Customer Reviews

Dancer's Paradise: An Erotic Journey

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DANCER'S PARADISE: An Erotic Journey a novel by Debrena Allen as told by Terry B. was a very interesting book. Readers are given a glimpse into the lives of dancer's Debrena Allen and Lorrie Cunningham and photographer Choice Fowler. They each are faced with various issues while coming to terms with their sexuality.

Debrena and Lorrie have known each other since meeting at a dance audition when Debrena was ten years old. Years later they are now dancers with the Dominique St. Claire Dance Studio in Elizabeth, New Jersey. After ending a relationship with her live-in female partner, and as a means of her inability to accept her gay lifestyle, Debrena starts dating Choice. Although, Debrena and Choice have a normal man-woman relationship, she knows in her heart that she is truly in love with Lorrie.

Debrena Allen is derived from over one hundred interviews with women who acknowledge themselves as being bisexual or gay. I admire the Debrena Allen's of this world for sharing their stories of coming to terms with their sexuality and I commend Terry B. for recognizing them as the author. This was a truly amazing novel and the storyline flowed from one chapter to the next without missing a beat. I am anxiously awaiting Choice Fowler's story At Midnight the follow-up to DANCER'S PARADISE: An Erotic Journey.

Reviewed by Pamela Bolden

of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

A sensual story of friendship. Debrena Allen is a dancer determined to make it to the top. As Debrena enters a relationship with a woman she struggles with issues of identity and sexuality. Because Debrena likes men she doesn't consider herself gay or bisexual. I could feel Debrena's feelings and her confusion. Read with an open mind. You don't have to be gay or bisexual to get this story. I found it to be a good read. Full of human emotions.

Dawn

Dancer's Paradise: An Erotic Journey, by Debrena Allen as told to Terry B, is the story of Debrena Allen. Debrena has been a dancer since she could remember. At the age of ten, she meets Lorrie at an audition. Debrena and Lorrie become fast friends cultivating a friendship that spans years of trials, tribulations and triumphs. Lorrie knows who she is, and openly admits to being gay. Debrena appears to be clueless as she rides a rocky road to self-discovery on a dirt road, filled with pot holes. While Debrena tries to piece her life together, Lorrie is faced with the dilemma of riding the tide with her or drifting off to calmer seas.

There was so much tension and conflict that the author could have shared with the reader, yet she failed to hit home. The struggles that one must deal with when coming to terms with their sexuality has to be difficult; at times heart-wrenching. Yet, this character seemed to deny who she was vehemently one day, and come to terms with what she has denied all her life overnight. In addition, the book had a few areas which just did not add up. For example, Debrena gave Tyra, a girl she met at an audition her number. A few days later Tyra declares she is across the street of Debrena's house, and asks to come over. This proved distracting since Debrena never mentioned where she lived to Tyra.

Overall, the book was pretty well-written and with a little more tension and attention to detail, Dancer's Paradise: An Erotic Journey, could have been an excellent read. The author is a talented writer with a niche in a subject that's not overly saturated by African American authors. I do look forward to other works from this author in the future. If you like erotic literature, Paradise awaits.

T. RHYTHM KNIGHT
APOOO BookClub

Dancer's Paradise by Terry B. is an erotic thrill ride that crosses all boundaries of sexual identity among one of the main characters, and explores the human spirit in dealing with changes in one's life never predicted. The book is right on time as it explores heavily forbidden situations that are as intense as those depicted in the movie She Hate Me by Spike Lee. It's a daring book and worthy of reading. Debrena struggles with trying to decide if she is in love with a man or woman which would leave any reader in a relationship regardless of sex wondering what the would do if their lover turned gay. It happens to women in relationships everyday so it seems with the unleashing of J.L. King's debut hit, On The Down Low. Dancer''s Paradise flips the coin as men are left to wonder what they would do if they had a lover who was gay. It''s a book even homophobic people can read because it is not just erotica. There is a real story plot interwoven into this well written and believable tale that deserves to be read by readers with an open mind. Clever, and original.

What's interesting about DANCER'S PARADISE is that author Terry B. fashioned the story from the lives of several real-life women.

A dancer at the Dominique St. Claire Dance Studio, Debrena Allison Allen joined the Sisters of Soul (SOS) troupe with long-time ally Lorrie Cunningham. Debrena and Lorie have been best friends since both were 10 years old, meeting at an audition held at a local recreation center. Through the years they've shared the love of dance and a hidden attraction. Despite Lorrie's protests that nothing will change between them, Debrena doesn't want to tinker with their friendship.

Debrena is a confessed bisexual (although she doesn't care for labels) with an occasional hankering for punanny, but says she prefers men. Lorrie, who's always been sure of her love for women, thinks Debrena is fooling herself. She tries to convince Debrena to be herself and trust the people that love her to know the truth. But it's hard for naive Debrena to confess what's truly in her heart, even to herself.

To prove it she becomes involved a relationship with photographer Choice Fowler. He introduces himself and they soon find themselves in a passionate relationship. She enjoys the sex, but it's not really where her heart is. Her love is really for Lorrie though her stubbornness blinds her to it.

As an author, Terry B. wrote a captivating novel. He taps into the mind of woman with such a genuine voice, and Debrena is a character that shows great emotional growth by the novel's end.

I enjoyed this novel very much. This book was without a doubt very hot and interesting. I recommende it to anyone who wants to read a hot novel.