A Constant Reminder By: Lolah Lace

A mother’s desperate plea to the parole board. Yes her son was guilty of murder in the second degree and robbery but he served his time he was fully rehabilitated. Adam got himself clean and was ready to transition from prison back to society. But the past always has a way of catching up with you. Some call it karma, fate, payback. Adam called it, “A Constant Reminder.”

Flashback to the past:

Adam: His father just died and like most people in distress we seek comfort in many different ways. Comfort for Adam came in the form of coke, heroin and marijuana. Anything to numb the pain. Rick James said it best, “cocaine is a hell of a drug.” Spiraling out of control Adam and his partner in crime Tony will do anything for their next hit. Adam came from money, prestige, and good breeding. What happens when all the money in the world can’t save you from a destructive lifestyle? Will you change, redeem yourself or just give up? Prison has a way of changing a person and so does love…..

Roxanne: Straight A student, responsible, and living the life with her best friend Erika. Making her mother proud by getting her degree, Roxanne did what was expected of her. What happens when what you know to be safe and comfortable is just ripped away from you? Brutally attacked her world is changed forever. Can Roxanne ever move past what happened to her that horrible not? Love is a funny thing it doesn’t care who you are or what you have done. What happens when the one you love is not what you expected? Do you give up, forgive or deny it ever happened?

Present:

Adam and Roxanne find comfort in each other. He is exactly what she needs someone to talk to, feel safe with, and expects all of her flaws. Unfortunately not everyone is on the love train. Erika, her best friend is straight forward in how she feels Adam is no good for her friend. Although I wouldn’t call Erika much of a friend but more of a hater with an agenda. Because of Roxy’s past she has issues with trust but, she continually deals with someone like Erika who spiels hate towards her every second she gets. They are what I would call frienenemies. Despite Erika’s nastiness Adam doesn’t buy into her games and continues to love Roxy with everything he has in him. But what happens when your relationship is built on lies?

This story is told in the form of layers each character is interconnected with the next and not always in a good way. Dealing with issues like drug abuse, rape, and violence this read is not for the faint at heart. I like that this author stepped outside of the box and told a tale that would get readers to question themselves.

However I did find a few issues as a reader with this story. I didn’t understand the timeline. For instance one second Roxanne was being attacked the next it is three years later. Same for Adam. His mother was writing a letter to the parole board and a few scenes later he was working at an oil shop. Because this story deals with such heavy issues I would have liked to see the author explore the characters emotions behind these issues. It was said this was a story of redemption I didn’t find that to be the case. I was left with more questions. i.e. How did Roxanne every deal with overcoming her attack? Was Adam transition from prison to society a smooth one? How did Adam redeem himself? His prison story was that of someone who is privileged. We didn’t get much of his time in prison or how he even overcame his drug addiction. Because let’s face drugs are in prisons. At one point in the story there is one of many big reveals on Adams part. He confesses something to her about his past life and her reaction really was a non-reaction. I don't know if it's because she had such a secret of her own. The next day they just go along as if nothing has changed. It was mentioned in the story that Roxanne avoids issues but at what point was she going to get her head out of the clouds?

I wanted more of a reaction then avoidance. As a couple they dealt with such an emotional scene and honestly a deal breaker in some relationships and it was glossed over with a sex scene and a Beyoncé song. About 85% in the story we got to the real emotional depth of the story that leads readers to ask some very tough questions. Certain things in the story didn’t make sense as a reader because the timeline just moved so fast. You are dealing with such heavy issues and the emotional depth was just lacking at times. There are a few twists and turns in this story that will leave you angered, and questioning your own beliefs.

I am glad that the author took a chance and told a story such as this. I look forward to reading what else she has in store. Like I always mention judge this story for yourself and not based on this one review.

 

La Femme Selita By: Lolah Lace

La Femme Selita starts off with a kidnapping of the male lead Ben. We don't know much about why Ben has been kidnapped by the beautiful Femme Fatale just that his father owes a debt and Selita the heroine doesn't mind using him as leverage to get it. Or so it seems.... Each chapter is told in days, and what happened on each of those days to Ben. During this process of Ben being captured a sort of love hate relationship grows between him and Selita. And dare I say a lot of lust. Really what's a guy to do when you have a gorgeous captor like Selita who can not only keep up with you intellectually but can handle her own.

For Selita to be a hit woman she is very forthcoming about certain areas of her life: her educational background, last name, etc. Meanwhile Ben has some idea of why he is being held captive as it relates to his father Benny but as a reader majority of the questions focused around Ben's infidelity. I thought this is interesting a trained killer with morals? Talk about oxymoron. Ben's character with his inner dialogue sounds a lot like the authors most famous character Mason from her Balls to the Walls series.

For the first 43% of this book it is more of Ben's inner dialogue and his limited interactions with Selita. Although when they do interact it's like someone has lit a fire. The growing lust between the two characters is palpable. Sure there are some HOT sex scenes included but as a reader I was left in the dark wondering what really was going on? We don't know much about Selita and the pieces of information we do get aren't fully explained. For me there was too much attention giving to the issue of Ben's infidelity when some of that I feel could have been given to flush out the story better. After reading this story the reader is left with more questions than answers well at least I know I was. Don't get me wrong even though this story started off a bit slow it still was an intriguing read. I liked the concept of the story I just wish certain elements of the story were explained and flushed out. If you are a reader who likes IR (Interracial Relationship) books and a gorgeous female lead with a very sexy male this story is for you. All in all I think Lolah did a great job. Like I always mention don't judge this book based on one review judge for yourself.