ebonyessencebookshelf's reviews
368 reviews

Deep In My Soul by Kimberly Brown

emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

“Cartel why are you like this?” “Because mistreating you would be a slap to your creator.”

4.5 - Kimberly Brown just doesn’t miss. This book is definitely heavy. So checking the triggers is a must to protect your peace if need be. 

Adina was literally fighting for her life. She went through so much. I think Kim handled Adina with much care through this hard time. Even showcasing how one gets separated from their family at the hands of their abuser. It was healthy to see the Jareau Family love on her in many different forms. Helping her one step at a time as she goes through the journey to bounce back. That family was raised right and it reflects in their actions towards each other, their community and most important the people they love. 

Cartel, Cartel, Cartel. I mean sign me up for someone like him. He never left her side. He was there. Consistent, patient and loving. That’s what she needed. She’d already been fooled once. Everything about this book was good. Even down to the security & restaurant staff, culture and reunion. 

Quotes: 

"No was not a luxury for me."

Love that Mr. Jareau stepped right in to help protect Adina.

“How do you take vows before God and then reveal yourself as the devil to your spouse?"

“Sometimes when you’ve gone through that much trauma it takes time to accept the love you deserve."

“Be careful of who you let put you in positions to lose your life.”

The Art of Scandal by Regina Black

hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

“The conversation was flowing like a simple painting that went sideways into something beautifully twisted while dragging his brush along for the ride.”

What a read. From the first chapter i was tuned in. That cake scene had me cracking up. This story is drama, love, passion, and rediscovering self. I loved me some Rachel and how she owned everything with the realization of how her and that man got to this point in their marriage. The mayor was a piece of boo-boo and Rachel had her Denzel Washington moment. She said she was leaving this marriage with something. 

Nathan and Rachel were steamy, sensual and a little messy. Loved how the title truly tied into the scandals that were happening in the book along with their love for art. The museum visit was a beautiful representation of their love for the craft. We get to witness these characters get their light back. I just wish we could have gotten more time of them being in love and leaving the trash, ex husband, beyond. I really wanted to see what their love would like freely and open after divorce early on. Nonetheless a good read. With the audio it would have been nice for a male narrator. 

Quotes: 

“She was tired of being around people who borrowed passion for a living.”

“You’re not a moon girl.” “What am I?” she rasped. He held her gaze as he finally massaged her clit. She ignited. “You’re the f**king sun.”

“Honesty wasn’t disrespect—it was kindness.”

“I don’t want to have to be angry to make something real.”

“How could she look at him as if he were oxygen one minute and hold her breath the next?”

“Loving her felt like holding the pin of a grenade.”

“Mistakes aren’t debts we owe to other people. They’re just part of living.”

The Mixtape Vol. 1 by Kenya Moss-Dyme

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Thank you Kenya Moss-Dyme for my digital copy. 

Favorites:
-Groundhog 
-Peanut Butter Kisses

This is a collection of short stories written by the author. Love the explanation of where the stories were recognized at through her career. With each story you get to explore some fantasy, sci-fi, thrill and suspense. Not every story is deep. Some give you just enough to get your thriller/horror fix. Overall this was decent. 

Perfect Peace by Daniel Black

emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

From Replied To Wifey by Jahquel J.

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

“Nah, i don’t deserve you, but since God deemed me worthy, I’m going to make sure i take care of you and cherish you with everything in me.”

Listened to the book via hoopla along with the physical. Book 1 & 3 are my favorite. I truly loved this couple. Their communication, freeness, fun, and love was so refreshing. 

Sade i thought was going to be stuck up due to the last book but i was totally wrong. Her father is one despicable person and the mother not much better. So it all made sense. It was beautiful to see her making the change to take back control and have the support of her friends and siblings while doing so. She becomes the woman she was always destined to be right in front of us. 

Maliek was literally EVERYTHING. Talk about a man that owns his past and has done and still doing the work to be better. The change in him is remarkable. He loves and protects Sade openly and purely. They couldn’t have been more perfect. When he took her phone to give her a break my heart smiled. I’m like “yes!!! Help my girl let go!” He was so sweet on her. 

Jahquel, ma’am you wrote one hell of a book. The waves of emotions you develop through each paragraph is wow. What a beautiful story. 

Quotes: 

“If you couldn’t be comfortable at your parents’ home, then where could you ever be comfortable?”

“Just because they’re our parents, don’t mean you have to do whatever they say.” 

“I’m going to marry you, Sade. I don’t know when but I do know that you’re going to be my wife one day.”

“You should have never allowed me to taste you, Prissy. I don’t want any other man around you…I’m claiming you as mine.”

“I wanted to stand behind her to hold her up, she wanted to stand against me to keep me from falling. My wife.”

Beautiful Harmonies by Monica Walters

emotional lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

So i did like Deontray and Kamari together. They seem pretty sweet on one another. Him wanting to change for his crush and her not wanting to give in so quick. Making sure this is right. Him falling first in a sense is what i like to see. 

However, at times the writing was cheesy. I don’t know if it was due to other characters and things going on in the book. Yes i got the hint about the authors note twice but still. My heart went out to deontray and his sister about their family. The father is something else. To be honest for me i think the sister probably should have had her own story. There was a lot going on but at the same time there wasn’t. I know, crazy right. The sister i felt needed more love, attention and justice. 

All in all i don’t know if i would recommend. The book was cool. Their love story was good and fast. At one point i was confused about the communication but they got it back right. 

Maybe I Love You: Undeniably In Love by Briyanna Michelle

lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

First things first, Briyanna that plot twist was crazy! They thought they were Slick Rick with that foolishness 😂. 

Friends to lovers can be iffy iffy with me but this was cute, funny, spicy and emotional. Donavon was stealing the show for me. He was so patient, gentle, caring, strong, and supportive. After Ivory went through something horrible he was there like a best friend should. This time he wasn’t holding his feelings back and let Ivory know what was on his heart. They have history that is already full of love and respect. So it was nice to see a man let the woman take the lead on how fast they move. Especially going from only being with women and now trying a man. Thankfully it was with someone like Donavon. 

I do wish we got a little more of the sports because i believe this is my first golf profession. Love when authors change it up. All in all a really enjoyable read. Make sure to read the author’s note for any warnings. 

Thank you Briyanna Michelle for this arc. Can’t wait to see what you do next. 

No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel

dark emotional funny inspiring lighthearted tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc. 

This was so cute with a dose of drama. Giving very much not your ordinary love story for real. During such a tense moment in Ella’s life, she finally chose her because Elliot, the ex husband, tried his best to break her. Ella wouldn’t let him this time. On the other side of choosing her was a love that is gentle, sensual, funny and caring waiting. When Ella and Miles were together they had the cutest moments. Both filled with butterflies and pure innocence. The spice was good too. The author, Myah, just let their love build and that is important. Makes the relationship seem more believable. 

Both cared and supported each other so naturally. I love their group of friends that stayed down for them with everything. I like that we get glimpses of their friend’s lives also. Only wish we got a dual pov. Either way we got insight into Miles life as a baseball player and what he dealt with. 

Love the ending when he ask for a dance. 😊 ♥️ 

The Hunt by Anna J.

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Thank you Pretty Girls Do Read and Anna J for my arc. First read by this author.

WOW! The ending epilogues had me side-eyeing and shocked a little bit. Honey, we were getting into something with the parents that I kind of wish was more in the story. What they had to say was interesting. So some stuff could have been moved around or cut to give us more of the parents’ POV with their kids growing up until the present day. Trust, Dylan just didn’t get his urges from nowhere. It sucked that he was such a successful businessman but a piece of work as we explored his mind.

However, it seems he wasn’t alone. I kind of made up my mind about who the other one is . Those detectives wanted vengeance and to get their lick back for all the women. I applaud them because I would have been on that man’s top too. Was “justice” truly served  👀 ? This was an overall good psychological thriller. Worth checking it out.

Chloe: A Novel of Secrets and Lies by Connie Briscoe

mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

First and foremost, I haven’t read Rebecca, but if you have, Chloe is the retelling.

Secondly, I listened to the audiobook while simultaneously reading the physical book.

Angel is a private chef for a wealthy Black family during the summer in Martha’s Vineyard. While there, she meets Everett, a billionaire who recently lost his wife, named Chloe. These two instantly hit it off and spent a lot of time together, which was enjoyable to watch them fall in love. However, the second half of the second part is where things truly became intriguing. Revelations were made, and I couldn’t help but shake my head in disbelief. Perhaps I should be a detective myself. Angel genuinely surprised me, though. Wish things would have picked up sooner in the book but overall it was a good book. I would pick up another book by this author. 

Jillian was such a hater.

Thank you NetGalley, Colored Pages Book Tour, and Amistad Books for my gifted copy.