Sucka Free Love - How to Avoid Dating The Dumb, The Deceitful, The Dastardly, The Dysfunctional and The Deranged! (Paperback)

by Deborrah Cooper (Author)
Key Phrases: Sucka Free Love, Could You Rephrase The Question, Stupid Drama Everywhere (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Sucka Free Love! provides common sense, street-smart insight into the toughest issues facing singles today. It's smart, funny, insightful and offers pointed advice in a hip, 21st century style. This unique book delivers all you need to turn your dating situation around, starting today. Learn from the foolish mistakes of others, date smarter, and make your relationships Sucka Free!

About the Author
Deborrah Cooper gained underground acclaim through her 15-year career of relationship advice counseling, conducting seminars and workshops in the San Francisco Bay Area and as a producer and host of ”HeartBeat,” a cable television talk show in Oakland, California. She was a frequent on-air guest at KMEL 106.1 radio and guest columnist on AOL’s NetNoir channel. Ms. Cooper has been featured in Black Enterprise magazine, and interviewed for Honey, Essence Online and Downtown Oakland magazines, The Oakland Tribune, and many other regional and international publications. She has also appeared as a guest expert on the nationally televised talk show “Men Are From Mars, Women are from Venus” with host Cybill Shepherd, and featured on BET Television’s “Oh Drama!” Ms. Cooper, writing under the moniker, “Ms. HeartBeat,” has penned dozens of articles and provided relationship advice to thousands on her groundbreaking AskHeartBeat.Com website. Established in 1997, AskHeartBeat.Com is one of the longest-running Black owned websites on the Internet, and the first to focus exclusively on Black male/female relationships. Her casual, down-to-earth style of relating to people of all races and ages worldwide afforded her the opportunity to gain sociological data on interpersonal relationships and a perspective that is unique in the industry. In her first book, Sucka Free Love,” Ms. Cooper dispenses solid advice mixed with a healthy dose of humor to guide men and women in examining their actions, reactions and beliefs about relationships and the opposite gender and discover alternative solutions to the many dilemmas they faced.

Product Details

• Paperback: 242 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing; 1st edition (January 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419653857
• ISBN-13: 978-1419653858
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #473,729 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One, Two Punch!, October 16, 2008

By	CHayes "Cheryl" (Bronx, NY) - See all my reviews

Sucka Free Love by Deborrah Cooper is a hilarious, Q&A guide to helping people deal with deadbeat relationships, denial issues, as well as sex and commitment woes. This Q & A will have your rolling on the floor from laughing at the outrageous questions as well as the abrupt responses. This book is filled with questions from people all over the world who are looking for answers to questions that many of us want to ask but are too embarrassed to say out loud. Ms. Cooper included comments from all ages, races and sexuality. If you have questions, look out because Ms. Heartbeat has an answer.

I could not put this book down; it was like reading my favorite advice column and not having to wait until tomorrow's newspaper to come out. Packed with good information, questions that never really crossed my mind but once reading about it I looked forward to hearing her answer. I recommend this book to readers of all genres who are looking for answers to THE question but are too afraid to ask. If you have thought about it, I am sure Ms. Heartbeat covers it in this book. I look forward to what Ms. Cooper has in store for her readers next.

Reviewed by: Cheryl H
APOOO BookClub

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A HIP Relationship Book for All - Are you Ready For This?, February 15, 2007

By	Priscilla Branch "Priscilla" (Centreville, VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sucka Free Love is a very unique peek into the relationship struggles of folks like you and me around the GLOBE. This book is a culmination of almost 20 years of relationship advice counseling, to an audience that doesn't suffer fools or indirect responses. With a solid WHACK, this book comes at you hard & fast. Featured in a slew of media outlets, including nationally syndicated magazines (Black Enterprise & Essence), as well as national talk shows and radio shows Ms. Heartbeat preaches her self-styled methods of self-love and self-empowerment and will whip you into shape with her quick wit and sharp humor. Just imagine a "Dear Prudence" and a "Dear Abby" mixed in with a little Richard Pryor. That's Ms. Heartbeat. And just as quickly as she responds to a letter in the "Street" vernacular, she just as quickly spits out a response that waxes poetic.

This book is not only for those lucky few who haven't gotten caught up (yet) in a relationship that isn't going perfectly; it's also for us embattled "experts" who have been-there-done-that and wear our experiences like badges of honor (or dishonor). Whether you are the dumped or the dumper, the love-torn or the heartbreaker, you will undoubtedly find your experiences within the pages of this book. Wouldn't you like to know that you're not alone? If you're a teenager, wouldn't you like to know the real scoop on the good, the bad and the ugly of all relationships--including those of the adults you most admire? Well, Sucka Free Love does that and more, with a powerful punch. She shoots from the hip, with some of her responses much akin to having a case of Beat-Down falling on your head.

More than likely, you've probably never been given the kind of feedback that Ms. Heartbeat gives. Many advice seekers, who are clearly in agony and want relief, are encouraged to improve in many creative, supportive ways. But there are many letters where a person clearly goes astray and wants to justify burning in hell. Ms. Heartbeat's responses to these letters are not for the feint of heart. You will undoubtedly bowl over with laughter and widen your eyes in disbelief at some of the idiotic situations that folks write about. Especially if you write in looking for sympathy after you've slept with someone else's mate and wondered why they haven't packed their bags to be with you. Yes, yes, Dear Reader, there are folks who have asked how to win someone over after they've slashed their tires, because they can't live without their object of affection. You can be assured that no "innocent" soul is spared from a hilarious but direct response from Ms. Heartbeat.

With catchy titles like I'll Call You! I Love You! Let's Hang Out!; Which Came First, the Chicken Head or the Egg?; Drama Here, Drama There, Stupid Drama Everywhere, the reader will be tempted to read Sucka Free Love in one sitting. Just like a sticky web, you'll be entangled into reading the next question and response, and the next one after that. Some of you may even wonder if that advice seeker was talking about you...

Not including the appendices, Sucka Free Love is a short but sweet 211 pages...just enough to get the point across, but arguably enough to cover just about every romantic stumbling block we may ever face. Including those of us who have suffered from temporary insanity. Letters and responses are written in a way to not be intimidating to anyone, including those of us who are new or experienced to the Love Game. You may find yourself cringing, crying and roaring with laughter at some of the real life situations people have written to Ms. Heartbeat about. Without a doubt, if you pick up a copy of this book, you will find it a truly enjoyable read. Here's to Love & Happiness!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Relationships Guru Wins 'Top Black Books 2007 Award' for Dating Guide , January 24, 2008

By	D. Cooper (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Advice columnist and dating expert Deborrah Cooper was recently selected for the "The Best Black Books of 2007" award by syndicated critic Kam Williams. Her book "Sucka Free Love: How to Avoid Dating The Dumb, The Deceitful, The Dastardly, The Dysfunctional & The Deranged!" has received rave reviews from consumers and critics alike. Ms. Cooper was one of 23 authors recognized, which included Bill Cosby, Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint, and Sonsyrea Tate.

Surprisingly, the decision to write Sucka Free Love! was made on the spur of the moment. "I woke up one morning feeling especially motivated and decided this was the day to stop talking and get busy DOING!"

For months she devoted 6-10 hours per day to writing. "I didn't leave my computer much. Socializing was cut to a bare minimum. I ate, I wrote, I slept. I was absolutely determined! Or maybe crazy is a better word!" she laughs.

The effort required to organize material for and write a book was somewhat of a shock. "We've all said 'oh, I have a lot of important things to tell the world... I should write a book!' Well, let me tell you, writing a book is more than a notion. I write articles for my site frequently. But writing this book... there was absolutely no comparison."

Self-publishing was the chosen option as major book publishers often use contracts which give them rights to change covers, titles and content at will.

"Once I found that out, I decided to publish the book myself. I didn't want anyone to change the book or chapter titles, or any of the content. Spiritually, I felt it important to put the book on the market exactly as envisioned. So that's what I did."

Creative tactics were employed to raise funds for printing and marketing. One popular strategy: home made sweet-potato pies. "I made so many pies... it was just ridiculous!" Cooper says with amusement. "My house smelled like a bakery for months and I gained at least 5 lbs! But it was wonderful to have so many people around who supported this venture and did everything they could to ensure my success."

Sucka Free Love! advises readers on complex dating situations such as friends with benefits, interracial relationships, dating people with addictions or other baggage, and the importance of establishing and maintaining boundaries. "These are the issues singles are, unfortunately, dealing with every day" explains Deborrah.

"Messages are delivered in a way readers can relate to. Sometimes my advice has a humorous twist, sometimes its detailed instructions for change. And sometimes I bluntly tell them they are not making intelligent decisions! But I always tell the truth as I see it, and do my best to provide down-to-earth advice that will help them. The formula seems to be working, because here I am!"

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