Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do [Hardcover]

Valerie W. Wesley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 5, 1999

Anybody lucky enough to have experienced the artistry of Valerie Wilson Wesley already knows that her ability to blend wry humor with stark reality is unsurpassed. And now she plies her talents in a new direction in an insightful, poignant story of family ties unraveling and lost loves regained.

Eva is alone with an empty heart in a big, empty house. Hutch fears he is falling in love with the neglected wife of his wealthy, philandering best friend. Charley, Eva's law school-bound daughter, forgets her plans for school to become a stand-up comedian. Steven, Hutch's son, harbors a secret that will rock his father's world. And into the mix strolls Isaiah Lonesome, Charley's ex-boyfriend, a handsome hunk of a twenty-eight-year-old jazz musician who will teach Eva to play some lusty new riffs on love's oldest song. And in the end, everyone learns that when it comes to living life to the fullest, and in the quest for true love, it ain't nobody's business how one goes about it.

Valerie Wilson Wesley's AIN'T NOBODY'S BUSINESS IF I DO is a delightful story of an African-American family in transition that is, at once, touching, sad, and funny, and that celebrates love, personal freedom, and the pursuit of happiness with charm, humor, and wisdom.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Wesley is best known for her Tamara Hayle mystery series. As in those novels, she makes her characters' world become the reader's. Here, she explores family, divorce, and relationships from the perspective of a 40-year-old African American woman.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Wesley strays from her familiar mystery writings to give us a heartwarming tale of a family struggling to balance personal choices with family responsibilities. The emotions of love, rage, romance, and lust in the family and among friends may promote reader empathy for the real life struggles the characters encounter. The four central characters are Eva, Hutch, Charley, and Steven. Eva, Hutch's wife and Charley's mother, is forced to deal with Hutch leaving her because their relationship brings him no joy. She finds strength to move on and grow from those strong black women before her and from her new love interest. Hutch is the owner of a construction business that his father passed on to him. His relationship with his father has sourly affected the interaction with his son, Steven. Charley, an up-and-coming comic, is determined to secure her place in the world. The novel's compelling turning points help each of the characters discover that those who love you will most assuredly be affected by any business that you do! Lillian Lewis

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1st edition (October 5, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380977036
• ISBN-13: 978-0380977031
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,090,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do, May 23, 2000

By 

Iceberg Deeva "Iceberg Deeva" (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do (Hardcover)

Within the last few month's, I have become a huge fan of Valerie Wilson Wesley. After reading her first Tamara Hayle mystery novel, I fell in love with her writing style and very graphic way in which she paints a picture of both her characters and the setting of which the characters are in.

Although this is her first "non-mystery" novel, I feel that it was excellent. It was a nice escape into the lives of Eva's (the main character) loved ones. Again, don't expect a Tamara Hayle mystery--especially if you have read more than one. Once you've entered the life of Tamara Hayle, you become fast friends with her.

Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do will allow you the opportunity to evaluate your own thoughts to such issues as: second marriages, loyalty to close friends, friendships with the opposite sex, dating outside of our generation, dating outside of our race, homosexuality, achieving dreams and goals, contentment as a single persone, relationships with grown children, and the limitations that we as individuals love ourselves and our families. The salient issue in this book, to me, was the influence of our parents and those who reared us on our true selves. A lot of who we are comes from our ancestry and lineage. DON' MISS THAT POINT.

I would definitely recommend this book. It is an easy read. You won't get bored with it. I would agree that it is somewhat predictable, but look for the true meaning behind the characters thought processes. It won't be as predictable as it may initially seem.

Kudos to Mrs. Wilson-Wesley for another quality novel.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent novel for the mature audience., December 13, 1999

By 

Tanya - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do (Hardcover)

I've never read any of Mrs. Wesley mystery novel. I normally read romance novels. The title and cover caught my eye one day while walking through a book store.

I really did enjoy this novel from cover to cover. Eva and Hutch went through a period of fall out of love. I think that alot of couples go through this sometimes but they must remember what it was about the person that they fell in love with at first and try to get that fire going again. I must say the only thing I didn't like about the book was the affair between Eva and Isaiah. The affair was good for Eva but mother and daughter shouldn't be involved with the same person. I think that Raye had a itch for Hutch all along. Raye took too much from Donald. I was glad when she finally woke up and left him. Donald was a true junk yard dog.

This book covered real issues that families face each day regarding love, hurt, decisions and friendship. Mrs. Wesley this is a well written novel. I wish you much success. For this to be your first romance novel you did an outstanding job. Be Blessed!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars SO-SO, December 24, 2000

By 

Bonita L. Davis - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do (Mass Market Paperback)

After ten years of marriage Hutch decides to walk out on his wife. The thrill is gone. Eva, his wife, alone and dejected begins to put her life back together again. Oh, and let us not forget their grown son and daughter whose issues with their parents and themselves further muddies the waters.

Thus begins the saga of a Black middle-class family torn apart by a love grown cold and their inability to find out what they truly want in life. Follow them on their journey to find fulfillment, reconciliation and renewal.

If you like predictable formula driven romances then this is the book for you. Many of the characters are so "wooden" in their presentation to the point of being superficial. As you enter into the world of their lives you ask the question, So what? The fact that you can predict the next step of the characters makes it a slow and boring read. Our author gets an average rating for this her first book foray into what can be called a romance novel.

Valerie Wilson Wesley is a far superior writer in her Tamara Hayle mystery series. This novel doesn't represent the depth and breadth of her outstanding skills. If she continues to write more in this genre then she will undoubtably get better. For now her attempt is just so-so.