The Hood Life: A Bentley Manor Tale By Meesha Mink and De'Nesha Diamond

Touchstone: January 2009
978-1416577096
Reviewer: Lashonda
Rating: 4

Move over ladies of Bentley Manor, the men of Bentley Manor are out to tell their story and it is HOT! Spinning a tale of sex, drugs and drama, Meesha and De'Nesha skillfully lure you into the lives of four men with roots in Bentley Manor. Although this book follows behind the highly acclaimed Desperate Hoodwives and Shameless Hoodwives, The Hood Life as it does not read like a sequel.


Tavon, The Pimp, has made pimping a family business. Taking it to another level as his extravagant lifestyle remains a blend of his business and personal life. His balance is thrown for a tailspin with the unexpected arrival of a bundle of joy...a teen-aged bundle of joy. This leaves Tavon wondering, how does a pimp raise a teenage daughter?

Demarcus, The Killer, fresh from his stint in prison, is out to prove that he is a changed man. Determined to live right, Demarcus starts his day with prayer and hits the streets preaching to others from his Quran. Yet he still struggles to release the demons from his past life. Not able to find a job and tired of feeling like less than a man, the lure of fast, money is around every corner. Will a chance for one quick move to escape The Hood Life be stronger than the will to live a new life?

Kaseem, The Dealer, is fighting a battle of his own. Not your normal dealer, Kaseem finds himself challenged by those around him who want him to come hard. With the unexpected arrival of an infant son, and a baby momma strung out on crack, irony has come knocking on Kaseem's door. Will he leave the game before the game consumes him.

Rhakmon, The Playa, is a character in himself. Getting what he can from women is the name of his game. No woman is safe from his hustling, including his current girlfriend. Determined to use what he has to get what he wants, Rhakmon ask his girlfriend to make the ultimate sacrifice to save himself.You will not be disappointed with this book. It will have you gripping the pages as you watch the story unfold. Get ready to dive into the drama that is fitting of Bentley Manor.

You will be amazed at the lengths these men go through as they strive to live The Hood Life.

We Take This Man by Candice Dow and Daaimah S. Poole

Grand Central Publishing - January 2009
978-0446501835

Reviewed by: TS

Rating: 3

This was one for the record books for sure…and not in a good way. I love these two authors but We Take This Man left a bad taste in my mouth. The writing is stellar as you would expect from Dow and Poole, but the subject matter . . . well let's just say I think it kind of knocks us women back a few decades. I don't want to get on my soap box, so I'll keep this review short and sweet.

Ms. Dow and Ms.Poole's collaboration was nicely written and a very cohesive story. This book takes the whole idea of "man-sharing" to the next level. The story is told from the point of view of the two women who want the same man. The story begins from Tracy's point of view, who is already married to Dwight. Next enters Alicia who falls in love with him and ends up wanting him to herself. From there things get crazy and never stop. We Take This Man is loaded with drama and will keep you reading just to see what happens. Unfortunately I was left unfulfilled at the end of the book.

Give this book a try if you're up for some controversial drama!