Summer time is here!! What a refreshing, thought provoking read. A history lesson that didn't feel like i was in school. Finished it in a few sittings. The characters were fleshed out, one could identify with the various situations. Normally when reading stories set in two different time periods, there's always a period that's written weaker than the other. I was heavily invested and enjoyed both periods. I didn't enjoy Ms. Stratton previous book, so I was apprehensive about reading. There were no worries. The writing style was smooth and tight. I quickly found myself submerged into the story and was disappointed when it was over. It's been a few days since reading and still the characters are with me.

#DOWHATGODMOTHERSAYS, #NETGALLEY, #LSSTRATTON, #THRILLERS

This was a weird one. It was said to be a horror book, but it wasn’t exactly. It seemed like it was supposed to be a gothic book, but it just didn’t get that dark. BUT nevertheless, it was really, really effing good.

Ok so the main thing I liked about this was the timeline. Idk what it is, but I LOVE anything that has anything to do with the Renaissance era. And this one has a lot to do with the art. The flashbacks to when the original painting was finished to the present was pretty cool. I loved the way that Stratton was able to pull the two timelines together. And the way the parties in this were described seemed so much like everything I’ve ever heard or read about that time.

The plot tho seemed weird and all over the place. There was a lot that I wished was explored more. Like the house and what exactly that little group (?) was? Like I didn’t understand why it had such a huge part in the plot but it was only mentioned in passing. And the things they were doing or why they were doing it wasn’t really explained either, so I just didn’t understand why she wouldn’t develop that part of the plot more.

The writing style was the thing that got me for this book tho. Idk what she put in this, but it really had me like stuck in this story. I remember starting this at night and listening to it until like 2 am. I had to get to the bottom of why this painting was so important. And let me just tell you, I was NOT expecting what I got. Idk how Stratton made me feel all the things the main character did and then turned it into what she did, but I seriously tip my hat to her. She really had me going but tied up everything so nicely with a bow. I think I said out loud, “WTF?!” LOL

I didn’t care for the anxiety rep tho. ONLY because it was tied to something else and she kept saying, “I know you think I’m crazy.” And I just wish we had better language to surround that. Anxiety is already filled with enough intrusive thoughts. I just wish they didn’t make us feel this way. And when it does, I wish we had someone that believed us. There is someone who believes in this book, but we don’t know how or why until the ending. And that didn’t help me throughout the rest of the story.

This was a pretty fun book! This is my first book by this author and I can’t wait to read more of her work! I already went and put a hold on Not So Perfect Strangers lol That one sounds like another thriller that’s going to have me going, WTF in the middle of the night again….. And I can’t wait lol

“Do What Godmother Says” is the Thriller/Historical Fiction mashup I never knew I needed!

If a series of unfortunate events was a person, it would be Shanice, the FMC in the thrilling, historical fiction, “Do What Godmother Says.” After losing her job and relationship all in the same day she thinks life can’t get any worse but she’s in for a surprise when she accepts a mysterious painting from her grandmother that’s been passed down for generations.

Creeped out and intrigued by the painting Shanice makes it her mission to find out as much as she can about the artist. While there isn’t much information on Estelle “Essie” Johnson [the Harlem Renaissance painter] there’s plenty of information on Maude Bachman- Essie’s patron and benefactor. She soon uncovers a troubling business arrangement that may answer questions about the untimely demise of the once-budding artist.

While she’s putting all of the pieces together, and declining lucrative offers to sell the painting she realizes that she’s being stalked and her life is in danger. What’s so important about this painting, is how can she prove she’s not crazy, and who can she trust?

This was a thrilling read that I never wanted to walk away from. I loved the story development from the POV of Essie and Shanice shown in different timelines. There were lots of surprises and I must admit, I didn’t see that ending coming.

Additionally, L.S. Stratton forces the reader to consider several real and ongoing issues that impact Black Americans like gentrification, interracial relationships, and the erasure of Black Art.

Excellent read.

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions and views expressed are my own.*

Shanice Pierce is a writer going through a tough time, losing her job and her boyfriend all at once. She inherits a painting from her grandmother that has been in the family for generations. To her surprise, she finds herself drawn to it in a way she can’t understand. As she searches for answers, she learns that the artist was a young woman whose mentor was known as “Godmother” and that both of them vanished without a trace.
I would say this a thriller with historical fiction elements but also has some commentary on race, class, wealth, mental health, and family. I enjoyed this book but i did find it a bit predictable but that didn't bother me too much. I enjoy Stratton's writing and will be sure to read her next book. Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Great book keeps you on your toes and I love the history and past and present used in the story I felt like I was right there with the characters

A modern-day writer, Shanice Pierce, discovers a haunting portrait while cleaning out her grandmother's house, leading her to investigate the mysterious past of Harlem Renaissance artist Estelle Johnson. As Shanice delves deeper, she uncovers connections to the wealthy art patron Maude Bachmann, who was murdered shortly before Estelle vanished. Haunted by paranoia and convinced she's being stalked, Shanice realizes that the painting holds a deadly secret linked to recent deaths and a shocking truth she never anticipated.

This was such a fascinating read for me! I don't think I've read anything like it. I was intrigued the entire time by the dual timelines and following Shanice's present life while learning what happened in Estelle's past all while a mystery is unraveling. The twists and turns really got me at the end and although some were predictable I didn't mind because the others had my jaw dropping. I highly recommend this book and even reading the author's notes at the end to learn more about the inspiration for this story.

This was written really well, I immediately got sucked into both stories taking place in two different times lines from two different POV. This was a slow burn that was full of twists and turns, even though it was pretty obvious what some of those twists were it was still eerie and full of suspense so I really enjoyed it, I don't think it took anything away from the story. I think L.S. Stratton did a great job incorporating the Harlem Renaissance history into the story inspired by Charlotte Osgood Mason and and Zora Neale Hurston which sent me down a google rabbit hole.

Also at first I didn't care for the added romance in this book but it grew on me throughout LOL maybe 'Ill even check out a romance book now. Am I a low key romance girlie now? maybe.

I cant wait to read more from this author in the future.

Read this if you enjoy: historical thriller/mysteries, dual pov, dual timelines, slow burn, occult, superstitions, historical fiction, mental health rep.

Thank you to Union Square & Co, Netgalley, and L.S. Stratton for sharing a digital copy. As always, opinions are my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own

As someone with cognitive issues, I sometimes get confused with duel time line books. Luckly for me, it was not the case with Do What Godmother Says thankfully.

Such a fun creepy adventure this book was and I already recommended it to a friend. Well done

I enjoyed this book so very much. It kept me entertained from start to finish and I throughly enjoyed the twist at the end. What an awesome story!

3 Stars ~

Shanice Pierce had everything going for her in life, she had a boyfriend who was supporting her through an internship as an editor at a magazine, until one day her bad luck just hit, and it hit hard.
Shanice lost her job, the same day her boyfriend of 5 years left her.

Shanice spent her unemployed days helping her grandmother clean up her house with the prospect to sell, her grandmother gives her a painting. A painting that has a mysterious past and seems to be grabbing unwanted attention.

- Dual Timelines
- Gothic Horror
- Mysterious Painting with huge backstory to uncover about the artists life

Although I mostly enjoyed this read, I felt like the dialogue was very unnatural and it may have been a bit too long for what happened in the story.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

When Shanice Pierce inherits an old painting from her grandmother, she thinks it is just a peculiar piece, painted by a family friend. But recently out of a job and having been dumped by her boyfriend, she decides to do some research on the artist, a Harlem Renaissance painter name Estelle Johnson. What she finds leads her down a rabbit hole so deep, she finds herself dealing with cults, murder, and putting her very life at risk.

This book is told along two timelines: Shanice’s in the present day, and Essie’s in the past.

I absolutely loved this book. I have to get that out of the way. I was completely blown away from the moment I started this book with both storylines, that I was absolutely enthralled. Both Shanice and Essie are really intriguing characters, a bit naive and impulsive, but just trying to make their way in the world, when everything seems to work against them. They’re worth rooting for.

The ending was really intense - I mean, you knew “who” the bad guy was, but not “why” - and that part was just “WHOA.” Especially the very end. Wow, make sure you read until the last page, people!

There’s also some side storylines that are interesting that I enjoyed watching play out as well, but I won’t spoil it. I’ll just say this author is incredibly talented at making you think about things like race and class and how they play out in society.

My only quibble was with Shanice’s constant reference to her “disorder.” She says she was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and has all these problems with it. She refers to it as “the beast,” and at points blames almost everything on it. But I would argue it sounds more like she has PTSD from the accident she survived that took her mother. I won’t say more, but GAD doesn’t really play out the way she describes. PTSD does. But that’s neither here nor there.

Anyway, I loved this book and highly recommend it. It’s incredible and rich with intrigue, mystery and thrills.

Do What Godmother Says is the rich historical thriller I needed in my life. If you could read midnight blue velvet, this book would be that. It was like sitting around a campfire and listening to someone with a James Earl Jones-like voice tell you a ghost story. I loved the alternating timelines, the realness of our main characters, Essie and Shanice. I related to Shanice especially, because I have an Anxiety Beast of my own. It makes you wary of everyone around you, and usually for good reason, as we soon come to find out. This was my first from the author, and it definitely won’t be my last, because it was quite a wonderful experience.

A new to me author but I was intrigued enough by the blurb to take a chance on Do What Godmother Says as Shanice is inexplicably drawn to find out more about a painting given to her by her grandmother. But the more she looks into the history of the painting and its artist Essie, the more strange things start to happen.

As Shanice’s paranoia mounted and alternating between the past and present, there was a steady flow to the story as this author wove both strands of this tale together with just enough twists and turns as it enfolded to keep me engrossed. I loved the paranormal vibes it gave off and which played right into Shanice’s emotions. If this book is any indication, L.S. Stratton is an author I’d be happy to read more from in future.

I was very interested in the plot because it was different from anything I've ever read. Shanice inherits a painting from her grandmother and it seems her bad luck before magnifies when those around her start to die. Shanice starts to dig deeper to find out more about Estelle and her paranoia increases. I found I would get freaked out a bit while reading this because it does get a little creepy.

This was an enjoyable historical gothic thriller. I loved how this book combined genres and I found the overall plot to be very intriguing. It took me a little while to get into this one, but after a bit I was invested in the story. There was so much packed into this book, which made it a fun read.

Do What Godmother Says" by L.S. Stratton is a captivating psychological thriller that delves into themes of family, trust, and dark secrets. Stratton masterfully builds tension and suspense, making it hard to put the book down. The characters are well-developed, and the twists are both surprising and satisfying. Overall, it's a compelling read for fans of the genre.

This was a unique blend of gothic, historical fiction, and thriller. This story is told through a dual timeline, from both past and present times. This element made it engaging and added to the suspense. This was more of a slow building story with an eerie vibe. Definitely an interesting read.

Thank you to The Union Square & Co for the gifted copy.

♡𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 &| 𝐞𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰♡
4.5 🌟
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𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
•black thriller | horror
•duel timeline
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 :
•generalized social anxiety
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Historical fiction with a mix of horror | thriller. This book will take you on a roll coaster of twists, turns, and ups, and down to the point you will NOT know who to believe! The beginning is very slow and was a little hard for me to get into the book, but once you hit maybe 20%, it started to pick up, and I didn't want to put this book down. The duel timeline can sometime be a hit or miss for me, but for this story it was done very well and made the story more interesting and gave very great details and information that was highly important to the main storyline.
The narrators Aure Nash and York Whitake did an amazing job bringing this story to life!
♡𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 June.11♡
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Thank you, Netgalley, Union Square for the (eArc)-eBook, and Dreamscape Media for the (ALC)-audiobook for my honest review.

This took me a minute to get into but once I did I couldn't get enough! This is a historical fiction thriller mash up. There's a lot of twists and some are predictable and others not!

I was very interested in the plot because it was different from anything I've ever read. Shanice inherits a painting from her grandmother and it seems her bad luck before magnifies when those around her start to die. Shanice starts to dig deeper to find out more about Estelle and her paranoia increases. I found I would get freaked out a bit while reading this because it does get a little creepy.

We get a dual timeline which was done very well. I felt like both characters had equal time in the book and neither outshined each other. A unique read!

Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the e-arc.

#UnionSquare&Co
Thanks to #NetGalley and #UnionSquare&Co for the book #DoWhatGodmotherSays by #LSStratton. This book is about a painting that Shanice was given by her grandmother. She had been having bad luck until this painting shows up in her life. Now, she wants to know about the painter, Estelle Johnson., and the “Godmother”, Maude Bachman. The truth behind it all is scary and deadly.