A Deeper Love Inside - The Porsche Santiaga Story

Fans of acclaimed writer, Sister Souljah have waited with much anticipation for thirteen years for a sequel to The Coldest Winter Ever – the tale of Winter Santiaga, a realistic coming-of-age story of debauchery. Winter is a spoiled, pampered, ruthless hood rat.  She is attracted to power, intolerant of those without it; she deceives and steals from those who help her. Winter's obsession with money, possessions and appearances, along with her refusal to change has led her down a path of no return.

Now 13 yrs later, the wait is over as Sister Souljah returns to the Santiaga family to write this unforgettable gritty coming-of-age story in the words of young Porsche Santiaga.

A Deeper Love inside opens with ten-year old Porsche Santiaga serving time in a juvenile-prison for attempted murder.  The narrative proceeds to take readers on a journey that will be very difficult to forget.  It is a story of a shrewd quick-witted young girl, wise and clever beyond her years, adjusting to having had things handled for her and with the world at her fingertips to one of survival and hardship.

While in lock up Porsche is force to physically defend herself from the attacks of jealous inmates, that envy her beauty, hair and ability to dance.  Although she is running her own successful hustle, she is recruited by Riot the leader of the Diamond Needle gang. With Riot's help she learns to act smarter and fight with her brain instead of her fists.   And during all of this, Porsche is more motivated than ever to reunite with the family she hasn't seen or heard from since the authorities seized her from their house. 

When the opportunity presents itself, Porsche returns to Long Island only to find that the beautiful world she once knew and loved is no more.  The mansion she once called home is occupied by another family, her father is still serving a life sentence, and the fate of her other family members is unknown.

Apart from Riot, Porsche encounters some very interesting and well-developed characters along the way, each with a little bit to offer her in life lessons - some good and some not-so-good.  For instance Riot, the leader of the Diamond Needle gang, teaches her how to have patience and plan.   Lil’Man aka Angel,  who killed a stranger that violently raped and impregnated Angel’s mother, taught her about getting even on a different level; Warden Strickland taught her not to trust people in authority.  NanaAnna taught her how to grow, prepare, and cook healthy foods.   Mr. Sharp - a wealthy businessman taught her how to form alliances while helping her empire grow.  And her mother taught her the hardest lesson of all, which readers will find between the pages of A Deeper Love Inside.

Due to the multitude of devastation inflicted on her fragile adolescent psyche while in foster care and juvenile-prison, Porsche develops a disorder and becomes unusually attached to her newly acquired friends, Siri and Ivory and holds tightly to them throughout the story.  And it’s through Siri that she meets Elisha Immanuel, a brilliant young soon-to-be movie director with whom she will be able to find and feel A Deeper Love Inside.

Readers that may be wondering if A Deeper Love Inside lives up to The Coldest Winter Ever;  which it does despite being a somewhat different tale.   Whereas Winter grows into a  cold self absorbed thoughtless and uncaring *itch,  Porsche grows from a beautiful, angry, vulnerable girl who fought to survive into a gorgeous, loving, and enchanting young lady living at peace.  A Deeper Love Inside is an endearing tale.

Sister Souljah is a successful political activist and educator of underclass youth.  Her national bestseller The Coldest Winter Ever, considered the definitive novel of the hip-hop generation, marked her fiction debut; she is also the author of a memoir entitled No Disrespect.  She lives in Jersey City with her husband and son.

I would recommend this book to readers wanting a riveting, gritty, yet touching story.  However, due to some language this book may not be appropriate for readers under the age of sixteen.

A Deeper Love Inside - The Porsche Santiaga Story by Sister Souljah

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Emily Bestler Books - Atria Books

Publication Date: January 29, 2013

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey 

Imperfect Bliss

Reality TV— Jane Austen Style Meet the Harcourts of Chevy Chase, Maryland. A respectable middle-class, middle-age, mixed-race couple, Harold and Forsythia have four eminently marriageable daughters—or so their mother believes. Forsythia named her girls after Windsor royals in the hopes that one day each would find her true prince. But princes are far from the mind of their second-born daughter, Elizabeth (AKA Bliss), who, in the aftermath of a messy divorce, has moved back home and thrown herself into earning her PhD. All that changes when a Bachelorette-style reality television show called The Virgin takes Bliss’s younger sister, Diana as its star. Though she fights it at first, Bliss can’t help but be drawn into the romantic drama that ensues; forcing her to reconsider everything she thought she knew about love, her family, and herself. Fresh and engaging, Imperfect Bliss is a wickedly funny take on the ways that courtship and love have changed—even as they've stayed the same.

At first glance some readers may compare Imperfect Bliss to a modern re-make of "Pride and Prejudice," due to the silliness of it all, and because of its noticeable similarities with the Jane Austen classic - strong heroines, men who are not what they seem, meddling parental figures, and romantic twists.  It is indeed somewhat of a parody - both of Jane Austen's world and of a more contemporary one.

 In this humorous tale, Susan managers to cover everything from the pressure from families to 'marry well', to bouncing back from divorce.  In addition, the book addresses the ridiculousness behind Reality TV and its impact on family, relationships and society.  Imperfect Bliss is basically an aged-old case of a mother wanting to live vicariously through her children - while pretending to be more than she is, while pushing her daughters to marry at any cost - as long as they marry someone with money and a title that is. 

The storyline of Imperfect Bliss explores three separate love triangles that revolve around the three oldest Harcourt daughters.  Diana is smothered with rich admirers while in reality only two men really catch her eye.  Victoria, the eldest, is torn between marrying the man her mother approves of and a secret forbidden lover.  Lastly, Bliss is tempted by Wyatt, the charming and witty TV host, and Dario, the aloof but caring executive producer.  And then there's Charlotte, the youngest of the four sisters, who desperately tries to steal the spot light with her less than lady-like demeanor. 

At the center of the story is Bliss Harcourt – hence the title Imperfect Bliss. Bliss is a head strong, divorced mother of four-year-old Bella, living at home with her parents.  After her failed marriage, she returned to graduate school in hopes of becoming a professor, and finally moving away from her controlling mother – who fantasizes about infiltrating the British throne.  She finds the antics of her over-bearing mother less than admirable and even deplorable at times, although she may not respect her mother's twisted thinking of living whitely ever after - she loves her Mum; because in the end, Forsythia loved her to the point of self-abasement.   However, prior to Bliss being able to come to such a profound enlighten assessment of her mother’s parental love and self sacrifice; Bliss's imperfect life is turned upside down by her sister, Diana, and her sudden TV fame as the star of the reality TV show "The Virgin" with a shameless tagline of: ‘where wealthy men compete to capture her heart, hand in marriage, and hymen.’   While Bliss and her father are horrified as well as offended that Diana’s chastity will be auctioned for television ratings, Diana and Forsythia are ecstatic beyond belief. Yet, as entertaining as it may appear, the foolishness of the reality TV show is basically the sub-plot to the real plot, which is Bliss’ reluctance to allow true love into her life.   

With an ideal balance of humor, wit and important social commentary, Susan Fales-Hill's Imperfect Bliss is sure to be a reading staple on bedside tables everywhere.

Imperfect Bliss l by Susan Fales-Hill

Genre: Dramatic Humor

Publisher: Atria Books

Publication Date: July 3, 2012

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey

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.

Pig by Sbr Martin

With a title like Pig, you might imagine an adorable television character like Arnold or the cutesy talking star of children's literature, such as Babe. No, Pig is not an enchanting tale of a porcine friend. It is a derogatory reference to a woman name Lily, who has gone by different names over the years - Lilith, Mom, Flower, and Pig, to name but a few.

Pig is a narrative that comes from Lily's memories -a woman holding on to too much pain and too many secrets - The entire novel takes place at her husband Bender's funeral, where she sits alone on a couch in the corner of a crowded funeral home, desperately clinging to a scrap of paper clenched in her right hand.  She avoids contact with those around her, keeping to herself, because she holds more than that scrap of paper - she holds a lot of secrets, including one she's keeping from herself.  Readers will step into Lily's past but won’t be pleased with everything they learn.  Some stories just aren't meant to have happy endings.

This is a story of domestic abuse, sexuality, reflection, and loss - and any flicker of joy that may have been shared early in Lily and Bender’s relationship, vanished before it could even take root and was replaced with never ending tears and long lasting pain.  Readers will learn that despite her husband's cruelty Lily felt beholden to Bender and was obedient to him as a means of expressing her gratitude to him for not leaving her after she had an affair.  Yet, Bender did not feel the need to stop verbally or physically abusing her, though he promised on more than one occasion to do so.  The subject matter is not an easy or pleasant one to tackle in a storyline.  However, the author managers to present this dark tale through the eyes of Lily in manner readers are able to endure to its conclusion - and what a conclusion it is.   

Pig is Sbr Martin's second book, which was honored as a second prize quarterfinalist in the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. Her first book, In Wake of Water was published in 2011.

Some readers may find the graphic storyline of domestic abuse to be offensive, and the mature content and language may not suitable for some readers.

South by Southeast

South by Southeast-A Tennyson Hardwick Novel by Blair Underwood | Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes

First, let me preface this review by saying, I seriously enjoyed this novel – it was told the way a thriller should be told – it made me yearn to see it on the big screen. And it didn’t hurt one bit that I envisioned the author, seductively-handsome actor Blair Underwood in the role of the protagonist, Tennyson Hardwick.

Licentious super-sleuth Tennyson Hardwick is back in what looks to be his most compelling case to date.  South by Southeast the fourth installment in this award-winning mystery series proves to be a great addition to the already note-worthy series and as a stand-alone thriller.  It starts off as a smooth comfortable tale of an ex-gigolo, part-time actor - who’s lost his drive and perhaps his box office appeal.  However, early on in the story there are hints that promise and deliver an entertaining read like no other - as this tale captures and moves the reader’s attention on an excursion from LA to South Beach and back, at the same time Tennyson becomes engrossed in the murder investigation of several prostitutes no one seems to care about.

Tennyson Hardwick is juggling quite a few issues in his personal life - dealing with his feisty soon-to-be-adopted teenage daughter, repairing old wounds with his father, and battling with the feelings he still has for his ex-girlfriend – with so much going on, he hardly has enough time to deal with his ailing acting career. 

After Tennyson lands a role in a zombie flick directed by Oscar nominated director, Gustavo Escobar,  his professional life gets a needed jolt of adrenalin and things seemingly start to look up for Ten.  But his less-than-spectacular come-back is marred when Tennyson finds himself thrust back into his detective role after the body of his daughter's old friend Maria, a working girl from Los Angeles washes ashore.

As Tennyson tries to make sense of the case he gets caught up in a cat and mouse game of wits with the psychotic killer. Tennyson's world is unexpectedly turned upside down when the murder gets personal by taking the life of someone close to him.  Hardwick takes a vow to track down and rid the world of the heartless serial killer, but in doing so, he discovers the horror has really just begun.  Vengeance is the killer's fuel and an undiscovered secret is the motive. The question is, has Tennyson underestimated his delirious demented opponent and will he survive long enough to prevent the reign of terror that is planned for Chela, April, and anyone else close to him?

This skillfully crafted suspenseful page-turner is expertly narrated in both 1st person and 3rd person POV which the writers blend seamlessly together.  The authors take readers on an unforgettable journey and along the way introduce them to some of the most believable well-rounded, yet colorful characters imaginable. Characters they are able to relate to, root for, and even detest: Fallen hero, Tennyson Hardwick; Chela - a rebellious teenager with a sorted past; April – the ex-girlfriend that’s trying to tame Ten; Ten's dad, Richard Hardwick - a retired LAPD Captain; Gustavo Escobar- the over-the-top director; Maria - a working girl, who mysteriously drowns; Raphael - a high-end pimp with too many resources, Mother - an aging madam with close ties to Ten and Chela, Mouse Girl - an annoying working girl, too naïve to know better,  Lt. Rodrick Nelson – determine to arrest Ten for murder; Lydia Hernandez – a detective that stalls the investigation,  and a few others.

South by Southeast is for a reading audience that enjoys a great mystery thriller that offers an entertaining read.  It is a remarkably consuming heart-thumping knuckle-wrenching thriller, which can easily become the avid reader's new favorite novel.

I would highly recommend Blair Underwood's novels, he and his co-writers, Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes have done such a terrific job of bringing some incredibly vivid characters to life who help to tell the most intriguing stories in the Tennyson Hardwick series.  The series includes: Casaenegra, In The Night of the Heat, From Cape Town with Love, and the latest, South by Southeast on sale 9/18/12.

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Publisher: Atria Books

Publication Date: September 18, 2012

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey

The Stalker Chronicles

Electa Rome Parks has captivated reader's attention once again with the  creation of, The Stalker Chronicles her 8th novel and follow up to The Stalker Diaries.  New and established fans alike, will not be able to put this psychological thriller down until all 226 pages are consumed.

This book contains mature content that might not be suitable for some readers.

The Stalker Chronicles by Electa Rome Parks

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Urban Renaissance, Kensington Publishing Corp.

Publication Date: February 1, 2012

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey

An Accidental Affair

New Year Times bestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey has returned to his romantic roots with a seductive thriller, An Accidental Affair. 

Mr. Dickey has composed a tale featuring a powerful Hollywood couple, award-winning screenwriter, James Thicke and A-list actress, Regina Baptiste.   It is not a fast paced story, however quite a bit of commotion does take place within the pages of An Accidental Affair.  This story explores the inner workings of Hollywood which is fueled by an intense relationship between the main characters whose lives are intertwined with explicit sex, drugs, and murder.

As with most Hollywood tales this story shows readers that Hollywood is a hellified place, that's hell'a hard on those who have chosen to, be selfish materialistic people, and find themselves hanging on by a rather thin thread.    What brings even more perplexity to the story is that the characters are quite swallow, aren't very complex, and have little to no redeemable qualities, which makes it difficult to root for them.   But because of the development of those characters, readers will be compelled to read through its dramatic conclusion.

The story was not as intriguing or compelling as its title implied and it did not flow as smoothly as one would have hoped.  It's as if there are two books here: a slightly interesting Hollywood thriller, blended with a somewhat dull and rather pedestrian plot.  Jerome Dickey is a talented author, but this installment did not truly showcase his skills.  There was far too much focus on the sexual scenes that dominated and overpowered the story and not enough devotion to an actual well written dramatic thriller.

Overall, I would recommend this title,  it was an entertaining read. However, due to the mature language and explicit sexual content, this book is not suitable for young readers. 

An Accidental Affair by Eric Jerome Dickey

Genre: Seductive Thriller

Publisher: Dutton, Penguin Group

Publication Date: April 17, 2012

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey

Review copy provided by publisher.

Someone Bad and Something Blue

I became a fan of Miranda Parker after reading A Good Excuse to Be Bad the first installment of The Angel Crawford Series – featuring a female bail bond recovery agent.  In this no holds-barred everything goes  era, where  curse words dominate the pose and the plot gets lost among the pornography, finding a wordsmith with the talent to captivate the reader's attention without resorting to profanity and explicit sex scenes, is rare and rewarding.  I am delighted I found that unique talent in Miranda Parker.

Parker with her fresh writing style introduced readers to and caught their attention with tough-as-nails, Angel Crawford in A Good Excuse to Be Bad and is destined to do so again because Miranda Parker's heroine, Angel Crawford is back in, Someone Bad and Something Blue.  In this installment, Parker takes us into the secretive world of Atlanta's speakeasy society, the inter-workings of the moonshine industry and much more; as Angel and U.S. Marshall Maxim West, who just happens to be a hellva hot hottie, trudge around the Okefenokee Swamp in an effort to solve the murder of The Honorable Elaine Turner's campaign manager, who just happens to be a bull in bear’s clothing.

If you read the first book, you know Angel isn't the type of bail bond recovery agent who just sits around filing her fingernails, not unless she's planning to use them to scratch someone's eyes out.  But if you haven't read A Good Excuse to Be Bad don't fret, Someone Bad and Something Blue reads wonderfully as a standalone and readers will get an actual glimpse into the real Evangeline Crawford.  However, you will want to pick up a copy of A Good Excuse to Be Bad because it's a terrific read as well.

Angle Crawford is such a well-developed character, it feels like she's sitting next to the reader as Miranda Parker steers her through the streets of Atlanta.  So, get ready to venture to places such as, Grits Draft House-a Southern revival cocktail bar; The Dunwoody Detention Center; Flappers, a secret speakeasy in Atlantic Station; Holeman & Finch Public House-for the best burger on the planet or the fictional McArthur Estate in Stone Mountain. As a non-native of Georgia, I never even heard of some of those places, but through the outstanding writing talent of Miranda, I had the opportunity to journey to each of those exciting places, that Parker so vividly described in this intriguing story filled with suspense, action, humor, and romance. 

Parker allows her talent for telling a story to passionately breathe throughout the plot as she captures and holds the attention of her audience.  Her well-developed characters are dynamic and compelling.  Readers will find themselves rooting for Angel, Justus and Maxim and looking forward to the downfall of Knocker, Marlo and Riddick - though at times they won’t and other times they shouldn't.  This story will have readers on edge as they continue to clutch the pages to find out who among the suspects is actually guilty of more than just murder.

I read somewhere, that one of the elements for a good read usually includes some type of boy-girl encounter/interaction, and Someone Bad and Something Blue does not disappoint in that area.  There are a number of romantic encounters that are super steamy without being raunchy or pornographic, which makes it suitable for a wider audience, including young-adults.  The lavender smelling too-darn-fine to be a Reverend, Justus Morgan has claim his role as wanna-be side kick and turned up the heat on the taboo romance as he actively pursues Angel, and she is not resisting his advances. Of course, it wouldn't be interesting if there wasn't any drama or conflict and in this case, it comes wrapped up as U.S. Marshal West, introducing Angel to another sizzling temptation of incredible well-packaged male flesh for head to toe.  Having two well-rounded intelligent gorgeous men within her grasp would have been enough for most women, but Angel is not most women  and when she should have been on the hunt for a size eight silk taffeta, strapless Amsale wedding gown from the Blue Label collection - at the ROTB [running of the brides] she is hunting for killers. 


I love the sense of humor Parker drizzles throughout the story and I found myself laughing out loud at comments like, “…dark thirty in the morning”; “…by the way you look like a pimp’s daughter with that thing.” And the one I found priceless, “…swallow your pride and put your big girl panties on.”

The conclusion of the plot is appealing, which I won’t spoil for readers – except to say, as readers witness Angel’s transformation from bail bond recovery agent to a bonafide PI - the conflict and rising action make it a compelling piece of fiction.  Miranda Parker leaves her readers with some very interesting unanswered questions - to discover the answers - readers must join Angel on her next manhunt in, Can't Keep a Bad Bride Down, coming July 2013 - I am definitely looking forward to the next installment of the Angel Crawford series.

~Until my next review, happy reading.

Someone Bad and Something Blue by Miranda Parker

Genre: Murder Mystery

Publisher: Dafina Books, Kensington Publishing Corp.

Publication Date: July, 2012

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey

Review copy provided by publisher.   

Stay With Me

A dyslexic dropout with a gift for training dogs collides with a honor student and the result is an enchanting first love - until as with any boy-meets-girl story - something goes terribly wrong.

Paul Griffin's latest gritty urban fiction Stay With Me unfolds on the streets of New York and stars 15 year olds, Mack Morse and Céce Vaccuccia - each the product of a single parent household that share a common bond of alcohol dependency, but at least Céce's  mother is still maternal and caring, she just happens to be a self-medicating addict who engages in heavy episodic drinking to dull the painful worry of her son being away in the war …Whereas, Mack's abusive, alcoholic  father is just a hateful mean so-and-so whose objectionable disposition intensifies with booze.

The story is told in alternating perspectives, by Mack and Céce over the span of 102 days, and through their voices, Griffin uses dramatic dialogue to illustrate the profundity of their relationship. Though he is kind-hearted with a passion for tough-talking Céce and incredible compassion for the rescue dogs he trains, Mack is fueled with uncontrollable anger which will evidently be his undoing. Céce is a cheesecake-hoarding exceptional student, studying for an entrance exam to a gifted-and-talented program.  She is slightly obsessed with the movie, The Outsiders and is under the impression she has ESP - according to her Grumpy had it and she bears the curse doubly because it skipped over her mother.  And best/worst of all, Céce is totally crushing on Mack.

Also featured in the story is an array of notable characters: Céce's friend Marcy is beyond amusing she is downright hilarious and truly exemplifies the characteristics of an actual teenage girl.  Vic, is the Italian restaurant owner who employs them both; Anthony, Céce’s brave football-star-turned-line-cook older brother enlists in the military; Wash, a compassionate prison guard; Mr. Tompkins, a less-than patient, drill-sergeant on a mission; and, a colossal headed pit-bull, Boo. These secondary characters have been well-crafted by Griffin with believability and help bring the story to life.

The quirky characters and devoted lovable dog are the beacons that help illuminate this otherwise heartbreaking coming of age love story, which is reminiscent of a made-for-TV movie wedged between 288 pages.  Although targeted toward ages 14 and up, due to some content, this book would be more appropriate for readers ages 16 and older.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Stay With Me by Paul Griffin

Genre: YoungAdult

Publisher: Dial

Publication Date: September 8, 2011

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey

Hand Me Down

An interesting debut novel, indicative of a semi-autobiographical story -  Melanie Thorne's  Hand Me Down is the author's descent into fiction. This unforgettable novel depicts the intimacy of a narrative memoir of a 14-year old girl struggling to deal with the chaos of an emotionally destructive life.

Elizabeth and her younger sister, Jamie realize early on that they don't have anyone to depend on as they try to cope with the knowledge their parents are not only incapable of caring for them, but have little or no desire to do so.  After their mother, Linda chooses a man over them, she displays an incredible degree of indifference toward her daughters and their well being. What is even more disturbing, Linda didn't toss her daughters aside for just any man, no, she sagged a real prize when she married, Terrance a convicted sex offender. Terrance is the kind of man who takes pleasure in tormenting Liz each time he brushes against her, breathes on her, licks his lips as he speaks inappropriately to her and prances around half-dressed, knowing Liz will remain silent because he's already threaten to approach young Jamie with the same attention, if Liz doesn't keep quite.  After the girl's alcoholic father who faithfully beat Linda during their marriage, notifies the parole office that Terrance is in violation of his parole by living in the house with the girls; Liz thinks she, Jamie and their mother can get back to life before Terrance and perhaps enjoy their childhood in a normal environment. Instead, loving mom, chooses the sex offender over her own offspring. While Jamie is sent to live in a trailer park with her dad, Liz is shipped off to Terrance’s brother, Gary, and his wife. Liz can't concentrate on her studies, friends or anything a teenager should be focused on, because she is overly concerned and rightfully so, about her and Jamie's fate, considering no one else seems to be. Though she is mature beyond her years and is forced to accept what the adults tell her - "you'll be okay." "it's not that bad." "you're strong." - with the exception of her mother's sister, Tammy who lives in Utah, everyone else has conveniently forgotten Liz is a child who needs to be cared for.

As Elizabeth struggles and pleads to be reunited with her sister and even her mother, she is bounced around like hand me down luggage. From her mother, to her perverted step-father's brother Gary, to a neighbor, and then another relative, it is clear that the adults within Liz's circle  are incapable of managing their own lives - and are not an exemplar role model for parenting; but of all the adults, Elizabeth and Jamie's mother is by far one of the most despicable characters, who continues to lie and pull further away from her children.

Author Throne pulls deeply from her real life experience which can be visualized through her emotional prose as she tells this tale of the devastating consequences that occur following a mother's decision to abandon her daughters for a sex offender - at some point it's as if you're reading  Throne's diary when she was a teenager, a diary of a child that continually ask and doesn't understand,  "why doesn't my mother love me? And "why won't anybody save me?"

Hand me down Liz is finally shipped off to Salt Lake City to stay with her mother's sister, Tammy an aunt who loves and cares for her the way a child should be cared for - but it doesn't end there. Question is, when and where does it end, and will Liz and her sister ever  have a place to call home sweet home, some place that's considered their haven?  You'll want to pick up a copy of Hand Me Down to learn what becomes of these girls who've been tossed aside by those that should love and protect them.

Review copy provided by publisher.   

_______________________________________________________________

Hand Me Down by Melanie Thorne

Genre: Dramatic Fiction

Publisher: Dutton

Publication Date: April 12, 2012

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey, Goodreads.com

Mayhem and Mischief Marvel within Miscellaneous Blues

Miscellaneous Blues by Erica L. Crump

Genre: Dramatic Fiction

Publisher: JX Enterprises, LLC

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey

Miscellaneous Blues a commendable debut novel that will keep you hooked until you turn the final pages.  Sit back; meet sisters Sasha, Victoria, Mya and Lola - the Dexter Divas.

Miscellaneous Blues is a seamlessly smooth delightfully intriguing read. Newbie author, Erica L. Crump writes with professional ease and produces a story that explores the elements of life through four sisters - it is a story that will touch on several emotions including fear, love, hate, betrayal and forgiveness.

The characters are full of life and completely believable and absolutely carry Miscellaneous Blues - plus-size Victoria makes you want to reach out and comfort her, as she struggles to get her weight down which soared to unmanageable proportions due to the abuse she is subjected to at the hands of her free loading live-in babies' daddy of 16 years;  Mya is detestable, and not just because she's carried on a four year affair with a married man, but because she's an angry selfish insecure demon screaming for constant attention, and is more concerned with getting a husband by any means necessary than admitting she has a serious problem, she is also relentless when it comes to the hatred and violence she inflicts on her youngest sister; stunningly attractive, Lola the youngest is just trying to find her way back emotionally after the death of her one true love, and to steer clear of Mya's uncontrollable wrath whenever possible,  as she raises her son alone; and finally there's Sasha aka "Cookie" the oldest, strongest and most reliable of the four sisters, the one the other's look up to and attempt to emulate, because from their standpoint, she and her super fine million dollar earning CFO husband have it all together, or so it seems.  However, Cookie's OCD  and dependency on Xanax - something she's been hiding from her sisters - is trying to take hold as she struggles to keep her perfect marriage from falling apart but behind the walls of her seven thousand square foot home of wedded bliss lie the most explosive and appalling secrets of betrayal one could imagine and will give new meaning to the word(s) emotional devastation and forgiveness -  during this turbulent time, Cookie the rock of the family, must draw heavily on her strength in God as she prepares for the possibility of divorce.

Miscellaneous Blues provides some tidy and not-so-tidy resolutions to the tough challenges the characters encounter. As the final pages were read, I found myself somewhat surprised and I'm certain that most readers may anticipate a resolution for some characters that never materialized, instead they will be shocked. Still, Erica L. Crump has crafted a well written book that is ultimately attention-grabbing.  She deals with hard life issues in a painfully real manner. The subtlety in which author Crump sprinkles Christianity and faith within the story is refreshing and not overly done. Miscellaneous Blues will make readers smile, think, become angry, and perhaps even cry; characteristic of a book worth reading. The conclusion of this story is a shocker that you just won't see coming.

I anxiously await Ms. Crump's next book, and a follow up to Miscellaneous Blues would also be welcomed addition to my reading library.

Death Trumps Celebrated Bliss in, "Carry the One'

Carry The One by Carol Anshaw

Genre: Dramatic/Suspense

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: March 2012

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey

In Carry The One Carol Anshaw presents her reading audience with a  very ambitious fourth novel…one which spans from a 1983 Wisconsin wedding through the 2008 Election  as it chronicles a Chicago family thrown off balance by a fatal accident.

This story explores how the lives of three siblings are affected after a fatal freak accident, that ends the life of 10 year old  Casey Redman late one night on a dark dirt road with Nick's drugged out girlfriend Olivia behind the wheel.  

The reason I accepted this selection from the Publisher for a read/review was because the last sentence of the first chapter really caught my attention – ‘…a jumble of knees and elbows, and then her face, frozen in surprise, eyes wide open-huge on the other side of the windshield.'  -  It held the promise of a thrilling and interesting read.

What I found within the two hundred and sixty nine page novel was; the (key) characters are rather tragic sheepish souls wondering aimlessly through their own lives, whose relationships are forged in grief and guilt. The storytelling is simple but is considered to be well crafted. The readers will follow the characters as they go through friendships and love affairs; growing up and finding success; marriage and divorce; parenthood, and the tragedies and joys of ordinary days.  

There's Alice a basically sound lesbian that has a deep seated obsession for Maude, is also a gifted artist competing with her egocentric father; loving judgmental Carmen a political activist and then there's  their brother, Nick, a once brilliant astronomer - he may be one of the most interesting characters in this tale, but that may largely be due to his constant drug induced state of mind ,he later  swears off drugs in order to win back Olivia after she’s released from prison, however  his addiction to drugs and alcohol have an even firmer grip on him than super glue on an eyelash. It is through Nick’s drug dependence that readers are able to see how degraded a talented person can become, and how eventually a family can become as equally exasperated with the user because of it.

As for the title it comes from Alice, who says: “Because of the accident, we’re not just separate numbers. When you add us up, you always have to carry the one.”

The author's poetic prose is rather outstanding as she casually writes about these characters without the benefit of any real action - which will keep some readers turning the pages in search of, as they are fall witness to Anshaw's exceptional gift as a wordsmith and the comfort she maintains while utilizing her extensive vocabulary with words such as coalesce (amorphous, fatuous, confluence) with ease and relevance. Nevertheless, I found the story to be rather dry - then again, that is perhaps the writer's intended goal, considering she is telling a story of the ordinary days of a rather ordinary family following an extra ordinary event - the most exciting and entertaining aspect of this read was held hostage within the first few chapters.

My final thoughts, I wanted and needed more zest, at least something that would propel me to want to vigorously flip through the pages, fall in love with the characters and be engaged by the story, alas Carry The One did not carry me through those various stages of interest as I’d hoped. And the book's abrupt ending did not conjure up a sense of satisfaction or the desired anticipation of more.

My Best Friend's Brother - Definitely Can't Be Judged by It's Cover.

My Best Friend's Brother is a short but commanding story surrounding the challenges of friendship, betrayal, forgiveness, and love. 

The main characters in this story are, Mikayla “Mickey” Watson and, Stacy Ann McIntire -"Sam",  they are two women who become fast friends after competing for the same Architect  job and learning  they not only share the same profession, but they happen to be neighbors as well.  Mickey is a church going

Christian committed to remaining abstinent, while Stacy "Sam" on the other hand appears to be a take 'em and leave 'em  kinda Lesbian.  Mickey and Sam were the sister the other never had, they were inseparable and each other's sworn advocate - until Sam's brother, Samuel enters the scene and becomes an intricate part of Mickey's life, while at the same time creating an incredible strain on Sam and Mickey's relationship.

Mickey finds herself  emotionally caught between her lover and best friend - who happen to be twins.  Mickey does not want to lose the friendship she has cultivated with Sam for the past two years nor does she want to let go of the love she's found with Samuel.  Essentially the decision is made for her and with it emotional upheaval and chaos ensues, but nothing prepares her for the heartache she endures at the hands of the pair. 

This is  a entertaining worthwhile story that contains a number of interesting events that take place in the span of this all too short novelette.  Luckily author Makasha Dorsey is a skilled writer and unique story-teller who not only gives readers a glimpse of a relationship between two characters but she also shares with them, a promise of intrigue, romance, secrets and more -making this a novelette equally packed with the same power of a lengthier novel. 

My Best Friend's Brother is an easy read and delightful read that also contains a powerful message of acceptance and tolerance delicately sprinkled throughout with a surprising twist that readers definitely won't see coming.  It is a story readers will enjoy and certainly remember . 

The Hunter

John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author of twenty-two novels has unleashed another mystery thriller; in this his latest novel The Hunter, in which Lescroart takes his readers on a surprising unplanned journey filled with a multitude of twist and turns. The storyline concept is rather interesting -A young wife and mother is brutally murdered in her Bay Area apartment - 40 years later, Private Investigator Wyatt Hunt receives an anonymous text, asking him "Do you know how your mother die?" The texter insist that the murderer is still out there, and is willing to give Hunt clues as to the identity of murderer – but refuses to identify themselves. Also interesting is, the way Lescroart weaves fact with fiction by revisiting the massacre at Jonestown – the cult led by Jim Jones in 1978 where over 900 people died in a mass suicide – the majority of whom were forcibly made to ingest  cyanide  laced Kool-aid.

One can appreciate how Lescroart manages to grab the reader's attention in the first chapter with that short simple text message from an anonymous and untraceable number "How did your mother die?" a question that leads Wyatt and his Hunt Club investigative team on a journey to unravel the mystery of his biological mother's death.

The cold case heats up when Ivan Orloff, Hunt’s newest investigator, gets killed after making seemingly routine inquiries. A relentless search for the killer ensues. The trail of clues continue to twist and turn as they lead from Evie Secrist, Margaret’s best friend, back to the Jonestown mass suicide more than a generation ago, and forward to Evie’s ex-husband Lionel Spencer. However, the trail is infuriatingly cut short, with Spencer’s own death - which is hurriedly written off as a suicide, and the murder mysteries are wrapped up with a neat case-closed-little-bow.

Willing to concede that his mother’s murderer had taken his own life, Wyatt backs off the investigation – until the texter signals him again, to let him know that the killer is not dead. Wyatt finally comes face to face with his anonymous informant, in an attention-grabbing scene. Question is, will the meeting be Wyatt’s last, or will it finally provide a resolution, or will his mother's 40-year old murder continue to remain a mystery?

It is obvious that Lescroart is educated, well-read, and put a tremendous amount of time into his work. However, the multitude of inconsequential characters that the reader has to keep track of as they crawl throughout the story, tend to diminish an otherwise interesting storyline. Furthermore, if at least ninety of those needless pages had been red-lined, The Hunter would have been an even more enjoyable read that moved more effortlessly to conclusion.

Still, Lescroart has crafted a well written book that is a multi-layered mystery that will keep readers guessing, intrigued, and at times frustrated.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Hunter by John Lescroart

Genre: Mystery - Thriller

Publisher: Dutton/Penguin Group

Publication Date: January 2012

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey