The White House: A Novella

by JaQuavis Coleman

The young heroine Draya lives paycheck to paycheck, laboring as a maid in a luxurious white house. One day, in the course of performing her duties, she is presented with an irresistible opportunity for a quick--and risky--payday. What unfolds in the white house changes the course of her life. Kidnapping, murder, and mayhem lead her--and the reader--through a harrowing and twisting plot to an explosive ending that no one sees coming. Look through the eyes of this young woman and glimpse how a life can forever be altered due to an unfortunate series of events--all touched off in a legendary white house.

Genres: Audiobook, Urban, Mystery, African American, Fiction

122 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 21, 2014

About the author

JaQuavis Coleman also writes (with Ashley Antoinette) as "Ashley & JaQuavis".

JaQUAVIS COLEMAN, the New York Times best-selling author of Dopeman’s Trilogy, first burst onto the scene at the age of eighteen and quickly became a nationwide literary phenomenon. He and his wife Ashley Antoinette have coauthored numerous “street fiction” classics. With the birth of the Cartel series, the “Ashley and JaQuavis” brand took off. In 2013, twenty-seven-year-old Coleman was honored by Ebony magazine as being one of the Top 100 most influential African Americans in the country.

Reviews

[Danielle Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was short but powerful. Omg this ending was ruthless. There is no honor among thieves. It was truly a thin line between live and murder.

[Natasha potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book had me on the edge of my seat the characters where so realistic I felt like I was reading a movie this book deserves 10☆

[Tammy Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is filled with twists. I love that Jaquavis ended the book with the moral of the story. “Every action has a reaction and no bad deed goes unpunished”

[Tiffany Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every so often I like to read a “street-lit” book and so recently I read The White House by JaQuavis Coleman. It is the story of Draya and basically what she will do so her brother can go to college. I was ok with that premise, but how she went about it was so very predictable.

While the book was a very quick read since it is only a novella, the predictability of it all made me overjoyed it was so short. I mean two kids from the hood, with no parents, they are good people but get themselves into bad situations. Haven’t we heard this all before??? Plus, the brother (June) gets into the University of Michigan with a 2.8 GPA but there is no mention of him doing extracurricular activities or being an exceptional athlete, so I highly doubt this is possible. The writing was elementary at best and and the characters were one-dimensional. The one positive is that there was one part that I definitely did not see coming.

If you are looking for an introduction to the street-lit genre with a book that is quick to read then I would recommend The White House.

[RJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read but a page turner indeed, liked everything about this book. Recommend to add to your list to read. The love thing going in here was good, too bad it had to end. She was trying to make her brother a better life, by any means necessary, and it cost them all theirs. Well Done, Mr. C!

[Kina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. It had so much action for such a short read. Jaquavis never disappoints. This book is about Draya, a woman who will do whatever it takes for her brother to go to college. She, her brother, and his friend plan to rob her employers while they are away. Of course things go horribly wrong. The robbers find out that fast money is not good money.

[tameka hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT READ!!!!!!!

I've been a huge fan of Ashley & Jacquavis for years and they amaze me with each book they write,whether it's collectively or individually you will never be disappointed & you'll definitely get your money's worth.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a short story, it definitely packed just enough details and didn't leave me feeling like it was rushed. Very good listen! And the narrator definitely kept me listening and entertained!

[Lesa Divine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short story. Karma is a b**** Draya was out to get money the quick way to help get her brother in college. Robbery goes wrong and Karma comes after her. A enjoyable read by JaQuavis.

[rick blackmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

great

great

I don't usually do short stories but this book was very good.it kept me wanting more. great job.a goooooood read......

[Shanae · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very short and quick "read," this was entertaining. The audiobook is only about 3 hours long.

[K2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a Birthday Gift

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

good quick read, very predictable but still enjoyable

[Chris Lowry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Fast-paced. Wish it would have been a full novel.

[♤Tonya Johnson♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!!

Everything I read from him and his wife gets me caught up!! I love the emotion, action and storyline!! True story tellers.

[Angela M. Artis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moral of the story .... "Every action has a reaction and no bad deed goes unpunished !!" Definitely a MUST read.

[Starsz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read! JaQuavis did not disappoint! Too bad it wasn't longer.

[mrskhodak]

Interesting; held my attention. Ready for the 2nd in the trilogy.

[Diana Llovely · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was over in a blink of an eye. But it was a good story. Karma sure know how to come back around.

[Sistar Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karma Is A Witch

I am almost ashamed to admit that this is my first read by this author. I have heard nothing but great things about his work, and he showed and proved the compliments are noteworthy. I will definitely have to check out some of his full length titles.

The streets are a dog eat dog world. Either you come up or get left behind. Draya is trying to make heads or tails with the scraps she has been given. After the death of her mother, she is left to take care of her younger brother June. While June is no saint, he has a good head on his shoulders and is college bound. Hence the issues, she has to figure out how to pay for his college education. While at work in the big White House she sees something that will change her life and give her a way out.

What follows is a fast paced quick read that will leave you saying, "Wow that's different." At times I was rooting for Draya and others times I was like, "What the hell she need to get it." The events we are following is like a movie playing out in front of our eyes. I look forward to reading more from this author.

SiStar Tea
ARC Book Club Inc.
4 star rating
Dec 2014

[BEAUTIFUL MEEKA · Rating 5 out of 5]

HomeRun!!!

When I tell you The WhiteHouse is an awesome fast paced read you are totally missing out if you having took the time out to read it.. JaQuavis being street Lit to a whole other Level. You can help but be ready for page after page of some of the Realest stuff you would ever read. It's gives you the feeling of Donald Goings writing you are the actual character. If you don't get that feeling you aren're really reading. The story gives you the true meaning of KARMA. If you need to know the definition of KARMA don't use The dictionary Read The WhiteHouse by my favorite author JaQuavis Coleman. Now go and one-click I can't give you a spoiler Just Trust Me
#tamikaiam #teamOwl #addicted

[Bunnita (Worth Reading It?) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. It is everything the summary states. Full of twists and turns. The main message of the book is that sooner or later karma will come back to settle things so think carefully about the decisions you make. It's good for those you love street lit. But this is not full of the typical street lit themes. There is a clear direction that this novel takes and the usually drama is avoided as it wouldn't have help this story plot. Also this is a short book. A week at the longest. two days average. One day for a fast reader.

Worth Reading It?
*arc book

[MZURAQT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Draya is a young girl who had to grow up early to provide for her brother.After responding to an ad in the newspaper for a maid position,she began's working in The white house.When she receives a letter that her brother has been accepted to the college of his dreams,she knows it grind time to pay for tuition.One day she lucks up on a chance of a lifetime to hit big but we all know nothing goes as planned.

Fast paced read. I enjoyed the story line. Although it was quick it was well developed.

[2Bossay 2Bossay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished The White House, and as expected it was a goody. It was gritty, grimy, & gangsta just like I like it. I figured out a few things before the ending, but that didn't take a way too much from the story. It was fast paced from the gate, and nothing was long, drawn out, and boring like some of these other books that are out. If you're an Ashley & Jaquavis fan, I would highly recommend adding this little gem to your collection. You won't be disappointed.

[Ericka Dior · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in l♡ve with all of Ashley and JaQuavis books. This book took me literally two hours to read and that was because I had to stop and take a break and absorb exactly what I had just read. It is so mesmerizing the words jump off the page and bring you straight into the world of the characters. Never have I found an author that makes me believe these characters actually exsist. That speaks to the gift of this dynamic duo.Amazing Job!

[Diane Rembert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of a young woman named Draya, who is struggling to provide for herself and her younger brother. Her day job as a maid and night job as a waitress collide, and temptation rears its ugly head. What was supposed to be one good luck, turned into so much more.

KARMA is the ultimate theme in this book by NYT bestselling author @realjaquavis. Book so nice, had to run it back twice. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed it just as much as I did the first time.

GO GET THIS BOOK!

[Denise Gilliam · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG I'm so mad that I waited so long to read this book. It was fast paced from page one. I love this book JaQuavis you did you thang with this book. Karma is what I got out of this book. It might not get you but it will come back a get you worst then you ever expected it too. I was wishing it was more because this was a very good story. 5 star banger will not be disappointed in this book.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes! All I can say, is KARMA. She real, and she's a bitch. He was so in love with Draya he couldn't even watch what happened, but a statement had to be made. I just couldn't believe she wouldn't think he'd know. Blink was a grimy mf, and was never a real friend.

[Dione Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

DAMNNNNN.. That escalated quite quickly. Drea from the giddy up was just stupid. How in the hell did she think this would play out..and that tape was still floating around..smh. I want the back story on The Uncle.. and Cassidy. I wonder do they connect to The Diamonds at some point.

[Maya B · Rating 3 out of 5]

a short story that was predictable and there were not any shocking moments