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Living Large (Paperback)

by Donna Hill (Author), Rochelle Alers (Author), Brenda Jackson (Author), Francis Ray (Author) "Heads turned, gazes shifted, jaws dropped, and lips parted in muted whispers as Elaine Jackson's statuesque figure moved with fluid grace, leaving trailing in her..." (more)
Key Phrases: recreational sex, Long Island, Reuben Whitfield, Dwight Stewart (more...)

4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Living Large presents four touching stories about curvaceous African American women at pivotal points in their lives--from divorce to pregnancy--and how they find new love and rediscover old passions. In Rochelle Alers' "Reunion," Elaine divorces her high-school sweetheart after 20-plus years of marriage and falls for her old chum Reuben, who has gone from class geek to gorgeous sheik. In Donna Hill's "Surprise," 52-year-old Elizabeth is surprised to find herself pregnant for the first time, and so are her husband and grown, adopted children. In Brenda Jackson's "Bare Essentials," Judge Dominique Kincaid has had a rough run at love and has sworn off men until she spots a handsome jogger who sets her pulse racing. In Francis Ray's "Strictly Business," Monica breaks up with Mr. Wrong, discovers Mr. Right living right next door, and does her best to separate business and pleasure after her father hires him. Full of humorous encounters, sweetly charming heroines, and the message that living large and loving one's self are good things, this gem of a book is sure to leave readers happy. Megan Kalan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description
A voluptuously entertaining African-American fiction anthology about women who are livin' large-and lovin' larger!

Featuring all-new novellas by:

#1 Blackboard bestselling author Rochelle Alers, "one of the top 5 most popular African-American romance writers" (Heart and Soul)

#1 Blackboard bestselling author Donna Hill, All-Time Favorite Fiction Author Award-winner (Shades of Romance)

#1 Blackboard bestselling author Brenda Jackson, winner of Viewer's Choice Best Multicultural (Romantic Times)

#1 Blackboard bestselling author, Francis Ray, whose stories "are written from the heart [and] definitely recommended."(Eric Jerome Dickey)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Signet (January 7, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451207653
ISBN-13: 978-0451207654
Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces

Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #127,669 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
#12 in Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( H ) > Hill, Donna
#20 in Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( A ) > Alers, Rochelle
#50 in Books > Romance > Contemporary > Anthologies

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
Heads turned, gazes shifted, jaws dropped, and lips parted in muted whispers as Elaine Jackson's statuesque figure moved with fluid grace, leaving trailing in her wake the subtle scent of a classic perfume. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
recreational sex

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Long Island, Reuben Whitfield, Dwight Stewart, Elaine Jackson, Judge Kincaid, New York, Clifford Jones, Royce Parker, Oyster Bay, Danah Fairchild, Meredith Endicott, New Jersey, Victoria's Secret, Cape Cod, South Carolina, The Honorable

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Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Citations (learn more)

This book cites 3 books:

About the Authors: Writing Workshop with Our Youngest Writers by Lisa Cleaveland in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
Careless Whispers (Indigo Love Story) (Indigo: Sensuous Love Stories) by Rochelle Alers in Back Matter
The Turning Point by Francis Ray in Back Matter

9 books cite this book:

A Whole Lotta Love by Francis Ray in Front Matter, and Back Matter
Living Large: How to Live Well--Even on a Little (Lifestyle Guide for Christians) by J. Raymond Albrektson in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
Big Girls Don't Cry (Living Large) by Donna Hill in Front Matter, and Back Matter
The Real Estate Agent's Action Guide to Listing and Sales Success by Kaplan Real Estate Education on page 135
Money-Savvy Kids: Parenting Penny-Wise Kids in a Money-Hungry World by J. Raymond Albrektson in Back Matter

See all 9 books citing this book

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	38% buy the item featured on this page: Living Large 4.0 out of 5 stars (22)
	27% buy Big Girls Don't Cry (Living Large) 3.8 out of 5 stars (12)
	15% buy A Whole Lotta Love 4.5 out of 5 stars (11)
	11% buy Temperatures Rising (Kimani Romance) 3.8 out of 5 stars (9) $5.99

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Customer Reviews

22 Reviews

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.0 out of 5 stars (22 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ego booster for the beautiful plus size women ...., January 23, 2003

By	Ms. O "landa324" (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

Let me say off the bat, I am not a romance novel reader. For whatever reason, they aren't my type of reading; but, I don't knock those who do. My joy is seeing people read ... period.

I picked up LIVING LARGE because of its unique theme that the main female characters in each story were plus size. This book is complied of short stories written by some of the busiest black authors in the romance field. While I won't go and give a descriptive synopsis for each story, I will say that I found something positive in each one.

If I had to choose a story as a stand out it would be STRICTLY BUSINESS by Francis Ray. Her writing is crisp, clear, and concise. I related to the main character and found her to be approachable and realistic. Coupled with the fact that to me she was the one, out of all of the main characters in the stories, who most fit the description of a full figure person. Being an avid reader, so often you get a little tired of the main characters being "perfect" in all different ways. So it was refreshing to see the stories written from a different angle.

I can only hope that this is the beginning of a trend, where the main characters represent the many different makeup of people .... Pus size, small, corporate, blue collar, etc.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars entertaining anthology, January 18, 2003

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

"Reunion" by Rochelle Alers. After over two decades of marriage, her husband Dwight left her for a younger much thinner model. Though Dwight is just about the only man she ever seen having dated him in high school, real estate mogul Elaine feels surprisingly free especially after seeing scientist Ruben, home for the high school reunion.

"Surprise" by Donna Hill. She is fifty. Her husband of thirty years is fifty-five. They raised two children, both adopted. She has a grandchild. So how will the family cope with her being pregnant when she struggles with acceptance of this miracle?

"Bare Essentials" by Brenda Jackson. Dominique and the hunk first see one another while both jogged at o'dark in Simon Park. Each is attracted to the other, but he practices law at the court in which she sits on the bench as a judge.

"Strictly Business" by Francis Ray. Garret watches Monica dump her cheating boyfriend while wishing she were his. He gets a chance when her father assigns her to work with him on a project, but Monica demands their relationship remain strictly business.

All four tales in this delightful collection star strong protagonists who make for an entertaining anthology. Fans of contemporary romances except Twiggy clones will enjoy each contribution in which the road to love is filled with detours especially when the full size female characters fear the hunks will philander with thinner women.

Harriet Klausner

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really enjoyed this collection of stories!!! , October 27, 2004

By	S. M. Anderson "sma331" (Lithia Springs, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The main reason I picked up this book was because three of my favorite authors were in it. Rochelle Alers, Donna Hill and Brenda Jackson. Having these three authors in one book is such a delightful treat. Living Large is a collection of four short stories about full figured women who not only exemplify sexiness, but these sisters are intelligent and very loving.

Reunion - Rochelle Alers (Rating of 5)

Reunion finds Elaine Jackson Stewart meeting up with an old friend, Reuben Whitfield. Reuben was the school nerd nick named "The Scientist" who grew up to be a very handsome successful dentist. A man who is sparking flames in Elaine she thought was long put out. Reuben has always loved Elaine because she was always so nice to him. Now that she is divorced from her college sweetheart he wants to let his old friend know how he feels and hopes she will open her heart to feel the same.

My favorite part of the story was when Dwight, Elaines ex wants to get back into Elaine's life. When Elaine shows him what he will never get again all I could do was shout "You go girl!!!!"

Surprise - Donna Hill (Rating of 5)

Elizabeth has returned from a two week spa trip to put the spark back in her marriage. The surprise she has will change their lives forever and is very unexpected. This story is really sweet. The way her husband dots all over Elizabeth is wonderful, but at first I was very angry at his initial response. When I thought about it I had to realize that it was a shock, so his reaction is not too far fetched. During the exchange between Elizabeth and her adopted daughter I had actual tears in my eyes. It was also nice to see an older couple still living life to the fullest and so very much in love. I hope when I'm in my 50's I'm that lucky to still be very much in love, minus the surprise of course. This story was very sweet and very touching.

Brenda Jackson - Bare Essentials (Rating of 5)

Brenda Jackson has yet to disappoint, and let me tell you this story is hot, hot, hot, and did I mention this story is hot!! Judge Dominique catches the eye of la handsome lawyer. Feelings she thought long gone have come back to turn her life into a tail spin, and she goes out of her way to avoid this handsome gentleman. Jordan wants to see her again, and when he realizes she is a judge for a case he is looking into he sees that as his chance to approach her and let her know he is very interested in her. The thing is he vowed never to get involve with someone he works in law, but he finds himself drawn to Dominique.

The love scenes in this story had me screaming "Order in the court!!!" I would not mind having a personal training session like this one!!! This story was very nice, and was very sensual. When it comes to a Brenda Jackson story, you know it will be awesome.

Strictly Business - Francis Ray (Rating of 2)
Monica Jones works at her fathers firm, and just broke up with her untrusting boyfriend when she caught him with another woman. Monica has decided no more business mixed with pleasure and is concentration on her career and her upcoming trip to Rome. Enter Garret McKnight. What he wants, he gets, and he wants Monica. He has to convince Monica that he is action and not just full of talk. Monica wants to keep their relationship strictly business. Her sorry ex keeps trying to get back into Monica's life and it takes Garret to tell Bryn to step off!!! This was my least favorite story. With Francis Ray her stories are hit or miss, and I don't like a lot of her stories. This is the only story I won't be reading again.

The stories by Rochelle, Brenda and Donna are simply awesome. You have characters who are various age ranges, all the women are successful professional women, and all of the women work out which is excellent. You even have one character who is a virgin, which I know many people won't believe, but they do exist. This is a book I will read over and over again with the exception of Francis Ray's story. This book is worth owning and adding to your personal book collection. I gave the book a rating of 4 only because I gave Francis story a 2 rating. The other stories I rate a 5.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars bare essentials
to anyone that is a brenda jackson fan.bare essentials is off the chain
is was good from the moment i started reading,i did not want to put it down. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Joyce Mathis

4.0 out of 5 stars "My Sistas You Got It Going On"
Let's see, of all the stories in this anthology/novella, Rochelle Alers' "Reunion" is the one I liked the most followed by Donna Hill's "Surprise", Francis Ray's "Strictly... Read more

Published 24 months ago by L. D. Brown

3.0 out of 5 stars Big, Bold, and Beautiful
Living Large is the first of three anthologies dedicated to and focused on the joys and passions of plus sized women. Read more

Published on July 29, 2005 by D. Dalton

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected
I am not a big fan of the whole "novellas" format, but since I'm working my way through all of Brenda Jackson's books, I got this one. Read more

Published on July 19, 2005 by Sunnie B.

3.0 out of 5 stars Didn't live up to the title
I am totally agreeable that larger sized women are sexy and very romantic. So, I was excited to see this book on the library's shelf. Read more

Published on September 1, 2004 by E. A Gallaher

5.0 out of 5 stars QUICK SUMMER READ
This novella is beautiful. It's about time someone shows that full-size women are sexual, romantic and lovable. Read more

Published on June 17, 2004

3.0 out of 5 stars If you are in to romance.....
If you are in to strictly romance with no reality this is the book for you.

Rochelle Alers, Donna Hill, Brenda Jackson and Francis Ray are all talented and successful authors,... Read more

Published on February 9, 2004 by Boop

4.0 out of 5 stars Beyond the numbers.
LIVING LARGE is a collection of four novellas about full figure
women who exemplify that sexy is defined by more than the numbers. Read more

Published on January 17, 2004 by The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific
"Reunion" by Rochelle Alers. After over two decades of marriage, her husband Dwight left her for a younger much thinner model. Read more

Published on January 7, 2004 by Harriet Klausner

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS BOOK IS MUST READ
I READ THIS BOOK IN ONE SITTING BUT I NORMALLY READ HER BOOKS IN ONE SITTING.ALL THE STORIES WERE VERY GOOD AND YOU NORMALLY DO NOT HEAR THAT WITH ANTHOLOGIES. Read more

Published on October 12, 2003 by SHMII DURDEN

› See all 22 customer reviews...

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