Mamma I'm In Love With A Gangster [Paperback]

Joy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2006

Mama, I'm In Love (...with a gangsta) is two novella's based on real ghetto love. The first of the two novellas is titled Baby Girl McCoy. Baby Girl McCoy just goes to show you that you can take the girl away from the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto away from the girl. She'll always manage to find her way back. Baby Girl McCoy was given the government name Baby Girl by her mother, a woman who hated her so much that she couldn't' even bare to give her a name in the hospital after giving birth to her. Born to a single teenage mother and a product of rape, Baby never knows her father. In this urban dilemma, Baby gets caught up in the quest for Daddy, that male figure who she thinks can give her what she lacked from a man growing up. She never imagined in a million years that she would find it in the man that she did. This drama filled novella, of which the pages are covered with everyday pain, heartache and obstacles, isn't just another urban story with a different title. Baby's story is the TRUTH. Can you handle the truth? The second of the two novellas is titled Behind Every Bad Boy. You can take the girl out of the streets, but you can't leave her mean street ways behind her. With a good head on her shoulders and a forgiving heart, some things in life still must be accounted for. Harlem Lee Jones may have allowed her heart to find its way to God, but the devil is surely lurking close behind.

Product Details

• Paperback: 283 pages
• Publisher: Urban Books (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893196674
• ISBN-13: 978-1893196674
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,665,736 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm the former secular author of Essence Magazine bestselling titles If I Ruled the World and Dollar Bill. I've written women's fiction under the name Joylynn M. Jossel. I currently write Christian fiction under the name E. N. Joy. I've written a children's book under the name N. Joy that received the Coretta Scott King honor.

I'm editor of Even Sinners Have Souls and Even Sinners Have Souls TOO, featuring New York Times and Essence Magazine Bestselling authors. My latest projects are She Who Finds A Husband and Been There, Prayed That. You can visit me at www.JoylynnJossel.com and www.enjoywrites.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ...And don't we just love them!, December 3, 2006

By 

LOCKSIE "ARC Book Club Inc" (Mt. Vernon, N.Y./Coram, N.Y.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mamma I'm In Love With A Gangster (Paperback)

Harlem Lee Jones has been through the most tragic event of her life; rising from it scarred but alive. Harlem has her man Jazzy by her side to love and protect her, but keeping secrets from Jazzy is wearing her down. Jazzy has left his shady past behind and walked the honest road to running a legitimate business with his love Harlem.
The two are successful with their business, but there is a dark cloud that threatens to rain down secrets of lies and murders. Jazzy is clueless to Harlem's secrets, but when York , Jazzy's good friend and Harlem's ex, make a surprise return into both their lives her secrets threaten to explode bringing this story to a dramatic conclusion.

What is it like growing up with a name like "Baby" for a first name? Just ask Baby girl McCoy, given that name by her mother who hated to even look at her baby who was the result of a violent rape.
For seventeen years Baby lived with a mother who showed her no love and hated her very existence. Not knowing her father; she craved for the parental love she so rightly deserves. When she betrays her best friend Celeste, Baby falls into an unhealthy relationship while looking for the security and love she so desperately longs for.

It's a shame Harlem didn't learn any lessons. She knew Jazzy loved her and had her back, so she should have been totally honest with him. I couldn't believe she fell for York's bull...that just made me know that she would never change.
I really liked Baby Girl McCoy but I felt sorry for her. I was glad she met Coa-Coa, Baby needed friend like Coa-Coa to break things down for her and help take a good look at her spiritual self.

Joy has penned another excellent novel! As always, tight
storylines, good editing and no shortage of surprises.
I believe the last urban book from Joy is called "Wet" she will be writing Christian fiction in the future.
I wish Joy good luck and many blessings on her journey into the world of Christian Spiritual fiction.

Locksie

ARC Book Club Inc.
Star Rating *****5.0

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Two explosive stories that are intertwined...", January 3, 2007

By 

Books2Mention Magazine "Editor" (www.Books2Mention.com) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mamma I'm In Love With A Gangster (Paperback)

"Two explosive stories that are intertwined can be found in Mama, I'm In Love With A Gangsta."

"Harlem Lee Jones is fighting hard to recover for her turbulent childhood and also the horrific attack that she survived through that took the life of her best friend Morgan. Harlem secretly avenges her death, but now the detective working on the case is closing in on her involvement."

"Jazzy is Harlem's soul mate and together they are trying to run a legitimate business and leave their past behind them. Unfortunately, the past has a way of coming back to haunt them."

"Baby Girl McCoy was conceived due to her mother Penny being raped by her mother's boyfriend. Penny is forced to have and care for a child that she hates because of what happened to her."

"Baby Girl grows up seeking the love she never received. She becomes involved in relationships that ultimately causes her heartbreak and nearly destroys her life."

"Joy does a phenomenal job with the telling of these two great stories"

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Raw Street Literature with a Slight Twist, November 5, 2006

By 

Y. Christine Sias "Love Books" (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mamma I'm In Love With A Gangster (Paperback)

Joy put it down in these 2 novella' based on Ghetto Love with a Spiritual Enlightenment. Both ladies, Baby Girl McCoy & Harlem Jones learn that God has a way of making us pay for our discretion's and sins in his own way & time. However they both accept the consequences that they face and are truly humbled in the end. I enjoyed both stories so much I read the entire book in one night. Joy even though you want be writing Street Literature any longer I am sure I will enjoy your Christian based novels just as I have all of your other work. You know how to reach all readers with your gift to write.