Book Review: She Started It by Sian Gilbert

 

About:

The party of a lifetime is nothing like what they expected...

Annabel, Esther, Tanya, and Chloe are best friends—or were, as children. Despite drifting apart in adulthood, shared secrets have kept them bonded for better or worse, even as their childhood dreams haven’t quite turned out as they’d hoped. Then one day they receive a wholly unexpected—but not entirely unwelcome—invitation from another old friend. Poppy Greer has invited them all to her extravagant bachelorette party: a first-class plane ticket to three days of white sand, cocktails, and relaxation on a luxe private island in the Bahamas.

None of them has spoken to Poppy in years. But Poppy’s Instagram pics shows that the girl they used to consider the weakest link in their group has definitely made good—and made money. Curiosity gets the better of them. Besides, who can turn down a posh all-expenses-paid vacation on a Caribbean island?

The first-class flight and the island’s accommodations are just as opulent as expected...even if the scenic island proves more remote than they’d anticipated. Quite remote, in fact, with no cell service, and no other guests. The women quickly discover they’ve underestimated Poppy, and each other. As their darkest secrets are revealed, the tropical adventure morphs into a terrifying nightmare.

Endlessly twisty, sharply observant, and deliciously catty, She Started It is sure to shock readers until the very end.

My Thoughts

A great thriller novel with an explosive ending.

Annabel, Chloe, Esther and Tanya has been friends since school days. They were the popular girls on campus unlike Poppy. Poppy was awkward and of course just ordinary. The girls would often bully her just for laughs, except for Poppy it wasn't funny at all. In fact some of their pranks were downright cruel especially the LAST PRANK they pulled at the art exam.

Fast forward ten years later, now women, the four are invited to a hen party on a private island in celebration of Poppy's upcoming marriage. Even though the four hadn't heard of Poppy in ten years, they could not give up such an opportunity.

Upon arrival they are met by a beautiful, confident Poppy. A significant change to the shy girl from their youth. What they didn't realise was that Poppy changed in more ways than one and was out for revenge.

This book was full of action and emotion. Bullying is indeed an issue among young people and if it isn't dealt with correctly could have detrimental effects Although this was a work of fiction I think the author through Poppy's experience really got this point across. I also liked the ending because it was indeed a surprise.

This was a good book.

Book Review; Red Clay by Charles B. Fancher

 

About:

An astounding multigenerational saga, Red Clay chronicles the interwoven lives of an enslaved Black family and their white owners as the Civil War ends and Reconstruction begins.

In 1943, when a frail old white woman shows up in Red Clay, Alabama, at the home of a Black former slave—on the morning following his funeral—his family hardly knows what to expect after she utters the words “… a lifetime ago, my family owned yours.” Adelaide Parker has a story to tell—one of ambition, betrayal, violence, and redemption—that shaped both the fate of her family and that of the late Felix H. Parker.

But there are gaps in her knowledge, and she’s come to Red Clay seeking answers from a family with whom she shares a name and a history that neither knows in full. In an epic saga that takes us from Red Clay to Paris, to the Côte d’Azur and New Orleans, human frailties are pushed to their limits as secrets are exposed and the line between good and evil becomes ever more difficult to discern. Red Clay is a tale that deftly lays bare the ugliness of slavery, the uncertainty of the final months of the Civil War, the optimism of Reconstruction, and the pain and frustration of Jim Crow.

With a vivid sense of place and a cast of memorable characters, Charles B. Fancher draws upon his own family history to weave a riveting tale of triumph over adversity, set against a backdrop of societal change and racial animus that reverberates in contemporary America. Through seasons of joy and unspeakable pain, Fancher delivers rich moments as allies become enemies, and enemies—to their great surprise—find new respect for each other.

My Thoughts

An emotional and hopeful story. A wonderful account of life on a plantation post Civil War in the US. I love when books not only entertain but educate. That is why I love historical fiction.

The story starts with  a funeral of a beloved grandfather Felix of Red Clay, Alabama. During his funeral service an unfamiliar elderly white woman sat. This elderly woman was called Addie Parker whose family once owned Felix`s. She proceeded to share stories of the past which spoke about horrors and injustice of enslavement.

Felix and his family's story was one of hardship, resilience and hope. One thing that the author did expertly, was to give a very good description of what life may have been like for both the whites and the blacks in the South. 

There were parts that made me angry and sad at the same time, but all that made for a great book. I enjoyed this.

Book Review: Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score

About

Bearded, bad-boy barber Knox prefers to live his life the way he takes his coffee: Alone. Unless you count his basset hound, Waylon.

Knox doesn’t tolerate drama, even when it comes in the form of a stranded runaway bride.

Naomi wasn’t just running away from her wedding. She was riding to the rescue of her estranged twin to Knockemout, Virginia, a rough-around-the-edges town where disputes are settled the old-fashioned way…with fists and beer. Usually in that order.

Too bad for Naomi her evil twin hasn’t changed at all. After helping herself to Naomi’s car and cash, Tina leaves her with something unexpected. The niece Naomi didn’t know she had. Now she’s stuck in town with no car, no job, no plan, and no home with an 11-year-old going on thirty to take care of.

There’s a reason Knox doesn’t do complications or high-maintenance women, especially not the romantic ones. But since Naomi’s life imploded right in front of him, the least he can do is help her out of her jam. And just as soon as she stops getting into new trouble he can leave her alone and get back to his peaceful, solitary life.

At least, that’s the plan until the trouble turns to real danger.

My Thoughts

This book can be described in one word, ENTERTAINING!!! I loved it. I saw mixed reviews about this series and went into it unsure, especially since I never read this author before.

In Things We Never Got Over we meet Naomi as she arrives in the town of Knockemout to a less than warm welcome. Apparently, her twin sister Tina has been leaving a trail of destruction in the town. In walks Knox, dangerously handsome, who upon getting over the fact that Naomi is NOT TINA, decides to welcome her to town.

Naomi was shocked to hear she had a niece named Waylay, who Tina abandoned. The story takes us through Naomi's adjusting to her new situation and Knox...I loved the book and cannot wait to read the rest of this series.

Book Review: James by Percival Everett

 

About

When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.

Brimming with nuanced humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a literary icon, this brilliant and tender novel radically illuminates Jim's agency, intelligence, and compassion as never before. James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first-century American literature.

My Thoughts

Excellent book. A page turner indeed.

James captured my interest from beginning to end, the adventures kept me wanting to know what would happen next. In this novel we meet Jim, a slave who upon hearing that he was about to be sold decides to run away so that he can find a way to purchase his family's freedom later on. Jim and his friend Huck, a boy with whom Jim has a close bond
set off to find a path to freedom.

While Jim was escaping bondage, Huck was escaping an abusive father. Their travels wouĺd have some extremely dangerous situations. Jim's account of the horrors of enslavement was crafted expertly that the reader could visualize and feel every emotion. This book is a MUST read.

Book Review: Reel by Kennedy Ryan

 

About

For months I stood by, an understudy waiting in the wings, preparing for my time to shine. I never imagined he would watch in the audience that night.

Canon Holt. Famous film director. Fascinating. Talented. Fine.

Before I could catch my breath, everything changed. I went from backstage Broadway to center stage Hollywood. From being unknown, to my name, Neevah Saint, on everyone's lips when Canon casts me in a star-studded Harlem Renaissance biopic.

But stars shine brightest in the dead of night. Forbidden attraction, scandal and circumstances beyond my control jeopardize my dream. Could this one shot—the role of a lifetime, the love of a lifetime—cost me everything?

My Thoughts

Have you ever read a book and already you miss the characters? This is how I feel about Canon and Neevah. Their love story was controversial at times, challenging but very real although this was a work of fiction.

Kennedy Ryan writes romance like no other, just like in the Skyland series she always intertwines her stories with real life situations. I love that in this book through the character played by Neevah, Desi Blue that she highlighted the performers of colour from a bygone era that had to leave the US to get appreciation for their craft.

Neevah's challenges with lupus and Canon's reaction to it taught us that true love extends beyond the physical. Theirs was a relationship that was not a good idea for all the right reasons, director? lead actress? But it somehow worked.

I cant wait for Score....which will continue the series.

Book review: Jamaica Road by Lisa Smith

 A transformative love story about two best friends who fall for each other, fall apart, and try to find their way back together in their tight-knit British-Jamaican community.

South London, 1981: Daphne is the only Black girl in her class. All she wants is to keep her head down, preferably in a book. The easiest way to survive is to go unnoticed. 

Daphne’s attempts at invisibility are upended when a boy named Connie Small arrives from Jamaica. Connie is the opposite of small in every lanky, outgoing, and unapologetically himself. Daphne tries to keep her distance, but Connie is magnetic, and they form an intense bond. As they navigate growing up in a volatile, rapidly changing city, their families become close, and their friendship begins to shift into something more complicated. When Connie reveals that he and his mother “nuh land”—meaning they’re in England illegally—Daphne realizes that she is dangerously entangled in Connie’s fragile home life. Soon, long-buried secrets in both families threaten to tear them apart permanently.

Spanning one tumultuous decade, from the industrial docklands of the Thames to the sandy beaches of Calabash Bay, Jamaica Road is a deftly plotted and emotionally expansive debut novel about race and class, the family you’re born with and the family you choose, and the limits of what true love can really conquer.

My Thoughts

A very engrossing coming of age story.

In Jamaica Road we meet Daphne a young Jamaican born girl living in South London in the 1980s. Daphne had to deal with being different at a time when her school didnt fully accept both her race and ehhicity. Her life changed when Cornelius 'Connie' came to her class.

Connie fresh from Jamaica was not easily accepted and while at first Daphne tried to avoid him, they quickly formed a friendship that will withstand, family drama, death, trauma and heartbreak throughout their young lives. Reading their story and learning about life in the UK in the 1980s and early 1990s will make any reader read on to the end.

I really enjoyed this book. I read it every chance I got and finished it on work today since it was going back to the library today. My year is off to a strong start with this one. I felt really connected to the characters and the story. I recommend this one.

Book Review: Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan

 

About

The critically acclaimed novel about four women who learn how to carry on while leaning on each other from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How Stella Got Her Groove Back and It's Not All Downhill From Here. When the men in their lives prove less than reliable, Savannah, Bernadine, Gloria, and Robin find new strength through a rare and enlightening friendship as they struggle to regain stability and an identity they don’t have to share with anyone. Because for the first time in a long time, their dreams are finally OFF hold....“Hilarious, irreverent...Reading Waiting to Exhale is like being in the company of a great friend...thought-provoking, thoroughly entertaining, and very, very comforting.”—The New York Times Book Review

My Thoughts

Having looked at the movie again recently, I realized that I never read this book. Waiting to Exhale was definitely worth it because while the movie was good, I learned more about Savannah, Robin, Gloria and Bernadine by reading their stories.

Waiting to Exhale follows four thirty something African American women as they navigate relationships, divorce, family and careers in the nineties. It spoke to how men (black men in particular) treated their women. I loved how Terry Mc Millan was able to use each character's story and cover challenges that women even today face in finding that special person.

I think this is also a great book about friendship and the importance of having people in your life even if you are single. I enjoyed this book a lot. Also I did not know that this is part of a book series. Perhaps I will read the next book at some point. If you love books from the 90s you can check out this one.

Book Review : The Scammer by Tiffany D Jackson

 

ABOUT 

“This suspenseful YA thriller is yet another testament to Jackson’s talent.”—ELLE

New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another stunning, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller, following a freshman girl whose college life is turned upside down when her roommate’s ex-convict brother moves into their dorm and starts controlling their every move.

Out from under her overprotective parents, Jordyn is ready to kill it in prelaw at a prestigious, historically Black university in Washington DC. When her new roommate’s brother is released from prison, the last thing Jordyn expects is to come home and find the ex-convict on their dorm room sofa. But Devonte needs a place to stay while he gets back on his feet—and how could she say no to one of her new best friends?

Devonte is older, as charming as he is intelligent, pushing every student he meets to make better choices about their young lives. But Jordyn senses something sinister beneath his friendly advice and growing group of followers. When one of Jordyn’s roommates goes missing, she must enlist the help of the university’s lone white student to uncover the mystery—or become trapped at the center of a web of lies more tangled than she can imagine.

MY THOUGHTS

What a way to start 2026!

The Scammer was an excellent book I literally could not put it down.

In this book we meet Jordyn, a freshman at Frazier University a prestigious HBCU. Her parents, both lawyers did not want their straight A, daughter attending an HBCU especially after being accepted for YALE. Jordyn, against her parents wishes enrolled mainly because she wanted to belong.

At Frazier she quickly made friends with her roomates Vanessa, Loren and Kammy and felt that she belonged for the first time in her life. That is until her brother Devonte fresh from prison starts staying at their dorm.

His presence set off a chain of events that left me so stunned that I could not put the book down. The suspense, drama will keep you on edge. I am telling you It was a wild ride. The ending has a twist that will leave you shook.

The chemistry between Jordyn and Nick though....wow. Please read this book. You wont regret it. I do not usually enjoy YA but this one was good.

Book Review: Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

Kiara and her brother, Marcus, are scraping by in an East Oakland apartment complex optimistically called the Regal-Hi. Both have dropped out of high school, their family fractured by death and prison. But while Marcus clings to his dream of rap stardom, Kiara hunts for work to pay their rent--which has more than doubled--and to keep the nine-year-old boy next door, abandoned by his mother, safe and fed.

One night, what begins as a drunken misunderstanding with a stranger turns into the job Kiara never imagined wanting but now desperately needs: night crawling. Her world breaks open even further when her name surfaces in an investigation that exposes her as a key witness in a massive scandal within the Oakland Police Department.

My Thoughts

This was a very emotional book with a hopeful ending. In Nightcrawling we meet 17 year old Kiara, a young woman with the world on her shoulders. She along with her brother Marcus also a young adult, found themselves alone after the death of their father, lock up of their mother and abandonment of their uncle.

Marcus, wanting to become a rapper and strike it big, left the responsibility of paying bills and everything else to Kiara. Kiara, unable to hold a job, decided after a chance encounter, that prostitution could be a way out. Little did she know this type of life would lead her down a hole too difficult to get out of.

This story was really touching on so many levels. I felt that Kiara was left alone to take care of the everything with very few options. It made me think about people who sell their bodies and the difficulties they face or the circumstances that led them to that life.

This was a very good story indeed.

Book Review: All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

A Black sheriff. A serial killer. A small town ready to combust.

Titus Crown is the first Black sheriff in the history of Charon County, Virginia. In recent decades, Charon has had only two murders. After years of working as an FBI agent, Titus knows better than anyone that while his hometown might seem like a land of moonshine, cornbread, and honeysuckle, secrets always fester under the surface.

Then a year to the day after Titus’s election, a school teacher is killed by a former student and the student is fatally shot by Titus’s deputies. Those festering secrets are now out in the open and ready to tear the town apart.

As Titus investigates the shootings, he unearths terrible crimes and a serial killer who has been hiding in plain sight, haunting the dirt lanes and woodland clearings of Charon. With the killer’s possible connections to a local church and the town’s harrowing history weighing on him, Titus projects confidence about closing the case while concealing a painful secret from his own past. At the same time, he also has to contend with a far-right group that wants to hold a parade in celebration of the town’s Confederate history.

Powerful and unforgettable, All the Sinners Bleed confirms S. A. Cosby as “one of the most muscular, distinctive, grab-you-by-both-ears voices in American crime fiction” (The Washington Post).

My Thoughts

I finally finished this and guess what? I loved every minute of it. Although somehow I took longer than usual  with this one, it was definitely worth the read.

In All The Sinners Bleed, we meet sheriff Titus Crown, the recently installed, first African American sheriff of Charon County, a town with a foundation that is steeped in racism.

Titus wanting to make a difference is challenged when a shooting of a beloved teacher and a student rocks Charon County. This shooting, little did he realize was the start of a series of events that would rock Charon Country to the core. Titus also was fighting not only external demons but internal ones as well.

This was a well written story full of action, mystery and drama. A very exciting novel indeed.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo

 

To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating, starring a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice

“Part Wuthering Heights and part Daisy Jones & The Six, this novel is as brilliantly choreographed as a gold medal performance and will keep you guessing until its last page.”—Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name

She might not have a famous name, funding, or her family’s support, but Katarina Shaw has always known that she was destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Clinging to skating—and each other—to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating the world with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style, and roller-coaster relationship.

Until a shocking incident at the Olympic Games brings their partnership to a sudden end.

As the ten-year anniversary of their final skate approaches, an unauthorized documentary reignites the public obsession with Shaw and Rocha, claiming to uncover the “real story” through interviews with their closest friends and fiercest rivals. Kat wants nothing to do with the documentary, but she can’t stand the thought of someone else defining her legacy. So, after a decade of silence, she’s telling her story: from the childhood tragedies that created her all-consuming bond with Heath to the clash of desires that tore them apart. Sensational rumors have haunted their every step for years, but the truth may be even more shocking than the headlines.

My Thoughts

I went into this book not knowing what it was about and to my surprise I really enjoyed it. Heath Rocha and Katarina Shaw were olympic ice skaters, theirs was a story of tragedy and triumph both on and off the ice.

This pair began skating together as children, Heath an orphan found a kindred spirit in Katarina who upon her parents' death also faced immense challenges living with a drug addicted brother. Kat had a dream to win the gold medal, this dream cost her more than she would have realised.

What was interesting about this book was in spite of everything that Katarina and Heath went through in their lives that bond was never broken. The author really did a good job writing this story because I really became connected to the characters.

This was a decent read. A bit of a long book though but very fast paced.

Book Review : The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu

 

By the acclaimed author of Moxie, a funny, bighearted adult debut that is at once an ode to educators, a timely glimpse at today’s pressing school issues, and a tender character study, following a sprawling cast of teachers, administrators, and staff at a Texas high school

With its ensemble of warm and unforgettable characters, The Faculty Lounge shows readers a different side of school life. It all starts when an elderly substitute teacher at Baldwin High School is found dead in the faculty lounge. After a bit of a stir, life quickly returns to normal—it’s not like it’s the worst (or even most interesting) thing that has happened within the building’s walls. But when, a week later, the spontaneous scattering of his ashes on the school grounds catches the attention of some busybody parents, it sets in motion a year that can only be described as wild, bizarre, tragic, mundane, beautiful, and humorous all at once.

In the midst of the ensuing hysteria and threats of disciplinary action, the novel peeks into the lives of the implicated adults who, it turns out, actually have first names and continue to exist when the school day is done. We a former punk band front man, now a middle-aged principal who must battle it out with the schoolboard to keep his job; a no-nonsense school nurse willing to break the rules, despite the close watch on their campus, when a student arrives at her office with a dilemma; and a disgruntled English instructor who finds himself embroiled in even more controversy when he misfires a snarky email. Oh, and there’s also a teacher make-out session in a supply closet during a lockdown.

As these people continue to manage the messiness of this school year, there is the looming threat of what will become of their beloved Baldwin High. Ultimately, at the heart of this unconventional workplace novel is a story of the power of human connection and of the joy of finding purpose in what it is we do every day.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed this book a lot perhaps because I could relate to it in many ways.

Bob Lehrer was an eighty something year old retired high school English teacher from Baldwin High School  who upon returning as a substitute teacher, was found dead in the Faculty lounge. Bob had a request though, that his ashes be spread on the school compound. The events surrounding this strange request and the death pf a teacher became the main idea of this book.

Each chapter spoke about key members of staff from the principal and assistant principal, the new teacher to the custodian and school nurse. Each story was well written and spoke to these members of staff as human beings with highs, lows and fears. I love how this book gave a voice to a persons who work in education and the fact that many lives go unseen by even our coworkers

Because I could relate to many things in this story it was an easy read for me. I recommend this novel especially for those in the field of education. This was another great find on Libby.

Book Review : Scarlet Birthright What They Left Behind by Scarlet Ibis James

Joromi Enoch has spent his life trying to become the man his father would be proud of—responsible, dependable, a provider. But one summer fling on the vibrant island of Trinidad changes everything when his lover becomes pregnant. As Joromi builds a new life in America with a different woman who becomes his wife, he leaves behind not just Trinidad but also a daughter named Trisha, born into a legacy of absence and longing.

Across the waters that separate them, young Trisha grows up in the shadow of her father's departure. Her heart carries the weight of abandonment as she constructs fantasies of the man who gave her life but not his presence. Her journey from childhood to womanhood becomes a quest for something every child deserves—a father's love and acknowledgment. Meanwhile, Joromi builds the respectable life he always thought he wanted, but the ghost of his decisions haunts the margins of his achievements.

"Scarlet Birthright" is a powerful exploration of family bonds that transcend borders and conventional definitions. As father and daughter navigate their complicated connection, both must confront uncomfortable truths: Can Joromi honor his father's legacy while acknowledging the child he left behind? Can Trisha find wholeness without the validation she seeks? This emotional narrative challenges readers to examine the true meaning of responsibility, the price of respectability, and whether it's ever too late to reclaim what was abandoned.

My Thoughts

This novella was very well written. It told a story that was both sad and hopeful at the same time. In this book we meet 19 year old Joromi, a DJ from Trinidad was just carefree with life. Much different to what his parents envisioned for him. He met a young woman at  a fete one night that matched his energy and though brief, their love was strong. Joromi though felt as if he had to end the relationship for someone more stable, like Margaret who had big dreams of marriage and America.

When his first love turned up pregnant. Joromi still chose the easier route and left for America, hoping he could help everyone. But what he left behind was an unborn Trisha, who came into this world eventually longing for a connection with her father who now lived in the US. Joromi. not wanting to leave his life was left to choose between his daughter in Trinidad and his life in the States. I was cheering for Trisha all the wat to the end.

A short book that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster with a peaceful ending. I liked it. 

Book Review: The Housemaid Is Watching (The Housemaid #3) by Freida Mc Fadden

 

“You must be our new neighbors!” Mrs. Lowell gushes and waves across the picket fence. I clutch my daughter’s hand and smile back: but the second Mrs. Lowell sees my husband a strange expression crosses her face. In that moment I make a promise. We finally have a family home. My past is far, far behind us. And I’ll do anything to keep it that way…

I used to clean other people’s houses—now, I can’t believe this home is actually mine. The charming kitchen, the quiet cul-de-sac, the huge yard where my kids can play. My husband and I saved for years to give our children the life they deserve.

Even though I’m wary of our new neighbor Mrs. Lowell, when she invites us over for dinner it’s our chance to make friends. Her maid opens the door wearing a white apron, her hair in a tight bun. I know exactly what it’s like to be in her shoes. But her cold stare gives me chills…

The Lowells’ maid isn’t the only strange thing on our street. I’m sure I see a shadowy figure watching us. My husband leaves the house late at night. And when I meet a woman who lives across the way, her words chill me to the bone: Be careful of your neighbors.

Did I make a terrible mistake moving my family here?

I thought I’d left my darkest secrets behind. But could this quiet suburban street be the most dangerous place of all?

My Thoughts

I finally finished the Housemaid Series. It was nice reading about Millie and Enzo again. In this book, Millie is now married to Enzo and has two kids Ada and Nico. While she is now settled with a great family and a brand new dream home, trouble seems to follow Millie wherever she goes. The new neighbours the Lowells and Janice seem to harbour secrets among other things. When Mr. Lowell is found dead by Millie with his throat slit, it sets off a series of events that are mind-blowing with the turn of very page.

With shocking twists as usual, The Housemaid is Watching is a great end to a well told thriller series.

Book Review: Sherell Bernard

 

WHERE CORBEAUX FLY is a collection of ten short stories that are comical as they are tragic. Set on the Caribbean island of Trinidad during the 1960s, the overall theme of death weaves its ominous presence through each story. Though, characters such as Son-Son, Trevor, Boyzie, Anim and Teeths, bring a humourous touch and a bit of laughter amidst the darkness that hovers.

Each story introduces characters that will feel familiar— reminiscent of a longtime neighbour, tanty or friend; each place, a reminder of the ole time days. The feeling of nostalgia can be felt throughout, as readers will journey to Matura, San Rafael, and Ranch Quemado—to name a few, visiting villages, people, and a way of life, that still live on in memory.

My Thoughts 

When I saw that this book was free on Amazon I immediately jumped at it because let's face it when do you ever get a free Caribbean Novella on kindle. This book was a novella of short stories set in Trinidad. These stories however, were primarily about death and dying but let me tell you it was told in such an entertaining way that I was laughing a lot at some parts.

I really liked how the author weaved in the cultural elements by mentioning some of the local customs and superstitions surrounding death and dying. Every time I read a Trinidadian book I always look forward to authenticity and Where Corbeux Fly had it. My favourite stories were The Day Son Son Dies, The Funeral Director and Supermarket Heist.

I highly recommend this one and will be looking for other books by the author. Well Done!!1

Book Review: The Perfect Ruin By Shanora Williams

 

A thrilling new novel of lies, deception, and revenge from the bestselling author, perfect for fans of B.A. Paris and Joshilyn Jackson! The glamour of Miami has a dark side in this twisting story where nothing is what it seems, as one wronged woman seeks to destroy the seemingly perfect life of one of the city’s most revered socialites.

Book Riot Best Summer 2021 Thrillers
Biblio Lifestyle Most Anticipated Summer 2021 Thrillers, Mysteries, And Suspense Novels
Publishers Marketplace BUZZ BOOKS Selection
BookBub Best Thrillers and Mysteries Coming Out This Summer

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shanora Williams comes a tale of revenge served ice cold—and a warning to be careful what you scheme for . . .

A brutal tragedy ended Ivy Hill’s happy family and childhood. Now in her twenties and severely troubled, she barely has a life—or much to live for. Until the day she discovers the name of the woman who destroyed her world: Lola Maxwell—the mega-wealthy socialite with a heart, Miami’s beloved “first lady” of charity. Accomplished, gorgeous, and oh-so-caring, Lola has the best of everything—and doesn’t deserve any of it. So it’s only right that Ivy take it all away . . .

Little by little, Ivy infiltrates Lola’s elite circle, becomes her new best friend—and plays Lola’s envious acquaintances and hangers-on against her. But seducing Lola’s handsome, devoted surgeon husband turns into a passionate dream Ivy suddenly can’t control. And soon, an insidious someone will twist Ivy’s revenge into a nightmare of deception, secrets, and betrayal that Ivy may not wake up from . . .

My Thoughts 

Wow this book ruined me!!! In a good way of course. This was straight up good writing t by Shanora Williams.

In this book we meet Ivy Hill, talking to her therapist Marriott who, reveals in their session something that Ivy had wanted for years, a name....Lola Maxwell (the woman who destroyed her life). With Ivy's  obsessive behaviour, this revelation set off a series of events.

Lola Maxwell has everything, a wonderful husband Corey, a beautiful home and money to burn. In seeking revenge, Ivy infiltrates Lola's life and quickly befriends her . But is Ivy the enemy or the victim?? You really need to get to the end... You will be shook.

Full of twists and epic turns, this book had me on edge. I highly recommend this.

Book Review: Next of Kin by Kia Abdullah

 

About:

ON AN ORDINARY WORKING DAY…

Leila Syed receives a call that cleaves her life in two. Her brother-in-law’s voice is filled with panic. He’s at his son’s nursery to pick up Max. But he isn’t there.

YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE…

Leila was supposed to drop Max off that morning. But she forgot.

Racing to the carpark, she grasps the horror of what she has done. Max has been locked in her car for three hours on the hottest day of the year.

IS ABOUT TO COME TRUE…

But she’s too late.

What follows is an explosive, high-profile trial, that will tear the family apart. But as the case progresses it becomes clear there’s more to this incident than meets the eye…

A gripping, brave and tense courtroom drama, Next of Kin will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final, heart-stopping page.

My Thoughts

Amazing legal drama....

In Next of Kin we meet Leila Syed, a successful businesswoman who seemed to have it all. Except children. She and her husband Will had been trying unsuccessfully for years ad that put a strain on her marriage, Meanwhile, her younger sister had a beautiful three year old named Max who Leila loved as her own.

One morning after being asked to drop off Max to nursery, a quick stop at the office turned Leila's world upside down as she forgot Max in her car. He died, and now Leila is facing serious prison time. Was it an accident? Or murder? This book takes us on a wild ride, where the secrets when revealed would make your jaw drop.

I am so glad this came available on Libby for me to be able to finish it. I plan to look for more books by this author.