Customer Reviews

In My 'Hood

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Desiree (RAE-RAE) is such a survivor. Her life story is like most of ours. She had a good job and then hit rock bottom hard. Loving her man and remaining loyal to him sums up who Desiree is, until one day her life is turned completely around because of the greed that's inside of her. Well, it landed her and her man in jail doing hard time. Desiree learned a valuable lesson the hard way. Now out of jail, she has decided to live her life for the better, but with only $96.00 and no where else to go, she winds up in her old neighbor. Will Desiree be able to live her life differently now or will the streets swallow her???

In My Hood is excellent and a very quick read. You will be on the edge of your seat!!! Such a cliff hanger, I have NEVER read a book with so many cliff hangers before!!

In Endy's urban novel, In My Hood, you take a backseat ride in
the life of Desiree "Rae-Rae" Johnson as she struggles with drug
addiction and love.

Rae-Rae used to live the life of a successful business woman
until she fell in love with Bilal "Bunchy" Wilson. She was
jealous of his "love" of the drug and felt if she indulged with him, that
he would love her more. Their now chaotic lifestyle of drug addicts
made the couple witnesses of double murder and the perpetrators
of armed robbery and homicide. Rae-Rae is released from prison early
on good behavior while Bunchy meets his death behind bars.

Ishmael is a top man in the dope game and far from what Rae-Rae
really wants in a man. When he meets her at a mutual friend's
house, he is immediately attracted to her; ultimately she gives in.

Will Rae-Rae's accepting Ishmael in her life cause history
to repeat itself? Is she prepared to deal with the skeletons in
his closet as well as her own? By the book's end, you will not only
understand the inner turmoil of the disease of addiction but you
will have these questions answered as well.

If you are looking for a quick read, this is not the book for
you. I recommend this novel to urban fiction fans that are willing to
take their time to digest a full story. It has lots of love and
drama weaved throughout it.

Darnetta Frazier
APOOO BookClub

Desiree aka Rae Rae remembers that life of luxury that people only dream about. The only thing missing was the beautiful man that sweeps her off her feet, Bilal "Bunchy" Wilson. Life without him would be impossible, but life with him has turned her life into a world wind of drugs, murder and confusion.

Knowing that she will never return to the life of Desiree, Rae Rae tries to deal with the outcome of the day her two friends were murdered and her beloved Bunchy was stolen from her arms. While also trying to come to grips that her life as a drug user needs to be buried, Rae Rae stumbles upon Ish, one of the biggest suppliers in the hood. He cannot get enough of Rae Rae's beauty, timid demeanor and unforgettable eyes. Can Rae Rae handle being in the life that she is struggling so hard to forget? Will Ish remember those eyes that seem to haunt and mesmerize him?

In my Hood starts hard and fast but soon levies into a smooth hood drama. The turn of events will keep you turning the pages and not missing a beat. Endy does a great job debuting her hood.

Desiree aka "Rae-Rae" at one time was an inspiring sophisticated business woman, who dressed for success and had an inspiring career to match. She met a man named Bilal aka "Bunchy" who was not only addicted to drugs himself, but got the love of his life Rae-Rae hooked as well. For the love of Bunchy, Rae-Rae thought if she indulged as well Bunchy would love her more. Waking up everyday trying to seek their next high was the goal for each and everyday. Living in the turmoil of the hood in a run-down apartment is when Rae-Rae goes from witnessing 2 tragic events to doing 5 years for armed robbery and murder, and losing someone close to her. These events would stay on her mind forever, but also at the same time change her life.

Ishmael a well known kingpin that was deep into the game and had NJ on lock, sweeps Desiree off her feet, and eventhough, Ishmael loved her beauty he was confused about those eyes Desiree had. Loving a drug dealer is an ex-addict's no-no, but you sometimes can't help who you fall in love with. When a turn of events come knocking, people close to you start plotting, and the green eyed monster rises in the ranks, will Desiree and Ishmael hold on and overcome it all? or will those eyes tell what the holds for the future?

In My Hood part 1 captures the reader and build on the climax in the first few chapters, but I have to say in the middle of the chapters the action seizes at a slow crawl. There are also subplots that keep on track with the storyline and the characters was well developed. The author does take the reader back into time throughout the book which helps to develop the story. To be Endy's first debut novel, In My Hood told a love story intertwined with drugs, chaos, jealousy, and greed and pulled it off for a good read. Endy is an up-rising and an inspiring author to watch for.

Reviewed by Token787
Coast2CoastReaders Online Book Club

While working on a plan to get rich quick, Desiree ( Rae Rae) and her boyfriend Bilal (Bunchy) Wilson witness the murder of their two friends Roc and Tracey. In need of the money to fuel their expensive drug habit, Desiree and Bunchy decide to pull off the heist by themselves. But things go wrong when Desiree gets greedy and both end up in prison.

After serving five years Desiree is released and decides not to return to her former life of drugs, but her best friend and lover Bunchy is now dead and she has no choice but to head back to New Jersey and stay with an old acquaintance Beverly.
With a strong mind Desiree decides stay clean and gets a job. With future plans to go back to school things are hard but looking up...as long as she stays away from drugs.

Ishmael Jenkins is doing great in his chosen profession as one of the most respected men in the drug game. He meets Desiree and is very intrigued by her, but Desiree isn't jumping at the chance to become his main lady given how he makes his money. But as fate would have it they form a friendship and eventually fall in love.

A war is about to break out involving the mayor, police and the big time drug dealers, and Ishmael is right in the center of it all! Will Ishmael leave the drug game as Desiree has requested? or will Desiree backslide into her old habit?
Author Endy has penned an explosive debut novel that brings the hood alive in vibrant colors! Love is in the air as the body count starts rising. Jealousy and betrayal reeks havoc in this hood...watch your back!!! Endy's description of Desiree and Bunchy as crack addicts is superb I could almost smell the stench coming from their apartment!

Check out Endy's hood, you won't be disappointed.

Locksie

ARC Book Club Inc.

This book was a sleeper, I read this in one night and would not put the book down until I finished it. This book was action-packed. Go get it!

Desiree Johnson, a former drug addict, is a free woman after spending five years incarcerated for a botched robbery. She's back on the streets, the same streets that fueled her addiction. Now healthy and drug-free, can Desiree resist the allure of a quick fix? Is the monkey really off her back?

Ishmael Jenkins has put in some serious work and has street credibility. His reputation speaks for itself. He would one day like to get out of the game, but the decision may no longer be his to make.

Desiree and Ishmael's paths cross. What a combination; a drug dealer and an ex-addict. Will their pasts and present equal a future?

Newcomer Endy takes readers to the heart of the hood as she delves into the deep, murky waters of drug addiction. Your hood, my hood.all hoods. I think Endy did a wonderful job with her depiction of Desiree's emotional and internal struggles. In My Hood is a promising debut novel.

Rae-Rae and Bunchy are two addicts who have fallen off the edge. When an opportunity to keep them high comes up, they're only too happy to make it happen. What went wrong? Greed and drugs don't engage well.

Rae-Rae is trying to fight the urge to fall back in with her old lifestyle. She wasn't always an addict, so now she's trying to get back to her old self. Her heart begins to feel something for someone other than Bunchy, is this possible?

Ish is a hot dude making fast cash living that life. People on the outside want in, and Ish is working to preserve what's his. Without looking, Ish is feeling someone new. Something about her is memorable, but why?

I can't believe that this is Endy's first book, girl, this is a good look.

Everybody has a hood where things you hear about in the news, you actually see in real life. Desiree Johnson (Rae-Rae) was your typical hardworking woman who began to walk into the wrong hood. She met the love of her life, Bilal Wilson (Bunchy), who made her make a turn for the worst. Bilal was a hardworking man during the day and a crack head at night.

After witnessing a double murder, Desiree and Bilal decide they would commit a robbery in order to feed their drug habit and live a reasonable life. The plan went bad, causing both to be jailed. Will they continue to be soul mates during this period of separation?

Desiree gets out on good behavior and another shot at freedom, but will she do the right things?

Ishmael Jenkins is making his living in the streets with drugs and has more money than most politicians. The streets are starting to heat up which causes major problems for Ishmael and his crew. He meets Desiree and believes she is his soul mate.

Will this be a healthy relationship for Desiree? She is trying to avoid the hood and drugs, but is caught between a rock and a hard place. Will the past reveal something that will make it hard for Desiree and Ishmael to maintain a relationship?

In My Hood was an excellent read and deserving of five stars. Endy provides a first hand account of what hood life is for so many people. In My Hood so far is the best book I've read for the year 2007.

Reviewed by: Tekisha

In Newark, New Jersey we travel back and forth between past and present while exploring the troughs of Rae and Bilal, addicts who spend their days scouring for their next high. The couple watches as their friends are brutally murdered. Even still, they conspire to carryout a major heist in search of finance for their habits. Funny what we're willing to gamble on love, isn't it?

After doing five years, Desiree "Rae-Rae" Johnson is free. She's looking to re-establish herself in society. Regrettably, there is no one that she can turn to, so she heads back to her hood, the one place that haunts her sleep. Lost in love, Rae is fighting to maintain her sobriety and her sanity. She moves in with her girl, Bev, an alcoholic. Although she's grateful, she knows that this can't be a permanent fixture.

Ishmael "Ish" Jenkins is one of the most respected, well connected hustler's of his era. Ish has managed to keep his cash flowing without doing any major time. Right now Ish is somewhere between being happy and satisfied. That is until his cash is starting to be counted by others. Ish is involved in an off and on relationship with Zola, a rumored sack chaser. He has genuine feelings for her, but she keeps him so heated.

Fall through `In My Hood'. You're bound to trip over drugs, money, influence, sex, drama, love, recovery, gossip, treachery, secrets and politics. `In My Hood', is as vital to book fiends as crack to crack fiends. Melodrama Publishing appears to be at the pinnacle of their game. Endy is a dynamic new voice in the literary game and I can't wait to read more about her hood.