Vonn

PERFECTION

Revisado: 02-04-25

Joan Vassar's "Sweet Honesty” is a gem of a novel, set in the tumultuous 1950s, and is a heartfelt exploration of love in its many forms. From the innocent and pure to the strong and secure, the narrative captures the essence of what it means to truly love and be loved in a world of challenges. "Sweet Honesty" is more than just a love story; it's a tapestry woven with threads of authenticity, vulnerability, and resilience.

The story skillfully transitions the narrative from a same-sex romance to a broader awareness of personal growth and overcoming obstacles. As I read, the story became less about two males and more about the love between two individuals that encourages readers to embrace love in all its forms and challenges societal perceptions about acceptance.

The emotional depth, raw openness, passionate sensuality, and eroticism shows honest and beautiful toe curling sex scenes, belonging, devotion and the innocence of exploring life through new experiences is captivating, drawing readers into their world.

Joan Vassar's storytelling exceeds expectations, creating a rare and cherished bond between Michael and Alexander that resonates deeply. If you're looking for a book that not only entertains but also inspires and challenges you to think differently about love and relationships, "Sweet Honesty" is a must-read. Let it sweep you off your feet. It's a love-infused journey that will leave you wishing for a world as accepting and beautiful as the one depicted in the book. Trust me, you won't be able to put it down!

The narration:
Sean Crisden, Sir, your flowers have arrived 🌸💐🌺🌷🌼. Your performance is stellar, you have effortlessly spoken emotion and passion into these character and this story. Bravo!

Trei Taylor, Ma’am, I have been a fan and although your parts were small, this performance you gave was big. Your tone and passion put into the women portrayed the love, protection and emotion beautifully. I hope you will be the female voice for “Bitter Sweet” so your star can shine brighter.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

I’m taking a nap right now…

Revisado: 05-16-24

I love Love Love this story. This book was the perfect escape into a romantic fantasy that had me entranced from the beginning to the very end. It’s sexy, erotic, invigorating, empowering and shocking with a good plot twist.

I love how the story took me on a journey and was shocked to learn of its intent by reading Ryan rid herself forced choices and expectancy. She instead took a chance on herself with questions and no regrets with Will.

Will was like the one you see in a crowded room and everyone fads so it’s just the two of you. He’s the right kind right. He poured into Ryan’s entire being, allowing her to flourish as herself without any pretense. He was the guide to take Ryan to her promised land of milk and honey where everything is right on time showing her how a woman should be treated by him. He truly is the dream.

This was a really good story that’s make you feel hopeful, it’s just what dreams are made of. The narration was pretty amazing as Wesleigh and Winston performed beautifully.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A MUST…

Revisado: 12-19-23

Debut Author Ebony Evans Tells an Emotional Story of Finding One's Way. Her first novel Dead To Me is an unapologetic and emotionally charged journey of self-discovery as the main character, Ivory Jones navigates a world that is falling apart around her. Despite the chaos, Ivory manages to find herself in the end.

Initially, I was skeptical of the title, but after reading the book it made my eyes misty as it pulled at my heart. The story is full of lies, deceit, abuse, abandonment, and longing. However, it is also a tale of love, strength, perseverance, support, and acceptance.

Ivory Jones is going through a rough patch in her life. Death metaphorically and physically surrounds her, abandonment has left her alone wanting and needing, confusion has her questioning everything and everyone around her, while worry, anger, and grief has caused her to become undone as she struggles to accept losing one of the most important people in her life that filled her heart with joy. Her mother and brother treat her terribly, but Ivory's husband Charles is her rock, always there to support her when she needs it and him most. This man deserves a metal!

This story is a must-read. It has everything from secrets and lies to mental abuse and abandonment, all wrapped up in a suspenseful mystery. Evans' storytelling ability and her depictions of animosity, mistrust, hurt, and pain are incredibly realistic. She portrays a broken family that never healed due to jealousy, pride, hurt, secrets, lies, and an inability to communicate. The characters feel personal and very real, leaving a lasting impact on the me. Overall, I would definitely read this story again and eagerly anticipate the next book from this talented author.

The narration was nothing short of AH-MA-ZING. Nicole Small; Don Alexander and Shakira Ayer performed the heart, passion and emotion into these characters. This is an absolute must listen.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

IGNITEd

Revisado: 11-26-23

In the hands of the masterful Joan Vassar, "IGNITE" is a time-traveling journey to a land steeped in history, where details of Georgia's landscape and culture is brought to life. With a deft touch, Vassar weaves a tale that is both poignant and suspenseful, drawing the reader into a world of danger, passion, and revenge with this profound, prolific and powerful story that had me captivated from beginning to end.

Truck's determination and desperation to navigate the Jim Crow south to save his family’s land and his unwavering love for Josie, despite her troubles, is a compelling testament to the power of love in the face of adversity. Josie's own struggles are equally engaging, as she learns to trust in herself and in the love of another. While Corn is working through his own self discovery. Life is challenging enough trying to survive and the odds are not in their favor until the odds favor them and they take matters into their own hands.

This emotional and heartfelt story is seductive, suspenseful, and engaging. The plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat. The emotions that run through the story are palpable, and the angst of the characters is both heartbreaking and warming. These characters' journeys had me invested in their story that gets more intense, dangerous and deadly as you read.

The narration by JD Jackson was an enthralling experience. He delivered the true essence of each character bringing them to life with an unparalleled talent. He embodies the crux of each character's unique spirit breathing life into every word spoken and truly becomes the voice of each persona.

"IGNITE" is a mesmerizing work of fiction.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

I the Moth and this book is the flame!

Revisado: 09-03-23

I have so much I can say but I’ll say this, we read with an adult mindset whose already experienced the traumas and tragedies of life, love responsibility and loss and have learned how to SURVIVE them. Those lessons never leave us and guides us through life and as annoying as Raven was, she doesn’t have these tools. Yes, she was young, spoiled, inexperienced and used to having and getting everything she wanted. I give her grace because she was ill equipped to handle the life she begrudgingly chose unaware of the detriment that would be her new normal and her downfall. My heart went out to her because of everything she endured whether her decision was smart, dumb, right or wrong you cannot negate that she was
abused and trained to cater to her oppressor to do that thing humans do….SURVIVE in their captivity!

She knew and had nothing and no one else except Mizan who tortured her with mental and physical seclusion, intimidation, threats, and inflicted abuse to her entire being for 5 years. He stole her innocence, her voice and her choice by making her dependent on him for everything controlling her every move. I couldn’t imagine enduring this. I think she tried to survive the only way she knew how and the only thing she had was air to breathe and he controlled that too by letting her live.

Mizan is the devils spawn. He was evil from the moment he stepped on the scene plotting and scheming. Everything about him was dark and I don’t think I’ve ever read a more diabolical sinister character such as he. He belongs in the pitts of book hell! He was the worst character I’ve ever read in my life and his death was too easy. I needed to read him suffer. I needed him to be tortured till death knocked and peaked its head in, healed him and tortured his azz again!!!

Ethic, well Ethic is as my friend Patrese says, a tortured soul and never wanted this life for life, but the life never let him go. He’s a menace because he has to be when he has to be and unlike Mizan, Ethic had a conscience. He wears two faces because life has left him with loss, guilt, anger, resentment and pain and with all that he takes the responsibility to raise 3 kids who need him and like him and their mothers, have no one else. Time affords him nothing but the convenience to continue on with living the best he can.

MTAF was an enticingly good drama full story that shockingly depicted what life with a psychotic DD can be like. Raven lost the person she thought she was and wanted to be and became someone she didn’t recognize as herself. There were times I was in disbelief, shock, anger, and frustrated and others I felt compassion and faith that everything would work out. This story depicted violence that was so sad to read, but was so intricate to the storyline. These scene had me ready to scream and it was emotionally taxing, but it’s also what makes a good story great. To evoke this many emotions says a lot. The ending was so incredibly sad. My heart cried for Ethic as he ran to try and stop the unstoppable and now he has to live with guilt for life!!! That scene played out like a movie and Nicole Small made me feel it! I now understand who, what, where and why and Ethic 1 makes sense to me now.

I really did like this story, it was deep, and heavy, impactful, engaging, tormenting, suspenseful, and dramatic and penetrated my psyche with characters I’ll never forget. In it’s craziness it also showed passion and the vulnerability one has to show in order to be seen and loved. Ashley Antoinette wrote the hell out of this story giving soul stirring characters and scenes. A definite 5 star recommended must!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

I. AM. SHOOKETH!

Revisado: 08-17-23

What did I just read!
What the fawk did I just read!!
Very rarely does a book gives me tingles and this one did. This story took me deep in the lives of these characters where I am setting up residence and looking for a house cause I’m here to stay!

At first glance Ethic is the bad guy with good in him or the good guy with bad in him. He’s done some hellacious things to get to where he is in life, but the softer side of him allows him to be an amazing parent to his children and to a teenager who is not his blood, but challenges his patience at every opportunity. He affords them with the best of everything in life they could want for and yet it’s still not enough. He opens up to love that is rooted in secrets and pulls at his conscious to give in or let go and when he gives in and let’s go, it’s catastrophic mentally and physically!

Alani is devastated. She has lost everything that held her heart in one piece and has no one to turn to, rely on, or can understand except herself. When she met Ethic, he is literally an angel sent by God for her, I was shocked and almost threw this iPad learning how his life actually intertwines with hers.

Morgan is a spoiled, ungrateful and confused teenager who wants to grow up too fast, but I couldn’t blame her, it’s how she was raised…wealthy! She doesn’t understand the dangers she’s being protected from and uses her disability to her benefit and her detriment. She doesn’t use her voice and the one time I wish she did, she remained silent, not that it would’ve changed the outcome, but what happens to her is God awful and I cringed reading it. My heart went out to her and wasn’t sure how she’d get through it. Morgan learns all too well that being an adult is harder than she anticipated, but her infatuation for a man will change how she moves next.

Messiah is torn between loyalty and love. He is straight hood, a nukka from the streets who live and will die by the code and for the one he loves. He tried hard to stay away, but desire wins and now he’s faced with his decision to live in his truth cause when that Love Jones hit…it’s a muthafucka!

Pain has no floor or no ceiling, it goes in and on until you find the strength to force it to stop. The depth of hurt and guilt, was so evident this story. It was so dam sad, but so thrilling, engaging and suspenseful that I couldn’t put the book down reading how these characters are all dealing with their own demons but are connected through tragedy that binds them for together for life.

The way Ashley Antoinette tells this story is nothing short of brilliant writing. I felt like I was invading in on family secrets as everything unfolds. This story is amazing and I’m still digesting the the plot twists, secrets, and drama unfolding in my head and excited to get to book 2.

iiKane performed the entire f**k out of this story. I felt all the emotion and passion she put into her performance and it made an amazing story so much more than a story.

Ethic is an absolute must read. An absolute must!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

P.O.

Revisado: 05-14-23

The words “no” and ‘you can’t” is told to children that it becomes imbedded in their memory, their, vocabulary, and their speech so much they believe they shouldn’t try or can’t do something. This story shows and teaches confidence and assurance to try is not a fail, it permits children the ability to learn they can do whatever they set their minds to, to try to accomplish. It’s a powerful message to motivate children and adults. It’s speaks and foster positivity in oneself instead of creating doubt and fear which is something children carry all of their lives. Let’s motivate and encourage positivity in our children and let that be what they speak all of their lives.

Mary J. Blige did a good job narrating.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A beautiful lesson for all ages

Revisado: 03-16-23

My eyes waters and a few tears fell within one minute of this thirteen minute story. The author takes you to a place of heartbreak for Sulwe who wanted to be something other than what God made her. Sulwe didn’t want her dark skin and the things she did to get rid of it hurt me to my heart, but when she meets of the sisters Day and Night, she learns the importance of loving herself. When Day told Night: “when you are darkest is when you are most beautiful, it’s when you are most you”, is when Sulwe realizes she doesn’t need to change, she is beautiful inside and out and had been all along.

It saddens me when our Black and Brown children (and adults) do not know or understand the beauty that is them, the beauty that is their skin, and the beauty they hold within. This was such a sweet and emotional story. The words and depiction were so beautifully articulated and inspiring building self confidence to love yourself for who you are.

The illustration in this book was absolutely amazing and the narration by Lupita Nyong’o brought it home. Her tone and inflections were warm, patient, and kind. A perfect voice of narration that felt like a lullaby. I highly suggest this for children and adults. I listened to it three times and it’s a beautiful beautiful beautiful story.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Very Inspiring

Revisado: 01-16-23

This was a beautiful ode to little Black girls. There are so many Black children who do not have anyone to teach them and instill self confidence. Children who may feel left out or different because they may dream a different dream. Well this story speaks to all of these attributes into little Black girls. It perfectly emphasizes the importance of proudness, strength, courage, and staying true to themselves. It was an insightful, inspiring and meaningful poem encouraging Black girls that they can become anyone and do anything they dream, to never allow anyone to discourage that dream and for a child to hear these uplifting words, it would give them courage and determination that could change their lives forever.

As an adult, I felt empowered listening to these inspirational words and would encourage parents, teachers and anyone who loves a child, to listen to this with their children because it is essential that little Black children learn how uniquely special and important they truly are.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Where do I sign up for 1985???

Revisado: 01-04-23

This story gave me “back down memory lane” feelings of my youth chasing ice cream trucks, roller skating, sitting on stoops and first love butterflies jitters at a time when youth was innocent. But that’s where it stops. Tracy and Africa have that kind of love that is passionate, potent, addictive and necessary and they took me on an emotional journey that was so well written detailing a complex and tortuous unapologetic love that refused to be denied regardless of time.

The timing, placements, scenarios and characters have purpose, meaning and cause as their involvements gave significance, accountability and value making this story much more powerful and impactful forging a presence in Tracy and Africa’s lives explaining these entangled relationships that propelled the story forward.

Their environment and social norms displayed construct and test the boundaries of family, friends, situations, relationships and each other. I became immersed reading the exemplification of what determination, persistence, strength, courage and living in your truth looks like when people and situations make choices and life complicated like a thunderous storm that always seemed to rain on them, soaking them in challenge after challenge.

Tracy was the consummate protector, provider and dussy slayer. I mean he slayed and conquered! He was intense yet patient and gentle. He was clear, sure and made no apologies showing his love with an urgency as important as taking his next breath, while Africa felt guilt and confusion but found strength in her truth and in him allowing her to open to him and show that she was willing. They complemented and completed each other, she was his beginning and he was her end and it was a beautiful reading ride.

Author Joan Vassar’s writing for me is like an outer body experience where I mentally float and become immersed in the story as if I were a participant. If you want to float, Loving Africa is the one to take you higher. A remarkable love story I highly recommend.
Read the book and you’ll see who’s, Loving Africa.

The narration…whew, the narration by Wesleigh Siobhan and Jakobi Diem was performed…Not read…but performed. They get a chefs French Kiss 😘

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña