The Velvet Rope [Paperback]

Brenda L. Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 4, 2005

Life is a party.

When Tiffany Johnson, a street-smart publicist at Platinum Images, decides to launch Teaz Entertainment and open a club, she's setting out to be the queen of Philly nightlife. Keeping it in the family, she partners up with her fiancé, Malik, and her sister, Kamille, and counts on her friend DJ Essence to bring the noise. Investors seem to be lining up and the buzz is gettin' loud.

Be careful who you invite.

When Tiffany finds out that Malik and Kamille had an affair -- and that it might not be the only secret they share -- she spirals downward and gets swept up in two unexpectedly erotic affairs of her own. Awakening to a new kind of sexual freedom and reeling from betrayal, Tiffany is raw and vulnerable. So vulnerable that she doesn't realize that her new lovers are involved in more than kinky sex, and that they might take her new club down with them...unless she takes them down first.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Brenda Thomas tells her stories with a messenger's flair that can only come from someone [who's] been there.... I love her work!"

-- Lil' Kim

About the Author

Brenda L. Thomas, a Philadelphia-based marketing professional, is the Essence bestselling author of three previous novels, Threesome: Where Seduction, Power & Basketball Collide; Fourplay: The Dance of Sexuality; and The Velvet Rope. She has also contributed short stories to the anthologies Four Degrees of Heat and Kiss the Year Goodbye. Visit her website at phillywriter.com.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Downtown Press; Original edition (January 4, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743477286
• ISBN-13: 978-0743477284
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #756,488 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I consider myself the epitome of what it truly means to be a Philly Girl. Love this town and everything about it!

Grew up in the crazy 70's, the youngest of 5, and always found myself challenged by the world around me and so I pushed forward, testing the boundaries and living dangerously.

I managed to excel in the 9 to 5 grind and once I ran out of obstacles to conquer, I founded my own company, Admin Ink. As a result I came face to face with now New York Knicks', Stephon X. Marbury where I later became his personal assistant. Entering into what I refer to as the underbelly of the NBA I birthed the idea for my first novel, Threesome, where seduction, power and basketball collide.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Kinky as you wanna be, October 29, 2005

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: The Velvet Rope (Paperback)

Brenda Thomas returns with another erotic literary rendezvous. Tiffany Johnson has gone into business for herself with Teaz Entertainment. At what should be a joyous time, things come crashing down around her as she learns her fiancé and sister know each other a little too well. Still reeling from the shock, her personal life spills over into her new business venture and vice versa. She doesn't know if she's coming or going or which way is up or down as she delves deep into a sexual abyss.

While the sex scenes were hot, that alone couldn't make up for a just okay story. The Velvet Rope was by no means a bad book, but it doesn't begin to touch the momentum of Threesome or even Fourplay. Ms. Thomas seems to have veered off course, but I hope not for long.

Reviewed by: Toni

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars PURE JUNK; nothing erotic about this book, August 6, 2007

By 

Joey N. Mikey (Windsor, CT.-USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Velvet Rope (Mass Market Paperback)

One can read any porno magazine and the descriptions would be identical to those found in this poor excuse for an "erotic romance". It leaves NOTHING to the imagination; written with a high school vocabulary and the literary ability of a pubescent male (or 'nigga' as so often used in this book). Don't waste your time..there are so many truly talented authors to read...perhaps Ms. Thomas should pick up a book and learn how to write of a class she clearly aspires to but is aeons away from attaining.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Tiffany - self destructive???, May 6, 2005

By 

Jan Stewart - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Velvet Rope (Paperback)

The only way I read this book is because it was the book of the month for my book club. I admire a strong business-minded person, and Tiffany started off in this role, then floated through the story until the end trying to figure out how to keep her business afloat. She behaved more like the youngest child in her family instead of the oldest. She caused the broken relationships within her family by not waiting on proof from one encounter with her fiancee, Malik, with her sister, Kamille. She also had self destructive relationships with G-dog and his father, Gregory Haney II (and Leila). Tiffany was not grounded and chose alcohol as a refuge. Her nightclub was a success in spite of Tiffany, but the end led you to believe that she is not satisfied with a happy ending and is headed for more self destruction by starting a new business and maybe having another love encounter with the dishonorable Gregroy Haney II.