Readers can’t get enough of K.L. Brady’s highly acclaimed and award-winning debut novel – the Winner of the 2010 Next Generation Indie Award for Multicultural Fiction and the Third Place Grand Prize Winner overall for fiction books. A “Top Read” for OOSA Book Club Reviewer’s Choice – Midwest Book Review “Ladies, ladies, ladies…don’t walk, RUN to get your copy of this book! The Bum Magnet…happily blends surprise, humor, and wit into 294 pages of wonderful . . . This book is FABULOUS.” —Uptown Girl’s Harlem Book Club “A hilarious, tell-it-like-it-is story . . . This novel screams perfection.” —AAMBC Book Reviews “K.L. Brady’s journey of one woman’s dating woes and self-discovery was entertaining and real…funny and uplifting. Charisse’s sarcasm is a perfect smoke screen for her inner struggles and insecurities.” —OOSA Online Book Club “K.L. Brady gives you reality checks in laugh-out-loud scenarios . . . Kudos!” —SistahFriend Book Club Charisse Tyson’s got it all going on . . . She’s a savvy, successful real-estate agent with a quick wit and a low tolerance for BS. Despite her dream house, luxury car, and appetite for life’s best, she seems to have her own special talent for attracting players—and, after 39 years, she's ready for a change. A holiday meltdown following a breakup with yet another Mr. Wrong prompts her to read a magazine article that holds the promise of changing her forever. Just five simple steps to transform her tedious love life to the stuff of legends. Her hilarious attempt to follow the illuminating wisdom snares her romantic life into entanglements she can’t imagine how to escape, but it’s her twenty-seven-year-old secret that threatens to keep her from finding "the one." Charisse learns the hard Your past can be the anchor that holds you back...or the fuel that propels you forward. Will her questionable choices seal her fate?
K. L. Brady is a D.C. native but spent a number of her formative years in the Ohio Valley. She’s an alumnus of the University of the District of Columbia and University of Maryland University College, earning a B.A. in Economics and M.B.A., respectively. A lifelong Washington football fan, she's a professed nerd-girl who loves all things Star Trek, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Big Bang Theory. She's a member of Romance Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, the Maryland Writers Association, and Sisters in Crime and lives to write novels, especially those involving hilarious quirky characters looking for love. She is hard at work on her next several projects including the sequels to HER PERFECT CATCH (part of the Valentine's Pets and Kisses box set) because girls love football, too!
By the description of this book I had a good feeling that it would be a bit smarter and more entertaining than most chick-lit, but I still couldn’t shake the chick-lit stigma I was putting on it. Upon actually reading the book I found I was right and very wrong. The book wasn’t just smart and entertaining, but it also surpassed the genre of chick-lit.
The main character is nothing like me; our ages are distant, our economic status is distant (she’s a professional and I’m...not), she is jaded when it comes to love and I am still young enough to be socially acceptably naive about it. That’s the short list and still I could relate so much to Charisse. As a woman, in her wants and needs and dedication to her loved ones, and as a person in the same respects. The character was so well defined and three dimensional that even though I had NOTHING in common with her, I could constantly put myself in her place, making the book more interactive than just passive.
What I loved most about the evolution and character of Charisse’s life, and the men in it, were that you were shown the good and the bad in the same stark and truthful light. Charisse wasn’t perfect, the men she dated weren’t perfect, and even those who you felt so disgusted by at times had their good sides. You still could understand how Charisse would and could form relationships with them.
Without spoiling anything, I’ll simply say the man she finally ended up with was GREAT. Again, realistic but still a great leading man. One I don’t walk away from the story thinking ‘it wouldn’t actually last’. It was perfect. It was sweet. It was sigh worthy.
On a final (and IMPORTANT) note, the tone of the book was overall upbeat in what seemed like a dismal life from time to time. This made the humor easy and flawless. There were a lot of times that I laughed out loud and that last scene will remain one of my favorites for a long time.
A beautiful, driven and successful real estate agent, Charisse Tyson seems to have it all, including a predilection for attracting losers, liars and bums. After spending another New Year's Eve alone, she decides to put her foot down and `just say no to bums' with the help of a magazine article, "Stop Attracting Toxic Men: Five Steps to Unpacking Your Emotional Baggage."
To know where you're going, you have to know where you've been. As part of her bum detox, she revisits her past relationships through journals she's kept over the years. While watching her bum highlight reel in slow motion, a few new contenders have stepped up to the plate and now her cup runneth over. When you don't look is when you seem to find and the men that have found Charisse include: a new chocolate Adonis who may be too good to be true; a handsome stranger with stalker-like tendencies; a ghost from bum's past; and a recovering bum. Will Charisse learn from her past relationship mistakes, or is she doomed to forever be a BUM MAGNET?
I absolutely enjoyed "The Bum Magnet." K.L. Brady's journey of one woman's dating woes and self discovery was entertaining and real. With a nice balance of drama and laughs, "The Bum Magnet" is both funny and uplifting. Charisse's sarcasm is a perfect smoke screen for her inner struggles and insecurities.
"The Bum Magnet" works on many levels, friendships, the power of forgiveness, getting rid of emotional baggage, emotional growth, closure, the strength of family and love.
The only weakness, for me, was the cover. Of course you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but an appealing cover goes a long way. And in this case, it was almost a deciding factor in not reading this book. The synopsis and title tipped the scales.
"The Bum Magnet" is recommended reading. K.L. Brady, I like your style. I look forward to your next release.
Okay, I just fell in LOVE with Charisse. Didn't care for the beginning, but I just kept reading, and I gotta tell you, this is such a funny book full of funny one liners. I know that previously I said that the 40 year old Ebonics bugged me, but I really got into it.
Man... my heart completely fell when Charisse met Dwayne (and her "ho moment" ultimate lol). I thought she was too new out of the previous relationship with that jerk Marcus. (...crap. I grabbed the book to look for a quote, and I caught myself reading about two chapters. CURSE YOU K.L. BRADY FOR PULLING ME IN!!! ...fine, you get another star. Any book that can do that, gets another star.)
Anyways, so yeah, funny. I made the mistake of reading the book in front of my friend who couldn't believe that I was laughing so hard at a book. Now she wants to read it (yeah... she can get her own. Everybody needs book sales, right?). Defiantly a multi-read book (you can read it multiple times, and not get bored). I really like this book. It just took me a bit to get into the grove (I guess I've never read a book like it). But now that I've got that down, I can dive in any old place and just start reading about Charisse and her boys who seem to think that marriage doesn't mean that you stop sleeping with other people.
Warning: don't read in public, you WILL laugh and people WILL stare. If you can handle the staring, by all means, go ahead.
A hilarious tells it like it is story that is sure to have you flipping the pages like you need another does of the good stuff. This novel by KL Brady screams perfection. Nothing was missed in this book as you follow the life of Charisse who some how seems to attract the wrong kind of man hence the name BUM. When a new year hits she wants to make a change. She wants to start over and perhaps find that true someone. This task wasn't easy and as she tended to still make the same mistakes over and over she still tried to have hope. Brady told this story in a hilarious senses of humor but with a tell like it is mentality. I couldn't see this book told any other way and to give me a laugh, suspense, and hope all in one means you kept my attention. The book had all its t's cross and I's dotted and with a completed story without you wondering what's gonna happen next. I give Ms. Brady top shelf. This is defiantly a 2010 top recommended reads.
Reading the book was a bit wierd in terms of the sequence of writing. The writer was moving between present and past I had to guess the sequence at times. But nonetheless, the book was interesting at the way the leading lady Ms Tyson was just going through the most, looking at the trend of men she attracted in her life and the self retrospect journey that they she is going on. Reading the title and and cover you would think a lot, but it's not as the cover shows. Would recommend this book to anyone interested to see that it's possible to see that with determination one can go through a self retrospecting journey with no Harm. Love the twist at the end though.
This was a quick, lighthearted read for those not really looking for a romance novel, but something fun to read. After several very serious nonfiction books, this selection by a book club member was a reprieve.
Charisse Tyson, for all outside appearances, has it going on. She's a successful real estate agent with the BMW 760 and mansion on the hill to show for it. The laws of attraction have her size 14 curves beckoning to most men that she encounters. But, Charisse will be the first to tell you that seductive curves, a hot car, and successful career aren't everything they're cracked up to be when you don't have anyone to share it with; well anyone other than lying, cheating dawgs. All of the men in Charisse's past and present are fine, charming, and cheating. It may take a little self-evaluation to find out just why Charisse Tyson is a bum magnet.
Forced to spend her second New Year's Eve alone because of another man's betrayal, Charisse finds herself sunken into a depression that is aided by chocolate, vodka and her favorite chaise. When she picks up an article in a popular women's magazine that encourages her to let go of her emotional baggage, Charisse vows to self-assess and stop attracting toxic men. As she turns back the pages of her journal, she re-evaluates her past relationships in hopes to find out just where it all went wrong. But, is it possible that she may be the cause of all of her man-related troubles? When Charisse meets Dwayne Gibson, a sexy home improvement contractor, she breaks a few newly resolved rules. Is he "the one" or just another dawg in disguise? Just what does it take to demagnetize the bums?
K.L. Brady has penned a clever, witty, insightful, and down right hilarious novel with THE BUM MAGNET. From the first page until the very last, I was laughing out loud and wondering just how this new author came up with this stuff. Charisse Tyson is a realistic and likable character with flaws and experiences that most women can relate to. The book flowed nicely, with well-written narrative, snappy dialogue, and a quickly evolving plot. Charisse's offbeat sense of humor coupled with her man-induced drama, had me rapidly turning the pages to find out how she rids herself of her bum magnetism. I was a bit disappointed to have easily guessed the outcome of what was supposed to be a mysterious sub-plot throughout the novel. But the skillful way in which Brady crafted this humorous read kept my disappointment at a minimum. This debut author is one to watch. I highly recommend THE BUM MAGNET!
Reviewed by Monique D. Mensah For RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers
The Bum Magnet wasn't exactly what I expected, even by the title. To be honest the title was part of the reason I was reluctant to purchase it. I'm not into male bashing, but it was nothing like that. This was a story of self-reflection and growth.
Charisse Tyson has it going on, successful career, good looks, nice home and car, but she keeps attracting the same flawed guy. They all seem to have an agenda, but she is nobody's dummy and I love how she gets them all back. Although the story was entertaining and at times funny, it really will make you think. If you want different results, develop a different plan, trust your instincts and be true to self. Charisse had a long stream of bad relationships, with one thing in common, almost all of the men were cheaters. She saw the signs in each relationship, but refused to listen to the little voice in her head warning her of the dangers ahead. It wasn't until she decided to work on her own baggage and face her own demons, that things became clear and the man she was destine for entered her life again. The most despicable one of all was the one you least expected. Of course, you know he has an agenda and he is up to no good, but just how low he is will to go had me shaking my head. I have met each of these personality types in real life. I even dated a few in my life, but like Charisse, I learned to trust my instincts. My mother used to call them slow-walking Charlies, because they are usually good looking guys who look good on paper, but they give off an vibe that spells bad news.
I think this is good book for women who are on the dating scene to read. Its true many men have agendas and many of those agendas are self-serving and deceitful, but women have been given an intact gift called the BS detector. We just need to start listening to that little voice and start trusting our instincts more. Good book!
I'm a book club member and I received an email from Ms. Brady about her Q&A which is what brought me to Goodreads.
I read this book and absolutely loved it!! It was so funny. I've read books by a variety of "chick lit" authors and I can truly say that I did not laugh out loud at books by bestselling authors like Sophie Kinsella or Jennifer Weiner or Terry McMillan like I laughed out loud with this book. Maybe Bridget Jones Diary made me laugh as much. Maybe. This author has her finger on the pulse of women's issues when it comes to relationships and bums and she speaks to them in a real way that is also humorous.
I could identify with the character and relate to her...and I probably have six friends JUST like her. She's funny, smart, and very flawed. Oh, the mistakes she makes in the men she selects. Realizing she's stuck in bad patterns of bad men and bad relationships, she decides to pull out the old journals and look back into her past to see where she went wrong and where she can improve for the future. But the great thing is that the character never bashes the men at all, she never blames them for all of her troubles. She merely tells it like it is and tries to assess her own faults, while at the same time juggling a barrage of men that seem to be coming at her from all directions. Does she learn from her mistakes? You gotta read to find out.
This is truly a must-read if you like your reality checks cloaked in humor. And if you want to know something funny, my husband started reading a random chapter and he couldn't put it down either. Now I can't get my book back. I (we) can't wait for the sequel.
Ladies, ladies, ladies...don't walk, RUN to get your copy of this book!
K. L. Brady's "The Bum Magnet" was February 2010 book of the month for Uptown Girls Harlem Book Club. Now, when it comes to literature, we can be quite a blood-thirsty group! We disect each page with a fine tooth comb. After close and careful examination the unanimous consensus is that this book is FABULOUS.
"The Bum Magnet" reads more like the snapping witty must-have rapport we ladies have with our best girlfriends. I laughed, cringed, and identified with many of the relationship woes our heroine Charisse goes through. This book happily blends surprise, humor, and wit into 294 pages of wonderful.
We've all met those men who possess more than a few animalistic characteristics. Charisse and her best friend Nisey, know more than their fair share of no good dogs who wouldn't know what faithful was if it bit them in the behind. After a Vodka and Dorito's induced New Year's resolution to change patterns of her behavior that lead her into the arms of unsavory men, Charisse succumbs to the very savory hershey's chocolate kisses of Dwayne Gibson. Dwayne, it seems, is the least of Charisse problems. She also has to contend with memories of old flames wishing to rekindle; Lamar: the philandering pretty boy from her youth, Marcus: the cheating control-freak begging for a second chance, Sean: the married man who's "member" still thinks he's single, and Kevin: ...you have to read the book to find out about Kevin!
If you haven't already purchased this book, you need to pry yourself away from your own Vodka and Dorito's buffet and get your copy of "The Bum Magnet" today!
Never in all my years of reading, have I read a book that made me laugh out loud as many times as THE BUM MAGNET. My kids were looking at me like I was crazy but I couldn't help it. (Birth control pajamas - just about all of us have a pair of them.)
Charisse Tyson has a successful career, a beautiful home and a bad-ass ride. On the outside looking in, she appears to have everything - everything but love. Meeting men isn't a problem for someone as charismatic as Charisse. But for some strange reason, her magnetic personality seems to attract sexy, super fine, muscular, charming - NO GOOD BUMS!
Toward the middle of the book, Charisse's bum stories were beginning to overwhelm me. I mean, who picks that many bums? Answer - Charisse, that's who. Captivated, I flipped the page and there was my "ah ha" moment for this particular bum brings about a change in Charisse's life. Is it for the better? You'll have to read the book to see.
Even though I knew how this book would end, the predictability wasn't a turn off. It's what the advange reader is hoping for. The ending will make you cheer for Charisse and sing praises to K. L. Brady`s THE BUM MAGNET. Love this book. In fact, I just referenced it in my sequel....
Bum Magnet by K. L. Brady is a humorous yet honest novel about one woman's journey to understanding her laundry list of bad relationships. A recent break-up, a magazine article, and a New Year's resolution, leads Charisse Tyson "back down memory lane," examining the underlying lesson she seemed to miss after each failed relationship. Is every man a dog, is Charisse just a bum magnet, or is life, love, and fate lining up to reveal to her the bittersweet truth that can forever change her world? You'll have to read the book to find out.
From page one, Bum Magnet is an enjoyable read. Brady's comedic timing is impeccable, making Charisse's character one you can't forget. Although a bit self-degrading initially, Charisse evolves throughout the book, demonstrating great character development. What I appreciated most was that in addition to the obvious entertainment value of the novel, pearls of wisdom were sprinkled and mixed into the plot, providing the readers something to hold on to even after the last page. The book is well written and the storyline has enough ups, downs, twists, and dips to keep any lover of chick lit flipping pages. Hats off to Brady for a recommendable read!
The Bum Magnet by K.L. Brady is a laugh out loud great read!
Charisse Tyson has had her share of lying, cheating, dirty dogs. She calls her self the Bum Magnet, for her attraction to these losers. She seems to fall into the same pattern over and over again.
Just ending a three year relationship and entering a new one, Charisse finds her "man trouble" has resurfaced. The shady men from her past just can leave her alone. Add a hunky FBI agent, two ex-beaus and you just don't know what will happen next.
Ms Brady writes well with quick wit and humor. The Bum magnet will keep you up all night, yearning for more. Will Charisse find her Mister Right? No doubt you will be cheering her along the way.
Overall this book was a good quick read. I could see myself in Charisse so much. Not that I may have always attracted bums, but I definitely had myself guarded so that I was ready for the hurt before I could get hurt.
Charisse has been attracting bums her whole life. The lying cheating kind, not the ones on the street. As a real estate agent it's easy for her to meet good looking men all the time, but quality isn't really there. When she finally is able to let go of events in her past, she is able to demagnitize herself and find "The One" she has been looking for all along.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes quick reads with a strong female lead.
the bum magnet is an excellant story . its all about a real estate agent named charisse. and how she discovers that all the men she has been dating are all cheating lying bums. she resolves to get her life together before her 40th birthday after reading an article in a magazine.. it tells all about her exs and the current men in her life you will laugh and at times want to cry.. but it does have a happy endingThe Bum Magnet
If you are looking for a shallow, easy read, The Bum Magnet, by K.L. Brady is not that book. The main character, Cherisse, is a mirror for every woman that craved the companionship of a man but was clueless about loving and trusting herself. Her story is written with humor and compassion and as a reader I was in her corner. And while I wanted to shake her a few times, it was all worth it. I can't remember, in all my years of reading Chick Lit, being more relieved to get to a happy ending. Brava, Ms. Brady.
Charisse has bad luck in love, started at the age of 13 when she was first betrayed my a man she loved and trusted... Ever since Charisse cannot find it in herself to trust another, and why should she?, as she goes through liar after cheater after betrayal, she also goes through a discovery of finding her trust in men again, and Nisey, her best friend, makes this discovery and journey and fun filled one.
Won this on first-reads. This main charater sounds a lot like me so I am looking forward to reading this one.
I found myself falling into this book very easily and quickly. Looking back, out of 5 guys I have dated or married, I have always found nothing but bums. I loved this book as I found that I am not alone and that I am not the only one who is a complete and utter bum magnet.
I don't usually go for "chick lit" but this was a fast paced, entertaining read that strikes of realism. Charisse goes through her journey and learns her life lessons one chapter at a time, often making the reader laugh or feel sorry with her along the way. Formatting errors and constant typos distracted from this being an otherwise great read, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
What an enjoyable and just plain out fun read! While it's been quite some time since I was on the dating scene, I identified with the main character as she watched man after man crash and burn in front of her. While the ending tied up a little too neatly for my tastes, it was still a really fun escape and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Charisse Tyson is in a lot of women. She has it all, except Mr Right. She kept attracting the wrong men. The common denominator was the men possessed the cheater quality. Once she reached the point of having enough, she decides to look back over past relationships and face reality. This is a book all women can relate to. Kudos Karla Brady!
This book was cute. You will laugh out loud!! Charise is great! and her trials and tribulation in her dating life sound familiar but out or atleast mine didn't have as much flair! :)
Charisse is forty, sassy, successful, and almost single. Every area of her life is in place except one…her relationships with men. Every guy who has crossed her path since her college years has left her more damaged than the one before. She is a bum magnet with a capital B. After her soon-to-be last boyfriend, Marcus, leaves her no choice but to end their three year stint, Charisse decides that a revamping of her interactions with the opposite sex is in order. Then enters Dwayne. He’s sexy in an almost nerdy kind of way. He’s also uninhibited and determined to have Charisse by any means necessary.
Despite her ‘sworn off men’ status, Charisse finds herself in deep with Dwayne, even as a slew of amazingly talented, good-looking men come into her life. That magnet of hers is in fully operational mode and swearing off men seemed to put it in overdrive!
After years of second-guessing herself, Charisse doesn’t know what to do when internal warning bells start going off. Are they there to warn her off all men or a specific man? Not trusting herself to get it right, Charisse is almost paralyzed in the area of decision-making where this steady stream of men is concerned. Is she just being paranoid or is there really something brewing that she should be aware of before it comes back to bite her?
K.L. Brady has weaved a story with real life issues with such humor and quirkiness it draws a reader right in. In her distinctive way, Brady tackles heavy issues like self-esteem, relationships and weight with a lightness that makes a reader almost forget that there are lessons infused in the well-crafted lines of her story. It’s amazing what a person can handle with a good dose of humor thrown in. The Bum Magnet is a thoroughly enjoyable read. I eagerly await Brady’s next release.
Charisse is forty, sassy, successful, and almost single. Every area of her life is in place except one…her relationships with men. Every guy who has crossed her path since her college years has left her more damaged than the one before. She is a bum magnet with a capital B. After her soon-to-be last boyfriend, Marcus, leaves her no choice but to end their three year stint, Charisse decides that a revamping of her interactions with the opposite sex is in order. Then enters Dwayne. He’s sexy in an almost nerdy kind of way. He’s also uninhibited and determined to have Charisse by any means necessary.
Despite her ‘sworn off men’ status, Charisse finds herself in deep with Dwayne, even as a slew of amazingly talented, good-looking men come into her life. That magnet of hers is in fully operational mode and swearing off men seemed to put it in overdrive!
After years of second-guessing herself, Charisse doesn’t know what to do when internal warning bells start going off. Are they there to warn her off all men or a specific man? Not trusting herself to get it right, Charisse is almost paralyzed in the area of decision-making where this steady stream of men is concerned. Is she just being paranoid or is there really something brewing that she should be aware of before it comes back to bite her?
K.L. Brady has weaved a story with real life issues with such humor and quirkiness it draws a reader right in. In her distinctive way, Brady tackles heavy issues like self-esteem, relationships and weight with a lightness that makes a reader almost forget that there are lessons infused in the well-crafted lines of her story. It’s amazing what a person can handle with a good dose of humor thrown in. The Bum Magnet is a thoroughly enjoyable read. I eagerly await Brady’s next release.