I am really not an audio book lover but I could not pass up this collection because they are Jamaican love stories written by some of my favorite authI am really not an audio book lover but I could not pass up this collection because they are Jamaican love stories written by some of my favorite authors. This collection was truly a delight to listen to, I found myself laughing out loud, cringing, screaming at the narrator and getting all up in my feelings.
These stories got under my skin and stayed there.
Here are stories:
- The Guest House by Patricia Powell
- On The Rock by Alecia McKenzie
- Blue Mountain by Alexia Arthurs
- Homeplace by Diana McCauley
- Shows by Kwame Dawes -
- Let Go On Three by Mateo Askaripour
- The Fastest Man In The World by Maisy Card
I have to say, each story is different and very relatable. ...more
This is my second book by Bolu Babalola, I read Love in Colour and while I didn't enjoy it I did see a lot of promise from the author. Added to thatThis is my second book by Bolu Babalola, I read Love in Colour and while I didn't enjoy it I did see a lot of promise from the author. Added to that, I love her twitter and tik tok presence so when I got a full novel from her, I could not wait to read it.
Honestly, this read like a YA novel. The characters do not behave as if they are in university. The novel was entirely too long with secondary plots that didnt contribute to the plot. The friend from high school... what was that even about. If you love romance, I would say go for it, but expect it to read like a YA. ...more
I absolutely loved being in Tia's world as she navigates being a writer in a predominantly white space, while trying to date. I loved how relatable shI absolutely loved being in Tia's world as she navigates being a writer in a predominantly white space, while trying to date. I loved how relatable she was and how the author really kept us interested in all that she was going through.
The vibe is absolutely right and I enjoyed every bit of it!
In Sarah Dass’ second book we meet Tess Crawford, a high school Trinidadian who loves everThe vibe is absolutely right and I enjoyed every bit of it!
In Sarah Dass’ second book we meet Tess Crawford, a high school Trinidadian who loves everything Mas! She grew up in a Mas house and wants to keep her family name going, especially because her uncle is thinking about retiring. Tess lives with her cousin, aunt and uncle and spends a lot of her time trying to learn as much as possible about having a successful mas band.
The only think getting in her way is her cousin falling in love with the rival band’s son and Brandon Richards who is in her class and does social media promoting the rival band. With the future of her family’s Mas Band handing in a balance she decides to team up with Brandon- even though she actually cannot stand to be around him….
Who doesn’t love an enemies to lovers trope set in a Mas Band in Trinidad and Tobago? I personally couldn’t get enough of it! Truly this was such a delightful read and I think its because of the rivalry that felt very authentic. I loved Tess as a main character and I could spend a lot of time just reading about her daily life.
If you are looking for a light, fun romance, this is definitely a must read! ...more
Un-put-down-able, spicy, sweet and will leave you wanting to read the next one in the series of island bites
This is the second book in the Island Bi Un-put-down-able, spicy, sweet and will leave you wanting to read the next one in the series of island bites
This is the second book in the Island Bites series and Don’t Go Baking My Heart may just be my favourite of the two. The book opens with Devon King getting called out at work for not being a team player and never taking part in any of the company’s activities. The company is hosting a baking competition, and while this is not at the top of Devon’s must do list, he still needs to take part in company activities if he ever wants to make partner. Taking the bake off a little too seriously, he sets out to hire his brother’s girlfriend but she is not available so Reba, is who he’s got to go with. Reba met Devon at his brother’s wedding and since then she’s been crushing on him, sending him memes, messages that he never replies to… that is until he needs help with this baking competition.
Reba’s main goal is to make Devon fall for her, or at least throw him out off his game. Devon’s main goal is to win the baking competition and not have Reba ruffle his feathers. Who will win or will both lose?
I breezed through this book while laughing out loud, fanning myself at the spicy scene and truly enjoying these characters getting to know each other. This is the perfect beach read, or for anyone who has a sweet tooth (lol). Seriously though, this is such a well done novel that I think everyone should get into! ...more
Re-Read April for a panel discussion I re-read this book for a panel discussion with the author and I am so happy I did because I think I enjoyed it Re-Read April for a panel discussion I re-read this book for a panel discussion with the author and I am so happy I did because I think I enjoyed it a lot more the second time around. If you are looking to read a book that is a love letter to New York, of a girl who is trying to find her creative identity.
I definitely enjoyed this the second time around.
You know that book that you pick up thinking you would love but it just falls short? This is one of them.
In Zainab Takes New York we meet twenty-something-year-old Zainab who recently moves to New York and is working as an intern at an illustration company. Zainab starts hearing voices, at first there were few but then they become three and they do not stop. Zainab doesn't know what to make of this and is unable to pay for therapy because she is not able afford it. We are taken on an adventure as Zainab tries to find herself, explore New York and learn more about herself.
Honestly, this one did not hit the mark for me. The plot felt underdeveloped, the main character was not interesting, and overall the book felt rushed....more
More books told from the perspective of persons over 60 please!
I absolutely love Elizabeth Strout’s writing and her ability to write about everythin More books told from the perspective of persons over 60 please!
I absolutely love Elizabeth Strout’s writing and her ability to write about everything and nothing. It take a special kind of writer to keep you interested when if feels like nothing is happen. Oh, William!” is about Lucy Barton and her ex-husband, William. Lucy recently lost her husband and is still grieving, added t o that William’s younger wife for years finally left him. William must now navigate life alone, a lot is being thrown his way, including finding out some major family secrets.
I gobbled this book up- it was unpretentious, charming and had you rooting for Lucy and William in so many ways. I love reading books about characters who are still going through it even in their 60s. Strout is able to introduce so many things and it is well crafted.
Truly a charming read that you won’t want to end....more
On one hand, I am so happy I get to read a book by this author that I actually understand what is happWhere do I even begin…. Like… a joke thing dis?!
On one hand, I am so happy I get to read a book by this author that I actually understand what is happening because while I did enjoy reading Freshwater I had ZERO idea what it was about. On the other hand, this book was entirely basic and lacking substance… but I guess this is the author’s way of flexing their creative muscles and they aren’t wrong, if you can publish it, why not.
In You’ve Made A Fool Of Death With Your Beauty we meet Feyi who is grieving the loss of her husband who died in a tragic car crash. After five years of grieving she figures its time to step out and maybe start dating, afterall she is still very young and with the encouragement of her friend Joy she decides to give it a go. Listen…. Nothing can prepare you for what Feyi calls dating after being celibate for five years.
Yall, I am not a romance reader maybe that is why I was reading this and thinking, “wow… this is what we call romance…” “Is hoe-ing around romance?” “Big up you sis, a you seh date!”
Honestly, Sis seh she ago follow her heart and nothing will get in the way and while in theory I believe you should… mi just never expect her fi follow it guh deh suh!
Honestly, this book too chaotic… issa no for me.... I cannot Feyi went that far....I mean really?!!!
What an adventure, I absolutely in-haled this book and I think you will too. Yinka, Where’s Your Hus Entertaining, engaging and laugh out loud funny
What an adventure, I absolutely in-haled this book and I think you will too. Yinka, Where’s Your Husband? opens with Yinka attending her younger sister’s baby shower. In the middle of the baby shower her aunty decides to pray for her, included in the prayer is for Yinka to find a husband. Yinka is a 30-something, Oxford-educated, British Nigerian woman with a well-paid job, good friends, and a family whose constant refrain is "Yinka, where is your huzband?"
After being mortified, Yinka decides that things will have to change. Everyone she knows is getting engaged, having children or finding the love of their life and she feels forever single. She knows she will find true love, but WHEN? She decides to do an “Operation Find A Date” for her friend’s wedding. She says yes to every blind date- even that one her Aunty sets her up on. What will happen when Yinka finally decides to wait for love to find her?
I am not a big romance girlie but I enjoyed this one. It felt fresh, rooted in Nigerian tradition and culture. The entire time I was screaming, “Yinka, that man is NOT for you!!!” It is such a wild ride. This is the perfect book for anyone going through a reading slump. ...more
Charged with chemistry and cuteness! I was here for it!
This was such an enjoyable read and I think I am definitely enjoying the romance books I have Charged with chemistry and cuteness! I was here for it!
This was such an enjoyable read and I think I am definitely enjoying the romance books I have been reading lately. Of course, it does help that it is a #ReadCaribbean self-published book, set in Trinidad, I am here for it!
Sweethand is told from two perspective, that of Cherisse, a locally renowned pastry chef and Keiran King who is locally known as a top producer. Cherisse became somewhat of a local celebrity after dating a Soca Artiste, finding out he was cheating on her and having a full on meltdown in public. Yeah…. Cringe! Cherisse is trying to keep a low profile while growing her pastry business. She is currently the single older sister, and about to be the maid of honour for her younger sister who is getting married, while having her mother constantly set her up on blind dates.
Kerian has always had a crush on Cherisse, how does he show her this? By butting heads, not tasting her pastry, ignoring her and always having a snarky comment that rubs her the wrong way. They must now work together to plan a shower for the wedding, the wedding playlist and a party. Yes, they both don’t want this but must put aside their grudges for their friends. It is during one of their late night planning that things get spicy!
Friends! I could feel the sexual chemistry between Cherisse and Kerian, it was palatable. I think the author did a great job by having it told from the perspective of the two characters, we got a more rounded look into their relationship and internal monologue. Yes, there were some parts where the plot dragged and I felt like it could have been a bit tighter. I also kept saying, “Get on with it already!” but I do believe the author did a great job of keeping you interested while rooting for them.
I am not a big romance reader but this one was thoroughly entertaining and that is all to the writer’s credit. ...more
Yoew every single story in this collection is straight flames!
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know how much I love a great short story cYoew every single story in this collection is straight flames!
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know how much I love a great short story collection, bonus points if it is set in the Caribbean.
I am constantly looking to read short stories and I randomly added LOVE WAR STORIES to by TBR last year thinking I would get around to it…. At least by June. Fast forward to 2021 and I receive a donation to the BookOfCinz Library which includes this collection. Y’all, I started reading it immediately.
I absolutely loved and enjoyed this entire collection. How is it every story was a just so good?!!! Generally, in a collection you have a story that misses the mark but none of the stories in this collection fell below 3 stars for me. Every single one was gripping, sharp, fresh and beautifully executed.
The stories centers around Puerto Rican girls and boys living in the diaspora and how they are navigating the world of love, mother-daughter relationships and grief. I loved how the theme of love and war was carried out throughout the book.
They all explored themes of love and it was done in the most interesting way. We meet a young lady who wants to have the perfect Quinceanera but her Tia’s past mistakes is getting in the way. To the young men navigating young love, while trying to keep it a secret. To young lovers who thinks love is all you need. You are constantly forced to reckon what it means to love and be loved.
My stand out stories were: Summer of Nene Some Springs Girls Do Fir The Belindas La Hija Chango Love War Stories
Rodriguez writing is intentional, not one word is out of place. The characters are fully formed and believable. It takes a real writer to write convincing situations and characters in just 5-10 pages and Rodriguez did this effortlessly.
Here are two quotes that really stopped me in my tracks! By the time I knew people didn’t literally die from love, my father left my mother and I saw how she died
People make too much of love. Everybody thinks it’s all you need, but love is the starting point. There is so much that comes after love, so much that you can’t even imagine.
First let me start by saying I was interested in this book because of five things:
1.The title, Love In Colour I find we need more stories about BlackFirst let me start by saying I was interested in this book because of five things:
1.The title, Love In Colour I find we need more stories about Black love and I was here for all of it. 2.The cover was also a major seller. This cover could be voted the best cover of 2020. 3.The fact that this collection was written by a Black Woman and it is her debut novel. 4.I also loved the book aims to retell mythical tales from around the world using Colour. 5.Also, while I am not a big romance reader, I was sold on, hook line and sinker.
In reading author’s introduction, I really got an appreciation for why she decided to put together this collection- she loves love, and who doesn’t love love?
I am not sure if it is because I did not read the mythical tales before they were retold in this book, but I cannot say I enjoyed a lot of the stories. I think of the 13 stories in this collection I really only loved 3, those being: Scherherazade Attem Yaa
I saw someone wrote a previous review where they basically said, had they read one story at a time, as oppose to reading the entire collection in one go, they would have enjoyed it more- and I have to agree. I read this book over the course of two days and while the setting, situation and characters were different, the stories all blended into each other and felt the same. There was such sameness to the stories that after awhile I became bored at how predictable they ended up being.
It is clear that Bolu can write and I look forward to what she comes with next....more
In Sarah Dass’ debut novel Where The Rhytym Takes You we are taken to the beautiful twin island Tobago where seve Felt the rhythm and I was moved!
In Sarah Dass’ debut novel Where The Rhytym Takes You we are taken to the beautiful twin island Tobago where seventeen-year-old Reyna is helping her dad manage her family resort Plumeria. Reyna who lost her mother at a young age and the love of her live decides to give up painting and is going through the biggest tabanca she’s ever experience- granted she is just seventeen. The cause of Reyna’s tabanca is Aiden, her first love, who left her and Tobago behind to pursue his career in music.
Of course, like every tabanca, it hits harder when they show up to the hotel you are working at to spend an extended time with their group of friends. Aiden and Reyna must now either avoid each other for the entire stay, or confront each other.
Friends, if you know me, I am not big on YA and Romance but this book truly did it for me. I felt the author did such a phenomenal job of taking me back to my teenage years and me thinking my first love was it and losing them was the end of the world- yea… the dramatics right?! The author writes convincingly about Tobago, love, and being a teenager who is heading into adulthood. The theme of grief, love, mother-daughter relationship and growing up was thoroughly and well explored.
I truly enjoyed Reyna and how very likeable and realistically written she was. Granted, if my father owned a hotel, at 17 I wouldn’t be looking to manage it, I would have my friends over every weekend for a villa party… but that’s just me.
If you are looking to escape, to visit Tobago, and to revisit how young, silly and in love you were at 17, Where The Rhythm takes you is the perfect book!
P.S. The playlist at the end of this book is it!!! Love it....more
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