Blog Tour and Review: Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray

 

Title:  Harlem Rhapsody

Author: Victoria Christopher Murray 

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher:  Berkley Publishing

Publication Date:  February 4th, 2025

Rating:  💥💥💥💥💥

About The Book

She found the literary voices that would inspire the world…. The extraordinary story of the woman who ignited the Harlem Renaissance, written by Victoria Christopher Murray, New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Personal Librarian.

In 1919, a high school teacher from Washington, D.C arrives in Harlem excited to realize her lifelong dream. Jessie Redmon Fauset has been named the literary editor of The Crisis. The first Black woman to hold this position at a preeminent Negro magazine, Jessie is poised to achieve literary greatness. But she holds a secret that jeopardizes it all.

W. E. B. Du Bois, the founder of The Crisis, is not only Jessie’s boss, he’s her lover. And neither his wife, nor their fourteen-year-age difference can keep the two apart. Amidst rumors of their tumultuous affair, Jessie is determined to prove herself. She attacks the challenge of discovering young writers with fervor, finding sixteen-year-old Countee Cullen, seventeen-year-old Langston Hughes, and Nella Larsen, who becomes one of her best friends. Under Jessie’s leadership, The Crisis thrives…every African American writer in the country wants their work published there.

When her first novel is released to great acclaim, it’s clear that Jessie is at the heart of a renaissance in Black music, theater, and the arts. She has shaped a generation of literary legends, but as she strives to preserve her legacy, she’ll discover the high cost of her unparalleled success.

My thoughts

Wow.  This is another one of those stories that will be hard to put into words on how much I've enjoyed this story.  At some point, I want to read it again and annotate and research ( and I don't really annotate my books).  This story was extraordinary and very much well written.  Many times I gave Jessie the side eye (and trust,  Mr. Man was getting them as well.) and at other times, i felt sorry for her as well.  And I also plan to look up her works as well.  And the tea made it all that much more enjoyable and entertaining.  Notsurprisingly, this has turned into one of my favorite stories of this month and of the year

About The Author

Victoria Christopher Murray is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 30 novels. Her novels, The Personal Librarian and The First Ladies, which she co-authored with Marie Benedict were both Instant New York Times bestsellers and her novel, Stand Your Ground won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Fiction. Four of her novels, Lust, Envy, Wrath and Greed have been made into TV movies for Lifetime. Visit her at www.victoriachristophermurray.com.

Book Tour and Review: Love on Paper by Danielle Parker

 

Title:  Love on Paper 

Author:  Danielle Parker

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Publishing Date: January 21, 2025

Publisher:  Joy Revolution

Rating: 💥💥💥

About The Book

From the author of You Bet Your Heart comes a heartfelt romance about two aspiring teen novelists finding love, good food, and a little bit of mystery at an exclusive writers’ retreat. Perfect for fans of K.L. Walther!

The daughter of two prestigious writers, Macy Descanso has decided to take her own writing seriously. So what if her mother pulled some strings to get Macy into a prestigious writing retreat? Macy belongs here. But when she arrives, she learns that the theme has been changed to romance, per the bequest of the late, prolific romance author Betty Quinn. Though a cynic, Macy lives for a challenge.

What she’s not prepared for is to be partnered with Caleb Bernard, also the child of two prestigious writers. The Descansos and Bernards notably have beef—a rivalry that has lasted generations. With something to prove, Macy and Caleb decide to put their family squabbles aside to work together as critique partners.

But this retreat is anything but ordinary. According to lore, every year, authors leave easter eggs behind for new students to find. Macy and Caleb are eager to solve Betty Quinn’s mystery. And in the process, Macy and Caleb find that they have a lot in common. Still, will their connection be enough to surpass their families’ feud? Can the relationship they’ve built continue after the retreat?

Content Warning: trauma, loss of parent, grief

My Thoughts

This was a cute palate cleanser of a read.  And it gives off Romeo and Juliet/ Hatfield and McCoy Vibes (with a not tragic ending).   I especially loved how both came from parents who were also writers.  Some of the things I read, including non fiction and historical fiction can be heavy, so it was nice to read something that was cute, light , fun and fluffy.  And it contained cozy mystery elements as well.   It was a solid read and I will be reading from this author in the future.

Book Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213197075

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0593565312/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-on-paper-danielle-parker/1145579936

IndieBound: https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-on-paper-danielle-parker/21480827About The Book

From the author of You Bet Your Heart comes a heartfelt romance about two aspiring teen novelists finding love, good food, and a little bit of mystery at an exclusive writers’ retreat. Perfect for fans of K.L. Walther!

The daughter of two prestigious writers, Macy Descanso has decided to take her own writing seriously. So what if her mother pulled some strings to get Macy into a prestigious writing retreat? Macy belongs here. But when she arrives, she learns that the theme has been changed to romance, per the bequest of the late, prolific romance author Betty Quinn. Though a cynic, Macy lives for a challenge.

What she’s not prepared for is to be partnered with Caleb Bernard, also the child of two prestigious writers. The Descansos and Bernards notably have beef—a rivalry that has lasted generations. With something to prove, Macy and Caleb decide to put their family squabbles aside to work together as critique partners.

But this retreat is anything but ordinary. According to lore, every year, authors leave easter eggs behind for new students to find. Macy and Caleb are eager to solve Betty Quinn’s mystery. And in the process, Macy and Caleb find that they have a lot in common. Still, will their connection be enough to surpass their families’ feud? Can the relationship they’ve built continue after the retreat?

Content Warning: trauma, loss of parent, grief

Book Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213197075

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0593565312/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-on-paper-danielle-parker/1145579936

IndieBound: https://bookshop.org/p/books/love-on-paper-danielle-parker/21480827

About the Author:

Danielle Parker is a young adult author from California. Danielle holds degrees from U.C.L.A. and U.C. Berkeley. A high school English teacher for a decade, Danielle’s talent was helping reluctant readers find their favorite books. When she’s not writing, she’s at the park with her young son. Danielle, her partner, and their toddler now live in the Pacific North West where she is always thinking about dessert.

Author Links:

Website: https://danielleparkerbooks.com/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@novelsshewrote

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/novelsshewrote/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21972914

Tour Schedule:

https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/2024/12/17/tour-schedule-love-on-paper-by-danielle-parker/

Book Review: The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany L. Warren

 Title:  The Unexpected Diva

Author: Tiffany L. Warren

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Publisher: William Morrow

Publication Date: January 7, 2025

Rating:  💥💥💥💥💥

About The Book

"Beautifully crafted and captivating.  This triumphant tale is sure to be an instant classic."--Victoria Christopher Murray, New York Times bestselling co-author of The Personal Librarian

"How do we not all know the name of Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield? The story of this brilliant singer -- a Black woman born enslaved who performed both sides of the Atlantic in the years before and during the Civil War -- is finally given its just due."   --Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The First Ladies

Before the Civil War, Black opera singer Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield reigned supreme on Northern stages—even performing at Buckingham Palace. Novelist Tiffany L Warren brings this remarkable but forgotten diva’s remarkable story to life for modern readers.

Born into slavery on a Mississippi plantation, Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield has been raised in the safety of Philadelphia’s Quaker community by a wealthy adoptive mother. Sheltered and educated, Eliza’s happy childhood always included music lessons to nurture her unique gift: a glorious three octave singing voice that leaves listeners in awe. But on the eve of her twenty-fourth birthday, young Eliza’s world is thrown into a tailspin when her mother dies.

Eliza’s inheritance is contested by her mother’s white cousins, leaving her few options. She can marry her longtime beau, Lucien, though she has no desire to be a wife and mother. Or she can work as a tutor for rich families. Her mother’s dying wish was for Eliza to pursue her talent and become a professional singer, but that grand vision now seems out of reach.

When a chance performance on a steamboat to Buffalo, New York, leads to a surprising opportunity, fearless Eliza seizes her moment. Within a year she is touring America, singing to packed houses, and igniting controversy wherever she goes. In a country captivated by “the Swedish Nightingale” Jenny Lind, Eliza is billed by tour promoters as “the Black Swan.” An unlikely diva, Eliza is tall, dark-skinned, and robust of figure compared to the petite European prima donna, but even the harshest critics can’t deny Eliza’s extraordinary gift. Menaced by racist crowds, threatened by slave-catchers who kidnap free Black people, Eliza lives a public life full of risk, but one which also holds the promise of great riches, and the freedoms those buy.

From the churches of Philadelphia to Queen Victoria’s salon in Buckingham Palace, Eliza Greenfield will blaze her own path—with a voice that no listener will ever forget.

My Thoughts

With me being such a fan of historical fiction, especially when it involves black and brown authors and subjects, I knew going in I would probably enjoy the story, I just didn't know how much until I was finished with it. Starting off, there were characters that irritated me to the point where I was physically yelling at them and calling them all types of names. This book was rich in history and emotions. I was captivated by the story right up until the very end. I have been reading her books since the beginning of her career, and this book shows the tremendous growth of her writing. This year has just started, but this is going down as one of my favorites and best books of 2025

About The Author

⁹