lit_vibrations's reviews
280 reviews

Ruin Road by Lamar Giles

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

Special thanks to the author @lamargiles @coloredpagesbt & @ireadya for my gifted copy‼️

This book was really good first thing that came to mind was the 1986 movie Crossroads. It’s not completely similar aside from the making a wish/deal with the devil aspect. But in so many ways they both portray the same concept of “Be Careful What You Wish For.”

Cade Webster lived between two worlds and didn’t really have the best in either. With his dreams so close in reach his way out of hell was a football scholarship and soon the NFL so he could take care of his family. One night while on the way home he got involved in a situation and to avoid confrontation he ran into a pawn shop. His experience that night would be one to remember and would lead him straight to Ruin Road. 

It was such a thrill seeing everything unfold and wondering how Cade would break his wish. The author was very detailed in painting a vivid picture of how fear can hold you back, the horrors of simply being a Black man/boy, the consequences of being mislead, and how greed can consume you. I also like how the author created Skinner’s character he was the grantor of tainted wishes and the collector of souls. The people of Jacob’s Court feared him and I felt their fear was what kept him alive. 

Overall, the book was great and the pacing was fair enough to keep you engaged. He did an amazing job blending the eerie paranormal elements into the narrative. Nothing about this book was too scary to imagine. It also explored themes surrounding racial profiling, social acceptance, self-sacrifice, grief, family dynamics, and selflessness. Here’s another great book to add to your TBR.

Such Lovely Skin by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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? N/A

5.0

Special thanks to the author @thebuffwriter @coloredpagesbt @pagestreetya for my gifted copy‼️

 

First let me just say Ta👏🏽ti👏🏽ana👏🏽 wrote tf outta this book I mean gave it her all‼️ It was so well-plotted and put together I felt like I was watching a horror movie. The way the first chapter pulls you in it turned me every which way but loose. I promise you won’t be able to put this down. I read at least 60% of it the first day that’s how good this book is. 

Character development ATE‼️

Paranormal/Supernatural elements ATE‼️

The entire premise ATE‼️

Who’s my new favorite author HER‼️

Viv was a popular Twitch streamer with an addiction to video games specifically horror. After the loss of her little sister Riley her urge and desire to play was gone as she struggled with the grief and guilt of such a major loss. To make matters worse the death of Riley was actually Viv’s fault. (THIS ALONE GOT ME) With hopes of redeeming herself with her parents she decides to stream again. Thinking that if she could gain more subscribers she could use the money as an apology to them.  

Before going live Viv stumbles upon an email with a cool new horror game attached. As she begins to play before it allows her to escape the room she’s in she had to tell the game a dark secret. Once the secret was told things around her got eeire‼️

I don’t wanna say much and spoil it for anyone but this book was such a fun, creepy, and adventurous ride. You’ll experience themes involving the loss of a sibling, Viv’s gameception, psychosomatic reactions, sleep paralysis, being stalked by a doppelgänger, paranormal behavior, and how telling lies do more harm than good.

Overall, I need ya’ll to read this book it’s spooky szn worthy TRUST ME‼️ And just when you think it’s all over you’re WRONG. Welcome to 𝖫ᝪ𝖢𝖪𝖤𝖣 𝖨𝖭: ɑ𐓣  𝖤ડɕɑρ౿ 𝖱𝗈𝗈ო 𝖧𝗈𝗋𝗋𝗈𝗋 𝖦ɑო౿!

The Whispers by Ashley Audrain

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Ashley Audrain made it to my favorite authors list because this woman knows how to write an unhinged, twisted, thought-provoking thriller. If she writes it I’m buying it no questions asked‼️

Now if you read The Push then you know this book didn’t top that one buuuuuut it came so close. I can’t even say her imagination is wild because the way she portrays the dark side of motherhood is slightly accurate in a psychotic way. She brings out the sides of motherhood people are afraid to speak on because they’d deem them as unfit. I don’t know if she grew up in a bad household, had a bad childhood, or watched too much Lifetime growing up but her books are next level madness. 

Then the way she develops her characters is literally chefs kiss cause Whitney’s character was off the charts. I didn’t know if she hated being a mother in general or just didn’t like her son. Then Rebecca and all the miscarriages, Blair thinking her husband was cheating and finding out her daughter wasn’t the little angel she thought she had, and Mara blaming herself for her son dying. So, much was happening in this book I don’t know where to begin.

This one does build slow but once the pace picks up you’re literally on the edge of your seat like WTF‼️ The way she twisted the ending I did not see it coming I truly thought Whitney had done something to her son. But to find out why he was in the hospital and what happened that night was mind boggling. Then how she ended the book made me scream b*tch you’re done lmao you going to jail. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you’re looking for a great thriller I highly recommend you reading this one. Don’t let the slowness in the beginning steer you away I promise it’s all worth it in the end. 

Christmas in Spite of You by K.C. Mills

adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Special thanks to the author & @iamblackodyssey for my advanced copy.

Another Christmas read in September somebody stop me now‼️

This was my first book by K.C. Mills and it was super cute. The author perfectly crafts a heartwarming read filled with romance, spice, passion, miscommunication, and of course a little drama. There was a slow build in the beginning but the premise was interesting enough to keep me engaged. Sharing your place with a complete stranger for the week because of a minor Airbnb mistake sounds outrageous. But it turned into the best week Noel and Kanton ever experienced. 

Their relationship unfolded rather quickly at the expense of Kanton’s generosity. He wasn’t into the holiday’s much but it was something about Noel that brought out a different side of him. He was dropping a bag and didn’t even know this woman. Despite Noel’s initial irritation with Kanton she couldn’t deny there being a strong connection between the two or her physical attraction to him. 

Kanton’s character was absolutely irresistible it was really his wordplay for me. Noel on the other hand was the hopeless romantic who still believed in love even though her last relationship took her through it. Them coming together was fate and Kanton proved to Noel why he was the perfect match for her even if their current situation was temporary. The run-ins with each other’s ex and the heat they brought in the bedroom was the highlight of the book for me. 

Overall, I enjoyed this one and definitely recommend for the holidays. Everything was well-balanced from the dual perspectives, gaining insight on their backstories and past relationships, and seeing their feelings for each other being brought to the forefront. The author also explored themes of letting go of past heartbreaks, opening up to someone new, and the complexities surrounding uncertainty. Here’s another good read to add to your holiday TBR. 

The Christmas Fix by Lucy Score

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

It’s never too early for a Christmas themed book especially if it’s set in a small town called Merry! The beginning started slow but eventually the pace picked up and it grew on me. It was giving cozy, rom-com, Christmas hallmark movie vibes with a bit of pumpkin spice. 

Merry, Connecticut was hit by a disastrous hurricane that left the town in shambles. Noah wasn’t sure if he could revive the town in time for their yearly Christmas festivities. Cat King reality tv star of a popular home renovation show pops in to bring the town hope and pull off a Christmas miracle. But Noah wasn’t for all the cameras and extra mess Cat would bring to his town. The only thing he was concerned with was Cat not capitalizing off the town’s tragedy. 

This turned out to be a really cute book, the dialogue was authentic, and filled with well-developed characters. Noah’s character gave off a grumpy grinch vibe in the beginning and he gave so much pushback to anything Cat wanted to do for the town. All the while everything she did was truly out of the kindness of her own heart and pockets. 

The chemistry between them was palpable and the sex was tasteful but got a tad bit raunchy. It wasn’t the intense make out session in the alley that almost got them caught red handed that was raunchy. But when they finally had sex and Cat became a nasty girl lol. It went from come on me to come inside me I need to feel you in me to have a deeper connection. Like ma’am the meat can’t be that good you don’t really know this man but I wasn’t surprised that Noah was ready to risk it all. When his ex-wife popped up with their daughter right in the middle of him and Cat going at it was hilarious. 

Overall, the author perfectly intertwined romance, humor, and finding strength in community with the perfect holiday atmosphere. So, if you’re looking for a fun small-town holiday read filled with the right amount of drama, emotion, spice, and heartwarming feels you found it. 

The White Guy Dies First: 13 Scary Stories of Fear and Power by Terry J. Benton-Walker

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Special thanks to @torteen for my gifted copy‼️

After reading a couple mixed reviews on this one it was a must I read it for myself. The White Guy Dies First is a collection of 13 short horror stories surrounding fear and power. While I didn’t love every story I think as a whole the book is pretty decent. A few of the stories were meh but there were a few that actually made me want more and would make great Halloween movies.

𝕊𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝔽𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕕:

• 5⭐️ All Eyes On Me by Faridah Abike-Iyimide- “It wasn’t just a circus it was a place where people go to shed their demons, real and imagined.”
• 5⭐️ Hedge by Kalynn Bayron- “A place to be at one with nature.”
• 3.5⭐️ the Golden Dragon by Kendare Blake 
• 5⭐️ Best Served Cold by H.E. Edgmon- “Human beings become monsters when they taste their own people’s flesh.
• 3.75⭐️ the Protégé by Lamar Giles
• 4⭐️ Docile Girls by Chloe G - “Docile girls, who didn’t have enough humanity to do terrible things, who only lived to please, caught in the middle of such a terrible incident.”
• 4⭐️ Gray Grove by Alexis Henderson
• 4⭐️ Everything’s Coming Up Roses by Tiffany D. Jackson
• 3⭐️ Heaven by Adiba Jaigi
• 3⭐️ Break Through Our Skin by Naseem Jamnia
• 3⭐️ Wasps by Mark Oshiro
• 4⭐️ Hell is Other Demons by Karen Strong - “Humans  are the real demons.”
• 3.5⭐️ the Road to Hell by Terry J Benton-Walker 

Each story had a uniquely different feel when it came to the eerie, creepy and supernatural elements. We get a dark circus, house of mirrors, a haunted garden, missing father, a Japanese revenge ghost, cannibalism, a evil magician, high school murder, spirit box and a seance, a haunted slave plantation, the last city on earth, a sleepwalker, a demon possession, and a house from hell. It’s nowhere near scary so if that’s what you’re looking for this ain’t it but I highly recommend you add it to your TBR for spooky szn‼️

Passion for the Heist by K'wan

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.75

Special thanks to the author, @forgereads for my gifted copy, & @macmillan.audio for my advanced listening copy‼️

This book was definitely a wild experience. K’wan is a master at creating elaborate characters and putting them through the most intense situations. There was soooooo much going on imagine a movie with no set plot just a bunch of dramatic effects that was Passion for the Heist to me.

Every time I read one of his books you can tell he allows his imagination to flow freely. Although it didn’t really have any clear direction or plot the book is entertaining nonetheless and the last 25% was the best part of it. My main issue as always was the hundred million side characters I had to keep up with like 4 is cool but 10 is a stretch. 

But this one follows two separate MC’s Pain who was recently released from prison and is trying to get his life together without returning to the streets. But of course that only lasts for so long. Then we have Passion a young teen under the care of her uncle Joe who just so happens to be a pimp. Her whole situation was crazy especially when Uncle Joe switched up‼️ When Passion and Pain cross paths that’s when the book took a turn and all these crazy secrets and acts of betrayal happened. I also had the pleasure of listening to the audio and the narrator sounds like the guy from First 48 and oddly I couldn’t unhear it 😂.

Overall, the book was okay it’s urban fiction so you already know what you’re in store for. We get a couple robberies, murder, domestic abuse, underage prostitution, and fake love/relationships. In many aspects K’Wan delivered enough to keep you entertained and with that cliffhanger ending I see a book 2 in our future. 

Rating: 3.75/5 ⭐️

Trouble in Queenstown by Delia Pitts

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Special thanks to the author & @minotaurbooks for my advanced copy‼️

This was not a fav the pacing was entirely too slow for me. It was giving grandma 1940’s mystery like nothing about it was really exciting. The writing wasn’t completely bad but at the same time I could’ve DNF’d. Then Evander starting off the book saying she was horny was so stank cause ma’am why lol. Then she was working one case that somehow turned into three yet they were all somehow connected. 

This was just all over the place for me I think the best part of the book was the cover!!! Idk what I was expecting this to be but the author didn’t really deliver like I hoped. I even had the audio and it still didn’t hit maybe I should’ve read it without it. Overall, this was low-grade mid in my opinion but you might like it!!!

The Light Always Breaks by Angela Jackson-Brown

informative inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? N/A

4.0

Savor It by Tarah DeWitt

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

Special thanks to @macmillian.audio #MacAudio2024 for my advanced listening copy‼️

This book was so cute and romantic and the title fit perfectly because I wanted to savor every moment of it. I’ve really fallen in love with small town romances this year. It’s just something about the way authors have characters fall so deeply in love within a matter of days feel so authentic.

Sage and Fisher started off a little rocky but once they connect their chemistry and banter was unmatched. All of the characters were loveable in this one. I really adored the relationship Fisher had with his niece Indy.

Highlight moments for me:

🩷Fisher being Indy’s legal guardian after losing his sister.

💜Fisher calling the police the first night in town was funny.

🩷Sage, Fisher, and Indy all experiencing some form of loss or trauma and creating a close knit bond because of it.

💜The way Fisher swooped in to show up Sage’s ex when he tried to downplay her in public. 

🩷Sage and Fisher agreeing to a summer fling knowing it would be hard to walk away in the end. I knew after they had sex it was gonna get serious.

💜Fisher and his niece returning home and breaking down after reading the journal Sage gave them. The crying was so intense and sweet like yaaaaas go get your woman Fisher‼️

Overall, I loved this and highly recommend.