Swept Away by Gwynne Forster

Kimani Press, May 2009 (Reprint)
9780373831593
Reviewer: Missy
Rating: 3.5

When Schyuler Henderson, a children's advocate and engineer, learns about the injury of a young girl in foster care, he takes the agency in charge of this girl to task critically injuring the career of Veronica Overton, the head of this child welfare agency. When Veronica learns of the chargers and find herself on the bad end of a major child welfare controversy, she is determine to both clear her name and that of the reputation of the agency. He search for the truth leads her to family secrets and growing attraction for Schyuler Henderson, the man responsible for damaging her career. Schyuler's traumatic past lead him to be a champion for for children. When he learns that Veronica is not the woman he though he was he is determine to help her resolve her past the rebuild her reputation. Will these two find love despite the controversy.

Swept Away starts out slow, but picks up as the book progresses taking readers on an interesting walk through a relationship with large hurtles to overcome. The large array of secondary characters give this story an amazing amount of depth, making the story true to life and enhancing the growing relationship between our hero and heroine. In true Gwynne Foster style all the characters and their stories touch your heart, providing readers with a three dimensional story that will draw you in as your turn the pages.

Life Knows No Bounds: 1 Who Luvs U More

Around-The-Way Publishing, October 2009
9780981837635
Reviewer: LaShonda
Rating: 3.5

Alisa has lived her life as a gold digger. She sets out to use men, determined to live life by the words her great grandmother spoke to her on her death bed, "Always get a man who loves you more than you love him." When Alisa sees that dirty Omar has grown up and come into his own, she sets her sights on making him her latest benefactor.

Omar grew up in the traditional Muslim family, that is until his mother turns to drugs and his father lands in prison. Having risen from the shame of homelessness as a result of his mothers drug use, Omar has his sights set on winning notorious gold digger, Alisa's, heart.

Set in New Jersey during the '80's, 1 Who Luvs U More takes the reader into the world wind life of Omar and Alisa and their struggle to overcome the ghosts of their past. Peppered with moments of pain and personal growth, the presence of the supporting characters adds to the emotion of the story.

While I enjoyed the story I was mildly distracted by the authors style of writing. There were points where the creative use of different font types and the use of certain terms, was not easily understood essentially slowing down my reading pace and distracting me from the story. The issues addressed and the context in which they were handled made this story worth a second glance. I recommend this story to readers looking for something outside the traditional format of urban lit. This story focused more on the people as opposed to the "game". There are enough twist and secrets to hold your interest until the last page.

Basketball Jones by E. Lynn Harris

Doubleday, January 2009
9780767926270
Reviewer: ChiTown Haitienne
Rating: 4

Have you ever wondered about 'the other man' in the relationship with a married man who's afraid to come out of the closet? E. Lynn takes you on a journey inside his world. True to his style, E Lynn gives you an outrageous Queen diva, a confident gay man who let's love take him to a place he thought he'd never venture, and drama with a capital 'D'.

Basketball Jones reminded me of why I love E. Lynn's writing. He does a perfect job of getting the reader to understand the plight of the gay man, whether he's confused or sure in the lifestyle he's chosen, and the characters he creates will have you talking out loud to the book. Despite this not being one of E. Lynn's strongest works, Basketball Jones was an entertaining read in true E. Lynn Harris style.

Permission Slips by Sherri Sherpard

Grand Central Publishing, October 2009
9780446547420
Reviewer: LaShonda
Rating: 3.5

Sherri Shepherd does not claim to have lived a perfect life, nor does she set out to prove that she now has all the answers. Permission slips is a collection of stories, each with their own life lesson thrown in for good measure. From her struggle with growing up Jehovah Witness to her rise to Hollywood fame, Sherri gives us a glimpse inside her growing pains. Her openness and candidness is refreshing and helps to better understand the woman we see five days a week on The View.

If you are thinking this is yet another self help book or a celebrity’s watered down version of their climb to fame, think again. Reading Permissions Slips is like having a conversation with one of your best friends. Broken down into her life’s milestones, this book shows us how Sherri learned to give herself a permission slip to not be perfect.

You will laugh, cry and get mad at Sherri as she sometimes makes the same mistake twice. In all, this is a good read and a great example of why there is really no need to beat yourself up about the mishaps of life. I not only learned a little more about Ms Shephard, but I saw that sometimes I just need to write my own permission slips in life. I recommend this to readers of all genres who may be tired of the cookie cutter celebrity books.

Silken Betrayal by Francis Ray

Kimani Press, Feb 1999
9781583140949
Reviewer: LaShonda
Rating: 4

Lauren Bennett lived a life that consisted of her job as an executive secretary and being a single mother to 5 year old Joshua. Since the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and her mother, Lauren’s main concern has been to keep her son happy and safely away from his father’s influential parents.
Jordan Hamilton was a successful business man with a grudge against Lauren’s father-in-law. Jordan is determined to make him pay for the undo pain and humiliation his greed and lies caused to his family.

Lauren’s plus sized friend Sonja is trying to show her friend that it is ok for her to be a mom and love again. The blossoming love between Lauren and Jordan is mixed with mystery and intrigue as we learn just what harm Lauren’s father-in-law caused and tries to continue to cause in the lives of Jordan and Lauren. The mystery of Jordan’s grudge and how it will affect Lauren keeps you on edge throughout and has you routing for Lauren, Jordan and Joshua.

The relationship that Joshua begins to form with Jordan will pull at your heart strings as Joshua begins to experience things he was missing as a young boy growing up without a dad. Romance lovers will surely enjoy this love story told as only Mrs. Ray can. I recommend this book to readers of romance and Francis Ray. If you are looking to read an erotic work place drama this is the story for you.

Table For Three by Recha G. Peay

Urban Soul: October 2009
978-1599830711
Reviewer: LaShonda
Rating: 4

Shiquanna is an alcoholic exotic dancer with a few high paying dates on the side. She has life demons that she is fighting as she drowns her soul in alcohol. Yvonne is an unemployed CPA whose current stint of charity work at the church is about more than a pure heart. Toting her bible and holy water she is ready to cast out the demons of her friends, but needs to take a closer look at her own demons. India is a professional college student struggling with her identity. She has changed major more often than people change their underwear,

These three women could not be any more different, but life brought them together and love for each other keeps them grounded. Each week they meet to provide whatever intervention they feel must be performed in each others lives. As the story unfolds we find that they all have issues of their own that need to be worked out.

Table for Three is a re-coming of age story about three women approaching milestones in their lives. Shiquanna, India and Yvonne are likable and believable characters. You will find yourself ready to throw the book across the room in frustration as these three women become a part of your own sister-girl fold.

If you enjoy contemporary women’s lit, you will enjoy this tale of growing pains. I recommend this to any one looking to read chick lit without the cookie cutter lifestyles. These women are real and will have you frustrated, laughing and eventually cheering for their Table for Three.

Madam Eve by Eddrick Dejuan

Atonement Publishing, LLC: March 2008
978-0980223842
Reviewer: Tiffany
Rating: 3

Evelyn divorced her retired pro-football player husband when she could no longer deal with his lying and cheating ways. As for their pre-nuptial agreement, the judge ruled in Evelyn's favor due to his treatment of her during their marriage. As a way to “help” other women get back at their cheating husbands, Evelyn decides to open an escort business. But, while she is plotting revenge somehow love happens.

This book rated a 3 for a number of reasons. First, the author could have developed the storyline more. I should have been more of a back story on the relationship between Andrew and his father. Next there were a quiet a few typographical errors. This book was in need of some major editing. And, the last but not least the cover art was just lacking. It looked very basic, dull and did not convey what the story was about. Overall, this was a quick read with a plot that will keep the reader interested.