African-American Fiction -
New Reviews
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Kimberla Lawson Roby |
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Whitney,
Taylor and Charisse have been best friends since high school. These women
are about to face some unexpected challenges. How strong will their
friendship be? Whitney is a plus-size telecommunications professional who
has struggled with her weight and keeping a man. She is trying to lose 50
pounds before her high school reunion. But when she meets sexy Rico at the
health club, her man problems are over. Or are they? Taylor is a
successful attorney in a two year relationship with her boyfriend Cameron.
She wants a solid commitment and a baby but Cameron is dragging his feet.
She must decide if she should stay with him and take care of an ongoing
medical problem. Taylor also becomes suspicious when Cameron is suddenly
not as attentive as he used to be. Charisse is a nurse and claims to be a
devout Christian but looks down on others. She also has an extreme hatred
for her daughter and her husband that stems from her own painful
childhood. Charisse thinks she’s living the perfect life until her doormat
husband Marvin finally stands up to her and threatens to tell her mother a
devastating secret. Charisse has devised a dangerous plan to stop Marvin
and to save herself. |
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Pearl Cleage |
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Blue
Hamilton gave up his R&B singing career to make sure his Atlanta West End
community is safe. With the help of his best friend General, Blue creates
an urban oasis where crime is nonexistent. Things get complicated when
frightened abused women run to the West End seeking Blue’s protection.
Blue’s pregnant wife Regina is becoming increasingly concerned with his
safety. General has his own problems when he meets young, sexy Brandi that
reminds him of a long ago love. Regina’s friend Aretha is desperately
trying to save her marriage to Kwame. Kwame wants to move out of the West
End community with his family to get a fresh start. But Kwame has bigger
problems when an ex-con and military deserter that goes by the name of
Baby Brother comes into his life. Baby Brother has a secret that could
destroy Kwame’s career and marriage. Kwame’s mother Precious is gearing up
for the mayor’s race that may be stopped by a dirty cop’s devious plan. |
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Cheryl Robinson |
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Porter and Winona are back with a new set of issues. Porter wants to
marry Winona but she has cold feet. Porter also has a chance to go
to California to jumpstart his music career. But will Winona want to
go along for the ride? Winona loves Porter but she's struggling to
find out what her true purpose in life is. Added to the confusion is
the fact that her son's father Derwin is back in the picture. Derwin
left Winona many years ago but he now wants to be a father to his son.
Winona also has to confront her past head on when a secret is revealed to
her children. Can Porter and Winona balance their own lives so that
they can finally get the love they both deserve? It's Like That is a wonderful sequel to If It Ain't One Thing (see review towards the bottom of this page). I loved how The Purpose Driven Life was incorporated into this story. You will feel how Winona tries to transform her life by reading that book. Another good thing about this novel is that there was no quick road to a happily-ever-after ending. Porter and Winona's relationship was realistic and raw. From trust issues, painful childhood memories, and judgmental parents, this novel has it all. It's Like That proves that Cheryl Robinson is one of the hottest fiction authors of today. Check out our exclusive interview with Cheryl Robinson in our Inside Out section. |
(A Spotlight On Writers
Who Deserve Their Shine Too!)
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Amaleka McCall |
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Myra Danford grew up in a
household filled with neglect and a drug addicted mother. She made it
through high school with her best friend Quanda and under the watchful eye
of Quanda’s mother Ms. Brenda at her side. When Myra gets a full academic
scholarship from St. John’s University , she finally has her ticket out of
the ghetto. While in college, Myra meets the man of her dreams, future NFL
prospect Milton Roberts. Milton promises Myra the world and the dream of
being a wealthy wife of an NFL player. But. Milton has his own painful
childhood memories that still haunt him. With his draft status on the
line, Milton is being blackmailed with a terrible secret that’s costing
him a lot of money and grief. Milton’s life is quickly spiraling out of
control and Myra is unknowingly along for the ride. Both of them find
themselves in a web of deceit, betrayal and murder. Meanwhile, Quanda is
involved in some drama of her own. Quanda has an old score to settle with
drug kingpin Knowledge but will she be able to take him down without
getting taken out? |
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(A Spotlight On Writers
Who Deserve Their Shine Too!)
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Crystal Perkins-Stell |
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DeMarques Prince (a.k.a.
Prince) grew up on the mean, gritty streets of Detroit. Prince is an
impressionable teen that wants to follow the footsteps of his kingpin
uncle (Silk) and brother (Ant). Prince also lacks the emotional and loving
support of his mother (Bean) so his grandparents step in. But even the
love of his grandparents isn’t enough to keep Prince from answering the
call of the streets, money, and sex. Prince is also faced with the
interruption of being a carefree teen when he becomes a father. He
ultimately makes a bad life decision that pushes him into an unfair
judicial system and leaves him questioning his actions. Prince realizes
that the choices he made for his life also affected the lives of everyone
around him. |
(Books You Might Have
Recently Overlooked!)
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Cheryl Robinson |
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Porter Washington is a fine Detroit firefighter. His world is turned
upside down when he finds out his girlfriend Reese's baby isn't his.
Lost and confused, Porter finds himself longing for a meaningful
relationship. But a short term illicit affair with near fatal
consequences causes him to re-examine his life. Winona Fairchild is
a single mother of two trying to correct her past mistakes. She ran
away to Texas with her daughter's father many years ago. Now she
returns to Detroit with a new career and a purpose: To reunite her first
born son with his real father. But Winona has to face her
dysfunctional family and deal with her own devastating secret. |
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(Books That Feature A
Collection of Short Stories!)
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Michael T. Owens et al. |
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Truth Be Told is a refreshing collection of stories by today's hottest
male writers. "Driving While Black" by Robert Fleming is about a
man who confronts his past during an unusual traffic stop. Michael
T. Owens' "Ties That Bind" features a man in a strange love triangle.
Kenji Jasper's "Dawn" gives readers a tease of the forthcoming sequel to
his riveting novel Dark. "The Harrisburg Tease" by Robert L.
Anderson is about a struggling artist who wants to give his client more
than art. "Sinfidelity" by James Lewis follows a married man in Las
Vegas that struggles to stay faithful. V. Anthony Rivers tells a
tale of love gone sour in "Last Remnants Of A Good Situation." Step
into the seedy life of a porn star in Nane Quartay's "The Beautiful Ones."
" For That Quiet Time Of Day" by Eric James Fullilove takes a humorous
look at the day in the life of an account executive. Edwardo Jackson
tells about a woman's horrible emotional state when her boyfriend
disappears in "Postcards From Hell." Jonathan Luckett tells a
shocking psychological tale about a man's fascination with his friend's
wife in "The Object Of His Obsession." |
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(Selections From
Outside The Norm!)
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Marcus Harris |
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Songs In
Search Of A Voice is a set of intriguing poems by Marcus Harris.
Harris calls the collections compositions instead of poems. The book
is separated into six sections: "Melody Unchained," "Key of Melancholy,"
"Amorous Suite," "Umbrous Undertones," "(Re) Vamp," and "Refrain."
From a jilted lover, to domestic violence, to political musings, these
poems have a variety of interesting subjects. |
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