|
|
African-American
Fiction - New Reviews
5.0 Books = Classic | 4.0 - 4.5
Books = Impressive | 3.0 - 3.5 Books =
Noteworthy
|
 |
4 out of 5 books |
|
Valerie Wilson Wesley
Of Blood And Sorrow
|
Tamara Hayle’s life
couldn’t be sweeter. She has a supportive mate and her son
Jamal is doing well as a typical teenager. Tamara’s
professional life is on the upswing as well when the city’s
most powerful businessman wants to work with her. But Tamara’s
seeming quiet life is interrupted when an old acquaintance
named Lila Love seeks her help in finding her missing child.
To further confuse things, Tamara’s ex-lover Basil Dupre comes
back into town stirring up trouble and old feelings. But
nothing disturbs Tamara more when Jamal witnesses a brutal
murder and becomes the prime suspect. Tamara must now try to
solve this murder and clear her son’s name.
Of Blood and Sorrow is an enthralling novel by Valerie
Wilson Wesley. Wesley successfully pens a mystery novel that
is full of non-stop drama. This story not only deals with
Tamara getting to the bottom of a mystery, but it also deal
with the relationship that she has with her son Jamal. You
will see the various trials and tribulations that Tamara has
to deal with in trying to raise Jamal the best way she knows
how. There are also some favorite characters from Wesley’s
previous novels such as Basil Dupre and Tamara’s best friend
Wyvetta Green that adds just the right touch to this story. Of
course no Tamara Hayle mystery would be complete without a
mind-blowing twist. Of Blood and Sorrow is full of
edge-of-your-seat drama and raw emotion that will delight
Valerie Wilson Wesley’s legion of fans.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
Check out our
Exclusive Audio Interview with Valerie Wilson Wesley
in the On The Line section.
|
|
5 out of 5 books |
|
Have you ever
been in a club that had some weird restrictions? Like, you
must be tall with long hair, or your name must start with
the letter "K" and end with a "Y." Well, meet Tammy, Isis,
Egypt, Nikki, and Coco, they're all members of the BGBC
(Big Girls Book Club). To be a member of this club, you
must be at least a size 14.
Tammy, the club's president loves her life. She has two
adorable kids, a loving husband, and the best sex life you
could imagine. Tammy's husband Tim has a birthday coming
up, and she wants to fulfill his most freakiest sexual
fantasy: a threesome with two women. She has it all
planned except for one thing: Who can she trust to be the
third player in this game? The only person that comes to
mind is her best friend Egypt. As much as Tammy knows that
Egypt would never willingly agree to this, she has to
tempt her with something that Egypt could not refuse. Will
Egypt agree to play, or will Tammy have to find another
"gift" to give Tim for his birthday?
Not all members of the BGBC has a loving man to come home
to. Meet Nikki, she was in love with her baby daddy. That
is until he started beating her for no reason at all. He
would punch her in the face if she smiled at the mailman.
Now that he's her ex, it takes all of her strength not to
kill him, or let her "roommate" Tiny complete the task.
The only thing that's stopping her is her son. He loves
his daddy, and she will do whatever it takes not to
disappoint him.
Isis has a man (Tony) that worships the ground she walks
on. He knows how to please her in every possible way. And
that makes Isis want to settle down & become his wife.
That is until Rashad comes back to town & tries to take
her away. Little does Isis and Rashad know, Tony has a few
tricks up his sleeve. Some are good, and some will destroy
Isis's faith in men.
And then there was Miss Coco, who's habit was trying to
decide which man she's going to allow to pay her bills. It
didn't matter if they had a girlfriend, was already
married, or was a single man. As long as the price was
right, she would be their lady for the night. That was
until she meets Mac. He makes her weak in the knees and
enjoys every minute of it. But here's the question: Is
Coco ready to give up her many men for Mac, or is she
satisfied playing the field?
I want to thank Mr. Carl Weber for finally putting a
little meat on his characters' bones. Something On The
Side had a lot of excitement. Carl Weber made sure
this book had some spice...and it had a lot. Each
character added their own little "umph." The storyline
dealt with a lot of issues that sometimes happen in
everyday life. The way the characters always found a way
to be encouraged by each other made you like each one of
them. This was one of those books that when you pick it
up, you don't want to put it down. You'll want to find out
what's next in the lives of the women in the Big Girls
Book Club.
Reviewed by Jackie for Urban-Reviews.com
|
Carl Weber
Something On The Side
|
|
|
5 out of 5 books |
|
Donna Hill et. al.
On The Line
|
Talk
Radio...some people love it, while others hate it.
However, what most people don't understand is that it is a
way for people (who can't afford a psychiatrist) to get
free advice from an average person; anonymously. Sure, I'm
a fan of talk radio, but I've never heard it like this!
In On the Line, a new paranormal anthology put
together by Donna Hill, Joy Newhouse is the queen of talk
radio. She prides herself on being an expert on all things
relationship wise. No subject is off limits for her and
that's what keeps the fans tuned in and coming back for
more. However, one day, new management takes over and
fires her. Not one to be kept down for long, she gets the
idea to write a book with her most memorable callers and
letters from fans that she's received. When these people
read Joy's book and find out that their personal problems
were put on front street, all hell breaks loose and causes
a media scandal.
I must say that I have never read an anthology like this.
Twenty different authors writing one book; one story! This
is not like other anthologies where each author writes one
story, but it's just as good. You don't know who wrote
what story; except the one in chapter 18 and that's
because I recognized those characters from the anthology
Creepin'. I read this book in two days! Amazing
concept for an amazing story! I didn't know what to expect
from such a concept. However, with authors like L.A.
Banks, Venice Berry, Perry "Ebony" Satin Brown, Monica
Jackson and Earl Sewell, I knew On The Line was
going to be a page turner!
Reviewed by LaShonda Bates for
Urban-Reviews.com
|
|
3 out of 5 books |
(link is not yet active) |
Sharing a
common bond in the loss of their mates and residing in the
same neighborhood, these senior citizens have formed a
clique: The Invincible Sisterhood. Their loyalty and
devotion to each other transcends time and life/s many
crises. Traci Evans has become an honorary inductee
despite her age.
Maureen Gilmore is satisfied with her simple life running
her antique shop, gallivanting with her cohorts and
spending time with her son. Lo and behold, she meets sexy
Simon Dunlap, a policeman in the same age bracket as her
son and also Ryan's good friend. Despite the obvious
reasons that she shouldn't be attracted to him, she's
fighting the electric chemistry and the smoldering looks
and messages that he's boldly sending her way.
Traci enjoys the camaraderie shared between the ladies of
the sisterhood, but doesn't share in the fond memories of
their mates. Upon her husband's death, she discovered his
adulterous ways and it has left a bitter taste in her
mouth. Ryan Gilmore, Maureen's son, is a successful OB-GYN
and a playboy that for some inexplicable reason can't seem
to deny the growing attraction he has for the aloof Traci.
Francis Ray lulls you into the tug of war that these two
couples encounter in dealing with the age differences and
familial ties while introducing the issues of a teenager
seeking acceptance from a parent and peers. This is a
calming read full of true life decisions, romance,
sensuous love scenes, and a bucket full of lessons for one
and all because you never get too old to learn. Ms. Ray
has delivered with her signature style and I recommend it
to those looking for a refreshing love story with just
enough spice to entertain and stimulate your mind.
Reviewed by Tazzyt2bossye for Urban-Reviews.com
|
Francis Ray
Not Even If You Begged
|
|
|
5 out of 5 books |
|
L. A. Banks
The Darkness
|
The Darkness is the 10th book
in the 12 book Vampire Huntress Legend (VHL) Series written
by L.A. Banks. After the battle at Masada, the Neteru team
returns to San Diego for some much needed rest. They
believed that they had dealt with Lilith's spawn, but they
are so far from the truth. Unbeknownst to them, Lilith's
spawn escaped and is now resting and maturing, waiting for
his chance wreak havoc. In the meantime, The One Who Shall
Remain Nameless rewarded Lilith with the Daylight bite and
she, in turn, passes it to the rest of the Councilmen. Will
the team be able to stop the dark side from successfully
regenerating their forces and opening another seal?
I know that I always say, "If you are a fan of the VHL
series, then this book is a must read." However, "Have I
ever been wrong?" This book is good from the beginning to
the end! I had to make myself put it down! You would think
that after 10 books, Ms. Banks would've run out of ideas
when it comes to writing this series. Well, I'm here to tell
you that's not the case. The Darkness has love,
action, drama; you name it, it's in there. Ms. Banks also
adds some new characters to the mix, as well as bring back
some old favorites. I'm telling you, this book deserves all
5 stars that I gave it.
Reviewed by LaShonda Bates for
Urban-Reviews.com
|
|
4 out of 5 books |
|
|
Security
professional David Price is back once again with another
difficult case. David is thrown into the middle of a dangerous
situation when his ex-wife Regina’s friend Daphne requests his
services to protect her son Stanley. Everything is not what it
appears to be as David learns the kind of illegal activity
Stanley is involved in. To make matters worse, Regina is
planning on marrying a seedy lawyer that wants to adopt their
son. David’s focus on his family is put off track when a
lawyer that he suspects is a murderer turns up dead. Time is
running out for David as he tries to solve this crime before
it’s too late.
One Dead Lawyer
is an intriguing novel by Tony Lindsay. Lindsay brought a
riveting storyline that was full of emotion and dramatic
suspense. Readers will be glued to the pages as this mystery
unfolds. You feel the emotion of David as he tries to do
what’s best for his son and trying to help out a friend in
need. This storyline moves so rapidly that it will definitely
keep readers on their toes. In every murder mystery, the big
question is always “Who did it?” When the murderer is revealed
in this story, it’s so shocking that you will have to re-read
the page in order to believe it. One Dead Lawyer is
fast-paced and entertaining. Tony Lindsay has once again
created an excellent mystery novel that doesn’t disappoint.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
|
Tony Lindsay
One Dead Lawyer
|
|
|
3.5 out of 5 books |
|
Trista Russell
Dead Broke
|
It's been ten
months, but for Sarai Emery, it's almost as if it was a
lifetime ago. She was shot, in a coma, and now she's trying to
figure things out. Like why are Damian, India and Savion
missing in action? And why was this dude Tremel the first to
arrive when she woke up? Yeah he's handsome, but what is his
role? While Sarai is trying to put the pieces to the puzzle in
the right places, she's still very much in the dark. With very
little memory, a few new experiences and spurts from the past,
Sarai is unsure what and who to trust. Quick at trying to
regain her independence, will Sarai soon regret her decisions?
Tremel Colton has lost everything. However, he remains hopeful
as Sarai comes out of the coma. Unfortunately, his heart
breaks a little more when he finds that she has no knowledge
of who he is to her. DAMN! He now has to change his address
and allow her the space she needs to recover. In the process
of getting back on his feet, Mel stumbles over more of Sarai's
past and is faced with a dilemma of forgiving her or moving
forward with his life. While he takes a chance on rebuilding,
he knows his heart is with Sarai. Will Mel be able to forgive
Sarai? Can the two ever become one again?
Packed with so much persistence, fate, love, distrust,
vengeance and hope, Dead Broke reconvenes right where
we left Going Broke. Author Trista Russell knows what
it takes to make a sequel sizzle as she reintroduces readers
to the hellish life surrounding Sarai and Tremel. For flavor,
Craig (from Trista's novel Fly On The Wall) fits right
in with the flow of things.
While this reviewer has a major love for Chicago authors, I
was somewhat lost as I read Going Broke sometime ago
and had to try to fill in the pieces before the characters
could help me in the story. While the sequel was okay, it was
just that...okay. I mean the sex sizzles, as always, but as
the plot thickens- BAM! BOOM!! BANG!!! It's over! Seriously, I
had to ask myself, is this it? What the heck was the point of
all of the deceit? In my opinion, I think that the whole plot
overthrew the ending, especially since after all of the chaos,
it wrapped nice and neatly in the end.
Reviewed by Nardsbaby for
Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive interview with Trista Russell
in the Inside Out section.
|
|
4 out of 5 books |
(link is not yet active) |
|
Shari Maddox was frustrated with her
life as a stay-at-home mom and a wife. In her spare time, she
wrote Christian fiction books and sometimes questioned her
faith in God. She longed for the day that her husband would be
more attentive to her, but it seemed her dream never came
true. She constantly prayed that a change would happen in her
life. Well, soon those prayers were answered with a call from
her agent Tina. One of her books that she had published was
about to become a stage play. Her agent told her that it would
be a hit, and she was needed on the tour. When she finally got
her husband's attention, he was not happy with her being gone
for weeks at a time...especially when he found out that her
favorite gospel singer was the star of the show.
Bryce McCray was tall, handsome, and the answer to every
woman's dream...and the man could sing! Dillion (Shari's
husband) was not thrilled about this because he knows how much
his wife is in love with Bryce. Shari feared that her
relationship with God would soon be put to the test. Will she
be able to hear the Lord telling her the right thing, or will
she follow her heart and risk her husband and children?
In Wearing My Halo Tilted, Stephanie Perry Moore did a
good job making sure you knew that God was always in control.
You often question your own walk in the Lord when reading this
book. In the beginning it dragged a little, but if you keep
reading after the first chapter the book gets more and more
interesting. You could visualize what each character of the
book was going through, and when the characters would pray. It
made you open your heart and mind a little more, and pray
along with them. I thought the author completed her task with
this book, because it was a true test of faith and how the
characters got through the difficult times.
Reviewed by Jackie for
Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive interview with
Stephanie Perry Moore
in the Inside Out section.
|
Stephanie Perry Moore
Wearing My Halo Tilted
|
|
|
4 out of 5 books |
|
Trisha R. Thomas
Nappily Faithful
|
Venus and Jake are
back with more drama than ever. They move from Los Angeles to
Atlanta to make a fresh start but their problems are just
beginning. Jake is still haunted by being charged for his
accountant’s murder. The trouble doesn’t stop there when
Airic, the biological father of Venus’ daughter Mya, now wants
parental rights to a child that he hasn’t seen since her
birth. Venus finds herself fighting for her daughter and her
husband as this custody battle is putting a strain on her
marriage. Airic’s new wife, famous TV evangelist Trevelle
Doval, is pushing him to get custody of Mya so that they can
be a family. Trevelle is also running from her own sordid past
that may threaten her future.
Nappily Faithful is another wonderful novel by Trisha R.
Thomas. Thomas expertly draws readers back into the lives of
Venus and Jake. Although this book is mainly about Venus and
Jake, there are some secondary characters that play an
integral part to this story. You’ll meet Trevelle Doval, whose
seedy background may catch up to her. You also meet Delma
Hawkins, the judge that’s presiding over Venus and Airic’s
custody battle and how her own secret past may threaten her
career and impact the outcome of this case. Trisha R. Thomas
did an exceptional job of weaving these characters into the
storyline without disrupting the flow of the book. Nappily
Faithful is full of drama and humor that is definitely a
must read for fans of the Nappily series.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
|
|
4 out of 5 books |
|
This tale is told
in one man’s opinion of what he thinks of the NYPD.
The book is so self-explanatory that it’s kind of hard for
me to say something regarding it. Mr. Jeanty hit on a lot of
topics regarding police injustice, particularly towards the
black male. However, the police don’t seem to discriminate
on who they gun down.
This is a story that you can read and have a variety of
opinions regarding the context of it. Richard Jeanty allows
you to see just how he feels regarding all illegal activity
from both sides of the fence. Young black males that commit
crimes as if they don’t have any common sense to realize
they could do much more with their lives. He talks about
dirty cops as well as a few good cops. But overall, this
story was just one man’s opinion regarding police activity
in not only New York, but in a few other cities as well.
I won’t say I enjoyed reading this story because Mr. Jeanty
was very adamant on how he felt regarding a lot of
situations; however, a lot of his points were valid. Had he
left out some of the repetitiveness in everything he had to
say, it would have gone over a bit smoothly.
Reviewed by Angie for Urban-Reviews.com
|
Richard Jeanty
The Most Dangerous Gang In America:
The NYPD
|
|
|
4.5 out of 5 books |
|
Candice Dow
Tappin' On 30
|
Taylor Jabowski is
constantly reminded that she's approaching 30. Yes, she's
still single, and unfortunately there aren't any prospects in
sight. While she's educated and successful, her heart is
lonely and longing for just one person, namely her ex Scooter.
Taylor has already made up her mind, at her high school
reunion she will focus on rekindling the love that she and
Scooter shared at any and all costs. Will her feelings be
reciprocated?
While it has been nine long years, Jason Scooter Evans knows
that there has to be a man in Taylor's life. It's cool 'cause
he's in love, living with his girl and life is good. A little
shocked by her unhitched confessions, Scooter still finds
himself checking a little too hard for Taylor. Will their
reunion set off alarms?
Remember Devin Patterson? You know him from Caught In The
Mix. Well, he's back, bitter and tired of all of the
pretty women he can bed with no substance. Devin is still
wishing he could reverse time and get Clark and skip over
Jennifer, but he loves his baby girl. When Devin's ambitions
lead him to reside in New York and Maryland, he meets the
ideal mate. Unfortunately for Devin, she's already involved
with someone. While he tries to play it cool, it's obvious
that she's touched his blossoming soul. Devin decides to fall
back. Will Devin get a second shot at love?
Candice Dow's fourth novel, "Tappin On Thirty" is a fun, witty
read. Drenched in desperation, love, loneliness,
reconciliations, and regrets, all appear to be trudging up and
down on happiness. If you've had the pleasure of reading
Candice's first novel Caught In The Mix, then you'll
enjoy the way she slides in members from that story into this
one providing readers with a glimpse of the future without
having to tackle the heftiness associated with a sequel. This
was a great collaboration and I can earnestly say that Candice
definitely has a legitimate flavor and I can't wait until the
next book is on the shelves.
I LOVE MY PEOPLE!
Reviewed by Nardsbaby for Urban-Reviews.com
|
|
3 out of 5 books |
|
Monica Joyner
Phillips is the first lady of Pastor Xavier Winston
Phillips, the shepherd of New Horizon Ministries. They
appear to be the perfect couple; he's the fearless
leader of a growing flock, and she's the adoring wife
that tirelessly works in the background with several
charities in the community. Dressed to the nines in
designer suits and shoes, Monica's basically picture
perfect, but she's not blind to the fact that trouble is
in her house...beginning with her 'man of the cloth.'
Despite popular belief, Xavier is not handling up at
home...emotionally, spiritually, nor physically.
Discouraged with the 'calling,' Monica rebels and allows
herself to be led in a direction that's not pleasing to
their congregation nor her arrogant mate. Temptation
arrives in the figure of Bryce Sinclair, the #1 NBA
draft pick that is looking to give back to the
community. Despite Monica's reservations and undeniable
attraction, she and Bryce are required to work together.
And because of this collaboration, feelings develop that
only heighten the mayhem in her home.
Rena Finney pens a modest view into the lives and
feelings of church folk, beginning with the leader but
not excluding the mature members who serve as the
foundation of the church. If you're looking for a
soothing read, I Ain't Perfect would be a
relaxing book for you. I Ain't Perfect is a prime
example of how so many preachers get caught up in the
politics for fame and fortune that they lose focus of
their true calling: to save souls and tend to the
well-being of keeping their own house in order. The
characters are mediocre, with touches of egotism,
malice, back-biting, and a tad bit of treachery in the
ranks. Truthfully, the storyline was so low-key that it
left an unremarkable impression.
Reviewed by Tazzyt2bossye for Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive interview with Rena A. Finney
in the Inside Out section.
|
Rena A. Finney
I Ain't Perfect
|
|
|
3 out of 5 books |
|
Caleb Alexander
Two Thin Dimes
|
Multi-platinum
recording artist Tiera is sent to Texas to do a promo shoot
with a whale. All the while, she is so angry at her assistant
LaChina for setting this up that all she can think of is “Boy,
I am going to kill LaChina when I get out of this huge tank.”
LaChina comes up with a plan of her own for a video shoot that
includes the same whale. Coming up with a plan to stall their
stay in Texas, they run into a man in a mall who seems to be
perfect for getting Tiera out of LaChina’s hair so she can
handle the business in silence.
Tameer Harris (Mr. All Star, All City, All Regional) sets the
best records in the state of Texas playing football. With
every major college offering him full scholarships, Tameer
opted to go to school for school and not sports. Having
his mother leave him and his brother when they were younger to
be raised by their mean, overweight, alcoholic, drug-abusing
father, Tameer is determined to rise above the expectations of
everyone.
Running into each other in the mall they both land on the
floor, Jamaica/Tiera is furious at Tameer for knocking her
down and breaking her brand new $1200 Chanel sunglasses.
Coming up with a way for Tameer to pay her back, LaChina
convinces him to take her out on a date. Once they realize
Tameer has no idea who Jamaica/Tiera is, she continues with
this affair, not realizing how much she’s needed the simple
things in her life all along. She finally understands that she
is a woman first before being an entertainer.
I have to be honest here...this story missed me from the
beginning up until Tameer giving the speech that made you
understand the title. I didn’t find any of the funny lines
funny. Actually, I didn’t even realize they were the funny
lines. The conversation the girls had was just that.. a
conversation that girls would have...and not women. I
believe the concept was there; however, I think had the story
been told a bit more realistically, it would have been much
better. I understand the meaning of fiction; however, there
are plenty of fiction novels out that make you feel you are
right there with the characters or can relate in some way.
Please don’t get me wrong I will continue to read Mr.
Alexander’s work. But Two Thin Dimes was just not a
romantic comedy to me.
Reviewed by Angie for Urban-Reviews.com
|
|
4 out of 5 books |
|
It is one year
later and Oshyn is still trying to move on with her life
after the tragic death of her family. She’s now raising
her three-month-old son Mye and her deceased friend
Apple’s daughter Bella. Oshyn think she has it all
together until her sister Chloe comes back into the
picture. Chloe blames Oshyn for all of her problems and
will stop at nothing to destroy Oshyn’s life forever. But
Chloe’s past catches up to her as a man from her past
shows up wanting revenge. Will Oshyn finally get the
peaceful drama free life she’s longed for or will Chloe
destroy her?
Still A Mistress is the perfect sequel to The
Millionaire Mistress by Tiphani. Tiphani did a good
job of pulling readers back into the chaotic world of
Oshyn and Chloe. You will really feel for Oshyn as she
struggles to get on with her life and raise two children
on her own. If you thought that Chloe was scandalous in
the first book, you will find that was just the tip of the
iceberg after reading this story. Chloe is truly a
psychotic villain that you love to hate. Over-the-top
drama, murder, and mayhem make Still A Mistress a
true page-turner.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
|
Tiphani Montgomery
Still A Mistress
|
|
|
5 out of 5 books |
|
Kalisha Buckhanon
Conception
|
At the tender age
of fifteen, Shivana already has her mind set on what the life
of a black woman is. She thinks that eventually all black
women get stuck in the losing battle of getting pregnant by a
man that never sticks around. Shivana’s own mother has
followed the same path so that’s all she’s ever known. Shivana
is suddenly pushed into adulthood when she becomes pregnant by
an older man. She now has to make a decision on weather or not
to keep the baby. In this journey, Shivana also becomes
friends with a troubled teen named Rasul who gives her life
new meaning. Will Shivana realize how precious her and her
baby’s lives are?
Conception
is an awe-inspiring novel by Kalisha Buckhanon. Buckhanon
created an extraordinarily haunting tale about an
impressionable pregnant teen. This is not your typical black
teen mother type story. What makes this story stand out is
that readers not only get to see Shivana’s side of the story,
but you also get to see this story through the eyes of her
unborn child. You see how this unborn child’s spirit has
traveled through time to find Shivana and to show her how
important it is to bring this child to life. The imagery
in this novel is so emotionally gripping that it will truly
touch your soul. Readers will see the transformation of
Shivana as she learns about self love and self-preservation.
Conception is thought-provoking and insightful.
Hopefully, we won’t have to wait that long for another novel
by Kalisha Buckhanon.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive interview with
Kalisha Buckhanon
in the Inside Out section.
|
|
3 out of 5 books |
|
Diamond
Playgirls is an anthology by four of the hottest authors
today. Their stories are centered around four vibrant
divas that are on a mission. Dior, Tamara, Chloe,
and Mona-Lisa are on a mission to succeed in life on their
own merits with maybe a lil' sumthin-sumthin on the side
to increase life's pleasures.
They share three common threads. These four young ladies
reside in brownstone apartments owned by Ms. Margie, and
she ain't minding nobody's business...nobody's business at
all. (LOL) All of them are also career-oriented,
successful and beautiful ladies that are striving to make
powerful impacts in their fields. And all four ladies are
constantly annoyed by the neighborhood pest, Jerome, who's
constantly being threatened by Ms. Margie.
This is a relaxing read with not a lot of excitement,
which is surprising to me. Deja is always gonna bring in
her own special sauce to add that King-style spice to the
flavor. Chloe's tale saved the story for me because Dior
and Tamara were just a tad too mellow and blasé. T. Styles
added the finishing touch with the zesty, infamous
Mona-Lisa and her familial issues and frivolous sexual
encounters. Ms. Margie's dry wit was also the lifeboat for
this read!
Reviewed by Tazzyt2bossye for Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive interview with Daaimah S. Poole
in the Inside Out section.
Read
our exclusive interview with T. Styles
in the Inside Out section.
|
Daaimah S. Poole,
Miasha, Deja King & T. Styles
Diamond Playgirls
|
|
|
4 out of 5 books |
|
D. L. Sparks
All That Glitters
|
Santee Mitchell
feels that she always gets the short end of the stick in life.
She’s always played second fiddle to her older sister Sonya
and this pattern unfortunately continues into adulthood. Sonya
is married to a professional ball player while Santee is stuck
with a cheating, drug-dealing boyfriend. Things go from bad to
worse when Santee gets an eviction notice and an unplanned
pregnancy. Desperate for money and a way out, Santee turns to
her friend Monique who’s living the high life. But Santee soon
realizes that the glamorous life that she craves comes at a
price that she doesn’t want to pay. Santee’s life spirals out
of control when her friend Monique turns up dead and she is
the prime suspect for her murder. Will Santee be able to turn
her life back around before it’s too late?
All That
Glitters is a marvelous debut novel by D. L. Sparks.
Sparks brought us a novel that was full of non-stop drama and
intrigue. What’s interesting about this story is how Santee
was a 32-year-old woman that was still making the wrong
decisions for her life. She was still chasing fast money
without thinking about the consequences until later. This just
goes to show you that no matter what age you are, you can
still be lead down the wrong path. Another thing that makes
this novel stand out is how every time Santee sunk lower into
her questionable lifestyle, she was always reminded of her
lost innocence every time she looked into the mirror. Sparks
also showed great creativity by including a murder into this
storyline that added just the right amount of excitement. The
moral of this story is that all that glitters isn’t gold and
that everyone is accountable for their own actions. All
That Glitters is a fast-paced and entertaining novel. This
is an explosive start to D. L. Sparks writing career.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for Urban-Reviews.com
Read
our exclusive interview with D. L. Sparks
in the Inside Out section.
|
|
4.5 out of 5 books |
|
Joseph Hooks
is trying to solve a twenty-three year old murder. The
problem is that he is the one who is accused of killing
his father as a child. All he remembers is standing over
his father’s body with a bloody knife but doesn’t
remember anything else. Joseph is now a private
investigator and is trying get to the bottom of this
mystery. But as he gets closer to the truth, he keeps
running into brick walls. No one wants Joseph to know
the truth including his brother and his sisters. Joseph
is also dealing with his wife cheating on him with a
colleague and his son getting in trouble at school.
Joseph will be in for the shock of his life when solving
this mystery reveals some twisted childhood
secrets that will rock him to his core.
Lost Hours
is a breathtaking novel by D.K. Gaston. Gaston created
an emotionally-charged mystery that really tugs at your
heartstrings. You feel the drive and frustration of
Joseph as he tries to solve this murder that has plagued
his life. Readers won’t be able to flip the pages fast
enough as the secrets of this mystery unfold. Gaston did
a wonderful job of incorporating multiple characters
that were an integral part of the storyline. You will
feel every emotion of every character in this story.
This novel covers a lot of topics including murder,
police corruption and sexual abuse. Lost Hours is
an absorbing murder mystery that will leave you guessing
until the very end.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
Read
our exclusive interview with D. K. Gaston
in the Inside Out section.
|
D. K. Gaston
Lost Hours
|
|
