4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fizzle Fall Femme Fatale, October 12, 2004
This review is from: Whatever Lola Wants (Mass Market Paperback)
Although summer is officially over Niqui Stanhope delivers a sizzling summer farewell with her second novel Whatever Lola Wants. Lola St. James has worked too long and hard in her career to settle for just any man. She wants...no...she demands only one man to relish in her property investment fortune-Chaz Kelly. Not because he's a washed up ex-NFL athlete, or he's raising his eight- year-old son Jamie alone, or the fact that he has to rob Peter to pay Paul to get by, but because he is the one man that befriend her before she became DC's version of Donald Trump when she was poor, plump Sadie Green. Kelly, her unrequited high school crush, is now vulnerable enough to become her man: she rich, and surgically altered enough to turn his head. Does she does she do it? Does Lola get what she wants? Or does it backfire in her face when Kelly's girlfriend finds out who Lola really is?
This book has great premise and enough bite to motivate my attention. However, Stanhope's methods proved to doom what could have been a surefire page-turner. Lola's actions, although justified, are too far fetched for me to believe that a woman of that caliber would stoop to stereotypical and demeaning ways to get a man, who was drawn to her from the beginning. She resorts to blackmail, unscrupulous business calls, and a sexual proposition between Chaz that devalued all that she had worked so hard to become. How could she succumb to such low measures for the sake of love concerned me? What kind of message is Stanhope sending to successful women? In order for them to catch a good man they have to corrupt themselves? Can love really exist when lies and deceit founded the union?
Moreover, the ending dissatisfied me. Out of all the tricks and stunts Lola pulled to get Chaz, there should have been more conflict and more stakes rose, to build a stronger ending. It seemed as if Lola wore Stanhope down. She ended the story just like Lola wanted- shallow and trite.
Likewise, Stanhope jumps in and out of her characters heads without giving you room to take a breath or realize that Lola isn't talking anymore, Chaz is.
Nonetheless, this second novel has some great points. The sex scenes between Lola and Chaz are well thought out and unique enough to try on your own spouse. Stanhope strong writing style sets her book apart from others that tried to tackle femme fatales as main characters and I loved the fact that her subplot directly related to the main plot. Having such a strong focus saved this novel.
Dee Y. Stewart
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
SSSteaming Hot!!!, September 1, 2004
This review is from: Whatever Lola Wants (Mass Market Paperback)
This latest book by Niqui Stanhope is well worth the wait! It's got some scenes that will burn a hole in the pages of the book. And, the little boy and housekeeper are so funny! Read the book, you'll see what I mean. Bottom line. Buy the book! It'll keep you up all night! Lola is a true WOMAN!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lola Gets, November 4, 2004
This review is from: Whatever Lola Wants (Mass Market Paperback)
Were you the ugly duckling in school? Did you ever long for the handsome, popular boy, but he didn't know you existed? This was Sadie Green's high school experience. She always lost out to the prettier, more popular girls and this has left a bitter taste in her mouth.
What takes away the hurt and pain of a bad experience? Revenge. And that's what Sadie has instore for the man who broke her heart. She is no longer the ugly duckling, and with a new look she also has a new name. She is now Lola St. James, a powerful businesswoman who gets whatever she wants. And what Lola wants is to conquer the man who has caused her so much pain.
Chaz Kelly, a former NFL star is down on his luck. He's struggling to maintain his landscape business and raise a mischievous 10-year-old son alone. When Lola offers him the opportunity of a lifetime he jumps at it. But yet Chaz cannot see the forest for the trees; he doesn't realize he's stepping into a lions den and his life will never be the same.
WHATEVER LOLA WANTS will have you riveted from beginning to end. Lola and her outrageous attempts to control people are endearing and a little scary. Author Niqui Stanhope has sent a very powerful message to readers, that what's inside your heart is important and that outward appearances can always be changed. She has presented characters readers will care about and will want to be together. This is my first Niqui Stanhope read but it won't be my last.
Reviewed by Simone Hawks
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
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