Customer Reviews

Illegal Affairs

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This story hit me everywhere, my heart, my head, and my funnybone. I was hooked from the first page, which starts with a detective finally tracking down a body that he's been looking for for quite a while. The detective tells a woman that he can't wait to talk to her daughter about the dead body, but since no names are used, I couldn't tell who the detective suspects.

Then the book goes back about three years to the first day of law school and all of these really interesting characters show up. Raven is my favorite, that scene with her in the men's restroom had me laughing out loud and feeling like I know nothing about real sex! And the part with her and the doctor took me completely by surprise. Callie's situation with her father broke my heart, and the senator teed me off with his superior attitude. I laughed when I saw how he ended up. Omar simply defies description.

I wish that there had been more about Keith, his ex-wife and his lover. That part was almost too painful for me to read (for personal reasons) but I still wanted more of it. The book is really a page turner and I was blown away by the ending. The writer deliberately left some provocative questions unanswered, so I'm on the lookout for part two.

I am Georgia Madison, author of Gettin' Down to the "Real" Nitty-Gritty. I am an author who is very realistic, humorous and direct, not only in my writing but also in my life, and I would like to submit my honest critique of "Illegal Affairs" from my point of view as a woman with the aforementioned attributes. I would like to congratulate Shelia Dansby Harvey on a job well done. Her story line and characters are realistic, very interesting and all have substance, which is something I value in reading. At that point in her book where intrigue first rears its head, each chapter thereafter flows with a constant rhythm of intrigue, which impels the reader to want to continue reading on and on in anticipation of what intriguing events will occur next. I have not watched a soap opera since 1980, but I remember how I was when I used to watch, and "Illegal Affairs" reminds me of a soap opera in a book. Just as I hear my family members and coworkers carrying on and anxiously anticipating what new intriguing events will occur from day to day on their soap operas, so will the readers anxiously anticipate what will occur from chapter to chapter in "Illegal Affairs."

In addition to realistically portraying the competitive law school classroom experience, ILLEGAL AFFAIRS, skillfully intertwines romance, humor, everyday life challenges, and ... murder. I gasped, laughed, reminisced, and eagerly anticipated the next twist in this intricate storyline of 4 law students who have a multitude of "issues."

I enjoyed ILLEGAL AFFAIRS, I eagerly await the sequel and it is worth buying.

Initially I thought this book was going to be a suspenseful ?whodunit? based on what I read in the first pages of book titled The Finale. However, once I realized it was an intriguing read about the hardships of law school, backstabbing and dating, and the Finale was not the gist of the book, I had a new appreciation for the novel. The story made more sense and I began to enjoy it better.

Raven, Callie, Omar and Keith were all students at the predominately black Monroe Law School. The four of them became friends and quickly paired into study partners; Raven and Callie, Omar and Keith. Omar and Callie became a couple, Raven found Senator Michael Joseph and Keith admired and loved one of the ladies from afar. Raven and Omar were both arrogant, self centered and thrived on the spotlight shining on them. So when others took the spotlight away, it spelled bad news. The shining star soon found out, it was not nice to upstage Omar and Raven.

The book also featured other interesting secondary characters. There was bookstore owner Mr. Reese, the tutorial student, Set, a white man in a black college, Brett and a bevy of females belonging to Omar. These characters brought their own dynamics into the scene, which helped make the story even more interesting.

I thought the book was well written. The mock court scenes were quite fascinating and gave a glimpse of the judicial system at work. As the evil characters became more wicked and the good became stronger, this book moved up on the rating scale. Actually I was going to rated the book a 3.5 on the APOOO scale, but the anticipation in the storyline, pushed it up to a strong 4* read.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub

This story is a wonderful sophisticated tale. It contains characters that are inteleligent and charming. The book is well written. It is a must read for your summer. You will be glad you bought this book and will recommend it to your friends.

Shelia Harvey does an excellent job developing each of her four protagonists, who are first year law students. While using a historical black law school as her setting, Ms. Harvey masterfully examines and disects the complexities of their disparate personalties. Each student, despite their sometme despicable actions, has qualities worthy of admiration, respect, sympathy, and/or pity.

As the lives and stories unfold, Ms. Harvey very skillfully weaves these contradictory personality traits into her storyline, subtly inviting the reader to examine their own innate character. She also entertains and titilates the reader with tasteful sex and romance. She appropriately leaves something for one to imagine.

Illegal Affairs exposes the good, the bad, the best, and the worse of four young black professionals pursuing their love of the law. And yes, it does get ugly. I did not want to see it end. I look forward to the sequel.

Hurrah for another 'Third Coast' Author. Texas style!! Shelia Dansby Harvey has created a host of legal characters that will take you there and then some.

Player-Omar Faxton, trusting-Callie Stephens, Comforter-Keith and 'Hellraiser-Raven Holloway' are forces to be dealt with. Sex, lies and a criminal element adds to the twist of this story as an 'innocent and naive' Callie Stephens schools Omar and Raven on litigation, overcoming and sweet revenge in her own guileless way.

Shelia's story telling is on the same scale as an Irish Johenson, Tom Clancy-minus all the chatter, and Walter Mosley who's at the top of his game. Way to go Shelia. Can't wait to finish, Bad Girls Finish First.

Thanks for keeping it real here on the 'Third Coast'.

Author, M.W.Moore

Illegal Affairs begins as the paths of five strangers cross on the campus of the predominately black Monroe Law School. Each of the five come from very different backgrounds with their own issues to bear.

Callie Stephens is a hardworking student still dealing with the after affects of her father's unexpected death. She soon learns that the informtation in her legal classes are not the only lessons she'll learn as some people and situations are not as they seem. Will she learn before it's too late?

Omar Faxton is a former pro football player and now up and coming lawyer. Gone are the football days but not his football ways as he "plays the field." He is so used to being the user, can he recognize when he's being used?

Raven Holloway is always the best and accustumed to having it all. Law school will be no different. And neither will the married Senator Michael Joseph now that she's set her eyes on him. What Raven wants Raven gets. But has Raven finally gotten in over her head?

Keith Dawson is running from his tumultuous past. He's succeeding in academia, but his personal life is another story. Of all the beautiful women at Monroe, Keith is smitten with his friend's girlfriend. That, along with his past actions, cause him to question himself. Is Keith beyond redemption?

For Brett Milstead the tables have been turned. As a white student he is now in the minority. He has his own preconceived notions about his black counterparts. But what happens when he finds himself falling for a fellow classmate - a black classmate?

For Callie, Omar, Raven, Keith, and Brett more than studying is going on as they experience explosive friendships and relationships laced with deceit, love, competition, envy, and betrayal. The verdict is in . . . very good book.

Reviewed by
Savvy Sista Sophia

Illegal Affairs blew me away. I found the wisdom and insight uncanny for an author so young.

This is a wonderful story. The writer weaves a fascinating tale and draws you in from the first page. Having experienced law school provided me some familiarity with the story, but anyone would enjoyed this sexy story. It has suspense, it is exciting and has a strong sensuality. It is told in a way that allows you to feel as if you know the characters. I highly recommend this sexy, intelligent, suspenseful story.