hillysreads's Reviews (381)

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and LOVED it. The beginning of the book introduces the curious, determined and intellectual MC, Ady. She had a close and loving relationship with her mother, Sanite; their connection was beautiful, and they were inseparable. Sanite was a strong-willed woman who longed to be free.

The book takes place in New Orleans right before the civil war breaks out. The author did a fantastic job with the book's setting, transporting me back to the time period of the Civil War. Ady and Sanite are sold to a ugly, horrible man. They end up running away to escape the horrors of slavery and the suffering of living under their owner. But unfortunately, they are captured and separated. During their separation, Ady must learn how to survive independently. She does so remembering everything her mother taught her.

Ady meets a freedwoman, Lenore, who introduces her to the secret circle of spies whose primary goal is to undermine the Confederates. Once they meet, their connection is fire

Omg

The book starts off a little slow; I was confused with where the story was going for the first 50-or-so pages (I’m impatient lol) until the story picks up and the action starts. I enjoyed the dual perspective between Antonio Sorono in the late 1890s and his grandson in the 1960s. The story follows Antonio Sorono as he sets off to Texas to make money to save his family from poverty and runs into A LOT of trouble along the way. Finding out what the Bullet Swallower meant was….fascinating and horrifying at the same time. Antonio’s grandson, Jamie, unravels his family history and finds some interesting facts and stories about his family that his father has kept secret.

The Bullet Swallower is an action-packed story

Oh my goodness. I LOVED this book so much. It was OH so good. I didn’t want it to end!

Ricki Wilde aka Richard Wilde is the youngest of her three sisters and is different from everyone in her family. She wants to follow her own dreams rather than work at her father’s funeral business like her sisters & her family doesn’t like or agree with that. Ricki meets this elderly woman names Della who lives in Harlem and they instantly have a connection. Ricki moves from Atlanta to Harlem to start her own business however, her family doesn’t believe in her.

Once Ricki moves to Harlem, she meets Tuesday and they instantly become best friends. As Ricki is starting up her flower shop (which I absolutely LOVE btw) she meets this mysterious man named Ezra. They instantly have a strong connection like every part of the universe pulls them together. Ezra is like a mystery that Ricki (and me) needed to solve. The mysterious Ezra kept me INVESTED in the story.

I don’t want to give to much away because I feel like this book can easily be spoiled but the connection between Ricki snd Ezra was fire