So what was it about this book that made me like it so? Was it the gorgeous author with the stunning smile on the back cover? Maybe, probably. Was it a well written, very entertaining story? Good guess. Maybe because the story revolved around the making, preparation, and consumption of my second favorite debauchery, food? Right again. Jade (love her name) owns and runs a restaurant while dealing with the matters of the heart. Bryce (REALLY couldn’t stand this fool) is an idiot who messed up but can’t get over Jade. Milan is her best friend and Bria is her restaurant/business partner. As with most good reads, the main character is surrounded by a cast of characters that may or may not be good for her. As I write this I can’t but keep asking myself WHY I enjoyed this book so much? I know it’s probably not a big deal to you but for me it’s like… like… me enjoying a vegan burrito. I just don’t see how in the hell I would enjoy it. But I did.

I think I liked it so much because it was truly very entertaining and had that extra spice to hold my interest even though it’s not my normal type of read. There are also twenty pages of recipes at the end of this book that are like the perfect desert ending. And, almost as if they were written just for me, there are a number of delicious shrimp recipes. A brotha’ loves himself some seafood! As the manager of an indie bookstore I would love to host Shamara on her book tour if she ever makes it to California; one condition. She brings some of her food delights to her book signing. Seriously, do not pass this book up because I think if you read it, you’ll come away with the same feeling as me. Ahhhh…

I have NEVER read about a church like the one described between these pages and I most certainly have never read about church people like this. Church people like the ones in this book don’t need to be anywhere NEAR a church! The drama starts on page 3. Yeah, as in 1, 2, BAM!! This one sister drops a Hiroshima type bomb in the middle of church service and the scandals don’t lose speed the whole way through. And to be a church, there are some freaks up in that mug. The new guy Aaron Mackie has been recruited as the new choir director. First Jamaica is having serious financial and after the mess caused by the leaving choir director (remember page 3?), they need someone to fill the pews.

Aaron has the looks and voice of an angel and is the perfect someone to help the Bishop and his church. But like most everyone in a Carl Weber novel he has a past that will floor you. There is so much deception within this novel and, truthfully, that was the driving force that made me finish this book a lot faster than I anticipated. Usually when you think of backstabbing, sexual scandals, blackmail, suicide, theft, and embezzlement you’re reading an article about Lindsay Lohan’s weekend. Not a supposed house of God. Come on now! I truly enjoy reading Carl’s books because they are pure fun and total escapism! Despite the needs-medical-treatment disorderly lives these folks lead, I look forward to reading about them. I just couldn’t ever go to their church. I want to escape from the devil, not meet him there and share communion. One other thing: I really like how Carl puts discussion questions at the end of his books. Unfortunately I don’t live in an area that has active book clubs to discuss this man’s work. So if anyone lives near the Central Valley and is looking for a male point of view… ummmm… hello……

Check out more of Jason’s reviews at http://rubiconreader-rubiconreader.blogspot.com.

Ask any teacher; the successful education of a student is directly impacted by how much or how LITTLE they read. The same goes for a community. Show me a community that could give a damn about reading and I’ll show you one that is docile, weak, and uneducated. Will Borders closing mean the end of society? No. But if it does close, it’ll be yet another place that sells books that our community will not have access to. Let’s also dispel an incredibly common and stupid misconception: just because one company closes does not mean that people will flock to their competition. IE: Borders impending doom does not mean that people will flock to Russo’s Books or Barnes & Noble. I’m so over this so called customer loyalty. Customer loyalty has gone the way of chivalry. Well all want to believe it, we’ve heard of it, and we love to wax nostalgia over it, but its gone man. Gone. Customers are loyal to their pocketbooks. Game. Set. Match. I know, I know there are your exceptions and I appreciate you. But for the other 98%… spare me.

The state of the book industry can probably be described as an overweight elephant trying to ice skate on frozen grease wearing dull skates. We are trying to figure out the happy medium between print books, e-books, e-readers, and real h-readers. Despite that, I truly believe that we (the book industry) would be able to weather this storm IF people would read more. But let me get back to my original post… Borders has partially created its own current beat-down by past bad business practices but even then; does that mean that people should throw a party because their doors might close? No. I hope Borders doesn’t close for a number of reasons. The first of them being I DO NOT want Barnes & Noble and Amazon to hold a monopoly on retail book selling. There is Books-A-Million but they are almost a non-issue when compared to Goliath and Goliath. They are the third largest brick and mortar retail book store but that’s like saying Chelsea Handler is the smartest blonde out of Jenna Jameson and Jessica Simpson. Publishers have proven they could give a two fucks about independent bookstores, so watching those two morons go at it to see who can sell a piece of intellectual property for less than $10 would be worse than watching fat-midget-amputee porn.

Independent bookstore have used the mantra of “support your local bookstore” for decades. It’s a nice Woodstock rallying cry but people don’t really care. I wonder if people will even bat an eye if Borders does indeed close. Oh you’ll hear the same clichéd bullshit lines of “I loved them”, “I shopped there all the time”. Don’t believe any of it. If people shopped bookstore as often as they THOUGHT they did, this would be a nation of bookstores. As it is, it’s become a nation of “how much does this cost? WHAT!?! $15!?! I’m going to Amazon”. You smile but I’m serious. It turns my stomach when people shop the price of a book rather than the subject, genre, title, buzz, or author.

In the next few days a monster in the indie bookstore world, ‘Mystery Bookstore’, in Los Angeles will close. You can read about it later but what’s REALLY sad is that there wasn’t another bookstore around them! There is the UCLA bookstore but that doesn’t even come close. No Borders, no Barnes & Noble, no Books-A-Million, and no other indie bookstore. What does this tell you? Despite their huge impact on the book community and their community in general they still had to close. Damn. The community figured they could get along just fine without them. They are more stupid than Congress. The community gave them a big phat middle finger and said “thanks, but no thanks”. (again, customer loyalty my high yellow ass). I’m sure the owners wouldn’t think that but they can talk about all how wonderful their customers were as they file for bankruptcy.

Borders has already started closing stores, some in major areas, and I can’t help but think… what the hell is wrong with people?! It’s one thing for A store to close. It’s a whole thing entirely for an industry to lose a major supplier. Again, I’m not here to debate the difference between indie booksellers and Borders booksellers. My point is that we/society can ill afford to lose another place that SELLS BOOKS! We’ve already lost the FREE use of the libraries. Isn’t that enough? Apparently not. Some of you won’t be happy until we have one online book retailer and one brick and mortar bookstore. (It won’t happen by the way so you can stop your wet dream).

Another reason I don’t want Borders to close; I still have friends that work there. I don’t want to hear about anyone losing their job but it’s even worse when it’s someone you actually know! The bigwigs of Borders have their protection and their money, but what about the inventory clerk? The music seller? The supervisors? The managers? If you don’t really care about the book industry because your dumb ass bitched out and bought a Kindle, then at least you should care about the PEOPLE that will suffer because of this. No, I’m not a bleeding heart liberal (quite the opposite if you really know me) but this country needs people working. And since I’m in the book business that’s where my interest lie. I’m sure the people that work at the Bakersfield Borders will be fine if worse comes to worse. They’ll struggle yes, but they’ll make it. But why even get to that point?

I truly believe that my book industry would be A-OK if people would do just one thing. Read. More. I just came from a weekend in Vegas (don’t worry I was good I was with my family) and one thing I noticed was the variety in everything that place has to offer. There is really something for everyone in that den of sin in the desert. I bet if I tried really hard I could find a place that sold pretzel bowling balls covered in whipped cream and carrots. And I bet there would be at least three other businesses that did the same thing! Competition is good. It keeps entrepreneurs fresh, current businesses on their toes, and people happy. Having only two book retailers doesn’t do ANYONE any good! Once it’s just Amazon and B&N how long do you think before they start price fixing, create more price wars, and the inevitable “who is going to buy whom”. Actually… I don’t think that last one would happen but you understand my point.

If you follow my FaceBook posts, my Twitter, and my blogs then you know that I’m an advocate for the love of books. I LOVE my authors, their work, and the people who read their work. My joy of books comes from many, many places and I love it when someone buys a book that I recommend. Of course, if you buy a book or an e-book I want you to buy it from my bookstore Russo’s Books, but that wasn’t what this post was about. There are plenty of things you can rejoice about. Free buffalo wings, a muddy Jeep, Toni Braxton in a teddy, the next iPad, a grocery bag full of steamed blue crab with enough Old Bay to make your eyes water. Toni Braxton in boy shorts, watching a James Bond movie with a rootbeer float, sleeping late, and a full body massage. Yes, there are a million and one things to be happy about. The closing of a bookstore should not be one of them.

Heard It All Before by Michele Grant
Dafina Books, January 2010
320 Pages, Paperback, $14.00
ISBN: 0758242190
Genre: Street Fiction

RAW Rating: 4.0 (out of 5)

After successful suburbanite, Jewellen Capwell and her ex-fiance went their separate ways two years ago, she couldn’t wait to get back into the dating scene. However, she quickly learns dating can be emotionally draining. Jewellen has heard it all before; the games and lies from the men she’s dated. When her best friend Renee invites Jewellen to attend a basketball game on the Southside, she is reluctant to go because she’s afraid of going into that part of town. Although still unenthusiastic about venturing to the other side of town, she accepts the invite. When she literally falls under the spell of Roman Montgomery’s alluring eyes, where she is no longer matters.

Playing games is Renee Nightingale’s forte. Before anyone thinks to play her, she always has a game plan in the back of her mind. She doesn’t want to reach the age of thirty still single, so she schemes to get her boyfriend Gregory to pop the question. However, the attraction to another man puts a sensual twist in her plan; will she lose it all?

Cleverly and creatively written, Michele Grant’s debut novel, HEARD IT ALL BEFORE, contains plausible characters and issues about young African American professionals. The characters express their lives and situations in their own point of view. Highly spiced with boundless drama and hilarious moments, the reader surely will be entertained.

Reviewed by Sharon Lewis, RAWSISTAZ.com
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Sharon Lewis, a married mother of five and a grandmother of eight, is an eclectic bookaholic. She works as an Administrative Assistant and resides in Cincinnati, Ohio.

As mentioned in last month’s 5 on the Fifth Column, we have compiled a listing of The RAW Reviewers’ Favorites for 2009, as featured on Blogging in Black.  Our team read hundreds of books last year, but we only spotlight 5 a month via this column, so be sure to check out http://www.blackbookreviews.net to see other titles which made it to our favorites list.

We look forward to sharing more great books with you in 2010!

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January 2009
Once You’ve Touched The Heart by Iris Bolling
The Hood Life: A Bentley Manor Tale by Meesha Mink and Denesha Diamond
What Doesn’t Kill You by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant
Zora Hurston And The Strange Case of Ruby McCollum by C. Arthur Ellis, Jr., Ph.D
Moving The Furniture by Barbara Joe Williams

February 2009
Fire and Desire by Brenda Jackson
He’s Gone… You’re Back by Kericka Fields
Playbook For Christian Manhood: 12 Keys Plays For Black Teen Boys by Dr. James C. Perkins
It’s All Love: Black Writers on Soul Mates, Family and Friends by Marita Golden
The Journey Less Traveled: Choose to Turn Your Tragedy into Triumph by Loretta “Faith” Harris

March 2009
Where The Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward
Too Much of A Good Thing by J.J. Murray
In Love With A Younger Man by Cheryl Robinson
Cop Out by Robert Davis
Until There Was You by Francis Ray

April 2009
Til Debt Do Us Part by Michelle Larks
That Devil’s No Friend of Mine by JD Mason
Freedom By Any Means: Con Games, Voodoo Scheme, True Love and Lawsuits on the Underground Railroad by Betty DeRamus
Caged Innocence by A.P. Ri’Chard
Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia: A Life in Poems by Patricia Neely-Dorsey

May 2009
Going Down South by Bonnie Glover
Serving Justice by Jacqueline D. Moore
The Black Man’s Little Book of Encouragement by Cassandra Mack
Just Loving You by Frederick Williams
Cop Out by Robert Davis

June 2009
The Way We Roll: A Bama Gamma Pi Novel by Stephanie Perry Moore
Finding Grace On A Less Traveled Road: A Cancer Doctor Reflects on Living and Dying by R. Elliot Willis, MD
Assata and The Secret of The Cowrie by Vickie M. Oliver-Lawson
This is What I Signed Up For by Jerald Howard
Before I Forget by Leonard Pitts

July 2009
Have Mercy by Earl Sewell
Body By Night by Zuri Day
Miracles In Action by Angela Alexander
The Kat Trap by Cairo
Oracle of The Sun Gods by M. Chelley Laurenz

August 2009
Love Trumps Game by D.Y. Phillips
Mom’s The Word by Marilynn Griffith
Billy by Albert French
Children of The Waters by Carleen Brice
Hood Rats by E.R. McNair

September 2009
Gut Bucket Blues by Anita August
A Step Into Deliverance by Toni Pugh
My Sister’s Ex by Cydney Rax
God Ain’t Blind by Mary Monroe
Homosexuality, AIDS and Voodoo by Wintrell Phillips

October 2009
Love Yourself First by Delvon Johnson
Wife of The Gods by Kwei Quartey
Flirt by Tracy Brown, K’wan and Angel Mitchell
Cliches: A Life In Verse by La’Shawnda D. Jones
The Barack In Me by Moses Miller

November 2009
A Gifted Child In Foster Care: A Story of Resilience by Dr. Grace LaJoy Henderson
A Peek Into My Soul Redux by Monda Webb
Sizzling Seduction by Gwyneth Bolton
Lessons Learned: It It What It Is by Portia A. Cosby
It’s In My Blood by Shawneda Marks

December 2009
Undead On Arrival by L. A. Banks
A Deep Dark Secret by Kimberla Lawson Roby
Spoon by Robert Greer
Sins of The Father by Angela Benson
In Love With Losers by LaToya S. Watkins

*As featured on our column on Blogging in Black*

In January, we will return with our Great Black Books ‘09 as a wrap-up of all the books we’ve featured in Blogging in Black for the year.

CLICK HERE to visit our column and be sure to share your favorites from the past few months via the comment section!

Flirt by Tracy Brown, K’wan and Angel Mitchell
St. Martin‘s Griffin, November 2009
304 Pages, Paperback, $14.99
ISBN: 0312537018
Genre: Street Fiction

RAW Rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

Tracy Brown’s “Flirting with Disaster” chronicles 20-year-old Chloe as she navigates the dating scene.  Armed with good looks and high self esteem, Chloe refuses to fall victim to guys who just want to get in her pants.  When she meets Trey, she  thinks she’s found a man who respects her enough to wait and who doesn’t mind spending money on her.  But all that glitters isn’t gold and Trey may be way more than Chloe can handle.

K’wan’s story “Wild Cherry” centers around Gina and Princess, two women who are both in love with abusive men.  Former childhood friends, the two meet as adults and decide they could each get rid of the other’s abusive mate.  Their scheme is as a dangerous as it is deadly and neither girl may be able to live with the consequences of their actions.

Angel Mitchell spins the last and most disturbing tale with “Twice In A Lifetime”.  Marley is a young lady who refuses to give into love after a traumatic experience with her first love, DeJuan.  When Marley finally decides to give love one last try, she finds herself caught up in a eerie case of déjà vu.

Readers, who’ve enjoyed previous books by the aforementioned authors, will definitely be in for a treat. Tracy Brown fans will find that less is not really more and might feel shortchanged by a short story that ends way too soon.  Fans of K’wan’s gritty style will be impressed at the steaminess he displays as well as his story’s shocking conclusion.  While Angel Mitchell, who’s previous book displayed tons of drama, has revealed a much darker side.

Reviewed by Delonya Coners, RAWSISTAZ.com
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Delonya Conyers is an avid reader who enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in a good book.  She resides in NYC with her teenage son who shares his mother’s passion for reading.

DISCLAIMER:  All reviews are the personal opinion of the reviewer indicated and should not be looked upon as a consensus from RAWSISTAZ™, its founder, or The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers as a whole. They should however help in giving you an idea of what a book is about, along with its strengths and/or weaknesses.  In addition, books are submitted by the author, publisher or reviewer and NO FEES are ever associated with our review service.  They are done as a free service to the literary community.

**NOTE: This review should not be used without our permission.

Wife of The Gods by Kwei Quartey
Random House, July 2009
336 Pages, Hardcover, $24.00
ISBN: 1400067596
Genre: Mystery

RAW Rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

Darko Dawson, detective inspector with the Accura, Ghana police department, is called to investigate a murder in the remote town of Ketuna.  A young medical school student whose passion was to provide HIV/AIDS awareness and education to the residents of Ketuna and surrounding towns, is found murdered and the powers-that-be believe the truth will prevail by utilizing the investigative skills of the police from the capitol city ,and specifically Darko, because of his ability to speak their native language.

Several obstacles are at play; Darko is married and has a sickly son, who he does not want to leave.  His son, Hosiah, is suffering from a congenital disease; Darko and his wife must save money for the medical procedure, which may save his life, much to the consternation of his mother-in-law.  Ketuna is an isolated village where the villagers believe in and practice trokosi, a custom by which teenage girls are offered by families to local priests.  The priests ward off the family’s demons in exchange for servitude by the girls.  The murder victim was an opponent of this practice and was very passionate in her disbelief.  Darko family, an aunt, uncle and cousin, in Ketuna and this is the place where his mother was last seen twenty-five years earlier.  Darko sees this as an opportunity to investigate her disappearance as well.

WIFE OF THE GODS by Kwei Quartey aptly displays a country and the characterizations of the inhabitants in a detailed fashion. For example, Darko, while skilled in detective work, has some weaknesses, one being a bad temper, which Quartey highlights several times as an Achilles heel.  He constantly displays Darko’s contrast to the man many assume he should be.  Detailed accounting is provided for many of the characters, which provides for a complete picture.  The imagery is also distinct and picturesque.

WIFE OF THE GODS is a captivating and affecting mystery.  The setting is alluring, the story-telling is educational and the murder mystery is convincingly chilling.

Reviewed by Dawn Reeves, RAWSISTAZ.com
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Dawn Reeves is a Program Coordinator for a public school system and is an avid sports fan.  In addition to participating in on-line book clubs, she is the manager of a local book club.

—————

DISCLAIMER:  All reviews are the personal opinion of the reviewer indicated and should not be looked upon as a consensus from RAWSISTAZ™, its founder, or The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers as a whole. They should however help in giving you an idea of what a book is about, along with its strengths and/or weaknesses.  In addition, books are submitted by the author, publisher or reviewer and NO FEES are ever associated with our review service.  They are done as a free service to the literary community.

**NOTE: This review should not be used without our permission.

The Day Begins With Christ by Adrienna Dionna Turner
AuthorHouse, December 2008
224 Pages, Paperback, $18.98
ISBN: 1438919018
Genre: Christian Fiction

RAW Rating: 5.0 (out of 5)

Adrienna Dionna Turner presents a tool for every five-fold ministry and layperson to develop a close and secure relationship with God.  THE DAY BEGINS WITH CHRIST is a blessed 50-day workbook guide.  Adrienna has certainly allowed God His honor and omnipotent teaching at every level of Christianity.

This 50-day workbook is a foundation for teaching, learning, and practicing righteous living.  Readers will understand as a layperson or minister or preacher the righteous roadmap God has simplified for us to be believers.  THE DAY BEGINS WITH CHRIST offers thought-provoking questions as well as useful scriptures and resources to edify the Body of Christ.  As a student Evangelist, this guide is absolute in containing daily material to aide the five-fold ministry and empower Christians with knowledge.

THE DAY BEGINS WITH CHRIST opens discussions about what God requires for Kingdom living and eternal life preparation.  It is a guide to be embraced day after day, year after year.  The guide brings forth fruit in every aspect of carnal living including eating a well-balanced diet, parenting, how to avoid being a lazy worker on your job, and setting marital boundaries for the husband and wife to give God all His glory!  This book provides the necessary empowerment to move every carnal soul closer to God.

Reviewed by Swaggie Coleman, RAWSISTAZ.com
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Freelance writer Swaggie Coleman resides in northern Maryland.  In addition, she is a Professional Blogger who maintains a blogazine, Swaggie’s Voice, which includes her exclusive “Thumbs-Up” Reading List at: http://swaggiecoleman.blogspot.com.  Swaggie’s Voice is exclusively published by www.levineoliverpublisher.com.

A Deep Dark Secret by Kimberla Lawson Roby
William Morrow, September 2009
192 Pages, Hardcover, $19.99
ISBN: 0061443093
Genre: Fiction

RAW Rating: 5.0 (out of 5)

Seven-year-old Jillian was the happiest little girl in the world.  She was finally going to get a father and soon a new baby sister.  She grew into a responsible teenager, obeying her parents, exceeding in school and being a loving, attentive older sister to her baby sister.  On the outside, Jillian is your typical energetic teenager, but on the inside, she’s protecting a deep, dark secret.

Afraid to tell anyone because she knows they wouldn’t understand or believe she wasn’t telling the truth, she carried the awful pain alone.  Her schoolwork begins to suffer and she starts to draw into herself, until a teacher inspires her to keep a journal.  As time goes on, Jillian develops strength and courage to gain control of her life.

Written with compassion and warmth, A DEEP DARK SECRET is a stirring piece of literature which focuses on a serious issue that is running rampant, and how a family overcomes and survives the dark cloud that hovers over their lives.  Roby skillfully influences the reader to float into the heart and soul of Jillian’s character and feel her anguish.  The subplot ties in perfectly as the story unfolds.  A DEEP DARK SECRET…a tender masterpiece of  family loyalty, friendship, and peer pressure.

Reviewed by Sharon Lewis, RAWSISTAZ.com

Author’s Website: http://www.kimberlaroby.com

—-
Sharon Lewis, a married mother of five and a grandmother of eight, is an eclectic bookaholic.  She works as an Administrative Assistant and resides in Cincinnati, Ohio.

MAMA DEAREST – BOOK DESCRIPTION

One of E. Lynn Harris’s incomparable heroines, Yancey Harrington Braxton, is working her way back to Broadway and beyond. And this diva supreme always stirs up drama in and out of the spotlight….

New York City, you’ve been warned: Yancey Harrington Braxton is back. The ambitious singer and actress is fired up to move past her recent professional and personal setbacks — including an explosive romance with NFL tight end John Basil Henderson — and prove her talents are stronger than ever. After being out on tour, Yancey realizes what she really wants is to star in her own reality TV series, and she’s even found a rich and well-connected lover to make it happen. There are, however, two women fierce enough to derail Yancey’s plans with ambitions of their own: Madison B., a hot new bombshell taking the music industry by storm, and Ava Middlebrooks, who happens to be Yancey’s own mama dearest.

Ava is out, about, and ready to reclaim her throne. Not even a stint in prison for attempted murder has curbed Ava’s competitive nature, and it doesn’t faze her in the least that her #1 rival is her own daughter. Ava is willing to do whatever it takes to make Yancey pay, including using Madison B. to turn Yancey’s world upside-down by forcing her to confront the past…and making her comeback dreams more exciting and dangerous than she ever imagined.

Taking readers on a wild, passion-filled tour of the entertainment world, E. Lynn Harris’s Mama Dearest delivers sensual thrills and electric plot twists — with one unforgettable woman of radiant star power, sexual magnetism, and unapologetic ambition at the heart of the action.

RAWSISTAZ BOOK REVIEWS

BASKETBALL JONES gives a very detailed look at the down low lifestyle from those who live a very public life and the lover who has to deal with it. Harris continues to do what he does best, which is to produce extremely well-written novels that shock and enthrall, as well as provide an educational backdrop for relationships society has labeled. He is a master at developing characters that draw you in and keep you involved throughout the story.

I raised an eyebrow or two in a few of the scenes in which he orchestrated an erotic moment between Dray and AJ. The potency, while shocking, was very tastefully delivered. Fans will not be disappointed in his latest offering. READ ENTIRE REVIEW

- Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon

The long awaited release of JUST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE is a deviation from the norm by E. Lynn Harris, but it is a well-written, compassionate read that embodies all of what readers have come to expect from Harris. It is filled with secrets, deceptions, twists, turns and a few life lessons. Being perfect is a figment of the imagination. We are all human and are subject to human frailties. Putting our lives under a microscope reveals our perfect intentions are sometimes thwarted by our imperfect actions.

As a master storyteller, Harris brings us a compelling story about the relationship between a single mother and her son, which is hampered by forces from the outside. With solid writing and memorable characters, don’t let summer end without reading this one. If not already an E. Lynn Harris fan, you will definitely become one.  READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW

- Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon

E. Lynn Harris does it again with SAY A LITTLE PRAYER. This page-turner reveals a part of the African-American community many choose to ignore: the intolerance of the homosexual community in the church. This is not a typical E. Lynn book. This is not another extension of the Raymond and Basil love affair, even though two past favorites, Basil and Yancey do make small cameo appearances. Never fear fans, it does give updates on the storylines that we love, while introducing you to new characters you will love and want to know more about as well. You will find yourself engaged in the life of Chauncey, wanting to laugh, cry, get revenge and pray right along with him.  READ ENTIRE REVIEW

- Reviewed by Skyy

WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKENHEARTED takes us from the time Harris is a child through his young adult life. He shares his fears, his desire to be in a loving relationship, and his realization that he does prefer men to women; despite his attempts otherwise. Through his candid and honest recount of those times in his life, we learn of his fight with depression, the abusive relationships he’s had the misfortune to suffer through and the make-believe world he built around himself to hide not only his poor upbringing, but also his sexual preference.  READ ENTIRE REVIEW

-Reviewed by Tee C. Royal

In A LOVE OF MY OWN, E. Lynn Harris’s eighth novel, he brings us into the lives of Raymond and Zola. Also, he beautifully intertwines the September 11 tragedy and the death of R & B singer Aaliyah into the storyline and portrays them with compassion and accuracy. As a reader it was very interesting to see how these two tragic events affected Raymond, Zola and the people around them.

A Love Of My Own was a wonderful book. Raymond Tyler Jr., is my favorite character and I was very pleased to see him back. I have just one complaint about this book, and that is that I finished it and now I have to wait for E. Lynn Harris’s next literary offering.  READ ENTIRE REVIEW

- Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks

GUMBO: A Celebration of African American Writing

Editors Marita Golden and E Lynn Harris introduce us to a concoction of witty, soulful, provincial, urban, thrilling, and stunning works by some of the most talented African American authors on the planet. Pronounced a literary rent party benefiting the Hurston-Wright Foundation, Gumbo is divided into 4 sections spanning everything from the “Family Tree” to a “Love Jones”. Numerous affecting short stories and excerpts contribute to this amazingly filling collection.

Witty stories like Yolanda Joe’s Miss Prissy and the Penitentiary and Harris’ Dinner Party modulate the emotions invoked by pieces such as David Anthony Durham’s “The Boy-Fish” and acclaimed horror author Tananarive Due’s “The Knowing”, my personal favorite. Other notables include J. California Cooper’s “$100 and Nothing”, Tayari Jones’ “Press and Curl”, Faith Adiele’s “Fire: An Original Tale”, Elizabeth Nunez’s excerpt “from Discretion”, and Alexs Pate’s “To Haiti or To Hell.” There is truly something for everyone in this abounding congregation of African American authors coming together for a cause.

-Reviewed by CandaceK

Yes, I Can Set My House in Order

Keith K. Carter

48hrbooks.com

978-061527-0883

January 8, 2009

5 Stars

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13).  In these deeply troubled economic times, we must reconstruct our vision to be financially independent.  Carter has carefully researched the Word of God and uncovered a plan to put every house on a solid foundation.  The plan is clear and deeply rooted in the Word:

1.       Develop a Vision

2.       Set up some Goals

3.       Put your Vision into Action and see Achievement

4.       Make every penny work hard

5.       Live within your means

6.       Nurture your money babies

7.       Leave a Legacy

8.       Get your Relationship with God in order

The easy-to-comprehend financial guide offers detailed steps on how to make you money work for you.  The chapter reviews, charts and graphs will aid in keeping you focused.  Carter also provides eight different workshops that coincide with this book.  Yes, I Can Set My House in Order would be great for a bible study, anyone wanting to make their money grow or for a business student looking for a new way.

Keith K. Carter can be contacted at www.yesIcansetmyhouseinorder.com.

Deltareviewer

Reviewing for Real Page Turners

Love Trumps Game by D.Y. Phillips

LOVE TRUMPS GAME by D.Y. Phillips shows just how spoiled Neema is. If she asks her mother to babysit her children while she goes to a job interview, it might be more than a week later when she returns. Her mother wants to say “NO!”, but Neema will just wait until her mother is busy doing something else and run out of the house, leaving the children. Her lover, Topps Jackson, a drug dealer, a homicidal maniac, is cruel – mentally and physically – to Neema, but she sticks with him. He has money, a house and her two children are his. What Neema doesn’t realize is that Topps tracks her everywhere she goes. He uses her to deliver his drug. 

The Children of Children Keep Coming: An Epic Griotsong by Russell L. Goings

Alex Haley’s Roots brought to the screen a more thorough account of heritage, struggle and triumph. As I was reading the introduction to THE CHILDREN OF CHILDREN KEEP COMING: An Epic Griotsong, Roots immediately came to mind. THE CHILDREN OF CHILDREN begins with the spotlight on two runaway slaves. Their destiny is the Freedom Train where they have hopes of reaching freedom and liberation. 

Billy by Albert French

BILLY, written by Albert French, is an American literary classic that explores the racial dynamics of the conviction and execution of a ten-year-old black boy in rural Mississippi. French brilliantly weaves two racially segregated communities together and examines the hatred that threatens to diminish the reliance these two communities have on one another. Bold characters brighten the pages, weaving a colorful tale that will leave readers mourning Billy Lee Turner’s death for generations to come. 

Children Of The Waters by Carleen Brice

Out of separation bonding may come, but to get to the bonding stage a series of events must take place in order for the circle to be complete.  CHILDREN OF THE WATERS by Carleen Brice is an atypical account of two sisters, Trish and Billie, one white, one bi-racial and their journey towards each other.  Born to a drug addicted mother and black father, Billie was adopted at birth by a prominent Denver family.  Never knowing her parentage, her seemingly complete world is shattered when Trish comes along in search of her younger sister.  With a story to tell and hopefulness in her heart, Trish’s world is turned upside down when she is forced to deal with the issues of race, religion and abandonment. 

Three Lives by Joe Washington

THREE LIVES by Joe Washington is an account of Nicholas Gambit’s life, starting when he grew up in a Kansas City ghetto defending himself from thugs, until he went to the university and finally, what he did when he left higher education. His mother raised him to remember how smart he was and to not fall into the low life that others around him were into. Everything was fine and he was in college when Raymond Smalls, a local thug, caused Nicholas to give him a huge beat-down. After that, Raymond was on Nicholas’ trail, wanting to kill him. Nicholas knew it and was very worried. Then a man came along who gave him a way out. Will it work for Nicholas? Can he really escape the ghetto thugs? 

Dear Success Seeker

Michele R. Wright

Atria

978-1416570799

April 14, 2009

5 Stars

Everyone wants to be successful in life.  We are always looking for that one piece of advice that would make a difference.  Dear Success Seeker is that advice.  Wright has assembled letters from over 80 women of various backgrounds to share their wisdom.  The letters are motivational and ham packed with “pearls of wisdom”.  Some of the inspirational nuggets are:

Sandra Yancy – “Give first, share always”

Robin Wolaner – “Allow for serendipity – you can do it all just not all at once.  Follow your interests and values, the money will take care of itself.”

Susan L. Taylor – “Do what you love”

Faye Wattleton – “Be informed.  Be vigilant! Don’t shrink from power.  Support other women.  Be an independent thinker.”

Mae C. Jemison – “Always remember who you intend to be”

Dear Success Seeker should have a prominent spot on every female’s desk.  The letters should be highlighted, dog-eared, paper clipped or adorned with post-it-notes.  The words should be passed down from generation to generation.  Dear Success Seeker would make the perfect graduation, birthday, or a simple just because gift.

Michele R. Wright can be contacted at www.dearsuccessseeker.com

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Reviewing for Real Page Turners

The Seeds of Green Mangoes by Janete Scobie

RAW Rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

THE SEEDS OF GREEN MANGOES is literary fiction at its best.  This debut novel by Scobie is beautifully written and layered with more than just a coming of age story.  Creola Phlogene is a young woman living on the fictional Caribbean island of St. Dominique.  Living with her embittered grandmother, who treats her as royalty in their impoverished surroundings, is finding life confining when she discovers she has sensual love.  However, the pain of the past and the uncertainty of the future start to taint Creola’s relationship with her grandmother and Creola’s quest for freedom comes with a heavy price.  Going from life on the island to the city life of America, Creola journeys into the unknown and with pain she endures along the way she finds a way to live without boundaries and discover her true self.  With her dies the long line of women who have found nothing but pain and hurt at the hands of their husbands or lovers.

Scobie tackles issues which may seem taboo to some.  She deals with the issues of skin color, sexuality, abuse, religion, classism and more.  Weaving prose which is lyrical and full of depth, one is transported from St. Dominique to New York and finally France, each place splendidly described.  Her depiction of the characters is rich with intensity and strength.  The pacing is almost poetic in the way each portion of the story is woven together precisely.  THE SEEDS OF GREEN MANGOES is a welcomed addition to the literary world.

Reviewed by Cashana Seals, RAWSISTAZ.com
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Cashana Seals currently resides in Montgomery, Alabama. An avid reader since she was very young, she spends her spare time reading and is the President and Founder of a local book club.

Twisted Lies
Sophie Jones
Sophies Words
978-0977420209
March 3, 2006

5 Stars

Zina and Robert Roman put on a show of the perfect marriage.  Robert has an up and coming computer networking business which means late nights, extravagant dinners and countless hours away from home.  While Zina has an intriguing job in Human Resources but has way too much time on her hands.  In need of a break from the hum drum monotony of daily life, Zina ventures off on an extended weekend alone to clear her head.  Zina takes the time to come to grips with Robert’s roaming eye and her intense loneliness.  Robert (feeling guilty) pulled out all the stops to make sure that Zina enjoys herself in New Orleans – first-class plane ticket, luxury hotel suite, personal driver and VIP tickets to all festival events.  It worked but Zina never realized she would meet someone that would catch her eye and capture a spot in her heart.

Enter the supporting cast – Rayna (Zina’s best friend) and Kendall (Robert’s football buddy).  These two people play important roles in the Roman’s marriage.  Zina and Roman are forced to tell lie after lie to cover up what they don’t want the other to know.  They never realized that they both were in the wrong until it was almost too late.  Their insidious twist of lies builds up to an ending that will take your breath away.

Jones creates a visual picture of deceit with the vivid descriptions, character analysis and situations written.  The storyline builds to an unbelievable frenzy that holds true to the title.  The novel ends with a bunch of questions that hopefully will be addressed in the sequel.  Twisted Lies is everything an avid reader looks for – drama, passion, deceit, steamy sex scenes and heartache.

Sophie Jones can be contacted at www.sophieswords.com.

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Reviewing for Real Page Turners

What are your thoughts on book reviews? Do you like them or not? I’ve seen a mix of feelings regarding book reviews, from both readers & writers and I simply think there are pros and cons to book reviews, mainly coming from the administrative end of things.

Does a book review make you change your mind about buying a book?  Are they for the reader, writer or possibly both? Also involved are the different personalities. Some reviewers attack the author, some authors are unhappy unless they get a 5/5 rating, and some readers slam a review regardless of the content.  LOL.  Can’t win, huh?

Is it possible to write a good review for a bad book? Whew, this is a whole new topic here, but I believe in constructive criticism.  Reviewing is one of the hardest types of reading, because in most cases, you’re obligated to finish the book.  This can sometimes be a task.  Finding out how to constructively review it…another.

Oh wait…but you get a free book right? Well, I’m here to tell you that the book isn’t “really” free.  Reviewing books takes a lot of time, effort & commitment.  While one may think “I’m getting a free book,” I think it goes a lot deeper than this.

In spite of all this, many of us LOVE what we do and appreciate the opportunity to be able to review.

What are YOUR thoughts on the whole book review process?

‘Til Debt Do Us Part by Michelle Larks
Urban Books, June 2009
300 Pages, Paperback, $12.95
ISBN: 160162994X
Genre: Christian Fiction

RAW Rating: 5.0 (out of 5)

 

When Nikki and Jeff married, Jeff devised a five-year plan for their life together.  During the first five years, they were to lay the groundwork for a life financially stable enough for them to start a family.  At the core of having a five-year financial plan was Jeff’s desire to never live in poverty.  Though Jeff’s plan was a good one, he became tenacious about following it and, as a result, he was viewed as controlling by both Nikki and her friends. However, unbeknownst to Nikki, Jeff also had a backup plan.

On the other hand, Nikki felt inadequate due to the plan and Jeff persistence on following it. She felt Jeff was not very trusting with her in their financial affairs and secretly, she wanted a child now versus waiting a few years.  Instead of communicating her concerns with Jeff, she chose subterfuge to get him to allow her to contribute to their monthly financial planning.

Still feeling somewhat inadequate and under pressure not to mess up, Nikki develops an outlet which pushes them into financial jeopardy and it becomes a race against time to keep Jeff from finding out.  But, like the saying goes, “what’s done in the dark, shall come to the light.”  When the secrets unfold, Nikki gets busted in a major way and their marriage hangs in the balance.  Nikki and Jeff will have to depend on all that is Holy to bring them through.  They each learn a lesson in what marriage vows truly mean.  Can they look beyond self to see the bigger struggle looming?

In ‘TIL DEBT DO US PART, Michelle Larks has written a powerful and very real testament to the trials and tribulations couples can go through trying to make a marriage work financially, emotionally and spiritually.  She uses her writing skills to weave a very believable story around two of the biggest problems facing couples today:  finances and a lack of communication.  She presents not only the problems and the natural responses to them, but she also offers spiritual solutions. I thoroughly enjoyed this hearty read.  Though predictable in some aspects, the entire journey was one surprisingly intense and  inspirational ride.

Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon, RAWSISTAZ.com
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Brenda M. Lisbon is an avid reader and a big supporter of school-sponsored reading activities for children in her community. She and her son reside in Bishopville, SC.

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RAWSISTAZ Literary Group
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