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. 

In Lieu of Flowers Review

The Devil wants Noami’s baby (Peter), and he’s instructed Gunari to deliver the baby to him. Reluctant at first, Gunari agrees for fear of his family’s safety. However, after speaking with his sister, she convinces him to return the child to his mother. Gunari’s thwarted the Devil’s plan. If only. Years later, the Devil is determined to enact his plan by any means necessary. What ensues is unfortunate chaos, violence, and death, leaving only one person to stop this madness from happening, and they do so from beyond the grave. 

Readers and fans of Keith Steinbaum’s literary work get ready for an action-packed, captivating read as he delivers In Lieu of Flowers! This book is as entertaining and suspenseful as his last two novels, The Poe Consequence and You Say Goodbye. You are in for a delightful treat as you meet lively characters and become enthralled by vivid scenes and an extraordinary narrative. 

The book cover and synopsis fascinated me, and once I read the content, I was immediately engrossed in this promising novel. I also appreciate Steinbaum’s religious references and appreciation of the disability community. In Lieu of Flowers is a wonderful addition to his other books. Keith Steinbaum’s In Lieu of Flowers will be available later this month. 

King of Wrath Review

OH. MY. GOSH. King of Wrath by Ana Huang gave me all the feels and then some! I wasn’t expecting such a steamy, romantic, thrilling story between Vivian Lau and Dante Russo. Hands down, Huang delivered! Vivian Lau’s going to marry Dante Russo. Her father made the arrangements. Mr. Lau enlightens Vivian of this agreement during dinner, and while she’s none the wiser of the exact details, she reluctantly agrees because she doesn’t want to shame the family. After all, her father did the same thing with Vivian’s older sister, so Vivian knew it was bound to happen. 

Polar opposites, with the only thing connecting them being Vivian’s father’s threat to expose Dante’s brother’s secret rendezvous with an enemy’s family member that would cause Dante’s brother to lose his life, Dante reluctantly agrees to this arranged marriage with Vivian. But what started as entrapment blossomed into an exhilarating relationship between Vivian and Dante. 

Gone is the control, the resistance, the uncertainty, as both welcome this new indescribable igniting of passion and exploration to learn from each other mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. However, Dante still remembers what Mr. Lau has done to him and his family, and he still wants revenge no matter the cost, even if it is at Vivian’s expense. 

What will Vivian think and feel when she learns the truth? How will Dante accept the outcome now that he’s become captivated by Vivian? What will happen to Mr. Lau? Oh, the twists and turns in King of Wrath are edge-of-your-seat, clutch-your-pearls worthy! Each of Huang’s characters has a solid voice. The plot is deliciously alluring and prevents you from putting the book down. I laughed and was angry at Dante and Vivian during certain parts of the story while at the same time rooting for their relationship to have a happy ending.

I connected with Vivian’s loyalty to her family and her relationship with her father, not wanting to disappoint him while eventually finding her voice and choosing to silence everything around her and follow her heart. I felt the love and passion that ignited between Vivian and Dante. The ups and downs, the path to finding who you are, and the effect it can have on people in your life. King of Wrath is a beautiful story and nothing like I have ever read! 

It’s enthralling, suspenseful, passionate, and gripping, and I can’t wait to read the other books in this series. King of Wrath is book one, and three other books are a part of this unforgettable, sultry ride. Reading this book had me wanting a man like Dante Russo. Woo, chile! If you haven’t read this book, you need to. King of Wrath 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. 

If You Were Here Book Review

Five parts and 72 chapters later, I have finished reading Alafair Burke’s If You Were Here. Where do you begin to explain a book to readers filled with ample twists and turns and head-spinning verbiage that will have you engaged, confused, and wondering if this author used offensive content when describing characters? I’ll start by stating that this book didn’t need 72 chapters. Burke could have expressed McKenna Jordan’s (one of the main characters) story in fewer chapters. 

If You Were Here welcomes readers inside McKenna Jordan’s world as she searches for her missing friend, Susan Hauptmann, who has been missing for ten years. Jordan’s world is upended when she sees video footage of a woman she thinks is Susan chasing after a teenager in hopes of retrieving her phone that the adolescent has taken from her. 

This video footage sends Jordan on a winding road filled with highs and lows, searching for this woman. She’s confident that it is Susan. But why resurface after all this time? More importantly, if it is her, where has she been, and why did she disappear all those years ago? If You Were Here is an intricate story with vivid details and complex characters. At times within the story, I felt the author’s description of some of her characters was offensive. 

The synopsis is what captivated me to read If You Were Here. I also appreciated that there are short chapters. However, this book could have been told in 30, maybe even 40 chapters. It got confusing for me halfway through the book. Trying to follow along and uncover why this person did this, or that person did that was taxing. There was a lot of picking up and putting down with this book. 

I read reviews of Burke’s If You Were Here online, where readers expected her work to mimic her father’s. As I haven’t read his work before, I can’t say that I expected the same, but she did an alright job with this book. If you are a fan of mystery or suspense or a fan of Burke’s work and have yet to read If You Were Here, you should check it out. 

If You Were Here by Alafair Burke is available everywhere books are sold. 

Logistics: A Christmas Story Review

As kids, we believed in certain imaginative things: the tooth fairy, monsters under our beds, and even Santa Claus. And as we get older, the truth behind these tales gets revealed. Some of us even pass these ideologies to our children. The childlike glee one feels opening presents in the morning from under the Christmas tree or the tug of cover over your head as you anxiously await the verdict from your parent assuring you that there are no monsters under your bed.

These memories can have a lasting impact, but what if what you believed in was true? What if the nights you stayed up waiting to see that red Santa suit and white beard joyfully put presents under the tree could happen? This is what Holly Hillman experienced. 

Holly was placed in child services at age two and a half. She grew up not believing in any fantasy-related joy, like Santa Claus. Being rigid and career-driven, Holly didn’t have time for fun or love. She ended her longtime relationship with Will Myers after taking a job as the CEO of Marshall Whiteman Logistics. Holly’s job was her world, and nothing or no one would interfere. That is until the results of a work-related DNA test came in.

Working to close a deal with Ling Chow Group, where Holly’s corporation would oversee this group, part of the requirement was that members of both teams take a DNA test. Holly agreed reluctantly. What transpires after is a whirlwind of information and discovery that not only has Holly learning who her birth parents are, but the significance of that childlike delight one feels, especially during the holidays.  

Readers will enjoy this fantasy folktale filled with love, imagination, and a beautiful father-and-daughter relationship that’ll have you with a permanent smile and is sure to warm your heart in Chris Coppel’s Logistics: A Christmas Story. Lively characters, a charming storyline, and an unforgettable message of love, family, and purpose complete this cheerful, light-hearted novel.

Vivid scenes and laughter-filled moments add to this promising story as the audience goes on a compelling ride where you can’t help but get enthralled. This heart-warming, joyous story will have your heart full. 

Chris Coppel’s Logistics: A Christmas Story is available everywhere books are sold.

An Elf With No Name: The Spires Saga Book One

What does an elf, a revenant, and a magical world filled with demons, vampires, werewolves, Hell Knights, and a council have in common? Answer: enchanting magical realism filled with action, a budding romance, colorful characters, and an overall charming story.  

After an eventful night of playing cards, Damian Spires takes his winnings and heads home. As he makes his way, he stumbles upon a magical female elf in an alley. She looks hurt and unconscious. Unsure of where or how she appeared, Spires takes her back to his place, hoping to find answers to this alluring mystery.  

Readers go inside the mind of author Mortimer Langford with his fantasy novel An Elf With No Name: The Spires Saga. As the story unfolds, readers learn more about the main character, Damian Spires, and understand how and why Aziramin (the female elf) wound up in St. Croix, Wisconsin. Spires discovers that Aziramin got exiled from her hometown of Toven after eating two pieces of fruit from a tree that she was told not to. 

After getting banished, she intended to return home but wound up in St. Croix instead. Rupert Wilson, a magical creature with an axe to grind, felt that shift when Aziramin appeared, and he and his unruly soldiers decided to investigate and were on Spires and Aziramin’s trail. And are stopping at nothing to capture them. The mystical beings that have come for Spires and Aziramin have caused destruction and death, leaving a blazing trail of anguish threatening and harming those Spires cares for most. Unwilling to remain on the sidelines, Spires springs into action, and an all-out war ensues. It is a battle between good and evil. Who will win?

I was initially apprehensive about reading this novel because it’s not my usual go-to genre. However, I am delighted that I took a chance with this book. While the story started slowly, it gained momentum as action, vivid details, and robust characters emerged. Witty dialogue adds to this fantasy-driven plot, sure to have readers anticipating more! An Elf With No Name: The Spires Saga is book one in this promising series. 

The book cover is alluring, and readers who enjoy fantasy and magical reads will appreciate Langford’s life-like characters, charming love story, and action-packed writing as he takes readers along a never-ending journey captivating you till the end! Spires and Aziramin’s story still needs to be finished, so readers get ready for part two! An Elf With No Name: The Spires Saga is available everywhere books are sold. 

The Thing About Home Review

“Love had one job, and that was to add to the joy I already had.” – Casey Black.

You need self-fulfilled love within your life before allowing someone else to enhance that love and make it richer. It doesn’t matter if it’s a platonic or romantic relationship, as Casey Black discovered firsthand in Rhonda McKnight’s The Thing About Home.

After being left at the alter on what would’ve been her seven-year vow renewal to Drew, Casey uproots from New York, finding herself in Georgetown, South Carolina, trying to pick up the pieces of her broken heart while also meeting her Dad’s side of the family for the first time due to her mother keeping the history about her Dad a secret. 

Casey is heartbroken, confused, nervous, and apprehensive, yet excited and willing to take this journey. She uncovers a rich family history filled with love, understanding, peace, simplicity, and hope. She rediscovers herself, creates a loving and purposeful relationship with her Dad’s family, and amends situations in her past that left her feeling gutted. Casey Black has found wealth, joy, and, most importantly, love. She’s happily discovered the ability to love herself and allow others to wholeheartedly and sincerely love her. 

The Thing About Home will make you picture your home and reminisce about what you did, the food you ate, the people you encountered, first loves, heartbreaks, etc. This book invites you into a warm embrace, never letting you go. It’s that good! The reader can feel the essence of family, the powerful and welcoming roots. You see the characters in their elements because of McKnight’s beautiful storytelling. 

I love the book cover. It immediately reels you into the South. I’ve never been, but I can envision it being something like McKnight wrote in her book, and my heart jumps for joy. I fell more in love with Casey and Nigel’s love for one another the more I read. I smiled at Casey’s unforgettable bond with her Grandmother, Auntie, and other family members. And I was over the moon at how the book ended. The Thing About Home is a well-rounded written piece of literature that has the reader falling in love with the characters, appreciating a compelling story, and understanding the importance that the meaning of home can have for some. 

Rhonda McKnight’s The Thing About Home is available everywhere books are sold.