Customer Reviews

Trouble Man: A Novel

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jermaine Banks, a man who's used to making his money on the streets by selling drugs, decides it's time to get out of the game once and for all. After finding out that one of his best childhood friends was gunned down in a drug-related death, Jermaine vows to quit this life and find a better one for himself and for his 3 year old son, Khalil. Simultaneously, Calvin Sharpe, a father and a husband, resolves to get his life straight before the FBI catches up with him for his past shady dealings. Calvin searches for the son he abandoned many years ago and he wants to make peace with him before it's too late.

Travis Hunter's third novel, Trouble Man, follows in the footsteps of his previous two novels, The Hearts of Men and Married But Still Looking. Readers will get to know these characters well as they follow them throughout their journeys and they will hope that Jermaine and Calvin get their lives in order by the story's conclusion. Travis Hunter writes in short, concise chapters that keep the story flowing at a nice pace and this story will definitely be over before you know it.

Travis Hunter's background as a motivational speaker shines through in Trouble Man as his male characters struggle to do what they know is right. Fans of Travis Hunter's earlier work should find themselves enjoying this one as well. His growth as a writer is evident with each book he releases.

With The Hearts of Men and Married But Still Looking, Travis Hunter had already become an author whose books should be read. Now, with the release of Trouble Man, he has solidified his spot and his books have moved into the must read pile.

This book was wonderful. Travis's portrayal of each character in this book was dead on. Most importantly it was to me an accurate portrayal of black men in different stages of life. It honestly helps you understand where the young brother, the older, married, corporate brother, and the old playa are coming from. What this book did for me was link the similarities that men in general have in dealing with the day to day struggle. Women, buy this book for yourself and for any man in your life. They will enjoy it, and learn from it. Oh, and make sure you purchase his other two books as well. You won't be disappointed.

Once I read the first chapter I was hooked. This story had a lot of real life issues and once I read the first few pages I had to see what was going to happen next. Jermaine was a good bad boy who saw the need to change and found a way to do just that. He made some good decisions and also found a way to forgive those who wronged him in the past. This book just made my heart swim with emotion and I can not wait until Travis Hunter writes his next story.

I really enjoyed looking into the lives and struggles of the hood and also of african american men. Jermaine is a dude that has never worked and always hustled to make ends meet. He has a son of his own and decides that he doesn't want to let his son down and be the type of father he had. Jermaine's father Calvin was never in his life besides sending money. So Jermaine was left for the streets to raise him. Everyone has to deal with the decisions they make in life. Mr. Hunter displays that alot. People having to deal with their life's decisions in the end rather good or bad. But this is a powerful story the tells stories on so many levels other than what I have written here. Read it, you won't be disappointed.

This book was another piece adding to my collection. I like this book alot it was truly worthed my time. Jermaine was indeed a trouble man from the little things as a rat down to the most serious things as his life. This book will keep you turning turning turning

The heroine in this novel is a young African-American man named Jermaine. Jermaine lives in the inner city, and comes from a single-parent household. Having never known his father, he tries to be the best parent that he can be to his young son Khalil. But the lure of the streets, his other parent, is tough to ignore...can he do the right thing and be the role model to his son that he needs to be? In a nearby Philadelphia suburb (but worlds away from his son's North Philadelphia neighborhood socioeconomically,) Calvin Sharpe has just announced to his wife of 30 years that he is leaving her. The thrill is gone, and his white mistress is waiting in the wings. Calvin dropped out of his son's life years ago because of Jermaine's difficult mother, and hasn't missed a beat. But you know what they say about a woman scorned; and Robin, Calvin's wife, refuses to be deserted. She's going to tell, and tell it all.....for she knows all about young Jermaine that her husband abandoned. Soon the whole family knows of Jermaine's existence, and they can't wait to meet him. Meanwhile, Calvin's idyllic life seems to be collapsing like a house of cards....but is it too late for him to make things right with his oldest son?

A quick read, this was a positive, uplifting book about the power of the Black man...when he allows himself to be empowered. I enjoyed this novel so much, I will be actively looking for additional work from Mr. Hunter.....

DYB

I READ THE REVIEWS AND THOUGHT I WOULD GO OUT AND GET THE BOOK AND READ IT. I DO ALOT OF READING IN THE SUMMER WHEN I'M OUT OF SCHOOL AND THIS WAS A AWESOME BOOK. THIS IS MY FIRST BOOK BY THIS AUTHOR BUT IT WILL DON'T BE MY LAST. TO ANYONE THAT WANTS A GREAT BOOK TO READ THIS IS IT. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. AFTER READING THIS BOOK I CALLED MY NIECE AND TOLD HER THAT SHE HAS TO READ THIS BOOK. TO TRAVIS HUNTER KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book was outstanding. A page turner from start to finish. Everyone can relate to every character in the book. It was funny, meaningful, and so real, at the same time.

Trouble Man is a story of Jermaine, a 29 year old man that lives in the tough part of Philly.He has a young son who he trys to give the world to because he never grew up with his father around.Because his father wasn't around when he was younger Jermaine began to live life like a thug. He also became a well known drug dealer.He seems to have everything going for him...a nice ride, a crib and thousands of dollars stashed away until he begins to experience some horrible things. His sons mother is giving him problems, his girlfriends parents are always down his back and to top things off he is contacted by his grandfather that he never knew. Jermaine now has to deal with the pressures of meeting his fathers side of the family and trying to get a legit job so that he can take care of his responsibilities the right way.

Travis Hunter did an amazing job with this one. He made Jermaine go through all of his dilemmas the hard way..which really made a great story. This is another one of those drama, dram, drama, books but it also has a heart felt story that makes you want to cry for Jermaine and his sorry father. The book also has some humorous parts to it that have to do with Jermaine's sons mother and another part with his uncle. Go pick up this book as soon as you have the extra money. You won't be disappointed.

TROUBLE MAN tells the story of two men leading very different lives. Jermaine Banks grew up in the streets of Philadelphia. Now he is knocking on thirty's door and helping to raise his son, dealing with a temperamental and pregnant girlfriend, and keeping his business as a drug dealer going. When he begins thinking about finding legitimate employment, Jermaine realizes that with minimal education and no work experience his options are limited and unappealing. Jermaine is at a crossroads and must determine which path he wants the rest of his life to take. Calvin Sharpe on the other hand has lived his life with money as his number one priority. As a result, he has a thriving business, more money than he can ever spend, an unhappy marriage, and a son who detests him. It isn't until his past begins to catch up with him that Calvin begins to realize all that he gave up in exchange for his love of money. But is it too late to make amends?

Travis Hunter's latest literary offering, TROUBLE MAN, is a satisfying read filled with strong themes of manhood and fatherhood. I really enjoyed how he fittingly incorporated many of Marvin Gaye's song titles into the titles of various chapters in the book. The tight character development helped readers really understand the motivations of the characters and made them easy to empathize with. In addition, Hunter helped readers understand the dichotomy between inner city life and a more privileged life. He demonstrated how environmental influences can have a major impact on the hopes and dreams of people. Finally, through this story Hunter teaches us that decisions made in the past can have a lasting impact on the future. I thoroughly enjoyed this stirring and emotional book and I highly recommend it to others.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
Of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers