Sweet Heat ~ The Blue Collar Lover Series (Book 3) by Zuri Day

 

 

sweet heatCompetition is healthy, at least good competition is.  When you have two or more people trying to reach a common goal then as long as no one gets hurt then everything is good.  What happens when signals get crossed and misunderstandings happen? Or better yet lies, rumors and speculations occur, how do you deal with that? Do you deal with it head on or do you walk away and don’t do anything?

Naomi Carson is a beautiful woman both inside and out and she has a caring spirit.  She loves her family and she loves cooking!  Naomi experiments on her family all the time looking to perfect her signature dishes, and they are NOT complaining.  All of Naomi dreams are about to come true she believes because she is entering a cooking contest that if she wins will pay her a considerable amount of money and her own food truck.  There is only one obstacle in her way and the way she sees things, this is only temporary.  Or is it?

Marvin Carter has only one thing on his mind, to be a world renowned chef.  His winning this food truck challenge will put him in the position to own his own space and be his own boss.  There are many cooks/chefs in the competition but there is only one that has him nervous.  Why is he nervous, they can’t possibly cook better then him?  Or is it something else that he doesn’t want to admit to himself?  Either way, nothing or no one is going to get in the way of him obtaining his dream.

Sweet Heat is a feel good book and it is book number three in the Blue Collar Lover series.  Just reading about the competition and the friendship and family love that is brought forth in this book makes you realize that this might just be your family or someone that you know.  It is so realistic that you feel like you are experiencing the feelings with the characters.  The characters flow and intermingle so well you just know that you are watching a movie instead of reading a book.  You are talking to the characters and reacting the way that they are reacting, emotional and energizing!  You will enjoy this book just as much as any other Zuri Day novel.  With this being the third book in the series you have time to read the other two books in the series before this one releases:  Driving Heat and Packing Heat.  It is not necessary but you will learn about the Carter brothers.

Sweet Heat ~ The Blue Collar Lover Series will release nationwide on June 25, 2019 everywhere your favorite books are sold.

  • Print Length: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Dafina (June 25, 2019)
  • Publication Date: June 25, 2019
  • Sold by: Penguin Random House Publisher Services
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B07HVRYG5L
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled 
  • X-Ray:  Not Enabled 
  • Word Wise: Not Enabled
  • Lending: Not Enabled

 

Frienemies by Janie De Coster

frienemiesIn these times, words have different meanings than what they used to have.  You can not use certain words with everyone because everyone is not deserving of the pure  definition.  Take the word friend, it used to mean something if you were called a friend.  It meant that another person trusted you enough to consider you like you were a part of their family.  With the way that society is now with everyone for themselves, the word friend is thrown around so loosely that you might as well be a stranger.  For that very reason, you have to choose your words and friends wisely or you might just end up with someone who you would consider an enemy rather than a friend.

Natasha is a beautiful, single, successful woman.  She should be every man’s dream but she seems to be striking out in the love department.  Just when she feels all hope is lost she meets Derrick Perkins.  He is a smooth brotha, easy on the eyes and Natasha is very attracted to Derrick.  Things look like they are going good between Natasha and Derrick.  Could Derrick be the one for Natasha?  Will this be her forever guy or is he going to be another one that got away?

Sloan is a very successful Marketing Director at Emerson & Stuckey.  He has worked there for years and his future is looking very bright.  Sloan just happens to works in the same office as Natasha.  Sloan and Natasha are best friends, have been since childhood.  They tell each other everything.  Sloan is protective over Natasha like she is over him and they will be friends to the end.  When Essence starts working there with them she takes a liking to Sloan.  Will this bring Sloan back to life or will he revert back to his old ways?  Is it possible to find love with Essence or will he just be alone?

Freinemies is a novel about love and trust.  The characters blend so well together that  you are engrossed in the book from the first page.  They make you want to grab and shake some of the characters and some you want to give a hug to.  De Coster captures you from early on in the novel and keeps you there until the end wishing and wanting to know more.  I look forward to reading more from this author.  Congratulations Janie on another successful novel!

  • File Size: 2426 KB
  • Print Length: 266 pages
  • Publisher: Major Key Publishing (January 22, 2019)
  • Publication Date: January 22, 2019
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B07N1954FN
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled 
  • X-Ray:  Not Enabled 
  • Word Wise: Enabled
  • Lending: Enabled
  • Screen Reader: Supported 
  • Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled 

Is He The One by Janie De Coster

IS HE THE ONE PHOTOHave you ever looked at a person and said to yourself “that is the man/woman who I am going to spend the rest of my life with?”  I’m sure we all have, but what makes us so sure that person is the one for us?  Is it their looks, or maybe their income or could it be the way that they showed you their dreams?  How do you know who “your” forever person is?

Jayree Kennedy knows what she wants.  She is going to find and fall in love with her dream guy and live happily ever after.  She knows he is out there she just hasn’t found him yet.  She continues to tell her sister Teresa and her best friend Linda but they just let her have her fairytale.  Is there someone out there for everyone or is Jayree just wasting her time?  How do you know when you have finally met “THE ONE” and is he/she everything that you imagined?

Teresa Wilson Jayree’s sister,  has felt like her bond with her sister isn’t as strong as it used to be.  Those two girls could talk about anything, that is until Teresa met and married Ray Ray Wilson.  Ray Ray is the one topic in the family that can stir the pot and make it boil over, but Teresa doesn’t care because she loves him.  There is nothing that can separate Teresa and Ray Ray and she is going to live her happily ever after.  How does it feel when your happily ever is starting to feel like the happy is slipping away?  Is there something that can make everybody happy again or was it all just a dream?

Linda is Jayrees’ best friend since forever and they are thick as thieves.  Their bond got stronger when Lisa’s fiance Phillip left Linda at the alter the previous year.  Jayree was there for Linda like a friend should be but Linda decided to take Phillip back.  Phillip provided Linda with everything that she would need to look and be successful but was that enough?  Is having the material things enough or should she continue to shoot for your forever dream?

Is He The One is a story about one thing . . . achieving happiness.  Three different couple take roads to achieve happiness but they go different ways to get it done.  The characters are relatable because this could be you and your friends on any day and that is what makes it an easy and enjoyable read. I enjoy reading De Coster’s work because she makes you feel like one of the family.

  • File Size: 3674 KB
  • Print Length: 188 pages
  • Publisher: Major Key Publishing (October 16, 2018)
  • Publication Date: October 16, 2018
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B07JFXV5SJ
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled 
  • X-Ray:  Not Enabled 
  • Word Wise: Enabled
  • Lending: Not Enabled
  • Screen Reader: Supported 
  • Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled 

When The Vows Break by Janie DeCoster

when the vows breakOur society’s idea of marriage comes in many different forms nowadays.  The one thing that is constant is you BOTH have agreed to forsake all others ~ but do we really know what that phrase means?  Forsaking all others means of course being with only your spouse but in addition to that it also means putting your marriage and your spouse above everything else, except God of course.  When you start to put things in front of your marriage you lose sight of the real purpose, to love and honor them forever.  Were you being truthful when you entered into this agreement or were you being selfish?

Pastor Sidney Teal is the pastor and founder of Holy Word Holiness Church.  He has a beautiful wife, Olivia and three beautiful children and a very successful church.  They have worked hard at keeping up appearances but something has been feeling off in their marriage as of late.  Could it be that Pastor Teal is spending so much time at the church he is losing his connection with his wife or is there something else underlying?  Being a pastor should he just have the upper hand on relationships or should just being human like the rest of us come into play?

When The Vows Break is an intense novel.  I went through many emotions while reading and at one point had to stop reading to prevent from crying.  You are so drawn into the story line that you almost forget that you are reading a book, it feels more like a lifetime movie or a major motion picture.  You are so in tune with the characters and they are so relatable that you feel their turmoil.   The writing in this novel just flows and keeps you right in the mix of the story and you are almost relieved when it is over so that you can finally stop holding your breath.  I always enjoy DeCoster’s novels and this one is no different, as usual I look forward to more!  Great job!

When the Vows Break is available for purchase through Amazon.com (Kindle and paperback), Barnesandnobel.com (Paperback only) and anywhere you purchase your favorite books.

  • File Size: 3365 KB
  • Print Length: 241 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1983428639
  • Publisher: Major Key Publishing (December 7, 2017)
  • Publication Date: December 7, 2017
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B077ZMK1XR
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled 
  • X-Ray:  Not Enabled 
  • Word Wise: Enabled
  • Lending: Not Enabled
  • Screen Reader: Supported 
  • Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled 

Like A Closed Fist by E.H. Nolan

LIKE A CLOSED FISTBeing alone and being lonely are two very different things.  When people are trying to figure out which is which then the lines become blurred and that is when the trouble begins.  Which is worse, being alone or being lonely?  For some there is no difference.

Phoebe Pliesze is a beautiful young girl who has the world at her fingertips but she just doesn’t see it.  Phoebe is family orientated but when her mother passed away the family seemed to part instead of getting stronger.  Kennedy Wilson was the one person who Phoebe thought would sweep her off her feet and take her away from everything.  The problem is when you are banking on someone else and not yourself, that is when you run into issues that you can not fix.  What do you do to make sure that your happiness comes first?  Do you take matters into your own hands or leave it to chance?

Like A Closed Fist is a book about life decisions.  When you are looking at your life and making knee jerk decisions you have to suffer some consequences.  The main character is based on some people that we may know in life and she may drive you crazy but just like in life you stay right by their side watching the train wreck.  Phoebe’s character is not a complex person but she is intense.  This is a borderline romance novel that you will have to pay close attention to or else you will get lost.  Nolan will make you work for this one.

Like A Closed Fist is available to purchase on Amazon.com (Both Kindle and paperback) and BN.com (Paperback only).

  • File Size: 1027 KB
  • Print Length: 396 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1539093271
  • Publication Date: December 5, 2016
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B01M9CG4KY
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled 
  • Word Wise: Enabled
  • Lending: Enabled
  • Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled 

Sapphire Attraction by Zuri Day (Book 8 Drakes of California series)

sapphire attractionLove know no boundaries is one of the truest statements even spoken.  If you are fortunate enough to find love, how it comes to you or what it looks like isn’t going to matter to you.  Many have been attracted to a person and fought it because it was not “correct” in the eyes of others but who do you love for, yourself or the people around you?

Ike Drake Jr. is the COO of Drake Realty Plus and is very good at what he does.  He is strict and professional in all that he does and doesn’t ask for permission.  When Ike jr. is involved in a car accident, he loses all composure and turns into a person that sometimes he doesn’t even recognize.  The beginnings are rough but the ending is smooth as silk and no one would have guessed the reason behind it, not even Ike jr.

Quinn Taylor comes from a hard life.  Lost her mother at an early then lost her father not long after that and she turned into a rebellious teen.   She draws attention everywhere she goes, whether good or bad but she is ALWAYS noticed.  Is there anything that Quinn can do to get the target off her back or will she just be the center of attraction from here on?

Sapphire Attraction is book number eight in the Drakes of California series and if you haven’t learned anything else you have learned that we LOVE The Drakes!  The way that this family is portrayed is our family on any given day.  The dynamics of their interaction and the way that the story is told is more like watching a movie than reading a book.  Day keeps you involved with the story and makes you always want more.  I love her writing and I look forward to reading more from her.  Continued success!

Sapphire Attraction will be available for purchase June 1, 2016 and it will be sold everywhere you get your favorite Harlequin Kimani Romance and on Kindle download.

  • File Size: 1922 KB
  • Print Length: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Harlequin Kimani Romance (June 1, 2016)
  • Publication Date: June 1, 2016
  • Sold by: Harlequin Digital Sales Corp.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B017RQZFWW
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray:  Not Enabled
  • Word Wise: Enabled
  • Lending: Not Enabled
  • Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled

Packing Heat by Zuri Day

Packing heat

Dreams, we all have them but how many of us follow them?  Does following your dreams require that you are the only one to believe in it or should you have dreamcatchers with you?  Because you ARE the only one who believes in your dream does that deter you from having one or does it make you more determined to achieve that dream?

Janice Baker is your average woman.  She has a great heart, family oriented, goal oriented and has a subtle beauty.  Janice has dreams.  While she has been working hard at them she is trying not to get discouraged.  When it looks like everything is beginning to go her way life hits her with another blow.  Will she ever achieve her dreams or should she just give up.

Douglas Carter is a great man.  He comes from a strong loving family.  He is kind, gentle and handsome.  Any woman would be lucky to have him.  How should Douglas feel when he things that he has found “the one” but she keeps shutting him down?  Should he continue his mundane life or should he try for this new and different adventure that life is offering him?

Packing Heat is the second book in the Blue-Collar Lover series by Zuri Day.  Day is introducing new characters and flashes some of the characters from the first series.  This is a romantic book but not mushy.  The characters show that being friends can lead to more if you want it to.  There is no time in this book where you feel like you are missing something, there is always something to keeps you interested in the story line.  It is a great second book to this series and I look forward to more in this series.

Packing Heat is due to be released in March 2016, so you have time to get the first book Driving Heat.  I promise you won’t be disappointed.

 

  • Print Length: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Kensington (February 23, 2016)
  • Publication Date: February 23, 2016
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00Y6RBZX4
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Not Enabled
  • Word Wise: Not Enabled
  • Lending: Not Enabled
  • Enhanced Typesetting: Not Enabled

Body By Night by Zuri Day

body by nightThe way that society is nowadays we are very visual beings.  Basically if it looks good then we like it.  It is rare that a person will like something for its worth and not for its appeal but when that happens it is almost always going to be a benefits from the results.

D’Andra Smalls is a beautiful woman.  She has a pure heart of platinum and is a BBW ~ big beautiful woman.  Though she is confident in her work abilities her size is beginning to causing her problems with her health.  She has finally made up her mind to do something about it until she runs into a obstacle that is less of an obstacle than she realizes.  What should she do?  Just give up yet again or continue on until the completion of her goal?

JaJuan “Night” Simmons is a dream.  He has the body of a god with the personality to go with it.  Night takes health very seriously and being a personal trainer helps him maintain that beautiful body of his.  When Night decides to open a gym he is looking for a certain type of clientele but how can he attain that when what he is looking for is intimated by the very thing that he is so passionate about?

Body By Night is not at all what I imagined it would be and for that I am pleased.  This book is refreshing.  It gives a look at the possibility of friendship and love from the old saying opposites attract.  This story flows and you remain interested in the lives of the characters and you don’t want to put the book down or the story to end.  It is well written and once again Zuri Day does not disappoint.  Complete, energetic, exciting, loving, passionate, sad, pleasant and genuine are just some of the words that can be used to describe this story.  Trust me you will not be disappointed.

Body By Night is available for purchase on Amazon.com (both Kindle and paperback), BN.com (both Nook and paperback) and everywhere paperback books are sold.

  • File Size: 2194 KB
  • Print Length: 319 pages
  • Publisher: Dafina; Original edition (March 1, 2009)
  • Publication Date: March 1, 2009
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B0041OT8W2

Tales To Count On by S.R.Mallery

tales to count onWhen you are sitting around just relaxing and you are daydreaming, there are various thoughts going through your head.  Nothing specific just random thoughts to entertain your psyche.  You can go from happy to sad to outraged to mesmerized but your thoughts never stop working.  You may wonder where are all of these thoughts coming from but it really doesn’t matter as long as it doesn’t interrupt your quiet time.

Tales To Count On is a book like your thoughts.  It is a collaboration of short stories that don’t ties together they just give you a little insight in to many different areas of your thoughts.  You have comedy, mystery, drama, history, fond memories and many other different stories that while reading them you might be thinking you know which way the story is going but it never does.  It has several stories within the covers and you can jump to any of them without missing something on another story.  You will feel completed after each one so you don’t have to worry about cliffhangers.  I enjoyed the refreshing idea of several shorts in one book, reminded me of my Reader’s Digest days when I first became obsessed with reading.  Great concept, great reading.  I wold gladly read this author again.

Tales To Count On is available for purchase through Amazon.com (Kindle and paperback), BN.com (Nook and paperback) and the author’s website:  www.srmallery.com

  • File Size: 443 KB
  • Print Length: 112 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00UCBENY6
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray:  Not Enabled
  • Word Wise: Not Enabled
  • Lending: Not Enabled

Finding Home (originally titled Eye Of The Beholder) by Jackie Weger

finding HomeGUMPTION ~ courage and confidence.  This is a word that is not commonly used in everyday language and some might even say that it is regional but it is a word nonetheless that is for a person with spunk!  Basically people are saying that you are very determined and will achieve what you are attempting if you put your mind to it.  A person can not be swayed and will do whatever it takes to reach their goal.

Phoebe Hawley is a twenty-four year old woman with gumption!  She has set out to be successful so that she can help her family live a better life.  The only issue that Phoebe is facing is the fact that she is toting around two kids with her and she has nowhere to go.  That fact doesn’t stop Phoebe but running into Gage Morgan is a roadblock that she hadn’t anticipated!  When Phoebe and Gage butt heads it is sheer will and Hawley pride that keeps Phoebe on her feet, but for how long will that pride last?

G. G. Morgan is a man of few words but when he gives you those few BOY does he give them to you!  Gage is a widower with one small daughter and the both of them are lost.  They don’t know how to relate towards each other but they need each other.  In walks Phoebe with her ulterior motives and turns the Morgan household on its ear.  Will Gage be able to deal with raising his daughter and this hellcat that has invaded his personal space?  Only time will tell.

Finding Home is a feel good story.  It is one of those stories that you read and wonder what is going to happen next because you know if it was you then you would do it this way.  Weger has found a way to have us so consumed in the story that you are almost taking sides and that is a good thing because these characters need our guidance (according to us readers, lol).  This story is easy to follow and the dialect is regional to the area so some of the phrases used might not be common phrases but you know exactly what the meaning is.  I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading more from this author.  The original name of this novel was Eye Of The Beholder and in reading this story I know exactly what was meant by that.  You will not be disappointed.

Finding Home is available for purchase through Amazon.com (Kindle, paperback and audio editions) and BN.com (Paperback only) .

  • File Size: 1908 KB
  • Print Length: 294 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Publisher: Jackie Weger; 2 edition (December 28, 2013)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00D7WKQRA
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray:
  • Word Wise: Not Enabled
  • Lending: Enabled