APOOO » Buzzes & Reviews http://www.apooobooks.com Celebrating African American Literature. Promoting Our Voices. Showcasing Our Stories. Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:41:25 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels-Young http://www.apooobooks.com/murder-pamela-samuelyoung/ http://www.apooobooks.com/murder-pamela-samuelyoung/#comments Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:19:36 +0000 APOOO http://www.apooobooks.com/?p=1989 Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels-Young is a post from: APOOO

]]> I finished this book this weekend and what a treat! I hate using the cliched term “page turner” but honestly cannot come up with a more appropriate adjective to describe this latest release from Pamela Samuels Young. I was engaged from page one and my interest was held to the very last page.

I will say, I did not read this book immediately after I got it mainly because I swore off “down low” books a long time ago. For a minute there, it seemed every author out there was writing about the down low phenomenon or had at least one “down low ” character. To me, it was played out as a plot concept. However, Murder on the Down Low is a mystery. Need I say more? Well developed characters, multi-layered plot, tight writing.  My rating…a 4.5. Thanks Rozz for encouraging me to move it up on my TBR list.
 
Side note: I had the pleasure of attending the author’s book launch party and bought this book and got it signed at the event. Not only is Pamela a very nice, approachable author, but she can write a darn good mystery. While she self-published the book and it goes for $14.95 (paperback), I would have gladly paid for a hardcover. Mainstream publishers surely missed the boat here if they did not offer her a deal for this.
 
Joan

APOOO BookClub

CLICK HERE to purchase a copy of Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young.

Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels-Young is a post from: APOOO

Related Posts

]]> http://www.apooobooks.com/murder-pamela-samuelyoung/feed/ 4 APOOO Speaks Out About The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper http://www.apooobooks.com/apooo-speaks-house-sugar-beach-helene-cooper/ http://www.apooobooks.com/apooo-speaks-house-sugar-beach-helene-cooper/#comments Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:48:16 +0000 APOOO http://www.apooobooks.com/?p=1724 APOOO Speaks Out About The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper is a post from: APOOO

]]> The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper is the October BOM for APOOO BookClub.  Provided below is a sneak peek from APOOO book club member Beverly.  Feel free to read…she doesn’t give away any spoilers.

I actually finished Sugar Beach last night.
 
I am still settling some thoughts in my mind but here are a couple w/o spoiling the story for those who have not read it:
 
-If I had to rate the book on the first 100 pages it would be have been a “3″ but after finishing it will probably be around a “4″.
 
- Some of the story was personal for me as my mother grew up in the Caribbean in a somewhat privileged environment so it was interesting to see the similarities in the childhood and reactions to events in their childhood.
 
- The writing was good but she is a journalist so it was expected.
 
- Did a very good job of speaking in a child’s voice–very believable–and when she switched to an adult’s voice that was also believable
 
- She told the story without apology and without second guessing her choices in life and her family’s situation.
 
- Provided information for those who do not know about Liberia – but I will still do some more research to add to what I know and hopefully to answer some of the questions I have.
 
- I think there is much in this book to discuss, e.g.:  I was surprised that these “Ameicans” who came to Liberia to escape prized their “whiteness” but were light-skinned.

Okay, I just went over to amazon.com to pull the book cover and while I was over there I noticed that this book was not only ranked #385 (YGG) but also that all six reviewers gave it five (5) stars.  I’m looking forward to reading it…and now hope that it lives up to my expectations…esp. since this book has been hyped so much.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

What say so…do you plan to read The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper?  APOOO wants to know why or why not.  Share with us.

APOOO Speaks Out About The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper is a post from: APOOO

Related Posts

]]> http://www.apooobooks.com/apooo-speaks-house-sugar-beach-helene-cooper/feed/ 9 Seduction by Geneva Holliday http://www.apooobooks.com/seduction-geneva-holliday/ http://www.apooobooks.com/seduction-geneva-holliday/#comments Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:25:41 +0000 APOOO http://www.apooobooks.com/?p=1688 Seduction by Geneva Holliday is a post from: APOOO

]]> Looking for a good entertainment read…full of Geneva’s wit and sense of humor…with a couple of LOL moments?  Here’s what an APOOO reviewer had to say about Seduction by Geneva Holliday.

I finished Seduction by Geneva Holliday…I’d rate it a 3/3.5.  This is the same modus operandi of Geneva Holliday – it centers on another “underdog” of a woman, Mildred Johnson, who suffers from obesity, low self-esteem, lack of fashion sense, and many dateless nights.  She develops a crush on the new guy at her Investment firm who is a charming, heartless, selfish, broke gigolo in the body of a chocolate Adonis.  Of course, when he needs Mildred’s help to swindle funds from the company, he seduces her, she agrees to help under the guise of marriage and of course, he breaks her heart. She is devastated but as fate would have it; she is given an opportunity to dish out some karmic revenge….and as Grandma Puddin’ says, she “puts it on him” in a real bad way.

Seduction made APOOO’s recommended summer read list…but it is an EPO (entertainment purposes only) read that can be read on any lazy day or when you want something light-hearted to read.
 
Has anyone else read it?  Share your thoughts.

Seduction by Geneva Holliday is a post from: APOOO

Related Posts

]]> http://www.apooobooks.com/seduction-geneva-holliday/feed/ 0 Coming Soon: Queen Bitch…(Part 4) by Deja King http://www.apooobooks.com/coming-queen-bitchpart-4-joy-king/ http://www.apooobooks.com/coming-queen-bitchpart-4-joy-king/#comments Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:22:54 +0000 APOOO http://www.apooobooks.com/?p=1679 Coming Soon: Queen Bitch…(Part 4) by Deja King is a post from: APOOO

]]> Hot off the Press…APOOO just received the following information on Deja King’s upcoming release, Queen Bitch.  Any King fans on board?  What’s your favorite King book?
 
Queen Bitch…(Part 4) by Deja King
In Queen Bitch, Precious has lost it all, her daughter, Aaliyah, the love of her life, Supreme, and the luxurious lifestyle she’s grown accustomed to. The perpetrator of her demise is the very person she called family—Maya. Precious learns the hard way, it’s true what they say, blood is thicker than water, as Maya aligns herself with her brother, Pretty Boy Mike.
 
As Precious fights to escape the death sentence that awaits her, Maya is plotting to steal the life she believes is rightfully hers. But Precious has no plans of relinquishing her crown. She is willing to do anything, to make sure Maya pays for the deceit and devastation she has caused her family.
 
With the cards stacked against her, Precious has to gamble it all and use the only weapon she has left—her street savvy brains to outwit the most dangerous enemies she’s encountered yet. In this game where the winner takes all, who will come out on top—the mentor or the protégé? Because there can only be one Queen Bitch.
 
Title:  Queen Bitch (Part 4)
ISBN :0975581155
Publisher:  King Productions
Release Date:  November 28, 2008
Marketing & Promotions:  T-communcations

Coming Soon: Queen Bitch…(Part 4) by Deja King is a post from: APOOO

Related Posts

]]> http://www.apooobooks.com/coming-queen-bitchpart-4-joy-king/feed/ 0