Review: The Governor's Wife by Amaka Azie

The Blurb

Newly separated Ogonna Moneke has come to Abuja to open a safe house for abused women. Luck is on her side when the perfect site falls into her lap...until she learns who owns it. The chances of Philip Adamu renting to her are slim to none. Why would he when she dropped her financially struggling college sweetheart like a hot potato to marry someone else?

Real estate tycoon Philip Adamu can’t believe his eyes when Ogonna struts into his office. Seven years earlier, the gold digger had kicked him to the curb to marry a wealthy politician. Now she needs him, more like needs his property. Vowing not to rent her so much as a dog house, Philip shows Ogonna the door. But can he resist the feelings he’s denied for so long when he sees her flirting with a rival developer?Sparks fly the moment they meet again. But he’s engaged and she’s still hiding the dangerous secret to her marriage.Can love and forgiveness overcome the lies and deceptions?Can they trust each other and the future they’d once dreamt of? 

My Review

This book did a good job at tackling a sensitive yet important issue. I don’t give spoilers, and because its not mentioned in the blurb I can’t tell you what it is.  I would’ve liked to see a more detailed account of how Ogonna dealt with what she went through, but all in all I was pleased with how the issue was handled.

This was a story of second chances. Once I learned the reason why Ogonna and Philip had initially broken up I was pushing for them to get together. It was too bad they’d had to spend the years apart, but the separation helped them to grow and mature. Their relationship was a sweet story. Not to say that Ms. Azie didn’t bring on the heat, because she certainly did.

I give this book four out of five apartment shaped chocolate bars.  

     

I purchased my copy from AmazonUK.

Review: Evening Primrose by Kopano Matlwa

The Blurb

With urgency and tenderness Evening Primrose explores issues of race, gender and the medical profession through the eyes of a junior doctor.

When Masechaba finally achieves her childhood dream of becoming a doctor, her ambition is tested as she faces the stark reality of South Africa's public healthcare system.

As she leaves her deeply religious mother and makes friends with the politically-minded Nyasha, Masechaba's eyes are opened to the rising xenophobic tension that carries echoes of apartheid.

Battling her inner demons, she must decide if she should take a stand to help her best friend, even it comes at a high personal cost. 

My review

Despite the brightness of the cover and thinness of the book, this was a very heavy read. From the heroine suffering from an embarrassing potentially debilitating condition when she was younger, losing someone she cared about, and joining a profession that attempted to break her down even though she’d wanted it since childhood.

The experience she went through in her attempt to stand up for what she thought was right was heart wrenching. And yet like so many things in life once a person has suffered through the torment and gotten through to the other side, everything worked out.

I found this to be a difficult read because it was sad throughout. The heroine lived a privileged yet challenging life that was well portrayed by the author.

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

I purchased my copy from the Ghana Must Read Book Club. It is available on Amazon and other retailers.

Review: My Joy (California Love Book 1) by Suzette D. Harrison

The Blurb

Joy Matthews isn’t afraid of risks. She’s quit her Fortune 500 job and enrolled in culinary school, chasing her dream. Joy wants her own couture cake boutique. Pursuing her dream by day, Joy pays the bills working nights at The Hourglass—an exclusive gentlemen’s club catering to patrons who enjoy "a little extra fine on a woman’s frame." Joy’s catching up to her dream when a chance encounter reconnects her with Quinton Daley, a childhood friend. Mutual attraction throws the proverbial wrench in Joy’s relationship-phobic, happily agnostic life. A goal-oriented woman who "doesn’t do men with Bible breath," Joy sees in Quinton a whole lot of what she likes but doesn’t need. Tall, chocolate-skinned, and born-again, Quinton’s Christianity poses a risk even the tenacious Joy isn’t willing to take. Quinton Daley isn’t fazed. He’s a man of faith who will willingly wait on Joy to come to God…and him. When love and lust heat up, Joy and Quinton face a predicament. Will they indulge? Or abstain? Join this wild mix of custom cakes, a saved, sanctified and sexy man, and an obsessed patron from The Hourglass who’s determined to make Joy’s life a sticky mess. It’s a recipe for a read that’s wickedly witty and delicious. 

My Review

This story is incredibly entertaining. I howled with laughter throughout the book. Joy, my sweetie pie book boyfriend Quinton, and most of the secondary characters were hilarious. The use of Ebonics intermixed with proper language was a wonderful realism of the characters that brought me in to their world.

There was quite a bit of suspense in the story that had me wishing someone would end up injured. That part of the story had me upset – on more than just one level – on behalf of Joy. What I liked was that she took responsibility for her contribution to the drama that entered her life. A super strong woman who knew what she wanted in life, at least she thought she did until Quinton showed up.

The romance between Joy and Quinton had me sighing – a lot. I loved the way they each, especially Joy, grew during the time they got to know each other. An amazing romance that I really wanted to see a happy ending too, but at times wasn’t sure would happen.

Don’t get me started on the delicious deserts Joy created. I wanted to crawl into the book and grab a taste.

This book, as Joy would say, was everything. It had so much in it that I had to take my time and savor it. A wonderful romance that left me longing for Book 2 in the series. I don’t know who will star in it, but I do know that I’ll be reading it.

Be warned that issues got really heavy in this book. Highly sensitive situations brought out quite a bit of seriousness. Just letting you know that you may end up sad and angry at times while reading. Even so, it’s so worth it!

I give this five out of five oven shaped chocolate bars.

I purchased my copy from AmazonUK

Review: The Spelled Stone (The Cursed Seas Collection) by Natalie G. Owens and Zee Monodee

The Blurb

To secure a future for her ocean world, one of her clan must be sacrificed.

Olinda “Ollie” Quorin is the heir to a dying Siren dynasty. However, when word comes that a Legacy Stone can save their deteriorating ocean, the clan elders choose her—the klutzy, expendable one—to make the quest, despite her royal heritage. After begrudgingly traveling to the surface, Ollie botches a spell and binds herself to a reluctant human male.

Kavan Daniels has learned to survive on the treacherous lands and coasts. He's prepared for everything ... except the Siren he can’t escape. Ollie needs a Mage to find the location of the Legacy Stone. Kavan needs the same Mage to break free from Ollie.

As they struggle against time to find the stone, they face conflict, danger, the monsters of their nightmares, and the complications of their unlikely pairing. Death is on their heels at every turn, and saving Ollie’s clan, as well as the surface world, may mean losing her own life.

Fans of The 100, Divergent, Tidelands, and twisted versions of Beauty and the Beast will love The Spelled Stone, a standalone novel in The Cursed Seas Collection. 

My Review

I’ve been wanting an interracial paranormal romance for a while. When I saw that this book was available I jumped on. From the first page to the last I was hooked.

First of all Olinda is so much stronger than she seems in the beginning. What she goes through while she lived in the sea as a Siren broke my heart. She was such a good and kind woman that I didn’t understand why she’d been treated in such a manner. When she reaches the surface, things change for the better and she becomes who she was meant to.

Kavan is tough and crass and he makes no apologies for it. Living on his own on the surface hasn’t been easy for him. Yet we get to see the most tender side of him when he encounters Ollie. It actually made me sigh to see his little gestures of caring towards her.

They are from two separate worlds, but they fit together perfectly.

There is one section of the story when I questioned why Ollie would even attempt to accomplish the impossible mission she was sent on. Her people had not been kind to the people of the land throughout history. When I read this part it reminded me of a highly controversial issue that happened in real life (you’ll have to read the book because I don’t give spoilers). Something unjust to the extreme that the Sirens did that made me angry and had me half hoping that Ollie would leave the stone right where it was instead of saving the ocean dwellers. But she has a more forgiving nature than me and did the right thing.

Something I loved about this book was that it left me on edge. I had no idea how it would end and that kept me reading long past my bedtime. A fantastic read.

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

I purchased this book from AmazonUK

Review: Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

The Blurb

In this poignant, hilarious and deeply intimate call to arms, Hollywood's most powerful woman, the mega-talented creator of Grey's Anatomy and Scandal and executive producer of How to Get Away with Murder and Catch, reveals how saying YES changed her life - and how it can change yours too. With three hit shows on television and three children at home, Shonda Rhimes had lots of good reasons to say no when invitations arrived. Hollywood party? No. Speaking engagement? No. Media appearances? No. And to an introvert like Shonda, who describes herself as 'hugging the walls' at social events and experiencing panic attacks before press interviews, there was a particular benefit to saying no: nothing new to fear. Then came Thanksgiving 2013, when Shonda's sister Delorse muttered six little words at her: You never say yes to anything. Profound, impassioned and laugh-out-loud funny, in Year of Yes Shonda Rhimes reveals how saying YES changed - and saved - her life. And inspires readers everywhere to change their own lives with one little word: Yes. 

My Review

This book is pure inspiration with huge dallops of humor thrown in. Ms. Rhimes did a wonderful job of sharing her year of yes. Her growth into a person she was destined to become. Such a fantastic read that I extended the time it took me to read it because I didn’t want it to end. And yet when it did, I was so happy for all that she’d accomplished.

With a little courage on my end, I may just be following her example.

I give this five out of five podium shaped chocolate bars.

I purchased my copy from AmazonUK.

Review: A Duke by Default (Reluctant Royals 2) by Alyssa Cole

The Blurb

Award-winning author Alyssa Cole’s Reluctant Royals series continues with a woman on a quest to be the heroine of her own story and the duke in shining armor she rescues along the way

New York City socialite and perpetual hot mess Portia Hobbs is tired of disappointing her family, friends, and—most importantly—herself. An apprenticeship with a struggling swordmaker in Scotland is a chance to use her expertise and discover what she’s capable of. Turns out she excels at aggravating her gruff silver fox boss…when she’s not having inappropriate fantasies about his sexy Scottish burr.

Tavish McKenzie doesn’t need a rich, spoiled American telling him how to run his armory…even if she is infuriatingly good at it. Tav tries to rebuff his apprentice, and his attraction to her, but when Portia accidentally discovers that he’s the secret son of a duke, rough-around-the-edges Tav becomes her newest makeover project.

Forging metal into weapons and armor is one thing, but when desire burns out of control and the media spotlight gets too hot to bear, can a commoner turned duke and his posh apprentice find lasting love?

My Review

Oh my goodness this book was the best! I loved A Princess in Theory, but this novel topped it. It had me laughing and tearing up. I now really want to learn European martial arts and take a trip return trip to Scotland.

 I’ll admit that I didn’t like drunk Portia from Book #1, but New Portia was amazing. The interesting part was that she didn’t know it, and that was part of her journey. She discovered a lot about herself during this story which made her tale more intriguing.

Tavish was hilarious, a gruff man for sure, but a sweetheart too. I wouldn’t want to be in his position of finding out his new status of royalty, but with help he handled it well.

The way Portia and Tavish’s attraction was described made me want to experience it for myself because it was incredible and consistent.

The story kept me on my toes. I almost took a peep at the end of the book in order to find out what would happen. This is a rarity for me.

I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. A Prince on Paper with Johan – sigh!

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

I purchased my copy from AmazonUK.

Review: My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

The Blurb

Satire meets slasher in this short, darkly funny hand grenade of a novel about a Nigerian woman whose younger sister has a very inconvenient habit of killing her boyfriends.

"Femi makes three, you know. Three and they label you a serial killer."

Korede is bitter. How could she not be? Her sister, Ayoola, is many things: the favorite child, the beautiful one, possibly sociopathic. And now Ayoola's third boyfriend in a row is dead. Korede's practicality is the sisters' saving grace. She knows the best solutions for cleaning blood, the trunk of her car is big enough for a body, and she keeps Ayoola from posting pictures of her dinner to Instagram when she should be mourning her "missing" boyfriend. Not that she gets any credit.

A kind, handsome doctor at the hospital where Korede works, is the bright spot in her life. She dreams of the day when he will realize they're perfect for each other. But one day Ayoola shows up to the hospital uninvited and he takes notice. When he asks Korede for Ayoola's phone number, she must reckon with what her sister has become and what she will do about it.

Sharp as nails and full of deadpan wit, Oyinkan Braithwaite has written a deliciously deadly debut that's as fun as it is frightening. 

My review

This is not the type of book I normally read, but I really liked it. The story was well written, jumping from scene to scene, but not in a way that left me frustrated at not being able to read a straight story. Instead the shifts in scenes intrigued me. The book was a page turner and I read it very quickly. 

I appreciated Korede’s resolve to stand by her sister, yet at the same time I didn’t like that she’d done it until another character brought up a striking point that had me looking at the situation from a different perspective. 

I, unlike everyone else in the book, did not like Ayoode (the serial killer). The fact that she had killed didn’t completely contribute to my dislike. When I opened the book I knew that Korede’s sister was psychologically unstable (hence the killings) and this was brought out insidiously throughout the book. Explained to the reader through vividly described scenes. Brilliant. I still didn’t like her. She possessed a selfishness that I detested and didn’t treat the one person she should’ve cared for most well at all.

The fact that the story took place in Nigeria was dispersed throughout the book through use of language clothes, food and gestures. It was great.

I give this book four out of five knife shaped chocolate bars.

I purchased my copy from the Ghana Must Read Book Club.

Review: Shadow's Dream (The Kyn Kronicles, #5) by Jami Gray

The Blurb

Bitter betrayals and hidden truths forge shattered dreams…

Cheveyo, the most powerful Magi in the Northwest Kyn, lives with one regret—walking away from Tala Whiteriver. When he is sent to broker an alliance with the Southwest Kyn, he recognizes his chance to rectify his mistake, but soon realizes the challenge may be more difficult than expected.

As the youngest Kyn to lead a house, Tala’s a force to be reckoned with, but her role came at a steep price. When an unprovoked attack by the Southwest alpha threatens her position and forces her to face judgment, she finds an unexpected ally in the man who once claimed her heart.

As a series of deadly events unfolds, tensions began to rise between the Southwest houses, with a Tala firmly trapped in the center. Before Tala and Cheveyo can quell the approaching storm, they must untangle a treacherous plot and expose the architects of a devil’s bargain designed to fracture the Kyn. Will Cheveyo and Tala be able to move beyond the confines of their positions and trust their hearts to forge new dreams before the impending nightmare sweeps them apart forever?

My Review

In keeping with the other books in the series (which I loved) Shadow’s Dream was filled with the perfect balance of paranormal action, fight scenes, emotional turmoil, romance, character growth, and twists (some more shocking than others).

I loved this book. Loved it. Cheveyo is a favorite of mine. So strong, calm and ultra-powerful. Tala had her own intense power and as the story progressed I learned the true relationship between Cheveyo and Tala and what they’d had to endure in the past to get to where they were in the present. They make an amazing couple who I rooted for from the beginning.

Raine and Gavin make a cameo in this story which made my day.

By the way I lost sleep while reading this novel because I didn’t want to put it down.

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

I purchased my copy from AmazonUK

Review: The Art of Love (Decades: A Journey of African-American Romance Book 4) by Suzette D. Harrison

The Blurb

Ava Lydell is chasing her dream. A gifted artist, she’s fled the violence of the Deep South for the seduction of sunny California. As luck would have it, the economic crisis of The Great Depression interferes with her hopes and plans. Without patronage and reliable sales, her fledgling art studio fails. Now, she faces poverty, eviction…and the distraction of a mysterious, young stranger engaged in a questionable trade that delivers danger to Ava’s front door.

In an age of Prohibition and poverty, Chase Jenkins has more than most Colored men. He’s savvy, successful, and hazardously employed. A bootlegger living on the wrong side of the law, he’s determined to discover who murdered his baby brother. He has no time for diversions. Especially one packaged in the form of a “midnight” beauty with sultry lips and curvaceous hips. Unable to deny her allure, he involves himself in her affairs despite better judgment. What begins as a crisis quickly becomes a risky romance. Join Chase and Ava on their journey to outlive danger and indulge in the art of love. 

My Review

Ms. Harrison knows how to throw a reader back in time and keep them there in a fantastic story. From the descriptions of the scenes, clothing, and even the vehicles, I was flung into the past as I read Chase and Ava’s romance.

Ava is a confident woman filled with fire, sass, courage and talent. She knew exactly who she was and what she wanted even though she didn’t know how to get there with her art. The book initially meets her in an argument and that’s how we get to know her throughout the story, not afraid to stand up for what’s hers. She had a true grit and strength, straight as an arrow with her personal morals without being overly judgmental when it came to other people’s lives. I really enjoyed this about her because it showed her tolerance for the way other people lived their lives and how she could still remain strong in her beliefs.

Chase – oh my goodness! The man was fine, smart, funny and just plain delicious. He’d taken risks in life and regretted that he’d lost his baby brother in the process, but not how he’d lived. Chase was a multi-dimensional character who swept me up with his charm. The kind of man I wanted Ava to end up with (but honestly wanted to keep for myself – a right and proper book boyfriend). He really knew how to handle himself. He made me sigh with his romantic gestures. Such a tough sweetie.

The twists, turns and revelations in the story made it a real page turner. A wonderful story that I hope continues with a couple of secondary characters that I wanted to see happily in love.

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

I purchased my copy from AmazonUK

Review: A Fistful of Honey by Malena Crawford

The Blurb

Her world is ending, but only she can stop all of existence from meeting the same fate…

This stunning novel begins when a pending divorce and job loss force Alena Ford out of her elite life in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and into a gritty section of Brooklyn. Stripped of everything, she is forced to face the demons of her past and the ghosts in her heart. When Alena befriends her eccentric neighbor Gloria, the woman’s stunning amethyst necklace and Black Madonna painting draw her into a world of ancient secrets, dark forces, and powerful magic.

It is a world in which black women are divine. Alena finds that it is up to her to save humanity from a universal evil, the Shetani. To succeed, Alena must first conquer her own darkness; if she loses, the fate of the world is at stake. A brilliantly crafted story that seamlessly grapples race, oppression, divinity, and the redemptive power of forgiveness. 

My Review

A wonderful story that broke my heart more than once while reading it. Alena’s journey to finding her true self was a tortuous experience. The story shows Alena at her lowest point and sheds light on how she got there, but the most extraordinary aspect of the book was how she got out of the troubles she’d been thrust into. The novel portrays her self-doubts but also her strength and courage as she struggles to become more than who she is.

The journey she takes isn’t only on the human realm, but the spiritual one as well. Not all of the aspects Ms. Crawford presented in the story resonated with me, but I enjoyed reading about spirituality from a diversified, perspective.

There were points in the book where I thought the author was talking directly to me. Teaching me a lesson through Alena’s life. I loved these moments. At the same time I didn’t agree with the concept of having a favored people- perhaps it’s because I’ve had a problem with it before reading this story.  I was slightly annoyed with the cliffhanger she presented, but not enough to deter me from loving the story. 

This was a wonderful book which I would highly recommend.

I give this story five out of five crystal shaped chocolate bars.

I purchased my copy from AmazonUK

Review: It's Always Been You (The Jacksons of Ann Arbor #1) by Elle Wright

The Blurb

They just crossed the line...Newly minted Dr. Lovely "Love" Washington plans to devote her medical career to helping women. But her own happy ending eludes her. Then one morning she wakes up in a Vegas hotel under the sheets with the very familiar and extremely charming Dr. Drake Jackson. The longtime best friends didn't only become overnight lovers. They got married, even if neither remembers tying the knot. And Love is tormented by sizzling memories of the passion-filled night they shared. Matters of the heart have always fascinated Drake. Now the aspiring cardiothoracic surgeon and in-demand playboy must confront his growing feelings for his oldest, most alluring, off-limits friend. Amid a disastrous family reunion and the unwanted attention of Love's persistent ex-boyfriend, the newlyweds are digging themselves deeper into a deception that has to end. Or does it? Has Drake finally found what's been right in front of him all along--the true Love of his life? 

My Review

I loved this book from beginning to end. I met Love in one of Ms. Wright’s previous books and I wanted her to have her own romance. Friends to lovers is my absolute favorite themes and I have read it presented in many different ways, but never in the same way as Love and Drake’s story. They had so much going against them (including themselves). These conflicts made their romance dramatic and propelled the story forward. It also helped that Drake and Love had such an intense chemistry, even though it brought up the question of how come they hadn’t been attracted to each other at that level in the past. Luckily for me Drake answers it, making me sigh with contentment.

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

I purchased this book from AmazonUK

Review: Bring the Heat (Dragon Kin #9) by G.A. Aiken

The Blurb

HE SAYS . . .
I, Aidan the Divine, am . . . well, divine. My name was given to me by the Dragon Queen herself! I’m a delight! Cheerful. Charming. And a mighty warrior who is extremely handsome, with a very large and well-hidden hoard of gold. I am also royal-born, despite the fact that most in my family are horrendous beings who don’t deserve to live. And yet, Branwen the Awful—a low-born, no less—either tells me to shut up or, worse, ignores me completely.

SHE SAYS . . .
I’ll admit, I ignore Aidan the Divine because it annoys him. A lot. But we have so much to do right now, I can’t worry about why he keeps staring at me, or why he always sits so close, or why he keeps looking at me like he’s thinking about kissing me. We have our nations to save and no time for such bloody foolishness . . . no matter how good Aidan looks or how long his spiked tail is. Because if we’re going to win this war before it destroys everything we love, we’ll have to face our enemies together, side by side and without distractions. But if we make it out alive, who knows what the future will hold . . .

My Review

I loved (repeat until the word sounds weird) this book from beginning to end. Catching up with all of my favorite characters while going on an adventure was amazing. Aidan and Branwen were wonderful together, but I could see it coming from the previous book. Branwen is a fantastic character, not as great as Annwyl – who is one of my all time favorites in all of female heroine history- but she holds her own.

This book should not be the first you start in the series because you will get lost. Once you start from the first book, you’ll eventually end up here because the stories are just too good to let go of. This book, like the others, was dynamic and engaging. It ruined me for other books for a few days because it was so dag on good.

I give this book five out of five chainmail shirt chocolate bars.

I purchased this book from AmazonUK

Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

The Blurb

Smart, warm, uplifting, the story of an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness and unconscious wit make for an irresistible journey as she realizes the only way to survive is to open her heart

Meet Eleanor Oliphant: she struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. That, combined with her unusual appearance (scarred cheek, tendency to wear the same clothes year in, year out), means that Eleanor has become a creature of habit (to say the least) and a bit of a loner. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy.

But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kind of friends who rescue each other from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is the story of a quirky yet lonely woman whose social misunderstandings and deeply ingrained routines could be changed forever—if she can bear to confront the secrets she has avoided all her life. But if she does, she’ll learn that she, too, is capable of finding friendship—and even love—after all.

My Review

I didn’t like Eleanor in the beginning of the book. She made me uncomfortable with her anti-social behavior, need to correct others, and her selfishness. Not someone I’d want to hang out with. As the story progressed I learned more about her through her interactions with Raymond, Sammy and others, she became incrementally more likeable. The horrific experiences she endured in life created the woman I met at the beginning of the story. The story of her transitioning into a more socially acceptable person was phenomenal.

Raymond became a true friend, someone she could count on when she hit her lowest point. I liked him from the first moment he came into the story until the end. Not a perfect person, but he was a good man.

I give this book five out of five vodka bottle shaped chocolate bars.

I purchased this book from AmazonUK.

Review and spotlight: Record of Wrongs (Redemption County 1) by Sharon Kay

Title: Record of Wrongs
Series: Redemption County #1
Author: Sharon Kay
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Published: August 1, 2017

Do your past mistakes define you forever? Cruz Zaffino leaves prison after a serving a decade for a crime he didn’t commit. With his life all over the internet, there’s nowhere he can go to avoid his illicit past. Involved with one of Chicago’s toughest gangs, he made enemies bent on ruining everything he has. Nowhere is beyond their reach. Every day, Rosie Marlow lives with the scars from the worst mistake of her life. It’s the one secret she has in her tiny, gossip-fueled town. When Cruz walks into her bar, covered in tattoos and dangerous attitude, she’s captivated. His rough sexuality makes her melt, and his harsh experience calls to her own broken soul. But her story is private and buried so deep, she’s never had the strength to share it. She’s the unexpected light to his darkness, yet he knows she’s hiding something. Sultry summer nights in each other’s arms weaken her resistance and taunt her with the idea of forever. But as his adversaries draw close, can she love him enough to let him go? My Review This book started off so sweet that I was a little thrown off balance (in a good way) when things heated up. The attraction was immediate between the hero and heroine, but they took time to get to know each other a little. I liked that.  After being unjustly imprisoned for 10 years, Cruz was sweeter than I anticipated he’d be. He had his moments of a tough guy who knew how to take care of his own, but for the most part he was a kind. He’d learned his lessons in jail and I liked that he’d grown from the rough teenager he’d been into a mature adult. It tickled me that he was so easily amused by the country lifestyle he’d discovered. Rosie was pure joy… well, mostly. Where initially you see a woman who has lived an ideal life in a small hometown, there was more to her. She’d suffered. She understood that the consequences of her actions was her fault, but wasn’t ready to forgive herself. Redemption was not only for Cruz, Rosie had her share to partake in, too. A wonderful story and a quick read filled with action, drama, and a sappy/hot as hell romance. I give this book four out of five cowboy boot shaped chocolate bars. I was given a copy of this book for an honest review.

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Sharon Kay writes award-winning fiction and can never get enough reading time. She loves winter and black coffee, and is endlessly inspired to write kick-ass heroines and the men strong enough to capture their hearts. Sharon lives in the Chicago area with her husband and son, and one weekend the idea for her Lash Watchers and tough leading ladies formed in her head, refusing to stay quiet until she put pen to paper. Her characters tend to keep her up at night, as they banter, fall in love, and slay endless varieties of power-hungry demons. Sign up for Sharon’s newsletter to keep up with her demons, see early cover reveals and be entered in periodic giveaways.

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Review: Taffy by Suzette D. Harrison

The Blurb

Welcome to the sleepy, all-Black southern town of Bledsoe, where Colored residents proudly declare “ain’t nothing white here ‘cept milk and teeth.” It’s 1935. A press-and-curl costs a quarter. Records play on phonographs. And a telephone is a luxury.

Meet twenty-three-year-old Taffy Bledsoe Freeman. She doesn’t need her gift of second sight to know her “mockery of a marriage” to a man twice her age is far from good. After a seven-year exile Up North, Taffy travels down-home to the small town bearing her family’s name, plotting her escape from a marriage not worth the price of a press-and-curl. She only needs to retrieve the son her husband banished to her parents’ care, before boarding a train headed for the Windy City filled with liberty and opportunity. Instead, Taffy stumbles into Roam Ellis: her long-lost love and the man Taffy meant to marry.

Twenty-six-year-old Roam Ellis is a “broad-shouldered, hard-bodied” Pullman porter riding the rails coast-to-coast, outrunning the bitter heartbreak Taffy left behind. Now, after a seven-year absence, Roam is face-to-face with his first love. Anger ignites. Old wounds are exposed. But when pain subsides, passion rises, thrusting Taffy and Roam into a hurricane of buried secrets and lies.

Reminiscent of the works of Bernice McFadden, Bertice Berry, and Andrea Smith (The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner) this Historical Romance is bathed in southern lore and sweeping imagery. Lyrical and powerful, Taffy is a story of restoration and redemption that you won’t soon forget. 

My Review

This is one of the most beautiful stories I’ve read in a very long time. The vividness of the writing was amazing and the tale was told descriptively without being overbearing or boring. The story held a plethora of emotion, dealing head on with issues that made me angry to those which gave me hope.

Taffy was an incredible woman who’d had to tolerate hardship which had made her grow up quickly. As the story progressed her strength, beauty, and good humor shone through although things had been immensely hard for her since she was sixteen.

I adored Roam. Absolutely loved him. He was everything a man should be, including forgiving. His younger self had a hard time dealing with what had happened with Taffy and I couldn’t blame him. His older self was perfection. A strong black man in a time when it was difficult to be one. He knew who he was as an individual, had goals, and worked to reach them, all while loving life (sometimes a little too much). His sense of humor, intelligence, and passionate nature made him one fine man.

The paranormal aspect of the book was intriguing. Taffy’s gift of sight and the story behind how she received it added strength and depth to the story and to the town of Bledsoe.

The one thing I didn’t care for was the head hopping in the book. It took a while to get used to. Other than that minor flaw I found it to be a fabulous novel. Absolutely stunning.

I give this book five out five  train shaped chocolate bars.

I purchased my copy from Amazon UK

Here's the Amazon US link.

Review: Fireworks at Midnight (A Witch’s Night Out #3) by Tara Quan

The Blurb

Recent college graduate and part-time cat familiar Dulcina “Sweets” Gato is having the worst New Year’s Eve in living memory. End of year expenses trigger serious cash flow problems, and her microwave just went up in smoke. To make matters worse, her best friend’s overprotective big brother is back in town, and his return threatens to put a huge crimper on her nocturnal activities. The only thing she can look forward to is Madame Eve’s 1-Night Stand service. After all, she’s sick and tired of being a 21-year-old virgin.

Enforcement Agent Mikal Knight is a warlock on a mission. Having finally scored a transfer to Washington, D.C., he’s now at liberty to pursue the object of his desires—his baby sister’s best friend. But first, he has a vigilante to track down and a mysterious matchmaking service to investigate. Sent on an undercover operation, he resigns himself to a pointless 1-Night Stand on New Year’s Eve. As luck would have it, his mystery date’s identity might let him kill several birds with one stone.

My Review

There isn’t a Tara Quan novel I’ve read that I haven’t loved. She has a fresh voice that makes me laugh out loud throughout while reading. And boy can she pack in the heat.

I love a friends to lovers’ trope. Add that both Dulcina and Mikal (totally yummy) are magical beings with amazing powers and enough attraction flaring between them to burn up the pages and you had me at hello. A fast entertaining read that ushered me into the new year.

I give this five out five microwave shaped chocolate bar.

I purchased this book from Amazon.

Review: A Passionate Love by Delaney Diamond

The Blurb

Simone Brooks and Cameron Bennett should not be together. She’s a wealthy socialite looking for a suitable husband. A man with the right pedigree and an economic status that matches her own. He’s part owner of the hottest nightclub in Atlanta with his siblings. Someone who loves cooking, the outdoors, and women, not necessarily in that order.

After one night together, their sizzling chemistry makes it difficult to stay away. Then comes the hard part—navigating their differences to salvage a relationship that, while it may be imperfect, overflows with love and passion. 

My Review

I have yet to read a Delaney Diamond book  I didn't like so I had high expectations when I picked up A Passionate Love. I was not disappointed.

My biggest question as I read through the book and fanned myself as things got hot between Simone and Cameron was how could these two people from succinctly different worlds maintain a relationship? Cameron is a hard working club owner who is, to be honest, a bit frugal in how he spends his money while Simone has always had money and knows how to buy, buy, buy and buy some more. Money can be a huge conflict between couples and I loved the way their issues were worked out in a realistic way through open communication, sheer will, and of course, love.

I give this book five out five cuff linked shaped chocolate bars.

I purchased this book from Amazon.

Review: Her Kind of Man (Edge of Scandal #3) #AARomance by Elle Wright

The Blurb

When Mr. Right is oh so wrong

I'll never let you go . . . Allina had always dreamed of hearing those words. But when her fiancé, Isaac, utters them, it isn't a promise-it's a threat. Scared and confused, with only moments before the wedding, Allina knows what she must do. Forget walking down the aisle; it's time to run. Back to Michigan. Back to Kent.

Kent has loved Allina for longer than he can remember. Out of respect for their friendship, he's never crossed the line, but when she turns up on his doorstep wearing her torn, tearstained wedding gown, the fire inside him ignites. He'll do whatever it takes to make Allina feel safe-like the beautiful, desirable woman she is. But as Kent and Allina grow closer, and their passion pushes deeper, it's clear that something bigger than a botched wedding still lingers between them . . . 

My Review

This book can be read as a stand alone.

I enjoyed the first two books of the series, but I loved this one the most. I honestly didn’t think I would like Allina as much as I did. Of the three women (Syd – so dramatic, Cali – tough as nails and awesome), I found Allina to be the odd one out in the first two books. She bordered on boring for me. Boy was I wrong. Yes she’s a good girl, but she has strength, grit, and courage to spare. She’d been through a lot in her life and her current fiancé doesn’t make things any easier.

Kent was one of my favorite characters from the beginning of the series. He’s sexy, intelligent, charming, kick ass, and did I mention sexy? He was perfect for Allina, and their transition from friends to lovers was so natural. And it was so romantic. All of it.

Now for the bad news. Allina did something that had me screaming at her because I thought it was a dumb move. The explanation she gave for her actions (after the fact) made it more understandable.  

All three books in the series were wonderful and I highly recommend reading them. I’m hoping for a fourth, but we’ll see.

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

I purchased this book from Amazon.

Review: Black Widow Witch by A.J. Locke #ParanormalRomance

The Blurb

A deadly curse, a dangerous assassin, and one shot to save everyone she loves… 

Malachi Erami can’t fall in love. After she’s caught with Knave, the witch Queen’s favorite lover, she’s cursed to savagely butcher any man she falls for. Exiled to live among humans, Malachi runs a bar that serves magic-laced drinks, but since her curse labels her high risk, she’s also closely monitored. Julian Vira is her latest babysitter, but he’s also the first man since Knave that she’s been attracted to. Good-looking and nonjudgmental of her horrible curse? Yeah, he’s hard to resist. 

But when Malachi finds a body behind her bar, she knows she’s in trouble. If the Witches Control Council gets wind of it, she’ll be accused of murder and sent to her death. And when her friends start getting framed for murder, she realizes she’s not the only target. Malachi and Julian dig into the evidence to clear her name, but the closer they get to answers, the closer the curse comes to taking over. So when Malachi uncovers a plot to kill the witch Queen, she finds herself suddenly recruited into service, with the promise of having her curse lifted and a reunion with Knave as well. But if she fails, Knave will die. And she and Julian might not live long enough to see that happen.

My Review

Every once in a while you read a book and wonder how come you’ve never read anything by that author before and then you rectify it by buying another book by her (I got Affairs of the Dead). A.J. Locke has done it for me.

I was most impressed by the two stories she told in one. Yes she took us back and forth through time to let us know what happened to get Malachi cursed, but both Malachi’s present day life and her life in the Averneath were intriguing.

Magic popped throughout this book, which was a good thing. I found it unique that the characters who had been cursed came from a land of witches where everyone had power. They were brought to earth to suffer for their sins (and in many cases just because the queen was a nutcase).

Which brings me to the all-powerful queen. One of the best villains I’ve read in a long time. There was no way anyone could mistake her for a good person. Not even when she tried to fake it. Those curses she came up with were evil-laugh genius.

I loved Malachi. Her power impressed me and so did her strength to survive the life she’d been dealt. The intense romance she shared with Knave was beautiful. I wish I could’ve learned more about Knave and Julian. Malachi was placed in an impossible position where she couldn’t fall in love without ripping someone’s head off. All too sad.

I give this book five out five shot glass shaped chocolate bars.

I purchased my copy from Amazon.