Good Resource on a Serious Issue: Review of Yvette Allen-Tatum's I Didn't Know

“I Didn't Know" is for more than just an audience of one. If you look to your left, look to your right, or directly in the mirror, you will see or know someone who has been sexually abused... even if you look in the mirror, and the person is YOU! More than the tragedy of sexual abuse is the tragedy of the silence of sexual abuse. It must be talked about. Our stories have to be shared; someone's life is literally depending upon YOU to BREAK THE IGNORANCE OF SILENCE! "I Didn't Know" brings to the forefront the many hidden faces of child sexual abuse. The author, Yvette L. Allen-Tatum, shares not only her story, but the compelling testimonies of others--everyone from the actual victim, to the offender, to those who standby by in disbelief and allow these heinous crimes against our children to continue. Our voices have to be heard, our children must be free or freed to tell the TRUTH: that someone touched them. Who can they run to? Will it be you?

You can purchase I Didn't Know at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

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Author, Teacher, Conference Host, Public Speaker, Encourager, Motivator, Ordained & licensed Minister of The Gospel, Radical for Christ, undercover Comedian and the list goes on...

Yvette is a graduate of Grace Christian College where she earned her Masters of Divinity and a Bachelor of Arts in Theology.  She is also a graduate of University of Richmond, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Finance and a Minor in Leadership Studies. In addition, she has 30 plus years of experience in income tax preparation and bookkeeping.
 
As the Founder of Surrounded by Faith Ministries, Yvette has had the opportunity to touch and transform the lives of many women with the Word of God.  This mighty Woman of God has a prophetic teaching anointing which has enabled her to cross many boundaries.  As such, the Call of God on her life has broadened from transforming the lives of women to transforming LIVES with the Word of God.  While she still holds a passion to train and equip women in the life study and application of the Bible, her ultimate goal is to strengthen families.  To do so her platform is geared to men, women and children.

Connect with Yvette via e-mail, her Website, and through Facebook and Twitter.

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Watch Yvette Allen-Tatum discuss I Didn't Know.

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CLG Review of I Didn't Know

3.5 (out of 5) lattes

Good Resource on a Serious Issue

Identifying, Confronting, Overcoming -- three key steps to dealing with any issue. Often, when we talk about serious issues, like child sexual abuse, especially when dealing with the media, we hear a lot of IDENTIFYING, but not a lot of confronting and overcoming. This is why Allen-Tatum's book I DIDN'T KNOW appeals to me; it offers--through the author's personal stories, others' stories, scripture, and research--a process in which we all, from victims to family and friends of victims--can understand this issue, openly communicate on this issue, and protect our loved ones. Although at times the author tends to bounce around on points up for discussion, jarring my read, this is a book I would recommend to readers.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

All That Glitters Is Not Gold: Review of Cecilia T. Capers' To Whom Much Is Given

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Success has a price and sometimes loved-ones become collateral damage. Avery Benjamin is a beautiful, 30-something, talented New York City corporate attorney of West Indian and African American heritage. A dynamic multicultural mosaic of women friends augments her life. Avery loves Antonio Dawson, a professional football player whose family is part of Atlanta’s influential African American elite. Yet, she longs for the days when she pursued big, passionate dreams. Dean Everard Swithin, a British aristocrat and Avery’s former lover from her law school days, re-enters her life making her a professional offer she cannot refuse. That is when Avery’s drama begins. Scandal and deception change her heart and her perception. Ultimately, Avery must take steps to confront her past, mend her wounds, and fulfill her destiny. “To Whom Much Is Given” is a contemporary fictional story for any person who realizes: The Best Is Yet To Come.

CLG Review of  To Whom Much Is Given

4 (out of 5) lattes

All That Glitters Is Not Gold

Sometimes, even when things appear perfect and wonderful, they are the exact opposite. In Cecilia Capers' debut novel, To Whom Much Is Given, we meet Avery Benjamin, a 30-something with the world at her feet. She's beautiful, she's talented, she has wonderful friends, and she has a wonderful man in Antonio Dawson, a professional football player. Life is good. Very good. Except for that yearning Avery has, a yearning for fulfillment of dreams tucked away. When a former lover re-enters her world, drama ensues, and Avery must trudge through her past to claim her dreams. I enjoyed Capers' first literary effort. There are several reasons for this. It was refreshing to read about upwardly mobile people of color. For me, that adds to the diversity of African-American characters in stories, but it also does something great for the story: it shows that no economic bracket can escape drama, conflict, and issues. Capers also does a good job in developing the conflict in the story, of which there is plenty. The story did read slow in some places where we get a lot of back story about characters, but overall, Capers shows that she is capable of spinning of good story, and I look forward to seeing what she spins next.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Satisfying Read: Review of LaShanta Charles' Lovely Lies

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Makynzee has spent all of her life being dependent on people who've always disappointed her, especially her abusive mother. Everyone lies to her - her sister, her uncle, even her beloved father. When her mom strips her of her one true love, gymnastics, she's determined to find and maintain her independence. There's only one little problem...money. She sets out to find a job as a dancer at a gentelman's club, but finds Kalil instead. With his looks, money, and charisma any woman would be crazy not to want him and Makynzee's no different. Falling for him fast she soon discovers some things just arent adding up and Kalil may not be the man she thought he was. He wants to be with her and provide for her, but can he protect her? When a love-struck fan becomes obsessed and begins attacking and stalking Makynzee she questions Kalil's ability to be her protector. Makynzee has no idea who he is, where he came from, or why he's here, but he's determined to have her even if that means eliminating everyone she knows and loves. By any means necessary, right? She belongs to him and he's claiming what's rightfully his, no matter the circumstances. When truths are revealed, they threaten to tear Makynzee's soul apart and chaos becomes her life. Will she be able to escape this temporary insanity or will she become a permanent victim?

CLG Review of  Lovely Lies

4 (out of 5) lattes

A Satisfying Read

What to do when it seems that everyone about you lies and no one gives you what you really need... love? This thought is at the heart of LaShanta Charles' debut novel, LOVELY LIES, a story that from the first sentence hits you with conflict, tension, and drama and pulls you through a story rife with pain, heartache, relationship drama, love, and danger for the main character, Makynzee. Makynzee seems to have lost everything when her mother rips the one thing she loves, gymnastics, from her grip. To make it on her own, Makynzee begins working as a dancer at a gentleman's club and there finds a man that can give her everything she needs, despite the fact that he's not as perfect as he appears. Her life becomes more complicated when one of her fans turns into a stalker and puts Makynzee's life in danger. Where can she turn? Who will protect her? Will she make it out of the ordeal with her life intact and love by her side? You can't help but to be drawn to Makynzee as Charles develops her well. She's a woman that many of probably know, at least in essence, and this is what drew me in to the story. It doesn't hurt that Charles does a solid job of providing the reader with a story with other complex characters, heightened drama, and twists that leave the reader unsure what will happen next.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Delightful, Engaging Trilogy that Remixes the Narcissus and Nemesis Myths: Review of Diana Rodriguez Wallach's Reflecting Emmy

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Eighteen-year-old Emmy is in the family business-trapping vapid narcissistic souls into her silver compact mirror for all eternity. It's what the Rhamnusia family has been doing for thousands of years, all under the direction of Great Grandmother. Only Emmy's latest assignment, Nara, is about to prove more challenging than she ever expected.

Gorgeous and self-absorbed, Nara is unflinchingly cruel to her classmates. Even her boyfriend, Luke, can no longer tolerate her actions--much to Emmy's relief since she finds Luke a little more than intriguing. But when Emmy tricks Nara into gazing into her mystical mirror, what she finds there is not what she's expecting.

Mirror, Mirror is the third set of Mythology High stories, which take classic myths and modernize them with teen heroines. Look for Nara Gazing, and Shattering GiGi to follow in October and November.

CLG Review of  Reflecting Emmy

4.5 (out of 5) lattes

Delightful, Engaging Trilogy that Remixes the Narcissus and Nemesis Myths

I love reinventions of classic tales... done right, that is. In the Mirror, Mirror Trilogy, part of the Mythology High collection, author Diana Rodriguez Wallach gives her readers a run, engaging, and fast-paced read that offers a great remix to the myths of Narcissus and Nemesis. In the trilogy (Reflecting Emmy [out now], Nara Gazing [out October 2013], and Shattering GiGi [out November 2013]), we meet 18-year-old Emmy who though young is already a part of her family's business, the business of capturing narcissistic souls into compact mirrors. Her current assignment is an easy one: to capture the soul of Nara, the most self-absorbed girl in high school. But easy is never really easy, is it? Not for Emmy. What unexpected turn of events happens? What does the turn mean for Emmy's assignment? Where will this adventure lead her and those she meets? How will it all affect her position in the family business? Well, you have to read all three short stories in the Mirror, Mirror trilogy to get those answers. What I can tell you is that Wallach gives us a great character in Emmy. Her voice is strong and clear from the very first paragraph, and because of that, you're quickly brought into Emmy's world. I found this trilogy to be a fun, charming, and sweet read. It reads fast (finished within an hour), and when I got to the very end, I smiled and actually went, "Awww." Great addition to any YA collection, especially if you like a good myth remix.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Nicely Done Coming-of-Life Story: Review of Danielle Allen's Back to Life

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Sahara Lee has spent the last ten years living with the guilt of a tragic accident and its aftermath. That night irrevocably changed the outgoing, fun-loving college freshman into an introverted, workaholic with no social life. Sahara isolates herself from everyone and everything that reminds her of home in an effort to forget what happened. Using art as a substitute for love, Sahara throws herself into music and art as a way to feel something other than the guilt that haunts her. She accepts her lonely existence as penance for the role she played in the accident. That is, until she meets Tyree Barker, the good looking entrepreneur with baggage of his own.

Blindsided by a legal loophole, Sahara is suddenly forced to confront the past she’s been running from. Juggling the guilty feelings of her past and the unexpected feelings of her present, Sahara’s future becomes complicated as she heads down a path of forgiveness, love, and heartbreak…and not in that particular order.

Back to Life reminds you that living and existing are two completely different ways to go through life. Grief will break you but guilt, guilt will destroy you. And once that happens, what can bring you back to life?

CLG Review of  Back to Life

4 (out of 5) lattes

A Nicely Done Coming-of-Life Story

After reading the book description of Danielle Allen's BACK TO LIFE, particularly the last three sentences, I was moved to read this book: "Back to Life reminds you that living and existing are two completely different ways to go through life. Grief will break you but guilt, guilt will destroy you. And once that happens, what can bring you back to life?" This alone made the story sound real to me, so I jumped in, hoping the book was as good as its hook.

It is.

Allen presents us with Sahara Lee, a character that is real, that is flawed, that is hurting and searching. I connected with her quickly. And I think other readers will, too, and because of that, they will follow her through her journey of dealing with and recovering from a past tragic accident and its effects so that she can have a future worth walking toward. In a lot of ways, BACK TO LIFE feels like a coming-of-life story about Sahara, but it's also a story about love of self and of others: finding it, accepting it, and embracing it. Allen does a good job with layering conflict in Sahara's story, and while reading it, though you'll think you know where the story is going, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the twists Allen plants. My only quibble is the abundance of description in the book. I like just enough description to paint a character and atmosphere and let me interact with it all while reading. Too much, and I tend to gloss over or skim to get back to the meat of the story. Despite that, this is a book I would recommend.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Leakes' Good vs. Evil Tale Is Great Read: Review of Kai Leakes' Sin Eaters

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Khamun Cross was born to do one thing and that was to watch Sanna Steele, a woman so unique and special he would risk his all to have her. So what, that in his job of watching her, he happens to prowl the streets, hunting the very things that go bump in the night. Even monsters or everyday looking people that steal humans' souls become Khamun's victims, and he brings with him a power, a vampirism, that would send one straight to the dark.
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Khamun craves the darkness in his victims as if it were his own personal dinner, but not as much as he craves the very woman he has been ordained to watch over as her Guardian Angel. Sanna Steele is just your average twenty-seven year old, with your everyday hopes, dreams and insecurities. She is clueless about the war that is secretly raging around her in the streets of St. Louis. A war she will soon become a part of. But what is so special about Sanna that the very things that go bump in the night, seeks to snatch her from her very existence in life?

CLG Review of  Sin Eaters

4.5 (out of 5) lattes

Leakes' Good vs. Evil Tale Is Great Read

A good beginning, complex and engaging characters, and driving plot can woo me... hard. Leakes' good vs. evil tale, SIN EATERS, has all of these components and others, such as some rockin' action. Good vs. evil tales are classic. It's easy to try to write one, but it can be difficult to make the story unique. Leakes doesn't have this problem. Her ability to describe place and atmosphere helps to make this tale her own. Her characters' quirks, conflicts, and actions, again, help to differentiate her from the pack. Leakes' entry into urban paranormal (supernatural thriller added onto that genre title) is a success for me. I look forward to seeing how she further develops and deepens her characters' histories and the world and situations in which they must do battle. For those that love action, paranormal, and fantasy, even thrillers, this is definitely a book to pick up and read. For those that are not... give it a try. You might be surprised.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Great Christian Fiction: Review of Shana Burton's Flawfully Wedded Wives

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Just when Sullivan, Lawson, Kina, Angel, and Reginell finally think they've gotten life figured out, fate steps in and throws them a curve ball, adding fuel to the drama that seems to follow the ladies wherever they go.

Mt. Zion's first lady, Sullivan Webb, has left her philandering ways behind her, but lingering questions surrounding her daughter Charity's paternity motivates Sullivan to seek out her own absentee father, Pastor Samuel Sullivan. What her search uncovers is years of lies, secrets, and betrayal that threaten to destroy the lives of almost everyone she loves.

Kina Battle's newfound celebrity status as the winner of a popular weight-loss reality show goes to her head as quickly as she shed the unwanted pounds from her figure. Kina is prepared for the fame, endorsement deals, and celebrity appearances that come along with stardom. What she isn't prepared for is the harsh backlash when her secrets are exposed and the public starts to question whether she is the devout Christian that she's led everyone to believe she is.

Lawson Kerry Banks could get over her husband's affair if the evidence wasn't staring at her through the eyes of his love child, Simon. Lawson's insecurities and inability to accept his child force Garrett to choose between the woman he loves and the child he's fathered.

Life as the soon-to-be wife of high school football coach Mark Vinson lacks the excitement of Reginell Kerry's former life. It certainly lacks the financial security that pulling down $1000 a week as an exotic dancer afforded her. When the bills start to pile up, Reginell goes back to doing what she knows best, only this time it may cost her more than she's willing to pay.

Angel King's broken heart finds a safe place to mend in the arms of high school classmate Jordan McKay. He respects her decision to abstain from sex until marriage, he loves the Lord, and he adores her. However, Jordan is harboring a dangerous secret that could destroy their relationship and leave Angel brokenhearted once again.

The ladies often allow themselves to be led by their hearts instead of their heads, but this time, they will have no other choice but to listen to the voice of the Lord.

CLG Review of  Flawfully Wedded Wives

4.5 (out of 5) lattes

Great Christian Fiction

MAKE NOTE: Go back and read the other books in the FLAWS series because Shana Burton writes a GREAT book with Flawfully Wedded Wives. I enjoy reading Christian fiction and work hard in finding CF titles that don't preach to me. I want to be entertained. I want to be, sometimes, educated and enlightened. And it's even better if I am made to think about myself based on the characters and situations developed in a work of fiction. What I don't want is to be preached to and raked over the coals with religion. Burton works hard not to do this, and I think ultimately, it succeeds. She has wonderful characters in Sullivan, Lawson, Kina, Reginell, and Angel, five complex friends who are unique and thus given some unique issues and conflicts to resolve in their lives. Burton paints realistic characters that will connect with readers well. The drama that ensues throughout the characters' lives makes for a book that is difficult to put down. I'm anxious to see if the previous FLAWS novels keep me flipping pages, too.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Nights Over Egypt by Elissa Gabrielle: A Book Review

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Through spoken word performances, two poets unveil their love for one another. By way of eclectic beats, captivating words and rhythmic sounds over candlelight, they pour their hearts out for all the world to see at “Nights,” the venue by which true wordsmiths are born. Will King and Egypt ever find their way to one another? As indelible ink flows from the pens of these two poets, will love flow through their souls and unite them as one? An Elissa Gabrielle Original, “Nights over Egypt” will ignite the fiery passion that dwells inside the mind.

CLG Review of Nights Over Egypt

5 (out of 5) lattes

A Sexy, Poetic Treat

NIGHTS OVER EGYPT is a sexy, hot, poetic treat. I was instantly swept up in the story of Egypt and King, two poetic souls that find themselves falling in love hard and fast before words were ever exchanged between them in conversation... unless you count the sensual rhythmic vibes they serve to one another on the stage of Nights, a venue where those of rhythm, beats, and words let their poetry shine. I really enjoyed this story. This story has rhythm. It dances and moves and brings you into the rhythms of the characters, their feelings, their words, their actions. This story is sensual, from the poetry to the conversations between Egypt and King. This story is hot and sexy, and Gabrielle's movement of words and sentences during those sexy interludes had me nodding and wanting more. There are many reasons why I so dig this story, but my main reason is EGYPT. I feel her BIG time. She's sassy and saucy and knows what she wants and who she wants, but she's also insecure and unsure, and who wouldn't be when love strikes that fast and leaves you breathless and with head set to spinning? Her push and pull with King puts sizzle in their talks and electrifying heat in the moments when skin connects with skin. Read the story. Enough said.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Whisper to a Scream by Elissa Gabrielle: A Book Review

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The colors of love comes in several shades for Queen Thomas, and has been prevalent on her canvas of life as she continues to paint by the numbers. Successful beyond measure, but flawed to a degree where bright hues tend to fade a bit, happiness should be much more than an illusion. Queen is a young African American defense attorney passionately advocating justice for her brown-skinned clients, despite being subjected by black and blue bruises from her ex-boyfriend. Then there are the shades of gray that matters most when trying to balance the memorable scales of a loving relationship with a father that raised her as a single parent. Along with that are the dark clouds of uncertainty accentuating the need to suppress the void of missing the touches that only a mother can manifest.

Is a successful but committed relationship so hard to fathom where integrity and faithfulness is not compromised? The whispers get louder with promises of primal screams as the colors take on a different tint as the plot thickens. Enter Quincy Hughes, a handsome doctor easy on the eyes but with an underlying intrigue that allows curiosity to kill much more than the cat. Quincy is on a mission. He relentlessly pursues her despite his mystique, and forces Queen to question the taboo concept of accepted love vs. forbidden fruit; and whether there's a future in it for her. Is she ready to tackle the relevancy of this different persuasion? And what about her ex-lover -- will he settle for second best and allow Queen to pursue matters of the heart, albeit with someone else?

Sensual and brimming with sexuality, this heart-wrenching drama is groundbreaking fiction. A Whisper To a Scream is a sexy, moving and riveting tale that will pull you deep into an unforgettable erotic, socially-conscious, and emotionally-charged ride.

CLG Review of A Whisper to a Scream

4 (out of 5) lattes

A Suspenseful Story on Shades of Love and Overcoming Pain

Writers always hear how important it is to grab their readers from the start of a story. Author Elissa Gabrielle succeeds in doing that with her novel, A WHISPER TO A SCREAM. The violent, frantic, desperate first scene, at times, was almost difficult to read for its stark visuals, but you WILL read, and you WILL stay on the page. Gabrielle gives us an interesting main character in Queen Thomas. She's young, beautiful, a highly successful defense attorney with a father that loves her to pieces... and a boyfriend who seems to want to beat her body into pieces. Gabrielle gives Queen a lot to contend with. She's trying to leave her abusive mate. She's trying to deal with the lingering feelings she has for a loving mother that has been gone for years. She's trying to save her latest client's life and keep him out of prison. She's trying to avoid Dr. Quincy Hughes, a man that wants to love her but her staunch desire to not cross color lines in romance keep her at arm's distance. It doesn't help that someone she least expects seems to develop stalker tendencies toward her, too. I was a fan of the suspenseful qualities of the novel. Gabrielle does a great job in dropping intrigants in the story and providing pay-offs for them along the way. She layers these in really well. I also enjoyed the building of Queen and Quincy's relationship and the explosive consequences that occur toward the end of the story because of that relationship. Although there are places where the story could have been trimmed some, you shouldn't let that keep you from reading A WHISPER TO A SCREAM. The characters, the layering of suspense, the building of drama and conflict, and the surprising climax all make this a worthwhile novel to read.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Not Mine to Keep by Author YM: A Book Review

[Order Not Mine to Keep today at Amazon!]

Addison has been intense her whole life, and at the age of 10, she knows she has found the one person that will always be there other than her brother.

Latrell, the other person Addison trusts, wants nothing more than to just love her. She won't allow it.

The twists and turns throughout Addison's and Latrell's journey proves that nothing is ever hers to keep.

CLG Review of Not Mine to Keep

3.5 (out of 5) lattes

A Story of Love Lost, Remembered, and Kept

Love Lost. Love Remembered. Love Kept. These are at the heart of YM's novel, Not Mine to Keep. In the story, we meet Addison, a woman who knew at a young age what love was and who she would love forever. Although she loses that love, she manages to keep something close that always reminds her of it. Eventually, Addison learns that even those things you keep don't always stay with you. I liked how YM framed the story, connecting the reader with a gripping beginning and ending that encased the heart of the story: how Addison and the love of her life came to be... and not to be. I found Not Mine to Keep to be a good read, especially because of the story's framing and the tenderness in which YM tells the story. There were, however, some things that jarred my reading, such as sometimes not knowing who was speaking and wanting a slower pace in some places and further development of the goings on of the story.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Persephone by Kaitlin Bevis: A Book Review

[Order Persephone today at Amazon, BN.com, and the publisher's Website!]

There are worse things than death, worse people too.

The “talk” was bad enough, but how many teens get told that they’re a goddess? When her mom tells her, Persephone is sure her mother has lost her mind. It isn’t until Boreas, the god of winter, tries to abduct her that she realizes her mother was telling the truth. Hades rescues her, and in order to safely bring Persephone to the Underworld, he marks her as his bride. But Boreas will stop at nothing to get Persephone.

Despite her growing feelings for Hades, Persephone wants to return to the living realm. Persephone must find a way to defeat Boreas and reclaim her life.

CLG Review of Persephone

4 (out of 5) lattes

Fun, Engaging Spin on a Greek Myth

Sometimes, you just want to be entertained, and Kaitlin Bevis delivers much entertainment in book one of her Daughters of Zeus series, Persephone. Bevis immediately sets us up with a great character in Persephone. Persephone, a high schooler who deals with all the insecurities that comes with being a girl in high school, learns that she comes with something a bit more different from all the other girls: she's a goddess. I enjoyed seeing Persephone move in her real-life spaces and dealing with things, such as the cute guy being interested in her, and the jealous girls hating on her, and her--being so beautiful and hated on--not really seeing her true beauty and worth. Seeing this same girl then having to realize the truth of her goddess status and the consequences of that status makes Persephone even more appealing as a character. If you are a fan of the Greek myth of Persephone and Hades, or of Greek myths in general, I think you will appreciate this modern retelling. Bevis provides great characters, strong description, and a vivid imagination throughout this novel. Definitely engaged me enough to head straight to the next book, Daughter of the Earth and Sky.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Crimson Footprints I and II by Shewanda Pugh: Book Reviews

[Order Crimson Footprints today at Amazon!]

When an insecure woman begins a cloak-and-dagger love affair with a Japanese American man, she is intent on keeping her bigoted family in the dark albeit with devastating consequences. On the night of her brother's murder, Deena Hammond stumbles upon Takumi Tanaka, lost and on the wrong end of a .32. After rescuing him from the certain fate driving through the hood in a Porsche will bring, a sweet kind of friendship begins. A balm for her grief. Maybe, Deena likes to think, it happened the day her white mother killed her black father. Or maybe, it was always a part of them, like DNA gone bad. Whatever the case, Deena knows that her family would never approve, hell, never acknowledge her fast-growing love for Takumi. And had he never made love to her that way, in that unraveling, soul-searching sort of way, she could've done the same. But loves a devil that way. So, their game begins. One where they hide what they are from everyone. Anyone. And Tak understands this for now. After all, Deena's career hinges on the favor of her mentor and boss, his hard-ass of a father. And the Hammond family is already stretched thin with grief. Yet, each step Deena takes toward family and career brings her closer to an acceptance shes never had. And away from him.

CLG Review of Crimson Footprints

5 (out of 5) lattes

A Romance with Literary Bite

Shewanda Pugh's Crimson Footprints is a beautiful story of angst, family, and love. From the very first sentence or two, I was brought into Pugh's strong storytelling skills, her way of writing just the right words for the story, words that sound and feel right when read aloud, too. Character is often the big component of a story that keeps me reading. If there is a wonderful character, I want to see what happens to him or her. Pugh's development of characters is wonderful. The main character, Deena... wow. Pugh deftly weaves a unique, deep, and intriguing character with Deena, using a complex host of characters to not only flesh out the overall story but to also develop Deena's character. The delicate hand that Pugh uses to paint this story is one not often seen in a debut novel. It's obvious that Pugh considered language, the sound and movement of it. Considered the complexities of life and how one tries to find happiness in the midst of sadness, grief, and heartache. Considered that even in happiness, there are still glimpses of sadness, grief, and heartache. She made me feel for her characters, made me become an active reader in the experience of seeing this story unfold. Can't wait to jump into Part 2.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Order Crimson Footprints II: New Beginnings today at Amazon!]

An eleven-year-old boy hitchhikes 1500 miles from Bismarck to Miami; a prostitute yearns for escape from a prison of her own making, and the horrible secrets of a long-ago murder are unraveled in the shadows of one woman's dreams. Lizzie Hammond is an ill-fated whore that believes in little, save her own ultimate demise. Kenji Tanaka is a pseudo-architect, content to hide in the shadows of his family's overwhelming success. Neither can stand the other. But the appearance of a boy only rumored to be true helps them discover that two unlikely halves can fit together as the perfect whole. For Lizzie Hammond and Kenji Tanaka, redemption is found in the most unlikely of places: each other, even as the world around them disintegrates.

CLG Review of Crimson Footprints II: New Beginnings

4.5 (out of 5) lattes

Pugh Brings Another Great Story

You never know what to expect in life... and in books it appears. In Crimson Footprints II: New Beginnings, author Shewanda Pugh illustrates this very well. Many of the themes in this novel echo what I found in the first book: overcoming the past, dealing with family drama, building love in the family, developing self-worth. We get to see the further development and growth of characters we learned to love in book one, and we get to see this current story unfold on a character that probably left many readers cold in the first book: Lizzie. I have to admit, she was not my favorite character in the first book, and wasn't in this book either, but Pugh's ability to construct a character's identity so that we see a living, breathing person full of flaws and dreams and desires makes you want to see a change come for that character. I had that for Lizzie... and for Kenji, another major player in the story. This is a strong story, a great follow-up to Part 1. I still favor Part 1; that first paragraph hooked me so in that book! Having finished Part 2, I'm left wondering what treats Pugh will bring to readers in her next work.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Recipe for a Happy Life by Brenda Janowitz: A Book Review

[Order Recipe for a Happy Life today at Amazon, BN.com, 

Indiebound, Books-A-Million, Powell's, and Apple!]

There’s more than one recipe for a happy life.

Hannah Goodman doesn't grow up like most kids on the Upper East side. Her mother, Gray, is an award-winning photojournalist with little time for the banalities of child-rearing, and when she's not jetting off to follow the latest scoop, she's camped out at the Hotel Chelsea. The closest thing Hannah's got to a traditional matriarch is her grandmother—a glamorous widow six times over with a sprawling Hampton’s estate. But Gray is determined that her daughter resist the siren song of the trust fund set, and make her own way in the world. So Hannah does just that—becoming a successful lawyer in New York City, and dating a handsome musician. Hannah has it all, or so it seems, until one hot June day the carefully constructed pieces of her life break apart. When she throws it all in and seeks solace at her grandmother's estate, she discovers that where happiness is concerned, you don’t have to stick to the recipe.

From the author of Jack with a Twist and Scot on the Rocks comes a charming, clever, and romantic novel about three generations of women with a culture all their own.

“Brenda Janowitz has found the recipe for a great summer read: a dash of Hampton's glamour, a sprinkle of romance, and a cup of a feisty heroine you won't soon forget. RECIPE FOR A HAPPY LIFE will keep you charmed from beginning to end.” -Julie Buxbaum, author of After You

CLG Review of Recipe for a Happy Life

5 (out of 5) lattes

A Wonderful Story of Family, Love, Loss, and Moving On

A funny thing happened on my way to read just a few pages of Brenda Janowitz's latest novel, Recipe for a Happy Life: I couldn't stop reading. My goal was to get the first chapter in, get a feel for the story, and then come back later to finish and write my review, but the story pulled me in immediately, and every time I tried to walk away from the book, I couldn't. I'm a fan of Janowitz's and loved her first two books, but this one is by far her best. She gives us a wonderful heroine in Hannah Goodman, a woman who is complex and unsure and insecure... and wanting: of loving family bonds, a good romantic relationship, and love. Janowitz's supporting characters pulled my heart just as much as Hannah did. I love how unique each character is and how they all have their own stories that affect them... and Hannah, like they should: they are they to support her, after all. One thing I'm a big fan of in writing is good scene development, good chapter development and leaving readers with those endings that make readers HAVE to read on to see what happens next. Janowitz never disappointed with this. After every scene, every chapter, I was rushing to whatever was next. I think my favorite thing about Recipe for a Happy Life is that I FELT. I was MOVED. It's been a while since big, fat tears rolled down my cheeks because I cared that deeply about the goings on of a fictional character. And yet they did roll on to the end. I'm so looking forward to seeing what Janowitz writes next; she's set the bar pretty high for herself. And here's hoping this story makes it onto the big screen. Would LOVE to see that happen!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box by Valerie J. Lewis Coleman: A Book Review & Feature

THE BOOK

[Buy your copy of The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box at The Goody Box Website!]
THE FORBIDDEN SECRETS OF THE GOODY BOX – What your father didn’t tell you and your mother didn’t know...

Successful. Beautiful. Intelligent. Yet a satisfying relationship eludes Debra Hampton. At thirty-five years old, she can’t figure out why her philosophy on men—and what they want from women—isn’t working. She’s trapped in a cycle of shattered relationships, until a friend refers her to a relationship guru. After some resistance, Debra finds refuge in his counsel as he helps her navigate through the storms of rejection and failed love. Once he reveals the error of her ways, will Debra master the forbidden secrets to attract her soul mate or continue to keep love at bay?

CLG Review of The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box

4 (out of 5) lattes

Entertain and Inform All in One Novel

There is definitely enough drama and wisdom in The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box to entertain, engage, and perhaps even teach those who read the novel. Author Valerie J. Lewis Coleman wastes no time in getting readers into the heart of the story as by the first couple of pages, we're thrust into the relationship woes (and some great fighting skills!) of one of the main characters, Debra Hampton. It's hard to put down the book when an author snags you that quickly. What I enjoyed the most about Goody Box is Coleman's ability to paint true-to-life circumstances and well-developed characters. Development like this on both levels works in two ways for the book: 1) the development keeps readers close to the characters and makes readers care about what the characters go through (great for a novel!) and 2) the realistic portraits will leave readers thinking about the situations these characters go through and pulling the wisdom found in the book into their real-life situations and conversations. As much as I enjoyed Goody Box, I wasn't thrilled with the ending. It had the ability to two things simultaneously: disappointment and leave me unfulfilled, yet leave me anxiously awaiting the sequel. Just have to wait until 2014 for it.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Taste of The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box

Chapter 1
For the Love of Vincent

Sunday-morning service stirred Debra Hampton’s heart. The poignant message convinced her to resolve a matter that had her torn for almost a year. She had been undecided about whether to marry her live-in boyfriend, Vincent. He didn’t share her religious beliefs and refused to go with her to church, but she knew that he was the best man for her. He laughed at her silly antics, talked with her about her ambitions and encouraged her to greatness. He made her the focal point of his life and involved her in every decision no matter how minute. But it was his touch that held her hostage, kept her toying with God’s love by giving herself to a man who was not her husband.

With her head bowed to hide the free-flowing tears, she exited the church without speaking to anyone. She sat in her Mercedes S550, took a moment to freshen her makeup, expelled a sigh of relief. She looked to Heaven through the panorama sunroof, smiled, closed her eyes, gave thanks. The decision to accept Vincent’s proposal resonated; filled her with peace as she trusted the Lord with her soul mate.

The thirty-minute drive from the inner-city church to her suburban home gave her ample time to reflect upon the life they would build together: three children, business partnership and unlimited mind-blowing sex. The rush of blood to her southern bell—the name her mother called her vagina when she was a child—gave her pause. Fortunately, she was stopped at a red light. She clicked through the Sirius Satellite stations and then opted to enjoy tunes Vincent had downloaded to her iPod a few nights prior.

As she turned into Creekwood Estates—a lavish community north of Dayton—she admired the mansion-sized homes set hundreds of feet from the street. Manicured lawns featured rows of exotic trees, shrubbery and blooming flowers. Cobblestone driveways boasted luxury cars and backyards had customized gym sets or in-ground pools.

Her stucco and brick palatial home was small in comparison to those of her neighbors, but it was big enough for her family-to-be. She loved the side-entry, three-car garage because it camouflaged the unpacked moving boxes from passersby. She parked in the usual spot—closest to the mudroom door—and then she smiled wide. "He's home."

Debra grabbed her purse and Bible and then jaunted into the house. She placed her belongings on the granite countertop, careful not to make noise. Since the television wasn’t locked on a sporting event, Vincent had to be resting in the master suite. A 3,500-square-foot home and he preferred the family room and bedroom.
She slipped off her stilettos, tiptoed up the stairs. Her heart beat faster with each step. She wiped her palms together to dry the sweaty moisture, pressed her ear to the door. His subtle snores seeped through. She giggled and then covered her mouth to halt the escape of more laughter.

She opened the door, peeked in, swung it wide. “Vincent! What the devil?”

“Debra, what are you doing here?” After a quick dismount, he rummaged the floor for his Fruit of the Looms. "When'd you get home?"

“Who is this woman and why is she in my bed?” She ran to the side of the bed, towered over her betrayer. Breath stalled in her throat, eyes widened. “Catherine!”

Catherine—the first person to welcome Debra to the neighborhood—reached for her clothes, scurried to dress.

Debra lunged at her, snatched her by the ponytail, drew back her fist. Just as she connected with Catherine’s right jaw, Vincent grabbed Debra around the waist, pulled her away. She flailed her arms, kicked at his shins, head-butted him in the mouth. When he released her, she pursued Catherine who was halfway down the stairs, underwear in tow.

Debra leapt from the top stair, using Catherine as a landing pad. Spewing expletives, she pummeled her in the back of the head, until Vincent pulled her off.

He tightened his grip on Debra’s arms, spun her around to look him in the eyes. “Stop it!” A trickle of blood oozed from the corner of his mouth.

“I cannot believe you had that female up in my house.” The same channels that had released tears of joy now flooded her face in sadness. “Vincent, how could you?” She watched Catherine sprint through the backyard; battered, bruised and butt-naked.

“I tried to tell you, but—”

“You tried to tell me what? The last thing I knew, you were looking for an engagement ring.”

“I was…for Catherine.”

Debra’s head danced like a bobble-head doll, her vision blurred. Her body quivered and then went slack as she collapsed in Vincent’s arms.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A few minutes later, Debra awoke on the family-room couch. She picked up the note that set on the table.

Debra,

I’m sorry you had to find out like this. I’ll be back to get my things. I love you, but not enough to make you my wife.

Vincent

As she let the note float to the floor, the back door opened and then closed. The man whom she was willing to love forever had tiptoed out of the house and driven out of her life.

The agony of unreciprocated love left Debra in despair. Virtual restrainers confined her to the bedroom—the viaduct of deceit. She cried until her body heaved and the reservoir of tears was empty.


Chapter 2
Wallow

Depression infiltrated Debra and she withdrew into an abyss of desolation. She called off from work using a flare-up of Crohn’s disease as the reason. Given that her body responded with similar symptoms—loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, fatigue and diarrhea—she resolved that it was a legitimate excuse for at least a week of sick days.

The Author

Valerie J. Lewis Coleman has helped thousands of women across the nation find relational fulfillment. With over twenty years of experience in family and relationships, this expert has given advice on various issues including identifying the four types of male hunters, avoiding seventy percent of men who only want the goody box and winning the heart of Mr. Right-For-You. As she assists others with building strong relationships, she shares how she overcame personal struggles and offers proven techniques to help you get off the crazy cycle of relational demise in her bestselling novel THE FORBIDDEN SECRETS OF THE GOODY BOX! To learn more about Valerie, her books and overcoming relational matters, visit TheGoodyBoxBook.com. You can also check out Valerie on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Foolish by Donneil D. Jackson: A Book Review

[Buy your copy of Foolish today from Amazon!]
As one of the hottest radio personalities, Kayla, the Gossip Queen, has the fast-paced, glamorous life that many dream of. But one thing eludes her. Love. Growing up in a family where her father was nothing more than a monthly check, Kayla sets her sights on finding true love, even if he comes attached to another. She’s determined to create the perfect family of husband, wife, home, and children--even if she has to slip up and make a ton of mistakes along the way.

After a decade of being with a man who constantly makes her question her role in his life and her vision of the perfect family, Kayla has to ask herself, "Am I right to fight for this love, or am I being foolish?"

CLG Review of Foolish

4 (out of 5) lattes

Every once in a while, I come across a character that makes me want to throttle them because of the choices they make. Kayla, the main character of Donneil D. Jackson's Foolish is one of those characters. And because of my need to throttle, I felt compelled to continue reading to learn of her ultimate fate. Kayla is a hot radio personality. She's beautiful, leads a glamorous life, and wants nothing more than to find love, settle down, and live happily ever after (HEA) with her family and her fabulousness. When she meets Shawn, Kayla thinks she has found THE ONE, but the ten years of roller coaster living with him, full of betrayals, lies, affairs, and heartache, says differently. The big question of Foolish is will Kayla continue to make excuses and stay in her relationship: is she foolish, or is it really love? Jackson gives us a character we want to follow until the book's ending; we want to see the drama unfold--and there is so much drama that unfolds. We want to see how her friends, whose lives are just as dramatic and fabulous, affect what Kayla does or doesn't do in her pursuit to find her slice of HEA. Foolish and Jackson's development of Kayla will definitely make you emote and react... and will make you think about JUDGING. Do we judge the Kaylas of the world, or do we try to understand what makes them tick and empathize?

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Major Jazz by Niyah Moore: A Book Review

[Buy your copy of Major Jazz today from Amazon and the publisher!]
"Our heated passion created some of my best compositions, but I was cursed with my daddy's blood." Major Ingram knew better than to get into a committed relationship. As much as he witnessed the heartbreak his father inflicted upon his mother, he didn't want to make the same mistakes. When his father finally walked out on them for good, his mother was broken. Something he saw and she felt for years. Major didn't want to hurt any women that same way, but it seemed as if he could never tell Sallie Aquino he loved her because there was only one her and that was his music. Major's father was a saxophone player who played the blues. He spoon-fed Major the love of music from the first day he opened his eyes to the world. Though the sax was in his blood, Major fell in love with the ivory and ebony keys the first time he heard a piano. Major developed his own passion with jazz music and by the age of sixteen, he had landed a paying gig at Bop City, an after hours nightclub in Fillmore. Fillmore, the 'Mo, was like Harlem on the bay. Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington and Duke Ellington all fell into San Francisco the way they had in the Big Apple. Back in '51, the Victorian styled homes, housed finely dressed black people who owned their own businesses from cleaners to restaurants to jazz spots. They worked mornings during the week and enjoyed local and celebrity musicians at night. Up and down Fillmore Street, clubs and restaurants lined up one next to the other. On Friday nights, they went from club to party to bar until the early hours of Monday while music played nonstop. Loosely based on true testimonies, the Fillmore Jazz Era comes back to life through the fictional characters: Major Ingram, Kae Taylor, Sade and Sallie Aquino, and Frank Blue. They made jazz heartfelt through their own stories. This love story just isn't about falling in love, but how they each fell in love with a neighborhood, a scene and her, jazz music. The Fillmore Jazz Era is gone, most of the neighborhood was torn down by the Redevelopment Agency by the 1960's, but it's not forgotten, and the love for Bebop, Jazz, R&B, and Blues music that once existed remains in the heart and soul of Fillmore forever.

Watch the trailer for Major Jazz!

CLG Review of Major Jazz

5 (out of 5) lattes

I could tell you what the book's about, but I'll leave that to the book description. Instead, I'll tell you why I really enjoyed Niyah Moore's MAJOR JAZZ: setting, character, plot, and sense of community. I love when I read a story in which the setting is an integral character, and in Moore's novel, through her development of the 50s/60s jazz period that highlights the Fillmore Jazz era, readers are brought in to truly experience through all the senses a thriving time. The music, the atmosphere, the space all play an important role in how this story develops. Moore also paints wonderfully intriguing characters. What I love most about the characters? How each character's dialogue distinctly sets them all apart. I can hear, feel the differences among them. From the start of the novel, Moore sets a great pace for her plot, and it's a plot, a story that goes beyond just the dramas and conflicts of the characters to that of community and the importance of every facet of that community to an individual's life. This is a novel that I could read again, and there aren't that many of those in my collection. I'm definitely interested to see how Moore can top MAJOR JAZZ in her next novel.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

How to be Almost Famous in Ten Days by Kathleen Allen: A Book Review

[Purchase at Amazon]

17-year-old Cassie wants to be “seen,” so when she finds a book of rules on how to be famous in ten days, she devises a plan---with the help of her BFF---to do just that. Cyrano de Bergerac meets Comedy of Errors with a teen girl.

Watch the trailer for How to be Almost Famous in Ten Days!

CLG Review of How to be Almost Famous in Ten Days

4.5 (out of 5) lattes

Kathleen Allen's How to be Almost Famous in Ten Days is a fast-paced, funny, and endearing story about a young girl who wants more than anything to be seen and realizes that to be seen by others she needs to first truly see herself. From the first page, Allen gives us readers a main character we can sympathize and empathize with in 17-year-old Cassie, interesting and engaging characters that help to develop Cassie's story and set their own subplots, and conflict that escalates with each new chapter. I told myself I was going to open Allen's novel and read the first chapter before getting back to work. A little over two hours later, I was sad to have finished the book. Teens (and adults) looking for a quick, entertaining read with a message should give How to be Almost Famous in Ten Days a try.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

How to be Almost Famous in Ten Days Excerpt

My fingertips drifted across the dusty books stacked haphazardly on the shelf. I wasn’t looking for any particular book title—just wasting time while Rachel searched for a book in the romance section. I walked around the second hand books piled in haphazard stacks on the faded brown carpet in search of a science fiction. Closing my eyes as my fingers flitted over the books, I played a game I used to play when I was younger. If some book wanted me to read it, I’d know by the feeling the book gave me. Forgetting about the piles everywhere I ran into one—or two, I’m not sure—I opened my eyes just as I fell, sending the piles sprawling across the floor.

Which, by the way, smelled and looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in centuries.

Rachel called out, “You okay, Cassie?”

“Yes,” I mumbled, sitting up.

No clerk came to my rescue, so I began to restack the books. My elbow was a bit scraped a bit, but otherwise no damage. Sighing, I continued piling up the books until a small yellow book caught my eye.

“How to Be Famous in Ten Days,” I read aloud.

“What?” Rachel asked from the other side of the aisle.

“I found a book,” I yelled back.

Indie-Friendly Book Reviewers

I came across this link the other day, and I think it's a good one to check out, especially for those who are self- or indie-published and for those who publish their works for Kindle. There are a slew of reviews on this list who do read and review these works, so check them out. Link is provided [here].

BOOK BYTES: INTERRUPTION: The Gospel According to Crystal Justine (review)

4 out of 5 Rating



Worth the Interruption

When reading a book, I love to be entertained; even more so, I love to be taught something, and while reading Tracey Michae'l Lewis' latest novel, INTERRUPTION: The Gospel According to Crystal Justine, I definitely received big helpings of both.

Crystal Justine is a young woman in a long line of women in her family to endure a devastating generational curse, a curse that finds the weakest part of the women to crush their spirit and kill them. CJ has a slew of issues, many of them stemming from the mother who succumbing to the curse, died when CJ was young. CJ, searching for a life that is all hers and all good, must battle for every good thing she wants, for evil refuses to allow her to be the interruption to stop the curse from coursing through her family's veins.

Aside from the story itself, which I really enjoyed, my favorite part of this story is its discussion (through literature) of "the generational curse." We are set for victory, but there are a lot of forces that don't want us to succeed, and sometimes, those forces go beyond dealing with a person one-on-one; it infiltrates an entire family, an entire bloodline for the sole purpose of completely obliterating that family.

Lewis' novel vividly shows us how these forces can use everything against you, to include your family, to break you down, but there can be victory if you keep your eye on God, keep your heart on what's true, and what your mind focused on what's right.

I look forward to seeing what Lewis can teach us with her next novel.







Click the cover to order your copy of INTERRUPTION: The Gospel According to Crystal Justine today!

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.