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Bruthas
What if you were indirectly responsible for the deaths of several women in your neighborhood? What is a psychopath decided to use your neighborhood as his personal hunting ground?This is the story of three Jai, the successful attorney in one of Philadelphia’s top law firms, Ryan, the IT Professional that is struggling with his sexual identity and Nate, the dealer that has risen to one of the highest ranks in drug distribution ring based in a North Philadelphia neighborhood known as “The Block”.A series of murders takes place in “The Block” but nothing is being done about it because the women that are being killed are addicted to the product that Nate sells. “Bruthas” deals with family, loyalty, trust, honesty as well as police corruption and murder. Much like the winding streets of Philadelphia, “Bruthas” takes you on a roller coaster ride exploring the depths of addiction to the heights of family love and will keep you guessing until its climatic finale.
411 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2011
3 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Whitehead
4 books16 followersBiography of Jerome L. Whitehead
J. L. Whitehead has been writing professionally since 1989, initially beginning his career as a contributing freelance columnist for “PGN, Incorporated” located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After writing for the publication for a year, he published his first chap book of poetry entitled “Universal Words” while enjoying various speaking engagements and poetry exhibitions.
His works includes being a major contributing writer to a book of poetry and prose for African American men entitled “A Warm December” in 1989.
In 2002, he became a contributing writer and editor for an online magazine entitled “Never2Funky”.
He has been a journalist for a national web site entitled “The Examiner” as well as contributing to CNN’s iReport. These online publications are web sites dedicated to reporting local and national area news and events. He conducts interviews with local area authors and writes unbiased reviews of their work. He also composes commentaries on topics that pertain to the social issues relevant of the day.
He has also founded his own publication company that goes by the name, Four Brothers Publications. He has released his first full length novel entitled Bruthas and has also written the manuscript for his first play based on the characters of his novel. In 2013, Bruthas, The Final Chapter was released as the second installment of this family crime drama. Both publications are currently available at www.fourbrotherspublications.com and Amazon.
Awards:
The Princeton Literary Review Silver Standard of Literary Excellence for “Bruthas” published August 2011 by Four Brothers Publications
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 1, 2012
The Block. . . .
J. L. Whitehead’s BRUTHAS is the story of three brothers who have chosen different paths. Jai is an attorney with a young son, a hefty bank account and dating a beautiful woman named Taylor. A partner at the law firm comes to Jai and tells him that his brother, Nate, is under investigation, but Jai refuses to believe what he is told.
Ryan is an IT professional who is gay and is looking for someone to share his life with and to love him. Ryan’s best friend just happens to be a female; she wants the very best for him and secretly loves him.
Nate, a drug dealer, has risen to the top of his game by making quick cash on the streets. He wants the finer things in life, but doesn’t want to work a legitimate job to get them.
There are murders in Philadelphia in a section called “The Block.” Killed are female drug addicts, whom just happen to be the people Nate serves. Although Nate isn’t involved directly, he is in the sights of others. Who is really killing these women and why? What, if anything, does Nate have to do with it and how will it affect him and his family?
BRUTHAS is an awesome debut novel. It has suspense, mystery, murder, love, loyalty, police corruption and family. It had numerous characters, but the story was so well written that it is easy to follow without being confused. There are typos and grammatical errors but not enough to affect the story as a whole. This one I can highly recommend and I look forward to what he has in store for his next novel.
Reviewed by: Sophia
4.5 stars
J. L. Whitehead’s BRUTHAS is the story of three brothers who have chosen different paths. Jai is an attorney with a young son, a hefty bank account and dating a beautiful woman named Taylor. A partner at the law firm comes to Jai and tells him that his brother, Nate, is under investigation, but Jai refuses to believe what he is told.
Ryan is an IT professional who is gay and is looking for someone to share his life with and to love him. Ryan’s best friend just happens to be a female; she wants the very best for him and secretly loves him.
Nate, a drug dealer, has risen to the top of his game by making quick cash on the streets. He wants the finer things in life, but doesn’t want to work a legitimate job to get them.
There are murders in Philadelphia in a section called “The Block.” Killed are female drug addicts, whom just happen to be the people Nate serves. Although Nate isn’t involved directly, he is in the sights of others. Who is really killing these women and why? What, if anything, does Nate have to do with it and how will it affect him and his family?
BRUTHAS is an awesome debut novel. It has suspense, mystery, murder, love, loyalty, police corruption and family. It had numerous characters, but the story was so well written that it is easy to follow without being confused. There are typos and grammatical errors but not enough to affect the story as a whole. This one I can highly recommend and I look forward to what he has in store for his next novel.
Reviewed by: Sophia
4.5 stars
July 12, 2012
SHARON'S REVIEW
When I write a review, I first assess what the storyline entails. I'm not talking about a synopsis, I'm talking about my gut reaction on what the author is telling me about their story. My first impression of Bruthas, was that its major themes were Family, Race, Urban Culture, and Crime.
Family is the thread that weaves through all the twists and turns of this intriguing murder mystery, and ties it all together. The story revolves around Thandi Whitfield and her three sons; a black American family living in Philadelphia. Race is a recurring theme that is sometimes very subtle, and sometimes hammers home the injustices that black families face every day.
Bruthas takes the reader into the urban culture of a big city. It really shows the reader what it's like to live among hundreds of thousands of people, where streets form boundaries of ethnic neighbourhoods.
Only black women addicts are being murdered in The Block, a specific high crime neighbourhood. The three Whitfield brothers become embroiled in the investigation of the murders in different ways. The author spins a web of mystery and suspense surrounding the Whitfield family. Could one of them be involved on some level? One minute I think it's possible, then I read on and I think it's impossible." "Bruthas shows the extent that families that love each other, will go to protect their own. It's heart warming in many ways, but also heart wrenching in others. My sympathy goes out to Thandi, as she finds out that Nate has become a criminal. She raised all three boys with love and understanding, so Nate's lifestyle is a betrayal of his upbringing that she just doesn't understand.
The sensitive treatment of Jai's ambition, Ryan's sexual orientation, and Nate's criminal activity is compelling. The lives of the three brothers are examined under a microscope, that shows every human failing, and triumph. The young men become real to me.
This thrilling tale has a powerful impact. It grabs the reader's interest from the first chapter on, and just won't let go. Its raw depiction of a family in crisis is courageous in its candidness, and vivid depth of emotion. The anger, racial pride and frustration against the white powers that be are very realistic, and sometimes disturbing in their intensity.
Bruthas is a book that I would recommend whole heartedly to adult readers. This is not a book for teens, or the faint of heart. It is brutal in its violence, and graphic in its sexual detail. The language is course to the extreme. Still, it is an excellent story. I will probably read it again at some point - it's just that good.
When I write a review, I first assess what the storyline entails. I'm not talking about a synopsis, I'm talking about my gut reaction on what the author is telling me about their story. My first impression of Bruthas, was that its major themes were Family, Race, Urban Culture, and Crime.
Family is the thread that weaves through all the twists and turns of this intriguing murder mystery, and ties it all together. The story revolves around Thandi Whitfield and her three sons; a black American family living in Philadelphia. Race is a recurring theme that is sometimes very subtle, and sometimes hammers home the injustices that black families face every day.
Bruthas takes the reader into the urban culture of a big city. It really shows the reader what it's like to live among hundreds of thousands of people, where streets form boundaries of ethnic neighbourhoods.
Only black women addicts are being murdered in The Block, a specific high crime neighbourhood. The three Whitfield brothers become embroiled in the investigation of the murders in different ways. The author spins a web of mystery and suspense surrounding the Whitfield family. Could one of them be involved on some level? One minute I think it's possible, then I read on and I think it's impossible." "Bruthas shows the extent that families that love each other, will go to protect their own. It's heart warming in many ways, but also heart wrenching in others. My sympathy goes out to Thandi, as she finds out that Nate has become a criminal. She raised all three boys with love and understanding, so Nate's lifestyle is a betrayal of his upbringing that she just doesn't understand.
The sensitive treatment of Jai's ambition, Ryan's sexual orientation, and Nate's criminal activity is compelling. The lives of the three brothers are examined under a microscope, that shows every human failing, and triumph. The young men become real to me.
This thrilling tale has a powerful impact. It grabs the reader's interest from the first chapter on, and just won't let go. Its raw depiction of a family in crisis is courageous in its candidness, and vivid depth of emotion. The anger, racial pride and frustration against the white powers that be are very realistic, and sometimes disturbing in their intensity.
Bruthas is a book that I would recommend whole heartedly to adult readers. This is not a book for teens, or the faint of heart. It is brutal in its violence, and graphic in its sexual detail. The language is course to the extreme. Still, it is an excellent story. I will probably read it again at some point - it's just that good.
April 10, 2012
Kill or Be Killed
"The Block" is the last place anyone wants to be in J. L. Whitehead's debut novel Bruthas. A fasted paced, engaging story about family, money, enemies, and how the three connect, Bruthas takes readers on a tumultuous roller coaster ride through the seedy and corrupt streets of North Philly. Meet Nate Whitfield, a ruthless, street hustler whose bad decisions are not only putting his own life at risk, but threatening the lives of everyone around him in the process. His brothers Jai and Ryan underestimate the depths of Nate's troubles and believe their "clean" lifestyles will keep them out of harm’s way, but when certain crooked individuals set their sights on bringing Nate down, even his family may have to bear the weight of his sins.
Mix 2 cups of the Drug World with 1 pound of Violence, 3 tablespoons of Vendetta, and 5 ounces of Family and you get the gripping novel, Bruthas. Whitehead pens an enjoyable read that despite the 400-page length, you won’t want to put down. I love the fact that illegal worlds of drugs and prostitution are in no way glorified, but instead described for what they really are: unfaithful and unpredictable. In addition, the character of Nate and his association to all of the players is so well developed that the story seems flawlessly woven into a tightly knit blanket of “kill or be killed.”
Alternatively, there are quite a few minor grammatical errors, but these do not distract from the power of the story or the reader’s connection to it. My biggest disappointment with the book is that it is actually a two-part story and ends without a sense of closure for the reader. The second book is scheduled to release later on this year and I certainly want to be one of first to get a copy to find out if Nate Whitfield, his “bruthas,” and “The Block” will survive the costly and inescapable drug war.
4.25 Stars
"The Block" is the last place anyone wants to be in J. L. Whitehead's debut novel Bruthas. A fasted paced, engaging story about family, money, enemies, and how the three connect, Bruthas takes readers on a tumultuous roller coaster ride through the seedy and corrupt streets of North Philly. Meet Nate Whitfield, a ruthless, street hustler whose bad decisions are not only putting his own life at risk, but threatening the lives of everyone around him in the process. His brothers Jai and Ryan underestimate the depths of Nate's troubles and believe their "clean" lifestyles will keep them out of harm’s way, but when certain crooked individuals set their sights on bringing Nate down, even his family may have to bear the weight of his sins.
Mix 2 cups of the Drug World with 1 pound of Violence, 3 tablespoons of Vendetta, and 5 ounces of Family and you get the gripping novel, Bruthas. Whitehead pens an enjoyable read that despite the 400-page length, you won’t want to put down. I love the fact that illegal worlds of drugs and prostitution are in no way glorified, but instead described for what they really are: unfaithful and unpredictable. In addition, the character of Nate and his association to all of the players is so well developed that the story seems flawlessly woven into a tightly knit blanket of “kill or be killed.”
Alternatively, there are quite a few minor grammatical errors, but these do not distract from the power of the story or the reader’s connection to it. My biggest disappointment with the book is that it is actually a two-part story and ends without a sense of closure for the reader. The second book is scheduled to release later on this year and I certainly want to be one of first to get a copy to find out if Nate Whitfield, his “bruthas,” and “The Block” will survive the costly and inescapable drug war.
4.25 Stars
October 12, 2011
Title: Bruthas
Author: JL Whitehead
Publisher: Four Brothers Publication
Release date (or anticipated release): 8/2/2011
ISBN: 9780983801009
ASIN (if applicable):
Ebook ISBN:
Specs: 6x9, 397 pages
Website (optional):
Category: Urban Fiction
Review Summary:
JL Whitehead writes a story not only about brothers, but family relationships and the life journey's they choose and sometimes their choices need to change. Nate has taken the wrong path in comparison to his brothers especially Jai, who works at a law firm, in a relationship with Taylor, and has a son, Joshua. Nate's reality is to make quick cash on the streets, hustling and bustling instead of working a 9 to 5. He desires the finer things in life but not willing to work hard for it. His mother, Thandi at sixty-three wants to best for her three sons and loves the bonding of family and willing to do what it takes to keep them united. Her other son, Ryan, is doted as the gay brother/son that Nate refuses to accept his lifestyle. However, Ryan still believes in God but unable to find a male companion who shares the same interests and able to love on all levels. Tamra is Ryan's closest friend on so many levels, and wants the best for her dear co-worker and friend.
Dream Moment(s): The author emphasizes some valid lessons and points on page 102-105, where some of us don't fit the profile and love doesn't hurt (in reference to character Maya, and Trenace is trying to tell her). We may not fit the profile but something came in our way to change our current status such as background, upbringing, and self-esteem, searching for love in all the wrong places, and not knowing our worth.
Dream Disaster (Nightmare(s)): There are numerous characters to keep up with but the pace isn't slow nor rushed and written so eloquently. The author can be also mindful of the tenses used. There was another thing that caught my attention on page 87 states "2011 Lincoln Navigator" was the new car offered to Nate and on page 199 reads "SUV" and this type of car is considered a truck than a SUV. Some of the typesetting put the words closely knitted together (e.g. diningroom and p.122 are some examples). "Descent" should be "descend" on page 127. These minor errors don't deter you from the overall novel.
Dream 4 More (Keep us Dreaming): This book reads more than just Urban Fiction, also has the element of Suspense and sprinkle of Mystery. The reader is able to see who the murder/killer is but other characters are trying to figure out who it is responsible for these sporadic murders. Whitehead also takes us into the mindset, emotions or feelings of the characters, and sets up the scene nicely in most aspects of the novel. This is not just another Urban-street lit book, it captivates the reader into the dark side of the streets known as the "Block" and the horrid side of a crack head with a gory-like feel to it.
Dream 4 More Reviews received the novel "Bruthas" from the author for a book review. We received the paperback version, not Kindle (eBook).
Dream 4 More Reviews,
Adrienna Turner
Wooed Us Dream!
http://www.dream4more.webs.com
Author: JL Whitehead
Publisher: Four Brothers Publication
Release date (or anticipated release): 8/2/2011
ISBN: 9780983801009
ASIN (if applicable):
Ebook ISBN:
Specs: 6x9, 397 pages
Website (optional):
Category: Urban Fiction
Review Summary:
JL Whitehead writes a story not only about brothers, but family relationships and the life journey's they choose and sometimes their choices need to change. Nate has taken the wrong path in comparison to his brothers especially Jai, who works at a law firm, in a relationship with Taylor, and has a son, Joshua. Nate's reality is to make quick cash on the streets, hustling and bustling instead of working a 9 to 5. He desires the finer things in life but not willing to work hard for it. His mother, Thandi at sixty-three wants to best for her three sons and loves the bonding of family and willing to do what it takes to keep them united. Her other son, Ryan, is doted as the gay brother/son that Nate refuses to accept his lifestyle. However, Ryan still believes in God but unable to find a male companion who shares the same interests and able to love on all levels. Tamra is Ryan's closest friend on so many levels, and wants the best for her dear co-worker and friend.
Dream Moment(s): The author emphasizes some valid lessons and points on page 102-105, where some of us don't fit the profile and love doesn't hurt (in reference to character Maya, and Trenace is trying to tell her). We may not fit the profile but something came in our way to change our current status such as background, upbringing, and self-esteem, searching for love in all the wrong places, and not knowing our worth.
Dream Disaster (Nightmare(s)): There are numerous characters to keep up with but the pace isn't slow nor rushed and written so eloquently. The author can be also mindful of the tenses used. There was another thing that caught my attention on page 87 states "2011 Lincoln Navigator" was the new car offered to Nate and on page 199 reads "SUV" and this type of car is considered a truck than a SUV. Some of the typesetting put the words closely knitted together (e.g. diningroom and p.122 are some examples). "Descent" should be "descend" on page 127. These minor errors don't deter you from the overall novel.
Dream 4 More (Keep us Dreaming): This book reads more than just Urban Fiction, also has the element of Suspense and sprinkle of Mystery. The reader is able to see who the murder/killer is but other characters are trying to figure out who it is responsible for these sporadic murders. Whitehead also takes us into the mindset, emotions or feelings of the characters, and sets up the scene nicely in most aspects of the novel. This is not just another Urban-street lit book, it captivates the reader into the dark side of the streets known as the "Block" and the horrid side of a crack head with a gory-like feel to it.
Dream 4 More Reviews received the novel "Bruthas" from the author for a book review. We received the paperback version, not Kindle (eBook).
Dream 4 More Reviews,
Adrienna Turner
Wooed Us Dream!
http://www.dream4more.webs.com
February 5, 2013
To read this review and others like it check out my site www.ufreviews.com
This is a book that really revolves around family and the choices that people make. This review was requested by the author, and to be completely honest this is not a book that I would normally read. It's not that book isn't interesting or doesn't have decent plot lines, because it does, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
One of the biggest problems I had with this book was the amount of people in the book to keep track of. While I appreciate a wide variety of characters, let's face it every book needs a variety of characters, this one just had to many to not only keep track of but to bond with. I felt like i didn't have enough time or in-depth insight into the characters in order for me to really have a strong investment in them.
One thing that was pretty good about this book though was the pacing. One of my biggest problems with books is when they feel like they are dragging on and and I just can't get into the storyline. Thankfully this book did not suffer from that affliction. The pacing was pretty fast paced, even from the beginning, and it's possible that it felt fast pace because there were so many characters and things going on with those characters, but I think it works for the reader in that it keeps them interested in the book.
I wanted to mention that the author did a pretty good job with keeping the book as close to reality as possible. There is no sensationalized drug culture or making it out to be this amazing experience, it is shown for what it really is, a dog eat dog world. There were a couple of issue with some formatting things, but they aren't big or annoying, and I don't think it detracts from the story at all.
Like I said earlier this book is not really my cup of tea, so I am going to give it a good rating because all the right components are there and I think the book can easily find an audience that will enjoy the book. The one thing that did bother me is that the book really didn't have an ending. It is a two part book, but even with books in a series or a trilogy or what have you, they need a good ending point where the reader can be satisfied until the next book comes out. I felt like this book just kind of ended. If you are looking for a book about family and all the elements that go along with that, in an urban setting, I think this would be a book you would enjoy.
This is a book that really revolves around family and the choices that people make. This review was requested by the author, and to be completely honest this is not a book that I would normally read. It's not that book isn't interesting or doesn't have decent plot lines, because it does, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
One of the biggest problems I had with this book was the amount of people in the book to keep track of. While I appreciate a wide variety of characters, let's face it every book needs a variety of characters, this one just had to many to not only keep track of but to bond with. I felt like i didn't have enough time or in-depth insight into the characters in order for me to really have a strong investment in them.
One thing that was pretty good about this book though was the pacing. One of my biggest problems with books is when they feel like they are dragging on and and I just can't get into the storyline. Thankfully this book did not suffer from that affliction. The pacing was pretty fast paced, even from the beginning, and it's possible that it felt fast pace because there were so many characters and things going on with those characters, but I think it works for the reader in that it keeps them interested in the book.
I wanted to mention that the author did a pretty good job with keeping the book as close to reality as possible. There is no sensationalized drug culture or making it out to be this amazing experience, it is shown for what it really is, a dog eat dog world. There were a couple of issue with some formatting things, but they aren't big or annoying, and I don't think it detracts from the story at all.
Like I said earlier this book is not really my cup of tea, so I am going to give it a good rating because all the right components are there and I think the book can easily find an audience that will enjoy the book. The one thing that did bother me is that the book really didn't have an ending. It is a two part book, but even with books in a series or a trilogy or what have you, they need a good ending point where the reader can be satisfied until the next book comes out. I felt like this book just kind of ended. If you are looking for a book about family and all the elements that go along with that, in an urban setting, I think this would be a book you would enjoy.
April 10, 2012
Amazon Title: Family can make you or break you!
What is it about family that makes us who we are. Good, bad, indifferent; we all choose different roads in life.
These brother's are no different; Nate, Ryan, and Jai are all employed, but one not legally. Nate is the King in the streets, peddling his wares to his community, looking for the fame that being in the big time can bring.But as he's searching for riches,
someone is killing the same women Nate is selling to. Is he in danger? Will his brothers be able to help him?
Ryan proficient in his career of Internet Technology, looks for love and though someone close to him is in love with him; her unrequited love won't be enough. She's not the man of his dreams! How does his family deal with his alternate lifestyle.
Jai who seems to have it all. He's a successful attorney, and father, building his bank account legally; and dating. When Jai is informed of news about one of his brothers, how will he handle it?
Will this dysfunctional family meet a tragic end, or will they come together and tighten their bonds for survival?
Brutha's was a good read filled with action and intrigue, that will definitely keep you turning pages!
How far will you go to help a Brutha?
This book was provided by the author for the purpose of this review.
Reader's Paradise
Melody Vernor-Bartel
4 Bookmarks
What is it about family that makes us who we are. Good, bad, indifferent; we all choose different roads in life.
These brother's are no different; Nate, Ryan, and Jai are all employed, but one not legally. Nate is the King in the streets, peddling his wares to his community, looking for the fame that being in the big time can bring.But as he's searching for riches,
someone is killing the same women Nate is selling to. Is he in danger? Will his brothers be able to help him?
Ryan proficient in his career of Internet Technology, looks for love and though someone close to him is in love with him; her unrequited love won't be enough. She's not the man of his dreams! How does his family deal with his alternate lifestyle.
Jai who seems to have it all. He's a successful attorney, and father, building his bank account legally; and dating. When Jai is informed of news about one of his brothers, how will he handle it?
Will this dysfunctional family meet a tragic end, or will they come together and tighten their bonds for survival?
Brutha's was a good read filled with action and intrigue, that will definitely keep you turning pages!
How far will you go to help a Brutha?
This book was provided by the author for the purpose of this review.
Reader's Paradise
Melody Vernor-Bartel
4 Bookmarks
September 30, 2012
I entered to win this book on goodreads based on the brief synopsis. I was initially turned off by the amateurish cover but overcame that. When I won the book I really wasn't sure what to expect. After reading it, I'm still slightly torn. Unlike most urban fiction this author doesn't revert to slang, or dumb down the characters to make them stereotypical. There are a few typos here and there which is common in urban fiction, but these all seemed to be a result of the typeset, and this the fault of the publisher, not the author which is another bonus. My main problem with this book is that there were just WAY too many characters and storylines to follow, and by the end of the book not a single one was resolved. When I finished reading the book I immediately went to Amazon to find part 2 only to find out that it hasn't been published in the three years since this one originally debuted. I feel robbed that I got no ending. I personally think the author would have been better off focusing a series of novels on one brother at a time and let the other storylines unfold a little bit in each of their books. The writing would have seemed more cohesive and would have allowed the reader to feel more fulfilled by having an ending.
July 30, 2012
This book takes the reader into the world of murder, drug dealing and everything included in this dark side of life. The author master's the ugliness of drug addiction, sexual exploitation, and how families are affected by the actions of all it's members. It deals with the intricacies of the family unit, and how members choose to pull together to help one whose choices put them all in jeopardy. Since this is an underworld most of us know nothing about, the reader is educated about the terrifying lives of those that love someone involved in the criminal side of life. Is a strong familial unit enough to break the cycle? I'm hoping Book II answers that question.
February 3, 2013
I signed up for the give-a-way not 100% sure I would enjoy this story. Growing up in the small and mostly rural state of Maine I do not have the exposure to the grittiness that exists elsewhere.
This Urban story was interesting, well written and keep the reader engaged. The story centers around family. Three brothers with different life path choices.
I thank the author, J.L. Whitehead, for gifting me with a copy.
This Urban story was interesting, well written and keep the reader engaged. The story centers around family. Three brothers with different life path choices.
I thank the author, J.L. Whitehead, for gifting me with a copy.
October 12, 2011
I had the wrong version but this is Kindle and I have the paperback book. Author request.
Nearly done. Review is on Dream 4 More Book Reviews (Goodreads) and our site: www.dream4more.webs.com
He will join me on Dream4More Radio, October 16th at 6 p.m. EST. www.blogtalkradio.com/Dream4MoreRadio
Nearly done. Review is on Dream 4 More Book Reviews (Goodreads) and our site: www.dream4more.webs.com
He will join me on Dream4More Radio, October 16th at 6 p.m. EST. www.blogtalkradio.com/Dream4MoreRadio
September 15, 2012
I absolutely adore this book! I received this in the mail just a few days ago (won it in a Goodreads giveaway) and started reading it immediately. It's a fun, heartwarming read with delightful writing. Absolutely loved it.
February 24, 2017
Good Read
I enjoyed reading this. It had a good storyline and great characters. I'm not sure what happened with the publishing, but this story was full of comments and notations. I plan on reading the sequel because J.L. Whitehead is definitely talented
I enjoyed reading this. It had a good storyline and great characters. I'm not sure what happened with the publishing, but this story was full of comments and notations. I plan on reading the sequel because J.L. Whitehead is definitely talented
October 14, 2012
FIGHTING FOR FAMILY
Jai, Ryan and Nate are three brothers raised by their parents as a close-knit family in the heart of Philadelphia. In the wake of their father's death, their lives are all affected in different ways. At the same time, their mother, Thandi, attempts to deal with her loss and help heal each of her children's pain. Jai becomes a successful lawyer and lives with his long-term girlfriend and son. They have a great relationship, but he has reservations about committing to marriage. Ryan is a thriving IT specialist who struggles with the intimate feelings he had for the woman he once loved and his attraction to men. Although all three go through their own grieving process, it seems as if Nate takes this loss the hardest. Feeling inadequate in comparison to his successful brothers, he turns to the streets for validation. In doing so, he rises through the ranks as the enforcing power behind one of the most notorious drug lords in the city. As a series of gruesome murders take place around the city, Nate is faced with the possibility that his choice of profession could permanently tear his family apart.
In Bruthas, J.L. Whitehead depicted the internal struggles of this family in such a vivid manner. The imagery used made some of the scenes extremely intense. I was pulled into the story as I read how each of them dealt with their own insecurities as the subplots unfolded. I felt the intense emotion fueling Thandi's desire to pull her sons together without her husband's influence. The murders that take place intrigued me because they were so heinous in nature. It grieved my heart to imagine that this type of crime has been some women's reality. The ending left me wondering if their issues will cause them to reunite as the close family they once were or will it drive a wedge ever further between them. Mr. Whitehead did a great job with this title. I am awaiting the sequel to this book to find out how this family fares.
4.5 stars
Ondrea L. Davis, Reviewer
Jai, Ryan and Nate are three brothers raised by their parents as a close-knit family in the heart of Philadelphia. In the wake of their father's death, their lives are all affected in different ways. At the same time, their mother, Thandi, attempts to deal with her loss and help heal each of her children's pain. Jai becomes a successful lawyer and lives with his long-term girlfriend and son. They have a great relationship, but he has reservations about committing to marriage. Ryan is a thriving IT specialist who struggles with the intimate feelings he had for the woman he once loved and his attraction to men. Although all three go through their own grieving process, it seems as if Nate takes this loss the hardest. Feeling inadequate in comparison to his successful brothers, he turns to the streets for validation. In doing so, he rises through the ranks as the enforcing power behind one of the most notorious drug lords in the city. As a series of gruesome murders take place around the city, Nate is faced with the possibility that his choice of profession could permanently tear his family apart.
In Bruthas, J.L. Whitehead depicted the internal struggles of this family in such a vivid manner. The imagery used made some of the scenes extremely intense. I was pulled into the story as I read how each of them dealt with their own insecurities as the subplots unfolded. I felt the intense emotion fueling Thandi's desire to pull her sons together without her husband's influence. The murders that take place intrigued me because they were so heinous in nature. It grieved my heart to imagine that this type of crime has been some women's reality. The ending left me wondering if their issues will cause them to reunite as the close family they once were or will it drive a wedge ever further between them. Mr. Whitehead did a great job with this title. I am awaiting the sequel to this book to find out how this family fares.
4.5 stars
Ondrea L. Davis, Reviewer
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