HAPPY PUB DAY!
Confessions in B-Flat
By Donna Hill

The year is 1963. Atlanta native Jason Tanner has just arrived in New York to help spread the message of his mentor, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., of passive resistance, while fiery and independent Anita Hopkins believes the teachings of Brother Malcolm X with all her heart: that the way to true freedom is “by any means necessary.”

When Jason sees Anita perform her beat poetry at the iconic B-Flat Lounge in vibrant Harlem, he’s transfixed. And while Anita scoffs at Jason’s “do-gooder” mentality, she has never met anyone who can match her wit for wit like this.

One movement, two warring ideologies. There are times when their differences seem insurmountable —can love be enough to unite them?

This book reminded me of how different the ideologies of MLK and Malcolm X were, which at times pitted the Black community against one another, creating some real challenges during the Civil Rights Movement. In the end, however, both wanted the same thing: for Black Americans to truly be treated as equal under the US law. Neither lived to see their dream come to fruition: Malcolm X was gunned down in 1965 by rival Black Muslims, and MLK was killed in 1968 by James Earl Ray.

This book gave a perspective into American history that you don’t often see in fiction. I really enjoyed learning more about this time period. Real people, such as John Lewis, MLK, and Malcolm X, made appearances in the book, along with excerpts from actual speeches. The author also added a collection of photographs of people and landmarks, which enhanced the historical perspective.

The book also made me reflect on current times, and the fact that while we’ve come a long way, we still have a long way to go.

Thank you @NetGalley and @entangledpublishing for the #ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Confessions in B-Flat is available on November 24!

I really enjoyed this book. The story and it's back drop are moving. I really loved how the author wove in historical events and how those events effected the characters in the story. Such a great job. I also love the relationship and romance between the main characters. Is it perfect? No, but that's what made it great. I loved the portrayal of two people working through differences. Highly recommend reading this book.

I am a arc reader. This start of slow. Jason was young man with lost of dream. One of his dreams working with dr king and other strong man. Jason was spreading the word or message from dr. King. In Harlem life was hard and dangerous. Jason arrived in new York and he meet anita a stronger believe of malcolm x. He failed mad in love. They will go through trails and tribulation. Well life throw danger or love. Must reader this book. Show you a lot about up and down and how to Survive

Confessions in B-Flat is good books to read about hour history

Long time novelist Donna Hill’s latest book ☛CONFESSIONS IN B-FLAT [pub: Sideways/Entangled Publishing] is a beautiful and enjoyable Black Love story that sparks on a New York City-bound Greyhound bus in the tumultuous year of 1963, post the March On Washington. Now, this is no spoiler and I pray that it’s not even a history lesson, but 1963 is the year that four young Black girls—Cynthia Wesley (14), Carole Robertson (14), Addie Mae Collins (14) and Denise McNair (11)—were brutally murdered in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. It is also the year that president John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Yet, despite this horrifically violent and racially divided time, Jason Tanner, a follower of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Anita Hopkins, a student of Malcolm X find themselves so strongly attracted to each other that it’s palpable and intoxicating for them and the reader.
So much good tension and music transpire at B-Flat Lounge. Felt like I was there with them drinking and dancing and grooving, in spite of the civil unrest that was happening across the nation. Speaking of music, I love how Donna Hill weaves classic soul and R&B from Martha and the Vandellas’ “Heat Wave” and Mary Wells’ “The One Who Really Loves You” to the Four Tops’ “Baby I Need Your Loving” to Little Stevie Wonder’s “Fingertips.” They take us back to a time, not so distant or different from now. The tunes serve not only as a backdrop, but also a much needed reminder that music is still a salve. In fact, I’ma need good sis to create a Confessions In B-Flat playlist to share with her readers upon launch.

My only or biggest criticism of this soulful romance is the sudden sped up pacing towards the end. It felt a little rushed from Chapter 19 on. I wasn’t expecting it to move so fast as I enjoyed the crafting of actual events and places with the fictional, yet natural and believable unfolding and unwinding of a new relationship, sort of like a sensual slow drag to The Miracles’ 1962 hit “You Really Got A Hold On Me.” Nonetheless, I couldn’t get enough of this “civil rights love story.”

What a stunningly powerful story! There is an author’s note at the beginning of this book that really moved me. When she started this story, she wanted to share a story that surrounded the civil rights movement but did not realize how poignant its 2020 publication would end up being. I think there are times when things are just meant to be, and this is one of them.

Confessions in B-Flat is a story told from two perspectives on two different sides of the Civil Rights Movement. Jason has just volunteered to move from the south to New York to spearhead the opening of a new location to drive the message of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The author chose to add real historic photos and news articles into the pages of the story. I thought it was such a wonderful addition. After a scene would finish, getting to see a photo of that real moment was so powerful. Even though this was a historical fiction story, the addition of those pieces gave strength to the actual historic events this book was based on. Loved it!

I really enjoyed the two main characters. They are easy to love, and their love was so wonderful to watch blossom. Jason is calm and just overwhelmed at what he has signed up for. Opposite him is Anita, a feisty, strong woman ready to stand up for what she believes in. Together they made an absolutely wonderful pair.

Overall, I was blown away by this story. It was amazing to read with so much historical information that you feel completely immersed in the story!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Wow!!! This story was beautiful. So much about it is relevant to today. I loved Anita and Jason being on different sides of the movement. It gave so much depth to the characters and the story. I dont want to give any spoilers. I never imagined a civil rights romance but I am all for it now. I recommend to 16+ as there are some mild sexual scenes. I plan to read more of Donna Hill after this. Thanks so much Netgalley for the copy for my honest review.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Confessions in B-Flat is a truly multimedia experience: along with the engaging prose, there are photographs of pivotal moments from the Civil Rights movement, as well as links to video clips of moments referenced within the text to read along to, so you can both read the words and hear the voices of Civil Rights luminaries like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. It really brings the history to life in such a compelling way.

As for the romance, it’s beautifully heartbreaking and hopeful, memorable and moving. The dynamic between Jason and Anita is one of people with different methods working toward a common goal, an example of a politically charged opposites-attract relationship that has a lot to overcome without one side being oppressive to the other, as is the trend in other recent books. And I really liked seeing Jason as the one interested in peaceful protest and Anita more radical action, as opposed to the other way around, which I might have expected, as well as their respective reasons for choosing to believe as they do. It also makes it compelling as they do begin to influence one another.

With the dearth of more “modern” historical romances (the only comparable title from the same time period that comes to mind is Alyssa Cole’s novella, Let it Shine) and the continued relevance of these issues in the present, I think this is an important book to pick up for anyone doing anti-racism work. But it’s also a brilliant book in and of itself that I recommend for anyone looking to diversify their historical romance reading.

Confessions in B-Flat is a resonant and romantic novel, filled with truth and history and finely-etched details.  Featuring two young lovers who are passionate about changing the world but unsure of how to accomplish their goals, the reader will remember them and their story long after finishing the book.

It’s 1963, and Atlanta native Jason Tanner is a part of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.  He dreams of both achieving the American Dream for himself and the advancement of Black Americans everywhere, and he hopes to bring these goals to life through non-violent resistance and protest, just as his mentor Martin Luther King Jr. is trying to do. Their unifying goal: to get President Lyndon Johnson to sign the civil rights bill into law.

Anita – Nita -Hopkins, meanwhile, is a Brooklyn native.  She organizes protests between working long, killer shifts as a waitress and agrees with Malcolm X’s core belief system – that Black Americans should seize power from a racist and corrupt system stacked against them by any means necessary, and should never back down in the face of the enemy. She’s been arrested in recent protest actions, a fact she wears with fearless pride.  She dreams, too, of a better world as she reads her poetry to the beat of a wailing saxophone in the B-Flat Lounge.  She is never without her notepad, and uses her words to further the cause.

While King respects Malcolm X’s resist-by-all-means-available ethos, he thinks it might be an impediment to getting the civil rights bill passed.  X doesn’t hesitate to condemn the white devils with whom King is trying to work.  So too do Jason and Anita struggle to make their belief systems work together.

Somewhat wide-eyed Jason moves to New York to help spread King’s message of non-violence, register voters and train community organizers.  The first time he sees Anita, she’s writing poetry on the bus, and he’s struck by the figure she cuts.  They have a meeting of the minds and soul over music – and are immediately torn apart by their differing reactions to the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.

Three more months pass before they see each other again, this time in Harlem, where Jason now lives in his aunt’s friend’s rooming house.  One night, Jason walks into the B-Flat, and he hears Anita read her poetry. He has never forgotten her, and is further enchanted by her art. They strike up a friendship as they share the world around them, and this slowly blossoms into romance.  But as 1963 wends toward 1964 – toward the assassinations of Kennedy, X and King, toward the Vietnam War -  Jason and Anita must learn to understand one another before the world and their core beliefs tear them apart for good.

Confessions in B-Flat has so many good things to say about love, faith, art, politics and family that it astonishes.  A wonderful portrait of life in the early 1960s, it also provides a sweet and sometimes heartbreaking romance.

Jason and Anita are both very realistic characters.  Jason is driven by patriotism and a thirst for justice; Anita’s thirst for justice has nothing to do with patriotism at all.  Anita has moments of selfishness; Jason has moments of blind idealism.  But they believe in the worth and goodness of their families and the people closest to them. Their romance is just the right mix of fiery and sweet, and they never allow their true selves to be consumed by their developing love story.

They’re both lacking in the friend department when they meet, but together manage to blossom and grow. Their families are great, especially Jason’s big, warm extended family.

Hill’s Brooklyn jumps to life (as it should; she grew up in the neighborhood where Jason and Anita live), and her period details are excellent as well.  She does a beautiful job balancing Jason and Anita’s love story with the turbulent period in which they live, and the novel’s use of real text from X and King’s speeches, as well as archival newspaper clippings and photographs, help the reader step into Hill’s world.

Confessions in B-Flat has a wonderfully timeless quality to it.  It comes with my very highest recommendation, and may it provoke strong feelings in whoever picks it up.

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I SAID THIS WAS GOING TO BE A FIVE STAR READ AND I WAS RIGHT.

Our hero, Jason is from the South and follows the teachings of MLK Jr. while our heroine Anita is from the North and follows Malcolm X.

Jason's work for Dr. King sends him to New York to open up an office, and on the way there, he meets Anita on the bus. It's instant attraction.

Anita is a fiery activist who never misses a chance to let her opinions be known and she also writes poetry which she performs in B - Flat. Jason is very calm and collected, and in awe of what the big city has to offer. He didn't think he'd see Anita after the fated bus ride, let alone that they'd end up together.

During the course of the book we get to know them better, learn their family histories and meet an array of characters, both historical and fictional who are all amazing in their own way.

I swear, there wasn't a single character I disliked. They were all written so beautifully, I felt like they could just leap off the page and into the real world.

The writing style was poetic (more than just Anita's poetry) and so easy to follow. I've never read anything by Donna Hill before but you can bet I will after this!

The plot was very sweet with lots of family themes. I also appreciate all the pictures, they help put everything in place, as I'm not from the U.S. and haven't visited yet, but I'm familiar with most things mentioned.

My favourite character? Mrs. C. with her peach cobbler. No, but really, they're all cool. And this book has no best part because everything is the best part.

I LOVE THIS BOOK.

- Cute love story? Check
- Historical? Check
- You can learn from it? Also check

READ IT NOW.

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Wow - this story blew me away!

Heartfelt, tender, fiery, and inspirational. An amazing and powerful story of love and social activism set against the tumultuous backdrop of the 1960s.

Anita is the spirited activist from New York following the teachings of Malcolm X, while Jason is the "do-gooder" from the south who is trying to spread the word of MLK Jr. To read the story of their upbringing, their family's histories, and the paths they choose is so inspiring. How they find their way to each other against many odds and so many differences is such a strong testament to their love.

I loved the historical aspect of this story and the interweavings of pictures, speeches, and news events from that time period. It really grounded the story, gave it a thoughtful and timely feeling, and shed light on the characters' inner struggles.

This is truly a beautiful story, filled with heartbreak, strength, purpose, laughter, and love. A must read!

Thanks to Entangled Publishing, LLC (Sideways Books) and NetGalley for this free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review for Confessions in B-Flat by Donna Hill
Full review for this title can be found at: @fyebooks on Instagram!

This is... fine. The setting and rep is so important, but I never really clicked with the writing style unfortunately. It's me and not the book.

CONFESSIONS IN B-Flat is a masterpiece that accurately records the struggle of the sixties through the lens of a a young couple who are actively involved in that struggle. This story will resonate with your spirit because it foreshadows the struggles of today. The photos, newspaper. Clippings and posters that are incorporated in the book add to the historical authenticity of the story. while the music and poetry add to the cultural experience. The love story that develops between the main characters is an added plus. I highly recommend Confessions in B-Flat.

Confessions in B-Flat by Donna Hill follows Anita Hopkins, a believer of Malcolm X's ideology and an aspiring poet, as she falls and Jason Tanner, a follower of Martin Luther Jr.'s non-violence methodology. This story is an emotional love story set against the powerful backdrop of the civil rights movement in New York City in the 1960's. This historic novel is based on the author's own personal experience of growing up during this time period in New York.

This book was a super emotional as well as very educational. I absolutely adored learning more about the contrasting beliefs of Malcolm X's ideology in contrast with the ideology of Martin Luther King Jr. I also loved the mixed media in this novel and thought that the pictures and radio snippets really helped make me feel immersed in the novel. The themes of this novel are unfortunately still very pertinent to today's current political climate and very important to read about. Overall, I would highly recommend this to people who love realistic historical romances.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's a young adult, new adult historical fiction romance set in Harlem in the Civil Rights era. And it is lovely! The central conflict is between the political ideologies of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, as the two young dedicated Black people argue their own stances. It's timely, not just to the civil rights movement but to the political climate today. I also loved the history of Harlem and Brooklyn that is interwoven through the book, showing the authors love for the Black Americana and era she chose for the book.
Overall, I wish this book had been around when I was discovering romance, and I'm so glad to have read it. Highly recommend for new readers and romance lovers.

Being from Atlanta, and seeing actual life Civil Rights Heros come to live on a page, wrapped up in a moving romance, was just so beautiful to me. Donna Hill is amazing! The way she somehow made such a timely novel set in the Civil Rights Movement, a true journey of love during an important time of American history.

Jason and Anita have conflicting feelings about what it takes to have true liberation for black people. But their real liberation is the love that they have for each other. The American dream for them also includes a love that is revolutionary. The Poetry that Hill used for Anita was also beautiful- like a reverse "Love Jones" scenario in a way. The letters from Jason from Vietnam broke me down completely.y

SN: bravo for also including contraception in a novel during a time when that about. I could classify this as a historical romance (crazy to think the 1960s is now historical), but I really appreciated it.

My only negative: I truly didn't want the book to end but so grateful for the HEA ending.

5⭐
I was surprisingly blown away by this book! I adored so many aspects of this book. Following a years long romance, between an unlikely couple, set in an important time period of change and loss. This book gave me so many feelings! It was a whirlwind of emotion in the best way! Donna Hill held me captive by gripping my heart and I was at her mercy with every page turn.
I recommend this book to many people of many ages. It is beautiful. The history is iconic. The story is a classic. The good fight is still being fought! So much love and my whole heart are left in the pages of this book. I implore you to try this book and know the power of love through the many changes life deals us!

Wow. Wow. Wow. I still have tears in my eyes! What a beautifully written book! I loved everything about this story. Jason, the do gooder who is a follower of MLK and Anita, a fiery activist supporting Malcolm X. Both of them coming together despite their differences and the challenges it causes educates you on how life was back then. I loved the history in this book and the pictures! You go from heart break to laughter to love. I definitely recommend reading.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I think the author did a good job of ensuring the main issues of the books in terms of Black Lives Matter, racism, police brutality, state violence etc did not get overpowered by the romance. There was a good balance between the two. She also managed to strike a nice balance between adding her own flavour and creativity along with keeping actual historical events and figures in the book.

That said I think the book felt a little rushed towards the end. I'd like to get a sequel just to see where lies ahead for the main characters.

Wow. Just wow. This novel weaves historical fact with fictional characters, a love story, and the civil rights movement in one. It’s an amazing story of love, heartbreak, resilience, and fighting against racism. The novel has historical pictures, articles, and URLs to speeches throughout it to showcase places and people that are mentioned throughout the novel. These help to weave the facts with fiction so beautifully that it makes the past come alive in a way most others do not.