Shantelle Williams was raised by her maternal aunt, Pam. She was taught early on to use what she had in order to get what she wanted. While she didn’tShantelle Williams was raised by her maternal aunt, Pam. She was taught early on to use what she had in order to get what she wanted. While she didn’t solely rely on her body to make ends meet, she didn’t shy away from what appears to be their family’s way. Unlike others, she did have a job. Unfortunately, she wasn’t one for being punctual which eventually cost her in a major way.
Bruised, broken, homeless and afraid, Shantelle is lucky to have found Glynnis, her nurse. A new place to live, Shantelle is confident that in a couple of weeks she’ll be back in tip top shape. When Glynnis takes her to church, Shantelle’s eyes are opened to GOD. However, fear keeps her mouth closed. Can Shantelle finally learn to let go of all of the pain, envy, hate, confusion, and lack of self-confidence to become the woman that GOD has destined her to be?
WHAT THE DEVIL MEANT FOR BAD by T.M. Duncan is engaging from start to finish. Shantelle’s testimony is one that should be shared with the masses, especially young women who don’t even realize that their lives are in jeopardy. Duncan doesn’t get preachy, but she preaches. You feel the power, strength and love as Shantelle’s life is changed by the power of LOVE. There are a few issues with the editing, but nothing that alters the story. This is definitely a story worthy of a recommendation.
Reviewed by: Crystal 4.5
Merged review:
Shantelle Williams was raised by her maternal aunt, Pam. She was taught early on to use what she had in order to get what she wanted. While she didn’t solely rely on her body to make ends meet, she didn’t shy away from what appears to be their family’s way. Unlike others, she did have a job. Unfortunately, she wasn’t one for being punctual which eventually cost her in a major way.
Bruised, broken, homeless and afraid, Shantelle is lucky to have found Glynnis, her nurse. A new place to live, Shantelle is confident that in a couple of weeks she’ll be back in tip top shape. When Glynnis takes her to church, Shantelle’s eyes are opened to GOD. However, fear keeps her mouth closed. Can Shantelle finally learn to let go of all of the pain, envy, hate, confusion, and lack of self-confidence to become the woman that GOD has destined her to be?
WHAT THE DEVIL MEANT FOR BAD by T.M. Duncan is engaging from start to finish. Shantelle’s testimony is one that should be shared with the masses, especially young women who don’t even realize that their lives are in jeopardy. Duncan doesn’t get preachy, but she preaches. You feel the power, strength and love as Shantelle’s life is changed by the power of LOVE. There are a few issues with the editing, but nothing that alters the story. This is definitely a story worthy of a recommendation.
As the World Spins ‘Round and ‘Round, Wish I Knew Then What I Know Now
Dixyn Greene is living the glamorous life by way of her hustling husband, Bryce.As the World Spins ‘Round and ‘Round, Wish I Knew Then What I Know Now
Dixyn Greene is living the glamorous life by way of her hustling husband, Bryce. She is afforded the nicer things in life but there is a fear lingering in the back of her mind that trouble is around the corner. Trouble identifies itself with the initials F.B.I. The feds bring her world crashing down. What she once took for granted has been snatched from her in mere minutes and decisions have to be made. A line has been drawn in the sand and she has to decide who she will ride with.
A disillusioned Dixyn takes her baby girl to a safe place and tries to make heads or tails of her choices, because the bills are stacking up and friends have become a figment of her imagination. What happens when you have become accustomed to living the 'privileged life' and you now have pauper and hard knock life ringing your doorbell? Does this hustler's wife ride and die for her man or does she hop on the back of that white horse with the first knight in shining armor that presents her with a window in a windowless room? Will she lower her standards in a cold cruel world and find herself looking up at all the ones she once looked down at?
“Caught Up� proves to be the same old storyline...nothing new or intriguing about this read. The life of the hustler and his family. The aftermath of his fall. I was excited when I read the synopsis, but found myself disappointed with this read as a whole. The storyline was inconsistent and there were unfinished storylines. Shannon Holmes' “B-More Careful� was my very first urban lit read and I was hooked for real! So to read this, and know his ability, I was uber discouraged because I know that he has more in him. I hope that he puts more effort in his next literary venture because he has the fan base, his names causes people to move, but with projects like this...the tides can turn.
Janell’s “Suicide Watch� deals with Candace Tremont, a woman trying to cope with her life after witnessing her husband commit suicideYou Are Not Alone
Janell’s “Suicide Watch� deals with Candace Tremont, a woman trying to cope with her life after witnessing her husband commit suicide. After fighting depression and thoughts of suicide herself, Candace decides to help women in prison through her music.
I liked this book because I could relate personally. I’ve had to watch my daughter suffer from depression and suicide thoughts for many years. I enjoyed the way Candace worked through her music/singing to help all the women.
I have read so many self-help books on the do's and don'ts but this was a good novel. The only thing that did not work for me was that it was a little too long.
Jay Santiago is a self-proclaimed king of New York. He's engaged to a famous fashion designer, Carmen Davenport, but Carmen is mA Diamond in the Rough
Jay Santiago is a self-proclaimed king of New York. He's engaged to a famous fashion designer, Carmen Davenport, but Carmen is married. Sound complicated? Maybe not if you've read the previous installments.
The issues with this novel are that for one, some of the wording was awkward and two, there was some POV jumping. That proved distracting. On the bright side, the author can obviously write. Unfortunately I never wanted to continue to the next chapter so it made for a long read. I couldn't become invested in a single character. There was no magic here for me.
Your Past Does Not Always Have to Define Your Future
Piper Banion has not had an easy life. She’s always tried to gain her mother Connie's approval andYour Past Does Not Always Have to Define Your Future
Piper Banion has not had an easy life. She’s always tried to gain her mother Connie's approval and love but never received either, only criticism. Just when it seems like nothing will change, she musters up the courage to change her situation. Fast forward a few years and she meets Shelly. She finally has someone she can depend on. Will life turn out like she hoped? Only time will tell.
Good read. The plot was well done, although Piper came off as a little dense and lacking in common sense. “Cause She’s a Good Girl� held my attention to the end and I was happy for the ending. Some things that occurred I didn't see coming. I can definitely say I did enjoy reading it. My only complaint is the many grammatical errors and frequent errors in the present/past tense use of words. I strongly urge the author to get a good editor. I look forward to reading more from Groovy Lee in the future.
Enter a world where nothing is as it seems. The story opens with Aubrey and her mother, Rose(The Reluctant Sacrifice)
Things Aren't Always as They Seem
Enter a world where nothing is as it seems. The story opens with Aubrey and her mother, Rose, being hunted by some people who want them dead. A feud between siblings has led to an ongoing war.
I found “The Reluctant Sacrifice� to be an enjoyable read. As I kept reading I discovered that what I thought I knew was not it at all. This was a different genre for me, but I must say I did enjoy it and would be open to more reads from Kerr-Ann Dempster.
I was pleasantly surprised with an opportunity to read Bernice McFadden’s latest and when I understood it was historical fiction suInteresting History
I was pleasantly surprised with an opportunity to read Bernice McFadden’s latest and when I understood it was historical fiction surrounding the Holocaust, I was all in. Having spent time in Europe and being a lover of this particular genre I wanted to expand my knowledge of a subject I knew very little about: Black Holocaust victims.
The story is centered on a young Black man, Harlan, who is a gifted musician. He is presented with an opportunity to play in Europe. He convinces his reluctant light-skinned male friend to travel with him. After being in Paris for a while, the Nazis invade and Harlan and his friend are abducted and sent to a concentration camp.
The story opens by introducing Harlan’s parents and how they met. We follow Harlan from Macon, Georgia, to New York where he finds himself and becomes a traveling musician. He is a very irresponsible individual who enjoys women and booze and jumps at the opportunity to be away from his mother’s watchful eye and his life in New York. Once he is captured, the story really picked up for me and it was the absolute best part of the book, although very emotional. McFadden weaves historical events throughout the novel and so it feels genuine to the genre. She also has a knack for developing characters with little effort. Her story telling ability is unique as I have read her work before, and because of that I know that I won’t get a typical story. She knows how to write tragedy.
The problem for me was around chapter 79 of the book. The book is divided into sections and there are 106 chapters. The chapters are short and read quickly. The content of those last chapters just didn’t come together. The history was there, but the story just never came together. It didn’t seem cohesive to me. I did get some humor out of the book but the entire story was laden with misfortune and a feeling of melancholy.
Full-time wife and mother, part-time actress, Felicia Lyons� hands are full. Just when it seems she can’t add anything more to her cup whicThat's Life
Full-time wife and mother, part-time actress, Felicia Lyons� hands are full. Just when it seems she can’t add anything more to her cup which is running over, her past decides to pay a visit.
The opening chapter immediately captures motherhood and never lets go. Johnson creates a believable cast of characters. The narrative is natural, which endears readers to the characters quickly. “Second House from the Corner� is easily recommendable.
This is my first read by Sadeqa Johnson but it certainly won’t be my last.
Eden Price is days away from marrying the love of her life Desmond until reality sets in and the picture perfect marLove Will Make You Do Some Things
Eden Price is days away from marrying the love of her life Desmond until reality sets in and the picture perfect marriage she has imagined is not destined to be. Desmond has done the unthinkable and Eden calls off the wedding. She decides to take a one-person honeymoon to paradise.
Keleigh Crigler Hadley’s “What You Don’t Do for Love� was a wonderful novel. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. I cheered for Eden all the way. I wanted her to have her happily ever after. How I thought it would end was totally wrong but in a good way. This novel was engaging and a true testament to the power of love and prayer. I recommend this novel to anyone who really needs a pick me up. It falls shy of a 5-star rating because there were a few grammatical errors. They, however, in no way diminished the message or the lessons learned along the way. I look forward to future novels by this author. Great job, Keleigh Crigler Hadley.
Portsmouth, Virginia. There are drug dealers coming from New York, Miami, New Jersey, and Jamaica to the region. They all have thThe Life of a Hustler
Portsmouth, Virginia. There are drug dealers coming from New York, Miami, New Jersey, and Jamaica to the region. They all have the same goal: to get money! Malik is a youngster trying to live that life. Do or die. And in his 17 years he's seen and done a lot. Will he make it out alive? Does crime pay?
Not my normal genre, I learned a lot reading this novel. Sidney Moore’s “Dinner Thieves,� though very violent, was a good novel.
In this novel, the main character, Dana Toussaint, is the product of a Haitian father and a Creole mother. Dana is strikingly bIt's All in the Details
In this novel, the main character, Dana Toussaint, is the product of a Haitian father and a Creole mother. Dana is strikingly beautiful, but to her mother's dismay she takes on a lot of her Haitian father's characteristics. Because of that along with other matters that later unfold, her mother develops a heinous disdain for her own flesh and blood. She sells Dana to a drug dealing pedophile who grooms her for the sex industry and gets her hooked on drugs. Dana has to struggle to overcome until a handsome stranger comes on the scene. To Dana, he seems too good to be true, but if he could redeem her from a destitute lifestyle it has to be all good, right?
As a preface, I didn't have the opportunity to read the first installment of "Behind Closed Doors." The author picked up with the story of Dana Toussaint and I didn't feel as though I'd missed much seeing that this installment started early in Dana's life. Dana was a compelling character and the author touched issues that are relevant. This novel was filled with a plethora of great information about human trafficking, the drug culture, and laws that pertained to such.
The problem with this novel was in the details. The author told a story that was set in the 90's yet the characters used language of a later time. The timeline seemed problematic because some of the things that took place couldn't have done so in the time allotted. There was a part in the story where one of the children's age was grossly miscalculated. One character's name was switched with another. The book read like an essay many times instead of a novel that developed characters.
I really wanted to like this story more than I did.
Calisa Harper and Jared Williams have been friends ever since she became best friends with his twin Sydney. He has aWhen Friendship Blossoms into Love
Calisa Harper and Jared Williams have been friends ever since she became best friends with his twin Sydney. He has always been her confidant, her sounding board, her person. And then they decided they wanted to be friends with benefits, no strings attached, able to keep personal feelings out of their "arrangement." Somewhere along the way the lines were twisted and feelings got involved. Now they are dancing around the thoughts of do we continue on or can we stop what we're doing and go back to just being platonic? Do they take a chance on love?
This was a very good novel. I like the complexity of the relationship between Cali and Red and the passion that they shared. Even when life threw so much at them and Cali let insecurities of her childhood and her issues surface, Red was still willing to fight for what could be. A very enjoyable read. A little long but very well written. I look forward to the next book in Elle Wright’s series.
Life has just begun for Billy and his high school friends. They have graduated from high school and the One Rash Decision Can Change Your Life Forever
Life has just begun for Billy and his high school friends. They have graduated from high school and the sky is truly the limit. The summer before college with a bright future, lots of parties, summer days ahead and then the unthinkable happens. One rash decision will have lasting consequences. Was it worth it?
I found this book to be a pretty good read but it started off a little slow for me. I have read all of this author's work and while I felt the storyline was vibrant and he did paint a very good picture, I felt it was a little drawn out. While it didn’t prove to be one of my favorites, lessons were learned in the novel.
Overall, “The Changing Season� was a great portrayal of what happens when you let feelings get in the way and you stop thinking rationally and end up making a life altering decision. I look forward to reading more from Steven Manchester.
Bleu Montclair, a soon-to-be college student, just wanted to get away from her hard life in Flint, Michigan and attend UThe Three Loves of Her Life...
Bleu Montclair, a soon-to-be college student, just wanted to get away from her hard life in Flint, Michigan and attend UCLA. A dream she always had. Leaving behind one love of her life in Flint, Bleu arrived at UCLA and things didn't go as she planned. Finding two more loves could cause her life to be over if she doesn't choose the right one.
I really liked this book. Ashley Antoinette is one of my favorite authors. Her writing skills are on point and this story is what I like to read, a true love story. I couldn't put the book down, wishing it would not end.
I recommend “Luxe� to all readers who enjoy a great urban love story. I can't wait to read part 2.
Eleze Lisa Thomas-McMillan's “Living Fulfilled: The Infectious Joy of Serving Others� is a woman's journal that takes readers throA Blessing to Others
Eleze Lisa Thomas-McMillan's “Living Fulfilled: The Infectious Joy of Serving Others� is a woman's journal that takes readers through her life of helping others. She vowed that no one should ever go hungry or without food, so she decided to take matters in her own hand and helped others.
This book provides information throughout the years of her life starting at an early age. I like how it takes readers on a journey from state to state helping others. Informative, however, it is not a book for all.
I really, really enjoyed “The Forbidden Man� from beginning to end. It was intense and thought-provoking. After I finished it, I found myself wanting more. I highly recommend this book. It was well-written. Readers will find themselves laughing, crying, talking to the characters and all in their feelings. I look forward to the next book in the Edge of Scandal series. Great job, Elle Wright!
In Allysha Hamber’s “Federal Prison Camp� readers find themselves following the lives of several women who had the unfortunaSisterly Love Behind Bars
In Allysha Hamber’s “Federal Prison Camp� readers find themselves following the lives of several women who had the unfortunate circumstance of landing in a prison camp. Charlene, totally in love with her boyfriend Marco, agreed to smuggle for him and got caught up. While behind bars, she came to the realization that Marco moved on with another woman and this woman was even raising Charlene's kids.
Taedra, a stud and a hustler, got into a situation that landed her in the prison camp. She remained true to her hustling ways even behind bars and was involved in a lot of illegal activities but she was also sought after because of her looks. Though in a loving relationship with Kelly before she went to prison, once inside she found herself in several sexual relationships.
Melody came from a rough upbringing and had never experienced real love. She always used her body to get paid and to have an advantage on men. While in prison she found herself in love with a married man.
Some of the women in this prison camp shared a sisterly love and lifelong bond with one another but they also endured a lot of hardships and pain. They looked out for each other and some formed true family units that helped to sustain them while they were locked away from society. I enjoyed reading “Federal Prison Camp.� It had some steamy sex scenes that took my imagination into overdrive but it also had great depth where I could truly get a real glimpse into the lives of these women. I thought it was very well written. There were grammatical errors but they did not take away from the storyline.
During the 1800's one would say life was very strange. The institution of slavery freely exposed hierarchy and hypocrisy. EveryA Tale of the High Seas
During the 1800's one would say life was very strange. The institution of slavery freely exposed hierarchy and hypocrisy. Everyone knows that the white supremacist ideology was profound across most of the known world and America was in full participation. Selling humans as chattel and exalting themselves above all minorities, which is illustrated in this novel. While this was very true, there were always exceptions when money and power were involved.
"The Abduction of Smith and Smith" speaks to the peculiar institution of slavery and how on the surface things were black and white, but underneath master could be daddy and Negroes with brains could possess a small amount of freedom and power.
This is a story about Jupiter, an ex-slave, and Archer, his white half-brother. Archer has a mind to kill his brother, but when they are both abducted and find themselves on a ship they will have to face the truth about each other and themselves.
If you like Cowboys and Indians, Good Guys and Bad Guys, Cops and Robbers etc…you will like this.
It is reminiscent of a middle school read with illustrations here and there. It was also very easy to put aside. The chapters were short which helped to not frustrate the reader but for some reason it lacked that historical feel. It was decent. Sometimes it bordered on confusing because of all of the different characters introduced. Some characters that had a large focus probably shouldn't have but in all it was decent. No real wow factor.
Miki Vincent has a problem. She can never seem to find a man who gets her. Her friend Pam is married. Her husband can’t seem The Honeymoon Has to End
Miki Vincent has a problem. She can never seem to find a man who gets her. Her friend Pam is married. Her husband can’t seem to get it together. Pam’s true passion as an artist is stifled. These two women will discover that in life, the honeymoon has to end at some point
I had a hard time really settling in this book. Once I did, however, there was an interesting story to be read. I felt like I could really feel Miki and her friend Pam’s dilemmas. I felt like the story could’ve been told with fewer pages, but overall it was a good read.
“Always Want More� is Banke Awopetu McCullough’s debut novel. It is a story about Tracy, a young black female with a desireComplex. Thought Provoking.
“Always Want More� is Banke Awopetu McCullough’s debut novel. It is a story about Tracy, a young black female with a desire to pursue a longtime dream in journalism. She is quickly swept up into a fast paced lifestyle surrounded by celebrities who respect her and her work. When an encounter with a famous rap artist turns into a nightmare, she is forced to make a career change and move back to her hometown of Rochester, New York.
Tracy is still determined to make her mark in the African American community and is well on her way when she becomes acquainted with Oxford “X� Quinn. She learns that he has a similar ambition but is taking a totally different path. Their worlds become tangled and it changes her life.
The main character was quite a complex creature and I really enjoyed that. Tracy struggled with right and wrong, spirituality, and love. She was torn between two worlds and watching her navigate was compelling. The main character evolved drastically and McCullough demonstrated this with finesse. The biggest plus of the story was that McCullough managed to create a world that spoke to the reader. The story was filled with emotion and towards the end the pace was so swift that I turned pages relentlessly. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
The drawback for me was the first half. It was extremely slow and at times all over the place. Some of the beginning just didn’t work well and once I was finished, I didn’t see the necessity of a few things. Everything changed for the better at the midpoint. The story took off and fell together so well. I would definitely read this author again.
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