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The Balance Finder: The Essence of God’s Perspective on Achieving Balance by Sherrice Thomas

Title: The Balance Finder: The Essence of God’s Perspective on Achieving Balance

Author: Sherrice Thomas

Rating: 4

Headline: Spiritually Balance Your Life!

Sherrice Thomas has written a practical guide on how to balance all of the priorities in a busy woman’s life. This guide is very informative and straight-to-the point, and it uses spiritual guidance to drive the point home. Thomas uses reflective exercises, famous quotes, as well as Biblical verses to help the reader filter through the busyness and clutter that fills their life. My favorite chapter was: A Strength Exchange because it focuses on how to let go of baggage and how to make room for all that God has in store for you.

This book was provided by the author for review purposes.

Dreams Thrown Away by Saunders Bailey

Title: Dreams Thrown Away

Author: Dilsa Saunders Bailey

Rating: 5

Headline: What a Debut!

Dreams Thrown is the story of Kalina Harris. She is getting ready to head off to college when her father, who is a preacher, murders her mother and then commits suicide. Kalina has no other family in town so she is sent to live with an aunt in Philadelphia. Kalina’s life takes another unfortunate turn and she is forced to live on the streets alone.

While trying to survive, Kalina meets one of the Banks’ men who takes her home and cleans her up. The patriarch of the family, 74-year-old Jordan, takes Kalina into his home with the intention of transforming her from a young girl into a sophisticated woman. Jordan develops feelings for Kalina, but she only has eyes for one of his married grandsons. Kalina believes she is living the good life, until her dream world turns into a nightmare.

Bailey has truly written a unique story with full-developed characters. Even though I have never been in the same situation as Kalina, I could identity with the feelings of love, pain, deceit, and the journey to get to happy. Dreams Thrown Away is a definite page turner and worthy of the 5 stars.

This book was provided by the author for review purposes.

Satan's Sisters by Star Jones

Title: Satan’s Sisters

Author: Star Jones

Rating: 5

Headline: Is This Art Imitating Real Life?

When I first read the jacket for “Satan’s Sisters” I thought Star Jones was still a bitter ex-host of a daytime talk show. As many know, she was one of the original hosts for the daytime talk show, “The View” who was essentially fired. “Satan’s Sisters” is work of fiction that is centered on a daytime talk show that is hosted by five women.

Much to my surprise and maybe to others disappointment, this is NOT about “The View.” Readers will be sorely mistaken if they attempt to match some of the book’s characters with real-life people. The drama unfolds when it is announced that a former co-host has written a tell-all about the women of “The Lunch Club.” Drama, demons, addictions, and betrayal are all brought to light as each page unfolds.

“Satan’s Sisters” is full of substance as each character’s story is told in depth and there are plots on top of other plots. I read this book in one sitting as I could not put it down. Star Jones has a true talent for writing and I hope that she will continue to share her gift with us.

The Next Best Thing by Deidre Berry

Title: The Next Best Thing

Author: Deidre Berry

Rating: 5

Headline: Wonderful Debut by Berry!

Tori Carter seemed to have the perfect life. She was the senior event coordinator at the most successful event management firm in Kansas City and about to have the wedding of her dreams with the price tag of over $200K. Tori’s dream life came to screeching halt when Roland, her fiancé, did not show up at the church and runs off with another woman who happens to be the mother of his secret daughter.

Deidre Berry commanded my attention from the very first page to the last while experiencing Tori’s journey. Once she decides to reenter to dating scene, it is filled with horrible dates that provide plenty of laughter. But, one night Tori has dinner with her neighbor Nelson and she begins to wonder if her romantic life will finally turn around.

“The Next Best Thing” is full of humor and the characters are very relatable. I read this book in one sitting. Deidre Berry is definitely the real deal.  I look forward to reading more from Berry in what will hopefully be a long career.

The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship: A Toltec Wisdom Book

Title: The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship: A Toltec Wisdom Book

Author: Don Miguel Ruiz

Rating: 5

Headline: One of the Best Books I’ve ever Read

Just like his more well-known work, “The Four Agreements,” Ruiz knocks it out of the park. While the book states it is about relationships it is mainly focused on the relationship with oneself. The main concept of this book is that if you are not able to forgive, love and respect yourself then you cannot do those things to others and cannot expect others to do so unto you. “The Mastery of Love” really forces the reader to take a long, hard look in the mirror. Ruiz will make you stare your imperfections directly in the face and make you “remember you can only heal your half.”

The End Justifies the Means

Title: The End Justifies the Means

Author: T.H. Moore

Rating: 4

Headline: Easy to Get In, Hard to Get Out!

T.H. Moore has written a book that literally jumps off the pages with imagery and emotion. “The End Justifies the Means” is such a breath of fresh air from the typical urban crime book. The reader is introduced to the main character Jalen, when he is a young boy and he saw his father beat his mother on a regular basis. A tragedy occurs and Jalen and his mother relocate to her hometown of Camden, New Jersey.

As a teen, Jalen is regularly beat up and brutalized because he had made the choice to focus on his academics and leading a “straight” life rather than joining the drug game. Jalen’s older cousin, Kevin, looks out and protects him since he does have street credibility. Kevin is a drug dealer but once his girlfriend becomes pregnant he realizes he wants a better life for him and his family. Kevin decides to join the Camden police academy.

Jalen helps Kevin turn his illegal money into legal money in various real estate ventures. But, Jalen’s world is once again turned upside down when Kevin is shot. Moore then takes us, the readers, into an adventure to see if Jalen will continue to life his life on the straight and narrow or will he succumb to the family “business.”

Very well done T.H. Moore!

This book was provided by the author for review purposes.