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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Don't Drink the Water!!!, March 6, 2006
The author does a meticulous work in vividly illustrating humor phobias, insecurities, altered egos and mental struggles through the power of words; although at times I found it difficult to follow the author's lead in the plot, she recovered the story well.
The story - suspenseful. Even after the early revealing in the story of the rapist who attacked RaShawn Ams, you'll continue to question the answer because the author used major twists and mayhem heightening the story.
The center of the story is based on Professor RaShawn Ams, an English professor at Moorman University, in California. She returned from Georgia to work back again at the University, where she was raped. Now she too(unaware), has fallen victim to the sex drug that has hit the campus from the homeland of Jamaica.
Being a creature of habit, the stalker was able to switch her bottled waters with his bottles of drugged water, in which afterwards he would take merciless advantage of the professor. Next, he was able to infiltrate her home and do the same.
The results of RaShawn's rape at Moorman University one late night (kept secretive for a while from everyone, family members included), was born a sweet baby boy, Reggie. The rape was the reason for her immediate exodus to Georgia, where her son was born. She accounted to her family that Reggie was born due to her night of fun in the peach state of Georgia.
RaShawn attempts, with difficulty, to lead a "normal" life. Unfortunately, in her path are three men Chance Davis, Allen Roman and Blain Tollome; one of which is possessed with demons and the story unveils...... Yet, it seemed as though there were other characters possessed at times.
OUT-OF-CONTROL!!!!!
The author was creative with the involvement of college faculty & students, law enforcemment and of course family and friends.
The only problem I had was in needed closure to some characaters in the story. The character Leon, a security officer on campus - it's not quite clear how this character was introduced (other than his greed) to his partners, Doc and Red, in the drug circle on campus, in which he also was a drug dealer. Also who was the older man who Allen Roman despised so, what it is father? Who was Wanda, was she the same person as Juanita (Chance Davis' ex-wife)? What became of Juanita's current younger husband, Dennis?
Star Rating:****3.5
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Twisted minds; great twists, November 22, 2005
Prior to reading Obsession 101, admittedly mystery often was among my "I'm not really into it" lists. However, upon reading it, I was astounded by the magnetism of the story that kept me excited, as well as on the edge of my seat. Michelle McGriff definitely fulfilled the four C's: character, crisis, conflict and change.
Moorman University professor Rashawn Ams evoked empathy as she dealt secretly with her victimization on campus; a rape that resulted in her pregnancy. Her decision to runaway instead of confiding in her best friend Qiana that she suspected Qiana's boyfriend Russell Thompson, challenged the "Ethics" she taught. Concocting a lie about an unnamed lover, who supposedly fathered her son Reggie, merely fueled the fire that burned within the psychotic perpetrator. Rashawn's return to Moorman after one and a half years catapulted a spiral of deceit, hatred, jealousy, mystique, apprehension, murder and ambivalence.
Blain Tollome was the campus cop whose overtures to Rashawn were unnerving and unwelcome. He's an imposing and intimidating specimen who lured women who had a crush on his muscles, while crushing those who threatened to expose his complicity. Readers definitely root for Rashawn to steer clear of him, although the exact reason is held at bay while she wrestles with demons, past and present.
Ms. McGriff invited readers to eavesdrop on sessions between the mystery man and psychotherapist Juanita Davis, as he shared his desires to ravage Rashawn in her own home. Juanita's ex-husband Chance Davis was a colleague of Rashawn's, who desired a normal, intimate relationship with her. The mystery man wickedly exploited the naiveté of his unsuspecting targets and their interdependence.
Ms. McGriff adeptly portrayed Doc as the campus crime boss while cultivating speculation on his identity. It was tantalizing trying to unmask him before his cover was blown. In addition to Blain and Doc, Dr. Allen Roman was another intriguing character. Also a colleague of Rashawn's, he taught abnormal psychology; such irony. Like with Blain, Rashawn had qualms with Dr. Roman. She knew how he felt about himself, yet had no clue the nature of feelings he harbored for her.
Ms. McGriff is to be commended for balancing bizarre and twisted declarations of love with comical, soul searching and of course, drama filled romance. She put a spin on "baby's daddy drama." What happens when a sperm bank makes a huge mistake? Qiana and Nigel struggled with that very dilemma, along with their closest friends and family.
Michelle McGriff truly demonstrated she's honed her craft. She has enticed us in the past with romance, as well as enthralled us with mystery and suspense. Obsession 101 is definitely a must read.
Robin R. Pendleton
Pyramid Books
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
LONG WAIT..., November 24, 2005
Wow, what an ordeal...the birth of a beautiful baby. Of course the ugly twin is out there running around...but anyway, we can get over that now that the revised version is out. You just have to look for it. I've personally got the hook up soooo, let me tell you all about it.
Doc is crazy, Juanita is crazy, Blain is crazy, Allen Roman is crazy, shoot, Carlotta is crazy and so is Trina's husband...what's his name...anyway, they are ALL crazy.
I loved this book, it keep me laughing and reading wondering who was gonna jump out the closet next. My thing was just when I thought I knew who was lurking in the shadows I was wrong, just when I was like...oh snap I know it's dude in the closet I was wrong. But I guessed who was doing Juanita and I was right HA! All I can say is, in the end, I was like, girl come here and let me slap you!
I do however think the book was a little dark, and different from what we used to see from the sweet little author who made up curse words and stuff, and I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with Ms. McGriff's little NOIR faze but that's cool, I know all authors have to stretch in order to grow and so I'm gonna flow with it as long as I can still turn out the lights when I'm finished reading and not be twitching like a crack head talking about, what was that?
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