Dr. Clemmie Whatley is herself a descendant of the Chubbs family and began the research that resulted in this book when her cousin Henry asked that she work with ESPN on a planned project about his son, Nick. Her mother had been the person keeping the story of the free Black Chubb family alive and Whatley found herself taking over the role. In her search she found her grandparents’ trunk and a bill of sale for the exchange of a slave lady and her son between two men, which led her to try and determine if this was the daughter who had been kidnapped into slavery and the bought back by the family. The Chubbs: A Free Black Family’s Journey from the Antebellum Era to the Mid-1900s is an examination of the Chubb family that begins in the mid-1700s and ends in the mid-1900s. Continue reading “The Chubbs Book Review from @kleffnotes”

Chicken Bone Beach is the culmination of author Cheryl Woodruff-Brooks thesis research that was completed during her time at Pennsylvania State University. This pictorial history showcases the history of Atlantic City’s racially segregated beach, Missouri Avenue Beach. From the 1920s and into the 1960s the beach was tremendously popular and through her research Woodruff-Brooks was able to bring together images and interviews to truly showcase the beauty of the beach. Continue reading “Chicken Bone Beach Book Review from @kleffnotes”

Cheryl Woodruff-Brooks began working on the research that would lead her to create Golden Beauty Boss while preparing her thesis, which would go on to become the book Chicken Bone Beach. A review is also planned for her first book, but I wanted to begin with the life of Madame Sara Spencer-Washington. Her story is one of tremendous triumph and impressive business acumen that I had never heard mentioned before in any history courses. Woodruff-Brooks shares the impressive story of Apex and the empire that it built not just in the United States, but in the world. Continue reading “Golden Beauty Boss Book Review from @kleffnotes”

I first heard of Keah Brown and her book The Pretty One while listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Coming Out with Lauren and Nicole(also known as Coming Out Pod). Her chat with them was just so much fun and I knew I wanted to know about her and spend more time with her voice. Living in the middle of nowhere it takes a bit for some deliveries to make it to me, but when The Pretty One arrived at my door I wanted to start reading it immediately. I brought the book up to my current work from home desk and started reading any time there was even the slightest slow down in my day. Continue reading “The Pretty One Book Review from @kleffnotes”

Calvin Richardson is a multi-Grammy nominated R&B singer and songwriter who rose from a modest southern life to fame and living his dream. When the iconic Charlie Wilson called him “one of the most talented artists in the business” he knew that he was truly special. With the nickname, “The Soul Prince” Richardson has been sharing his completely open and beautifully created southern soul for almost two decades. With so many people asking how he managed to gain his success Richardson decided to write Do You, Without Them to remind people that they should follow their dreams. Continue reading “Do You, Without Them Book Review from @kleffnotes”

*Article was updated with image after original posting on 8/3/2020*

I normally like to have the cover of the book on the top of my reviews, but The Merriest Magnolia does not yet have an official cover. The only image so far is really not an image, but as someone who needs to have a cover image or at least some sort of picture for formatting this is what I have for the time being. Just imagine that this cover is full of holiday cheer, imagine trees with sparkling lights and mugs of warm and delicious cocoa as you take in this review. Continue reading “The Merriest Magnolia Book Review from @kleffnotes”

Set in the year 2209, Kimber is the story of a world that has had to completely change after the Earth’s ozone layer has been ravaged by a solar storm. The entire population was reduced to just 200 people who were able to hide from the radiation that brought a global extinction. Those who have survived will have to find a way to change in order to continue to live in a completely changed world. Continue reading “Kimber Book Review from @kleffnotes”

When budding journalist Lucy becomes obsessed with a new student at Northwestern University she is shocked when things change. After Owen Ota became her lover and sensei, in her terms, his sudden disappearance pushes her to find out what exactly happened to him. This will lead to a trip to Japan to try and learn what happened to the man she fell for. Continue reading “Gaijin Book Review from @kleffnotes”