Customer Reviews

Nappily in Bloom

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

 

 

This is a really good follow up in the Nappily series. Venus and Jake are seemingly content and enjoying a more quiet life in Atlanta raising Mya when Jake's past legal troubles resurface. So with the help of his old friend Legend, Jake tries to put the past to rest once and for all. Venus is moving past the pain of her miscarriage and has recently opened "In Bloom" a flower shop. She signs on as wedding coordinator for Televangelist Trevelle Doval's daughter Keisha's wedding. Can she mediate peace between drama queen Trevelle and adoptive mom Judge Hawkins? All while trying to stay safe and sane? Doubtful! Lots of twists and turns and surprises. I really enjoyed the story and am looking forward to the next installment.

Nappily in Bloom great series comeback, I really enjoyed reading all of her series!!! can't wait for the sequel

This is my first book by this author. It started off a little confusing for me with so many characters until I got a littler farther. I'm looking for a part two especially what will happen to Gray Hillman and Legend Hill. Not to mention Nikki, it's always sad to be one in her shoes. I must say I enjoyed it and will recommend it to others.

Venus and Jake are trying to settle down into their new life in Atlanta. Venus has even opened her flower boutique. But she finds out that life isn't always a bed of roses. When Aric is accused of battery, Venus and Jake try to suspend his visitation rights. Things go from bad to worse when Jake's best friend Legend comes to town with more trouble than ever. Jake faces real danger when Venus turns up missing. Can Jake find Venus before it's too late?

Nappily In Bloom is a good installment of the Nappily series by Trisha R. Thomas. Thomas effortlessly brings back these familiar characters with new situations. Just when you think Venus is finally going to have peace in her life, there's something that throws a monkey wrench in it. Readers will find that Trevelle is even more scandalous than ever and that she and Delma are constantly at each other's throats. The only thing missing from this book is a little more background on Venus' mystery employee Vince. Hopefully he'll show up in another book. Nappily In Bloom is another clear winner from Trisha R. Thomas.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert
for Urban Reviews

I like this book. Just when you think there is nothing else to write about in this series, something else pops up and keeps you reading. I have read all of her books and this entire series and cant say enough about it. I am not an avide reader so when i read all of an authors books that really says something. Great job cant wait for something new to come out.

I loved all of the Nappily Books. They are quick reads and full of drama. But this one failed me. There were too many sub plots and the switches from chapter to chapter was a bit confusing/frustrating. I also thought the story was not tied together very well. And the ending was very anti-climatic. Worst of all....I found four typos in the book! The sloppiness made me think the book was rushed.

Another story about Jake and Venus and their dysfunctional relationship. Had hoped to see more growth in the characters and in Ms. Thomas's writing. Many scenarios throughout the story with Trevelle, Delma and Hudsom, Keisha, etc. Found the continual changing of POV distracting and sometimes frustrating. Will skip the 'Un-Happily Married' release.

I regretfully came to this conclusion: NAPPILY IN BLOOM isn't great. Moreover, if I hadn't already read and reviewed Ms. Thomas' other works, I am not sure I would have read this one at all. But I was curious -- What is Miss Venus up to now? And has she learned ANYTHING from the mistakes she made in the past books?

Venus doesn't seem to have learned a thing. But the kidnapping element, rogue FBI agents, and the new business -- her IN BLOOM flowership -- were a nice twist to the story! I suppose that I like the addition of a truly sinister character and a kidnapping to the crazy exploits of black relationships. If you are going for dramatic, the more drama the better!

The plot of NAPPILY IN BLOOM is even crazier than the previous novels. I lost the ability to relate to Venus, despite our shared natural look, after the first two novels in the series. I can't not imagine any black woman with good sense behaving like any of the women in this series. But, I was nosy enough to want to know if Venus has further damaged her marriage, if her ex was still out to get her, and who exactly kidnapped whom in this particular novel. The ending was unfortunately messy and unclear -- I think a chapter must have been left out during the editing process! I am still not sure how Venus got away from the kidnappers!

If you seek suspense and entertainment, read NAPPILY IN BLOOM --- just make sure you remember how NAPPILY FAITHFUL and NAPPILY MARRIED ended first, otherwise you will be a little lost! If you seek more substance, I recomment Diane McKinney Whetstone's new book.

Ok, I must admit. I picked up this book because I was fresh off a righteous high after seeing Chris Rocks movie, "Good Hair". I wanted to give some black person money with natural hair. :)
I am soooooooooo glad I did.

I have not read the first three books in the series but I was still able to grasp the character driven and suspenseful plot and I fell in love with Venus, Jake and Mya.

I hate when reviewers give away to much of the storyline so I won't. I will say that I will definitely pick up the first three books because Trisha Thomas has made a fan out of me!

Keleigh Crigler Hadley author [...]

Trisha R. Thomas is back with her latest installment of the Nappily series, NAPPILY IN BLOOM. Venus Johnston, now Mrs. Parson, finds herself in the turmoil of her husband's business affairs gone awry. As she dodges Trevelle and Delma who are feuding, plans for Keisha's wedding to philandering Gray Hillman, and tries to ward off a suspicious car that follows her everywhere she goes; she also captures the eye of a very married Senator.

Trevelle is in the midst of her husband's well-publicized, troubling affair to her assistant. She grapples with her love for him, her distrust of him, and what her religious followers think of him. As more and more grisly details about Airic's affair become public, it will become evident if the marriage is ordained by God, or simply nappily never after.

Delma is begrudgingly planning her daughter Keisha's wedding to Gray Hillman. Keisha seems to be an innocent pawn in everyone's game of manipulation, deceit and hatred. As Delma tries to keep Trevelle out of the wedding picture, she must be sure not destroy her baby's big day regardless of how she feels about Keisha's fiancé and birth mother.

The plot is on the laughable end of preposterous with a lot of convenient coincidences and outrageous events. This novel reads like a soap opera with all of the requisite juicy gossip and page turning scandals that are sure to be a delicious treat for Nappily fans. Two first person narratives and another third person narrative make the fluidity of the book quite choppy and difficult to follow. Although there are clearly defined chapter titles, they give little to no clue as to the subject matter of the following text. I had to look for clues to discover who the narrator was and at times it was indecipherable.

The characters are complex enough to be interesting, but their overall antics were unbelievable and un-relatable. I do think offering their points of view helped to establish these women, although flawed, were still good people; and undeserving of the hate they lavished on one another.

It is highly suggested that you read the prior books of the Nappily series before diving into this one.

Reviewed by Christina Lenear
for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers