The Accomplice by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson with Aaron Philip Clark

Rating: 3.75 of 5 stars 

Pages: 272 pages
Published: September 2024

I'm not sure where I first heard about The Accomplice by rapper 50 Cent, but curiosity got the best of me and I picked up a copy from my local bookstore. I enjoy action-packed movies, and this one was set in Texas making it familiar. I thought this book might have a little bit of action and a lot of the Lone Star State, and I was not mistaken. I also know the author has built a bit of an empire with his TV shows on the Starz network, so I had high hopes of the entertainment value this book might provide. 

This gritty, graphic, thriller follows a cast of nefarious characters that are all intertwined in a world of crime. The main antagonist, Desmond Bell, is a bank robber of a different kind. He doesn't steal money but rather items and secrets that would, if exposed, damage the reputation of his victims. Nia Adams, who is the first Black female Texas Ranger serves as the protagonist and the two play a fast-paced game of cat and mouse to the bitter end in this story. 

I found the writing to be rather engaging as I could definitely envision what was being described; however, it was a little too graphic for my liking. I do wonder how much of the book Jackson wrote because I think the lion's share of the story lay with his co-author, Aaron Philip Clark. Having said that, I did enjoy the story, and the ending wasn't so much a conclusion as it left the door open for a second book. I also have heard the book will become a TV series starring Taraji P. Henson. And I think this is where we'll see Jackson shine. 

Recommendation: This was a short, fast-paced crime fiction novel that served its purpose. I don't know that I'll continue reading the series if more books follow, but I can appreciate what the author was trying to do. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 348 pages
Published: August 2023

I snagged a digital copy of In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros from Amazon through the First Reads Kindle program. Because my husband exclusively shops at Amazon and is a Prime member, I get his benefit of free books through First Reads. As luck would have it, several months later my work book club selected this novel as a book of discussion. The premise seemed interesting, which is probably why I selected this book in the first place. 

The primary characters, Izzy and Nate meet on a plane and shortly after takeoff the plane crashes in the Missouri River. Forever bound by this tragedy, the two develop a romantic relationship where timing never seems to align so that it can develop into anything more than the occasional hook-up. (As an aside, I feel like Keanu Reeves's Jack and Sandra Bullock's Annie on the movie Speed told us everything we need to know about this: "Relationships that start under intense circumstances never last." But I digress.) About a decade later, Izzy has started a career in politics and travels to Afghanistan where Nate happens to be serving in the military special forces during a volatile time. When she arrives, he is charged with serving as Izzy's security detail. This encounter forces them to deal with their past and address their future. 

The story was fairly predictable. The alternating perspectives of each of the main characters revealed a bit of relevant background leading up to an interesting, although not completely germane, plot twist. All of their romantic chatter and sexual tension is set on the backdrop of a war-torn country. And like many reviewers have mentioned, this seemed a little ... privileged. Why are they focused on "does s/he love me?" when there are way more important things going on ... like people literally dying. I think this book could have easily been set in the U.S., but perhaps the author thought the international setting would make the story more interesting. I don't think it's ever OK to use other people's true suffering as a prop for a fictional novel. But that's just me. 

I've said this before, and I'll say it again, I'm not really intrigued by reading the play-by-play of sexually explicit scenes. It just doesn't do it for me. Overall, I found most of the dialogue to be superficial, and the characters lacked depth. The premise was promising, but it fell flat in the end. I pushed through because I try to complete book club books so I can actively participate in the discussion. 

 

Recommendation: I'm glad I got this book for free. I've heard Yarros' latest book, Fourth Wing, is super good, but this one kind of tainted her for me. I wouldn't recommend this book and highly doubt I'll be picking up her latest. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Invisible Generals by Doug Melville

Invisible Generals: Rediscovering Family Legacy, and a Quest to Honor America's First Black Generals

Rating: 5 of 5 stars 

Duration: 6:35:00
Published: November 2023

I first learned of Invisible Generals when I heard the author, Doug Melville, discussing the book on "The Daily Show." Then, a day or so later, I heard him talking about the story of his grandfather and great-grandfather - the U.S. Air Force's first Black American generals - on "The Breakfast Club" radio show. I was really intrigued by what he had to say and how the movie "Red Tails" did not properly give these two trailblazers credit. I had a Audible credit to burn, so I purchased a copy. (It didn't hurt that Melville has a nice speaking voice and narrated the audiobook.) I also shared the book's synopsis with my husband, who's a retired U.S. Army veteran, and he started listening with me. We both thoroughly enjoyed this accurate re-telling.

And that's basically the story of how I came to know and learn about Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. and Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., a father and son who helped integrate the U.S. military and were pivotal in founding the Tuskegee Airmen. 

Like most stories from this time period, the Davis' were each met with their own struggles and challenges to pave the way in a world that viewed them as less than simply because the color of their skin. Melville gives some background on how his great-grandfather persevered, but the bulk of the book focuses on Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., who overcame insurmountable obstacles - physical, mental, and racial - to begin a career at West Point, while being shut-out by his white peers, and then to build an outstanding military career throughout several decades and leave a lasting legacy. I think the thing that makes this book inspirational as well as educational is that both generals and their families operated in grace even when grace was not reciprocated. My favorite line from Melville's book is when he mentions that Davis, Jr. and his wife always believed in leading with joy. That's powerful, especially during a time when you could say there wasn't much fairness or happiness. I am not related to this family, but I am proud of the accomplishments that were made as if they were my own. This was a story that had to be told, and I'm thankful the author invested the time and worked diligently to get the book published. 

I truly enjoyed the way this story was presented. It was easy to follow, even in audio format, well-written, and it was a joy to listen to Melville because his passion for his ancestors permeates throughout the story. He is doing an excellent job of honoring their legacy in his own, albeit, civilian way. 

Recommendation: I highly recommend listening or traditionally reading this story. It's inspiring, impressive, and simply wonderful to learn about people who achieved greatness and paved the way for many of us today.

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Read More