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
So this week was… hectic.
Real hectic!
Meaning that eventhough I did read, I didn’t always have the time available to post, and really read. Having said that…
Some stats about my week
- I completed 12 books this week (6 not posted)
- by 9 different authors (2 new to me)
- totaling 2.598 pages
- making it around 216.5 pages per book
- averaging 371.1 pages read per day
Overview of the Books read
- Loving Ashley by Mr. Rhayne Coleman
- The Babysitter by Mrs. Tanisha Stewart
- Defensive Stance by Mrs. Kasha Thompson
- ARC – How To Kill Your Coworkers by Mrs. J.R. Mason
- Faded Rhythm by Mrs. Shae Sanders
- Stay Awhile by Mrs. Iesha Bree
Week Opener
I opened this week with the author debut of Mr. Rhayne Coleman, Loving Ashley.
A romance/healing journey.
We get to know Ashley on the precipice of his 26th birthday. His man…
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Was it his man though?
SheReadsaLot: You would’ve thought he was the way Ashley was talking about having to be face to face to break things off…
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Was it two or three times?
SheReadsaLot: I lost count!
Ashley’s “man” is having trouble finding Ashley’s home…
So Ashley goes to the store, to pick up something to drink, where he meets Micheaux, just out of a relationship but takes one look at Ashley, and falls.
HARD.
SheReadsaLot to Audience: When I tell you that Micheaux was a good man?
SheReadsaLot: A GOOD MAN!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: ‘Cause the way I would’ve upped and left good behind having Ashley?
SheReadsaLot: With his wishy washy behind!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: We need to be fair though!
SheReadsaLot: Says who? It’s my prerogative to be unreasonable as a reader
SheReadsaLot to Audience: So, being fair… How do you appreciate the good that comes your way when you haven’t yet healed yourself?
This read was a journey, a turbulent one that had me frustrated and side-eyeing Ashley… A LOT.
However for all the frustrations I experienced while following Ashley and Micheaux, I truly enjoyed.
SheReadsaLot to Ashley:
I followed my read up with Mrs. Tanisha Stewart‘s latest release, The Babysitter, part of The Red Series
This is the second book from Mrs. Stewart’s pen, that I’ve read.
Growing up I didn’t particularly like thrillers and horrors, because they were either too fake or too real (that changed as I got older). Mrs. Stewart’s work is firmly placed in the latter category!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Because we’ve seen enough Lifetime movies, based on true events, to know that this is very much possible
SheReadsaLot: Very much!
And still, the mystery,
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Because who is that little girl talking to?
SheReadsaLot: Right? Talking about I didn’t say anything! Then who was whispering just now?
The suspense
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Because where did that little girl come from?
SheReadsaLot: I mean.. She was just in her bed… right?
The unhingedness…
If God won’t give me a baby… Maybe I need to take matters into my own hands.
The Babysitter by Mrs. Tanisha Stewart
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: People really are crazy!
SheReadsaLot: They sure are!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: I’m saying all this, because it all had me eating this book UP. Only word that describes my feelings… Still?
I picked up Defensive Stance by Mrs. Kasha Thompson next.
About Sloane, FMC, cocktail waitress,
She seemed like the type of person who loved throwing things in people’s faces… words, actions, her fist.
Defensive Stance by Mrs. Kasha Thompson
and Deion, MMC, in the NBA,
So this is the part where I admit that shit was a turn on. Slap me, choke me, pull my hair, and make me your slut.
Defensive Stance by Mrs. Kasha Thompson
Who meet in Anger Management, because they are a smidge temperamental.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Ma’am! A SMIDGE TEMPERAMENTAL? THIS?
Fuck conflict resolution, sometimes it was necessary to beat the brakes off someone so they knew exactly when and how they fucked up.
Defensive Stance by Mrs. Kasha Thompson
SheReadsaLot: What can I say…
I laughed out loud so many times, I can’t even count them.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: It wasn’t only laughs, and giggles however. Their temperaments stemmed from grief, hurt, survival..
“You know when the trash reaches the top of the can and you push it down to make room for more. That’s what it feels like. Like our voices, our pain, our very real and justified concerns are being pushed down, out of sight only to make room for more shit to be dumped on us.
Defensive Stance by Mrs. Kasha Thompson
SheReadsaLot:
Eventhough Sloane and Deion’s dispositions were similar they somehow seemed to be just what the other needed.
They got to be vulnerable with eachother
…and so for the first time in a long time I did the unthinkable… I trusted him. Crawling onto his lap I buried my face into his chest. The tears were now coming faster than I could wipe them away.
Defensive Stance by Mrs. Kasha Thompson
Showed up for eachother, spoke life into the other.
“I don’t believe you. I AM A UNICORN!” She shouted into my earbud. Fuck it. “I AM A UNICORN!” I screamed out like I was Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire.
Defensive Stance by Mrs. Kasha Thompson
To end up with someone that believes in you sees you, accepts you and loves you in spite of your flaws?
I don’t know how I ended up being favored once again, but Mrs. J.R. Mason delivered an early christmas present with an ARC of her instruction manual 👀 How To Kill Your Coworkers.
This is book two in Mrs. Mason’s How To Kill series, book one being How to Kill Your Neighbors.
SheReadsaLot to Audience: Not gonna lie, I’m still side-eyeing Mrs. Mason on that one!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: So why did you purchase that book from her, and pre-ordered this one?
SheReadsaLot: I just had to know, how much more I had to side-eye Mrs. Mason… Really…
So we get to see Raya in a work setting, instead of on her porch.
SheReadsaLot: Not gonna hold you, I would’ve flipped out when they’d call me in to discuss my proper hygiene protocol.
SheReadsaLot: You know how mediocre people be…
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: They really reward mediocrity and unsanitary practices, and punish those that make it obvious that they are lacking
SheReadsaLot: Sounds all too familiar!
SheReadsaLot and SheReadsaLot:
Mrs. Mason doesn’t like spoilers in her reviews, so I will do my best to not end up on her hitlist.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Does it really matter though? You saw how she did …?
SheReadsaLot: That was justified though!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: Let me give you my quick thoughts!
I had no clue what was going to happen…
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Eventhough there were several moments that something indeed should’ve happened…
SheReadsaLot: I mean Raya said it herself
I can and absolutely will respond when you open your mouth and some condescending crazy falls out in my direction. You might not be able to catch these hands in the workplace without a lawsuit, but trust me, my words hurt much more, and I promise you do not want to be on the other end of my verbal assault pleasantly disguised as eloquent parlance.
How To Kill Your Coworkers by Mrs. J.R. Mason
I got triggered by a particular unhygienic scene…
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Because seriously, who licks a k…
SheReadsaLot: Not too much now, we trying to stay on her good side, remember!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: I do remember! I see you Mrs. Mason!!
SheReadsaLot: Back to that particular scene…
SheReadsaLot to Mrs. Mason: Because Ma’am… who hurt you?
I was happy, and surprised to see who ended up on the wrong side of the mystery! AND a bit of anxiety arose at the end of this read.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Now why that?
SheReadsaLot: Because I’ll be asking for a third book in this series, that was supposed to be a standalone..
SheReadsaLot on her way to Mrs. Mason’s DMs:
Mrs. Shae Sanders released Faded Rhythm, a hitman romance.
About King, MMC, a hitman hired to kill Sable, FMC.
There was a lot happening here, war trauma, PTSD, grief, grooming (brief mention, but that was exactly what it was), betrayal, and a mystery to be resolved.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: It was a lot indeed!
He looks at me now. Really looks. I can see the war behind his eyes, a battle he’s been living in since that day. I don’t think he remembers what peace feels like.
Faded Rhythm by Mrs. Shae Sanders
SheReadsaLot: Fighting a war for the enrichment of the few, all in the name of freedom to come back to all of them stripped from you and memories that can’t be erased.
Along the way we see King and Sable reclaiming pieces of themselves.
AND…
Sable did exactly what she should’ve done!
SheReadsaLot:
Week Closer
I received my book mail from Mrs. Iesha Bree, Stay Awhile.
SheReadsaLot: And it was B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: It was indeed, and the quality of the paper!
SheReadsaLot: The way it glided between my fingers
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: The soft texture of the pages.
Audience to Audience: Are we still needed here?
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: I think we should continue on to the read itself!
SheReadsaLot:
So the characters.
Skye, FMC, had an idyllic childhood. However oftentimes feels like she is overlooked, and not deserving of love.
Knox, MMC, traumatic childhood. Inspite of it all he still maintained some light, eventhough he didn’t feel worthy/deserving of any good.
When they meet, they feel seen, and somewhat hopeful…
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot:
SheReadsaLot: So…
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: A lot apparently 😅
I loved how Mrs. Bree addressed themes of selfworth and insecurity through Knox and Skye, giving this suspense filled read some added layers.
What I appreciated all the more was the way Mrs. Bree conveyed the experienced trauma, making it felt but not overwhelming. She really handled it with care.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Remember to tell Mrs. Bree, because she has a story for VC!
SheReadsaLot: I got you!
SheReadsaLot to Mrs. Bree: I would really love to read about the survivors of the Void… Starting with VC… Pretty please
And that is how we’ve come to the end of this Week in Review! Off to see what next week will bring!
👩🏾SheReadsaLot 
2 thoughts on “Week in Review – W27”