Shades of Jade: A Novel (Strivers Row) [Paperback]

Gloria Mallette (Author)

Book Description

Series: Strivers Row | Publication Date: June 19, 2001

Terrance. Louis. Wayne. Eric. Marissa had been warned: One of these days you're gonna mess with the wrong woman's husband. But she doesn't care. Aside from an occasional bout of guilt, she feels no shame, because after all, if their wives were doing what they were supposed to, then their husbands would not be seeking her company.

Marissa dates married men - four of them concurrently because it's easier. She gets all of the trappings of a relationship - love, wining and dining, physical pleasure - without any of the pain - cooking, laundry, and the day-to-day maintenance of a relationship.

But when it appears that one of the wives of the men she is dating is out to get her - wants her dead, in fact - Marissa begins to reexamine the choices she's made. Her selfishness gives way to vulnerability and fear, and she comes to the conclusion that she deserves a man all her own. But will she survive long enough to find Mr. Right?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Marissa is a woman firmly in command of her life in this uneven African-American romance: smart, ambitious and beautiful, she's a successful businesswoman. Why subject herself to the daily maintenance of a long-term relationship when married men wine and dine her, provide physical pleasure and give her the attention she needs with no strings attached? She's dating four of them concurrently, in fact and her friends have always told her that sooner or later she would run into trouble with someone's wife. When she starts receiving threatening phone calls, it seems that someone is indeed out to make her pay. Meanwhile, Marissa quarrels with her soon-to-be-wed best friend, Charmaine, who meddles by trying to set her up with a handsome but unsophisticated contractor named Levi; he finds himself attracted to Marissa despite her headstrong and dismissive manner. Marissa's gay friend Brandon (a cartoonish "hey girl" stereotype who first appears in a "colorful, lavishly embroidered caftan") provides some solace, but is unable to protect her as the threats escalate to violence. Who wants Marissa dead? She begins to examine the choices she has made, but is it too late? The writing is woefully amateurish as demonstrated by nonstop, inane dialogue and embarrassing armchair psychology ("Interestingly, [Brandon] said he never wanted to be a woman... "). The will-they/won't-they dynamic between Marissa and Levi is obvious from the start, but brisk pacing at least helps to keep this thriller on track to its creepy surprise ending. Agent, Claudia Menza. (June 26)Forecast: Mallette (When We Practice to Deceive) built a grassroots following by previously self-publishing this title. Villard's new African-American imprint, Strivers Row, will bring it to a somewhat wider audience with a seven-city author tour.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Marissa, an attractive, single woman, believes that the safest relationships are with married men. She has fooled herself into believing that she can have the perks of a relationship--dates and intimacy--without the pain of domestic chores and the hard work required to maintain a monogamous relationship. She has chosen these relationships for so long that she does not see how compromised she has become. Marissa is involved with four men at the same time. These relationships have given Marissa a false sense of love and intimacy. When it becomes apparent that the wife of one of the men wants her dead, she begins to examine her romantic choices. It isn't until she shares the death threats with the men in her life that she learns about their true feelings toward her and their wives. It is through some bizarre events that she acknowledges her worth and the need to have a man of her own. The story has a surprise ending that adds real spice to the already engaging plot. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Villard (June 19, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375757430
• ISBN-13: 978-0375757433
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.5 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (111 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,835,056 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nationally acclaimed award winning author GLORIA MALLETTE began her true literary journey by self-publishing her second novel Shades of Jade in April of 2000. By July and 13,000 sold copies later, Gloria signed on with Random House who re-released Shades of Jade in 2001. Shades of Jade made several best sellers lists, including Black Board, Essence Magazine, The Dallas Morning News, and The Washington Post/Washington is Also Reading listing.

Gloria has been featured in The New York Daily News, USAToday, ToDay's Black Woman, Upscale Magazine, and The Pocono Record. Gloria also has a featured novella, Come Tomorrow, on the USAToday website.

To her credit, Gloria now has ten published titles including the newly released SASSY; Weeping Willows Dance; and Living, Breathing Lies winner of the National Best Book 2007 Award and the 2008 Indie Excellence Award.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I NEED MORE STARS PLEASE.....!!!, November 17, 2001

By 

"divalicious" (ATL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shades of Jade: A Novel (Strivers Row) (Paperback)

Usually when I order or buy a book I always read maybe two or three pages then come back to it later. With this book I started at 9:30 that night and by 3:15 that morning I was finished!!! Shades Of Jade was a good book!!!!!! I kept saying to myself I'll just read this chapter and put it down. I couldn't put this book down until page 245 which is the last page!

Shades Of Jade is about a woman (Marissa) that only dates married men for her own personal reasons. Her best friend Charmaine dislikes her lifestyle and constantly warns her that: ONE OF THESE DAYS YOU'RE GONNA MESS WITH THE WRONG WOMAN'S HUSBAND! Marissa ignores her best friend until she starts receiving threatening phone calls, hang ups and disturbing letters. By Chapter four I thought I knew who the stalker was, but as the plot thicken I wasn't sure. When I finally find out who it was I was totally SUPRISED! In a million of years I would have never guess the stalker..........NEVER!

Gloria, you did a EXCELLENT job on writing this book! This book is full of DRAMA, LIES AND SUSPENSE! This book will keep you turning the pages until you are finished! I HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone you will be in for a suprise by the end!
This book deserves more than five stars just for the ending......
My mouth is still opened from who the stalker was!!!!!!!!

GO GET THIS ONE YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPONITED!!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars WARNING/BEWARE...of what lurks behind the cover!, November 30, 2000

By 

Yasmin Coleman (PENNSYLVANIA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Shades of Jade (Paperback)

Do not start Shades of Jade unless you can afford to read this book in one sitting and don't have any other pressing obligations today. Shades of Jade is a thrilling and suspenseful novel and is a Must Read for anyone who's looking for a good mystery novel by new author Gloria Mallette. Who's trying to kill Marissa a woman who has a passion for married men and is dating four of them at the same time. I especially liked that the characters were well developed and that the plot twist and turns were realistic and added depth to the storyline. Shades of Jade is a page-turner that will take you on a suspenseful and thrilling ride and a book that will have you biting your nails as you quickly turn the pages trying to figure out who the stalker/wanna be killer is...and this was not an easy task or obvious. If you're looking for a good whodunit pick up Shades of Jade today. You won't be disappointed but you will be shocked and surprised by the outcome and the ending...yes just the way a good mystery novel should leave you.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magnificent Suspenseful Romance, August 21, 2000

By 

"misslove" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shades of Jade (Paperback)

Whew! I started reading Shades of Jade this morning, and I finished it this evening. I could not close this novel, until I read the last word on the very last page; and even then, I still wanted more! With a palpitating heart and sweaty fingers, I sat on the edge of my sofa anticipating the outcome of this stellar story.

Shades of Jade is an intense thriller laced with romance. Marissa is a beautiful, vivacious, successful women whose got it going on, except that she's got an attraction for married men. She lives this life void of remorse, responsibility, or guilt until a narcissistic stalker threatens her life, stopping at nothing short of her heinous death.

Gloria Mallette does a magnificent job of luring readers into this penchant story brimming with scorching deception and magnetizing romance. The characters are vividly developed, colorful, and alive. The story zips along like an AWOL raft on white water.

Intermingling with the suspense is an arduous subplot that will leave you even more anxious than the mystery at hand. Intrigued, curious, and stimulated you'll turn each page wracking your brain trying to figure out the mystery, while simultaneously cheering the romance that threatens to rupture. You'll never be able to guess the outcome, so just block off an abundance of time, deal with your anxiety, and flow through the pages of Shades of Jade until your curiosity is squelched.