Mama Dearest by E. Lynn Harris

What a fantabulous story about love and redemption!

E. Lynn Harris' books always do this to me. I sit with one of his novels and think, I'm going to read a little now and finish later . . . And, of course, for the next twenty-four hours, my nose never retreats more than three inches from the inseam of the book. My brain is still spinning; Harris always had such a sweet caress with words. A heartwarming storyline whose drama provides the truest lessson in life about forgiveness. Yancy was a handful from the beginning, and Miss Ava--there are NO words! Character debuts from past novels were stellar (who doesn't want to see the delicious Basil again?!). Speaking from professional experience, what I do everyday on the 9 to 5, this story is the script for so many families. A profound statement that generational curses of hate, jealously, and abandonment can be broken by the power of love.

A reading hangover well worth it, and a definite five pink diamond--our highest Sistah salute to a cherished legend.

Sistah Tasha
(readinghangover.com)

A Player's Inheritance by Anthony Brown

Andrew Hamilton was raised in a two parent home and received two contradicting messages from his parents. His mom taught him the importance of developing a relationship with God, not only knowing the Word but also following it. Andrew's father demonstrated how a man should have one woman at home but many on the side. Which direction would he choose?

The first few chapters of the novel were disjointed and did not flow in a manner that was clear and understandable to the reader. Many details were given regarding the main character and his family, but the only family members referenced throughout the novel were his parents. Some of the sentences were repetitive, stating the same idea in a different way. The manner by which the Andrew’s relationships progressed were very similar; they all began with the females spending more time in his office and alluding to interest in a sexual relationship, excluding Staci. Some scenes were just not believable.

Also, the reader is left hanging at the end because there is no closure provided about what is written on Andrew's back window. After reading the entire novel, to me, a better title may have been One Man's Albatross or One is Never Enough. The original title doesn't fit because Andrew is not a player; he is always getting caught or confessing when questioned by the females in his life. A true player's favorite line is, "It wasn't me," and he always sticks to his lie—to the very end.

Despite the inconsistencies, overall, Anthony Maurice Brown had a great concept regarding the depiction of Andrew's struggle between what he learned from his parents and his desire to be a good man despite the urges of his libido.

Sistah Rita

Where Does Peace Come in by Marisa and Alisha Readus

The story Where Does Peace Come In? Breaking Through the Bars is based on the lives of the authors. In their journey, they dealt with many trials, bad decisions, and incarceration. The authors write about how their faith in God and His grace and mercy restored them to a more abundant, meaningful, and fulfilling life.

The book was written in a simple and easy to read style. However, the details of the plot were very vague. Complicated events in the authors’ lives were poorly described. To me, the authors did not dig deep or uncover much emotion when referencing events. The storyline was not captivating or suspenseful, and the book also repeated a lot of clichés, which made it boring to me. The theme was clear, but it could have had more supporting details to impress the reader. I would not readily recommend Where does Peace Come In? Breaking Through the Bars.

Sistah Michelle

Sunday Morning Secrets by Shirlita McFarland

What a refreshing change from what I am used to in Christian Fiction.

Ms. McFarland gives us an upclose and personal peek into the lives of the pastor and members of King's Chapel Church. She does an excellent job introducing us to the chararcters, as well as defining their relationships to each other. The author also did a great job breaking the stereotypical mold for Christian fiction; she gives us a new perspective. Each of the characters carry his or her own secret, some which turn deadly. There was also an interesting small side plot involving Alma Curtis and her collection of "church people" figurines, who at times literally take on a life of their own.

Sunday Morning Secrets was one of those books where you could not predict the next move. In spite of numerous errors, which could have easily been prevented with spell check and better editing, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a change in their Christian fiction reading. I rate this book 4.5 Pink Diamonds for the poor editing.

Sistah Deniece

Ace of Hearts by Jean Holloway

Thrilling. Captivating. Suspenseful. From the prologue, this story will enthrall you with it’s murder and romance. Detective Shevaughn (Vaughn) Robinson, the first black female detective in the city if Portsbrough, New York is given her first case: the gruesome murder of a beautiful, young professional. Tony, Detective Robinson's love interest with a twist, becomes the catch of the day as he romances Vaughn, since he is not the only one that wants hers attention. This page turner has a beautiful unfolding love story in the mist of unspeakable lust and crime. The characters are bigger than life. Readers will become attached to the special people in this novel, and will cry for the victims. Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster. Ace of Hearts is a murder mystery the reader will not want to put down.

Sistah Teesa

My Kinda Girl by Michael McGrew

My Kinda Girl is the story of Bobbi Williams and his quest to make it to the top at any cost. Mr. McGrew does a good job defining the characters and their relationships. The book moved pretty fast, and there were some parts that caught me completely off guard. He had a really great ending that had me totally surprised.

As a fan of urban fiction, I enjoyed the book, and would recommend it to anyone who also enjoys the genre. On the other hand, there were numerous grammatical errors that should have been caught during editing. However, the errors did not really take away from the book, and did not impede my reading.

I would recommend My Kinda Girl to anyone who is in search of a quick read.

Sistah Deniece

Love Wounds by Leslie D. Sturtevant

Love Wounds is a tale about Sugar, a young, professional woman who is determined to not be lost to the streets of Baltimore. In addition to the main character, there is a very colorful cast of characters, and we are privy to many of their escapades. However, the book was difficult to follow because there was just too many things going on at the same time, and the author kept switching from person to person. It took some time to read because I had to keep going back to figure out who was doing what. The book truly needed more clarity.

Sistah Deniece