The Forthcoming : The Reformatory: A Novel : Tananarive Due : Release date : 10/31/23

 

Gracetown, Florida

June 1950

Twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr., is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys, a reformatory, for kicking the son of the largest landowner in town in defense of his older sister, Gloria. So begins Robbie’s journey further into the terrors of the Jim Crow South and the very real horror of the school they call The Reformatory.

Robbie has a talent for seeing ghosts, or haints. But what was once a comfort to him after the loss of his mother has become a window to the truth of what happens at the reformatory. Boys forced to work to remediate their so-called crimes have gone missing, but the haints Robbie sees hint at worse things. Through his friends Redbone and Blue, Robbie is learning not just the rules but how to survive. Meanwhile, Gloria is rallying every family member and connection in Florida to find a way to get Robbie out before it’s too late.

The Reformatory is a haunting work of historical fiction written as only American Book Award–winning author Tananarive Due could, by piecing together the life of the relative her family never spoke of and bringing his tragedy and those of so many others at the infamous Dozier School for Boys to the light in this riveting novel.

Pre-order your copy of The Reformatory today!

New Review : Like A Sister : Kellye Garrett

4 out of 5 books

When a reality TV star Desiree Pierce is found dead on a New York City playground the day after her twenty-fifth birthday, the authorities are treating it like a regular tragedy. But her half-sister Lena Scott feels something is not quite right. Although the sisters have been estranged for two years, Lena won’t stop until she finds out who murdered Desiree. But this investigation may be more than Lena bargained for.

Some of the best mysteries are when the main characters that are investigating are not a part of law enforcement. Kellye Garrett did just that with having Lena dig into her sister’s murder in Like A Sister.You feel Lena’s frustration as she tries to track down Desiree’s friends and trying to get clues from her social media pages. Garrett did a good job of leading readers down one path and then switches it up. When the killer is revealed, readers will not guess who it is. Family secrets, betrayal and shady characters are what you’ll find in Like A Sister by Kellye Garrett.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert

Get your copy of Like A Sister today! 

New Review : Neverwraith : Shakir Rashaan

 

 

5 out of 5 books

Yasir Salah is the new kid at his high school. He’s trying his best to fit in without drawing too much attention to himself. There is a storm brewing inside Yasir that he doesn’t understand. Why does his eyes change colors and where is this extreme heat coming from on his skin? His family always warned him to be careful. But no one ever told him about his past and exactly what he is.

Shakir Rashaan brings us into an entertaining paranormal world with Neverwraith. Rashaan does a good job with bringing Yasir’s story to life. It was refreshing to see an African American male teen as the lead character in this kind of story. While reading this book, you want to know more about Yasir’s background as he is going though his own self discovery. Rashaan does an excellent job of giving the reader just enough information without giving too much away. From the camaraderie among Yasir’s friends to him dealing with everyday high school issues, Neverwraith is definitely a YA book that is relatable to teens. But adults will enjoy this book as well. With Neverwraith, Shakir Rashaan lays down the proper foundation for an exciting series that will have you clamoring for the next installment.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert

Get your copy of Neverwraith today!

Book Preview of the Month : The Reverend : Kayla Perrin

 

Reverend Emerson James is a pillar of his community. The pastor of the High River North Carolina 7th Day Nondenominational Church, the biggest church outside of nearby Charlotte, has been a dream for him for the past twenty years. Emerson is loved and respected by pretty much everyone.

So why is someone trying to blackmail him? And for five million dollars?

And how far will he go to keep his scandalous secrets from coming to light?

Because Emerson James is no saint. His platform and his power have gone to his head.

And when one of his parishioners ends up murdered, it's the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back. Because the church is about to be thrown into a whole lot of chaos--and it just might not survive.

Get your copy of The Reverend today!

Book Preview of the Month : The Trouble With Gabrielle : Sylvia Hubbard

 

Alone, Pregnant... And About to Be Murdered

Struggling and pregnant Gabrielle Payne is on the brink of despair when she discovers the father of her unborn child, the man from a fleeting one-night stand, was none other than the mysteriously wealthy Oliver Farnsworth—now dead and without an heir. Desperate and alone, she reveals her secret, hoping for some assistance from the Farnsworth family.

Taken in by Oliver’s seemingly benevolent stepmother, Neema McGee, Gabrielle is introduced to a world of opulence and grandeur, far exceeding anything she has ever known. But behind the luxurious façade of the Farnsworth mansion, lies a web of intrigue, betrayal, and deadly secrets.

As Gabrielle delves deeper into the life of the enigmatic Oliver, she unravels startling truths: his untimely death by untraced poison, a disgruntled twin brother living in estrangement, and above all, Neema's insidious plan to eliminate Gabrielle and claim the Farnsworth fortune.

Every shadow in the Farnsworth mansion seems to whisper threats, every smile conceals a lie. With the walls closing in, Gabrielle must navigate the perilous undercurrents of her newfound existence to protect herself and her unborn child. But when her only allies could be her deadliest enemies, where is a woman to turn?

"The Trouble With Gabrielle" is a gripping tale of suspense and survival, perfect for fans of heart-stopping thrillers and chilling mysteries. Unearth the secrets of the Farnsworth family and join Gabrielle in her fight against the sinister forces that threaten her existence.

Get your copy of The Trouble With Gabrielle today!

Book Preview of the Month : Everything Platinum: Everything Series Book 3 : LaShelle L. Turner

 

Fresh out of federal prison for serving 18 months for fraud and identity theft, 25-year-old Farrah Sparks finds herself back in Atlanta, broke and lost. Despite it all, she can’t fight her inner dream of becoming a star. Down on her luck, she enters the world of well-paid acquaintances/sugar daddies and finds a billionaire, Saleh, who will finance of dream of superstardom. Through him, she meets legendary music producer Nero Noir. Farrah finds herself falling for the two men, her lover hired to help her music career and the man who paid for it all. Things get more complicated when she finds herself spiritually drawn to a neo-soul artist name Swann, the man who connects her to the true artist she yearns to be.

Farrah gets caught up in the glitz and glamour of fame until the dark side darkens her platinum life. She finally has what she always dreamed but will greed, lust, and murder end it all.

Get your copy of Everything Platinum today!

Book Preview of the Month : The Trouble With Gabrielle : Sylvia Hubbard

 

Alone, Pregnant... And About to Be Murdered

Struggling and pregnant Gabrielle Payne is on the brink of despair when she discovers the father of her unborn child, the man from a fleeting one-night stand, was none other than the mysteriously wealthy Oliver Farnsworth—now dead and without an heir. Desperate and alone, she reveals her secret, hoping for some assistance from the Farnsworth family.

Taken in by Oliver’s seemingly benevolent stepmother, Neema McGee, Gabrielle is introduced to a world of opulence and grandeur, far exceeding anything she has ever known. But behind the luxurious façade of the Farnsworth mansion, lies a web of intrigue, betrayal, and deadly secrets.

As Gabrielle delves deeper into the life of the enigmatic Oliver, she unravels startling truths: his untimely death by untraced poison, a disgruntled twin brother living in estrangement, and above all, Neema's insidious plan to eliminate Gabrielle and claim the Farnsworth fortune.

Every shadow in the Farnsworth mansion seems to whisper threats, every smile conceals a lie. With the walls closing in, Gabrielle must navigate the perilous undercurrents of her newfound existence to protect herself and her unborn child. But when her only allies could be her deadliest enemies, where is a woman to turn?

"The Trouble With Gabrielle" is a gripping tale of suspense and survival, perfect for fans of heart-stopping thrillers and chilling mysteries. Unearth the secrets of the Farnsworth family and join Gabrielle in her fight against the sinister forces that threaten her existence.

Get your copy of The Trouble with Gabrielle today!

The Forthcoming : Neverwraith : Shakir Rashaan : August 29, 2023

 

Bel-Air meets Cloak & Dagger in this explosive and innovative paranormal debut…

Being the new kid is always gonna land you in it.

Yasir Salah isn’t like the other guys in his new suburban Georgia high school. Lately, he can feel something shifting in his body. Raw. Edgy. Volatile. Like his eyes changing colors and heat on his skin when some alpha bro comes for him…or how just a grin from the gorgeous, untouchable girl at school sends vibrations shooting through his entire body.

Only it’s not just being at a new school. It’s a new town. New rules. New flow. And everything feels way smaller than his ex-life in Atlanta. All he can do is what he’s been told: keep a low profile and try to not be noticed…and keep his anger under control.

But they never warned him.
They never told him what he is.
And they sure as hell didn’t tell him that the world is gonna need him.

Pre-order your copy of Neverwraith today!

New Review : American Gunner : Eddy Clark & D. Andrea Whitfield

 

4 out of 5 books

Raphael Waters has been a survivor his whole life. Things seem to be getting better for Raphael when he becomes the muscle for a leader of a criminal enterprise name Rah. But when Rah suddenly disappears, Raphael has no one to turn to. Enter Alex Gatts. Alex is the queen of South Bend’s nightlife. When Alex offers Raphael the job of being her bodyguard, he sees an offer that he can’t refuse. However, Raphael & Alex will get more than they bargained for when an international business deal goes south.

This story starts off as your typical street tale. But readers will soon find out that’s not the case. Eddy Clark & D. Andrea Whitfield brought us a fast-paced, gritty tale filled with action packed scenes and plot twists. Clark & Whitfield brought a hard hitting debut novel that will make you want to read more from these authors in the future. Crime, drama, and a little romance is what you find in American Gunner. 

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert

Author & Publisher Spotlight : Black Odyssey Media

 

New Review : Parade of Shades : Jewel Hopson

 

 3 out of 5 books

Karen Baker has had a rough life. When her mother abandoned the family, Karen was forced to raise her brothers and sisters at a very young age. Her father did nothing to help. Karen is in the midst of an identity crisis of her own. She’s trying to figure out her place in the world. Karen gets exposed to the better things in life when Alex Harper is assigned to be her Big Sister. But as Karen navigates her way to college & adulthood, will she find her way?

Parade of Shades is an interesting coming-of-age story by Jewel Hopson. Hopson shows us what happens when a child has to take on adult responsibilities. This book takes on a variety of topics such as colorism and what it means to be an African American woman. The conversations Karen had about race and equality were interesting. But they could have been shortened to include more of Karen’s every day life especially when she graduated from college and started working in the real world. With Parade of Shades, Jewel Hopson brought us a story of forgiveness, self-worth, and resilience.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert

Get your copy of Parade of Shades today!

New Review : A Funeral For My Sorrows : Jim Stroud

 

5 out of 5 books

This is my first read by author Jim Stroud, however I plan to follow his pen. The story was relatable. I loved the relationship between Ma’Dear and Viola. It’s pretty much customary for children to treat their peers differently as if there is something wrong with the individual. Viola was special and had supernatural spiritual gifting that many didn’t understand and were afraid of.

Viola was sent to live with her grandmother after experiencing social troubles at school and mainly due to the sorrows her mother was having because of infidelity. Viola was extremely gifted although she didn’t have training on how and when to use the gift God had blessed her with.

Initially Viola didn’t want to have to stay with her grandmother, but she grew to love her and appreciate her. Ma’Dear validated Viola’s gifting and helped nurture it. Secrets that tore families apart, distrust and broken bonds were a constant. No secrets could be kept from Viola and many feared her for knowing their truths and exposing what had been kept under wraps. 

I recommend reading a Funeral for my Sorrows to anyone who has a calling on their life and needs to be encouraged in their walk with the Lord and the plans He as preordained for their lives.

Reviewed by Lacha’ J

Get your copy of A Funeral For My Sorrows today!

New Review : Black Leather Jacket : K.C. Taylor

 

4 out of 5 books

In October 1995 in Gary, Indiana, Jamal is ready to get out of school to enjoy his weekend. But things turn for the worse when Jamal and his best friend Simon are wrongly accused and harassed by the police. While at the police station, Jamal falls asleep while waiting for his father. Suddenly, he wakes up in an unfamiliar police station and surroundings. Jamal has somehow been transported back to Chicago 1969. He quickly learns that he and the rest of his family are members of the Black Panther Party. Will Jamal embrace his new life or try to get back to his old one.

K.C. Taylor does a great job with incorporating history of the Black Panther Party into Black Leather Jacket. Taylor gives readers a good coming-of-age story of a young black teen in the 90s. Readers will see how Jamal’s eyes open up to the injustices that he and his best friend Simon faces. Taylor addresses police brutality and the Black Panther Party  in a way that is not preachy and will be a good discussion book for YA readers. Black Leather Jacket is a clear winner for K.C. Taylor.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert

Get your copy of Black Leather Jacket today!

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!