Crimson Footprints II New Beginnings - Shewanda Pugh

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review and I honestly can say that I was not disappointed with this book. Sometimes sequels can be the demise of the series, but this book was as good as the first book.

Although Kenji and Lizzie were an unlikely pair, I loved the fact that he was willing to put her past exactly where it should be, in the past and give her a chance to better herself which she did throughout the book. Tony was also a welcomed addition to the clan and his character in the book was outstanding.

I really like how the author was able to move things along in the book without the reader missing critical information. The sequence of events flowed very nicely and the plot was just as good as the first book. I won’t give anything away, but thank GOD that Snow got what was coming to him…..

I give 4.5 out of 5 stars. This was a great read and I do look forward to reading more from this author.

Crimson Footprints - Shewanda Pugh

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review and I must say that was really nice read. Deena and Tak were enjoyable characters. The fact that Deena was bi-racial and how that affected how her family treated her was very moving. She endured so much as a young girl and continued to shoulder so much as an adult. If it wasn’t her grandmother or other family members giving her shit, it was people from work or clients from work.

 

Deena’s a very smart individual and accomplishing what she did growing up where she did never went to her head. I also enjoyed how Deena and Tak were really good friends before becoming lovers. What I did not like was how the story dragged a little when it came to them revealing their relationship. I can understand why both wanted to hold off, but wow, three years is a really long time not to mention that Tak’s father was also her boss.

Deena’s love for her family despite how they treated here was truly genuine. I applauded her backbone towards the end when it came to defending her relationship with Tak. I am glad this story had a great ending and loved the fact that even when both families detested their relationship, they made it work and overcame the odds.

Overall, this was a well written book that touched on issues that are very real in today’s world. Deena proved that just because you are bi-racial and grew up in a bad neighborhood does not dictate the outcome of how your life should be played. She defied the “norm” and went to college and became successful in her chosen career and fell in love with someone outside of her race and proved that she could be and would be happy.

I give Crimson Footprints 4.5 out of 5 stars. This was a really good read and I am very eager to read Lizzie and Kenji’s story in part II.  Special thanks to Shewanda for giving me a copy of her book for this review! I look forward to part II.

No Regrets - Aderonke Moyinlorun

I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review and I wanted so much for this book to be better than what it was. The storyline and series of events were there, it was just that the story was too fast paced for my liking. Some parts of the book could have been drawn out so that you could at least get a sense of how Dami was handling her issues.

The things that Dami went through are real issues that could have happened to any young girl coming to a new country to start a life. I am also thinking that maybe the POV of the book should have been in 3^rd person so that more of the story could have been told instead of rushing through the sequence of events.

This story had so much potential and I feel the author did not capitalize on getting the story across to the reader. Dami kept so much to herself that this blocked other characters like Nick and Nana from playing a bigger role in the books. The “love story” could have centered on Nick helping Dami with her issues but instead she shut him out and I feel Nick could have played a better role in the book instead of the friend who just stood by the sideline waiting. Overall, the ending was good, a little predictable, but too fast.

I’ll give No Regrets 2 out of 5 stars. The storyline was good but too fast paced for my liking.

Own The Wind - Kristen Ashley

This is Kristen Ashley at her best!!! This was such a great story that I read it in one day! The epilogue and first two chapters set the pace on how the book was going to play out. I also love the fact that Tabby was given time to “grow up” before anything serious happened between her and Shy. And although both Tabby and Shy were gone for each other, Tabby needed her time to heal from the loss of Jason and Shy being the man he is, gave it to her.

This was such a great book that the words are jumbled in my head and I’m finding it very difficult to express my feelings about this book. I really enjoyed how Tabby stood by her man when their relationship was revealed and I re-read her words with Tyra three times and smiled every time and thought “you go girl”!!!

This was such an enjoyable book because in Motorcycle Man, we saw the young immature Tabby and in this book, we see the transition from girl to woman and KA flowed the sequence of events very nicely. As always, KA did an amazing job with bringing us this story and I absolutely cannot wait until the next installment with Lanie and Hop’s story which I know will be great as in all KA books!

5 out of 5 stars!!

Control - MC Lavocat

I received a copy of this book by the author for an honest review and as the debut book for this author, I must say that I really enjoyed this book. This is the first paranormal book that touched on the subject of voodoo and when the author requested reviews, I jumped at the chance to do so.

I loved the writing style and how all of the characters were very down to earth. I really enjoyed Cecie’s character and wished more heroines were like her in other books. I just couldn’t get over the whole “panty melter” and “seducinator” terms associated with Andre – who by the way would be every woman’s dream man. Who wouldn’t want a man that looks good, can cook, and excels in “other activities”J!! Not that I’m throwing Lance under the bus because he is sexy in his own way, but a man that’s hot, can cook, and could probably have any woman on their knees begging “PLEASE” just does it for me.

I didn’t know what to make of James and during the book because I wasn’t sure if he was the one behind the whole voodoo curse affecting Cecie, Andre, and Lance.. But I did come to like his character very much when it was clear that Cecie’s safety was his priority throughout the whole book. I won’t give away anything, but there is a cliffhanger and we will just need to wait for the next one!

This was a great read and I give 4 out 5 stars. Big thanks to MC for giving me a copy of this book for a review. I really enjoyed it and I cannot wait to read more from this author!

On Dublin Street - Samanthan Young

WOW, WOW, WOW!!! I must say that this was a really good book! I just loved Joss’ character in the book. She was strong, she was vulnerable, she was feisty and this made the book more enjoyable. Ellie was a sweetheart and every girl deserves a friend like her. Braden “sigh” is probably every woman’s dream man and his character in the book just makes me sigh dreamilyJ. Braden was sweet, loving, jealous, funny, and there was no way that Joss had a chance! I also enjoyed how he gave Joss her space when it came to dealing with her issues and never once did he pressure her to do things she did not want to do.

I really enjoyed how the author focused on the “love” story and not just the sex as with other similar books I have read. I do admit that I was teary eyed towards the end during Ellie’s health scare but it all worked out for the better. I would really love to see a book in Ellie’s POV and her relationship with Adam.

Overall, this was a great book and I look forward to reading more from this author!

5 out of 5 Stars

Up In The Air Series - R.K. Lilley

  

Although I think I’ve had my fill on the billionaire falls for the girl seriesJ, I read this series because of the good reviews it received.

This series started off very promising. I really enjoyed the first two books but the third didn’t grab my attention the way the first two did. I loved the friendship between Bianca and Stephan. And although James tried to be very controlling of Bianca, he never in the books tried to interfere with their bond because he knew that doing that would result in losing Bianca.

The torture that Bianca, Stephan, and James endured during their childhood was very real and there were moments when I was actually teary eyed when reading. Also, in the third book, I feel that Bianca started to lose herself slowly which was probably the reason my interest dwindled in the third book. In the first two, she knew what she wanted and held firm to that. I love a strong heroine and Bianca wasn’t that in the third book. What I did like about the third was how the POVs were switched. That was nice addition that the previous two books did not have.

Overall, it was a good series, a little faced paced with the sequence of events but not a bad read.

3 out of 5 stars