BOOK BYTES: Some Like It Hot (review)

4 out of 5 Rating

I Like It Hot, Too

In the romance world, Brenda Jackson is practically a household name; she is known for her bestselling sexy stories that turn up the heat between flawed but real men and women. In her first ever short story collection, Jackson continues to add the sizzle she's known and loved for. In a book titled SOME LIKE IT HOT, a reader wants the HOT, and I got it here. The sexual tension between the main characters is palpable, especially in my favorite of the five stories, "Strictly Business." Almost more so than Jackson's way with the sexy word, I enjoyed the main characters Jackson developed. Out of the five stories, no two characters are alike, and their yearnings, that "something" that pulled them through the story, felt real and authentic. My only issue, and it's a "me thing" is length of stories. At times, I felt like I was reading either really long short stories or short novellas, but Jackson's talent as a writer keeps you from feeling the stories trudge along. Hopefully, Jackson will grace us with more shorter works in the futures - "quickies" to whet our "need to have it now" appetites!

You can get your HOT ON today by clicking the cover above and ordering Brenda Jackson's Some Like It Hot!

BOOK BYTES: The Seeds of Green Mangoes (review)

4.5 out of 5 Rating


A lush, no-holds barred story


I am a big fan of stories that make you think, that make you want to talk about the story with others. Janete Scobie's debut novel, The Seeds of Green Mangoes is definitely one of those books. On the surface, it's a coming of age story, one young woman's journey to find herself and her place in the world. Beneath the surface is a lushly described story that vividly portrays locales, characters, and the yearning embedded in main character, Creola Philogène. There are two things I enjoy most about this story. One, I love the weaving of deep, serious issues in the story: the taboo of sex, culture, gender, and class, for example, blend well to layer the story and give book clubs something to talk about. Two, knowing a bit about Scobie's background - her education, travels, experiences - this book feels like a culmination of everything she's learned and felt thus far in her life. I look forward to seeing what she gleans from life next.

You can order a copy of The Seeds of Green Mangoes by clicking the cover above.

BOOK BYTES: Jade's Diary (review)

Jade's Diary by Nikki Urban

3 out of 5 Rating

You can't read the cover of Nikki Urban's debut novel, JADE'S DIARY without being intrigued. A diary? Sex, lies, lust, betrayal, and vengeance? These words alone will get your voyeuristic self to crack the spine to read Urban's tale of a daughter who receives her dead mother's diary, a diary that reveals life-changing secrets not only of the mother, but also of the daughter. The idea behind JADE'S DIARY is a strong one, and I liked the overall read, but the formatting of the book made the read a slow one for me. I also wish the story was longer so that I could get more into the characters' thoughts and motivations. Those interested in quick reads laced with eroticism will definitely get something from Urban's story. With such a strong story premise, I'm interested in seeing what Nikki Urban comes up with next. ~~Shon Bacon

Purchase JADE'S DIARY @ Diamond Stone Productions.

BOOK BYTES: Caring What People Think (review)

Caring What People Think by Daphine Glenn Robinson

4 out of 5 Rating

I love characters, characters with depth, characters that make me feel and make me care about their journey. The main character of Daphine Glenn Robsinson's latest novel, CARING WHAT PEOPLE THINK does all those things for me. We get inside Dannica Rawlins' mind, a mind riddled with depression and low self-worth since the passing of her father and her leaving the church...and God. When a successful, strong, loving, faith-filled man falls for her, Dannica must decide if it's time to allow God to wash away her pain and let joy and love into her heart and soul. I enjoyed following Dannica on her path, and I equally enjoyed reading a Christian fiction in which the main characters were REAL and not so sanctified that they couldn't be reached. Several messages resonate throughout Robinson's novel, but there was one that connected with me and made these characters and the story all the more entertaining: you can overcome past hurt and be happy with the help of God and the help of people who truly love you. Although there were a few things that slowed the read for me, like lengthy dialogue and some telling, overall this is a story I would definitely recommend to others who want to be filled with faith yet not preached to. ~~ Shon Bacon

Purchase CARING WHAT PEOPLE THINK @ Amazon.com.