Customer Reviews

Shameless Hoodwives: A Bentley Manor Tale

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Meesha Mink and De'Nesha Diamond have done it again. Shameless Hoodwives, the sequel to Desperate Hoodwives, gives readers more drama straight from the Bentley Manor housing project. As always, Miz Cleo and Miz Osceola are on the scene giving bird's-eye-views of the low-down dirt going on in the housing project. Then we have Keisha, the former drug-addicted mother of four, who is helping her husband overcome his own addiction demons. Alongside her is Shakespeare, her brother-in-law, who shows in more ways than one that he is his brother's keeper.

Next on deck is Princess, the 17 year-old neglected daughter of Queen. Through all of Precious' pain, she has one blessing that may very well get her up out of Bentley Manor; her voice. But how good is success when she has no one to share it with?

WooWoo, the sister of Lexi from Desperate Hoodwives, actually made it out of Bentley. Now married to a square and living as a suburban housewife, will she be able to stay away from the Manor when her heart is still deep in the projects with Hassan?

Last, and certainly not least, is Takiah who shows up on her grandmother's, Miz Cleo, doorstep with her infant daughter. On the run from her husband/pimp/pusher, Kameron, she faces her problems head on in the unlikeliest of places. Four women destined to make it out of Bentley Manor, but is there no place like home?

Mink and Diamond spiced it up a notch with this sequel. I was more shocked, with a purpose, and emotionally invested than I remember being in the first installment. It is a quick, entertaining, though dark, read that certainly did not succumb to the sophomore slump. The characters jumped from the page and I could not help but care for them; especially Princess. The third installment, The Hood Life, is due out in January 2009 and you better believe I will be in line for the madness. I recommend Shameless Hoodwives to readers who enjoy drama-filled reads with heart tugging plots. Bentley Manor fans will definitely enjoy this.

Reviewed by Darnetta Frazier
APOOO BookClub

I see there's more dysfunction at Bentley Manor. Shameless Hoodwives was a better read than Desperate Hoodwives to me because I feel that the writers took their time putting this story together, they didn't rush it. This novel is full of sex, violence and surprises..boy will you be surprised!! I'm waiting on Book 3.

Meesha and Denesha have brought the Bentley's Manor's residents back in a furor of even more drama. Ms. Cleo's opens up this story as she witnesses her life flash before her eyes while lying in a pool of her very own blood.

Takiah, Ms. Cleo's unscrupulous granddaughter shows up unannounced with nothing but the clothes on her back and her trick baby. Takiah is on the run from her pimp/husband Kameron, in a kill or be killed situation. Next we have Princess, an abused and misused child. Despite all the cruel breaks she endures, Princess finds solace in three things: she has the voice of an angel, superb writing skills, and a genuine friend in Lucky. Then there's WooWoo, who luckily escapes hood life in Bentley Manor via marriage with a hard working man. Woo Woo has a secret that she's sadistically jonesing for. Lastly we have Keisha, the neighborhood kitchen beautician that is tied to Smokey, her childhood love, father of her children and the ultimate weight around her neck.

Ms. Cleo tries to steer Takiah to Jesus by way of Rev. Eddie Meyer, and has no idea that she's actually handing her over to the devil in disguise. Princess happens upon a piece of happiness with the discovery of her magnificent vocal skills, but tragedy strikes and stomps her dreams into oblivion. Smokey's brother, Shakespeare, is coaxing Keisha to improve her life by offering to finance her way through beauty school while Smokey is weighing her down with guilt about his addiction via her past urging. Woo Woo is being lured back into a sex trap that could cost her everything she's fought so hard to attain.

Shameless Hoodwives is the second installation of the Hoodwives series, and it is an even more electrifying read as the authors introduce more tenants of the crime ridden Bentley Manor. Invigorating plots magnify the intensity of each scene that creates a breathless anticipation as you delve further and further into the sordid lives of the people that occupy this notorious neighborhood. Ms. Mink and Ms. Diamond has once again charismatically articulated another masterpiece as they fascinate the readers with the continuation of the various hardships and ordeals that the Hoodwives experience whether it be desperately or shamelessly! Awesome read!!!!!!!

Reviewed by Tazzyt2bossye
for Urban Reviews

Tired of the abuse of her husband/pimp/pusher, Takiah finds herself back at a place she thought she'd never see again - Bentley Manor. Returning to her grandmother's home means returning to church and the counseling of Pastor Meyer. Has Takiah left one hell for another?

Woo Woo is so hood but she's now living the good life. She has married a doctor who loves her long air brushed nails, braids, outfit-matching eye shadow and all. Now living in the suburbs, Woo Woo can't seem to resist the pull of Bentley Manor, or more specifically, Hassan, the local, sexy drug dealer. Is so hood so good?

Princess has a gift and a curse. Her voice is as beautiful as she is. Beauty that has not gone unnoticed by her mother's numerous live-in boyfriends, as they creep into her room. Her music is her only solace. Will it be enough?

Flashing red and blue lights are a regular in front of Keisha's apartment. The police come and take away Smokey, her crackhead husband, for putting his hands on her, she doesn't press charges and the cycle begins again. Ready for something different, Keisha accepts the help of her brother-in-law, Shakespeare, as he pays for her to go to school. Is that the only help he is offering?

In this sequel, SHAMELESS HOODWIVES, Miz Cleo and Miz Osceola are back on their perch at Bentley Manor as gatekeepers and the ghetto grapevine. The residents and their goings-on keep them busy. It's a worthy effort and entertaining read, though it does not pack the pizzazz of DESPERATE HOODWIVES.

Reviewed by: Toni
3.5 stars

Just who in the hell will be able to depart Bentley Manor without being emotionally scarred for life? Keisha, Takiah, Princess and Woo Woo are the latest group of young women who are plagued with awful memories of a place they used to call home.

Keisha - married to a drug addict and mother of four, is barely hanging on to her sanity. Quilt ridden with the fact that she was able to quit her habit, while her husband Smokey still uses, she fights to keep her family afloat. With Smokey stealing everything but the kitchen sink, she continues to encourage him to clean himself up regardless of the vicious beatings and multiple trips to the hospital.

Takiah, a dope fiend who escapes her deranged husband/pimp, with her infant in tow. She lands right back at Bentley Manor to live with her Grandmother Cleo. Takiah leaves one abusive relationship just to be to be mistreated by the beloved Pastor Meyer.

Woo Woo - is a prime example of how an individual still possesses that "hood" mentality, long after deserting the hood for the suburbs. Now living a charmed life that most women would kill for, she continues frequent to Bentley Manor due to her lover, Hassan.

My personal favorite, Princess, has the voice of an angel. Her mother, Queen chooses to ignore the signs of abuse by the different men who frequent their home. Princess is shy and withdrawn and believes she'll never be capable of being a normal teenager. Encouraged by her best friend, Lucky to sing at a local talent contest, which she wins, life seems somewhat sweeter. However, just as her dreams of becoming a famous singer are becoming a reality, tragedy strikes and she's left all alone.

"Shameless Hoodwives" is a dynamic read complete with drama, destruction, hopelessness and surprisingly, a bit of humor (who would name their child Hawkina ... LOL).

If you're looking to be entertained, this IS it. Meesha and De'nesha, your latest effort IS deservingly worthy of five stars. One of the best of 2008.

Shameless Hoodwives promises to be an even better read than its prequel! This book takes us through Bentley Manor and leaves no part of it unturned.

This novel is filled with drama, surprises and more surprises. The characters interact more and just when you think it couldn't get any better it does.

Take this whirlwind trip into Bentley Manor, visit Ms. Cleo as she tries to steer her grand-daughter Takiah in the right direction...some things are easier said than done.

Pull out your hankerchief as you stroll with Princess and Lucky. Look into the world of Shakespeare and his love for his brother Smokey; is it all about brotherly love...if so..then the question becomes how much of being thy brother's keeper....does he want to keep the most?

Then there's Keisha...and she truly believes in good times and bad....till death do us part...find out if she can hold true to those vows...
Plueeze let's not forget about Woo Woo... Oh!Woo Woo will definitely woo it up in this book...and you, the reader will, no doubt, be left with your mouth hung open...watch out because you will be caught slippin'.

This book is guaranteed to be a banging page turning sequel penned so well by Ms. Mink and Ms. Diamond.
Kudos to them for giving us even more in the sequel. Well Done!

This book was a pretty good read. I read it in two days. I would recommend it to others for sure.

i really like this book.i read all the bentley manor tales and was not disappointed.they all kept my interest in them as if i was there with them

In this sequel, three new characters and a returning woman (Woo-Woo) all face life in the project known as Bentley Manor. I read this book quicker than I read the first one, and the flava is just as tight here! Just as the sun is shinning in their lives, it starts to rain down mayhem and murder, and you just gotta wonder if these ladies will ever see the end of the rainbow. Well, that's not for me to tell, so I'll let you read the book and find out for yourself.

This book started out slow in the first quarter, but sped up to a hyped thriller! I enjoyed it just as much as Desparate Hoodwives. My heart went out to Princess but I could relate to all of the women characters in some form or fashion. I got so involved with each character, that I felt I knew them personally. The authors did a very good job on this one. It was well written. I laughed out loud on certain parts, while being in complete shock on others. I loved it and look forward to reading the 3rd installment (Hood Life).