You Can Run, But....
In the first novella, Most Wanted Diamonds; KiKi Swinson crafts a tale of the backfire of betrayal. The story centers around Gianna or GiGi as she has come to be known. She is ghetto fabulous. She manages to find men who keep her laced and she enjoys being their trophy. Warren, a notorious street thug makes her his thug mistress. He moves her out of the hood and provides for her in the most ghetto fabulous manner. All of the hood chicks envy her designer digs. Until GiGi gets caught up with Warren on a deal gone bad. He goes to prison after GiGi sings like a bird. However, old love never dies as proven when Warren reappears after GiGi thought she had gotten out of dodge. Warren has some unfinished business and it isn't professing his dying love for GiGi.
Although, the ending was predictable; the author succeeded in giving me a roller coaster feel. She kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story. I wanted to like GiGi but she was an opportunist and not very smart. I wanted to like the older man that she married, Sidney after moving to Virginia, but I feel that he used Gigi as much as she used him. He used her to maintain an image to go along with his lifestyle. They had nothing in common, not even sex. The author sent the message in this short story, that you can't throw someone under the bus to save yourself and continue to get away with it. I felt that the story was well written. I would have liked a more exciting, more creative ending to this action packed story. I rated this action packed Novella at 3 stars.
The Second Novella, was On Da Run, by Nikki Turner. The story is of Peaches, a hairstylist/card playing extraordinaire, turned fugitive of the law; who with the assistance of her street wise father Mickey, escapes to Miami. She changes her identity, literally and gets involved with the underworld of selling stolen luxury cars. She was only supposed to stay long enough for her father to find a way to prove that the crime was a result of self defense. He sends her to stay with his friend Matteo and his son Sticks with whom she develops a strong attraction to. The attraction may lead to her letting down her guard,which may or may not lead to danger.
The main character changed her name from Peaches to Lolah when she escaped to Miami. However, she was often referred to as Peaches on one page and then Lolah on the next. I don't know if that was intended, but it distracted me. The ending was a huge let down, because it left me hanging. The author did accomplish relaying the message that once you start running, you never stop. You are always looking over your shoulder. I believe the author had an excellent storyline but for some reason did not bring it to a close. The story was action packed, which is why expected more of a dramatic ending. I need closure. I would rate this novel a 3 and am anticipating a sequel to this story.
Bringing both novellas together for a final rating of the book, I will average the two ratings giving it 3 stars. With more editing of both editing and content, this book would be worth a read.
Yolanda Maria
"Reviewed for the Sankofa Literary Society. Book provided by author or publisher for review purposes."