Rashida Reviews: "Success Never Smelled So Sweet" by Lisa Price

Who hasn't heard the incredible success story of Lisa Price, creator of the Carol's Daughter brand of products? Lisa started creating her products for herself in her kitchen at home. Carol's Daughter has grown into a multimillion dollar enterprise with Oprah as one of it's biggest fans and Jay-Z as a major investor.
To say that this book inspired me would be an understatement. Lisa went through low self-esteem, betrayal, death, being broke and so much more. No matter what though, she pushed through it. In this book she not only shares her life story, she also shares business advice, a little food for the soul, and some recipes for scrubs and creams to get you through those tough times. This is a book for businesswomen as well as just us regular ladies. There is no way that you can read this book and not want to chase your dreams.

Rashida Reviews: "A-Town Veteran" by Cole Hart

I'm baaaaaaack! And oh, how I've missed you guys. My hiatus is finally over and I have the perfect book to welcome you guys back with.
"A-Town Veteran" is the tale of Young Hollywood, a young gangsta that runs the streets of Atlanta. He starts off in the game young. He beats a murder case at 14 and by the time he's 18 the streets are his. Young Hollywood was raised by his grandmother in the projects and never really knew his father. All of that changed when he went to prison. Young Hollywood and his father, Hammer, reunite in jail. Hammer feels extremely guilty about not being there for his son so he vows to make things right when he gets out. Young Hollywood is facing life in prison and his baby mother disappeared with his son, among other things, so Hammer has plenty of work to do to save his son's life.
When he touches down in the street, Hammer gets right to business. He hooks up with one of his old cronies and tears the blocks up. He starts a record label to turn the money legit and that's when the real war starts.
This was a really good read. I love the father/son relationship Cole Hart shows in this book. The storyline is fresh and unique, which I appreciate because I get so bored with the recycled storylines used in urban fiction novels. Cole's style of creating a plot took some getting used to. That's my only con with "A-Town Veteran". This is a must read, people so click the Amazon banner to get your ebook or paperback now.

Rashida Reviews: 'Guilty Gucci' by Ashley Antoinette

I'm proud to present my YouTube debut! From now on my book reviews will be done via video on my webshow titled 'Rashida Reviews'. Enjoy!

Rashida Reviews: 'Room 111' by Michael McGrew

This past January I posted the trailer for Micheal McGrew's third book titled 'Room 111'. I was very excited about its release and downloaded it to my Kindle as soon as it came out. The first thing that I loved about the book is that the main character is from my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. Raquan "Grey" Taylor is a singer/songwriter who moves to LA with his father, Renwick, after his brother was killed. Renwick owned Powerhouse Records and the label was very successful and was moving up fast. Raquan was a writer who dreamed of being in the spotlight but his father always kept him behind the scenes. Everything changed when the label's star act died of suicide. Raquan's half brother, Antoine, was an inspiring music exec who saw the potential in Raquan and pushed for him to become the new star at the label. Reluctantly, their father signed Raquan and he blew up right away.
Just when you think Raquan is on his way his father's label goes bankrupt and he is forced to sign a deal with Steve Moretti the corrupt CEO of Rich Child Records. This is where Antoine is now climbing the ladder as an A&R. As Raquan's fame grew he became more aware of the secret evil that comes along with the entertainment industry.
I am very intrigued with secret societies and the illuminati. I loved that Michael mixed that subject matter into an urban story. The book didn't wow me though. I thought the overall tone of the book was stuffy and boring and I struggled to finish it. It was a good, solid effort but Mr. McGrew need to work on making his stories exciting.

Rashida Reviews: The Candy Shop 2 by Kiki Swinson

Photo Credit

In the fall of 2010 I read The Candy Shop by KiKi Swinson and gave it a five star review. In part one, we were introduced to Faith the pretty assistant principal with a beautiful daughter and loving husband. She gets introduced to heroine by her best friend/secretary and ends up losing her job when she got caught snorting on the job. This caused her to spiral downward until she lost everything including her pretty little Lexus she was driving. 

Part two starts with Faith checking herself into rehab. She's ready to get clean so she can get her husband and daughter back. She begs her way in and makes it through detox thanks to her lesbian roommate, Denise. After 10 days clean, Faith calls home to tell her husband the good news about being clean when he breaks the news to her that he's remarried and she can no longer speak to their daughter. 

After this devastating blow, Faith gives up on rehab and leaves. (But not before finding comfort in the arms of Denise then robbing her blind) When she gets back to her hood and gets scraped up trying to turn a trick she runs into Slim. He invites her in to clean her cuts with peroxide then traps her. Turns out he's a crazy pimp who kidnaps women and forces them to work for him. Now Faith has to figure out how to get away from Slim with her life.

This book was good but a little too short. I love Faith. She's funny and real and I always get so wrapped up in her crazy life stories. KiKi Swinson does an excellent job of telling stories that are fast paced and non-stop from beginning to end.

Rashida Reviews: "Men Love Abuse" by Tionna Smalls

You know Tionna Smalls from the Vh1 reality show What Chilli Wants. She was Chilli's no nonsense matchmaker who tried (unsuccessfully) to find her love. Before becoming a reality TV star, Tionna was a relationship coach and author of the book Girl, Get Your Mind Right. She followed up GGYMR with "Men Love Abuse" an advice book that tells the nice girls if you want to stop finishing last, it's time to change. 
I've had this conversation with my girls many times before and we all seem to agree that the title of this book is the absolute truth. Before Tionna wrote this book we all knew that the worse you treat a man the more he's going to want you. Tionna gave a book that was short, sweet, and to the point. Shed the good girl image to get the man you want. Times have changed. Men want a woman that is strong and confident. One that he can't run over and one who challenges him.
Tee also taught women how to demand the respect that she damn well deserves. Men have it way too easy these days. They're able to treat women like trash and that has to stop. We have to start holding these men to a higher standard.
I loved this book. It's a short but entertaining read. It gives some great advice and I suggest that all women read it. Click the book cover pic above to read a sample and get your copy.

Rashida Reviews: "Black Friday: Exposed" by Ashley & JaQuavis

I was having a conversation with author Justin "Amen" Floyd on Twitter about the types of books I read. It was then that I realized that I had really slacked off on my reading over the last couple of years. As a lover of urban fiction I am ashamed to say that my first read of an Ashley & JaQuavis novel was last month. I broke my virginity with Black Friday: Exposed.
It's closing time at Kasheef Williams's club and he's ready to handle the business he'd discussed with his homeboy earlier. He'd just been released from jail and was ready to start getting money again so he came to Kasheef to put him on. Kasheef had played the good host buying his friend and a female companion drinks for the night. Now that the club has closed he led his friend up to his office to make their drug transaction. When Kasheef bends down to the safe, his homeboy pulls a gun on him and demands everything in the safe. What he didn't see was the gun in the safe so Kasheef put a couple bullets in him, taking his life.
The female acquaintance, Alija Bell, left her purse in the club. When she went back to get it she walked in on the murder and is now the only witness. When surveillance tapes of the shooting make the news and the prosecution is looking for Alija, Kasheef realizes that he has to find her first in order to make the case go away.
I absolutely loved this book. It got straight to the point and it moved quickly. A lot of people will call a book a page turner just because it's good. This book truly defined the phrase page turner. The action was non-stop in this book and the story really pulled you in. There was a curve ball thrown in the story line that totally changed the relationship between Kasheef and Alija that I loved. The plot twist made for an ending that left me a little upset but satisfied because it just made sense.
What I loved most about the book was just how perfect the craft was. Ashley & JaQuavis are some very good writers. They know how to create characters and really tell a story the right way. I was engaged from beginning to end. I read this book in three days. It's been a while since I've been able to get through a book that quickly. I can't think of one bad thing to say about this book. Lol.
If you haven't read the book yet CLICK HERE TO READ it then come back and let me know what you think.

Rashida Reviews: "Decoded" by Jay-Z

Initially I had no interest in reading this book. From what I understood, it explained the inspiration behind some of Jay's favorite songs he's written. I have always been a Jay fan so I know a lot about his music already. What was the point?
I gave in to the hype, though, and got Decoded because I was told that this was Jay's memoir. He's always been pretty private so I wanted to know more about his life. Wrong!
This book is Jay's way of explaining the art and craft behind hip hop. It did give some insight on his career and the method to his madness when it comes to writing classic verses. He did a very good job at shining a more positive light on hip hop and it's meaning.
He did give some more detail on how he grew up and gave his opinions on things like politics and the hustler's struggle.
I loved that it was a large book with great visuals. It did get a little boring though. I was tempted to skip a few pages but I soldiered on and finished the whole thing.
If you're a Jay-Z fan or an aspiring MC/rapper, then this book is a must read. If you don't fit in one of those categories, though, I don't think you'll enjoy this book.

Rashida Reviews: "Hiding In Hip Hop" by Terrance Dean

I know I'm very late reading this book but the scandal in it hit me like it was brand new. Terrance Dean has worked in entertainment industry since the early 90s. He as written for major publications, worked in the production department for movies and TV, and has worked in special events. His resume includes MTV, BET, and The Keenan Ivory Wayans Show.
The book is his memoir and tells about his life as a down low man. He suffered molestation by a male family friend and had several family members die from AIDS. When he got into the entertainment business, he was invited into the super exclusive fraternity of down low men that secretly control all of entertainment.
It was a little disappointing because he used "blind items" meaning he told real stories but he changed the names of the men he mentioned. Some of them were easy to figure out based on the details he gave and previous rumors about the men I've heard. He also mentioned some women that were secretly involved with women.
I did some research and here's what I was able to come up with:

• Will Smith & Duane Martin
• MC Lyte & Tichina Arnold (Pam from 'Martin')
• Dr. Dre 
• Ginuwine
• Bill Cosby
• Puffy
• Q-Tip & Busta Rhymes (or Method Man & Red Man)
• Shemar Moore
• Teena Marie

Note: These are just my guesses, people. I don't know for sure. i suggest you read the book and decide for yourself. 

Rashida Reviews: "Justify My Thug" by Wahida Clark

This is the first book by Wahida Clark that I've ever read and it was a good introduction. Tasha is married to Trae Macklin an ex-drug dealer who has went legit and they're living the high life in LA. But all that glitters ain't gold. Tasha got word that her missing sister is dead and now her brother-in-law and niece are still missing.  Her marriage is falling apart because Tasha is pregnant by one of Trae's good friends, Kyron. She hooked up with him once he was released from prison to get back at her husband for years of cheating.
Then there's Tasha's best friend Jaz. She is married to Faheem, another one of Trae's homeboys. They have a daughter together and seem happy, then all hell breaks loose when a son Faheem never knew about shows up. His ex is still in love with him so some major baby momma drama comes in to play.
There's some of everything in this book. Murder, sex, kidnapping, betrayal, scandal. It's a page turner. There were some cons though.
This book is is the fifth in the "Thug Series" so I was a little lost at the beginning of the book but I was able to catch on within the first few chapters. There are a lot of "K" names for the characters which was a little confusing and there are brothers, sisters, and cousins all married or involved with each other in some way. I found myself having to go back in the book and remind myself who was involved with who and that was annoying but, since I haven't read any of the other ones what else should I expect, right?
Preview the book here

Rashida Reviews: "The Magic of Thinking Big" by David J. Schwartz, Ph.D>

This week I'm changing things up a bit and reviewing a self-improvement book instead of my usual urban fiction novel. I am constantly looking for ways to improve myself and keep from going back to my days of being hopeless and depressed.  I am an avid believer in metaphysical science and the Law of Attraction so many books that I read  are on that subject.
I listened to an ebook series called "You Wish Is Your Command" by Kevin Trudeau. In there he gave a list of suggested reading and TMOTB was the first on the list so I crawled the internet and downloaded the ebook version. I have to say that I loved this book!
It gives you a simple way to thing BIG and become a better person in every facet of life. It doesn't talk over your head or bore you with the weird, spiritual stuff that most self-help gurus throw at you. I love the way the book gives you practical experiences from everyday people and tells you what you should learn from them. It covers everything from how to think big when your romantic life is in the pits to being an effective leader.
I strongly recommend this book for the person who has tried to reach their goals and be happy but hasn't quite figured out how to do it.
There's a 30-day plan included in the book that will help you start to reach your goals. I'm doing this plan and will let you know how it goes at the end ot the 30 days. Click here for a peek inside the book!

Rashida Reviews: "Stripping Asjiah" by Sa'Rese

This is the very first book that I've read that is not only set in the city of Cleveland, but written by a Cleveland author. As a Cleveland native, I am proud!
"Stripping Asjiah" is a book about a teenage girl who is trying to break free from a horrible family life.  Her white father murders her Black mother then Asjiah and her brother are sent to live with their maternal grandmother. She is light skinned and has her father's blue eyes so every time they look at her it's a painful reminder of the horrible thing her father did so they treat her badly while her brother is treated like a prince.
Things only get worse when her uncle rapes her and instead of her family wanting to help her, they call her a liar and turn their backs on her.  The only people who believe her are her brother and her boyfriend.  Her brother takes matter into his own hands and takes to the streets to deal with his uncle as Asjiah counts down the days until she moves to Atlanta for college.
I loved this book. It takes place during the time when I was a teen so it was kinda nostalgic to read. The only bad thing is the book could have been edited better.
Preview the book here!

Rashida Reviews: "Dirty Red" by Vickie Stringer

Truly a classic right here! I remember when a friend of mine first asked me if I had heard of Triple Crown Publications. When I told her I hadn't, she went on to tell me about the story of a scandalous chick in a book called "Dirty Red". From that day I told myself that I had to read it.
Well, I gotta admit that I love books, but I don't buy them often. I get most of my books from the library and it took FOREVER for me to find "Dirty Red" but I finally did. It was definitely worth the wait. I read the book in one day! This was truly one of the best books I've read. The plot and all of the twists involved in the story kept me on the edge of my seat. Here's a brief summary:

From the "queen of urban fiction" ("Publishers Weekly"), Vickie Stringer, comes a scorching tale of love, lies, loss, and the indomitable spirit of a woman scorned.

Mischievous and manipulative, eighteen-year-old Red is an expert at deception with a provocative femininity. She employs her dirty ways -- even faking a pregnancy with her boyfriend -- to win a closet full of Gucci bags, a deluxe condominium full of baby accessories, a new car, and a book deal. But when one of Red's scams backfires and she winds up truly pregnant by her inmate ex-boyfriend, Bacon, she finds herself in more trouble than she's ever known. The drama truly unravels when Red's picture-perfect cons fall apart due to the power of -- surprisingly -- love.

As always I have the link for you guys to get your own copy of the book, or you can preview the book HERE.

Rashida Reviews: "Expensive Taste" by Tiphani

I read a lot of books. And I hate to admit it, but I get sick and tired of these urban books sometimes. They all seem to tell the same story over and over with different characters.
When I picked up "Expensive Taste" I took one look at the cover and said to myself "Here we go again..."
The saying "Never judge a book by it's cover." rang true in the instance of this novel. The story takes the classic rags to riches story and makes it juicy and exciting. It tells the story of a young, Black woman named Mirror who grew up poor in a trailer park that has become a successful business woman who owns her own boutique. She hates her now homeless mother who is a painful reminder of the life she tries to forget.
What she hides is the fact that she stocks her shelves with stolen goods and uses men to finance her lavish lifestyle including screwing a plastic surgeon to get a fake ass for free. When she gets caught stealing she's saved by the owner of the Houston Rockets who she starts to date immediately after. That's when the story gets good. There's someone out to destroy her and she doesn't know who it is because of all the enemies she had made over the years. Plus, Mirror is hiding some very scandalous secrets that you will not believe!
This is an excellent book. The plot twist at the end will leave you with your mouth hanging open in shock. This is one of those books you can easily read in one day.
So click on the pic above and get your copy of "Expensive Taste" by Tiphani.

Rashida Reviews: "Let That Be The Reason" by Vickie M. Stringer

'Let That Be The Reason' is the debut novel from Vickie M. Stringer, founder of Triple Crown Publications. Vickie Stringer is where I aspire to be one day. A self published author turned millionairess. I had to read this book to see what was so special about it that it put her and her company on the map.


Pamela Xavier is a young woman left for dead by her drug-dealing boyfriend, Chino. With stacks of bills, no food in the fridge, and a baby on the way, Pammy turns to the streets for survival. Her back against the wall, Pammy relies on her alter ego, Carmen, to guide her through the male-dominated game and to achieve what she thinks will buy back her life and her happiness: money. In no time, Carmen graduates from call-girl service to leader of a major drug cartel -- all to raise her son so he may never know her same pain and struggle. But with money on her mind, Carmen soon realizes that the perilous choices and consequences of the game come at a much higher cost than she could ever have imagined.


This book was very good. I read it in two days. The fact that this book is based on Vickie's real life made it that more interesting. I loved how the story showed what a woman will do when her back is up against the wall. She took her hustle as far as it could go and she made major moves. I love that about Pam. 
I definitely recommend this book for those that love a good hood story without all the BS and shock value stuff authors put in stories. Sometimes I feel like every book I read tells the same story. 'Let That Be The Reason' is a good break from the norm. 
Click on the cover above and get your copy. You can also preview the book here.

Rashida Reviews: "The Candy Shop" by KiKi Swinson

When I first decided to write my book it had been a while since I had read a book, as crazy as that sounds. So a friend of mine suggested that I find the top ten authors in my genre and read their latest books.
One of the artists on the list was KiKi Swinson, author of the famed "Wifey" series. Before I had a chance to go to the library, my sister told me about a good book she'd read. Coincidently, the book was "The Candy Shop" by KiKi Swinson. (Big sis can read my mind! Lol!)
The book tells the story of Faith, a black woman with a pretty good life. She is a beautiful, single assistant principal working at a nice school. The only bad thing in her life was her best friend, Teresa, who works as a secretary at the same school. Teresa keeps Faith in trouble at work and then persuades Faith to ease her pain by using a heroine and cocaine coctail.
For Faith it was a one time thing. For Teresa it was a habit and that monkey is on her back hard. When Teresa is caught snorting on the job and is forced to take a drug test or be fired, she insinuates that there are other staff members that should be tested. The betrayal causes Faith to get fired right along with Teresa.
Faith then turns to the drugs as an escape from the reality of her life. That is when the book gets crazy. Faith goes from assistant principal to certified dope head. This book is a must read! So click on the book cover on the top left and get your copy of "The Candy Shop".