The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was only a child when I decided that the church simply wasn't for me. Even at a young age I recognized that things simply didn't add up; I couldn't reconcile the contradictions that I witnessed around me. I never understood how individuals could cast aspersions and judgments against others one minute and then "sin" so freely the next.

I've long come to terms with the contradictory nature of humans, and when I picked up this book I quite honestly reveled in the idea of a collection of juicy stories exposing the salacious deeds of the supposedly pious. What Deesha Philyaw delivered, however, was so much more than that.

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is a beautiful short story collection that explores what's it like to live life caught between the world's expectations and one's deepest desires. Each story is a raw and honest portrait of the ways each woman navigates a social structure that seeks to impose rigid limitations on their existence. Philyaw does an amazing job of humanizing these women; they are more than their contradictions, more than their sins.

This book is a serious page-turner. Each story complements the next, remaining true to the theme while also maintaining its uniqueness. Though some stories stand out more than the others ("Eula", "Peach Cobbler", "Snowfall", and "When Eddie Levert Comes" were my favorites), every single story succeeded in capturing and holding my attention throughout. This is a solid, strong, enrapturing collection of stories. I can't wait to read more of what Deesha Philyaw has to offer.

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Go Deep by Rilzy Adams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Go Deep is a sexy friends-to-lovers erotica that also manages to be quite adorable. Facing a career-threatening bout of writer's block, erotic novelist Navaya decides to enlist her best friend Xander for some sexual inspiration. This sets them off on a lusty rollercoaster ride of emotions neither of them had ever allowed themselves to feel, fearing that they'd ruin their life-long friendship. By the end, their lifetime of devotion and irresistible attraction to each other become too overwhelming to ignore.

This is a take on a classic trope that was fairly well done but not particularly unique. There aren't any notable twists or turns in the story that sets it apart in any special way. However, the chemistry between Navaya and Xander was intriguing enough to carry the plot. I was admittedly frustrated by their reluctance to just make it official already; their hesitance seemed to be somewhat ridiculous given how close they were. I think it would be more understandable if there were some discernable barrier keeping them from making the move or some external challenge that they needed to overcome. I also found myself annoyed by the typos. I don't usually trip over a couple of misspellings here and there but this book definitely could've used another round of editing.

Frustrations aside, it was also great to be along for the ride as Xander and Navaya explored the depths of their sexual attraction. Rilzy Adams can write a sex scene, which honestly is what matters the most for a quick & lighthearted erotic read. Overall, the book was enjoyable and tantalizing enough to hold my attention, and I'll definitely check out more books by this author.

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