New Review : When Stars Rain Down : Angela Jackson-Brown

 

4 out of 5 books

1930s Parson, Georgia, a town that is racially separated with blacks living in a section aptly named Colored Town. Seventeen year old Opal Pruitt lives with her Grandma Birdie after her mother abandoned her. Opal and her grandmother work as domestics for Miss Peggy.  Miss Peggy and Grandma Birdie are more like friends than employer/employee but they both understood the context that race plays in their relationship.  Regardless, Miss Peggy's family, her daughter and grandson, Jimmy Earl have always treated Opal and Miss Birdie like family.  Opal is looking forward to her 18th birthday and the town's annual Founders Day.  Jimmy Earl is home during the summer on a break from college. Opal is conflicted by the feelings that being in his presence evoke.  She is also interested in the Pastor's handsome son, Cedric who has dreams of one day playing with the Negro Baseball team.  

Jimmy Earl has a cousin, Skeeter, who openly displays his racist feelings towards blacks. As a member of the Klan, he led a raid on Colored Town which left destruction and devastation, but no lives were lost. The men of Colored Town met to determine how they can protect their loved one and possessions. Deciding to give the new sheriff a chance to back up his claim of being there to help the colored residents of Parson.  Weeks leading up to Founder's Day, Opal began to realize despite the fact that Miss Peggy's family were accepting of her and her grandmother, racial relations are very fragile and her friendship with Jimmy Earl is limited. She finds herself the victim of a physical attack that left her with head trauma.  When she is able to remember the details of the attacker and her attacker, it is only a matter of time before it all comes to a head with disastrous consequences. 

I love historical fiction from this era.  Jackson-Brown’s depiction of this small town included race relations, familial love and coming of age romance.  Although there are very intense moments, the tone of the book was not heavy or traumatic.  Filled with secondary characters that added additional layers to the book, WHEN STARS RAIN DOWN is one to savor.

Reviewed by Paula Allen

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New Review : Razorblade Tears: S. A. Cosby

 

5 out of 5 books

RAZORBLADE TEARS is awesome.  Isaiah and Derek, an interracial same sex couple are brutally murdered outside their home. The motive for the crime is unknown and the police have no leads.  Their fathers, Ike “Riot” Randolph and Buddy Lee Jenkins set out together to avenge their son’s deaths.  

Both dads have formally been incarcerated and missed out the formative years of their son’s lives.  Also, both have strained relationships with their sons because of their sexual orientation.  The devastating loss of their sons releases a level of guilt and love that they held in their hearts which propelled them to stop at nothing to find the killers.  Their personal investigation led them through interactions with a dangerous bike gang, hip hop artists and political figures.  The pair leave a path of destruction on their quest to right their wrongs for the love of their boys. 

I can easily see RAZORBLADE TEARS being made into a blockbuster movie.  The plot was well written and driven by all the action and suspense.  Buddy Lee’s character was hysterical and endearing.  

Reviewed by Paula Allen

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New Review : The Romantic Agenda : Claire Kann

 

3 out of 5 books

Joy and Malcolm have been best friends since college and currently he is her boss.  They both identify as asexual with Joy deciding not to engage in relationships and Malcolm actively dating.  The emotion in their relationship runs so deep, it appears as though they are in love to outsiders so much, so that Malcolm’s fiancé left him because of Joy.  Joy feels she is deeply in love with Malcolm and each time she expresses it, he responds the way she wants but his actions don't reciprocate the same. When he asks her to clear her calendar for a weekend getaway, she’s excited, hoping this will be time spent to develop their romantic relationship.  She is only disappointed when she finds this is a trip to impress and get to know his new girlfriend, Summer who requested Joy come along so that she can get to know her. 

Summer knows all about Joy, but Joy is at a disadvantage because Malcolm never let on that she even existed much less that he has a new romantic interest. Summer also asks her friend Fox, who she use to date to accompany them to keep Joy company.  Neither Joy nor Fox think that Malcolm and Summer belong together, and that Malcolm is quelling his feelings for Joy.  They make a pact to “pretend” to be interested in each other to get a reaction from Malcolm, but what they discover is that make believe sometimes become reality. 

THE ROMANTIC AGENDA is a cute and unique romance.  I like the chemistry and banter between Joy and Fox. The revelations that Joy learn about herself and her ability to love is a pleasure to see.  I enjoyed this one. 

Reviewed by Paula Allen

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New Review : Yellow Wife : Sadeqa Johnson

 

4 out of 5 books

I have always been a fan of Sadeqa Johnson and was excited when I found she has penned a historical fiction novel.  YELLOW WIFE was beautiful and breathtaking.  The determination and resiliency of the main character, Pheby Brown to make a life for herself beyond slavery is astounding considering the things she endured for her future, her children and her true love.  Although she is promised freedom, she finds herself enslaved and the wife of the warden of Devil’s Half Acre, a prison in Virginia.  Pheby learns to study her husband so that she is always a step ahead of him for the sake of her family.  This pays off although there were deadly consequences. 

Knowing YELLOW WIFE is a fictional story loosely based on the life of Mary Lumpkin and the prison actually existed, brought a layer of realism to our ancestor’s stories.  Stories of survival and overcoming odds, succeeding when there was only hope.  I would have like to see more interaction with her daughters as the book seems to be rushed at the end.  But it is a great book, nonetheless. 

Reviewed by Paula Allen

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New Review : Truth, Lies and Mr. Grey : Shelly Ellis

 

4 out of 5 books

They’re back!  In TRUTH LIES AND MR. GREY, the sequel to The Three Mrs. Greys, Cyrus Grey is alive and well, although he deceptively has Vanessa waiting on him hand and foot while she thinks he is still bedridden. Cyrus is discovering what each of his wives have been up to while also planning to take his business back from his partner Tariq.  When the wives become aware of his intent and his true personality, they question if it’s worth being married to him.  One wife wants him dead; another wants to be left alone and the other holds out hope that he will continue to be the loving savior she needs.  

The drama continues between Cyrus, Vanessa, Noelle and Diamond and I enjoyed this ride with them again.  One thing that perplexed me though is that there was no interaction between the wives from the start of the book which seemed disjointed to me. As one of the wives, I would have been trying to legally work out the implications that Cyrus polygamist lifestyle has caused.  Noelle and Diamond did develop a relationship near the end. As a crime drama, the book is somewhat predictable as there are no truly suspenseful moments.  I stayed with novel to see how it will play out and I am still not sure if this is how the story ends.

Reviewed by Paula Allen

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New Review : The Three Mrs. Greys : Shelly Ellis

 

4 out of 5 books

                                                            

Cyrus Grey, a victim of a planned attack, is left in a coma at the hospital.  Imagine the surprise that Noelle, Vanessa and Diamond received when they discover they are all married to the same man.  Vanessa and Cyrus have been married 11 years with three children.  Despite knowing there were cracks in their marriage, she had no idea he is involved much less married to two other women. 

Noelle enjoys her quiet life with Cyrus. Having a baby will complete her picture-perfect marriage but she is not sure why Cyrus has no interest in having children.  Young and street wise, Diamond, is Cyrus third wife. He was at her place when he was gunned down and she feels her past is coming back to haunt her.  THE THREE MRS. GREYS meet to try and determine who is responsible for Cyrus’ accident and how they will handle the situation of unknowingly being thrust into a sister-wives situation.  As law enforcement investigates the crime, each wife must try her best to prove her innocence. 

Shelly Ellis creates a turbulent situation for Cyrus and his three wives.  Each wife had totally different personalities and lifestyles.  The book engages the reader from the beginning with the shocking revelation of his polygamist lifestyle.  I can’t wait until Cyrus come out of the coma and answer to this mess he has created.  I will be picking up the sequel to find out. 

Reviewed by Paula Allen

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The Forthcoming : She Works Hard For the Money : Sylvia Hubbard

 

To get over a broken heart, get with a broken man. Renna had never heard that expression, but the idea of being with a man after being in a lesbian relationship for 8 years interested her. It would certainly make her forget about the pain and betrayal she was going through. Renna needed something different, but did she make a mistake by sleeping with the most rude, misogynist & selfish man this side of the Mississippi? Beck had a dark past, but when he saw Renna, he saw his future.

Release Date : 5/3/22

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