Book Review-Yesterday was a Long Time Ago by Selena Haskin

Book Synopsis:

Southern gal, Germaine Landry wants to become a writer in the big city of Washington, DC. She meets a privileged heartthrob and college football player, Angelo Pearson, who is used to having anything and every girl he wants. A loner by nature, Germaine is not easily impressed with Angelo's bravado, but he eventually charms his way into her heart. This pair of opposites attract develops a friendship that catches fire. Their love is seemingly shatterproof until a malicious scheme leads them down a dark path that could end tragically. Twenty years later, thoughts of yesterday still haunt Germaine, until an unexpected encounter leads her to the pearls of truth. Germaine just may have a second chance at love or finally free herself from the memories of a long time ago.

Review

I fell in love with this story of true love finding its way back to each other. The author did an amazing job capturing my emotions throughout the journey with Germaine, Angelo, and Lisa. There were times I was sitting here smiling, crying, and laughing. My favorite character in the story was Germaine Laundry and my least two favorites in the story were Angelo and Donna.  Angelo redeemed himself as the story unwind but Donna was the typical vixen in the story that you wish something bad would happen to her.  You know the saying, you reap what you sew.  

The plot twists in this story Yesterday Was A Long Time Ago made you eager to keep reading wanting to know what happened next. This storyline has a few hidden gems of wisdom and nuggets one could take away with them in real life situations. At the end of the day, trust your heart and trust the love of true unconditional love. This was a beautiful love story that had a beautiful happy ending. Great job Selena you have a new fan of your work. The writing style was perfect... I visualized the characters as I read through the story.

About the Author

Selena Haskins is a native Washingtonian whose love for reading and writing started at the tender age of nine. Selena’s greatest loves are God and family and she uses both as the central theme in all of her books. By writing in various genres, particularly, historical fiction, family saga, and romance, Selena’s stories cross the generation lines and bridges the gaps between modern and contemporary fiction. Following the paths of legendary authors who came before her, Selena simply wants to write "good memorable stories that reflect a moral message."

For more about Selena, please visit: www.booksbyselena.com
Twitter & Instagram: @booksbyselena
Facebook: @AuthorSelenaHaskins

Book Review -No Kissing by Toni Larue

I truly love reading the stories by Toni Larue.  Her latest novel titled No Kissing will have you falling over and the two twist will have you rubbing your heading and smiling.  The story center around best selling author in the Bay area name Langton Pennington, Josephine, and Leila. 

https://www.amazon.com/No-Kissing-Toni-Larue/dp/1515242471/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1507602459&sr=1-1&keywords=toni+larue

The story opens with Leila plotting against an counselor on campus to pay her tuition but that takes a turn that lands her in the triangle with Langton Pennington and Josephine.  The affair that takes place has an amazing twist that I didn't suspect with the characters.  I love how the author takes us on the journey of the many affairs of Langton who needed inspiration for his stories with other women.  His relationship with his wife Josephine was a love hate that had you cheering for one of the spouses. 

Just when you thought the scandal was over, the author throws a plot twist that was so big that I gasp.  You will not believe the dynamic team was out to inspire the author to write another best-seller but did not plan on him departing.  No Kissing has twists that will keep you turning the pages and the very last chapter will leave your jaw dropping shock.  Without spoiling it, I strongly recommend hat you pick up your copy of No Kissing.  Toni Larue has done an outstanding job with this mystery  drama filled story with plot twist that will knock you out your seat. 

About Toni Laure

Toni Larue is an author, entrepreneur and women’s empowerment advocate. She is the author of fiction novels, Abandoned Secrets (available now) and No Kissing (release date TBD), and the co-owner and COO of Team Jon Doe Management and Entertainment and Sounwave Music.
http://www.teamjondoe.com


https://www.facebook.com/therealtonilarue/

Book Review -Abuse of Discretion by Pamela Samuels Young

In the latest novel by Pamela Samuels Young, titled Abuse of Discretion takes on the challenges of sexting and addresses child trafficking.  The story unfolds around young Graylin Alexander and Kennedy Carlyle for the sexting. The author gives her readers a look at cases from juvenile courtroom.   While she addresses another story that deals with child trafficking which is serious today that centers around a prisoner who steal runs his operation from Federal prison calls himself "The Shepard" and Dre who is seeking revenge for the kidnapping of his niece Brianna.

https://www.amazon.com/Abuse-Discretion-Dre-Thomas-Book-ebook/dp/B073TZXXNC/ref=la_B0032RQC0U_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1507567611&sr=1-1

I was proud to see how she took a real life issues and circumstances that most parents don't educate their children about to help protect them when it comes to taking and sending pictures of themselves naked or half nudity.  Teenagers today don't understand the ramifications of sexting let along being charged with possession of child pornography. Most importantly, I don't think parents understand sexting and monitor their children's social media like prosecuting attorney Sullivan in the story.  After reading this story, you will want to sit down with your kids and have a serious talk about sexting and the law that could find themselves in this same situation as Graylin. 

The story addresses child trafficking but from the kidnapper perspective and how someone who might be locked behind bars can still have outside connections that allow him to continue running his operation from the inside of prison walls.  I believe the author was trying to make a point when she included the child trafficking with the sexting between kids.  As I followed the story, I took that the result of a child sending pictures of nudity via social media or to friends in innocence can end up in a pedophile or child traffickers hands that will place them in danger. 

This story is long and well worth every page to get the point across about sexting, the law regarding sexting between kids, how it's treated as child pornography, distribution of child pornography, ect.  This story can be an example for students and parents.  I strongly recommend parents and their kids read Abuse of Discretion.  I am a new fan of her work and will definitely read more of her books.  I love her style writing and how she takes real life circumstances to make a great point that will educate and have an impact on her readers.

About Pamela Samuels Young

Pamela Samuels Young is an attorney and award-winning author of eight mystery novels. Her thriller, Anybody’s Daughter, won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Fiction and was a Top Ten pick by In the Margins, the best books for at-risk teens. Pamela formerly worked as Managing Counsel, Labor and Employment Law, for Toyota and spent several years as a television news writer and associate producer. The former journalist and retired lawyer is also a natural hair enthusiast and the author of Kinky Coily: A Natural Hair Resource Guide.

Connect with Pamela on Social Media!

Facebook.com/Pamela/SamuelsYoung
Twitter.com/AuthorPSY
Instagram.com/AuthorPSY
Pinterest.com/AuthorPamelaSamuelsYoung
YouTube.com/KinkyCoilyPamela (natural hair)
LinkedIn.com/PamelaSamuelsYoung

Have you ready any good books?

Have you read any good books lately?  What's on your reading list?  Well, I have come across a great list of storytellers who will have you turning the pages in their amazing stories.  Do you love reading about drama, romance, mystery, or inspiration? I enjoy reading all genres and always find a message in everything that I read.

My current book list on below and some that I plan to pick up copies to read within the next month.

1. and then there was me by Sadeqa Johnson
2. Bonded For Life by Tesa Erven
3. Threads that Mend by Tesa Erven
4. The Loose End by Tesa Erven
5. Zion's Road by Imani Wisdom
6. Don't Settle for Safe by Sarah Jakes Roberts
7. No Kissing by Toni Larue
8. In the Dark by Unoma Nwankwor
9. The Truth is by Michelle Mitchell
10. Dissolution by JL Campbell

What's on your top ten list?  Look for book reviews for all of these books and so much more to come.  Reading is very relaxing and it stimulates your imagination, motivates you when you are not feeling to up beat. Storytellers have a way of allowing you to get lost in the story and forget about all your problems, concerns, and every day situations.

Have you read any good books?  What attracted you to the novel you are reading? 

1. 
   

Book review-Copycat by Kimberly Lawson Roby

I had the pleasure of receiving an advance copy of one of my favorite authors novel during the Seducing The Pen Book Tour. I read in three days the novelette Copycat by Kimberly Lawson Roby.

The story was a page turner as I was drawned into the story. I could picture each character while reading the story.  That's a great thing for me when characters can step into my imagination as I read along the story.  I love how Kimberly Lawson Roby can create that imagination for her readers with this novelette.  One of the character's Simone Phillips had me wondering about the ending half way through the story. This child need some serious help is what I was telling myself.  Then of course, I wanted to know how Traci Calloway Cole was going to handle her new found friend Simone.  The author did an amazing job creating a tussle or love hate for those two characters.    

Copycat will definitely keep you turning pages till the end. Most importantly, the light that the author shed on the subject is real and happens each day. Mrs. Roby gave the real life issue a name Copycat.  I love the fact how she talked about identity crisis, envy, and jealously among women. 

Now there was a dramatic scenes that took place in the story that did throw me for a surprise (which was good) with a character you least expected to react. I never would have expected his character to react the way a woman scorned is usually expected.  His reaction will definitely spark some good conversations between book clubs. 

I only had one thing that I felt I was left hanging in the story.  I was hoping that the author would elaborate on whether or not Simone Phillips character novel for published. I felt we as readers were left to imagine that outcome given the circumstances that exploded within the storyline. 

Meanwhile. I love how there is a message in this story for the readers to start talking about with women.  Reading through the story, their were somewhat hidden messages that were nice to see that will stir up conversations today that should be addressed.   

I don't want to give too much away about Copycat. The novel will be available on January 31.2017 and I highly recommend everyone go pick up your copy. 

Photo Credits:
Courtsey of  Black Pearls Magazine Seducing The Pen Book Tour

Welcome to Sistah's Book Review

Welcome to Sistah's Book Review.  A blog created to share book reviews on the many great storytellers of all genres that I enjoy reading.  On my sister platform, each month a recommended book list is published great storytellers, inspirational self-help, and empowerment novels at Sistah's Voice. 

Interviews are done for indie, nationals, and best-selling authors at Sistah's Place Entertainment.  Another community that gives authors a platform to shine and showcase their novels, gifts, and talent with those across the world. 

Get ready for a novel a week being posted that I will review and monthly book reviews from other guest contributors.

Photo Credits:  Black Pear Magazine

http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/

Get Ready for more novels by Black Author's being read and reviewed right here on Sistah's Book Reviews. 

If you are interested in having your novel to get a book review, please send all inquires to ltcarter7@gmail.com. 

Other Communities:
www.sistahsplace2.blogspot.com
www.sistahsplace.com
www.mayashowcasedotcom.wordpress.com
www.Letrisecarter.com
www.sistahspearlsofwisdom.wordpress.com
www.sistahscreativemedia.com

Dorothy Peaple- Book Review: The Rose Within by Sana Pirzada

One of the joys of reading for me is having the opportunity to slip into another world where I can give in to being transported to a different time and place. As I've mentioned before, I love books that take readers on a journey towards the unknown and unexplained. Stories that have a gothic feeling to them are always an extra treat for me as a booklover.

The new gothic romance novel, The Rose Within, by debut novelist Sana Pirzada, is a wonderfully thrilling story of love in many forms. The story makes one think of classic gothic works such as The Phantom of the Opera or Rebecca. The Rose Within is an intriguing novel full of passion and mystery that kept me enthralled until the very end.

The Rose Within is set in 1920s England, and tells the story of Jonathan Malcolm as he is drawn into the world of Winter Grange House and its inhabitants. At this grand house Jonathan meets the love of his life, Selina Selwyn. She captures his heart immediately. There are many barriers between them due to a cloud of mystery that surrounds Selina and her ancestral home. There are rumors that Winter Grange is haunted by ghosts and has its share of supernatural happenings. Jonathan experiences many trials that threaten to thwart his pursuit of the beautiful Selina. Throughout the novel, readers are left wondering if he will ultimately be with his true love or will love be denied in the end.

I found Jonathan to be an interesting character. He starts off as a young man who is simply trying to make his way in the world and through chance he is set on a path of amazing discovery. As I mentioned earlier, for me, this is a story of love in many forms. The main story is about Jonathan's quest for the lovely Selina, however there are also examples of love between others. Without giving away too much, I'll just say that I liked the connections between the inhabitants of Winter Grange House. All is not as it seems.

There are so many things that I adored about this novel. The story itself had a really good pace to it and made me as a reader want to keep going in order to find out the secrets that were held within the walls of stately Winter Grange House. I also really enjoyed the gothic vibe of the work as a whole. This made for a great atmosphere as the story unfolded page by page.

Sana Pirzada is an excellent storyteller. She does a beautiful job of weaving various strands together that both startle and thrill readers in equal measure. The Rose Within is a wonderfully-written love story that expertly veers away from the standard love story onto a path towards the unique and intriguing.  I loved this book!

Contributing writer:

Dorothy Peaple and her blog is:  Visit her blog at http://www.fromayellowhouse.com/

Here is a link to the book on Amazon :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rose-Within-Gothic-Romance-ebook/dp/B01FIDJ6R6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1484052753&sr=1-1