Grown*The review below is being done on a Netgalley Advanced Reader's Copy of Grown. This review is my own, and I have written it in my honest opinion. Grown is the first book that I have read by Tiffany D. Jackson, and I have to say it was AMAZING! Grown is about a seventeen year old girl named Enchanted who has a beautiful singing voice. During a televised singing competition, Enchanted is approached by the world famous entertainer Korey Fields. Korey is dazzled by Enchanted's voice, and they exchange numbers. One thing to know about Korey Fields though is that he is twenty-eight years old...which makes his communication with Enchanted dangerous. Korey offers to take Enchanted under his wing in the music business, and this could be the opportunity of the life-time for Enchanted and her family. Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worse once Korey becomes a little too obsessed with Enchanted, and he begins to control her interaction with others. When Enchanted joins Korey's tour, she begins to see her family less, and now even her parents cannot get through to her. When Korey is killed, Enchanted becomes a person of interest, but she cannot remember what happened that night. I wish I can say more, but you have to read the book to let Enchanted tell you her story. I had found this book hard to read at times, not because it was bad, but because it was so life-like. This book is important to read because it discusses topics of consent, healthy/unhealthy relationships, family, and self-worth. Even though I am not a teenager anymore, it still holds the reminder of what relationships should look like. Since Enchanted is a woman of color, this book also gives us a picture of some of the challenges we encounter. Enchanted is an incredible character on a wild journey, and I am so glad I got the opportunity to read this before release. If you are interest in getting your own copy, Grown was released today, September 15, 2020. Get yours below: Amazon Audible Barnes and Noble Better World Books
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Yellow Jessamine*The review below is being done on a Netgalley Advanced Reader's Copy of Yellow Jessamine. This review is my own, and I have written it in my honest opinion. Yellow Jessamine by Caitlin Starling is set in a small trade town. From the very beginning of the book we are introduced to our main character, Evelyn Perdanu who is in perpetual mourning after her family died under mysterious circumstances; she has taken over the family business of importing goods, but tragedy strikes as soon as one of her ships makes landfall. Members of the crew have been overcome with comatose states and doctors cannot identify what is the cause of their issue. As the book continues, more citizens succumb to the "plague" and Evelyn begins to wonder if her boats and crew were the cause of them. In addition to the already drama filled plot, Evelyn has found a man on the brink of death, but what makes matters worse is that he is an enemy of the country. Should she harbor a fugitive or let him die? This book has so many twists and turns that it did keep me wanting to read more to figure out what the mysterious illness was. As much as I love a good mystery though, this book does include a little bit of romance, not too much to be overwhelming, but enough to add to the suspense of the novel. All in all, I did enjoy the book, but I do wish the ending was different. When I first decided to request this book, it was listed under Horror, but when I read it I saw it more as a Fantasy novel instead. This may be why I did not enjoy the ending as much. Yellow Jessamine was released on September 5, 2020. You can get your copy below: Amazon Audible Barnes and Noble Better World Books Powell's Buried DeepBuried Deep by Margot Hunt was a fast-paced listen from Audible (about 2 and a half hours long) that follows the a husband and wife during a murder investigation. Maggie and James Cabot have been married for about 20 years and Maggie does not doubt that James loves her, but when a detective comes to her doorstep to inquire about James' missing fiance (from the past), Maggie begins to doubt her husband's love and loyalty. James was once engaged to a rising star, Hannah, one who was so beautiful she could not hide from the media once her disappearance during a camping trip occurred. Many, at the time of her disappearance, assumed she drowned after a late night at the beach; when her remains are found buried, police have no choice but to question James again. This causes Maggie and James' marriage to spiral as secrets are kept (on both sides), and it begs the question of who killed Hannah? As I was listening to this book I could not help but wonder how their marriage would survive this media circus. Maggie is such a curious character, and she does her best to find out information about the past in order to help out her husband. I was so engaged in the story that I was able to listen to it all in one sitting. Granted, I know it is a short story, but it is still very action packed and it leaves the reader dying to know what happened to Hannah. If you are interested in listening to Hunt's story, you can get your copy below: Audible |