A Spark of Light. Jodi Picoult. 2018. Ballatine Books. 384 pages. [Source: Public Library.] It’s hard to temper your expectations when you know a book starts off with what many consider a worst-case scenario – a hostage situation at a women’s reproductive health care center. I came into this book bracing myself for the worst, but still clinging to hope that there could be a happily ever after … of sorts ...
A Princess in Theory. Alyssa Cole. 2018. Avon Books. 373 pages. [Source: Public Library.] A Princess in Theory is a book I couldn’t ignore. I saw frequently in passing, but not at times when I was adding to my TBR pile. Finally, seeing it on the Goodreads lists for best romance book of 2018 made me stop and check it out. Surely, there was some hype I was missing. I thought this was a cute story, but it didnR...
A Beautiful Ghetto. Devin Allen. 2017. Haymarket Books. 121 pages. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of Edelweiss Above the Treeline.] I had chills while reading A Beautiful Ghetto. Part of it was seeing beautiful Black faces in environments that seem anything but that, based on social standards. Allen, however, captures everyday life in Baltimore with a brutal honesty that is truly compelling. There are pictures of children lounging on a ...
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...
Everything to Me. AC Taylor. 2017. 177 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Haze and Dominic have an oddly intimate friendship. Dominic’s an R&B star who immediately claims Haze as his friend when he visits her ice cream shop while on vacation in Hawaii. For her part, Haze has run to Hawaii in an attempt to heal from her mother’s recent death. Despite them both being from Dallas, it’s only half a world away that they...





