Tag #blackauthors

#bookreview Surprise…Swipe Right by Rhonda M. Lawson #cozy #lovestory

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Synopsis

Miss Loretta is a proud, stylish widow who’s more into gumbo and spending time with her family than getting back on the dating scene. But when her daughter Liza, determined to see her mother happy, secretly signs her up for a dating app to find her a New Year’s Eve date, more than just sparks fly. Caught off guard but curious, Loretta soon finds herself sorting through awkward messages, unexpected suitors, and one man who just might be worth the risk. Set in the heart of modern-day New Orleans, SurpriseÂż Swipe Right is a warm holiday romantic comedy that celebrates second chances, family ties, and learning that finding love doesn’t have an expiration date!

Review

Surprise
 Swipe Right by Rhonda M. Lawson is such a sweet and uplifting story about love showing up when you least expect it. I really enjoyed following Miss Loretta  a strong, stylish widow who’s perfectly content with her life until her daughter signs her up for a dating app. Watching Loretta step outside her comfort zone was funny, tender, and surprisingly relatable. The story captures that feeling of hesitation we all have when life pushes us into something new, but it does it with warmth, humor, and so much heart.

What I really enjoyed  was how the author  reminds us that love doesn’t have an expiration date. The New Orleans setting adds charm and soul, and the family dynamic makes the whole thing feel real. It’s a quick read, but it leaves you smiling and believing that second chances are always possible no matter your age. If you’re looking for something light, heartfelt, and full of good vibes, Surprise
 Swipe Right is the perfect cozy pick-me-up.

Rating

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Link to purchase

Amazon

#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 defendant’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 family’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 Ryan’s The Kingmaker series and Tia Williams’ 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 🌟🌟🌟🌟

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 him—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 incidents—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, she’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 what’s at stake. The city is torn, grieving Darius’s death and demanding justice, yet Jada hopes to prevent violence from erupting—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. I’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 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

#bookreview The Unboxing Of A Black Girl By Angela Shante

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Synopsis


Written as a collection of vignettes and poetry, The Unboxing of a Black Girl is a creative nonfiction reflection on Black girlhood. The debut YA title, by award-winning author Angela Shanté, is a love letter to Black girls set in New York City and serves as a personal and political critique of how the world raises Black girls.

As Shanté navigates the city through memory, she balances poetry with vignettes that explore the innocence and joy of childhood eroded by adultification. Through this book, she illuminates the places where Black girls are nurtured or exploited in stories and poems about personal and political boxes, love, loss, and sexual assault. Many entries are also studded with cultural footnotes designed to further understanding.

Review/thoughts


This book is written in verse and poetry, making it a unique and engaging read. I truly enjoyed personal experiences growing up in the Bronx, reflecting on her childhood while also exploring the expectations society places on Black women—how we are told to act, the roles we are assigned, and the boxes others put us in based on gender and race. She examines how Black women are often labeled as “strong” and expected to carry immense responsibilities—fighting for our children, education, family, home, and ensuring everything stays intact.

I deeply resonated with this book because, as a Black woman, I saw my own experiences reflected in the author’s words. Everything she discusses feels authentic, and it was refreshing to read from someone who shares similar views.

The writing is beautifully done, and I appreciated that the author included notes at the end of each verse for easy understanding and classification. Overall, this was a stunning, insightful read. If you love poetry and want a different perspective on some of the shared experiences of Black women, I highly recommend it.

**Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐**

#BlogTour Magic Corrupts, Magic Conquers By A.J. Locke #silverdaggerbooktours

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About the Book:

Magic Corrupts, Magic Conquers
Warrior of the Divine Sword Book 2
by A.J. Locke
Genre: Paranormal Urban Fantasy

What if the world changed overnight
and it was all because of you?

All Pennrae wanted to do was to help. Now she’s found herself in a world that’s been instantaneously transformed by magic
that she brought back. She’s gone from a simple karate instructor to an instant celebrity—and she hates it. Fortunately, she has her friends, her beloved magic companion, and one ridiculously hot boyfriend.

But a sudden, unprompted attack in broad daylight is about to make Penn’s life even more complicated. An ancient forest guardian known as a Kiabi—a warrior of magic and almost impossible to defeat—has marked Penn to die. The attack at first seems incidental and unprovoked
until she discovers the true cause. Her. Penn may have saved the world, but her actions have set a chain of events in motion. In one brief moment, something dark, terrible, and older than time itself found an opportunity to escape, to free itself from the guardians and mark Pennrae as its enemy. Now the world and everyone she loves face a gruesome fate unless Penn can unleash the full force of her Divine magic…

The Warrior of the Divine Sword series is best enjoyed in order.


Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * EntangledPublishing * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Corrupts-Conquers-Warrior-Divine-ebook/dp/B0BTX55VBP
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/magic-corrupts-magic-conquers/id6445637129
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/magic-corrupts-magic-conquers-aj-locke/1143028943?ean=9781649372741
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/magic-corrupts-magic-conquers
Entangles Publishing: https://www.entangledpublishing.com/books/magic-corrupts-magic-conquers
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/magic-corrupts-magic-conquers-by-a-j-locke
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60468648-magic-corrupts-magic-conquers



Giveaway:

$10 Amazon
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
https://www.silverdaggertours.com/sdsxx-tours/magic-corrupts-magic-conquers-book-tour-and-giveaway