Heard it All Before [Paperback]

Michele Grant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 2009

Accustomed to living the high life in Dallas, everything Jewellen Capwell knows about the hood comes from the movies. So when she agrees to accompany her best friend Renee to a Southside ball game, her only concern is keeping her cool around the peeps. She's not there to ogle men like Renee, but the moment Jewel lays eyes on Roman Montgomery, she begins to wonder just what she's been missing. When it comes to men, Jewel's heard it all before, but suddenly it seems like Rome's working from a whole new script. . .

Renee Nightingale loves to fall in love. Right now, she's got her sights set on landing a rock from her current main squeeze, Gregory. She's not getting any younger, and she sure isn't going to reach thirty still single. And to ensure no one plays her, she's always got a game going on. So when temptation comes calling in the form of a fine, young man with a chiseled physique, she can't resist--and why should she? What Gregory doesn't know, can't hurt them--or so she thinks. . .

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Grant's scorching debut follows the pursuit of love and happiness for Dallas girls Jewellen Capwell and Renee Nightingale and their possibly very significant others, Roman Montgomery and Gregory Samson. Marriage appears to be the golden goal, but, of course, the path to their respective altars is strewn with obstacles. For Jewell, a North Dallas girl of some privilege, it's her ex-boyfriend and Roman's preference to live in Big D's South Oak Cliff hood close to his clingy ex-wife and his son. Renee and Greg's Achilles heels are their roving eyes, leading to big trouble when each finds someone else to pique their amorous interest. Grant depicts their dilemmas with a pitch-perfect voice, delivering funny yet believable stories embellished with a gusto that readers who enjoy Carl Weber and Mary Monroe will relish. (Jan.)
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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Dafina; 1 edition (December 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758242190
• ISBN-13: 978-0758242198
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,141,335 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

So, who is Michele Grant?

Michele Grant grew up wanting to be a combination of Maya Angelou, Perry Mason, and Eartha Kitt. Deciding that law books were dusty and boas not practical for everyday wear, she's still clinging to that Maya Angelou dream.

When not laboring away on the keyboard, she can be found trying to channel her "inner B. Smith", growing roses, trying new recipes and wondering if just one more throw pillow works with that sofa?

She has Ella Fitzgerald and Kanye West on the same playlist in her iPod, she's affectionately been given the nickname "Shopping Queen", and there is not a single fall Sunday where her TV isn't tuned in to an NFL game.

Contradictory yet contemporary, Michele sees the humor in all things and shares that with her readers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great read from start to finish!, January 25, 2010

By 

L. R. Bobbitt "Reads4Pleasure" (St. Louis, Missouri) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Heard it All Before (Paperback)

When you're a woman of a certain age, it can be difficult to find books that speak to you on your level. I'm not really one for chick lit or urban lit and that's what several contemporary authors are trying to push onto women. At times I feel like writing to the publishing houses, "Stop assuming that we're all 20, or what to be 20, and write to my demographic." Ladies, I'm happy to tell you that newcomer Michele Grant is writing to our demographic and she gets it!

Heard It All Before is the story of the solid middle class suburbanite Jewellen Capewell and her wild child sidekick, Renee Nightingale. While Renee works relationships like a novice checker player, Jewellen works hers like a skilled chess master. But when she meets the handsome Roman Montgomery, a brother with serious game, all bets are off.

I love that the author tells the story from all sides. Unlike some women authors, when her female characters are wrong, they're wrong and Ms. Grant doesn't try to sugar coat it. I absolutely adored this book and devoured it within hours on a Sunday afternoon.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Relationship 101 Straight Up No Chaser, January 27, 2010

By 

1Lovely "the wannabe critic" (No Cal) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Heard it All Before (Paperback)

Loved it! I can't say it enough. This newly published author did it right and I am looking forward to any future books she writes. At one point in the book (during a wedding scene) I was literally brought to tears with laughter. The characters are realistic, varied, interesting and totally open for readers to appreciate. The story focuses around two couples Jewel and Roman and Renee and Gregory, but there are a host of other interesting and varied characters, including family members, ex-loves, friends and even little Chase (Roman's son) that hold the reader's attention. I couldn't put the book down and can honestly say that black folks (male and female) can appreciate this book about love, life and relationships! I highly recommend it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heard It All Before, January 28, 2010

By 

ASmoothJazzReader (Little Rock, AR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heard it All Before (Paperback)

Right off the top, this was an enjoyable read. Not only is there humor and drama but some emotional moments as well.

Jewellen Capwell and her friends are looking for Mr. Right but have their own ideas of what he should be. Jewel does not want a "thug" and her friend, Renee Nightingale wants someone that can afford her taste.

Jewel meets Roman Montgomery and sparks fly. Problem? Rome lives in the hood. Renee finds just what she needs in Gregory Samson. Problem? Renee likes to play. Jewel meets Rome's ex, Jaquenetta and their son, Chase while Renee has her eyes on Rome's brother, Beau; these provide for some tense moments in their relationships and how these couples work on theirs make for interesting reading. When Jewel gets lost looking for Rome's house and finds herself in the wrong neighborhood, she realizes what little she really knows about her hometown. Other characters/friends in the story help to make this an enjoyable read.

I am looking forward to more from first time author, Michele Grant. Soon, I hope.