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Friends & Sins #1
Live and Learn
Set in her hometown of Newark, NJ, this popular bestselling author brings you a hip, sexy, and drama-filled story of four friends with choices to be made, sins to be forgiven, and lessons to learn.
It's 24/7 money to burn, it's fancy houses, designer clothes, and luxury cars. It's leaving no-pay jobs and crumbling projects to have everything mad cash flow. And best friends, Alize, Dom, Moet, and Cristal will do anything to get the glamorous life - and put the past in the rear-view mirrors of their brand new whips. A savvy and smart business major, Alize had her childhood shattered by the divorce of her parents and is determined to never fall in love and risk being hurt. Dom learned early to use her sizzling-hot body to make much bank - and find an eascape from her too dark looks and drug-addicted mother. Disillusioned by the faith and strict parents she grew up with, Moet figures hooking up with powerful men is now the real way to heaven. And streetwise Cristal has a master plan to get the security she never to knew as foster child.
To make these dreams come true, these sistahs will go after the East Coast's biggest movers-and-shakers - superstar rappers, mega-successful moguls, and powerful thugs-for-life. But between the wild times and wilder men, one of them is going to gamble one time too many, one will play a player too far, one will take a dangerous chance, and one will face a hard real-deal choice. To survive, they'll have to depend on each other and remember who they truly are to learn that the good life doesn't cost a thing...
It's 24/7 money to burn, it's fancy houses, designer clothes, and luxury cars. It's leaving no-pay jobs and crumbling projects to have everything mad cash flow. And best friends, Alize, Dom, Moet, and Cristal will do anything to get the glamorous life - and put the past in the rear-view mirrors of their brand new whips. A savvy and smart business major, Alize had her childhood shattered by the divorce of her parents and is determined to never fall in love and risk being hurt. Dom learned early to use her sizzling-hot body to make much bank - and find an eascape from her too dark looks and drug-addicted mother. Disillusioned by the faith and strict parents she grew up with, Moet figures hooking up with powerful men is now the real way to heaven. And streetwise Cristal has a master plan to get the security she never to knew as foster child.
To make these dreams come true, these sistahs will go after the East Coast's biggest movers-and-shakers - superstar rappers, mega-successful moguls, and powerful thugs-for-life. But between the wild times and wilder men, one of them is going to gamble one time too many, one will play a player too far, one will take a dangerous chance, and one will face a hard real-deal choice. To survive, they'll have to depend on each other and remember who they truly are to learn that the good life doesn't cost a thing...
278 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2007
12 people are currently reading
431 people want to read
About the author
Niobia Bryant
109 books502 followersNiobia Bryant is the award-winning and national bestselling author of more than fifty works of romance and commercial mainstream fiction. Twice she has won RT Magazine's Best African-American/Multicultural Romance Award, "Kiss the Ring"--written under the pseudonym Meesha Mink--was listed as one of the Library Journal's Best Books, and her books have appeared in Ebony, Essence, The New York Post, The Star-Ledger, The Dallas Morning News and many other national publications. One of her bestselling books has been adapted to film.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 26, 2020
What a journey with these 4 friends. But they hung in there and hopeful will make it through in the other to books 2 come. They r the true meaning of a sisterhood, through thick and thin. I can't wait.
April 13, 2012
I just finished this book last night and I just have to ask myself: Is this truly how these girls from the hood are?????? These girls claim to be smart running their games to get money from these men but they didn't seem very smart to me, even the two college educated girls.
******* Spoiler alert so be warned!!! *******
I thought the most unbelievable character was Moet. Yes, her parents were strict and religious. So were mine. I can understand her getting pregnant by the Reverand and having the abortion. But wouldn't one think the next time she had sex, she'd try to prevent an unwanted pregancy? Why would she now have unprotected sex with Bones????? Her girls were on the pill. I'm sure they talked about that. Very unbelievable that she gets knocked up twice.
The next character I took issue with is Cristal. She has done everything right in her mind and has now snagged Shahad; however, her attraction to Mohammad is growing. One would assume that she did not make Shahad use a condom when they were together. Now Mohammad shows up on her door and declares his love and she just let this man put his 11 inches up inside her and have his way with her. Incredible!
Alize is cheating on Rah and she sees nothing wrong with that just because of his small gerkin. Yet she's mad pissed when he does the same to her. Cameron falls madly in love with Alize although he doesn't really know her. She's a golddigger, a cheat, and a liar. Holla!
I just felt sorry for Dom.
The story was interesting enough that I'm curious to see how this all ends in the next book Show and Tell.
******* Spoiler alert so be warned!!! *******
I thought the most unbelievable character was Moet. Yes, her parents were strict and religious. So were mine. I can understand her getting pregnant by the Reverand and having the abortion. But wouldn't one think the next time she had sex, she'd try to prevent an unwanted pregancy? Why would she now have unprotected sex with Bones????? Her girls were on the pill. I'm sure they talked about that. Very unbelievable that she gets knocked up twice.
The next character I took issue with is Cristal. She has done everything right in her mind and has now snagged Shahad; however, her attraction to Mohammad is growing. One would assume that she did not make Shahad use a condom when they were together. Now Mohammad shows up on her door and declares his love and she just let this man put his 11 inches up inside her and have his way with her. Incredible!
Alize is cheating on Rah and she sees nothing wrong with that just because of his small gerkin. Yet she's mad pissed when he does the same to her. Cameron falls madly in love with Alize although he doesn't really know her. She's a golddigger, a cheat, and a liar. Holla!
I just felt sorry for Dom.
The story was interesting enough that I'm curious to see how this all ends in the next book Show and Tell.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2013
I really got into this book! I liked how Bryant made her characters evolve...nothing annoys me more in the urban fiction genre than characters who don't develop. The cliff hanger at the end drove me crazy...thankfully this is an older title and I was able to get my hands on a copy of the sequel "Show and Tell."
Overall this is a good book for fans of urban fiction. There are a few racy love scenes and plenty of drama. Fans of chick lit would also like this title because of the emphasis on friendship.
Overall this is a good book for fans of urban fiction. There are a few racy love scenes and plenty of drama. Fans of chick lit would also like this title because of the emphasis on friendship.
November 24, 2013
I liked the book have to wait and see if there is a part 2 need some questions answered
January 16, 2021
You live and you learn also known as lessons
After reading this book I realize things that you desire aren’t always good and things that you over look can be what you need. Friendships come and go and so do men and money. Everything does have to have a hefty price tag and most things with hefty price tags have issues attached to them. I would recommend any woman with multiple friends to read this book or any woman that’s searching for love in all the wrong places. Money can’t define your happiness.
After reading this book I realize things that you desire aren’t always good and things that you over look can be what you need. Friendships come and go and so do men and money. Everything does have to have a hefty price tag and most things with hefty price tags have issues attached to them. I would recommend any woman with multiple friends to read this book or any woman that’s searching for love in all the wrong places. Money can’t define your happiness.
March 11, 2009
I'd actually give this 3 and a half, but not 4 stars. Having read the sequel first, and not given it a fabulous review, I can say that reading this one while the sequel was still fresh made the sequel better for me.
One of the things that made these two books annoying for me is that all four main characters have given names: Latoya, Keesha, Monica and Danielle, but they all have nicknames: Cristal, Moet, Alize and Dom, and the author keeps switching back and forth between them, so it's like EIGHT characters instead of FOUR and it's hard to keep them straight.
And one glaring mistake: Alize gets pregnant in this book and they baby is a boy. (The book ends right when she has the baby, but the baby is never talked about.) In the sequel, her baby is TIFFANY, a baby girl.
One of the things that made these two books annoying for me is that all four main characters have given names: Latoya, Keesha, Monica and Danielle, but they all have nicknames: Cristal, Moet, Alize and Dom, and the author keeps switching back and forth between them, so it's like EIGHT characters instead of FOUR and it's hard to keep them straight.
And one glaring mistake: Alize gets pregnant in this book and they baby is a boy. (The book ends right when she has the baby, but the baby is never talked about.) In the sequel, her baby is TIFFANY, a baby girl.
June 9, 2010
I just finished this book and it was really good. Not a dull moment. I could have done without all the sex scenes. One problem with the book was all the name-brand dropping. It started off on like the 3rd page and was so repetitive throughout the book. The author had already done a great job describing the way the characters dressed, so I felt it was a little unnecessary to state every brand name each time an outfit was described.
The other issue is that Dom, Cristal, Moet and Alize are all nicknames the girls go buy so it was quite confusing when they or others referred to them by their birth-given names.
Other than that, the book was really good. A true page-turner. I have already ordered the sequel.
The other issue is that Dom, Cristal, Moet and Alize are all nicknames the girls go buy so it was quite confusing when they or others referred to them by their birth-given names.
Other than that, the book was really good. A true page-turner. I have already ordered the sequel.
April 29, 2021
Romance is my least favorite genre to read but I enjoyed this book. It was a funny, relatable, nail-biting drama that wouldn't let me put the book down. The only part I didn't like was a homophobic joke towards the end of the book and the obnoxious way the author described the expensive brand clothing and accessories the characters wore
Ex: "three and a half karat, rare eastern Brazilian gold, cheetah print drizzled, oversized Fendi sunglasses outlined in shimmering glitter and dancing diamonds" or "orange off-the-shoulder Gucci V-neck, button-up top with dripping pearls, flared sleeves and Canadian feather pluckings straight from Toronto's northside"----not exact descriptions from the book but very similar. WE GET THE POINT.
Ex: "three and a half karat, rare eastern Brazilian gold, cheetah print drizzled, oversized Fendi sunglasses outlined in shimmering glitter and dancing diamonds" or "orange off-the-shoulder Gucci V-neck, button-up top with dripping pearls, flared sleeves and Canadian feather pluckings straight from Toronto's northside"----not exact descriptions from the book but very similar. WE GET THE POINT.
November 12, 2011
Good book but all the name-brand dropping was over the top. It was truly annoying. I loved reading the book from the different points of view and such it was really good. It started slow at first but midway through the book was really good. I enjoyed it but I enjoyed Message From a Mistress and Mistress No More better because the action started on first page. :)
October 27, 2012
When I start reading a book, I have to finish it! I think I started this book 2 years ago, got to page 2, and I could not finish this mess! But being true to my rule, I have picked this book up again(idk why?!) and I will finish it.
May 15, 2017
great book I loved the cover for some odd reason ! Alize is my favorite :)(: . Live and Learn is a very entertaining novel. This book is filled with drama and held my attention to the very end. Some parts made me mad then sad !
June 27, 2010
Great beginning to Show and Tell which I am reading again! Just can't get enough! Lol!
June 1, 2010
Good urban story of the ups & downs of , faith, family, relationships & friendship. Looking forward to the sequel 'Show and Prove'.
December 11, 2010
3.5 STARS
It started out slow and picked up half way through.
It started out slow and picked up half way through.
March 10, 2011
PERFECT FOR ALL THE YOUNG BLACK WOMAN!!!
February 14, 2012
I had owned this book from the beginning but just got around to reading it. I loved the storyline even with all the issues these4 friends had.
April 25, 2012
Interesting book
September 5, 2012
Loved this book as I do all of her other books.
April 26, 2013
It's a ok book!
March 10, 2014
tbh i thought i was going hate this but i really like it it was not over the top
November 3, 2014
Took me a minute to finish this book but not because it wasn't good . Pretty funny dialog at times. Shows every thing good to you isn't necessarily good for you
May 2, 2015
Aaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyeeeeeee!!!!!!!! Live than ever. I read this book year's ago and been looking for it ever since
December 11, 2012
This was a fun book to read.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews