The Review of Afro - Vegan

I love food, who does not. However, I am changing my food habits. I decided to start eating smarter and healthier for great reasons.  Health is my number one reason. I decided that I wanted to learn vegan and Raw recipes so here I begin.

  I love this book. I have tried over 20 recipes and enjoyed most of them including family members. If I was not satisfied with the taste either the hubby or guest was so it was a win, win for me
I left myself open to all kinds of 'clean' foods. Those i regularly eat and those i don't like as well as trying new foods.
The recipes I enjoyed were:
Spicy Mustard Greens
Tofu Curry with Mustard Greens
Muscovado-Roasted Plaintains
Twice Baked Sweet potatoes with Winter Salsa
Collards and Cabbage with Lots of Garlic
Glazed Carrot Salad
Smashed Potatoes, Peas and Corn with Chile-Garlic Oil
These are definitely part of my staple foods to cook.

There was not any that i just didnt like to the point of not wanting to try because if i didnt like it my hubby did.
I liked the Sweet Plantain and fresh Corn Cakes also the Skillet Cornbread with Pecan Dukkah

I enjoyed the selection of recipes that is included, which covered cold drinks, preserves and porridge sections.  I really liked the conversion chart located in the back also. The menu suggestions were on point and the TIPS were a delight.   I completely loved the book.  You will Definitely love the book.  This books sits on my shelf as a DARN GREAT READ with a 5 star review rating.

Book Blast Tour - Married in the Nick of Nine

Cassandra Whitmore is facing yet another Valentine’s Day alone. Her love life is as dry as the Sharpie pen she uses to mark an even more dreadful day on her calendar—her upcoming 30th birthday. Driven by the maddening ticking of her biological clock, Cassandra is determined to meet, fall in love with, and marry “The One” within nine months. When Cassandra accompanies her cousin to a night club, her Type-A quest to meet a man is quickly rewarded by a stranger’s velvety, baritone voice asking if he might occupy the seat next to her. He’s Nicolas Harte, whose good looks leave Cassandra speechless, but not for long. After mustering enough courage to strike up a conversation, she learns Nicolas is everything she wants in a man—smart, successful, and available. There’s only one catch: He’s “GU” (geographically undesirable). Nonetheless, Cassandra falls in love with Nicolas and makes the uncharacteristic decision to move from Los Angeles to New York to be with him. But Cassandra gets a rude awakening when she discovers there’s something rotten in the Big Apple.

Genre : Contemporary Romance

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Diverse Arts Collective (May 9, 2012)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1mCJvqZ

Author: Alretha Thomas.

Shortly after graduating from USC with a degree in journalism, Alretha soon realized her interest in her major was not heartfelt. Instead of writing news stories, she wanted to write plays and books. Several years later, her church gave her an outlet to fulfill her writing desires through their Liturgical Fine Arts Department wherein Alretha penned twelve theatre pieces—the community response was overwhelming.

This led to plays outside of the church, including Alretha’s “One, Woman Two Lives,” starring Kellita Smith (The Bernie Mac Show), directed by four-time NAACP Image Award Best Director recipient, Denise Dowse. The production garnered rave reviews from critics and audiences.

In between plays, Alretha’s first novel, “Daughter Denied,” was launched in 2008 and in 2011, Alretha launched “Dancing Her Dreams Away.” Her third novel, “Married in the Nick of Nine,” spawned a four-book series that has been acquired by Soul Mate Publishing. “Married in the Nick of Nine,” the first book in the series was released July 2, 2014

Social Links:

Email: Alrethat@aol.com
Website: http://www.Alrethathomas.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/alretha.thomas
Twitter handle: https://twitter.com/AlrethaThomas

Trailer: http://youtu.be/QlwbJFRXGL8

This tour is hosted by: 

Reading Rendezvous Reviewz is hosting a FREE E-Read Giveaway of 

Married in a Nick of Nine. To enter leave a comment.

Shades of Brown Book Tour

Book Summary:  Asami, Bonita, Morgan, and Sienna have shared everything including their laughter and tears. No matter the challenge, they always emerged stronger with their friendship intact. No one ever expected that they would be tested again so severely.

These women soon learn that although life brings its share of storms, it’s what they do in the midst of those storms that define their character. While navigating the worst storms of their lives, these captivating women discover the true meaning of friendship, faith, and family.

What will they do when faced with devastating life situations that shake the very foundation that their lives are built upon? Follow this group of audacious women as they stare down the most tumultuous year they have ever had to face.

My Review:  The novel setting is  four female friends sharing their senior graduation night with each other before embarking on college life that would separate them.
Years later and the novel next chapter leads the reader into the character life of Asami. She is married and has suffered a devastating miscarriage.  
Bonita - Out of the four ladies, Bonita is the promiscuous one. She allowed others opinion to alter her from pursuing her dreams,  however, when she receives devastating news, she decides then that she will do as she always wanted to do and her decisions would be her own. 
Morgan - Married with children living in a very nice home. She and hubby has a comfortable income and has made plans for their early retirement.  Morgan is offered a job promotion that would definitely increase her income BUT its contingent may cause dissension in her marriage. 
Sienna - Her friends are excited about her new salon and spa. What will be their reaction when they  learn of the SECRET she held from them for years. remember, What's done in the dark will come to light.
I found the complex of conflicts among the friends that was most heart felt was Sienna.
I enjoyed reading about each character and visioning their lives. The author did a great job transitioning the characters into a complete story line without feeling as if you were reading about four different women lives without a connection.
My reading pace was moderate and the novel held my interest through the end.  Each character ending was satisfying, meaning the flow of the ending did not feel rushed or incomplete. 

The book cover and title is a good match and gets a 5/5 rating.  This is a good read and sits on my shelf as a satisfying DARN GOOD READ with a review rating of 5/5.

Struggles of the Women Folks by T.M. Brown

Book cover Summary: This is the story of Georgie. She is a young black girl growing up in the 1940s in a small, rural town in Virginia. Life is hard and she dreams of better life. She experiences great loss and heartache. She loses friends and family, as well as the love of her life. And still, she remains strong. This emotional and inspiring story has a gritty dialogue. TM Brown's signature writing style is captivating. You will find it difficult to stop reading once you begin...


My Review: Struggles of the Women Folk is a Novella. (under 150 pages) The story setting is in Virginia and the year is 1940.

One of the best part of the novel I enjoyed was the rhetorical dialect the author chose to use which was a perfect tone for that era. Some readers might view the novel as a Coming of Age read.
The main character and narrator of the story, is teenager Georgie. She is an independent young lady whose heart desires to achieve a better life for herself. The adversities and challenges this young girl endured was woven into a compelling tale that also included secondary characters Sissy, Georgie's mother and Aunt Adele. The complex themes of their struggles I found weaken by the voice of Georgie. I felt their pain but not their struggle. The ending was a bit abrupt but glad HOW it ended. This is the first novel I read from this author and It was a good read. Characters were believable, the author stayed within the era, some character development among the characters, and readers will experience varied emotions. All this makes for a satisfying read.
My reading pace was moderate and non stop. This novel held my attention from beginning to end. The author penned a well written historical fiction of secrets, betrayal, hardship and deceit. Definitely worth reading.
I give the book cover a 4/5 rating. Much improved from the last cover. I love the title of the book, "Struggles of the Women Folk" but i don't think the struggles were flushed for each character to match the title. 3.5 / 5 rating. This novels sits on my shelf as a DARN GREAT READ with a 4/5 review rating.



View all my reviews

In the Spotlight: Burning Uncle Tom's Cabin - Carl Waters

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin was one of the most influential novels of its time. However, reading the classic today brings to light stereotypes and plot issues. But rather than write off this classic, author Carl Waters re-imagines and remixes the story into a four-book series that builds from the world and characters Stowe created and expands on the good she intended.

















In Burning Uncle Tom’s Cabin, young slave George Harris is a self-taught inventor whose owner despises him. His wife Eliza, however, belongs to another slave owner, along with their three-year-old son Harry.

While George dreams of the day when he can escape to Canada and work to earn enough money so he can buy his family’s freedom, Eliza tries to see the best in her situation. But when her owner falls into financial troubles and plans to offer up Harry as payment against his debt, Eliza runs north with her son.

Suddenly, George must forget his careful planning and immediately go after his family if he has any hope of finding them before the slave hunters capture them.

An innovative retelling that offers fresh insight into America’s past, Burning Uncle Tom’s Cabin is sure to spark as much conversation as the original classic itself.

Take time to read the GREAT reviews of others:             Goodreads Reviews               Amazon Reviews

Purchase your copy today:  kindle @ Amazon or paperback @ Barnes and Nobles

Review - Altars of the Heart

Discovering Your Path to Deeper Worship


Do events from your past continue to play over and over in your mind? Do you feel like your relationship with God is not where it should be? Are you looking for a deeper worship experience? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then I have some good news for you. The answer may seem far away, but it's actually much closer than you think.

Altars of the Heart will take you on a journey to rediscover who you are and give you authentic tools to help you connect back to walking hand-in-hand with God through deeper worship.

The knowledge and insight that you will gain from reading this book will take you to a life of newfound liberation from insecurities, fear, doubt, shame, and un-forgiveness.
You will be encouraged to do an internal "heart" examination, to re-evaluate how you interact with others, make choices and worship the Lord.

Review:   A spiritually self -examination book for  readers who wish to honestly  examine their  WORSHIP with God. Respectfully, I enjoyed this book.
The author explains 'Altars' as a place within the heart that stores hidden pains and unclean emotions that hinders us from complete worship with God.
The authors provides biblical stories of 'altars' being used in the bible and there I fell short of making the connection the author was referring to in that chapter for it appears to be a thin line between the altars and the Offering.  Chapter 3, the Heart, the author explains the physical and spiritual heart. The most enjoyable read of this book is Chapter 9. The Mind and Heart Connection. Its Powerful!!! The author does a great job in braking down the perception of the heart and mind and which perceives and which conceives.

This self -examination book will help readers to identify some  'unholy altars ' inhabiting within our hearts  If one is experiencing wavering faith then search your heart with honesty. Seek deep so you may reveal those unholy altars of negative influences. Until they are identified, confronted and a process of prayer and studying God's word is done one can not experience True Worship with Christ, one lacks understanding God's power in our lives. This book is an excellent read. The book cover is a 3/5 rating, the book title and its connection to the theme is a 4/5 and this book sits on my Deep In my Soul reading shelf with an 4.5 / 5 review rating

Book Blast - When You Let Go

Romance Writer Lisa Watson

 After a series of dating disasters, Tiffany Gentry isn't ready to risk her heart again. Just when she decides it's safer to stay single, the Chicago boutique owner meets Colonel Ivan Mangum. The gorgeous military hero is an expert in security. Yet Tiffany has no defense against Ivan's sensual maneuvers…. 

Ivan knows that Tiffany should stop looking for Mr. Right—she has already found him! From romantic city nights to a passionate tryst at his mountain retreat, Ivan uses every seductive weapon in his arsenal to prove he's her true soul mate. But when their future together is threatened, will this soldier find a way to turn his dream of love into a mission possible?



A native of Washington D.C., the city's historic and political backdrop fed Lisa Watson's romantic imagination. Her hobbies are as eclectic as her music collection. Enamored with natural beauty, the picturesque locales she visits always seem to find a way into her latest novels. 
Lisa lives outside Raleigh, NC and is married with two teenagers, and a Maltipoo, Brinkley. 

Connect with Lisa on Facebook (NCLisaWatson), 
Twitter (@LisaYWatson), and at 
www.lisawatson.com.

A native of Washington D.C., the city's historic and political backdrop fed 

Lisa Watson's romantic imagination. Her hobbies are as eclectic as her music collection. Enamored with natural beauty, the picturesque locales she visits always seem to find a way into her latest novels. 

Lisa lives outside Raleigh, NC and is married with two teenagers, and a Maltipoo, Brinkley. 

Connect with Lisa on Facebook (NCLisaWatson), Twitter (@LisaYWatson), and at www.lisawatson.com.
ontemporary fiction. 

Where We Left Off review and Blog Tour

Book Summary: A successful Real-estate developer, Mason had his picture perfect life. He was young, handsome, wealthy and single. No stranger to frequent hook ups at the local night clubs he avoided relationships at all costs living tirelessly by one rule:

“Never let anyone close enough again to hurt you”

Until he found himself falling for Sydney McCail, a young woman he met at his brother’s wedding. In the midst of a developing relationship Mason’s past begins to surface causing him to push Sydney away in fear of her finding out a secret he’d kept hidden for most of his adult life. In the wake of a tragic accident she finds that what she thought she knew was only the beginning, and what happens from there leaves them both searching for answers to a single question in what turns out to be a startling outcome, Where We Left Off.

My Review: Refreshing, is how I will describe this book. The author's descriptive writing style, unique or intricately defined characters and a central conflict that is well written into the depths of the story line left me in AWE. 
Its not a plot that is staring you right in your face and neither is the negative effect a person may encounter when someone experience trauma in their life without a healing process. 
In the beginning the author allows readers to marinate on the voice of the main character, Mason. His outlook about pastors, God and the church is very cold-hearted. He's a bachelor and seeks women that are not looking for commitment nor marriage. 
Sydney - The woman that captures Mason heart, but she is not offering him what Mason usually receives from women he encounters.
Jackson - Mason's brother and confidant. 
Erika - Exactly what Mason seek in a woman. Beauty and sexual satisfaction without commitment of any kind. 
The characters are a good blend. The author did a great job with presenting the readers with a look into the heads of the secondary characters and introducing minor characters that wasn't muddled into the story line, producing a good balance. 
In the story there is hope, strength, courage, forgiveness, redemption and true love. The author delivers a passionate woven romance that also spins a few twist. My reading pace was moderate as I savored each page while analyzing the story line.. It definitely held my interest. A few times I wanted to jump down a few line only because I became anxious for the outcome. I dearly enjoyed this novel. Interesting book cover design. The ending was satisfying. The book title and story line match up is a 5/5 and this book sits on my reading shelf as DEEP IN MY Soul novel with a 4.5/5 review rating. (note: editing errors) 

The Author

J. Alex Blane is an author whose debut Novel “Where We Left Off” was his first break in the literary world of fiction romantic suspense, but definitely not his last as he is currently working on both his second & third novels within the series. A Multi-Media developer by trade; “J. Alex Blane is a talented man whose creativity is exceptional!” – Katrina Coleman (Amazon).

Since Alex could remember, it has always been his dream to write a novel. After nearly eight years of deciding to put a single ballpoint pen to a piece of paper he finally finished placing the last period at the end of the last sentence and introduced readers to Where We Left Off, a story that has evolved into something to this day he will say he never expected and in some cases transcending the definition of its genre.

Alex currently resides in Bear, Delaware with his wife and his two children where they share a small home just right for him to sneak off into a little corner and write more of what he loves and where he is currently at work on his next novel. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Nu Upsilon Chapter in Wilmington, Delaware, a father and a husband. Alex loves to tell a good story, but more than that he loves to make you feel as if you are right there as it’s happening.

Social Links:

Email: jalexblane@gmail.com

Website: http://www.jalexblane.com

Twitter @JAlexBlane

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/authorj.alexblane

Amazon paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Where-Left-Off-Alex-Blane/dp/1481160885/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Tour hosted by: 

How Sweet the Sound Book Blast

Shar Gracey wants nothing more than to sing the Lord’s praises, so she jumps at the chance to join a traveling choir led by the father of black gospel music, Thomas A. Dorsey. Better yet, the opportunity will give her money to pay for her ailing mother’s medical care.

While on tour she falls under the tutelage of gospel great Mahalia Jackson—and falls for the handsome but not-so-great Nicoli James, whose desires for Shar are fueled by his own greed. Shar would do anything for Nicoli—and he knows it—so when his life is threatened after a night of gambling, Shar agrees to help pay Nicoli’s debt, only to have her faith and dreams shattered.

Reeling from the betrayal, Shar loses her voice and she believes that she will never sing again. She has no place to run except back home to her seriously ill mother—and the man she left behind, who would move heaven and earth to make Shar’s pain go away. Even if it means he has to let her go again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vanessa Miller of Dayton, Ohio, is a best-selling author, playwright, and

motivational speaker. Her stage productions include: Get You Some Business, Don’t Turn Your Back on God, and Can’t You Hear Them Crying. Vanessa is currently in the process of turning the novels in the Rain Series into stage productions.

Vanessa has been writing since she was a young child. When she wasn’t writing poetry, short stories, stage plays and novels, reading great books consumed her free time. However, it wasn’t until she committed her life to the Lord in 1994 that she realized all gifts and anointing come from God. She then set out to write redemption stories that glorify God.

To date, Vanessa has completed the Rain and Storm Series. She is currently working on the Forsaken series, Second Chance at Love series and a single title, Long Time Coming. Vanessa believes that each book will touch readers across the country in a special way. It is, after all, her God-given destiny to write and produce plays and novels that bring deliverance to God’s people. These books have received rave reviews, winning Best Christian Fiction Awards and topping numerous Bestseller’s lists.

Social Links:

Email: vmiller-01@earthlink.net

Website: http://vanessamiller.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vanessamiller01

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vanessamiller01

Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/77899021863/

Buy Links:

Amazon paperback: http://www.amazon.com/How-Sweet-Sound-Vanessa-Miller/dp/1426749287/ref=vanessamil-20

Ebook: http://www.amazon.com/How-Sweet-Sound-Book-ebook/dp/B00I11W3CS/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=

Barnes & Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-sweet-the-sound-vanessa-miller/1118719005?ean=9781426749285&isbn=9781426749285

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