Brooklyn. Tracy Brown. 2024. Griffin. 324 pages. [Source: ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.] So thankful to have been chosen to give a review of this book. I’ve been a fan of Tracy Brown and knowing this was her last piece of work made it extra special. Very “Coldest Winter Ever” – esque, I both loved and loathed Brooklyn. Life dealt her a bad time but she has a special knack fo...
The Color of Your Skin. Desirée Acevedo, Silvia Álvarez, ill. 2021. Cuento de Luz. 32 pages. [Source: Provided via Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.] The Color of Your Skin follows a young artist, Vega, who is drawing a special picture she aspires to have grace her mom’s “gallery” on the refrigerator. She’s interrupted by a friend asking for the “skin-colored” pencil, which sets the stor...
Daddy’s Maybe. Denise Essex. 2023. 197 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] This book was messy as hell. That’s not a terrible thing; it just comes with the territory when the main characters have to live out the adage, “mama’s baby, daddy’s maybe.” Destiny Cooper has settled into a quiet life in her small hometown. She has a career that’s rewarding and three loveable kids, which she holds onto to balance out that she’...
The House at the End of the World. Dean Koontz. 2023. Thomas & Mercer. 398 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] Katie’s life on the island known as Jacob’s Ladder is peaceful, predictable, and most importantly, private, just the way she’s intended to live out her days. But that’s all turned on its head when she gets unwanted visitors from the nearby island that houses a clandestine government facility. With her...
From Staircase to Stage. Raekwon with Anthony Bozza . 2021. Gallery Books. 320 pages. [Source: Personal copy.] I’ll be the first to admit that while Wu-Tang Clan is a legendary hip-hop supergroup, I was woefully unaware of their story. I’ve always known a world in which the group is highly respected and lauded for their artistry, but only recently have I had the opportunity to really delve into the group’s origin and overall caree...
