Displacement. Alexandra Warren. 2019. 105 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] For her third installment in the Building 402 series, Alexandra Warren puts the spotlight on Nicole and Montgomery. The two were introduced in the previous installments of this series, and I’ve been wondering what their deal was for a while. I definitely enjoyed getting up close and personal with them in this book. Best friends since middle school, the two find themselves in uncharted territory as they grapple with a shift in their feelings toward each other. These feelings couldn’t come at a more precarious time for Nic. She’s reeling from an accidental apartment fire that turned nearly all of her belongings into ash. Now, she’s an extended visitor on her best friend’s sofa while she regroups. They already have an uncomfortable tension from them because Nic’s jealousy reared its head. Being under one another puts their friendship to the test, mainly because neither is comfortable in making the first step. I’m a sucker for a good “can they escape the friendzone” romance, and Displacement doesn’t disappoint. Nic and Monte have a playful rapport that you can see is rooted in years of having each others’ back. Their chemistry mostly made me wonder how they managed to front…

Wonder. Christina C. Jones. 2019. Warm Hues Creative. 283 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] I’ve grown to look forward to the new book that comes on the heels of any Christina C. Jones announcement that she’s trying something out of her comfort zone. From experience, I know that book will test boundaries, explore new ideas, and make me check my assumptions about my own worldview. Wonder is no different. It is a post-apocalyptic reimagining of a classic fairy tale that felt so right that it stands on its own. Wonder focuses on Aly, a 25 year old living more than a century after modern-day climate change has reared its ugly head, leaving Earth a collapsed shell of itself. A talented hair stylist who works in the privileged Apex, Aly lives in the less affluent Mids. Her ability to straddle both worlds is based on a keen ability to navigate relationships, social class, and the dangerous streets of her home. With only her grandmother and sister, Nadiah, in her life, Aly lives her life nose to the grindstone, until her sister goes missing. The rest of the book follows Aly as she ventures outside her city limits to find out who took her sister and determine how to get her back. In…

Work Less, Travel More. Tosh Patterson. 2018. 98 pages. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of author.] Whew, this book was so on time for me.  I am “leave-taking challenged,” in that the idea of taking off work is sometimes so overwhelming that I just don’t. Besides that, I have a full roster of other priorities that take all my attention.  All work and no play … you know the rest.  I love that this book isn’t just about how to travel, but about understanding why time away and self-care is so necessary to keeping yourself at your best.  While a shining gem in this book focuses on travel, it’s more than just how to make travelling more accessible and enjoyable. It is about why you need to take care of yourself, regardless of how that looks. First, I love how personal the author gets.  Patterson shares her experiences in such a transparent way that I really felt I was with her in some of the experiences she shares. The vulnerability is refreshing – I don’t enjoy reading “self-help” books from the perspective of someone who’s always had it together. I want to relate to someone who’s dealt with the same issues…

Wins & Losses. Alexandra Warren. 2018. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] For her twentieth release, Alexandra Warren outdid herself. Wins & Losses is a page-turner that I couldn’t put down and gets my strong recommendation.  With this release, she demonstrated that she’s capable of more than just telling a story, but is able to make a compelling critique of current events in an authentic and insightful way. The book starts with Carmen at her father’s funeral, reeling from his yet-unsolved murder.  Charles Wellington was an integral and well-loved member of their community so his death doesn’t make sense to anyone.  In the wake of his death, Carmen has to figure out how to support her 17-year-old brother Jordan who is captain of the basketball team and in the midst of his final year of high school when she lives hours away with her fiance Will.  Luckily, Jordan’s basketball couch, a former rival, Nasir, is staunchly in his corner and willing to be a pillar of support for them both while they figure out their new normal. Warren prefaced this book by sharing that it isn’t anything like what she’s written previously, and she’s spot on.  One of the most prevalent themes in this book…

Road to Love. Nicole Falls. 2018. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] This book starts with its main character crying her mascara off in a club bathroom stall. I didn’t know where Road to Love would go from there, but I was along for the ride (pun intended). Emerson Parker has odd luck with men. She didn’t date a lot in high school, thanks to her devout religious upbringing. The one serious relationship she had ended with a swinging hanger in an empty closet and a 4-word goodbye note. She’s been backstabbed by her closest friend and is estranged from her parents. Drama. A much-needed sabbatical from work leads her on a road trip home to Michigan from her new home in L.A. Along the way, she finds an undeniably handsome stranger stranded on the side of a Colorado highway. Roosevelt Ashe is probably too handsome for his own good, and definitely for Emerson’s. Nonetheless, they find themselves unlikely travel companions of sorts, and later, friends. As they both adjust to being back home among family and friends, they provide the support the other needs to face old demons and attempt to move forward in their lives. Road to Love is an enjoyable,…