The Man in 3B

Meet Darryl Graham, or as his new neighbors call him, The Man in 3B. Darryl’s new to the Jamaica, Queens building, but from day one he’s made quite an impression on his neighbors. 

Best-selling author Carl Weber returns with The Man in 3B, an explosive drama that has almost as many twists and turns as The Stelvio Pass, in Italy.

Drawing from his years of experience Weber utilizes his typical flair to create lifelike characters with extreme care & accuracy. And The Man in 3B is no exception. The main character(s) featured in this mysterious tale include: Daryl, he has a down-to-earth personality and is irresistibly attractive with swag to match. He is new to the Jamaica Queens apartment building and a bit of a mystery to the neighbors who are in awe of him and seek to be in his presence on a daily basis. Connie, is an unsatisfied, unhappy overweight wife struggling to fix her crumbling marriage to Avery – after a few one-on-one sessions with Daryl, she begins to question if her marriage is even worth saving.  Benny, a teenager on the vague to adulthood gets caught up in his fascination with Daryl, and looks to him as a role model. But this new found relationship has him faced with challenging uncertainties. Krystal is a blast from Daryl’s past. Their reunion has her debating her choices – and as her past and present worlds collides – her loyalty to her current man is also uncertain. And then there’s Avery, Connie’s husband – the king of selfishness and emotional cruelty. His greed is his sole focus. He has literally tossed his wife aside and no longer desires to be with her, that is, until he notices the amount of time she’s spending with the new neighbor.

In this suspenseful drama, the first-person POV narrative duties are shared by four of the aforementioned main characters, along with Nancy the unofficial 109th Street anchorwoman of gossip and long standing member of the Jamaica Queens Stoop Crew – aka the official gossips of the apartment building. Assisting Nancy are two of her trusty sidekicks – her investigative reporter, Lily and her weather girl, Bertha. The women of this New York block manage to keep loads of drama stirred-up and spread more gossip than the National Enquirer could ever hope to do.  This captivating mystery is quite intriguing, yet light-hearted enough to provide the reader with sheer entertainment.

Daryl Graham is an adorned charismatic man, who is irresistible to women and is envied by most of the men – he has something everyone wants – and in an effort to get it – they willingly gravitate to him like moths to a flame.  Everything seems to be going well, until someone is murdered, and everyone becomes a suspect.

In this page turner of a whodunit, betrayals and plot twists run rapid with some rather shocking results…The Man in 3B, with all of it’s fascinating conspiracies and character-driven suspense, is quite engaging. Weber’s talented writing skills and gifted storytelling expertly nudges readers through an unfolding mystery, until he ultimately steers them to an utterly shocking finale that will satisfy an avid reader’s palette.

 

The Man In 3B by Carl Weber
Genre: Fiction | Hardcover: 336 pages
Publication Date: January 29, 2013
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-1455505265

The Secret Keeper

In the summer of 1961, during a family celebration at their Green Acres farm in the English countryside, sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson has escaped to her childhood tree house and is happily dreaming of the future. She spies a stranger coming up the long road to the farm and watches as her mother speaks to him. Before the afternoon is over, Laurel will witness a shocking crime. A crime that challenges everything she knows about her family and especially her mother, Dorothy—her vivacious, loving, nearly perfect mother.

Now, fifty years later, Laurel is a successful and well-regarded actress living in London. The family is gathering at Greenacres Farm for Dorothy’s ninetieth birthday. Realizing that this may be her last chance, Laurel searches for answers to the questions that still haunt her from that long-ago day, answers that can only be found in Dorothy’s past.

Dorothy’s story takes the reader from pre–WWII England, through the blitz, to the ’60s and beyond. It is the secret history of three strangers from vastly different worlds—Dorothy, Vivien, and Jimmy—who meet by chance in wartime London and whose lives are forever entwined.

In her spellbinding new novel, The Secret Keeper, Gothic novelist Kate Morton spins a family mystery over half a century. Laurel, her three sisters, and her young brother, Gerry, gather in the days after their mother’s ninetieth birthday, to nurse her in the final weeks of her life in a London hospital. They work to fit together the pieces of a complicated puzzle of Dorothy Nicholson’s childhood to the days prior to her death.  Laurel embarks on a desperate search for the truth about her mother’s past where everyone seems to have something to hide. One photograph, of her mother and a woman Laurel has never met, called Vivien—an heiress who was also orphaned when a car crash claimed her parents and siblings in Australia—is her first clue.

Rich with detail and lyrical prose, this novel explores longings and dreams, the lengths some people will go to fulfill them, and the strange consequences they sometimes have.   The Secret Keeper is captivating with its story of vivid and visceral characters that are lovers, friends, dreamers and schemers—it is deception told against a backdrop of events that changed the world, and the lives of some its complex characters.  One woman believes being with a brutally cruel man is her penance for something she did as a child, while another woman is in awe of the first, who she assumes lives a charmed life, and conquers a one-sided friendship—yet becomes angry and disillusioned when her unrequited comradeship isn't acknowledged. Her envy and an unrealistic sense of entitlement help fuel her own anger, which ignites an unfounded grudge that is sprinkled with a few grains of greed.  And then there is the man in both of their lives, the innocent photographer who, because of love, gets caught up in a web of deceit and a sordid plot that may not only cause him to lose the love of his life, but may very well cost him his life.

This is an intriguing tale that not only entertains, but compels readers to diligently flip through page after enticing page to uncover the details of Dorothy’s mysterious past.  When one mystery is uncovered, another puzzling incident arises.

The Secret Keeper will have readers rooting for and sympathizing with certain characters; however, as some dreadfully shocking details and disturbing character flaws are revealed, it may cause those very same readers to feel a sense of betrayal for the compassion they allowed themselves to feel for the undeserving. In spite of everything, readers will no doubt enjoy this book as they grow to hate a character or two, while they continue to read, just to see if he or she gets what’s coming to them.

Morton’s novels aren’t necessarily formulaic, but they do all seem to follow a similar pattern.  Present day characters run across a clue or two that makes them suddenly keen to delve into their family history, about which they were strangely incurious—and in this particular novel the formula does seem to apply: a daughter’s curiosity about her mother’s past is triggered by an old photograph and the mystery ensues as the story alternates between 2011 and 1941.

Most writers attempt to entertain readers and some writers attempt to convey a story. Then there is the rare group of writers who manage to tell an interesting story that entertains the reader.  The latter is my take on Kate Morton—I must admit I enjoyed the writing style she lends to this story; she is a gifted writer with excellent literary poise which enhances the storyline with astonishing regularity.

Attorney-Client Privilege

Book Cover: A brutal murder, missing documents and an unscrupulous opposing counsel lead attorney Vernetta Henderson on a quest for justice—and ultimately—revenge. The hotshot L.A. lawyer takes on a corporation with a long history of discriminating against women. While Vernetta simply wants justice for her clients, the corporation’s hired gun wants to win . . . and she doesn't care how. On the home front, Vernetta’s infamous sidekick Special has finally found true love. But is the price more than she’s willing to pay?

Pamela Samuels Young is back with another legal thriller, Attorney-Client Privilege the fourth in a series.   Unlike many legal thrillers, which suffer from excess verbiage or a tautology of legal plotting, Young's legal expertise transpires her fiction writing into a smooth, uncomplicated form of entertainment.

This legal thriller, focusing on how an indirect complex pair of cases affects two attorneys, blue collar workers, a sports figure, law enforcement and criminals alike, and the reader has the opportunity to get caught up in every intriguing detail. 

When the Los Angeles Legends’ star wide receiver, Lamarr ‘The Hero’ Harrison is accused of a crime as horrendous as rape and a 2 million dollar civil suit is filed by a less than forthcoming plaintiff, the pressure is on to uncover the truth and clear his name.  Lamarr needs the best attorney his fame and money can afford, but the best attorney, Vernetta Henderson, has grown weary of her client’s inappropriate behavior of locker-room antics that continue to cast a shadow of doubt over his already questionable character and jeopardize their chance for a not guilty verdict.  As the defense attorney Vernetta's job is not just to get her client off, but to avoid the indictment that will destroy his livelihood and good name.  Did star football player Lamar rape stripper and sports groupie, Tonisha Cosby or were his advances misunderstood and she’s just looking for an easy payday from a sports figure trying to save his reputation?

However, in another unrelated case, that of a sexual discrimination suit against Big Buy, a major store chain – was one Vernetta eagerly looked forward to as an easy win that could be settled out of court, becomes increasingly important as the star plaintiff is murdered before the case even goes to trial.  But the murder wasn’t the only obstacle Vernetta had to overcome, as luck would have it, she would once again be facing the most annoying opposing counsel she’d ever had the displeasure of engaging in legal warfare with.  And not even an astute learnt attorney such as Vernetta could anticipate the storm of legal maneuvers and underhanded practices that await her as she goes up against the very low-down devious lawyer she recently lost her civil case to, none other than attorney Girlie Courtez - self titled to match her attitude.

Once the Big Buy trial is underway, Girlie quickly learns that she not only has to defend the actions of her client, but finds herself in conflict with her less-than-forthcoming and suspicious boss, Rita Kimble Richards, CEO of Big Buy, and surprisingly, when the legitimacy of the discrimination suit is questioned, the dark sequence of a family's history is uncovered.

In the midst of horrific acts of murder, mayhem, and intrigue Young skillfully weaves in a love story and allows a few of her characters to explore religious difference and tolerance and the profound impact it can have on a relationship, as with Special Sherlene Moore – Vernetta’s infamous sidekick who believes she has finally found the true love of her life in Clayton a newly converted Muslim, but  Special soon finds herself in a struggle with the newly adopted Islamic faith she is required to convert to in order to become a good Muslim wife, the celibacy requirement of the order, her own personal dream of becoming a license private investigator, and her unwillingness to become subservient to her husband or any other man.  Coincidentally, as deep as it may sound, the religious subject matter is anything but overbearing within the storyline and manages to touch upon the importance of a husband and wife to-be, to share the same or similar religious beliefs, less they will discover the serious strain it can have on the marital union as a whole.

In the end, the whole novel thing is about story; and Young tells a story in a way that transports the reader to a new place of experience through the illusion of the characters life taking place on the page   Pamela Samuels Young provides a skillful observation on the tilted individuals working within the legal system, including a few persons in law enforcement.  The crisp dialogue as well as the narrative twists keeps the storyline astounding; but what makes this novel standout is not just the excitement of the plot but the animosity of Girlie, a tigress of an attorney with a reputation of unscrupulous behavior and unethical practices.  Attorney-Client Privilege is an exciting and memorable story of how the law is interpreted/practiced, colleagues, clients, family and deception which explores the drive and greed of individuals and the unexpected consequences these traits can sometimes produce.

PAMELA SAMUELS YOUNG is a practicing attorney, whose fast-paced legal thrillers tackle law and crime. Her novels include Attorney-Client Privilege, Murder on the Down Low and Buying Time. A former television news writer, Pamela is a graduate of USC, Northwestern University and UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law. Pamela currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters in Crime, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women mystery writers.Visit Pamela’s website at www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com.

Missing Persons

Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Plume
Publication Date: May 31, 2011


Missing Persons is the debut of an edgy, exciting new Kate Conway Mystery series, by author, Clare O'Donohue,  featuring a funny, but cynical television producer turned amateur sleuth.  In the oddest chapter of her life, Kate navigates a sometimes dangerous path of lost love, bad television, unsolved cases, and her husband's girlfriend, who keeps getting in the damn way.

Crime TV producer, Kate Conway has a pretty simple job. Gain the trust of unsuspecting interviewees to extract the true story and capture it all on camera - ideally, while they cry on cue. However, Kate finds herself on the other side of the line of questioning after she gets a call from her soon-to-be ex-husband's lover, Vera Bingham who informs her that Frank, collapsed after playing basketball and was rushed to St. Anthony's Hospital, where Frank dies from a heart attack. But an autopsy shows Frank had excessive amounts of digitalis in his body; And the two women in his life -Kate and Vera - are the prime suspects. To make matters worse - Frank's grieving mistress suddenly wants to become Kate's new best friend.

As the investigation into Frank's death heats up, Kate throws herself into her work on a new television program Missing Persons. Her first assignment is the story of Theresa Moretti, a seemingly angelic young woman who disappeared a year earlier. Except, Theresa may not be as innocent as everyone thinks. Interviews with Theresa's ex-boyfriend, her disinterested "best" friend, and an attractive, but amoral, local politician, lead Kate to believe she's being lied to about the real Theresa. Although, All Kate wants is a clichéd story and twenty-two minutes of footage to take her mind off her own messy life, but when two cases appear to overlap, she begins digging into the case herself; but Kate needs to work fast before another body turns up - and it just may very well be her own.

Missing Persons is a mystery with surprising depth and smart, hip, snappy dialogue. Kate is a sharp, cynical, person who makes mistakes and learns from them - she grows and changes as the story progresses. The Kate Conway series is certain to become a favorite with mystery fans; and I, like many readers, look forward to seeing what O'Donohue does with the main character going forward.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Dreams of Joy

Genre: Drama
Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: 2011


Lisa See is the New York Times bestselling author of Shanghai Girls, Peony in Love, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (which has been adapted into a film), Flower Net (an Edgar Award nominee), The Interior, and Dragon Bones, as well as the acclaimed memoir On Gold Mountain. The Organization of Chinese American Women named her the 2001 National Woman of the Year.

In her most powerful novel yet, Lisa See returns to the timeless themes of mother love, romantic love, and love of country. She continues the story of sisters Pearl and May from Shanghai Girls, and Pearl's strong-willed nineteen-year-old daughter, Joy.  Dreams of Joy provides a glimpse of the cold, cruel damage to the humanity of people that was caused by war and the Communist regime in China in the late 1950s.  In this segment the return to Shanghai shows the Paris of Asia, may have been lost forever.

Acclaimed for her richly drawn characters and vivid storytelling, Lisa See once again renders a family challenged by tragedy and time, yet ultimately united by the resilience of love.

Dreams of Joy is the sequel to Shanghai Girls which revisits sisters Pearl and May and the continued development of their relationship while telling the story of Joy, a Chinese-American at the time of the inception of Mao's "Great Leap Forward".  It is an epic historical drama with strong characterization and authenticity - the reader is taken on an emotional journey to China and into the lives of the Chin family.  Joy is an idealistic and naive college-student hell-bent on helping China's "Great Leap Forward".  However, what Joy finds is not the communist paradise she thought she wanted to be a part of;  Instead, what she finds is that her commune is more or less a refugee camp - her marriage and life in the countryside are so deeply disturbing and the "Great Leap Forward" is an actual  "Great Leap Into Famine".   Some may consider this to be a beautiful coming of age story, while others may view it as a story of a hardheaded teen defying her mother and trying to escape the guilt of her step-father's suicide, while at the same time trying to process the newly uncovered family secret of her parentage that has scattered her emotionally and placed a wedge of anger between her mother, aunt and herself.

The adventure, if one can call it that, begins after naïve Joy flees to China to seek out her biological father - the artist Z.G. Li, with whom both May and Pearl were once in love. Devastated by Joy's flight and terrified for her safety, Pearl is determined to save her daughter, no matter what the personal cost.  Against better judgment, Pearl leaves the comforts of L.A. on a quest to find Joy; once there she confronts old demons and challenges as she tries to reunite with Joy.  Added to the stress of trying to locate her daughter is the realization of the perils of the new China - including not being allowed basic freedoms of wearing a bra, sending and receiving mail, possession of her own passport, or even worst, not being allowed to leave China once there.

This story is permeated with the most vivid descriptions of sights, sounds and smells that transport the reader to a time and place where no one in their right mind would willingly want to go - yet, one will find themselves eagerly leaping forward through the story, to discover the moral fabric of China’s society as it unravels, with the abuse of its people, which sometimes resorted to cannibalism.  Readers will find themselves transfixed and perhaps emotionally invested, as old, new and restored relationships are woven within the dangers of this sage.  Not only fear for the safety of the main characters, but will root for their survival, but will Joy, Pearl and May survive the devastation of China’s new regime or will they perish along with millions of others?

Sometimes you come across a book that touches your heart, whether through a moving story-line, a narrative so beautifully heartbreaking it smothers you emotionally or a character or characters so absorbing you can’t quite put the book down – Lisa See’s Dreams of Joy is one such book.

This is a must read and highly recommended for anyone who wants to be vividly transported historically back in time - Lee allows readers to explore the details of the Maoist era (1958-1962) without restoring to dull dry statistical facts, as she unleashes a story about the worst catastrophe in China's history, and one of the worst anywhere; but at the same time provides a story about the love, loyalty, devotion and strength of a family.


Review copy provided by publisher.

Tandem: An interestingly Cute Story of Blood-Draining Suspense

Tracey Bateman is an award-winning author of more than thirty titles...Tracey Bateman 's novel, Tandem, is a  dark plot that swirls around the small town of Abbey Hills, MO and everyone's quest to unravel the truth about the menacing murders that have befallen an otherwise peaceful existence. 

It was thought that the blood-draining murders had finally come to an end, after a fire supposedly destroyed the life of the murderer, yet less than a year later and the murders had begun again.

The Sheriff of Abbey Hills, Jill Jenkins and Deputy Charley Baylor may have had an easier chance of solving the murders, but sabotage played a major role in the deadly  hunt for the truth.   Not to mention, the vampire sensationalism heighten by no other than Miranda, the town's feisty red-haired young busy-body waitress with a blog dedicated to constantly making accusations and offering details pertaining to vampires.

With this particular genre,  Author Bateman builds believable characters from the onset of the story, by sharing the personal relationship between Lauryn McBride and her father who has been stricken by Alzheimer's…unfortunately he is fading almost as quickly as his daughter's ability to hang on to him. 

Moreover, Bateman provides a poignant description of the  life of a vampire, but she uses a humorous style that is perhaps geared to appeal to young adult readers or those not yet members of the vampire craze club.

The author builds on the suspense through the increased tension of the residents who once believed the murders may have been committed by an animal, until several animals were also slay.  Oddly the animal slayings became noticeable after the arrival of, Amede Dastillon, the beautiful poised descend of New Orleans wealth.   A woman who didn't relish being perpetually 30 years old - especially after the ominous disappearance of her sister, Eden.   Is it possible that well-mannered and sophisticated, Amede could have committed the string of mysterious murders while on a  malicious vampire's quest for revenge, or was it just a coincidence that the murders increased, after her arrival? Either way, she'd become one of the prime suspects. 

Just when they and perhaps you, think you have it all figured out, a number of twists will alter the suspicion that surrounds Amede and others, as 'Things That Go Bump in the Night'.   

In Conclusion 

Tandem  is an insightful and compelling follow up to Thirsty, Bateman's other novel with a interesting twist on the popular vampire craze.   An interestingly cute  story about some characters that performed seemingly super-human tasks, similar to those in Underworld.  However, the reader is also shown their flaws and the strength of intimate friendships, loyalty and relationships.

I found the gentle engaging prose the writer uses throughout the majority of the book, a refreshing change from the hard core sell.  And considering the theme of the novel I was delightfully surprised at how it was skillfully delivered without being overly gorgy or stuffed with explicit sex scenes.  However, it would have been a much smoother read, had the author not chosen to continually switch back & forth from first-person to third-person, so randomly and rapidly.

I am anything but a fan of the vampire fad, and have no desire to join in on the obsession, but this, my first vampire read was presented in an engaging story of suspense and I rather enjoyed it.  

Tracey Bateman.  Tandem  WaterBrook Press, 2010.  312pp.

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review - However, the opinions are mine."

Getting To Happy - But For Readers, Happy Doesn't Come

 
Terry McMillan  Getting to Happy / 375 pp / Published September 7th 2010 by Viking Adult



I was disappointed and didn't really care for this particular novel, the author spent entirely too much time playing character catch up from the 15 year old (Waiting To Exhale) prequel, instead of developing a more interesting storyline. It was an effort and incredible struggle to get through, as oppose to a comfortable read of familiar characters.

Savannah’s husband turned out to be some porn freak, so she opts for single life again. She doesn’t seem to have changed much – seems her sister has jumped on the bandwagon of quilting her into doing what she wants, like her mother use to do.. Bernadine, who appeared to be reasonably intelligent in the first installment of this sequel, now appears to be somewhat dense, allowing her mega-divorce settlement to diminish, and herself to be swindled by her second husband, so she is addicted to prescription drugs.  Robin still hasn’t snagged and bagged a husband, but has managed to become a serious shopaholic; her teenage daughter speaks to her as if they are on the same level.  And poor, Gloria who was deliriously happy in her marriage, gets the stuffing knocked out of her heart when her beloved is murdered getting something she needed to finish cooking dinner.  In “Exhale”, they were four intelligent, strong, and vibrant women, now they just seem dumb, weak, and lifeless.

And it’s not just what’s happened or hasn’t happened with the characters, it’s the way or lack of how it’s being told.  Perhaps that’s one of the problems, she’s ‘telling’ instead of ‘showing’- rule number one, of writing 101.  Sadly the writing seemed rather amateurish for a veteran writing of McMillan's standing.

The four main characters and their dialogue are flat. and took far too long 'getting to happy' if they ever did - I had to decline reading the last few chapters, as this book did not catch, hold or spark my interest. The story just seems to go nowhere. I'm not trying to bad mouth this book, it just wasn't for me. I've read other work by this author, and I don't recall having struggled to get through any of the others.

Although there are plans to adapt this into a movie as was its 15 year old predecessor - I cannot say I'm looking forward to seeing this on the big or small screen. But who knows, perhaps it will fare better on screen than it did in print.

Shanghai Girls – An Interesting Head Shaking Read

Our book club, Circle of Sistahs had the privilege of reading Shanghai Girls, by Lisa See

My goodness gracious, if you haven't read this book, please do. This is such an interesting and head shaking read. Seriously, as you read about May and Pearl, two sisters living in Shanghai in the mid-1930s, who are beautiful, sophisticated, and well-educated - you will get caught up, you will get involved, and most of all, you will be moved.

The girls are living a nontraditional and carefree life of privilege, sadly they are unaware their family is on the verge of bankruptcy, until the day their father tells them that he has gambled away their wealth and that in order to repay his debts he must sell the girls as wives to suitors who have traveled from California to find Chinese brides. But when the sisters leave China and arrive at Angel's Island (the Ellis Island of the West)--where they are detained, interrogated, and humiliated for months--they feel the harsh reality of leaving home. And when May discovers she's pregnant the situation becomes even more desperate. The sisters make a pact that no one can ever know.

As Japanese bombs fall on their beloved city, Pearl and May set out on the journey of a lifetime, one that will take them through the Chinese countryside, in and out of the clutch of brutal soldiers, and across the Pacific to the shores of America. In Los Angeles they begin a fresh chapter, trying to find love with the strangers they have married, brushing against the seduction of Hollywood, and striving to embrace American life even as they fight against discrimination, brave Communist witch hunts, and find themselves hemmed in by Chinatown's old ways and rules.

I really would like to see this book adapted into a movie - as long as it stays true to the storyline as written by Lisa See. Perhaps they can take a page from another book focusing on Women of Asian descent, "The Joy Luck Club" (1989) is a best-selling novel written by Amy Tan. It focuses on four Chinese American immigrant families in San Francisco, California who start a club known as "the Joy Luck Club," playing the Chinese game of mahjong for money while feasting on a variety of foods. In 1993, the novel was adapted into a feature film directed by Wayne Wang and starring Ming-Na, Lauren Tom, The screenplay was written by the author Amy Tan along with Ronald Bass. They had the good sense to have the author write the screenplay and that may have been the reason the movie manage to mirror the book so well. And I see no reason why they cannot do the same with Shanghai Girls.

Did I say, this is a must read for any book club and/or reader? If I didn't say it, consider it said. Read, Shanghai Girls by Lisa See.


I did not receive a complimentary copy of this book to facilitate my review. The opinions are mine.

Wench

Dolen Perkins-Valdez. Wench/Amistad for HarperCollins 2010/290pp.

In her debut novel Wench, a work of historical fiction Dolen Perkins-Valdez explores the relationship between slave owners and their enslaved mistresses. The story is primarily set at, Tawawa House summer resort a real location in the free state of Ohio on a plot of land near Xenia, Ohio. Naturally the open relationships between slaves and their owners, offended the northern abolitionists who also visited the resort, so after four short years, and a number of tragic and cruel events, the resort closed; leaving both slave and their master with some hard life lessons.

The four slave women featured: Mawu, Sweet, Reenie, and Lizzie are from plantations in different states, and the relationships they have with their masters differ drastically.

There's naïve Lizzie a central character who sincerely believes that she and her master are in love. A belief she primarily bases on the fact that she and her master have two children-children whose freedom he refuses to grant, from the relationship he begins with her while she was only thirteen.

And then there are the other three slave women, who have more than a little contempt for their masters, of the three red-haired Mawu's hate is strong, firm, and deep.

The author masterfully accounts how, the four slave women form an enduring friendship during the few weeks in the summer when they are whisk away to the cottages each year. They look forward to catching up on what's going on with their children, family, and life. Although it may have been a glimmer of hope in the darkest corners of their minds, freedom was not a subject discussed, well not until high-spirited Mawu join the group and voices her endless determination to escape. Lizzie can't understand why Mawu can't be still and accept her fate and Mawu can't understand why Lizzie is so willing to accept her fate.

Ohio may have been a free state but the slave women were still anything but free. They just weren't on the plantation but instead at a lovely summer cottage where the master’s wives couldn't see how openly they engaged in relations with their slave women. The women were still required to perform their slave duties and endure the dehumanization their masters and their master's friends put them through, they were still monitored, systematically raped, and even chained on a whim. Only while at Tawawa House they were encourage to pretty themselves up with the tattered old ball gowns of previous white patrons and attend a semi-public dinner and dance.

This novel is a MUST read for everyone. The author reveals the painful pleasures that a slave endures, through some of the most well-developed and memorable characters depicted in print. This isn't a tired old story of slavery, anything but. This story is about families, friendships, love and so much more. It tells of the advantages/disadvantages and relationships the Wenches had with their masters - it tells of an idyllic resort and the summers spent there. This story enlightens the readers to a whole new world. The author has mastered story-telling with this, her debut novel. I'm looking forward to more of the same from her.

I did not receive a complimentary copy of this book to facilitate my review. The opinions are mine.

Camilla's Roses

Camilla's Roses by Bernice L. McFadden

I don't know how I missed this particular book in 2004, because I thought I had read all of Bernice McFadden's novels. Needless to say, I checked it out of the library and I'm currently reading it now, and I must admit, I am intrigued as to what will become of the remaining characters, as I've already witnessed the destruction of a mentally challenged woman's beauty inside & out, following a terrible accident that claim the lives of her husband and unborn child... Oops, I don't want to spoil it for others.

However, here's a synopsis of what this book has to offer: Camilla has been estranged from her unruly family since she went to college, leaving behind a drug-addicted mother, a grandmother raising scads of abandoned grandchildren, and an addled great-aunt. Ashamed of her family and her race, she lightened her skin and adopted a false background. She is living a complete lie when tragedy strikes, and she discovers... Oops! again, I've said to much.

Bernice McFadden the author of Sugar, The Warmest December, and This Bitter Earth captivates her readers attention and won't let it go until the absolute end of her compelling stories.
View all my reviews >>

I did not receive a complimentary copy of this book to facilitate my review. The opinions are mine.

Say You're One of Them

Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan
I truly enjoyed this wonderful literary find on audio. The Author, Uwem Akpan has done such a great job writing and creating such believable characters in this jubilantly acclaimed collection demonstrating the wisdom and resilience of children.
Additionally, the narrators:Robin Miles, Dion Graham, Kevin Free do such a wonderful job of bringing this story to life.

View all my reviews >>

I did not receive a complimentary copy of this book to facilitate my review. The opinions are my own.

Lush Life

Upon hearing that President Obama would be covering a substantial amount of literary ground while vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard; I decided to choose one of the five selections on the President’s reading list. I chose Richard Prices’ Lush Life, and I must say I am enjoying it more than I’d initially anticipated. Price’s masterful dialogue is captivating and the story riveting. This 455 pager is a must read.

And if you really want to become immersed, I suggest utilizing Audible.com or another audio-book source to listen while following along in the book. The narrator, Bobby Cannavale used by audible.com for Lush Life is shamelessly by far the most excellent audio match for the author’s text. His expertise almost makes you want to forgo the read, but don’t, because this book is quite worthy of the read. Regardless of which format you decide to choose, just be certain to explore this ‘tale of two lower east sides: one a high-priced bohemia, te other a home to hardship, its residents pushed to the edges of their time-honored turf.’