When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole (slight spoilers)

 About This Book

Summary
📌Stand-Alone
📌Release Date: 9/1/20
📌Format: Paperback
📌Setting: Brooklyn, NY
📌Page Count: 352
📌Genre(s): Adult Fiction, Thriller/Mystery/Suspense
📌Date(s) Read: 4/4-4/9/22
📌Rating:   Book:  3.5/5   Audio: 4.5 /5   Narrator(s):  Susan Daley (Sydney) & Jay Aaseng (Theo)

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When I picked up this book, I was looking forward to it, then, the foul language started, and it almost made me DNF the book. Language usually doesn't bother me until it becomes excessive as it was in the Prologue (maybe some into the first chapter) but I kept going to see if it got better and it did. Thankfully. There is one "open door" sex scene as I saw someone describe it as. Plenty of racism & gentrification. That was a bit much too at points but once it got further into the story, you began to see the point of it. 

This is the first book I have read by Alyssa Cole so, of course; I didn't know exactly what to expect. I picked it up from my library while waiting on another book I was wanting to read by her that appears to be a trilogy (The Loyal League). I wanted to get familiar with her writing while waiting. Hopefully the language in this one won't be as bad but looking at the setting, it might be a bit rough but at least I know now to prepare for any possible language.  

If racism is a trigger for you, for any reason at all, this is definitely not the book for you. If you don't like a lot of foul language and don't think you'll make it through the prologue or at all, then do not pick this book up. It does get better, but it is still sporadic in the book after the initial onslaught. If you don't like sex scenes at all, especially if there are any specifics, again, this may not be for you, even though it was just one scene.

I am looking forward to trying the Loyal League books and hope I enjoy them. 

3 Book "Reviews" in 1 Post: Pride; It Worked for Me; Bookshop by the Sea

 About This Book

Pride: a Pride and Prejudice Remix by Ibi Zoboi

Summary
📌Stand-Alone: 
📌Release Date: September 18, 2018
📌Format: Hardcover        
📌Setting: Brooklyn, NY    
📌Page Count: 295 (according to Goodreads)
📌Genre(s): YA, Contemporary Romance, Retelling, Fiction, African American/Cultural, Realistic Fiction
📌Date(s) Read: 3/25-3/26/2022
📌Rating:   Book:  4.75/5   Audio: 5 /5  Narrator(s): Elizabeth Acevedo


I enjoyed this book as much as I had hoped I would. Loved the characters & the storyline. Glad I picked it up. It's a book I hope to buy & put on my shelves one of these days. If you're considering picking it up but unsure about it, just give it a try. Audio book may also help you if you're able to get it from your local library, scribd or audible. 

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Bookshop by The Sea by Denise Hunter

Summary

📌Stand-Alone: 
📌Release Date: April 13, 2021 
📌Format: Paperback     
📌Setting:  Pipers Cover, NC
📌Page Count: 336
📌Genre(s): Christian Fiction, Contemporary Romance
📌Date(s) Read: 3/29-4/5/22
📌Rating:   Book: 4/5     Audio: 5/5   Narrator(s):  Jessica Holtan

It was a cute book that dragged in some spots for me personally. Also, I think I was just wanting to get to other books so that also made me lose a bit of interest. I have quite a few books on my bed that I 'm ready to get to and try. But, I'm very much willing to try her other books. She is a really good writer & I hope to get to her other books sooner or later (sooner rather than later would be preferable). :-)

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It Worked For Me: In Life & Leadership by Colin Powell

📌Release Date: May 22, 2012
📌Format: Hardcover
📌Setting:  N/A
📌Page Count: 283
📌Genre(s): Nonfiction, Autobiography, Leadership, [Light] Politics 
📌Date(s) Read: 3/29-4/3/22
📌Rating:   Book:  4/5     Audio: 5/5   Narrator(s): Colin Powell

This book only speaks on the presidents he worked with and areas of government he worked in. Nothing about his personal politics. That's about as political as it gets when it comes to him personally. 

When I went into this book, I wasn't quite sure what I would think of it. I almost gave up within the first chapter or two but there was an urge for me to continue on and I'm glad I did. There were things in the book that helped me push forward in my journey in this life. This is another book that I will buy for my shelf and hopefully listen to it again, this time, to tab the areas that resonate with me most so that I can go back when I need reminders. 

What made me pick up this book? I wanted to know more about the man Colin Powell beyond the politics of the time when I first heard of him (which was under G. W. Bush). I was young when he was working for Reagan so of course, I didn't know him at that age. I was still in elementary school at that point.

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Okay, I think that's it for this. I didn't feel like doing 3 different posts about the books & I really didn't have a lot to say about any of them anyway so it's best to just put them all together. 

If you read this far, thank you. Have a great/blessed rest of your evening and/or day depending on when you're reading this and where you are in the world at this moment. :-)