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lmrivas54's review
5.0
This book broke my heart. It’s an incredible eye opener into the perils of being born with black skin. It has insights into the non action of people against racism, not because they are racist themselves, but because they are content in their white lives, and don’t think about it. With white skin comes white conformity which extends into white consent.
The authors of this book are doing a great service to the community in presenting several evils in this society. Domestic violence, child abuse, and persistent systemic racism are themes present in this story, in a very humanized way. I went through a lot of emotions while reading: anger, compassion, frustration, confusion, and acute grief. I salute A.M. Kusi and the emotional message they send. I agree with them, this needs to be addressed by communication, learning, and a systemic change of laws and procedures.
Bently is the sherif and also Shattered Cove’s resident playboy. He’s very handsome and a serious flirt! His cheesy lines in this story were hilarious! He’s such a decent person, with a strong sense of values, most prominent the need to serve and protect. He carries a heavy weight of grief and guilt from his childhood. He feels he failed in protecting his siblings from their father’s abuse. This projects into his attitude about love: he refuses to fall in love, so he relies on one-night stands. And now that he’s the sherif, those activities happen outside of the town’s boundaries.
When Bently meets Belle for the first time, he’s gobsmacked silly with her beauty and spunk. Belle, with the typical attitude of POC when faced with the law, was openly hostile and saw him as the enemy. It took many attempts, his family, and friends to help his cause, and befriending her younger brother, to get Belle to change her mind and give him a chance.
Apart from the give and take of Bently’s issues and Belle’s reticence, there’s a strong sense of family where diversity is present: brown, black and white coexist in a strong loving environment, as it should be. The love and acceptance is strong, and for the first time Belle learns what it feels to have a supporting community at her back. There are many tender positive moments where Belle cries happy tears.
This is an emotional tale, there are strong issues, strong emotions and tragedy. The resilience of the characters wows my heart. It’s overwhelmingly sad and positive and a lesson in redemption. Must read with tissues at hand!
The authors of this book are doing a great service to the community in presenting several evils in this society. Domestic violence, child abuse, and persistent systemic racism are themes present in this story, in a very humanized way. I went through a lot of emotions while reading: anger, compassion, frustration, confusion, and acute grief. I salute A.M. Kusi and the emotional message they send. I agree with them, this needs to be addressed by communication, learning, and a systemic change of laws and procedures.
Bently is the sherif and also Shattered Cove’s resident playboy. He’s very handsome and a serious flirt! His cheesy lines in this story were hilarious! He’s such a decent person, with a strong sense of values, most prominent the need to serve and protect. He carries a heavy weight of grief and guilt from his childhood. He feels he failed in protecting his siblings from their father’s abuse. This projects into his attitude about love: he refuses to fall in love, so he relies on one-night stands. And now that he’s the sherif, those activities happen outside of the town’s boundaries.
When Bently meets Belle for the first time, he’s gobsmacked silly with her beauty and spunk. Belle, with the typical attitude of POC when faced with the law, was openly hostile and saw him as the enemy. It took many attempts, his family, and friends to help his cause, and befriending her younger brother, to get Belle to change her mind and give him a chance.
Apart from the give and take of Bently’s issues and Belle’s reticence, there’s a strong sense of family where diversity is present: brown, black and white coexist in a strong loving environment, as it should be. The love and acceptance is strong, and for the first time Belle learns what it feels to have a supporting community at her back. There are many tender positive moments where Belle cries happy tears.
This is an emotional tale, there are strong issues, strong emotions and tragedy. The resilience of the characters wows my heart. It’s overwhelmingly sad and positive and a lesson in redemption. Must read with tissues at hand!
d34nn3_29's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
deaniewink's review against another edition
5.0
This was an incredibly powerful book. It covered topics like white privilege and racism so well and in a way that taught the reader as well as the character. It was also a total tearjerker and my heart broke several times throughout but especially during the third act. The situations were so realistic and profound that I couldn’t not give this 5 stars but damn I wish the HEA came without loss first.
christilovesbooks_smut's review
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Defying Gravity, Book 3 of the Shattered Cove series by A.M. Kusi @amkusinovels. To preface this book, I was warned this book would be a rough read by other members who read this book. Read the trigger warnings! So with that …
This book … goes into detail about BIPOC rights. There is a main character that is not able to have children. Both Bentley & Belle dealt with abuse when they were children. This book talks about police brutality & how BIPOC are more likely to be injured/killed by the police. This book was not for the faint of heart. It was sad & devastating to read. With that, this was an excellent book that tore my heart out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Racism, and Grief
Minor: Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, and Police brutality
browneyedbookworm's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rosa_books's review
5.0
Great book. Belle is great character. She is beautiful, strong and badass woman. She is protect of her T. J. And has done anything and will do anything to keep him safe.
Bently is the town sheriff. He also has a past that he running from. He also will do anything to protect his family. He knew as no commitment guy.
When Belle and Bently they were like fire and ice. It really great how the authors will show you on how Belle get over past and see who Bently really is. And how Bently has to come to realize he worth Belle. You going to see how they falling in love with each other. You get to see them go through tragedy and how they come out in the end. The authors has written the storyline so great.
Bently is the town sheriff. He also has a past that he running from. He also will do anything to protect his family. He knew as no commitment guy.
When Belle and Bently they were like fire and ice. It really great how the authors will show you on how Belle get over past and see who Bently really is. And how Bently has to come to realize he worth Belle. You going to see how they falling in love with each other. You get to see them go through tragedy and how they come out in the end. The authors has written the storyline so great.
trish_beautifulchaosreviews's review
5.0
I read this book, and all I could think upon finishing is wow. It was a powerful book about what a lot of us would rather ignore. We all like to believe we are ok, but the reality is so ingrained we, as white people, don't realize the privilege we have. This book was very enlightening and also a moving story.
Sherrif Bently Evans sees himself as a guy who isn't racist; his best friend is black, and so is his sister-in-law. He just goes about his business, and when he meets Belle, he is completely taken by her. He also is drawn to her younger brother and befriends him. One of the most powerfully moving scenes in the book is when the black people in Bently's life explain that being "colorblind" is not what it's about; it's about embracing the differences and celebrating them. You can't walk in another's shoes when just your appearance determines how people will react to you.
Belle was initially hesitant to have anything to do with Bentley because he's a cop, and he's white. But the friendship he builds with her brother sets the stage for the budding romance. Bently and Belle fall deeply in love, but other things are work in their town that bring danger to their relationship. Other things that happen have both taking hard looks at how they both view the world and each other.
Defying Gravity is a moving romance tale that entertained and made me think. It was heartbreaking at times, but it did not detract from how good a job the author did. Defying Gravity was the first book I read by this author, and it definitely will not be the last.
Sherrif Bently Evans sees himself as a guy who isn't racist; his best friend is black, and so is his sister-in-law. He just goes about his business, and when he meets Belle, he is completely taken by her. He also is drawn to her younger brother and befriends him. One of the most powerfully moving scenes in the book is when the black people in Bently's life explain that being "colorblind" is not what it's about; it's about embracing the differences and celebrating them. You can't walk in another's shoes when just your appearance determines how people will react to you.
Belle was initially hesitant to have anything to do with Bentley because he's a cop, and he's white. But the friendship he builds with her brother sets the stage for the budding romance. Bently and Belle fall deeply in love, but other things are work in their town that bring danger to their relationship. Other things that happen have both taking hard looks at how they both view the world and each other.
Defying Gravity is a moving romance tale that entertained and made me think. It was heartbreaking at times, but it did not detract from how good a job the author did. Defying Gravity was the first book I read by this author, and it definitely will not be the last.
aliciasplendeur's review
5.0
Wow, I'm sure I even have the words to explain just how great this book is. Besides the romance, this book offers heavy subject matters that are timely to what is going on in the real world. Things that make you cry and ache as you read them.
This story is about two broken people who have risen above their past but still let it taint the edges of their present. Sheriff Gently Evans is a tormented hero. Nurse Belle is a woman set on helping her brother get to college and never giving up her fighting spirit.
This story is about two broken people who have risen above their past but still let it taint the edges of their present. Sheriff Gently Evans is a tormented hero. Nurse Belle is a woman set on helping her brother get to college and never giving up her fighting spirit.
rosad_1983's review
5.0
Great book. Belle is great character. She is beautiful, strong and badass woman. She is protect of her T. J. And has done anything and will do anything to keep him safe.
Bently is the town sheriff. He also has a past that he running from. He also will do anything to protect his family. He knew as no commitment guy.
When Belle and Bently they were like fire and ice. It really great how the authors will show you on how Belle get over past and see who Bently really is. And how Bently has to come to realize he worth Belle. You going to see how they falling in love with each other. You get to see them go through tragedy and how they come out in the end. The authors has written the storyline so great.
Bently is the town sheriff. He also has a past that he running from. He also will do anything to protect his family. He knew as no commitment guy.
When Belle and Bently they were like fire and ice. It really great how the authors will show you on how Belle get over past and see who Bently really is. And how Bently has to come to realize he worth Belle. You going to see how they falling in love with each other. You get to see them go through tragedy and how they come out in the end. The authors has written the storyline so great.