Net Galley Reviewer

Professional Reader

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Her Shifters' Future by Queen Anoshi Blog Tour

Today Queen Anoshi stopped by and left an excerpt of her new novel, Her Shifters' Future. I hope you enjoy.


About the Book

Growing up in the country town of Beaufort, S.C. Tomia lived a lonely childhood. No one understood the gift that she possessed so she always longed for a meaningful relationship. After her Granny B passed she only had her father and two aunts to care for her and shelter the gift that she carried. Now the FBI wants to enlist her services to help them with a secret task force led by Director Dwayne Harris.  When Tomia goes to the interview her life and Harris’ life changes forever. Harris is not your average FBI agent, don’t let his handsome exterior fool you. Now Tomia has to put her gifts to work in order to save the man that she has grown to love. What role will special agent Hughes play in all of this? Betrayal, Love and Jealousy will force the both of them to make decisions that will impact their futures forever. Peter the Native American keeper and Sadina the watcher has a secret as well but they can’t say any-thing until the time is right.  Who knew that one touch could be the difference between life and death. Come with me as we tell this shifter’s tale and jump into the world of the supernatural.

About the Author

Queen Anoshi is a native of Beaufort, S.C. She was born with the gift of making up stories on a whim.  She started writing poetry as a young child which was her outlet in conquering different adversities in her life.  It wasn’t until her service in the Army and her first deployment to Bosnia that she began writing short stories as a way to pass-time away.  She felt her writings could take her to a different time and place and that she could become and do anything that her mind could conceive.


From that point, her love for fictional romance began to expound.  She takes her personal experiences with love, heartbreak and finding that special person and uses them as a key element in her creative writings.  She believes that nothing can be written without having parts of the writer in it. 

She wants her readers to relate and connect to her personally as if they walked with her every day. She wants them all to become part of her, “Writer’s Soul”.  Only then can they understand her passion for life and love.  She writes romance, psychological suspense and paranormal.  She also writes poems and short stories that related to the drama of finding and conquering that awesome love.  She is ready to share her imagination in love and romance with all that is willing to ride with her.

Get ready for your imagination to go wild.  Welcome to the world of ANOSHI!

Now the part you're waiting on the excerpt. 

  • Paperback: 164 pages
  • Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 18, 2016)
  • ISBN-10: 153476352X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1534763524

Excerpt

Prologue


There is nothing worse than being able to see the death of everyone around you. With just the slightest of touch, Tomia could see years into someone’s future and that meant seeing both the good and the bad. She hated the feeling because she would get a rush of information within a few seconds of a touch. The shock often left her weak and feeling fragile. At 7 years of age, she had started to get the seer powers passed down to her from her grandmother, ‘Granny B’. 

Her gift was unlike anyone else, and that’s why she was called neither a psychic nor clairvoyant; she was called a ‘Futurivoyant’. She was the second daughter of the youngest son, and that meant that she was granted the curse and blessing of ‘The Gift’. It simply became hard to be a child, because when she touched her friends, she was plagued with the revelation of what each one of their futures would be. On her eighth birthday, Tomia started shutting herself from the rest of the world only because her abilities had begun to come full strength and she was scared. Her family would often tell her that she had to learn to control her fear of the gift because it was not going anywhere. She just didn’t know how to do that? 

Being a child with that kind of power was the hardest thing to contend with, as it really did hurt being the freak that everyone ran away from or picked on, making you the outsider. She found a source of income in her high school years and became popular amongst her peers. Unlike in elementary and middle school where she was feared, the high schoolers wanted her services. They wanted to know if a handsome quarterback would ask them to the homecoming dance; or what they would be like in the future. You know, things like if they would still be beautiful when they turned 40. When Tomia touched them, she found herself lying; especially when she knew that they would not even make it to their 20th birthday. 

She lived on her family’s 10-acre land in a farmhouse that was provided by her grandmother, it was cared for by her father, Nathan and two Aunts, Geraldine and Hattie. Being on the quaint town of St. Helena Island, SC was great for her to blend in or out as she needed. With its rich history of magic, it was the best resting place unlike the town of Beaufort itself. She had now been residing in the Island of St. Helena for the past 10 years, after her permanent move across the bridge from Beaufort. 

By the time she started college, she had made a name for herself in the community. She was banking close to $140,000 a year, simply by giving people their futures. She didn’t think that was too bad, for a single woman with no children; besides, it was non-taxable income. The best thing was, when she did tell them it gave people a chance to change their life, if their future was grim. Like, a drug user down the street from where she lived changed her drug habit. When she found out that she was going to die of an overdose on heroine in front of her 10-yearold daughter, she went straight to get help the next day, went through the necessary treatment and actually became a spokesperson for women drug users. That was just one of many things that she found herself doing, and she loved it because she was helping. 

She was no longer the freak of nature, who walked around with long clothes and gloves that covered her flesh. People knew that any contact with her bare skin, could activate ‘The Gift’. People hovered over her when they needed answers. And boy, did she have them! Day after day and sometimes night after night, she would get calls for her assistance. Is my husband cheating? Will I win the lottery? Can you tell me if I would die of cancer? There were people coming from near and far to avail her services. She had to start taking appointments and limited the amount of reads she did a week. She literally had to start triaging each situation by priority because people were so demanding. 

For almost a year, she saw people coming from as far as California. She was one of the few ladies left with the special gift. If she did not have a son who had a second daughter, then it was quite possible that there wouldn’t be anyone left in her blood line to pass the gift onto. It was not something that you could teach anyone, it had to be in the DNA; a gift that only the worthy could have. Her family had been urging her to find a suitable mate, in order that the legacy continued. Did they not know, what they were asking was easier said than done? Mostly, because she had not found anyone that she was interesting in and secondly, and the most important part was that she wanted to make sure the person would understand her. She didn’t want someone to just procreate with, she wanted someone who she could love. 

Tomia now at the age of 29, still heard the taunts of the children that often woke her up in the middle of the night. Look at the freak. Everybody run, the freak is here. She remembered the voices of her peers, and she hated every one of them. She was just a child and was just as afraid as they were of who she was and what she could do. 

One would think that growing up and finding success would have helped the memories and heartbreak go away. It didn't because she couldn’t let go of the hurt she felt. Even though some of the same people had visited her for her services later in their lives, she still held on to the way they treated her. Even so much that she found joy in telling them directly when something devastating would happen to them. 

*** 
Opening her eyes, she laid staring at the ceiling before she got up and went to the medicine cabinet. Tomia looked at herself and the dark circles that had formed under her eyes, from the lack of sleep. She pulled the pill bottle out from the shelf and shook a tiny pill into the palm of her hand. For almost 10 years, she had been taking Ambien to sleep. 

After all these years they were almost non-effective, but they did enough to sedate the thoughts that plagued her. Not only did she hear the evil laughter’s from her youth, she had now started to have nightmares of thousands of future events that she had performed over the years. There was more to just seeing because you still remembered. Long after the event has gone and passed, she had the inevitable task of remembering. That was the hard part, it’s like looking at a scary movie in the daytime and not getting scared, until it was time to go to bed at night. 

She not only saw, but even heard everything from those moments. She often felt like she had schizophrenia when she heard the voice of her past talking in her ears. Tomia was taught by her grandma that putting cotton in her ears helped deafen the voices and sounds. Cotton had a type of mystical filter that helped to mute the noise from the ‘Future’s’ she had done’. 

Its magic streamed from the years when her ancestors endured abuse during slavery and placed a spell of protection for their lives over the cotton. They would even chew on it, so that the slave masters could not harm them. That sounded crazy to her when she first heard about it until she found out that it really worked. How mystical nature was to her that cotton was more than something spun to wear in clothing. Things like that, made her appreciate it for more than what it was to most people. 

Sometimes she wished she could do a reading on herself, but that was the limit to her gift. She could never see what was going to happen in her own life. The worst thing was even if she tried a psychic or clairvoyant, they just could not read her. She always felt it was a shame that someone who could tell everyone’s future, lived not knowing her own.

Want to continue reading? Chick below to purchase your copy.




You can reach Queen Anoshi via social media:

 Website: www.queenanoshi.com
Facebook: AnoshiHagood
Twitter: authoressanoshi
Instagram: authoressanoshi

Queen Anoshi and Teresa Beasley, I want to thank you for asking me to participate in the blog tour. Queen, I'm wishing you much success on your writing care.

Sunday, August 28, 2016

The Strivers' Row Spy Review

  • Series: The Renaissance Series (Book 1)
  • Hardcover: 448 pages
  • Publisher: Dafina (August 30, 2016)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1496701763
  • ISBN-13: 978-1496701763

Stunning, suspenseful, and unforgettably evocative, Jason Overstreet’s debut novel glitters with the vibrant dreams and dangerous promise of the 1920s Harlem Renaissance, as one man crosses the perilous lines between the law, loyalty, and deadly lies…

For college graduate Sidney Temple, the Roaring Twenties bring opportunities even members of his accomplished black bourgeois family couldn’t have imagined. His impulsive marriage to independent artist Loretta is a happiness he never thought he’d find. And when he’s tapped by J. Edgar Hoover to be the FBI’s first African-American agent, he sees a once-in-a-lifetime chance to secure real justice.

Instead of providing evidence against Marcus Garvey, prominent head of the “dangerously radical” back-to-Africa movement, Sidney uses his unexpected knack for deception and undercover work to thwart the Bureau’s biased investigation. And by giving renowned leader W. E. B. Du Bois insider information, Sidney gambles on change that could mean a fair destiny for all Americans...

But the higher Sidney and Loretta climb in Harlem’s most influential and glamorous circles, the more dangerous the stakes. An unexpected friendship and a wrenching personal tragedy threaten to shatter Loretta’s innocent trust in her husband—and turn his double life into a fast-closing trap. For Sidney, ultimately squeezed between the Bureau and one too many ruthless factions, the price of escape could be heartbreak and betrayal no amount of skill can help him survive.


When I first read the synopsis of this books months ago, I immediately added it to my list of books to read because I'm a lover of Historical Fiction. I love giving new authors a chance because soon I'll be a new author and I want readers to give me a chance. Jason Overstreet proved that I made the right choice. The book started off slow, but it soon took off and had me wondering what was going to happen next. He did a great job of developing each character and showing the dimensions of each. I gave this book four stars and can't wait to read his next novel.








Jason Overstreet grew up in Colorado, Texas, and New Mexico. He attended two Southern California universities, earning a B.A. and M.S. before spending ten years in the field of education. After attending UCLA's Professional Program in Screenwriting, he turned to writing fiction full-time. He lives in Los Angeles.
Twitter: JasonOverstreet

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Spotlighting LaChelle Weaver

LaChelle Weaver debut novel, Sister Surrogate was released on July 12th and everyone is talking about how great the book is and that LaChelle writes like a seasoned author. She began her journey when her story was selected to be in The Dating Game anthology that was published through Brown Girls Book.From there, LaChelle has blossomed into a into a beautiful flower.
Publisher: Brown Girls Books, LLC (July 3, 2016)
  • ISBN-10: 1944359192
  • ISBN-13: 978-1944359195
  • Paperback: 276 pages


  • When asking LaChelle how does it feel to have her first book released? Her first official book baby. She replied, "It feels great seeing all of the love for something I wrote. It all feels so surreal. My goal was to spark conversations and I think I've successfully completed that goal. So awesome!"

About the book:

Three sisters and a baby equal family drama... Bridgette, Ivy and Savannah have always been close...but their sisterhood hasn't been without its challenges. Yet these sisters always manage to come together in times of need. When Savannah, the youngest sister, is faced with a life-altering illness, which threatens her lifelong desire to have children, one of her sisters offers to give her the ultimate gift- to become her surrogate. While Savannah is overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude about her impending motherhood, not everyone in the family shares her sentiments. In fact, the upcoming bundle of joy has created a discord that this family may never be able to overcome.





I'm giving away two ebook copies of Sister Surrogate (Kindle and Nook). To be entered, all you have to do is leave a comment.

Monday, June 27, 2016

Ambitions of a Monster Review


  • Print Length: 60 pages
  • Publisher: Lethal Ink Publications; 1 edition (May 3, 2016)
  • Publication Date: May 3, 2016
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B01F4NVOAW

Sypnosis

Enter the streets of money, murder, and mayhem. Submerge yourself in a world where greed and power rules all. Vicious, the right hand man to his best friend Trevon, is a no non sense natureal born killer who is feared in the streets. Friends with Trevon since high school, his motto to friendship and his crew has always been "death before dishonor. But between a hit being put out for them, an unthinkable love interest, and a surprising offer from a mysterious man to join another organization...what is loyalty?

My Review

Very seldom do I give a one star review. But, this story could have been better if it had been edited better. It was quite obvious that it wasn't edited by a content editor. There was inconsistency in the first chapter, the use of proper nouns to describes things was over the top, there was a lot of telling and very little showing. I also felt that the story wasn't developed. I think the author has great potential but needs to work on his craft a little more.


**I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.**


Sunday, June 26, 2016

Just Can't Let Go Review





  • Series: The Crystal Series (Book 2)
  • Hardcover: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Dafina (July 26, 2016)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1617730742
  • ISBN-13: 978-1617730740
  • Available: August 1, 2016


Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Mary B. Morrison delivers an explosive second novel about the unforgettable Crystal women, a family battling to stay together as desire, deception, and ever-elusive happiness threaten to tear them apart . . .

Too much is never, ever enough for Alexis Crystal. She's playing a dangerous game, but she's finally close to getting 24/7 sizzling satisfaction. With a ring on her finger from James Wilcox and the woman she loves firmly between her sheets, no one can match Alexis when it comes to scheming. And her duplicity just makes her better at helping her siblings get revenge on the lovers who are doing them wrong. . .

Devereaux Crystal just about has it all. Producer of TV's hottest new reality show, she's engaged to entrepreneur Phoenix and will do anything for their adorable two-year-old, Nya. She and Phoenix have always set it off in the bedroom, but lately Devereaux is starting to question whether Phoenix will ever make his own success, much less set a wedding date. Soon, his seductive excuses and tantalizing evasion finally lead her to an unthinkable truth: Ebony, the fiery star of Devereaux's series, is keeping Phoenix primed, hot, and at her beck and call. But Devereaux is holding all the cards--and she plans to use them to exact the sweetest revenge. . . 

With the help of her sisters, Devereaux sets out to blow up Phoenix's house of lies. But the explosion ignites its own chain of devastating consequences. Because no one should mess with the Crystal women without expecting some fierce payback. . .


My Review

Mary HoneyB Morrison is the Queen B when it comes to writing a drama filled, page turning novel with more than three main characters. I don't know many authors that can do that without confusing the hell out of me. It takes talent and skills to do this and Mary HoneyB Morrison does it well.

Just Can't Let Go is book two in The Crystal Series and it picks up with more drama among Blake and her daughters and their significant others and a few other folks. They're just one big reality show. Alexis makes and announcement to her entire family, including the father she just met a few months ago, her boyfriend and also her lady, that's when things begin to go from sugar to shit. Just MESSY! Messy indeed. But, I loved every bit of the mess that each character went through. The only one in the book that didn't have any problems was Blake's three-month old Yorkshire terrier, KingMaxB.


The story line flowed well. Even though the characters have flaws, and they're dealing with so much hurt and heartache, they weren't all bad either. During times of trouble the the sisters were there for each other. Because of how well written the book was I gave this book five stars and a fist bump.

The book will be available nationwide August 1, 2016. You can pre-order your copy by clicking the Amazon link below.

  


Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.




Just Can't Let Go Review





  • Series: The Crystal Series (Book 2)
  • Hardcover: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Dafina (July 26, 2016)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1617730742
  • ISBN-13: 978-1617730740
  • Available: August 1, 2016


Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Mary B. Morrison delivers an explosive second novel about the unforgettable Crystal women, a family battling to stay together as desire, deception, and ever-elusive happiness threaten to tear them apart . . .

Too much is never, ever enough for Alexis Crystal. She's playing a dangerous game, but she's finally close to getting 24/7 sizzling satisfaction. With a ring on her finger from James Wilcox and the woman she loves firmly between her sheets, no one can match Alexis when it comes to scheming. And her duplicity just makes her better at helping her siblings get revenge on the lovers who are doing them wrong. . .

Devereaux Crystal just about has it all. Producer of TV's hottest new reality show, she's engaged to entrepreneur Phoenix and will do anything for their adorable two-year-old, Nya. She and Phoenix have always set it off in the bedroom, but lately Devereaux is starting to question whether Phoenix will ever make his own success, much less set a wedding date. Soon, his seductive excuses and tantalizing evasion finally lead her to an unthinkable truth: Ebony, the fiery star of Devereaux's series, is keeping Phoenix primed, hot, and at her beck and call. But Devereaux is holding all the cards--and she plans to use them to exact the sweetest revenge. . . 

With the help of her sisters, Devereaux sets out to blow up Phoenix's house of lies. But the explosion ignites its own chain of devastating consequences. Because no one should mess with the Crystal women without expecting some fierce payback. . .


My Review

Mary HoneyB Morrison is the Queen B when it comes to writing a drama filled, page turning novel with more than three main characters. I don't know many authors that can do that without confusing the hell out of me. It takes talent and skills to do this and Mary HoneyB Morrison does it well.

Just Can't Let Go is book two in The Crystal Series and it picks up with more drama among Blake and her daughters and their significant others and a few other folks. They're just one big reality show. Alexis makes and announcement to her entire family, including the father she just met a few months ago, her boyfriend and also her lady, that's when things begin to go from sugar to shit. Just MESSY! Messy indeed. But, I loved every bit of the mess that each character went through. The only one in the book that didn't have any problems was Blake's three-month old Yorkshire terrier, KingMaxB.

The story line flowed well. Even though the characters has flaws, and they're dealing with so much hurt and heartache, they weren't all bad either. During times of trouble the the sisters were there for each other. Because of how well written the book was I gave this book five stars and a fist bump.

The book will be available nationwide August 1, 2016. You can pre-order your copy by clicking the Amazon link below.

  


Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.




Friday, June 17, 2016

Friday Finds(June 17, 2016)

This week's Friday Finds are some good ones. I've selected The Mind of a Man: 365 Relationship Scenario Discussion Questions as well as The Mind of a Woman: 365 Relationship Scenario Discussion Questions both by Marissa Monteilh. These are great books to discuss with your mate, co-workers, family and friends. There are no right or wrong answers. What do men really think? What do women really think? What I love most about this book is that it is a way to strengthen any and all relationships. 





  • Paperback: 220 pages
  • Publisher: 4D Publishing (June 7, 2016)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0970414145
  • ISBN-13: 978-0970414144

About the book
Your girlfriend's father prefers her ex over you. Do you still move forward? Would you stay with a woman who cheated on you? Have you ever broken up with woman you had no intention of leaving, just to teach her a lesson? Have you ever fantasized about one of your woman's friends? Do guys really worry about penis size? For seven years, best-selling author Marissa Monteilh has posted original relationship questions on her social media pages. Thousands of responses to her creative questions have generated controversial debates. The Mind of a Man, the companion piece to The Mind of a Woman, is a compilation of those posts, as the top 365 relationship scenario questions were selected for this fun, interactive non-fiction book. Ladies, it's time to ask the men in your life what they really think. Male and female readers will enjoy discussing these topics during book club meetings, family gatherings, office parties, intimate evenings, etc., and readers will test their own relationship boundaries privately. Find out what your man would do. After all, the mind of a man is a mystery. We've been asked to think like a man, but it's time to calmly and openly hear men's honest replies, while we continue to think like the beautiful and fascinating women we are.



  • Paperback: 220 pages
  • Publisher: 4D Publishing (September 23, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0970414137
  • ISBN-13: 978-0970414137

About the book
Your boyfriend's mother prefers his ex over you. What would you do? Your man's ex-wife is in town and wants to stay with him for the weekend. Would you be okay with that? You see your brother-in-law at the movie theatre holding hands with another woman. Do you tell your sister? For five years, bestselling author Marissa Monteilh has posted original relationship questions on her social media pages. Thousands of responses to her creative questions have generated controversial debates. The Mind of a Woman is a compilation of those posts, as the top 365 relationship scenario questions were selected for this fun, and interactive non-fiction book. Male and female readers will enjoy discussing these topics during book club meetings, family gatherings, office parties, etc., and readers will test their own relationship boundaries privately. Find out what your friends would do. After all, the mind of a woman is a beautiful and complicated thing. It may surprise you!


Author Bio

Back in elementary school, Marissa was always the first in line when the bookmobile would arrive. In middle school, her teacher singled her out as a gifted writer, which Marissa recalls as a defining moment in her life. She is now living her passion as a full-time author.
Originally self-published in 2000, the following year Harper Collins offered Marissa a three-book contract, and she has not looked back. She has also been published by Kensington Books, Hachette Book Group, and Blackstone Audio, Inc.
In 2015, Marissa was named one of Conversations Magazine's 25 Women Changing the World, and she was recently voted the 2015 Female Author of the Year at the 2nd Annual GANSPA Award Show. Five of her titles have been African American Literary Award Show nominees, and she received the Pink Diamond Book Club Award in 2010. Also in 2010, she was voted amongst the Women of Influence in Publishing by Written Magazine. Her titles have debuted as top-ten bestsellers on Black Expressions, and also voted Best Reads. Since 2009, Marissa has been a regular monthly contributor to the Novel Spaces blog site, an eclectic group of authors bound by writing.
Marissa also writes under two pen names, one being Sylvia Sinclair, which identifies her interracial romance titles. To Each Her Own by Sylvia Sinclair debuted in August of 2015. 2016 will bring Marissa’s second non-fiction title, The Mind of a Man, and a novel devoted to women who have been the bridesmaid, and never the bride, called The Practice Wife. In 2018, to celebrate the anniversary Marissa's twenty year writing career, the final in the Hot Boyz trilogy will be released, called L.A. Husband and Wives.
Marissa is currently taking on ghostwriting and developmental editing projects under her company, SilentINK, which includes celebrity memoirs and contemporary novels.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, she now resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her family and her 60 lb. German shepherd.
Twitter: @divawritermm

Monday, May 16, 2016

Bed of Lies Review


  • Series: A Chesterton Scandal Novel (Book 2)
  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Dafina (April 26, 2016)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1617734039
  • ISBN-13: 978-1617734038
  • Price: $9.95

Synopsis

Secrets and scandals are a way of life for the Murdochs of Chesterton, Virginia. But the lies that bind them may end up tearing them apart…

With his drama-filled marriage behind him, Evan Murdoch has finally found happiness with his longtime friend turned fiancĂ©e, Leila Hawkins. But when his party boy brother, Terrence, is seriously injured in a car accident, a gossiping press puts the family back in the spotlight. Soon Terrence could face a lawsuit--and much worse, if his vengeful half-brother, Dante, has his way. Terrence's only bright spot is journalist C.J. Aston--but is she really on his side, or does she have another motive?. . . 

While Terrence struggles to recover from his injuries, Paulette, the little sister of the family, is struggling with a secret: she's pregnant, and unsure whether the father is her blackmailing ex or her husband. Amid the turmoil, Evan does his best to stay above the fray, but a shocking revelation makes that impossible--he's a Murdoch after all, and trouble seems to be their business…



My Review

Bed of Lies is full of drama! When I tell you drama...I mean drama. If you love soap operas (daytime & nighttime), you'll probably love this book. Shelly Ellis does a great job of showing vs telling the story. I felt like I was in every scene. But after a while, I really got tired of the men in the story...more so than the ladies. Okay, well I got tired of the ladies as well. But my problem that I had with this novel was that the male characters all had the same voice. Each time one of the brothers spoke, it was profanity was always near. They all used the same profanity, chapter after chapter. I mean, I know there are families who curse all the time, day in and day out but, everyone in the family doesn't curse the same way. The more I read the book, the more difficult it became for me to read and really get into it therefore, I gave this book three stars. I would still read another book by this author.




***I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.***