Customer Reviews

The Real Deal: Real Love Is More Than Skin Deep...Real Passion Isn't Black Or White...

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

It's been a month since I read this book, and reading the other reviews inspired me to write one myself. The book, at best, was fair. Hodge tells a story, I'll give her that, but the writing style is uninteresting. The style reminded of someone who writes the way they speak around their friends, etc. In some fiction it works, but not in this one.

The only likable character I'm afraid was Jon. I found Samone and Max to be annoying. It's a typical story where the character gives this guise of the "Independent Black Woman," but desperately clings on to the dream of marrying an equally if not more sucessful Black man who doesn't have the same feelings, regardless of how long they've been together, then has to pull some kind of plot or scheme that leaves everyone emotionally hurt in the long run just to keep him. Thinking back on this I wonder if she really loved him, or why she loved him? Because he's a successful Black man, financially secure, good looks; well dressed? It seems as if this is turning into the cliche of the genre of Black writing that 's sometimes known as "girlfriend" or "go girl" stories. Maybe it's me, but female characters of this ilk, though they appear to have it together, display a lot of pettiness for their age. Samone may be in her mid-thirties, but she might as well be 19. You can throw a rock at a roomful of books of this genre and find a Samone-like character. Where are the the intelligent, honest and mature characters with good heads on their shoulders?

Some reviewers complained about how Samone treated Jon. True, it was shameful at times, but not surprising. Given Samone's upbringing and past, it's natural for her to act this way. Who knows if she ever even had a white friend let alone a significant other before then? If Hodge wrote the character as a person who wasn't hung up on race, the treatment would definitely be different. I felt sorry for Jon at times, but I had to sigh in disappointment also because he just kept coming back for more.

I stopped reading this book for a few weeks because all of the components caused me to put it down. I finished it later for finishing sake. If you like this kind of genre, buy a used copy.

I started backwards. For all you avid readers out there every single one of MJH's book are sequel's. This (The Real Deal) being the first book. The sequel to this is 'A New Day'. 'Butterscotch Blues' is the prequel to 'Some Sunday' (for those of you who didn't know that are not true avid readers). I read 'Warm Hands' before reading this and absolutely loved it. The characters come together nicely but it is evident that this is her first book. Her works to follow definately blow this one out of the water. And when I realized that this was a prequel to 'A New Day' it made the novel more interesting; you get the feeling that another story is going on at the same time. Brava Ms/Mrs Hodge, I anxiously await your next work!

I loved this book and finished it in a day. I thought it was new and refreshing to read about the taboo of black women and white men even though the reverse is no longer so. Samone's character did what many women could not she left a man who wasn't ready to give what she needed. Regardless that everyone thought he was a great man it was her heart that mattered. I'm glad to see an author not afraid to give life a different twist.

I am a fan of Sandra Kitt. I was hoping "The Real Deal" would be similar to her work, but it's far from it. This book lacked substance. We don't get a lot of character detail; so, we don't know what they're doing or why they're doing it. The principle character in the story is Simone, who is African American. She is somewhat selfish, indecisive, and just a little rough around the edges. Simone is obsessed with Max, also African American, who she has dated for a while. However, he doesn't care much for the idea of committing to her through marriage, which is what she truly craves from him. In the meantime Johnathan, who is White, and completely in awe of Simone, is waiting in the wings. Simone, on the other hand, isn't the least bit interested, or so it seems. Max is her one true love, or obsession. Something happens that divides her and Max even further apart and she ends up turning to Jon, who truly seems to have fallen hard for her. She eventually appears to fall for him, but things start getting complicated after that. Each person involved in this triangle doesn't seem to be satisfied with what they have. I'm not exactly sure if Simone was actually in love with Jon, or if she was just using him as a fill in for the person she really desired. I don't even know if I would call this a love story because I kept missing the love. Even the person you thought would be true to the relationship was involved in the game of ping pong partners. I just found it hard to like any of the principles in this book. Maybe the author should have spent a little more time working on developing the characters. After finishing the "The Real Deal" I'm not sure if there was supposed to be a happy ending or not. I found myself asking, "So, what happens now"?

This is the third novel I have read by Margaret Johnson-Hodge and I loved the story. Samone can't seem to decide who she wants in her life. She's struggling with old love and desire yet finds herself curiously attracted to the very likeable Jeff. I enjoyed their interplay and at times found Samone to be quite harsh, but once you read into her character, you can see why. Jeff makes us see past color and into the heart of a true friend.

The Real Deal is a true page turner and once again I found myself not being able to put it down. My favorite scene in the book is the beauty shop scene. It was a bold move and shows a different point of view, indeed.

I don't understand where the negative criticism is coming from No one is perfect. The characters are written with this in mind, challenging us to see our ownselves. That is my view. The ending was touching and definitely leaves you going "what is going to happen?" I hope to read more about Jeff and Samone in books to come. Continued success, Margaret!

Peace. CLB.

Just finished this book and at first it dragged and I hated it, but once Jonathan and Samone met each other I could not put it doen, Samone is an independent woman who is in love with a 'tall drink of water' named Max, but he is not ready for a commitment. After a life changing act, Samone and Max relutantly agree that they are not the ones for each other. Samone who is on the rebound meets Jonathan and they start a causal friendsip that turns into something more. THis syory is beautifully written and told. I enjoyed the intimacy with Samone and Jonathan, but the hearbrokenness of Max and Samone tie the two stories together.

A/A and interracial relationship. Some language and erotic situations.

I thought MJH did a good job of exploring interracial relationships. I was interested from beginning to end.