by Maureen Smith
Tamara St. John is a busy intern at Hopewell General, working long hours, making a name for herself and loving every minute of it. But her colleague, Victor Aguilar, seems intent on not making anything easy for her. The two constantly bicker and argue over patient care and just about anything else and everyone around them notices.
But it seems that underneath all that animosity is a desire for each other that neither is ready for...especially since hospital rules forbid it. Another impediment is that they are from different countries and cultures and that may prove to be a problem.
This entry in the Hopewell General summer series, like the earlier two, is another example of two people who are forced to decide if their love is strong enough to risk losing everything they've worked so hard for. I will be sad to see this series end.
by Louise Hay & Cheryl Richardson
Hi, my name is Toni, and I'm a self-help book addict. Well, I used to be. I read every book in that section of the bookstore at one point. A few years ago, I stopped because it was getting a little repetitive and I felt that I had the core principles down by this time. But I still peek in every now and then and couldn't resist this one.
Louise Hay and Cheryl Richardson are two bestselling authors in the genre. Hay wrote the classic and hugely popular You Can Heal Your Life, a book of affirmations tailored to every aspect of your well-being, that I refer to constantly and she started a successful publishing company. Richardson's books, including Life Makeovers, provide step-by-step blueprints on creating the life that you desire.
You Can Create an Exceptional Life is written as a conversation between the two women, with Richardson mainly interviewing Hay about her beginnings as an author and healer. Interesting concept, but I felt that this technique would have worked better at a seminar or in a documentary. Having read several books by both authors, I already knew a lot of the personal things that they discussed and found it distracting. I didn't really perk up until Chapter 3: How You Start Your Day Is How You Live Your Day and Chapter 4: How You Live Your Day Is How You Live Your Life. Both of those chapters included really useful affirmations specific to situations that you come across in everyday life: choosing something from your closet, mealtime, etc. The book really picked up for me in those parts.
I found the section at the back of the book that collected the affirmations featured in earlier chapters useful and will refer to it often. In fact, I wish they were published as a separate book.
by Martha Southgate
The cure for anything is salt water-
sweat, tears, or the sea.
These words by Isak Dinesen begin The Taste of Salt and I don't think I've ever seen a quote used more appropriately. All three play roles in this family story mostly about how addiction affects the members - users and non-users.
Josie Henderson has always been drawn to the sea. Even when the only body of water she could get to was a river in her hometown of Cleveland. Growing up as the daughter of an alcoholic, Josie left home as soon as she was able and created a life for herself as a marine scientist, one of the few black women in her field. But when her younger brother Tick, an addict himself, is released from yet another rehab, the past that she has worked so hard to put behind her comes rushing back. Josie is forced to face her own addictions and the fragility of the marriage that she is in.
One of the reasons that I love Martha Southgate's works, is that she is a master at relating the subleties of family dynamics and she also writes about issues of race in a compelling and thoughtful way. Her decision to make Josie a scientist made me really happy. You don't see black women (or men, for that matter) portrayed in novels in fields of study like science. Loved it.
I also recommend you read one of my favorites by Southgate, Third Girl From the Left.
by Common (with Adam Bradley)
Even though he is not quite 40, Common has written a thoughtful account of his life so far. He covers his growing up in Chicago, the decision to leave college to pursue his rap career, diversifying into acting, and his much publicized love life.
What really makes this book shine is his mother's input (she really should have been listed as co-author) and the letters that Common writes to loved ones at the beginning of each chapter. I loved that throughout the book as he shares his life journey and the decisions he made, his mother writes about her reaction to those different points in his life. Also, the letters he writes frame the subject matter of each chapter to give you more insight into what is about to be told. The book begins and ends with letters to the reader and includes others to his mother, father, Kanye West, Erykah Badu, his deceased cousin Ajile and others. I thought that was a great choice.
I would normally recommend a book like this to young men in high school and college because Common is really candid about his growth as a person, flaws and all. The only thing holding me back is that he is also quite open about his sexual history, so discretion must be used.
by Elle
This is the second book in the 3-part series that the author refers to as "mature erotica". And I have to say that as a woman of a certain age, I am really enjoying them.
Aleesa (who was also in the first book, The I.O.U) is missing her husband, Walter, a dentist on reserve duty in Afghanistan. To deal with the frustration of him being away, she has created a journal of her sexual fantasies and wants to gift it to him when he returns. She also breaks out of her comfort zone by doing a sexy photo shoot to enhance the journal.
But the Walter that returns homes is not the same man that left her months ago. This man is impotent and emotionally unavailable and pushes her away when she tries to comfort him. He discovers Aleesa's journal, and feeling guilty about not being able to give her what she wants, offers her a gift: 48 hours to live out a fantasy she has written about, with someone other than him.
Elle does a great job of broaching the subject of women's sexuality as they get older, while also teaching us about the trauma of war and what our veteran's bring home home with them. It was a complex journey that Aleesa and Walter embarked on, but it was never boring and still really hot!
by Tananarive Due
Fana Wolde has come to a crossroads. As an immortal who possesses healing blood and telepathic powers, she must decide whether she wants to continue helping the world or fulfilling a promise to her prophesied soulmate and fiance, Michel. Healing is not a priority for Michel, who would rather use his gifts to rid the world of those he doesn't feel worthy. Complicating matters further is mortal Johnny Wright, Fana's friend and comrade in healing, who is hopelessly in love with her and vehemently opposed to her union with Michel.
If you know me then it goes without saying that I loved this book, as I am a huge fan of Tananarive Due and everything she writes. This is the latest entry in the Living Blood series that tells of the immortal Life Brothers whose story begins in the book My Soul to Keep. Every book in this series is a page turner, but My Soul to Take is also enjoyable as a stand-alone if you haven't read the others. Enriching the story more is the appearance of Phoenix, a character from another one of Due's awesome books, Joplin's Ghost.
