Customer Reviews

Two Thin Dimes

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

 

 

Tiera Jamaica Rochelle, an R&B superstar, is currently in Texas to do a promotion at Sea World and then she's off to the Caribbean for some much needed rest and relaxation. While waiting for things in Texas to wrap up, Tiera takes to the mall incognito. When Tareem, a San Antonio resident who has his own worries, and she collide, it's apparent that their connection is improbable. Or is it?

Leave it to LaChina, Jamaica's best friend/agent to concoct a wonderful scheme. She hires Tareem to help occupy Jamaica's time while she sets out to putting together another lucrative deal.

Under the guise of just having a few days to relax and be normal, Jamaica becomes familiarized with the real world. Gone are the high- priced cars, fancy meals and VIP crowd. While she moans and voices her displeasure, it's a humbling experience at times for her. Opposites attract, they fall madly in love and soon they are both making adjustments so that they encourage, inspire and bring out the best in one another. After all, isn't that what love is about?

TWO THIN DIMES became more and more implausible as you turned the pages. Though I fancy authors willing to pepper in some uniqueness, especially on such an overused story, I wish Caleb would've relented as he makes contradictions of the main characters. While this is not Caleb's best, I would advise readers to pick up EASTSIDE. I'm hoping that Caleb will return with more flourishing reads.

TWO THIN DIMES is a love story about Tameer and Jamaica, two young people from two different walks of life.

Jamaica is a very wealthy celebrity who just wants a genuine relationship with a man who is not attracted to her because of her money. Tameer is a star athlete and college student trying to make a better life for himself and his younger brother, despite his father's demons.

Tameer and Jamaica fall in love under false pretenses, and both of them learn that many things in life aren't what they seem on the surface.

Caleb Alexander is an awesome writer, and has created another winning story with a valuable moral. I look forward to his next release!

This book, had me from the first sentence.
We meet Jamaica aka Jai. She was very spoiled, everything had to be her way.
Then you had Tameer, who is struggling to handle things in his Home. His dad is a drunk and is on drugs. He thinks that his dad managed to run his mother away with his fist. We later find out the real deal.

Jamaica and Tameer, come together because of LaChina, Jamaica's manager/friend.
Their first was terrible( well, according to Jai) The next date was Jai and Tameer fishing.
When Jai got back to the motel, she was so giddy with excited.

Jamaica eventually shed her icy exterior, and became a loveable character.


Caleb Alexander pulled off another winner with this book. The book is riveting from start to finish, your not going to want to put it down.

If you have not gotten this book yet, then I suggest that you get moving.

Have you read Eastside by Caleb? If so I got to say this was a totally different novel than that--he took it to another level with this one. This just goes to show what a talented author this man is--he can switch from hardcore to soft/mellow and still keep it hood! If you haven't read EASTSIDE you don't know what you are missing, so pick up both of these books today!

Two Thin Dimes is one of Caleb Alexander's masterpieces that will forever be in my memory. Not your typical "thug-love" story where drugs & violence rule the pages, but instead a very beautifully told story of Jamaica & Tameer,two people from VERY opposite side of the track. What starts out as a love/hate relationship soon turns into a one of a kind love that is challenged by family, friends, a crazy gold-digging ex & the reality of to cultures colliding. Overall, this book will have you begging for more!

IN THE STORY YOU MEET JAMAICA THE R&B STAR THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN GIVEN THE BEST OF EVERYTHING FROM BIRTH, NEVER TO GO WITHOUT. THEN YOU HAVE TAMEER WHO ON THE OTHER HAS NOTHING AND COMES FROM NOTHING YET HE IS BLESSED WITH SKILLS THAT NO ONE COULD PURCHASE.. BRAINS AND THE SKILLS OF A SUPERB ATHLETE.

WHAT STARTS OUT AS A MEANING LESS DATE THAT JAMAICA'S BEST FRIEND/PERSONAL ASSISTANT SET UP TO GET HER OUT HER HAIR, TURNS INTO WHIRLWIND OF EMOTIONS, PASSION, LOVE, AND LUST. ALTHOUGH COMING FROM DIFFERENT ENDS OF THE TRACK TAMEER AND JAMAICA FIND THAT THEY HAVE MORE IN COMMON THEN WHAT MEETS THE EYE.... THERE'S ONLY ONE PROBLEM... DO THEY REALLY KNOW WHO THE PERSON THEY ARE LOVING REALLY IS?

CALEB DID A WONDERUL JOB WITH THIS STORY! THE CHARACTERS ARE WONDERFULLY DEVELOPED ALONG WITH THE STORY. THE WRITING WAS GREAT, SOMETHING THAT WE DONT EASILY FIND THESE DAYS. WHILE READING THE BOOK I FOUND MY SELF LAUGHING ALOUD BECAUSE CHINA AND JAMAICA WERE TOO SILLY. IT WAS SO EASY TO ENVISION EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING...

CALEB.. I WILL BE WAITING TO SEE WHATS NEXT BY "YOU".. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

Okay from what I was told Mr. Alexander was known for straight hood books but in now way shape or form is this a hood book. Now that I got the off my chest.

They say opposites attract and in this modern day love story Tameer and Jamaica are complete opposites.
Jamaica is a R&B Superstar that's doesn't know the meaning of the word STRUGGLE. Now Tameer on the other hand is the word exemplified. Tameer is a high school all american every sport imaginable but turned down a chance to play in the NFL to get an education. In doing so lost his long time girl friend and the respect of his father.

When both sides finally meet this book turns into a funny and down right crazy good time. The Thing i like most about this book is that Tameer got his the LEGIT way and not the Fast and was a Damn good role model for his younger brother.[...]

Reviewed by Kecia
For Readers In Motion Book Club
[...]

Caleb Alexander offers readers an urban romance in his latest novel, TWO THIN DIMES. Jamaica is an R&B star who is spoiled and pretentious; all her life she has gotten what she wanted and it shows. Tameer, on the other hand, is poor and struggling to do the right thing, while trying to forge a better life for himself and for his younger brother. Tameer's mother died when he and his brother were young and they have basically had to fend for themselves because their abusive father is more engaged in drugs and alcohol than he is in raising his sons. Tameer and Jamaica's worlds collide during a chance encounter in a shopping mall. This chance meeting leads to an arranged "relationship" between the two, but slowly, feelings creep in and suddenly an unexpected romance begins to unfold. The relationship has all the bumps in the road one would expect when bringing together two people with such different lives and backgrounds, and the couple's family and friends add additional conflict and drama to the mix.

TWO THIN DIMES started a little slowly, but eventually began to build momentum. Though the story was a bit unrealistic and yet predictable, the character development helped move the plot along and kept me interested. I thoroughly enjoyed how Caleb Alexander worked issues of class into the story because it really highlighted how our impressions about what a person is like can be muddied by stereotypes. At the heart of TWO THIN DIMES is the idea that true love often involves sacrifice and many times, comes from unexpected places.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Jamaica Tiera Rochelle, R&B diva-socialite, is on her way to a relaxing mini-vacation in the Caribbean's with her personal assistant/best friend, and publicist, LaChina Anderson. One stop away from a much needed rest, the two meet Cousin Jemia in San Antonio where there's not even a limo or chauffeur to shuffle the duo to and fro. China happens upon a lucrative opportunity for Jamaica, which will throw her into a frenzy if she finds out, so China seeks a diversion for her comrade. Tameer, the hood boy from the wrong side of the tracks, has hopes and dreams of a brighter day for he and his baby brother, Savion. These two have had a rough life, being abandoned by their mother and watching their father self-destruct before their very eyes with alcohol and drugs. The mismatched couple would seem to be destined for failure but Caleb weaves a bit of naiveté in the mix with Tameer being the only person that basically has no clue who Jamaica really is.

The most endearing scene is the prison visit to P.J, Jamaica's incarcerated father. The wisdom, genuine love and kindness he exhibits toward his daughter, who he hasn't seen in years, and her new beau is refreshing. Caleb expertly cinches the ending with Tameer reiterating the exact words to Jamaica's condescending mother, Bev, the very speech that won her hand in marriage with the simplicity of Two Thin Dimes.

Two Thin Dimes is a tale of two young people from different worlds, with different values, and different goals in life, that surprisingly find true love despite their numerous differences...those known, and unbelievably those unknown. In my opinion, Caleb Alexander is so naturally talented and such an awesome tale-spinner, that even with this unrealistic plot, he manages to touch my heart with the engaging theme and title of this story.

Multi-platinum recording artist Tiera is sent to Texas to do a promo shoot with a whale. All the while, she is so angry at her assistant LaChina for setting this up that all she can think of is "Boy, I am going to kill LaChina when I get out of this huge tank." LaChina comes up with a plan of her own for a video shoot that includes the same whale. Coming up with a plan to stall their stay in Texas, they run into a man in a mall who seems to be perfect for getting Tiera out of LaChina's hair so she can handle the business in silence.

Tameer Harris (Mr. All Star, All City, All Regional) sets the best records in the state of Texas playing football. With every major college offering him full scholarships, Tameer opted to go to school for school and not sports. Having his mother leave him and his brother when they were younger to be raised by their mean, overweight, alcoholic, drug-abusing father, Tameer is determined to rise above the expectations of everyone.

Running into each other in the mall they both land on the floor, Jamaica/Tiera is furious at Tameer for knocking her down and breaking her brand new $1200 Chanel sunglasses. Coming up with a way for Tameer to pay her back, LaChina convinces him to take her out on a date. Once they realize Tameer has no idea who Jamaica/Tiera is, she continues with this affair, not realizing how much she's needed the simple things in her life all along. She finally understands that she is a woman first before being an entertainer.

I have to be honest here...this story missed me from the beginning up until Tameer giving the speech that made you understand the title. I didn't find any of the funny lines funny. Actually, I didn't even realize they were the funny lines. The conversation the girls had was just that.. a conversation that girls would have...and not women. I believe the concept was there; however, I think had the story been told a bit more realistically, it would have been much better. I understand the meaning of fiction; however, there are plenty of fiction novels out that make you feel you are right there with the characters or can relate in some way.

Please don't get me wrong I will continue to read Mr. Alexander's work. But Two Thin Dimes was just not a romantic comedy to me.

Reviewed by Angie
for Urban Reviews