Careful of the Company You Keep

Company Series #3

by Angie Daniels

After finding her husband cheating, Renee returns to her hometown to start again. But she is looking for love in all the wrong places. Danielle has a great career as a nurse, but her personal life is a mess. She enlists Renee to test the loyalty of her man, but when the seduction goes too far their friendship could be in jeopardy.

Genres: Fiction, African American, Book Club

368 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

Angie Daniels grew up on the South side of Chicago, Illinois. At a very early age, she spent nights creating soap operas with her younger sister until the two drifted off to sleep. Never did she realize that her longtime dream to become a published author would someday become a reality.

In 1999 Angie decided it was finally time to return to her love of writing. She took a year off to write her first book Intimate Intentions, which started off as a simple romance novel and later escalated into 542 pages of romantic suspense. After two submissions, Angie was offered a four-book contract with Genesis Press and her first book was released in 2001. In 2003, she also signed with BET Arabesque, and Kensington's Dafina imprint in 2004. In 2006, she added Parker Publishing, Aphrodisia and Harlequin Kimani Romance to her list. In 2010 she will release her twentieth novel. Angie currently resides in Missouri.

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say the book was pretty entertaining. It is about four friends, but really focuses on two Renee and Danielle. I just really could not believe grown women with teenage children could behave the way these woman carried on. A lot of their behavior was extremely childish, and just plain stupid at times. Now if these characters were 18-24 then maybe I could see it, but women in their late thirties to mid forties I just don't buy it. As I was reading some of the scenes I just really couldn't believe what was happening. Had the characters been younger, I would have rated this higher, but many of the scenarios were just really unrealistic to me.

[January · Rating 3 out of 5]

Careful of the Company You Keep by Angie Daniels
Company #3
408-page Kindle Ebook story ends on 388

Genre: Contemporary Urban Fiction

Featuring: Other Books List, Columbia and St. Louis, Missouri; Delaware, Dual POVs, Profanity, Girlfriends, Single Mothers, Divorcées, Teens, Marital Issues, Drama, Secrets, Sex - Detailed - Slightly Graphic Compared to Previous Books., Messiness, Down Low Trope, Excerpts From From Exposed by Naomi Chase and From Suspicions by Sasha Campbell (pseudonym for Angie Daniels)

Rating as a movie: NC-17/X for profanity and strong sexual content

Songs for the soundtrack: "I Get Money" by 50 Cents, "When I See U" by Fantasia, "Quiet Storm" by Smokey Robinson, "Secret Lovers" by Atlantic Starr, "Cater 2 U" by Destiny's Child, "Beautiful Flower" by India.Arie, "Umbrella" by Rihanna, "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" by Soulja Boy, "Let It Go" by Keyshia Cole featuring Lil' Kim and Missy Elliott

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½👯🏾‍♀️

My thoughts: 🔖Page 256 of 408 Ch. 38 Danielle - This story starts where the last one left off, with the last chapters of the previous book being rewritten and expanded to open this one. That helped a lot with the continuity of the storylines but there were still some issues, like Ron is now 22 instead of 24 making Danielle 34, younger than Renee and Kayla in book 1, but Renee is still 38, which is where she was last year. 5 months later and the kid's ages are inconsistent, Tamara and Quinton are another year older but Portia is still 16, the age she was when we met her in the last book. Kayla and Nadine are present in the story but we only have POVs from Renee and Danielle (who is still stuck on stupid), so I'm guessing this story is going to be all about the drama. It seems every time someone grows some sense they get demoted to a side character. When I read Danielle's first chapter I said she was stuck on stupid. I wasn't expecting Renee to agree and repeat it throughout the book. I'm disappointed because I was expecting the stepdaddy storyline by now, I hate secrets, and it seems like it's being dangled to no avail again. Please get Renee some closure so she can grow up.

This story was just drama on top of drama. It wasn't as good as book 2 for me because the ending fell flat and they took 3 books just to start the MC's journey to heal her inner child, we still haven't done it but at least we are at the door. I'm going to read book 4 next but I need to read a few chapters of someone else first. I even read both excerpts but neither drew me in.

Recommend to others: Likely, this was definitely the lull of the series, it would have been better if there was more purpose behind the drama and if characters stayed true to their characteristics.

The Company Series
In the Company of my Sistahs
Trouble Loves Company
Careful of the Company You Keep
Misery & Company

Company
1. In The Company Of My Sistahs (2006)
2. Trouble Loves Company (2007)
3. Careful of the Company You Keep (2008)
4. Misery & Company (2017)

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this book gave me whiplash and not in a good way. So much going on but it gave me second hand embarrassment. Like y’all are supposed to be in your late 30’s / 40’s and you thrive off of this?! Sleeping with men who are engaged, entering awful sex fueled relationships while you kick your own daughter out for getting pregnant, harassing people - I just… Wow. The chapters were short but there was an onslaught of so much going on - I couldn’t keep up.

[Sharrod J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read...

I enjoyed this book. The characters were well rounded, thought provoking and funny. It was easy to just sit down and sink into the story.

[Pearl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers this was an amazing story full of DRAMA, challenges, courage and lots of sex scenes. This book is about the struggles that these four friends share Kayla, Renee, Danielle, Nadine. Renee and Danielle are thick as thieves and will do anything and I do mean anything for each other. It's drama right from the beginning to the end. I was laughing out loud reading some of the scenes and at the end you will be crying. I was really hurt at the end by what happen to Renee some may think she deserved it, but I don't she really was dealing with a lot of struggles. This book will definitively leave you with some things to think about.

[ABAgail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me through all my emotions. There was never a dull moment.

[Cheryl Durham · Rating 2 out of 5]

CAREFUL OF THE COMPANY YOU KEEP by Angie Daniels was a quick read. I have always been told that age doesn't always give you wisdom. When reading about the girlfriends.....Danielle, Renee, Kayla and Nadine...I was reminded of that. Their lives...ups and downs....never ended. It takes all kinda of people to contribute to a sisterhood circle. Nevertheless, I believe they all lacked in the area of substance (not meaning to throw shade).

Is ongoing chaos and confusion normal? Is sleeping around a norm for women in their late 30's and early 40's? Once becoming a parent do you put aside foolishness? Does divorce leave a scar that is unable to be healed? Well, Angie Daniels definitely depicts a group of women who are searching...trying to find themselves and answers to those questions and many more.

The best thing about going through and getting through is having a sister friend. Careful of the Company You Keep will make you shake your head and murmur many things. It will also cause you to stop and think...ponder choices and situations. Quick read....judgements passed...redemption...and lessons.
Enjoy!

Note: My rating was not indicative of the author. I was in awe that maturity and wisdom, for the most part, escaped the ladies. Their chaos and inability or refusal to embrace maturity is horrifying.

[Melanee · Rating 2 out of 5]

So ashamed to admit I read this and if I didn't have a book goal to finish before the end of the year this would be one of the ones I would quickly take back to the library LOL!! The writing was poor and I became tired of reading the word "damn" before a male character would say anything, ie "Damn, you're sexy. Damn, you look good, Damn, can I get at you... She did capture me with the cliffhangers at the end of every chapter. The only thing that kept me reading was I wanted to see what the male characters would do. I found myself disgusted that the female characters were grown women who still had the mindset about men of teenagers. One of the main character's daughters had a more sophisticated approach with men than her own daughter (sigh). I ultimately was disappointed that the male characters ended up being as predictable as the females. Finished it cause I had to for credit ~ "book snob"

[JS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read, juicy story. The writing is so repetitive. She would write a phrase or word and use it way too much. With that, I don't think Daniels captured her two main characters that well. Going from Danielle to Renee always felt like the same person. Damn, I know they're best friends but they can't be that similar in the way they talk, act, think, rationalize, etc. Wild ending but honestly I predicted quite a few things including the donor situation and John's constant calling. But as mentioned, it's pretty quick and I needed something not too heavy (though it got deep at the end).

[Thomasina Goss · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was Obvious that if you keep bad company Something bad could happening. I figured it out with one but i didn't see it coming with Reene.it was a lot of drama to over the top
.

[Tiffany Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was good from the first page. I couldn't put it down. This book was unpredictable and it keep me on the edge if my seat.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good book. so many twist
and turns! I laughed and cried!

A must read.

[Karen Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stuck on Stupid

Danielle and Renee are too old.

Danielle keeps looking for the thug instead of a good and stable man. Unfortunately, she has to pay a high price to learn the real meaning of love and forgiveness.

Renee is Renee. The good thing about Renee is that she always has her friends back. Renee falls in love with an engaged man.

This was the best book in the series.

[Marilyn Ruffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this which is a miracle because I haven’t read a book in its entirety in a long time. It was FULL of drama! Renée is a STONE trip, Danielle is so gullible, Kayla is a sweetheart, and Nadine...oh well. My book club is going to discuss this next weekend. Angie Daniels is a talented writer.

[Adriana Mond · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to DNF this book. Like every other reader stated these ladies were very immature and i would have thought that i was reading about women in their early twenties, maybe even high school. Also, another thing i absolutely did not care for was how homophobic and fatphobic the book was, the author really took it there on some pages.

[Esther venegas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Careful

I was hooked from the first paragraph!! This book made me laugh & made me want to keep turning the page ... I loved just how bold some characters are and just thinking you know the next thing that could happen but doesn't ... So for anyone wanting a great adult sexy book this series is the one !!

[Zina Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book

I loved this book. Every character was so interesting from the beginning to the end. Awesome book. Book club in Charlotte NC read this as our book of the month.

[Sheila Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honey!!! This is a very good book. I found myself putting my housework off to read this one .It's filled with everyday situations and full of laughter and drama but through it all they were there for each other !!!! If you're looking to read it is part of a series.

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My facial expressions were all in. The twists and turns had me like, why juju oh no for real oh my goodness. I love how the stories of each character played out. I needs me a Calvin cause oh boy he know he loves him some Danny. I hope the 4th book is just as good. Love it.

[Mell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the storylines are dragging and because I read the books back to back, reviewing their background can feel redundant. The overall story is OK but the story does stray more from the feel of book one. C'est la vie.

[LaShon Hawkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book right here…

This book has so much in it. Things you never see coming. As I read the pages I kept wanting to read more to see what was going to happen next. Well done Angie Daniels!

[Cedez Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good read. I give it 4/5 stars. It was a lot of events happening in this book between these friends. Overall, it’s kind of the same from the books before. But I definitely recommend this book.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and believable. Kept me engaged and laughing at times.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Jaw Dropping !

Absolutely mindblowing behavior will definitely have you looking at the company these ladies kept. Drama filled and page turning to the very end

[Misty’s Reading Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely mind blowing and Jaw dropping!

[Kourtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would have been a great story if it wasn't so graphic

[Cathy Chase · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful

This is under Christian woman, but has nothing to do with religion. Should have stated sexually explicit, and very graphic.

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to fans of urban fiction and/or anyone who likes surprising twists.

[Cece Rotimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so entertaining. I didn’t realize this was the third book. I’ll try to read the other books in the future.

[Aysha Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stuck on Stupid

That's the title this book should have; Danielle had me so upset this entire story. Still s good read. Sorry with the way things turned out for Renee 😿