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MBlack rated a book.

• Rated 2 stars

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Nardsbaby reviewed a book.

“The Scarlet Mistress

Jessa Bell’s story has been in the local news for weeks. When a chance to tell her story nationally comes along, Jessa sees this as an opportunity to finally tell the entire story. Sure she slept with another woman’s husband, destroyed a marriage, alienated friends,...”

“The Scarlet Mistress

Jessa Bell’s story has been in the local news for weeks. When a chance to tell her story nationally comes along, Jessa sees this as an opportunity to finally tell the entire story. Sure she slept with another woman’s husband, destroyed a marriage, alienated friends, and rocked a community, but she wasn’t alone. Now that her lover is dead, she is the one being persecuted, alienated and ridiculed. Would it ever end?

Despite the naysayers, Jessa is trying to build a bond with God. She’s tried to make amends with her former friends, but each is adamant about not staying in touch. Though through her betrayal, Aria, Jamie and Renee can easily see that their lives have been enhanced for the best. Knowing that they can’t forgive her, can Jessa finally learn to forgive herself?

MISTRESS, INC. by Niobia Bryant is the third installment. I like that readers get to meet Jessa and peel through the layers of her existence. While Aria, Renee and Jamie aren’t the main attraction, readers still get to peek behind the scenes into their lives as Jessa battles with her demons. Unfortunately, the story is still so repetitive, especially since by now, readers know of many, if not all of her transgressions. Also, it takes forever to get to the new secrets that she’s withholding. I read the kindle version and there were definite missteps in editing with missing and/or misspelled words. A good read. I hope we’ve finally said goodbye to the women in Richmond Hill.

3.5”

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angela reviewed a book.

“i loved this book had me enthralled all the way to the end”

Phyllis rated a book.

• Rated 3 stars

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Phyllis reviewed a book.

“My thoughts:

- An enlightening debut that takes the reader to Zimbabwe during the Mugabe regime. The subject matter is a bit grim as the novel opens with Darling and her friends leaving their shanty town to roam the finer neighborhoods in search of guava for food.

- We learn...”

“My thoughts:

- An enlightening debut that takes the reader to Zimbabwe during the Mugabe regime. The subject matter is a bit grim as the novel opens with Darling and her friends leaving their shanty town to roam the finer neighborhoods in search of guava for food.

- We learn of the daily routines of the displaced civilians: the adults who neglect children in search for work in the mines and the borders; the games the children play to fight boredom and make sense of the dire futures.

- The author covers the political unrest and promise for "change" in the upcoming election; the hope, misogyny, and hypocrisy of religious doctrine; the social ills and financial ruin that befall a country under a corrupt dictatorship.

- The later half of the story explores the cultural nuances, language challenges, assimilation challenges as Darling relocates to America to stay with an aunt. The environmental differenced, culture shock, and disillusionment with an impoverished Detroit, Michigan.

- Homesickness plagues both aunt and niece, and the realities of their one-way journey weighs heavily on the hearts and guilt burdens their sub-conscious; but the determination to make it in the US is the driving force toward success, so they work very hard and long for permanent, legal residency.

- The author gave me enough to easily empathize and sympathize with Darling, her friends and family. I enjoyed Darling's points of view, her voice, and her innocence.

- I absolutely LOVED the cross-cultural references, nuances, similarities/differences, and challenges: Interactions with non-Africans, African Americans; the notion of smiling; differences in child-rearing; the significance of a "name" and the need for new ones; views of education, the stigma and impact of AIDS, the dismantling of the family unit, etc.

- I'll definitely consider future work from this author. ”

Raquel reviewed a book.

“This is not one of my favorite story by Ms. Russell. Never the less I enjoyed the story a quick fast pace for the first half of the story.

I really did not like the ending I thought the story could have sustain without all the drama at the very end.
I really loved the love between...”

“This is not one of my favorite story by Ms. Russell. Never the less I enjoyed the story a quick fast pace for the first half of the story.

I really did not like the ending I thought the story could have sustain without all the drama at the very end.
I really loved the love between Mr. Flacks and Thalia their love was genuine and pure. I give this book 3 starts out of 5!!!”

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MBlack rated a book.

• Rated 3 stars

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Pretty Thick Chick rated a book.

• Rated 5 stars

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• Rated 2 stars