Tag: Romance

Moving Forward in Reverse by S.D. Lewis

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Publisher/Date:  AuthorHouse, Oct. 2004
Genre:  Romance
Pages:  432

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Just when you think everything is going right in your life, something happens to turn your world on its axis.

This is never more evident than in MOVING FORWARD IN REVERSE, S. D. Lewis’ sequel to Changes, the novel that followed sistahs in the life Lelani, Jasmine and Moe. The ladies and stud are back, but this time things have truly changed.

The story begins on what’s supposed to be Lelani’s wedding day. She was to get married to L. D., but instead leaves her at the altar. Lelani’s not sure she loves L. D. anymore. Evidently, her mind can’t get past Moe and the night they spent together recently.

But Jasmine and Moe are still going strong, resolving their issues and making it work. Jazz is well aware that Moe used to be a playa, but it still intimidates her. She feels as if she has to compete with other women for Moe’s attention. It’s only a matter of time before she lets that insecurity break up the good thing she has with Moe.

And now that Moe’s a bachelor again, she’s on the prowl. She and the dumped L. D. spend their time gaming hoes and hitting the club. Despite how much Moe tries to shake her off, her heart still remains with Jazz.

Complicating things are the new characters that enter the women’s lives. Lelani begins dating someone new, a shady stud named Kylee. Moe is happy about her surprise visitor–her brother, David, whom she hasn’t seen in years. And Jazz meets someone who might just take her mind off Moe.

These women all made some serious mistakes in Moving Forward. It seemed like they had finally gotten their lives together, only to unravel them with their insecurities. Lelani is still as naive as ever, a woman who’s book smart but totally dumb when it comes to relationships. She flops from L. D. to Moe to Kylee. Jasmine’s no better, sleeping with others when she knows Moe is the one. And Moe just returns to her wicked ways even though it hurt her to be without Jazz and her daughter Rikeena. For all the growth the characters made, they regressed in others.

Lewis has a knack for crafting characters that are flawed and real, but Moving Forward wasn’t as good as Changes, the novel that introduced the tantalizing trio. There were just too many characters floating around to keep up with. Plot twists that were introduced were dropped or not fleshed out.

However I’m still looking forward to Lewis’ follow-up book, as the ending to this novel kept me wondering what the next installment has in store for them.

Reviewed September 2005

Fire & Brimstone by Laurinda D. Brown

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Publisher/Date:  Strebor Books, March 2004
Genre(s):  Contemporary Romance, Religious
Pages:  240
Website:  http://www.ldbrownbooks.com

Rating: ★★★★½ 

FIRE & BRIMSTONE is the tragic story of Chris and Gayle, two “bag ladies” carrying heavy sacks of unresolved issues.

In the beginning, there is Chris, an intelligent woman with two degrees – in English literature and French – from Howard University. Just as she was set to take the world by storm, she becomes pregnant. While waiting for boyfriend Trey to grow up and become a man, she moves home to Memphis to raise her daughter. Chris thinks it’s only a matter of time before he proposes and she has the perfect life: a doting husband and father (unlike her own deadbeat dad) and a beautiful baby. It doesn’t quite work out that way, and Chris begins to explore an attraction for women she’s harbored for years.

Chris first begins seeing Carol, a white-trash woman with a penchant for dark meat on the side. While that ends sourly, Chris meets Gayle.

Gayle is a story and a half. She’s got some deep-seated issues from her childhood. Totally opposite from Chris, Gayle is impressed because Chris is unlike anyone she’s ever dated. Never has she been with a college graduate or a woman so confident. It boosts Gayle’s morale, especially since she’s been in and out of trouble with the law and acts as if the world owes her something.

They begin dating seriously, and everything is cool at first. Gayle moves in quickly with Chris and her daughter, getting to know each other but not knowing the real story behind their facades.

Then things turn ugly. Really ugly. So much drama transpires in the novel from this point. Gayle began stealing from her job in order to get the things she thinks Chris deserves. When both ladies get caught up in unwise schemes, Chris finally realizes who Gayle really is, and the women twist in and out of each other’s lives like a tornado, leaving one another destroyed in the wreckage.

As the title Fire & Brimstone suggests, religion plays a part in the women’s relationship. Gayle, the minister of music at her church, spends a lot of time in the Lord’s house and moving the masses with her heavenly voice. What bothers Chris is that Gayle can run up and down the aisles on Sunday, then raise hell throughout the week. Not one for attending church, Chris doesn’t understand what religion is about. It’s only when the unexpected happens that she figures out what God’s been trying to tell her – Gayle’s not the one.

The message of the dramatic story is one of redemption. Both women had to be freed from the shackles of their pasts in order to claim their future. Whether homosexuality is acceptable is not the crux of the novel, but about accepting oneself.

Brown’s Fire and Brimstone reveals heart and soul, and the wayward routes we take to salvation.

Reviewed September 2005

Changes by S. D. Lewis (Aug. 2005 Pick of the Month)

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Publisher/Date:  AuthorHouse, Aug. 2003
Genre:  Romance
Pages:  268

Rating: 4 out of 5

CHANGES is the revolving story of 20-somethings Lelani, Jasmine and Moe, players in the game of love–all at different skill levels.

Lelani is the rookie, a mere virgin to both love and sex. Best friend Jasmine has had her share of rocky relationships, including a strained one with her baby’s father. And Moe is the stud extraordinaire, who’s had more women than she can count (or keep up with). These unique women are looking for different things from love–until their paths cross in several different and dramatic ways.

Jasmine, who says she’s bisexual, begins a sensual flirtation with Moe, who regularly visits Jasmine’s self-owned salon to deliver FedEx packages or to get her hair hooked up. They have a great first date, and although Moe believes Jasmine could be “the one” to make her give up the game, Moe still can’t let go of her wicked ways.

Meanwhile, Lelani is looking for “the one” herself. She thinks she may have found it in L.D., Moe’s best friend. The pair meet one day when Lelani is distraught and strike up a quick friendship that gradually turns into something more. But all the romantic dinners and picnics in the park dissolve after Lelani asks to meet her mother; L. D. simply can’t take it there because of the ex who still has a piece of her heart.

This is when the drama erupts. There’s a lot of back and forth, but the story ends happily, with everyone getting their relationships intact, even playa-playa Moe.

Lewis has created a credible plot in Changes that keeps you riveted. She manages to give each woman a distinctive voice, as each woman has her own story to tell and changes to make.

Reviewed August 2005

Considering Venus by D. Gisele Isaac

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Publisher/Date:  Seaburn Publishing, June 1998
Genre(s):  Romance, Mature Lesbians
Pages:  144

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Even as the lines appear, the hair turns a little lighter and the all the children are gone, a woman still needs love.

That’s the underlying message of CONSIDERING VENUS, D. Gisele Isaac’s story of love between two middle-aged women.

Antigua-born Cass is the lesbian who falls for Lesley after they reunite at their 25-year high school reunion. Only one problem: Lesley is a straight woman recently widowed with three adult children. Seems unlikely that they’d fall in love–but they do–despite the fact that Lesley hasn’t figured out if she’s gay or straight, that she was married to a man for 23 years, and her grown children are very dependent on her.

They pursue a relationship in spite of all the barriers. Everything seems wonderful at first. Cass knows this is love, and while anxious and unsure at first, Lesley relishes their time together. That is until her children discover their affair; they selfishly scold her for becoming a “lesbian”–a badge they scorn her with like a scarlet letter–and accuse her of forgetting their father.

An interesting thing about Considering Venus is that Lesley’s sexuality is never defined. It’s just love between two women–with no barriers.

Isaac has written a lovely book, with just the right fusion of prose and poetry make it a joy to read.

Reviewed August 2005

Dancer’s Paradise by Terry B.

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Publisher/Date:  NHouse Publishing LLC, May 2004
Genre(s):  Romance, Identity
Pages:  320

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

What’s interesting about DANCER’S PARADISE is that author Terry B. fashioned the story from the lives of several real-life women.

A dancer at the Dominique St. Claire Dance Studio, Debrena Allison Allen joined the Sisters of Soul (SOS) troupe with long-time ally Lorrie Cunningham. Debrena and Lorie have been best friends since both were 10 years old, meeting at an audition held at a local recreation center. Through the years they’ve shared the love of dance and a hidden attraction. Despite Lorrie’s protests that nothing will change between them, Debrena doesn’t want to tinker with their friendship.

Debrena is a confessed bisexual (although she doesn’t care for labels) with an occasional hankering for punanny, but says she prefers men. Lorrie, who’s always been sure of her love for women, thinks Debrena is fooling herself. She tries to convince Debrena to be herself and trust the people that love her to know the truth. But it’s hard for naive Debrena to confess what’s truly in her heart, even to herself.

To prove it she becomes involved a relationship with photographer Choice Fowler. He introduces himself and they soon find themselves in a passionate relationship. She enjoys the sex, but it’s not really where her heart is. Her love is really for Lorrie though her stubbornness blinds her to it.

As an author, Terry B. wrote a captivating novel with Dancer’s Paradise. He taps into the mind of woman with such a genuine voice, and Debrena is a character that shows great emotional growth by the novel’s end.

Reviewed August 2005

Double Pleasure Double Pain by Nikki Rashan

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Publisher/Date:  Urban Books, Apr. 2008
Genre:  Romance
Pages:  288
Website:  http://www.nikkirashan.com

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Entertaining, genuine and down to earth, DOUBLE PLEASURE DOUBLE PAIN is the tale of Kyla, a 26-year-old “super-junior” at the local college who hasn’t quite got her act together. After eight years of school, she doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life, and is settling for a part-time job at a department store when she knows she could do better. And she’s somewhat content with Jeff, a “good man” who loves and supports her, while her best friends Vanessa and Tori provide her comic relief.

Then a pleasant surprise takes the form of one of her classmates. In one of Kyla’s social work classes (her umpteenth major), she meets Stephanie, with whom she has an immediate connection. They are both trying to get ahead in life and among the oldest students in the class. When Kyla discovers Stephanie is a lesbian, it surprises and fascinates her. Soon Kyla has to deal with her own blossoming attraction to a woman stirring up feelings she didn’t know she had.

Stephanie doesn’t step to Kyla at first, but let’s their friendship develop slowly. Kyla gets to know her on a personal basis, even meeting Stephanie’s nine-year-old son, Jaron. After a while, the ladies are sharing more than just classes–and Kyla doesn’t know what to do.

The rest of the novel basically deals with Kyla’s emerging sexuality and trying not to break anyone’s heart, whether it’s Stephanie, Jeff or her own. By the time she decides between her “safe” life with Jeff or the lesbian unknown, she’s gained what’s most important: the confidence to know whom she really is.

Double Pleasure Double Pain is a fast read. It’s surprising to see just how Kyla will end up. Through her inner turmoil, the reader takes a voyage with Kyla through her sexual journey–and it’s well worth the trip.

Reviewed August 2005

Say Jesus and Come to Me by Ann Allen Shockley

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sayjesusPublisher/Date:  Naiad Press, April 1987
Genre(s):  Romance, Religious, Mature Lesbians
Pages:  283

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

Lawd, have mercy! What a book!

Ann Allen Shockley’s SAY JESUS AND COME TO ME is mind boggling, to say the least.

Rev. Myrtle Black, a vivacious fiery pastor, is the star of this tempestuous tale. A traveling minister, she sets congregations ablaze with her holy word, then finds a sweet young thing to bed, and disappears almost as soon as she arrives, leaving behind no ties.

When confronted with the stodgy minister at a conservative Nashville church she was invited to, Myrtle finally lays her roots down with an idea brewing: initiate a women’s march against sexism and racism. Spurred by the assault of two local prostitutes, Myrtle quickly gets to action and calls out the male powers-that-be.

In town at the same time is Travis Lee, a famed R&B songstress taking the world by storm. After a rough night with her doggish boyfriend, Travis has her own spiritual revelation–she’s missing the Lord from her life. This leads her to the Rev. Myrtle Black. Seeking the minister’s guidance, the two women become friends and fight a growing attraction.

The novel then becomes a play-by-play of the march’s development. Myrtle finds intelligent allies for her mission, including leaders of feminist and women organizations. After a laborious planning meeting one night, Myrtle and Travis finally act on their lust for one another.

This causes chaos for both women. Myrtle, having been an emotional and physical nomad for the last several years, has to deal with finally falling in love and risking her ministry by coming out as lesbian. Travis has to face her budding spirituality, sexual identity and her adoring public.

A lot of other events ensue in Say Jesus, but the heart of this novel is Myrtle and Travis. All the rest was filler–the march, Travis’ ex, and death threats–added to the story as a backdrop to their love. Shockley’s writing was poetic at times, too wordy at others. Occasionally, you have to plow through her flowery writing, and the love scenes could have been more intense. Yet, Shockley definitely took religion to task and brings the story together, enough to make you praise and shout.

Reviewed August 2005