No Turning Back

by Brenda Hampton, Oasis

A crippled economy changes Lola Jones’s silver spoon status to copper and threatens to rip her sheltered family from the upper echelons of society, dropping them into the rotten bowels of East St. Louis. Only one thing can save Lola’s children from the claws of poverty, and that comes in the form of a million-dollar insurance policy. It, however, is just a useless piece of paper unless she’s dead. With that in mind, Lola vows to make the ultimate sacrifice for her children’s well-being.
There are two problems: She doesn’t have the guts to kill herself, and her insurance doesn’t pay out on suicides. With only days left before her family learns the true meaning of homelessness, Lola turns to Blasé, a desensitized hit man with a “no turning back” policy, to execute her murder. To foot Blasé’s upfront bill, Lola seeks prostitution. It’s not long before the hole that she has already dug gets deeper.
Living on the erotic edge leads her to an unforgettable sexual encounter with Mannish Major, a lonely married man with skeletons swinging in his closet. Their tryst explodes into a full-blown love affair that renews Lola’s will to live and to face the adversities of life head on. But not even a budding romance will cancel the expiration date Blasé has set on Lola’s soul. Now Lola and Mannish must make a final and desperate attempt to stop the hit man, or else they will die trying.

275 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Hampton is a native St. Louis, with a gift and passion for writing. She maintained journals for several years, but it wasn’t until she read Terry McMillan’s Disappearing Acts that she considered taking her writing adventures to another level.



In 2002, Hampton completed her memoir, along with two fiction novels: Two's Enough Three's a Crowd and How Can I Be Down? The following year, she completed thrilling sequels to both novels and additional bestselling novels followed thereafter.



Hampton is known for bringing the heat to readers, and her literary career is filled with many accomplishments. She is an Essence Magazine Bestselling Author, she was named a Favorite Female Fiction writer in Upscale Magazine by O.O.S.A., she is a 2009 African American Literary Award Nominee for her mystery novel, The Dirty Truth, and was awarded Best Female Writer by Infini Promoters. Her dedication to her career lead to a multi-book deal through Urban/Kensington Books in New York City, a publishing house that she refers to as her literary home.



In addition to writing, and having an entrepreneur spirit, Hampton manages her own insurance business where she works as an Insurance Broker for many customers throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. She is also the founder of VOICES Books & Publishing, VOICES Books on Wheels and VOICES Magazine. VOICES is the place where every voice can be heard, and Hampton uses her publishing company to assist writers through the POD process. Her goal has been to work with motivated writers who deserve a chance in this very challenging book industry. She’s been referred to as the “go to person” by many aspiring writers, and works as a literary representative for some of the most talented, upcoming and established authors today. Including, National Bestselling author, Keisha Ervin (Urban Books/Kensington), 2007’s Best Male Writer, Darrin Lowery (Urban Books/Kensington), OASIS (Strebor/Simon & Schuster), Silhouettes (Urban Books/Kensington), Curtis Alcutt (Strebor/Simon & Schuster) and E.V. Adams (Strebor/Simon & Schuster), Tia Hines (Urban/Kensington) and Kaya Henderson (Urban/Kensington).





Hampton's latest releases are: Don't Even Go There, Full Figured 1, The Dirty Truth and Book 6 of the Naughty Series. Naughty includes Hampton’s most loveable, desired, and outrageous character, Jaylin Rogers. Readers can’t get enough of this “bad boy” and his continued drama goes on in Naughty No More. Other novels include: Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right, SLICK, How Can I Be Down?, No Justice No Peace, a Girls from Da Hood collaboration with Brenda Hampton, Keisha Ervin and Ed McNair, and Who or What is in that Closet?!, a children's chapter book that Hampton wrote with her son, Aaron Littlejohn.

Reviews

[K2 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I Do Not Recommend😔 First Hampton Book I Did Not Enjoy....Does Not Seem Like Her Usual Work.

[Donna Napier · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was ok not Brenda's best work

[Queen Rosalind · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm loving books by Brenda Hampton!!! I've read 3 of her books within the last 2 weeks. On to the next one!

[Patrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. This book was great. It kept me on my feet most of the time and kept amazing me. There were very few parts that were a drag and moved a bit slow. The beginning of the book moved a bit slow even though it had important details within it. This book is about more that what the synopsis says. To me, the book hit the climax and there was still about 75 pages left. I asked myself "What more can there be after the climax?". A lot more, that's for sure. I can tell you this book leave's you thinking that a second one may be on it's way.

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the lowest rating I've given a Brenda Hampton book. For me the story is unrealistic. The ending? None of the characters resonated with me. Lola obviously suffers from a mental illness. Before Mannish and after, she's delusional.

[TR]

The ending of this book is SO WRONG!

[Tonya Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending sucked!!! There better be a second part two!!! Revenge needs to be had!!!

[Wyldchild · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading this novel the plot was well written and drawn out. It gave the right amount of. info at the right time and the surprise connections were riveting. I see a part two of this as the villain needs to be dealt with.

I enjoyed Lola and Mannish's connection and understood the connection as husband and wife with Rio. It really does show that it is possible to have a deep connection to more than one person while being married and that circumstances/obstacles can keep a couple apart but once cleared they can move on together. There is just so much to say that is so relevant today in this story that its hard to name it all but homelessness, job loss, divorce its all there and more.

One of the biggest questions it asks How far will you got to protect/take care of your family? And what would you do if your back was against the wall like Lola?

Terrific read great novel I finished this in 2 days that's how hot this book was

[Sheryl Boyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was something!A mother's love for her children will make you do anything; but I don't think I would've considered killing myself for money. I don't think I could turn to selling my body either. I was sooo crushed when Lola's son found her at the hotel with her trick for the night. It will take years to overcome that one! This book just had one turn after another and it really held my attention. The author can actually write a part 2 to this one.

[Monica T · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can not believe people are this stupid!!! You did all of this dumb stuff just to keep a house.
Could have sold the house and lived fine.
Lola is a disgrace for mothers and women.
We are a lot stronger and smarter than that.
Mannish, is just as dumb.
These folks are just doing too much!!
The storyline was very far, far fetch. I'm glad , I'm done! NEXT!!

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was just okay. This story just kept me side eyeing this story. I do believe a mother would do anything to protect her children, but I also thought Lola had selfish tendencies when it came to Mannish and his family.

[Debbie’s reviews 🌸📚📚📚🌸 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit unrealistic to me!

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't get very far with this one before I realized, this wasn't the book for me.

[Joiii · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it had a good plot. The ending made me mad because it had a lot of loose ends and there is no part two yet..so I am a little frustrated because I need to know what happens next.

[Joi Darling · Rating 2 out of 5]

The storyline was rather unrealistic and there were some parts of the plot that didn't make any sense.

[JANET OGLESBY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn't like the ending hoping it has a sequel

[Ta · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible plot, storyline, and climax of this book. Far-fetched

[Linda Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Left in a cliffhanger, but I enjoyed the book!

[Terri Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm curious about what happened next

[Jaleesa Hyman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a fan of the storyline. Unrealistic and pretty much delulu. Sad and rushed ending…would not recommend, sorry!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read. Lola was willing to do anything to save her kids, but did she go to far? I would like to see a part 2 to this story.

[Joi]

I hope it be a part two

[Atiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book a little slow but good hate that it ended the way it did

[Jasmine Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

hopes theres a part two

[e.readsandreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, people will really be in for a surprise at the end. Four stars because at times it dragged on and it seemed like everyone was the villian.

[Nya Michaux]

This was a really good read.very suspenseful, and definitely a page flipper. The plot of the story was very intense. It turns around in the end to something you would never expect. My opinion of the main character Lola was she was beautiful and smart woman but only mart to a certain extent. She was lost and could not find her way out since she stepped her foot into a giant mess. Her morals and thought process was a bit off but her best excuse was to save her children and get the best life for them, so she did what she thought was best for her children's life. She had been betrayed by just about every man in her life and eventually she fell into a trap behind men.