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…

The Changeup. Nicole Falls. 2019. 144 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] You throw like a girl is usually meant as a stinging insult, insinuating a lack of power. That is absolutely the opposite of what it would mean referencing Geffri Robinson, a former college baseball pitcher. Geffri finds herself a viral sensation after winning a competition at a baseball game, which puts her on the radar of sports blogger/internet troll Noah. What starts as a contentious set of tweets instead turns into a battle of wills to see who’s the better sports(wo)man. First, I have to admit sports isn’t really my thing. I’m usually only as familiar with what’s happening as I catch on the morning news and what I scroll by on twitter. But I am loving how some of my indie faves have been making me eat my words! Here, Nicole Falls has made baseball accessible and interesting. I think it’s because while this is a book about baseball, it’s not all about baseball. There’s a good balance of exploring the world behind the bullpen (I hope I used that reference correctly), getting a feel for league politics, and what players go through in and out of season. The…

Inheritance. Katrina Jackson. 2018. 155 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] I already knew I was in for a treat with Inheritance, because From Scratch set the bar high. Jackson’s series featuring a lazy southern town looking to inject some new energy into its population. The newest arrival is a librarian, Lorraine, who will be at the helm of a newly reconstructed library. At nearly thirty, Jonah is Sea Port’s prodigal son. After his father’s sudden death, he reluctantly returned to town to settle his father’s affairs; but instead of just handling business and returning to his life in Atlanta, Jonah decided to stay and take over the construction company his father intended to run with his son. Lorraine and Jonah have an immediate and potent sexual chemistry, with a side of exhibitionism (it’s actually ridiculous and humorous how little restraint they show). They fit right in with other newcomers to Sea Port, in that regard. I thought their emotional connections were interesting. Jonah was raised to deal with his emotions head on, while Lorraine clearly is still working through abandonment issues caused by her mother. Usually, you see the woman coaching a man to confront his emotional baggage and communicate better,…

From Scratch. Katrina Jackson. 2017. 160 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] What’s a frustrated academic to do when the tenure they’ve worked so tirelessly for is denied? Find a new recipe for success, obviously. In From Scratch, Mary Woods has landed herself in the middle of Sea Port. It’s small town living at its finest, and she’s the new baker in town. Aside from the pressure of launching a business, she’s also trying to find her place in a town where relationships and secrets run deep. Along the way, she meets the town’s new fire chief and police officer, Knox and Santos, respectively. Both are newcomers to town and are using the new setting as a reset on life just as much as she is. They’re also fine as hell, and clearly attracted to her. From Scratch is a mix of new and familiar to me. I love a good small-town, easy going romance. A little sexual angst and town drama is all it takes for me. But what is new for me was that the love triangle that one often reads about isn’t just with Mary at the center. She, Knox, and Santos are all enamored with each other, and…

f*ck and fall in love. Nicole Falls. 2019. 71 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Ugh! I loved everything about this novella, except that I’m not still reading about Jane and Nigel. Jane has the (un)fortunate task of serving as a local marketing rep to her parent company’s quarterly meeting. While there, she has the lucky fortune of meeting Nigel, a bouncer at a rooftop bar. Throwing most of her caution to the wind as a result of some highly impressive cocktails, they have a quick fling before she hops a plane home. But then she has to fly back to New York. Again, and again. This is a short and mostly sweet story about some out of town d*ck, essentially. But it’s cute, funny, and enticing all in one. I very intentionally did not read anything about the f*ck and fall in love before it, so I could avoid projecting my own expectations and assumptions on it. I didn’t know what to expect, and I was not disappointed. Frankly, with a title like f*ck and fall in love, I was sure I’d be treated to some sexy scenes. And while it definitely has the characteristics of a romance, it also offers…