Malcolm and Me. Robin Farmer. 2020. SparkPress. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of Netgalley.] Amazingly executed … Robin Farmer captures that pivotal moment when life and your thought process changes. As a former Catholic school girl and Black woman, I distinctly remember those moments that reminded me I was the minority in the classes. Roberta was unapologetic and insightful but young. And that’s a struggle for many young Black girls — knowing that you must stand for yourself and simultaneously understand that not every moment requires the effort. The Forest family was in turmoil, and I love the subtle content on some many topics that are frequent in the black family – the differences in how mothers (black mothers particularly) treat there sons vs. their daughters,  family being accomplices to infidelity, and even colorism. Mrs. Farmer deserves the five stars I’m giving this book and I’m appreciative of her transparency as it relates to her personal experiences reflected in the book. I’d be interested to see her future works.

Loving MAN. Bailey West. 2020. 224 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Sometimes you just want to read something a little messy. The world outside my window is obviously imploding, so a bit of catharsis is always appreciated. The description for Loving MAN certainly supplied that — a pregnancy from a short-lived fling, and then another woman on top of that? Add in the food aspect, and I was ready to jump in. Loving MAN, at almost all turns, wasn’t what I expected. That’s not a bad thing, though. It’s usually easy to figure out a few of the plot points with certain tropes in romance, so I was prepared to adjust my expectations accordingly. However, West starts the book with significant bombshells, then takes the rest of the book in a direction that while unexpected, was appreciated. Xander and Angel are two lost souls. They share a passion that’s not about romance — food; he’s a renowned chef and she’s an internationally trained chocolatier. Life circumstances have pulled them both away the kitchen and have them questioning if they’ll find themselves back ever, let alone in the near future. And yes, this is a romance, so there’s obviously tension around their…

My Soul’s Reflection. AshleyNicole. 2020. 117 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] The Mason’s are back, this time crashing a tropical resort for some family fun. Mirror — or Kharon, one of the triplets — is ready for two weeks of relaxation and antics with his siblings and cousins. He’s up for a good time, but not expecting a connection with anyone. His stoic demeanor also makes him somewhat unapproachable or aloof — sometimes it’s hard to figure which. Irilin is rigid and, frankly, not particularly relatable. She’s all but forced on the vacation and still struggles to be present and enjoy paradise. More often than not, she’s got her head in her work computer, and is standoffish. That’s why when most of the Masons depart, and Irilin’s friends leave for home, it’s somewhat surprising that she opens up to Kharon at all. The two are a reflection of each other; neither is particularly expressive, though they do have a passionate connection. But when asked to look beyond the physical and put effort toward the other, they’re both challenged. Some of this stems from previous relationships; their conflict isn’t whether they’re interested, it’s about how interested and how much they can integrate…

Forbidden Promises. Synthia Williams. 2020. HQN Books. 270 pages. [Source: Personal copy.] This book was drama with a capital D. What else could it be, with one sister silently in love with her sister’s ex-husband? India is the baby of the Robidoux clan, a family whose legacy is rooted in a successful and long-lasting tobacco company. Family loyalty is held above all else and has dictated the lives of generations. India thought she’d escaped some of the weight of familial obligation by touring as an orchestra’s violinist, and is dismayed when a brief trip home turns into campaigning for her brother’s senate run. Further complicating things is having to share space with a man she’s loved — or lusted after — from afar, including while he was married to her older sister. Travis and India have chemistry that’s difficult to hide, both on a personal and physical level, and India finds herself in a constant struggle of whether to prioritize her sister’s feelings and family’s reputation or pursue what could be her true love. Despite India being the heroine of this story, the adjacent characters’ depth shows as well. Older sister Elaina is portrayed as cold and career-focused, but it’s…

Bless Your Heart. Ashleynicole. 2020. 174 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Nothing beats a small town romance. The nosey natives. The mysterious interloper. It always makes for a a special kind of messy that I find hard to resist. In this case, the interloper is Charadee, a Connecticut-raised romance author who sets up shop in a house on the outskirts of Preto Village, a town so small it’s not even on the map. She, quite by accident, catches the eye of the hometown doctor and most eligible bachelor, Keegan. He is himself a reluctant resident of Preto Village who left for med school but finds himself at the mercy of his dramatic mother’s attempts to keep him near. The thing about small towns is that anyone’s business is easily everyone’s business, whether they like it or not. So while Charadee wants to live her reclusive, author life without drama, she’s also not afraid to back down from it when the townsfolk make it clear that she’s not welcome. She’s generally unbothered by the antics of her new neighbors, whether good or bad. As anyone who’s ever dealt with unsavory folks in the midwest or south knows, a quick “bless your heart”…