Real for Me [Paperback]

Eric E. Pete (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 22, 2000

First-time novelist Eric E. Pete leads you on a wild ride through the fast-paced lives of fascinating singles in his novel Real for Me.

The story is told alternately through the eyes of Glover (a beautiful, charming, and confident woman) and Maxwell (a recent arrival to the coast searching for something better), and feautres an ensemble cast of witty and memorable characters.

Glover has everything going for her-looks, brains, friends, and a successful fiance' who comes from "old money"-but is grappling with her increasingly serious relationship with him. Meanwhile, Maxwell is struggling to get out of a personal and professional rut. Glover and Max's lives are on separate courses until fate intervenes in the form of an employment application and the roller coaster ride begins!

In a contemporary and realistic style familiar to most, the story Real for Me takes place in Los Angeles and its environs and paints an intriguing and often humorous tale of friendship, honor, loyalty, and love from the African-American perspective.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his predictable, raucously overwritten debut novel, Pete tells the story of a bride-to-be who suddenly discovers that her fianc‚ may be stable and successful, but not the man of her heart or dreams. Glover McDaniel, a strong, independent African-American woman with a job at the local state employment office, couldn't ask for better husband material than Lionel, a securities broker at a prestigious firm, but the romance has slowed and she can't figure out why. Along comes Maxwell "Max" Guillory, a ruggedly handsome "bad boy" with an unused business administration degree and an undying love for basketball, flag football, partying and women of all types. Life is good on the L.A. club scene, where beauty, attitude, brand names and flashy cars spell temporary contentment. But Max is slowly discovering that fun is not all he wants out of life, and on a trip to the employment office, he meets Glover. The star-crossed lovers confront many obstacles Glover's engagement to Lionel being the most significant but after a few sexually charged meetings in public places, it is clear where things are headed. As the plot speeds to a familiar close, Pete tacks on a hokey surprise ending, a slapdash conclusion that neither shocks nor adds anything worthwhile to this flawed romance effort. As strident as its opening rendition of an alarm clock going off "Beeeeeeeeeeeeep! Beeeeeeeeeeeeep! Beeeeeeeeeeeeep!" this novel lacks the polish of better efforts in the genre, but fans of Omar Tyree and Eric Jerome Dickey desperate for filler reading may give it a chance.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Real for Me" is, in a word, "real"! The characters are warm, witty, adventurous, and sneaky...An extraordinary first effort... -- Jackie Simien, News Anchor/Producer CBS Affiliate KFDM

"Real for Me" is,in a word, "real"!...An extraordinary first effort... -- Jackie Simien, anchor CBS affiliate KFDM

...A great book. There is tragedy, comedy , and pain... (4 out of 5 books rating) -- Simone A. Hawks-R.A.W. SISTAZ Review, April 2, 2001

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 214 pages
• Publisher: E-Fect Pub (November 22, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970499523
• ISBN-13: 978-0970499523
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,660,970 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Real For Me is a REAL treat!!!, May 25, 2001

By 

ChickLitGurrl™ "Shonell Bacon" (Lake Charles, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real for Me (Paperback)

Glover should be on cloud nine. She's beautiful, intelligent, has great friends, and is engaged to a sexy, successful brother that tends to her needs but she feels empty, and wonders if her relationship is just following logical steps...and not the steps that her heart feels need to be made. When she meets Maxwell, a brother new to California, who is looking for something better in his life, Glover finds herself confused all the more as she is forced to look into herself to see what she truly wants, what will make her happy.

Real for Me is a great debut novel by Eric Pete. I read the book in one sitting, and found myself totally engaged with the characters and wrapped up in the plotline. The dialogue was real and sharp, and Pete did a great job in fleshing out the main characters and giving them individual voices and quirks. I really enjoyed this novel and especially the characters (Glover's best friends are a treat), and would definitely recommend this novel.....

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A real piece of work, August 11, 2006

By 

JustLovHer "JustLovHer" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Real for Me (Paperback)

Uncannily predictable at times, but I will rate this book higher because it was the author's first effort. Real for Me took about two weeks for me to finish, but I'm glad I did for I'd have missed out on a treat. You've got to hand it to Glover for making poor decisions from the start in her unsure state of mind...but I knew from the beginning that Lionel wasn't all he seemed. I didn't trust Mona either. It was like you could read between the lines with Pete's characters. One thing I will say is it was refreshing to read about "Everyday Joes" like Max and Smitty. Too often authors create their characters over-confident, desirable, rich and successful. I could easily relate to Max and Smitty. We saw the struggles they went through and the work they put in to get what they wanted and that was real.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Real for Me was real for me... you go Eric!, May 27, 2004

By 

Ashanti Mcgrew "book junkie" (Dallas, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Real for Me (Paperback)

Real... was so good to me! I read this book in 2 days, I could not put it down, The characters were very developed and I felt like I knew them. The characters were down to earth and I felt myself rooting for Max and his silly boy Smitty. They were doing their thing trying to do better in life and I loved it. I love books with drama and this one was not a disappointer. Eric you did a wonderful job and I am off to read, Someone's in the Kitchen.