Tale of a Train Wreck Lifestyle [Paperback]

Crystal Lacey Winslow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2008

Lisa Henderson wants to live the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Only she doesn't have the patience to do things the correct way. Destined to make something great out of her life, her father's constant praise and adulation turns the once ambitious and intelligent girl into a self-centered, conniving, and vindictive woman. Always at odds with her mother, in constant competitive mode with her sister, Lisa sets out to prove the naysayers wrong! Success is at her fingertips if only she could stop opting to take shortcuts to get what she wants.

A series of bad decisions have quickly landed her in more trouble than she can sort out. When she goes to the same friends and family for help all whom she'd betrayed in the past door by door gets slammed in her face. Desperate, and on the run from authorities, she goes into seclusion with a large chunk of her latest victim's money. With a huge home in the exclusive community of Saddle River, New Jersey, she finally feels safe. Luxuriating in her new lifestyle she experiences a sense of security and the prestige she's longed for. Little does she know an arch-enemy has plans to make her new home her casket. Always stoic in the face of danger, Lisa isn't going down without a fight!

Back by popular demand Nikkisi Ling and Joshua Tune (The Criss Cross) are woven into this tale of larceny, deceit and greed. And you won t believe who sets them up to get double-crossed!

Product Details

• Paperback: 282 pages
• Publisher: Melodrama Publishing; Original edition (October 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934157155
• ISBN-13: 978-1934157152
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #775,776 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Brooklyn-born author, Crystal Lacey Winslow, began writing creatively at an early age.

At the fledgling age of eight, beating out the entire school as her competition, she won her first journalist contest. It was at that very moment she realized she had a gift for writing and continued honing her craft writing poetry/prose. She soon decided she wanted to do something "more adult" so at the age of fourteen, she wrote her very first unpublished novel.

Crystal Lacey Winslow, a very diverse and multi-talented individual, has lived in various cities. She has moved from Virginia, to Maryland, then to Washington, D.C. before returning to her native New York City. Through the course of her living experiences and other travels, she has enjoyed all aspects of her surroundings -- the serenity of the suburbs, where she learned to swim, play the flute, archery and horseback riding; to the pulse of the inner city where she delighted in playing scully, hop-scotch, tag and touch football. Having encountered many colorful people along the way, she draws on both her human and environmental experiences that have become the inspirations for her writings. The result is a unique and melodramatic storytelling technique, which is evident in her writing style.

Crystal Lacey Winslow earned her baccalaureate degree in Legal Assistant Studies and worked for one of the largest law firms in the country. She soon realized her passion for creative writing was undying and therefore published Melodrama, a poetry chapbook in 2000. Soon after in 2001, Ms. Winslow founded her own publishing company, Melodrama Publishing, and opened her first bookstore, Melodrama Books & Things in 2003 in Far Rockaway, NY - the first bookstore in that neighborhood in over 30 years.

Ms. Winslow is as ambitious and driven as the characters of whom she so vividly writes and has successfully carved out a place for her Melodrama Publishing (MP) imprint in the literary world. She was the recipient of Black Issues Book Review's 2004 Self-Publisher of the Year award and has rapidly grown to an international publishing company.

Crystal continues to entertain and inspire thousands of avid readers, aspiring writers and entrepreneurs. She shows no signs of slowing down and you can believe there will be many more magnificent works to come from this magnificently talented young woman!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Until We Meet Again, December 20, 2008

By 

Ms Toni "Readinista Extraordinaire" (Midwest - USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Tale of a Train Wreck Lifestyle (Paperback)

Lisa Henderson is the black sheep of her family. The youngest of three, there is an obvious distinction between the way her mother treats her and her siblings. Her only saving grace is her father. But after her father takes a leave of absence, Lisa is left to fend for herself. Young and inexperienced, will Lisa make the right decisions?

Nikkisi Ling and Joshua Tune are still on the run. Unforeseen circumstances bring the fugitive duo that have been living abroad back to the United States. With plans of only being in the U.S. very temporarily, will their past catch up with them before they can leave?

A chance encounter...the paths of Lisa, Nikkisi and Joshua cross. A chance encounter...one that will have drastic consequences. A chance encounter...are they all a train wreck waiting to happen?

Accomplished writer Crystal Lacey Winslow has given readers what they wanted - a look into the lives of Nikki and Josh. TALE OF A TRAIN WRECK LIFESTYLE was like three books in one. The first part revisited established characters Nikki and Josh. The second part was an introduction to Lisa Henderson. The last part brings their relationship and its impact into full bloom with their trials, tribulations, joys and pains. Her mix of drama and betrayal inflates this novel with life and emotion. Though I enjoyed the update on Nikki and Josh, I felt that Lisa's story was interesting and held its own and that their portion of the story was an intrusion. Their story, like Lisa's, can stand alone - a testament to Winslow's talent. TALE OF A TRAIN WRECK LIFESTYLE is engaging and entertaining. And fans will be happy that the door has been left ajar for a possible continuation.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard Knock Life, March 29, 2009

By 

OOSA Online Book Club "O.O.S.A. Gets It Read!" (World Wide Web, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Tale of a Train Wreck Lifestyle (Paperback)

Crystal Lacey Winslow has done it again; "Tale of a Train Wreck Lifestyle" is the most captive trilogy ever!

I love the way Crystal begins this novel with former characters from her previous books, "Life, Love, and Loneliness" and "Criss Cross," Nikkisi Ling and Joshua Tune...and then introduces one a new character, Lisa Henderson. Nikkisi and Joshua are both still fugitives on the run from the U.S. for murder when Nikkisi and Lisa cross paths.

Lisa Henderson is a young girl that experiences some dreadful circumstances during life that forces her to the streets of New York . Lisa has always been treated as an outcast by her mother, Julie, and yet was a princess in her daddy's eyes. Things suddenly change and Lisa's life takes a drastic turn. Treated so badly by Julie, she is forced one day to make a choice: whether to live or die by Julie.

Nikkisi and Joshua come back to the U.S. for various reasons, and then Nikkisi and Lisa finally met. Lisa reminded Nikkisi of her deceased sister, Noki and they bonded instantly. However, everything that looks good is not always good.

I loved reading this book as Crystal is still my #1 author! She has satisfied a craving that I've had since her novel "Criss Cross" and I will wait for the next one.

Reviewed by: Tekisha

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fiya, January 26, 2009

By 

Monie "Monie" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tale of a Train Wreck Lifestyle (Paperback)

This book was a great read it was a page turner from page 1. You must buy this urban Fiction book.