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

4.5 out of 5 books It has been roughly five years and Deena and Tak Tanaka were happily married. When a young boy shows up on their doorstep, never could they have imagined that this person would play such a major part in their lives. Taking in someone they know absolutely nothing about, they go through the ups and downs of trying to show this person what a loving family is really about. Not only that, but Deena has a new project she is working on that she has a very personal interest in. Knowing what she is trying to do, her father-in-law, Daichi Tanaka, tries to sway her in a different direction. In doing so, Deena decides to face the demons of her past. Will she be able to forgive and move on? Kenji Tanaka is now working at the architecture firm of his father's. The only thing is, he really doesn't want to. Baseball really is what calls him. In the meantime, Lizzie (Deena's sister) pops up at the firm looking for Deena, but instead runs into Kenji. K...

3.5 out of 5 books Although this book 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup was originally published in 1853, the book was left forgotten about and rediscovered in the early 1960's and now adapted into a film. The story is a narrative told by Solomon Northup and how he was born free, in a free state for nearly thirty years. Solomon had owned his own land, had a wife and three children. When Solomon is introduced to two white men and is offered a job that pays well he is quick to accept the job. The men seem friendly, looked to be about business and it was an opportunity that would make him a decent amount of money for him and his family. Unaware that that would be the last time he would lay his eyes on his family for 12 long years. Going with those two white men, turned out to be the worst mistake Solomon ever made. He was imprisoned and sold into slavery and was beat mercilessly until he was forced to repeat that he was not a free man. Solomon was tricked and sold into a ...

2 out of 5 books Betty Blaise 'aka' Fly Betty is the type of woman who gets what she wants. She is beautiful, dressed in nothing but designer gear and lives lavishly. The question is how can a college student, a senior majoring in psychology able to afford these finer things in life? Well like Betty (named after her mother) told her before use what you have. So Betty uses her body to attract men that have status and money. The best part is Betty does not even sleep with these men. They just do for her and keep doing for her until her alloted maxium time with them is up. She then dumps them and then and moves on to the next man. That is until she meets "the one." When Betty is rescued by this guy that is not the most handsome man, but definitely has his own swag and respect in the streets, it intriques Betty to find out more about this guy. Come to find out he is an up-and-coming star in the music business. Betty pretends she knows nothing of his status ...

4 out of 5 books Kharem Reyonds is the man that all women should be wary of. Do not trust his good looks and smile because once you get caught up, you are going to be a sucker once he gets you in bed. Talk about women being sprung. Kharem does not care in the least who he hurts by his cheating and lying ways. That is until he finds out that he is a father. Once he lays eyes on the little girl that he fathered he vows to be a better man. No way would he ever want his daughter to ever be a victim to a man like he used to be. When Kharem gets a job as an on call cable man at the local cable company, he is making ends meet the best he can. But the money he is making is no where near what he made before at his last job. So to make ends meet, a woman he goes to service offers him a job servicing more than just cable boxes or outages. The best part he makes money for doing what he loves to do and does best. Unfortunately, what seems too good to be true usually is. Things start to ...

3 out of 5 books With This Ring by Allison Hobbs is the anticipated follow-up to Put a Ring on It. Last we saw Nivea she was having an affair with her sister's husband, and thought the baby she was carrying was his. When Nivea receives the paternity test results back she is stunned. Will the results sever her family? Nivea has always been selfish but when she decides that she wants the best for her baby, she will not stop until she gets what she feels like she and her baby are entitled to, no matter who she hurts in the process. In the end, will Nivea get what she has wanted for the longest? A man to Put a Ring on It? Harlow is still recovering from her wedding fiasco, where it landed one person dead. Now Harlow is beginning to wonder if she knows the man she married. Is her husband Drake Morgan involved in something illegal? Anytime Harlow tries to bring up the subject Drake shuts her down. So when Drake starts traveling more often than he use to and not t...

5 out of 5 books Ok this review is going to be a tad different than normal. First let me tell you that Never Say Never by Victoria Christopher Murray was the first book I have ever read by her.  To be honest I probably skipped over this author because she writes Christian Fiction, which I tend to stay away from. But…maybe it is because I am getting older and thus my tastes in reading are beginning to change that I am finding that Christian Fiction isn’t so bad.   Now I originally picked this book up because I saw a 5-star rating for this book by a reviewer that does not give a 5-star review very often unless a book really impresses her. Also, another friend of mine told me that she read up to chapter 12 and had to put the book down because she found she was crying throughout the book. So I HAD to read this book. When I started the first chapter I was sucked into the story right away. The character Miriam finds out that her husband Chauncey, a fireman, died whi...

3.5 out of 5 books After clocking out for the day as a police officer, Copper as they refer to them, where the story sets place in England, Dean Richards comes across a couple arguing and quickly steps in before it can escalate further. He follows the woman, Clarissa Morgan home to make sure she makes it home safely. What happens though after is something totally out of the ordinary for either one. They soon find themselves in the heated throws of passion and what was to be a one night stand turns into Clarissa having to make a decision on which man she wants. Clarissa does not see a future with her ex-boyfriend Lewis because he got caught cheating. Clarissa is not one to forgive as easily as her sister is trying to get her to do. On the other hand she is not sure what the future holds for Dean and her since they both come from totally different backgrounds. On the surface Clarissa’s sister Adele’s marriage seems like a happy one, with a handsome husband, beautiful chi...

3.5 out of 5 books Limbo was a major player in the drug game  and had to uproot his family to move away because of some problems he ran into. His wife told him that he needed to be there for the kids and her and if he uprooted them again or got arrested again, she was not going to do another bid with him…no matter what or how long the time. She was tired and she wanted Limbo out of the game.   Apparently Limbo did not take to heart the words his wife told him because after he gets locked up shortly thereafter, he receives divorce papers while in prison. While in prison another inmate hooks him up with one of his girls’ friends to come visit Limbo, to keep his spirits up. When the white bombshell Rhapsody walks in, she reminds Limbo that they have met once before. They just never got the chance to get to know one another. While Limbo is locked up, Rhapsody is holding it down for him. She constantly writes him letters, puts a little money on his books ...

4.5 out of 5 books Miss Nobody is the first book in the Shaw Family Saga. At 15-years old, Charlene Shaw runs away from home in search of the bright lights of Hollywood. On the way to reaching her dream, she faces many obstacles that try to block her path. One of these obstacles is her infant daughter Raven. She decides to leave her daughter behind while she continues on to Hollywood. Raven is raised by her grandparents in her mother’s hometown of Bellwood, North Carolina. As Raven gets older and is determined to move on with her life, she is determined to find out more about her mother and why she abandoned her. When mother and daughter finally meet, Raven requests two major things of her mother. Are these requests worth the destruction they will cause? Nicole Dunlap did an excellent job with this book. She didn't just tell a story, but she painted a picture. We learned about each of the characters in great detail. I also enjoyed how she allowed th...

4 out of 5 books Why is it that some folks think the grass is greener on the other side?   Think about it…we have all at some point, even if it was a fleeting thought, thought that your friend, neighbor, family member etc. (from the outside looking in) that they had the “perfect” life. They had something that you desired. Well, in the story of Dream Girl Awakened, Aruba Dixon is a beautiful woman that is married to James, a sexy man and a good father to their son. But the thing that is tearing their marriage apart is the fact that James cannot keep a job. When James quits his fifth job in seven months, Aruba is fed up. This is where she begins to make plans to exit her marriage. Victoria Faulk is a beautiful woman, conceited and is a woman that knows her husband is proud to show her off on his arm. Victoria is caught up in her status as being the wife of a prominent doctor. She knows that they can afford anything her heart desires, and if he doesn’t give in righ...

4 out of 5 books Toi Underwood has recently been scorned by the man she thought she was going to marry. Unbeknownst to her he was planning to get married…just not to her. After a nearly fatal decision, Toi decides it was time to step back and reevaluate things in her life and takes a break for a while from dealing with any man. That is until the night she goes out with her girls and it is the first time in a long time that someone catches her attention to the point she is ready to let her guard down. But she is soon about to find out she is about to play the “other woman” in this scenario. Will it all be worth it in the end? Carlton Thomas is a sexy, career driven man that is more than willing to provide for his family. The only thing is his wife Lisa is always complaining about something or another. One day after an altercation between the two, Lisa does the unexpected and Carlton decides to leave to stay with his cousin. Lisa was just so angry she reacted out of spite...

4.5 out of 5 books Eboni Harrison is one if the lucky ones. After her parents were killed by a drunk driver, she was adopted by a wonderful family. Eboni got way more than she bargained for, with three very overprotective brothers. Now that she is all grown up, she has gotten a place of her own to assert her independence. When she meets her new neighbor, she wants to assert more than just her independence. Darren Grayson has had the hots for his new neighbor from the first time he laid eyes on her. Once he meets her, he realizes that Eboni is different from any other woman he has dated since his divorce (including his ex-wife). However they have both got to learn to trust and get over their past.  Wayne Jordan is a phenomenal writer that gives a much needed male perspective on romance. He gives insight on what males feel, their insecurities, and how they think when in a relationship. I'll Stand By You is no exception. It is a page turner from beginning to end. It is...

3 out of 5 books Dapper Carter is the type of man who is married but lives the single life. Hanging out, partying with the guys, going to strip clubs and having sex with other women. His wife of six years, Kennedy, finally gets fed up with his bullsh!t and the way that he spends her money so she files for divorce. Something that Dapper never thought his wife would ever do. Never thinking of the consequences of his actions. When he talks to his boys, they are blunt, reminding him of all the stupid things he did to mess things up with a good woman like Kennedy. Although still hurt by the fact that Kennedy left him he decides to move from New Jersey to Brooklyn, New York for a fresh start. Here is where he begins to look at himself and decides to make a few changes within himself. But are those changes really any better from before? Dapper decides after a brief time of wallowing in his self-pity that it is time to get back into the dating scene. In doing so he comes up with his...

4 out of 5 books Lola Jones is a beautiful thirty-seven year old woman of three children. Three years prior, Lola and her husband divorced, so the income that the household had was immediately cut in half. Lola was not worried though because she was a successful independent, high producing health/life insurance broker and felt confident that she was set to maintain the lifestyle her and her children lived. They have a beautiful five-bedroom house on 2.5 acres of land, and wanted for nothing. About a year after her divorce the economy took a turn for the worst and it began to affect her income. The money she had saved was totally dwindling away and she was so far behind on her bills and house payments that she was in danger of losing their home. After talking to a close friend and co-worker about some of her struggles and the guilt she felt that she no longer could afford to do for her children the way she once was and that they were close to losing the onl...

4 out of 5 books The Dark Hunger by Joelle Sterling is the second installment to the Eternal Dead Series. The first book left off with Jonas returning back to Haiti in search of Mamba Mathilde to see if the curse that was put upon him could be removed. Holland is sent away to Stoneham Academy, a school that she will be able to learn more about the witchcraft she possesses and how to use it. In the meantime the city of Frombleton seems to have gone crazy. The once peaceful town is now under a shroud of terror. A foreman of one of the onion fields that the immigration workers tend suddenly turns on one of the field hands named Pedro, and bites his flesh all the way down to the bone. Pedro is sent to the hospital. His wounds are so bad that it is a wonder he has survived. Or, has he? When Pedro awakens in the hospital madness ensues and no one, not even the hospital employees are safe and no one on the streets of Frombleton or the surrounding area is either, with th...

5 out of 5 books Keeping Score by Regina Hart is the 3 rd  book in the Monarch Basketball series. The Brooklyn Monarchs are in the spotlight again. This time it is veteran guard, Warrick Evans. However, Warrick is not sharing the spotlight alone. His wife, Dr. Marilyn Devry-Evans, is also feeling the effects of her husband’s new found stardom. Marilyn liked it so much better when it was just her and Warrick. Now she has to share him with all of New York. All Warrick wants is his wife home and a championship, but the media is putting both in jeopardy, along with an outrageous allegation. Will love be enough to give Warrick everything he wants? Keeping Score  is an awesome read. Ms. Hart is an excellent writer. She does a fantastic job with character development. She has a knack for taking the primary and secondary characters and meshing them together, so that the story flows nicely. This was a great addition to the series! Reviewed by Tenecia Ur...

3.5 out of 5 books Catherine "Kitty" Franklin has been cleaning up her father's indiscretions for so long she no longer knows the difference between right and wrong. Kitty Franklin is an attorney to her father, Congressman, Roosevelt Franklin. He views Kitty as the son he never had since he winded up having three daughters. Kitty will do anything to keep her father's name clear, but lately she is starting to wonder if she wants to continue living this way. It is putting major stress and a strain on her relationships with her sisters and mother. When she by chance meets the new executive director of the Franklin Family Life Center, she cannot believe that someone this good has been placed into her life. Davis Thornton has come to Washington to meet with Congressman Franklin after accepting his dream job. Coincidently, he meets Kitty under very unusual circumstances. The two fall for each other hard, heavy, and quick. However, there are so many obsta...