Customer Reviews

Hittin' the Bricks: An Urban Erotic Tale (Many Cultures, One World)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

How ironic! I read this book more than a week ago, but am only just ready to post my review, and then when I come here I found out that Miss
Natassha Denise Jenkins posted almost the exact review I was going to write!
Another irony is that I find the book was given 5 stars, by the author Shay. She's a new author, and I found her book, Raw: An Erotic Street Tale, EXCELLENT, so I was kinda surprised to see that she was so enthusiastic about this book. But then when I thought about it, it makes sense. She's raved before about other Noire books and mentioned that she's a big Noire fan. In fact, her writing style is quite similar to Noire's, and like Noire, she uses a pseudonym. And if I'm not mistaken, I believe both of them are from New York City. Hmmmm.....
But back to THIS BOOK.....
Hittin' the Brick was well-written like all of of Noire's books, but I get so tired of the main character being such a damn victim, like she's not in control of her own fate. Being forced, in a way, into a bad relationship. Being horribly abused. Ugh!
I mean, the first two....G-Spot and Candy Licker, okay....but all of her books!
No, I'm sorry. This is the last Noire book for me even though I started out a fan. I mean why should I read another one? It seems to me if you've read one you've read them all.

Now don't get me wrong, it was a good book. A page turner, I read the book in less then two days while at work. But the thing is it was JUST a GOOD book, short of being a masterpiece like her beginning works G-Spot and Candy Licker. My expectations for Noire have been set high, extremely high, and she fell below that.

But when it came to this book, it was nothing new or spectacular. And without giving away the story, they are becoming repetitive, VERY repetitive and predictable. There's always a girl and sometimes boy: (Juicy, Candy, Egypt and Hood, Carmesha and Thug, Saucy and of course Eva) and their siblings and they experience a horrible up bringing. They all are generally left alone in the world, experiencing first hand absent parents, severe physical abuse and drugs in their childhoods. They all struggle to make it out of the hood (Juicy=dancing, Candy=singing, Egypt=school, Hood=Rap, Carmesha=hair, Thug= B-Ball, Saucy and Eva= Modeling) but regardless the streets get them.
All the girls, except Saucy, catch the eye of a BIG drug kingpin and suffer abuse at the hand of that kingpin. They are deeply in love with someone, but have a problem enjoying their love in the face of their problems. Ultimately the kingpin, has a downfall and his own relative has a hand in it, there is a big fight/physical assault of the girl (or Boy in Thugs and Hoods case), the sibling, and the lover, that leaves them with life scars (both physical and mental), and changed if not dead.
My point is I knew the storyline before I read it. The names changed but the story remains the same. This book is becoming a movie, or so Noire said. I would seem to me that her earlier works would have been one conjoined movie (since they all are interlinked: G-Spot, Candy Licker, Thug-A-Licious, Thong on Fire), now that would have been WORTH IT!! I don't know about this one.
Noire is a GREAT urban erotic writer; she just needs a little bit more variety. I think it is safe to say that I too was disappointed.

While I love Noire as an author and have enjoyed her other books I never really read them in order I am just reading Candy licker but I did read Gspot, thug a licious and thong on fire I have to say while the circumstance around this character were different it was pretty musch the same. They are all young blk women who are seemingly beautiful at the start of the book they have very high confidence, towards the middle it diminishes a bit closer to the end they start to gain it back but not before they are raped, beaten, mutilated or killed.

When I read the excerpt for this one I thought it owuld be a little different it was a LITTLE bit different but not much.

Kinda like how Gspot is almost Identical to Candy Licker.

This is bested described as....typical and predictible Noire. It had the same structure as some of her other books. Nice, beautiful girl who has a messed life. A deranged drug dealer who is obessed with her and a handsome nice guy that you want the heroine to get with. I still love Noire but she needs to be more original.

Focus...Favor...Favor

I was shocked that everyone is saying the same thing that I was going to write. As I was reading I kept saying to my husband that i get sick of constantly reading the SAME STORY with a different title.I take NOTHING frome this book as it was a true page-turner. I must say it was a good book, I just felt like I read it before =)

Noire has done it AGAIN and I'm not surprised at all! With a brand new cast of characters she writes another story that will definitely have you turning the pages well past your bedtime!

Eva at the age of fifteen is a whore and a crack fiend, but she didnt have a choice at becoming this way. Her mother and her mother's boyfriend forced her to do drugs, have sex and watch them have sex. Eva's days and nights are full of unwanted sex, sex for money, sex for drugs and her mind constantly wonders when her last day of living will arrive.

She makes a decision to get off drugs, leave her mom's house and changes her life around. Things are looking up for Eva and for once she can smile. She meets a man that swepts her off her feet. Ice Mello loves Eva unconditionally and will stop at nothing to make her happy. The sex scenes between these two...OMG..I was slightly jealous at Eva experiencing a man like that!

While Eva is riding a natural high with her new life, new job and wonderful man her cousin Fiyah is doing a year sentence that she should have been doing. Fiyah and Eva grew up together, did dirt together and they've always had each other's back. But when Fiyah is approached with a bad situation while doing time in Rikers he decides to make a deal with a man who can not only get him out of the situation but watch his back until his time is served. Brody, the most notorious and feared man in Harlem does nothing for free and he let's Fiyah know that up front. He promises to provide protection for him and give him a recording contract, but only if he hooks him up with a woman he's had his eyes on since Fiyah got in. Eva. If Fiyah only knew the consequences of making a deal like that he would have never agreed to it!

Although this book had me on the edge of my seat, I was a little disappointed that Noire had wrote yet another book where her main character plays the victim. Noire is one of my favorite authors and she is VERY creative when it comes to her stories! I don't understand why she can't come up with a different way of opening her stories. I guess its a personal choice to have all her main characters playing the victim.

Nonetheless fans won't be disappointed with Hittin The Bricks. She may have created another 'woe is me main character', but don't get it twisted she is dangerous with the pen and HTB is another BESTSELLER!!

Pretty much what I expected, after reading all of her books I just thought she would come from maybe a different angle but I guess not. I have to agree with others when they say her books are quite repetitive. I was looking for it to grab from the beginning and hold me until the end but it didn't. Don't get me wrong it was a good read and a tear-jerker towards the end but it really didn't leave me wanting more as the others did. I was a little disappointed maybe it will be better as a movie rather than a book.

Wow...thats really all I can say about this one. I do have a question though: why are ALL of the books so violent? I mean, poor Eva didn't have a snow balls chance in Miami in surviving this one. King Brody was a booty bandit that got a sick twisted thrill out of beating women. I didn't understand his anger, or any of the characters for that matter. The books to me tend to get more violent as they come out, and I'm left speechless...for the first time in my life.
It was an entertaning read that kept me turning the pages, but the graphic scenes and the violent deaths was a bit much this time around. Looking for the next one though, and hopefully it'll be a little LESS brutal.

Growing up as a teenager is always hard. But when the people who love you can't protect you, who will? How can you overcome obstacles when you have no one to lean on?

Eva Patterson had it rough being 14 years old and on her own. Her mother allowed her to be abused mentally, physically, and sexually. Eva learned early to survive on her own. Her mother Racine was an addict who could care less about doing the basic things you are required to do as a parent, which is to provide food, shelter, and protection. That was evident when she allowed her young boyfriend Jahden to sexually abuse Eva and get her high on heroin. Eva was thrown to the wolves early on. After an confrontation with her mother, Eva is thrown out, not realizing she is with child. Eva becomes a woman in an instant, and her motherly instincts kick in and does what's right for the baby. But after overcoming the horrible things Eva has been through, will Eva get a second chance at life or will she remain in that vicious cycle of tragedy?

India, Eva's best friend, is in a race against time. Saint, her drug-dealing boyfriend, gave India a package to deliver. But when she messes up that deal, she will pay dearly. Eva agrees to look after India's little sister Rosa and her father. Will India lose her life for a mistake she made?

Fiyah Perez, Eva's cousin, shared an unique bond with her. He was always there when she needed him, and Eva even stayed with Fiyah and Aunt Milena to get away from her mother. But when Eva hears some devastating news about her mother, Fiyah puts his dreams of becoming the next big rapper on hold and is sent to Rikers after taking a case for Eva. Fiyah has to pull his weight in prison because paying a debt back is not about respect, it is a must. But will Fiyah sacrifice this debt by giving up his cousin Eva to someone who he knows is evil and a nutcase? Or will he become the ultimate sacrifice?

Mello, was a cool brother. He was hard-working, and about his business. He sold CDs, took photographs for a club called Bricks and a clothing line called Birthday Cake. He came into Eva's life for a reason. Mello showed Eva that there are real men out there that will love, cherish, and respect you. Mello showed Eva this world, and there is nothing he wouldn't do for her. He accepted her just the way she was, flaws and all. But when Fiyah gets out of prison, Mello will do everything he can to protect Eva, even if that includes confronting Fiyah about his plans.

Brody was not the one to play with. He commanded respect at all times. He had a thing for young girl and was known for branding girls with a "B" because they were his property. What Brody wanted, he got...and what he wanted was Eva. Brody looked out for Fiyah in Rikers, and he had to collect back on his debt. Brody ran Harlem and had a lot of connections, he was into the pornography business and had clubs. When Fiyah is released, he intends to make good on his debt. Will Brody get what he wants or is there an even bigger match for King Brody?

Noire does it again with Hittin' The Bricks. I am avid fan of Noire's and was left with no disappointment with this fantastic novel. The book started off with a compelling story of struggle and showed there is a light at the end of the tunnel. But sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you cannot leave the past behind. Eva is a strong woman who overcame immense circumstances, and it just shows that even your own family will turn on you. Noire has definitely proved that writing is a craft and never fails with each novel I read. Noire is known for giving it to you straight to the point without holding back but with a touch of sensuality.

Reviewed by Kristin
for Urban Reviews

Eva Patterson's life has never been easy. Born and raised on the mean streets of Harlem, Eva's life was rough after the death of her father. Her mother, Rasheena, become a heroin addict and soon allowed Eva to be abused, raped and drugged up by her psycho man Jahden. Eva is addicted to heroin and pregnant by the age of 14.
After Eva gives birth to her son in a laundromat dryer, he is taken in by a kind soul named Miss Threet, and Eva is off to Brooklyn for rehab and to live with her aunt Milena and cousin Fuego (Fiyah).
Just when Eva's life is going great, she's modeling for birthday Cake, and in love with Ramel "Ice Mello" Williams, her cousin Fiyah returns from jail on Rikers and confesses to Eva that he has made a deal with King Brody, a vicious Brooklyn drug lord. Brody is a heartless dude, who mistreats women for fun and will kill in an instant. Brody had Fiyah's back on Riker's and protected his manhood, now Brody wants Eva. So Fiyah makes a deal and is expected to "give" Eva to Brody as payback.
Only Eva ain't with it and neither is her man Mello. So Brody turns up the violence in order to get what he wants: EVA.
Noire is back and delivers a tale that is not for the weak of heart!5 stars!!