Who Will You Trust? Kindle Edition by Niki Jilvontae

Book Excerpt:

"Who Will you trust when it seems the entire world is against you? Who Will you believe in when they say they got you yet no one ever has? Kamya Anthony, a ten-year-old who has been in the system all of her life, is asked that question each day. Even after years of physical, mental, sexual, and psychological abuse at the hands of the horrible adults in her life, caseworkers at DCFS & her psychiatrist still have the audacity to ask her that question. Too bad, they won’t like the answer to the question when the mute little girl finally speaks. That’s when Kamya Will exacts her revenge in an ingenious, methodical way and leaves those who hurt her searching for the answer to that essential question...Who Will YOU Trust?"

Title: Who Will You Trust
Author: Niki Jilvontae
Publisher: Niki Jilvontae Presents
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Who Will You Trust" by Niki Jilvontae

My Speculation:

My, my, my what a read about what can on our crazy system. It was a hard read, just imagining children being placed into a system where they had already endured 'raping, molesting, and just all kinds of physical and mental abuse. And this had happened time and time again, after the child has already endured so much in their lives, really letting one understand just 'Who Will You Trust' as it was for Kamya. Will this kind of evilness ever stop? Well, from this story, karma came for all of them. Definitely, there is a lot of healing that needs to be done, and hopefully, Ms. Austin will be there for Kamya and Maddie. I wasn't sure about that ending because it seems like there may be a little more to come from this story; as you know, this author will give it all to us.

The Price of Dreams: Faith & Fortune 3 Kindle Edition by Toni Shiloh

Book Excerpt:

"Ballet has always been my life, but one terrible moment may have destroyed everything I’ve worked so hard for—especially my title of Octavia Ricci, principal ballerina. I thought for sure my physical therapist, Dr. Noah Wright, could help me obtain my dream once more, but he wants more than I’m prepared to give.

I’ve seen firsthand the trials of interracial relationships. I’m a product of one myself and promised I’d never put my hopefully-someday kids through that drama. Everyone keeps telling me to let go of other people’s expectations, but I’m just not sure I can. Besides, if my dreams of returning to ballet are futile, what hope is there in seeking unconditional love?"

The Price of Dreams is the third and final book in the Christian Chick Lit series: Faith & Fortune.

Title: The Price of Dreams
Author: Toni Shiloh
Publisher: T.S.
Series: Faith & Fortune Book 3
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"The Price of Dreams" by Toni Shiloh

The Speculation:

I have enjoyed this whole series of Faith & Fortune being so well-written by this author. As in this one, the stories all seem so real and relatable in this interracial relationship as it was for Octavia and Noah. It was so good seeing Octavia finally getting a lover in her life. With an African American mom and a white Italian dad, one could see her thoughts as the truth will come out; where did this really affect her parent's marriage? It was great seeing how Octavia's faith deepen as she gets closer to God with her many thoughts in wanting to please him. So from Octavia's injury and healing, the new relationship with Noah, a new job, and God in her life, how will this all turn out for them? This is where I will say you will have to pick up "The Price of Dreams" to see how well this heartwarming romance will turn out.

Sweet on You by Carla de Guzman

 Book Excerpt:

"All’s fair in love and prank wars

For barista and café owner Sari Tomas, Christmas means parols, family, and no-holds-barred karaoke contests. This year, though, a new neighbor is throwing a wrench in all her best-laid plans. The baker next door—“some fancy boy from Manila”—might have cute buns, but when he tries to poach her customers with cheap coffee and cheaper tactics, the competition is officially on.

And Baker Boy better is ready because Sari never loses.

Foodie extraordinaire Gabriel Capras wants to prove to his dad that his career choice doesn’t make him any less a man. The Laneways might not be Manila, but the close-knit community is the perfect spot to grow his bakery into a thriving business. He wasn’t expecting a gorgeous adversary in the barista next door, but flirting with her makes his heart race, and it’s not just the caffeine.

Its winner takes all this Christmas. And more than one competitor might just lose their heart for the holidays."

Title: Sweet On You
Author: Carla de Guzman
Publisher: Carina Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Sweet on You" by Carla de Guzman

My Speculation:

I like how this author presents 'Sweet on You' that features Sari, a coffee expert, and Gabriel [Gab] being a baker extraordinaire of main sweets. I loved the food descriptions. I like how the romance started for these two with prank wars but ended up quite different as the story continued as these two began to falls for each other. What was somewhat surprising was that 'they took only three days to fall for each other. The secondary characters, especially the siblings, really helped bring out the story to the reader. I enjoyed the country of the Philippines that was represented and the culture that was well presented. By the end of the read, the reader will be presented with a 'sweet romance, Christmas Cheer, along with some delicious food.'

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sweet Girls Kindle Edition by S.I. Hayes

Book Excerpt:

"You should always trust your instincts…

Three Best friends out for the weekend, a party that seemed innocent enough. Then everything goes terribly wrong. Makenzie (Mack) Leighton is a Los Angeles cop whose private and personal lives have just collided.
One friendly in a hospital bed while the other is missing. The target of a sexual sadist and serial rapist that the F.B.I. has been trailing for more than a year.
Now she must contend with Special Agents on her turf and getting in the way of her investigation.
Time is of the essence as The Photographer has never taken a victim before, and they have no idea how long Alley Masters has left."

*Trigger warning

**Erotic Elements

*** Graphic Violence
 

Title: Sweet Girls
Author: S. I. Hayes
Publisher: S.I.H.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Sweet Girls" by S. I. Hayes

My Speculation:

"Sweet Girls" may have been a short story, but it really was an intriguing story that will keep your attention turning the pages to see what was coming next for Alley, Mack, and Heather. We find these three ladies just wanted to have a fun weekend, but after meeting up with some guys at a club, their lives will never be the same in what they endured. Be ready for many twists and turns, along with a romance, mystery, sexual sadist, and let's not leave out the suspense. Will these friends get the help that they needed before it is too late for them? Check out this read. I will say it isn't for the faint of heart reader.

To Steal a Dream (The Dream Series Book 1) Kindle Edition by Amber G.

 Book Excerpt:

"All he needed was someone to steal his heart.

Overworked and fed up, William King takes a long overdue vacation.
Wanting some much-needed R&R, William is ready to let loose. When he sees her, Steal Dream, he thinks his mind is playing tricks on him. How could they both be in Antigua at the same time?
And yes, Steal, his childhood friend, is all grown up and threatening to make William love again.

Steal welcomes her time away at a work conference as a distraction to get over her college beau and his childish ways. When she runs into William, Steal decides she’s ready for a real man. However, when she gets home, her ex decides he’s not prepared to call it quits.

Will William and Steal fall back into old ways when they return home or take a chance on new love?"

Title: To Steal a Dream
Author: Amber G.
Publisher: A. G.
Series: The Dream Series Book 1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"To Steal a Dream" by Amber G.

My Speculation:

I enjoyed reading 'To Steal a Dream' by this author because I wanted to know more about William King. He was the one that didn't get the girl that he was in love with from another novel, but True got her instead. However, William did remain close friends with Chance.

The story will keep your interest as you are kept turning the pages to see what's coming next as William meets up with an old childhood friend, Steal, while on vacation. Now, I will say that Steal had a story of herself that will keep you wanting to know more about her, especially with her ex and her mother. It was great seeing William find someone to love since it did not happen for him with Chance. With Steal always having had feelings for William since childhood, their story couldn't be any better seeing how this author brings these two together. This was just one beautiful story of what can happen when two people who were now adults after meeting again discover the love they have for one other.

Will these two get their HEA? I don't want to say too much more about this story other than saying you must pick 'To Steal a Dream' and see how well this author brings it all out to the readers.

Burning Bridges Kindle Edition by J. Brinkley

 Book Excerpt:

"Life in the fast lane is more than making money: It’s a gamble between life and death. Brecee Monroe has never had it easy. As the son of a drug dealer living out a life sentence in prison and a mother who can’t find the good in him, he struggles to compete with his oldest brother, who is successful and the light of his mother’s eye. Even though he’s deeply flawed, he’s still loved by his girlfriend Naudia, the daughter of one of Manhattan’s most prominent socialites. Brecee’s lack of purpose comes to a halt when one of the biggest drug dealers, Fredricko, takes him under his wing. The money comes in fast, and Brecee is on top of the world. That is until he gets arrested. Once in prison, Brecee is forced to make amends with his estranged father and comes to terms with how his decisions have hurt the people he loved most. Burning Bridges encapsulates a story of a triumph and inner faith. Will Brecee move beyond the grief and painful recollections of a father-son relationship torn apart by the very streets that are threatening to engulf him? Or will he deal with his inner demons and overcome the call of the streets?"

Title: Burning Bridges
Author: J. Brinkley
Publisher: V.O.M.A. PUBLICATIONS
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"Burning Bridges" by J. Brinkley

My Speculation:

As I read through "Burning Bridges," I found the read somewhat sad in what had all happened in Brecee Monroe's life. I found in understanding what all had gone down in Brecee past with his father going to prison at an early age and his mom and brother trying to keep him on the straight and narrow; however, he decided to go another path that leads into the same prison that his father was in. I could understand why his mother and brother were suspicious of Brecee because he has always let them down in one form or another. All that was left for him to do was prove not only to them but also to himself that he had changed. This happens in so many families that have been put through it all, and they can become sick and tired of his mess. I wasn't left feeling sorry one bit for Brecee, just because he now wanted to read his father's letters. They had been offered to him to read many times, and he refused to do so. Hopefully, as he matures, maybe he will understand why his mother felt the way she had? It wasn't because she didn't love him; it's just after being hurt so much not only by her husband but to have a son do the same would make any person stop and say enough. Maybe with his book writing and his father's love, he will get what he needs out of his life. Sometimes when you burn your bridges, they are hard to go back in.

Kidnapped: A Crime Of Passion Kindle Edition by J. Brinkley

 Book Excerpt:

"After years of working for the government as an agent handling high-security clearance information, Blair Thompson is on the verge of changing both hers and the lives of everyone around her. Stricken with empathy and grief over the corruptness and ill-treatment of the public, Blair is prepared to spill government secrets that will change the future's fate. Before she can reveal these secrets, Blair is kidnapped and held hostage by her own agency. After being threatened to not spill government secrets, Blair Thompson begins to develop feelings for one of her kidnappers, Koda - one of the few to show her mercy in her situation. Despite the two working for opposing sides of belief, they meet in the middle and seize the opportunity to make a great escape. Through the midst of intense fights and betrayal, forbidden justice and love are found in unforeseen places."

Title: Kidnapped: A Crime of Passion
Author: J. Brinkley
Publisher: V.O.M.A. PUBLICATIONS
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Kidnapped" by J. Brinkley

My: Speculation:

"Kidnapped" will leave one feeling somewhat in awe with all that went on in the story. Could this really happen in today's world? In seeing what happened with Blair Thompson, who worked for the government, one could see this situation becoming a fact. The story really makes one think a lot about what is going on now in our world 2020. This was a different kind of read that I hadn't read by this author, but I did enjoy this mystery, thriller, and suspense of it all.