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African-American
Fiction - New Reviews
5.0 Books = Classic | 4.0 - 4.5
Books = Impressive | 3.0 - 3.5 Books =
Noteworthy
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4 out of 5 books |
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Zane
Head Bangers
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Hope and Faith are twin sisters that are looking forward to
finishing their senior year in college. They are ready to take
the real world by storm but not before indulging in some
erotic extracurricular activities. As members of the APF, Hope
and Faith are known as Soror Ride 'em High and Soror Lick 'em
Low and they love every minute of it. But their sisterly bond
is threatened when they both become attracted to the same man
on campus. Will they be able to put their feelings of jealousy
aside or will it ruin their relationship?
Head Bangers is a deliciously erotic story by Zane.
Zane gave us another juicy installment of the Sisters of the
APF series. Hope and Faith make a good addition to the APF
sisterhood and are just as freaky as the rest of them. It
would have been good to see them interact with the main
characters of the original APF book. This story would not have
been complete without an interesting plot twist that will
definitely delight readers. Although this story is not a full
length novel, it will leave you satisfied and begging for
another installment. Head Bangers is sexy and
uninhibited which is just what Zane is known for.
Reviewed by
Radiah Hubbert for Urban-Reviews.com
Check out our exclusive audio
interview with Zane
in the On The Line section.
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5 out of 5 books |
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| Gina Rawling's life is
falling apart. Her marriage of 14 years is over, her teenage
daughter blames her, her ex husband is not doing his share,
and her travel agency is barely keeping her afloat
financially. When her best friend Celeste convinces her to
attend an opening for a new B & B, Gina has no idea this is
the event that would change her luck. B & B owner, Max Chaneau
has finally stopped wallowing in grief long enough to start
the Bed and Breakfast that was a dream of his and his deceased
wife. He now has a new outlook on life and is ready to start
living again.
Gina and Max realize quickly that they need each other.
Once they stop fighting their attraction, they realize how
much. An accident brings Gina's ex back into her house. The
children are hopeful, Max feels hopeless, and Gina is pissed.
Can these two find a way to make it work?
Celeste de le Vega is an interior designer that turns heads
wherever she goes. Having been engaged three times, Celeste
has not found a man that has made her hot until she meets Alec
Dunlap. Alec is a policeman that is having difficulty doing
the job he loves because he is feeling guilty about shooting a
man. Alec is at his brother's house building him and his new
wife a gazebo while they are on their honeymoon. Celeste is at
his brother's house redecorating the couple's bedroom. This
causes Alec and Celeste to cross paths constantly. Alec is
trying to fight the attraction between them but Celeste is
trying everything in her power to ignite the fire. When
Celeste is taken hostage, Alec is forced to confront the
feelings that have always been there.
And Mistress Makes Three is a compelling romance
novel that has betrayal, guilt, friendship, and love. There
are two main plots happening simultaneously. Francis Ray does
an awesome job of developing both plots separately and
together. The main characters and secondary characters are
also very well developed. And Mistress Makes Three is a
really well written novel that I feel is a must read.
Reviewed by Tenecia for Urban-Reviews.com
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Francis Ray
And Mistress Makes Three
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5 out of 5 books |
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Mary Morrison/Noire
Maneater
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The sweetest revenge is when the suspecting victim doesn't even
see it coming. Maneater consists of two short novels by two of the
best urban erotica authors out there today: Mary B. Morrison and
Noire. It was hard to decide which story was the best because both
stories were excellent.
In Noire's Sugar-Honey-Ice Tee, a quarterback for the New York
Giants named Blow was definitely a ladies man. Blow had no feelings
or concern for the women he dealt with at all, he used them and
threw them out to dry. Blow had problems dealing with competition.
If he felt threatened in any way, he would eliminate his
competition. Blow was the mastermind behind an up and coming
football player who coincidently was hit by a car that jumped the
curb. Blow never got his hands dirty; he always had his flunkies do
the dirty work. Blow is in the surprise of his life when the tables
turn. Will Blow be able to handle the battle ahead or will he lose
at his own game?
Nap was a slick businessman. He was a con artist who lied,
deceived and had shady business practices.
Tomere had a fetish for young girls, and served as a pillar in
the community, which he used as a front to gain access to young
girls. Will Tomere's craving for underage girls cause a crashing
downward spiral effect or will he be able to beat the challenges
that are set in front of him?
Ribs was a confidant to all three men, Blow, Nap, and Tomere. All
their dirt, secrets, and scams Ribs knew about. Ribs wasn't an
athlete or lady's man by any means. Ribs was a shy, slightly
overweight guy, and the butt of his friend's jokes. But Ribs has
some tricks up his sleeve, with all his classified information Blow,
Nap, and Tomere are for a surprise when a plot to eliminate a
player, goes terribly wrong. Revenge is the ultimate goal. Their
women by the names of Sugar, Honey and Ice-Tee enter into their
lives causing havoc and destruction. Ribs may be the last man
standing on the totem pole, but not for long.
Mary B Morrison's Character of A Man dives into the life of
Seven. Seven is a woman that has it all, the perfect man, money at
her disposal, and a huge mansion. As Seven prepares for the wedding
of a lifetime, she receives the shock of her life. An ultimatum to
lose 25 pounds or her fiancé, Maverick is calling off the wedding.
Seven has a decision to make, does she succumb to her fiancé request
or does she take back control of her life?
Maverick was a self-made billionaire. He was one of the most
eligible bachelors in the state of Illinois, But Maverick has some
inner demons that if exposed could ruin his career and reputation.
When Maverick gives his fiancé an ultimatum, is it to keep his
skeletons in the closet or is it to protect his fiancé from the
truth of who the real Maverick is?
Noire and Mary B. Morrison never disappoint, and Maneater was a
definite five stars. Noire's Sugar-Honey-Ice Tee definitely was a
page turner. The short story is told from Ribs perspective and is
funny how these three men do anything to be on top. Not caring about
who their actions may affect, Ribs was definitely the sane one with
a conscious and a heart. The statement "What's done in the dark
comes to light" definitely applies in this story. The Character of a
Man is a powerful short story that deals with a lot of issues
including sexuality and homosexuality. Mary B. Morrison did not
disappoint with this short story. It held my attention from
beginning to end and I was shocked and excited as the book continued
into the lives of Maverick and Seven. Seven’s adventures at the
Punany Paradise tantalized every sense of the word. Seven realizes
that the issue their relationship has is more than losing 25 pounds
on her retreat. She realizes her worth, self-respect and self value.
Maneater is a book that will grab you and hold you until you read
the very last page.
Reviewed by
Kristin for Urban-Reviews.com
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5 out of 5 books |
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After Emily's father
passed away, she decided to go back to her hometown and her
mother. Emily had no time for a personal life due to helping
her mother out. That's until she unexpectedly meets Dr. Aaron
Merritt. Aaron's a successful physician, very handsome, and a
single parent. Aaron showers her with expensive gifts and
extravagant dinners, but there's something missing from her
relationship with Aaron.
Emily runs into a guy from junior high that she use to have
a huge crush on name Teddy. Teddy doesn't have Aaron's money,
but he's the one that can fill the void that's missing in her
relationship with Aaron. What will Emily decide? Will she
continue to see Aaron and live in the lap of luxury or will
she choose true love?
Bettye Griffin keeps your interest in A New Kind of
Bliss from beginning to end. Griffin intrigues readers
with the complications of Emily's life and the decisions she
needs to make about her future. I thoroughly enjoyed this book
because of the characters in the story. Each character had his
or her story to tell and it was told in such great depth that
it would peek your interest to find out what would happen
next.
Reviewed by Jackie
for Urban-Reviews.com
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Bettye Griffin
A New Kind Of Bliss
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4 out of 5 books |
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Rochelle Alers
Secret Agenda
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Vivienne Neal has been widowed, moved to Florida, and is now
working for the Cole Diaz firm. After her husband's untimely
death, Vivienne decides she needs a change. She goes to work
for Diego Cole-Thomas, CEO of ColeDiaz, not because she
needs the money but because she wants a challenge. And what
bigger challenge is there than working for Diego? He has
already gone through two personal assistants. He is a very
shrewd business man and he expects his employees to fall in
line. Vivienne has been the trophy wife of a politician and
she is not about to allow another man to walk over her.
Diego quickly learns that Vivienne is different from any
other woman he has ever meet. She is beautiful, intelligent,
and feisty. Diego finds himself falling fast and hard.
Vivienne is also falling for Diego but she is not ready to
give her heart to another man, no matter how sexy,
intelligent, and attentive he may be. When they finally get
past their apprehensions, someone wants Vivienne dead
because it has now been discovered that her husband's
accidental death was not an accident after all. Diego is
willing to do whatever to keep his woman safe.
Secret Agenda is another wonderful story that
gives a glimpse into the infamous Cole Diaz family. Alers
always does a wonderful job with her story lines. Her
writing style flows and makes for easy reads. She also does
a wonderful job developing her plots and characters.
Secret Agenda is a great addition to the series.
Reviewed by
Tenecia
for Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive
interview with Rochelle Alers
in the Inside Out section.
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3.5 out of 5 books |
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Daytime soap opera star Jewel Blaine brings drama on and off
the screen. When she is forced to work with a sexy new
director, she keeps reminding herself that she does not have
time for a man in her life nor does she mix
business with pleasure. However, Taye Elliott is making it
hard to keep to those rules. Taye is taking on a new challenge
with directing daytime television. He also has decided after
meeting Jewel that he wants to direct her on and off the
screen. Jewel is trying hard to fight her attraction to Taye,
while Taye is trying hard to convince her how good they would
be together. When Jewel finally gives in, her and Taye are
great together. She is even thinking marriage and children.
But as always, all good things must come to an end. Jewel
overhears a conversation that causes the fantasy to come to a
screeching halt. After Taye tries to explain, he leaves the
ball in her court. It's now left up to Jewel to decide what
she is going to do now.
Spotlight on Desire is a good read. The plot is well
developed. There are also a couple of sub-plots going on that
help add to the depth of the story. The primary characters, as
well as the secondary characters, are all well developed. This
always helps add to how enjoyable a story is. The unique
setting of a daytime soap opera is also a nice change of
scenery. Overall, Spotlight on Desire was a good,
dramatic love story.
Reviewed by Tenecia
for Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive
interview with Anita Bunkley
in the Inside Out section.
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Anita Bunkley
Spotlight On Desire
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3.5 out of 5 books |
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Angie Daniels
For You I Do
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The
Beaumont Family is all about image. When the youngest member
of the family finds herself unwed and pregnant, she goes into
panic mode. Bianca Beaumont is getting married to save her
family from the embarrassment of all the gossip that would
come from her being a single mother. The question is, who is
she going to marry? One of her brothers has London Brown, a
family friend, investigate her fiancé and father of the baby,
Collin. When London finds out that Collin is already married,
he offers to marry Bianca to give her a baby a name. London is
the biggest player in Sheraton Beach, so Bianca knows he can't
be serious. She also can't risk being around London in that
situation for too long without risking her heart. After
Collin, she has vowed to never give her heart to another man.
After spending time together, they both realize that they want
more than a year together. But a misunderstanding causes them
to almost lose everything they worked so hard for.
For You I Do is the fourth book in the Beaumont
series by Angie Daniels. Daniels' writing style flows well.
She does a good job of developing her primary and secondary
characters. The plot was well developed, and the author also
did a good job of building up the anticipation for Bianca's
story. However, the ending was a bit of a let down. It seemed
as if there should have been more description to the ending.
Other than that, For You I Do was a good read.
Reviewed by Tenecia for
Urban-Reviews.com
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5 out of 5 books |
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Marshall Turner's life couldn't be better. He has a loving
wife and a wonderful daughter. But all of that changes when a
horrible tragedy tears his marriage apart. Fast forward years
later, Marshall eventually heals and moves on from this
tragedy and finds a new love. But just as he opens his heart
to love again, Marshall gets a chance to get revenge against
the man that caused his life so much pain. Luther is man who
had the odds stacked against him very early in life. He had to
grow up with his drug-addicted mother who didn't care about
him. Luther does whatever he can to survive. But will Luther's
poor choices come back to haunt him? Carmen has had to raise
her younger sister Nikki by herself after the death of her
parents. Carmen has made a lot of sacrifices to provide a
better life for herself and her sister. But she sees an
opportunity for happiness when she finally has a chance
meeting with a man that's a little rough around the edges.
Will he fill the void that Carmen has in her life?
Have Mercy
is Earl Sewell's best novel to date. What really made this
story stand out was the character and story development. When
you start reading this book, you'll wonder how all of these
characters' stories relate to each other. Sewell connected
three different storylines so effortlessly that it doesn't
interrupt the flow of the story. Marshall and Carmen are
lovable characters that you wouldn't mind seeing in another
book. Luther is a character that you can sympathize with and
hate at the same time. There are some unexpected revelations
in this novel that will definitely keep you turning the pages
until the very end. You will find yourself wondering what you
would do in Marshall's situation. Strong characters, emotional
drama, and a good dose of suspense makes Have Mercy one
of the best books of the year. With Have Mercy, Earl
Sewell proves that the art of telling a good story still
exists.
Reviewed by
Radiah
Hubbert
for Urban-Reviews.com
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Earl Sewell
Have Mercy
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4 out of 5 books |
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Wendy Coakley-Thompson
Triptych
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Tim and Jonathan are cousins that are close as brothers but
they share a common history…Jonathan's wife Ally. Tim and
Ally use to date back in high school but Ally ended up
marrying Jonathan. Life throws them a curve ball when
Jonathan is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.
Meanwhile, Tim and Ally's old feelings that they have for
each other start to resurface. Tim wants to be loyal to his
cousin but he can't shake his feelings for Ally. Will Tim
and Ally be able to control their feelings for each other?
Triptych is an engaging novel by Wendy Coakley-Thompson.
Coakley-Thompson did a good job in showing the complex
relationship among the three main characters. The characters
are well crafted and multi-dimensional. This novel is full
of emotional drama and eroticism that keeps the story
flowing. Triptych is set in the Bahamas, which adds to the
uniqueness of this story. It would have been nice if there
was a little more background on how Ally ended up marrying
Jonathan instead of Tim. Readers won't be confused by the
Bahamian slang due to the dictionary of terms that the
author graciously provides at the beginning of the book.
Triptych is an entertaining and thought-provoking novel
that is perfect for those who are looking for a story with
an unexpected twist.
Reviewed by
Radiah Hubbert
for Urban-Reviews.com
Read our
exclusive interview with Wendy Coakley-Thompson
in the Inside Out section.
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5 out of 5 books |
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Jeff and Nikki Singleton is a young married couple who have
their whole lives ahead of them. Jeff created a five-year
financial plan that will allow them to live in a comfortable
manner. He is determined to not live in the poverty that he
grew up in. But his strict five year plans are starting to
take its toll on Nikki. Nikki decides to find an outlet for
her frustrations…the casino. Nikki thinks that she has her
secret form of entertainment under control until she gets in
over her head. Now she has to try to get her finances back
in order before Jeff finds out.
'Til Debt Do Us Part
is an excellent novel by Michelle Larks. Larks expertly
showed the dangers of irresponsible gambling and how it can
affect a marriage. Every time Nikki goes to the casino will
just make you cringe and shake your head in disappointment.
This story had the perfect scriptures that pertained to Jeff
and Nikki's struggles in this story without being preachy.
Larks also did a good job of showing how there's always two
sides to every story and that things aren't always as they
seem to be. What made this story stand out was that although
the characters were Christians, they were not perfect. They
dealt with realistic problems that anyone can face. The
overall theme of this novel is that there's no problem
that's too hard for God and that you need to pay attention
to what path He's trying to lead you down.
'Til Debt Do Us Part
is an uplifting novel about faith, forgiveness, and
self-actualization.
Reviewed by
Radiah Hubbert
for Urban-Reviews.com
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Michelle Larks
'Til Debt Do Us Part
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5 out of 5 books |
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Moses Miller
The Barack In Me
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The Barack In Me by Moses Miller is a motivational
book directed toward African American males. This book
provides a wealth of information on how to beat the odds and
how to better oneself. Miller does an excellent job of
tackling issues such as self-esteem, self-respect and peer
pressure. He also gives some tools for young African
American males to use in their daily lives in a frank manner
without being preachy. Miller even includes a portion at the
end of the book called "My Success Planner" to guide black
males on their path to greatness. The Barack In Me is
a powerful book that should be required reading for all
African American males.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com |
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4 out of 5 books |
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Devlin
Carter is a former school teacher whose line of educational
tools has made him a very wealthy man at a young age. But his
personal life isn't so smooth. His on and off again
relationship with a married woman is leaving him unfulfilled.
Devlin's love life takes an interesting turn when he meets
Simone Jackson. Simone is a television talk show host whose
show is destined to go national. Simone now wants to make some
significant changes in her personal life when she breaks
things off with her ex. When Simone and Devlin meet, they both
feel like they've finally found true soul mates in each other.
But both of their ex-lovers have other plans.
Livin' Ain't Easy is a good story about the
complexity of relationships. Péron
F. Long did a good job in creating Devlin and Simone's
characters. You see how Devlin had to let go of his long term
destructive relationship in order to open his heart to Simone.
You will also see how Simone had to figure out what she really
wanted in a relationship. This story has a good helping of
surprises and even murder that keeps the story flowing at an
even pace. There is a jaw-dropping twist to the novel that
added just the right excitement that makes you wonder if there
could be a sequel in the future. Livin' Ain't Easy is a
wonderful contemporary fiction novel that will be a sure
delight for readers.
Reviewed by
Radiah Hubbert for Urban-Reviews.com
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Péron F. Long
Livin' Ain't Easy
peron f long
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3 out of 5 books |
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Nyema
Back Stabbers
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Azia Elliston is
seeking someone to sponsor her education and has no shame in
using what she deems her most valuable assets to assist her in
this search. She and Rashaud have a strange relationship that
in all totality equals the quest for more money. Azia's eyes
and hormones gravitate to ballers with the flashiest rides and
the most bling- bling. Rashaud concocts a plan to use Azia as
a lure to set up and rob drug dealers. Rashaud's new target
happens to be one that has caught Azia's fancy in an
extraordinary way. Will she listen to her heart or her greedy,
treacherous lifestyle?
Back Stabbers is a hood tale evolving around the
grime and grit that spirals from gutter chicks to jealous,
scheming dudes, all looking for that easy money. The book
depicts the cutthroat lifestyle of these young and restless
people as they are constantly assailed with betrayal on a
daily basis. This novel candidly entails promiscuity,
treachery, murder, robbery, abuse. It also portrays a very
dark side of friends and how fast they can become your worst
enemies. I didn't find any true originality, excitement or
intrigue within the pages of this read. Back Stabbers
is another hood tale with a different setting, different
characters, but with the same destination as the rest.
Reviewed by Tazzyt2bossye for Urban-Reviews.com
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4 out of 5 books |
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It is six years later and Victoria and Ted are still in
marital bliss. Ted is the CEO of ViaTech and Victoria's
event planning company has grown by leaps and bounds. They
also have a beautiful daughter name Alexandria. But
Victoria and Ted's lives are turned upside down when past
secrets and lies are revealed. Victoria's trouble begins
when Dr. Parker Brightwood comes back into her life.
Victoria thought that she was over him but she becomes
confused when old feelings come back to the forefront.
Parker thinks that this is a second chance to finally get
Victoria back into his life...no matter what it takes.
After Ted's mother pass away, there is a deep family
secret that is revealed that could affect his life and
marriage. Ted is trying to deal with this revelation on
his own but is he shutting Victoria out in the process?
Keeping Secrets & Telling Lies is a great sequel
to Unexpected Interruptions by Trice Hickman. Hickman once
again brought back the complex characters that made her
first novel such a winner. Victoria and Ted are likeable
characters but you really see their flaws in this story.
You also see the personal growth and development in
Parker. Of course this book would not be complete without
Victoria's best friend Tyler giving her straight
in-your-face advice. There are some twists in this story
that involve both Victoria and Ted that will catch the
reader's attention. But Ted's part of the story was more
predictable than Victoria's. You can figure out in the
middle of the book what Ted's secret turned out to be. His
secret could have been more than what it was. Victoria's
actions in this novel were so shocking that it may come
off as a little disappointing to some readers. Keeping
Secrets & Telling Lies is still a humorous and
entertaining novel by Trice Hickman.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
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Trice Hickman
Keeping Secrets & Telling Lies
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3 out of 5 books |
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Linda Brickhouse
Jealousy:
The Complete Saga
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Jealousy is an evil word. It can destroy
relationships, cause havoc and destruction. It causes
lies, dishonesty, disloyalty, and murder . All the
subjects describes this novel Jealousy in a
nutshell.
Chaka Dubois, was the leader of the Baker Boys.
These men were friends from childhood who began
selling baked goods to being successful businessman in
a legal and illegal capacity. The Baker Boys owed nice
cars, homes, were entrepreneurs as well. Chaka was a
devoted father of two boys who had a good woman by his
side, Petra. Things change when Chaka is found
murdered, secrets are revealed, including the double
life that Chaka had been living. During these troubled
times, you would think that the Baker Boys would
unite. But with revenge in the air, things are not
what they seem and the enemy could possibly be
standing right next to you.
Eve was evil-spirited and spoiled. She was also
Chaka's mistress. Eve and Chaka had a love/ hate
relationship. Chaka came and went as he pleased. Eve
decided that two can play at that game and she begins
an affair with the enemy of the Bakers Boys Earl
Clement. Playing two against each other can only lead
to problems and an all out war. When Chaka, is killed
fingers are pointing in her direction. Eve enters in a
deadly pact with Earl to fatten her pockets. Eve's
conscious begins to weigh on her about the decisions
she has made in the past and present. Did Eve just
enter in a deal with the devil?
Earl Clement was the underdog. Once a good friend
of the Baker Boys, Earl is now the enemy and develops
a plan to destroy the Baker Boy Enterprise so he can
be on top. Earl begins a relationship with Eve to get
under Chaka's skin. The death of Chaka allows Earl to
set forth his plan of destruction. Things change when
Earl runs into circumstances that are out of his
control. Dirty cops wanting handouts and falling in
love could possibly lead to Earl's downfall. Is Earl
in it for the long haul or will he take his business
elsewhere to start a new life?
I enjoyed Jealousy. I think Linda Brickhouse
did a good job of setting the scene of the Baker Boys
and the rise and fall of friendships. The characters
held my interest and intrigued me to want to continue
the book to see what will happen. Love, sex, and drugs
are always a deadly combination. Jealousy
showed how friends come together during the roughest
of times to avenge the death of their friend and
brother. Nothing is ever easy and there is always a
monkey wrench thrown in plans. The Baker Boys realize
that the enemy could possibly be within their inner
circle and they devise a plan, even though the
consequences could be deadly.
Reviewed by Kristin for Urban-Reviews.com
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5 out of 5 books |
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Lesson Learned: It Is What It Is starts where
Too Little Too Late, the first part of the Situations
and Circumstances series, left off. Tameka's dead, and the
people who loved her have to figure out how to move
forward in their lives. While it's evident that her son,
Darius, will eventually have his own issues with this
loss, it immediately affects Alexis, Tameka's little
sister. While the two weren't very close, Meka was always
there in whichever way she could to save her sister, even
if only from herself.
Alexis James is trying to be a better person. She's in
grief counseling and trying to stop cursing. While she's
struggling, she's resorted to hand gestures and easing off
of cursing so much. Admittedly, it has been a difficult
time for her. Unfortunately, Alexis is thrown a few fast
balls her new life didn't prepare her for. Rob, her live
in boyfriend, seems to take all of his calls in the wee
hours of the morning. They've always have a rocky
relationship, but she is trying to give him the benefit of
the doubt. It would be easier to deal with all of this if
she hadn't stumbled across Meka's journals and learned
that her mother had some nerve acting all uppity when
she'd kept a secret that could possibly detonate Alexis'
whole world. And just when she couldn't handle another
thing, Tiffany, her best friend, decides to confuse the
perimeters of their friendship. How is Alexis going to be
able to deal with all of this? Maybe Isaac, a new friend
from Ohio, will be able to assist her.
Tiffany Price is just a step away from having her
master's degree and hopes a marriage proposal from her
children's father will follow. However, a celebration
quickly turns into a sweltering night of regrets or is it
a revelation? Marlon is trying to exact the perfect moment
to pop the question, but whispers and secrets just may
ruin their plans forever. Tiffany finds the perfect
friendship with Vennie, a friend of a friend. Soon the
fine dining and upscale shopping may only be tidbits of
what else they share. When Tiffany decides to try on a new
size will she be comfortable in the fit or in search for
Marly Bear to come to her rescue?
Lesson Learned has captured my complete
attention. Like I'd previously mentioned, Portia A. Cosby
has a powerful voice. She's added a brand new spin to
acceptance and has me ready for the next sector. I loved
the story from start to finish. The characters are
colorful and everything flows effortlessly. This is what a
follow up should be like. The first story is still present
but not overwhelming, and readers get a sense of closure
yet a new beginning. EXCELLENT!
Reviewed by
Nardsbaby for Urban-Reviews.com
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Portia A. Cosby
Lesson Learned: It Is What It Is
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4 out of 5 books |
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Valerie Joyner
Hollyhood
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Tyrone Hart is at the top of his game as the only black
executive producer at Rex TV with a hit television show
under his belt. But Tyrone soon finds out that it's
difficult to stay at the top when his show goes through a
slight dip in the ratings. Things get out of control
quickly when the higher-ups at Rex TV want to make some
outrageous changes to Tyrone's black sitcom. He also is
getting tired of dealing with his always temperamental
stars of his show. Tyrone has his hands full with his girl
friend Sasha whose hedonistic lifestyle threatens their
relationship. Tyrone's best friend and writer Maxwell has
his own plans to head his own show unbeknownst to Tyrone.
But Maxwell's secret addiction may do him in before he
gets the chance at superstardom.
Hollyhood is an entertaining novel about the
glitz and glamour of Hollywood by Valerie Joyner. Joyner
gives readers a bird's eye view of what it's like behind
the scenes of a black sitcom. This story delves into how
difficult it is to try to keep a black sitcom on the air
and to win the tv ratings game. You see how much pressure
that Tyrone is under not only in his professional life but
in his personal life as well. This story shows how your
friends can very well become your enemies especially when
everyone has their own agenda. Hollyhood is a
fast-paced novel that gives the reader an insight into the
world of television. |
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3 out of 5 books |
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Henry Roundtree, aka Malik Muhummad, finds himself back on
square one as he violates his parole and has to make a rapid
choice. He has to choose between life in prison for three
bricks of 'yay' or to leave this expensive bag with an
unknown sexy female that he will probably never set eyes on
again. The unknown female happens to be Mia, whose best
friend Jazz recently helped her get a job as a C.O. at San
Dora, the local prison. Upon discovery of Mia's gold mine,
the two devises a plan to bring them on the come up with the
assistance of Jazz's wannabe baller brother, Fred. Fate has
a way of intervening and strangers' paths cross yet again in
the wicked belly of the beast and the scenes are forbidden
and toxic.
Up The Way is a twisted novel that magnifies the
corruptness that exists on a daily basis within the seedy
walls of San Dora prison beginning with the Warden all the
way down to the inmates. Ben's debut novel has a natural
flow, although there are far too many characters and various
sub-plots that tend to be confusing at times. Up The Way
addresses serious issues such as sexual immorality,
religious beliefs, drug deals, murder, as well as women in
the drug game and working in the prison system. With more
effort in character development, definitive storylines with
a viable destination, I think Ben's literary skills will
improve with future endeavors.
Reviewed by
Tazzyt2bossye
for Urban-Reviews.com
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Ben
Up The Way
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4 out of 5 books |
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M. Chelley Laurenz
The Other Side of Paradise
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Karlyna Bancroft has been summoned home after being away
for over a decade. Her father's health is failing and so
is the family wine business. She had been called home to
help save it. Karlyna and her mother have always been
looked at as the other wife and the other child after his
first wife died. They were also shunned due to the fact
that her mother was dark skinned and she was not as fair
skinned as her sister, who wanted nothing to do with the
family business. Her father was not concerned by Jamacian
class because he was Daddie Bancroft and was not to be
questioned. However, Karlyna feels as if she has been
dealing with it all of her life. The only time it was not
a concern for her was when she was in the States. Now that
she is home, all of those things have resurfaced along
with her childhood tormentor and teenage love, Jude
Spencer. Jude's family worked for the Bancroft estate and
as a child Karlyna always reminded him that he was the
help. As she got older she started to see Jude in a
different light. That is until she caught him and her
sister kissing. That put them right back at odds with one
another. But regardless as to what kind of relationship
they had, Jude was always there to take care of Karlyna.
So it was only natural that he offered to help her get the
family business back on track. He also wanted Karlyna to
forgive him and realize that they were made for one
another. Karlyna was having neither his help nor his
affection. After a lot of persuading, maybe Karlyna is
starting to come around. Only time will tell.
The Other Side of Paradise is a story that has
classism, socialism, betrayal, rivalry, mystery, and love.
It deals with a lot of issues that surround different
classes of people within the same race and culture.
Laurenz was able to blend all of these different issues
together and come up with a compelling story about a young
woman who has to deal with all of them and her struggle to
find out who she is and where her place is among all that
she has to deal with. The story starts off lagging and
verbose. The use of some of the words caused it not to
have a natural flow. As the story progressed, the use of
language changed which made for a much better flow. The
story also became very intriguing and you had to keep
reading to see what would happen next. The Other Side
of Paradise is a good read.
Reviewed by Tenecia for Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive
interview with M. Chelley Laurenz
in the Inside Out section.
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3 out of 5 books |
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After
the death of Cleopatra, the member of the notorious Harris
crime family, the rest of her family will stop at nothing to
reclaim their presence on the streets. Things get confusing
when Nick Miller unknowingly gets into the way of the Harris
family's plan for revenge. When Nick finds comfort with the
wrong person, the answers to the secrets of his past could
be revealed. But will he live long enough to get the answers
he seeks?
Secrets Unveiled by Sheshena Pledger is an
interesting tale of how a crime family seeks revenge. There
were a lot of good main characters and scenarios. The idea
of this book was very intriguing but when reading this story
it felt like something was missing. It would have been
better to see how Cleopatra and the Harris family came into
power instead of the story beginning with her death. There
are still a lot of unanswered questions, too many
characters, and confusing sub-plots by the end of this
story. Secrets Unveiled is still a decent debut novel
by Sheshena Pledger.
Reviewed by
Radiah Hubbert for Urban-Reviews.com
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Sheshena Pledger
Secrets Unveiled
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5 out of 5 books |
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Deidre Berry
The Next Best Thing
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Tori Carter has been
jilted on her wedding day. She finds out through a text
message from her fiance that his so called platonic friend
is actually much more and they have a child together. Tori
is devastated, but she is a survivor. Instead of taking off
to lick her wounds, she goes back to her high profile job as
the senior executive event coordinator for a multi-million
dollar company. She also doesn't take much time before she
gets back on the dating scene. Tori kept having one bad date
after another. After one horrible date, she runs into her
neighbor Nelson. They have a great dinner, great
conversation, and mind blowing sex. That is until he calls
out his deceased wife's name. Tori is back to square one but
for some reason she can't seem to let Nelson completely go.
After a few more bad dates, she runs into Nelson again and
they establish a friendship. Their relationship goes through
a few more ups and downs, but in the end they become each
others Next Best Thing.
The Next Best Thing is Deidre Berry's debut novel.
Berry's writing style flows and is very easy to read. The
plot is very well written and thought out. There are several
sub-plots that are well developed and work well with the
main plot. The secondary characters are also an integral
part of the story. The layout of the story is also fresh and
adds a unique flare to the novel that helps make you feel
like you are a part of the action.
Reviewed by Tenecia for Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive
interview with Deidre Berry
in the Inside Out section.
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3.5 out of 5 books |
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Zestora Gram Positive also known as ZGP is a deadly
virus that kills faster than AIDS. No human that has
been infected has lived for more than six months. But
biochemist Donyale Fuellen is trying to change that.
Doyale is a biochemist that has the deadly ZGP virus. He
has finally developed a cure for ZGP but he could be in
big trouble if the government finds out about it.
Mackenzie (Mack) Sutton just got out of prison and is
ready to reclaim his empire on the streets. But Mack
changes his mind when he meets a beautiful woman named
Ray that presents him with an offer that he can't
refuse. Ray became immediately smitten with Mack as soon
as she met him. But when Mack discovers that Ray's dad
Donyale has the cure for ZGP and tries to get it out to
the streets, she starts to wonder if he's just using
her.
Drug Lords is an innovative novel by E. Scrill.
Scrill showed great creativity in mixing sci-fi and
street fiction. This story will keep your attention as
you wonder if the ZGP virus will ever be contained. The
main characters were well-developed but some of the
secondary characters could have been omitted. What made
this novel interesting was how Mack was trying to
actually get out of the drug game by trying to get the
cure for ZGP out to the streets. Drug Lords is a
novel for those who are looking for something different.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
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E. Scrill
Drug Lords
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4 out of 5 books |
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Cairo
The Kat Trap
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Katrina, who's known in the streets as Kat,
determined long ago that she wasn't going to be
anything like her negligent, easily distracted
mother, Juanita. At an early age, Kat's welfare fell
into her hands, and while she may have had to get
her knees dirty in order to facilitate a need, that
would be the end of her quid pro quo.
When Cash, a heavy hitter with great connections,
glimpses Kat's bravado, he can sense that they have
a lot in common. Cash can't bear not to have her
assisting his team and offers her a lucrative
position doing what comes natural to her. While Kat
likes to believe that what she's doing is normal,
she knows deep down, that her fascination with how
well she performs in her job is twisted. But it's a
living.
The Kat Trap by Cairo is an
attention-grabbing read, to say the least. A tad
predictable and too friendly with the labels, the
story is edgy. The intricacy of the characters and
the way the pieces wove together is sure to keep
readers reading. I loved Kat and her self- assured
and cocky ways. The Kat Trap was a disturbing
mix of drama, sex, kinships and friendships that I'd
easily recommend to others.
Reviewed by Nardsbaby for Urban-Reviews.com
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3 out of 5 books |
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Goldie is your everyday ghetto girl that tries her hand
in a mix of things from running dope to running men. Her
home girl Tequila is a single mom of two and she's
always a day late and a dollar short. The two have a
genuine love and respect for each other's gangster and
hustle and are continuously grinding in the midst of
their partying.
Like Night & Day is your average story of the
girl from the hood which includes designer name
dropping, getting high, drinking, partying and sexing
the man with the most money. The storyline is weak. Too
much time is spent on insignificant details instead of
better development of characters. The constant pandering
to Goldie and how good she looks, how great she dresses,
how all the men want her, is aggravating. Like Night
& Day entails some realistic issues relating to the
drug scene, gambling, abuse, greed, infidelity,
ignorance and loyalty. I found Tony to be the most
interesting character and would have loved to see more
of him. There should have been more scenes exhibiting
the love rather than lust in the relationship between
him and Goldie. If more work had been placed in creating
relationships and true character personalities, Like
Night & Day had potential to be a good read. I
commend Renita M. Walker on the ending in that she
provided a conclusion with just enough of an opening to
provide a continuation. But in essence, it was more of a
miss than an actual hit in my opinion.
Reviewed by
Tazzyt2bossye for Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive
interview with Renita M. Walker
in the Inside Out section.
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Renita M. Walker
Like Night & Day
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4 out of 5 books |
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Sean Mitchell
Cater To Her
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Angelica Thompson vowed that she will not have sex until
she is married. When she meets the Pastor of Mount
Bethel AME Titus Rosemond and becomes engaged to him,
she knows that her vow of celibacy will finally be
broken on her wedding day or maybe before then. Titus is
a true man of God and will not touch or kiss her until
the day of their wedding. Fearing that his flesh may
take over, Titus goes on a ministry mission in Africa
one month before he is to marry Angelica.
Leaving Angelica to finish the wedding details with
the caterer Aurelius, Angelica soon finds herself giving
in to him. He also has a few tricks up his sleeve for
her. When things start to get all hot and heavy with
Aurelius, Angelica fears that she will not be able to
give herself fully to Titus. Will her little rendezvous
destroy her future with Titus?
Cater To Her takes off and keeps you going
until the last page. Sean Mitchell did a good job of
giving details on how Angelica and Aurelius got
together. He takes you through their whirlwind fling and
how the two of them could not get enough of each other.
He also tells the story of how Titus was a man of God
and would not give into temptation. Because this was a
little frustrating to Angelica, you will see just how
easy it was for her to be with Aurelius. The only
problem I had with this book was that it ended too
quickly. The author gives enough hints that there may be
a sequel to Cater To Her so stay tuned!
Reviewed by Jackie for Urban-Reviews.com
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3 out of 5 books |
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Once you decide to enter the drug game, you always can
expect several things: Hatred, Enemies, and Betrayal.
Would you sacrifice yourself to make sure your family is
out of harms way?
Julius was a twenty-two year old "pharmacist" running
the Westside of Baltimore, Maryland. Julius was loyal to
his workers; he showed them respect and rewarded them
generously for their hard work. Recovering from a
tragedy, losing both his parents in a tragic car
accident, Julius made a promise to his parents that his
baby brother and him would finish school, stay out of
trouble and stick together no matter what. Julius' life
changes for the better when he meets a beautiful young
woman name Diamond. They begin a hot and heavy romance.
But all good things must come to an end. Or does it?
When rival enemies surface and all hell breaks loose,
will Julius be able to maintain at the top of his
empire?
Reno was once Julius' best friend and business
partner. Things go terribly wrong when jealousy enters
the scene. Reno sees Julius as a threat and there is
only one thing to do...eliminate your competition. Reno
develops an elaborate plan to get rid of his
competition. Rape, lies, and deceit all play a role to
get rid of Julius. Will Reno's plans be a successful or
will the tables be turned?
Diamond is between a rock and a hard place. Under the
reign of Reno, her child's father, Diamond must be a
pawn in Reno's plan. Diamond has a mission to complete,
bring Julius on a platter to Reno. Things changed when
Diamond falls hard for Julius. Her plans seem to change,
but the power and the control that Reno possess weighs
heavily on her conscious. Will Diamond follow her heart
or will the mental and physical reigns of Reno be too
much for her to bear?
Overall, I think the storyline in Charge it 2 Da
Game was no different than any other urban novel.
The book was an average read. I enjoy how the author
depicted the close relationship that Julius and his
younger brother Jonathan shared. He would do anything to
make sure his brother had everything he needed,
including finishing high school and go to college to
fulfill his dreams of becoming an aspiring basketball
star. The author did a good job of showing how the bad
choices you decide to make doesn't necessarily have to
affect your conscience and heart. But there was no "wow"
factor in Charge it 2 Da Game to really connect
the storyline and grab my attention. Reviewed by
Kristin for Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive
interview with Monchel Rice
in the Inside Out section.
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Monchel Rice
Charge it 2 Da Game
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