Customer Reviews

FLOSS

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Floss by Monica Marie Jones is an urban novel revolving around five characters whose lives are full of glamour, glitz and fame. Keeping up with the Joneses by any means necessary is the motto for this crew. The question is how far each will go to lose their own identity, while trying to compete with each other, and gain popularity and the greatest fame?

Jabez, Solomon and Abel are childhood friends who as teens competed with each other for who could be the best. Solomon always fell short because he was not near as creative as the dynamic duo, nor did his parents have as much money. So Solomon worked two jobs and embellished his accomplishments, while Jabez and Abel seemed to conquer everything they touched. Abel is a hard working man with his own house, multiple cars and a lust for beautiful women. Jabez is the same but with a hint of mystery. Can Solomon hold his own when he is put under pressure to show and prove or shut up?

Dionysus is a beautiful, gold-digger who wants nothing but the best. While running through men like she is running in a marathon, she refuses to slow down and see the error of her ways. While dragging her homely cousin, Torah, along for the ride, Dionysus uses all of her femine wiles to steal every man that is up for the taking, even the not so available ones. Torah is confused by Di's actions and gets sick and tired of being her lap dog. She sets out to prove that she is just as sexy and can get any man she wants as well.

This is a well-told drama, involving friends, lovers, and family that will have you laughing, crying and cheering for a great ending. I recommend this to readers of all genres, and I look forward to Ms. Jones' next book.

Reviewed by: Cheryl H
APOOO BookClub

Three friends since childhood learn an important lesson about relationships, money and life...but at what cost? Jabez had a lot going for himself. He came from wealthy parents, he achieved good grades, and he was involved in the church and the community. Jabez lived his life to make his parents proud. But in a short period of time, Jabez lost both of his parents. Feeling alone in the world, who would Jabez turn too?

Dionysus was used to getting what she wanted. She was used to men drooling all over her and women being jealous. Dionysus was only concerned with one thing ...dollar signs. But her world goes into a whirlwind when she becomes torn between two friends. Will Dionysus finally have a conscience?

Abel was very successful in the real estate business and in everything he did, including women, rocking the latest fashions, and at the same time maintaining good grades while he worked on his masters degree. Abel also maintained an relationship with God and his lifestyle begins to play a tug of war on his faith. What decision will Abel choose?

Solomon didn't have things so easy. He was always in competition with Abel. If Abel went to a private school, Solomon did too. If Abel bought a new car, Solomon did even though he couldn't really afford it. Solomon went as far as to date the same women as Abel. But trying to juggle that lifestyle becomes too much to handle. His house was foreclosed on, forcing him to move back home with his mother to maintain his lifestyle. But Solomon is plotting the sweetest revenge to get on top.

Torah was used to playing second fiddle to her cousin Dionysus. She was the only family member who was close to Dionysus because everyone else was intimidated or felt threatened and stayed away. After feeling betrayed and hurt by her cousin, Torah comes up with a brilliant plan to teach her cousin a lesson.

Tyse had an image to uphold. He was always juggling women, made sure he never wore the same outfit twice, and always had money to floss with even if it meant taking someone's identity. But when Tyse goes to far, he may have an early demise.

FLOSS was a good book by Monica Marie Jones. It showed the inside world of what people do to uphold a certain image. I enjoyed how the author broke up each chapter by character. By doing this, it really helped you focus on each character separately. Monica Marie Jones really painted the scene and shows that FLOSS may not always be a good thing.

Reviewed by Kristin
for Urban Reviews

Author Monica Marie Jones delivers greatness once again with her 3rd book, Floss. But don't let the title fool you, this book is far from your typical urban fiction novel littered with the plights of a king pins and his "ride or die chick." Floss is more of a warning of what happens when you allow the love of money to be your sole focus and only motivation. Set in Detroit, the city where people are known to floss, Jones introduces an ensemble of characters of young professionals from different walks of life with one main thing in common-the uncontrollable desire to Floss.

When Jones opens the cautionary tale with main characters and childhood friends Abel (the party animal/closet Christian), Solomon (the follower), and Jabez (the ultimate ladies man) you have an instant sense of familiarity. Abel and Jabez are the epitome of the successful, attractive brothers that every woman wants and every man secretly wants to be like-including Solomon. Back in the 90's we would have called him a "Perpetrator" because while he may always step out of the house looking like a million bucks, he's stepping out of his mother's house with his room in the basement and name on the orange juice. Tyse is on the same level as Solomon. Although he doesn't live with his mother his struggle is the same to acquire the status, success and acceptance of the likes of Jabez and Abel so he can get the attention of women like Torah and Dionysus.

Dionysus is the ultimate showstopper with looks that can make a blind man take notice and a homeless man give her his last penny. Fully aware of the impact she has on men Dionysus never passes up an opportunity to use her feminine wilds to get any and everything she wants. While the paper chase runs in the family her cousin Torah lacks some of her natural beauty and level of skills, which often results in Dionysus taking advantage of her. Unfortunately her tendency to underestimate Torah leads to an ill-fated turn of events that affects the lives of everyone involved and leaves someone wearing a toe tag.

This page turning thriller is sure to be an instant best seller with its tale of how easy it is to get caught up and caught out there when your desire to Floss gets the best of you. From start to finish it will have you on the end of your seat and leave you salivating for more...

I was not impressed with this book. It has a REALLY SLOW start, and a CONFUSING ending. In this book, I felt as if I was reading the same thing over and over. I was sick to my stomach with the amount of time I had to read about how Beautiful the main charater was. I feel that her beauty was made apparent in the first 5 chapters, I dont think I still needed to read about how perfect she was 25 chapters into the book. I belive that took away from the story. I also was a little upset, that she mentioned, the underdog female in the book, was not as beautiful as the main charater..and she was ( Darker)..as if you have to be light, to be beautiful. This is something that she also stressed in Swagg, that the pretty women were light. ( turn off). The male charaters were very confusing, and at the end of the book..just when I thought the grand finale was coming, I turned the page, and was reading about the author..HUH? You means its over...?? Where did it in? The ending was not clear, or interesting. I also read the book Swagg, and the Author did a lot better with that book, but I belive that Floss, left me at a lost..( not for words, but interest) -Najj

I didn't find this book a stellar... but for the low price for my Kindle, it was "okay". The beginning was smooth, then it started getting choppy, with a too quick of a wrap up in the end. I literally felt like the publisher told her to "hurry up". I have never read this author before, so I was taken aback by the end with the many many bibical references. It left me wondering where was Jesus in the first 100+ pages? But anywhoooo... I might (strong might) read her next book, and only because she is from Michigan (like to support my own).

I found the story to be a fast paced page turner. I loved the unique style the writer uses, which created an even flow. The characters were interesting. At some points in the story I found myself able to relate to her feelings but I didn't however like the fact that she was a conniving manipulator who turned her back on her cousin way before Torah turned her back on her. And speaking of Torah what was up with her being treated like the ugly duckling because she ass dark skinned? It really turned me off. Besides all the flip flopping with Abel I liked him for the most part. Solomon was just annoying. I thought the story was a good read but I find some events to seem either unrealistic or nonbelievable. technically wouldn't Jabez be a murderer? I was also not fond of the ending. I hate feeling as if I'm left to use my imagination. What happened with everyone's story?

This was an enjoyable story. An urban tale with a Christian twist. Envy and betrayal for the flesh and the material things (to Floss) with a mix of tragedy... to having faith and understanding enough to believe what you really need in your life to move on and be happy.

The author did a great job introducing the characters, their different personalities and the lives they were living. Abel, Solomon, Jabez, Dionysus, Torah & Tyse. These characters could have very well been someone I knew or someone I know now.

The character Dionysus used writing to help process her feelings, so I enjoyed the added poetry. All were beautiful (the author is a poetess) and went well with the parts they were added to. Of course I do have a favorite from the book and that was "Steamy Showers" ... This came after a dream the character Dionysus had.

The only thing that was unclear with the story was in a couple scenes I really couldn't tell how much time had past...one minute it was like things were happening in the same week but then it would seem maybe a month or two had past.

Overall this was a very good read and the message by the end was clear. I'm looking forward to reading more from Monica Marie Jones.

this was just a real little story about how we as peple are willing to do to fit in other people little circle.it was spiritual ,sex,rape,betrayal and forgiveness and these friends were something else and i really understood where the author was coming from.,and it always good to read urban fiction without the drugs and killing and the message was a spiritual one in this book and i gave it 5 stars

This was a good read. I am sad to say that I know someone like Di. Someone who use to use her body and thought it was ok or cute. I do need an update on Di's status and not just a cameo....... Keep it coming Monica Marie Jones!

I say I want to be like Di because of her ultimate decisions. Monica Marie Jones has created an inspiring character. Di is a troubled woman that doesn't quite realize it yet. Through a series of awful events she decides to change and in Swag we see the woman that she becomes (read both!). We all have room for improvement and often people choose to nit pick their appearance before their mind,,, Once Di sets out to improve her self she improves her whole live, Floss is the story of what it took for her to decide she needed a change.