The Real Deal: Real Love Is More Than Skin Deep...Real Passion Isn't Black Or White... [Mass Market Paperback]

Margaret Johnson-Hodge (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1998

One man was everything that she wanted. And he was black.

To Samone Lewis, the only problem with her lover Max was his fear of marriage. He was dark as tree bark after a heavy rain, handsome, hard-working...but would rather say good-bye than "I do." At thirty-plus, suddenly still single and a Harlem sista with attitude, Samone was on the rebound.

Another was everything she needed. But he was white.

Then Jon Everette, fresh from California, walked into Samone's office at a New York TV network. From day one, Jon was funny, caring and crazy about her, even though Samone still wanted Max, no ifs, ands or buts. Max understood blackness-the pride and anger, dreams and pain. Samone didn't date white boys. She sure didn't fall in love with them. If she did, she might have to fight the world, her family, and most of all, herself...

In the tradition of The Color of Love, the fresh, funny voice of Margaret Johnson-Hodge tells a completely contemporary story, rich with wisecracks and wisdom about interracial relationships and about the crisis every woman knows, falling in love...

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Readers seeking something out of the ordinary need look no further than Margaret Johnson-Hodge's interracial romance, The Real Deal. Personnel manager Samone Lewis is still reeling from the break-up of a long-term relationship with Max Scutter--the love of her life. When she interviews Jon Everette, a typical California boy, she has no idea that their alliance will soon progress beyond simple co-worker status. Samone fights even meeting Jon for lunch--after all, what could they possibly have in common? But Jon persists and Samone is soon won over by his kindness, charm, and quick wit.

The road to love is rarely smooth, and Jon and Samone's journey is no exception--it's probably even a bit bumpier than most. As much as she enjoys Jon's company she's reluctant to give her heart to him, fearing further emotional involvement and her family's reaction to her dating a white man. But when Jon mentions he is seeing someone else Samone realizes how much she really wants him in her life no matter what anyone else thinks. Sexy, funny, and frank, The Real Deal explores not only the intricacies of an interracial relationship but also details the struggle of a sensitive, vulnerable woman desperately seeking love. All women, regardless of color, will identify with Samone's struggle to recover from her difficult breakup with Max and her reluctance to give her heart yet again. Johnson-Hodge has written a profound first novel, creating characters that ring with authenticity and interest. This is a very literate, compelling read and highly recommended. --Maudeen Wachsmith

From Publishers Weekly

For Johnson-Hodge, the "real deal" is real life: no fairy-tale endings and no getting rescued by the hero for a trip to Never-Never-Land, especially if the heroine is "a sista from Harlem" and the hero "a silly-ass white boy." The story of Samone Lewis, an African American personnel manager at a broadcasting company, and Jonathon Everette, a white TV producer from Malibu, Calif., is new territory in many ways. First of all, it's a grittier reality: Samone decides to have an abortion, something that's verboten in most romance novels ("I won't be a single parent with a boyfriend as the daddy. My momma raised me better"). She's a salty lady: she smokes, she masturbates, she likes sex and there's nothing coy about her. Samone has tried to make a go of it with Max, an African American bank executive, but Max doesn't want to commit. She fights her attraction to Jon; after all, she was a civil rights activist and her family doesn't hold with mixed-race relations. There are no pat answers here, only some messy real-life encounters, some fresh writing and an honest, recognizable heroine.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (March 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312964889
• ISBN-13: 978-0312964887
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,929,589 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where Do I Begin?, January 9, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Raleigh, North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Real Deal: Real Love Is More Than Skin Deep...Real Passion Isn't Black Or White... (Mass Market Paperback)

Sure the book centers around an interracial relationship but the underlying theme of love is so strong I lost the sense of any racial differences between Samone and Jonathon until the instances where the story made me aware of it. Isn't that what love is supposed to be like? Ms. Johnson-Hodge wraps a wonderful story around the main characters. The strength Samone exemplifies was felt deep in my bones as I read this woman's story. Samone felt like either an old college friend or a part of me I had forgotten. I absolutely LOVED the story and could not put the book down. It was well worth the lost sleep! The day after finishing it, I purchased a copy for my best friend. I enjoyed it so much I have placed this book on my "Definitely Read Again" list.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Pitiful, June 2, 2006

By 

Taylor Roberts "RomanceBookLover" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Real Deal: Real Love Is More Than Skin Deep...Real Passion Isn't Black Or White... (Mass Market Paperback)

This was among the least romantic books I have ever read. The heroine - Samone never really told the hero, Jon that she loved him. Samone treated Jon as someone to spend time with until a black man comes along. It is just as well there was no mention of marriage, because one got the sense that this relationship will not last. There was no real love or passion. If like me you like your love scenes to be passionate if not steamy, this book is a complete let down - the love scenes are treated as an afterthought. For example, this is a bulid up to a love scene, " Jon turned off the lights and turned up the music." The next paragraph begins with "Morning. Samone woke in a panic." If I could have given less than one star I would. Do not waste your money!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It was great!, March 16, 2000

By 

Blackgirl23 (New York,NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Real Deal: Real Love Is More Than Skin Deep...Real Passion Isn't Black Or White... (Mass Market Paperback)

Being a New Yorker the fact that this book was set in New York was great(easier to imagine the scenerey because I live here). The plot, the reaction of Symone at the 1st thought of going out with a white man is so real...been there done that(still doin it.)! But really the book was so realistic I felt like I was Symone. It was suspensful but not drawn out to long. It was excellent.