Customer Reviews

The Criss Cross

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Crystal Lacey Winslow's first novel,"Life, Love, and Loneliness" was a sure fire hit. Hence, she has followed it up with the sequel "The Criss Cross" which revisits some of the lives of the characters in her debut novel. This book aptly called "The Criss Cross" is the story of Nikki and Noki Ling.

We are introduced to Nikki and Noki Ling - two sisters who have been orphaned after their Japanese mother commits suicide. Because of this tragic event, they seemed to be doomed from that point going forward. Having to both be placed in foster care has caused them to be separated for a while but Nikki has vowed that she would "find" her little sister Noki and become a family again. Unbeknownst to her, Noki becomes her eventual downfall in life.

The Criss Cross chronicles the lives of Nikki, an exotic, six foot tall beauty who possesses both the beauty and essence of her Japanese mother and African American father. Having grown up in the streets of the Bed-Stuy section of Brooklyn, Nikki has learned to survive any way possible. Believing that luck is not on her side, Nikki almost misses out on a golden opportunity bestowed upon her by a wealthy South African diplomat who becomes smitten with her. They marry and he offers Nikki the world on a silver platter. Vowing to fulfill her promise to her sister, she embarks on setting up her baby sister Noki -- nothing but the best schools, the baddest apartments and the latest and best fashions available.

Spoiled and ungrateful, we are introduced to the further dimensions of Noki Ling. She unlike her sister, has never embraced her African American heritage, choosing to only acknowledge her Japanese heritage. Having been sent to a Japanese foster family, she was able to accomplish this with much aplomb until her stepfather forces her to make a life altering decision. Luckily for Noki, big sister Nikki has never forgotten about her and when she asks to live with her, Nikki is more than pleased.

Readers are taken through a myriad of scenes and characters from various racial, economic and ethnic backgrounds. The Criss Cross is an entertaining novel that will take you on a roller coaster ride, having you hold your breath in anticipation for the next twist and curve. I highly recommend this sophomore novel to those who enjoy a little bit of mystery, sex, lies, drugs, psychosis and much more. It is a well written, readable novel with just enough slang from some of the more colorful characters to give it that edge affording it to be considered Urban Fiction. I see Ms. Winslow growing as a writer as I have read her contribution in the "Four Degrees of Heat" anthology as well and can see the growth she has made along the way.

Michelle Henley

APOOO BookClub

After reading this book, I wanted more! This book is definately off the hook, it is a must read. I was sad when it ended........ nothing compares to it.... I can't wait for Part 2......... Please Ms. Linndslow.. please..... please,keep the drama going!

This book was good to the ending I didn't want it to end. I read Criss Cross first and than Life,Love, and Loneliness. I thought both books were good but Criss Cross was way more entertaining. Keep up the good work Crystal,fiction is for entertainment purposes and that is exactly what I got!

This Book is the Bomb!! i recommend it to everyone. I could not wait for this book to come out. when i finally got an advance copy from the author herself i was so excited to read it, i could not put the book down. It was well worth the wait. you won't be wasting your money buying this book.

This follow up to Life, Love & Loneliness titled appropriately The Crisscross has you perched on the edge trying to figure out who is going to cross who and how. Nikkisi Ling, Noki Ling, Kapri Henderson, and Ivanka Zamora all are entangled as each one deals with their pre-ordained fates.

Nikki Ling has been used by the best of them. As this half black and Japanese woman realizes that she deserves better she decides to make a drastic career change and become a wife to a wealthy South African diplomat. Nikki's independent and street-smart thanks to being proliferated from the streets and having to crawl long and hard before she could walk. Although Nikki expects money to be her savior she's lost the only love she knew, but was it ever love? Nik meets a mystifying stranger who approaches her with the opportunity to rid herself of her circumstance. Is this the chance Nik has been waiting for? Or will Nik be stuck with the ultimate double cross?

Noki Ling this brat is biracial, half black and Japanese the younger sister of Nikki. But PLEASE her haughty materialistic azz would never admit that she's "A SISTA" Noki resents Nikki, and regardless what Nikki does it will never matter cause she's never going to be able to get Noki to feel anything unless it's dollar and cents. It's all about the Benjamin's baby! Noki's greed has placed her and her sister in compromising situations. Will Noki's obsession for dollars outweigh Nikki?

Kapri Henderson love for Knowledge proved to be a foolish investment. 13 years Upstate and Kapri is back! She has her son, a place to lie and now it's time to pay the bills. Kapri immediate thirst rushes her back into the streets where she immediately picks up the pace. Her parenting skills are beyond questionable. Kapri finds Knowledge and is immediately thrilled with his outcome, but will she resist the lure of outdoing the next? Is Kapri headed for self destruction?

Ivanka Zamora an uncontrolled, rich white girl. Her fascinations lead to unanswered questions as she's decided that she's capable of pulling anything off. Ivanka devises a plan and slowly brings all of her pawns in, but will she be able to extract her attack before she's caught?

Just when you thought that you knew the players in Crisscross Joshua Tune, Lacey Devaney, Madison Michaels, Portia Jones and Estelle Cardinale join in as a supporting cast. Has the unfinished business been resolved?

The drama at times is way over the top, and it's also somewhat confusing. However it is an entertaining read anticipating that there is still yet to come!

I read this book and I couldn't put it down. Nikki Ling is a strong sister. She goes threw so much for the love of her sister. Who don't give a F**K about her at all. She sold her out for $ root of all evil. It suprising what money can do to family. This book is one in a million You got to get this book......

I read Ms. Winslow's first book Life, Love & Loneliness years ago. I kept waiting for her to put out a follow-up. After a while, I had given up. Low and behold my girlfriend went to the Harlem Book Fair and brought back The Criss Cross. I took a look at the author's name and said, "I know her writing." Needless to say, better late than NEVER. You are an amazing, talented writer and should put out books more often. The way you criss crossed the characters from the first book to intertwine with the second. And then having a murder plot that would criss cross was brilliant. I AM A FAN FOR LIFE. If you haven't read this book. You should....

This book is going on my top five for this year. Well done.The character's make you either love them or hate them.
Nikki the main character was a survivor she did what she had to do to make sure her and her selfish, ungrateful sister ate. Noki, is Nikki's witch of a sister. Ivanka is Noki's friend who is just crazy and I do mean crazy. Kayla is Nikki's best friend who is very good to Nikki, but Nikki doesn't realize it until it's too late. Joshua is a very talented lawyer who at the start of this book is in deep trouble because of his girlfriend Lacey who is his ex-girlfriend's twin sister.
These are just a few of the character's that I have grown to enjoy. In some shape or form these characters lives are going to cross. AS THE AUTHOR HAS SAID DO YOU BELIEVE IN FATE.
This book has me doing some major THINKING. I recommend this for bookclubs all over the world if you want a lively discussion read this your club will be talking about it for meetings to come.

I liked the first part of this story, but boy this one blew me away. There were so many things happening in this story, it couldn't have been boring if YOU wanted it too. I have not had the pleasure of talking to Ms.Winslow but I know a few people who have. If none of them told you at all Ms.Winslow I am impressed! I will definitely follow your career. Keep up the good work.

I did not get the opportunity to red Life, Love and Loniness. But I read The Criss Cross. I loved it. I read it in less than three days. It was quite a accomplishment for me considering I always hated to readm and i have never completly finished one book up until this year. Thank you for creating this page turner. You had me reading in school, WORK, the hospital, even at red lights while i was driving. I'm waiting to your Sequal to this Sequal. What happens with my girl Nikki?