** spoiler alert ** The anger that I feel for Valerie is beyond this world. I just can’t believe how harsh she was because she was forced to marry someone that she didn’t love. She refuses to let people be happy and live their lives. She used her beauty and her stature to manipulate her. The trouble she put Nina through made me want to throw the book across the room so many times.

Valerie had an entire HUSBAND and checking on Hector?? Make it make sense. The math ain’t mathing. You (Valerie) dismissed him (Hector) sis! You said you didn’t want him. He kept telling you “Valerie, I want that old thang back.” However, you said nope! Then when he was officially over you, you sabotage his love to Nina? You didn’t want him fall in love with Nina so much that you thought if you three him a cake that he would change his mind?? Sis! I can’t….

And Luke! Don’t get me started on Luke. Luke was Valerie’s puppet that was so blinded by his arrogance, greed, and trash behavior.

The wayyyyyy Valerie husband packed her bags sent me! Yasss! I don’t always believe in divorce but if the shoe fits. Yass! Then he told her to pray about it!! Ma’ammm the shade. I was here for it. Here for it all!

Wow Silva, you never disappoint to get me into the emotions of the characters and having me wanting to fight AT LEAST one of the male characters.

The way Nina was treated was so heartbreaking. I just really wanted her to turn evil a little bit and get her revenge. She was too sweet for this world. I am glad my thoughts of Hector changed because he almost got these literary hands as well. Also, why couldn’t Hector marry who he wanted? He may have not had a name as a “beautiful one” but he had coins??? The decorum of this time never cease to amaze me. Which is why I always turn to one of my favorite genres, Historical Fiction. I live for the drama in Historical fiction novels.
 

 
** spoiler alert ** Okay this is second time writing this review. I wrote it the first time and it all deleted.

This book was a book that was apart of me and my granny’s book club. This book has a few trigger warning that I will include at the bottom of this review.

This book has a few POVs. While reading I did not find the jumping of POV hard to understand or difficult to follow. The POVs that are worth mentioning are Thelma (young Black woman), Luther (young Black man), and George (young white man). You follow the story of how their lives become intertwined.

Luther and Thelma are siblings. However, Luther is angry, rightfully so and Thelma is more forgiving. Thelma’s forgiving nature could be due to her role as a Black woman in her community. However, Luther is about that life and do not care for White folks at all.

When Thelma and Luther were children. Their father was lynched by a white man who was upset with their father for not selling him the biggest pig in the town. Their father was also wealthy and had a car. The white men in the town could not phantom a N-word living well. So they killed his father and invited the town to see. We know things like this is true and has been historically documented. Specifically with the lynches that happened via the KKK.

Thelma was such a kind soul that she befriend a white woman that she should have not due to the white woman’s partner violence. Thelma agreed to let the white woman live in her home to help protect her. The woman’s partner Earl, did not like this. So he retaliated against Thelma for her “taking his wife.” When it was Earl’s behavior as to why his wife left him.

George was a white man who would visit Thelma. It appeared that he was smitten with her but didn’t know what to do. He was also a very religious man. He and Luther joined the military, although Luther was forced to. Reading about their different experiences in the military bought up a few hard emotions in me. I remember hearing stories about it via my step father and grandfather.

This is a story about how the lives of Black folks at this time were treated but also White folks responses to those treatments. This is must for AMERICANS to read.

TW: Rape, violence, Inner partner violence, abuse, sexual abuse, discrimination, racism, sexism, and many more. 

 
** spoiler alert ** Goodreads ain’t StoryGraph so here we go. My rating is a 3.75 at this time. I am going to think on it some more and may come back and change it. Dayna is one of my favorite detectives/sleuths. I hope this series continues. I just love that this book is written or reads “black folks I see you.” Often times, detectives and sleuths aren’t relatable because I don’t see myself culturally but Day never disappoints.

The natural humor is my favorite part about Day and her steadfast energy for solving crimes. I can’t wait to for more releases of this series.

Also, this book is a perfect example of be careful what you say in a Uber, Lyft, or driving services, you never know how that will turn out. It could be deadly. 

What hard and eye opening story of the determination of two fathers who were once bigots and homophobic. This story follows their journeys of being allies for their sons. The only problem is that they showed up for their sons after the death of their sons. I don't want to say too much because there would be some spoilers. I will say this is my favorite S.A Cosby novel to date. 

Wow! What a horrific story that affects so many Black women! I felt this story to my core. This is as story to remind us of the horrors and the trauma of giving birth and how the medical system treats Black women. The way Jean Nicole Rivers writes a scene and pulls you into the story was done very well. I also loved that the reader is not quite sure what the horror is until the end of the book. 

Check out my interview with the author. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChGxagQwAwM&list=PLHIT-KT-v5kN2CTdKcpaaqj3i07EAX4sv&index=8

My rating is 4.25. 

I truly loves Stephen Graham Jones writing. This book was meant and for fellow slasher lovers. If you are not into slashers and never seen a slasher this book may or may not be difficult for you to understand. However I do like Jade's "Slasher 101," parts in the book was really helpful to readers who never read slashers. 

If you would like a deeper review from me check out my reading vlog of My Heart is a Chainsaw. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBuuuCr2n4s&t=12s

Another booktuber/authortuber Brit from Britwriterly and myself did an in depth liveshow review of this book. Check it out. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChGxagQwAwM

I wrote an in depth review of this book check it out. 
http://bigblackbooks.org/nobody-knows-the-trouble-ive-seen/

I don't think there will be a time when I wouldn't like the Temperance Brennan book. I was happy to see a bit more diversity in this book.

TW: violence, death, animal abuse

My friend Nicole and I are hostings bi-weekly liveshow book reviews of Rick Riordan's books. 
Below is a link to the review of this book. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2F_ML4YejI