Che-Michelle Tales

Books I read but did not write about:

This summer has been busy at work, and finding time to write about my finished books after work has been challenging. I have three books I have not finished, and my longstanding Kindle Streaks are lost to Father Time 🥺. I have not been picking the best books for summer. All the books I read would be great for Fall or Winter. So, I am eagerly looking forward to discussing the books I read and finished and the ones I have stalled, and I cannot wait to share my upcoming fall reading list with you. It will pique your interest and add exciting titles to your reading list.  This summer, I wanted to read more Suspense books. When I read the following book this summer, I should have known it would be Habanero Spicy🌶️.

“Midnight Duet” by Jen Comfort. Have you ever read a book you thought was based in the eighties but is based in the 2000s? Midnight Duet follows the story of a Broadway star and the Lead singer of a European Hair metal band. This book was hilarious. The side characters’ quips were epic. The plot was both simple and filled with intricate moments. Erika is a true Broadway diva who lands on challenging times but finds or, better yet, cultivates a better version of herself by the end of the book. I want to see this made into a 2024 rom-com. I also want to see it do a time jump, and instead of being in the 2000s, it takes place in the 1980s. This book is four out of five for humor. A four out of five for the spicy scenes and a four out of five for the plot twist. If you enjoy romantic comedies and a good plot twist, this book is for you.🍷🍷🍷🍷

The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

The Lover is a rapid read and the perfect book for the Spooky season. The story is about a woman named Judith, who desires a lover to take her away from her life. She is Alice’s Younger sister, and due to circumstances beyond their control, she helps her sister and her family. As the story progresses, Alice uses her sister more as a servant than a family member. As the story unfolds, Judith gets her desire for a lover, but also a secret admirer or something more intriguing. Moreno-Garcia weaves an epic tale of love, betrayal, and mystery. In every scene, you wonder who the monster is in the story. I love how Judith is written to be morally ambiguous. A book you should put on your October Spooky read list Rating 5 out of 5. 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷

Family Money by Chad Zunker

A few years ago, I got this book off Amazon First Read for $1.99 ( Before anyone comes and says it is typically free, I splurged to get this a second book for a discounted price). It seemed like an interesting premise: a family member dies, and you discover that the family member was not who they seem. Here is my honest opinion: the book was decent, and the premise was strong. I even enjoyed some of the side characters for their moments of depth and clarity. The main character, Alex, is a basic family man( AI wants me to say essential but no Alex is Basic like a Basic B****). Alex is nothing like Jack Ryan. Jack Ryan is one of the few fictional characters with an intricate back story of suspense and action. It was a quick read, and the book was predictable. I can see this book made into a movie on Amazon and Netflix. I do not know if this makes it good or bad, but it gave me Tyler Perry vibes while reading it. It is very predictable and easy to follow, but it has a lot of unnecessary WTF moments. I give this book a two out of five. You need wine to help get you through this book. 🍷🍷🤔😬😬

The Candid Life of Meena Dave by Namrata Patel

Another book from my to-read list became my Read list (insert nerdy cackle). I had this book on my Amason Kindle for a while. I was pleasantly surprised to finish this book; it starts with a woman who inherits an apartment in Boston, MA. Readers are introduced to Meena Dave, a free-spirited Photojournalist, and she discovers that she inherited an apartment from some unknown woman. The apartment contains notes, quirks, and exciting words and definitions. As the story unfolds, the reader may become captivated by Meena’s life. The readers are introduced to the Aunties ( I would like some Aunties in my life) of the building, who decided to help Meena find her cultural connections with her birth parents of Indian descent. The book is fantastic! I loved the twists and turns of the story, the character development, and even the character exploration. If you get a chance to read this book, please do. You will find that one of the characters within the book resonates with you. This is how you make a soft suspense novel, with a plot twist and even allowing the characters to find her thoughts to remain hidden from us, the reader, so it does not feel predictable when the reveal happens. Another five out of five books. Honestly, it is perfect for a Fall weekend read. 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍁🍂

 

Another review is coming about a book I haven’t finished this summer.  You should become a member of the “Unfinished  Book Club.”  More info to come. 😊

Until Next Time,

Che Michelle