Book tour and Review: Do What Godmother Says by L. S. Stratton

 Title:. Do What Godmother Says

Author: L. S. Stratton

Genre:  Thriller

Publisher:

Publication Date:  June 11, 2024

Rating:  💥💥💥💥💥

About the Book

A modern-day writer and a Harlem Renaissance artist are connected by a painting with a deadly secret in this gripping dual-timeline gothic thriller. 
 
Shanice Pierce knows better than to heed bad omens. But she has a hard time ignoring the signs when she finds herself newly single and out of a job on the same seemingly cursed day.

Then, while cleaning out her grandmother’s house, Shanice comes across a painting she hasn’t seen in years. Drawn to the haunting portrait in a way she can't explain, Shanice accepts her grandmother’s offer to keep the family heirloom.

She soon uncovers the story of the artist, a Harlem Renaissance painter named Estelle Johnson. The young woman was taken under wing by the wealthy art patron Maude Bachmann—or “Godmother” as she insisted her artists call her—and vanished shortly after Bachmann’s brutal murder a century ago.

My Thoughts 

I have been into thrillers in the past several years, especially those by Black and other margalanized authors,  and I have been enjoying them so much.  Those book joins that rank.  I completely devoured this story and enjoyed every minute of it.  It was such an exciting and mesmerizing ride and the chokehold it had on me.  And add to it that it's a dual timeline adds to the excitement of the story.   What a ride and I can't wait for the author's next book.

About the Author 

L. S. Stratton is an NAACP Image Award–nominated author and former crime newspaper reporter who has written more than a dozen books under different pen names in just about every genre, from thrillers to romance to historical fiction. She currently lives in Maryland with her husband, their daughter, and their tuxedo cat.

Blog tour and review: Eagle Rock by Dr. Ian K. Smith

 

Title:  Eagle Rock

Author:  Dr. Ian K. Smith

Genre:  Mystery

Publication Date:  August 6, 2024

Publisher:  Amistad/Harper Collins

Rating:  💥💥💥💥

About the book:

Billionaire Elliott Kantor, who ruled over a mammoth real estate portfolio in Chicago, was a creature of habit. His trainer came to his house three mornings every week for a five-thirty workout. By six-thirty he was in the car and his driver drove him down into the city where he’d get a shave and trim from his barber every morning, then head over to his offices on Wacker. He always ate breakfast at his desk, had two young assistants who tended to his every whim and demand, then spent all day in and out of meetings growing a business that had already made him one of the wealthiest men in the country. 

There were few surprises in his world. Or so everyone thought, until Kantor died in his sleep at age 77, leaving behind a vast fortune and grieving wife, son, and five grandchildren.

When Simon Kantor enlists Ashe Cayne to explore his father's death, the probing private investigator learns there was plenty of "activities" Elliott participated in after hours, including a sex traffic ring. And as Ashe and readers will discover this is only the beginning, and as our hero dives deeper and deeper into Elliott's hidden world, this may be the end for the intrepid Mr. Cayne.

My thoughts:

This was the first book of this series that I've read and I can't wait to get caught up on my current tbr list so I can get to the others.  This was such an eye opening and exciting read that kept me engaged from start to finish.  And to be honest, I learned a lot from this book.  The characters were exciting, and the flow of the story just felt right.  and engaging.  And that it was set in one of my favorite cities, Chicago, made it that much more captivating.  I will definitely be on the lookout for future works from this author.  

About the Author

Dr. Ian Smith is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling books, SHRED: THE REVOLUTIONARY DIET, SUPER SHRED: The Big Results Diet, BLAST THE SUGAR OUT, The Clean 20, THE ANCIENT NINE, CLEAN & LEAN and eleven other books with millions of copies in print. His newest novel--THE UNSPOKEN, the first installment of his Ashe Cayne mystery series, is now available. Look for his next revolutionary diet plan FAST BURN!, on sale April 13, 2021.

He is currently the solo host of the nationally syndicated, Emmy award-winning television show

THE DOCTORS, and a longtime medical contributor to Emmy award-winning The Rachael Ray Show.

He also served as the medical/diet expert for six seasons on VH1’s highly-rated Celebrity Fit Club. He is the creator and founder of the national health initiatives The 50 Million Pound Challenge and The Makeover Mile. Dr. Smith is the former medical correspondent for NBC News Network and NewsChannel 4 in New York, where he filed reports for NBC Nightly News and The Today Show as well as WNBC's various news broadcasts. He has appeared extensively on numerous broadcasts, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The View, Dr. Oz, Steve Harvey Show, The Talk, Larry King Live, Anderson Cooper 360, CNN, MSNBC, and many more. He has written for various publications including Time, Newsweek, Men’s Fitness, and the New York Daily News. He has been featured in several other publications including, People, Redbook, Details Magazine, Essence, Ebony, Cosmopolitan, and Black Enterprise.

A highly sought-after speaker, Dr. Smith's work has been honored by several organizations, including the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for his coverage on the momentous events of September 11th, 2001. He is also very active in charitable causes. Dr. Smith has also served on the boards of the American Council on Exercise, the New York Mission Society, the Prevent Cancer Foundation, The New York Council for the Humanities, and The Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity.

Dr. Smith graduated from Harvard College with an AB and received a master’s in science education from Teachers College of Columbia University. He attended Dartmouth Medical School and completed the last two years of his medical education and graduated from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.

Twitter: @DrIanSmith 

Instagram: @DoctorIanSmith 

Websites: www.shredlife.com and www.doctoriansmith.com