APOOO » Book Review

Second Chance at Love by Victoria Wells

Donnica Copeland — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:41:25 +0000

Karen Johnston is a young widow with two children. She tries to handle it all herself, but it is becoming apparent each day that her children are in desperate need of a father figure. Dominic Peretti steps in and does just that. Karen is definitely attracted to him but does not want to risk things going wrong and then he is no longer in her children’s life. Little does she know, Dom has already decided he wants this to be his family. Will Karen give in and let true love find her?

Wells takes a refreshing approach to a real love story. It was not overly saturated with drama. I kept waiting for something to happen to tear them apart, but it did not. It was a romantic story with little to no craziness. I recommend this book as a great feel good read.

This book was provided by the author for review purposes only.

Donnica Carter

APOOO BookClub

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Uptown Dreams by Kelli London

Jennifer Coissiere — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:35:01 +0000

Four teenagers, with very different backgrounds aiming for the stars have one thing in common, they all attend Harlem Academy of Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), a very prestigious school. These students have obstacles they will need to overcome in order to be able to achieve their ultimate goals. Uptown Dreams by Kelli London is a journey for these four young adults dreaming big.

La-La is a songstress with beautiful long hair. Her mother enrolls her into CAPA, because it is the way for them to have riches and get out of the hood. However, La-La wishes she could make her sister, Remy, well again. When she arrives at CAPA, La-La comes face-to-face with the one person she cannot stand, Nakeeda, a girl who believes her voice is the best between the two. When La-La stops being afraid of Nakeeda and challenges her to a sing-off, everyone is interested to see who wins. The loser will lose more than just the title of the best singer. Who will take the prize?

Ziggy wants nothing more than to be a choreographer, but in his family a man who dances means he is gay. Ziggy is far from being gay; he loves girls too much. He has his eyes on La-La. While he is trying to get to know her a little better, Ziggy is always thinking of ways to stay in CAPA without his family finding out. He has to come up with his own tuition. The vending table that he owns and is operated by his brother is not bringing in as much as it used to. What will he do to continue to expound his craft?

Reese is an accomplished musician. There are not many instruments that she cannot play. Her mother is the director of CAPA; her mission is to get Reese ready for Juilliard. However, Reese really wants to produce music, but CAPA does not offer a program allowing her to build her skills in that area. Reese sneaks behind her parents’ backs to do what she believes is the greatest part of music. How far will she go to get her name out to the music industry?

Jamaica-Kincaid is a dreadlock wearing, rich, white girl who ran away from her private school to be apart of the CAPA student body. She is broke as she tries to make it on her own in New York. With the help of her older sister, Jamaica-Kincaid was able to get an apartment, but that is as far as her help went. Jamaica-Kincaid bought her silence with the money her parents sent to her. She dreams of being a famous actress and there is not anything she would not do to pursue this dream. However, when her parents want to visit her at school, Jamaica-Kincaid has to think quick. What will she do to keep her secret?

Ms. London really knows how to encourage teenagers to dream big. Uptown Dream was exciting and entertaining to read. I cannot remember being so creative with my way of thinking when I was growing up. I had a difficult time believing some of the things that took place within the story. For example, how was it possible Jamaica-Kincaid was able to runaway from private school without her parents knowing? The story was still a good read, even with all my wondering; and that might be the parent in me. I recommend Uptown Dreams to readers of young-adult fiction and those who appreciate the arts.

The publisher provided a copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Coissiere
APOOO BookClub

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Should Have Known Better by Grace Octavia

Jennifer Coissiere — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:30:12 +0000

Dawn, a devoted wife and mother, puts her family first. She does not make any qualms about being a part of a not-so-wealthy working class family. It was not until Dawn’s college roommate, Sasha, called to say she was coming for a visit that Dawn started to wonder if she could have had more than what she had settled for. In Grace Octavia’s Should Have Known Better, Dawn will have to endure some things in order to realize the truth about who she is and what she is capable of when she puts her mind to it.

Dawn and Reginald are parents to 10 year-old twins, R.J. and Cheyenne. Dawn works in a small local branch library and Reginald runs his own landscaping business. Dawn is very supportive of Reginald, but one would not say the same thing about him of her. Reginald is the type of man who prefers his wife at home, taking care of the children and the household necessities. Dawn needs to work to feel like she is doing something to add to their lifestyle. In all honesty, if she did not work their bills would be stacked to the ceiling. She never complains about her situation; she just deals with it the best way she can.

Dawn’s world is jostled the moment Sasha shows up at her door. Reginald does not care for Sasha, however, for Dawn’s sake he tries to tolerate her. Reginald’s actions towards Sasha could be interpreted as a person who is jealous. Sasha works for CNN and while Reginald is admiring what Sasha has, she is observing what Dawn has. Poor unsuspecting Dawn does not see all of what is really going on right before her eyes. Everything that used to be very clear seems hazy and obscured. What could the presence of an old friend do to a husband who had a devoted wife?

Ms. Octavia built the tension and then teased me with a resolution only to add more depth to the story causing additional tension. My emotions were all over the place due to the hand being dealt to Dawn. The things she had to endure all of her life seemed unfair. The title was very befitting, because I found myself saying, “Girl, you should have known better than to do that.” I recommend Should Have Known Better to readers looking for a book that will have them talking out loud.

The publisher provided a copy of the book for review purposes.

Jennifer Coissiere
APOOO BookClub

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All About Nikki: The Fabulous First Season by Shawn James

Jennifer Coissiere — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:24:21 +0000

All About Nikki: The Fabulous First Season by Shawn James is the second teleplay I have read. Mr. James also wrote the first one, where the main character, Nikki, was introduced to me briefly. Nikki was a fictional character being played by an actress named Marilyn Marie. Now Nikki has gotten a life of her own and she believes everything should be all about her and no one else.

After Nikki’s parents got a divorce, custody was awarded to her mother. However, her mother was all about business and money, so she sent Nikki to boarding schools. Due to the distance, Nikki and her mother’s emotional relationship suffered. When Nikki got kicked out of yet another boarding school, her mother sent her to live with her father in California. She thought she was punishing Nikki, but she could not be further from the truth.

Donald Desmond, Nikki’s father, was more than happy to take on the responsibility of raising his daughter. He used the time he was given to teach Nikki the right way to go about earning and giving respect. Donald wants nothing more than to change her from her stuck-up, disrespectful ways. However, it will not be as easy as he thinks. Will Donald have to use the old-fashioned belt to get Nikki to learn the proper way to treat people?

Mr. James provides me with a different type of reading experiences with his teleplays. I enjoy them and like being able to picture more of the scenes and the characters’ actions without the added inflictions from the author. With all that said, there were some errors that needed corrections. There was one thing that stopped me in my flow of reading, causing me to turn back to an earlier episode (instead of chapters there are episodes). That thing was a repetitive beginning to two different episodes. I almost did not read the second one because I was certain it was the same one with a different episode title. However, I pushed through and enjoyed the episode. That one needed a little more creativity for the beginning, otherwise the entire teleplay was entertaining and at times emotional and/or funny. I recommend All About Nikki: The Fabulous First Season to readers of plays, young adult books and sitcom watchers.

The author provided a copy of the book for review purposes.

Jennifer Coissiere
APOOO BookClub

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Savvy, Sassy and Bold by Vicki Ward

Sharel Gordon-Love — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:19:00 +0000

I would often hear my grandmother say that youth is wasted on the young because of the silly choices that are made and the carefree attitude that usually accompanies it. Author Vicki Ward’s Savvy, Sassy and Bold After 50 supports this statement for me.

When growing up, 50 was considered old and just about at the end of one’s life, but I am here to tell you that reading Author Ward’s book is proof that life is just beginning with a whole lot more to boot. She shares the importance of maintaining good health, finances and retirement, as well as aging and independence, among other topics. In particular, I love the fact that it is noted that aging is “a new stage of opportunity and strength.”

There is a wealth of encouraging information, including a state resource guide and online resources that will be helpful to any woman who may need them.

I enjoyed reading Savvy, Sassy and Bold as I myself embark on the age of 50, causing me to think to myself, “If I knew then what I know now…” Who says you stop living because your life is about to go to the next level? I recommend this book to women, and especially women entering or in their 50s.

This book was provided to me courtesy of the author for review purposes.

Review by Sharel E. Gordon-Love
APOOO BookClub

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Paper Cut: A Forbidden Love Story by L’Nora

Cheryl Hayes — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:13:57 +0000

Paper Cut: A Forbidden Love Story by L’Nora is a gripping tale surrounded by hidden skeletons, detrimental secrets, scandal and family history. Paper Cut is a fast-paced novel that will have you holding your breath, wondering what would you do if you were in the situation and praying for the best.

Miranda and Mark are the main characters who to outsiders appear to share a loving relationship, but deep down they both have some issues and secrets they are not ready to disclose to the other. Will love prevail?

Cheating, lying and blatant disrespect drips through these pages as lies are tossed between husband and wife. Who is cheating, who is not? Who is the father?

I was holding on to my seat in anticipation, trying to guess what was going to happen next. Paper Cuts by L’Nora is an intriguing, exciting and down-right crazy love story that will have you asking yourself: Did that really happen?

I recommend this novel to readers of all genres.

Reviewed by:
Cheryl Hayes
APOOO BookClub

Book received courtesy of the author

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Brighter Side of Darkness by Sylvia Lucas

Sharel Gordon-Love — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:07:12 +0000

In her pursuit of realizing her dream, Donna Brown almost lost her life before she could really get started, but she used it as a pivotal moment. She lived her life by moving to Dallas to become a news anchor in Sylvia Lucas’s Brighter Side of Darkness.

Donna did not just escape the horrible moment she experienced in her adult life, but a childhood that left her questioning her paternal heritage, the rough life she lived before her mother’s death, and the drastic change she and her sister went through when they went to live with her grandmother.

In spite of the accomplishments Donna made, there were still things from her past casting a dark shadow on her life, not to mention the twists and turns that seemed to crowd her adult life. Will Donna ever be able to make heads or tails of her life, or will she always look for the light at the end of a dark tunnel?

I enjoyed reading Brighter Side of Darkness because of the view from someone who had to deal with always identifying herself because of her heritage. Looks can be deceiving; the color of our skin and the texture of our hair does not define us, but it is the person that lives within. I recommend this book to anyone who loves family drama.

This book was provided to me courtesy of the author for review purposes.

Review by Sharel E. Gordon-Love
APOOO BookClub

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The Other Side of Through by Michelle Donice

Leona Romich — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:59:38 +0000

The Other Side of Through by Michelle Donice tells the story of a young woman by the name of Jessie Winters. From the outside looking in, Jessie looks happy, with a great husband, a healthy daughter, and a decent career. What looks good on the outside is far from reality. Jessie spends her days going through the motions. She is distant from her husband and aloof from her daughter. Restlessness nights with tossing and turning has her wondering the true nature of her unhappiness. Could it stem from the roots of her past?

When she meets a handsome stranger by the name of Marcus Demmings, the two are instantly drawn to one another. Although Jessie knows deep down it is wrong, she cannot help the sexual attraction between them and thus begins the affair. The excitement of their sexual trysts are enough for Jessie not to think of the potential consequences of her actions. For the first time Jessie feels good. When Marcus stops returning her calls all of a sudden because of his obligations to someone else, Jessie does not know if she is coming or going. Her emotions are on high and she is forced to really take a look at her life, the past and the present in order to make a decision about her future.

The Other Side of Through by Michelle Donice was a good debut novel. It is a novel any woman from all walks of life can relate to. It has the realism of true-to-life circumstances, spirituality and a little magic thrown in the mix. The negatives within the novel were: confusing scenes, not knowing whether the scene in the book was refering to the past or the present, or which character
was speaking. There were a couple scenes that I wondered what it actually had to do with the story because it was briefly noted but never came back up later in the story. There are also a few minor editing issues but they do not necessarily take away from the story. All-in-all this was a good read.

This book was provided by the author for review purposes.

Reviewed by Leona
APOOO BookClub

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Book Review for Bluesday by Adrienne Thompson

Priscilla Johnson — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:52:37 +0000

Adrienne Thompson, in Bluesday, introduces readers to blues singer Bobbie Blue Ann Brooks. Bobbie was not your ordinary blues singer. Named after her father’s favorite singer, Bobbie Blue Bland, she could belt out a song that made folks cry. She was making records, touring and living the life she dreamed. But, Bobbie Ann was not happy. Her husband, Clyde Morgan, who was also her manager, was acting strange and one of her back up singers was frequently a no show. Bobbie Ann was drinking far too much. Her world came crashing when she received a certified letter. Bobbie was forced to return to her home town in Arkansas to face her demons and unlock the secret to her unhappiness.

Thompson delivered a very realistic story of a woman who has buried secrets deep within her heart. She had to find strength to understand her childhood and the reasons she made the decision and mistakes in her life. The story was very haunting but it held my interest until the very end.

This book was provided by the author for review purposes only.

Priscilla C. Johnson
APOOO BookClub

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When She Woke by Hilary Jordan

Lena Willis — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:49:01 +0000

Hillary Jordan, the author of When She Woke, takes her readers into a hypothesized United States, the conservative right-wing winning several elections through the years and gaining complete control over the country until it becomes more Puritanical than anything else.

Hannah Payne, once a young woman truly devoted to her church and her family, wakes to find herself a “Chrome.” Melachroming is the government’s chosen method of identifying, tracking and controlling criminals. The process involves altering the pigment of a criminal’s skin to coincide with the type of crime they were found guilty of. For example: Yellows generally committed misdemeanors, Oranges committed felonies; Blues were child molesters and Reds were murderers. In this time frame, Roe v. Wade is overturned and abortion is considered murder, hence, Hannah is a “Red” because she had an abortion.

Depending on their color, Chromes are often discriminated against and shunned by the general public and even other Chromes. It is not unusual to be unableto use certain gas stations, public restrooms or restaurants because you are a Chrome. Chromes are often abused, raped and even murdered, with very little protection from the police. Sometimes, Chromes can rely on each other, especially if they are the same color. Life as a Chrome is difficult and nothing like being a criminal on probation or parole today. Finding unemployment and housing is not likely if you are a Chrome and because of this, many of them live on Skid Row.

After reading Mudbound, which I thoroughly enjoyed as I love historical fiction, this book took me on a completely different ride. If you are looking for a Mudbound-type read, this is not it. But, this one did not disappoint either. This book was descriptive by putting me in the Chrome facility to the halfway house and on the rest of Hannah’s journey. I became completely engrossed in the characters, not just with Hannah, but wanting to know how each one fared and Hillary Jordan delivered. This is a politically-charged read that requires an open mind and an active imagination. I commend Ms. Jordan for her courage in writing this; while the theme is familiar, it was timely.

Reviewed by Lena Willis
APOOO Literary Zone
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APOOO » Book Review

Second Chance at Love by Victoria Wells

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