CHAYES1107

• Rated 4 stars

“How do you find peace when your faced with Mo’ Drama, Mo’ Drama!

Lawd, Mo’Drama by Tina Brooks McKinney is about the plight of two sister girls that are looking for love in all the wrong places.

The main characters are: Leah Simmons, stay-at-home mom, wife, and in love with the wrong man. A man who tells her he is the man-of-the-house and does not want his woman working or worrying about any bills, but wants her home tending to their three small children. After countless affairs, her husband then leaves her for another woman. Blow after blow, Leah is fighting to stay above water. Where do you turn when the man that was everything to you has taken it all away? Will Leah prove to us and herself that she is every woman and does not need a man to persevere?

Kentee Simmons: Hard worker, even harder playa, missing-in-action father, not to be devoted nor trusted husband. When this man took his vows it must have been on April Fools Day, because he cannot remain faithful or even honest, for that matter, to the woman he vowed to love, honor and cherish. Kentee is a smooth-talker who has yet to grow up to be a man. He wants a family by day and to be on the prowl at night. Leaving his family to venture forth alone means nothing to this heartless man, until he sees that Leah might be able to do it all by herself.

Sammie: Leah’s best friend, and sister girl have been through some ups-and-downs together, and tend to lean on each other when in the midst of a crisis. Sammie is looking for love in all the wrong places; from one night stands to having sex with her boss. She does not have the best relationship with her mother and she just found out that her father was not who she thought it was. Also she finds an estranged sister lurking about. What does this all mean? Can she actually have a good, healthy relationship with her mom after so many years apart? Will she forgive and forget and embrace the family that is welcoming her? Can she have love and be loved like she deserves?

This book is filled with twists, turns and the unexpected. Hold on to your booklights because this is an all-nighter. This story is well told and it has a no-holds barred kind of attitude to it. Anything goes and it does. From cheating husbands, to one night stands that become stalkers, to losing everything you believe marriage is all about.

I recommend this book to readers of contemporary fiction and those who enjoy relationship novels. The author tells a story that I am sure many can relate to or have heard from a friend. I am looking forward to the next book
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CHAYES1107 wrote this review Wednesday, March 26 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“And It Goes Like This by G. Andi Rhos is a provocative, fast-paced book that covers three years of Charlotte-Louise Andrews’ young, naïve life. Charlotte-Louise is a fifteen- year old girl craving for attention, but when she is raped by a family member she draws further into herself and refuses to let anyone in. Charlotte-Louise feels like an outcast at home and at school; her mother puts alcohol ahead of her only child, and she offers no guidance or love. Charlotte-Louise turns to the streets and hooks up with street savvy Dulce.

Dulce teaches everything Charlotte-Louise needs to know in order to survive her teenage years, and she starts by changing her name to Sha-Sha and giving herself a new look and a job. With a new name, new look, new attitude and drawing attention to herself, Sha-Sha formerly known as Charlotte-Louise has a new take on life, and she wants it all.

Joaquin Lomax is not your average street thug, he was raised in a two family home, went to the best schools, and his older brother taught him the ways of street survival. Now slinging drugs, driving fancy cars and handling more money then he can spend in a lifetime Joaquin stumbles across Sha-Sha, and vows to make her his. Can Sha-Sha deal with this older man who wants to give her the world? Will she know how to play her position as a street wife, or will her naiveness cause more damage than good? Will Joaquins’ merciless killings and violence turn Sha-Sha off, or has she been reinvented into a ride-or-die chick?

This was a great read; there were interesting characters with lively personalities, a detailed storyline, and it kept me wanting more. I recommend this book to all urban fiction readers.

Reviewed by: Cheryl H
APOOO BookClub
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CHAYES1107 wrote this review Wednesday, March 26 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Oh My God What Were They Thinking?! One G-STRING Short of Crazy by Desiree Day is a non-stop, page-turner. This book will have you laughing, crying and relating to the main characters. This is a story of four friends from high school who have moved on with there lives only to end up moving into the same brownstone. The stories they share will have you screaming, yelling and saying “OH NO HE DIDN’T”. Meet the twins: Aisha and Felicia are not identical but they do everything together, from living together to running a business. Even though they are adults they cannot do anything unless the other twin is there, with the exception, of sex of course. But when one of the girls falls in love and is holding a secret will their bond break or will it be stronger then ever? Derrick is a very successful lawyer the only problem is he is a womanizer. He wants a different one in his bed and on his arm everyday of the week. But when he moves to Atlanta to get away from a deranged ex-girlfriend will he be in for the shock of his life, or will he remain cool under pressure? Tarik is good friends with all the players in this game, however, he is going through his own emotional roller coaster ride with his current girlfriend. Giving everything he can just does not seem enough for his jaded fiancé. Will Tarik get married even though the signs are clear that Tara is not the one for him? Will he wake up and smell the coffee before it is too late? I recommend this book to everyone who likes fast-paced drama, crazy sex scenes, and an outrageous ending. Reviewed by: Cheryl H APOOO BookClub ”

CHAYES1107 wrote this review Wednesday, March 26 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“The Triumph of My Soul is a wonderful collection of stories and anecdotes from various authors we know and love. I was captivated by the realness that I could feel through the pages; as they described a variety of emotions and struggles experienced by each. These heartfelt stories filled me with so many feelings that I just had to laugh, cry, breath and rejoice. This is a must read. These stories are filled with encouraging, motivational, inspirational and strengthening words. You can feel the power of God through the pages as you travel from one story to another, you will never feel alone or unwanted; but you will complete this book feeling relieved and joyous. I could go on and on shouting the praises for this wonderful collaboration of fine tales, but I will let you decide, do not walk but run and grab a copy for your bedside. Two of my favorites were:

Julian’s Grace by Jessica Tilles gave way to a gut-wrenching tale of unconditional love. Julian wrestled with the fear of living without the love of his life, but turned it over to God and shared her last moments enjoying each other. A true love story that will have you crying, grieving, and feeling overjoyed with love.

Discovering the Joy Within by Allison Deese is a story of a teenage mother, who is in an abusive relationship. Struggling with her abusive boyfriend and dealing with the pending birth of her first set of twins has this teen’s wheels spinning. But will one more blow knock the wind out of her sails? Will the love of her babies take away the constant pain that she is living with?

These are real stories that will make you cry, beg for forgiveness, and praise God for bringing you through it! You will want to refer back to a couple of the stories because they are so real, that you can relate to each of them in some form or fashion. Can I say that this book makes me want to REJOICE! And be exalted!

Reviewed by: Cheryl H
APOOO BookClub
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CHAYES1107 wrote this review Wednesday, March 26 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Aww Sookie Sookie: Omar’s Revenge by Shelia Dansby Harvey is filled with racy sex, scandalous characters and damsels in distress. A great read that will have you clamoring for more and trying to guess who-dun-it! Raven is a semi-powerful attorney who is in the midst of fighting a nasty divorce. Forced to set up shop and step up her game in the legal field, she finds that things look like they are not going to play to her advantage with her pending divorce from the Governor. Raven decides to take matters into her own hands. Being blackballed is hard when you are starting from scratch and have to build your empire from the ground up, so Raven takes the first case that walks through her door. Antonia is the naive wife of the most arrogant producer on the scene, Ty Tyler, Antonia needs legal representation to get her out of a sticky situation with her husband’s former lover. With Ty being such a control freak, he finds that even though Raven is a beauty he must win at all costs, so he hires Omar to oversee his wife’s’ pending case. Omar and Raven have some history that goes way back to their college days and Omar is still bitter and insists on damaging Raven by any means necessary. Scandal, hot sex scenes and a lot of mystery lurks in these pages. Will Antonia be proven innocent or guilty? Is she really as quiet as she appears or is little Miss Innocent hiding behind her true personality? Will Omar get his revenge on Raven after all this time? Or will Raven turn up the heat and leave Omar scorned? I recommend this book to all of Ms. Harvey’s fans and I am sure there will be a follow-up coming soon. Reviewed by: Cheryl H APOOO BookClub ”

CHAYES1107 wrote this review Wednesday, March 26 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“The Follow-up

The Vixen Diaries by Karrine Steffans is the sequel to Confessions of A Video Vixen, where Ms. Steffans discloses numerous famous men she slept with and the lessons learned. This time around Karrine did not do a lot of finger pointing, but switched things around and let the world know that she is not the same person. She wants to make the point that she has matured and grown by leaps and bounds, and has left the “Super Head” title behind. Has she or is she still trying to capitalize on juicy gossip?

Now, she is not saying sorry for spreading her business around however, she enlightens us with quirky anecdotes in regards to how people have dealt with her since her newfound stardom. She tells about powerful icons who are leading double lives and handicapped former artists who have acted out of character. And, how she has bounced back and is now stronger than ever and capable of taking care of herself and her son.

The scenes she describes are so vivid that I can actually picture her walking the red carpet or acting divalicious! My question here is was a sequel really needed? Did she feel that she had to justify her actions by apologizing to the famous people she outed? One thing she did touch on that goes on in everyday life, is if she was a man the things she has done or written about would not be perceived as wrong. But in fact would have made her famous in a positive light.

In a few scenes, she tries to describe her growth and welcomes the riches as opposed to the rags and being homeless. But she still has a long way to go, she does not have anything to prove to me per se, but her life is definitely a work in progress.

I recommend this to sequel lovers, so if you read “Confessions of a Video Vixen” follow it up with part duex!

Reviewed by: Cheryl H
APOOO BookClub
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CHAYES1107 wrote this review Wednesday, March 26 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Rappers ‘R In Danger by Relentless Aaron Amazon: 4 APOOO: 4 How Far Would You Go For Street Fame! Relentless Aaron has done it again with his phenomenal account of a rap artist’s claim to fame, mixed with street violence in Rappers ‘R In Danger. This story starts off in the streets of Queens Blvd where you find Ringo an aspiring rapper, Brice a terror to all streets, and Cooksie, Brice’s biggest fan. The streets watch as you see these three guys take over Queens Blvd, from terrorizing the local check cashing place to being forced to run for cover when chased by some cops after a robbery goes wrong. Ringo and Brice are on the run, after numerous murders and robberies they are forced to relocate and start over. When Brice’s face pops up on a most wanted poster, Ringo is brought back to reality of that day two years ago, when the best laid plan went awry. Ringo takes his share of the money from the robbery and lays low, starting from scratch. He gets a hook-up with a demo and starts pushing his CD in the streets by himself. Porsche is the girl who helps him to build his empire, and she is one of his ride-or-die chicks. Tangi is the local resident in the hotel he chooses to make his home, but she is being pimped by her mother and a high school dropout. Brice is a hardcore gang leader, ripping the streets of Chicago, New York and anywhere he lays his head. He is down for whatever, from robbing, killing, stealing cars you name it he is involved. Will the cops capture enemy number one? Or will Brice be able to stay underground without blowing his own cover? This book is filled with mystery, murder and craziness from start to finish. I was a little turned off by the number of spelling errors and repeat sentences, but the story was good and kept me turning the pages. The ending will knock you off your feet. I recommend this book to all Street Lit lovers. Reviewed by: Cheryl H APOOO BookClub ”

CHAYES1107 wrote this review Wednesday, January 9 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Freak in the Sheets by MadameK

HOT, HOT, HOT!

Amazon: 5
APOOO: 5+

Freak in the Sheets by MadameK is a great urban, erotica novel. From the beginning to the end, you will be clamoring for more. Raquelle and her best friend, Layla, are tired of their predictable lives; the hum-drum and routine of the everyday nine-to-five. Well, one day they decide to turn their dreams into a reality.

Layla is laid back and living in the shadows of dear old dad. Reporting to work as a financial analyst, at her father’s firm, is giving Layla some major headaches and issues that she needs to resolve as soon as possible. Layla’s fiancé is stiff and predicable as well as boring, and so is their sex life. Will Layla get the courage to stand up to dad, and reclaim her life? Or, will she let the men in her life remain in control?

Raquelle is a shy librarian, who has an inner wild-side that she is trying hard to contain. With a pattern of picking the wrong men and more free time than a little on her hands, she takes some college courses in sexology. Will Raquelle let her inner freak out? Or, will she remain captive to her image?

These ladies mean business and want you to enroll in their new school “Freak in the Sheets”, where they venture to uncharted territories. The scenes are very descriptive, and leave nothing to the imagination. So hold on to your reading glasses, because this one is a scorcher!

I recommend this book to readers of all genres, there is a little bit of freak in all of us waiting to be unleashed.

Reviewed by: Cheryl H
APOOO BookClub
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CHAYES1107 wrote this review Wednesday, January 9 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Call It What You Want by Rhonda Jackson Joseph

Amazon: 4
APOOO: 3.5

But Don’t Call It A Relationship!

Call It What You Want by Rhonda Jackson Joseph has a quirky sense of humor in regards to relationships. Take a look at Tonzell and Cishawn a couple that has the right chemistry but all the wrong qualities for each other. Call It What You Want has you rooting for Tonzell better known as “TJ”, to come out unscathed and the victor. Tonzell is a hard-working entrepreneur who has come back to his hometown for his friend’s wedding, and decides to expand his business. But when he is faced with the biggest challenge in his life, “Cishawn”, he loses all composure.

Cishawn is a school teacher and trying to branch out and be an interior decorator, but back in college she had TJ hooked, and dropped him like a bad habit. With no closure in sight, the two try to remain cordial for the sake of their friends, but when facing the lust and obvious desires of one another they become tempted and try to bury their differences.

Will love prevail? Can Cishawn? let go of being the independent women she was raised to be and let a good man into her world? Will TJ’s wandering eye stay planted only on Cishawn? Stay tuned and find out why you can “Call It What you Want”; just do not call it a relationship! This book had a slow start, but consistently picked up to be a spicy love story. One that anyone could relate too and appreciate. I recommend this book to all romance lovers.

Reviewed by: Cheryl H
APOOO BookClub
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CHAYES1107 wrote this review Wednesday, January 9 2008. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 4 stars

“Arms of a Stranger by Giselle Carmichael


Amazon: 4
APOOO: 4.5

The Perfect Couple

Arms of a Stranger by Giselle Carmichael is an interracial romance novel. This book is full of great relatable characters, scheming evil doers, and women full of wisdom. The storyline takes place during a horrible time in New Orleans; when the city was hit by Hurricane Katrina. The devastation and loss hit hard for everyone from coast-to-coast. Hurricane Katrina shows how its impact helped bring opposites together, to work and create a serene environment, and help people to start rebuilding their lives.

Simone is a restaurant owner and chef, who returns home to help rebuild the city she loved as a child. Giving of herself is second nature, and Simone cannot fathom how there are people in the world who have so much and give so little.

Keithen is a wealthy contractor who owns his own company and builds homes and condos for the wealthy, but when Hurricane Katrina hit Keithen felt obligated to go down and give as much of himself as possible.

Simone is a very independent woman, and does not have a problem with getting down and dirty. Looking over the roof that she is re shingling, she notices a fine strong man heading her way. Not looking for a romance, but possibly a friendship, this dynamic duo sets out turning the devastation that Katrina left into homes and work for the people who live there.

This was a very touchy subject that was described to make you see and feel what these people were going through. I loved the storyline; the fact that they were both from different parts of the world, but never looked down on each other or the poor people that were left homeless. When Keithen has a revelation and becomes aware that he does not like the man he was, things start to turn around and the two make a love connection like no other.

Will Keithen’s parents approve of the new woman in his life? What about his friends back home, will they accept this new improved version of the slick, dealing contractor that they knew and loved?

I recommend this book to all romance readers who are looking for a great love story.


Reviewed by: Cheryl H
APOOO BookClub
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CHAYES1107 wrote this review Wednesday, January 9 2008. ( reply | permalink )