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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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Beverly Jenkins
Bring On The Blessings
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Bernadine Brown was celebrating her 52nd birthday when she got
an astonishing gift: she caught her husband Leo cheating with
her secretary. She was angry and hurt, but she was not going
to cry over this. She decided to hire a high-powered lawyer
and was awarded $275 million. Being the strong Christian woman
that she was, she had placed her marriage and her life in
God's hands. Even though her marriage didn't work out. she
knew God was in control...and he answered.
He answered in the way of Henry Adams, KS, which is one of
the last surviving towns that was founded by freed slaves. The
town is failing and it was put up for sale on the internet.
Bernadine knew this was her calling, so she bought it. Not
knowing what her intentions were, the towns people were not
too welcoming to Bernadine. But she did find someone that was
on her side and wanted to see the town proper like it use too.
Trent July is the mayor of Henry Adams, KS, and he has
observed what has happened to his birthplace and it's broken
his heart. When Bernadine came to town and Trent saw what her
vision was, he was on board to protect the extraordinary past
and the encouraging future of this town. Bernadine was
determined to show the people in the town that no matter what
form God sends you a blessing, be thankful and continue to
lean on the Lord because he will always be true to you.
Bring On The Blessings by Beverly Jenkins is a book
like no other. Ms. Jenkins always seems to find a way to
captivate her readers by connecting our past with current
events, and bringing in some spirituality. This town was
founded by slaves after the Civil War. It was going through
foreclosure and being sold on Ebay. The book goes very quickly
when Bernadine starts to research the history of the town and
how she starts to put together her plans for the town. Ms.
Jenkins did an excellent job with this book. It's a great
read, especially if you're interested in learning a little bit
about African American history. Along with our history, God is
always in the mix. I highly recommend Bring On The
Blessings.
Reviewed by
Jackie for Urban-Reviews.com
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3 out of 5 books |
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Fabiola Mays is a
superstar waiting to be discovered. Her mom has the tenacity
and business savvy to help her further her career and her
sister can make a stack of brown paper bags into a fashion
line. This trio personifies the whole package. Encouraged by
her mom and sister, Fabiola is working and giving it
everything she has to attain that fame and fortune that is
within her grasp. Working with Ricky Chunnaly's band, she
accepts his unfair treatment because she gets exposure with
his gigs.
Fabiola wins a contest in New York City that includes a
$50,000 grand prize and a $150,000 record contract with Hot
Soundz. When the trio attempt to collect the prize money, they
are met at the door of Hot Soundz with the news that the
company's assets have been frozen by the IRS, so they return
home penniless and disillusioned. To make matters worse, the
landlord is there to evict them, and now they have nowhere to
go and no money. Luck happens to be across the street in the
form of an old gangster named Casino, who offers them a place
to stay with no strings attached.
This Nikki Turner original is a mediocre read. In reading
Ghetto Superstar, I kept waiting for some excitement
and some interesting drama, but unfortunately Ms. Turner never
delivered. The relationship between Fabiola and Casino needed
more development to indicate a physical attraction or
chemistry. Editing problems throughout the novel didn't help
the situation either. The ending was like a magic trick that
the magician pulls out of a hat...puzzling. Overall, I found
the storyline in Ghetto Superstar lackluster at best.
Reviewed by Tazzyt2bossye for Urban-Reviews.com
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Nikki Turner
Ghetto Superstar
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5 out of 5 books |
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Kimberly Kaye Terry
Scream My Name
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Lelia James and her
aunt Sadie were the proud owners of a popular café. The plans
to expand it came to a halt when Sadie passed away. Lelia now
runs the café herself, and it is a labor of love. But Lelia
runs into some problems when some developers want the land
that her café sits on. She promises not to go down without a
fight, until she meets one of the developers face to face.
Brandan Walters is a successful businessman that usually gets
what he wants. He wants Lelia's land, but somewhere along the
way he ends up wanting something more valuable: her. Will
Brandan and Lelia be able to put aside their differences and
let their passions ignite? Hawk is like a brother to Lelia and
also helps out at the café. Hawk has spent his life keeping
his emotions in check, until he becomes smitten with Danita.
Danita is Lelia's friend that's also a regular at the café.
Danita notices Hawk from afar, but when he makes his
intentions known, will she give him the time of day?
Scream My Name is a deliciously erotic novel by
Kimberly Kaye Terry. Terry expertly crafted two romantic
stories into one book, but they do not read like two short
stories. Both stories seamlessly run right into each other.
You can see how the feelings gradually develop with these two
couples. You feel the underlying current of passion between
Lelia and Brandan, and the uncertainty between Danita and
Hawk. Readers will find a strong connection to the characters
in this book. There are also some humorous moments in this
story that will have you laughing out loud. This novel would
not be complete without plenty of steamy sex to whet your
appetite. Scream My Name is full of raw eroticism,
emotional drama, and humorous dialogue that will satisfy
Kimberly Kaye Terry's fans old and new.
Reviewed by
Radiah Hubbert
for Urban-Reviews.com
Check out our exclusive audio
interview with Kimberly Kaye Terry
in the On The Line section.
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4.5 out of 5 books |
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Nina Arcenaux was a
single mother who struggled to make ends meet. She used her
talents as a stripper to make sure that she and her daughter
Precious would not go without. Everything changes when Nina
meets Larry. Larry is a successful businessman that has to
deal with the untimely death of his first wife. He is now left
alone to care for his daughter Chrissy who has autism. Larry
has found all of the love that he needs in Nina, but does she
feel the same way about him? Nina is constantly focusing on
the money that Larry can provide for her and Precious. All of
Nina's hopes and dreams may come crashing down around her when
she keeps the truth about a horrible event from Larry. Nina
promises to take this secret to her grave, but someone else
has other ideas. Nina is going to have to think fast in order
to protect the life that she's grown accustomed to.
Nina's Got A Secret is an intriguing novel by Brian
W. Smith. Smith brings us a classic tale of how you may not
really know the person that you are in love with. You will see
how just how fragile Larry's emotional state is when he
decides to marry Nina. You will also see how self-centered
Nina is and how she interacts with Chrissy. This story would
be a good book club selection because it will make you think
of what you would do in this particular situation. This book
is full of twisted lies, blackmail, and drama that will pull
the reader right in. The way the novel ended was a little too
unrealistic, but the overall plot and storyline is still
wonderful. Nina's Got A Secret is a true page-turner
that doesn't disappoint.
Reviewed by
Radiah Hubbert
for Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive
interview with Brian W. Smith
in the Inside Out section.
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Brian W. Smith
Nina's Got A Secret
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3.5 out of 5 books |
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Kiki Swinson
Playing Dirty
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Playing dirty can have a lot of different meanings. It can
mean being dishonest, hustling, or being manipulative to get
what you want. Yoshi Lomax was one of the best criminal
defense attorneys in Miami. Her record was a 98% acquittal
rate. Yoshi had it all the exotic looks thanks to her Korean
and African-American background, the brains and she worked
for one of the best law firms in the state. But everything
that glitters is not always gold. Yoshi lived the life of
the rich and famous, penthouse, luxury cars at her disposal,
and designer clothes to match. But there was one thing that
Yoshi was missing was a conscience. Yoshi did whatever she
had to do to guarantee an acquittal. Bribery, sex, and
payoffs were not a stranger to Yoshi. But when the tables
are turned, Yoshi is put in situation of life and death, and
she is the one who is in the need of counsel. Will all
Yoshi's wrongdoings catch up to her or will she come out a
winner?
Maria was the head of DEA and also the best friend of
Yoshi. Maria and Yoshi went to college together. During
those times Maria was a true friend, helping Yoshi kick a
cocaine habit cold turkey. Yoshi helped Maria by doing her
school work. Now both successful in their fields, Maria had
a lot of connections with inside information on drug busts
and crime lords. These tips were valuable to Yoshi since it
helped her in obtaining the high-profile clients on her
roster. But then a tip compromises Maria's and Yoshi's
relationship. Things get even worse when Maria's comes up
missing. Has Maria days been numbered? Has Maria's shiesty
dealings finally caught up to her?
Sheldon Chisholm was the number one heroin supplier and a
notorious gangster in Miami. Sheldon was a Haitian with a
hot temper and no patience. When Sheldon caught an
indictment case by the feds, he needs a good attorney and
Yoshi Lomax is the best. With a guaranteed acquittal,
Sheldon is confident that Yoshi will get him off. But
everything is not always 100%. When Sheldon's arch enemy is
out to destroy him, no one is excluded from his wrath…not
the DEA or Sheldon's attorney. Will Sheldon overcome and
stay on top, or will he succumb and be forced to do his jail
bid?
Playing Dirty by Kiki Swinson was a suspenseful
novel full of twists and turns. I enjoyed how Kiki showed
the underworld side of law. One mistake, one angry person,
and one vendetta can change the lives of many in a blink of
an eye. Kiki portrayed the character with realistic
storylines, and showed that no one is above the law…no
matter how much money they have or who they have on their
payroll.
Reviewed by Kristin for
Urban-Reviews.com
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4.5 out of 5 books |
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Kenisha Lewis appears to always be smack in the middle of
trouble. If it's not a fight at school, it's a battle of wits
with her dad's live in girlfriend, Courtney, or fighting off
vicious rumors surrounding her mixed up life. It appears
everyone around Kenisha is convinced that she's angry. And she
isn't. Is she?
Her mom died, life changed, and instead of crying about it,
Kenisha dealing with it. After her expulsion from Hazelhurst
Academy in Virginia, she transfers to Penn Hall High in D.C.
and moves in with her grandmother. As she tries to remain
optimistic, it's apparent to even her that the girl inside of
her is slowly deserting her, and drama has definitely moved
in. Sneaking out, hanging with the wrong people, and not
thinking before acting puts Kenisha in repeated dangerous
situations. Will Kenisha hit the pause button before her life
spins too far out of control?
I enjoyed Fast Forward tremendously, yet I somewhat
feel cheated. I was told that Fast Forward could be
considered a stand alone, but I think reading Pushing Pause
first would've allowed the readers to connect to key
characters and fully understand what had transpired.
Nevertheless, Fast Forward was a great read.
Reviewed by Nardsbaby
for Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive
interview with Celeste O. Norfleet
in the Inside Out section.
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Celeste O. Norfleet
Fast Forward
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5 out of 5 books |
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Brenda Jackson
Secret Love
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Movie star
Diamond Swain is in need of some R & R. According to a good
friend of hers, Whispering Pines Ranch would be the perfect
place for her to get some much needed rest. Self-made
millionaire Jacob "Jake" Madaris, youngest of the infamous
Madaris clan, is not so sure he wants some Hollywood starlet
wondering around his land. With a lot of pleading and
promising, Diamond enters Whispering Pines and Jake's heart.
Diamond is everything he never knew he wanted in a woman. The
union between the two leads to a secret that Jake is not at
all happy about. When Diamond becomes the victim of a deranged
stalker, their secret comes to light.
Secret Love is an excellent book. Jackson always
does a wonderful job with her colorful descriptions and the
flow of her books. Secret Love is an easy read that
draws you into the story and the life of the characters. This
is the eighth book in the Madaris Family and Friends Saga
which makes the characters familiar. It gives an update on old
favorites or it can be an introduction to the Madaris family
if it is your first book in the saga.
Reviewed by Tenecia for
Urban-Reviews.com
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4 out of 5 books |
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Those ladies of TLC are back. This time it is Mia Turner who
is going undercover. However, Mia's assignment is causing a
major conflict in her life. Mia is in a good place with Steven
Long, her live in boyfriend. Mia knows that Steven loves her,
but for some reason he can't bring himself to say it. So when
Mia's assignment calls for her to investigate the married man
she once had an affair with, the man she loved with all her
heart, the man who wants her back. She gets a little confused
about what she should do. Mia is investigating her ex for
running an illegal prostitution ring. She is torn between her
loyalty to the cartel, her love for Steven, and the residual
feelings she has for her ex. She has to decide which is more
important.
Temptation and Lies is another good book written by
Donna Hill. Her writing style flows, which makes her books
easy reads. Hill is starting to reveal more about The Ladies
Cartel (TLC). She is doing an excellent job with giving out
just the right amount of information to keep you wanting more.
Hill reveals several things in this story about the cartel
that will pique your interest. Whether you are following the
series or this is your first book, Temptation and Lies
is a great read.
Reviewed by Tenecia
for Urban-Reviews.com
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Donna Hill
Temptation And Lies
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5 out of 5 books |
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Ann Christopher
Road To Seduction
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Isabella Stevens has always known that her best friend Eric
Warner was the man for her. There was only one problem...up
until this point, Eric did not see Izzy as a "woman."
Isabella was fine with the way things were because Eric was
a confirmed playboy who was not looking for a commitment.
That is until he "discovers" Isabella. He is fighting with
everything in him not to want her, but it's too late.
Isabella however does not care what Eric wants because she
refuses to give her heart to another man. However, Eric is a
very persistent man. Once Izzy realizes that he has always
had her heart, she now has to protect his heart from her.
Izzy has a secret that not even Eric knows, one that could
cause her to lose everything.
Road To Seduction is a wonderfully written book that
flows without having any lags in the storyline. The
characters in the book are great, and they come off as very
believable. Christopher's writing style is easy to read and
it draws you into the story. You find yourself going through
all of the emotions with the characters. Christopher also
does an excellent job of incorporating that realistic
everyday relationship humor which makes the story more
enjoyable.
Reviewed by Tenecia for
Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive
interview with Ann Christopher
in the Inside Out section.
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4 out of 5 books |
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Dr. Peyton Sawyer has just taken a new job and moved to New
York to start over. Her husband was killed five years ago,
and Peyton needed a change of scenery. When Peyton sees
Malik for the first time, she is instantly aware of how he
makes her feel. So when he happens to be the director of the
community center that Peyton and her students choose to
volunteer at, she figures maybe she should take a chance on
love again. But what she didn't know is that the man she
decided to take this chance on could require more than she
is willing to give.
Malik Williams is now a successful director of several
community centers. He is also in denial. He was abused,
abandoned and put in an orphanage at a young age. Malik and
three other children from the orphanage became a family. Up
until Peyton entered his life, he thought that was all he
needed. Malik didn't want to need or love Peyton, so he
fought it with everything he had. Luckily, Peyton didn't
give up that easily.
This Time For Real is a wonderful read. The main
characters are "real" people with "real" lives, making the
story one that everyone can relate to. There were also
several interesting subplots throughout the story. St. John
did an excellent job keeping everything connected and
flowing. Reviewed by
Tenecia for Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive
interview with Yahrah St. John
in the Inside Out section.
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Yahrah St. John
This Time For Real
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3.5 out of 5 books |
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Deidre Savoy
Forbidden Games
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Two cops that have worked together for the last few years
are beginning to see one another as more than co-workers.
Officer Zaira Fuentes has always wanted to be a cop because
of the neighborhood she grew up in. Growing up in a rough
part of New York also affected her choice in men. She always
wanted to be in control. Officer Drew Grissom has always
been a flirt and a ladies man. That is until he starts to
fall for Zaira. Now he just wants to protect and love her.
Once Drew confesses how he feels about Zaira, she is not
sure she can be with a man like Drew. However, when Drew is
shot, everything is put in prospective for Zaira.
Forbidden Games is an action-packed romance by
Deidre Savoy. There are times when the story lags a bit, but
for the most part, the story flows. Savoy does a great job
taking a heroine in a male-dominated profession and making
her feminine and sexy. The chemistry between the main
characters is also very believable, which makes for steamy
romance scenes.
Reviewed by Tenecia for Urban-Reviews.com
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4.5 out of 5 books |
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| McKenzie
Reese is co-owner of a salon with her best friend, she sings
jazz at a club every other Saturday, and her new neighbor is
everything she could ask for in a man. Ian Kelly is the DJ of
a jazz radio station, he is forty and has never been married,
and his new neighbor is making him feel and want things that
he never had before. There is just one little
problem...McKenzie has a fifteen-year-old son that has
recently decided to move to California to live with his father
and stepmother. Ian has never really thought about having
kids, and he is enjoying the time he is spending with
McKenzie. When McKenzie's son calls and says he wants to come
home, everything could change.
Kissing The Man Next Door is an excellent read by
Devon Vaughn Archer. The relationship between the main
characters is very realistic and relatable. The characters are
also very well developed, which helps to make the overall
story more enjoyable. Vaughn Archer also has a laid back
writing style that flows and makes for an easy read.
Reviewed by Tenecia
for Urban-Reviews.com
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Devon Vaughn Archer
Kissing The Man
Next Door
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3.5 out of 5 books |
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Stephanie Perry Moore
The Way We Roll
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Malloy Murray is that
chick, as far as some girls believe. Her mom, Dr. Monica
Jenkins Murray, is the National President for Beta Gamma Pi.
This means absolutely nothing as far as Malloy is concerned. A
child of divorce, Malloy is looking for some sort of a
connection to her family and wishes her mom, instead of trying
to shove Beta down her throat, just accept her as she is. Is
there a median?
Hayden Grant, the Chapter President of the Betas at Western
Smith College, is trying to make a smooth transition for
Malloy. But Malloy isn't a sisterly kind of girl and she's
ruffled too many feathers. While becoming a Beta could
actually help repair her relationship with her mom, it could
also jeopardize her budding romance with Kade Rollins, the
starting line backer for the University of Southeastern
Arkansas. Can Malloy learn to love like it's real?
The Way We Roll is the second book in the Beta Gamma
Pi series. To be honest, I wasn't feeling the first and I'm
equally disappointed in this one. While the story is easy
enough, my issues derive from the disconnection with the
characters. I don't know if the author, Stephanie Perry Moore,
is afraid that she may possibly offend Christians, or if she
actually believes young adults speak and act in this manner,
but there is a definite void.
I don't know how many books this series will contain, but,
I'm hoping that the author would in some way, shape or form
find some way to add some authenticity, outside of the
sorority, to the story. Christians can use words, aside from
cursing, that would articulate their feelings more accurately.
Reviewed by Nardsbaby for Urban-Reviews.com
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4 out of 5 books |
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It is in the 1800s and slavery is alive and well in
America. Families are torn apart and people are stripped
of their dignity all for working on the plantation. Unlike
her white counterparts, Annie Few Smith did not agree with
slavery and was always at odds with her husband on this
issue. Things get out of hand when the love for a slave
that Annie grew up with gets out of hand. Fast forward
twenty years later, and Annie's now grown daughter Passion
is in danger of being captured and sold into slavery.
Annie has protected Passion from this since she was a
baby, but her luck may have ran out.
The Highest Price for Passion is an innovative
novel by Laurinda D. Brown. Brown tells an excellent story
with a historical back drop. The scenes in this book are
so descriptive that you can picture everything that is
taking place. You will see how this story is told through
the eyes of the slaves, the masters and their wives.
Readers will feel all of the emotional drama that takes
place in this book. Brown does a wonderful job of
incorporating true historical events into this novel
without losing the reader. In reading this book, you can
tell that this story was a well researched project. The
Highest Price for Passion is an enthralling
page-turner with unforgettable characters.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive
interview with Laurinda D. Brown
in the Inside Out section.
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Laurinda D. Brown
The Highest Price
For Passion
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4 out of 5 books |
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Shana Burton
First Comes Love
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Recently dumped by their mates, best friends London
Harris and Bernard Phillips decide to take an
impromptu trip to Las Vegas. While trying to drown
their problems in the limelight of Vegas, they create
new ones. While having a little too much fun in Vegas,
they find themselves in bed together, and MARRIED!!!
As best friends, they clicked. They could finish each
other statements, amd they knew what the other was
thinking. But as a married couple, they kinda sucked.
They were constantly arguing about little things like
bills, cleaning the house, etc.
They finally came to a decision to just annul the
marriage before they completely ruined what little
friendship they had left. That was until London's
grandmother Essie made a suggestion. She asked them to
seek God before making this decision, and find out
what his plan is for their marriage. After deciding to
take Essie's advice, they tried to seek God for
guidance by reading the Word of God, and attending
church. But will that be enough to hold their marriage
and their friendship together?
First Comes Love does have some truth to it.
This book is filled with a lot of real life feelings,
like how heartbroken you are when you're dumped by
your mate. Shana Burton brought to life some of the
emotions you feel throughout a relationship, and what
it takes to seek God before just taking matters into
your own hands. My favorite character in the book was
Essie because she didn't hold any punches. She gave
you the truth by the way of the Lord. She reminds me
of my mother...someone who holds nothing back. If it
hurts your feelings, oh well. Pick yourself up and
move on. There were some grammatical errors, but
nothing to distract you from the story. Ms. Burton did
a good job with First Comes Love.
Reviewed by Jackie for Urban-Reviews.com
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3 out of 5 books |
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Justice and Monk are all that each other have in this
world. So their particular hustle is cool with them, no
foul, and no play. Justice sets out to use her beauty to
get the biggest ballers and Monk and his crew takes them
for what they are worth. When a misunderstanding happens,
all hell breaks loose between Monk and Justice's old love
Carlos. Not believing his ears and refusing to believe
that Justice and Monk would sit in his face and try to
play him, Carlos sets the scene for murder and more murder
until they are all gone. Monk doesn't know that one of his
boys actually did get one of Carlos's boys. He can't
figure out why Carlos is starting a war but if you can't
beat them then join them. So if it's war that Carlos
wants, it's war that Monk is going to give him.
I was excited when I saw that Mike Sanders had a new
book out. The cover for Thirsty is the best yet of
his collection, and he has a new publisher. But when I
finally began reading the story, I was shocked and
disappointed. The editing was a big issue. Every character
seemed to sound the same to me. The book was saturated
with each character trying to be so slick with the mouth
that it became annoying and corny. The plot was there, but
the story was more predictable then you would have
expected. This was a major turn off. To say I wouldn't
read anything else by Mr. Sanders is a lie. I know his
talent from his first two stories. Thirsty was a
miss for me. The three star rating is more for the cover
and effort than the actual story.
Reviewed by
Angie for Urban-Reviews.com
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Mike Sanders
Thirsty
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4.5 out of 5 books |
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Daphine Glenn
Robinson
Caring What People Think
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Russell Brown has dated some interesting women in his
lifetime, and now he's tired of just casual dating. He's
ready to find that special someone that he could spend the
rest of his life with. Being one of the most eligible
bachelor at Outreach Fellowship Church, the vultures are
swarming. That is until he meets Dannica Rawlins, who is
the complete opposite of Russell. She's battling with
depression due to the death of her father. She is not
interested in meeting anyone right now. She needs to deal
a lot of things that are going on in her life right now,
and finding love is not one of them.
With both of them being in the Human Resources
profession, they meet at a conference and instantly click.
After just a few months, Dannica became Russell's wife,
but the honeymoon didn't last long at all. Dannica starts
to unravel when a lot of secrets from her past start to
surface. Not knowing what to do or how to handle his new
bride, Russell turns to the Lord for some guidance...but
is it too late?
Caring What People Think
was a very uplifting story about two people that were
trying to find some peace and happiness. Dannica was
trying to find her way with the loss of her father and
dealing with depression. Russell had decided that he was
not going to just date anyone anymore, and was truly
looking for his wife. Instead of just waiting for our
Father and letting him take control, many times we try to
take control of situations that we have no control over.
We have to learn how to wait and have faith that God will
take care of us and never lead us down the wrong path.
With her two main characters, Robinson explains how they
were in the darkest places. And instead of letting God
lead them to the light, they tried to take things in their
own hands and got nowhere. It was not until God took
control that then they found the gratification and peace
they'd been looking for. Caring
What People Think is a good read. It started a
little slow, but if you hang in there, it will pick up the
pace and you won't want to put it down.
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4.5 out of 5 books |
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Sinnamon is forced to take care of herself and her little
brother at a very young age due to her mother's heroin
addiction. Sinnamon focuses on her studies so that she can
go to college, get a good job, and get out of the hood.
Sinnamon has always been shy about her appearance until she
meets Essence. Essence helps Sinnamon embrace her outer
beauty and teaches her how to use her looks to get what she
wants. These two young women become fast friends and
partners in crime. Essence and Sinnamon begin to reap the
monetary benefits of their dubious activities. But Sinnamon
and Essence find out that they may have bitten off more than
they can chew when a plan goes horribly wrong. Will they
continue to take deadly risks to maintain their new
lifestyle?
Sinnamon is the sequel to That Was Dirty by
Wasiim. Wasiim once again brings a fast-paced storyline with
strong and complex characters. Although this is a sequel,
you do not need to necessarily read the first book in order
to read this one. Sinnamon is a character that you just want
to see make it. You see the downward spiral of the risky
lifestyle Sinnamon and Essence grow accustomed to and how
they try to keep up with it. Wasiim pulls no punches about
the consequences that may occur when people choose to go
down the illegal path in order to succeed in life. Wasiim
does an excellent job of illustrating how people are truly
responsible for their own actions. Sinnamon is action
packed and thought-provoking. Wasiim once again proves that
he can write a novel that entertains as well as educates.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
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Wasiim
Sinnamon
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4 out of 5 books |
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Rumont Tekay
The Ruthless Dictator
Or Order Your Copy
Direct From The Author!
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Adon Cutti has made a name for himself on the
streets. As a member the elite crime syndicate
called The Convolution, Adon has access to a lot of
money and power. But the one thing that he just
can't get to the bottom of is who is responsible for
the murder of his parents. To make matters worse,
Adon's ex-girlfriend and his daughter have suddenly
disappeared and he becomes concerned about their
whereabouts. Shamrock is Adon's right hand man and
friend. They both work together to rule the streets.
But that may come to an end when Adon's mentor Nitty
Calhoun tells him that Shamrock shouldn't be
trusted. Adon now is forced to make a hard decision
that he doesn't want to make. Nitty finds himself in
a bind when someone from his past suddenly appears
back on the scene and ready to expose some
disturbing information to Adon.
The Ruthless Dictator is a riveting
page-turner by Rumont Tekay. Tekay pulls you in to
this story from the very first page. You see how
Adon's chaotic childhood still affected him as an
adult. You will feel the wide range of emotions from
Adon as he tries to figure out who he can trust. One
of the main themes of this book is how the people
that are the closest to you may be the ones that do
you the most harm. There are a lot of twists,
scandal, and shocking revelations in this story that
will definitely delight readers. The ending of this
book could make a little room for a sequel or it
could be left as is. Good character development, a
unique storyline, non-stop action and drama is what
makes The Ruthless Dictator a must read for
any urban fiction fan. The Ruthless Dictator
is an explosive start to Rumont Tekay's writing
career.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive
interview with Rumont Tekay
in the Inside Out section.
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3.5 out of 5 books |
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Jennifer "JP" Peale and Dontae Erickson are both
starting their first year of law school. They both hit
it off right away and become fast friends, but their
personal lives couldn't be more different. JP always
wanted to become a singer until her mother passed away.
But when a local band is looking for a lead singer, JP's
passion for singing is renewed. JP now wants to abandon
her law school dreams to become a hit-making singer. But
will the sacrifice be worth it? Dontae has found love
from another law student named Darrel. They have a
budding love affair, but their relationship is cut short
when Darrel's father passes away. Dontae continues to
focus on law school and a budding legal career. Dontae
is back in the groove of things until Darrel shows up
later with a pregnant wife. Darrel now wants Dontae back
in his life. Will Dontae take him back?
My Eyes Are Green is an entertaining novel by
Marcel Emerson. Emerson tells a good story about two
people that are the same in some ways and different in
others. You see the growth of JP and Dontae as they
realize what they truly want in life. This story showed
how a person's own self discovery can lead them in the
right direction. There was strong character development
in this story, but there should have been more
interaction between JP and Dontae. JP and Dontae are
portrayed as mere acquaintances rather than the best
friends that they were supposed to be. Dontae's story
was more compelling than JP's, so much so that it could
have carried the whole book. My Eyes Are Green is
a commendable debut for Marcel Emerson.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
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Marcel Emerson
My Eyes Are Green
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4 out of 5 books |
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Omar Scott
The Game of Love
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Lorenzo "Ren" Love leads a group of dirty cops of an
elite narcotics unit. Ren and his fellow brothers in
blue have taken money under the table from dangerous
drug dealers for years. This has become very lucrative
for this crew over the years. But all of that may come
to an end when Ren and his unit come under an internal
affairs investigation involving a recent shooting of a
notorious drug dealer. To make matters worse, there is
a string of young ladies being murdered and all of the
evidence points to Ren. Will Ren be able to get out of
all of this unscathed?
The Hands of Love is a fast paced thriller
by Omar Scott. Scott leads reader into the world of
dirty cops, serial murders and infidelity. Ren is an
arrogant man who believes he is above the law and he
is a character that you love to hate. Scott does a
good job of crafting a well thought out mystery that
will have you wondering who was the killer of these women.
There is also a shocking twist to this story that you
won't see coming. This book has a good storyline, but
the editing issues make some parts of the book a
little choppy. The Hands of Love is still a
good suspenseful story by Omar Scott.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive
interview with Omar Scott
in the Inside Out section.
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3.5 out of 5 books |
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Khadejah Johnson grew up thinking that if she did well in
school, went to college, and meet the perfect man that her
life would be perfect. But Khadejah found out that life is
not a fairytale when she finds out that her high-school
sweetheart got another girl pregnant. Hurt and confused, she
runs into the arms of a man that's ten years older than her.
Khadejah thinks that this is the perfect but soon finds out
that he's anything but. Fast forward around fourteen years
later and Khadejah is now a single mother and is still on
that rocky road to finding love. Aaron is an upwardly mobile
man trying to climb the corporate ladder. Mylan is a man of
many talents but he's not ready to settle down. J. Jordan
Edwards is a corporate attorney trying to move past his
latest relationship mistake. Terrance is a NBA basketball
star trying to win back the love of his high school
sweetheart. Will Khadejah find true love with any of these
men?
He Loves Me He Loves Me Not! is a
thought-provoking novel by Tracy Darity. Darity brings us an
entertaining coming of age tale about a woman who must learn
some hard life lessons in order to find true love. You will
see how Khadejah goes from being a naive teen to a woman who
has realized her own self worth. This novel has a strong
storyline and well developed characters. But there were a
lot of parts to this story that could have been cut out to
make this book flow more easily. There was way too much
telling and not enough showing in this story. Khadejah and
some of the other secondary characters had significant life
changing events in this novel that were not shown but they
were told to the reader instead either through conversation
or narration. Had these events been shown and the more
insignificant parts of the novel been omitted, the story
would have read at a smoother and faster pace. There were
also some minor editing issues that could not be ignored.
With those issues aside, He Loves Me He Loves Me Not!
is still a great debut novel by Tracy Darity.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for
Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive
interview with Tracy L. Darity
in the Inside Out section.
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Tracy L. Darity
He Loves Me
He Loves Me Not!
Click The Book Cover To
Order Your Copy Today!
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4 out of 5 books |
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S.C. Dickens
Didn't See This Coming
Click The Book Cover To
Order Your Copy Today!! |
How can your life go from lovely to the dumps in the
blink of the eye? Is it the company you keep? Maybe
Jealousy, Envy? Loretta Mathis was a smart woman with
big plans for the future ahead of her. Her life
immediately changes for the better when she meets the
love of her life Born. It was not always love at first
sight, but eventually Loretta Mathis fell for Born,
hard. Their both obtained college degrees but have
difficulty finding jobs that paid more than the
minimum wage. Expecting there first child, there life
is spun into a whirlwind. The two people Loretta care
about the most are forever gone, Loretta emerges five
years later from a coma and is on the warpath for
revenge. Will Loretta be able to forgive and forget?
Or will she set out and destroy the people who took
away her most valuable treasures?
Born was a man of big dreams and aspirations, he
wanted the American dream. He went to college but work
was slim and he had a family to take care. So he began
to hustle and deal in narcotics with his best friend.
When he decides to move to North Carolina, Born's
operation is on the rise. But mistakes and hatred
could cost Born his life. Will Born be able to correct
his mistakes before it's too late or will his mistakes
cause him his life?
Marcel is Born's best friend and business partner.
Marcel is a man with no morals and no respect for
women. Born and Marcel grew up together and remained
tight even though many didn't understand there
relationship. Marcel has done a lot of dirt in the
past, but nothing compared to what he helped do to his
best friend Born. Marcel has been living five years,
without a care in the world running the business that
he and his best friend Born started. But nothing is
guaranteed, and there someone is out for Marcel blood
and the ironic thing is he has no clue. Will this be
the end for Marcel or will beat the fate of death?
Didn't See This Coming by S.C. Dickens had
me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I enjoyed
how you never knew what was going to happen and to
whom. The irony of the title truly fits this novel to
the tee. The storyline was great, although it was
definitely not what I thought the book was about when
I started reading. I loved the characters, and the
topics covered everything from homosexuality to drugs,
and that certainly added spice to book. Dickens did a
great job relating real life issues and showing the
consequences of trying to make a quick dollar. You can
never underestimate what a person will do for their
family and the risks they are willing to take.
Reviewed by Kristin for Urban-Reviews.com
Read our exclusive
interview with S.C. Dickens
in the Inside Out section.
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3 out of 5 books |
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"Never As Good As The First Time" is a story about Melinda
and Germaine were inseparable as teenagers, going off to
college Germaine makes a last decision to not go with the
plans they've made over the last 2 years. Melinda being
heart broken goes thru life never getting over the love she
had for Germaine. Meeting up at their 10 year high school
reunion with their spouses brings back all the old feelings
they were both trying suppress. Rekindling their love with
an unusual affair arraignment they both come to the
conclusion they want to spend the rest of their lives
together they just don't know how to leave their spouses.
Melinda goes thru a tragedy and cant bring herself back from
and the affair is over.
"The Letter" was exactly that...a letter. Coming home
late one evening from work there's a pink note slipped
halfway under his door from one of his neighbors he has been
admiring since she moved in. Reading the letter he believes
is for him is actually for another tenant has him not sure
if he should act on it or let it go.
"Daddy's Maybe" is a story about Kendra Jackson, and she
apparently doesn't know what a condom is.
I am not sure what Ms. Flowers' intentions were with the
stories in It's Morning, but they all drove me crazy.
The first story was so repetitive and boring that I kept
looking at the number of pages. It was as if the story was
missing something, or I was. The second story could have
been left out completely. And the third story kind of picked
up along the way; however, Kendra Jackson has some real
issues which were too much for me. She was all over the
place and couldn't be honest with anyone. Despite being an
adult, Kendra still blamed here current behavior on
something that happened to her as a child instead of getting
help. Although the effort was there, It's Morning was
a miss for me.
Reviewed by Angie for Urban-Reviews.com
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Elaine Flowers
It's Morning
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3.5 out of 5 books |
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Nisa Santiago
Cartier Cartel
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Cartier Timmons is young, confident, and determined
not to become a victim of her circumstances. Cartier
originates a clique of young impressionable girls and
grooms them to seek financial gain by way of crime.
Their initial introduction into this destructive
lifestyle consists of boosting stolen goods. Greed
causes the girls to graduate to the corner and
infringement of the male squad's territory.
More money creates more problems as the girls begin
to become divided due to challenges Cartier receives
from Monya, Bam, Lil Momma, and Shanine. Bam ends up
taking one for he crew and Cartier is faced with
several hard decisions. As the leader, will she
disband the squad, will she seek revenge, will the
crew still respect her leadership skills, can
Cartier's Cartel stand the heat, with their sisterhood
survive.
Nisa Santiago has made a notable mark with her
debut novel Cartier Cartel. The characters'
voices are young, fresh, and realistic. Their
struggles are relatable, their battles are memorable,
and their lessons are worthy. In reflecting on this
read, there were a few typos. Cartier's growth was
evident, but there were a few questionable scenes. Ms.
Santiago should have delved more into Cartier's
incarcerated interaction with other inmates, showed a
scene showing the digression of Cartier's self-esteem,
and some sort of chemistry or attraction between the
girls. Cartier Cartel tells the story of young
girls in the hood living in poverty, their fight to
overcome their lifestyle, sexual gratification,
revenge, jealousy, greed, murder, incarceration,
loyalty, and love. Personally, I am not a supporter of
the sequel fad that's occurring in the literary field,
but I will give Cartier Cartel a 3.5 rating.
Good job Ms. Santiago.
Reviewed by Tazzyt2bossye for Urban-Reviews.com
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