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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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5 out of 5 books |
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Mark Anthony
Reasonable Doubt
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Katrina
Easely is from a small town in North Carolina. She is just
starting her freshman year at New York University and is
trying to adjust to life in the big city with her roommate
Candace. Katrina soon has a chance meeting with a mysterious
man named Snipes. Katrina is instantly smitten by Snipes and
rushes into a relationship with him despite her roommate
Candace’s warning about his questionable lifestyle. Blinded by
the fast money, cars, and designer clothes, Katrina becomes
Snipes’ ride-or-die chick causing her to drop out of school in
the middle of her freshman year. Things really spin
dangerously out of control when Snipes shoots a cop causing
him and Katrina to be on the run. Will Katrina be able to get
out of this mess and have a normal life again?
Reasonable Doubt is a
thought-provoking tale by Mark Anthony. Anthony eloquently
told a story of how a naive young woman with a promising
future can be lead down the wrong path by a devious man. The
character development in this story was simply wonderful. You
can clearly see how Katrina blindly trusted Snipes in the
beginning of their relationship because she simply didn’t know
any better. You also see how Katrina had to learn some tough
life lessons in being in this toxic situation. One of
the biggest lessons in this story is that there is a definite
price to pay when women decide to be in relationships with men
like Snipes. The temporary money and designer clothes may seem
nice but at cost are you willing to pay for this lifestyle?
Another main focus of this story is how unfair the minimum
sentencing law is in this country. Readers should take note of
the valuable lessons in this novel. This story grabs you from
the first page and doesn’t let you go until the very end.
Reasonable Doubt is emotionally charged and insightful.
Mark Anthony has a definite winner on his hands.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
Check out our
Exclusive Audio Interview with Mark Anthony
in the On The Line section.
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4 out of 5 books |
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Georgia
Brown is fed up. She has been married to her husband Marvin
for eleven years and they have struggled through their ups and
downs together. But when Marvin becomes a popular national
radio personality and begins to make unflattering comments
about her weight, their sex life, and their relationship,
Georgia wants to close the door on their marriage. To make
matters worse, Georgia is expected to raise a 13-year-old
daughter of Marvin’s that she never knew existed. Marvin wants
to save their marriage so he invites Georgia to the radio
station for an on-air rebuttal. Much to Marvin’s surprise, he
launches Georgia’s own radio career. Corliss Riggs is a single
mom and is a faithful listener of Marvin’s show. She has
bigger career aspirations than what her current job can give
her. Corliss is also still in love with her son’s father and
wants to get back with him so that they can be a family again.
Will she be able find the peace and happiness that she’s
longed for?
Sweet
Georgia Brown is a
delightful novel by Cheryl Robinson. Robinson gives readers an
insider’s view into the world of stand-up comedy and radio.
You see all of the sacrifices that Georgia and Marvin had to
endure in the beginning before he became rich and famous. You
also see how much Marvin changed once he had fame and fortune.
There was a lot of growth in Georgia as she raises her and
Marvin’s sons and his daughter Chole. This novel is not only
about Georgia and Marvin, but it’s about Corliss as well.
Corliss is just a single mom who wants more for herself and
her son. Hopefully, we’ll learn more about Corliss in a future
novel. Sweet Georgia Brown is fast-paced with a healthy
dose of humor that makes this book an absolute joy to read.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
Check out our
Exclusive Audio Interview with Cheryl Robinson
in the On The Line section.
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Cheryl Robinson
Sweet Georgia Brown
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5 out of 5 books |
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Karen E. Quinones
Miller
Passin'
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Shanika
Ann Jenkins a young African-American woman from Detroit
who is blond, blue-eyed, and beautiful. She is the result
of years of marrying the “light and right complexion.”
Shanika has never denied her black heritage until she gets
turned down for a job at a New York City PR firm. Shanika
decides to change her name to Nicole and gets another
position. She figures that it’s not her fault that
everyone assumes that she’s white. But when Shanika meets
a successful African-American businessman who thinks that
she’s the perfect white woman for him, her perfect world
may come crashing down around her.
Passin’ is a
riveting novel by Karen E. Quinones Miller. Miller brought
a very modern twist on classic tale of a taboo practice
that has been going on in the African-American community
for generations. The character development in this story
is what really makes this novel soar. You clearly see that
there are two sides to Shanika. On one hand, she is really
proud of her African-American heritage; but on the other
hand, she sees passing for white as a means to an end to
get further in her PR career. While reading this book,
you’ll wonder just how far Shanika will keep this charade
up. There are also some hilarious moments in this story
when Shanika tries to assimilate to the white lifestyle.
Passin’ is daring and entertaining. Karen E.
Quinones Miller once again proves why she is one of the
master storytellers of our time.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
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5 out of 5 books |
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Aisha,
Devani, Molly, and Lexi are all trying to get out of
Bentley Manor projects by any means necessary. Longtime
Bentley Manor residents Miz Osceola and Miz Cleo are the
eyes and ears of these projects and keep everyone in line
from their stoop. Aisha is the envy of every girl in the
hood. She has the beauty, the designer clothes, and money
provided by her husband. Now that her husband is in jail,
Aisha now has to find a way to keep her “hood rich”
status. But at what price is she willing to pay for her
expensive lifestyle? Devani thinks she’s got her ticket
out of the hood when she starts sleeping with a pro
football player name Tyrik. But when Tyrik starts
canceling dates and his phone calls decrease, Devani
starts to panic. Devani’s mother comes up with the perfect
plan: become Tyrik’s baby momma. Will Devani’s plan work
or will it blow up in her face? Molly is the only white
girl in the hood, and she is married to her husband
Junior. She’s so blinded by love that she ignores the
rumors about Junior’s philandering ways. A series of
disturbing events forces Molly to open up her eyes. Lexi
has five kids with four different trifling baby daddies.
Lexi is now married to Luther who is the husband that she
always wanted and is a real father to all of her children.
The only thing missing from Lexi’s life is good sex. She
must now struggle with running back to her ex for her
sexual needs or to stay faithful to Luther to provide a
good stable home for her kids. What path will she choose?
Desperate Hoodwives
is an electrifying novel by Meesha Mink and De’Nesha
Diamond. These authors gave you a bird’s-eye view of the
drama and scandal that happens in the hood. The scenes are
so descriptive that you feel like you’re actually a
resident of Bentley Manor. Although all of these women had
different life situations, they all had aspirations of
getting out of the hood by any means necessary. Mink and
Diamond did a marvelous job of connecting all of these
characters without confusing the reader. There are also
timely issues that are incorporated into this novel like
HIV, down-low brothers, and self-worthiness that makes
this novel a true page-turner. The inclusion of the much
needed old-fashioned wisdom of Miz Cleo and Miz Osceola
adds just the right touch to this storyline. This novel
wouldn’t be complete without some edge-of-your seat drama
that creates an explosive ending. Desperate Hoodwives
is bold, scandalous, and unforgettable. This novel is a
fabulous start to this trilogy.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive interview with Adrianne Byrd
in the Inside Out section.
Read our exclusive
interview with Niobia Bryant
in the Inside Out section.
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Meesha Mink And
De'nesha Diamond
Desperate Hoodwives
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5 out of 5 books |
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Niobia Bryant
Hot Like Fire
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Hot Like Fire is a fabulous love
story which is the second installment of the Strong/Hot
Holtsville Series.
Kade Strong is a grieving widower that has retreated into a
shell upon the death of his wife. All work, raising their
daughter, and just making it through another day has been his
daily routine while being assisted by his loving parents. Kade
finally makes the decision to reclaim his privacy and he and
Kadina move back to their home and the games begin. Garcelle
is a young, vivacious family friend that likes to shake her
moneymaker whenever she gets a chance. She's attending
college, taking care of the men in her family, and working to
pay for her education. In the midst of babysitting, she's
become Kade's personal bodyguard as she matches wits with the
local hoochies in their quest to scheme their way into his bed
with all sorts of enticing promises of lustful tricks and
treats. Due to their daily camaraderie, this pair's initial
attraction blossoms and ignites into a blazing affair.
Niobia Bryant has yet again penned another best seller that
not only endears the characters to your heart with a realistic
view of one of life's many heartbreaks but also sprinkles the
triumphant light of second chances in love and life in this
brilliant series. I love the creativity portrayed in the
characters, the silver-haired theme (very original), the
familial first names, and how she introduces each character
and their personalities. All of these things pique your
interest that much more and has the readers anxiously
anticipating the next installation to this series. Excellent
read! Another winner to me, Ms. Bryant! Continue to shine!
Reviewed by Tazzyt2bossye for
Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive
interview with Niobia Bryant
in the Inside Out section. |
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5 out of 5 books |
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Terelle Chambers
grew up in various foster homes due to her drug addicted
mother. She’s always been in desperate need of a normal,
loving family life. Terelle puts all of her hopes and dreams
into Marquise, her boyfriend and the father of her daughter.
Marquise is currently in jail on drug charges and promises to
be a changed man once he is released. Terelle is patiently
waiting for him to be released so that they can a real family.
But is Marquise really ready to abandon his old ways to become
the man that Terelle needs him to be? Kai Montgomery is a
sexy, rich bi-racial adopted daughter of a prominent white
doctor who has turned her back on her black heritage. All hell
breaks loose when Kai is dumped by a married physician leaving
her with unfulfilled sexual desires. But when one of Kai’s
sexual escapades gives her the best sex of her life, she goes
down a disturbing path that could lead to a deadly obsession.
Insatiable
is a shocking page-turner by Allison Hobbs. Hobbs expertly
takes the reader into the two very different worlds of Terelle
and Kai. You see how Terelle is just trying to make sure her
daughter has a stable life while still trying to support her
boyfriend Marquise. You are also introduced to the
affluent life of Kai and how her warped sense of entitlement
leads her to ruin the lives of everybody she comes in contact
with. As you get further into this story, you won’t be able to
get over how obsessed and psychotic Kai really is. You’ll
shake your head as Terelle goes through never-ending drama
with Marquise. Insatiable is an erotic, psychological
thriller that will keep you begging for more.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
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Allison Hobbs
Insatiable
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5 out of 5 books |
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Allison Hobbs
The Climax (Insatiable II)
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Terelle
and Kai are back with even more drama than you could ever
imagine. Both of these women have lost a lot in their
pursuit of Marquise who is now deceased. Terelle has
suffered mental breakdown and has been institutionalized
after losing her fiancé. But after two years of being
in a non-responsive state, Terelle is awakened by a kiss and
the voice of her lover Marquise. During her recovery,
Terelle clings on to the hope that Marquise is still alive
and that they will be reunited once again. But her best
friend Saleema thinks she’s delusional and worries that
Terelle may be too unstable to raise her daughter.
Meanwhile, Kai is in prison serving a life sentence for a
murder that she did not commit but this still doesn’t stop
Kai’s insane behavior. Kai indulges in numerous prison
sexual encounters while her mind is focused on making
Terelle’s life as miserable as possible.
The
Climax is the
perfect sequel to Insatiable by Allison Hobbs. This
story picks up right where Insatiable left off
starting with Terelle’s mental breakdown. You will
definitely find yourself pulling for Terelle’s recovery so
that she can get on with her life and be a mother to her
little girl. Kai is back and is more diabolical than ever as
she tries to get revenge on everyone she believes that has
done her wrong including Terelle. Kai’s actions were
shocking in the first book, but some of the things that she
did in this story proved that she was the devil’s incarnate.
Readers will be extremely delighted to know that Kai’s
dubious actions will not go unpunished. The Climax is
full of heart-stopping drama, intrigue, and steamy sex that
makes this book hard to put down. With The Climax,
Allison Hobbs has brought a novel that will have you eagerly
waiting for her next book.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
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3 out of 5 books |
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Jailyn Wyatt has a wonderful life; she's
young, sexy, and successful. Until Dr. Death stealthily creeps
into her life and whisks away her very best friend, her
father. Lost and alone, she's struggling daily to get her life
back on track and climb back to the top of her game.
Caleb Vincent has a lot of demons that he's battling as well
as attempting to regain his stature in his career. A fiery
telephone exchange between these two leave both a bit
intrigued. The renovation of a dilapidated inn triggers the
sparks to further ignite between the two.
If You Were Mine is a relaxing read. I loved the in
depth discussion and revelation of the blending of the races
and colorful array of nationalities. My favorite scene was
this description:
Midnight black children with grey
eyes and children the color of sand with thick, knotty Afros
and cornrows. And white children with dreadlocks and slanted,
almond shaped eyes, owing to their Chinese and Jamaican roots.
Wow! What an amazing elaboration! The
storyline was consistent, laced with an electric chemistry
between the two central characters, a bit of suspense, and
familial drama that completed this read.
Reviewed by
Tazzut2bossye for Urban-Reviews.com
Read
our exclusive interview with J. S. Hawley
in the Inside Out section.
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J. S. Hawley
If You Were Mine
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4.5 out of 5 books |
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Nicole S. Rouse
Happily Ever Now
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Renee and Jerome have been
married since high school, even though everyone thought they
were too young to marry. They thought that love would be
enough. Throughout their marriage, Renee has been very
successful in corporate America, and Jerome has not. During
this time, Jerome has become very comfortable with alcohol and
sleeping around on Renee. For some time, Renee and Jerome have
been living separate lives. Will Renee and Jerome become one
again or just go their separate ways?
Taylor has been looking for her knight in shining armor.
Lately she's been sleeping with someone else's husband. Taylor
believes that soon and very soon Jerome will leave Renee for
her. Her friends have tried so many times to tell her that
he's not going to leave his wife for her, but she won't
listen. Taylor soon finds out that Jerome is not going to
leave his wife. She ends up making a total fool of herself,
and still, she doesn't want to let him go.
Nicole Rouse has done a wonderful job of telling the story of
these two women. It makes you look at how adultery is not
always an easy way out, and the Lord makes sure you see this.
She takes you through different events in the story that makes
you second guess if you're in a relationship. It makes you ask
yourself: Is this the right person for you?
Reviewed by Jackie for
Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive interview with Nicole S. Rouse
in the Inside Out section. |
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4.5 out of 5 books |
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Dr. Faye Abrahams
is a no nonsense woman who's tolerance level for men is
simple: 3 strikes and you're out. No questions asked...none
answered, nothing left to talk about. After the third time,
the thrill is gone. So why put us both through anything
more? This is her rule for any and every man, thanks to her
first love Scoobie.
Carl is the 40-something divorcee with a set of twin girls
by his wife and a 2-year-old son by a one night stand. Carl
and Faye live so close to one another that they can hear
what is going on in each others yards just by standing in
their windows.
Chef Vernard “Scoobie” Payne, is the one and only man Faye
has ever loved and hated so much it drove her nuts. After
years of doing women wrong, Scoobie gets himself together,
goes to culinary arts school, and becomes a famous Chef and
author of his own recipe cookbook.
With the help of Faye’s best friend and roommate Nora, Carl
decides that he is going to invite Faye over just to watch a
few movies one Friday night. Declining his invitation more
times then she can count, Faye takes Carl up on his offer
considering the fact that Nora is driving her crazy with the
same Phyllis Hyman song being played over and over again.
Not giving Carl a second glance for the last 6 months, Faye
finds herself interested in Carl in more ways than one.
Faye runs into Scoobie after 12 years and it brings back all
kinds of thoughts and feelings in her that she thought she
had long put to rest. Now she is involved with Carl and
willing to break her '3 strikes and you're out' rule and see
what becomes of them. Scoobie professes his undying love for
her. She leaves Carl for Scoobie to see if maybe they
can try again, but it leaves Faye feeling worse then when
she started. Now Carl is all messed up in the head. He knows
he’s made mistakes with his wife, but he's just really a one
woman man now and would love nothing more than to prove that
to Faye...if only she would let him.
I can honestly say I fully enjoyed After the Dance by
Lori Johnson. Carl’s awkward honesty and love of all things
African-American was kind of refreshing. Going back in time
with him reminiscing about times my parents had parties and
we was up all night dancing to Al Green or Marvin Gaye or
watching old school movies over and over as if I’ve never
seen them before was also refreshing. The fact that Faye was
a no-nonsense woman and stood her ground with Scoobie and
any other man that came her way was cute. The way the story
was told, it made you feel as if you knew all these people
personally. Great job Ms. Johnson.
Reviewed by Angie for Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive interview with Lori Johnson
in the Inside Out section.
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Lori Johnson
After The Dance
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4 out of 5 books |
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Abiola Abrams
Dare
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Maya Hope
a jazz lover, sociologist, and political activist. Her
roommate and best friend Athena Jackson likes hip-hop music
and is trying to desperately break into the music business.
Athena’s dreams of hip-hop superstardom may come true when a
superstar producer comes into town looking for new talent.
Things get complicated when Maya is forced to take Athena’s
place at the audition. Suddenly, Maya is thrown into the
fast-paced hip-hop world as the sexy Jezebel with the
promise to get Athena signed to a deal. But when Maya’s
music career starts careening out of control, will she be
able to get her feet back on solid ground?
Dare
is an intriguing
debut novel by Abiola Abrams. Abrams brought us a new twist
on how a young woman tries to break into the music industry.
What made this novel stand out was Maya’s approach to her
sudden music career. You see how she starts out by treating
her music career as a sociology experiment but then later
gets swept up in the glitz and glamour of it all. The rich
character development also adds to the unique flavor to this
story. Dare is a fun, socially conscious novel with a
good dose of humor. Hopefully this is just the start of
Abiola Abrams' novel writing career.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive interview with Abiola Abrams
in the Inside Out section. |
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4 out of 5 books |
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Shana Burton
Suddenly Single
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26-year-old Vashti Hunter was
about to get married. She was so excited...so excited that she
didn't pay any attention to her extremely nervous fiancé who
called the night prior to her wedding. Because she didn't
listen to anything he had to say, she experienced the most
humiliating day of her life by being stood up at the altar.
After dealing with the embarrassment of being left at the
altar, Vashti made some choices that weren't too sensible. A
good example of this is when she slept with her Pastor almost
a week after her devastating wedding day! Also dealing with a
mental breakdown, she started to date some "questionable" men.
Still dealing with the drastic turn of events that occurred in
her life, Vashti realizes what she wants and does not want in
a man. She finally finds a man that she thinks she could fall
in love with, but he's twenty years older than she is. Vashti
now has to deal with negative advice from family, friends, and
his daughter. After all of this, her former fiancé tries to
come back into her life and wants another chance. Will she
risk the love she currently has for a former flame?
Suddenly Single was a good book by Shana Burton, but it
was a little bit predictable. Once you start to read the book,
you'll want to continue just to find out if the storyline
changes. It does a little bit, but not enough to say this was
a very good read. It does keep your interest a little to
finish the book.
Reviewed by Jackie for
Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive interview with Shana Burton
in the Inside Out section. |
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3 out of 5 books |
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Searchable
Whereabouts is a suspenseful novel centered on the
family of Rahkel Williams. Rahkel has suffered numerous
tragic events in her life recently and she's trying to
overcome the obstacles daily.
Rahkel is recovering from drug addiction, struggling with
the loss of her son, and now her favorite uncle Leon has
been found murdered. She's determined to find his killer
and in her search discovers more than she bargained for.
She has a handful of clues but no defined inkling as to
where she needs to start. In her search for answers to the
pieces of the puzzle, she plans clandestine meetings, and
bodies are dropping like flies. The family is in for a
rude awakening when all the skeletons begin to tumble out
of the closet.
This mysterious tale is centered around family, love,
deception, sexual perversity, and murder. Ms. Johnson did
a satisfactory job with this intense novel as she
fascinates you with murder, lies, and a bountiful amount
of mayhem. One major disadvantage was poor editing, but
other than that, I commend her on Searchable
Whereabouts.
Reviewed by
Tazzyt2bossye for Urban-Reviews.com
Read our
exclusive interview with Tinisha Nicole Johnson
in the Inside Out section. |
Tinisha Nicole Johnson
Searchable Whereabouts
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4.5 out of 5 books |
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Ty B. Moore
The Liar's Truth
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Three
different people. Three different set of problems. LeJuan
Martin is a professional basketball player who has everything
money can buy except a woman by his side. In his state of
depression, LeJuan thinks the best medicine for him is to get
back with his former high-school sweetheart. But will she give
him the companionship that he is hoping for? Tanisha Ryan is a
songstress who has been in a relationship with Darren for
years. She knows that Darren loves her, but she keeps having
this sneaking suspicion that his wandering eyes has gotten him
into more trouble than he bargained for. Jamaal Henry is an
accomplished actor with a wife and two daughters. Jamaal’s
marriage has been on the rocks for years, and he thinks it’s
time to call it quits. Things get complicated when Jamaal
returns to the arms of his ex just when his wife wants to give
their marriage another try. But Jamaal’s infidelity and the
demons of his past may come to light and threaten to destroy
his career. What will become of these three tortured souls?
The
Liars’s Truth is a
stunning debut novel by Ty B. Moore. Moore expertly brought a
story about three people in very high profile careers and
their trying personal lives. Even though all of these people
have fame and fortune, they are all searching for security in
their love lives. The Liar’s Truth is the perfect title
for this book because each person thought that they were
living their true lives when all they were doing were lying to
themselves, not wanting to see the truth. This story also has
some humorous and jaw-dropping moments that will make your
head spin. The Liar’s Truth is a page-turner that will
be a sure delight for readers.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for Urban-Reviews.com
Read
our exclusive interview with Ty B. Moore
in the Inside Out section.
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4 out of 5 books |
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Sylvia
is a single British woman who falls in love with Patrick
within a few weeks of meeting him. Patrick is a sensitive
and caring man, everything that Sylvia is looking for.
Soon they are married and Sylvia couldn’t be happier until
she uncovers some disturbing revelations about her
husband. Patrick is facing deportation unless his status
is updated by the home office and his mother has become
too involved with their marriage. To make matters worse,
Patrick has suddenly turned into this uncaring, sex
addicted, violent man who only cares about satisfying his
own needs. Will Sylvia try and save this marriage or will
she walk away?
Duplicity is a
thought-provoking novel by Shila Amos-Efe. Amos-Efe gives
readers an insider’s look into the life of a single woman
looking for love in the United Kingdom. The drama that
Sylvia goes through in her marriage will keep you glued to
the pages. This story develops at a slow and easy pace,
giving the reader a chance to really connect with the
characters. Amos-Efe does a wonderful job of telling this
heart-wrenching tale of domestic abuse without being too
graphic. Duplicity is emotionally-charged and
captivating. This is a wonderful start to Shila Amos-Efe’s
writing career.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive interview with Shila Amos-Efe
in the Inside Out section.
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Shila Amos-Efe
Duplicity
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