Book Review – Even Salt Looks Like Sugar

Hi Lovies,

My sister friend, Yecheilyah  Ysrayl has a new book out and it is a good read. The book is available on Amazon so be sure to checking out. I have it 4 stars!

Don’t trust everything you see. Even Salt Looks Like Sugar is a poignant tale of a 16 year old girl named Wanda who was abandoned by her parents and taken in by a neighbor. The story takes place in a rural Louisiana town where everybody knows you and your business. 

The “kindly” neighbor, Miss Cassaundra, had a habit of taking in children who had been abandoned. She would feed and clothe them, but also made them feel trapped. She received money from the government to care for the kids, but she didn’t show they live and affection. In fact, they lived in a brothel, run by Cassaundra, a woman who rarely got off of her couch due to being morbidly obese. 

Wanda wanted out, but the only way she knew to do that was to get a job. Each time she had an interview, Cassaundra found out and threw a wrench in her plans.

Things escalate and eventually Wanda is told the truth about why her father abandoned her, leaving her in a whore house. Wanda’s only saving grace was the young girl who was left in her charge, Abby. Cassaundra was getting money for her, but Wanda was taking care of the child. Things come to a head and secrets are revealed. One such secret ends up saving Abby from Cassaundra’s clutches. 

I loved the dynamic between Wanda and her BFF, Rosa. They grew up in foster care together and had each other’s backs no matter what. 

This was a quick read, more like a short story. It held my attention and gave some good info on the foster care system. I expect nothing less when I read a novel by Yecheilyah.

Book Review – Wild Aces

Hi Lovies,

With this being Valentine’s Weekend I wanted to post my review of Marni Mann’s “Wild Aces”.  I was fortunate enough to receive an Advance Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review. This is not your typical flirty romance, it is hard and fast and steamy with a twist. Please read my review below and pre-order your copy on Amazon today.

 

Copyright Marni Mann Used with Permission

 

Wild Aces by author Marni Mann is an erotic tale of secrets, lies and abuse. I was thrilled to see Brea as the female protagonist in this story. Fans of Marni Mann should remember her from the amazing five part series Unblocked. I loved her spunky, sassy personality in the first book so I was happy that she finally found happiness and love with Trapper in this novel. We also see a little of Frankie and Derek from the first book, but make no mistake this is a standalone novel. You can certainly love this story without reading the first collection, but why would you want to? I highly recommend you get your life by reading both.

The male protagonist Trapper stole my heart from page one before I even knew his name and kept it throughout the entire story, even more so after I learned all of his secrets. The horrific abuse he suffered as a child shaped his future for better and worse, but the man he grew up to be was nothing short of heroic. This story reminds us that no matter where our lives begin, the choices we make and the paths we choose are totally up to us. We can either fall into despair like Trapper’s mom or rise above our circumstances like Trapper. It also reminds us that there are still good people in the world out there fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves.

The story is sexy and provocative with a few twists and turns to keep the reader engaged.  At the beginning of the story Brea confides in her best friend Frankie that she wants “A perfect cock with a good man attached to it” and she definitely gets that in Trapper. He is tall, mysterious and dark, not to mention passionate and loyal. Brea is dealing with the death of her boyfriend and after two years of mourning she is ready to try love again. Frankie and her husband host a masquerade party and Brea is taken with a sexy stranger in a Batman mask. They immediately fall for each other without seeing each other’s faces; just their mouths. And his mouth is perfect. He shows Brea how much potential he has and after setting her body aflame with just a kiss, Trapper takes his leave. Before leaving he enters his number in Brea’s phone, putting the ball in her court.

I love the way the relationship between Trapper and Brea develops from heat and passion to one of love and understanding with only a couple of hiccups along the way. The universe has placed them at the right place and the right time and their connection cannot be denied. Even after she sees his face, Brea feels an indescribable pull to him. The unusual and very awkward situation his face puts them in ends up bringing them closer.  I definitely didn’t see this coming and the way the story developed after the removal of the “mask” was spot on. I was happy that I was correct in guessing what the “Compound” was all about, but I had no idea about Roman and his hidden secret.

Overall I would give this story a 5 of 5 stars for being able to not only transport me to another world, which is the goal of a great book, but making me fall for a guy I would never think about in the real world. There is absolutely no way I would ever date a professional poker player if I were single, but I fell for Trapper in his fictional world. There’s just something about a good man who has beaten the odds in life and has a perfect cock.

A Great Compliment Goes A Long Way

This morning I received an email from a fellow blogger and author  who just recently read my book, The Mistreatment of Zora Langston. She loved the book and that made me happy, but as I continued reading I received the best compliment ever! She compared my book to The Bluest Eye by legendary author Toni Morrison! I wanted to scream and shout, but that would have scared my poor cat.

This compliment gave me the jolt I needed to get motivated to write this morning. Thank you so much Kendra! Kendra is from the UK and her review posted on the Amazon UK site; click here to read the complete version.

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