins an expensive wedding (someone had to liberate those poor doves), her parents draw the line. It's time for Eve to grow up and prove herself—even though she's not entirely sure how…

Jacob Wayne is in control. Always. The bed and breakfast owner’s on a mission to dominate the hospitality industry—and he expects nothing less than perfection. So when a purple-haired tornado of a woman turns up out of the blue to interview for his open chef position, he tells her the brutal truth: not a chance in hell. Then she hits him with her car—supposedly by accident. Yeah, right.

Now his arm is broken, his B&B is understaffed, and the dangerously unpredictable Eve is fluttering around, trying to help. Before long, she’s infiltrated his work, his kitchen—and his spare bedroom. Jacob hates everything about it. Or rather, he should. Sunny, chaotic Eve is his natural-born nemesis, but the longer these two enemies spend in close quarters, the more their animosity turns into something else. Like Eve, the heat between them is impossible to ignore—and it’s melting Jacob’s frosty exterior. 

About the Author:

Talia Hibbert is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who lives in a bedroom full of books. Supposedly, there is a world beyond that room, but she has yet to drum up enough interest to investigate.

She writes steamy, diverse romance because she believes that people of marginalized identities need honest and positive representation. Her interests include makeup, junk food, and unnecessary sarcasm. Talia and her many books reside in the English Midlands.

Twitter | Instagram | Website | Goodreads

The Golden Child

Lately, I have not read much for pleasure because I am on the judging panel for 2 different book panels.  However, I recently finished The Gilded Ones and it was FANTASTIC! (Thank you Hear Our Voices Blog Tour and Delacorte Press for gifting me a copy of the book.

Release Date: February 9, 2021

Author Namina Forna

The Gilded Ones is West African-inspired, feminist YA fantasy.  The author, Namina Forna, was inspired by the deeply patriarchal societies in her native country of Sierra Leone and here in the US, where she attended college.  Basically the same pig, just a different dress (my words, not the author).  The book looks at the patriarchy and it is used to determine the narrative for women including our place and our worth.  It also examines how it thrives and survives, including how women and non-binary people survive under the patriarchy. 

I loved all the powerful, uplifting, supportive women in this book.  The young women in this book are in a precarious situation, yet they support each other to the end.  Each character is powerful in their own way.  In a world where the men basically determine your worth, these young women uplift each other and find a way to determine their own worth.
The action was fast-paced, the characters were well developed and I like how Ms. Forna did not play to traditional gender roles.  The diversity in the book was well represented.  

Rating: 💖💖💖💖.5/5

Today is my Tour Stop for Hear Our Voices Blog Tours.  I was tasked with Dream Cast and a Playlist.

For the Dream Cast, I chose Ajiona Alexus because she looks like my image of Deka and I believe she could pull off the spirit of Deka.  I was torn between Ashton Sanders and John Boyega for Keita.  Both could pull off that nobleman next door attitude.  White Hands is Regina King all day, especially after seeing her as Sister Night.  Britta was the hardest to cast but after seeing Derry Girls and Bridgerton, I settled on Nicola Coughlan.  She plays Penelope on the Bridgertons.

For the Playlist, usually, I approach like I'm setting a musical score for the book but for this playlist I wanted to create a mood.  So much of this story is about the non-male characters finding their voices and determining their worth.  So I went with empowering songs that uplift and put you in a kick-ass type of mood.  You can listen to this when you've had a crappy day, when you're getting ready to hang out with your girls (as soon as it's safe again), or when you and your crew have to topple the patriarchy before drinks.

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs. But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity--and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death. Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki--near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat. Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she's ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great-walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one is quite what they seem to be--not even Deka herself

Happy New Year!

 I suppose I'm a few weeks late with my New Year salutations.

I've been quite busy on the book front.

I am currently a judge on two book panels.  I am also on the Bookseller Advisory Council for the ABA.  Such an exciting time!

I have set a personal reading goal of 44 books for this year.  So far, I've read two entire books.  I'm not counting my panel books. That seems like reading for work.  Well happy reading my friends.

Remember to check out my Bookstagram page: www.instagram.com/novelsistah/

Isn't It Romantic?!

I'm a big fan of Romance and about a week ago, my friend Sarah (who is also a Romance fan) posted on Twitter that she wanted a "Playlist of Songs with romance book recommendations to go with each song."

Since I've really been getting into making these playlists I accepted the challenge.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!👍

Here is the playlist. Each recommended book is across from its corresponding song.

They are essentially in the same position in each column (Book #3 goes with Song #3).

Few disclaimers:

-I only picked contemporary romance.  I rarely read historical and I didn't feel I could find corresponding songs.

-I chose songs that encompassed the entire mood of the book.  Quite honestly, I could do a playlist for each book. 🤔

-Red, White, and Royal Blue and Boyfriend Material are both Gay romance novels. It was important to me to choose Gay recording artists.  It seemed wrong to choose a song sung to a woman.

-There are thousands of songs that could have been chosen.  This is my list.  If you don't agree with it or like, go make your own.

Spotify links: 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3XViD4enxU0vuJEEOvLvNk?si=iElAQLHMTAO6ZK2U9BSgLg

Enjoy!

Some Other Now...So Wonderful, So Emotional!

 Trigger Warnings: Death and Depression

Sarah Everett has written a beautiful YA that looks at grief, dying, and love as it pertains to the past, present, and future of a tight-knit "family".  And yes, the quotations marks are purposeful. 

Summary of the book:

"Before she kissed one of the Cohen boys, seventeen-year-old Jessi Rumfield knew what it was like to have a family—even if, technically, that family didn’t belong to her. She’d spent her childhood in the house next door, challenging Rowan Cohen to tennis matches while his older brother, Luke, studied in the background and Mel watched over the three like the mother Jessi always wished she had. But then everything changed.

It’s been almost a year since Jessi last visited the Cohen house. Rowan is gone. Mel is sick and Luke hates Jessi for the role she played in breaking his family apart. Now Jessi spends her days at a dead-end summer job burying memories of her life in the Cohen house. But when Luke comes home from college, it's hard to ignore the past. And when he asks Jessi to pretend to be his girlfriend for the final months of Mel’s life, Jessi finds herself drawn back into the world of the Cohens. Everything’s changed, but Jessi can’t help wanting to go back, even if it means breaking her heart and losing them forever this time."

Book Fam, your girl is not a punk, but this book...this book right here had me all up in my feelings. Grief is such a complex emotion.  We grieve over the loss of many things, not just a loved one who has passed on.  We grieve missed opportunities, past mistakes, and heartbreak.  

I really enjoyed the characters in this book.  They were complex and it showed how each person responds to grief.  I love the relationship of Jessi with the Cohens.  We have a saying in my family, "Blood does not make a family."  Some of my siblings are adopted and I have a slew of play cousins.  You find your family wherever your heart is welcomed unconditionally.  Ms. Everett's use of alternating the timelines between the past and the present was very effective.  You could feel the tension building and man it was a roller coaster ride.

Simply put, this book is beautiful...hard on the emotions, but beautiful.  Grab your Kleenex and settle into this fabulous read.

Rating: 💖💖💖💖/5

Some Other Now by Sarah Everett goes on sale February 23, 2021.  Buy your copy at your local Independent Bookstore or at Bookshop.org.

Daughters of Jubilation

Daughters of Jubilation is a magical story. It is a story of first love, letting go, and taking back what belongs to you. Set in the Jim Crow South, white supremacy reigns, and tensions are high. But Evalene Deschamps (Evvie) has other things to worry about. She has two little sisters to look after, an overworked single mother, and a longtime crush who is finally making a move.

On top of all that, Evvie’s magic abilities are growing stronger by the day. Her family calls it Jubilation - a gift passed down from generations of black women since the time of slavery. And as Evvie’s talents waken, something dark comes loose and threatens to resurface.  And when the demons of Evvie’s past finally shake free, she must embrace her mighty lineage, and summon the power that lies within her.

What a powerful and dynamic book!!  Ms. Corthron addresses very complex issues with a skilled hand. The main character Evalene wrestles with the expectations of her mother and her own wants and desires.  

Ms. Corthron does not shy away from the big topics. Throughout this story, she discusses sexual abuse,  teen sex, racism,  homophobia, and strained family relationships.  

DoJ was poignant and deep.  I wish there was more background on Evalene 's family but it was a very good story showing how a person must reconcile their past to embrace the future. 

Rating: 💖💖💖💖/5

Release date: October 13, 2020

Author Kara Lee Corthron

Legendborn: Southern, Arthurian Legend, Goodness!

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn is FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!
Do you hear me?!?!?!

In this book, we meet Bree Matthews as she is dealing with the death of her mother.  To escape her grief, Bree enrolls in an early admission program, Early College, for bright high schoolers at UNC-Chapel Hill.  Her first night on campus, Bree witnesses a magical attack...a demon feeding on human energies.

Soon she discovers a secret society called “Legendborns” students that hunt the demons and a mysterious young man who calls himself a “Merlin” and who tries to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw...but he fails.  The Merlin’s failed attempt unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory connected to the night her mother dies. Now Bree wants to know the truth about her mother's accident and she will do whatever it takes to find out the truth, including infiltrating the Legendborns as one of their initiates.

Bree enlists the help of Nick Davis, a self-exiled Legendborn with his own grudge against the group, and their shaky partnership pulls them deeper into the society’s secrets...and closer to each other. Soon Bree learns the true nature of the Legendborns and now she has to decide how far she will go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down or join the fight.

This book showed up at the perfect time. It addressed many things that we as Americans have not discussed.  Weaving the Arthurian legend with Black Southern folklore made this a magical and unique book on so many levels.  All the emotions and experiences that Bree goes through is so relevant and timely.  The themes of legacy, roots, heritage, and ancestors permeated this entire story and made for rich and gripping themes. I was totally transported and enthralled with this book.  When I finished I was wanted more of the story.  I'm praying that Ms. Deonn gives us another book.  This book is going to make waves in the fantasy community.  Much needed waves.  Kudos to Ms. Deonn for writing such a fantastic piece of fiction.

Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖/5

As part of the Legendborn Book Tour hosted by Hear Our Voices Book Tours, I was asked to create a Book Aesthetic and a Playlist.  A little explanation about both:

For the Book Aesthetic, I wanted the look and feel of the Aether which is so important in this story, as well as the earth and our ancestors.  To see my book aesthetic, head over to my Instagram page www.instagram.com/novelsistah

For the Playlist, I treated it like a movie score.  The songs follow the scenes in the book.  I primarily chose Black women and songs with a southern feel.  The whole list is a vibe and a mood for me.  I hope people feel it too.  Here's the link to Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5g0srIuuZocUhi60wbeYdC?si=uND8DP94QYa9lN7eI0sSgw

Bromance Book Club

 Absolutely charming! I read this book in a day and a half.

I liked the realness of the characters, the realness of the problems, most importantly the realness of the male relationships.  Ms. Adams showed that male friendships could be supportive and vulnerable without the stereotypical, macho stuff. I loved the book within a book effect...so clever.

This story was fresh, fun, and sexy. 

Loved it!

Queen Jacqueline

There are some authors who can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned and Jacqueline Woodson is one of those authors.

Such an amazing, brilliant book!  Jacqueline Woodson has the ability of telling a lifetime's worth of emotions and experiences in 300 or less pages. It is riveting and soul stirring. Red at the Bone was about loss and healing on many levels. I was moved to the depths of my soul. 

This book is a true gem!

Waiting for Tom Hanks

💓I'm all in my feelings about this book!💓 

It is love letter to romantic comedies and falling in love, no matter how it happens.

I loved all the characters, especially Drew and Annie. As an Ohioan,  I loved that it was set in Columbus. 

It was fun, it was charming, it was great! So, so, great!

Slay All Day!

 Slay was amazing!  Excellent debut from Brittney Morris! She perfectly captured the dual role that Black students play when they are the minority in schools. That same feeling translates to towns, workplaces, and tons of other scenarios. You have to operate on various Blackness levels to fit in. So deep and so true. 

This book was so relatable and personal for me. The creation of the Slay universe was so cool. I want a novel set in The Slay universe. This book was timely, creative, and smart.  Excellent job!

Mr. Adeji-Brenyah is Book Bae...period!

 No disrespect to the person Nana Kwame Adeji-Brenyah might be dating, but when someone writes like this, he or she is definitely Book Bae. I've never read anything like this. From the first story, Adejei-Brenyah comes out the gate swinging; and each story is like a beautifully, devastating, punch to the body. Story after story delivers a body blow, but you welcome each hit. You need the next story.  It just hurts so good! 

I absolutely loved the sci-fi/fantasy tone to  the stories. Nana's writing is superb.  Each story is wickedly clever and cerebral, delivering slick, smart, commentary on issues such as race and consumerism in our country. I actually had to take deep breath after each story to recover and process. You can peel back the layers of each story and have discussions for days  It was so wonderful!

I am here for this young man and his writing.  I am ready for the next hit that he delivers.

The Black Tides of Heaven

 This was a wonderful find.  I read Black Tides if Heaven and Red Threads of Fortune in one sitting. It so original and heartbreakingly ( I made that word up) beautiful.  I enjoyed the premise, I loved the characters, and I loved Yang's writing style. This gender fluid writing style is beyond genre.  They are an author that has made my watch list.  Imagine my squeal of glee when I found out they would be writing a third book...Squee!