Sweet Dreams: Twisted Reflections

I’m trying to figure out how to express my thoughts regarding author Jessica K. Webb’s book Sweet Dreams: Twisted Reflections. While a short read, I needed clarification initially at the beginning of the story, but as I read, I understood some of the plot. Unfortunately, I was confused again towards the end. So, this is what I took from this novel. Webb invites readers into the mind of this male character, who believes he’s a doctor and, for some strange reason, keeps having lucid dreams. 

The character dreams of being in this home and eventually meets this seven-year-old boy. Much to the gentleman’s dismay, he starts a conversation with the child in which he envies the child’s innocence, which leads to the gentleman questioning things he’s done in his adult life. While in the home, the gentleman unfortunately causes harm to the child’s parents, resulting in the authorities being called and the gentleman having to receive medical attention. 

The synopsis of Sweet Dreams: Twisted Reflections is a tantalizing glimpse into a world of mystery and psychological exploration. It piqued my interest, which is why I wanted to read it. Sadly, it wasn’t what I expected. I thought I would be reading different short stories in which each character had a dilemma and worked towards solving it. What I read instead was confusing and had me questioning fantasy versus reality. 

I appreciate Webb wanting to receive an honest review. While this book wasn’t for me, it could be for readers interested in short thrillers and suspenseful reads that dive into the human psyche and explore all the unusual thoughts we sometimes don’t speak about. Sweet Dreams: Twisted Reflections is available everywhere books are sold. 

Not Finished Loving You Review

Jaceon Palmer’s heart shattered when he watched his college sweetheart, Alexis Monroe, walk out of his life. It was gut-wrenching for both of them, but Alexis refused to compromise on wanting children someday while Jaceon focused on his career, feeling that he couldn’t balance both effectively when the time came.  

And so, Alexis made the difficult choice to close that chapter. Years later, she found happiness in marriage and motherhood, having two children with her husband Gary. Her life felt complete. But life’s unpredictability struck, forcing Alexis to return to her parents’ home with her two kids. A serendipitous encounter with her first love, Jaceon, reignites old feelings and the realization that perhaps, neither of them had truly moved on, as depicted in author Kimberly Brown’s Not Finished Loving You. 

First, let’s celebrate Black love because readers rarely see books that represent healthy romantic relationships between African American people. Second, I loved Brown’s depiction of Jaceon’s willingness to step up and be a father figure to Alexis’s kids. Again, we rarely see this in the African American community. Yes, Jaceon has his flaws, but he’s a standup guy. He acknowledged his mistakes and was willing to do what it took to win Alexis’s heart and her children’s. 

I appreciated the vivid scenes, engaging storyline, and the wonderful representation of two people willing to fight for something as precious and pure as love. Not Finished Loving You is a beautiful love story that is sure to have readers enthralled to the end! Kimberly Brown’s Not Finished Loving You is available everywhere books are sold. 

Ruthless Review

Jason Davenport destroyed Natalie Palmer’s family, and now Natalie is determined to return the favor, decimating Jason’s world by any means necessary. Jason owns Avalon Casino. The same casino that Natalie’s father once owned until he became involved in some shady dealings, resulting in an agreement made with the enemy, Jason Davenport. 

Now, Natalie will do whatever she can to correct that mistake and bring Jason to his knees as she reveals the underhanded tactics he’s committing with the casino. What started as a means to try and ruin a man’s career turned into a love story that Natalie Palmer didn’t see coming in this action-packed, edge-of-your-seat thriller Ruthless. 

Jessica Lauryn delivers again with this captivating novel filled with twists and turns, vivid scenes, and a mesmerizing love story as enemies turn to lovers. Readers will be satisfied with this page-turning thriller. It’s gripping, sultry, and has an ending you won’t see coming! Powerful characters and a memorable storyline round out this promising novel. Get ready for one hell of a ride as Jessica Lauryn’s Ruthless debuts later this year. 

Around The Way Girl Review

Taraji P. Henson is resilient.

She’s an Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner, and she recently starred in the 2023 film The Color Purple alongside Fantasia, Whoopi Goldberg, and Ciara. Navigating the ins and outs of Hollywood has been challenging. Henson has had some highs and lows throughout her personal life and career. And she’s used those moments to persevere, proving to herself and the rest of the world that she’s here to stay. 

Henson’s memoir, Around The Way Girl, is an in-depth look into the life of Taraji P. Henson. Readers see what makes Henson who she is. She details living in Southeast DC with her Mom, her relationship with her Dad, attending college at Howard University, raising her son as a single parent, and the dynamic of their relationship, as well as how she got her start as an actress in Hollywood. 

Nothing is off-limits in this book. Henson gives it to you straight, real, with no filter. She’s authentically herself. She celebrates her wins and openly discusses her losses, the pain she felt when certain family members passed, and how she’s been able to navigate and have longevity in a business that’s at times inconsistent. 

It took me some time to decide whether to read Henson’s story. When it came out in 2017, I immediately said no. I can’t quite decipher why, but fast forward seven years later, and here we are. I wasn’t expecting anything shocking or eye-opening with this book because, as I said, what you see with Henson is what you get, so she delivered on telling her story. There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. Overall, this book was okay. It’s not a must-have on my to-be-read list, but most, if not all, of you have read this book already and given your opinions, so now I’m giving mine. 

I will say this: Henson is an around-the-way girl, so the title is fitting. If you haven’t already and are looking for a quick read, take a look at Henson’s book. Around The Way, Girl is available everywhere books are sold. 

The Mystery Guest Book Review

Molly “The Maid” Gray is at it again, solving another murder, and this time, she’s working alongside Lily, Regency Grand Hotel’s newest “Maid-in-Training” in author Nita Prose’s The Mystery Guest. Well-renowned author J.D. Grimthorpe has an announcement and has decided to share this information by holding a press conference at the hotel. Fans, reporters, and the hotel’s staff gather and wait anxiously to hear what he says. But before he releases his statement, he drops dead on the Regency Grand Hotel’s tearoom floor, and all eyes and evidence point to Lily. 

Knowing that Lily couldn’t have committed such a heinous crime, Molly works tirelessly to prove Lily’s innocence. The Mystery Guest is compelling. It’s full of twists and turns and is a page-turning delight. It’s a beautiful follow-up to Prose’s The Maid. Secrets get revealed and Molly’s still as inquisitive as ever. What I loved about The Mystery Guest is readers get to see more of Molly’s grandmother’s backstory. Readers also can become more invested in each of these characters, especially Molly. I appreciate introducing new characters and the fact that familiar faces are present. This book was a welcoming, polished novel filled with intrigue, suspense, humor, love, and the importance of family. 

The Mystery Guest is an excellent addition to any readers-to-be-read list (tbr), and I highly suggest that if you haven’t, please read Nita Prose’s The Maid. The Mystery Guest is available everywhere books are sold. 

I Have Some Questions For You Book Review

Bodie Kane reluctantly returns to the New Hampshire boarding school Granby (she attended as a teen) to try and solve her former roommate, Thalia Keith’s, murder. What’s more, she agreed to teach a podcasting class while there. She uses the class to shed light on Thalia’s death, which introduces new witnesses, evidence, and the possibility that Omar Evans (who’s behind bars for Thalia’s murder) might not be her actual killer. 

It’s a trip down memory lane for Bodie as she revisits her old stomping grounds. Former classmates resurface. Some good, some indifferent, but either way, they’ve all been asked to participate in the new trial that’s happening since one of Bodie’s students’ podcast has provided further evidence in determining if Omar is guilty of killing Thalia in her senior year at Granby. Memories are shared. Bodie attempts to make peace with her past and works tirelessly with her students to uncover the truth, but she soon realizes everything is not what it seems in Rebecca Makkai’s I Have Some Questions For You. 

The synopsis and the cover are the reasons why I bought this book. I’m glad I did because you get locked into this story from the first page, and readers will be, too! There’s imagery for days, lifelike characters, and a captivating and twisting plot that will have you developing your own theories as to who committed this murder. It took me some time to get through this book because there was a lot of information to process. Readers learn about Bodie’s time at Granby, about her former classmates, theories about why and how Thalia could have died, suspects who would have had a means and motive to pull it off, and much more!

I Have Some Questions For You is a spellbinding thriller guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats! Makkai’s I Have Some Questions For You is available everywhere books are sold. 

Bardo Review

How does an innocent game of basketball cause Luther Banks to spend twenty years in prison for murder? After playing ball with a group of guys he didn’t know, Luther agreed to accompany the gentlemen to the store. Unbeknownst to him, these guys planned to take more than snacks. Now Luther stands over the clerk’s dead body as the police officers handcuff him. Behind bars, Luther grapples with the notion that he’s been wrongfully convicted. Thankfully, with the help of the Innocence Project, he is exonerated. 

Now, at forty, Luther must learn how to reacclimate himself back into an exciting and scary world. And he’s doing that when his life takes another devastating blow as he’s accused of murder once again. A body is found on Dutch Bogart’s land, and deputies believe Luther is involved. Luther is staying at the residence with a group of others, and all parties involved feel Luther should leave for a while until things calm down and deputies find the actual culprit. Luther reluctantly agrees and sets his sights on New York, thanks to Jed (a friend of Luther’s). He meets up with Jed’s friend Finn, and both men embark on a memorable journey filled with laughs, heartache, honesty, love, friendship, and family in author Emily Gallo’s book Bardo. 

I loved that this book showed readers that you are not your past. You can start life anew and create new memories, goals, friendships, etc. The dynamic and intricate relationship between Finn and Luther was beautifully complex, as it was honest. They are opposites in every sense of the word, but Finn opened Luther’s eyes to a world outside of what he once knew all those years ago, and Luther helped Finn to become more comfortable with being vulnerable. Bardo is about navigating life and the lessons, memories, and people you meet that help shape how you see the world and the various experiences you encounter past, present, and future. 

Bardo started slow but picked up quickly as the chapters continued. There were a couple misspelled words, but nothing to deter the reader from enjoying and finishing the book. Colorful characters, picturesque scenes, and an engaging plot help make this novel a captivating, witty, and detailed read! Readers into fictional novels filled with self-discovery, friendships, loss, love, and family would enjoy reading Bardo! Emily Gallo’s Bardo was released earlier this year and is available everywhere books are sold. 

The Nothing Man Review

The Nothing Man fact or fiction? Twelve-year-old Eve Black’s world is shattered when her mother, father, and little sister, Anna, are murdered in their home, leaving Eve the lone survivor. Why was she left alive? Why did this intruder (dubbed ‘The Nothing Man’ by the press) kill her family? Now an adult, Eve’s focused on finding her family’s killer. 

Catherine Ryan Howard is the author of this book, and then inside, you read Eve’s story, and it’s as if this book isn’t a work of fiction but an actual true crime. I became confused. I even did some digging to see if this story had any truth. I won’t spoil it for those who may not have read it. Heck, I might be living under a rock not to be able to decipher between the two, but then that means that there’s good storytelling here. 

The Nothing Man has several layers; the author explores them all beautifully. The details, plot twists, and appealing characters gave me a spellbinding read! I could picture certain scenes and sometimes felt the characters’ emotions, and I was shocked and relieved by the ending. Overall, The Nothing Man is an enthralling, suspenseful read guaranteed to keep you engaged till the end. Catherine Ryan Howard’s The Nothing Man is available everywhere books are sold. 

We Over Me Review

We Over Me: The Counterintuitive Approach to Getting Everything You Want From Your Relationship by Devale and Khadeen Ellis sheds light on a twenty-year relationship where Devale and Khadeen continuously choose to love, respect, and fight for each other despite numerous ebbs and flows. I bought this book because I watched Devale on Tyler Perry’s show Sistas and Zatima (and it doesn’t hurt that he’s fine!) and decided to read their book and see his and his wife’s advice regarding relationships. 

In return, I received a look into how Devale and his wife came to be. I learned about each individually, and they provided their personal opinions/advice on dating, family, marriage, sex, careers, and kids. There was a lot of information to consume; there were moments when they willingly shared embarrassing, funny, and eye-opening stories. I didn’t agree with some of their points of view, but as the saying goes, opinions are like assholes; everyone has one. 

I loved reading how hard Devale and Khadeen love one another, how hard they fight for one another, and how hard they love their family and children. Their drive to service one another is beautiful. I appreciate them letting the readers know and hopefully understand that they are not the perfect couple. They are not #couplegoals. They are, however, two people willing to work for their relationship individually and cohesively to ensure that things can be the best as possible for everyone involved. 

Relationships take work. Marriages take work. They mention throughout the book that if you are not willing to put in the work and be of service to your partner, then being in a relationship, let alone a marriage, is not for you, and that’s okay. All in all, you must do what you feel is best for you. And being of service to someone looks different for everyone. The biggest takeaway I received from We Over Me was the unconditional and undying love that Devale and Khadeen have for each other. Theirs is a twenty-year relationship, and they first started dating at eighteen. Their relationship wasn’t without trials, but they are doing the work because they chose to. They are willing to show up for one another, and it’s a yummy thing to see Black love!

We Over Me: The Counterintuitive Approach to Getting Everything You Want From Your Relationship by Devale and Khadeen Ellis is available everywhere books are sold. 

Off The Deep End Review

Author Lucinda Berry’s Off The Deep End is twisted and captivating! It’s a page-turning thriller introducing readers to Amber Greer, her fifteen-year-old son Issac, Jules Hart, and her teenage son Gabe. Jules agrees with Amber to take Issac home after a game he and Gabe attended. Jules gets into a horrible car accident, causing Gabe’s death, leaving her and Issac to survive. Reeling from the death of her son, Jules is unable to recover. Making matters worse, she’s formed an immoral and inappropriate bond with Issac and has Issac’s mother and father worried beyond measure. And now, Issac has disappeared. Amber swears Jules is involved while her husband feels Issac’s fallen victim to the ‘Dog Snatcher.’ This whirlwind, edge-of-your-seat thriller will have you glued to every page!

Berry’s twisted but in a good way. She writes vivid scenes, appealing dialogue, and impressionable characters. At times shell-shocked while reading this fictional tale; it also enthralled me because of the realness. It made me think of the numerous stories you hear of an older adult falling for a teenage child. To date, this book has 7,290 reviews on Amazon. Granted, I haven’t read any other works by this author, and I can only imagine that if any of her other books are anywhere near like this one, then readers are in for some mind-boggling, shocking, fun! 

However, I would be remiss if I didn’t warn readers that this book highlights immoral relationships, and if you disapprove of this, then this book isn’t for you. Remember, this is a work of fiction, but as I’ve stated in my review, it can have you pondering real situations as you think about how the characters in the story relate to someone or something you may have heard or know of. Lucinda Berry’s Off The Deep End is available everywhere books are sold.