Customer Reviews

Billion Dollar Winner

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I highly recommend this book for any book club or individual who enjoys well written literature that evokes feelings. The book encourages one to reflect on their morals and values, and makes for great discussion material. Billion Dollar Winner keeps you in just enough suspense for you to continue reading in anticipation as to what will happen next. I love the author's style of writing, and I look forward to reading whatever she comes out with next.

Wow! That was fun. I am not a big reader of novels but once I got into this book, I really couldn't put it down. It was fun and also inspiring. It was good to read a story about someone doing something good that wasn't all about themself. The plot was also interesting and I couldn't wait to see how she ended up with a winning ticket to begin with.

I am looking forward to your next effort.

The book is entertaining. It is an easy read. I am looking forward to her future novels.

A journalist, Val, is fortunate enough to get in on the ground level of the BlackSide Press, the largest African American community paper in the city of Chicago. Val's voice has become synonymous with exposes, corruption, politics, and a voice for others looking to rebuild the West Side of Chicago.

When the Lotto-50, the first fifty-state lottery, begins to entice more and more people in the community to spend bill money in hopes of winning the billion, Val makes it her own personal mission to speak to the Illinois General Assembly.

Val becomes the accidental winner of the very lottery after harping about the cons. With new found wealth, she learns quickly that more money, equals more problems. As Val and her family funds the Freeman Family Fund, they are met with greed, opposition and politics. Will Val lose her thrive for helping others?

A.P. Jones has written a rare story. Present and appreciated are activism, black love, black history, community needs and billions of dollars. Throughout the story, I felt as if I was privy to a new lesson. Some parts were a little too bizarre and pointless, but overall, a good read. I would be remiss to not mention the grammatical errors. Even still, BILLION DOLLAR WINNER is a recommended read. Love that the story is not just based in the city of CHICAGO, but it's my very neighborhood and community.

Reviewed by: Crystal
A West Side Girl

I loved this book. It's makes you think "what would you do if you won a billion dollars?". I really loved the bits of history regarding Chicago. Once you pick it up, you can't put it down. Can't wait to see what the author will write next. If you are in a book club, get all your members to read it. They will not be disappointed.

A. P. Jones has written a very funny novel that will also make you go hmmm at the same time. Valencia Banks Freeman is the co-owner of Blackside Press, an independent newspaper that prides itself on getting all of the facts and stating the views of African Americans in Westside of Chicago. When the Chicago Legislature proposed to be included in the new Lotto-50, a billion dollar lottery, Val headed to the State Capital to protest. Billion Dollar Winner is the story of how one single ticket can change the lives of many.

Jones' story was very entertaining. She gave a very candid and detailed description of how lottery games are created and the greed that comes along with it. Val had to answer to family, friends, legislature, and the community. Everyone wanted a piece of the millions. But how will Val spend the money she protested the loudest about? There were times when I laughed at out loud and there were other times that made me say "Aha." This is a great story for any book club or lottery fan.

Priscilla C. Johnson
APOOO BookClub

I started this book with an open mind and found this tale well worth my time. The premise alone of what could happen if a person would win a billion dollars is really wild. This writer pulls it off successfully and tangles you into caring for her characters. The story is very involved and lush with detail. It has a very positive drive that pulls you along. This story also reminds me of another book I reviewed a while back called Sorceror's Song and the Cat's Meow. In closing I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a good upbeat tale. =)

BILLION DOLLAR WINNGER is truly a book designed with thoughtful readers in mind. How many of us have said if we had "X" amount of dollars what we would do with it? In this book a woman who considers herself to be a person of conviction is presented with that very opportunity. Will she use what has been given to her to make a difference or will the real change take place in her?

Does money really make life better, or can it sometimes cause more problems than it is worth? This is a question the author poses, and it is interesting to see how the answer unfolds for the characters involved.

At a time when things seem to getting worse instead of better, BILLION DOLLAR gives you hope that with time and hard work, there can and will be a bright side.

I read Billion Dollar Winner in two days! It was totally captivating and I could not put the book down!

For me, the book embodied Good vs. Evil on many levels. Val's struggles with accepting the winning lottery ticket when she had just gave a speech about how the lottery was destroying her neighborhood and the way she handled it is very inspiring.

Good vs. Evil also triumphed over the plot to rig the lottery, in the way the drug lord situation was handled, in the revitalizing of the neighborhood.

The book shows that it doesn't matter what circumstances you grow up with - poverty, drugs, alcohol - it's not an excuse to allow bad behavior, it's a challenge to rise above it and make something of yourself in spite of your situation and surroundings.

I loved how Ms. Jones shows strong family values and how the Freeman family worked together to reach the decisions they did in accepting the lottery money and how they used the money to give back to their neighborhood - not with a handout, but a hand up.

Ms. Jones also brings to light some Chicago aspects of life - I haven't played "Piggy" since leaving Chicago! She explains about "The Hawk", "quarter parties", "bid whist" and other things that make Chicago unique.

The radio station WPBD reminded me of listening to WVON 1690AM back in the day and listening to the great Motown hits of the 1960s and 1970s.

Billion Dollar Winner is an inspiring story for all people, and it's refreshing to read a novel that has a positive message that everyone can relate to.

I am looking forward to Ms. Jones' next novel!

Peggy Stagner Jupp
Former West Town/Wicker Park resident (before the revitalization)