Cece In The City

Tag: book review

  • Sister Friends Forever by Kimberla Lawson Roby

    Book: Sister Friends Forever

    Author: Kimberla Lawson Roby

    By: Cece Hymes

    This book was good. I ended up staying up to 5 am reading trying to finish this book. I was like one more chapter, one more chapter came to another until I was done. This book was about 4 female friends telling their story: you have a single friend, an engaged friend, a marriage friend and a divorce friend.

    Serena– is the single friend, she is 40 years of age and looking for her soul mate. She is dating this guy but let him know that she is celibate and waiting for marriage. She and her friend decide to go celibate until marriage. They are trying something new. They have been going to church and now is the time to get right. The guy she had been dating was hoping that he pops the question or hope he will be the one she marries. When she finds out that he is not the one and gets hurt in the process. She knows she has to lower her standards so when she meets another guy, she can be more open-minded. She also holds on to her past with her sister that still hurts her to be close to her sister.

    Michelle- Now Michelle is the engaged friend she is engaged to Dr. Christopher; she loves him and is happy. Let’s go back Michelle loved her high school sweetheart Steve. Now Steve was her soulmate, they always had a connection, they were supposed to be together forever, but her parents broke them up. When she was young her parent’s thought Steve wasn’t good enough for their daughter. They didn’t care about her being happy. They let her know if she marries him, they will cut her out of the will and disown her. So now she has a great guy and is about to get married until she sees Steve. It’s been years since they broke up and she runs into him in the grocery store. The spark was still there, and all her feelings were still there. She still loved this man. Ever since she ran until Steve, that’s all she could think about was him. She been celibate also like Serena until marriage but then she decided to break that, and things just get crazy from then. Michelle wants to be with Steve and now she is older she wants that happiness but does not want to hurt the guy she is about to marry and his family. What happens next you will have to read.

     

    Kenya– She is married and happy with their two kids. The man she is married to was married before and has a child by his first wife. The first wife cheated, and he left her. He didn’t really love her, but he married her when she told him she was pregnant. She was a bitter ex wife; she didn’t want him to be around his son. Told the son bad things about them so he could think he didn’t want him. She was cruel. She wanted his child support money but didn’t want him to spend any time with his son. He took her to court for visitation rights. She still didn’t go by that. So finally, he gets fed up and is ready to take her for full custody. He wants a relationship with his son. He threatens her to let her know he will cut off the child support and go into full custody or she can start letting him talk to him and spend time. He also hires a private investigator. What happens next is a must read. It’s a twist and a turn. All I can say is women in the world can be cruel to people. The things these women do to men is just sad. To be bitter and have the kids involved is just crazy.

    Lynette– The Divorce one. Now Lynette is smart. She went to school and had everything going until she met this man which at first, she thought was great. He got a promotion making great money, so he wanted to marry her and for her to be a stay at home mother and wife. She was a good wife. Her husband wasn’t. He was mean to her and cheated on her a lot. He barely spent time with his kids and did whatever he wanted to do. Things turned and he told his wife he was leaving for another woman and the other woman was pregnant. Lynette was hurt so she told him she wanted half of everything and for him to leave. He left and they got divorced. He ended up marrying the other lady and she had a set of twins. Lynette has a talk one day and meets her ex- husband to tell him he needs to spend more time with his kids. He looked sad and kept saying he loved her. She knew something wasn’t right but it’s never greener on the other side. She knew she was no fool and not going back to him. Well in between things she meets two men get their number, one she dates for a while until something happens that makes her finally decide to call the other one.

    The things these women go through are a lot when they are just trying to be happy. I love that they have been friends forever and they meet up and talk to each other for support, advice and more. You never know what God has instored for you. I love when a group of women can become friends and it turns into sisterhood. I think all friends need that. Someone to vent too and to look for advice.

    Check out this book and let me know what you think. I loved it. Make sure to Join Cece Book Club

  • What Looks like crazy on an Ordinary Day

    Book: What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day

    Author: Pearl Cleage

    By: Cece Hymes

    This is the second book I have read by this author. Both books are really good. This book was about a lady named Ava Johnson who was from Michigan but had moved to Atlanta to start her career and make money. She made good doing hair. Now as we all know Atlanta is full of parties, celebrities and having a great time. Some years later she is doing great and finds out she is H.I.V Positive, she wants to do right and tell all the guys she ever slept with in the last couple of years to get checked. She mailed all of them letters and one of their girlfriends came to her place of work and went off.

    Ava decided to go stay with her sister in Michigan for some months before she goes to San Francisco. She goes back to her hometown and sees it different than what it used to be. It’s a lot of young ladies pregnant, a lot of young people on drugs and seeing that the town went down. Her sister helps out with the youth and tries to educate them in life.

    There was a baby born but the mom was on drugs, the mother’s family was on drugs also, so Ava’s sister decided to take care of the baby. Try to give her love and the best home for the baby. Ava sees an old friend and they get close. They share their past and life experiences. They accept each other for who they are. They all become close and try to help the community. It’s a pastor and his wife in the neighborhood that are not great pastors that try to do bad things to Ava and her sister.

    So much transparent between the community, a lot of robbing, the older folks being scared, The young people on drugs being evil doing things they had no business doing. The pastor’s wife does something bad and gets the baby to go back to the family who really do not want the child but are doing it for the money. They hurt the child and ran. It’s sad what people do when they are on drugs. It’s sad how the mindsets are of people in today’s society. I like that Ava is honest about what she has and doesn’t want to put others in danger.

    As I read this book, I feel sad for everyone in the book even though good things happen. It’s like the real world, you have to be safe, anything can happen. As women we need to learn self-defense, safe sex, and more. I have a women’s group that I will be working on adding these kinds of classes for us to take.

     

    Make sure to check out the book and let me know what you think. Also Join Cece Book Club on Instagram and Facebook.

  • Where the Crawdads Sing

    Movie: Where the Crawdads Sing

    Director: Olivia Newman

    By: Cece Hymes

    I had a chance to watch this movie over the weekend. I read the book a while back and the book was great. The movie was also good. It’s about an abandoned girl named Kya who was left by her parents at a young age. She had to figure out how to survive without social services taking her. She always thought her mom would come back for her, so she stayed in the house. She learned how to make her own food, how to make some money, she had two people that donated clothes and shoes to her. Everyone around town thought she was nasty and creepy. She opened herself up to this guy and they became best friends. He teaches her how to read and write. Once she learned to read, he brought her different books all the time and she started writing about nature. She loved birds, feathers, and shells.

    When her best friend tells her he is leaving to go to college she is sad because that’s her only friend. He promised to come back in July and never showed up. She is heartbroken and thinks that everyone leaves her. She meets this other guy. She didn’t love him like her best friend, but she did like to have some company rather than being lonely. One day she was in town, and she ran into him. Come to find out he is engaged to someone else. She tries to stay far away from him, but he just keeps bothering her.

    Her books that she has written get published and she has to go out of town to meet the publishers. They found out that the guy she used to talk to is dead and they blame Kya even though they have no evidence. The whole town always thought bad things about her. She has this lawyer that always thought she was a sweet young lady and he decided to be her lawyer to prove she is innocent.

    Now you have to watch the movie or read the book to see what happens. Could you imagine having to raise yourself from being young to being an adult with no one around to show you how to live close to the swamps and woods. I was very proud of the woman she was or became. I guess at some point in life we all have to teach each other how to survive and grow up. Our parents don’t teach us everything. We just figure out life.

     

    Check out the movie and book and let me know what you think.

  • The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon

    Book: The HookUp Plan

    Author: Farrah Rochon

    By: Cece Hymes

     

    This book was good. I love a good love story or should I say a happy ending. I have read a couple of books by this author. It is about three friends that met when a guy was dating all three of them. They became friends and decided to meet up on Fridays to talk, vent and catch up.

    London was a hard-working lady. She worked at a hospital that she loves. She could have been in a higher position, but she loved her patients. She spoke her mind for sure. She didn’t really have a life outside of work besides meeting up with her mom and her friends. She tried to find a hobby. Her life was work, nothing really fun. She set up this class reunion and ran into her competition from high school. It’s been 15 or more years since they last saw each other.  

    Drew has done good for himself, he makes millions, looks good, and single. He always had a crush on London from High School but now that they are grown, he runs into his high school competition or should I say his crush. So, what supposed to turn from a one night stand turns into an agreement to just hookup. Drew always wanted more; he just really hopes London opens her eyes and really looks past the past and looks at something that can be real between them.

    Come to find out the same place London works Drew has to do some work there meaning they will see each other more than expected. They both have other things going on in their life but as they spend time together, they open up to each other which is much needed. I think every relationship should start off with friends. When you are friends first a lot of things fall into place. When you can talk to your partner about everything and feel protected it goes a long way. When you have an understanding, it makes it better.

    Another thing I love about this book is how real they are, how they don’t let money affect who they are. I love the London character in how she speaks her mind might sound raw sometimes but she says what she feels to her friends, boss, associates and mate. She doesn’t run from the problems she thinks about and tries to see what’s best. She may love competition, but she will tell you. Also love Drew character he knows what he wants he goes after it and doesn’t give up. He has an opportunity of love with his crush and is going to make it work even if it’s her way to start off.

    It’s more to the book than just what they love, but you have to read it to see. Know that you can get some advice and tips here and there. I want to be as Bold as London, that’s for sure. Life is about chances to ask for what you want and go after it. I am all for that. Even I like how they not all in the social media world they work and are successful. They deal with real family problems. They both have a great heart and I loved the position they have and what they do for the people.

     

    Make sure to Join Cece Book Club on Facebook and Instagram.

     

  • Book The Memo by Minda Harts

    Book: The Memo: What Women OF Color Need To Know To Secure A Seat AT The Table

    Author: Minda Harts

    By: Cece Hymes

    This book was about Color women securing the seat at a table. It lets you know sometimes that you need to step out of the box. Go to the golf courses, the happy hours and networking events. You have to get out to be put in higher positions.

    We always have an excuse to not go to working events. The excuse we give is we are tired, want to watch a show, relax, etc…… We just need to go because we miss out on different opportunities and see what everyone is talking about after hours.

    This book gives you knowledge gained from some of the author’s careers and what she learned. This book was not a big book at all, very simple to read. It gives advice on how to be a CEO, how to ask for more money and to take chances.

    Make sure to check out this book and let me know what you think. Also join Cece Book Club on Facebook and Instagram.

  • My Money My Way by Kumiko Love

    Book: My Money My Way “Taking Back Control of your Financial Life”

    Author: Kumiko Love

    By: Cece Hymes

    This book was about budgeting and getting your finances in order. I think everyone should have a budget and learn more about finances. We get to spend a lot of money on unnecessary things. A lot of us go into debt and get credit cards and then can’t pay that back and it messes up our credit and more. I think that finances should be taught in school.

    This book teaches you about retirement and your spending habits. It shows you how to pay off the debt and worksheets to do so you can see what you owe and how to pay little so that you can pay it off. I think that everyone needs to learn about savings, credit cards, credit, retirement, Investing and more. . This book will let you know that sometimes we make mistakes, and we spend but also how to get back on track.

    If you are looking to improve your finances and budget this is the book for you. If you read this book let me know what you thought of it.

    Also make sure to Join Cece Book Club on IG and Facebook.

  • The Wife Before by Shanora Williams

    Book: The Wife Before

    Author: Shanora Williams

    By: Cece Hymes

    This is the first book I have read by this author and when I say I did not want to put this book down I read it in one day. This book was about a lady named Samira who couldn’t hold a job. Her brother always helped her out when it came to bills and her life. She was always late to things and really just wasn’t too stable. She is staying with her best friend at the moment, but she doesn’t play. She doesn’t like to pay bills late and does not cut slack with Samira. She goes to meet her brother and he lets her know that he got to stop helping her out because of his personal life. She knows she has to get her life together. So her roommate’s boyfriend tells her about a job that is paying good that night. As Samira goes to this party she cuts her finger and Roland helps her out.

    Now Roland is a wealthy, caring man that is a big golfer. He was married before and his wife passed away. The talk was that Roland had killed his wife, but they didn’t have the evidence to say he did it. Ronald finds Samira attractive and goes out of his way to get her number and asks her out. They fall in love so fast and move in together. They talk for a couple of months and get married. Samira’s brother does not want her to date him because of the rumors he thinks he is dangerous. As Samira moves into the house that he and his ex-wife shared, she goes through her things and finds journals that she wrote. She gets caught up in these journals because she knows that this will tell her how she died and more about the relationship that she had with her now husband.

    Through these journals she finds out a lot about his family, friends and relationship he had with his ex-wife. As she goes through these journals, she hides that from her husband, and it gets her thinking. She just wants to find out the truth. It starts putting distance between her and her now husband by being sneaky. As she reads the journal, she is just so invested that she finds out the truth by getting information and clues out of the journal.

    This book will keep you interested because you want to know what happened to the ex-wife. Check it out and tell me what you think. Would you marry a man you barely know? Would you have tried to find out the truth? Would you be scared? I don’t want to say too much, but it is a great read.

    Make sure to Join Cece Book Club on IG and Facebook.

  • Drunk on love by Jasmine Guillory

    Book: Drunk on Love

    Author: Jasmine Guillory

    By: Cece Hymes

    You know I love a good love story. I actually was glad to read this book because I am getting more into the wine industry. Reading this book talks about the wine vinery. This book was about Margot Noble, co-owner of Napa Valley winery. Her and her brother took over the winery when her uncle passed away. She wants to show her brother that she can run the business and learn the business.

    Luke Williams is in the business as a tech. He quits his job and then moves back home to help his best friend and it makes him closer to his Mom. He gets a job at the winery to try to learn new things and do something fun.

    Margot and Luke meet at a bar and things get hot really fast. They are really attracted to each other. They have a great night and then next thing you know he finds out that his new boss is the same woman he really likes. They try their hardest to be professional at work but all through the day they think about each other. Margot cannot act on it because she doesn’t want her brother or the team to think she is unprofessional or get in any trouble for hooking up with her worker. They become great friends and love talking to each other.

    They have times where they really wish they could talk to each other and hold one another to see if it would be more than just a fling. Luke finally has to quit the winery to help his Mom and as soon as he quits he knows he no longer works for Margot and would love to take their relationship to another level. Luke is younger than Margot so sometimes she thinks he is just young and a fling but the passion she has overlooks that. Luke thinks he is not enough; he lies to his mom just so she can be happy and not be disappointed and the lies he tells comes back to him. Tell the truth and never let no one put you down. Your worth means a lot.

    Luke and Margot find love at the right time in both of their lives. I always say you never know when love will find you. Patience is the key and also find a person you can communicate and be friends with. I believe becoming friends first and everything will fall in place.

    Great Love book. I really enjoyed it. Check it out and tell me what you think. Also join Cece Book Club on IG and Facebook. 

  • A Merry Little mlMeet Cute By Julie Murphy and Dierra Simone

    Book: A Merry Little Meet cute

    By: Julie Murphy and Dierra Simone

    I love reading love stories. Now this love story was a little different than I expected. It was about Bee who has a successful career as a film star and Nolan also having a career in the film industry. They both was fans of each other work. Now Bee the films she did would make a man really go wild for her. She wasn’t used to someone loving her and being in a relationship. She was just used to fun and lust.

    Nolan had a big thing for Bee; he would fantasize about her a lot. They end up doing this film for the holidays, something nice and enjoyable. As they did the film together they became closer and they actually fell for one another. They was at the end of the film and it was time to go home it was the holidays but something got leaked of Bee’s past that may mess up a lot of things.

    I will not give up what happens, you just will have to read the book to see. Just so you know, there is a lot of juiciness in this book. Love is love, everyone needs love and you never know when it’s going to happen. When someone really cares about you they will stand with you and don’t mind telling the whole world. People have different experiences waiting for love. With that being said if you are still waiting on love it’s coming just be patient and you never know the person might be right under your nose.

    Check out this naughty little love story  and also follow Cece Book Club on Facebook and IG

  • My Summer Darlings book by May Cobb

    Book: My Summer Darlings

    Author: May Cobb

    By: Cece Hymes

     

    This was the first book I have read by this author and when I say I stayed up all night to finish this book whewwww. I wanted to see what was going to happen next. I finished this book in one day. I am tired this morning, but this was worth it. This book was about 3 women Jen, Kittie and Cynthia who had been friends since childhood. They are all adults now with their own kids. It’s a small town and they all live in the same neighborhood. Now Jen has been through a lot and has gone through a divorce she is a stay-at-home mom looking to get her life back together and find love. Kittie likes to be the center of attention and her daughter is giving her a hard time in life. Now Cynthia is the laid-back friend but she is trying to find out what she really likes and her passion. Her therapist told her to get a journal and write about it.

    Then it’s a new man in town, all the women think he is charming and they want to know about this mystery man that just moved in town. Jen has her eyes on him and wants to shoot her shot. All her friends are telling her to go for it. So, Jen finally gets a chance to meet Will and she is over the hill for him. Will ends up growing close to all three women and more and they all have an obsession with him. He breaks up friendships, families and more. As they try to figure out why he is not as close to them and want to just stop by his house whenever they want to get answers. You never know what you may hear or see coming to his house unexpectedly.

    Out of all three women Cynthia got the most attached and took it to another level. They find out what kind of man Will really is and is in for a rude awakening.

    With that being said, get to know people, ask questions and do research. You never know what kind of person you are dealing with. Real friends wouldn’t do the things that these friends have done. Also go with your first instincts. All these women felt like it was something off about this man but still looked over it. In today’s world a lot of relationships are like that. We see things we just look over it or just settle with it. Make sure to at least let someone know where you are going at all times.

     

    Check it out and let me know what you think of the book. Also make sure you join Cece Book Club on Facebook and Instagram