Urban Reviews - Your Source for the Best in AA Fiction!

Latisha N. Patterson -  Airing Out Dirty Laundry -  Available Now! -  5 out of 5 books -  Five friends with different personalities and lifestyles are thicker than thieves. Damisha, Kori, Jamyya, Skye, and Jasmine each have a secret in one way, shape or form. But like the old saying goes, “What’s done in the dark will come to light.” Skye has the perfect life looking from the outside. She has a career, a caring boyfriend and a wonderful child. But no one knows the hell that Skye is secretly living in. Omar is controlling, insecure and is constantly stalking her every move. Will these issues eventually tear at their tight relationship? Will Skye reach her breaking point and fall into the arms of another man? Damisha has never been the settling down type. Her philosophy is to beat a man at his own game. Damisha slowly finds her life is spiraling out of control when she realizes she is falling in love with two men. Will Damisha choose the good guy, or will...

Age Lavelle -  Spring Fling -  Available Now! -  4 out of 5 books -  I didn’t know what to expect when I began reading Spring Fling by Age Lavelle. All I can say is to keep your seatbelt on because this book is full of twists and turns. Alisha is a college student who has everything going for her: looks, brains and a great relationship with her boyfriend, Deonte. But things are not always what they seem. Deonte is a star athlete who everyone is rooting to go pro. He has every woman at his disposal, but Alisha is who he chose. Deonte tries to do everything right, but his addiction to woman, sex, and trying to keep a deep dark secret will cause a tornado of effects. Spring Fling was a read that I would definitely recommend. Age Lavelle touched on many subjects and showed that a person is only skin deep, and sometimes a person will act the way you want them to, even though their true feelings lie somewhere else. Suppressing your true feelings can be a bomb...

Ice-T -  ICE: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption-from South Central to Hollywood -  Available Now! -  5 out of 5 books -  ICE is a memoir from rapper/actor ICE-T. ICE-T talks about everything in this book. From his childhood to his current life, readers really get to know ICE-T the man as well as the celebrity. He gives you a bird's eye view of the music industry and how he transitioned into an acting career. ICE-T even talks about fatherhood and the complications that come with it, which people will be able to relate to. He gives you a behind the scenes look at the hit TV show Law & Order SVU as well as the movie New Jack City. ICE is a good memoir for anyone who wanted to get to know the raw and uncut ICE-T. Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert of Urban Reviews Order your copy of ICE today!

Tyrese Gibson -  How to Get Out of Your Own Way -  Available Now! -  4 out of 5 books -  How to Get Out of Your Own Way is a memoir by Tyrese Gibson, and it's about different lessons in life and love. Gibson talks about his own struggles in his personal and professional career and how he learned from them. He gives very sound advice on a multitude of issues such as finding one's purpose, watching the five people you hang around, and how to be a master of your own environment. This book is in no way preachy, which is wonderful. The thing that would have made this book a little better is if there was a little more back story to how Tyrese achieved success in the music industry. How to Get Out of Your Own Way is a good first effort for Tyrese Gibson. Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert of Urban Reviews Order your copy of How to Get Out of Your Own Way today!    

William Fredrick Cooper -  One Season (In Pinstripes): A Memoir -  Available Now! -  4 out of 5 books -  One Season (in Pinstripes ) is a true story about author William Fredrick Cooper's job as a maintenance attendant during the inaugural season at the new Yankee Stadium. This story is peppered with Cooper's own personal life experiences as well as interesting baseball facts. It's like you're right there with Cooper as he interacts with various celebrities and public figures at the stadium. You can tell that this author has a real love for the game and for life. You can almost hear the roar of the crowd during the baseball games while reading this book. One Season ( in Pinstripes) is the perfect book for any sports fan. Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert of Urban Reviews Order your copy of One Season (In Pinstripes): A Memoir today!

Kimberla Lawson Roby -  Secret Obsession -  Available Now! -  4 out of 5 books -  Paige Donahue has always been jealous of her sister, Camille, since they were kids. Paige always felt that her parents doted on Camille more than her, and she has always resented her for that. Paige feels that Camille's life should be hers and devises a plan to take her brother-in-law away from her sister. But when her plan backfires, Paige goes down a dark and twisted road that no one is prepared for. Secret Obsession is an interesting story about what happens when jealously and envy rears its ugly head. You can tell from the very first page that Paige is a very disturbed woman who is not at all happy with her life. The lengths that Paige goes through to steal Camille's husband in this book will leave you in shock. There is also a dark family secret that is revealed that really ties this whole storyline together. Kimberla Lawson Roby has brought us another winner with Secr...

Tavorris Robinson -  The Deadman's Curve -  Available Now! -  3 out of 5 books -  Christopher “Bird” Clark is a man that started in the streets hustling as a young man. Wanting to get away from the street life, Bird decides to finish high school and go to college to further his education. A chance meeting with an older fellow student pulls him right back to the streets. Bird eventually grows up to be a dominant force in the streets, but at what cost? With old enemies plotting against him, Bird fears for the life of his family as well as his own. The Deadman’s Curve is an interesting tale about a young man who has to choose between the streets or living life on the straight and narrow. Robinson did a good job with the development of characters for this story, but there were a few editing issues. Throughout the book, it was hard to tell when things were occurring and how much time had passed. It is mentioned in the beginning of the book that Bird was thinki...

Amaleka McCall -  Hard Candy -  Available Now! -  4 out of 5 books -  Candice Hardaway is the daughter of a New York kingpin that had plenty of money and influence. Candy's world turns upside down when she comes home from school and finds out that her whole family has been murdered. Dazed and confused, Candy turns to her hitman uncle, Rock, for support. Rock had performed many hits for Candy's father over the years. When he took Candy in, she wanted Rock to teach her how to get revenge on her family's killers. Candy goes out and vows to take out everyone responsible for murdering her family. But does she have enough skills to take down these vicious killers by herself? Amaleka McCall shows us what can happen when someone is out for revenge with Hard Candy. You see the growth of Candy from a scared teen girl to a young woman on a warpath to avenge the deaths of her family. This story moves at a good pace and readers really need to pay attention to this sto...

Dwayne S. Joseph -  Eye For An Eye -  Available Now! -  5 out of 5 books -  Lisette is back to help wives teach their husbands a lesson. But this time Lisette has other partners to help her out. All is going well until they get a request from a woman that Lisette is a little leery about, but she accepts the case anyway. The business gets dangerous as someone from Lisette's past is out for revenge and is determined to make Lisette pay with her life. Eye for an Eye is the perfect sequel to Home Wrecker by Dwayne S. Joseph. Although her actions are quite dubious, Lisette is a character that you will root for until the very end. There is a lot of surprising twists in this story that will have you on the edge of your seat and yelling at the book. Joseph did an excellent job of providing a true conclusion to this story. Eye for an Eye is a fast paced page-turner by Dwayne S. Joseph. Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert of Urban Reviews Order your copy of Eye For An E...

Tracy Brown -  Aftermath -  Available Now! -  4 out of 5 books -  Misa has confessed to murdering Steven Bingham, her sister Camille's brother-in-law, for abusing her son. Meanwhile, Camille's husband, Frankie, is out for revenge against Misa for the murder of his brother. But Frankie has other issues when Camille announces to him and his mistress that she's pregnant. Misa and Camille's friends, Dominique and Toya, are back with their own set of problems. Dominique's daughter is suddenly missing, and someone from Toya's past comes back into her life that she's not prepared for. Aftermath is a decent sequel to Snapped by Tracy Brown. This book picks right back up where the prior book leaves off. All of the beloved and hated characters are back, and they're still trying to solve their issues. The majority of the storyline was dominated by Misa's trial, while the other characters' stories seem to be almost secondary. Camille was acting s...

Monique D. Mensah -  Smoke Screen -  Available Now! -  5 out of 5 books -  It is ten years later and Simone, Ryan, Lauren, and Jessica are back. Simone has dedicated her life to counseling young girls who have been sexually abused. Simone is very satisfied with her work, but her mother Jessica wants her to settle down with one man. But Simone enjoys her no-strings attached conquests. Jessica is finding superstardom due to killing her husband and a reality TV show is in the works. Lauren is a defense attorney whose job is suddenly eating away at her consciousness. Ryan is married but is longing for a baby although her biological clock is winding down. In the midst of all of this, there is a female serial killer on the loose known as the Man-eater who seems to be on a killing spree of various men. The question is: Who is it? Smoke Screen is an explosive sequel to Who is He to You by Monique D. Mensah. Although this is a sequel, you do not need to read the ...

G. A. Peach -  Hot-N-Heavy -  Available Now! -  4 out of 5 books -  Tabitha, Janelle, Kym, and Renee are four plus-sized beauties with even bigger problems. Tabitha owns a successful clothing boutique and life for her is great. She may have found the perfect man, but she may have let him slip through her fingers. Now Tabitha will stop at nothing to get him back. Janelle is having trouble keeping her husband's attention due to his extra-marital affair. All hell breaks loose when Janelle finds out who the other woman is. Kym is too busy trying to keep her risky alternative lifestyle a secret. Renee has had a history of bad relationships and is just looking for true love. Will she ever find it? Scandal, blackmail, and deceit are the words that best describes the storyline of Hot-N-Heavy. This group of friends have a multitude of problems and situations that aren't always shared among them. G.A. Peach did a good job with the overall storyline in this book...

Michelle Janine Robinson -  More Than Meets The Eye -  Available Now! -  4 out of 5 books -  Belinda Wilson is a freelance writer that recently took an assignment to find out what is happening to the growing number of unidentified missing persons in New York City. After a very vivid dream, Belinda wakes up one morning and finds scratches and bruises all over her body. She taps into a world of demons that must survive on sex and prey on humans to do this. Belinda is entering a dangerous world because someone very close to her is not who she thought they were. Will she find out the truth before it's too late? More Than Meets the Eye is an entertaining supernatural thriller by Michelle Janine Robinson. Robinson flexed her creative muscles by introducing us to the disturbing world of demons, incubus, and succubus. Some of the scenes in this book are so disturbing that it will scare the pants off you. By the end of the book, it seems like there could be a sma...

Kayla Perrin -  Winter Break -  Available Now! -  4 out of 5 books -  Didi Randall's world is turned upside down when her boyfriend, Drake, is the subject of a horrible rumor on campus. In order to get their relationship back on track, Didi and Drake decide to accompany their fellow classmates on a winter cruise. But when Didi wakes up one morning and discovers that Drake is missing, she has to figure out if he went overboard by accident or if it was murder. Winter Break is an intriguing thriller about a vacation going all the way wrong. Kayla Perrin does a good job of mixing a bit of romance with some serious suspense. Perrin also provided wonderful character development in this story. You will be glued to the pages as the twisted plot in this story unfolds. Winter Break is another winner for Kayla Perrin. Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert of Urban Reviews Order your copy of Winter Break today!

Danielle Santiago -  Allure of the Game -  Available Now! -  4 out of 5 books -  Arnessa Binds is a young woman who is forced to make money on the streets in order for her and her little sister, Cenise, to survive. Arnessa prides herself on hustling while still keeping a low profile. But when her muscle gets locked up and rival drug dealers want to take over her blocks, Arnessa needs more than just her street smarts to make it. Butta enters the picture and backs Arnessa in the streets. But sparks fly between Butta and Arnessa off the streets as well. Kisa Kane is married with two children and has settled down in Charlotte, North Carolina. But Kane soon realizes that the allure of the game she and her cousin Kennedy left behind is too strong to ignore. Unbeknownst to Kane and Kennedy, there is a snitch among their crew who is helping to take down their empire. Allure of the Game is the long-awaited conclusion to this three part series by Danielle Santiag...

Noel Dejesus -  Sexed By Six -  Available Now! -  2.5 out of 5 books -  Each character's actions in Sexed By Six were based off their impulses, and rather than making mature decisions, they impulsively did whatever they wanted. Of the six main characters, all but one had the ability to resist his impulses and care enough about consequences to think through an act. After four years of dating, Jasmine (Jazz) is still looking for Jay to settle down and put a ring on her finger. What Jazz doesn’t seem to get is at this time, Jay has it all and there really isn’t any incentive to marry. She’s beautiful, he’s calling her his fiancé, and he has a host of friends and a great job. But still, he wants more and continues to satisfy his impulses outside of the relationship. Once again, Jay is on the prowl, adding yet another notch in his playa belt. This time he meets a stranger who turns his life upside down. But karma is something different, and it is written that ...

Timothy Michael Carson -  Love's Damage -  Available Now! -  2 out to 5 books -  Love's Damage by Timothy Michael Carson tells the story of Kenton, Anjel and Shawna and the ups and downs of their love relationships. Kenton thinks he has found love, but when the person he loves the most commits the ulitimate betrayal, it scars Kenton and hardens his heart against love. He begins to meet his conquests online and only one person seems to capture his heart, but it may be too late. After his many sexual trysts, he realizes too late that he could have had a shot at true love. Will he be able to let go of his past hurts to move forward and give love another shot? Anjel refuses to accept the fact that her former fiancee no longer wants her. Anjel is determined to get him back, no matter what she has to do...even if it means slashing his tires. Anjel is borderline crazy in love...literally. Shawna is Kenton's cousin. After being heartbroken, Shawna de...

Tha Twinz -  Crime Pays -  Available Now -  2 out of 5 books -  Manny Black came to the United States from Colon, Panama for a better way of living. He dreams of becoming rich, no matter how he has to do it, even if it means robbery and/or murder. After crossing paths with a dangerous group of Cubans, he is put in a position that will soon make him and his brother Rico a lot of money, so much money in fact that with more money comes more problems. Rico does not know the extent that Manny has to go to in order to get the drugs from the connect. The primo cocaine that they have comes from more than just that of money. Rico is Manny's hotheaded brother. Manny is the brains behind the the organization and leader of the M3 Boys, while Rico is the one that handles the ins and outs of the daily operations. When the crime family, the Marielitos, come to the brothers to tell them to stay off their turf, Rico pulls the trigger and kills one of their lieutenant...

L.S. Childers -  A Love Built to Last -  Available Now! -  5 out of 5 books -  Melody Cannon has returned home. The awkward, ugly duckling turned swan left her high profile life in L.A. to start the next chapter in her life. That chapter, however, did not include her childhood nemesis, Clayton Reed. Melody has always been a thorn in Clayton's side. Twenty-five years later, there is still no difference. As long as they stay away from one another, they can co-exist in the same town. All that ends when Melody finds herself in need of an architect again, which just happens to be Clay's line of work. When both of their mothers suggest they work together, Melody and Clayton knew it was a horrible idea. No one could have predicted just how bad! However, somewhere between the insults and name calling, love happened. The question is, will Melody and Clayton realize it before it's too late? A Love Built to Last was an excellent read! Childers did an awesome job w...

Moses Miller -  The Trifecta -  Available Now! -  5 out of 5 books -  Nathan "Nan" Jones is reunited with his family and is living the quiet life in rural South Carolina. Nan thinks that he can finally breathe easy and live a normal life. But he is thrust into the line of fire again when he has to return to Brooklyn to take care of some unfinished business. The question becomes whether Nan be able to return to South Carolina unscathed. The Trifecta is the explosive third installment to the Nan series. Moses Miller picks up right where The Game of Trife ends, and it holds your attention until the very last page. This story is full of the cinema type action that is found in the previous novels, coupled with an interesting cast of old and new characters. The Trifecta is so good that readers will be satisfied with this book but will be a little sad that this is the end of the series. Moses Miller has proved once again that he is a master storyteller that wi...

Cairo -  Deep Throat Diva -  Available Now! -  5 out of 5 books -  Pasha is a successful owner of a trendy hair salon and is engaged to the love of her life, Jasper. Everything seems perfect until Jasper is sent to prison for four years. Pasha promises to do his time with him and to stay faithful. But Pasha is lonely and decides to keep her promise to Jasper by keeping her legs closed and let her mouth get all of the action...literally. Pasha thinks she has everything under control until her fiancé comes home ready to start the rest of their lives together. Now Pasha has to find a way to keep her dark secret under wraps. But will she be able to stop her extracurricular activities? Deep Throat Diva is a gritty, seductive novel by Cairo. You see how a woman like Pasha is willing to risk everything just to fulfill her own desires. There are a lot of twists to this story that will definitely leave readers in shock. The moral of this story is that cheating is...

Norwood Holland -  Sleepless Nights -  Available Now! -  4 out of 5 books -  Drew Smith is an attorney that's going through some personal trials of his own. He takes on unsavory clients and has unhealthy dealings with a stripper. Drew is at a crossroads in his life when he has to represent a young client after a deadly robbery. In order to free his client, he enlists the help of his friend, Julio, to bring the gunman to justice. In the midst of all of this, an alarming secret from Drew's past is revealed that was staring him in the face all along. Norwood Holland brought a fresh new mystery series with Sleepless Nights. Holland introduces us to Drew Smith, who is a likeable and flawed character. The camaraderie between Drew and Julio is priceless, as they work on this case and deal with Drew's personal problems. This story is filled with intrigue and gritty action that will be a delight for readers. Sleepless Nights is a wonderful start to the Drew Smith...

Arielle Crowell -  Mr. Undesirable -  Available Now! -  4.5 out of 5 books -  Longtime friends Freddie, Corie, and Damon were three of the most self-centered and egocentric men that lived in the D.C. area. Freddie was the ladies' man because could charm a woman out of her money, car, and panties with just one glance. He was very good at his craft because he couldn't hold down a job to save his life, and the fact that he lived with his momma didn't make it any better. Corie was a married psychologist who didn't know the true meaning of faithfulness. While his wife was taking care of their daughter, he was taking care of his patients in more ways than just helping them with their problems. And then there was the NFL player, Damon. Damon thinks that all eyes should be on him. His ego was bigger than the football field he played on. These three friends will encounter drama, tragedy, and death. Will they prevail and still walk among Washington D.C. as the undesi...

K'wan -  Eviction Notice -  Available Now! -  5 out of 5 books -  Being an avid K'wan fan, I couldn’t wait to dive into Eviction Notice. Eviction Notice will take you from the rough streets of Harlem, and all the way to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Kwan starts his journey where Welfare Wifeys and Hood left off, using some of the same characters but also reintroducing some of new characters. Animal was an up-and-coming artist under Big Dawg Records who made it big on the charts, but old habits die hard. When Animal catches a life sentence and is on his way to start his prison bid, he is mysteriously abducted, leaving bloodshed and bodies down. Animal's disappearance has Harlem shook, especially his fiancé Gucci. Is Animal gone for good, or does he have a surprise for everybody in Harlem? Three friends and roommates named Porsha, Frankie, and Sahara find themselves with an eviction notice after getting conned out of their rent money from the landlord that th...

Carolyn Moncel -  5 Reasons to Leave A Lover -  Available Now! -  4 out of 5 books -  5 Reasons to Leave a Lover is a collection of short stories. The main story centers on a married couple, Ellery and Julien. Ellery discovers that her husband is having an affair, and she then goes through a series of emotions and questions that mirror those that could occur in real life. Ellery questions why her husband is cheating on her, if she is not enough for him, and what is so special about the other woman. While there are many fiction books that touch on the subject of infidelity, author Carolyn Moncel writes this story as an emotional tale that the reader can identify with. Unlike other books, Moncel shows that the man can feel inadequate and simply want to feel needed in a relationship and that it is not always sex that leads them astray. 5 Reasons to Leave a Lover also shows the emotions that the other woman might experience once they find out that they are th...