Suddenly becoming the heir to her father's empire, it doesn't take long for Imani's pain and greed to make way for her alter ego, Money, to take her rightful seat on the throne. After all, she'd been groomed for this moment from the day she was born.
The money and power are hers by default, but Money will have to earn the respect of the streets, especially the men that feel they should be in her place. Her father made it look easy, yet it's anything but.
Power struggles and betrayal are par for the course as Imani transforms into one of the most impulsive and ruthless queen pens the streets have ever seen. Determined to stay on top, nothing and no one will stand in her way, not even the man that steals her heart.
Join Imani on her dangerous journey and you'll discover that sometimes it's not the people who change, it's the mask that falls off.
Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1988, Jai Ellis didn't make her debut into the literary world until 2012. Growing up in the typical inner-city neighborhood full of drug dealers and drop outs, Jai aspired to be more than her environment. She always loved being read to from an early age, which eventually led to her love of writing. During her middle school years, Jai discovered her talent for writing through her love of reading. Pulling her inspiration from the likes of Sister Souljah, Shannon Holmes, K'wan and others, Jai began to realize that she had a knack for storytelling herself. Thus sending her into an imaginative and sensational world of characters where her sometimes controlling nature wasn't a problem because the characters' lives were hers to piece together however she saw fit. She was however cautious of who she presented her work to, and for a long time only shared her writings with close friends and family, who encouraged her to continue down her literary path. When tragedy struck, with the loss of a close friend, Jai was left emotionally crippled, and for a few years after his death she lost her passion to write. After sorting through the pieces and pulling herself back together, Jai found her drive again and with a new attitude, and an insignia to honor her lost friend, she came back stronger than ever. Finally letting go of the past, she pushed forward and introduced the world to "Money Over Errythang" and "Abused Authority", releasing both titles in July 2012. Now, relocated to a small town in Iowa, Jai is hard at work penning many novels. She has already produced works such as "Money Over Errythang 2", "Heaven Can't Wait", and the "Embezzled Trust" series. But, Ms. Ellis isn't quite done just yet, and has countless other scorching, gripping, unforgettable, and addictive tales to weave that will leave you wanting another dose. When Jai isn't writing she can be found enjoying her other love, music, as well as researching topics on orca whales in captivity. Although she now has 8 titles under her belt, Jai still considers herself to be a newcomer and is still learning and growing as an author. While she enjoys writing urban fiction she is also looking forward to trying her hand at other genres in the near future. If you would like to know more about Jai's current and upcoming releases or are interested in interacting with her, feel free to visit her website MissJaiEllis.com and to connect with her on one of your favorite social media sites. Add Jai On Facebook: Author Jai Ellis Follow Jai On Twitter: @LadyJaiEllis Follow Jai On Instagram:@AuthorJaiEllis
Money Over Errythang is my first book by the author Jai Ellis. I must say that it was great!!! The story pulled me in from the first line. I actually slept on this book because the description of the story didn't interest me. However, when I picked it up, I kicked myself for not starting it sooner. I also love that the author has an alternate ending!!! But you better be careful of what you pick!
The Characters: (Imani)Money~Is spoiled, has everything and doesn't like to be told NO! She exudes power, wealth and sexiness. But with those things she has major flaws. I did not care for Money because at the end, her griminess is what backfired on her! I hope part 2 she learns a valuable lesson!
Santiago~I loved his character. He is strong minded and used to getting his way. Not to mention he had Imani in check!
Jordan~I felt she was jealous and got what she deserved, but I can't wait to see if her character will be in part 2.
Darius~I actually like Darius because he was all about his business and he loved Imani, but I felt like he shouldn't have let a female have that much power over him, and he should have been saving for a raining day. I believe if he would have just went peacefully the outcome would have been different.
I can't wait to start part 2, to see what Jai has in store for us!
Let me tell you, Money Over Errythang is a high-octane rollercoaster of crime, drama, and absolutely wild character antics. Jai Ellis’s writing style is electric; this story pulls you in like a speeding car chase, and you better hold on tight. The sheer intensity meant I tore through the entire book in one day—it was that addictive. Jai Ellis, you've definitely got a new fan!
The Star: Love-Hate for Imani (A.K.A. “Money”)
Imani, the titular "Money," is the undeniable star of the show, and I have a pure love-hate relationship with her. On one hand, she’s a #BossChick—powerful, rich, and utterly unafraid to pull the trigger on anyone who crosses her. On the other, her sense of entitlement is annoying as heck. Her character is a ping-pong match of emotions: one minute she's ice-cold and untouchable, the next she’s crying like a spoiled toddler. She has more mood swings than a soap opera marathon, and while I found her impossible to relate to, I absolutely could not look away from the train wreck. She is the perfectly compelling villain you can’t help but watch.
The Men: Dangerous Charm vs. Doormat Love
The men orbiting Money keep the power dynamics fascinating:
Santiago: Whew. This man is the definition of sexy-dangerous. You know he's bad news—a cold-blooded killer—but the way he manages to keep Money in check? That’s a skillset. He was my favorite male character, hands down. His strong-minded, take-charge attitude gave me all the “yes please” vibes, even if I wish his day job didn’t involve murder.
Darius: Poor Darius. He’s completely head-over-heels for Money, and she runs him ragged. He’s smart and ambitious, but I spent the entire book wanting to shake him and ask, “Bro, where is your backbone?!” He deserves so much better than playing second fiddle to a woman with such unstable loyalties.
The Genius of the Twist The cherry on top of this chaotic sundae is the alternate endings. Talk about mind games! Jai Ellis giving the reader a choice is genius. I immediately went with Option Two because, let’s be real, I wanted to see Money fall victim to her own scheming ways. Spoiler: she totally did, and the twist was so juicy I couldn't even be mad. Option Two felt far more fitting for her wild character arc than the alternative.
Final Verdict Money Over Errythang is an undeniable page-turner. Between the unpredictable plot twists and the chaotic characters, you are in for a ride. While I found Imani spoiled beyond belief, Santiago's dangerous charm and the drama of Darius's unfortunate love kept me intensely invested. The tension and power dynamics easily make up for the mild spice level. Four stars because, despite my frustrations with Money, the story was fire and kept me hooked from start to finish. I absolutely NEED to see how things unravel in Part Two!
The Perfect Pairing: An Old Fashioned, Neat Why? The Old Fashioned is classic, potent, and demands respect, much like the power players in the book. Serving it neat symbolizes the unadulterated, cold-blooded reality of their criminal lives. It’s got an underlying sweetness (bourbon/sugar) that hints at the charms of Santiago and the spoiled nature of Money, but its strength is the main event—a perfect match for a "High-Octane Thrill Ride
Interesting story, interesting plot. I would have like to have read a more descriptive detail of the main characters. I don’t pretend to be a professional editor or proofreader but there were a couple of times where I’m not sure that the wording was correct and one time where I section didn’t make any sense (to me) in the context of the story. Lovely little twist towards the end of the book with back story on how Imani truly came into power. I chose option two because I think that’s where the true spoiled character of Imani would have gone and then once I read it I found out there was a part two. I went back and read option 1 and couldn’t see Imani taking that path after reading the previous chapters of her story.
I was left questioning a few things (I don’t want to spoil for anyone who hasn’t read the book yet but: With Imani, why would she leave Jordan in that state and not do what she had done to everyone else. Santiago a pro at what he does…if you read option 2…he wouldn’t leave room for sequel. Maybe these are explained in book 2.
Overall a pretty good book with some interesting plot twist.
I'd been sleeping on this book for quite sometime now. Needless to say I made a mistake. Money Over Errything was recently choosen as a discussion book by one of my book clubs, so I decided to read it, and I am so glad I did! Imani aka Money is raised by her father and is taught to put money over errythang, including her own happiness. She takes her daddy's advice and she often misses out a lot by doing so. She is so caught up on Money, that she can't see when she has someone in her life that truely loves her. I can't wait for part 2. Decemeber 8th can't get her soon enough. Great work Jai Ellis. You have been added to my favorite authors list. Can't wait for the sequel!!
I been sleeping on this!! This book was so dang good. Money had everything a girl couid want but she wouldn't be satisfied until she held all the power. She didn't just want the money she wanted her name to ring bells. In the beginning I felt bad for her with the hand she was dealt but I quickly learned this girl wasn't nothing nice. I honestly wish she would've just been real with Darius. Santiago had everything she wanted and needed but her need to have her wrath felt would be her undoing. I definitely recommend this *****
This book was a very xcellent read....I enjoyed it from start to finish...lots if twist and turn but a true page turner...Imani was kinda ruthless she loved that all mighty $$$$ and in the end it cost her everything she truly loved.
The books was good. It drew my in from the beginning. I like how the reader was able to choose the ending. I spent most of the book rooting for Money, then in the end I was like she was a crazy, selfish, conniving, witch.