Time seems to be flying! Because just like that another week has gone by…
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
I kicked off with a buddy read, and have been yapping the ears of multiple authors this week. So even though I felt a bit under the weather, I consider it to have been a good week. Even if one of the authors was going to kill me off in one of her books… Meaning, I made an impression…
A win is a win, am I right?!
Some stats about my week
- I completed 16 books this week (4 not posted)
- by 12 different authors
- totaling 3.814 pages (506 pages in audio)
- making it around 238.4 pages per book
- averaging 544.9 pages read per day
Overview of the Books read
- The Lonely Pole by Mrs. Takerra Allen
- Unexpected Pass by Mrs. A. Blossom
- My Hood King by Mrs. Miss Jenesequa
- His Summer Masterpiece by Mrs. Kyeate
- Zinc by Mrs. Connie Easton
- Stolen Pieces by Mrs. J.R. Mason
- And Then Everything Changed by Mrs. J. Nichole
- Are You Going To Love Me? by Mrs. Aubree Pynn
Week Opener
I opened this week buddyreading Mrs. Takerra Allen with Miss Lady.
Here I was thinking that it was Miss Lady that put me into this predicament… And it was actually a post by Mrs. Readwithsunshine_ who had made such a beautiful post about this book. After seeing that, both Miss Lady and I decided to read it. So still?
So there we were on Monday morning, throwing ourselves in a stressful situation that is Mrs. Allen’s world of The Lonely Pole.
We get introduced to Baby, FMC, a ballet dancer at Juilliard, who falls on hard times.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Hard times is downplaying it a bit, don’t you think?
SheReadsaLot to Audience: So her mom gets murdered, her remaining family sees her as the Black sheep, she doesn’t have a job, and still owes around 20.000 USD of her 46.000 USD tuition. Hard times y’all!
Baby is on a time crunch, because if she doesn’t pay up, she will be kicked out, and will lose the only thing remaining to her… Her dreams of becoming a dancer.
Enter…
And she is good Y’all!
While there she gets to know Nyema, down on her luck after her baby daddy (Bay) leaves her with their three kids for his… “Don’t worry Nyema, you have nothing to worry about, because she is like my cousin!”
SheReadsaLot to Audience:
Rocsi, in a relationship with the man (Sheek) that helped her of the street at fifteen, got married while with her (when she was 18 and currently), and had several babies on her with his wife and others.
SheReadsaLot to Audience: But…
And Portia, the main attraction of the club, out for self and her paper.
SheReadsaLot to Audience: When I tell you that these people had me stressed?! They had me S-T-R-E-S-S-E-D!
Because…
SheReadsaLot to Nyema: Why are you still having relations with the baby daddy that left you to become Nasty Ny, and isn’t doing a thing for his kids?
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Now not too much on Nyema, the way she had to degrade herself to get some money on the table? It kills something in you!
SheReadsaLot: I’ll give you that…. And still I wanted to yell at her…
SheReadsaLot: Because you don’t have to become your circumstances! And you most definitely don’t give the person who doesn’t see your worth the chance to determine it for you!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Same went for Baby!
SheReadsaLot: Just accepting the scraps of the man, I’m talking to you Trip!, judging her while he himself isn’t living the “respectable” life himself.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Rocsi?
SheReadsaLot: One word, groomed!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: So do you have to say anything about Portia?
When those pieces trace back to the abusers of her cases?
SheReadsaLot:
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: So what were your overall thoughts?
My overall thoughts on this read was that this was a beautifully frustrating story, showing how a confluence of events can change your life in the blink of an eye.
This story comes with triggers like domestic violence, grooming, rape, substance abuse, addiction, murder, and illegal dealings. But it also comes with strength, survival, laughs, healing, and love.
After that I went for something a bit lighter with Mrs. A. Blossom‘s latest release Unexpected Pass.
We get to know Phileigh, FMC, a Barber, who finds out she’s pregnant on the same day that she finds out her baby daddy was apparently in a long term relationship and just got engaged.
And Kellon, MMC, NFL player, who is prepared to take on all of the responsibilities Phileigh’s baby daddy is running from.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: The way that man just didn’t give an iota!
“Kellon, we can’t. Did you hear what I said?”
Blossom, A.. Unexpected Pass (p. 70). B. Love Publications. Kindle Edition.
“You’re pregnant,” he said, staring at me. His face was wet with my juices.
“I heard you. Is that why this p*ssy so wet and sweet?”
SheReadsaLot: He really didn’t! And I loved that for Phileigh!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: It was a daddy y’all!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Remember that we had to give the special shout out!
“Talk that hot shit now, b*tch!” Lolo’s voice rang out as she pounded Natalie’s face into the kitchen island.
Blossom, A.. Unexpected Pass (p. 218). B. Love Publications. Kindle Edition.
SheReadsaLot: Special shout out to LoLo! The true MVP. The way she rides for her best friend?!
After, I decided to dive into Mrs. Miss Jenesequa‘s backlog and picked up her completed My Hood king Gave Me A Love Like No Other series.
To find out after finishing book two, there was a book three, that at my time of reading wasn’t yet, digitally, available.
SheReadsaLot and SheReadsaLot:
SheReadsaLot: Yes, that was a though situation to be in!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: But the rest of the series is back available as Mrs. Miss Jenesequa promised to do when we emailed her.
SheReadsaLot to Audience: So I will come back on this one, when I complete the series. Because these people were going back and forth, and standing on business at the most inopportune of times
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot:
SheReadsaLot: But there was a lot of resourcefulness as well!
His eyes opened to stare down at her wigless head. He noticed her scrambling to get it and quickly placing it on her head.
Jenesequa, Miss. My Hood King Gave Me A Love Like No Other (p. 145). Miss Jenesequa. Kindle Edition.
…
Adonis snatched her wig off her head, only to straighten it in his hands before wrapping it around her throat and pulling her closer to him while he hit her p*ssy from the back.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: There sure was!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: We’ll come back to this one… For research purposes…
Mrs. Kyeate had released His Summer Masterpiece, that I got to pick up on the day of.
About Jukari, MMC, the King of Juka Bay, and Serenity, FMC, model who has been in a grave accident and after two years gets the chance to get back to herself.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: She did it again, didn’t she…
SheReadsaLot: She sure did… JuKari being the best friend to Honor we should’ve known what’s up.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: We sure should’ve…
“Honor and JuKari are definitely friends. They don’t ask. They just decide for us, and God help whoever tries to stand in the way.”
Kyeate. His Summer Masterpiece: A Summer Short. Kindle Edition.
SheReadsaLot: Honor being the voice of reason, should’ve told us a whole lot more about Jukari though!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: It should’ve but it didn’t. So what’s the verdict?
SheReadsaLot:
Mrs. Connie Easton, had a release this week as well, Zinc: Black Metal Gang.
About Zinc, MMC, YN, and Onyx, FMC, the same side of the coin.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot:
SheReadsaLot: They both took us through the wringer didn’t they?
SheReadsaLot to Audience: Something else about me, I will do my utmost best not to agree with a man. Yes I’m petty like that, and not ashamed!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: But we had to side-eye Onyx on this one!
SheReadsaLot: Logic, and empathy overwhelmed my pettiness…
Onyx loves dancing, and when the opportunity presents itself she jumps on it. She feels empowered doing so.
SheReadsaLot to Onyx: You do your thing, and enjoy yourself while doing it! We’re here for you!
Onyx to SheReadsaLot: Keep it a secret though!
SheReadsaLot: Now we all know that secrets always come to light!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: It got chaotic…
SheReadsaLot: Very chaotic!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Very disrespectful!
SheReadsaLot: Disrespectful enough to place us firmly once more where we belonged!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: On the woman’s side of things! Pettiness for the win!
I was in for something a bit darker, and decided to pick up the Stolen Pieces series by Mrs. J.R. Mason that was on my TBR list.
SheReadsaLot to Audience:
A story about Detective Claudia Martinez, and her cases.
Some background about Detective Claudia Martinez, she experienced a traumatic event at only 7 years old, witnessing the death of her mother. Thankfully the killer, her stepfather, is in jail.
This all means that when she encounters cases that resemble her situation as a child, that she sometimes feels as if she isn’t doing enough.
Pieces of bodies start to appear in places in districts where Claudia most likely will be assigned.
Well….
That is where the investigation starts!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: We ate this book up!
SheReadsaLot: We sure did! The mystery of a seasoned detective being stalked? The paranoia it instilled in me? Because who could it be?
The way Mrs. Mason wrote the characters would have me side-eyeing almost all of them, even the most innocent ones.
What really got me on the trail of the suspect(s) however were the hints she dropped along the way. Besides the mystery and suspense of this story, Mrs. Mason gave us some social commentary as well to ponder.
Screams and disorientation took over the enclosed space when it became clear there was still a foot in that shoe. “Holy shit! Is that real?!” a young man screamed as he opened his phone. They thought he would call 911, but instead, he snapped a selfie in front of it and began to record a TikTok.
Mason, J.R. . Stolen Pieces (Stolen Pieces Series Book 1) (p. 23). Kindle Edition.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Because why would filming or going live be the first response, when finding things out of the ordinary.
SheReadsaLot: We all know how in the age of Social Media, the likes and views have become more important than humanity, and truly helping others!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: … On to the next stop shall we?
Mrs. Mason had me laughing at different points throughout this story as well,
“Is that what I think it is?” he asked, backing away from the putrefying limb.
Mason, J.R. . Stolen Pieces (Stolen Pieces Series Book 1) (p. 82). Kindle Edition.
“Awwww, HELL naw! Not today! I was supposed to have retired three years ago! I quit!!” he yelled, throwing his hat to the ground and kicking it.
SheReadsaLot: Don’t blame him, because I would’ve quit as well!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot:
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: We were on the case weren’t we!
SheReadsaLot: We sure were!
The killer was found, and brought to justice!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Do you really call that justice?
SheReadsaLot: In this case, the killer got what was coming to him!
But there was a continuation of the case!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: So tell them what you did!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: You just can’t leave a case open like that. It has to be closed out! So I did what any good detective would do, I continued the investigation.
So I picked up the audiobook for Stolen Pieces II
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Don’t know why you did that! You know you and audiobooks don’t have the best relationship!
SheReadsaLot: I can’t help it that the voices in my head while reading really are a good time!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: You do have a point!
So I started reading/listening….
SheReadsaLot: Now this is what I envisioned audiobooks to be!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: Don’t get me wrong! This story is G-O-O-D! From the morally ambiguous/questionable characters, storyline, plot twists, understanding of the psyche, Bradley Pitt, inner monologues, suspense, and mystery. AND what took it over the top for me? Mrs. Mason herself!
How do you ask?
When Mrs. Mason narrates her characters…
SheReadsaLot to Audience: and there were a lot..
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: As it should be, we were on a case! Claudia and her colleagues had to investigate and interrogate!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: Continuing on…
Mrs. Mason’s characters were all distinguishable, she created an immersive feel through sound effects, background sounds and music. Her voice remained clear throughout even at 2x the speed.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Now why would you go and divulge this information? We are already on her hitlist, now you’re giving others the opportunity to place you on theirs as well?!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: In my defense, I process information a bit faster. Meaning that my mind tends to wander off when I listen at 1x the speed. Let me continue on to what more I loved about this!
It felt like watching a movie play out!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: And it ended with us not knowing where it was going to go!
SheReadsaLot: It really did! And we had some good laughs as well!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: Mrs. Mason made this story unpredictable, highly suspenseful, while maintaining a bit of levity, and had me rooting for the “good” guy. But you already know that we couldn’t leave it here!
Because now it was about finding the true killer, and more and more people were becoming suspicious. Meaning I picked up Stolen Pieces III in audio as well!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: These types of audiobooks really resonate with me!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Even if it placed you on Mrs. Mason’s hitlist!
SheReadsaLot: She’ll be alright!
SheReadsaLot to Mrs. Mason: Won’t you Ma’am?
SheReadsaLot to Audience: This one was a bit darker than the first two books in this series.
Audience to Audience: What does she mean… A bit darker? Aren’t we talking about a killer who leaves body parts in random places?
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Didn’t you tell them who the perpetrators were?
Audience to Audience: Now she’s talking about perpetrators?
SheReadsaLot to Audience: Perpetrators, victims. It depends on how you look at it! Just know that you won’t feel bad about rooting for the “bad” guy in this case.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: I can only agree with you on that one! Give them the verdict!
If you have the chance pick this series up, and if you have the funds available I would most definitely recommend picking this up in audio.
I had to decompress a bit after that, and decided to not pick up a new read right away. But when I did, I decided to go for something a bit softer, yet emotional, which was Mrs. J. Nichole‘s latest release And Then Everything Changed.
About Asha, FMC, and Cole, MMC, who have both lost their spouses, and are at different stages of their grief journey.
This story was a beautiful depiction of how people cope/deal with loss in different ways, and how to love again while holding space for the love that once was.
Week Closer
Closing out my week was Mrs. Aubree Pynn, who provided me with an ARC of her soon to be released Are You Going to Love Me?
SheReadsaLot to Audience: I was hyped for this one!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: This you Ma’am?
SheReadsaLot to Audience: Okay… So I somehow seem to always forget that Mrs. Pynn stresses me out at the start!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: And will have you loving her again at the end! Don’t forget to disclose that part!
SheReadsaLot: I was getting to that part! Now on to what I can tell the audience for now, because an in-depth review is underway!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: As it should be! You had seven whole pages of notes and thoughts, and you stayed in Mrs. Pynn’s DM’s.
SheReadsaLot: I needed the mental support OKAY!
In Mrs. Pynn’s latest release we get introduced to Maximus, MMC, as a hustler working for Mama, and Eden, FMC, caretaker for her grandmother and stripping to pay of a debt to Mama. Products of Trae Way, they have a short interaction.
Life happens, and opportunities present itself…
Four years go by, and they are in different positions but somehow find themselves in the same circles, away from Trae Way. One of them on the way up, and the other seemingly on their way down!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: I’m not going to hold you…
- I got emotional for the hurt they had experienced in their lives, the betrayals experienced at the hands of those that should’ve been their protectors their supporters.
- I experienced anger, and started forming my own hitlist. But if you know Mrs. Pynn, you know she’ll deal with them for you!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Mrs. Pynn dealt with them beautifully didn’t she?
SheReadsaLot: She sure did!
- I loved seeing Maximus and Eden surrounded by people that truly wanted good to come to them, and genuinely supported them.
- Mrs. Pynn had me swooning at the way Eden and Maximus loved each other. The way they loved each other was healing, equal, and reciprocal.
SheReadsaLot to Mrs. Pynn: This was everything! And I’m still processing, so I will get back to this one to go more into detail why I loved this so much!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: I will link back when the in-depth review is up. BUT if you enjoy being in your feelings, want to be transported to a different place, enjoy your FAFO moments, want some laughs, healing words, love your characters being heard and seen, and genuine love? This one is for you. Do be mindful of your triggers! Mrs. Pynn has been considerate enough to mention them in her trigger warning. Read them, and enjoy responsibly!
edit: review can be found here
And we’ve come to the end of this Week in Review!
Looking forward to what next week will bring, and hope to see you there!
👩🏾SheReadsaLot 