by Phillip Bloch
Because of my chronic underemployment, I've never had a shopping problem. I am definitely not a shopaholic and upon initially reading this I thought this book wasn't for me. But I think that this book can be helpful for anyone.
Phillip Bloch is a fashion stylist to the stars and regular people who can afford him. As a professional shopper he is more than qualified to offer advice on curbing your overspending and cultivating a closet that works best for you. Written like a diet book including sections called "Digest This" and "Battle of the Bulge", Bloch even has a clothing pyramid based on the FDA's old food pyramid.
Unlike other books on shopping and fashion, Bloch doesn't bog you down with a lot of glossy photos of clothing that may be out of style in a season or two. Instead he packs real world advice on being stylish without landing in debtor's prison.
by Rochelle Alers
This is the sixth book in the Eaton family series and the second in a special wedding series published this summer. Usually these stories revolve around the Philadelphia branch of the Eaton clan, a family of educators. Sweet Destiny, however, is set in a small town in West Virginia, giving the reader and the heroine a glimpse of a simpler life.
Mia Chandler, an Eaton cousin, grew up privileged in Dallas, Texas and has just received her medical degree, just like her father. But, unlike him, and much to his dismay, she decides to specialize in family medicine and not the more lucrative obstetrics and gynecology as he did. And to make matters worse, she wants to practice in a rural setting after hearing about how difficult it is for residents of those areas to have access to good healthcare. She chooses to do her residency in Jonesburg, West Virginia where the local family practitioner is looking to step down. Mia's transition from life in the big city is made easier because her cousin has married into a family from the area and they make sure to look out for her. One of those family members, Kenyon Chandler, is the Sheriff in the town and is instantly convinced that Mia is a snobby city girl who won't be able to adapt to this slower way of life.
I love the books in this series (which is getting so extensive that there is a family tree provided in the book), and this one especially because of the focus on healthcare. Residents of areas like are usually the unhealthiest in the nation and not enough doctors choose to work there because it is hard work with lower payoffs than in bigger cities. I like to mix my romance with social commentary!
by Anita Diggs
Hercsville, Long Island (founded by the legendary creator of hip-hop DJ Kool Herc) is a small town with a lot of drama right now:
Asha Mitchell Seabrook. has married the man of her dreams, Nick, whose family owns a chain of successful restaurants. They have money, but not enough for the bored housewife.
Dr. Penelope Brewster is psychologist to the town's troubled youth as she struggles to keep her own teenage daughter under control.
Shareeka Ellison is married to former rapper Dayshawn "Bustacap" Ellison. Dayshawn has made the transition to a very lucrative movie career, but Shareeka longs for the simple life of South Central LA.
Soap opera actress, Nancy St. Bart is finally in a happy place, thanks to the protection of her idol (obsession), Denzel Washington, but danger threatens to make her finally confront her demons.
Although the ending left me a little disappointed, this was a quick "Desperate Housewives"-type read.
by Mat Johnson
It's almost impossible to describe this book without either sounding like an idiot, giving the book away, or making you not want to read it. And this book is so wonderful, that I hope you will read it. Well, here goes.
Professor Chris Jaynes is a professor of African American Literature whose specialty has been to uncover the issue of race in the literature of the majority rather than the one being oppressed, with a special passion for Edgar Allen Poe. This focus didn't go over well with his employers, who expected him to take the traditional route of using the Black literary canon and denied him tenure and subsequently a job. He does not handle it well.
Things begin to look up when his favorite book dealer shows up with a rare manuscript that seems to be a slave narrative that corroborates the tale in Poe's only (and very strange) novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. Seeing a way to redeem his professional dignity, Jaynes sets out to verify the rumors surrounding the publication of Poe's book, and leads an all-Black team to the South Pole for research and a money-making venture. What happens next can be likened to an episode of Lost.
Sold yet? I know it sounds crazy and the book is crazy. But it is imaginative, magical, and extremely funny. And it is definitely going in my top five books of the year.
by Allegra Adams
Lately, Zane, through her publishing company Strebor Books, has been putting out a brand of novels that are still as steamy as her readers are used to, but with better character and plot development (a pet peeve of mine).
Allegra Adams is The Man Whisperer. The author and the protagonist share the same name, but this is billed as a novel so I'm not sure if we will find out later if it is based on truth. Anyway, Allegra was given that name by her friend Luisa because she is always the one in control in her relationships. And by relationships, I mean sexual liaisons, as she isn't a commitment kinda girl. An anthropologist and college professor, her area of expertise is sexual DNA - meaning everything we need to know about someone's sexual proclivities is written in their genetic code. Intriguing, huh? Traveling to conferences where she lectures on her findings, gives Allegra the opportunity to satisfy her needs and leave lots of lovers in her wake.
The beginning of the book was a little confusing as it went back and forth between events that took place in Brazil and New York City, where Allegra calls home. When all that settles down it gets especially interesting when Allegra counsels Luisa on being more assertive about her needs in her own relationship and career. That leads to an involvement with a Neo Black Power organization that threatens to ruin both of their lives.
Favorite quote:
Allegra had always vowed to live by two rules: One--never go shopping without a grocery list and two--never travel horny. To do either can leave a woman vulnerable to food she doesn't need and d**k she really doesn't want.
What to Wear for Every Occasion
by Nina Garcia
The bookstore where I worked for the past 11 years recently closed. So I am embarking on a new job search. The other day while fretting over having to update my resume, it occurred to me that not only do I not have an outfit to interview in, my current wardrobe is only appropriate for a Starbucks employee. Because of the dress code at my former job, my closet is full of black polo style shirts and khakis. Right now the only social invitation I can accept from you is one where I'll be making lattes at your dinner party. (And I can, because I am Starbucks/Seattle's Best trained).
It's hard to know where to start when your wardrobe has so many holes in it, so I'm turning to my library of fashion books to help me out. I chose this one for no other reason than it was the first that I laid my eyes on. While it really does cover what's appropriate for certain occasions (job interview, a Netflix night, volunteering, etc.), it also gives some pointers on the appropriate etiquette in those situations.
It wasn't very helpful in setting up a core wardrobe, but once I have that in place, I will refer back to this on how to put it together. And as always, the illustrations by Ruben Toledo are divine!
by Brenda Jackson
I just inhale these Westmoreland novels! LOL! And now that there is a Denver branch of the family, there are more stories to be told.
Brenda Bostwick is a pampered Southern belle raised in Savannah. The only family she has ever known are her parents, so she is surprised to learn that not only did her grandfather just pass away, but that he has left her his ranch outside Denver. Needing to spread her wings, much to her parent's dismay, she decides to accept the challenge of running a horse ranch.
When she arrives and meets Jason Westmoreland, she is sure that his interest in her is purely business and that he wants her land and her prize horses, so she prepares herself for that possibility. What she isn't prepared for is her feelings for him and the other danger that is out there.
by E. Lynn Harris & RM Johnson
Cobi Winslow is a district attorney and one of the heirs to the successful Winslow Products hair care empire. His decision not to go into the family business coupled with his sexuality has always been a sore spot in the relationship with his father. Right before his parents are killed in a car crash, Cobi, who is adopted, learns that he has a twin brother he never knew about. He now is compelled to search for him. To make matters worse, his father's will states that Cobi will receive shares in the the family company only if he marries a woman and stays married for two years. His sister, Sissy, who is now CEO of Winslow, desperately needs those shares to help stave off a takeover of their family legacy. Added to this mix is Cobi's love affair with a closeted state senator, and this book is full of drama! Is your head spinning yet?
There is enough drama here for at least 2 or 3 books and sometimes it felt a little overwhelming. I've never read any books by RM Johnson, but fans of E. Lynn Harris will recognize the character development that he was known for. Cobi suffers greatly from being a disappointment to his father and a secret in his lover's life, but he also is comfortable with himself and who he is.
