Customer Reviews

A Love of My Own

5 star:		(63)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Raymond Tyler Jr., has returned. After having lived in Seattle, Washington with his lover Trent, Raymond has come back to the place where his heart lies, New York City. New York is a place that holds good and bad memories for him and has always been his favorite place to live. Raymond has recently gone through a pretty rough period in his life and hopes that moving to a new place will help to rejuvenate his mind and spirit. He has accepted the CEO position at a hot, up and coming urban magazine called Bling, Bling.

Zola Denise Norwood has it going on. She is the innovative editor of Bling, Bling, she is beautiful and is blessed to have a family and friends that love her. Zola is only missing one thing, a man to call her own. Of course she has men but she doesn't have that man that takes her breath away or that she can call a soulmate.

In A Love Of My Own, E. Lynn Harris's eighth novel, he brings us into the lives of Raymond and Zola. Also, he beautifully intertwines the September 11 tragedy and the death of R & B singer Aaliyah into the storyline and portrays them with compassion and accuracy. As a reader it was very interesting to see how these two tragic events affected Raymond, Zola and the people around them.

A Love Of My Own was a wonderful book. Raymond Tyler Jr., is my favorite character and I was very pleased to see him back. I have just one complaint about this book, and that is that I finished it and now I have to wait for E. Lynn Harris's next literary offering.

Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks

I have read every one of E. Lynn Harris' books and have enjoyed each one of them, but A Love Of My Own is by far my favorite. Not only does E. Lynn bring back one of my favorite characters, Raymond Tyler, but he introduces his readers to a new one, the young, ambitious, and indomitable Zola Denise Norwood. Although Zola is a bit disillusioned when it comes to her faith in love (due to a devastating event in her past), you can't help but admire her drive with regard to her career. She is a strong Black woman who reeks of pure feminine finesse. Raymond, too, is as lovable as he always was. Having moved back to New York after a painful event in his life, he is reunited with his friend, John Basil Henderson (my all-time favorite E. Lynn character) and the sparks fly once more. Raymond is CEO of the magazine where Zola is Editor-in-Chief, and they gain a mutual respect and admiration for one another that turns into a genuine friendship. I think A Love Of My Own is some of E. Lynn's best writing. He beautifully weaves real life events into his story with taste and classs (the death of the beautiful Aaliyah and the WTC bombing) and takes his readers back to those sad events in our history and shows us how they also affect his characters. Returning in smaller roles are Yancy B, and her unforgettable mother, Madame Ava. Any of E. Lynn's devoted followers knows that he has a knack for creating characters his readers love to hate. In A Love of My Own he has done that again with Davis McClinton, Zola and Raymond's billionaire boss. But true to form, he also intersperses his books with smart, likeable folks of various ages, races and backgrounds. I can't say enough good things about this book. Really, I could go on for days. I loved it; read in it a few hours (as I have many of E. Lynn's other titles). Keep up the good work, E. Lynn Harris. You have a forever fan in me.

Yes, he's back, the invincible Basil, who has made nine appearances in E. Lynn Harris' books and like a black cat, he has nine lives. Raymond, the tall sensual brother who has made peace with his sexuality, is also back. But this is not just their story. It is smoothly interwoven in a web of other tales revolving around scenes of New York City, which include power and corruption at a high profile magazine, the making and breaking of relationships, and the tragedy of 9/11.

Raymond leaves Seattle to take the position of CEO of Bling Bling magazine and to make a new start in life after a major disappointment in his love life. Davis McClinton is a wealthy high-powered brother and Raymond's ruthless boss. He has several financial holdings reminiscent of a combination of Donald Trump/Robert Johnson type. What are the secrets he is hiding? Zola Norwood, an intelligent brown sugar beauty, is the editor-in-chief of Bling Bling on her way to realizing her dream of starting her own publication. But she has paid heavy prices, juggling three men among them the very much married McClinton. And then there is Basil, a wiser, more mature Basil--- but for how long?--- who is now a father.

As always with Harris' writing, he gives compelling characterizations, a page turning storyline, and settings that puts you there. We see New York in its finest, Broadway shows, parties of the rich and famous, high-powered corporate stakes, and on its worst day, the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Because of the horror of that day, values are re-evaluated, life-altering decisions are made and relationships of all kinds are tested. With impressive secondary characters, some old ones-- need I mention Yancey and Ava make their appearances-along with the new ones-- the wild, wacky buddies of Zola, this story will have readers laughing and crying.

This one, while not his best--Invisible Life and Just As I Am cannot be duplicated-- is an improvement over his last two novels. Much has been said about the recycling of Basil, who has been ever present in all novels, and his shenanigans. Hopefully this story will satisfy some of his detractors and we won't need to hear from him anymore. But I am a die-hard fan and if Harris writes another book and puts Basil is in it, I will still be at my favorite book store on release day wrangling for the last copy.

I've been waiting to read another novel by E. Lynn Harris since "Anyway the Wind Blows" came out. I'm not going to ruin the book for anyone who hasn't read it yet, but it was one of the best novels I've read this year.

In this book, the focus is back on Raymond Tyler Jr. and a Zola Norwood, who had a small apperance in the last novel. Basil is also back along with his own issues and there are a couple of new characters that bring their own stories into play.Once I started reading the book, I couldn't put it down till I was done. There is enough deception and drama to hold anyone's interest. All in all, I loved the story line and the way the book was written. I recommend anyone who started with "Invisible Life" and the rest of the other books to finish this soap opra by reading "A Love of my Own".

To those who haven't had the chance to read this book, HELLO, it came out on July 30!! What are you waiting for??!?

I'm a definite E. Lynn fan as I've read every book he's written. I've even attended several signings of his and find him to be absolutely charming. I usually enjoy the prose and literary weaving of E. Lynn's plots and sub-plots. And as in this story I love the characters. However I was disappointed at some of the holes in the characters and the story. For example Zola Norwood was a self-assured, gorgeous (on the inside and outside)intelligent business woman with a good handle on her desires who cried an awful lot. Every conclusion to every situation in her life resulted in a tear. It was as if there were no other ways to describe the conclusion of her emotions. Her nemesis the evil Davis McClinton had a heart and armor of inpenetrable ice until a long lost relative shows up from his past. Finally the never-ending saga of Raymond in search of a love of his own hooks up with Basil (an old favorite)and they seem to finally be comfortable with their attraction and love for one another or are they?

E. Lynn does a great job of building the stories but some of the sub-plot is introduced and concluded within the last 50 pages of the book. It leaves the reader feeling rushed and feeling like some of the explanations were thrown in just to finish the book. For example Nola finds out a secret within her family that helps to explain her disdain for her sister and sister's behavior. But her reaction to this information seems incongruent with the character Mr. Harris has built. Davis McClinton has a secret, yes but by the time the secret is introduced, revealed and concluded it is almost irrelevant to the story. It would have been nice to see early on that Davis was vulnerable and his glass house could shatter at any moment. Instead we were led to believe Davis was an evil powerful man bound to stay that way and come out on top.

And the sub-plots with characters we all know and love/hate, Basil and Yancey were built up tremendously only to be let down to quick, confusing and hollow conclusions.

His tribute to 9/11 was heartfelt and served as the backdrop for change in a lot of people's lives but this book lacked the follow through, luster and punch we've come to know from E. Lynn.

First, hats off to E. Lynn for another page turner/midnight oil burner. The story line was great and all of the characters were very well developed...even Jabar. (smile). I thoroughly enjoyed this roller coaster ride story. All of what took place in this novel is REAL....even the fiction parts of it. Thanks (as others reviewers have said) for bringing Raymond back and since Trent is not happy in this one...we know he will be back. The real life events you used....Aaliyah's death, the events of 9/11 and the oscar awards...were very key points in the book and kept me reading. I actually read this novel on vacation and what a great choice to relax and really enjoy.

I don't want to give away any of the "surprises" in the book....so let me just leave it at this. You really showed out on this on E Lynn. I enjoyed it and will highly recommend it to all of the readers I know....those who can sincerely appreciate a well versed and respected author like yourself.

I am proud of you. Keep these novels coming. There are a lot of writers out there....but few who can hold a match to you.

(no i am not his cousin....(smile)..just a true fan for life).

Lastly, I have also found "a love of my own" (JKL)...which made the title of this one....so meaningful to me/for me.

Many blessings,
Shunda Blocker (proud president)
COF II Book Club
Atlanta, GA Chapter

I was very excited when i purchased the book and couldn't help wodering what happened to my favorite characters since the last novel.I was far from dissapointed and found myself staying up till wee hours of the morning to finish this book. I have gotten to like raymond a lot more and idenitfy with his issues. The book was well writted and i had the feeling of being there in every scence. I was really hoping that the growth that Basil supposedly went through as a father and finally comming to grips with his love for Raymond, should have been dealt with better in the book. I was longing o see this man finally come of age and grow into himself and all we get is an editorialized mention from Raymond to his Dr. Also, I expected some more conflict for Raymond when he was confonted with sleeping in the same bed with is quasi homophobic personal trainer. In the former books situations like that brought color and depth which made the reading irrisistable. I look forward to how the story unfolds. I assume that there will be another book and HBO, which is probably the only company with the balls to take a serious look at a black alternative lifestye story, will stand up and take notice at this writers awsome body of work and bring it to the rest of the world. This is no terry Mcmillin two hit wonder. E. Lyn Harris is here to stay in the minds and hearts of his many beloved readers.

OK I have read ALL of his books and I will admit that I'm not totally disappointed but it could have been better. He kind of lost me with Zola and her resentment towards her sister. Then there was her friend Justine. And Basil, the one we love/hate to love/hate always has drama and I just wish for once that he would COME OUT ALREADY! The plots weren't like the ones I was used to; blackmail, shocking revelations, etc.

He should have picked up where Yancey left off in the last book "Any way the wind blows" and her romance. I would have liked to see her find love again after Basil dumped her.

I was early on and early off the E. Lynn Harris Bandwagon. I read the first three books, the third one when it was released, and was always impressed with the easy and classy style with which he wrote. I have always thought Mr. Harris was worthy of the hype he received, unlike some who have come along since. Unfortunately, after a couple of incidents involving assumptions about my own preferences impeded me from reading in my usual places, I found myself out of the loop.

I picked this book up on its release date for the purpose of reading it before the buzz hit. I found it just as i found the first three before it, conversational, breezy and quick tempo-ed. Harris' reads are easy without being overly simple; one gets the impression he has at least a nodding acquaintance with the background subject matter. It is written in small vignettes from varying points of view, which can be disconcerting if you do not pick up on who is speaking at first. Of course the overarching "taboo" of homosexuality looms over the proceedings, although it seems to be less of a centerpiece as I remember.

I was generally satisfied with the book, it was entertaining and reasonably informative, and I would recommend it to readers of all tastes.

In A Love of My Own, E. Lynn Harris has brought back one of my favorite characters.....Raymond Tyler.

Raymond has just suffered a personal loss and is trying to recover. He finds himself back in New York and working for the magazine "Bling Bling." He is enjoying his newfound succes, albeit reluctantly. He has hooked up with longtime pal, John "Basil" Henderson. Basil however has a few surprises himself...of course it wouldn't be Basil if there weren't surprises.

In A Love of My Own we are also introduced to Ms. Zola Denise Norwood, the editor of "Bling Bling." Zola is surrounded by a bevy of male friends, including the married mogul Davis McClinton....who seems to stop at nothing to try and keep Zola.

This is a classic E. Lynn Harris read. I highly recommend it for any avid Harris fan. Continued success and blessings to Mr. Harris.