Review: Make It Last Forever - Keith Sweat

Keith Sweat Introduces His New Book...

Yes! Its True Keith Sweat is an Author…

Shhh… Before you say another word... Keep reading my review…

“Make It Last Forever” is an advice book full of Dos and Don’ts in a Love Relationship. (Side Note: The title comes from his popular album and single title)

Is Keith Sweat married? No! He’s Divorced!

Isn’t he a Singer? Yes!

Once you get all of those questions & doubts out your head… you will be able to read and enjoy this book. Some people feel Divorced people should not give advice on Love Relationships. I happen to disagree with that statement.

In my opinion, I think they are perfect people to give advice on certain topics, because they have hands on experience on what NOT to do in a Love Relationship. Would you want to take parenting advice from someone with NO kids? Anyway… back to the review.

“Make It Last Forever” covers topics from Opposites Attract, Being Romantic, Technology & Love, and many more. He ends each chapter with Keith’s Key – which he summarizes everything he discussed in the chapter. This book contains useful tools you can use in and outside of the bedroom.

Why should you give Keith Sweat’s book a second look? When it all boils down to it – It’s a great book.

“Two people working on a relationship with the same energy & passion……… increases the chances of great results.” – Keith Sweat

Keith Sweat is the host of the #1 urban nighttime radio program, The Sweat Hotel. I have had the opportunity to listen to his radio show on a few occasions, and judging from the calls he received this book is needed.

4 Stars

Orsayor

About The Author

Keith Sweat (born in Harlem, New York), is an R&B and soul singer. Sweat once worked an ordinary 9-to-5 job for the commodities market in the New York Stock Exchange. He sang at nightclubs until he was discovered in 1987. On November 25, 1987, Sweat released his debut album Make It Last Forever, which sold four million copies. The biggest hit from this album was "I Want Her" (#1 R&B/#5 Pop), and the title track from the album was hit #2 on the R&B charts. Sweat continued to chart fairly well with his sophomore album I'll Give All My Love To You, which hit #3 on the Billboard 200 chart, and Keep It Comin debuted in the Top 20 of the album chart.

Sweat released his fourth album Get Up On It in the summer of 1994. He followed with Keith Sweat, his self-titled fifth album, in 1996, which hit #5 on the Billboard 200. The single "Twisted" hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Nobody" hit #3. In 1992, Sweat discovered the group Silk, and helped craft their debut album, Lose Control, which hit #7 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The album's single "Freak Me" hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 1, 1993. In 1995, Sweat discovered the Atlanta based female R&B group Kut Klose. Sweat also produced the group's debut album Surrender, which produced the hit single "I Like", peaking to #8 on Billboard's "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles". Sweat also formed the R&B super group LSG with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill, and released their self-titled debut Levert.Sweat.Gill in 1997. That album featured the hit "My Body", which became a huge hit single. Keith Sweat has produced song for artists such as Men At Large - Don't Cry, Dru Hill - Love's Train, Dru Hill - Share My World, Immature - Extra, Extra, Ol Skool - Am I Dreaming (feat. Xscape), The Isley Brothers - Slow Is The Way, The O'Jays ft Keith Sweat - Baby You Know.

Read more: http://www.thesweathotel.com/pages/about.html#ixzz2HtOuC7S3

Reader Spotlight: Tanishia Pearson-Jones

 

 

Orsayor: What factors are important to you when choosing a book to read?

 

Tanishia: There must be a good storyline that captures and keeps my attention.
 

Orsayor: Who are your favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
 

Tanishia: Brenda Hampton, Carl Weber and Kimberla Lawson Roby..... They take you on a journey with them and it doesn't take long for you as the reader to identify with the character(s) and sometimes even grow attached enough to their characters to make you want to follow them to another book.

Orsayor: Where is your favorite place to read?
 

Tanishia: My favorite places to read are at my desk at work and on my love seat by the window
 

Orsayor: What factors are important to you when choosing a book to read? Reviews? A Recommendation from a friend? The cover?
 

Tanishia: When choosing a book, reviews, and recommendations from friends are helpful and very important to me. I don't put a lot of stock in covers but I do take cues from the Titles! Like many, you can draw me in with a catchy title.
 

Orsayor: Do you prefer eBooks, paperbacks or hardcover?
 

Tanishia: I prefer hard cover books even though I buy paperback books because they don't always come in hardcover format. I also own eBooks due to Convenience. I can sit with My Kindle Fire HD on the elliptical and multitask.
 

Orsayor: Most people say the book is better than the movie. Is this true for you?
 

Tanishia: Yeesssss! In fact, I saw a movie trailer the other day and wished it was a book.  LOL
 

Orsayor: If you were shipwrecked on a desert island what 3 books would you want with you?
 

Tanishia: THE HOLY BIBLE, Torn Between Two Lovers by Carl Weber, Naughty Book 1 by Brenda Hampton, and Love Honor & Betray by Kimberla Lawson Roby.  

I know that's four but I couldn't leave out a book by my favorites!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual Book Tour: Goodnight, Brian - Steven Manchester

Brief Synopsis:

Fate was working against little Brian Mauretti. The food that was meant to nourish him was poisoning him instead, and the doctors said the damage was devastating and absolute. Fate had written off Brian. But fate didn’t count on a woman as determined as Brian’s grandmother, Angela DiMartino – who everyone knew as Mama. Loving her grandson with everything she had, Mama endeavored to battle fate. Fate had no idea what it was in for.

An emotional tale about the strength of family bonds, unconditional love, and the perseverance to do our best with the challenging gifts we receive, Goodnight, Brian is an uplifting tribute to what happens when giving up is not an option.


Review:

Good Night Brian is a heartfelt and very emotional tale about a family's unconditional love for one another in the face of insurmountable odds. For Mama giving up is never an option when it comes down to the ones you love. Brian Mauretti came into this world with the chips stacked against him; he was born with a condition that doctors said would ultimately kill him. But Brian's grandmother was not going to give up hope and would fight for her grandson's life at all costs. I really loved mama's character, when everyone else was willing to give up hope, she was there to help them realize that god never gives you more than you can handle.

I really didn't care for Franks character at all, he seemed to uncaring in my opinion, when faced with all their problems. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a great heartfelt story.

I give this book 5 stars and look forward to reading more from this author!!!

5 Stars

Billie Jo

 

  Excerpt:

Goodnight, Brian

(Italy excerpt)

Back at the cottage, Mama took three pills and washed them down with a tumbler of water. She limped to her chair and flopped down into it. She reached for her legs and tried to rub out the spikes that hammered into her brittle bones. The cancer felt like termites eating their way through an old, dry rotted shed. “Oh, Lord, please ease my pain tonight. It’s something awful.”

The Lawrence Welk rerun hadn’t even released its first wave of bubbles when both the pills and the prayer took effect. She breathed deeply and drifted off. Her snoring could have woken the dead…

Mama opened her eyes to a vast expanse of rich, rolling countryside dotted with cypress trees. In the distance, there were several grazing sheep, but the shepherd was nowhere in sight. Beyond them, at the outskirts of a silvery olive grove, she could barely make out a small house. It appeared to be made of stone. Or maybe it’s stucco? she wondered. It’s the color of melted creamsicles. On each side of it, there were small groves of trees. Fruit—fig and pear, she guessed. The sun was warm on her back and a slight breeze tickled her neck. It felt like the first day of spring; everything was green and rich and bursting with life. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she looked up at the bluest sky she’d ever seen. A few puffy clouds floated above. Besides the wind, only her breathing could be heard—slow, relaxed, and in perfect rhythm with the beat of her heart. Another scan of the hills revealed no human life. Yet, she felt anything but alone. She smiled.

Looking to her left, for the first time she noticed two straight rows of tall, green cypress trees lining a red clay roadway, the sun illuminating its natural path. Streams of light danced upon the path, auditioning for her attention. Without a thought, she turned and started for the path, an old Italian song coming to mind. “Viva Tuscany,” she started humming aloud, her smile growing wider.

 

As she followed the path, an old man dressed in soiled work clothes and a worn soft hat was whistling. He worked on his hands and knees, weeding out the base of an ancient stone wall. She approached. He looked up and smiled. His face was tan and weathered; his eyes, kind and aqua blue. "Ciao, Bella," he called out.

 

"Ciao, Senor," she replied.

 

He tipped his hat and smiled again. Without another word, he returned to his work and his whistling. Mama journeyed on.

 

At the end of the path, she came upon a field of daisies that looked like it went on forever. Butterflies and doves joined her as she walked, the breeze carrying them all toward something better. In a clearing, she stopped to watch a doe and her fawn prancing about. The scene brought so much joy that she laughed aloud. For whatever reason, it felt like a sign—though she couldn’t understand what it might be. She took three steps forward when she looked up again to discover that she’d just entered the outskirts of a small Italian village. “It’s Italy!” she gasped. “I’ve finally made it to Italy!” Afternoon had just turned to dusk.

 

Her young, healthy legs carried her on adrenaline and curiosity. At the edge of the small villa, she walked past an outdoor market that was closing for the day. Men and women packed up boxes of their baked goods—bread, cakes and biscuits. There was also an inventory of cheeses, cookbooks, coffee, kitchenware, pasta, oils, vinegars and wine. There was lots of red wine. “Buona Sera, Bella,” a copper-faced man called out.

 

“Buona Sera, Senior,” she replied and hurried toward the center of town, wondering why this was the second stranger to address her by her childhood nickname.

 

The tiny villa was a menagerie of cobblestone streets and intimate cafes. It was so wonderfully congested that it appeared each building was no more than an addition of the one before it. The smell of espresso filled the sweet spring air, challenged by the salami and cheese that hung in nearby shops. White, twinkling lights—strung from tree to tree—illuminated a smile on every face. Some waved at her as she walked by. She returned the gesture, oddly grateful that her presence had not gone unnoticed. The old cathedral called out to its faithful, its bells echoing through the granite square. As she approached the stone statues of angels and saints, two old women sang in Italian, a soft breeze carrying their notes toward the heavens. Love was all around—everywhere—and the world was perfect. She took a seat at the fountain in the middle of the square and scanned every inch that surrounded her. The architecture of the ancient provincial buildings was breathtaking, food peddlers and lovers protected beneath the terraces that overlooked the villa; balconies that were filled with terracotta pots of roses, wildflowers, and tiny pear trees. The faint scents of lemon and thyme wafted on the breeze. And then she heard the sound of water. She stood and looked back. It’s not the fountain, she knew. It’s the ocean—the tide coming in and out.

 

Drawn by its call, she hurried through the square and made her way down a narrow alley that led out to a long, wooden dock. She could see cobalt and turquoise dancing on everything. She squinted to see the Italian port filled with sailors mending fishing nets and singing about the day’s great catch. It’s everything I ever thought it would be…everything I ever told Brian about and more. With the taste of salt on her tongue, she licked her lips and picked up the pace. This feels like heaven…

Mama awakened and sat motionless in her gray chair. At peace, she looked around the room until disappointment crept into her heart. And then—in one sudden surge—the pain came rushing back. It felt like cleavers being tossed into her hips and legs. She cried out and struggled to free herself from the chair. “Where are those painkillers?” she asked aloud. “Dear God, where are they?” 

 

 

 Author Bio:  Steven Manchester is the published author of the #1 best seller, Twelve Months, as well as A Christmas Wish (the holiday prequel to Goodnight, Brian). He is also the Pressed Pennies, The Unexpected Storm: The Gulf War Legacy and Jacob Evans, as well as several books under the pseudonym, Steven Herberts. His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN’s American Morning and BET’s Nightly News. Recently, three of his short stories were selected "101 Best" for Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

steven.h.manchester@sunlife.com
http://www.StevenManchester.com  http://www.facebook.com/#!/AuthorStevenManchester

Paperback & Kindle

Nook

Virtual Book Tour: Be Still & Know - Cassietta Jefferson

 

About The Book

Bitterness and deception always manage to find their way to the surface. Be Still & Know is a novel about finding love after devastating heartbreak and the challenges of learning to trust again.

Kai Bennett never believed that she was worthy of love. Too many years of being mistreated left her bitter and uncertain of her own self-worth. Finding validation in men, money, and trinkets, she has little use for a man becoming a permanent fixture in her life. That was until she met Alvin. What starts as a game of cat and mouse quickly develops into something Kai is unsure she is ready to handle.

Alvin Reigns discovered long ago that in love, there were no happy endings. He had fallen in love once, and vowed to never again allow any woman that much control over his heart. Kai Bennett was an unexpected surprise who made him want to believe in the possibility of a happy ending. After many years of self-preservation, Alvin is unsure if he should trust Kai with his heart.  How will Alvin and Kai learn to trust and create their own happy ending?

 

 

About The Author

Cassietta Jefferson is a contemporary Christian author, publisher, and blogger. She is the newest Editor in Chief for Journey, the For My Sister Friends newsletter, and the founder of Virtuous Ink Publishing. She has a passion for reading and writing, and seeks to provide her readers with the best in contemporary Christian literature. Cassietta is currently preparing for the release of a collection of short stories as well as the much anticipated follow up to her first novel.

 

Author Website

http://www.virtuousinkpublishing.com/author-cassietta-jefferson.html

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MsSetta


Links to purchase the book

E-Book
Paperback  

Review: Where Did We Go Wrong? - Monica Mathis-Stowe

SYNOPSIS

True friends help you through the consequences of poor judgment when no one else will. Best friends Gabby, Maxine and Joy protect each other at all costs, even if it means keeping secrets that turn their lives upside down. Gabby has no boundaries when it comes to getting what she wants. She pulls out every trick in the book to keep her daughter s married father out of their lives but keep his money in her bank account...Maxine lives for her family but when her husband s excessive spending lands them in more debt than they can handle, the stress takes a toll on their perfect marriage...After Joy s loyalty to her controlling mother causes her to lose the only man she s ever loved, she marries a man she barely knows. After her wedding, she quickly realizes she made the biggest mistake of her life and it puts everybody she loves in danger. Unfortunately, someone will have to pay the ultimate price with their life. - Amazon

REVIEW

Monica Mathis-Stowe introduces us to best friends; Gabby, Maxine, and Joy who are there for each other through thick & thin. As we know Life has a way of throwing curve balls, so now the three are forced to face their problems head-on. Are they ready to step up to the plate?

Monica Mathis-Stowe has done a great job of creating characters that will have you screaming at the book while you are reading it. My favorite character was Gabby. She definitely sent my pressure up while reading this book, but I love reading books that can evoke emotions from me.. This was a very fast paced read for me. I can't wait to read the sequel...

I recommend this book for your reading pleasure.

4 Stars

Orsayor