New Review : Hold You Down : Tracy Brown

 

5 out of 5 books

Mercy and Lenox Howard are sisters that have always had each other’s backs. They are raising two sons the best way they know how in New York City. Mercy is raising her son Judah on a hospital administrator salary and trying to make sure he gets the best education possible. But she really has dreams of owning her own restaurant. Lenox is the one that is always chasing after the next big thing. When Lenox gets involved in a risky business venture, it will change her and her son Deon’s lives forever.

Tracy Brown did an excellent job with Hold You Down. Brown takes readers on a  journey through life in the 1980s to early 1990s New York City. What’s good about this story is the realistic way that it is told. Brown does an excellent job with developing multi-layered characters that readers will care about. Readers will find that this story is very unpredictable and there are certain situations that will shock you. Hold You Down is Tracy Brown’s best book to date and one that you won’t stop talking about.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert

Get your copy of Hold You Down today!

On the Line With Radiah Hubbert : Marlon McCaulsky

 

Radiah Hubbert: Tell us about If I Was Your Girlfriend.

Marlon McCaulsky: This book is about four lifelong friends who live in Atlanta. This is a sexy, sophisticated portrayal of a hip Afrocentric Atlanta native Rashida and her three girlfriends Joyce, Denise, and Taylor. In this sexy, soulful tale of love, betrayal, and friendship set in modern-day Atlanta, these four young African Americans try to hold on to what's really important; sisterhood.

RH : How do you feel about this book getting released through a major publisher after so many years?

MM: To be honest I feel blessed. This didn't have to happen. I originally self-published this book in 2018 and was excited to finally get it out to the people. It did it's thing, well received, and it opened the door for a lot of opportunities. Now to have the opportunity to re-release this book to a bigger audience is amazing. 

Not too many authors get an opportunity like this so I'm very thankful. Thank you to my literary agent Diane Rembert and the good folks at Urban Renaissance/ Urban Books for working with me.

RH: What are you currently working on?

MM: Currently I'm working with my editor on a book that's a sequel to "My Current Situation".

And I have another book that's completed called, "I'm Not Superwoman" that I'm looking to release soon.

RH: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

MM: It sounds like a cliche but the truth is don't stop writing. Don't stop looking for opportunities you never know when they will happen. There's no formula,there's not a certain thing you can do to guarantee success. You just have to be patient and persistent.

RH: Where can readers find you?

MM: You can find me at marlonmccaulsky.com,

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, under my name. And more importantly you can find my book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart, Books-A-Million, and your local African American bookstore.

Read the review of If I Was Your Girlfriend here!

New Review : The Accidental Queen : L.R. Jackson

 

4 out of 5 books 

Ebony Rose is facing many challenges through her life. She’s looking for another job while running away from her past. Ebony still longs for the love of her life Dafari . She ran away from him a long time ago because she couldn’t tell him about her secret. But what will happen when she crosses paths with Dafari again? King Dafari has his life planned out due to tradition. But he doesn’t want his wife picked out for him. King Dafari only wants one woman : Ebony Rose. But Ebony has no idea of his true royal identity. 

Secrets, lies, and betrayal is what you’ll find in The Accidental Queen by L.R. Jackson. Jackson does a good job of weaving together the separate lives of Ebony and Dafari. This story keeps the reader intrigued until the very last page.You’ll keep wondering what is Ebony’s secret throughout the book until the shocking reveal. Hopefully, we will see more of Ebony and Dafari in the future. The Accidental Queen is not your average fairy tale and is a great debut by L.R. Jackson.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert

Order your copy of The Accidental Queen today!

New Review : What Does Brown Mean to You? : Ron Grady

 

5 out of 5 books

"I liked What Does Brown Mean to You because it was about a boy named Benny. He was brown and he saw everything around him that was brown too. Benny is brown like me, and I had fun learning to read it. My granddaughter's review, 5 years old."

What Does Brown Mean to You is a book that will appeal to children because it's brightly illustrated, the actual book itself is easy to read and catchy. It's not too long, so it will hold a child's attention long enough to read the book. I had fun helping my granddaughter read it. (She wanted to write her own review, which I included at the top.)  I recommend it for kids between 3 - 7.

Thank you to Urban Reviews Online for the copy of this book, the review posted here are mine and my granddaughter's.

Reviewed by Kiera Northington & her granddaughter

Get your copy of What Does Brown Mean to Me today!

New Review : Internal Affairs : Akyra Chiffon

 

4 out of 5 books

The book had quite a few twists and turns, and certain parts reminded me of Ghost and Angela from Power. Internal Affairs is told by Aaliyah, a female undercover cop and the story has the potential makings for a good cop show. You have dirty politicians, gang fights, cops, and of course gunfights. This book is written beautifully, you can imagine most of the scenes in your head. I felt let down towards the end, because it ended so abruptly, and I have so many questions. I’m hoping there will be a part 2 that picks right up where book 1 left off.
If you like police procedure, mystery, drama, and fast-paced action, I would recommend this book for you.

Thank you to Urban Reviews Online for the copy of this book, the review posted here is of my own opinion. 

Reviewed by Kiera Northington

Get your copy of Internal Affairs today!

New Review : The House of Eve : Sadeqa Johnson

 

5 out of 5 books

Let me start out by saying I've never met a Sadeqa Johnson book I didn't love. The House of Eve presents the stories of Ruby Pearsall and Eleanor Quarles, two women with different circumstances, but many of the same problems. The book was not only intriguing, it had me caught up from beginning to end. From the very start, I was drawn into their stories, told in alternating chapters. Their stories are set in the 1950s and 1960s and the added details about life in that time period are well researched and captivating. I enjoyed getting to know both the women and their families. The writing was easy to read, flowed well, and for a serious topic, it was very thought provoking and made you wonder what you would've done in that predicament and time frame.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, drama, great writing, and a story that will engage you and hold your attention from beginning to end.

Reviewed by Kiera Northington

Get your copy of The House of Eve today!

The Forthcoming : Love, Honor, Betray (A Lexington, Alabama Novel Book 3) : Mary Monroe : Release date : March 28, 2023

 

With mysterious serial murders putting peaceful Lexington, Alabama, on edge, Jessie and Hubert Wiggins’ steadfast calm and devotion to each other reassures everyone that faith will see them through. But Jessie and Hubert have paid a terrible hidden cost to maintain their devout facade and respectable standing. Nothing can allay the guilt they feel—or stop the growing distrust between them . . .

Hubert thought he and his secret lover, Leroy, could continue seeing each other on the down-low in peace. But when Leroy’s ex-wife moves back in with him, a heartbroken Hubert is driven to distraction trying to keep Jessie in the dark—and quell his mounting jealousy. And his need for satisfaction is driving Hubert to reckless extremes—and desperate risks. . .

Jessie believes the struggles between her and Hubert will all be worth it if she can connive him to finally consummate their marriage—no matter what she has to do. But his erratic behavior and her frustration soon has her trying yet another new lover, who is as charming as he is unreliable—and unexpectedly dangerous. . .

Now with their secrets out of control—and the police perilously near—Jessie and Hubert discover who might be behind the deaths plaguing their town. But can they risk a pursuit that could expose their own web of lies? When their only choice pits them and their suspicions against each other, their next move will either bury their deceptions deep for good—or reveal the one truth they can’t escape. . .

Pre-order your copy of Love, Honor, Betray today!

The Forthcoming : Strawberry Mansion: A Philadelphia Story (K'wan Presents) : Julia Press Simmons : Release date : March 28, 2023

 

Tabitha lost her freedom in high school when she hooked up with a boy who would impregnate her and make her his punching bag. Lisa is deemed "the strong one" by her friends, but her own past of sexual abuse and pregnancy at the hands of her stepfather keeps her one second away from falling apart as the drama builds. Their younger friend, Shanice, is a hellion, ready and willing to let any boy have her just to get the affection she believes her mother has withheld. As their world spirals out of control, they cling fast to one another in the hope that love, friendship, and strength will not only keep them together but will also move them to a better place in their lives.

Pre-order your copy of Strawberry Mansion today!

The Forthcoming : If I Was Your Girlfriend : Marlon McCaulsky : Release date : March 28, 2023

Four lifelong friends find their bonds tested when personality differences and relationship issues threaten to pull them apart.

What happens when you fall in love with the right man at the wrong time? Rashida Haughton finds out firsthand when she meets Alonzo Hall. But the problem is, a relationship with Alonzo could destroy a lifelong friendship with Joyce Roland, her best friend.

Denise Varner considers herself a plain-Jane type of girl who often goes unnoticed around her friends, especially the wild-and-free Taylor Fenty. They get along like oil and water—they just don't mix.

Will these four friends learn to put aside their differences and save a lifelong bond before things go too far?

Pre-order your copy of If I Was Your Girlfriend today!

New Review : The Color of Family : Jerry McGill

5 out of 5 books

Devon Payne snatched my heartstrings and played a song of brokenhearted dreams and the emptiness of retribution. Like the strings on a guitar, the Payne family members struck a different chord of feelings of abandonment of nurturing and love due to favoritism that they didn’t sit on the side of.

Like so many others, the less favored children tend to deal with the lack of what family should feel and look like. It’s normal for siblings to be competitive in wanting to be the best or go the furthest in life. But the tragedies of youthful ignorance derailed Devon’s dreams of life, love, and having his own family. It didn’t help to have to be separated from the people you are most familiar with to be halfway across the world only to be acknowledged for what you did wrong and are needed for something.

I enjoyed this story that Jerry McGill wrote as it addresses many family dysfunctions, turmoil, failures, growth, and forgiveness. This title is recommended to all who love Urban fiction as we can all find ourselves in each chapter intricately woven into the pages.

Reviewed by Lacha’ J

Get your copy of  The Color of Family today!

 

The Exes : Brandon Massey

 

3.5 out of 5 books

The day Austin Dash has been regretting has arrived. His ex-wife, Naomi has been released from prison. Austin fears how this will affect his now peaceful life that he has with his wife, Brooke, their children, and his son Khari from his previous marriage to Naomi. Austin is afraid of Naomi who was imprisoned for brutally stabbing him during a jealous episode. There is no cause for the jealous behavior, but this is what Austin dealt with while married to Naomi, delusional, unhinged and violent episodes.  This last incident convinces him that he had to take action to keep him and Khari safe.

 

His new marriage to Brooke is everything that Austin wanted in life. He and Khari are able to move on and bond with the new family that Brooke and Austin create.  But Naomi wants her family back, both Austin and Khari. She will stop at nothing even including her spooky and crazy family to get what she wants. The antics of Naomi and Austin’s ex-in-laws, takes readers on a ride they won’t forget.

 

I love Brandon Massey! I will not put this book at the top of his other books but I stayed engaged throughout the book. There are several jaw-dropping moments that will have you wanting to throw the  book or holler at the characters.  A very intriguing read. 

Reviewed by Paula Allen  

Get your copy of The Exes today!