Carefree (Arabesque) [Mass Market Paperback]

Dara Girard (Author)

Book Description

Series: Arabesque | Publication Date: May 1, 2005

African American romance.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Kimani Press (May 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583146288
• ISBN-13: 978-1583146286
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,161,549 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dara Girard is an award-winning author of novels that feature strong heroines, family dramas and romance. Her writing has been praised for its deft plot twists, witty dialogue and humor. Dara was born in the American Midwest to immigrant parents who moved around the country, before settling in Maryland. Dara's love of writing was evident at a very early age ' and supported by her close-knit family. After earning her undergraduate degree in communications, Dara held a variety of jobs and did some freelance writing. She was forced out of the corporate world when her last job was made redundant and that's when she decided to write full-time. Luckily this risk paid off and she received a two-book contract that same year. In July 2008, Power Play, was released. This is the first in her miniseries The Black Stockings Society about four women, one club and a secret that will make their fantasies come true. Dara is also the author of an award-winning non-fiction book for writers, The Writer Behind the Words (Ilori Press, 2007).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ!!, April 27, 2005

By 

LaShonda (Indianapolis, In) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carefree (Arabesque) (Mass Market Paperback)

I couldn't wait to read Jackie and Clay's story and belive me I was not disappointed. This story had it all and if you have been following the series(Table for Two, Gaining Intrest) you get an update of what family and friends are up to. Carefree is a romance, comedy and suspense roll into one story. Jackie and Clay both have family issues they must deal with on top of dealing with their budding relationship and with the case Jackie has hired Clay to investigate. I couldn't put it down. Dara Girard has a magic way of weaving a story that makes you feel like these are your friends. Hopefully Kevin will have a story soon.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Careful, May 18, 2005

By 

Davidae Y. Stewart "Also writing as Miranda P... (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carefree (Arabesque) (Mass Market Paperback)

Social worker, Jackie Henson thinks she has the world on a string until her boyfriend cuts the cord and weds another. Yet, she doesn't have time to wallow in self-pity, because her clients are committing suicide without reason.

She hires PI Clay Graham, her sister-in-law's brother to help her get to the bottom of these killings. However, when Jackie's ex sends her an invitation to his wedding, she propositions Clay for another job that does not involve detective work, but is just as deceptive and provocative.

Girard establishes a romantic premise. But the hook vanishes after the fifth chapter, as she tries to create a world filled with cults, British Jamaican ethnic enclaves, and the next great American detective--all of which fail, because she doesn't find a suitable balance of both romance and suspense. There are too many subplots between Jackie's and Clay's families, which could have worked if this novel was broken down into a romantic suspense novel series. The minor characters: Eric, Adriana, Drake, Kevin, and so on...keep the reader from finding the clues to solve the mysterious deaths and from witnessing a carefree love between Clay and Jackie turn into something more enduring.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Story!, April 27, 2005

By 

Carol Cook "carolcook69" (Houston, texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carefree (Arabesque) (Mass Market Paperback)

Dara has done it again! I waited one long year for Jackie and Clay's story and it was worth the wait. We met Jackie and Clay in A Table For Two, and I knew their story would be great. I really hope that Dara writes a story for Kevin.