Thursday, June 05, 2025

New Review : Thicker Than Water : Gregory Lamont Hemphill






4 out of 5 books

  Elaine is a widow with a young son that’s dealing with the suspicious death of her husband. Now, she’s getting cryptic threatening phone calls and is wondering what exactly happened to her husband. As she gets closer to the truth about her husband’s business dealings, Elaine doesn’t know who to trust. She must do whatever she can to protect herself and her son.


Thicker Than Water by Gregory Lamont Hemphill an entertaining tale about family secrets and lies. Hemphill brings us an interesting story about what can happen when marrying into a powerful and devious family. This is a quick read but you still get a full story with rich characters. Readers will also get a shocking twist that you won’t see coming. Thicker Than Water is a good debut book by Gregory Lamont Hemphill.


Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert


Get your copy of Thicker Than Water today!


Tuesday, June 03, 2025

Book Excerpt of the Month : A Fool Indeed : Dean Conan



 As soon as the music started, asses bounced in every direction. When the pastor’s wife started twerking with the crowd, I figured all hell had broken loose. So, I threw all caution to the wind. It was bottoms up from that point on. 


She even started buying me drinks and giving toasts on my behalf. Afterward, all the patrons knew Charlie Mo was in the house. Like magic, cheerleaders, sorority sisters, and band members pulled me to the dance floor. I became swamped and lost in a sea of Juke stars and Jam fans. Every woman in sight wanted to touch me, dance, and whisper naughty things in my ear.


As I looked up, the infamous Dog Sugar was standing over me and calling the shots while giving support to Tin Can. I knew a rat when I saw one, but now I had mice to deal with. 


However, I was the least experienced of the crew and not a real drinker. I didn’t know I was supposed to chug-a-lug a tequila shot. That’s when Molly stepped in and told the crowd, “I will teach him how to swallow.” 


Get your copy of A Fool Indeed today : https://riseandread.com/








 

Book Excerpt of the Month : My Bully, My Aunt, and Her final Gift : Harold Phifer

 



I was just stunned; Aunt Kathy had actually moved on to another dimension! It finally happened! That lady was damn near invincible! She had survived assaults, coronaries, fevers, famines, flus, floods, plagues, pandemics, strokes, and global warming for almost 100 years. I’m willing to bet she outlived the Ice Age, but there’s no way to confirm it. If anyone told the devil “You’re a Lie,” it was Aunt Kathy. She just had a way of coming back and back like a sequel to a never-ending horror story. Whenever she fell ill, she reappeared as a new being more hostile than the previous entity.



 Being mindful of Aunt Kathy’s presence, I turned to reading the Bible while sitting in the living room. It was my way of keeping my aunt at bay. Yet, my facade didn’t sustain me for long. I got called to the dining table anyway. Next, I was told to follow Jerry’s instructions once we left the house. Then to my surprise, Aunt Kathy made breakfast for me anyway. Immediately, I was on high alert! “Oh hell, how do I get beyond this meal!”

There I was staring at bread blackened on one side and too soggy to fall off the plate. The bacon was two inches thick and fried hard enough to be a shoe insert. The grits had settled to a pace.


My eggs were a perfect substitute for popcorn. Even though I had no appetite, I had to gobble

something down or risk being ridiculed by my aunt.

Aunt Kathy made her own homemade peach preserves. It was extremely sweet and more concentrated than Playdough. I knew if she saw me using her sauce, she’d overlook the other items I left untouched. If lucky, the fermentation was potent enough to buzz me all day long. So, I made sure she’ll see me spreading that paste all over my charcoal toast. Of course, I made the yummy sound “yums” as I took bite after bite. Fortunately, Aunt Kathy fell hook, line, and sinker for my facade. “I see you love that jelly! But I’m not going to let you eat all my jam! People will pay lots of money for that good stuff!”


“Yes Ma’am,” I said. Simply amazing! Being she had food she thought I liked, there was a limit.

But if I hated something then I had to be force-fed.

As Aunt Kathy talked, I fumbled and moved my food around as she gave me directives for the day. “When school is over, make sure to wait on the steps for your brother.”

“Yes Ma’am,” I said once again.



 He opened the door wearing an oversized wife-beater and dirty trunks to match. Funny, but he recognized me without a struggle. Immediately, I assumed he was sober, which was a good thing. Yet, seeing me wasn’t expected or desired. For sure, I was the last person on his list of surprises. Jerry adjusted his head and sharpened his bloodshot eyes. It was then his booze-bated breath greeted me well before he did. Ok, he was in a stupor or maybe on the rebound. Next, soiled diapers stole the little oxygen I had left—and I was still OUTDOORS.


Yet somehow, I mustered enough wind to greet my brother. I tried to beat him to the punch and said, “What’s up bruh?” What happened next stomped my soul me for years to come! He never bothered to truly acknowledge me. Yet, he responded without hesitation, “You know I can’t have any company!” Then he violently slammed the door shut! Jerry was gone! I couldn’t differentiate from being stupid or dumbstruck. 


I just stood silent on his porch all alone for about five minutes. I’d dealt with Jerry’s nastiness many times before. But he would initially warm up before dropping his hammer. Without a doubt, l was lost, confused, and bewildered like a teenage boy losing a prom date. Foolishly, I used logic to dissect my embarrassment.


First, the guy scolded me as if I should’ve known better! To be fair, Jerry was the breadwinner. His wife left him years ago. That part I understood. Only a fool would have hung around his crazy ass. It was amazing they got together, let alone stayed that way long enough to create those children. Yet, all his kids were pushing the ages of twenty and above. What the hell did he mean, “I can’t receive any company!” Of course, I heard those crying babies which made him a granddaddy. That was strangely obvious to his existence. Yes, the cycle continues!

Second, I really didn’t care to go inside. I didn’t want to be in his business. I just wanted his input on Aunt Kathy’s memorial. 


Get your copy of My Bully, My Aunt, and Her final Gift : https://riseandread.com/


Tuesday, April 15, 2025

New Review : Cutthroat : Octavia Grant





5 out of 5 books

Eden Shelton married her college sweetheart and she couldn’t be happier. She was proud that she was able to juggle her very demanding career and be an attentive wife to her husband Jermaine. But when Eden discovers that Jermaine has a devastating secret, this will change her life forever.


This book is nuts in a good way! Cutthroat starts off with the craziness from the first page. Octavia Grant takes the phrase hell hath no fury like a woman scorned to the extreme. There are so many situations in this book where the reader will not believe what they are reading. Readers will be torn because you sympathize with Eden but the things that she does will have you possibly questioning her tactics. This is the first book that this reviewer has read by Octavia Grant and it will not be the last.


Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert 


Pre-order your copy of Cutthroat today!









 

Sunday, March 23, 2025

New Review : The Hunt : Anna J


5 out of 5 books

Dylan Hunt is living his best life right now. He is smart, sexy, and owns the hottest restaurant in Philly. But Dylan is trying to escape his dark past. He seems to be on the right path but how long will that last? Detective Heather Butler and her crew of female special victims unit detectives are trying to solve a series of horrific crimes. There is a man that is snatching women off of the street and they need to catch him fast. But how far will Heather and her crew go to catch this killer?


Anna J gives us the eroticism that she’s known for but with a psychological thriller twist with The Hunt. She does a good job of presenting the reader with an age old dilemma of which path do you choose? Do you do things the normal right way or do you choose a darker path that will still give you satisfying results? This book does features some very dark themes so readers beware and get ready for a wild story. Erotica, murder, and mayhem is what you’ll find in The Hunt. Readers will be eagerly looking forward to the next installment.


Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert


Get your copy of The Hunt today!














 

Sunday, March 16, 2025

New Review : Chloe : Connie Briscoe

 




4 out of 5 books

Angel is a private chef for the Harrisons, one of the most powerful Black families on Martha’s Vineyard. Every August, Angel is in charge of the huge garden party that Jillian Harrison throws at their estate. But this party is different because Everette Bruce, an influential Black billionaire who is still mourning his first wife Chloe is invited. Soon, Angel and Everette begin a romance that leads to marriage. But Angel is not sure if her new life is as good as it seems. She moves into Everette’s estate called Riverwild. But Angel feels as if there are some secrets surrounding Chloe’s death.



Secrets and lies are the name of the game in Chloe by Connie Briscoe. Briscoe provides us with a good mix of romance & suspense with this story. Just when you think that you have this book figured out, Briscoe throws in a few curveballs that keeps the story moving. Chloe is a fast-paced novel for readers that love a book full of suspense and unexpected twists.



Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert


Get your copy of Chloe today!

Monday, March 03, 2025

New Review : Firstborn Girls: A Memoir : Bernice L. McFadden

 




5 out of 5 books


Penning a memoir is no easy task. You are giving everyone an insider’s peek into your world. This is exactly what Bernice L. McFadden did with Firstborn Girls. McFadden starts her story with the horrifying car accident that she survived at just two years old. She takes us from that moment all the way up to the publication of her first novel, Sugar. 


What made this book so moving is how you’re traveling with McFadden through the different decades. She includes significant historical moments that were happening during that particular time period. McFadden does an excellent job of telling us about her family’s history and how they survived slavery, joined the Great Migration, and lived through many other moments in history. 


Readers will find it refreshing to see who McFadden’s literary influences are and how she was a voracious reader from a very young age. When reading this book, readers will see that McFadden went through the same struggles that many African American women go through as far as trying to establish their own place in the world. Firstborn Girls is a heart-wrenching memoir that is also full of hope and redemption.



Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert


Get your copy of Firstborn Girls today!



Sunday, February 23, 2025

New Review : Somebody's Husband : Robbi Renee

 




5 out of 5 books


SOMEBODY'S HUSBAND is the third book centered on the characters at Monroe University, an HBCU in Monroe City, Missouri.  Here we meet Dr. Dresden Xavier as he and his daughters move back to his hometown after the loss of his wife. He is eager to start is new position heading up a medical research project at Monroe University. Harper Kingsley is a professor at the university who is trying to move on from her failed marriage, yet she is very much an integral part of her ex-husband's life. Both Dresden and Harper are grieving in different ways.

When Harper is selected to work with Dresden and his team, she is elated about a new focus to capture her attention. She never expected the very attractive Dresden would capture her attention as well. Theirs was a mutual attraction but Harper's time is devoted to taking care of her ailing ex-husband Terrance and Dresden is finding it hard to let go of his deceased wife, Nina.

This is a story of love, lost, grief, healing, and second chances. The emotions I felt while reading this! This one was a tearjerker. The writing and plot were very well-written. This was my favorite of Robbi Renee's Monroe University novels. I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Paula Allen 

New Review : Untethered : Angela Jackson-Brown






4.5 out of 5 books


I am a fan of Angela Jackson-Brown, and her latest release UNTETHERED did not disappoint. The story is around the director of an at-risk home for black boys. Katia Daniels loved her "boys" and her job. She took pride in knowing that she is doing everything within her power for each boy to succeed in life. She gives each boy special attention to foster their growth and has a wall of former residents who have gone on to do amazing things despite the odds. Her personal life is somewhat mundane yet stressful. Her mother is encouraging a relationship that she knows will go nowhere. She and her mother has also received word that one of her twin brothers who are both off fighting the war in Vietnam is missing.

When Katia connects with a former schoolmate, Seth Tolbert, she is able to develop a sense of calm in her chaos. Seth is very supportive of her work and encourages her to make bold decisions about what she wants in life. When tragedy strikes, Katia's role as protector of all is challenged.

I really enjoyed this book. I cried for several days after reading it which speaks to the emotions in Brown's writing. This is a tale of hope, liberation and new beginnings. 

Reviewed by Paula Allen

Get your copy of Untethered today! 

New Review : This Could Be Us : Kennedy Ryan



4 out of 5 books

THIS COULD BE US is the second book in her Skyland series by Kennedy Ryan. Soledad Barnes suspects her husband Edward Barnes may be seeing another woman. This is a great concern for her as she is a housewife and mother of three teen daughters.  Judah Cross is the forensic accountant who is hired to audit the finances at the company where Edward is employed. Edward has an instant dislike for Judah and often complains to the family about the added stress brought on by Judah’s “meddling” in the company’s business.

When Edward is arrested for embezzlement, Soledad is blind sighted and her foundation crumbles. She does not know how she will maintain the household bills and her daughter’s tuition as the family’s assets are frozen. She must find a way to dig herself from the hole that Edward has unknowingly dug for her. Judah feels obligated to help Soledad. He was instantly attracted to her since he first laid eyes on her and felt a strong desire to protect her. They develop a strong friendship which grows into something more.

Soledad’s journey of self-love leads her to realize she also needs romantic love to feel complete. Despite the betrayal and challenges, she picks herself up and shows her daughters that she can take care of them without relying on their father. Her relationship with Judah, who is dedicated to his autistic twin sons, adds depth to the story. Their love story is a beautiful picture of patience, persistence, and individual growth.

Reviewed by Paula Allen 

Get your copy of This Could Be us today!

 

New Review : Thicker Than Water : Gregory Lamont Hemphill

4 out of 5 books    Elaine is a widow with a young son that’s dealing with the suspicious death of her husband. Now, she’s getting cryptic t...