Playing the Hand You're Dealt

by Trice Hickman

Sometimes the simple truth is the hardest to face…
From her old-fashioned name to her gentle nature, everyone in Emily Eloise Snow’s Atlanta, Georgia, hometown knows her as a sweet young woman who always does what’s right. That’s how her widowed mother raised her. But when Emily’s mother dies, her quiet life is shaken to its core, leaving her devastated—and ready for a fresh start. With the encouragement of her bolder, wilder best friend, Samantha, Emily moves to Washington, D.C. Samantha is sure D.C. will bring Emily her heart’s desire. But that’s exactly what Emily is afraid of…

Since she was eighteen, Emily has fought a fierce longing even Samantha doesn’t know about—a love for a man that would break just about every rule she’s spent her life following. And each step closer to D.C. is a step closer to him—and a choice that could destroy not just her life as she knows it, but the image of the woman, and the friend, everyone believes her to be. Now, facing the ultimate test, only Emily can decide if the losses will be worth the gains...

Genres: Romance, Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Prior to writing, Trice Hickman's diverse professional career included work in both corporate and non-profit organizations. Currently, she is putting the finishing touches on her second novel, and a third book is already underway. She resides in Washington, D.C., with her husband. "

Reviews

[Michelle Lindo-Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a storyline that had me glued. Love is complicated but the question remains, Can we help who we love? Emily had be turning the pages until the end. Skilled writing by Trice Hickman.

[Vicki Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read !

[Cheryl Durham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me begin by saying I was excited about being introduced to the work of Trice Hickman. I will read more by this author.

However, this was a difficult read for me. The author does a fantastic job in developing the characters and acquainting the reader with how they arrived at their present lot in life. The heart wants what the heart wants . And, as the author would postulate "there is a delicate balance between exercising good judgement and throwing caution to the wind."

Be it Samantha, Tyler, Carl, Emily, Gerti, Brenda or Ed when life comes at you...you must "play the hand you're dealt"...or do you? There are risks in everything that a person does. Is the risk worth the reward? Should people always get what they want? Did the characters in the book get what they wanted? Only by reading.......will you know.

As for me, I believe that there are some boundaries that should never be crossed. Is there danger in crossing the line? Most definitely. Are boundaries clearly defined? In some instances the boundaries are clearly defined. There, too, are times when the lines are blurred and stakes are high. Should people reserve themselves from passing judgement? Definitely. But, judgement can be passed on situations w/o passing it on the person. PTHYD (Playing The Hand You're Dealt) answers these questions and many more. Brace yourself and be ready for the unimaginable. ENJOY!

[CJ Mills · Rating 1 out of 5]

Romances of most sorts have some, or a lot, of sex in them, but it's soft core or softer core porn. This one is hard-core porn. I was appalled. It means I won't be reading any more of Ms Hickman's books. In my opinion, the best sex scenes are those that give only enough detail to set the reader's own imagination down that person's idea of good sex.

[kimberly nickerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!!

I have given up on reading books by African American authors because to me they were all the SAME. I came across this author by pure luck it was a Kindle Unlimited book. I enjoyed it from the first page all the way to the end. Thank you Twice Hickman for showing me that all African American authors are NOT the same. 👆👆👆

[Danielle Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good. I was so scared when Sam found out about Emily and I surely thought that Emily or Ed was going to die. Brenda deserves way more than just being lonely. Such a hateful individual. I definitely encourage everyone to check this author out you won't be disappointed

[Yolanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreading something is far worse than doing it!

In this rich tale of keeeping secrets from the ones you love, secrets collide causing long, lasting and devastating effects. Trice Hickman does it again with her effective, detail woven story with a rich and dynamic flair. I can't get over how well she weaves together her characters with out any contradiction to tell wonderful stories. It makes you read it slowly because you don't want it to end.

In Playing the Hand You're Dealt, we meet Emily Snow and Samantha Baldwin. The two meet their freshmen year in college while studying in Atlanta. The two are instant friends when rich but wanna be homegirl Samantha moves in the dorm room with the help of Samantha's snooty mother Brenda and her rich and fine daddy Ed. Emily is already there with her mother Lucille and the two families get along as if they'd known each other for years. Samantha and Emily are tighter than sisters and thicker than thieves. However, Miss Emily develops a secret that she carries with her for eleven years. Samantha, irresponsible yet loving and a ride or die friend, encourages Emily to move to D.C eleven years after they leave college and not to soon after Emily loses the last of her family. Her mother, Lucille. She also most recently broke up with Bradley. Her secret would not allow her to live a lie and use Bradley to mask that lie. Emily has had some warning, that trouble would not be far from her. She first received the warning from an old lady in her neighborhood when she was a youngster; then from a little girl with that special gift shortly before moving to D.C. It was confirmed when she met her new neighbor, the flamboyant and wise cracking Ruben after moving to D.C. After moving to D.C, life was supposed to look up for Emily. Instead, it gets real complicated. Spending time around Samantha's family makes keeping her secret that much harder. Especially, since the object of her secret; resides in that household.

Playing the Hand You Were Dealt, made me think. Would I walk away from a chance at everlasting happiness to salvage a friendship? It would be difficult to say that I would walk away from true happiness to save a friendship. It also made me think, is it okay to cheat on your spouse, if you have a bad spouse. I personally feel that if things are that bad, you should end the relationship before starting a new one. However, sometimes unbridled passion is a force to reckon with and at times things just happen. As in this novel, you just have to play the cards you were dealt. Trice Hickman did a phenomenal job, showing how reckless behavior even if warranted because of the behavior of another has devastating effects. But, does lover conquer all? You have to read it to see!

A great read for book clubs. A lot of great talking points. Do you believe in the gift of prophecy? What measures would you go through for a friend? Is anything unforgivable in a friendship? Do damaged people make for damaged children? What is considered cheating? So many more great topics of discussion that will take you into the late night discussing.

The author obviously put a lot of time into the development of each character. Usually, at the end of a novel I'm going back trying to put names with situations. The author made it easy in the amount of background she gave us regarding the characters. I also loved how she flipped a likable character to unlike able at the middle of the story and then made her like able again. Emily. She did the same with the character that I thought I was not going to like at the beginning, by making her my favorite at the end.Samantha. The drama started at page one, when Ms Marabelle dropped the prophesy on Emily. It did not stop until I finished the book. Several times while reading, I put the book down in utter shock. I had to catch my breath before moving on. A definite mouth dropper! I highly recommend this book.

5 stars

Yolanda Maria
"Reviewed for the Sankofa Literary Society. Book provided by the author or the publisher for review purposes."

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book on the Black Expressions Blookclub website. It sounded like a great book, so I ordered a copy since it is a newer book.

The cover really caught my eye, a picture of a black woman in kind of a sexy position with a dress cut low in the back and a necklace drapped down. She looks maybe like she is dancing or something or trying to get a man's attention. The woman in the picture is the main character, Emily Snow.

Emily is in love with her friend Samantha's father, but nobody knows, not even Samantha's father. She is sure he doesn't feel the same about her. No man has ever made her feel the way she feels when she is around Samantha's father. Samantha's father's name is Edward and his wife is Brenda. Edward and Brenda really don't have a passionate marriage. They only had sex about once every 4 months. Brenda is all about status and he just wants something more than material things.

Emily moved in with Samantha's family for a time while she was looking for a place of her own. She just had to get out of there. She couldn't stand how hot she felt for Edward when she was around him. She ended up getting her own place and finding a new friend in Ruben who is her neighbor. She finds out that Ruben can see the future, and he has some important news for her that scares her. He sees that someone may die, and she worries that it may be someone she loves. She will be surprised what comes about out of all this.

I kept wondering how Emily could have such strong feelings for a much older man, who is her best friend's father. After getting to know his wife Brenda, I really was hoping that Edward would ditch the bitch and hook up with Emily. Yeah she is young and the best friend of his daughter, but he has to be able to live his life.

I really felt like I got to know the characters and was sad to see the book end!

[Ms.Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends & Lovers are Hard to Come By

Emily Snow and Samantha Baldwin have been the best of friends since freshman year in college. They share everything, even the same birthday. Many years and miles away, their friendship has remained in tact. With the death of Emily's mother they are once again in the same city - Washington, D.C. But Emily has a secret. She's in love...with Samantha's father.

Trice Hickman has once again given readers a satisfying read. Narrated with alternating chapters from the key characters' perspective, readers are given all they need to know to root themselves firmly in the story. The only drawback to that was some repetition when the same situation was told through the eyes of more than one character. I easily found myself torn between the feelings of each friend, not wanting either to get hurt but knowing it was inevitable.

It was nice to revisit Tyler (Unexpected Interruptions) as well as the brief cameo of Cynthia (Unexpected Interruptions & Keeping Secrets Telling Lies). The conclusion was a little too `neat' for my liking, but overall it was an enjoyable read. Hickman's literary voice is strong, smooth and delicate.

Lately, it's been difficult to come up with an answer when asked what good books are out. With the release of PLAYING THE HAND YOU'RE DEALT, answering that question is a whole lot easier.

OOSA BOTM

Be sure to also check out:
Unexpected Interruptions
Keeping Secrets & Telling Lies

[African Americans on the Move Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

When opening Playing the Hand You're Dealt I started to see that Trice Hickman was a great story teller. There wasn't any unnecessary descriptions and I loved the fact that her characters told the story. It was my first time reading a book that was told in first and third person and I liked the format. The story consists of a young woman in love with her best friends father. Now we all know that when we see a young women with a rich old man we instantly think gold digger. But in this book Hickman portrayed that in many cases it can be true love and with the characters Emily and Ed that's exactly what it was. Although I really yearned for more drama in the beginning overall this was a great read. Easy flow and I felt that nothing was left to my imagination. Hickman gave great description, she allowed me to see what was happening in the story verses telling me and this is a sign of a true story teller. The ending was just what I've hoped, we all love happy endings right.

Tamika Newhouse
AAMBC Reviewer

[Nardsbaby Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trouble Brewing,

Born on the same day, Emily Snow and Samantha Baldwin are polar opposites. College roommates, Emily has always done things exactly as they were supposed to be done. Samantha usually does what feels good to her at that moment. In twelve years they've shared, heartache, childbirth, laughter and tears. When Samantha convinces Emily to move to D.C., it is then that Emily decides that she can no longer continue to deny her feelings. Samantha is on a road to redemption. Everyone appears to be happy, until a secret is revealed. Will Samantha and Emily's friendship be able to survive?

PLAYING THE HAND YOU'RE DEALT by Trice Hickman is a good balance of friendship, love, and family ties. I loved each character, maybe Gerti and Samantha a little more as they are no nonsense. A good read with a few editing bumps, but nothing substantial enough to disrupt the flow of the story.

OOSA Online Book Club BOTM

[OOSA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging

Best friends Emily and Samantha's relationship has withstood the joys and pains of life. Can their friendship, however, weather their largest storm ever? Emily is in love with Samantha's father and the feeling is mutual.

On the premise alone, the story had me hook, line and sinker. Best friends, forbidden love...I was anxious to see where Trice Hickman would take this story. She doesn't disappoint. I loved the characters and the realness of their emotions. I really liked this story. "Playing the Hand You're Dealt" was well crafted and smartly executed. It's a book I'd easily recommend to others.

This was my first read by Trice Hickman, but it certainly won't be my last.

Reviewed by: Tracy

[Revae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily and Samantha have been best friends for eleven years. When Emily's mother dies, Samantha encourages her to move from Atlanta to Sam's hometown of DC. The only hitch in the plan is that Emily has been in love with Samantha's father for the past 11 years. In the beginning, I wanted Emily to move on and find someone else for her affections. My feelings definitely changed by the end of the book. It was a page turner. I enjoyed this book. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is the book was told from multiple perspectives, and there were a couple of times when events were retold unnecessarily. That's my only complaint. It didn't stop me from enjoying the book, though. This was my first read by Trice Hickman and I'm looking forward to reading some more of her work.

[Lashanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great twist on love at first sight. Emily was a great friend with an even greater secret. She had been in love with her best friend's father since college. She really couldn't commit to any relationships because her heart belonged to a mansion was untouchable.

Ed was a successful lawyer invalid in a loveless marriage. He wasn't happy and hadn't been I years. When he and Emily decided to be honest with themselves as well as each other,they crossed a fine line. Ed didn't think about the consequences as Emily. But despite all the pain, suffering, hurt and betrayal; Emily got her man.

[Desiree Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily and Samantha have been friends since childhood. What Samantha doesn't know is that Emily has been in love with Sam's father Ed since they were in college. When Samantha finds out that they are having an affair she is devastated. It shatters her when she finds out. When Sam gets married, Emily and her father are not invited. It is only a few years later, when both girls are pregnant at the same time that the relationship is repaired. Gerti was the mother Samantha never had, and the one who kept the family together. This was an excellent book. Read: May 2013

[Vera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, betrayal, dysfunctional families, and a little bit of gansta all rolled into one story that will have you laughing and crying at the same time. I cracked up whenever Samantha would break bad on someone. I could just see her in her power suit complete with stiletto heels, going from a successful career woman to gansta in a matter of seconds. I can't wait see what the author comes up with next, this is going to be a tough book to top.

[Kia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think there were relatable topics throughout the book but the foundation of the story was weak to me. You just have a crush on your friend's dad for no apparent reason? It just came out of no where? Not realistic in my opinion. On the positive, I do believe the familial relationships (mom/daughter, wife/husband) were realistic and I could see that happening to families.

[Verlean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading this author though I had been intending to do so for some time. I was not disappointed. This was not the usual love story but a good one nonetheless. Just the right amount of drama was included to make a well rounded story. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Taylor Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book with fun characters. I loved all the relationships within the book, they felt real because of how twisted and complicated they were. This book really is about playing the hand you are dealt in life. Making the best of what you have and finding happiness.

[Charles L Freeman, Jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riveting tale of deception, friendship, love, money and power!

I'd never read Trice Hickman's work before this book was recommended to me, but I'm a big fan of hers now. This intriguing tale kept me interested from start to finish.

[Flashette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like the ending. It was too "neat" after all the messiness in the rest of the book.

[Tamala Stuckey]

So far this one I am excited about. I am on chapter 3 but wanted to put it down to read some non-fiction for a bit. I look forward to revisiting this one. :) I love Trice.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT WAS AMAZING I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN TILL I WAS DONE READING IT. LOVED IT. I WON THIS BOOK ON GR GIVEAWAYS.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

a roller coaster of emotions so well written and an ending that I was pleased with

[MaryAlice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trice Hickman's novel, Playing the Hand You're Dealt" is a love story with steamy sex scenes. It is a good read, but not a book I would read a second time.

[Aisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a twist to that and now i can not wait to read another book of her.

[Lenore · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good book.

[Teri Rainey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting to become one of my favorite authors.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intense book

[Linda Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wonderful.