More great summer reads that you should add to your personal library:

Murderville by Ashley & JaQuavis

My view:
Murderville by Ashley & Jacquavis is an Urban love story that will take readers on an emotional and action-filled ride as Liberty and A’shai face life and death situations.   Murderville is by far my favorite book by this duo. The plot has so many layers that regardless of what genre you normally read, I feel that you won’t be disappointed.  The ending holds a lot of punch. Murderville is simply a good story, with an interesting plot and characters and makes a great summer read.

About the book:
Two children from Sierra Leone, Liberty and A’shai, are brought together by chance only to be forced apart by the most inevitable and tragic fate. Ashley and JaQuavis bring us this classic love story set against modern life’s most horrifying realities.

Liberty is dying of a fatal heart condition, though she desperately wants to survive until her 25th birthday when her sister has promised to visit her.  A’shai blames himself for not protecting Liberty, but all Liberty asks is for A’shai to tell her a story, to help her remember what brought them to this point. He knows that this is the last story he will ever tell and the last she will ever hear.

As Liberty lies dying, A’shai walks her though their past, reliving their ill-fated journeys through the streets. Their story will take them from an arranged marriage, through Mexico’s drug cartel, child brothels, hustling in Detroit, to escaping the high-powered heads of L.A.’s underworld. But ultimately, this is a story of love and redemption that will leave you breathless from the unpredictable and mind-blowing ending.

L.A. Blues by Maxine Thompson

My view:
Maxine Thompson’s latest book L.A. Blues is fast paced and also has an intricate plot. The main character Zipporah “Z” Saldano is three dimensional. Her life seems to spiral out of control and her life is on the line as she tries to uncover several murders.  I was able to read the book in one day. L.A. Blues is an intriguing story filled with action, family secrets and personal tragedies and triumphs.  It makes a great summer read.

About the book:
Growing up in foster care, Zipporah “Z” Saldano never dreamed of becoming a police officer, but after she’s rescued from a hostage situation during the LA Riots, she chooses a career in law enforcement. After ten good years on the force, Z is involved in a domestic homicide case gone awry. Her partner is killed, and Z is fired when alcohol is detected in her system. It’s two long years before she gets sober and opens her own private investigation firm. Now Shirley, her former foster mother, is in need of Z’s help. Someone has murdered her grandson, a high school basketball star, and she wants Z to find out who did it. Z soon finds herself in deeper trouble than when she was kicked out of the LAPD. What she discovers is a conspiracy much deeper than anyone would believe, and she finds her own life is in danger.

Exit by Phillip Thomas Duck

My view:
Exit by Philip Thomas Duck is an action thriller. Michael Palmer’s lust leads him into some dangerous situations.  Eveything isn’t what it seems so readers will be flipping the pages to figure out what’s next. Exit deals with all the deadly sins and more.  Exit keeps readers eyes fixated to the pages due to the “on the edge” suspense and it makes a great summer read.

About the book:

July is sizzling hot outside so why not chill out with one of these page turning books:

Say Amen, Again by Reshonda Tate Billingsley

My view:
Rachel is back and she’s just as fiesty as ever in Reshonda Tate Billingsley’s latest novel, Say Amen, Again.  When her husband’s past threatens their future, Rachel does what she knows best and that’s fight. She’s not just fighting for her marriage, but her peace of mind. There’s not a dull moment in between the pages as the author brings back other interesting characters from the series.    Say Amen, Again is drama-packed with laugh out loud and “oh no she didn’t” moments and makes a great summer read.

About the book:

The spirited Houston congregation featured in ReShonda Tate Billingsley’s Let the Church Say Amen and Everybody Say Amen has a major scandal unfolding—and, as always, the outspoken Rachel Jackson Adams is at the heart of the drama.

As the First Lady of Zion Hill, Rachel is not only Pastor Lester Adams’ wife—she’s currently his eight-months-pregnant wife, who’s going toe-to-toe with Lester’s onetime mistress, congregant Mary Richardson, also pregnant. Her baby may or may not be Lester’s, but Mary’s doing all she can to win sympathy and turn her fellow churchgoers against Rachel—even threatening to blackmail Pastor Adams with a paternity agreement. After all, where can an unmarried mother-to-be go but to the Lord? Rachel has a few choice answers for exactly where Mary can go . . . but as these expectant moms do battle, hostilities erupt into a drama unlike anything Zion Hill has ever seen! Something has to give, and while Rachel contemplates everything from transferring her lifelong church membership to packing up and leaving Lester, she knows deep down God is calling her to forgiveness. Will the arrival of the new babies bring a new understanding? Or harden forever the anger that’s dividing them?

A Cold Piece of Work by Curtis Bunn

My view:
Solomon Singletary is one of those characters that readers won’t soon forget.  Curtis Bunn’s new novel,  A Cold Piece of Work, delves into the psyche of a man and his heart.  Through his character, Bunn’s does a great job of displaying the internal conflict some men go through in reference to relationships.  A Cold Piece of Work is a captivating story that is filled with some surprising revelations and makes a great summer read.

About the book:
A Cold Piece of Work offers the most rare insight: a contemporary man revealing the depths of his emotions, vulnerabilities and flaws. Essence No. 1 bestselling author Curtis Bunn boldly brings the reader on an unfettered, organic journey that lends honest, raw perspective and provides the how and why men act as they do in relationships. It is a compelling and revealing story that captures the soul of a troubled man, his weaknesses and his emotional growth in a way that enlightens, teaches and entertains.

June is here and one way to beat the heat is to chill with a good book. Below are four books that will keep you entertained:

A Good Excuse To Be Bad by Miranda Parker

My view:
Miranda Parker’s debut novel A Good Excuse To Be Bad kept my eyes glued to the pages. Evangline “Angel” Crawford is a no-nonsense type of woman who will do whatever she needs to do to get the job done.  Readers will love Angel’s quirky personality.  Drama doesn’t find her, she chases it.   A Good Excuse To Be Bad has all the right ingredients to make it a great summer read.

About the book:
Angel has to admit she’s feeling restless. The only excitement in her new life is her schoolgirl crush on the town’s new pastor, Justus-too-Hot-to-be-Holy Morgan. But a fateful encounter and a job gone wrong at Club Night Candy in underground Atlanta is about to change all that… Soon, Angel’s trying to save her divazilla twin sister from her big mouth and a scandalous murder charge, and probing a church cover-up–with none other than Justus by her side. But Angel has one more pressing concern: will Bella be ready for kindergarten? Only time will tell for this bad girl gone good whose days are once again far from boring–and hopefully far from numbered…

No One in the World by E Lynn Harris and RM Johnson

My view:
The collaboration between the late E Lynn Harris and RM Johnson won’t disappoint fans of either author. No One in the World is a fast-paced read.  Its suspenseful and with twins who grew up on two seperate sides of the track, there’s a whole bunch of drama. The twists and turns is what made No One in the World a great summer read.

About the book:
E. Lynn Harris and RM Johnson— two powerful voices of a generation—unite with an insightful and emotional project that tackles themes of family, loyalty and identity.The untimely passing of the beloved New York Times bestselling author E. Lynn Harris has left fans pining for more. With this collaboration, fans are given the book they’ve been clamoring to read—and the book that Harris and Essence bestselling author RM Johnson long wanted to write.Cobi Winslow, a handsome, well-educated district attorney, knows nothing about the life of his estranged twin brother, Eric Reed, a career criminal raised in the foster care system. Following their parents’ death, Cobi searches for and finds his brother, hoping to regain lost years.Meanwhile, Cobi navigates the pressures of society as he lives life in the closet. The stress comes to a head when he learns that in order to inherit the wealth of his father’s estate and save the struggling family business, he must marry a woman before he turns thirty-five. The task becomes more convoluted when Cobi’s sister proposes to pay Austen Greer, a once-successful and wealthy businesswoman who lost everything in the recession, to be Cobi’s wife.Eric discovers Cobi is gay and promises to keep it a secret. Instead, he entrusts the information to his former prison cellmate, Blac, who endears himself to Cobi in hopes of securing a $150,000 loan from him to pay back a debt racked up by cocaine sales. As the clock runs down both on Blac’s efforts to pay his deadly creditor and on Cobi’s attempts to save the family company, rash moves are executed, family and friendship bonds are tested, and life-altering sacrifices are made.

The Deal, the Dance and the Devil by Victoria Christopher Murray

My view:
The Deal, the Dance and the Devil by Victoria Christopher Murray is different than the Jasmine Larson Bush books. Readers will be introduced to a new set of characters. Adam and Evia Langston is a couple trying to make ends meet and is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Readers will enjoy the rollercoaster ride as they watch the lives of Adam and Evia change.  The surprises in between the pages of The Deal, the Dance and the Devil makes it a great summer read.

About the book:
What would you do for five million dollars? Adam and Evia Langston have lived in their own little garden of Eden since the two married at the age of seventeen. Working their way up from the humblest of beginnings, the Langstons have thrived beyond anything they could have ever imagined. Now they live in the finest home, drive the best cars, and indulge in all the trimmings that signify their massive success. But then the recession hits and rips apart the family’s financial stability. Unable to support their three children and other relatives, Adam and Evia find themselves drowning in financial trouble and teetering on the brink of complete disaster. With nowhere to turn, the Langstons have no idea what to do. Until Shay-Shaunté, Evia’s multimillionaire boss, comes to the Langstons with a five-million-dollar offer that seems so hard to refuse. Will the Langstons make this deal? Or will they recognize that the glitter of five million dollars may be far from gold?

Mogul by Terrance Dean

My view:
Mogul is Terrance Dean’s debut novel. Dean does a great job of weaving a tale of drama, lies and deceit. While reading this engaging story, readers will wonder how much of what’s in between the pages is really fiction.   The candid display of  what happens in the life of one factitious music producer makes Mogul a great summer read.

About the book:
From the Essence bestselling author of Hiding in Hip Hop and an entertainment insider—a juicy debut novel about the “down-low” life of one of New York’s most beloved Hip Hop producers. After the sudden death of his father, a renowned jazz musician, Aaron “Big A.T.” Tremble clings to music as an escape. Making hip hop beats becomes his life. His love for music lands him at the estate of Larry “Pop” Singleton, a retired and respected Hip Hop music mogul who sees something special in Big A.T., and he also knows the truth about his sexuality. With Pop’s blessings and nurturing, Big A.T. is on the path to becoming the next great Hip Hop producer in New York. With the help of Pop and “the family,” a network of secretly gay men in the Hip Hop world, Big A.T. finds success and starts his own music label. He’s signed and worked with some of the biggest Hip Hop artists in the country. One of them is Brooklyn native lyricist, “Tickman.” Together they are making sweet music together. Tickman and Big A.T.’s relationship goes beyond producer and rapper – they become secret lovers. Nothing can stop Big A.T. All of the radio stations play his music. He has money, fame, and Jasmine, his girlfriend who doesn’t know about his secret love for men. However, at the pinnacle of his career, compromising photos of Big A.T. land on the desk of a national news program—and in the hands of his girlfriend. Big A.T., for the first time is at a crossroad in his career: come out publicly with his secret or watch his music empire crumble.

Satan’s Sisters by Star Jones is filled with drama that will keep you eagerly turning the pages.

My three word review: intense, scandalous, page-turner

You will want to add it to your personal collection.

About Satan’s Sisters:

Hell hath no fury like a talk-show host telling tales…

Welcome to The Lunch Club, the venerable daytime talk show where backstabbing and bridge-burning are as common as cheating celebrity husbands and botched botox—and those are just the guests!

To millions of viewers, watching this manufactured “sisterhood” is a daily ritual and a guilty pleasure. Led by the ruthlessly competent and icily perfect veteran diva of all things television, Maxine Robinson, all five of the female cohosts on their trademark red couch have a distinct part to play. And if power grabs, competition for airtime, and outsize ambitions make for a bumpy ride . . . well, that usually stays between them—and definitely behind the scenes. After all, when you’ve seen a woman in her Spanx, telling tales out of school is a definite no-no. Until . . .

The morning’s special guest, the fabulously beloved, successful rival talk-show host (and former colleague) Heather Hope, drops a bomb on live TV: The deceptively sweet Melissa “Missy” Adams—a former couchmate who was ousted by Maxine in a blaze of infamy—is back, and she’s written a juicy tell-all! All the “soft-focus” camerawork in the world can’t hide the cracks from that aftershock!

In a stampede of Louboutins and Jimmy Choos, the women are in a race against time to get the scoop on which of their own particular demons are exposed in the manuscript before they’re revealed to the world. Finding the what, when, and where of this nuclear blast of a book falls to the show’s publicist, Lizette. She must dig up all the bones she can find, if only to safely rebury them once and for all. But when someone inside begins leaking spot-on dish to a gossip-hungry Internet website, the ladies realize that even they might not be able to put out this fire. For once, they’re unified by sizzling questions: just what exactly does Missy Adams know about the ladies of The Lunch Club, how much will she reveal, and who will fall the hardest?

Blending sisterhood, sex, betrayal, and the drama of good old daytime television, Satan’s Sisters delves into each Lunch Club lady’s scintillating underworld, exposing hidden addictions, forbidden lovers, shocking family secrets, false accusations, and one searing fact: even the devil didn’t think a girl could be this evil. . . .

For those with a Kindle or Nook, I would like to suggest the suspenseful and engaging story– Giving Up the Ghost by Stacy Deanne.

Albany Detective Brianna “Bree” Morris is having the year from hell. A sadistic admirer has been stalking her for months and now her friend Cheyenne Wilson has been beaten and left for dead.

With her ex-lover and faithful partner, Steven Kemp, Bree thrusts herself into the case. It’s not long before they believe two unrelated British men are connected to the attack. Michael is a womanizing artist with a ferocious appetite for rough sex. Simon is a wealthy free spirit looking for love in all the wrong places, but has one too many skeletons in his closet.

Bree struggles to determine fact from fiction when it comes to Michael and Simon but her attempts are blurred by Michael’s manipulation and her sexual attraction to Simon, who Steven’s convinced cannot be trusted.

Meanwhile the stalker does everything in his power to get close to Bree and his obsession evokes a spiral of violence.

Bree must trust her heart to find answers but her heart leads her to the most dangerous man of all.

“Giving Up The Ghost” is BOOK ONE of Stacy’s crime/mystery and interracial romance series featuring the strong willed and fiery detective Brianna “Bree” Morris and her lovesick, hot-tempered partner and ex-lover Steven Kemp who debuted in Stacy’s award-winning 2008 novel Melody.

Q & A Session with “Giving up the Ghost” Characters Bree Morris and Steven Kemp

By Stacy Deanne

Hello All,

I had the best experience a writer could ever have!  The main characters of my new interracial romantic suspense series, Brianna Morris and Steven Kemp popped up! So of course I couldn’t let these two go without doing a little interview.  It was very interesting and I know you’ll love it! This is how it went…

Days Earlier

Stacy: So Bree and Steve I’m so excited to have caught you! I mean seems like you hardly have time for your good ole’ buddy Stacy anymore and…

Steven: Can we wrap this up? I have a photo shoot at two.

Stacy: Oh uh, really? You have a photo shoot? For what may I ask?

Steven: Character Magazine.  Jeez Stacy didn’t you know?

Bree: Uh obviously she didn’t if she asked, Steve.

Steven: Oh here we go. In bitch mode again, Bree?

Stacy: Uh you guys…

Bree: Just like you to think a woman’s a bitch for making you look stupid. If that were the case then every woman in your life would be a bitch right?

Stacy: (laughs) Ouch. Good one, Bree.

(Hi-five)

Steven: Oh yeah so funny.

Stacy: Come on and be nice at least for a little bit. Just tell us a bit about yourselves, your goals in the story and a little about the series from your perspectives.  Bree?

Bree: Well…

Steven: Hold it. Why does she always get to go first? Am I gonna spend another book being second to Bree?

Bree: I’m the main character.

Steven. So am I. 

Bree: Share then. Jeez! Go on and go first. Is it really this serious?

Stacy: Go on, Steve.

Steve: Oh yeah, well hello everyone. Some of you already know me. I’m Detective Steven Kemp and I’m with the Albany Police Department. I debuted with Bree in Stacy’s 2008 novel, “Melody”. We…

Bree: They already know this stuff, Steve. The people don’t have all day and neither do I.

Stacy: Just try to be brief.

Steven: (exhales) Well, Bree and I are very close, best friends I guess you’d say. We used to be lovers until she kicked me to the curb.”

Bree: I did not kick you to the curb.

Steven: I’d do anything for her and she has my back too.  In “Giving up the Ghost”, we go on a very, shall I say, interesting adventure.  Our friend Cheyenne Wilson is beaten and almost dies.  We have to find out who did it. Twists and turns run amok and even though I was there I still can’t believe all that went on. You’d have to read it to see.

Bree: Just when we got close to a lead something threw us off track. Stacy knows her stuff.

Stacy: Aww thanks, guys. Do you think you two will ever get back together during the series?

Bree: I think that’s up to you, Stacy. But I’d like to tell the audience that they will not be disappointed with “Giving up the Ghost”. It’s a story where they will not only be entertained but also learn so much about themselves. It will make you examine your feelings about a lot of different things. There are some very serious things going on and it’s not all just about entertainment.  I reached my limit dealing with that stalker and all.

Stacy: Please share more about that.

Bree: I want those who’ve gone through the same thing to know there is help out there. It’s a serious crime and you should be aware before things get out of hand. It snuck up on me and it can sneak up on others too.

Steven: That’s right. Never know what nut you’ll attract.

Stacy: Well I am so glad we did this! Anything else?

Steven: Yeah we’d like the audience to get ready for “The Season of Sin”, the second book in the series coming late 2011.  We’re involved in a homicide and nothing is, as it seems.  Check it out.

Bree: It’ll be in print April first, guys!

Stacy: (laughs) Thanks guys for sharing!

Steven: Yeah maybe now Stacy won’t be so stingy and will share some of that royalty money.

Bree: Oh you’re on that kick again, Steve?

Steven: Damn straight. Publishers should pay characters. We do all the work.

                                                End of Interview

Thanks all for popping in. I hope you check out “Giving up the Ghost” for more of Bree and Steven. As you can see, they are very entertaining and you’ll never know what will happen next.

Best Wishes!

Giving up the Ghost (Book 1 in the Bree and Steven Series) Peace in the Storm Publishing

Genre: crime/mystery, interracial romance, suspense, detective fiction

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Giving-Ghost-Publishing-Presents-ebook/dp/B004QZ9OXO/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1299672324&sr=1-9

Nook: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Giving-Up-The-Ghost/Stacy-Deanne/e/2940012238443/?itm=22&USRI=peace+in+the+storm+publishing

Free Sample: http://www.stacy-deanne.net/files/Giving_up_the_Ghost_Free_Sample.pdf

To read more about my past titles and me: http://www.stacy-deanne.net

To get an inside look inside the series visit the new Bree and Steven Series site: http://breeandstevenseries.webs.com

Tina Mckinney has done it again with another page-turner.  If you read SNAPPED, you’ll be talking about the characters long after you finish the book. Gina, Merlin and Gavin are the perfect dysfunctional family. From chapter one to the end, readers will find themselves engaged in the story. Snapped gives a new meaning to sibling rivalry.

About Snapped:

To Merlin Mills, his family ceased to exist when his father turned his back on him, and he had to make some drastic changes in order to survive. Now, nine years later, his family is back, and their existence threatens his once stable relationship with his new wife. If Merlin wants to hold on to her, he must face the demons he’s conveniently forgotten and put them in their proper perspective. Can he undo the damage caused by his omission, or will he snap under the pressure? Gavin Mills always despised his twin brother, but now the fact that they are mirror images might work to his advantage. When Gavin gets a taste of Merlin’s wife, he decides he has to have her, no matter the consequences.Gina Meadows took in the children of her common law husband, Ronald, mainly because she feels guilty that she is unable to conceive. Imagine her surprise when she discovers she’s pregnant. It could be just the thing she and Ronald need to rekindle their relationship . . . or it could spell disaster. With so many demons still plaguing them, this family reunion will be anything but easy.

Here are a few books on my shelf. Check them out:

Playing the Hand You’re Dealt by Trice Hickman

Emily Snow is a gentle, kind-hearted young woman who plays by the rules, makes good decisions, and always does the right things. But her quiet and rather uneventful life soon changes when her mother dies–the only family she had left, leaving her devastated and grief-stricken. Ready to bury her sorrow, and with coaxing from her best friend, Samantha Baldwin, Emily decides to make a fresh start, moving from her hometown of Atlanta, to the power capital of Washington, DC. There, she fights to build a new life and tame a secret demon that’s been gnawing at her for years, the one thing her heart has always desired…her best friend’s father!……….Samantha Baldwin is the ultimate rebel, not necessarily with a cause! Wild and bold, she does whatever she wants without a second thought. From her poor choices in bad men, to her tumultuous relationship with her mother, Samantha has always run from truth and straight into trouble. But just as she’s about to finally get her act together, a chain of events threatens to spin her life dangerously out of control. Embroiled in drama, Samantha doesn’t think things can get any worse…until her best friend betrays her in a way she never imagined. Now, she must tap into an inner-strength she didn’t know she had, and hold on to a family she realizes is worth fighting for.

Huddle with Me Tonight by Farrah Rochon
All Paige Turner wants is to be taken seriously as a journalist. The entertainment columnist and blogger extraordinaire gets more notoriety than she planned when her scathing review of NFL superstar Torrian Smallwood’s memoir sparks an online confrontation. But that’s nothing compared to the sensual heat that tackles her when she meets the heart-stoppingly sexy athlete face-to-face….
Torrian can’t let Paige derail his dream of a new career as a restaurateur. Even if the sassy, sultry writer is making America’s favorite wide receiver yearn to be on the receiving end of her desire. And with a reality TV cook-off propelling them into the spotlight, Torrian can no longer hide his passionate secret goal—to build a future with the woman who’s making an end run around his heart….

Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis

Maddie Moore’s whole life needs a makeover.

In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.

Starting over won’t be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.

The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she’s sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie’s struggles to overcome the past, though she’s about to discover that there’s no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.

Private Lessons by Donna Hill

Under the tropical Antigua sun, Naomi Clarke flings caution to the wind! She’s caught up in a sizzling romance with Brice Lawrence, a sensual stranger she’s just met. For two blissful weeks they’re inseparable, even though they know their affair was never meant to last. Until the passion-sated Georgia professor returns home…and her hot summer lover is in her classroom!
Brice is determined not to be tossed aside and forgotten. He wants Naomi and he’ll do whatever it takes to persuade his seductive teacher that they belong together. He knows he’s playing a dangerous game…especially with a potential scandal brewing that could sabotage Naomi’s academic future. But Brice is determined to make the grade. Because this time the stakes are nothing less than both their hearts….

From Capetown with Love by Blair Underwood, Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due

Actor-turned-detective Tennyson Hardwick has solved two high-profile deaths in Hollywood, but nothing has prepared him for a race to save a child’s life. Tennyson’s past in the sex game cost him his new girlfriend, and he brings her to Cape Town, South Africa—a scenic film destination and playground for the rich—to try to win her back. There Tennyson is hired as a bodyguard by superstar Sofia Maitlin when she visits an orphanage to adopt an African child.Months later, Maitlin offers Tennyson one of Hollywood’s hottest tickets—a job as a bodyguard at adopted daughter Nandi’s A-list celebrity birthday party. But the party is over before it begins. When Nandi’s birthday goes dreadfully wrong, it’s up to a guilt-ridden Tennyson to save a child’s life and reunite a Hollywood family.But how? He can’t go to the police, the FBI has threatened to arrest him, and Big Brother is monitoring his telephone calls. To find Nandi, Tennyson will have to rely on tips from his father—a retired LAPD captain—and a mysterious woman from his past, Marsha, who has already proven she can’t be trusted. His strongest lead is a deadly knife fighter known only as Spider.
When his search for the missing child crosses Marsha’s covert investigation into a criminal gang with ties to South Africa, Tennyson knows that finding Nandi might cost him his freedom—or his life.