Another week has gone by, meaning another week in review.
Starting off like always! By taking out a small amount of time to once again express my appreciation for all the authors that I’ve read this week.
I see your time, efforts, and dedication to your expression of art.
And
This week I had some ARC’s and a Beta read on my schedule, meaning that I was posting less. So let’s see what that meant for me this week.
Some stats about my week
- I completed 10 books this week (3 not posted)
- by 10 different authors (2 new to me)
- totaling 3.299 pages
- making it around 329.9 pages per book
- averaging 461.3 pages read per day
Overview of the Books read
Week Opener
This week Mrs. Tacarra opened with her latest release Too Many One Nights, book one in her new DeLuca Brothers series.
Starting us off was Buck DeLuca, who NEVER double dips, some head he will not object to however. And Nicari who has been crushing on Buck since High School. Even knowing of his rule, she was itching for a ride.
Buck was… Something, he had a mouth on him, a happy trigger finger, and he was honest to a fault! He met his match however in Nicari, especially when she got what she wanted.
I’m looking forward to reading more about this family!
I picked up Mr. Nadir‘s latest release, The Evil Sister, after.
About Sara (early teens), who goes from being bullied to being the bully, and her family, who find themselves encountering a lot of rainy days.
This story was triggering!! Sara and her family got attacked from all angles!
The judicial system, the entertainment industry, the streets, and all types of predators. It felt like they couldn’t get a break. And then there was all the suspense and anxiety I felt watching them try and combat all these things.
Jury’s still out on if Sara is indeed the Evil Sister.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Jury’s still out? She went from being bullied to becoming the bully!
SheReadsaLot: There were a lot of extenuating circumstances!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Let us wait for the next installment to really decide if she is or isn’t.
SheReadsaLot: So like I said, Jury’s still out on if Sara is indeed the Evil Sister.
I received a physical ARC copy of Mr. Eddie Dee Williams‘ second book in the Affinity Saga, Echoes.
When I read the first book, there were some things that took me out of the momentum. Not enough for me to not finish though. Because here I am once again, still wanting to know more.
I learned a HUGE lesson while reading this book. Physical copies are for rereads, and rereads only.
There were multiple times that I wanted to highlight or annotate while reading.
AND I COULDN’T!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Right! It just felt disrespectful desecrating a book like that!
SheReadsaLot: We had washi tape though!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: It wasn’t the same though!
SheReadsaLot: It sure wasn’t!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: But the story?
So the team had a new case they needed to resolve. We are dealing with politics here, and politics is a very dirty game ruled by money and power.
“It’s politics,… and politics is theater. It’s all one big fat show. What do people with power want? More power. And when that power is threatened, people will do whatever they need to do and say whatever they need to say to keep it.”
Williams, Eddie Dee. Echoes (The Affinity Saga Book 2) (pp. 398). Hardcover Edition.
And we had Malcolm and Symone as well…
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Let’s continue, because at the end it was more so Malcolm than Symone, with his paranoia!
SheReadsaLot: And that paranoia did prove to be correct, right?
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: We can’t be certain yet, that cliffhanger let’s us think yes… but we need to read book 3 to be sure!
Mrs. Elle Kayson had a release as well, Real’s Love.
About Real, MMC, and Everly, FMC.
Everly had rules…
Real was like.
Mrs. Kayson starts out letting us know to not do too much when it comes to Everly.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: To be fair readers, us included, can be very harsh towards FMC’s.
SheReadsaLot: Not so much this time however. Everly’s backstory, and all the micro-aggressions she had to deal with!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: It was understandable why she chose to deal with relationships in that fashion!
SheReadsaLot: AND, we didn’t have to do too much either, because Real and Granny did it for us on separate occasions.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot:
Eventhough Real’s Love was about Real and Everly, Mrs. Kayson introduced us to other characters as well. The way Mrs. Kayson prepares us for all the possible stories to come?!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: We need Theory and Targen’s story!
SheReadsaLot: When Mrs. Kayson is ready to release their story…. naturally…
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: We had us some laughs as well!
“Ooh, y’all just as naughty as you wanna be,” she said. “You get it from your granny,” she added in a whisper.
Kayson, elle. Real’s Love . Kindle Edition.
My jaw dropped as she disconnected the call and Targen laughed out loud.
“Man, your grandparents are dope.”
I scoffed. “My grandparents need Jesus.”
SheReadsaLot whispers to Mrs. Kayson: Ma’am…. when you’re ready!
I picked up Silence: You Don’t Need a Voice to Run the Streets (Silence) by new to me author Mrs. Hydiea.
About Silence, MMC, who has been nonverbal all his life, and has turned his silence into his best asset.
The silence that learned how to speak with action.
Hydiea. Silence: You Don’t Need a Voice to Run the Streets (p. 236). Grand Penz Publications, LLC. Kindle Edition.
And Nova, FMC, in search of truth.
This was an Urban Fiction, and yes Silence runs the streets.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: The way he did so however felt like protection and community building to me!
SheReadsaLot: And did, and it felt more so when Nova became a more permanent fixture in Silence’s life.
Silence protected not only his community, but also the most vulnerable. Those who are often overlooked, because they are quiet, and deemed easy prey for predators. The predators not being the “obvious” ones.
Silence offered me suspense, intrigue, mystery, and so much love between these pages. Love for community, love and appreciation for those who are deemed to different for appreciation of the person they are, and love for family, friends and lovers.
And the quote that resonated most with me was the following.
“Because silence isn’t hiding. …
Hydiea. Silence: You Don’t Need a Voice to Run the Streets (p. 309 – 310). Grand Penz Publications, LLC. Kindle Edition.
It’s the loudest truth they can’t track.”
Mrs. Antoinette Sherell released Disrespectfully, Relic.
I was so excited for this one, because I’d been waiting to read about Relic.
The blue eyed devil, Pitit madichon, the oldest brother, the MMC. Just a few descriptions Relic goes by.
And Kennedy, Big Dog, the FMC.
Mrs. Sherell told us the following.
For those of you who’re expecting a redemption arc… sorry in advance! Relic is going to always be Relic, disrespectfully. Enjoy him for what and who he is…
Sherell, Antoinette. Disrespectfully, Relic (p. 3). Kindle Edition.
So I wasn’t expecting a redemption arc. However!!
Some of his more heinous offenses got shed light upon!
SheReadsaLot:
There were some laughs.
“Kennedy called me daddy while we were fucking, and I almost let her turn me into one.”
Sherell, Antoinette. Disrespectfully, Relic (p. 202). Kindle Edition.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Relic really didn’t know what hit him!
SheReadsaLot: He really didn’t!
SheReadsaLot and SheReadsaLot:
And I got hit with a cliffhanger…
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: We really did look like fools 😩
SheReadsaLot: We should’ve known better when we saw that this book only had 365 pages
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: We really should’ve known better! So what now?
SheReadsaLot: We wait for Disrespectfully, Kennedy to release because we need to know what happens next!
Week Closer
I closed out my week with new to me author Mrs. Lucia Damisa, I had signed up for an ARC of her book A Glorious Decade. As it had already released I decided to read this as a “normal” read.
A Glorious Decade is the story about John, singer/songer writer, Samira, fashion designer, and Ailey, model. AND all they went through to obtain their positions in life, and their love triangle taking place in the 60’s.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: I really didn’t know what to expect!
SheReadsaLot: I didn’t either!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: So give them a bit of insight… BUT don’t do too much!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: This story is so much more than a love triangle, a romance, let me tell you why.
Our MC’s at the time of the events taking place are in their teens, and early twenties. Dealing with the fashion and entertainment industry means there are predators and exploitation;
Stanley told me it was a campaign I couldn’t miss. I sensed that he would drop me if I didn’t get the gig. That he was telling me I should do whatever it took to get it.
Damisa, Lucia. A Glorious Decade (p. 29). Lucia Damisa Books. Kindle Edition.
there is theft;
I converted it into a crop top and a wraparound skirt with a thigh-high slit.
Damisa, Lucia. A Glorious Decade (p. 70). Lucia Damisa Books. Kindle Edition.
She said, “Oh Samira, you’re a genius!” I was sure it was just flattery. I felt a bit uneasy when at the party, she told everyone she made the outfit.
cultural appropiation;
Rania resembled someone with Middle Eastern roots. But in reality, she’d tanned herself to toast and enhanced it with makeup.
Damisa, Lucia. A Glorious Decade (p. 180). Lucia Damisa Books. Kindle Edition.
familial relationships, dealing with neglect, overbearingness, entitlement, and interfering ;
You know, even after the biggest yet most decent campaign I’d done, my mom still didn’t call me to say, Well done. I’m proud of you. Neglect like that is what can lead a child to do whatever it takes to find love elsewhere.
Damisa, Lucia. A Glorious Decade (pp. 243-244). Lucia Damisa Books. Kindle Edition.
white washing;
I knew some people on John’s publicity team still lobbied to whitewash his brand, saying it’d sell his next album better.
Damisa, Lucia. A Glorious Decade (p. 170). Lucia Damisa Books. Kindle Edition.
racism;
I looked to the Bible on their dashboard and said, “He created me as much as He created you. He made me black as much as He made you white. Don’t just lug your Bible around. Actually read it.”
Damisa, Lucia. A Glorious Decade (p. 335). Lucia Damisa Books. Kindle Edition.
media;
Even now, I still have nightmares of that crash, the unnecessary losses. All because the media refused to respect boundaries.
Damisa, Lucia. A Glorious Decade (p. 300). Lucia Damisa Books. Kindle Edition.
and fandom.
SheReadsaLot to Audience: All this to say… there is a lot for these young characters to navigate. AND there are triggers!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: And to think this took place in the 60’s and ain’t nothing changed!
SheReadsaLot:
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: But talk to them about fandom though!
Johnny-and-Samira fans were furious. They refused to accept it, as if it was their lives. As if they had any say. The entitlement just enrages me.
Damisa, Lucia. A Glorious Decade (p. 408). Lucia Damisa Books. Kindle Edition.
SheReadsaLot: I never did understand fandom!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: It was a lot in the 90s, the way people would fall all over themselves for celebrities, the posters of boybands..
SheReadsaLot: Not too much on the boybands! We had some on the walls as well!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: We weren’t claiming or collecting every bit of information we could though!
SheReadsaLot:
SheReadsaLot to Audience: My thing with fandom is the entitlement that the fans will have to having access to the celebrities through the media, and expecting them to their bidding.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Add in social media as well!
SheReadsaLot: The way internet has been implemented indeed has only increased the entitlement, and access to their faves.
SheReadsaLot to Audience: What I‘m trying to say here is.. The fandoms oftentimes forget that there are living and breathing beings, human beings, behind the celebrity. And in foregoing the humanity of the celebrity, they will oftentimes contribute to the demise of the well-being of their faves.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: It’s a damn shame!
SheReadsaLot: It’s happening in the book world as well
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Let’s not open this can of worms. Go on and sign off with why you’d recommend this read.
A Glorious Decade is written in transcript format, meaning it felt to me like watching a documentary where they do a deepdive into celebrities lives. We not only get to hear the perspective of John, Samira, and Ailey, but also of those close to them during that decade, and those on the cusps of their lives.
Mrs. Damisa portrayed the mess that is the industry/fandom in a way that showed the effect it has on the people moving in those spheres and who are the “objects” of affection/adoration.
This all taking place in the 60’s it was a bit daunting to see how not much has changed six decades later. Making it feel like a historical moment in time, and also very current!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: I’m saying I was hooked! AND go see for yourself if you concur.
That’s it for this go round! Looking forward to what next week will bring, and hope to see you there!
👩🏾SheReadsaLot 