Guilty by Association by Pat Simmons

Guilty By Association is an incredible story about how associations can affect family dynamics. In this novel, the reader is introduced to the men of the Jamieson family and their feisty significant others. Bonds are tested and lessons are learned as this family strives to uphold a legacy that has spanned many generations. Can this family full of misguided egos and strong wills survive long enough to fully get to know one another? 

Pat Simmons penned a dynamic tale of family, faith and love. I must admit that this is the first novel that I have read by Ms. Simmons, but it will not be the last. I rated this book a 4.5 Chocolate Stars according to my rating system. Great read!!

Making the Team by Derrick Moore and Stephanie Perry Moore

Making The Team is a great young adult novel about a young man who learns several lessons through his family relationships. Not yet a man, young Alec London must deal and learn to adapt when things are different and change comes about. As time passes and he opens his heart, Alec learns that through his trials he is surrounded by love all along. It is that love that helps him overcome situations at school and with his brother.


Making The Team is the first book that I have read by this husband and wife literary duo. Derrick and Stephanie Moore penned a great young adult novel about family dynamics, overcoming trials, and God's love through the eyes of a fourth grader who seems to be wise beyond his years. This may be the first book that I have read, but it will not be the last. I rate this novel 4.5 Chocolate Stars according to my rating system. I would highly recommend this book.

Running From Solace by Nakia Laushaul

About the Book

“She passed a hard candy over her shoulder as though whatever was in the tiny wrapper was supposed to make it all better. I clutched the peppermint in my hand and buried my face in the hard leather seat while she explained what was going to happen to me. She promised that I’d be safe from then on.”


And so begins the journey of Naomi, whose amazing story picks up where the past and future intersect. As Naomi struggles to hide the ugly physical and emotional reminders that insist on haunting her dreams, she crosses paths with a young boy, Xavier and his bad-tempered mother, Mona, who both share an interesting story much like her own.
Running from Solace is an emotional tale that will send you catapulting on a breathless journey beyond breaking points and will lead you to believe in the power of accepting what is to be.

UNIQUE BOOK REVIEW

At first glance, the title of this expertly written novel, catches the readers attention. Not just because of the intriguing photo on the cover but because it compels the reader to ask the question, how can one actually run from solace. 

To say that Running from Solace took me on an emotional roller coaster would be an understatement. It was more of the journey of an earthquake with several aftershocks. From the first chapter, I was drawn in by the horrid childhood of a sweet little girl named Naomi. Naomi had seen far too much in her young years. Her mother, an alcoholic and junkie, never knew the damage that the caused someone who loved her with every fiber of their being.

As Naomi's mother faced her drug laden demons, she often took her anger and frustrations out on Naomi. The verbal abuse, the constant beatings, the days without food and the array of men who paraded in and out of her home were too much for a child of Naomi's age to endure. Naomi's saving grace came in the form of Social Services taking her away from her abusive lifestyle.

Some may say that the tragic way that Naomi grew up forced her to enter a profession where she could protect children and keep them from growing up the way that she did. Ironically, her job causes her to evaluate her life and her past. It is when she receives the case of young Xavier that Naomi finds that her job has hit too close to home. She finds that looking into Xavier's is like looking into a mirror of her past.


Nakia Laushaul has masterfully penned a novel whose scenes were so vividly described that the reader is thrust right into the middle of the action. This novel made me face some harsh realities that are present in the lives of children all across the world on a daily basis. Thought provoking, gripping and emotionally charged, I will definitely recommend this novel.

The unique xperience in this novel came about when Naomi met Xavier.

Unique Rating: 5 Chocolate Stars

About the Author

Nakia was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and now resides in Houston, Texas with her lovable teenage son. She is employed as a Finance Administrator for a large furniture retailer. Nakia is an inspirational poet, novelist, blogger, and entrepreneur. She has always loved to read and early on in life guessed that writing would play a major role in her future after discovering the writings of Dr. Maya Angelou when she was only nine years old.

Nakia is determined to present the truth as she sees it in all facets of her writing, and hopes that her work will inspire and serve a meaningful purpose for others. She is committed to challenging everyone in her reach to find compassion and empathy in the differences that exist among us all.


Inspired and fueled by attempts to be molded into the norm, she wrote and published her first collection of poetry and essays titled, The Truth As I See It: In Poetry & Prose which was released in early 2010 by Serendipity Bound Books. Running from Solace, her debut fiction novel was released in April 2011. She is currently working on her second novel, Do You Know Daisy McCloud?

Author Spotlight Featuring Author Nakia Laushaul

Nakia was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and now resides in Houston, Texas with her lovable teenage son. She is employed as a Finance Administrator for a large furniture retailer. Nakia is an inspirational poet, novelist, blogger, and entrepreneur. 

She has always loved to read and early on in life guessed that writing would play a major role in her future after discovering the writings of Dr. Maya Angelou when she was only nine years old. Nakia is determined to present the truth as she sees it in all facets of her writing, and hopes that her work will inspire and serve a meaningful purpose for others. 

She is committed to challenging everyone in her reach to find compassion and empathy in the differences that exist among us all. Inspired and fueled by attempts to be molded into the norm, she wrote and published her first collection of poetry and essays titled, The Truth As I See It: In Poetry & Prose which was released in early 2010 by Serendipity Bound Books. Running from Solace, her debut fiction novel was released in April 2011. She is currently working on her second novel, Do You Know Daisy McCloud?

Flaws and All by Shana Burton

It is often said that our relationships define who we are, what we expect in life and sometimes how we love. This holds true with the five fair-weather friends in Flaws and All. Although Lawson, Reginell, Sullivan, Angel and Kina were forged into one other's lives each under different circumstances, they have formed a bond that has stood the test of time.


With a budding new career, the love of her life by her side, and a promising future ahead, Lawson is forced to remember that the deeds of the past always affect the future. Self righteous Reginell discovers that all that glitters may be gold, but at what cost? First Lady Sullivan's raging hormones cause her to lose sight of what is important on a quest to find herself. Angel is sure that someone may be testing her, but will she past the test and ultimately forgive the one and only man who had her heart? Fed up with her abusive husband, Kina begins to realize that she and her son deserve better.


Shana Burton penned an awesome novel with a great storyline. The added bonus is that this novel deals with some realistic issues both good and bad. The characters are strong and well developed. I also loved the way the story showed how each character had her own interpretation of basic morals and values without being preachy. This is the first novel that I have read by Ms. Burton, but it will not be the last. I rated this book 4 Chocolate Stars.