Customer Reviews

Kissed By The Devil

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This novel starts out with the lead character Heidi Kachina being beaten by her fiancé...fast forward a year and we learn that Heidi's fiancé Jayson is now dead, and she volunteers in a support group referred to as "Call & Response" who help people that have lived through traumatic experiences. Heidi meets Aaron from the group, he survived a deadly motorcycle accident and has his own issues to work though and the two form a bond.

Lamar has just been released from serving an eight month prison bid and is enjoying time with his girlfriend Melissa. A call from his sister Heidi pulls him away from the passion he's about to ignite under the sheets with the horny Melissa who waited for him. Heidi demands that Lamar meet her at their mother Pearl's house, as she sure that mother is in danger! Reluctantly Lamar chooses family over a pis**d off Melissa!

Shaheed, fronts as the middle man for big a time hustler named Abdul. When Shaheeds name is implicated in a major drug deal gone wrong, Abdul wants no part of Shaheed and threatens him to come up with his money and be gone or suffer the consequences. In order to get the money Shaheed involves his brother Rob and cousin Vegas but their plan to get the money turns sour and in the haste to get away they buck heads with Heidi in a fatal blow. Shaheed vows payback on Heidi and an impressive scheme is hatched which promises to kill two birds with one stone, but Heidi refuses to go down without a fight...

An excellent story by newcomer Dashawn Taylor, who seems to have a flair for dramatic twists and turns. Oh yes there is one common denominator that link the characters but when you think you've figured it out Dashawn flips the script on ya!
An eye catching cover with a story that will make you determined to uncover the answers to this gripping drama!

Locksie

ARC Book Club Inc.

Reviewed by QB Wells
UrbanBookSource.com


Kissed by the Devil is an impressive novel that showcases the storytelling ability of author Deshawn Taylor. The tale illuminates the life of Heidi Kachina (a.k.a High), an attractive and selfish woman from New Jersey who is set on using the people around her to get the things that she wants from life.

From the onset, the book is filled with action and deception. The novel begins with a brutal first scene, a domestic violence dispute, which leaves Heidi in the hospital and her fiancé dead. Although the killer is never revealed, this scene sets the suspense that drives the rest of the story.

The plot unfolds as you are introduced to the characters of Shaheed and Vegas, two criminals who are committed to their illegal grind. Shaheed is an intelligent thug that conceives grand schemes and executes with precision. Vegas, on the other hand, is a brute bone crusher individual with a fetish for jacking luxury cars.

Shaheed, in need of money to pay off a bounty on his head for a botched deal, comes up with a plan to invade the home of an underground business hustler for some money. He takes his brother and cousin Vegas along for the crime. The robbery is successful at first but the plan goes awry when the crew is caught on tape and the victims are killed.

The situation worsens when their getaway car smashes into the car of Heidi Kachina. In need of someone to complete another scheme, Shaheed and Vegas kidnap Heidi's family to force her to finish the last heist.

The novel is well written; the characters are well developed, and motivated to the end. However, when the characters finally collide at the end of the novel, the main character is left overcoming farfetched 50Cent odds, thus making the end a bit inconceivable.

What did I like about the book?
I enjoyed the way the author built the plot and the realism of the characters.

What did you not like about the book?
I did not like how many times the author used the phrase "shot a look at" when the characters were holding guns and weapons that could shoot someone. I also didn't like the holes in the plot that were central to the story.

What can author do to improve story?
Tighten up the holes in the plot by making sure all the details connect in the story.

Weak women will never survive in this world of cold-hearted men! That s the first lesson that Heidi aka "High" learns after a deadly domestic dispute that leaves her in the hospital and her fiancé Jayson dead. Now, just one short year later, Heidi finds herself trying to replace the pieces of her shattered life. Armed with a frozen heart and a cynical soul, Heidi s jaded ways seem to backfire on her as she quickly finds herself fighting for her life and the lives of her family. KISSED BY THE DEVIL is a fast paced tale of lies and deception from the outset. It will keep you holding your breath until the very end....TRUST NO ONE!

Kissed by the Devil is a page turner from the first page to the last. Deshawn keep you in this book to the end. You really don't know who your friends are that's the scary part. Heidi was a trooper,Trying to get her life back together all to be going though it again for her family.....Best believe you don't know everybody even your friends....But I must say that this family thy may agrue and dis each other but in the end they there for each other. Deshawn this is your sophmore book and you really did the thing with this one.

Reviewed by: Ladyscorpio


I highly recommended this book to everyone if you want a good read.

Taylor sets the emotional stage in the opening chapter with the vicious attack of Heidi "High" Kachina and the death of her fiancé, Jayson. Fast forward one year later and High still has questions about that night.

In another part of Jersey, Shaheed is desperate. He's a marked man; marked for death unless he can pay the bounty on his head.

One fateful night, the lives of High and Shaheed intertwine, and things will never be the same...

If you start this urban drama, you'll stick with it anxious for answers. Unfortunately, you won't find many. Like main character High, I still have questions. What could have been was compromised by gaps in the storyline. There was an overuse of certain words and phrases. Someone was either "shooting" someone a look ("Vegas shot Rafeek a blank stare"; "He shot her a suspicious look"; "Faith shot Heidi a confused look") or having an emotion come over them, ("An ominous feeling came over her"; "A funny feeling came over her"; "A dark feeling came over her") alerting readers in advance that things would not bode well for the character. As a reader, I'd prefer to have things play out instead of being given a heads up of doom.

I did enjoy the two separate storylines. Each had enough to hold my attention and interest. Taylor has a gift for storytelling. But I was disappointed and felt cheated with the ending. The ending leaves room for a sequel that will hopefully address the unresolved issues. However, the purpose of a sequel should not be to complete a book. Readers should look forward to continuing on with the lives of the characters or pick up with a cliff hanger, not looking for answers to questions or issues never completely addressed in the first book. With his future work, by closing gaps and tightening up the plot, I feel that Dashawn Taylor has a promising literary career.

Reviewed by: Toni
3.5 stars

I must say that this was a very good book and a true page turner with tons of twists and turns. This is my first time reading a book from Dashawn Taylor, but definitely won't be my last. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel.

Heidi Kachina (a.k.a. High) learns a painful lesson when a domestic dispute lands her into the hospital and leaves her fiancé Jayson dead. High tries to forget that night and tries to move forward with her life but there are still some unanswered questions about that faithful night: Why did Jayson attack her in the first place and was he really cheating on her? It is now one year later and High's heart has turned to stone. She is only concerned with her own needs and wants. High's world comes crashing down around her when a tragic mistake soon pulls her into a dangerous game. She will have to come out on top or else risk losing her own life and family forever. Will High be able to make it out of this mess unscathed?

Kissed by the Devil is a riveting debut novel by Dashawn Taylor. Taylor pulls no punches as he starts with the heart-stopping drama right away with the first page of the prologue. This pulls the reader in head first into the complex world of Heidi and will have you eagerly flipping the pages. The plot of this story was entertaining yet mysterious. Taylor does an exceptional job of being able to incorporate some secondary characters into this story while seamlessly connecting them to Heidi. This novel moves at a fever pitch and readers need to pay close attention because nothing is the way it appears to be. There is a twist that is so shocking, it will make your head spin. Kissed by the Devil is full of high drama and suspense that will leave you practically begging for an immediate sequel. With Kissed by the Devil, Dashawn Taylor proves that he is ready to make major power moves in the book industry.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert
for Urban Reviews

OoHHHH!!!! What a tangled web he weaves!!!! From beginning to end this intricate novel is a true page turner!!! Unlike most predictable tales of fiction, Dashawn keeps you glued to the edge of your seat waiting... anticipating to see what will happen in the next moment. An excellent piece of fiction from a TRUE STAR that's new to the game!!!! I'm waiting impatiently to see what will happen next!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a great read for anyone who loves hood fiction. It also does not have alot sexual content making it a good recomondation for the teenagers who love hood fiction books.

I actually meet the author of this book on 125th Street. And he was a very nice guy and hopefully the next time I am in Harlem NY on 125th street he will be out there so I can ask him "What happened?" I was left confused. I see there will be a part two (so tired of sequels) and maybe that will wrap up some un-answered questions, because right now I am like huh...stuck on stupid with the confused face to match.

I started this book, and beleive me it kept me confused!!! I couldnt understand where this author was coming from. It had too many things going on at one time. It staretd out really bad, I think this person should have had someone else edit this book before he took it to print. i wouild not suggest this book to anyone. I did not complete this one, I got to the part where Heidi and Shaeed had a accident and I thought to myself I am done with this one. It really is not a good read. It gave me a headache to keep up with the storylines.....