Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Monday, September 27, 2021

New Contest: The Violet Rose : Charmyra E. Fleming

 






Win a physical copy of The Violet Rose by Charmyra E. Fleming. Email your name & address to: violet@urban-reviews.com by 8pm (cst) 9/28/21!!! (TONIGHT )  Good luck!


Saturday, September 25, 2021

New Review : Door to Your Heart : Bianca L. Eugene






 

                                                                   4 out of 5 books

                                                            



Venice Valentine and Xavier Black are two different sides of a coin stuck on the West Side of Detroit, Michigan hustling to achieve their dreams of a better future for themselves. Venice struggles to keep open the neighborhood daycare her beloved grandmother who raised her ran for years. She's down to one adorable child whose attractive father makes his interest in Venice clear. Xavier is in the Game. He's a dangerous man who wants more stability and safety for his son than he had as a child. 

Nurse and entrepreneur Venice is a good woman with an edge who isn't intimidated by him, and he wants her—forever. Xavier’s witty dialogue charms as it rings with layered meanings and authenticity. 


Smoldering sexual chemistry, family drama, dynamic secondary characters, issues of social class plus cultural touch points regarding colorism, toxic masculinity, life's pursuits impacted by gender, ethnicity, and economics make Door to Your Heart a one-sitting read. It's also an homage to Detroit in general and the West Side in particular. From 8 Mile to the North and the Detroit River to the South, the music, food, energy, complexity, and stamina of its people receive acknowledgement and respect. It's ending suggests that Venice and Xavier’s story is just beginning. 


Reviewed by Cardyn Brooks


Order your copy of Door to Your Heart today!



New Review : The Violet Rose : Charmyra E. Fleming

 



                                                                        
                                                                     3 out of 5 books
                                                                   


As an avid reader, I have seen many examples of what works and what doesn’t in the world of fiction.  I also typically avoid romance stories as I find them formulaic, very “plug and play” with little to no originality or creativity.  Charmyra E. Fleming’s The Violet Rose not only avoids these trappings, it pulls together a story that works on multiple levels.


 


From the main character to those that surround her, this novella is full of rich, deep characters that are also relatable.  The plot goes everywhere except where you think it will so there is no predictability to suffer through.  You will root for your favorites and against their nemeses from the beginning to the end of the story.  Fleming has managed to wring fresh ideas and scenes out of a typically overwrought world, showcasing what an up-and-coming generation of authors have to bring to the genre.  And if you are a Prince fan as I am, you will enjoy the nods to His Royal Badness throughout the text and by the end, you’ll want to flip right back to the beginning to catch any clues and subtleties you might have missed.  I have never seen a romance tale described as a page-tuner, but that’s exactly what this one is.  And once you start turning these pages, you won’t ever want to stop!



Reviewed by Denise Ervin


Order Your Copy of The Violet Rose today!




New Review : Street Banditz : C.J. Hudson

 






                                                                    4 out of 5 books




First off, let me start by saying this isn't your typical "hood book". Yes, it takes place in the hood, but it has more than just guns & drugs, if you will. The characters have depth and are relatable. You either know someone like them, or you were (are) them. 


This book made me laugh so hard in places at some of the characters' antics, (I absolute love Ivory). Other places made me almost cry and want to cuss. (If I ever meet up with Janice, it's an immediate misunderstanding on sight!) The mother in me wanted to reach out into the book and hug Hakim and shake some sense into him. Tammy, she's my girl, I admire her spunk and determination. And watch out for Red, with his dirty *ss, he knows he was wrong for that!


All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a "hood" book with a fast pace, hard to put down, drama filled tale. Author CJ Hudson definitely did not come to play with Street Banditz. I can't wait to find out what happens in part 2.


Reviewed by Kiera J. Worthington



Order your copy of Street Banditz today!







Friday, September 24, 2021

New Review : Road Trip : Electa Rome Parks and Monica Garner

 


5 out of 5 books



Road Trip is about Arlington Harper and Delilah Jackson who are two good friends that are recently divorced. Both of them are trying their best to navigate through this new life. Arlington & Delilah decided to take a road trip to get away from it all. But will they survive the twists and turns of this journey?


In End of the Road, Arlington is a bestselling novelist who is trying to get over her divorce and writer’s block. She plans her getaway to a small town to relax and write. Arlington stumbles upon a salacious offer during her vacation. Is she willing to throw caution to the wind?


In Saint City, Delilah is an officer who is on her way to becoming a detective. Finding a man is the last thing on her mind. Delilah runs into a sexy stranger while on a road trip with her sister. She is intrigued by this man but will his complicated background send her packing?


Road Trip a sexy story by Electa Rome Parks & Monica Garner. Parks & Garner brings the tale of two friends that are separated into two short stories. Each story is deeply satisfying and very erotic. These authors did a good job of telling two complete stories with sound conclusions. However, readers will want to see these characters in another book in the future. Road Trip is the perfect book to steam up your nights. 


Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert


Order your copy of Road Trip today!

                                                                                                  


 












New Review : The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster: Shauna Robinson

3.5 out of 5 books Shauna Robinson’s “The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster” is a heartwarming and insightful novel that delves into famil...