Honey; Sweeter Than Honey. Maya Mahree. 2019/2020. B. Love Publications. [Soure: Kindle Unlimited.] This review actually covers both books in this series, Honey and its sequel, Sweeter Than Honey. I started reading the sequel, not realizing it was part of a series. Naturally, I had to go back to find book 1. I’ll start here by saying that I likely wouldn’t have known I was reading a sequel if not for my spidey senses because Mahree’s style gave context and detail in a way that the plot of Sweeter Than Honey certainly would’ve held its own even without reading Honey beforehand. The books centers Trinity, a recent college grad on a group trip that includes her long-time boyfriend, Joseph, and her sidepiece, Kelly — the two happen to be best friends. Along for the trip are a host of other friends, including Kelly’s actual girlfriend, Vanessa. Where the first book is a buildup to a fallout, the second book reconciles the issues in book one. It is capital D drama, so there are significant issues that need resolution. Honey unfolds mostly in the present, with the group of friends on a graduation trip to Hawaii. Through flashbacks, you’re able to…

In His Corner. Alexandra Warren. 2017. 283 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] This book is actually a reread for me. I picked it up when it was released; I obviously was side-tracked before posting a review. I chose to revisit it this week when the author, Alexandra Warren, announced it would be leaving the Kindle Unlimited library. In His Corner features Bella Stevenson, a staff writer for the online magazine Fullest Disclosure. Her attempts to write her way up the ranks land her at the latest boxing match of Princeton “The Prince” Lattimore, an undefeated boxer whose flirtatious innuendo gets under her skin. Lucky for her, his interest in her opens the door for an exclusive that she can’t turn down. Bella and Prince’s relationship isn’t quite a fairy tale. While their attraction is hot and they’re almost effortlessly compatible, they have to fight for their relationship on several fronts. Prince owes his career — for better or worse — to his father, formidable boxing legend Sir Kingfield “The King” Lattimore. The two have a complicated relationship due to The King’s high expectations that Prince follows in his footsteps and tough love approach. The effects of this strained relationship cause continued…

The Reinvention of the Rose. Christina C. Jones. 2020. Warm Hues Creative. 200 pages. [Source: Personal copy] In Deuces Wild, The Garden fell, leaving its Roses and Thorns with newfound autonomy over their lives. Some integrated seamlessly into new lifestyles, while others had a stormier experience. Such is Tempest. She’s settled into what she has crafted as a quiet, anonymous, unassuming existence in The Heights. She’s slowing integrating herself into the community, but keeps herself at a distance. The Reinvention of the Rose isn’t so much of a romance as it is Tempest’s attempts to make sense of she is and what she wants. She spent years being defined by someone else’s standards, and literally doesn’t know who she is, where she’s from, or her own birth day. Instead, she’s a grown woman having to reinvent herself because what other option does she have? From figuring out what to do with the old candle shop she bought to navigating sex, romance, and intimacy with men — especially local tattoo artist Tristan — Tempest has a lot to learn and redefine for herself. Also this story is centered around Tempest, Tristan isn’t a character without his own challenges. A military vet…

Oops. Alexandra Warren. 2020. 250 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Well this one rips the bandage right off – Oops! is a tale of an unplanned pregnancy. And not just any unplanned pregnancy. It’s with a guy Camryn sworn to hate, but can’t avoid because she works for his mother. Camryn’s about her business and in her opinion, Maverick is a social media obsessed playboy. She doesn’t take him seriously, and considers him a nuisance. But when he saves the day for a fundraiser she’s planning, then shows just how selfless he can be — at least where she’s concerned — she hooks up with him in a moment of weakness. And cue positive pregnancy test. What follows is Camryn and Maverick’s attempt to come to terms with impending parenthood, which runs the gamut from deciding whether to keep the pregnancy, dealing with Maverick’s tendency to end up on gossip blogs, and figuring out whether raising a child together equates to them being in a relationship. Theirs isn’t an easy dynamic to navigate, but Warren covers the gamut of issues that pop up with realism and thoughtfulness. I think what I appreciated most in this book is that Camryn and Maverick…

Let Me Hear a Rhyme. Tiffany D. Jackson. 2019. Katherine Tegan Books. 384 pages. [Source: Public Library.] If there was ever a book written that speaks directly to the soul of 14-year-old me, it is Let Me Hear a Rhyme.  On its surface, it’s a touching story of a group of friends refusing to let their friend become another anonymous victim of street violence. But it really feels like a long-overdue homage to the New York hip-hop scene at one of its most pivotal periods. The story takes place on the heels of the Notorious BIG’s murder, and opens with the funeral of Steph, a 16-year-old aspiring rapper.  With that major spoiler out of the way, the book turns to his sister Jasmine and his two best friends, Jarrell and Quadir, as they reckon with his loss and attempt to secure his legacy as one of the best to put on for Brooklyn. During their quest, they discover that each of them knew less about Steph’s life than they could have imagined.  Let Me Hear a Rhyme doesn’t leave out any of the memorable people, places, and sounds of the New York hip-hop scene in the late ‘90s. Anyone who…