And then being me bit me in the behind, because me being me unexpectedly added some more on my plate.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: You gon’ tell them?
SheReadsaLot: Ma’am, you literally saw me gearing up to inform them on me being me!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Had to let them know I’m still here, you know!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: So I was mealprepping, and sliced off a piece of my thumb…
Apparently it happens a lot more than you’d think!
Hurts like a mofo though!!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: And it was the thumb of your dominant hand as well!!!
SheReadsaLot: I miss my thumb, but apparently it will grow back. For now I’m adapting.I just started my Week inReview back up. I’m not about to pause that again!!
I opened up my week with Mrs. Nako . After being introduced to these characters through Mrs. Nako’s In Him I Trust, I was intrigued enough to pick up The Love Drought series. So that’s exactly what I did. Starting with Mahogany.
This complete series is heavily centered around faith, the music industry, and healing.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Tell them what they can expect from this read?
When you pick up this read be prepared to shed some tears, because this heavy due to familial loss, and grief. On the other hand, there is a possibility for aggravation as well.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Why are you saying that Ma’am?
SheReadsaLot:
You’re asking me that like you yourself didn’t take note of Mahogany’s funky attitude!!And for nothing??
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: And with all that funky attitude Porter still loved her dirty drawls, and would protect her at all cost!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: What stuck with you the most?
There is a lid for every pot
Being delusional, and attractive can get you very far in life
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Recommend?
Yes, and let me tell you why. Of course I love reading about characters I like. AND also, I love learning. Learning at times means that you read outside of your comfortzone, it’s the only way to expand your knowledge. And also, you don’t have to like someone to be able to learn from them.
Sticking with Mrs. Nako, I dove into book two Juice.
SheReadsaLot:
Juice is Mahogany’s manager, and came up under Porter. And I liked his character in Mahogany. Reading Juice however? I had to adjust my opinion…
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Tell them what they can expect from this read?
A look into how a person who doesn’t really know who they are can easily be swayed into making poor decisions.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: You’re going to leave it at that?
SheReadsaLot: I’mma have to Ma’am! Because I don’t think Juice deserved a first chance, nor a second, nor a third, nor a fourth..
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: I get it, I get it!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: What stuck with you the most?
Sometimes you need to grow on your own
Invest as much in yourself as you’d invest in others
Live for you!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Recommend?
Yes, I’m talking about it so it’s always a yes. And also there were a lot of lessons to be learned through this read. Like I said, I love to learn and human behavior is truly fascinating to me!
And finishing of this series was Carmen by Mrs. Nako.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Tell them what they can expect from this read?
This one was an emotional one, Carmen went through a lot. There is mention of strained parent/child relationship, domestic violence, grief of a parent, depression, and incarceration. In Carmen’s journey she is working back to a place where she can be her best self again.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: What stuck with you the most?
Check on your friends!
Support your friends the way they support you
Check on your friends!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Recommend?
YES! This read was a great reminder to take care of what matters most, not money, but our relationships, our humanity. We all know life happens, and it sometimes can be easy to continue on with the day to day. And even so it is always of great importance to check on those you love.
I went for a faster paced read with Mrs. K. Nicole‘s Bullied by a Grinch, book 3 in her Christmas Bully series. This time we get to know Shad Davis brother to Kasim Davis.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Tell them what they can expect from this read?
At 86 pages, Bullied by a Grinch is a fast paced read. Shad Davis’ mouth is reckless, but he has found his match in Holidaee Baylor who gives as good as she gets. And there is definitely some spice and chemistry between these pages.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: What stuck with you the most?
Sometimes you have to step out of your own way
Shad’s mouth was definitely good for other things than talking reckless as well.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Recommend?
YES!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Really? That’s the only thing you have to say?
SheReadsaLot: What more is there to say? I enjoyed it! I laughed, those scenes were scening! There’s a HEA. And a possibility for their return?
And then I got introduced to new to me author Mrs. Dominique Black, thanks to Mrs. Cozy In the Stacks post about Sage & Sin, book two in Mrs. Black’s The South-Hurst Syndicate series (organized crime romance). Had to start at the first book, Velvet & Venom, though.
But before I tell you what you can expect from this read, let me introduce the members of the South-Hurst Syndicate:
King. The charismatic, leader. Roc. The stoic, tech genius. Mo. The hot headed, shooter Dre. The charming, financial wiz And D. Lowe. The man who brought them all together. The foundation.
Shadow Games by Mrs. Dominique Black
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Now that that’s done!Tell them what they can expect from this read?
This read didn’t hold any punches. King falls fast and hard for his lady, Simone, a business major student working towards her goal of her own bakery.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Now Ma’am you know better!
SheReadsaLot: Does it matter that she dances for her money? I mean 🎵she works hard for her money! So hard for it, honey!🎵
Also there are triggers in this book, mental health is discussed, grief of a parent, kidnapping, violence, murder, and sexual assualt.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: What stuck with you the most?
Everyone deals differently with grief
Make sure to love yourself, so you don’t lose yourself
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Recommend?
I read the whole series, and this book made me want to read more, so yes!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Tell them what they can expect from this read?
This one was an emotional one, as it dealt with abandonment issues, but also gun violence and loss. YaYa had to endure a lot of heartbreak throughout this story, and Mo did his best to be her support throughout it all.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Ma’am you’re doing it again! You know darn well, that Mo contributed to at least one heartbreak throughout this story!
SheReadsaLot: I mean he’s a shooter, how else was he to deal with that very deep betrayal?
Mo:
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: What stuck with you the most?
The importance of ancestral veneration
People are more than their circumstances
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Recommend?
YES! I loved the representation in this book, even if some scenes did have me shedding tears. There was so much love and culture displayed in this read.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Tell them what they can expect from this read?
This is about a man, Dre, Finding Out, and a woman standing on business!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Which woman are you talking about? Because there were two!
SheReadsaLot:
SheReadsaLot to Audience: I really want to disagree with myself here… Because one of them is certifiably crazy! And also… she was indeed standing on business
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: What stuck with you the most?
Beware a woman scorned!
Don’t lead people on
Let people show you they mean business
Show yourself you mean business as well
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Recommend?
YES! YES! YES! I was side-eyeing Dre for underestimating his opponents throughout, and for him fumbling a gem. And also this was me throughout!
And then I got to the end of my week with the last book, Shadow Games, in Mrs. Dominique Black‘s The South-Hurst Syndicate series. About:
D. Lowe. The man who brought them all together. The foundation. The protector who kept the families safe and alive.
Shadow Games by Mrs. Dominique Black
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Tell them what they can expect from this read?
This was another emotional one. In Mrs. Black’s own words:
The tone of this book is heavy.
as it contains:
depictions of war violence, sexual assault (including sexual violence against women and children), domestic violence, child endangerment, and PTSD.
Shadow Games by Mrs. Dominique Black
And, as soon as D. Lowe came into Stacey and Destiny’s life, everything started to look up for them.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: What stuck with you the most?
It’s possible to retain the good parts of yourself through unspeakable horrors
Having a true safe space helps
I’ll forever side-eye people who choose to sign up to become cops
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: That last one is a bit of a heavy statement ain’t it?
SheReadsaLot: It is! And…
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Recommend?
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! The themes in this read were the heaviest, compared to the other books in this series. However, the way they all banded together to protect those they loved, to protect their brotherhood?
And that is how we’ve come to the end of this Week in Review! I’m not telling you anything about next week. Because I really don’t know what next week will bring me.
👩🏾SheReadsaLot 