NEW REVIEW: V. Brown - Broken Promise

V. Brown - 
Broken Promise - 
Available Now! - 
2.5 out of 5 Stars - 


At an early age, Promise Brown witnessed her father get murdered by the police, while her mom was hauled off to jail. She is shuffled from one foster home to another during her childhood. Determined to make it on her own, Precious runs away and begins to make a name for herself in the streets. While on the streets, she uncovers some secrets from her family’s past. Promise sets out on a mission of revenge.

I found Broken Promise by V. Brown to be one-dimensional. The book lacked the substance and originality needed to make it an unforgettable read. There were times in the book I felt that the author was throwing in scenarios to make the book edgy, but Broken Promise ended up being dry and stagnant.

Reviewed from Orsayor for Urban Reviews

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NEW REVIEW: Michelle Stimpson - Falling Into Grace

Michelle Stimpson - 
Falling Into Grace - 
Available Now! - 
5 out of 5 books - 

The Sweet Treats was a sweet hit in the late 90’s, and consisted of Camille, Alexis, Tonya and Kyra. They were managed by Camille’s business-minded brother, Courtney. Greed smothered Camille, which ended the group and severed her relationship with Courtney. Broke and desperate for a comeback into the industry, Camille lies and makes enemy number one while trying to secure a contract with agent John David. The first lie is the beginning of many to almost everyone in her life.

John David agrees to see her only after hearing her demo. He agrees to sign her to a contract but with stipulations. First he tells her she can sing but he agrees only to her coming back not as a Rhythm and Blues singer but as a gospel voice. And he will not promote her until she joins a mega church to become that gospel singer. Camille joins Grace Chapel and she has her eyes on the praise team. They consist of seven members with strong vocals and a fine minister of music. Desperation can bring out desperate planning, but I’ve been told that “people plan and God laughs.”

It was interesting reading Camille’s story.  She is not so unlike me or even you, watching her move closer and closer to her red sea until she is at the edge, stripped and emptied out. She finally has no choice but to kneel and call His name to part the sea. The theme is one we can all benefit from in our walk. Talent and gifts come from God, and we should use them to glorify Him. Every lie you tell will need five more to cover up the first one.

It wasn't until Camille touched spiritual reality that she finally GOT it. She had an outward experience with the Holy Spirit, but eventually she turned it around and had an inward relationship and was able to touch spiritual reality in her everyday activities. Be like Camille and have a passion for your gift in the way God ordained you to walk in it.

Falling from Grace was a fantastic spiritual journey exploding with characters in and out of church. Adults and young adults would enjoy this read and find themselves gleaning quite a bit from the characters situations.  Falling from Grace was absolutely a HIGH 5 in my opinion. Ms. Stimpson has won her very own spot on my shelf.

Reviewed by Missy for Urban Reviews

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NEW REVIEW: Mylow Young - Against The Gates of Hell

Mylow Young - 
Against The Gates of Hell - 
Available Now! - 
3 out of 5 books - 

Two brothers, Kerby and Herby (Junior) Wilson, are twins of same parents raised in the same household with the same morals.  Both travel the same path, seek careers as police officers, marry GOD-fearing women, witness gruesome scenes on the job, and take life-altering losses.  When these brothers come to the fork in the road and a decision must be made, Herby continues on the right path, while Kerby takes a deathly, risky left.  Kerby finds himself selling everything chasing that high, that demon who's voice is taking over his entire being.  He’s lost so much and every time he thinks he’s the author of his destiny, that voice whispers something in his ear and the craving that dominates all of his senses and demands to be fed is back.  Meanwhile, his brother counts his blessings as he continues on with life while looking condescendingly at his brother and the bad choices that he continues to make. 

Against the Gates of Hell proved to be a tedious read aligned with realistic actions, reactions, consequences and results.  The depiction of the struggle between the addict and the addiction was very well portrayed.  After reading for a while, the journey proved to repetitive as well as the thought. It’s the same song and dance, just a different day.  The author orchestrated good versus evil, God versus Satan, yes versus no, and love versus self-destruction.  They are all too real, with too many living this life in the pits of hell by choice.  If Kerby wasn’t tired of his lifestyle, I sure as heck was.  Against The Gates of hell was too long and drawn out. 

Reviewed by Tazzyt2bossye for Urban Reviews

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NEW REVIEW: Keith Thomas Walker - Blow by Blow

Keith Thomas Walker - 
Blow by Blow - 
Available Now! - 
4 out of 5 books - 

We're back in Overbrook Meadows, Texas. On this trip, we meet Nisha Elder and her up-and-coming boxer boyfriend Lonzo, also known as The Champ. Nisha and Lonzo have been together for five years and have a son together. They both work modest jobs while they wait on Lonzo's big fight, which will put them on "easy street." But after Lonzo loses his first fight, he goes back to work for Mr. Brown in his illegal dealings. Nisha already has a problem with Lonzo working for Mr. Brown, but when her and her child's lives are threatened, she knows she has had enough. While she is taking time away from Lonzo to figure out what she wants, another opportunity reenters her life. Jimmy Ellis, her high school boyfriend, comes back from the military and is ready to reclaim Nisha as his. Who will she choose? Will it be the hot head who has been there for her but doesn't make the greatest decisions? Or will it be her first love who is stable and makes her feel things she hasn't felt in years but is also the one who left her to persue his career? 

Blow by Blow is a good read by Keith Thomas Walker. It has a different twist with the boxing storyline. I really enjoy reading books by Walker because he writes about real love, not that fairy tale, fantasy love. He writes about everyday, ordinary people love. He also does a wonderful job with character development of both primary and secondary characters. Blow by Blow started off a little slow, but it quickly turned into the urban romance page turner that I have come to expect and love from Walker.

Reviewed by Tenecia for Urban Reviews

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NEW REVIEW: Jackie Chanel - A Hustler's Promise

Jackie Chanel - 
A Hustler's Promise - 
Available Now! - 
4.5 out of 5 books - 

Beginning this book, I didn't know what to expect, but I found out I was in for a long ride.

Jaicyn had a lot on her plate for a high-schooler. With a mother strung out on drugs, she had to play the mother role for her two younger sisters. Not knowing where her next meal was coming from, and needing clothes and basic necessities to survive, she has to do what she has to do to take care of her younger siblings, even if that includes dropping out of school. With CPS at her front door, Jaicyn will do anything to protect her sister, but with the roll of the dice against her, she ends up taking a charge that isn't hers. Will Jaicyn be able to gain custody of her sisters, or will they be forever lost?

Rayshawn was an upcoming hustler from around the way. Rayshawn had a leadership quality about him, and he was being groomed by one of the biggest dealers in the city named King. Rayshawn and his twin brother Dayshawn were totally different, but they had one thing in common: they hated the situation they were in. Their mother was tragically killed by their father and their whole life was uprooted when they had to move in with their grandparents. Rayshawn meets Jaicyn and they begin a whirlwind romance, but things take a change for the worse when Jaicyn takes a charge for Rayshawn and is sent away. Upon Jaicyn's return, Rayshawn is on a whole new level and things are not the same. Will Rayshawn and Jaicyn be able to weather the storm, or will their relationship just be a thing of the past?

The author Jackie Chanel presented a great storyline that was highly entertaining and a quick read. It flowed very well and kept my attention. I can’t wait to read Hustler’s Promise 2 to find out where all the characters end up.

Reviewed by Kristin for Urban Reviews 

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NEW REVIEW: Kimberla Lawson Roby - The Reverend's Wife

Kimberla Lawson Roby - 
The Reverend's Wife - 
Available Now! - 
5 out of 5 books - 


After dealing with Charlotte's multiple affairs, Reverend Curtis Black is fed up and thinks it's time to divorce his wife. Even though he has had his share of dirt that the family and his congregation has had to deal with, he finds it hard to forgive his wife for her transgressions. But Charlotte has other plans. She knows that begging and pleading with Curtis not to give up on their marriage is not working. She will try anything necessary to make Curtis give up the decision to divorce her, even using his little girl and her stepdaughter, Curtina. To make things worse, Curtis has been talking about his marital troubles to another female by the name of Sharon Green. Will Curtis fall back into old temptation, or will he give his marriage another try?
 
     Author Kimberla Lawson Roby has written another fabulous installment of the Curtis Black series. This book has drama, laughter, surprises, and forgiveness. This is definitely a page turner and when you pick up the book, you will not want to put it down until you have completely finished it. The one thing I love about this book is that you can pick up this book and read and understand the storyline. Ms. Roby does give a brief description of what happened with Rev. Curtis Black and his family. I have enjoyed each and every book in the Curtis Black series. I can only hope there are more to come. 

Reviewed by Jackie for Urban Reviews

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NEW REVIEW: Kiki Swinson and Noire - Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless

Kiki Swinson and Noire - 
Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless - 
Available Now! - 
5 out of 5 books - 

I didn't know what to expect when I started to read this novel.  I knew with both of my favorite authors featured, this book wouldn't disappoint. This novel is two short stories written by each author. From the start to the end, you will see that money doesn't always bring you happiness and love, and at times, it can cause more problems.

Shamelessly Rich

Megan Rich was daddy's little girl. She had everything at her disposal....cars, designer clothes, and money you can burn.  Once Megan looks at her father and talked in her baby voice, her dad could never say no to his baby girl. But Megan loved to live on the bad side. She liked bad boys, dabbling in drugs, and defying all of her parents' rules. Things take a drastic turn when Megan’s parents give her an ultimatum of either going to rehab or moving out.  What decision will Megan make? Will she get the help she needs, or will she make the streets her new family, ending in deadly consequences?

Puttin' Shame in the Game

Noble was an eligible bachelor in search of a wife. With three eligible women, Noble's time is winding down when a choice must be made. Slowly but surely, Noble learns that everything that glitters is not gold, and he finds out who has his back and who doesn't. Will Noble make the right choice, or will the woman he chooses for his wife reveal herself in the worst way?

Both stories were written very well and showed the many facets of how money can changed a person for the worst. Both short stories exposed drugs, sex, greed, compassion, as well as manipulation. Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless is not one to disappoint, and both authors’ stories will keep you wanting more.

Reviewed by Kristin for Urban Reviews

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