Prah, Constantine, and Baryeh Review: His Halloween Kisses by Kathy Bosman #ContemporaryRomance

 I hope you had a great October and that Halloween was full of treats rather than tricks. We decided on a Halloween themed romance which worked out nicely.

Remember to stop by Constantine and Baryeh’s blogs to see what they thought about the book.

 The Blurb

Ali’s never been so scared. She’s housesitting for a colleague on Halloween night, but the lights have gone out, and terrible noises and crashes send her imagination into overdrive. When her brother’s friend comes to her rescue, he kisses her in the dark three times. Once back in the light, Ali is embarrassed at allowing him to kiss her. Byron tries to ignore his strong attraction for Ali, especially seeing he’s not ready for a relationship. When Ali finds out why, she runs away, but life has other plans. What can bring them together? Fate, faith, or the memory of his Halloween kisses?

My Review

I knew this was a sweet book going in, but boy was I surprised (in a good way) to find so much passion at such an early stage. Ali and Byron’s attraction was instantaneous. Hyped up with the fear of the situation, it just exploded.

I have never enjoyed a holiday romance so much. I was excited when the book took us on a trip to South Africa. This was a fast paced story which kept me entertained for the whole short read.

I give this book five out of five pumpkin shaped chocolate bars.

I purchased my copy from Amazon.

Review: The Sabi by Diane Brown #Africa #Memoir

The Blurb

She does not know how, but has a sabi from her earliest memory that she was different. What she does know is that 'difference' had currency in the past, and it certainly still has currency today. The Sabi will have an effect on you - have no doubt about that. In her debut novel, Diane Brown takes a scenic and open-eyed walk down memory lane to the 1960's when apartheid was in full swing to the early 1990's when South Africa was beginning to sense freedom. She ventures further back in time to help solve the puzzle of the current time, how did South Africa become so angry and so violent? Writing from the heart to relate the events of her childhood and adolescence, the author takes you on a journey that will make you cry and laugh along with her as she tried to make sense of her life, the people around her and the system into which she was born. She is no doubt left extremely vulnerable and exposed in relating this account of her life. This honesty is anchored in an easy writing style which is deeply reflective, with an acute sense of contextual reasoning. She reflects on the news of the day in a 'free' country, tainted with the heavy stench of death, violence and abuse and notes that all too familiar script. She finally realises... Her story must be told.

Themes covered in this book: Race, Colorism, Violence, South Africa, Apartheid, Acceptance, Prejudice, Coming-of-age, Love, Liberation

My Review

I don’t usually read memoirs, but was compelled after encountering it on one of my favorite blogs (Mary Okeke Reviews). The story was incredibly sad and yet amazingly inspiring at the same time. Life for some people can be so difficult and seeing how they make it through can give an inordinate amount of hope.

Life in South Africa during apartheid could never be described as easy unless a person was white. For the ‘colored’ it was easier than for the blacks. I learned a bit a bit of South African History through this story and even more about their race relations and how people tended to see each other.

I’ll be honest, there were many aspects of the book that riled my anger because life for so many was unfair for so long. I could feel the truth in her experience and those of others.

Ms. Brown’s writing was smooth and engaging. It left me with a few questions, Such as ‘How in the world had she ended up so well adjusted after living the life she’d lived’.

A wonderful read for those who are curious about how South Africa got into their state of racial division and how it was maintained for so long. All with a mix of Ms. Brown’s personalized experiences thrown in to spice up the story.

I give this book five out five chocolate bars (white, milk, and dark).

I purchased this book from Amazon.

S is for South Africa #atozchallenge

In my latest release, Midwife To Destiny, Ora meets Jason on her vacation to South Africa. Last year I traveled to Cape Town  and gained weight (thought I'd share), but when I came back I had to make some changes to the book to allow the reader to see more of Cape Town than I had previously shown when it had only been the internet and my imagination guiding me.

Image from Wikipedia.com

Here are a few of my vacation pictures. As you can tell, I had a wonderful time.

Looking down on Cape Town.

I'm sitting in a huge ferris wheel taking this picture. 

Oops. I wasn't supposed use the flash. Sorry lovely Jellyfish.

Table Mountain on my bus tour. We look good together

Had to take a pic in with the pretty purple flowers at Kristenburg Botanical  Gardens

At the World of Birds, Wildlife and Monkey Sancuary.
So cute, but don't trust them, they steal.

It's always misty here, even when the sun is high. Beautiful.

One of my favorite pictures. I should have waved.

Blurb

Ghanaian nurse Aurora ‘Ora’ Aikins never expected to find the love of her life while on vacation in South Africa. Engaged to another and believing that love has no place in her life, she returns to Ghana, and puts duty and honor first.

Three years later, Dr. Jason Lartey still can’t get Ora out of his mind or his heart. After learning she never married, he takes a risk and moves to Ghana hoping to rekindle what they started. His sudden appearance in Ora’s Emergency Department sends sparks flying all over again.

They’re in the same country, working in the same hospital, and together but distance creeps between them. Can they make their destined love one for the ages?  

Buy Links

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