Review: Pros and Cons (Far more cons than pros)
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 11 28, 2013
I do not hate this book, but I dislike it - and there are several reasons why.Pros:Captivating plot (at first)Realistic dialogue (to a degree)Cons:#1 The author Ms. Tiece D. Mickens's clearly as a set vision of beauty. The main character wears her hair natural, yet her glamorous transformation comes when she puts a relaxer in it. I have been natural for 3 years now and I was very much offended that she would have the main character go into a salon as an "ugly" duckling, meaning her hair was in its natural state, and come out beautiful, meaning she slapped on some chemicals to strip her hair. This pissed me off.#2 The romantic male lead (supposedly a future doctor but clearly not) disliked her friend Sheila because wasn't "real" BECAUSE Sheila "talked all proper and shit." Sheila didn't use as much slang as anyone else in the book, so that makes her fake? Sheila was fake as hell, but not because of the way she spoke. That irritated the hell out of me, especially because I am a college educated woman, thus I do not speak like most other people white, black, Asian, Hispanic, etc.#3 The romantic male lead wanted to be in a relationship with the main character in the end, yet Scarlett (our protagonist) couldn't let go of her sugar daddy, so they opted for an open relationship. I wonder why the author even included this. He was ready to commit, but it was obvious she did not want to settle down. I know that I have no place to judge, but Scarlett is a prostitute because of that. Yes it is only for one man but she is literally sleeping with her sugar daddy so that he gives her things and keeps the money flowing. That's not healthy and it damn sure isn't safe.#4 Her brother's relationship was dumb as hell. He CHEATED on his girlfriend and then she comes to him and says that she wants to have sex with him? This girl has to be smarter than that. If all it took was some horniness to make him cheat then it is clear what he wanted from her in the beginning of the relationship. Yet the author condones it... No, the author practically promotes it.#5 The romantic male lead is supposed to become a doctor but he still talks as if he's in high school. He's going to be a doctor and talk to his patients like that? At least the author could have given us an example of how he is professionally. Honestly that whole "he's going to be a doctor" thing is so blatantly for show, it's hilarious.Overall, this novel had me going to a degree but it lacks passion. I do not like urban novels because of this reason. I looked for a good African American romance and this one had promise, but it was much too offensive for me as a black, natural, educated woman. Don't get me wrong, I hate the goody-two-shoes Tyler Perry romantic-type books where everyone is perfect, but this is worse. Is this all we have to look forward to in an African American romance? Middle-class cheesy love or smutty urban romance?