Customer Reviews

Doing His Time (Who Said Dating A Baller Was Easy?)

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

If you ever wondered what it is like to date a big baller, Nichelle Walker takes you there. Emerald and her sister Missy ,were orphaned at a young age and raised by their grandmother, and she became tired of living by her grandmother's strict rules, so when she met Dollar seventeen year-old Emerald was swept away by the things he could give her. Dollar was one of Chicago's biggest ballers and Emerald thought that she hit the big time when she became his woman. Emerald forsook her family , quit high school and devoted her young life to Dollar. Dollar swept her up in a web of deceit and he used money and sex to keep Emerald under control. Emerald thought that she was on top of the world. Who else owns three clothing stores and nightclubs at her age and takes exotic trips? As time went on Dollar began using Emerald to make his dope drops, and she felt that she owed him because he loved her so much. Emerald knew that he was not faithful to her but this did not stop her. Emerald becomes comfortable living the life of luxury so despite warnings from her friend, Peaches, that Dollar has a history of setting young girls up to take his raps she does not listen. Emerald thought everyone was jealous of her because of all of the material things she owns.

This was a fast moving story that was well written and enjoyable and the writer's words flowed very easily. At times I wanted to jump right into the pages and shake some sense into Emerald. I recommend this to anyone who likes to walk on the wild side of life without experiencing it. There were quite a few vivid sex scenes so this is for an adult crowd . This book is an eye-opener for those of us who live tame lives. The author states that there will be a sequel to this book and I would like to see the loose ends tied up.

Reviewed by Margaret Ball
APOOO BookClub

This book was kind of immature to me. I dont think the characters were developed well. wish I would have borrowed this one...

I think that this book was just average. I think that the story may have been good perhaps if it were written by someone else. I know that this is the authors first book and you could certainly tell by her writing. The book had no timeframe. One day the girl was 16 then the next paragraph years had flown by. It took me two hours to read this book, not because it was a page turner but because I was trying to see if it would get better. It was very predictable.

Nichelle Walker tells us the story of Emerald. She's a young girl, with "bling" dreams, who "lucks up" and catches the attention of a big baller, Dollar.

I really wanted to like this book. I hoped to like this book, because the author is a home-girl (read: CHICAGOAN), and she's selling books. You can hardly go into a book store in Chicago that does not carry "Doing His Time."

Unfortunately, I didn't like this book at all. While it was a very fast read (took me a few hours to finish), the story reads like the first draft of a book that truly needed more fleshing out. The writing and storyline were soooo elementary. The characters are all one dimensional, with no depth or REAL backstory on any of them.

I understand that a sequel is coming soon. I'm pulling for Nichelle. I hope that her growth as an author will be evident in the upcoming manuscript.

I gave it three stars, although I really wanted to give it 1 star or possibly 2. But, she is from Chicago, so she gets props for that.

Okay, so I get that email. Ya'll know what I'm talking about. The email saying, "check this book out...it's the bomb...you're gonna love it...blah, blah, blah..." The author herself promises that you won't be let down. Where have I heard that before? So I'm thinking, yeah okay. Then someone I know tells me they absolutely loved it. Then another. So by this point I've got the book ready to blast if it ain't hitting on nothing. Before getting a chance to read it though, I end up meeting the author at a literary event. She's sweet, a little quiet. So I'm thinking, what this chick know about being a baller's b*tch? Right about now, I can't wait to read this book. One evening, nothing but junk on TV, I crack it open...

Dollar, a fine, tall, sexy, paid hustler, is that n*gga! And that n*gga belongs to Emerald, a real ride or die chick that has absolutely no problem handling any females that comes between her and her's. There's nothing Emerald won't do or to no limit she won't go to prove her love for Dollar. But how far is too far?

I'm happy to say that Nichelle didn't let a sista down. Sometimes it only takes a little to tell a lot, as is the case with DOING HIS TIME. At a little under 200 pages, Nichelle Walker spins a tale of life, love, betrayal and more. In her first novel, Walker treats us to a story set on the unforgiving streets of Chicago. She created a fascinating and appealing protagonist in Emerald. She's naïve, young and dumb, yet sassy and tough. You're immediately drawn into her life, curious as to what she'll do next and how things will pan out. DOING HIS TIME held me until the end. I read it in one sitting. It proves to be a real page-turner and I can't wait for book two, Money Over N*ggas. Thanks to Nichelle Walker, we have a fresh new voice in urban lit and I welcome her.

4.5

EMARLD WAS THAT CHICK YOU WANT TO BE. SHE WAS GOOD LOOKING AND HAD A BODY TO KILL THAT CAUGHT DOLLAS EYE A WHILE KNOW DRUG LORD. SHE FALLS IN LOVE THINK THAT EVERYTHING IS PEACHES AND CREAM BUT THAT IS ALL GAME ON DOLLAS PART. HE CLAIM TO LOVE HER BUT HE LOVES THE STREET MORE.HE WILL DO AND SAY ANYTHING TO SAVE HIS OWN LIFE. BUT THE STORY THICKEN WHEN EMARLD SISTER WINDS UP DOING HER DIRTY AND THIS CHANGES EMARLD INTO A PERSON YOU WILL NEVER WANT TO MEET THE ONLY THING ON HER MIND IS GOING OUT ON REVENGE FOR EVERY PERSON THAT DID HER WRONG.

Emerald and her little sister Sissy ,were raised by their grandmother. Money was tight, but they got by. While out on the town one night after stealing Grandma's car Emerald meets Dollar. Dollar was one of Chicago's biggest dope dealer and Emerald was dreamy eyed over him. Emerald was wooed and sweet talked by Dollar and eventually quit high school and devoted all her her young life to Dollar. Emerald thought that she had it made in the shade. She soons finds out that Dollar is only about getting that dollar and doesn't care anything about her. This was a very well written page turner.

You will love this book!

I normally don't like to do reviews if the book didn't hit me but Ms. Walker did a good job overall for her first novel. We meet Emerald who has typical street beauty being raised by her grandmother. Emerald meets Dollar who has a reputation of preying on young girls. The story goes on with the typical hood story. The best part of the book was the excerpt for the sequel in the back. I am interested in how Emerald gets her revenge. I wish the book had more development and more detail but for a first try Ms. Walker did well. If you are an avid reader definitely pick the book up.

This debut novel of Ms. Walker was an interesting, quick paced read. I enjoyed her storyline and will definitely be reading more of her work. I think all of the baller girlfriends, should read this book, because the situations are real and can most definitely happen to anyone that lives this type of lifestyle. There is a powerful lesson in this book...While this is Ms. Walker's debut novel, as a reader, I can see that she has very good potential and hope that she gives me more indebt understanding of each character and their plight, in the upcoming sequel. Kudos to you, Ms. Walker... I actually rated this book a 3.5.

Emerald Jones was accustomed to shopping at the bargain stores. It may have been cheap, but it didn't matter, because after all she was still fly. She's sweet sixteen and she meets Dollar, the richest chocolate she's ever come across. Watch out, cause messin' with a for real baller, Emerald was in for a serious upgrade.

'Jealousy is a sickness, let the haters hate!'

Rocking the flyest gear, hottest whips, with some good sex, piles of money and a ton of respect, Emerald was now a ghetto superstar. Two years into it and Emerald and Dollar's lifestyle is progressively growing. She owns her own clothing stores, apartment building and a night club with her choices of vehicles. Sure their way of life comes with a risk. The question quickly becomes, how much is Emerald willing to risk for the top spot?

Doing His Time: Who Said Dating A Baller Was Easy by Nichelle Walker was a quick and fast read. I finished in less than a day and I literally laughed throughout the entire book. It's like watching discovery as Nichelle journeys through the hood revealing the dark truths associated with being a baller's girl. While the book is a hoot, I did wish that there were a little more substance; but overall, Nichelle held down her pen game (Chi-town girl) and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.

Catch the cookies!

Reviewed by Nardsbaby
for Urban Reviews