Messiah “Gu” Carter vowed to protect his family of women without letting the streets take over, but when tragedy strikes, his whole world shifts. Running into someone with answers forces him to decide, seek revenge or face the past.
Turquoise “Qui” Edwards is book smart but lost in a past she can’t remember. Caught in a deadly game, she holds secrets that could shatter everything. Will she keep quiet or expose the truth?
Brielle “Bari” Carter is Gu’s little sister, making grown-woman moves with reckless consequences but when the weight of her choices comes crashing down, not even Gu may be able to save her.
Rayliris “RaRa” Almanzar is a jealous woman willing to do anything to stay in Gu’s life. But when obsession turns deadly, will she learn the hard way that another woman’s happiness ain’t hers to steal?
Love, loyalty, and street life collide in Hard Lovin’ Straight Thuggin’.
All I can say is read it. You will be on the edge of your seat cussin with all the mess and drama that's in this book... and lawdddddd I know SUE gone lose it on Bari
This was an easy 5 star. I was pulled in from the first page. This book was a real page turner. There was so much drama my head was spinning. But it was thoroughly entertaining. This is my first time reading anything from S.Yvonne. And I'm impressed. I loved the flashbacks as Qui slowly got her memory back. I liked the different POVs from the main characters. And the cliffhanger? We all saw it coming but I do feel sorry for Bari. She was manipulated and she can't even see it! But poor Pete. I'm excited and can't wait to see what happens in part 2.
I didn’t care for the pacing of this book. It’s like everything was rushed. And I don’t truly understand the development of the MC’s relationship. It’s like you turned the page and boom they are together and in love. No chemistry. And wondering what’s gonna happen that this book needed a second part. But anyway the little sister was annoying as hell and I’m glad that it looks like karma is coming her way.
A comment very early in the book about the mmc’s mother having a “decent grade of hair” because she had “Indian” in her had me side eyeing, but I thought hopefully that was just a blip. However a couple pages later we get another reference to “good hair” because of a characters mixed heritage. I cannot wait for the day my people are freed from the rhetoric of texturism. It’s disappointing to see this being perpetuated by a black woman. I did not finish this book.
The first 20% of this book started off good or maybe I just was just oblivious to how horrible this book was. I was too far in to DNF but I will be DNF’ing the rest of this series.
I had a lot of issues with the writing style. Too many unnecessary grammatical errors and spelling errors. Why was a white character calling a black man “master”? Why did a character refer to another character’s voice as “her ghetto voice”? Oh not to mention all the “good hair” comments.
The storyline and plot were all over the place. Gu has all this money but his sister lives in subsidizing housing? Qui’s family is well off and buys her a brand new car for her birthday but she lives in the projects, too? Qui’s character became unbearable. The whining, insecurities, etc… I felt like I was reading about a damn teenager and not a young adult.
Babyyyyyyyyyyyy Bari made me seriously want to slap her silly. Tuff got what he deserved, and Sue needs to do better as a mother. Bambi is a great friend. You can't find them like that anymore. RaRa plays all her life, and I know once Gu catches up to her, it's light out for her. I wonder how Qui will react when she finds out about RaRa. Nessy gets on my nerves. Oh, and Beans really gone get Monica and Cortez them two were just trifling. On to book 2 good job.
I'm still on my reading binge with Ms. Yvonne 😁. I have no complaints I'm happily enjoying all of these new characters. I'm enjoying this series with Messiah (Gu) and turquoise (Qui) young lovers who just met and they're drama-filled family. Happiness is finding a new author and being able to binge on all of her work go on to the next.
I knew Turquoise lied about not knowing who killed Messiah little cousin Ronnie because she was out there but I understood why she didn't tell Messiah at first. Turquoise really is a sweetheart. However she had discovered the part of the past she couldn't remember after a car accident at fourteen year's old was finally coming back to her. Learning her own sister tried to kill her. Broke Turquoise hurt. Rain is a jealous, evil, cokehead ass b***h. The more Turquoise remember the more she's learning about what Rain had been doing to her when they were younger. Messiah may have started out having ill intentions dealing with Turquoise but he saw how pure her heart is and also witnessed the hurt she's been dealing with and remembering. Hennessy think just because she's Messiah baby mother that she has claims on the man. When Messiah apologize for hurting her and owned up to his mistakes and decided to stop sleeping with her. Hennessy became bitter and tried to use their daughter against him until he snapped. Hennessy knows that Messiah do not play about Winter and she found that out the hard way. Messiah have no clue his ex sneaky link RaRa has plotted and planned to have his baby. RaRa is obsessed and delusional. She's trying to compete where she don't compare. Hiding her pregnancy and then popping out to announce is was a damn mess. Rara should've told her best friend Tricia that her man Swaine been trying to get at her while she's running around trying to be sneaky and start drama in Messiah life. Rara is low-key stalking Turquoise now that she found out that is who Messiah is with. Messiah was better off telling Turquoise himself that he was served paternity papers because I have a feeling RaRa is going to tell Turquoise about her pregnancy. Messiah think his little sister Bari is a innocent good girl and her best friend Bambi is fast. He have no clue how wrong he is. Bari is a young sixteen year old girl who is getting manipulated and used by a grown ass man who had no business looking at her in that way and definitely not screwing the child. He have her little young mind gone to the point I don't believe she realizes what she's doing is really wrong. Had Sue paid attention to her daughter. She would've known something was off it was going on right up under her nose. For Bambi to be so young. That child has to hustle and take care of herself since her trifling ass momma ran off. Bambi is wise beyond her year's. She tried warning Bari that what she was doing was scandalous, wrong, and sooner or later than truth was going to come out. What I realized is that Bari ain't that damn slow. Especially once she concocted that plan to get Pete to think she was pregnant by him. When Turquoise opened the door and realized who Tuff was. I already knew once she told Messiah. All hell was going to break loose. Cortez is a snake. Him, Beans, and Messiah grew up like brother's but Cortez have broken that bond. He have no clue that Beans and Messiah found out about him and Monica.
Talking about skeletons falling out of the closet!!!..Baby, every corner you turned, someone was hiding something!!!.. But someone had a praying grandmother too and I loved that part because a WHOLE lot of prayer was needed in these ppl lives!!!… Brielle was hot mess out here in these streets and she is currently in the right place because she needs to understand what she is chasing and needing in her life!!!…No matter the attention she gets, her mentality needs to be healthier!!!… Tara has definitely set a trap and now we have to see how that is going o unfold!!!…She seen 1st hand that a baby will not keep a man, look at the man and his 1st child’s mother relationship!!!… Monica and Cortez know they are playing things way to close to the best and to play in somebody face like that, geeshhh, they are in for a treat!!!… Qui and Messiah seem to be the only 2 ppl in this book trying to get their life right and want something better for themselves!!!…My heart broke for Qui when she started with her memory flashbacks!!!…To have a sister that wanted to harm you so badly is crazy and distance is surely needed!!!.. It was the ending that had my heart pumping, for Pete to learn that he is not the father of Brielle baby and now her mother is waiting to find out what she needs to tell her!!!…
It is a damn shame how your own sister is jealous of you to the point she put your life in danger. I knew Rain had done something to Turquoise when they were younger. At the time Turquoise couldn't remember because she lost her memory after a tragic accident but when her memory came back and she confronted Rain. I was floored. Rain was a jealous, evil, and demented ass human being. Gu got his hands full with the women in his life. Hennessey was wrong for trying to keep their daughter away from him. She brought out a side of Gu that made him lose all respect for her. Gu don't know that RaRa ain't gone nowhere. She's plotting and planning. RaRa is hiding a secret from him but it still not going to want her when the truth comes out. Gu thinking his little sister Bari is having boy's problem when it's much worst than that. Bari is in some deep mess and lines have been crossed. Gu have become smitten with Turquoise. Although he has plans to harm her in the beginning when he thought she knew something about his cousin Ronnie murder. Turquoise should've told Gu the truth about what she witnessed from the beginning. Now that she has told him who was responsible for Ronnie murder and who else was there. I don't think Gu family will ever be the same.
When I say a lot of shit went down in this book. So many snakes in the story...I was like can I catch my breath....look Messiah, def was carrying the weight of the world on his damn shoulders cause dude only 22 and going through all this ish...the situation with Tuff, Sue and Bari fast slow ass...had me like the f*k. All I know is that I was glad she excepted help. BAMBI, was def a fav character of mine...she was struggling in silence and trying to make the best of her situation while being everyone voice of reason. TURQUOISE fam shit...damn her own sis is a bitch and I'd fuck her up too for all that fowl shit she did to Qui. RARA dumbass just dumb ass shit that's all I got to say...Lawd help beans cause that n*gga bout to crash the fuck out on Monica. I Felt so bad for Pete, he was such a good guy...he didn't deserve that shit...all in all this book was full of lies, secrets and twist, can't wait for book 2 cause I need the end result...bad, like a junkie needing they next hit🤣🤣
I feel like I’ve read this before or maybe I was so into the storyline it felt real.
Gi is a force! He may be young but he has Da Nolia on lock. Yet, his personal life is what causes him most of the chaos he encounters. His girl tripping over his baby mama, he lets her go then the babymama don’t want to let go of him using the baby as a pawn. Tragedy hits his family and everyone he loves he finds he can barely trust or not trust at all.
Trying to find answers is what brings him to Qui. She has lost her memory and is just living life making new memories. She never would’ve thought getting kidnapped will bring about love and discovering the truth behind what happened to her a teen.
Beans is Gu’s best friend and is losing his mind because he knows something is not right in his relationship. He just needs the proof. Monica used to be quiet and bow she’s found that she can speak out and live out loud the way she wants, but her actions have very real consequences.
WOOOWWWW 🤯 whewww the mess in here!! So many twist & turns in the story. The way my mouth dropped with Bari’s storyline & Turquoise’s family! Whew baby I was not expecting that!
Bari truly needs help. She was absolutely manipulated and groomed. Now I don’t agree with what she did with Pete, but hopefully she can heal and come back better.
I hope we hear more from Bambi! She definitely has a story to tell. Beans & Cortez too cause some 💩 definitely goin hit the fan with them!
Rain was a pos! Being that jealous of your sister is insaneeee! Turquoise didn’t deserve that at all & tbh I hope Rain don’t get no type of redemption because she is absolutely trash 🚮
Honestly I love the relationship building between Gu & Turquoise 🥰 He is genuinely a great man in my eyes. Now, he definitely goin have to get Crazy 1 & 2 (RaRa & Hennessy) together. I’m hoping they won’t affect them too bad because I love Gu & Qui ❤️
It's something about trauma bonding that makes me feel deeper for these characters. I loved that Qui loved and was a bright spirit despite not knowing what was really underlining and all the hurt that she endured by a love one. Then you have Gu who literally couldn’t catch a break but was a stand up dude for everyone around him. The amount of drama that took place in this book was ridiculous and I was not sure how all this twist and turns were going to play out. You got baby momma’s from hell that stayed plotting. Siblings betraying siblings or siblings breaking up whole families. You got people questioning and feeling some things being off. I'm ready for part two and hope we get all of the answers. Momma’s about to loose it with what I know is about to play out in book two. This is my 1st read by S. Yvonne and I was pulled in from page one.
I tell you one thing, curiosity did not kill my cat aka me.
This story is so messy but I continued reading. Bari is a whole character and I do not mean that in my usual manner. I say there are plenty of other fish in the sea and Bari needs to leave that father figure man alone. Get pregnant by him, have an abortion, but then get pregnant again. Only thing is this time with her pregnancy, she has to be associated with knowing that her child's father has killed the one person who knew about their relationship. Then there is Rara, Turquoise and her sister. Whew.
This series is gonna be lit. I love myself so Gu he’s a beast and off the chain. My girl Qui is a beast too I’m glad she got her memories back. Her sister Rain made me wanna beat the shit outta her. Cortez is wrong for sleeping with his Bestfriend/brother it’s gonna be hell when that comes out cause Beans gonna be a beast. I think beans and Bambi gonna get together. U did good on yet another book and I’m looking forward to reading more of ur books. Sitting here patting my feet while sipping on Pepsi and eating popcorn while waiting on the next book to read
The writer gets a hold on us with this story and doesn't turn loose. The story is centered around a young couple falling in love. Surrounding them are family and friends who.a are.experiencing those pains of first love,or just the straight crazy. The writer gives a stellar performance because you immediately fall.in love with Messiah and his in charge attitude. The flow of the story moves effortlessly and there are moments you bite your nails ,or bust a gut laughing. This was a good thought out story with a.developed storyline.
All the twist and turns. The Jaw Dropping secrets had me on the edge of my seat. I was like😳This some real life Jerry Springer episodes here. Just Piping Hot Tea. I can not wait for the next book to drop because I’m here waiting and ready. Sue, about to lose her Ever Lasting Mind once she hears the truth from her daughter. I wouldn’t be surprised if Sue comes up pregnant too or that her and Tuff secretly gotten married. Idk, but I’m ready for all that is about to come in this next book . 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
I can’t believe part one ended like that. I knew something was up when Qui was giving Gu's sister (Bari) the cold shoulder. I also can’t believe Bari's Little Secret. This book had so many twists and turns. I was crying, and screaming at the same time. I could not put this book down. Gu is my kind of Guy. He will go all out for the people he loves, just don’t cross him. So, ladies and gentlemen's set back, and enjoy this series, I know I will. Part 2 here I come!!!
This story will take you through it, especially with all of the family drama and trauma. Bari needs so much help mentally, and Tuff should have been handled in the manner he was for sure. The women in this book need to grow up and find some self-worth, respect, and confidence, except Qui. Her story is a different one. I love how Gu has taken on the responsibility of his family, but they're not his responsibility
This is the first time I couldn’t care less about the romance aspect, because the story itself was fire. I’m over here smiling like a menace because the amount of deaths I’m anticipating has me hype. These some trifling mf’s in this book, and I can’t wait for every single one of them to meet their demise. One down already.
I cannot believe I kept skipping over this book. The plot, the chaos, the betrayals…chef’s kiss. I’m locked in!! On to book 2.
Author S.Yvonne did an excellent job with details and presentation which made me feel like I was right there. The scene at Qui birthday party had me torn up. My emotions was all over the place. To learn that Rain hated her sister so much that she even attempt to kill Qui had me feeling very uncomfortable. Can't wait to learn Bari's fate.
This was a darn good read! I enjoyed the whole story. Messiah was something else. Qui was interesting and Rain ugh I don’t like her. I can’t wait to see what’s up next w Bari fast self and Tuff. Can’t wait to read the next intallment.
Ms. Yvonne has done it again🙌. Gu and Pete are bea material so far. RaRa is nuts, Turquiose is just a sweet girl. It will be interesting to see how her story unfolds.
I enjoyed the first book in the series. It was a funny, ghetto, hood love story all in one. Grab this series, you won't be disappointed. On to the next story🥰
Okay, You Are Now My Fav Author!!! I Just Finished Another series of yours with Buddha, Justice, And Blaq and it left me a little hurt! So I knew I had to check out more books by you, but this one, I’ve finished in the matter of a few hours, you go girl! I am downloading book 2 and Will continue supporting you in this writing journey!!!
Ti being this was a crazy few. But as the story progresses you begin so entangled in this crazy web of secrets and madness. I’m loving Gu and Qui The way they met there was so much adrenaline that it just intensified the bond they ended up forming. Enough looking for clues just download and read Happy reading
Page after page , it got juicer. I love it, the plot twist , I knew it though ,I freaking knew TUFF was foul . Hennessey & RaRa typical chicks, ewww. Rain biggest hater . I enjoyed Pete , character .! Can’t forget about sneaky ass Monica can’t wait til she exposed.! Y’all it’s so much tea in this book . I just hope Gu not to mad a Qui .