Product Description
"This anthology features the qualities that distinguish [the authors'] best writing-enduring characters, touching story lines and new insight into the world of love." (Ebony)

"Gratifying [and] sexy." (USA Today)

"Groundbreaking...Succeeds on a grand scale." (Publishers Weekly) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (129)

Not the best
The consensus is of the reviewers is correct....EJD?This wasn't his best work.As a matter of fact, I think it was his worst.Major?He hit it out of the park with the Amir and Kenya storyline.EXCELLENT!!!Harris?His story was fair.Colin?Stopped reading after about 20 pages.I couldn't grasp what was going on and the storyline was all over the place....Just awful!

One story actually lives up to the title!
While the short stories by E. Lynn Harris and Eric Jerome Dickey are interesting and indicative of the authors' places at the top of the best-selling lists, Marcus Major's "Kenya and Amir" is, by far the best of the lot.

Beginning at the breakup of a relationship, the story then flashbacks to the beginnings of the love affair and the ultimate rift that tears apart the bond between the title characters.Major has an understanding of men and women that is evident in his writing and has crafted a tale that appeals to both sexes.

With believable situations/characters and sharp dialogue, he, most definitely, keeps it real.

By the way, I just couldn't finish Colin Channer's sleep-inducing "I'm Still Waiting".

One story in this whole books is really good.
Eric Jerome Dickey - Cafe Piel
Marcus Major - Kenya and Amir
E. Lynn Harris - Money Can't buy me love
Colin Channer - I'm still waiting

I saw the reviews for this book, and seeing so many who thought this book was worthy of a 4 or 5 rating, I thought I would enjoy this book.I was very, very, very, very disappointed, and this book is not as great as a lot of the reviews state.The only story I really enjoyed was Marcus Major's story.This was the best story in the book.I laughed a lot while reading this story, but this story felt real.It's something I've been through.I know exactly what Kenya's character was feeling "guard your heart".Kenya is the type of woman who guarded her heart, and when she allowed herself to open up and allow Amir in, and when he hurt her she was ready (even though she loved him) to keep him out of her life.Amir's mother is a wise, wise woman, and her suggestions to him really made Amir think.Kenya and Amir is the only story out of the four I enjoyed.The stories love scenes were great, I think it's really wonderful to read the male point of view regarding sexuality.This story alone I give a 5 stars.

I did not like Eric Jerome Dickey's story at all.The story is about Bobby who is a freelance photographer going in search of another man for thousands of dollars he is owed, and he ends up in Mexico.While there he ends up falling for Alejandria, who for some reason is dating the very sleeze bag that Bobby is looking for.The story is about forbidden love, but it was slow, and very, very dull.This story was so slow paced and uninteresting, it took me 5 long days to read it.This story lacked substance, and I had to really struggle to finish, and by the end of the story I almost put the book down.The best part of the story was the end of the story.I gave Eric's story 1 star.

The last story in this book is by Colin Channer and I just couldn't get in to this story. I really, really tried to give the story a chance, but I gave up and stopped reading the story.I seriously doubt I will attempt to read a book by Mr. Channer in the future.Being that you can't give zero ratings, I will be giving Mr. Channer a 1 rating.

E. Lynn Harris is an okay author.I've read some of his work, but for me this was not a story I could relate to totally.James is a man looking for a love all of his own, and one of his friends hooks him up with an escort of sorts, and he finds himself drawn to this man.The story is about accepting a person for who he is, who he was, and who he will become.However, the story did keep my interest, so I gave that story a 1 rating.

The average rating for this book will be a 2 being that three of the stories received a rating of 1 for me.I will be donating my copy of this book to my local library.This book is not worth keeping my collection for just one story. Even though it's a good story, this book is still not worth keeping.I would not recommend this book to be purchased.If you have a friend who owns this book or can get it from your local library I suggest borrowing this book.

Still a Memorable Experience
I received this book in 2000 as a gift, and the story that still stands out in my mind is "Amil & Kenya" by Marcus Major. I was ending a difficult relationship in my life, and the words of this particular short story were very theraputic at that point in my life. The perspective and advice delivered by Amil's mother was priceless. This story was the show stealer of the entire book. I definitley think it says something when you can recall the details and emotion of a story after owning the work for 4 years.

I was not impressed by Eric Jerome Dickey's short story. There were quite a few grammatical errors, and the story was rather slow and left much to the imagination. E. Lynn Harris' segment was not as easy to relate to given the sexual orientation of his characters, but it was still a good read. I don't recall the details of the work of the fourth author.

I think this book is worth the money, especially if you are not familiar with any of these authors. I think it is a good way to give you an idea of each writer's individual style. I am definitely a new Marcus Major fan because of this book.

Let's Be Real!!
I had to give this book only three stars because it wasn't really what I expected. I don't really like ERIC JEROME DICKEY'S writing but I thought he did a good job with this one. I have to say that it was a little slow at first but it picked up and turned out to be pretty good. The stories by E. LYNN HARRIS and MARCUS MAJOR were absolute page turners! I didn't want themto end!!! On the other hand, it took me forever to read COLIN CHANNER'S story! It wasn't my idea of a love story and it was poorly written. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Please
I sent this book to a friend of my in prison and it got there in fine condition and good time.I was very pleased. ... Read more

Product Description
12 original stories of memory, love, pride, and family...

In this exquisite companion to the cherished Signet gift editions of Mothers & Daughters and Fathers & Daughters, twelve of today's greatest writers bring to life the special familial bond between a mother and son. Stories include tales of humor and heartbreak, devotion and daring, and the true meaning of selfless love. Enhancing the magic of the written word in this beautiful volume are the authors' personal, rare, and intimate family photos.

Mother & Sons features memoirs and stories by Lawrence Block, Eric Jerome Dickey, Eileen Dreyer, Diana Gabaldon, Eileen Goudge, Stuart M. Kaminski, Faye Kellerman, Joe R. Lansdale, Marcus Major, Maxine O'Callaghan, Marilyn Reynolds and Peter Straub.

Acclaim for Mothers & Daughters:
"Splendid...charming...a sweet, often provocative book."--Good Housekeeping

"Poignant tales that celebrate the love and bonds between mothers and daughters."--Publishers Weekly ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Gabaldon story was great
I'd read the older Mothers & Daughters, which is more lighthearted, and expected Mothers & Sons to be the same. Of the 12 stories, I truly enjoyed only three: the ones by Diana Gabaldon and her son Sam, Eric Jerome Dickey, and Eileen Goudge. There were a lot of reminisces of actual writers' lives in this book, versus pure fiction or fictionalised writing in Mothers & Daughters, and I didn't actually want to read about that.

Then again, the anthologies may have been different because there is truly a difference in the way mothers treat daughters and sons, and also the way that male authors write, so I really shouldn't complain. But I'd hoped to enjoy all the stories, as I did with Mothers & Daughters..oh well! Something tells me I'll prefer Fathers & Daughters (this was advertised in this book) to the Fathers & Sons anthology, if it exists.

"Looking after Lulu" by Eileen Goudge starts off the volume with young Eric rebelling against his mother just after the divorce and they've all moved cities so she can find work elsewhere. Mom finally realises that Eric is just bowed down by the added responsibility of having to be the man of the house, and while the ending is bittersweet, it's a real life look at how people have to cope in broken families.

Eric Jerome Dickey's "Fish Sammich with Cheese" is about a little boy who lives with foster parents, and how his birth mother comes one day to pick him up in what she figures is going to be a get-rich scheme. Parental irresponsibility figures highly in this story, and how the child gets back to his foster parents is heartwarming.

Diana Gabaldon's "Mirror Image" has got to be the best story in the collection. Set in a fantasy world, this whodunnit involves royalty, twin brothers, and convoluted family relationships. This book should be read for this story alone.

"Finding Rose" by Maxine O'Callaghan isn't among the stories I liked, but is still acknowledged as a good story. Sean's father is rapidly going senile and has his stepmother to look after him, but Sean still wonders about why his own mother abandoned him when he was five. He finally decides to look for her, and while he doesn't get definite answers, he gets enough of one to realise that she probably never did abandon him after all.

Eileen Dryer's "Variations on a theme" is an equally good story. She writes about her changing relationship with her son from babyhood up till the time he gets married, and how the phrase "I love you" can mean so many different things over the years.

The other stories are probably best read if you're interested in the authors' lives. I wanted a bit more distance away from real life and was only able to get it with fewer than half of the stories from this book.

Another Diana Gabaldon read
I bought this book specifically to read the D. Gabaldon chapter, but found that I enjoyed the entire book.The chapter Diana Gabaldon wrote with her son was a very enjoyable short story.I would recommend this book as a light read - especially for women with sons.

Diana Gabaldon's early work
I bought the book specifically to read the Diana Gabaldon chapter, but have found that I have enjoyed the entire book.I would recommend it for light reading, especially to women with sons.

Mothers & Sons: A few gems among the gravel.
This is not a "best of mothers and sons stories" anthology.It is a somewhat haphazard collection of stories written by mothers and sons for this compilation.Nowhere is it noted which stories are fiction and which are fact.The reader can get through a whole story which reads likea memoir, only to find out at the very end that it was fiction.Veryconfusing.The introduction by Jill Morgan is just another sentimental odeto the writer's own sons, giving little clue as to what is contained in thebook.

There are a few gems amid the gravel however, including onediamond: Eric Jerome Dickey's "Fish Sammich with Cheese," a truetale about the author as a five-year-old.Taken from his loving fosterfamily by his disturbed biological mother on the pretense of getting a fish"sammich", it is a poignant and brilliantly written story of abrave child's struggle to find his way back home.

The photographs whichaccompany each story are a nice touch, putting a personal face on thestories.But again, they add to the confusion as to which stories arememoir and which are fiction: are the mother and son pictured the ones thatthe story is about, or not?

Some of the stories end with an"afterward" from the author and some do not.There arebiographical notes on the authors at the back of the book.Overall, thereare some good tales in here, but better organization of the material wouldhave made for a much more enjoyable read. ... Read more

Product Description
Singer Kia Haughton and rapper David Green can t believe there good fortune when they are assigned to work on a song together. The two were best friends as children and despite being separated as adults neither has been closer to another. David accepts Kia s offer to stay with her while in town and all is perfect until they both begin to develop more than just a friendly love for the other. Both Kia and David struggle against their feelings only to succumb to the inevitable. A night together in Kia s bed and both are sure that in the other the perfect mate was found. A misunderstanding soon follows that not only destroys their budding love affair but threatens to end their friendship altogether. The next few years bring many twists for the two, including marriage by David to another and a terrible secret from Kia. Through it all, neither stopped longing for the other. Will fate smile on these friends and lovers and allow them to find their way back to each other or is the love they shared gone and lost forever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Can't wait for aprt two
This book was one of the best I've read in awhile, Its starts off with chilhood friends David and Kia running into each other after years apart.The chemistry between the two characters is like no other, I don't want to give the book away but it is a must read. There was every thing from mouth watering sex to moments where you wanted to hurt somone. A book hasn't made me cry in awhile but this one took me there...I can't wait till part two comes out.

Jumbled
CROSS MY HEART tells the story of best friends Kia Haughton and David Green, who've lost touch with one another, reconnecting as each is now pursuing careers in the music industry.The opportunity to record together leads to sudden feelings coming to the surface.For Kia, David has only been like a brother, though she can't deny that he's looking better and more buffed than ever.For David, even as kids, he crushed on Kia.He's always known that she wasn't into relationships, and feared that she wasn't into him.In need of a place to crash, Kia immediately opens her doors.Will living under the same roof help them to finally take it to the next stage?Or is this a solo act?

Struggling with emotions, fame, fortune and the stress of it all leads to a mix-up that blows way up and costs the two best friends dearly.It's been an entire year, and the two have managed to avoid one another.No longer able to deny it, Kia and David reconcile, but David is no longer on the available list.Will his upcoming nuptials be enough to deter the connection that these two share?Or is fate stronger?

CROSS MY HEART was a tolerable read.Riddled with errors, I liked the premise of the boy best friend being the one with the longing crush; I felt that the story line itself was a little too unbelievable and lagged tremendously as four years passed with barely a mention.This reader would like to see newcomer Anjel work a little harder on her deliverance of the story.

Reviewed by: Crystal
3.5 stars

Cross My Heart by Anjel: A PeoplewholoveGoodBooks Review
Kia Haughton is an aspiring singer who is shocked and surprised when the rapper, she is assigned to work with is none other than her childhood friend David Green.Despite having gone their separate ways as adults, they are thrilled to see each other and soon pick up where they left off.David accepts when Kia offers to let him stay with her and soon David can't help but notice that "Chunky" is all grown upnow and is no longer the chunky little girl he used to know.Kia and David find themselves fighting their attraction and soon they give in to a night of passion.A misunderstanding follows and not only is the relationship over before it starts but the friendship also appears to be over.Soon Kia and David move on and David winds up married but a few chance encounters between Kia and David lead them to realize that they are meant for each other.However, Kia is hiding a BIG secret and when David finally finds out, will it bring them together or drive them further apart?Cross My Heart by Anjel is a sweet, romantic story that will make you believe in the concept of true love. Reviewed by Shay C of PeoplewholoveGoodBooks

Friends Make the Best Lovers
Cross My Heart by Anjel takes a look into the lives of David and Kia.They have been friends since birth.David lives in New York and Kia lives in California.David and his manager, Kareem, fly out to California to record a song with an unknown R&B singer.When he arrives at the studio and realizes that the person he is going to work with is his good friend Kia, he is extremely happy.She offers to let him stay at her condo while he is in town.While he is staying with her, they realize that they have feelings for each other that they never had a chance to explore.When they get the opportunity to explore those feeling, they have a misunderstanding.Both are very hurt by this and part ways.Will their friendship be able to survive the miscommunication?

This book is told in alternating voices of David and Kia.It gives the reader an opportunity to see the events through their perspectives.It allows you to see how each person views certain situations and how easily a misunderstanding can happen when there is a breakdown in communication.

It is very easy to get caught up in the characters' lives as they deal with family and friends.The story held my interest from beginning to end.What I loved most is how the author showed that there are two sides to every story.At times the story feels a bit rushed, but it did not take away from the experience.I cannot wait for the sequel to find out what happens to everyone involved.

Reviewed by Shavon Williams
APOOO BookClub

Hopeless romance....
Cross My Heart by Anjel was a phenomenal debut!Singer Kia Haughton and rapper David Green have been friends since they were kids.Though Kia was overweight as a teenager, David was protective of her and secretly admired her from the sidelines.However, neither crossed the line of their friendship.After being separated as adults, David is assigned to rap on a song with Kia and they are thrust back into each other's worlds. Except this time it is different.Kia has shaped up to be a sexy 21-year-old vixen and David is as fine as ever.Can they both hold back feelings that have lied dormant for far too long?

A night in Kia's bed changes it all, but the two will have nothing close to a fairytale ending. A misunderstanding...a marriage to another woman...an unexpected package. This love affair will keep the pages turning and the sheets warm.

I read the book in 2 days, could have been 1 if I didn't have to work and sleep. I highly recommend Cross My Heart by Anjel as some great leisure reading for the relationship drama lovers and hopeless romantics.

Reviewed by Shani Greene-Dowdell - www.shanibooks.com
... Read more

Product Description
Griots Beneath the Baobab, the latest anthology published by International Black Writers and Artists of Los Angeles (IBWA-LA), honors the creative spirit of some of America's most insightful griots—by way of L.A. Griots features powerful stories by noted, award-winning, and best-selling writers Donald Bakeer, Octavia E. Butler, Wanda Coleman, Stanley Crouch, Eric Jerome Dickey, Sikivu Hutchinson, Silas Jones, Erin Aubry Kaplan, Gary Phillips, Randy Ross, Jervey Tervalon, and Ellery Washington, C. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

griots beneath the baobab-tales from los angeles
More, more, more.This book brought back many memories for me.
Thank you.

PRESENCE
Griots beneath the baobab offers lessons about humanity or the lack of it with a collective embrace.

Skillful writing reveals characters held in the moment, and each scenario hits the mark exposing love, turmoil and forgiveness. These tales are consuming and energizing. ... Read more

Product Description
A twisted soul is killing young African-American professionals in Baltimore and reporter Darryl Billups returns to his investigative background to cover the story and in the process he unwittingly places himself within the killer's deadly orbit. (approximate length: 6 hours, 4 cassettes)Amazon.com Review
Darryl Billups calls Baltimore "the world's biggest country town," and he'sdrawn to it like a magnet. He gained sensational success as a crimereporter for the (fictional) Baltimore Herald, where he exposed theneo-Nazi who tried to blow up the NAACP headquarters, an eventchronicled in Up Jumped theDevil. Following this stint, Billups tried his luck as a reporterin New York. But the offer of a management job at the Herald and a $15,000raise has brought him back to Baltimore, where he remains thehottest thing to hit that town since the Homicide televisionseries.

Darryl's hopes for a quiet life are disturbed when someone begins killingpeople--all young, all African American, all upwardly mobile--anddecorating their faces with decals of the Confederate flag. The tough oldpolice detective who worked with him on the NAACP bombing case letsDarrylbreak the story to the country. Meanwhile, the killer--(who incidentallygets turned on by Jerry Springer)--gradually emerges from the shadowscomplete with acatalog of frightening surprises. The author knows his Baltimore, and heknows the inner-workings of a journalist's mind. He makes Darryl a most human and very interesting kindof hero. --Dick Adler ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

GREAT AUDIO BOOK!
This audio book contains one very intriguing mystery. It was great all the way to the end.Well done--I really liked it!

Looks can be deceiving
HIDDEN IN PLAIN VIEW is an engrossing mystery set in Baltimore, Maryland.
Someone is killing a seemingly unrelated set of African-American professionals
in their late thirties.Each victim is found in the bathtub of his/her home
with a decal of the confederate flag attached to the center of his/her
forehead. The police are stumped and seem at a loss when it comes to solving
a case which reveals no clear cause of death.Homicide detective Phillip
Gardner seeks assistance from former reporter turned editor, Darryl Billups,
who worked with him in the past on a case that won them national attention.
Darryl attacks the scene with a reporter's curiosity and intuition which has
him quickly stumbling into the killer's path.It is not long before he
earns himself a place on the killer's hit list.

Blair Walker has written a fast-paced thriller that draws you in from word
one.He gets into the minds of his characters in a way that displays the
strengths and vulnerabilities of each.His style has you empathizing not only
with Darryl and the victims, but the killer as well.Walker switches deftly
between street vernacular and proper English seamlessly throughout scenes and
dialogue.The characters are amusing, endearing and downright frustrating at
times.HIDDEN IN PLAIN VIEW is a satisfying and encompassing read that is
sure to please mystery lovers.

Reviewed by Diane Marbury
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

SUSPENSE DELIVERED WITH STYLE
Blair Walker sweeps you along on another incredible case of his nemesis,Daryl Billups, and what a case it is.He allows you to walk in thefootsteps of the murderer and see through their eyes without ever oncelooking in the mirror to tell you exactly who it was.From this vantagepoint the reader experiences the insanity even though they can't quitegrasp the process that makes it tick.Hidden In Plain View provides thereader with enough suspense to keep them in the pages and enough thrills toinsure completion.Congratulations Blair on another intelligent,insightful and well written offering to the literary arena.

The Least Suspected
Darryl Billups is back in Baltimore and this time his focus is intra-racial i.e. black-on-black crime with a twist.When black professionals start turning up dead in Baltimore at upscale addresses theusual easy answers--drugs and gangs, for such crimes aren't applicable. Themysterious unseen causes of these deaths aren't made any clearer by theautopsies and suggest that the killer has a very diabolic mind and method.The novel is written in both first and third person. Darryl speaks to usin first person so that we follow him along as he gains new information andworks to put the puzzle together.In alternating chapters the killer andthe killer's actions are described in third person, allowing the identityto remain a mystery until close to the end, when the reader discovers whoit is first.As the novel picks up pace in its concluding chapters, youhave a strong desire to warn Daryl of the danger ahead, but you're force torace through the pages, hoping and praying that he'll figure it out in timeto save those closest to him.A true spell-binder, equal to and surpassinghis previous novel and every bit as good in its own right and for its genreas his autobiography on Reggie Lewis was for its.

A must read mystery murder!
This is the first time reading Mr. Walker's novels, but one thing for sure, I'm definetly hooked.I found myself laughing out loud and sometimes saying "oh uh uh".And once starting "HIDDEN IN PLAIN VIEW" I didn't and couldn't put it down.A easy read but, also verytantalizing.

Mr. Walker's writing is refreshing after reading about"she did me wrong, or he aint' about nothing books".Can'thardly wait for the next book! ... Read more

Product Description
Word count: 1485. ... Read more

Product Description
1997 HARDBACK EDITION. DUST JACKET WELL WORN AND TORN IN SEVERAL PLACES. EDGES OF PAGES ARE DISCOLORED.PAGES APPEAR CLEAN AND UNMARKED.. OVER ALL A GOOD READING COPY. WE SHIP DAILY.. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Jet, published by Thomson Gale on September 18, 2006. The length of the article is 498 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Eric Jerome Dickey: enjoying success of 12th novel, 'Chasing Destiny'.(Jet Talk)(Interview)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: Jet (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 18, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 110Issue: 11Page: 46(1)

Article Type: Interview

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more