Old Baggage by Toni Kief

Old Baggage: It’s Never Too Late for aNew Beginning is an interesting contemporary fiction written by Toni Kief.

It seems like an ordinary day for the Donovans, with Brad being his usual abusive self and Elizabeth playing her usual submissive role. What makes this day different, however, is that Elizabeth finally, after forty nine miserable years of marriage, fights back.

Surprising even herself, Elizabeth pulls out her suitcase and walks out of the only life she has ever known. However, contrary to what Brad thinks that she is a helpless, dependent, and stupid old woman, Elizabeth has so many cards up her sleeve and she has the astonishing strength and courage to use them to start a new life. But first, Elizabeth has to deal with a painful secret in her past before she could settle wherever she chooses and live her life on her own terms.

This is a very enjoyable book with sixty two chapters and told in the first person perspective of an amazing and remarkable old woman. Though the plot seems familiar with the protagonist, a victim of domestic abuse, having enough of the shitty life she has, the preparations Elizabeth has made as she waited for ‘the day’ would pique the interest of the readers, especially the female readers. Moreover, how she faces her new life, taking one baby step at a time away from her old, will make the readers cheer her on as she finds her way very slowly but with unwavering resolve and childlike wonder for the things she could actually do that she never imagined she could.

Needless to say, I enjoyed this book a lot. The plot is delightfully unpredictable and there are so many endearing characters. First of them, of course, is Elizabeth herself, the brave, kind, funny, and smart old woman who proves that age really doesn’t  matter and that every day is an opportunity to start a new life. And though I was expecting a different conclusion to the story, I still find the ending satisfyingly conclusive.     

However, though the paranormal part seems to make the story interesting, I, personally, believe that its exclusion wouldn’t make the book less so. Moreover, I noticed some errors within the entire book that detract from the overall reading experience.

Congratulations to Toni Kief (@tonikayk1) on such a great book! It is a depiction of woman empowerment at its best.

For more books by the author, click HERE.

Obsession Made Me Do It by Nychol Munroe

Obsession Made Me Do It is an intriguing urban fiction and the first in the three-book series of the same title created by Nychol Munroe.  

Founder of the Brix and Brix Realty, one of the most notable real estate brands in Miami, Iman Brix is the epitome of a successful entrepreneur. With a thriving business and an overprotective husband, Iman seems to have a wonderful life. That is until she discovers something about her husband. More than the betrayal itself is whom he is doing it with that breaks Iman’s heart into a million pieces.

Not someone to give up that easy, Iman is determined to fight for what is rightfully hers. She steps up and reaches out to someone who, she believes, wants the same thing she does. Iman is yet to find out what her actions would lead to.

An intriguing urban fiction that features African Americans, the book has fifteen chapters with a healthy amount of erotic scenes. By placing the conflict at the beginning of the story, the author makes the book a real-deal page-turner. Though the premise is seemingly common, the twists and turns make the plot excitingly unpredictable. The predominant use of the vernacular language among the characters makes the story sound realistic.

I enjoyed this book immensely. It is intriguing, exciting, and suspenseful. I find the characters easily relatable with their flaws, weaknesses, wrong decisions, and wrong choices in life.  

However, readers who prefer more conclusive endings may find the cliffhanger a bit off-putting, otherwise, they may move on to the second book in the series.

Congratulations to Nychol Munroe on such an exciting book! For more books by the author, click HERE.

Under the Sun by Andrew Gilmore

Underthe Sun: Discover Your Calling and Live a Meaningful Life is an inspiring and encouraging book written by Andrew Gilmore.

The book is written to help the readers discover their purpose in life. The author begins by defining life and leads the readers to life’s ultimate purpose. He, then, enumerates four reasons why we are not living our purpose, four steps to living an excellent life, four traits we must engender to live a purposeful life, and three steps to unearth what we are meant to do. He also presents three biblical case studies to emphasize his points, that of Joseph, Daniel, and Paul.

This is a great book. It is written in a consistently conversational tone making it an easy read. The humor and the sprinkle of sarcasm give the book a lighthearted feel to it that makes it even more likable and interesting. By sharing his personal experiences, the author makes the steps practicable and the goal of living a life of purpose easy to accomplish. Moreover, the inclusion of biblical characters makes the readers feel more accepting of their flaws and more forgiving of their own failures.

Needless to say, I enjoyed this book a lot. I recommend it to readers who enjoy books about personal growth.

Congratulations to Andrew Gilmore (@TheAndyGilmore) on such a great book! To know more about the author, click HERE.