3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hotter than Harlem in August during a heat wave..., February 24, 2010
This review is from: Heartbreaker (Paperback)
More ghetto lust than `Flavor of Love's' New York, more hardcore than Tiger Woods on Viagra, and more street than a cardboard box in Bed-Stuy. This is a very hot piece of work from three different authors, only one of whom I have read. I plan to remedy that right after this review. Each one of these stories has a solid mix of street, sex, grime, and grit. I would even go so far as to call these "street espressos". They may be short but they punch you like a drunk Mike Tyson.
My favorite was `Put `Em in Their Place' because 1. It's freaking good! And 2. Because Erick throws TWO huge, HUGE twists in here that leave you with your mouth hanging open like that kid from `Home Alone'. Cha is a chick you don't wanna "f" with because if you do... heaven help you because hell will be too scared! `Slippin' was a gutter obscene, gritty read as well. Reading about Sabrina makes me wish they would hurry up and clone a human because I would like to get a little of what she got. Heck, who am I kidding...? I'd sell my firstborn for bus fare and then ride that bus through Baghdad wearing a "What Would Jesus Do" t-shirt just to get a taste a' that!
"Kandy Girlz' was good but the strength really comes from the first two stories. It isn't a bad story, but if these three stories were in the Olympics "Kandy Girlz' would get the bronze. Not because it did not try or because it sucked, but rather because the other two were THAT good! All in all this was a very good book and I was introduced to two authors that I will keep an eye out for in the future.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heartbreaker-WOW!!!, January 31, 2010
This review is from: Heartbreaker (Paperback)
Not being a real fan of urban lit,there are 3 authors that I will always read having been a fan of De'Nesha since she came out, and only purchasing the book because she was in it. I have now added 2 others to my list. Heartbreaker was a good book,
All of the stories were great and the spins each author put in the books had me like OH HELL NO!! The women in these stories were straight up take-no-prisoners, they definitely used what they had to get what they wanted and had no remorse and were not apologetic. They were either "stay in your lane" or get ran the (bleep) over! Great job! I definitely will be checkin in with these authors in the future.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Don't Hate the Player, Hate the Game, April 23, 2010
This review is from: Heartbreaker (Paperback)
Heartbreaker is composed of three short stories by De'Nesha Diamond, Erick S. Gray, and Nichelle Walker. All of the stories showcase dynamic `get-back' characters who, in one way or another, are caught up in the glitz and glamour of high living, are clearly knocked off their pedestals, and redeem themselves or not.
In Slippin' by De'nesha Diamond, Delvon Jackson is `that' dude. He can get any woman he wants and his reputation of being distracted by sex is a blessing and a curse. Delvon meets a beautiful woman, Sabrina Walker, in a club and is mystified when she brushes him off. Delvon's close friend, Alonzo, just happens to work at the Walker Estate and helps Delvon obtain employment there. While Delvon needs a job, his real motive is to conquer Sabrina. But is the grass always greener on the other side? Delvon does all he can to get close to Sabrina, but as the smoke and mirrors clear, he learns what it means to be a real player. Diamond crafted a well-paced short story that integrated flashbacks well and will have readers laughing at the main characters' humor and shortcomings.
Put `Em in Their Place by Erick S. Gray is a good story of redemption at a high cost. Cha is a bad chick. Men and most women love her and that is the problem. Cha wants sex with no connections. Relationships have no room in her life. Cha's suitors professing their love turn her off, but she cannot help but make people fall for her. Cha lost her father and does not want to feel that type of pain again. But the game changes when she meets Ya Ya, her father's killer. Cha is now on a mission to exact revenge and in doing so, wrecks a host of lives with the shocking end. Gray's story was interesting and created a great build-up to the end. Readers will definitely drop their jaws after reading it.
In Kandy Girlz by Nichelle Walker, Kandy is the woman scorned. She is in love with her basketball star boyfriend, DJ, and he hurts her. But not before she hurts others. Kandy learns early that she has to provide for herself. After her parents are murdered, Kandy is left broke and homeless until Andre, a man who worked with her father, takes her under his wing. Andre provides for Kandy, but at high costs. Kandy decides the life of a kept woman is not for her and jumps at a chance to be apart of the Envy Girls; an agency that casts beautiful women for videos, promotions, television programs, etc. As Kandy infiltrates the business, she decides to start her own agency, Kandy Girlz. But what Kandy did not know was that the people you knock down to get to the top do not always stay there. Walker's story is entertaining and a good example of what can happen when people use others for personal gain. Readers may not find Kandy likeable, but they will definitely understand why her energy is misguided.
I recommend Heartbreaker to readers who enjoy good short stories that are entertaining, easy to read, and want urban fiction reads in small doses. This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.
Reviewed by Darnetta Frazier
APOOO BookClub
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