Tag #advancedreadercopy

#Bookreview Entangled Fate by Deshawn #scifi

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Synopsis

Desire writes the rules. Fate flips the script.

Entangled Fate is a bold anthology of five sultry, soul-stirring stories where chemistry burns hotter than commitment and passion changes everything.

From Graceā€™s lavender-laced awakening to Dedriaā€™s cosmic escape among the stars, these tales explore the messy, magnetic pull between who we are and who weā€™re meant to become. You’ll meet:

Grace, who learns some flowers bloom with more than beauty.

Greg, a soldier haunted by memories that may not be his.

Zander and Rozia, rewriting the rules of love on their own terms.

Kyle, awakening to instincts older than time.

And Captain Dedria, guiding humanityā€™s last hope through the cosmos.

Told with raw intimacy, poetic rhythm, and a fearless voice, Entangled Fate offers readers a taste of something realā€”where each story stands on its own, yet threads into a deeper truth:
Connection canā€™t be controlled. It chooses you.

If you love grown, magnetic fiction with heat, heart, and depthā€”
step into the fire. But donā€™t expect to leave untouched.

Review/ my thoughts:

I have to say this sci-fi novel was very well written, I really didn’t want each story to end thats how good it is. I enjoyed all the stories told and different elements of sci fi thoughout the novel. Grace story and the lavender plant I want to be a standalone story. I wanted to follow her and understand more on her parents and her sisters. I think Grace’s story was my favorite, but overall, the novel was really great. I think this is definitely one of those books where you go in blindly and try to know as little as possible so you can enjoy the stories more.

I enjoyed how different the author made each story and how connected the reader can easily get with each character. The stories were easy to follow and understand even with the different elements mixed in.

I think if you’re a fan of black speculative sci-fi, you’ll definitely enjoy this novel by Deshawn.

I definitely would have the author on my radar for more books because now I want to read more from them.

Rating 5 šŸŒŸ

Amazon Link Buy Entangled Fate

#bookreview Thou Shall Not Judge By Dr CI

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Synopsis

Thou Shall Not Judge follows Judge Aseeka Sinclair, a trailblazing, single Black woman in her forties serving Chief Judge. Behind her commanding presence and crisp judicial robes is a woman quietly carrying generational wounds and personal scars, including a fractured relationship with her incarcerated father. This therapist calls her out on her own BS and a situationship with a fellow judge that constantly tests her emotional boundaries. When Aseeka presides over the trial of a prominent gynecologist accused of sexual assault, her world unravels after discovering a devastating her father murdered the defendantā€™s older brother decades ago. This is the same gynecologist who sexually assaulted her during a procedure, and she never spoke about it because part of her enjoyed it, even though she never consented!
As past and present collide, Aseeka is forced to reckon with her familyā€™s history, her own vulnerability, and the question of whether she can truly allow herself to love and be loved without judgment. This is a story about power, sexual liberation, trauma, friendship, and ultimately, the liberation that comes with owning your truth.
Fans of Kennedy Ryanā€™s The Kingmaker series and Tia Williamsā€™ Seven Days in June will appreciate the emotionally intelligent characters, slow-burn tension, and the unapologetic centering of Black womanhood, allyship, exploration and triumph

Review/My thoughts

Thou Should not Judge is about a woman named Aseeka who is a judge . Although she holds a lot of power within the courtroom, she is juggling a lot with her past relationship, keeping up with friends, and still maintaining a pokerface when handing down sentences.

Akeeka uncovers a deep secect that unfolds while she is over a trial of a gynecologist about her father. Throughout the story, Akeeka deals with family, facing trauma, friendship, and accepting herself.

I enjoyed the writing as well as the sexual exploration throughout the story. It was a fast-paced read. I’ll recommend this novel to anyone who likes books about women fiction and watching growth in the story.

Rating 4 šŸŒŸšŸŒŸšŸŒŸšŸŒŸ

Thank you to the author for allowing me to read and share my honest review.

#bookreview The Line Between Us By Syreeta Harvey Pasley 

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Synopsis

A young Black man with a bright future. A tragic misunderstanding. A city on the edge.

Darius Porter has everything going for himā€”a promising future in medicine, a supportive family, and the determination to rise above the challenges of his working-class Camden neighborhood. But when he returns home from college for a weekend visit, an ordinary evening takes a devastating turn.

As tensions rise, Detective Jada Edgars finds herself caught between the police department she serves and the community that raised her. Tasked with investigating the disappearance of two young Black women, she soon realizes that their cases are more than isolated incidentsā€”they’re pieces of a larger, more dangerous puzzle. With the city erupting in protests and pressure mounting from all sides, Jada must navigate the thin line between duty and justice, confronting the very system that has long failed those it claims to protect.

The Line Between Us is a powerful, thought-provoking novel that explores racial injustice, identity, and the fight for truth. With a gripping narrative told through multiple perspectives, it’s a must-read for fans of The Hate U Give and When No One Is Watching.

Will justice prevail, or will the voices demanding change be drowned out once again?

Author Instagram @ syreeta_harvey

Website https://www.syreetahp.com/

Review/my thoughts

The story starts off with a young Black man, home from college, is mistakenly gunned down by police who believed he was an intruder in his own home. In the aftermath, Detective Jada Edgars finds herself overwhelmed by the turmoil engulfing the city. On top of everything, sheā€™s handling two missing persons cases involving young Black women who disappeared around the same time, adding to the mounting pressure.

Jada struggles to balance her loyalty to her job and her commitment to her community, knowing the weight of whatā€™s at stake. The city is torn, grieving Dariusā€™s death and demanding justice, yet Jada hopes to prevent violence from eruptingā€”whether against the police or the people of Camden.

The story unfolds with a smooth and compelling flow, though watching Jada shoulder so much responsibility is intense. The writing keeps everything aligned, creating an engaging and thought-provoking narrative. Iā€™d recommend this to anyone who enjoys crime thrillers and wants a gripping story that offers insight into law enforcement from am a different point of view.

**Rating:** 4 ā­ā­ā­ā­

Thank you to the  author for allowing me to share my honest review***

#bookreview Dead Post Society by Diane Kelly #netgally

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Synopsis

The seventh in the House-Flipper mystery series set in Nashville, TN, where the real estate market is to die for.

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are no strangers to murder. After all, theyā€™ve encountered corpses on their properties before. But this is the first time theyā€™d decided to take a chance on a property where two murders have already occurred. Most buildings on the former boarding school property have been repurposed for an upscale retirement community, but the developer had no use for the headmasterā€™s house given its violent history. The headmaster and his wife were killed there decades earlier, their deaths remaining a mystery to this day.

Still, it seems a shame to see the beautiful Victorian give way to decay or the wrecking ball, even if many claim the unsettled souls of the victims still wander its halls, seeking retribution and justice. Can Whitney and Buck exorcise the structureā€™s demons, solve the cold case, and give the building new life? Or will ghosts from the past seek to silence them forever?

Review/my thoughts

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck tackle a Victorian mansion with a dark past, aiming to transform it into a boutique hotel. As Whitney delves into the unsolved murders of the former headmaster and his wife, she uncovers chilling secrets that put her in danger. With engaging characters, a gripping plot, and a different settings, this cozy mystery is a delightful blend of suspense and charm. The authorsĀ  writing style in Dead Post Society is engagingĀ  blending humor, suspense, and vivid descriptions. She skillfully incorporatesĀ  twists to keep readers guessing, while also weaving in historical elements and poetry quotes that add depth to the story. I found the story easy to read and understand and follow along as well.

Thanks netgally and to the author for allowing me to read this novel and give my honest review.

Rating 4 šŸŒŸ

#bookreview Diaries of a Borderline By Blue Evergarden #netgalley

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Synopsis

Blue Evergardenā€™s Diaries of a Borderline offers an intimate and transformative poetic journey, following a single protagonistā€™s quest for self-love and healing. Artfully divided into four parts, each section vividly portrays a tumultuous emotional odyssey.

Part 1, ā€œDiaries of a Borderlineā€ centers on unraveling the aftermath of trauma, chronicling the protagonistā€™s struggle with dissociation, loneliness, and the elusive pursuit of reclaiming a shattered identity.

Delving deeper in Part 2, ā€œThis is Why She Falls Apart,ā€ Evergarden explores the delicate tapestry of self-worth and self-love, tracing the complicated journey of survival and reliance amidst inner turmoil and despair.

Entering a transformative phase in Part 3, ā€œLeaving Her Graveyard,ā€ the protagonist awakens to the potential of becoming everything she once believed she wasnā€™t, finding the resilience to confront her inner demons and emerge stronger.

Part 4, ā€œThe Gifts She Found,ā€ celebrates the protagonistā€™s triumphant emergence into self-acceptance and inner tranquility. This final section encapsulates the euphoria of releasing past burdens, discovering self-love, and embracing the promise of a brighter future.

Diaries of a Borderline is a poignant, soul-stirring journey through the complexities of mental health and the transformative power of healing. With vivid prose and raw emotion, Evergarden weaves a tapestry of hope and resilience, inspiring those who tread similar paths.

Review/ thoughts

This poety/ verse story about girl who has BPD and other mental illness its struggling to cope with a difficult relationship she has with her mother. This story deals a lot with drespression, self harm, other mental illness and wishing on suicide. I found this to be very depressing. Every page of the book that i read i want the narrator to finally find peace with herself and her mom and have more guidance. I felt as i was reading it it was dampen my mood and im normally i light hearted person. I had to unfortunately dnf almost half way though because i felt my mood change which normally doesnt happen while reading. But since this is on such a heavy topic i just couldnt finish it. Also it can be triggering for some people who had BPD or any mental illness like depression. I think people who maybe facing a similar situation and need more understanding from another perspective i think theyll love this.

This writing is nice it flowed well i just couldnt deal with such a heavy topic at this time.

Rating 2.75 šŸŒŸšŸŒŸšŸŒŸ

#bookreview Bullying the Christmas Grump by Chelsea Kane

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Synopsis

Sheā€™s the do-gooder he didnā€™t ask forā€¦ and the temptation he canā€™t resist.

***
Grumpy. Greedy. Guarded.
Damian Hale has built an empire by keeping things simpleā€”on the field, in the boardroom, and in life.The former NFL superstar turned millionaire CEO has no patience for holiday cheer or inconvenient emotions.

But when a scandalous video threatens his reputation, heā€™s forced to rely on the one person who can fix a relentless PR genius with a heart of gold.

***

Charity Holloway, a crisis-management pro whoā€™s as ambitious as she is classy.

Damianā€™s stubborn, scrooge-like attitude makes him her least favorite client yetā€”but sheā€™s determined to work her magic.

What she didnā€™t expect? His smoldering appeal melting her resolveā€”or their chemistry igniting like holiday fireworks.

The problem? Charity knows better than to mix business with pleasure, and her heart has been locked up for months.

But when Christmas comes calling, even the iciest hearts can thawā€”and the line between love and work might just disappear under the mistletoe.

Bullying the Christmas Grump is a steamy reverse-bully romance featuring a broody millionaire, holiday shenanigans, and sizzling chemistry.

Packed with explicit scenes and snarky banter, itā€™s the perfect holiday treat for mature readers looking to spice up their season!

Review

This was a quick novella About Damian who an ex NFL star turn muti millionaire and Charity who is there to help Damian during a crisis situation and help his image. when a video is leaked lf Damian Charity is there to manage the situation and make sure Damian’s professional image doesn’t get tarnished. Damian and Charity both play a little cat and mouse with each other until eventually they both let go. it was a fast paced read easy to understand with clear writing. I want to thank the author for allowing me to read this and giving my own honest review.

Rating

3šŸŒŸ