Customer Reviews

View Park

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Angela Winters' mainstream novel, View Park, is an explosive and sizzling debut. View Park is the first of three novels about the Chase family, one of the wealthiest families residing in the Los Angeles suburb of View Park. Steven Chase is the powerful and successful patriarch of the Chase clan. When he is not busy running his cosmetic conglomerate or planning hostile takeovers, he and his wife are busy interfering in their adult children's lives. Similar to the television families of the eighties (Dallas, Falcon Crest, Dynasty), except featuring an African American cast, the parents are controlling and the children are reckless and rebellious. When the two entities intersect, drama and conflict are guaranteed to occur.

The storyline is tied around the Chase's youngest daughter, Haley, witnessing a murder while on her married lover's, who happens to be a Senator, yacht. The family goes to great lengths to protect her as it becomes obvious that someone is trying to take her life as a result of what she witnessed. In addition to Haley's trials, the reader also gets to witness the dynamic between Steven Chase, the owner of a Los Angeles-based cosmetics company, and his sons as he attempts to take over successful beauty salons in the area to create a massive chain of his own. The conflicts that his oldest son, Carter, has with fulfilling his father's wishes, while still trying to pursue his own law firm, are evident.

The Chase offspring, through their escapades, attempt to develop some unlikely relationships. It was difficult for this reader to buy into, not only the unlikely relationships, but the whole Chase family dynamic and how the parents interacted with their children - namely Haley with her parents. This reader also desired more of a picture painted to make it appear as if the reader was actually there in View Park. Sadly, that was never accomplished. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a gripping, family drama without your typical storyline.

The Chase Family is one of the most powerful and influential African-American families in the Los Angeles area. Steven Chase along with his wife Janet, has taken his small cosmetics company and turned it into an Fortune 500 company. Steven is now determined to take over a chain of hair salons--only owner Avery Jackson refuses to sell. When Steven realizes Avery is a tough nut to crack, he demands that sons Carter and Michael make it happen or else.......
Carter Chase, determined to make his own way, starts his own law firm only to keep being pulled into family business by his father. Carter gets more than he bargained for when he goes after Avery, soon sparks fly and Carter is torn between loyalty to his family or his growing feelings for Avery. Michael Chase is very much involved in the family business and almost as ruthless as his father Steven. He handles the "dirty" work yet always comes out on top. Happily married to former model Kimberly, his life seems perfect or is it? Leigh Chase, now home after volunteering in Africa, is also determined to make her own way. After deciding to start a free clinic in the "hood", she goes to her mother for help with funding. Janet agrees to fund the clinic on one condition: Leigh must agree to date the man her mother sets her up with. But Leigh gets more than she bargained for, when the man refuses to take no for an answer and won't let go..... Last but not least, Haley is the "problem" child, long tired of living in the shadow of her "perfect" sister, she lives by her own set of rules. But when Haley witnesses a murder on her married boyfriend's yacht, she's in for the fight of her life when the killers come after her but when Detective Sean Jackson (Avery's brother) comes to the rescue, will Haley lose her heart as well?
View Park has all of the elements of a great story: Drama, Suspense, Mystery, Romance, and Betrayal. It is the essential summer read. Angela Winters has written an engrossing story with interesting , unforgettable characters. With an writing style similar to Jackie Collins, Angela Winters is an author on the rise! I give this book 5 stars. Reviewed by Shay C of PeoplewholoveGoodBooks

Angela Winters' mainstream novel, View Park, is an explosive and sizzling debut. View Park is the first of three novels about the Chase family, one of the wealthiest families residing in the Los Angeles suburb of View Park. Steven Chase is the powerful and successful patriarch of the Chase clan. When he is not busy running his cosmetic conglomerate or planning hostile takeovers, he and his wife are busy interfering in their adult children's lives. Similar to the television families of the eighties (Dallas, Falcon Crest, Dynasty), except featuring an African American cast, the parents are controlling and the children are reckless and rebellious. When the two entities intersect, drama and conflict are guaranteed to occur.

The storyline is tied around the Chase's youngest daughter, Haley, witnessing a murder while on her married lover's, who happens to be a Senator, yacht. The family goes to great lengths to protect her as it becomes obvious that someone is trying to take her life as a result of what she witnessed. In addition to Haley's trials, the reader also gets to witness the dynamic between Steven Chase, the owner of a Los Angeles-based cosmetics company, and his sons as he attempts to take over successful beauty salons in the area to create a massive chain of his own. The conflicts that his oldest son, Carter, has with fulfilling his father's wishes, while still trying to pursue his own law firm, are evident.

The Chase kids, through their escapades, attempt to develop some unlikely relationships. It was difficult for this reader to buy into, not only the unlikely relationships, but the whole Chase family dynamic and how the parents interacted with their children - namely Haley with her parents. This reader also desired more of a picture painted to make it appear as if the reader was actually there in View Park. Sadly, that was never accomplished. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a gripping, family drama without your typical storyline.

Reviewed by: Lena Willis
APOOO BookClub

OMG! This book is better than Dynasty. The Chase Family is one you'd love to hate but can't get enough of and whoever said money buys happiness, hasn't walked in the shoes of a Chase. They have more problems, scandals and woes than the average family. I don't know how this series escaped my hands for so long but it's defintely worth reading. I'm on to book 2.

VIEW PARK by Angela Winters is the first of a trilogy of the mighty Chase family.
They are owners and proprietors of the Chase Beauty Corporation and considered to be the African-American royal family. The family resides in the View Park suburb of Los Angeles; their home is the showcase of exclusive homes.

Like other family epics, this one boasts the inner turmoil of all of the family members. Steven Chase is the Founder and CEO of Chase Beauty Corporation, a Fortune 500 company for women of color. Business is his ally and he is as tough on his sons as he is competitive in business. Janet Chase is Steven's socialite wife. She is the head of the Chase Foundation and plays her role to perfection, while harboring a deep-rooted secret. Her life's mission is to maintain her family's image and that of the company. Cool, calm and dominant, Carter Chase is the founder of Chase Law, LLC. Not wanting to go into the family business has always been a sore spot with his father, thus Carter is on retainer with Chase Beauty Corporation. Michael Chase is his father reincarnate. He is highly competitive and takes solace in the fact that he gets what he wants by any means necessary. His goal is to take over Chase Beauty; his Achilles heal is his wife and his twin sons.

The female siblings include Leigh Chase, a physician who loves helping those in need. Her only interests are medicine and an undesirable need to please her mother. Haley Chase is the family debutante; she is headstrong, selfish and self-destructive. Her mother saves her from numerous antics, as her father draws further and further away. And finally there is Kimberly Chase, Michael's wife, a former model from a troubled childhood. Janet doesn't miss a chance to remind her she doesn't belong.

As the Chase Beauty Corporation begins the buyout of several successful beauty salons to create a chain, VIEW PARK pits the Chase family against the Jackson family, which includes Charlie, the Los Angeles Police Chief; Avery, owner and proprietor of Essential I and II Beauty Salons and Sean, a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. Everyone knows or has heard about the members of the Chase family, so it is of no surprise reluctant feelings surface as their worlds collide.

While VIEW PARK can be summarized as a drama-filled, fast-paced ride through the lives of the Chase and Jackson families, it also can be viewed as an emotional and psychological tale because of the mental anguish and abuse inflicted upon the characters and the steps they take to relieve themselves just to survive. A lot of the antics appear off the beaten path or may not seem plausible, however the author does present a captivating tale in terms of holding the reader's attention because of the enormous emotional impact. Because of the many characters, all with their own individual stories, the continuation of the trilogy may provide some insight into how their worlds evolve.

The members of the Chase Beauty Corporation set a plan in motion, the Jackson family fights it; their friends and significant others jump into the fray and everyone gets caught up. To be continued!

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

This book was a very intriguing read and I would give it 5 stars but the Haley character was too much to take. I found myself skipping the parts that mentioned this character but overall the book is very good.

I have read all five books in the Chase Family/View Park series. This is an EXCELLENT series. View Park introduces the Chase Family and all of their drama. They are a family that believes that money can fix everything. Leigh is my favorite because she is the most grounded. Michael is very cut throat, while Carter is named perfectly - the reluctant gentleman. Halley is a spoiled brat and Steven and Janet Chase fuel all of this in their children. I recommend not only reading this page turner, but reading the sequels as well (Never Enough, No More Good, A Price to Pay, and Gone Too Far). You'll thank me later!

I had actually read the 2nd book in the series first, not knowing this was a series. Once I realized this was a series I immediately ordered the 1st book and discovered there were two additional books out there and ordered those. I can't get enough of the Chase family. The books are very well written and the plots are unbelievable. I'm currently reading the 4th book and I look forward to reading more books wrtten by Angela Winters.

Oh my God this book is so good. I have read all four books and i can hardly wait on the next one. This has to be a continuity series......I just can't see it ending......I hope I get to meet the author one day.....talk about getting my reading in ....i'm finishing a book a day.....please write faster, lol....A Price to Pay (View Park Novels)

This book started out slow for me. After finally reading for a bit, it was hard to put down. There was a lull at times while reading, but it didn't make me not want to finish it and I really enjoyed it. The end came so quick and I was disappointed that I have to read a sequel.