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All Or Nothing
The Streets Of Charlotte, North Carolina serve as the back drop in this sizzling portrayal of street life in the hood. Lead character Shantell Byrant has lived the hard knock life, blessed with a gorgeous figure and good looks, Shantell decides to use what she got to get what she wants.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2006
56 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Blake Karrington
105 books376 followersBlake Karrington is more than an author. He’s a storyteller who places his readers in action-filled moments. It’s in these creative spaces that readers are allowed to get to know his complex characters as if they’re really alive.
Most of Blake’s titles are in the South in urban settings that are often overlooked by the mainstream. But through Blake’s eyes, readers quickly learn that places like Charlotte, NC can be as gritty as they come. It’s in these streets of this oft overlooked world where Blake portrays murderers and thieves alike as believable characters. Without judgement, he weaves humanizing backstories that serve up compelling reasons for why a drug dealer might choose a life of crime.
Readers of speak of the roller coaster ride of emotions that ensues from feeling anger at empathetic characters who always seem to do the wrong thing at the right to keep the story moving forward.
In terms of setting,Blake’s stories introduce his readers to spaces they may or may not be used to - streetscapes with unkept, cracked sidewalks where poverty prevails, times are depressed and people are broke and desperate. In Blake storytelling space, morality is so curved that rooting for bad guys to get away with murder can sometimes seem like the right thing for the reader to do - even when it’s not.
Readers who connect with Blake find him to be relatable. Likening him to a bad-boy gone good, they see a storyteller who writes as if he’s lived in world’s he generously shares, readily conveying his message that humanity is everywhere, especially in the unlikely, mean streets of cities like Charlotte.
Most of Blake’s titles are in the South in urban settings that are often overlooked by the mainstream. But through Blake’s eyes, readers quickly learn that places like Charlotte, NC can be as gritty as they come. It’s in these streets of this oft overlooked world where Blake portrays murderers and thieves alike as believable characters. Without judgement, he weaves humanizing backstories that serve up compelling reasons for why a drug dealer might choose a life of crime.
Readers of speak of the roller coaster ride of emotions that ensues from feeling anger at empathetic characters who always seem to do the wrong thing at the right to keep the story moving forward.
In terms of setting,Blake’s stories introduce his readers to spaces they may or may not be used to - streetscapes with unkept, cracked sidewalks where poverty prevails, times are depressed and people are broke and desperate. In Blake storytelling space, morality is so curved that rooting for bad guys to get away with murder can sometimes seem like the right thing for the reader to do - even when it’s not.
Readers who connect with Blake find him to be relatable. Likening him to a bad-boy gone good, they see a storyteller who writes as if he’s lived in world’s he generously shares, readily conveying his message that humanity is everywhere, especially in the unlikely, mean streets of cities like Charlotte.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 27, 2010
Well, if you can get past the mistakes this is a pretty good book. If you can't get past the mistakes....it won't be nearly as good as it could have been. I don't get the mistakes. I don't get how the authors allow these mistakes. These books have their names on them. If I were to produce something that was going to carry my name, pen or not, I would make damn sure there were no errors, as much as possible.
ALERT for authors: After you're finished writing the book GET AN EDITOR. Don't just get ANY editor. Get an editor that knows what he/she is doing. Check on them. You don't buy a car from the man standing on the corner. You don't get life insurance from the chick at the grocery store. You go to reputable people for these things - the same is needed here. If you can't/won't/don't get an editor - for whatever reason - enlist friends or readers. If you can't/won't/don't do that - for whatever reason - DO IT YOUR DAMN SELF. That brings me to the last tip: even if you DO use an editor, friends, readers, strangers, your dog, STILL LOOK IT OVER YOURSELF!!!! YOUR NAME IS ON THAT BOOK! What does that make you look like? Ugh...I'm fed up.
Anyway, the book itself (besides the dozens and dozens and some more dozens of mistakes that glared out at me from almost each and every single page) was pretty good. I'd have probably given it 4 stars were it not for the mistakes. I just cannot, in good conscience, give a book with this many mistakes 4 stars. I almost gave it 2 stars. I can't do that either though because everything else was pretty solid. The story line, the characters, etc. were all great. I liked how realistic is was also. Towards the end it got a *little* unrealistic but even the part that I'm talking about can and does happen. Just not for the average person.
I'm also getting disgusted with the whole race thing. Not to start or bring up a huge old discussion but does everything have to bve singled out according to race? Why not have a girl be just a girl? Instead of a black girl? Or a man be a man instead of a white man? To be quite honest, it's sickening. So many people scream about racism and the fact that everyone should be equal yet those same people are the ones who are drawing the line in a lot of cases that I see.
Everything does have to be black and white and red and brown and whatever the hell else people can think of. People can be just plain old people Instead of a black girl lost how about a girl lost? Maybe that would go a little way towards helping others not look at things determinded by race?
ALERT for authors: After you're finished writing the book GET AN EDITOR. Don't just get ANY editor. Get an editor that knows what he/she is doing. Check on them. You don't buy a car from the man standing on the corner. You don't get life insurance from the chick at the grocery store. You go to reputable people for these things - the same is needed here. If you can't/won't/don't get an editor - for whatever reason - enlist friends or readers. If you can't/won't/don't do that - for whatever reason - DO IT YOUR DAMN SELF. That brings me to the last tip: even if you DO use an editor, friends, readers, strangers, your dog, STILL LOOK IT OVER YOURSELF!!!! YOUR NAME IS ON THAT BOOK! What does that make you look like? Ugh...I'm fed up.
Anyway, the book itself (besides the dozens and dozens and some more dozens of mistakes that glared out at me from almost each and every single page) was pretty good. I'd have probably given it 4 stars were it not for the mistakes. I just cannot, in good conscience, give a book with this many mistakes 4 stars. I almost gave it 2 stars. I can't do that either though because everything else was pretty solid. The story line, the characters, etc. were all great. I liked how realistic is was also. Towards the end it got a *little* unrealistic but even the part that I'm talking about can and does happen. Just not for the average person.
I'm also getting disgusted with the whole race thing. Not to start or bring up a huge old discussion but does everything have to bve singled out according to race? Why not have a girl be just a girl? Instead of a black girl? Or a man be a man instead of a white man? To be quite honest, it's sickening. So many people scream about racism and the fact that everyone should be equal yet those same people are the ones who are drawing the line in a lot of cases that I see.
Everything does have to be black and white and red and brown and whatever the hell else people can think of. People can be just plain old people Instead of a black girl lost how about a girl lost? Maybe that would go a little way towards helping others not look at things determinded by race?
April 6, 2011
I liked this book, but felt that the main character was lacking in personality. It would say how hard she was yet make her out to be naive all at the same time. I also felt that she was a little stupid at times. I just didn't feel very connected with her at all.
Although I didn't feel very connected with the main character I did enjoy the story. I wanted Shantell to get out of the struggle, and was happy everytime something good happened.
I would say this was a pretty good book as far as the story goes. Had the mistakes been edited out, and Shantell's character been a little more solid I probably would have liked this book a lot more.
Although I didn't feel very connected with the main character I did enjoy the story. I wanted Shantell to get out of the struggle, and was happy everytime something good happened.
I would say this was a pretty good book as far as the story goes. Had the mistakes been edited out, and Shantell's character been a little more solid I probably would have liked this book a lot more.
May 31, 2020
Needs Editing Badly
I like the story so far but the format was so annoying I almost abandoned the story several times. There's question marks in every sentence on all the pages. I've never seen this before. I'm on page 64 and was trying to hang in there but I give up. Maybe I'll be able to read this book when it gets edited.
I like the story so far but the format was so annoying I almost abandoned the story several times. There's question marks in every sentence on all the pages. I've never seen this before. I'm on page 64 and was trying to hang in there but I give up. Maybe I'll be able to read this book when it gets edited.
July 4, 2022
Just Wow
Blake Karrington is usually on point. I tried to read this book several times. I wanted to give it a fair chance but I just couldn't. The mistakes and the way the typing is set up was just too much for me.
Blake Karrington is usually on point. I tried to read this book several times. I wanted to give it a fair chance but I just couldn't. The mistakes and the way the typing is set up was just too much for me.
June 1, 2020
Loved this book from beginning to end! Poor Shante had it tough.. I feel so bad for her 💔💔 she tried to remain strong through it all. Life is a bi*** and then you die 🤧
July 24, 2022
Good book.
January 9, 2009
In The Eye of The Storm
Shantell Bryant used to be a happy child. She'd sing and play in her room and was content. Unfortunately, that happiness would be forever ruined. Victimized, deserted, and left for the vultures to feed off of, Shantell is alone fighting this cold, bitter world. Would she be able to trek such a grueling excursion?
I was vigilant in my search for Blake Karrington's debut novel, All Or Nothing What Wouldn't You Do To Get Ahead. When I couldn't immediately find it, that should've been a clue. The story flows effortlessly when detailing drugs, sports and womanizing, it constantly repeats when speaking of Shantell, the young woman the story is about. While this story is far from unique, I had hoped that Blake would add something unique to it, therefore making it his own. Tweaking, especially in the editing department, is desperately needed.
Shantell Bryant used to be a happy child. She'd sing and play in her room and was content. Unfortunately, that happiness would be forever ruined. Victimized, deserted, and left for the vultures to feed off of, Shantell is alone fighting this cold, bitter world. Would she be able to trek such a grueling excursion?
I was vigilant in my search for Blake Karrington's debut novel, All Or Nothing What Wouldn't You Do To Get Ahead. When I couldn't immediately find it, that should've been a clue. The story flows effortlessly when detailing drugs, sports and womanizing, it constantly repeats when speaking of Shantell, the young woman the story is about. While this story is far from unique, I had hoped that Blake would add something unique to it, therefore making it his own. Tweaking, especially in the editing department, is desperately needed.
July 14, 2012
Pop, Lock and Drop It
The cards are stacked against Shantell Bryant. Living in the dangerous Piedmont Courts with a mother addicted to drugs, Shantell was forced to navigate herself from childhood to womanhood. Somewhere along the way, she became a single mother. Determined to make a better life for herself and her daughter and without an education, she relies on her most valuable asset...her body. Will it be enough?
"All or Nothing" is a mediocre read. There's nothing here that we haven't read before. Girl lives in the hood. Girl gets pregnant. Girl starts stripping as a way out. Like I said, nothing new, but I was hoping that this author would do something differently to make his story stand out from the rest. Unfortunately he did not. The time-line was confusing, the ending anti-climactic, and this book is in need of a good editor. "All or Nothing" makes for a quick, minimally entertaining read.
Reviewed by: Toni
The cards are stacked against Shantell Bryant. Living in the dangerous Piedmont Courts with a mother addicted to drugs, Shantell was forced to navigate herself from childhood to womanhood. Somewhere along the way, she became a single mother. Determined to make a better life for herself and her daughter and without an education, she relies on her most valuable asset...her body. Will it be enough?
"All or Nothing" is a mediocre read. There's nothing here that we haven't read before. Girl lives in the hood. Girl gets pregnant. Girl starts stripping as a way out. Like I said, nothing new, but I was hoping that this author would do something differently to make his story stand out from the rest. Unfortunately he did not. The time-line was confusing, the ending anti-climactic, and this book is in need of a good editor. "All or Nothing" makes for a quick, minimally entertaining read.
Reviewed by: Toni
November 3, 2016
Ok
She had a rough life, raped by her brother at a young age, mother a crack head, no father, got pregnant and don't know who the baby daddy is, then she becomes a stripper because she has to feed her child, things finally get better when she meets falls in love and marries a basketball star, her past comes back to haunt her and it kills her husband on the wedding day now she is back to struggling and stripping
She had a rough life, raped by her brother at a young age, mother a crack head, no father, got pregnant and don't know who the baby daddy is, then she becomes a stripper because she has to feed her child, things finally get better when she meets falls in love and marries a basketball star, her past comes back to haunt her and it kills her husband on the wedding day now she is back to struggling and stripping
January 25, 2012
I liked the story, however compared to the other three books I have read by the author I felt a little disappointed. I understand he was showing how life can be for girls growing up in the hood but Shantell just made me so mad it would have been nice to have some type encouragement for young girls instead of painting the picture they already see.
August 13, 2012
I really hate how it ended...ruined the whole book for me personally...
May 11, 2012
GOOD BOOK!!!
December 17, 2012
Absolutely loved this one, the end had me about to cry.
December 14, 2014
It was ok
The story line was ok. It could have been better. It was empty. Ronald didn't do much in this story. He died to soon
The story line was ok. It could have been better. It was empty. Ronald didn't do much in this story. He died to soon
January 28, 2013
good read
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews