by Dr. Cupid Poe and Kathi Macias
Publisher: Authorhouse
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by D.S. White of Read Zone Book Reviews

“She paused again, then plunged ahead. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that, no matter what’s happened in our lives, there’s nothing so bad that God can’t carry us through to the other side. The Bible says that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Sooner or later, God’s good plan for our lives will become clear to us, Emma Jean, if we’ll just let it.

Emma Jean was fighting tears now, wishing on the one hand that she’d declined Millie’s invitation and gone on back to her apartment where she’d be safe from such emotional revelations, while wishing on the other that she had the courage to open her mouth and tell this dear woman everything that was on her heart. In the end she said nothing, except a silent thank you to God, as the unspoken question echoed in her heart: How many people would He send to her to give her the same message before she finally got it?” - Pg 74.

I approach the writing of this review with unwanted credentials: that of a survivor of abuse. However, it is those very credentials that give me the authority to wholeheartedly recommend this book for those who’d like to:

(more…)

Living a Courageous Childhood, In An Unforgiving World by Keith G. Wright
Publisher: Ain’t No Joke Books, Inc.
Category: Self-Help
Reviewed by D.S. White for Active Christian Media

“No Joke Teen Truth #325: The smartest teenagers have already figured out that anything that can happen to someone else, can also happen to them. If someone else makes a decision that leads to dangerous consequences, then surely, by making that same decision, it will lead you to danger as well. There are no exemptions for the many teens that believe that it won’t happen to them.” - Pg 57

“No Joke Teen Truth #253: The most successful teenagers have figured out that they were born to be great people, that they were born to make history, and that they were born to leave a legacy of their remarkable lives to the world.” - Pg 38

About the Book:
The above quotes are two of the many gems to be found in the teen version of the “Ain’t No Joke” book series. Throughout the book the author’s pride in his mother and sincere heart for teenagers resounds loudly.

The author touches on several issues that if translated into a letter, would probably read as follows:

Dear Teen,

(more…)

Reflections on Faith, Family, Politics, and Authenticity by Joseph C. Phillips, Foreword by Tavis Smiley
Publisher: Running Press Book Publishers
Review by D.S. White for Active Christian Media

“…I was determined that if I didn’t learn to like rap, I would at least develop a working knowledge of the music so I could discuss it intelligently. I dashed out to the music store and bought CDs by Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, and a list of other artists who were hot at the time. The only ground rule I set was that I had to play each album all the way through at least once. As an illustration of my lack of commitment, I soon decided that playing an album all the way through didn’t necessarily mean I had to be in the same room while it played. Strictly speaking, so long as the album played all the way through. I didn’t even have to be in the apartment. I will never forget putting NWA (Niggaz with Attitude) on the stereo. I almost broke my neck sprinting across my apartment to turn the volume down when ‘F**k the Police’ began blasting through the building.”

The above quote is one of the many reasons completion of this book was mandatory. By its very title, this book makes a provocative statement which is ably reinforced by its content. The author, Joseph C. Phillips is an actor, writer, lecturer, and social commentator best known for his role on The Cosby Show as the character Denise’s (Lisa Bonet) husband, Lt. Martin Kendall. He has also appeared in such films as Strictly Business, Midnight Blue, and Let’s Talk about Sex. As a writer and social commentator, Joseph’s work has appeard in Newsweek, Los Angeles Daily News, Essence, Upscale, and USA Today. His weekly column, “The Way I See It”, appears in newspapers around the country. He was also a regular contributor to NPR’s Tavis Smiley Radio Show. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three children. The book is a collection of essays divided into the following themes:

(more…)

Hi Folks,

Here it is, my first review for Mind and Media’s blog for books program. It’s a great program that’s beneficial to publishers and authors. The publisher or author sends the books to Stacy, CEO of Mind and Media and she disseminates them to a reviewer base of over 200 hundred. A reviewer gets a book by show of interest on a first come first served basis and in return the reviewer reads and reviews said book.

Upon completion of the review, the book becomes the property of the reviewer. That’s right, FREE books. (There is however a $25 fee when first applying to become a Mind and Media reviewer. This fee serves to separate the lookie loos from the serious reviewer. After that no other fee is ever charged–unless you receive and retain a book you never review, then there is a penalty charge of $50.)

(more…)