It was a light read. There were interesting twists and turns in the plot. I found Jett and Chantel relatable characters. I liked that the chapters were song titles as if a playlist for the book.

Blind Ambition is exciting women’s fiction by Lutishia Lovely.

Chantel Scott has always lived in the shadow of her famous sister, Jett, even though they don’t relate like sisters ought to do. Circumstances are about to complicate their individual lives and their relationship.

Lutishia Lovely has given us a passionate tale of love, betrayal, and self-discovery. Vivid characters and an intense plot. 4 out of 5 stars.

My thanks to Kensington Books, Dafina, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

Thoroughly enjoyed this novel by Lutishia Lovely, she once again bought the drama and kept you guessing. This book had lies, secrets and drama. Everything you want in a good book.

4.25 rating

Characters are a bit over-the-top, but that's what makes it an entertaining read. Jett boiled my blood. She is a selfish self-centered narcissist who will mow down anyone in her way. She is awful to her sister Chantel who is 16 years her junior. Jett changed her name, left her town and never looked back. She not only abandoned her city, she abandoned her mother and sister as well.

After a horrific fatality, Chantel finds a birth certificate in her Mom's things stating that her identity is anything but accurate. And with that information the decent to lies, madness and blackmail begins. Chantel who's in her thirties is just too naive for me to stomach. I don't know if it's naiveté or being passive. She raked my nerves. However, she did redeem herself with her detective skills. The best was the love of Blanche,(the sisters Mom's best friend) and the church ladies. She went out of her way to assist and lighten the load for Chantel. What she gave to her at the new home was heartwarming.

This book evoked many emotions. I was pissed, sad and laughing out loud at times. I would recommend this book and the audio narrated by Wren Landreau.

Thank to Kensington Books/Dafina for the eARC via Netgalley

My sincerest thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my review. I have DNFed this book at 29%. I am concerned about the lack of sensitivity surrounding adoptees and adoption trauma which is a very real thing. I was also unable to engage with the characters in a meaningful way that affected my enjoyment of the book. I also found that the synopsis and what I read in the actual book differed. I would definitely read other books by this author in the future though!

I absolutely loved this story. Lutishia Lovely did an excellent job of keeping me glued to the pages. When Chantel finds out a devastating secret that turned her world upside down I felt like I was on the journey with her. Just when i thought the story would become predictable and I had it all figured out there was another plot twist. I have been a fan of Ms Lovely's work for quite some time now and this book deepens the love. Thank you to Netgalley and Dafina for allowing me an advanced copy. I highly recommend this book.

I would like to thank Publisher and Net Galley for ARC Copy.

This book was full of Drama and twist and turns, Jett was a hot mess and Chantel love her good women so real. Baby when I tell you I was not ready for the Secrets and lies in this Page Turner and that fight that happen at the house was crazy. I look forward to reading more from this Author soon great read and ending.

Blind Ambition is about two women, Chantel and Jeanette aka Jett and the familial relationship between the two after their mother has died.
I thought I really would like this, since it does follow two artist seemingly on different stages of their careers and it's about family. However I could not get invested into the story, really.

I didn't really like the way that "the mystery" was treated as some kind of Jerry Springer type of drama, but then in the end it supposed to be this super wholesome and emotional ending. However a lot of the emotional weight and nuance was told instead of being shown.
I just felt like Lovely could've leaned into that vibe more or just balanced it out.

This book also felt still stuck in the time where those types of tv-shows were all the rage and not viewed as problematic as hell, especially since Jett is supposed to be this washed-up celebrity trying to claw her way back into Hollywood, by appearing on a singing contest as a judge...? No mentions of tiktok and Instagram and Youtube just one time.
Also the fact that none of the two really seemed to write their own music or really seem that passionate about singing in the first place, but more as a means to make money or a way to get out of their hometown.

And almost all of the guys in this book are described by what they can do with their dick or just their sex life in general. Even with the "love interests", it felt like I was first introduced to that aspect of their life then what they were like as a person or what they even looked like. Since the book does take a more feminist approach in the latter quarter of the book it seemed a bit of a weird thing to do, especially since there was also quite a bit of slut-shaming, specifically towards one guy in the book. Not just men tho and there was also quite a lot of girl on girl hate.

This is a review of an arc from NetGalley.

Chantel is attempting to rebuild her life after a divorce and the death of her mother. To plan her services, she reached out to her sister, Jett, a mega star with a flourishing singing career. Jett and Chantel were not close as sisters, because the age difference and living in different states, but Jett always seemed unapproachable to Chantel. When Chantel and Jett began to receive threatening messages, truths are revealed as the sisters race to find out who is behind the incident.

I got this book with high expectation of pure enjoyment; it was average. Very easy read so I was able to finish it rather quickly. The story line seemed as though it was going to be predictable but suspense was introduced to the plot that provided very subtle and minuscule components that tied it all together. I enjoyed the book, so it was enough to keep me turning the page.

All I can say is that this book was wow. What a great storyline and well developed characters by the author. There was a lot of emotional ups and downs along with romance, drama, suspense and plot twist.
Chantel Scot is a newspaper editor by day and a lounge singer on the weekends. Her older sister Jet is a big time singer, actress out in California. Chantel and Jet have not been very close and when Chantel calls Jet to let her know that there mother has died from injuries in a tragic accident. Jet still doesn’t show much love for her sister or mother.
Some time later while cleaning out her mother’s home, Chantel finds out that her mother has been keeping a dark secret for years. Now Chantel is on a mission to find out the truth. In the meantime now someone is blackmailing Jet, Chantel and the town newly elected mayor. What does all three of them have in common to be blackmailed. You will have to read the book to find out. I don’t want to give any spoilers.
This was a page-turner for me especially trying to figure out who the blackmailer is. I highly recommend this book to read.
Cassandra H.
I received a ARC copy of this book from Netgalley and this review is of my own honest opinion and thoughts.

There were lots of things I loved about Blind Ambition. It was a fun look into the world of the rich and famous, the song references were great, and I always appreciate a book about family secrets and their repercussions. I also loved the ultimate message about the importance of family.

However, I had a hard time connecting to Jett. She was very self-absorbed and didn't care for others. Her lies were unnecessarily convoluted, and she threatened violence against several characters pretty quickly. While I did like Chantel, I wish she had stood up to her sister more. Although I did love her sneaky detective work. 2.5 stars.

Also worth noting: the description for this book is not accurate. Chantel does not move to LA, threaten to write a tell-all book, or try to get any sort of revenge. There is a major secret between the famous Jett and her sister Chantel, and the book is about Chantel uncovering this secret and then coming to terms with it.

Blind Ambition by Lutishia Lovely was a great read. I featured it as Book of the Day on all my social media platforms, and I’ll include it in my monthly roundup of new releases for my Black Fiction Addiction blog.

Blind Ambition is a book about how family secrets don't always remain a secret.

Sisters Chantel and Jett are forced to connect after their mother dies. Their mother's death opens the door to many secrets, particularly Chantel's parentage. Chantel and Jett live two totally different lives: Jett is a famous singer and Chantel lives a quiet life as a divorced mom. The two must face the truth and right their wrongs to honor their mother and move forward with their lives.

Blind Ambition is a fast-paced read. I figured out early what was going to happen, There are lots of details, some unnecessary, that made it more of a whodunit? but overall, it's a decent read. Not what the description described it to be, however.

A story about 2 sisters and a secret that was supposed to be kept forever, but came out after the passing of their mother. I did figure out the secret pretty early on in the story. Although the premise of the book has been done a lot, there were a few surprises, as well as a couple of jaw dropping moments that kept the story interesting. It was a book that I was able to get through pretty quickly.

I received a copy of this book via Kensington Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Sing A Song

Jett and Chantel sisters with beautiful voices living and singing in two different worlds. Their lives become a tossed salad with the death of their mother, when secrets are revealed with one sister wanting then to stay secrets while the other is clamoring for the truth to be told. The ending twist I didn't see coming at all. I enjoyed the old school song chapter names.

Thank you to Net Galley and Ms. Lovely for the advance copy of this book. for an honest review.

#Cillasbookmaniacs #Netgalley #MamaToni #singing #Sisters

I enjoyed this story and the progression of Jett and Chanel's relationship over time. I won't give any spoilers but I could see the initial plot twist from a mile away. After that, the story definitely took us on a ride of two women both trying to figure out essentially who they are in different ways. The death of their mother forced them to both address things from the past, with Chantel being thrown for a loop and Jett facing the things she left behind for blind ambition. I like where they ended up ultimately, although I think there was more to be desired into the specifics of their growth so it felt a bit rushed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The blurb for this book doesn't match the story inside the cover. The story itself is enough, just not what I expected. This was an OK read- simply written, and the audio kept me engaged. I skipped around through the ending chapters, as I felt the story dragging with conversations and detail to make the book longer but doesn't necessarily enhance the story.

Rating: A
Reviewer: Shirley Fleming

Chantal Scott has always been in awe of her older sister, Jett, a superstar. Chantal doesn’t know Jett. They have never bonded as sisters because over the years, Jett has been busy building her career. Nothing is more critical to Jett than fame and fortune. When their mother dies, Chantal sees this as a chance to get to know her famous sister. But Jett doesn’t feel the same way. Chantal is a reminder of things she would rather forget. While going through her late mother’s things, Chantal discovers a secret that rocks the foundation of her world. When she asks the questions no one will answer, she takes it upon herself to find the truth.

Chantal is a divorced mother with an adorable four-year-old son living a quiet life in her hometown. She has everything she needs except a close relationship with her famous sister. Jett has been a superstar since she was in her teens. She would do anything to maintain that status, including denying her family ties in a quiet Missouri town. She is fearful of her background becoming public knowledge.

BLIND AMBITION is a fascinating story of two women living a life of lies and deception, and only one is aware of the deceit. The other stumbles upon the truth by accident, and it sends her into a tailspin. This compelling narrative keeps you spellbound as it unfolds. Of course, this page-turner would not be complete without a bit of romance brewing in the mix. The pacing moves smoothly with no slowdown or wrinkles. The lively characters and superb writing make this book worth every moment of your time. Once I read the plot, I was hooked. Ms. Lively is a great storyteller, as evidenced by her many books.

BLIND AMBITION is an excellent read that I could not put down. I would definitely recommend it to others, especially if you enjoy a good mystery with spirited characters to make it enjoyable.

I really enjoyed the story line and the character development throughout the book. The characters were given realistic personalities and realistic life choices. There were moments that I would read something naughty/dirty I would look around to see if anyone was watching me 🤣😂😅. I also enjoyed the title of the each chapter; they are named after old school songs ( essentially the author gave you a play list )

Here’s a quote from the book that stayed with me: “But time goes fast and before you know it, life is over. Sometimes the ending comes with no warning”.

Secrets, lies, life in the fast lane and a quest for the truth…

Chantel
Chantel is rooted and grounded and working through the hand that she has been dealt after being recently divorced, moving back to her hometown, and determined to put her life back together. Although all is not perfect, she is starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. She has a job and a side gig, doing what she loves, singing. She was used to the distant relationship of her sister and star, Jett. But never in a million years did she imagine losing her closest friend, her mother and the levee that would break with shocking discovered secrets.

Jett
Lights, Camera, Action…Singer/Star Jett has it all; a new show, new music, and on her way to being the A-List star she worked so hard to obtain. Total diva, selfish at times, with an all about me and my career attitude, she has no time to revisit a hurtful and painful past. After all, the public knows Jett…the less they know about Jeanetta her government name and the life she left behind at 16, the better.
Life in the fast lane has not been a walk in the park for her. She has seen the highs and lows of stardom. With her career on the up and up and the comeback of a lifetime, Jett is determined to succeed and remain on top at all costs, even at the price of family and a past that she would love to forget. Who is the real Jett…Do she even know, when living a lie so long becomes the truth she believes?
The truth will set you free, will it? Chantel is bent on making discoveries and uncovering the hidden truth. Jett on the other hand is determined for the truth to stay buried and forgotten. Unanswered questions, loose ends, and clues leads Chantel down a rabbit trail that would forever change her life. She is not the only one who has an agenda for the truth. There is someone else out there who knows the real truth and is destined to expose the truth bringing pause to the one who feels she is on her way to being on top of the world, Jett. But who can it be? The past and present collides like a treacherous storm with raging waves destined to destroy all in its path including innocent by-standers.

Blind Ambition is a roller coaster battle of the mind as you play a mental game of Clue and Guess Who with your detective hat to aid in determining who is behind the scandal and blackmail. The suspense of it all mixed with the discovery of more lies and untruths, entangled with mind blowing truths that no one can truly be trusted, can they? Blind Ambition is an edge of your seat must read, worthy of turning the page. The appreciation for the richness of the grown and sexy of R & B music is cleverly uniquely intertwined in the mix of this electrifying read by Lutishia Lovely adding a bonus pleasure for lovers of good music.

Blind Ambition is a gasping read that is talking to the pages good.