Someone to Catch My Drift [Hardcover]

Jacqueline Powell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 11, 2002

A sexy and powerful new voice in the world of African American fiction, Jacqueline Powell offers a touching variation on the struggle to find - and keep - Mr. Right. Aspiring singer Nikai Parker is depressed. Her boyfriend has been sent to jail for dating an underage girl, and she feels abandoned and desperate. That is, until her best friend, Sheila, convinces her that a night of clubbing is exactly what she needs to forget her troubles and lift her spirits. While at the club, Nikai's luck begins to improve when she meets a handsome firefighter named Robert Hayes - whom she believes may just be the man of her dreams. As their relationship progresses, Nikai falls completely in love and begins making plans to spend the rest of her life with Robert. However, lady luck has other plans - because Robert is involved with another woman, and this sassy hairdresser named Karen is not going to give up her man without a fight.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jacqueline Powell is a first-time novelist from St. Louis, Missouri. She is currently working on her second novel.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Warner Books (March 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446527483
• ISBN-13: 978-0446527484
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,820,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Okay read!, February 23, 2003

By 

Eliana Baucicault (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Someone to Catch My Drift (Hardcover)

This book is full of drama but the aothor made things a little bit too obvious. She didn't give the characters a chance to show that they were more than just people looking for love in all the wrong places.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Watch out Terry McMillian!, May 25, 2002

By 

"divalicious" (ATL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Someone to Catch My Drift (Hardcover)

Someone To Catch My Drift was a refreshing novel by a new author. Jacqueline Powell did an excellent job telling the story of two people in a relationship. I liked the way this novel was divided into the two main characters Nikai and Robert. At times I was on Nikai's side during their relationship other times I was on Robert's.

I felt like I knew Robert and Nikai personally. Nika's mom was a trip and a half and she was also my least favorite character. She was always putting Nikai down and comparing her to her older sister Taylor who you will learn isn't any better than Nikai.

Jacqueline's "in your face" writing style makes her stand out above other authors. She is definitely up there with the best!

Nikai had alot of personal baggage that she brought to the relationship which made it harder for it to work. Robert was just being a man throughout the story.....he worked, tried to make their relationship the best, but when Nikai didn't pay him attention he ran to the arms of another woman by the name of Karen. Watch out for Karen in this book because she is something else! She has a secret that will blow you away!

I will definitely be reading more of this author's work and can hardly wait for her second novel to hit the shelves. Bravo and two thumbs up to Jacqueline you did an excellent job with this story! I HIGHLY recommend this book to book lovers -this is one that you definetly don't wanna miss!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars engaging African-American relationship drama, March 9, 2002

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Someone to Catch My Drift (Hardcover)

Her boy friend is in jail for seeing an underage girl and that leaves Nikai Parker so humiliated she cannot go to the mailbox, let alone work or talk with her family and friends. However, she feels perhaps the worst depression of her life not just because Travis is a no good brotha, but because she had their unborn aborted without any personal support three days ago. Her next door neighbor Sheila persuades Nikai that the humiliation is Travis' not hers and she needs a night on the town hitting the clubs. Reluctantly, Nikai agrees to an evening of clubbing expecting very little from the male crumbs she expects to meet.

To her shock, Nikai meets firefighter Robert Hayes, who is more than just handsome as he is the complete package of the caring hunk. They begin to see each other and fall in love leading Nikai to dream of a lifetime with the person she believes is her kindred soul mate. However, Robert is also seeing another woman who has plans for him that rival that of Nikai.

SOMEONE TO CATCH MY DRIFT is an engaging African-American relationship drama starring wonderfully complex lead characters. The story line is humorous yet angst-laden as Nikai struggles between her feelings and what Robert wants in their relationship. The metamorphosis of Nikai makes the novel hum when she has a catharsis that she must look within before looking without and concludes that her internal perspective of herself is painful. Jacqueline Powell's debut tale is a delightful novel that readers will enjoy for its clever and insightful look at everyday people.

Harriet Klausner