Customer Reviews

Raw: An Erotic Street Tale

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Raw tells the story of Chastity Jones, a street-smart 19-year-old young woman from Harlem whose father killed her mother when she was 16. After being sexually assaulted while in foster care (and boy, is the rape told in vivid detail!) she runs away and becomes a stripper in a men's club. It's there that she meets Legend Foster. He's a mysterious and gorgeous man who makes a mint by hosting parties for ballers and athletes in his Harlem brownstone. His parties are so famous, that people are willing to pay hundreds and thousands just to get into the VIP section. And let me tell you, some of the things that goes on in those parties will have you panting, sweating, and embarrassed to keep reading, but unable to stop reading!
Legend takes Chastity under his wing, and teaches her all the tricks to get men to spend big time money on her, and soon she's the toast of the town. But she's also fallen in love with Legend. But while she thinks he MIGHT be interested in her, he never makes a play.
Then she meets his cousin, Hunter. Sparks fly immediately, especially after he takes her shopping at Tiffany's and Winston's, and flies her to places like the Bahamas just to do more shopping.
But when Legend finds out that Chastity and Hunter has become an item he has a fit.
No, this is not like some of the urban erotica books where the main female character is beat up by the man (or men) in her life (come on, what's sexy about that?); I've read way too many of those books, as it is. This is a book about sex, love, lust, and money . . . and a woman who decides she wants it all -- and gets it all. The only question is, can she come out on top.
I cannot believe that this a debut book, and I really found it incredible when I heard that the author was only 21.
Raw is an incredible book. Incredibly written, and and incredibly exciting. And incredibly sexy!
And I'm just hoping there's a Part II!

I really don't know what the other reviewers read because this book is not worth 5 stars. I'm sorry but this book was not at all realistic. It was definitely written well which is why I gave it two stars instead of one but it had the same 'ol hood fiction story line...beautiful girl...bad childhood...starts stripping and/or selling drugs...meats a unrealistic rich criminal and falls in love...then he dies or goes to jail living her on her own yet again. But this book was just too much. Chastity falls in love within a day or two. Get Serious!!! I don't want to give away too much of the story but I would recommend borrowing this book because it's not worth buying (I learned that the hard way). I'll still keep a look out for future books from this author because she can write well, but this one was a HUGE let down.

Im ah book fanatic.. Read the best authors like omar, nikki turner & noire!! I noticed that ah reviewer said this was close to a noire book.. Confused??? Not 2 talk down about this author b/c it was ah great book, done in a day and ah half but it couldnt been better. First things that were wrong was the book start off 2 fake.. I luv 2 read these hood novels b/c it feels kinda real like what we go thru out here in our local hoods but this book started out talkin bout sum gurl getting $9000 from sum dude. Not sayin it cant happen but it jus didnt seem as real. Then the editing was bad, that were sooo many typos and mess ups. But other wise very very good book. Next time the author should cum slower into the book before puttin out such big money makin. Make it seem real.. I jus new i was reading ah book most when most times i feel like im in reality.. But good start and i would consider buying another 1 though.

She need a better editor because I got tired of adding words or switching words around. That was a headache. I wish her the best in her future career. Hopefully it will be better than this. It took me a whole month to read this book I was reading other books than had to come back to this one. And if the author is reading these reviews don't take this as a diss take it as a way to make your writings better. Negative or positive feedback is good just makes u better. Much success.

When I began reading this book, I thought it was going to be the same old story, just with different names! Boy was I wrong! In her debut novel, Shay has been able to capture my attention and I genuinely NEEDED to know what would happen next. Although there are many novels with the same type of background, poor stylish girl meets a rich stylish man, falls for him and goes through a lot of crap for her troubles; Shay has found a way to put a new twist on and made it a refreshing change! A female force to be reckoned with is nice change and she manages to make Chastity, the main character, important to the reader. You want her to triumph and you can feel the intensity of her life. Some things may take a little creative license, but it all flows well within the context of the story! I give this novel a five for the genre that it is in because I had grown weary with some of the same plots over and over again and Shay found a way to do it while keeping my attention! I know she will only get better and better and I look forward to reading her next novel!

APOOO Rating: 4 stars
Amazon Rating: 4 stars

Ninteen year-old Chasity Jones seems to have it all. She is beautiful, classy and has plenty of money. That is...other people's money. She has men buying her cars, a condo, jewelry and taking her on shopping sprees.

When Chasity was sixteen, her father was sent to prison for murdering her mother and she was placed in a foster home. After being raped, she runs away and starts stripping at a men's club. This is where she meets the infamous Legend, who throws all the hottest underground parties. Where you will see some of the most famous celebrities, ballers and hustlers attending. Legend's sex parties include pretty much anything and everything, the kinkier they are, the better. Legend takes Chasity under his wing and teaches her how to use her assets to get what she wants and more, and although there is an attraction between the two, they keep it strictly professional.

When Hunter, a drug kingpin, whom also happens to be Legend's cousin, meets Chasity he falls for her instantly. Chasity figures if she cannot have the one she really wants, why not be with the closest thing to it. Little does she realize she may be in over her head. When dealing with a kingpin, danger lurks and death is looming around the corner.

Raw by Shay was a very entertaining read. It had me totally engrossed. A few chapters into the story, my mouth literally dropped open...like, no Shay didn't. The story is raw and uncut. Shay just may be crowned the new "queen of erotica."

Reviewed by Leona R.
APOOO BookClub

DAMN WHAT A AWESOME READ !!! WHEN I STARTED READING THIS BOOK I WAS AT WORK, NOT A GOOD PLACE TO START READING THIS GREAT BOOK. DONT GET ME WRONG, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BOOK ITS THAT THIS BOOK I SO DAMN GOOD THAT IT WILL STIR UP ALL YOUR EROTIC EMOTIONS INSIDE YOU THAT YOU WILL BE TAKING ALOT OF BATHROOM BREAKS!!!!
I FELL IN LOVE WITH ALL THE CHARCTERS!! I CRIED WHEN I THOUGHT LEGEND WAS DEAD, BUT WHEN THINGS TURNED AROUND AND IT WAS HUNTER I WAS COOL WITH THAT. DONT REALLY KNOW WHY ?? HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A #2 ?? FOR ALL OF YOU THAT WANT UNCENSORED READ THIS IS THE ONE !!!!!! THANKS SHAY RAW FOR BURNING ME UP !!!!!

I enjoyed this book once I got over all the typo's.I mean their were so many I sometimes found myself rewriting the book as I was reading it.Shay I aint gonna hate this was a good freshman book.I just hope the editing is better on the next one.With that said I am now a Shay fan and will purchase her next one cause ole girl can write.Legend had me like damn where all the true men who will stand by you at.

Raw takes readers into the life of 19 year old Chastity Jones.At sixteen,her father was sent to prison for killing her mother.She ended up in a foster home but that was cut short after she was raped.She ended up running away and started stripping at The Meat Club with her bestfriend,Jackie.At the club she meets Legend who is responsible for putting together the hottest parties around.Legend takes Chastity in and teaches her everthing there is to know on using what you have to get what you want.
Hunter is Legend's cousin who happens to be a drug kingpin and falls for Chastity.There is an attraction between Chastity and Legend but they keep it on a business level.Chastity can't be with Legend so she chooses the next best thing and that's Hunter.While dealing with Hunter,Chastity realizes she is caught in the midst of some drama concerning Hunter and she sees that her life and those around her are put in danger.

To be real honest, I thought the book was an okay read.The only thing I found raw about the book was the scene down in the basement at one of those parties at the beginning of the book.But after that scene, is the book really raw? I dont think so.I like how short and to the point the chapters were.I had to re read some parts to fill in what the author was trying to say.Overall the story read like a typical hood book.

Reviewed nicole098
Street Lit Clique

Chastity Jones didn't have an easy life. At 16, her father murdered her mother. She has no other relatives and was put into foster care. This is a scary time for Chastity, however, she has her best friend, Jackie to help her through. After being brutally raped and thrown out of her foster home, Chastity begin living on the streets. She needs money to survive and finds work in a strip club. The money begins to roll in for Chastity, until she meets Legend, who wants to teach Chastity how to use her natural beauty to its full potential without being a gold-digger.

Legend is the man around town. He's charismatic, handsome, wealthy and intelligent. He hosts exclusive parties for the rich and fulfills their wildest dreams from drugs to beautiful women. Legend's relationship with Chastity is brotherly, but underneath the surface they hold a hidden desire for each other.

Legend's cousin and business partner, Hunter, falls in love with Chastity at first sight. Because of the life Hunter leads, Legend asks him not to get involved with Chastity. Hunter goes against Legend's wishes causing animosity between them. When Hunter's dealings go bad, all three are caught up in a war of money and power.

RAW is an enjoyable read with short chapters. Shay's vivid imagination explodes on the pages. Several of the scenes are extremely descriptive, leaving the reader in amazement. The storyline is loaded with action, sex and drama, however, there's very little erotica. RAW is a debut novel to be enjoyed by many street lit fans.

Reviewed by Sharon Lewis
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers