Let Me Hold You by Alexandria House (A Book Review)

Leland McClain is the youngest of the McClain siblings. He is a professional basketball player who also volunteers with a youth basketball camp at a recreational center. Leland has a thing for older women and sets his sights on the center’s director Kim Hampton. He is determined to make Kim Hampton his woman.

Kim Hampton is hard at work, running the center. The center is owned by her son, who is also a professional basketball player. Although she notices Leland and his good looks, she is determined to remain professional.

When a hostile incident occurs at one of the youth’s family home, it brings them even closer professionally. However, sparks begin igniting beneath the surface. Leland is all for it. Kim, not so much. Her troubled past, as well as a dark secret, is preventing her from freely acknowledging their relationship.

I enjoyed the story. Although it was very entertaining and had funny moments, it had a slightly darker tone than the first book. I especially like the updates on Jo and Everett, that was a welcomed surprise.

Leland was affirming and steadfast in his love for Kim. Kim’s strained relationships with her son and mom was a struggle to read. I hated seeing their interactions with Kim. However, I liked how House developed the conflict. Although it was uncomfortable to witness, it felt very real.

They (Kim’s mom and son) made me so mad; I had several “talk back” moments throughout the book. If I had the physical copy of the book, I’m sure I would have thrown it across the room. This is the third book I’ve read from this author. She is officially a mainstay of authors whose work I like. I’m so ready to get to the next installment in this series.

Rating 9/10

One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris (A Book Review)

Sara Lancaster left Georgia after she is raped. She vowed to stay away as long as she possibly could. However, she is forced to return home when her father becomes ill. With her eight-year-old daughter Alana in tow, Sara’s past meets the present and it’s both bittersweet and hopeful.

Jacob Wyler left Georgia under a cloak of shame. His rich and influential family was brought to near ruin in a trail of unfortunate events. His brother raped Sara Lancaster, his sister Naomi died in a car accident, his father Tom committed suicide, his mother Birdie, normally a cold and indifferent woman, became insufferable.

Jacob sought out work in faraway places as an astrophysicist while simultaneously attempting to rebuild his identity. However, visions of his deceased sister lead him to return home.

In Georgia, Jacob and Sara’s paths cross. Things get convoluted when love develops in the most unlikely of ways.

I read this story as a part of Libby’s Together We Read campaign. This was a very layered story. The theme of forgiveness was evident. I found the building blocks the author used to present forgiveness in the story to be unconventional. I personally found it difficult to grasp the idea of the romantic love that developed between Sara and Jacob. The idea for the concept was explained in the back of the book in A Conversation with the Author.

I do know love can form under unlikely circumstances. However, Sara didn’t want to speak about Daniel, barely wanted to utter his name, or want to see him. Sara’s reluctance and hang-ups about Daniel was still very apparent throughout the book, and rightfully so. So, her falling in love with his identical twin felt out of place to me.

Alana was the bright shining star for me in the book, such a breath of fresh air. She brought everything together. She was the healing source in more ways than one. I also enjoyed seeing the warmth displayed in Sara’s family. Sara’s father speaking only in poems was intriguing. I would have liked to know more about why he chose this way to speak. Overall, I liked this story. It was rich and intriguing.

Rating 8/10

Crush by Ivy Symone (A Book Review)

Jasmine has had a crush on Sean for years. After years of not seeing Jazmin as a romantic interest, Sean shift gears and entertains the thought of exploring something more substantial with her. Before long, they are involved in a full blown love affair. It’s everything Jazmin could wish for, even down to the impending parenthood between the two. But there’s a catch, Sean is married. Even more, he is married to Jazmin’s sister’s good friend, Rayven.

Jah is the edgy, loud, and rude guy in the friend group. He has full knowledge of the affair between Sean and Jazmin. When Jazmin gives birth to Sean’s baby, Jah becomes invested at first to help keep Jazmin and Sean’s situationship from being exposed. Things get complicated when Jah’s heart is held captive by Jazmin and her baby girl. Will this fire between Sean, Jazmin, and Jah remain contained?

I loved the quick pace of the story. Drama filled and hard hitting, it kept my interest. I read this book in less than a week. It definitely has the can’t put down factor. Sean had quite the nerve to be possessive of Jazmin while still being married to Rayven. I liked seeing Jah’s care and concern for Jazmin and her baby girl. It’s the first book in a series of 3. I will be reading the other books for sure.

Rating 10/10

Where Wild Peaches Grow By Cade Bentley (A Book Review)

Nona Davenport left Mississippi angry, hurt, and determined. Running away from everyone she knew, she heads to Chicago. She is estranged from her father and sister due to a betrayal that Nona takes deeply personal.

While away, she transforms into a different version of herself, a version she settles for but is far from owning fully.  She makes a new life, one that is built on the importance of history and truth, which is a contradiction to how she currently orchestrates her personal life. When her father dies, Nona returns home. She comes face to face with her own history; a history buried by denial, lies, and assumptions.

Julia Curtis is a woman with abandonment issues. All of which was brought on by her mother leaving as a child and her sister years later. Now she is tasked with burying her father. One of the first steps of this process is notifying Nona, her estranged sister of over 20 years. As she does, her abandonment issues comes to the surface. Will the sisters rebuild the bond they once shared or will the distance and estrangement between them widen the gap even further?

I wanted to like this book better than I did. I’m not against a slow burn at all, which I consider this book to be. There were too many chapters for it to move so slow. I loved the premise of the story. The multiple narratives in the story had many loose ends. With the different narratives not being tied in, it seemed disjointed at times and became an exhaustive read. It was rich with potential, but didn’t hold my attention. I was ready for it to be over.

Rating 6/10

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson (A Book Review)

Eleanor Bennett is dying. She lost her husband, her children aren’t speaking to each other, and her daughter is disconnected from the family. This is not how she wants things to end. Eleanor solicits the help of a close family friend, Mr. Mitch, to record her telling the story of her life and for it to be played upon her death.

Byron and Benny thought they knew their mother. After hearing their mother’s story, in her words, everything they ever knew was not as it appeared. They are trying to understand how this newly revealed information will lead them forward.

Although it was quite lengthy and a little disjointed at times (the “seemingly random” characters as well as the constant era changes), it was a good book. It’s a rich story that kept me engaged. Wilkerson strategically brings everything full circle in the end. The journey had many excursions, but the destination was worth it.

Rating 8/10

The Mother Of Black Hollywood: A Memoir By Jenifer Lewis (A Book Review)

“Artists are quickly labeled, and my label was “force of nature”. ~ Jenifer Lewis

Jenifer Lewis recounts her life to bring us a funny, insightful, and rich memoir. From her humble beginnings in Kinloch, Missouri to Broadway to Hollywood, Jenifer’s life was filled with crushing lows and equally exhilarating highs. She bares her soul in the most raw and truthful fashion as only she can. From sex addiction, a bipolar disorder diagnosis, to spiritual exploration, Jenifer owns her life boldly and unapologetically. Through it all, she comes full circle to find serenity and balance to live a rewarding life that commands the label “force of nature” in the most glorious and happy existence that shines through the pages.

I laughed out loud often (especially about a song that came from a camel ride), yet I gleaned many gems from Jenifer’s story. To see the beginning to the end and everything in between, was a lesson. Jenifer shows us what fighting for one’s own happiness looks like. Though difficult at times, she pushed through to get out of destructive cycles to get to her happiness. As if the retelling of her life wasn’t powerful enough, she wrote a letter to the reader at the end of the book. I really enjoyed that. It was the perfect end to sum it all up. I found myself reading it more than once and soaked up as much as I could. Great book.

Cool Quotes From Book

“Your playing small does not serve the world. Who are you not to be great?”~ Nelson Mandela

“There’s no greater journey, than the journey within.” ~ Beverly Heath

“The fact is many parents don’t or can’t give you everything you need. Mine couldn’t.  So, I went in search of substitutes. I often advise young people in this situation to understand there are probably people around every corner who will take them under their wing and help them on their way. But you have to ask.”~Jenifer Lewis

“If you can dream it, you can make it happen.”~ Shirley MacLaine

“Your landscapes are vast”~ Shirley MacLaine

“I’ve learned in life that what you give to others is what provides the most value to your life.”~Jenifer Lewis

“When you are not at your best, surround yourself with good people.”~ Jenifer Lewis

“You have to slow your roll; give yourself quiet time and stop to smell the roses, thorns, and all.”~ Jenifer Lewis

Rating 10/10  

So Many Good Books, I Just Want To Read Them All

I went to the library today in search of more books to add to my TBR list (despite already having three books currently checked out). One can never have or read enough books. Adding books to my TBR list is just as exhilarating as cracking open a book for the first time to start reading it.

Although I am reading the current book a little slower than usual, I am savoring the story and thoroughly enjoying it. I think after reading these three, I’ll go back to reading one book at a time for a while. It seems the busyness of life is interrupting my practice of reading multiple books successfully at this particular time. All is well though because the simple fact remains that I am reading.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (A Book Review)

Janie Crawford was a young girl born with a freedom in her spirit. That freedom was stifled by her grandmother”s  fear for her future.  Janie’s grandmother knew she was all she had in her world, and wanted to ensure security for Janie when she was no longer here.

Janie fought against  it initially. Though she didn’t lean into it, she did resign herself to her grandmother’s suggestion that she marry an elder gentleman named Logan Killicks. Janie settled into her marriage with Logan. Janie’s  restlessness bubbling beneath the surface, created conflict almost immediately. The union appeared shaky from the onset.

When Joe Starks passes through town, Janie takes her chance to escape from what she perceives as a life of gloom. Joe Starks was distinguished and self assured, a man going places. They married and hopped on a train to a town in Florida where he became the mayor. Janie became a woman expected to stifle her own ideas. As the mayor’s  wife, she was not allowed to mingle too closely with the common townsfolk.

Once Joe Starks is no longer in her world, she emerges as freedom personified. She looses her hair and takes to wearing overalls, and embraces her innate carefree spirit.

A young and carefree man named Tea Cake crosses Janie’s path. From the  beginning of their encounter, Tea Cake was Janie’s home. Wild, beautiful, and free best describes their love and union.They celebrate each other with joyful abandon. Janie is encouraged to come forth fully as herself,  which was discouraged prior to Teacake’s presence in her life.

A storm appears in their town and changes things;  bringing with it loss and uncertainty. It changes the course of Janie’s life profusely. Janie’s journey of walking in the freedom she always had within was  fascinating to experience as a reader. I read this book years ago as a high school student and loved it. It was a joy to read it all these years later as an adult. The story is part cautionary tale, part deliberate allowance. Their Eyes Were Watching God is truly a classic work art .

** Impactful Words From The Book**

It’s uh known fact, Pheoby, you got tuh go there tuh know there.

Two things everybody’s got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves.”

Rating 10/10

Hush Delilah by Angie Gallion (A Book Review)

Delilah Reddick is a woman trapped in her own life. She’s in a brutal cycle of abuse at the hands of her husband, Chase. Her best friend Carmen constantly pleads for her to leave, but it’s not so simple.

As Delilah folds into herself and examines her life both present and past, she sees a very small glimpse of a silver lining in the unraveling of the tight grip of the abuse. However, exactly what that silver lining will cost, is a thought that shakes Delilah to her core. There is her son Jackson, who would be collateral damage in it all.

This book delves deep into multiple perspectives of what abuse and the decisions linked to it looks like, depending on what a person’s viewpoint about it is. It explores how an abused person wrestles with vaccillating and ruminating thoughts and the difficulty in deciding weighty matters.

Delilah’s inner guilt leaped through the pages. I felt her guilt of how she found herself in what she viewed as a very pitiful place in her life. It appeared most of her guilt involved what she viewed as a betrayal of her own self.

As a reader, it was important to know the delicacy of the situation and not judge her, but to feel compassion. This book opened my heart and made it sensitive to inner battles that others may have to deal with, sometimes with very arresting characteristics. The author really captured the essence of the whirlwind, the fog, and the ties of a toxic relationship.  It was a great book.

Rating: 10/10