Black Blue: Love, Sports and the Art of Empowerment by Andra Douglas

Black Blue: Love, Sports and the Art of Empowerment by Andra Douglas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I am an avid sports lover. Growing up I was always the girl who was hanging out with the guys watching the basketball or hockey games. Thankfully, I was able to play the sport I loved and did not have to face most of the issues that Christine has to face. I know this is around football, but my point is I really connected with Christine and her story. I really loved her journey and recommend everyone give this a try. It is a story that will stay with you even after you finish it.

This is a coming of age story and about Christine finding herself in a world that wants to put stipulations on her dreams. At times this was funny and others will break your heart. It is not the picture perfect look into different issues, but real life. It is about making your dreams come true and knowing you can do anything you want to do.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and look forward to seeing what Andra Douglas brings us in the future.


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Take Me Down by Julie Kriss

Take Me Down by Julie Kriss
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was sent this book from a PR marketing team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I actually listened to these on audiobook, and I flew through both books one and two! I actually went into this with low expectations, but I ended up really loving book one. I was really excited when I saw that book two was going to follow Jace. We are briefly introduced to Jace in Dive Me Wild and I wanted to know more about him.

I was a little disappointed with the insta-love between Jace and Tara. It was lust at first sight. There was no individual development or banter between the two before it jumps right in. I wanted more from their relationship. They do not know anything about each other and are instantly infatuated with each other. I tried to get over this, but I found myself getting more and more annoyed with every chapter as they just fell more and more for each other. Again, there was just no development and nothing happening for me to believe their relationship.

Where I loved book one, book two just did not work for me. I will mostly likely still give book three a chance.



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Drive Me Wild: Riggs Brothers Book 1 by Julie Kriss

Drive Me Wild: Riggs Brothers Book 1 by Julie Kriss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was sent this book from a PR marketing team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I actually listened to these on audiobook, and I flew through both books one and two! I actually went into this with low expectations, but I ended up really loving it.

As Drive Me Wild started I found myself with a smile on my face the whole time. We are introduced to both Emily and Luke in high school as they are having a secret relationship. We then jump several years later when Emily returns home as an adult.

If you love a great second chance and bad boy romance, you will love this. There are also four brothers! Yes, four! So, if you love this there are several more books to follow.

Even though this was a short read it had a ton of stuff going on. When reading a steamy romance, I need more than just the steamy scenes (I can actually go without them). Both Emily and Luke have side stories that bring so much more to the story itself. The steamy parts did not overtake the story which I loved.

Book one did end a little too cleanly, but I still enjoyed it overall. I immediately jumped into Take Me Down!


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Surfside Sisters by Nancy Thayer

Surfside Sisters by Nancy Thayer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first Nancy Thayer read, and I really enjoyed it. I will say I feel the title is a little off as this was not as much of a story of friendship as much as the story of women and her life. It does all wrap back around the friendship, but it was not the main focus. It was more in the distance, but wraps back around to them later in life.

I thought this was going to be a whole story around the friendship between Isabelle and Keely. However; it really only follows the story of Keely. Isabelle was never a great friend to Keely and we only get limited details as we follow Keely from high school to adulthood. I actually really loved the story and was not a fan of Isabelle, so it all worked for me.

Not much actually happens within the story, but I was still hooked nonetheless. I was just invested into Keeley and wanted to see how everything unfolded for her. This was a slow moving story, but I think you would love it if love a good chic lit read.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and look forward to picking up more from the author.


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Making Faces by Amy Harmon

Making Faces by Amy Harmon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 Stars

If you have ever seen a BookTube video around romance than you know Amy Harmon will most likely be mentioned. She has been an author that I have been dying to give a try and I finally took the plunge! Unfortunately, I was kind of let down!

Do not get me wrong! There were some things I loved about Making Faces and some things I just did not love at all. First off, I have never heard anyone mention that this is Christian romance. I actually love Christian romance, but I was just surprised as I was reading along as I have never heard this mentioned in all of the reviews and recommendations I have seen. I have also never really heard anyone mention this being a Beauty and the Beast retelling (I did not really get that from reading it, but still feel it is worth mentioning).

This also deals with some heavy topics such as the military, death and loss, injuries, 9/11, Muscular Dystrophy, and domestic violence. All of these were actually done amazingly and the main reason I kept reading.

I fell in love the with beginning as we begin to see the friendship between Fern and Bailey. This covers 9/11 and I really connected with these parts and even teared up a little as I was just starting college when 9/11 happened. This also moves to several students going off to War and the aftermath of War. This was also very sad moments within the story in which I enjoyed.

Ambrose really is not even a part of their friendship as the story jumps from young children, to high school, to after high school. I was looking forward to a romance as I have heard Amy Harmon is the queen of slow burn. Slow burn is totally different compared to non-existent. I feel the romance was non-existent and not the focal point of the story until after half way through. Yes, they communicated but it was just not something that made me want to hold on for a developing romance.

Bailey made the story for me as we learn about him and his challenges with Muscular Dystrophy. He was witty and a well-loved character. The most exciting parts within the story involved Bailey being involved.

I did not enjoy the message around the “Beauty and the Beast” trope. Fern overhears her mother say she is not a beautiful (pretty) child at a young age. When this first happened I thought it was going to bring a powerful message around the power of words and how they can stay with someone. Well, they stay with Fern. Every other chapters is around Fern not being pretty enough. It was way overdone. Ambrose does not seem to notice her as she is “not pretty.” The romance only starts when Ambrose is “no longer pretty himself.” I actually was getting annoyed with this trope as the story went on and on.

Overall, there were things I loved and things I did not. I felt the story was slow at times and was dragging on. Some things worked and others did not.


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House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have heard several people talk about this one. I actually do not know if I know the fairytale that is it a retelling for, but I was still excited to give it a try.

I really loved the beginning, but then it went a little too slow for me. I liked the mystery behind the sisters and the curse. As the story goes on though it veered off too much. I did not care at all about the ball and the dancing. It just made the story drag on. I wanted to get back to the mystery and if the sisters were killed.

There was so much filler that did not bring anything to the story. I know it all comes together in the end, but I just kept feeling like I wanted it to be over. Yes, there was exciting parts but even then I could not get into this one.

I should and could have pushed through to finish this as I got so far. I seriously read around 80% and then skipped to the end to get it over with. This one was just not for me.


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The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood

The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was sent this book for the publisher the publisher. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

This one hurts a little and is a little hard to review. I read All The Ugly and Wonderful Things earlier this year and loved it. The Reckless Oath We Made was one of my most anticipated releases for the year. I started it the first day when it came to me in the mail.

I really loved the beginning as you start to learn about Zee and her family. I thought I was going to be hooked. Once Gentry gets introduced though, everything slowed down for me. I ended up having to wait and finish this on audiobook as Mid-Evil times is just not my thing.

Gentry has some mental health issues including multiple characters that are talking to him. He also lives and talks within Mid-Evil times. His chapters are written in mid-evil times languages. The story even builds the relationship between Zee and Gentry by going to a castle with mid-evil activities. Where I can appreciate a relationship that is not perfect and the message that everyone deserves love I just did not care about any of this. I found it very slow and boring. I wanted to skip ahead to more around Zee and her sister.
Again, I loved Zee’s story. Her sister is missing: possibly kidnapped or possibly helping prison escapees. Her mother is a hoarder and six hundred pounds as after dealing with grief. Zee is involved with drugs and just trying to make it through life. I loved everything around her story, just did not connect with the love story. That is why I am giving this three stars. I really enjoyed this aspect of the story.

There are so many characters besides just our main characters as well. If they are mentioned, they most likely have a chapter from their perspective. I would have preferred to stay within Zee and Gentry. I did not love this aspect of the story either.

This is such a hard book to rate. I really loved some thing and did not really like other things. The second half was much more fast past from the very slow middle. I am just torn!

Overall, sadly this one was not for me. I ended skimming to the end and through Zee’s parts as I still wanted to know what happened. I also do appreciate the messages in the story overall, the delivery just was not for me.


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Dreams of a Fierce Heart: Cover Reveal

Last Girl Lied To by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

Last Girl Lied To by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am really torn on this one. It was a really quick read and it held my attention. However; there were some things I was just over as I was reading.

This is definitely an unrealistic mystery. Some of the things did not add up for teens in high school. I still wanted to see how everything would unfold and why it was all happening in the first place though.

Let’s talk about the body shaming in this book. This deals A LOT with body image. Every other paragraph is Fiona talking about how fat she is or body shaming herself. I do like that the boys still liked her and did not see her in the same light, but it was so overdone! It was too much! It could have been effective if it was toned down a little. I do think it hits the mark on how some teenagers may feel, but it almost overtook other parts of the story.

Overall, it was good but did not blow me away.


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State of Lies by Siri Mitchell

State of Lies by Siri Mitchell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I was sent this book for a blog/instagram tour. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

Based on the cover I was expecting some type of political thriller and I was right. I will get back to that in a minute.

When this started, I was hooked! I actually read this in one sitting as I could not put it down. I really loved the beginning and would probably give this five stars based on that part of the story. I loved the mystery/thriller aspects as well as I was turning the pages to find out what would happen. I more so wanted to know how everything was going to unfold in the end.

I was not a huge fan of all the political and War talk. Some of it went over my head and I really had no clue what Georgie was really discovering. I liked the little details around her trying to unfold the information, I just could care less about what was really going on. I know that may sound like I did not like the story then, but I was still loving it.

There were new things being thrown our way throughout to keep your interest. Some of what happens was predictable where I did not see other details coming. The ending was much better than I was expecting too!

Overall, this was still really good and I highly recommend it whether you like political thrillers or not.


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Bloodlines by SK Gregory: Release Day Blitz

Deadly Intentions by Lisa Harris

Deadly Intentions by Lisa Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was sent this book for a blog tour and from the publisher. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

This one started off with so much action that I was immediately hooked. I was almost one hundred pages in when things started to slow down for me though. I was not a huge fan of why everything happened happened. I wanted it to be for another reason.

This will keep you turning the pages until the very end though! I loved that and how the author constantly changed it up so they story did not get stale.

Overall, a great read.


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The Art of Losing by Lizzy Mason

The Art of Losing by Lizzy Mason
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

This starts off pretty quickly with Audrey being in a coma (not a spoiler as it is right in the synopsis). There is not much build up or information to what happened until you start reading more. It was really sad right off the bat, but it does not stay on that same track for most of the story.

This story does deal with substance abuse and addiction issues. I really like that discusses the importance of therapy and relapse when dealing with some of the issues our characters are facing. We do not always see those aspects in a positive light, so it was great to see the author add these tools to the story.

Like I mentioned, the beginning was really sad but I wanted more around the emotional pull throughout the story. I just did not get that as much as I wanted too. Do not get me wrong, I was still enjoying the story for what it is. I was just expecting to be crying my eyes out based on the beginning premise.

Overall, still a really great read with some really great discussion topics around substance abuse and addiction.



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Mona Lisa by Robyn Sheridan

Mona Lisa by Robyn Sheridan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars


I went into Mona Lisa with low expectations, but I really wanted a fun and quick read. I ended up loving this!

Ok, it was not something that was life changing by any means. I just really connected with this story. I connected with Mona Lisa on so many levels especially when it comes to the Cicciarelli family. I come from a large Italian family too! There were so many things within my own family that were similar to hers which just made me smile every time something was said or done within their family dynamics.

I also really loved Mona Lisa. I grew up in Michigan and moved to Southern Georgia. Mona Lisa grew up in the north and moves to Atlanta. I was also reading this in August (in Georgia) so I was laughing at all of the heat references around August. I was laughing along with Mona Lisa with her sarcasm as she went on date after date.

I just really had fun with this one! If you love Italian families and a light hearted read then give this one a try!


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Wish You Were Mine by Tara Sivec

Wish You Were Mine by Tara Sivec
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

A tragic loss, second chance romance, and fake dating? Sign me up as I love all of those in a story. This had my attention right from the start with the opening letter from Aiden. The story itself was a little slow for me and I did want a little bit more from Cameron and Everett.

This flashes back to how our three best friends meet and breaks down the relationship between Cameron and Everett. At times, I wish it would have focuses more on present day. I did not need every few years of their friendship in flashbacks as it was pretty repetitive.

The ending got me though. It was all pretty predictable, but I still ended up with a few tears with the ending letter from Aiden.

Overall, this one was pretty good and I would love to check out more from this author.


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For Black Girls Like Me by Mariama J. Lockington

For Black Girls Like Me by Mariama J. Lockington
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is middle grade/young adult, but does read a little more young adult. I was not expecting this to follow so many issues as it covers so much more than just race (triggers for racism and mental health).

I was happy to see that the author covered topics from adoption, to race, mental health, and finding yourself. Makeda is trying to find herself in a world where she just does not seem to fit in. She deals with trying to fit in with her family and peers while dealing with stereotypes the world faces today. She is also dealing with issues at home with her parents and in their own relationships.

I am not the targeted audience for this one, so it is a little hard to rate. I am giving this four stars though. I do recommend this for older children (yes, still YA) but it does cover several issues that would be beneficial for everyone to read. It includes insults and language that you just need to be aware of if you having a younger child read this. They all make excellent discussions to have with your child though as they are reading. Just be aware, but author does include real life situations that made the story even better in my opinion.

Overall, this was pretty good and an important read.



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An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars
I have really enjoyed the previous works by Shari Lapena, and will most likely read everything she comes out with. This was not my favorite of hers, but I still really enjoyed it.

There were too many characters thrown your way right off the bat. I think we were introduced to nine different characters within the first few pages. I had to write them all down to keep track of who we were meeting so I would be able to keep them all straight. You really need to pay attention as each plays a role in the story. Once I got into the story I had no issues keeping track of everyone though.

I loved the build up of the story and the little (or big) things that come out about all of the characters as you try to figure out Who Did It? I was not a huge fan of the big reveal but that is more of a personal thing than anything wrong with the story itself.

Overall, this one was still pretty good though. I did not see every twist and turn coming, and I still enjoyed the authors storytelling.


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Have You Seen Luis Velez? by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Have You Seen Luis Velez? by Catherine Ryan Hyde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I do not know why I doubted Catherine Ryan Hyde. I should have known better. I completely judged this story. Even after starting it I was thinking I was going to DNF this. The more I read though, the more I loved this feel good story.

I loved Ms. G and all of her wisdom. I also loved the relationship between Ms. G and Raymond. Their story was one of kindness and love (she is 90 so not a romantic love). I love their conversations and how Ms. G was really helping Raymond to find himself with no judgement.

There is still good in this world, and stories like these just touch your heart. I laughed and I cried. I did not see some turns coming at all and did not realize this was going to take a legal turn. It covers so many different topics from sexuality, relationships, family, friendship, racism, and more. I do feel it went on a little too long at times. It is not a fast moving story at all, but more of one of those reads that will stick with you well after reading the last page.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and highly recommend picking it up if you love those types of reads.


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